NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417
“Um….”
As I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling… no, wait, it’s a familiar one.
The ceiling of my room.
…When did I fall asleep?
More importantly, how long did I sleep?
The outside is bright, and I feel incredibly refreshed.
It seems like my fever has finally gone down; my head feels clear, and aside from my dry throat, I’m in the best condition.
So, I’ve finally recovered from my cold.
Indeed, resting well is important.
To think such a bad cold had cleared up in just a day, I must be tougher than I thought.
Praising myself for overcoming the cold, I tried to sit up from the bed.
But….
“Mm?”
I felt a warm presence on my upper body, precisely around my belly.
Very warm.
Almost as warm as a body temperature.
Since it was a familiar warmth, I raised my head to look down at my belly.
“What’s Bok-sil doing?”
On my upper body, covered with a blanket, was Bok-sil, who had been cozying up to my hot pack yesterday, sleeping snugly.
…This little guy.
How dare he curl up there without permission?
This is different from me placing him there; this is a challenge to the hierarchy!
I decided to pick up Bok-sil and stand up.
I was thinking of exiling him to the living room.
With my now-recovered body, I walked out to the living room.
And then….
“How’s it going here?”
“It’s good, Mother….”
I spotted a mother-daughter duo sitting comfortably on the living room sofa.
“…What are you doing here?”
Since Mrs. Jang was always around, I could let that slide.
My gaze shifted to the person resting her head on Mrs. Jang’s lap.
It was Tenshi.
She was lying comfortably there, getting her ears cleaned.
What’s going on?
Has the world changed again? Is this Tenshi from a timeline where she’s my sister?
“Eh? Soo-hyun?”
Upon hearing my voice, Tenshi sat up from Mrs. Jang’s lap.
“You’re awake?”
“Uh… When did you arrive?”
When exactly did she show up?
I was pretty sure we were just gaming together last time….
That was in Japan, right?
“I came this morning!”
Amidst my confusion, Tenshi asserted she arrived this morning.
“…So how long did I sleep?”
I mean, my last memory was from the afternoon, and she arrived this morning?
How could I have slept for that long?
No wonder I felt so good… I must have slept really well.
“You slept all day long!”
“24 hours?”
“Uh… From yesterday afternoon until now?”
Glancing discreetly at the clock in the living room, I noted it was around lunchtime.
Hmm… So I indeed slept almost a full day.
“Got it…”
Alright, now I know I really overslept.
“Can you explain the situation for me?”
But why is Tenshi here in our living room? And so cozily with Mrs. Jang at that?
“Oh, well.”
Tenshi took a moment to think before she began explaining whatever was going on.
“You said you were going to get water and never came back!”
“Ah, were you worried something might have happened…?”
Oh right, I must have completely zonked out and forgotten about Tenshi.
I was laying there with a headache and fever when that happened….
Did she rush over on a plane, scared I had collapsed out in the living room?
“No! I called your mom!”
“Oh, that’s pretty rational of you?”
…Now that I think about it, how could Tenshi not have my mom’s number after coming over a few times?
When I disappeared, she must have called Mrs. Jang.
“Phew, I almost dropped my heart when I got that call while out shopping.”
“Haha….”
From there, it was predictable.
A shocked Mrs. Jang hurried home.
And I was found at home, still breathing.
“But why here?”
I get how things unfolded, but I still have questions.
Why did she come?
“Because your mom said it was fine if I came!”
“Eh?”
“I originally planned to come to Korea for a schedule, so she said I could stay for a few days while I was here.”
“Uh… Is that really okay?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Is that so?”
Hmm, if Mrs. Jang thinks it’s fine, maybe it really is.
Mr. Kim would likely be okay with anything, and I really don’t mind either.
“Well, anyway, welcome.”
She’s already here, and I can’t send her back; Tenshi staying at my place isn’t new to me anymore.
Having heard the whole story, I set down Bok-sil, who I was still holding.
“Oh! Bok-sil.”
As I set him down, Bok-sil immediately jumped over to Tenshi.
“He didn’t wake up at all.”
Even after the swift change of ownership from Korea to Japan, Bok-sil continues to snooze peacefully.
“He’s had a pretty tough morning since today started.”
Seeing Bok-sil like this, Mrs. Jang smiled warmly and said.
“Did Bok-sil have a tough time?”
In that moment, I recalled the scenario from when I woke up earlier.
Could it be that this adorable creature was caring for me?
Indeed, even when I usually fuss around with him, he’s still a good kid….
“That little troublemaker wore himself out playing with our youngest daughter.”
“…? Then why is he on my belly?”
“He was playing for a while and then went to sleep in your room.”
“No….”
What am I supposed to do? I can’t exactly scold a pet for being adorable…
From now on, I guess I’ll have to control his treats.
Yeah, setting aside Bok-sil for now.
“More importantly, Mrs. Jang.”
“Hmm?”
“It feels like you really prefer my younger sister over me.”
I pointed to Tenshi, my unofficial younger sister.
They really seemed cozy just a while ago, right?
It’s not like I got any pampering like that when I became an adult.
“Oh goodness, it’s because you don’t even react when I pamper you.”
“Ugh.”
That may be true, but still…
I’m the pillar of this household and the eldest daughter!
It’s seriously disheartening.
