episode_0009

A single-family home located not far from a convenience store. We stopped in front of the single-story brick building.

“Enter.”

“Excuse me… .”

As I opened the door and went in, a warm breeze greeted me. A pair of small shoes were placed in the hallway. I couldn’t go in with my wet body, so I waited, and a girl came out and tilted her head.

“Who…?”

“Uh… Hello? Hey… You’re not a weirdo… .”

The child looked to be about a year or two older than Mirae. He was wearing casual clothes with a warm color based on light brown, and judging by the wetness at the bottom of his pants, he seemed to have just come in as well.

Are you Hanna Yeon’s younger sister?

It’s hard to believe that they share the same blood, but they look so kind. Oh, of course, that’s not to say that Hanna Yeon is bad.

“Can I get a towel… .”

“Sister… You’re all wet. Call me and ask me to bring you an umbrella.”

I got the impression that the child who spoke like that seemed mature for his age. He spoke softly and with no fluctuations in pitch, so he seemed much more mature than his peers.

“Brother?”

“Yeah.”

“How old are you?”

“Nine years old.”

“She’s two years older than Mirae… .”

It was a little disappointing. If we were the same age, we could have remained friends.

“Future… Daughter?”

“Huh, huh? No? He’s my younger sibling?”

“…Why are you so flustered?”

I jumped up and denied the sudden attack. In fact, I wanted to proudly introduce her as my daughter, but whether she would accept it or not is a separate issue. In this regard, neither Hanna Yeon nor I are different in not making excuses for the rumors.

“Was that a joke?”

“… … .”

When I noticed something strange and asked her, Hanna Yeon turned her head away awkwardly.

◦I told you not to do that.”

I glared at Hannah Yeon like that and grumbled. I wanted to say, ‘Why do you keep making jokes that are so bad?’ but I didn’t have the courage to do that yet.

“Over there…over here.”

I stood there blankly for a moment, then my younger brother came back holding a warm-looking white towel.

“Thank you. I’ll use it well, wash it, and return it to you.”

“Oh, no. You can just leave it there… .”

Is that so? Well, I guess it would be more troublesome if I took it and washed it, since there wouldn’t be a single towel.

“Sister, who are you?”

“Leeharu.”

“… You said you lent me your gym clothes?”

“Yeah.”

Hannah Yeon, who was just wiping herself dry and going in, was followed by her younger brother. She still remembers the gym uniform he lent her when she was in middle school.

“Did you tell your little brother about me?”

I felt strangely happy and followed Hanna Yeon around, giggling.

“Because my name was written on my gym uniform.”

“Other than that?”

“I didn’t do it.”

If you ask my brother whether that is true or not, he will tell you.

“Really?”

“Yes… .”

To be honest, I was a little shocked. I wish they had at least cursed at me. I felt a little disappointed because it seemed like they really didn’t care at all.

But now it’s different. Isn’t that the person who let you into my house? If things continue like this, it won’t be long before we become friends.

Yes. If the regular method doesn’t work, let’s go sideways. I changed the direction of attack to my younger brother.

“What’s your younger brother’s name?”

“Hanna Rin… .”

“Narin. What a pretty name.”

“Thank you… .”

Na-rin smiled shyly and nodded. Unlike her older sister, she was an honest and kind child.

“That, Narin likes Chuchu? Magical cat Chuchu. She even put a band on her sister.”

First of all, we need to build consensus.

Luckily, I had information. The Chuchu Band-Aid that was stuck on Hanna Yeon’s finger. I still remember that cute band-aid that my younger sibling said she put on for me.

“… Yes?”

“Go wash up. Go inside.”

“Huh, huh? Why, I want to talk a little more!”

But before the attack was even completed, he was pushed aside and thrown into the bathroom.

Even though it was warm inside, it was still stuffy, so I had no choice but to take off my uniform and hang it in the bathtub.

A tiny bathroom with a bathtub and a shower. I stood there dumbfounded under the shower and stared at myself in the mirror.

Skin so white that it could be called pale. Hair that reached down to her buttocks, and eyes that were cold and sunken. Perhaps because they were soaked in rain, they gave off an even darker atmosphere.

Sometimes I feel awkward like this. That’s because my appearance and personality don’t match at all.

A sickly pretty girl with a cold impression. And me, who is always busy getting flustered.

Is this gap moe?

Yeah, it’s not bad. It’s not bad, but… .

“Um… .”

