Chapter 29: I Understand Everything, Oppa.

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.

I didn’t expect to feel this way twice in one day.

And of all the drawers, she had to open the fourth one first.

“What’s wrong with you two?”

Chaea tilted her head, seeing Chae-rin and Hyunwoo frozen, staring into each other’s eyes.

Creak!

“Ah, it’s nothing. I must have put it somewhere else.”

Regaining her composure, Chae-rin closed the drawer and gave an awkward smile.

“Hmm?”

Chaea narrowed her eyes, raising the end of her sentence.

Normally, she would have been tickling her, saying, “Hehehe. Confess what you’re hiding from your sister!” but…

“Then, should I read your palm?”

“P-Palm reading?”

“Yeah. I was reading Hyunwoo’s palm.”

Perhaps her memories hadn’t returned to that extent yet.

She didn’t press the issue and moved on.

“Um… should you?”

Chae-rin nodded, caught off guard.

“Wait a minute. I need to watch the video again.”

While Chaea turned on YouTube again and searched through her viewing history, Chae-rin subtly approached Hyunwoo and whispered.

“I understand everything, Oppa.”

“…What.”

“Do you want me to say it out loud?”

Hyunwoo tried to play dumb, hoping for the best, but…

Chae-rin was now a high school freshman.

She was old enough to know what the contents written on the large box were.

Especially since she was a gloomy, flat-chested, pretty girl who was deeply immersed in subculture.

“You won’t believe me even if I say it’s not true, right?”

“No, I believe you. Who would I believe if I didn’t believe you, Oppa?”

A smile so benevolent, it was as if Buddha had been reincarnated.

Hyunwoo ran a hand over his face, feeling the warmth of her gaze as if she were looking at all living beings.

“That’s clearly a tone that doesn’t believe me.”

“I said I believe you.”

“My mom bought it and left it here.”

“Oh, really~?”

“…”

Appealing with words was useless.

Then, there was only one method left.

“If you tell Yoo Chaea, I’ll tell her about your dating sim preferences.”

“What.”

It was a counterattack.

“Are you suddenly threatening me like this?”

“It’s a kind of insurance. What do you think will happen if I tell Yoo Chaea, who hasn’t even fully regained her memories, about your true self?”

“I didn’t know you were such a ruthless person, Oppa…”

Chae-rin bit her lip.

“Ugh… I was going to ask you to help me out a little since I used up all my allowance this month.”

“So, she had dark intentions too.”

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue and tilted his head.

“…But it’s not even the middle of the month yet?”

“A limited double pickup banner came, so I couldn’t help it. I took both of them to pity…”

Chae-rin suddenly became gloomy.

Still, she was serious about the game enough to roll gacha while being conscious of it.

Seeing his childhood friend’s younger sister become gloomy didn’t feel good.

“Okay, is 10 enough?”

“You have a lot of money, Oppa… 20?”

“Should I just tell her both?”

“…15.”

“Okay. 15 it is.”

The two shook hands after reaching a dramatic compromise.

In fact, she wasn’t even his real sister.

Giving her allowance might seem like a loss, but…

‘She might become my sister-in-law in the future.’

It was a kind of investment, looking ahead to the distant future after Chaea regained her memories.

“What are you two whispering about since a while ago?”

“Eek!”

“You scared me.”

Chaea suddenly intervened between the two shaking hands.

She subtly pulled Chae-rin’s hand away and separated her from Hyunwoo.

“Ah, we didn’t say anything.”

“But you were whispering like that?”

“U-Um…”

As expected, Chae-rin didn’t have as much quick-wittedness as her older sister.

“I told her I’d make kimchi fried rice later, so she should stay for dinner.”

Hyunwoo, whose quick-wittedness had only increased due to the many unnecessary misunderstandings, covered for her.

“T-That’s right. Mom gave us kimchi earlier, hehe…”

Fortunately, she had the ability to accept this much.

“Hmm… Then, I’ll read your palm, so sit here.”

Chaea no longer suspected anything and sat Chae-rin on the bed.

“So, Chae-rin, what kind of fate do you want to see?”

“Fate… never mind that. Why is this here?”

This was Hyunwoo’s room.

The place she just sat was also Hyunwoo’s bed.

However, what Chae-rin picked up was Chaea’s large underwear.

With general common sense, it was impossible to understand why it was on Hyunwoo’s bed.

“Ah. I forgot to put it in the closet.”

Then, Chaea got up and opened Hyunwoo’s closet.

Thanks to that, Chae-rin’s eyes widened.

“Why are you putting it there?”

“Huh? Underwear is originally put in the closet, Chae-rin.”

“T-That’s not what I’m asking!”

Chae-rin’s face turned red, feeling like she was being treated like an idiot.

“Why are you putting your underwear in Oppa’s room…”

“Because I change here? I sleep with Hyunwoo every day anyway, so it’s more convenient to have it here.”

“What…?”

Chae-rin turned her head again, creaking.

Her thoughts were easily read from her shaking pupils.

‘You said Oppa wasn’t using it?’

At this point, one would usually become resilient to any misunderstanding.

Hyunwoo calmly shook his head and sent her a look.

‘It’s really not like that. We’re just sleeping together.’

Of course.

“…Liar.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing, I was talking to Oppa.”

That didn’t clear up the misunderstanding.

Anyway, they looked at Chae-rin’s palm to pass the time.

The result was shocking.

“Wow. It looks like our Chae-rin is going to have a lot of relationships?”

“What?!”

“I-Is it really that surprising, Oppa?”

“She’s always at home, what relationships is she going to have?”

