Episode 72. another victim (2)
how will we do it.
The decision I made after a moment’s consideration was ‘Ignore’ first. There was a chance that he didn’t call me at all. Besides, if he hesitated here or looked around, he could have caught her eye.
“Brother Doyoon!”
It was impossible.
Since my name was even mentioned, I had no choice but to stop and look back at her.
Shin So-ra steps closer to me. As if he hadn’t called someone else, he was clearly driving nails.
“Did you call me? I’m sorry, but where did you meet?”
Now that plan A of ignoring has failed, the next card I take out is plan B. I pretended not to know who it was. It was because she was completely different from Shin So-ra in my memories.
“It’s me, Echo. don’t you remember? It’s a nickname my brother gave me.”
eco.
Come to think of it, it was the name I mentioned to Shin So-ra in my memory.
‘I don’t know. This is a setting that did not exist in the original work.’
Shin So-ra’s setting was newly added as the DLC character Kim Do-yoon was incorporated. This part was uncharted territory that I had no clue about.
“eco… … . Yes, it was you.”
“You were looking for me too, right? But since I can’t see… . I… . Has it changed dramatically?”
Shin So-ra’s voice trembled.
For what purpose did she approach me? To her, I must be a demon from the past that I don’t want to recall.
‘Could that be it? or the realization of justice. True education.’
The trembling in that voice was caused by anger. When I think of that, the scene after this comes to mind.
The me you abandoned has now changed like this. how is it The flow of the way you won’t regret it.
“huh. You look really pretty.”
I deliberately decided to ride the flow. After all, since I knew the past between me and Shin So-ra, it was impossible to accept her as a colleague without putting an iron plate on her face.
“Oh, brother… . The first time I said I was pretty… … . Black. Whoops.”
“wait for a sec. Shinsora?”
“Even the name is the first… ! I worked hard to become pretty just for this time… Finally a dream… … . aaa!”
She started crying out of nowhere in front of me.
“what? who is crying?”
“uh? Isn’t that Shin So-ra?”
“Is that man that person? A gloomy hypnotic man.”
“I heard that your image has improved recently, but was it just a rumor? This time he is making a woman cry.”
What kind of situation is this? Are you thinking of making me feel ashamed and annihilating me socially?
‘Although this is also a way to bury people.’
There was a bit of a subtle corner to consider it that way. The image of Sora Shin whimpering in front of me.
For this to be a mere act,
“I’m sorry. If I cry like this, my brother will be in trouble… . Stop being so happy… … .”
I was so happy.
The flow was so changeable that I was thinking about how to match the rhythm. Shin So-ra, perhaps conscious of the buzz around her, said while holding my arm.
“Let’s talk elsewhere. Isn’t it so exciting to meet you after a long time?”
Then, the reactions from the surroundings.
“and. Did Kim Do-yoon even seduce Shin So-ra?”
“Isn’t this something we really need to report? Signal is letting students abuse their nature like that?”
“Give up. Someone already reported it, but they said they never abused their nature.”
“crazy. It’s ridiculous. Pyo Yu-rim, Eom Na-yeon, Seol Chae-hwa, and I heard recently that he seduced the famous senior Kang Ah-ram in the second year. Even Shin So-ra… . What kind of pretty girl collection is he collecting?”
The atmosphere that seemed to intensify at any moment turns into a flow like ‘It’s starting again’ in an instant. If the intention was to bury me, it was not a very good flow.
Shin So-ra, who embraced my arm, looked at me with a ruddy face.
“My brother is also my brother… . I kept hearing rumors. They say that only really good girls hang out.”
“yes. It would be nice if there were many flowers around. It looks good, it smells good.”
I deliberately spat out trashy remarks. It was the intention to induce her reaction through self-destructive remarks. I need to be clear on the inside so I can match the rhythm or not.
however.
“Actually, I was always not confident.”
“huh?”
“I wonder if I dare to join such a group. I was also worried that I might offend my brother. So I thought I’d visit them after they became more popular… … .”
Saying that, Shin So-ra stood in front of me and turned around. It was as if he wanted to see his changed self.
“I was convinced by my brother’s reaction. That I can now proudly become one of the flowers by my brother’s side.”
Her infinitely clear eyes look straight at me.
I just realized
The fact that even if I misunderstood her sincerity, I was wrong for a long time.
***
“Hee hee~”
I had my next class, but I was absent. Now that I was in attendance, it wasn’t the time to worry about grades.
‘Could you twist one more time? Pretend you still like me, and stab me in the back when I’m most careless?’
1st grade building rooftop. Everyone is in class, so it’s the right time. Shin So-ra and I were sitting on a bench prepared on the roof.
“brother. I’ll get you something to drink from the vending machine. Do you want to give it as a reserve like in the past?”
