My Friend’s Little Sister is Special

“Piggy.”

“…”

“Oink-oink.”

“……”

“…Hey, flower pig.”

“……Hmph.”

“I saw your lips twitching. Answer me.”

“……Hmm♬”

“Oh come on, Han Se-ah, answer me.”

“Did you call me, oppa?”

That night.

When I got home and saw my little sister, everything that had happened until just now felt like a dream.

Why is my little sister Han Se-ah?

Of course, as someone who went to the same school with her until last year, I knew that Se-ah was quite popular at school.

But as her sibling, I couldn’t care less about that—she was just a pig who secretly stole the food I brought home.

“Do you happen to know Seo Ye-rin?”

Since the elementary school would be the same in this neighborhood anyway, and they’re the same age, I asked thinking she might know her.

Just as Seo Jin-hyuk became known to everyone as soon as he entered middle school, with her looks, Seo Ye-rin couldn’t possibly not be famous.

“Seo Ye-rin? How do you know her, oppa?”

At first, Se-ah wondered how I knew that name, opening her eyes wide in surprise.

Soon, as if something had occurred to her, she opened her mouth and started going “oh-wow.”

“Oppa, don’t tell me… no, right? You’re a middle schooler now.”

“Hey, it’s only a one-year difference, what’s the… I mean, what’s with the ‘don’t tell me’? I just asked if you know her.”

“6th grade elementary and 1st year middle school isn’t just a one-year difference, you know?”

Ah. I shouldn’t have asked.

Seeing my sister making a fuss about how there’s a huge difference, I wanted to just drop it, but she didn’t seem likely to let it go easily.

“So, are you close? You have lots of friends.”

“…Wow. You really are interested, huh? I know of her because she’s famous, but I’m not close with her. Never even talked to her.”

“Really…?”

“Oh, that’s a disappointed expression. Are you disappointed? Are you? Hmm? Hmm?”

“Ah, stop it. It’s not like that.”

This is really annoying because I actually am disappointed.

“I just asked because my friend’s little sister is Seo Ye-rin. I wondered if you knew her since you’re the same age.”

“…Your friend’s little sister is Seo Ye-rin?”

Se-ah looked at me with an expression of disbelief at my words.

“…What’s with that face?”

“I don’t think any of your friends have that level of looks…?”

What?

“No, oppa. Listen. You might not know, but Seo Ye-rin is extremely pretty, you know? Even as another girl, I’m amazed by her looks. That’s partly why she’s famous.”

I couldn’t help but nod at Se-ah’s continuing words.

—I admit it.

“But if she’s Seo Ye-rin’s brother, wouldn’t he be incredibly handsome? I roughly know all your friends, and I don’t think any of them have that kind of appearance…?”

What logical deduction…!

Se-ah’s assumption that if the sister is pretty, then the brother must be handsome reminded me of what I had said to Seo Jin-hyuk during lunch today. The level of thinking is exactly the same… it’s creepy.

Se-ah. I admit it. Sad as it is, we really are siblings.

“…What’s wrong with my friends?”

Even I thought there was no way to refute Se-ah’s words, but out of loyalty to my friends, I made an unconvincing protest.

“Do I have to say it out loud, oppa?”

I’m sorry, guys. Even I can’t imagine your faces being associated with Seo Ye-rin.

“…Forget it. He’s a friend I made after entering middle school. Someone you don’t know.”

“Heeh~ Oppa, perhaps….”

“I don’t have a photo.”

“Ah, why not~!”

Why would I carry around photos of guys?

Se-ah, who really seemed to want to see him, pounded on my arm repeatedly before speaking as if she’d had a good idea.

“Profile pic! Doesn’t your friend have a photo on his profile either?”

“Profile pic?”

Seo Jin-hyuk’s profile usually had scenery, but I think there was one photo of himself. Maybe his elementary school graduation photo?

When I didn’t deny having one, Se-ah’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“…But it seems wrong to just show someone else’s photo.”

“You can show him my photo too later, you know.”

“Do I need to blind my friend?”

“Blind me first?”

“…”

Hitting my thigh with her palm as if to say shut up and show me quickly, she was no different from a gangster.

I wonder who she takes after, sigh.

“Here. Look all you want.”

“Wow… this could be an idol level, right?”

Seeing Se-ah, who would normally squeal for someone moderately handsome, quietly admire him saying he’s really handsome, I realized anew that those siblings’ looks were truly on another level.

