Chapter 52: What kind of answer do you want from me?

“Please, start streaming!!!”

Bang!

“Tenryeon!!!”

Bang!

“No, if you’re not going to stream now, when on earth are you planning to…”

Bang!

…Something’s off.

I should be spending more time writing posts and interacting on the Rema Gallery, but why are there more rebels turning into heretics?

[Lene Gallery ]

[Title: Just got back from the gallery owner’s fan meeting ᄋᄋ] (3)

[Title: Proof of fan meeting with the gallery owner] (8)

[Title: Malicious fan meeting with the gallery owner] (7)

[Title: They promised a pinned post if I went to the fan meeting] (11)

[Title: If you came back grinning after the fan meeting, thumbs up lolol] (10)

The increasing number of heretics are even dressing up their actions as a “fan meeting.”

An absurd act of terror.

I want to delete these posts, but my past decision to not actively manage the gallery is coming back to haunt me.

Even the moderators are citing that as a reason, saying there’s no justification to delete the posts and just leaving them be.

…No.

If I think about how this chaos was started by one of the moderators, they might not be leaving it because they lack justification but because they want to.

In fact, there’s a good chance the moderators are the main culprits.

What on earth are they so upset about?

In any case, what should I do about this…?
The terrorists keep demanding that I start streaming.

Of course, I have no intention of giving in to their demands.

If I cave to their threats and start streaming, I’ll lose the trust of the other gallery members.

I will never give in to the terrorists’ veiled threats disguised as negotiations…!

I hope the other gallery members recognize how much I’m trying here. I should write about this in a post tonight.

“Lene Sis~! I’m here!”

While I was steeling myself, I heard Bora’s voice from outside.

It’s already time for Bora to come over, huh.

Realizing that, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to steady myself.

Spending time with Bora required an immense amount of energy, so calming my mind before meeting her was a crucial ritual.

After a very brief meditation, I went to the front door and opened it to greet Bora.

“Oh, welcome, Bora-ssi…”

“When is Lene Sis ever going to call me just Bora?”

Even though I’d grown used to that comment by now, it still made me feel like crying.

The pure yet blunt manner of a child is just too powerful…

“So? What were you doing, Lene Sis?”

“The terrorists are making threats, so I was thinking about what to do…”

“Terrorists? Threats? Hmm… Should I help?”

“I-I appreciate the thought…”

At my response, Bora pouted as if she didn’t like my answer.

How does she plan to help when she doesn’t even know what terrorists or threats mean…?

Honestly, I was a bit curious, but I hesitated to press further, thinking it might make things spiral out of control.

Well, I truly appreciate the sentiment, at least.

“Oh, right! Lene Sis!”

“Yes?”

“Come have dinner at my house tonight!”

“…What?”

“Mom told me to bring you over for dinner tonight!”

And just like that, I realized there was one more terrorist right beside me.

Of course, I intended to refuse.

I wanted to refuse.

But when Bora’s eyes welled up with tears and she asked, “I can’t…?” there was no way I could say no—not with any method I could think of.

If she’s already this good at charming people now, just how many men will she make cry when she grows up?

Not that it’s any of my business, but the thought still scares me for some reason.

Anyway, the conclusion was that I’d be having dinner with Bora’s family tonight.

“Sigh…”

A pointless sigh escaped me.

I could already picture it.

I’d be sitting there with my head down, silently eating, saying nothing.

The atmosphere at the table growing awkward because of me.

My reputation plummeting in Bora’s family’s minds.

The whole future played out in my head.

You might ask if I’m being too pessimistic, but the truth is, I’m just a naturally negative person…

Why exactly did Bora insist on having me join her for dinner?

I mean, it is a somewhat important day, but it’s not like I ever told Bora about that.

“…Ugh.”

What’s the point in overthinking it?

It’s probably just because she wanted to have dinner with me.

She’s just a kid, after all, so I shouldn’t assign too much meaning to her actions.

Still, that doesn’t change the fact that I want to run away.

And so, time flew by, and it was now 7 p.m.

Bora had already gone home, and the agreed time was 7:30.

Thirty minutes left.

What if time just stopped here, right now…?

Yeah.

No chance of that happening.

…Fine.

Time marches on, and I’m destined to have dinner at Bora’s house.

This sad reality isn’t going to change, no matter what.

So, wouldn’t it be better to think about it a bit more positively?