No matter how much money I’ve been struggling with lately, it’s not like I don’t even have money to pull out a drink. Even though the bankbook was empty, there was something with cash drawn out.
“I will live. What did you like?”
“No no! I, as a woman, have to do this! My brother is sitting here.”
“Where are the men and women? wait. I will live… … .”
When I was about to get up from the bench.
“brother. Are you keeping your distance?”
“huh?”
“me. Are you still lacking?”
At Shin So-ra’s trembling voice, I had to sit back down as I was about to get up. As I looked at her, I could clearly see a look of uneasiness.
‘This please. Did I get gaslighted by the past me?’
It is still the time to carefully use the nature, so I haven’t been able to look at all the past related to Shin So-ra.
But one of the memories I saw in fragments. Judging from the way I threw her away in a rainy alley. There was a high probability that I was holding Shin So-ra tightly.
“It’s not like that. You are a lady now too. Ladies should be treated like ladies.”
“Really? really? Am I so high now?!”
Shin So-ra smiles brightly. It was a sincere smile that emanated from the depths of the heart, which could hardly be considered acting.
‘Are you sure. This must have been a strong brainwashing of the fabricated past me.’
It is the power of language that can completely manipulate a person’s ego with a clever speech technique. Even more so, there is the power of nature. What would happen if supernatural elements were added?
I was seeing the result with my own two eyes.
“I didn’t know what I would like, so I bought the cider without any problems.”
“Kyaa! The first drink my brother bought me! I will keep it for the rest of my life!”
“I’ll buy you another one later, so just drink it… .”
“yes! It’s your brother’s order!”
“It’s not an order, it’s a request.”
“Because my brother’s request is absolute!”
Shin So-ra was abandoned so mercilessly and pitifully. If he was like a normal person, it wouldn’t have been strange if his emotions were discolored by hatred and anger.
‘I’m scolded. It’s definitely not a condition that can get better in a day or two.’
I thought a lot had changed. From that day until now, Shin So-ra’s inside didn’t seem to have changed at all. They just put on new clothes and adapted to their surroundings.
“How have you been?”
At my question, Shin So-ra hesitated for a moment while accepting the can.
“I’m sorry, brother. I have so many thoughts that I can’t speak right away. Could you wait a bit?”
“Think slowly. You can wait patiently.”
“I’m really sorry. I’ll clear my head up soon. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my brother, so my heart is pounding and I can’t calm down. Ehehehe… … .”
Even though I didn’t do it, my appetite was bitter. It was to the point where I could feel that I was paying attention to every little action.
profit! Click.
When she opened the can opener, Shin So-ra’s eyes turned this way. The moment the hand holding the can is raised to the corner of the mouth. It looks like she’s pulling her shoulders back a bit.
All of them are so subtle that the average person can’t even notice them. However, my eyes caught every detail of the opponent’s movements.
‘This is like that. Looks like I’m about to throw or spill a can of soda in my hand at her.’
learned fear.
Is this really a fuss?
I put the can I was about to bring to my mouth a little higher. He lifted his head upwards.
“Oops.”
Shin So-ra then closed her eyes tightly and lowered her head.
‘It seemed like this.’
I had no intention of spoiling the mood. I held the cold can towards Shin So-ra’s cheek with her eyes closed.
“What?!”
“Why are you closing your eyes? Are you going to throw it?”
“That, that… … .”
first. first of all. yeah, i can’t help it this is unavoidable
It’s because it’s to make Shin So-ra feel more comfortable. It’s a decision I make because nothing good will happen if I keep being nervous.
So I had no choice but to say. have to endure my hands and feet.
“Why throw it at a cute girl like you? Don’t be afraid.”
Shin So-ra’s shrunken face brightens again.
“yes! lol.”
Know. Actually, this isn’t a very good response, but I’m just as crazy now.
‘I’ve been working too hard lately.’
So, first of all, I wanted to create a calm atmosphere and talk slowly.
“Actually I am. My brother left that day and I regretted it a lot.”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“huh? why am i angry? It’s just that I was lacking in a cool way. I understand because my brother left me like that and I felt empty. I could have done better, I could have looked better… … . I felt like I took my brother’s arms for granted, so my tension seemed to have loosened. So ever since that day, I have been working hard.”
Shin So-ra explained step by step what happened after being abandoned by me in the past.
That they don’t rely on me anymore and don’t spare investment to decorate themselves. Exercising as a matter of life and death to lose flab and build a body. Like always standing in front of a mirror and practicing expressions or speaking.
Especially.
‘I tried to fix the part that I pointed out, felt sorry for, or was angry with why it was only this.’
Instead of thinking that the thoughts I had instilled in her in the fabricated past were wrong, I cursed myself for my inability to follow those thoughts and tried to change.
How the hell do you brainwash people to make them recognize this much? I couldn’t even get a feel for it.