Honestly, it’s so small. It’s so small that you could say it doesn’t exist. Of course, I don’t plan on showing it to anyone, and I have no intention of doing so, but after living as a woman for a long time, I’ve naturally started to care about it.

If we continue like this, we’ll be overtaken by Mirae.

It would have been nice if it had just a little bit more presence. Yes, for example, something of that appropriate size and pretty shape… .

“Why are you touching my chest?”

“Whoa?!”

I let out a scream without realizing it and collapsed. That’s the kind of scream you get when you’re really surprised.

“What, what! Why, why are you coming in!”

“To wash.”

“Oh, right! You must have come in to wash up! Then I’ll go out. Okay, just go out for a bit!”

I closed my eyes tightly. I was taking a bath, and why did you come in naked and confidently when you put it in for me?

“Hanna Rin wants to wash with me. She’s catching a cold.”

“Hey, listen to me carefully! But I’m going out! Washing together is a bit… .”

I jumped up and walked forward without thinking. If I felt like I was going to bump into something, wouldn’t Hannayeon tell me? With that blind faith, I strode forward briskly.

“Wash.”

“읏… .”

But Hannah Yeon grabbed my wrist. I was dragged with my eyes tightly shut until I was pinned to a certain spot, and soon I heard the sound of water dripping… .

“Heeek… !”

“Oh, sorry.”

A cold water poured down, enough to stop my heart. My eyes, which had been closed, opened wide, and I came face to face with pure white flesh, close enough that my breath could touch it.

“Aaak… !”

I close my eyes again. At the same time, a smooth sensation touches my shoulder, and warm water begins to flow out, relieving my tense body.

“Why are your eyes closed?”

“He, I, can’t look at women. If I do, I’m under a curse that turns me to stone.”

“What are you talking about… .”

As he continued to speak creakingly, Hanna Yeon’s voice, seemingly incredulous, flew in.

‘You can see it. What’s wrong with girls bathing together?’

‘Don’t look! Don’t look!’

‘Why not? Isn’t it stranger for women to close their eyes while taking a bath together?’

… Is that so?

“Ah, ah, no!”

I was stuck between the two of them, feeling confused, and eventually I couldn’t stand it anymore and ran out of the bathroom.

* * *

After finishing my shower late, I borrowed Hanna Yeon’s t-shirt and put it on. The t-shirt was already too big, but with the height difference, it felt like I was wearing a one-piece dress.

Also, after Na-rin came out after washing up, we had a meal together with instant rice. Every time I praised the side dishes, the corners of Hanna-yeon’s mouth twitched a little. It seems that the side dishes were Hanna-yeon’s work.

“Umm… I can’t go… .”

I’m sitting on the sofa drinking cocoa right now.

In the meantime, the rain continued to fall harder, so I decided to stay here for a day and called the woman.

“Oh, hello?”

[Yeah. So you called because you couldn’t come?]

“Ah, yes… It rained more than I thought… Um… Can I just sleep in today?”

[Okay, that’s fine. Anyway, you’re already old enough to stay out all night. The lady looks a bit lonely…]

[When is Mom coming home? Mom!]

“Mi, the future… .”

My heart breaks as I hear voices calling for me. But all public transportation has been cut off, and the area around my house is locked down to the point where it’s dangerous to drive.

So I decided to sleep here… but when I heard the voice of the future, I wanted to go back even if I had to swim.

“I’ll definitely go tomorrow. I’m sorry… .”

[I’ll go! I’ll go to Mom! Auntie, take me to Mom!]

[Future, Mom said she’s coming to play with her friend for the first time. Should we just hold out for a day? If we hold out, we’ll be happier when we meet again!]

[Friend…? Is that your mom’s friend’s girl?]

[I guess so…? Haruya, could it be that he’s your boyfriend…?]

“Oh, no! What kind of boyfriend am I…? A girl! A girl from the same school!”

Of course. But since you nailed it down that she’s a girl, you’ll feel relieved now. And situations like marriage that you were worried about in the future won’t happen.

[No! I want to go to Mom! Mom, I can’t be with a woman! Come out quickly!]

I thought so, but the future reaction became even more intense.

[… Future doesn’t like mom making friends?]

[Mom says she likes girls! She’s planning to get married! I don’t like it!]

There was silence behind the voice that sounded like a scream from the future. I could hear someone swallowing a breath on the other end of the phone, and Hanna Yeon, who was next to me, looked at me with suspicious eyes.