“Anyway, are you all better now?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Then you should eat some dinner.”
As she pointed to the kitchen, I was taken aback.
Are we really getting booted to the kitchen??
This is just…
But I was already feeling hungry, so I grumbled my way to the kitchen.
On the kitchen table, I found a bowl wrapped in plastic.
“What’s this?”
“Abalone porridge! Heat it up and eat it!”
“Oh….”
So that’s why she went to the store yesterday?
After heating it up and eating it deliciously.
Once I finished, I found Tenshi and Mrs. Jang in the living room, peeling fruits.
“Come sit here!”
Having been told to sit, I settled beside Tenshi.
“Eat this!”
I munched on the fruit she handed me while watching the TV.
“Wow, that trash….”
“Whoa….”
As I sat on the sofa, watching television, an odd feeling washed over me.
Isn’t this all too natural?
There’s no sense of discomfort.
In fact, with the lively atmosphere, it feels better than before.
Now I understand why Mrs. Jang wanted me to come home.
Given that I usually stay in my room, it must have been a bit lonely for Bok-sil and Mrs. Jang to be just the two of them.
Since I understand the loneliness of a housewife, I simply enjoyed the offering of fruits.
As evening approached, Mrs. Jang headed to the kitchen to make dinner, leaving just Tenshi and me in the living room.
“Oh, Tenshi.”
“Yes?”
“What’s this collaboration you’re doing?”
With the two of us alone, I decided to ask.
Didn’t she mention something about a collab with a Korean game yesterday?
I was really curious to find out what kind of game it was.
What kind of game would make her collaborate with a foreign VTuber, leaving behind the top Korean VTuber?
“Eh! Just a moment!”
In response to my question, Tenshi dashed off to my room.
…Why is she going into my room?
When did she even unpack her things in there?
“Here you go!”
Soon after, Tenshi returned carrying a poster she handed to me.
“Uh… What’s this?”
“They’re saying there will be a festival!”
A festival?
Glancing lightly at the poster, it seemed they were renting a venue for some event.
There’s going to be cosplay shows and a myriad of events.
Sounds fun, right?
“Oh… Do you want to go together?”
“Eh, uh, should we?”
Looking at the date, it seemed like it could be fun, and I was curious, but for some reason, Tenshi hesitated to answer.
Sneaking a glance, I spotted her rolling her big eyes around in uncertainty.
“She seems a bit hesitant….”
“Ah, no, it’s just that… some colleagues I was supposed to collaborate with are coming too….”
Ah, so there was a prior commitment?
More importantly, Tenshi’s colleagues….
“Are they people like Sake?”
“Yep! From the same company.”
“Oh….”
My interest piqued greatly.
If Tenshi’s in the same company, they must all be impressive in stature.
“Can I join in too?”
“Eh? Uh… A, it’s not a problem….”
Then maybe I should give it a shot?
As the representative VTuber from Korea, I’m ready to take on foreign titans.
“Well, I’ll let you know in advance….”
“Oh, if it’s really tough, it’s fine.”
“No…! I mean, actually, if Soo-hyun comes, everyone will be happy!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes…!”
Hmm, if Tenshi is genuinely struggling with it, I wouldn’t want to go, but her reaction seems vague.
Well, I still have time, so I can take my time and see how things go.
And so, I set a date for the promise we made.
“I’m back.”
“Eh! Father, you’re here?”
“Oh, I heard you were coming back.”
Mr. Kim, who had just returned from work, sat down, and we shared dinner together.
“It’s delicious!”
“Is that so? Eat well. Soo-hyun, you’d better eat too.”
“Uh, okay.”
The dining atmosphere was… great.
It seems Mr. Kim likes Tenshi too.
“Can I have another bowl!”
“Oh dear, if you eat like that, you’ll get prettier.”
After finishing dinner in this pleasant mood, we naturally moved to my room together.
“…Am I just expected to have you sleep in my room until you leave?”
Considering how long she would be here, I felt like I should let her use the storage room after cleaning it out, so I asked.
But….
“Oh, is that not okay?”
“No, it’s fine… just stay as you are.”
Looking at her reaction, it seems letting her use my room is indeed fine.
“Please use the inner bed.”
“Eh, won’t that mean you might fall while sleeping?”
“The smaller person should use the inner bed.”
“What?!”
Anyway, that night passed peacefully.
The next day.
“Soo-hyun! We’re going out today!”
With an overflowing energy, Tenshi joyfully woke me up.
“Oh, is it already morning?”
“Yes!”
“…Isn’t it still dawn?”
Looking outside, it definitely didn’t look like morning…
“Eh, it’s 6 o’clock.”
“Barely morning….”
Well, I did sleep a lot yesterday, so I wouldn’t be tired waking up early.
And….
“You woke me up well.”
“Yes?”
“I should start getting ready soon.”
Tenshi, unable to comprehend my words, wore a puzzled expression.
Looking at her like that, I wanted to play with her, but…
“…I have a schedule to attend to today.”
“Eh, what?!”
Now that I’ve recovered, I have to return to being Kim Soo-hyun.
“While I’m gone, feel free to use the computer.”
“Eh?”
Leaving the visibly deflated Tenshi behind, I lightly freshened up before stepping outside.
Actor and singer Kim Soo-hyun.
Back to business after two days…!