4) Chapter 1 - Hope...... is there any? (4)
Seo Yujin is one of the most famous heroes in the story.
In this world, the popularity of heroes is described as being on par with celebrities… or at least, that’s how I remember it. I say “I think” because my memory isn’t exact. If it were a favorite or particularly memorable work, I would remember it more clearly, but since it only comes to mind vaguely, it might be mixed with memories of other novels.
Well, in most hero stories, the popularity of heroes is usually portrayed that way.
But the car I was riding in wasn’t a big van like the ones celebrities use—it was just an ordinary domestic SUV. And Seo Yujin was driving herself. Did she not have a manager or anything?
The reason I kept thinking about such irrelevant things during the ride was because the car was too quiet.
Seo Yujin kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, as if she felt guilty for taking me away from Chae‑yi, and I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t know what to say.
Well, if I were her, I’d also feel uneasy if the child I’d be living with from now on just sat there silently with a sullen face.
If it were an adult, at least we could talk, but a child is different.
The orphanage wasn’t exactly in the middle of the city, and it seemed her house was similar.
I guess she really is famous. Then again, if you think villains might attack, living in a place like this isn’t strange.
“Hoo…”
Even after turning off the engine, Seo Yujin let out a small breath and took a moment to choose her words.
“Um, so… this is our home. From now on, it’ll be your home too, Rua. If anything feels uncomfortable or if there’s something you don’t like, you can tell me.”
“Yes.”
“And, you know the kid I showed you earlier in the photo? Today’s her day off, so she’s been home since morning. She, um…”
Her expression turned a little troubled.
“I told her in advance that you’d be living with us from now on, and ever since she heard about you, she’s been… well… since yesterday…”
Maybe she doesn’t like me?
It’s possible. She’s a child.
I’d already seen plenty of children craving affection back at the orphanage. Unless every child had their own parent, which is impossible in an orphanage, that kind of longing is inevitable. The teachers were good people and tried their best, but there were limits.
So the children formed their own attachment bonds. Like Chae‑yi did with me—there were always a few kids who stuck together like siblings.
If a child who’s been an only child suddenly has a new kid brought home by their parent, they might feel like their affection is being stolen.
Especially if the new child needs more attention.
Well, I have no intention of fighting with a little kid, so I guess I’ll have to be a bit considerate.
“I’ll help.”
When I unbuckled my seatbelt and tried to get out, Seo Yujin slipped her hands under my arms and lifted me out of the car.
Then she carefully closed the door so I wouldn’t be startled and held out her hand.
I stared blankly up at her for a moment, then slowly reached out and lightly hooked my pinky around her finger.
Um… well…
It’s hard to put into words.
I’ve been feeling this since earlier, but I don’t know what to call it. An awkwardness that’s hard to express, a kind of atmosphere that makes it difficult to speak—something I never felt around teachers or kids my age at the orphanage.
I looked away, but before I did, the expression on her face was one of relief.
“Um… don’t be surprised when we go in. She’s a good kid. I’m sure she just wants to be friends.”
Judging by how cautiously she spoke, the kid must be really upset.
Well, I’m an adult.
I’m not going to get angry at a child who’s not even ten.
When I nodded, Seo Yujin inhaled deeply like someone about to face a final boss and opened the door to the house.
And before I could even take off my shoes—
“She’s my little sister!”
—an ear‑splitting shout rang out.
And not even a second later, my vision was filled with gold.
“Soi!?”
Falling backward, I heard the name of the furball that had tackled me.
And then I finally remembered.
Ah, right. That was her name. Soi.
It was the moment I recalled the names of the three villainess heroines who appeared early in the novel.
And I also remembered why I didn’t like that novel very much.
Right. I really didn’t like the heroine.
You know, the “regret” tag—usually the heroine who regrets things is the losing heroine. Even if she ends up with the protagonist in a harem story, she never becomes the main wife. She’s always in that ambiguous position.
And for her to even get that far, the author has to bleach her character clean or punish her so thoroughly that readers feel sorry for her. Even then, opinions are always divided.
So what did Seo Rua and the other two heroines do to the protagonist?
Actually, Seo Rua herself wasn’t particularly special. But for some reason I can’t quite recall, Soi felt indebted to her, and Seo Rua used that to gaslight Soi until she obeyed her completely… or at least that’s how I remember it.
The protagonist wasn’t very capable early on, but as is typical in these stories, Seo Rua fell for the kind, handsome protagonist and tried to get close to him—only to be rejected.
Then she held a grudge and bullied him relentlessly.
Using Soi, the daughter of a famous hero, and Chae‑yi, who followed her blindly, she framed the protagonist as a perverted creep.
The bullying escalated day by day, and Seo Rua even used her telekinesis to drop things on the protagonist’s head as he walked by.
