Chapter 4: Because It Feels More Reassuring That Way

Hyunwoo quickly brought Chaea’s clothes from the house next door.

“Wear this.”

After tossing the pajamas to her, he left the room.

Soon, Chaea’s voice came from beyond the door.

– It’s hard to change… Can you help me?

“I’ll wait. Take your time.”

He knew it was difficult for her to change alone.

But if he went in now, he’d have to face that shocking sight again.

It was already burned into his memory so vividly that he’d probably have to deal with it alone tonight.

– …01.

However, after hearing her struggle for a while, guilt crept up on him.

‘…What the hell am I doing to an injured person?’

Hyunwoo sighed and knocked on the door.

“Yoo Chaea.”

– Ugh… Yeah?

“Is it really that hard?”

– Yeah… A little.

“I’ll help. I’m coming in.”

– …01?

With a small sound of surprise, Hyunwoo stepped into the room.

“You said you wouldn’t help earlier.”

He had mentally prepared himself, but—

As expected, Chaea’s state was quite dangerous.

She couldn’t use her right hand properly, so her shirt was only half on.

In other words, she was half undressed.

“…Sorry. I was being too harsh earlier. Let me get you dressed quickly.”

Her freshly bathed skin kept drawing his eyes.

‘Just helping. I’m just helping.’

Hyunwoo deliberately looked away and grabbed her pajama top.

But with no underwear on, her overwhelming presence kept catching his gaze.

“Raise your arms.”

“Ungh.”

Repeating the national anthem in his head, he helped her put on the pajama top properly.

“At least you managed to put on your pants.”

“I just had to slip my legs in.”

Thankfully, he didn’t have to look at her lower body.

If he had to help with her underwear too… His teenage hormones wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

“I’m turning off the light now.”

“You’re really going to sleep like this?”

“Get some rest.”

“Wait, hold on.”

Just as he reached to turn off the light to hide his obvious reaction—

Squeeze.

Chaea wrapped her arms around his waist.

If he stayed like this, she would definitely notice.

“H-Hey, this is dangerous. Let go first.”

“Promise me you’ll do what I ask.”

“…Fine, I promise.”

He surrendered immediately.

Chaea released him and said confidently,

“I won’t ask to play the game myself.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“But let me watch you play.”

“…Why?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Just watch a stream. You can use your phone with one hand.”

“I could, but… If I see you play, maybe my memory will come back.”

It wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

Still, he figured it’d be better to let her sleep.

“The game we used to play together… You can play it alone too, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then just show me for a bit. I feel like I’ll remember something. Okay?”

“…Just for a bit.”

“Whoa, you’re really doing it? Thanks.”

Hyunwoo reluctantly sat in front of the computer.

“Your head’s fine, right?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

When he turned around, still worried—

Chaea was already lying down in the classic unemployed pose, waiting for him.

‘She looks completely fine.’

Hyunwoo let out a small chuckle and turned to the monitor.

“What should I show you…”

They had been gaming together since childhood.

His library had well over a hundred games.

“I don’t know if any of them will bring back your memory.”

“What was the last game we played together?”

“Monster Hunt.”

“Then show me that one.”

“Alright.”

Monster Hunt was a game where players chose weapons, hunted monsters, and gathered materials to craft new gear.

A new DLC had just been released, and they had been racing to the final boss together.

‘We’ll finish that once she’s feeling better.’

For now, he picked a random quest, hoping it would trigger some memories.

“Oooh….”

Chaea watched him play for a moment before commenting,

“Ah, you should’ve rolled there.”

“….”

“Hiss… If you drink a potion now, you’ll get hit.”

Before he knew it, she was crossing her arms and clicking her tongue as she gave unsolicited advice.

That much was understandable.

She had said she remembered some of the games they played.

But when he made a mistake by trying to conserve potions—

“Oh no, you would’ve survived if you used a counter-slash.”

“…Hey.”

Unable to hold back, Hyunwoo turned to her.

“Be honest.”

“…About what?”

“Your memory is fully back, isn’t it?”

“No?”

“But you remember the monster’s patterns?”

“Well… Watching it reminded me. You always died because you dodged instead of using a counter-slash, so I used to scold you about that monster.”

“…Sigh.”

Something felt off.

Hyunwoo paused the game and asked,

“What was our class last year?”

“Second-year, Class 3?”

“And the homeroom teacher?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Not even their name or face?”

“Nope. I don’t even know if it was a man or a woman.”

Chaea only remembered things closely related to Hyunwoo.

But could memories really be this selectively specific?

As he stared at her suspiciously—

“It’s true. I don’t know why, but I only remember things related to you. I don’t even know the passcode to my house.”

“…Now that you mention it.”

Earlier, she had entered Hyunwoo’s house passcode so naturally.

“Then do you remember anything I’ve hidden?”

Just in case—

If she remembered everything about him—

Then she might recall the bouquet he had hidden for his confession.

If she still knew about that…

– “Something you hid? That childhood-friend pure romance visual novel eroge you tried to hide in your library but I found—”

“Stop. Don’t say another word.”

Hyunwoo quickly cut her off.

Somehow, he had ended up revisiting his embarrassing past.

But at least he had narrowed down what Chaea remembered.

