24) Chapter 5. Oh, Come On. (4)
But “no way” is exactly when things go wrong.
“Or what about games? You know, the one you always play. With the cute girls. Teach me that too. Let’s play together, okay?”
“Uh, ah, uh… yeah.”
…Yeah?
…Yeah!?
Is now really the time to say yes!?
What I should be doing right now is denying everything. Firmly. Clearly. Preferably deleting the app on the spot to prove I don’t play anything like that.
But unfortunately, Soi is pressed right up against me, making any sneaky moves impossible.
“Um…”
I tried desperately to think of a way to change the subject, but my brain was already in full panic mode. In emergencies like this, its performance drops dramatically.
“Um…”
When I couldn’t say anything, Soi’s expression dimmed.
“You don’t… want to? You don’t want to do it with me?”
No, that’s not it.
But also—Soi, maybe don’t say things like that while sitting this close and making that face? I know you don’t mean it that way, and I know there aren’t any boys around you, and I know the original story’s disasters probably won’t happen in this world… but still. If you said that in front of a boy, he’d misunderstand so badly it’d be a crime. Maybe try not to omit certain words, okay?
…No, wait.
My brain is rotten. A middle schooler wouldn’t mean it like that.
Besides, that scene in the original was from the epilogue, when the protagonist and heroines were adults. If it happened during their teens, it would’ve been… problematic.
But describing it as something that “had happened” isn’t illegal. Actually, now that I think about it, that’s annoying.
“….”
Seeing Soi looking so deflated finally snapped me back to reality.
Right. No matter what, I don’t want Soi getting hurt over something like this.
Soi always calls me her “precious little sister.” And she means it. She’s terrible at lying.
She’s always bright, always cheerful, always lighting up the room.
Even in the novel, despite her past and despite becoming a villain under Seo Rua’s influence, she was never someone you could truly hate.
Thinking back, maybe her “redemption” wasn’t just the author’s intention. Some readers hated it, but some wanted it too.
“Um…”
When I finally opened my mouth, Soi’s eyes sparkled.
She reacts to every little thing I say.
I thought she’d been more cautious lately, but maybe that was because of me.
I squeezed my eyes shut and nodded.
“Okay.”
“Really!?”
Her face lit up instantly.
Her sparkling eyes were practically touching my nose.
“Really really!?”
“Y-yeah…”
This is getting scary.
What if she sees and gets disappointed? What if she calls me a pervert?
Actually, I might die of embarrassment before that happens.
- *
“Hmmm.”
Soi’s humming tickled my ear.
It was itchy. And embarrassing. And honestly, I felt like I might die.
“Hmmm~ I see~ So Rua likes girls like this.”
Hey—
You said it was fine!?
You said you wanted to see!!
You said you wanted to play together!!!
Not that she’s teasing me maliciously. She’s not making a disgusted face, and she doesn’t seem disappointed.
But still. Still. This is…
She was half lying on top of me, both of us sprawled on the bed, staring at my phone together. That alone was embarrassing enough. But making comments like that while doing it?
Even if she used to hug me to sleep when we were little, this is… a lot.
“Do you like this kind of swimsuit? It’s cute~”
She’s teasing me, right?
She’s definitely teasing me.
Especially since she’s patting my head with one hand.
Though she probably means the “cute” part sincerely. She always did.
“Or maybe something more mature would suit you? You have a nice figure and a calm vibe. Oh! Let’s go to the beach this summer!”
We always went to the beach every year.
She didn’t need to say it—we were going anyway.
“This girl looks good in bright colors because she’s blonde, but for Rua, maybe something more—huh?”
“…”
“Hmmm?”
Soi tilted her head.
“Hmmm~”
Amazing how many emotions can fit into one little hum.
And her gaze too.
“Hmmm, Rua. Doesn’t she look a bit like me?”
“H-hehk!?”
Please don’t suddenly lower your voice like that.
Your mouth is right next to my ear. It tickles.
“N-no, she’s just blonde…”
“Really? Hmmm~”
She clearly didn’t believe me.
“T-there are lots of blonde characters in games like this…”
It’s true. Even in my old world, blonde characters were common. And in this world, people naturally have all kinds of hair colors.
Games having colorful characters is normal.
…Though now that I look, she does kind of resemble Soi. Not exactly, but the vibe is similar.
But that’s unfair!
Gyaru characters are super common in these games! Especially the “kind to otaku” type!!
“Hmmm~ I see~”
Soi hummed happily.
I felt like I was losing.
But if it made her feel better, maybe it was worth it.
Even if it cost me my dignity.
“Do you have other characters?”
“Y-yeah… I do.”
I switched the lobby character.
This time, a pink-haired swimsuit girl.
“…”
“…”
Ah.
If blonde is Soi… then pink hair is Chae‑yi, isn’t it?
I mean, pink-haired characters are also super common. It’s a major color. Anyone unfamiliar with anime would naturally associate it with someone they know.
“Hmmm.”
The emotion in her hum changed.
I panicked and switched again—
“Wow!”
Soi, resting her chin on my shoulder, gasped.
“She’s cute!”
This one was a black-haired swimsuit character.
Her eyes were red, unlike mine.
“She looks like Rua.”
“N-no she doesn’t.”
“Hmmm.”
When I squeaked out a dying-cat noise, Soi hummed again.
“I like her. If I start today, can I use her too?”
“Uh, n-no, she’s limited…”
I only got her because I saved up resources and used a bit of allowance.
“Limited? So I can’t?”
“…You might get her in a different outfit.”
Thankfully, the base character is obtainable through the story.
“Okay, then!”
Soi jumped up from the bed. The spot where her body had been suddenly felt cool.
It had been really warm.
“I’m installing it today!”
“W-wait, Soi.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you… going to play at school too?”
“Of course?”
I stared at the ceiling.
“No. You can’t.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“B-because it’s embarrassing.”
“Hmmm.”
She paused, then her eyes lit up with realization.
And she grinned.
“Okay. Then it’ll be our secret, right?”
“Y-yeah…”
I nodded before I could stop myself.
Her satisfied expression made it impossible to say anything else.
- *
The next morning.
I arrived at school with an unusually cheerful Soi. As soon as we sat down, kids gathered around us.
I tensed up, but it turned out they weren’t here for us—they just wanted to share something quickly.
It was a continuation of yesterday’s topic.
“A message?”
Soi blinked.
“The villain left a message?”
“Yeah. This time it’s not just a rumor—it’s in the news.”
The friend handed over her phone.
The headline read:
[Message for Someone?]
A letter had been delivered to a news outlet, but no one could identify the intended recipient. The police found no fingerprints.
The message itself was short.
Written in red, just three characters:
[어딨어?]
Where are you?
As if asking someone directly.
And apparently, they were certain it came from the killer.
Because the red writing wasn’t ink.
It was blood.
The victim’s blood.