Nari

When I first saw him, I didn’t think he was anything spectacular. I did find him quite attractive, but attractiveness was nothing to the Sora-obsessed me. I’d spent the previous years dating others to try and get Sora to look at me.

Gender didn’t matter as long as they loved me.

With no progress on the Sora front, I gave up on dating anyone, falsely believing that Sora was my soulmate. It was a lie, of course, but when you’re an experienced liar such as myself, tricking your own soul was a simple task.

Despite my best attempts, I realized that the bulk of his attention went to Yuri and their many disagreements. I still remember their first one, and how surprised I was to see Sora act so differently.

We were all first-years, and I was excited after finding out that Sora and I would be in the same class.

It seems that destiny is on my side. I walked into the classroom believing that high school would mark the return of my old relationship.

“Hey, wake up.” At the sound of Sora’s voice, I ran into the classroom. “You shouldn’t be tired. We haven’t had our first class yet.”

An obnoxiously loud groan came from a guy with a black bush of hair. Formerly asleep at his desk, the guy I’d soon know to be Heo Yuri was giving Sora a hostile glare. “Exactly, so there’s no reason for you to wake me up.” He put his head back down, and that little action made Sora all the more irritated.

Sora knocked on his desk three times, causing Yuri to jump out of his seat in retaliation. I saw the semblance of a grin start to appear on Sora’s face.

Yuri wasn’t having it. “What’s with you? You’ve been like this since morning assembly!”

“I don’t see how I’m the problem here. I’m simply making sure that the class is awake for when our teacher arrives.”

“Bullshit. You’re trying to start a fight.” Yuri pushed Sora away from him.

Sora pretended to dust himself off. “Of course. People like you would resort to violence first.”

“People like me?” Yuri took a step forward and closed the distance. “Are you implying something?”

“You do know what kind of school Hwangjoga is, do you not?” Sora’s face was smug and unworried as he continued. “The students here are either children of the elite coming for a better education, or hard-working scholarship students who want to do better in life.” He motioned to Yuri’s desk with his hand. “After seeing you waltz in here for a nap, I can assume that education means nothing to you.”

“And you know what I think, rich kid?” Sora crossed his arms, waiting for the response. “If you assume you know everything just from meeting someone once, then it’s not wrong of me to assume that your daddy’s company is gonna flop the moment an arrogant asshole like you takes over.”

Before Sora finish clenching his fist, I stepped in front of him. His reputation was important, and if the argument between them continued, it would be the end of him.

“Sora, it seems like we’re in the same class this year.” Thinking back now, the look Sora gave me was one of disgust, but I was too blind to notice it. “If you’re so lively this morning, you won’t have enough energy to make it through the rest of the day.” I turned around to face Yuri for the first time. “And what was that?”

He looked between Sora and I with suspicion in his eyes. “What was what? He pissed me off, so I responded in kind.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Would you have really fought him like a mindless ape if I hadn’t intervened just now?”

Despite my provocation, Yuri smirked at me.

“If he’s the kind of guy that needs his girlfriend to intervene, then fighting him wouldn’t be worth it at all.”

“G-girlfriend…” I was caught off guard by his assumption, but I didn’t correct him.

Yuri shrugged and returned to his seat, giving Sora a dirty look before going back to sleep.

I didn’t care much at the time, but Sora had a point. How did Yuri get into our school?

Now that I’m romantically interested in him, I needed to know whatever I could about him. Yes, I’m aware that my obsessive habits are what caused issues previously, but the promise I gave Yuri only pertains to that girl.

Before I begin my research, there’s another loose end that I need to fix.

I left my bedroom, crossing the hallway to my younger brother’s room.

It’s about time that I check up on my little sibling like the good sister I am.

Haru

“Yuri! You just don’t get it!” Yuri and I had been going back and forth for over thirty minutes over the phone. “It doesn’t matter if Gaku only has one continuity in Wish Orb. Superguy would body him any day.”

“Oh yeah? If Superguy’s so amazing, then why can’t any of the writers keep him consistent? One day he’s punching planets, then he’s just kinda strong the next issue? It’s over, Haru. Superguy would need all the wish orbs to recover from the ass-beating Gaku’d give him.”

“Listen—” This very important conversation was interrupted by a knock on my door. It was a firmer knock than the housekeeper’s, and I had an idea of who it was. “I’ll have to call you back.”