She recalled monster patterns instantly.

She also remembered the eroge she caught him with last winter break.

‘So, only the memories around the accident are missing.’

It seemed like everything related to his confession had vanished.

Lost in thought, he found it hard to focus on the game.

After dying to the same attack multiple times—

“Haaam….”

Chaea gradually grew quieter.

Now she was even yawning.

The moment he died the same way again, Hyunwoo silently turned off the game without looking back.

“…Huh? Why’d you stop?”

She was dozing off, yet she still asked.

“I just got bored.”

He could’ve told her it was for her sake.

But he instinctively gave an excuse instead.

He had spent his whole life like this, and it was hard to change the habit.

“Was it because I wasn’t playing too?”

Chaea, oblivious to his real reason, asked innocently.

Hyunwoo let out a small laugh and answered.

“Let’s go with that.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong.

Hyunwoo had played almost every game with Chaea since they were kids.

– Are we really supposed to be fighting this at our level?
– If we fight it now, then it’s the right time.
– No, I mean, there’s no need to be so reckless…
– You scared?
… Get back in.

That typical gamer’s pride had developed back then, making it nearly impossible for them to quit a game before clearing it.

But now, the Chaea who used to game with such stubbornness was yawning endlessly.

“Go to sleep already. It’s almost midnight.”

“Turn off the light….”

“This is my room. Go sleep in the next room.”

Chaea visiting Hyunwoo’s house was nothing new.

There were plenty of spare rooms, and the one right next to his was practically hers.

“Why do you keep kicking me out? This is my spot.”

“You even left a stuffed animal in the next room.”

“…I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

She claimed to remember everything about Hyunwoo, yet now, whether it was because sleep was taking over or she was just pretending, she stubbornly insisted that his bed was hers.

“I’m tired too. Hurry up and go.”

“Then carry me. I can’t move well.”

Hyunwoo silently looked at the casts wrapped around Chaea’s arms and legs.

He had to admit, moving was difficult for her.

“I’ll help you. Let’s go.”

It was just a few steps. He only needed to support her.

“No. Carry me instead.”

“…What?”

Before he could protest, Chaea wrapped herself up in his blanket like a rolled-up kimbap.

As if telling him that if he really wanted her gone, he’d have to princess-carry her out himself.

He did want to get rid of her after what she’d done earlier.

‘Where am I even supposed to grab?’

He hesitated, afraid of touching the wrong place.

“…Fine. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

In the end, Hyunwoo gave up.

He decided he’d just use the bathroom if he had to and started pulling out an extra blanket from the closet.

“Isn’t the floor hard?”

“…Yeah.”

“It’ll be uncomfortable. You’re the one who owns the house, you know.”

“So, are you gonna sleep on the floor instead?”

“I’m injured.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Hyunwoo glared at her.

This whole exchange felt like they’d gone back to childhood, bickering over nonsense.

“…Come up here.”

…He took that thought back.

The mood suddenly shifted.

“What’s with you today?”

“What?”

“You’re saying weird stuff, grabbing me all of a sudden….”

Hyunwoo trailed off.

Even if Chaea had forgotten the confession, maybe the feelings remained.

But outright asking, ‘Do you like me?’ felt a bit too much.

Instead, he tried to phrase it differently.

“You keep acting like a kid and leaning on me.”

Chaea frowned slightly and let out a quiet breath, as if deep in thought.

Then, she opened her eyes and looked at him seriously.

“…Because it makes me feel safe.”

“…What?”

“If you’re not next to me, I get scared. My parents feel awkward, and I don’t even know how I used to be around other people.”

Hyunwoo finally realized.

“There are gaps in my memory. When I try to remember, my head hurts. School’s starting soon, and I need to adjust, but I don’t even know if I can….”

She had been forcing herself to hide her fear this whole time.

It was only natural.

If everything was a blur except for one person, clinging to them was inevitable.

“……”

Click.

Without another word, Hyunwoo turned off the light.

“…You just need me to stay next to you?”

He quietly lay down beside her and closed his eyes.

Rustle.

The blanket shifted.

Chaea pulled the warmth of her blanket over him.

“Yeah. Just stay next to me.”

“…Fine. Just for tonight.”

“…Thanks.”

“If you get it, go to sleep.”

Hyunwoo kept just enough distance so they weren’t touching.

The bed was big enough for that.

“You’re gonna fall off like that. Move closer.”

Chaea patted the empty space beside her.

“Don’t mind me. Just sleep.”

“…Can I hold your hand?”

“…No.”

Please stop.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Just lying next to her was enough to make his heart race.

If he got any closer, she might hear it.

“If you hold my hand, I’ll go straight to sleep.”

“…And if I don’t?”

“I’ll keep talking and bothering you.”

What a pathetic threat.

Honestly, if he ignored her, she would probably fall asleep soon enough.

Squeeze.

“…Happy now?”

Hyunwoo grasped her hand.

Whether it was to comfort her or to satisfy something within himself, he wasn’t sure.

“Goodnight, Hyunwoo.”

Chaea quickly fell asleep, her breathing steady.

“…I was planning to pull away before sleeping.”

But with his hand trapped in hers, Hyunwoo ended up staying awake for a long time.