“ah! but me I tried to do well in all the things my brother always emphasized… … . I honestly couldn’t do just one thing.”
“what is that?”
Shin So-ra looked at me with a deep blush on her face and a vague gaze.
“me… . As expected, I wanted my first opponent to be an older brother… … . Can’t you just teach me the first time? Then, from now on, I am confident that I will do well as my brother ordered me to do in the past… … .”
Her hands slowly reach out to my body. It’s like checking if it’s cold or hot. Her hand, which lightly placed her finger on my shoulder, quickly realized that it was safe and landed gently.
The atmosphere was dangerous.
“I won’t do that to you anymore.”
“… … … … why? I have become so pretty Wasn’t that useful now? Or, or… ! After all, isn’t that the first time? all right. then. Please meet the guest. I’m confident that I won’t run away this time and will do well. I will show you that I am no longer the cowardly me I used to be.”
I shook my head.
“calm down.”
“but… … .”
“It was hand-washed. It’s a guest and there’s nothing like that.”
Even if it was a fabricated past, it really happened to Shin So-ra. I can’t say I didn’t do it, so I had no choice but to answer like this.
Shin So-ra’s eyes tremble pitifully.
“me… I then… … . It’s useless… ?”
“It is useless.”
“then… What can I do in the future? Me, Nana… I’ve been working hard just for this time… … .”
An alarm bell rang in my heart. Unable to catch her breath, her breathing gradually becomes rougher, and she begins to tremble as she embraces her body.
I tried several times to reassure her with casual conversation, but to no avail. I was so deeply in a panic that my words seemed out of reach.
then.
“eco! Don’t make a fuss!”
The moment I uttered the nickname I had called her and yelled at her with the nuance of the time. Shin So-ra, who was confused, looked at me with a somewhat blank look.
shock therapy.
The rough breathing subsides, and the shaking of the body stops. Of course, this is only a temporary measure. I couldn’t see it being completely calmed down yet.
“You can’t dirty yourself like that.”
“why… … ?”
Thinking that this would be enough, I tried to taunt her as much as possible.
but.
“Strange. Oppa wasn’t that kind of person… … . Is it because you don’t like me?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Do not go. please don’t throw it away I’m really confident that I’ll do well this time… . therefore… … .”
Although the panic subsided somewhat, Shin So-ra was still speechless. It seemed that the bolts in her heart would not be easily opened by ordinary persuasion methods.
No matter what I said, she doubted everything I said. It was as if she was convinced that I was lying to get her off.
“hahahaha. hahahaha.”
Shin So-ra’s breathing is about to become rough again.
Chijik! Chijik!
It didn’t stop there, and even the symptoms of the Halo precursor began to appear.
The moment I saw the silhouette of the halo ring floating above her head, I realized that it was not the time to cover myself with hot or cold water, so I decided to take the poison.
“Beside me!”
“yes?”
“You said you wanted to be by my side. i am that… What I consider mine… … . I don’t like asking about other people’s hand stains. That’s why I told you not to defile yourself.”
I took a line that didn’t come out easily and put it in my mouth as if I was spitting it out.
“… … me. Are you my brother?”
“okay.”
Swoop.
The halo ring, which gradually took shape, turns into particles of light and disappears. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“me. Can I stand by your brother now? Can I brag about being Kim Do-yoon’s girlfriend?!”
“wait for a sec. that’s a bit.”
Paperweight!
“ah… … .”
A halo ring about to pop out like a ghost as if I was calling.
I urgently shouted with the feeling that it would be as it should be.
“Image management!”
“Image management?”
“You know what if I casually wear it next to a woman? You know what’s bothering you?”
“Ahhh! That’s what it meant! That’s right, it was! I forgot for a second. sorry bro It’s been so long, I forgot what. Oppa said that having a lover would interfere with business, so I was sensitive about that!”
and. I stabbed it just in case, but I really was that kind of guy. This isn’t utterly irredeemable garbage.
“But you can stay by my side now. Do I even have to tell you what this means?”
“Hee hee. You know~ I’m a different class now.”
It’s like when you had a seizure. Shin So-ra, who has returned to her normal pace, comes close to me and hugs me.
“Ugh.”
A sense of distance with a woman who still does not adapt. Embarrassed, a voice came out without my knowledge.
“… brother?”
Maybe she misunderstood that strangely, Shin So-ra looked at her anxiously.
“It’s not like that. It meant coming closer.”
“aha! Like this? Hee hee.”
tight.
Shin So-ra hugs my neck and holds my body tightly. The indescribable, nameless smell of perfume made my head dizzy.
“Ah~ I’m happy. Do-yoon can be hugged by her brother like this~ Those girls. It was disgusting when he boasted about his friendship with my brother while spilling water from washing a mop in front of me. What would you think if you saw this?”
It was really dizzy.