“What? Giving up already?” I could sense Yuri trying to hide his disappointment at the thought of our debate ending.

The knock came again, louder this time.

I told him “I’ll win this argument tomorrow!” Yuri laughed as he hung up the phone, and I scrolled through my phone while walking to my door.

Hyejin, huh? Sis must not like it when someone else uses her pawns.

I started dating Hyejin after our little “date” at the PC café. I had coincidentally just gotten out of a breakup, and Hyejin is a girl that’s starving for attention. She’s cute and all, but being around Sis too much must’ve given her a huge blow to her self-confidence.

She just barely resembles a younger version of the idol Yubin. She’s tall for a girl—only a few centimeters shorter than Yuri—and her most notable trait is her long, straight black hair that’s always shimmering. Despite her confidence issues, she never slacks when it comes to her appearance. Her hair’s soft too, but how would I know that?

Out of all the girls that followed my sister, I knew that she’d be the easiest one to manipulate.

At least, that’s what I assumed at first.

She must’ve forgotten that I’m the younger brother of her clique leader. Every day after school, she complains to me about how hard it is trying to think of ways to make life harder for “some girl that Nari doesn’t like.”

I brought it up to her one day in the hallway. “Are you talking about the second-year with the butterfly pin in her hair?”

“Yeah! I feel sorry for her, but I’ve got too much on the line to stop.”

There it is! “You do?” I lightly took hold of her hand. “If something ever bothers you, you know you can come to me, right?”

Her eyes brightened. “I can!?”

“Always! I’m your boyfriend, remember?” The b-word made her face redden, and that’s when I got all the information I needed.

Sis was holding Hyejin’s family and their livelihood hostage in order to get them to bully Sarang. I couldn’t help but feel a little impressed by that. I sent Sora a few texts about the situation as soon as I found out, and the rest is history.

Once I got an update from Yuri about the situation, I considered breaking it off with Hyejin right then and there. I didn’t need her for information anymore, and our relationship started because of a lie anyway.

Yet for some reason, I didn’t.

Snapping back to reality, I opened my door and was faced with my sister’s apathetic gaze.

“Hey Sis, the resting bitch face is a little strong for your brother today. Can you turn it down?”

Sis rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Sounds like you were having a fun time in here, but don’t forget that family is just as important.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Especially if you’re screwing over your own family in secret, little brother of mine.”

“Me? I’d never!” I couldn’t hold back my own smirk. “All I did was give you an audience with the guy you’re desperately in love with. If anything, I think I deserve a pat on the back for that one.”

“The guy I used to be desperately in love with. I’ve given up on pursuing Kim Sora any further.”

“I knew you couldn’t—wait, you’re done with him?”

It was her turn to smirk at me. “Hearing those words come from me must’ve seemed like an impossibility in your mind.”

“Well, yeah! I honestly thought you’d chase him all the way through college.”

Sis chuckled to herself. “That would’ve been a sad waste of my life. If I hadn’t given up on him now, I likely would’ve just wasted the rest of my youth on him. Thankfully, I had someone pull the wool from my eyes.”

Her cheeks turned red, and it took no time for me to realize she was talking about—

“My best friend?”

She cleared her throat. “Is there a problem with that?” I shook my head in disbelief, turning around to use my phone. “Haru. What are you doing?”

“Hey Sori!” My phone’s digital assistant popped on the screen. “Call—”

“N-no!” Sis ran over and tried to grab my phone. “What are you doing?”

I laughed while keeping my phone away from her. “Call Heo Yuri!”

“Calling Heo Yuri.” The robotic text-to-speech voice started to dial.

“Give me your phone!” Sis kept trying to grab it, but I held my phone as high as I could.

“You can’t grab it, Sis!”

Sis was beyond flustered. “You can’t do that! You’re barely taller than me!”

“And? What’s wrong with calling my best friend? I was talking to him before you knocked.”

Another ring. “I-I’m still embarrassed from the last time he and I spoke! I can’t just suddenly—”

“Yo, Haru? You’re ready to admit defeat already?”

The sound of Yuri’s voice made Sis pause just long enough for me to jump away from her. “Not today! In fact, I’ve got a guest with me this time!”

“Haru! Shut up!”

“Pinkie?” Yuri sounded confused, but I had him right where I wanted him!