For example: “Hey, having dinner at Bora’s house will give me something to write about on the gallery!”

Actually, that’s a pretty good point.

Since I mostly just stay at home, my material for gallery posts is pretty limited.

This kind of unique episode will definitely be something a lot of gallery members will enjoy.

With that thought, time crept forward to 7:20 p.m.
It was finally time to head into battle.

Ding-dong.

The familiar sound of a doorbell echoed.

I was usually the one opening the door, so standing here as a guest felt strange.

[Who is it?]

Bora’s familiar voice came through the intercom beyond the doorbell.

“It’s me…”

Thinking about what lay ahead made me tremble slightly, but I gripped my arms tightly and slowly responded.

[State your name~!]

In return, I heard Bora’s playful voice.

It was a meaningless, silly joke.

“L-Lene sis…”

[…Oh! It’s Lene Sis who loves Bora so much! I guess I have no choice. I’ll open the door for you!]

With a smug hum, I heard her footsteps approach from beyond the door.

…No choice, huh.

You’re the one who invited me, Bora.

It would be a lie to say that thought didn’t cross my mind, but it was so typical of Bora that I couldn’t help but feel amused.

And then, after a moment.

With a soft click, the door opened, and there stood Bora, greeting me in her pajamas.

“Welcome, Lene Sis!”
“Y-Yeah…”

My heart started racing.

Since returning to Earth, my entire range of activity had been confined to my home.

Sure, I’d gone out a few times for necessities like food or water, but this was the first time I’d left the house to meet someone.

I knew I didn’t need to be so nervous, but I couldn’t stop my body from trembling.

“Welcome, Lene,” said Bora’s mom, smiling warmly as she greeted me from the kitchen where she was cooking.

“H-he…hello…”

Guided by Bora’s hand, I followed her into the kitchen. Her mom smiled and said,

“My husband will be back around 8, so please make yourself comfortable in the meantime.”

“O-okay…”

But could I really make myself comfortable here…?

“So, Lene Sis, what do you think of our house? Hehe.”
“Oh, um. I-it’s nice, I think…”

It wasn’t just lip service—I genuinely meant it.

Of course, since we lived in the same apartment building, the structure of our homes was identical.

But the family photos on the walls, the neatly organized toys in the corner of the living room, and the gentle aroma of seaweed soup wafting through the air—it all set this place apart from mine.

I already knew, but this truly was a warm and loving household.

Almost enough to make me jealous.

“If you like it, feel free to come over often!”

Please… spare me that at least…

The meal laid out on the table was the very definition of a feast.

From the seaweed soup brimming with beef, to bulgogi, japchae, fried mackerel, and more.

There was no way anyone could call this an ordinary family dinner.

Do they eat like this every day?

Could Bora secretly be from a wealthy family…?

“Lene Sis! Guess what today is~?”

As I was lost in those thoughts, Bora grinned at me and asked the question.

The answer to her question had been clear from the very beginning.

“C-Could it be… the anniversary of Bora inviting me to her house…?”

“Pfft!”

At my response, Bora’s mom and dad burst out laughing.

“Wrong! You got it wrong!”

Bora, the one who had asked me the question in the first place, crossed her arms into an X and puffed out her cheeks.

Why.

What?

What kind of answer are you expecting from me…?

“Today is December 21st! And it’s… my birthday!!!”

…Oh.

“Happy birthday, my sweet daughter.”
“Thanks!”

“I’m sorry for suddenly inviting you over like this, Lene. Bora insisted she had to spend today with you no matter what.”

“That’s right!”

“Please continue to take care of our Bora. We’re so grateful to you.”

“If there’s ever anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask. Whatever it is, we’ll help however we can.”

So warm.

Even as someone with silver-white hair and red eyes—a look that stands out and feels foreign in Korea—

Bora’s family didn’t react with unease or awkwardness. Instead, they smiled kindly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It was a warmth so profound that, under normal circumstances, I might have burst into tears.

…Under normal circumstances.

“Uh, um… So, today is December 21st… right?”

“Yep! My birthday!”

“B-Bora’s birthday…”

“Just call me Bora already!”

“Uh, um…”

Even with my head lowered, I could feel all their gazes on me. Hesitantly, I opened my mouth to speak.

“Uh, I… today’s my birthday too…”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

“Oh my.”

Three distinct reactions rang out at once.

W-Was it tactless of me to say that?

Bora probably wanted to feel like the main character today…