But in these harem stories, Soi isn’t the only heroine with hero parents.
Thanks to heroines from other classes, the protagonist eventually escaped the false accusations.
And afterward, the three heroines quietly slipped into the protagonist’s harem.
There was a mild catharsis scene where the protagonist cleared his name, Seo Rua’s involvement was exposed, she lost favor at school, Seo Yujin stepped in to set things right, and Seo Rua fell into despair.
But that was it.
There were a few scenes hinting that the three girls were now being ostracized instead, but by then I realized the author was preparing to “redeem” them, so I skimmed the later chapters. I don’t remember the details.
Hmm, I think I even left a few comments.
“…Huh?”
Wait a second.
I rarely left comments. If I did, it must’ve been because I had a strong negative impression.
But I can’t remember why I wrote them.
Why?
“Lis-ten-to-me!”
Soi’s loud voice snapped me back to reality.
“So when is your birthday!?”
“My birthday?”
“Yeah! Your birthday!”
Ah.
Those excited eyes.
And the thing she shouted the moment I walked in.
I get it now.
I also understand why Seo Yujin kept explaining things to me before we came inside.
Soi must have been excited ever since she heard I was coming.
She’s an only child, after all.
The house is huge, and both her parents are heroes who must often leave on short notice.
I don’t know if she has many friends, but they wouldn’t be living in this big house with her.
There might be a housekeeper, but still—being the only child in a huge house must be terribly boring at her age.
So it wouldn’t be strange if she wished for a younger sibling.
But unfortunately…
I lifted my chin slightly and said,
“January.”
“…Huh?”
“January 12th.”
“…Huuuh?”
Right.
I was abandoned, so I don’t know my real birthday, but it wouldn’t be later than January 12th.
“What about you?”
This time I asked.
“When’s your birthday?”
“……”
Soi looked up at Seo Yujin with a devastated expression. Seo Yujin only gave her a wry smile.
“…Unni.”
Soi finally spoke.
Oh, so she’s admitting—
“I’m.”
—not admitting it, huh.
“I’m the older sister.”
With a very firm expression, she declared,
“I’m the older sister! I want to be the older sister!”
Then she started bouncing around the room shouting it.
Hmm.
I looked helplessly at Seo Yujin, who blushed and tried to calm Soi down.
Well…
I understand.
If you’ve been waiting for a younger sibling and suddenly an older one shows up, it would be heartbreaking.
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Author’s Note
Thank you for reading today! I’ll try to upload another chapter after midnight!
= To Balnanta, thank you for your support! And thank you for looking forward to the story! It’s been quite a while since I last wrote a yuri harem novel, so I really wanted to try writing one again this time! Only two heroines have appeared so far, but I’ll do my best to add more diverse heroines as the story continues! Thanks to all the readers who always come back to read my work, I’ve gathered the courage to take on this new novel as well! I can’t express how reassuring it feels to know there are people who read what I write. As the years pass and the amount of writing I’ve done grows, it brings me so much joy. To repay all of you, I’ll work hard on this story too! Please continue to support me!
= To Erich, thank you for your support! And thank you so much for always reading my writing! Thanks to all of you, this is already my fifth year writing. When I first started, I wondered if I could even last a year, but knowing there were people reading—and even waiting for—my stories made me so excited that I’ve kept writing all this time. Being a writer was a dream I had since childhood, but I never imagined I’d actually achieve it like this. Even after all these years, your presence still feels miraculous to me. All the memories I’ve built up through writing are gifts from you, my readers. Because of you, I’ve been able to write so many stories and create so many characters. The reason I can keep writing every day, instead of stopping after finishing a single story, is because of the miracle that is all of you. Thank you so much. I’ll do my best with this novel too, so that miracle can continue! Please keep supporting me!
= To LilaS2, thank you for your support! And thank you for looking forward to the story! I’m so relieved that you liked the premise! I’ve always loved academy‑themed stories myself. Maybe it’s because I grew up reading so many light novels set in schools. This novel starts in childhood, but I’ll do my best to make the academy arc fun as well, paying close attention to the characters and the development! I’ll work hard to write a story worthy of your expectations—one you can enjoy all the way to the end! Thank you so much! Please continue to support this novel!
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= To eternalyg, thank you for your support! And thank you so much for reading this novel as well! Thanks to everyone who always reads my stories, I’ve been able to take on this new project too. When I first started writing, I was amazed that anyone would read a story of mine from beginning to end. And now, there are people who follow my pen name from story to story—I’m so moved. For all of you who consistently enjoy my writing, I’ll give my very best to this novel as well! I’ll work hard until Rua becomes popular—so popular she’s overwhelmed by it! Thank you so much! Please continue to support this novel!