Hyunwoo doubted the old man in the video again.

He definitely thought he was trustworthy, but…

Was it just superstition after all?

“Ah, but it says this includes things like being a fan too.”

“Then, well…”

Hyunwoo was relieved again.

Just thinking about the number of characters Chae-rin was into made the palm reading understandable.

“I feel a little bad.”

Chae-rin glared at Hyunwoo, who was relieved.

“Ahem. Should we start eating dinner soon?”

Hyunwoo cleared his throat and subtly escaped to the kitchen.

“Oh. This kimchi is perfect for kimchi fried rice.”

As he was taking out the kimchi that Chaea’s mother had given them, Chaea peeked from behind.

“Are you making kimchi fried rice?”

“It’s not difficult. I’ll make it for you soon.”

“Yay!”

Chaea raised both hands and rejoiced.

Chae-rin blinked and asked.

“Unnie, do you remember the kimchi fried rice Oppa used to make?”

“No? I just liked it because Hyunwoo made it.”

“…I suddenly want to go home.”

“Why suddenly?”

She naturally made lovey-dovey remarks without even knowing what she had done.

Even though she had lost her memories, it seemed like her older sister was still her older sister.

“Sigh. I was just saying.”

Chae-rin sighed, but couldn’t hide the smile that appeared on her lips.

Sizzle-

Before long, a delicious smell spread.

Kimchi fried rice with plenty of ham, just the way Hyunwoo liked it.

With a fried egg on top.

“Wow…”

“You’re both drooling.”

Chaea and Chae-rin, who had been staring blankly, wiped their mouths with the same expression.

“Thank you for the food.”

“I’ll enjoy the food, Hyunwoo.”

“Alright.”

The sisters took a big spoonful and put it in their mouths.

“Haa…”

“Hoo-ha, huff…”

“How can you eat it like that when it’s hot?”

The freshly made kimchi fried rice was naturally hot.

They opened their mouths to cool it down, unable to swallow or spit it out.

Gulp.

Chaea and Chae-rin swallowed after a lot of trouble.

“It’s really delicious!”

“It’s delicious even after a long time…”

“I feel like I could eat it every day.”

“W-Well, that’s a bit much. Every other day?”

They made a fuss and praised Hyunwoo’s kimchi fried rice.

“I can make it for you forever if you want.”

“Really? Let’s be friends forever!”

“Uh…”

At that moment, Hyunwoo and Chaea’s imaginations diverged.

Hyunwoo imagined a happy married life.

Chaea wanted to remain childhood friends as they were now.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Hyunwoo, who quietly muttered, smiled bitterly and picked up his spoon.

“It is delicious.”

It was a satisfying taste even when he ate it himself.

Clatter, clatter.

Everyone was so focused on eating.

For a while, only the sound of spoons and bowls clashing could be heard.

After everyone had cleaned their plates.

“Being like this makes me think of the old days.”

Chae-rin looked somewhere in the air and longed for the past.

“When we were young, I used to play with Unnie and Oppa until we were exhausted and eat a lot of kimchi fried rice.”

“You can just come over and play often from now on.”

“That’s right. You can come again tomorrow, Chae-rin.”

“Why are you talking like you’re the owner of the house?”

As Hyunwoo glared at Chaea, who was speaking shamelessly.

“Unnie, are you going to keep living here?”

Chae-rin asked in a slightly gloomy voice.

“…Huh?”

“I know Oppa’s house is comfortable, but… it’s a bit much to keep staying here. Mom and Dad miss you a lot too.”

“…”

The air, which had been light until just now, suddenly became depressing.

“Sorry. I was thoughtless and brought up unnecessary things again, hehe… I’ve had dinner, so I’ll go now.”

Chae-rin, who belatedly realized, smiled weakly and got up from her seat.

Hyunwoo, who had been lost in thought after hearing Chae-rin’s words.

“Wait a minute, Yoo Chae-rin.”

“Huh?”

He stopped Chae-rin, who was about to leave.

“Are both of your parents home tomorrow?”

“I think so? I think they said they’re resting at home this Sunday.”

“Then, we’ll go to your house tomorrow.”

“Hyunwoo?”

Chaea, who was startled, turned her head to Hyunwoo.

“I know it’s still uncomfortable, but you can at least show them your face, right?”

“…”

“Do you think it’ll be too hard?”

“It’s not that…”

Chaea hesitated and continued.

“If our parents get used to it like Chae-rin, will you not let me live here?”

“What?”

Hyunwoo finally realized what Chaea was worried about.

Was she doing this because she was afraid he would kick her out if her condition improved?

‘I think you’re a little mistaken.’

She felt more comfortable by Hyunwoo’s side than her own home.

It seemed like a strange obsession had developed, but…

“Why wouldn’t I let you live here? Do you think I’d tell you to leave right away?”

He gave her words that would reassure her for now, because he thought she would be afraid to go see her parents if he didn’t say this.

“Then, are we going to your house tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Let’s go and have a meal.”

“Okay.”

As Chaea reluctantly agreed.

“Really? Unnie, are you coming to our house tomorrow?”

Chae-rin’s expression brightened.

“Well… I had to go sometime.”

“You thought well. I’ll prepare a lot of things we used to do and play with when we were young. So, come comfortably!”

Chae-rin smiled brightly and looked at Hyunwoo.

“Thank you, Oppa.”

For taking care of her sister.

For bringing her sister home, etc.

She conveyed a thank you that contained various meanings.

“Then, do the dishes and go.”

“Eh.”

“Were you just planning to eat and leave?”

He decided to receive even a small price today.