After all, I had also been amazed when I saw Seo Ye-rin, thinking “wow, she’s really pretty…”

“Oppa, you can’t let this oppa go. You must stay close with him. Got it? Become super close and bring him to our house and stuff. For your little sister’s sake too. Got it? You got it, right?”

“Hey, calm down a bit. And what do you mean for your sake? I’m already close with him, so why don’t you become friends with his sister?”

I didn’t say out loud, “Who knows? Maybe the siblings will hang out together later.”

“Hmm~ With Seo Ye-rin…?”

I was puzzled to see Se-ah speak as if she was a bit conflicted about my slightly self-interested suggestion.

“Why? You like being friends with pretty girls.”

“They turned out to be pretty after we became friends, you know? Anyway, it’s not that I dislike Seo Ye-rin or anything…”

She fidgeted with her hands as if finding it a bit difficult to tell me, saying “How should I put it—”

“Her reputation isn’t exactly great. You know, like, ‘beauty is pain,’ kind of thing?”

“…Really?”

“Yeah… Since she transferred recently and doesn’t know anyone, it seems even worse. For me to know about it from another class.”

If I had been born just a year later.

If I had been the same age as Seo Ye-rin. No, even if not the same age, if I were at the same school as her right now.

…I could have been there for her.

Going to find her every day, sitting next to her like a sticker, talking about how your day was, what happened.

Maybe you would find me annoying and tell me to go away.

But I imagined you feeling sad when I actually left, and me smiling as I approached you again.

I know it’s a meaningless assumption and an imagination I can’t realize right now.

But the reason such imaginings continue to flow through my mind, one after another.

Could it be because I saw you crying alone today?

Recalling the image of you quietly swallowing your sadness alone, a corner of my heart ached.

“…Se-ah.”

“Hmm…?”

“Could you be friends with, no, approach Seo Ye-rin? Please.”

“…”

I didn’t know exactly what situation Seo Ye-rin was in, but I could easily guess that it would be difficult for even my popular little sister to approach her.

There was no reason for Se-ah to do so.

What could I say to convince Se-ah?

Because she’s my close friend’s sister?

…When have I ever cared about my friends’ siblings?

Honestly, I was frustrated because I didn’t know why I was going this far myself. I had only met her today.

But still.

…Now that I know, I can’t just do nothing.

“Hmm~ Okay. If you say so, well… I’ll try talking to her.”

However, her answer came back so readily that I was the one at a loss for words.

“…Will you be okay?”

“Huh?”

“You know. You might also receive negative attention.”

“…You’re asking your pretty and precious little sister to do this even though you know that?”

I have nothing to say.

I closed my mouth tightly, unable to refute this fact even if she cursed at me.

Se-ah, watching me squirm, grinned and held up three fingers.

“First.”

“…?”

“I also want to be friends with her. I didn’t like seeing such a pretty girl walking around alone with a gloomy expression in the first place.”

“…And second?”

“If I become friends with her, won’t I get a chance to meet that handsome oppa from earlier? I should make a good impression on my future husband!”

“……………What?”

Ugh.

Seeing Se-ah squealing, covering her face with both hands as if embarrassed and shaking her body, I felt like throwing up.

But since I was the one asking for a favor, I painfully swallowed the bile that had risen to the tip of my throat.

“Third…”

As I couldn’t continue speaking due to the shocking second reason, Se-ah opened her mouth.

“Because I don’t like seeing my oppa make that face from earlier.”

“……”

By “earlier,” does she mean when I was asking for the favor?

I wanted to jokingly ask what my expression had been like then.

But seeing Se-ah looking at me with warm eyes as if she understood everything, I felt embarrassed, wondering if it had been that obvious.

“Which reason do you like?”

“…Let’s go with the third.”

“Hehe, okay.”

As Se-ah turned around with a satisfied smile, she suddenly turned back toward me as if she had forgotten something.

“Oppa.”

“What now.”

“If I ever end up in that situation, you’ll protect me, right?”

Of course.

“…I’ll run to you even if I have to take off my uniform.”

You’re my one and only little sister.

“Hehe, I’ll be counting on you?”

“You don’t even need to ask. Now go to your room already.”

Watching Se-ah’s back as she skipped to her room saying “yes~,” I prayed.

That my little sister and Seo Ye-rin would get along well.

That Seo Ye-rin would never have to be lonely again.