“Pinkie, huh? You’ve already got a cute nickname for her!” Sis blew her cheeks in frustration. “I just wanted to call my brother-in-law before the big wedding!”

“Wedding? What are you…oh! We aren’t like that!”

Bingo!

“Hey, I’m just making sure! My sister is single, and I’m sure our dad would love to have you as part of the family!”

Yuri sighed. “Thanks for the offer, but your sister and I are just friends. Even then, you of all people know that I wouldn’t survive in a rich family.”

I laughed at his observation. “You say that, but you could secretly be the heir to some hidden fortune out there!”

“As if! I wouldn’t be caught dead bending over for some weird old rich people.”

“Aren’t you two forgetting someone?” Sis had regained her composure, snatching the phone out of my hand. “Since you’re here Yuri, I just wanted to confirm that you’re still bringing that vinyl tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I didn’t forget. I’m bringing my precious Elton Joel one, so you’d better take good care of it!”

“I’ll be ready for it.” Yuri couldn’t tell because of her business-like tone, but her entire face was redder than a bowl of cherries. “I’ll see you soon, Yuri.”

Before she left my room, Sis thanked me for telling Sora about the situation.

“If you hadn’t,” She started, “Then I would’ve stayed a blind idiot for who knows how long.” It was faint, but she smiled. “I’m glad that I can rely on at least one person in this family.”

Sis started walking towards her room. I remembered how closed-off she is from the rest of our family despite her position as the heir.

Maybe everything could’ve been avoided if I’d been a better brother to her.

“Wait!” I ran across the hallway and caught her by the arm.

She turned around to look at me. “Is there something else?”

“I…” I wasn’t sure what to say. Hell, I wasn’t sure where to start.

“If you have nothing to say, then I’ll be on my way.” I released my hand, and she opened the door to her room. “Last chance before I go inside my room.”

Suddenly, it hit me!

“Sis, do you mind if I sit outside your door?”

Her eyes grew wide as she understood what I meant by that. “Do as you’d like, Haru.” She slowly closed her door, and I sat down with my back laying against it. I wasn’t sure if she remembered, but I used to do this all the time when we were little.

“I was around nine years old when I first tried doing this.” Sis was silent, but I knew she was listening. “I loved doing things with Father and Mother, and I wanted to have fun with you too, Sis. I didn’t understand why you felt so closed off at the time. I thought it was fucked up that I couldn’t even remember what my older sister’s voice sounded like despite living in the same house as her for my entire life.

“That’s when I tried telling stories to you through your door. I’d make a story from anything I saw. From one of Father’s business partners telling their mistress to not call his house anymore to a janitor humming a nice song while mopping our business building. I knew that Father always tried to keep your mind on studying and competitions. Compared to all the freedom I had, you barely had time to interact with us because of all the stuff you did.”

I touched the side of the door, smiling at another memory. “The first time you responded to me was with a note of all things. Can you believe what you said to me back then? You wrote back, asking me if I could tell you a story about our parents because you wanted to get to know them better. I spent a few days trying to find something to tell you. In the end, I never got to tell you that story.”

I chuckled to myself, but even I could feel how strained it was. “The day I had the story ready was the same day that Kim Sungmin came to our house for the first time with his son.” I felt something wet fall on my arm, and I was surprised by the sight of my tears. “I lost you that day Sis, and I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

I started standing up. “I had fun fighting with you today, Sis. It’s not often that I get to see you acting all embarrassed and flustered like that.” Things will get harder for her since Yuri likes someone else. “I teased you today, but Yuri really is my best friend. He’s already like a brother to me.” I don’t wanna see Yuri get hurt, but I also don’t want my sister to mindlessly go after someone again.

Yuri likes Sarang, but Sis likes Yuri. It’d be amazing if all of us could be happy in the end.

If Yuri liked Sis back, then everything would be perfect…

Wait, that’s it!

Yuri just needs to get together with my sister!

The only problem there is that he’s falling badly for Sarang. I could try and help Sora get with her, but seeing Sora go after Sarang would only reinforce Yuri’s crush on her. If that happens, then this plan will fail as soon as it starts.

Another idea came to mind.

It’s horrible, disgusting, and if it goes wrong, I could ruin everything. At the same time, everything would fall into place if the plan went well.

“But don’t worry, Sis. I’ll be rooting for you!”

After all, if Sarang happened to fall for his best friend, Yuri would just have to accept it.

He’s just that kind of guy after all.