70) Chapter 12. It’s Nothing (2)

Even so, Auntie Yujin was still Soi’s mother.

Soi’s friendliness was inherited straight from her. Even if she acts a bit prickly now that she’s in high school, her true nature is cheerful and sociable.

By the time we all sat at the dinner table, the awkward atmosphere had eased a lot thanks to Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun asking Hyeonji various questions.

Most of the questions were about me.

“How is Rua doing at school?”

“Ah, Rua is…”

Hyeonji’s eyes flicked toward me.

She clearly didn’t know how to answer.

Of course she didn’t. On the first day of school, I got picked on by some idiot and ended up having to duel him.

Thankfully, the academy didn’t report to Auntie Yujin or Uncle Dohyun that I’d fought another student out of anger. Since duels count toward grades, they’re technically part of the curriculum.

And really, how many times must this have happened before?

The academy basically set a rule: If you’re going to fight with superpowers, at least let us supervise it properly.
Kids won’t stop fighting, so the school just wants to avoid hallway brawls.

If they reported every single fight to parents, it would be exhausting for everyone. Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun, who both graduated from the academy, would know that.

“…She’s doing well.”

Hyeonji had seen me since day one, but she had no way to explain the details, so she settled on that.

Her hesitation made it sound strangely meaningful.

“They’re always stuck together in the dorms.”

But at least she had some sense. If she ended her answer there, it would sound like I wasn’t doing well. So she added the funniest thing she’d observed.

“Oh, right. Our Soi really loves Rua. She’s been glued to her since childhood.”

“…Glued?”

“Yes. They had separate rooms, but they practically lived in one. Usually Soi’s room, but sometimes they’d play in Rua’s room and fall asleep there.”

“Ah… I see…”

Hyeonji’s expression became complicated.

‘So they were like that even at home?’

Yeah… I get why she’d think it’s weird. I do.

Kids can share a big bed.

Even adults can, under special circumstances—like when four friends get drunk and crash in a motel room.

But that’s a special case.

Normally, once you’re a teenager, you sleep separately. Even without beds, you’d at least use separate blankets. You don’t share one blanket and sleep pressed together.

Auntie Yujin has seen Soi cling to me since we were little, so she’s used to it. To her, we’re both just her daughters—sisters who get along well.

“…Hmm?”

Wait.

If we’re not “sisters who get along well,” then what else would it be? What other interpretation is there?

Sure, some people might see it weirdly, but fundamentally, we are just close like sisters.

“Do those girls share a bed in the dorm too?”

Auntie Yujin asked with a giggle.

“Uh…”

Hyeonji froze. She didn’t know whether she was allowed to answer.

“They’re just… getting along well.”

She ended up smoothing it over vaguely.

“That’s good. I was just worried…”

Auntie Yujin stopped mid‑sentence.

She paused, thinking, then looked at me.

Her eyes were filled with guilt.

Honestly, no one here has any reason to feel guilty toward me. None of them ever did anything wrong to me.

But if there’s anyone who especially shouldn’t feel guilty—someone who could proudly say she helped me—it’s Auntie Yujin.

She took me in. She raised me as her daughter.

Not like a daughter.
As a daughter.

Even though I can’t call her “Mom,” even though I can’t hug her properly, she never resented me.

And yet she always looks at me like she wishes she could have done more.

“No, I knew our Rua would do well.”

Auntie Yujin smiled.

I felt embarrassed and lowered my head.

“……”

Hyeonji silently watched the two of us.

*

Originally, we planned to return to the dorm after dinner.

Uncle Dohyun even offered to drive us back.

But after dinner, we all sat on the sofa, watching TV and chatting, and time slipped away.

It wasn’t so late that high schoolers couldn’t be outside, but Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun insisted it was dark and suggested we sleep over.

“I…”

Hyeonji looked conflicted.

“I have clothes you can borrow.”

Soi said, and that settled it.

Of course, borrowing underwear was a bit much, so we made a quick trip to the convenience store.

Since we were already there, we grabbed more snacks.

When we returned to the room we’d sleep in, Hyeonji narrowed her eyes.

“…The bed is just a normal size.”

“Huh? Yeah, so?”

Soi tilted her head.

I understood what Hyeonji meant.

She’d imagined some queen‑ or king‑sized bed since we’d shared one since childhood.

But our bed was just slightly larger than a standard single.

Big enough for an adult man to sleep comfortably, and big enough for Soi and me to lie on with a tiny bit of space left.

But not really big enough.

“…Haah. Never mind. It’s nothing.”

In the original story, she was the disciplinary committee member, right?

Our class hasn’t chosen a class rep yet, and the student council elections are at the end of the month, so she’s not officially the disciplinary officer yet.

But the fact that she becomes one means her personality was always like this.

She clearly had something to say but held it in.

“So, so!”

Soi plopped onto the bed with a bright grin.

“What should we talk about?”

“Talk about?”

“Yeah! We’ve got lots of time before bed. And we’re all in pajamas together, right?”

Her face lit up with excitement.

…Right.

This is the real Soi. Not the prickly version who hides her nature to protect me.

Her true self wants to grab my hand, run down the hallway, and befriend everyone in the school.

But she suppressed that for my sake.

Back in elementary and middle school, friends often came over to our house. After I quit school, she stopped bringing them because she didn’t want to make me uncomfortable.

Now she finally has a friend from school. And that friend is sleeping over.

It had been so long for her.

Chae‑yi watched Soi with a bittersweet smile and pulled a chair over.

“…So what do we talk about?”

Hyeonji asked seriously. She genuinely didn’t know.

Does she not have friends either?

Come to think of it, she didn’t have many in the original story. Morality committee members often don’t—they get disliked for nagging.

A strange sense of kinship welled up inside me. She’d be mad if she knew.

“Well, in this kind of setting… first love, maybe?”

Soi said casually.

“…Do you have a first love?”

“……”

Silence filled the room.

Well, she could have one.

As for me… I might’ve had one in my past life? Maybe I liked someone in elementary school, but I don’t think I ever spoke to them.

What about Soi and Chae‑yi?

Both were staring off into the distance, looking oddly forlorn.

And I felt… relieved.

It’s a little rude to feel relieved about that, but still.

Do I still hate the idea of Soi or Chae‑yi dating some guy?

Even though I’m not planning to take responsibility for them forever… it feels wrong.

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Pub: 12 Apr 2026 08:45 UTC

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