Yeah, I definitely remember having that conversation.

─Mom, who do you like better, Ryan Guy or Cat Girl?

─Catgirl is better. But even so, men are a bit… .

─Why? Mom, do you like girls better?

─Of course? Because Catgirl is cute.

─Huh, I see… .

Since I wasn’t focusing on the animation, I just blurted out my answer without thinking. Of course, it was an extremely obvious answer from my perspective. But what would it be like to other people?

“Hey, Mi, Mirae, let’s meet tomorrow? Don’t worry, I won’t get married!”

[Lies, Mom is a liar!]

“Mom doesn’t lie! You said you’d live with Mirae.”

Let’s speak bluntly. There was silence for a moment. He must have been biting his lip and thinking seriously.

[…lie.]

“Even if it’s not a lie. You promised me this morning, right? Mom doesn’t lie.”

[… … .]

Silence fell again. The voice that was heard again seemed to have lost some of its momentum.

[Then, when you get home, write me a memorandum…]

“Huh, huh? Okay… I’ll write as much as you want! I’ll write a hundred!”

Where did he learn such difficult words as a memorandum? I don’t think it’s good to tolerate your child’s tantrums too much, but I guess it’s inevitable as a parent that you feel proud first.

[Then I’ll endure it…]

“Thank you, Mirae. I won’t sleep outside anymore, so just listen to what the lady says today. Okay?”

[Yeah, good night, Mom…]

“Sleep well in the future too. I love you.”

I also felt depressed when I heard the dispirited voice of the future.

[Don’t worry too much and have fun. You’re just anxious because it’s your first time being separated. I’ll take care of it.]

“Yes… I’m sorry. I’ll ask you to take care of the future.”

I hung up the phone after saying goodbye to the lady.

“Hoo… .”

A sigh of relief escaped me.

Honestly, I didn’t know that the future would come to me like that. Is it because we’ve been living alone together until now? I’m worried about the future, but I’m also a little happy because I feel like I’ve become a necessary presence, and it’s a strange feeling.

“… Really?”

As I was sitting on the sofa smiling bitterly, Hanna Yeon, who was sitting next to me, asked a question.

“What, what? You, you like women? Oh, no. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.”

I can’t help but feel suspicious. I reacted that awkwardly in the bathroom. But I honestly have no intention of touching children my age. That would be a crime.

That’s not to say I have any intention of doing anything to adult women.

“… Was that real too?”

“Huh, huh? Oh, no? No? That’s not it… .”

It seems that wasn’t the case. Then the daughter’s suspicion is the most likely one… .

“It’s a bit long, so to speak… .”

The right way is the best. If you want to make friends, you have to show your true self first. Who would want to get close to me if I hide myself?

“Then do it lying down. I’m tired.”

Hannayeon jumped up and went into her room. Then, should I just lie down on the living room sofa and chatter? Wouldn’t that be a nuisance to Narin, who went to sleep first?

“What are you doing, it’s not coming in.”

“Huh, huh? Can I come in too?”

“If you sleep in the living room, you’ll catch a cold. What will Hanna Lin say?”

Hanna Yeon walked back and dragged me into the room.

It was the first time I had entered a room that was not my family’s. In fact, it was no different from my room. There was a closet, a desk, and a bed. The only difference was the faint citrus scent.

To begin with, a princess-style room dyed in pink doesn’t really suit Hannah Yeon.

“Hey, Chuchu!”

However, there was one thing that really stood out: a magical cat doll named Chuchu wearing a pirate hat.

The original one was holding a pink magic wand, but this Chuchu was wearing a cute wooden gun and a fork-shaped prosthetic arm.

Looking around a little more, I noticed that there were many other Chuchus appearing all over the room, including a Mecha Chuchu, a Chuchu riding a dinosaur, a Chuchu wearing a puppy doll outfit, and a Musa Chuchu.

“You like Chuchu too? You don’t have to hide it.”

These are probably limited edition Chuchus. If Mirae, a Chuchu maniac, saw these, she would drool.

By the way, if it’s a limited edition, it’ll be really expensive…. Hanna Yeon said that the reason she works at a convenience store is to make some money for herself and Na Rin, but it looks like it was to bring these Chuchus.

She likes it so much that she’s doing both school and part-time work. Hanna Yeon’s Chuchus must be happy.

“For stress relief.”

But that Chuchu’s face sank because he was discovered by me.