Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 161

Sehee and Dayeong were busy with broadcasting, but unlike Aazin, Jihae and Yuri had some free time since they weren’t being chased by work at that moment.

However, they couldn’t just lounge around forever.

Since their parents died in an accident when they were young and they had to fend for themselves at relatives’ homes, Jihae worked hard to get into S University’s Law program.

No matter how much her best friend Sehee looked out for her, she didn’t want to end up being a thoughtless, full-bellied pig just because of that.

Jihae had set her own goals. Well, it wasn’t anything grand, just a task she had to tackle in her life. Catching up on this year’s studies and aiming to reenroll next year.

Fortunately, even if she went missing, as long as she returned safely, restoring her status was entirely possible in this world. Sehee had even offered to help her with that, so she didn’t need to worry.

Thus, unless something involved other heroes, her daily life consisted of studying hard in her room.

“Stretch!”

Ah, that sound is so refreshing. When everyone started stretching after coming to this house, Jihae wondered what all the fuss was about.

There’s nothing quite like a stretch to relieve stiff muscles. Pushing her chair back and looking across her desk, Jihae whistled at the mountains of books in front of her.

“Looks like I’ve read a lot.”

All the hours spent studying in the past didn’t go to waste, and reviewing wasn’t too difficult.

If anything, she felt even better than before.

“All thanks to Sehee.”

While she was here, being able to use a fraction of the Hero’s Power was a huge help. When she circulated her energy to awaken her mind and activate her spirit while studying, the efficiency multiplied.

At this rate, she could comfortably prepare for returning to school next year… she could see an optimistic future ahead.

Just then, a soft sound of the front doorbell drifted in from afar.

If someone was ringing the doorbell at this house, it surely meant they weren’t a peddler or an unwanted guest, so Jihae quickly moved.

“Oh, sis! Have you eaten?”

At the open door stood Yuri, beaming with a smile.

“Oh, I just overslept. What’s the occasion, my little cutie?”

Maybe she liked being called little cutie, because a soft blush graced Yuri’s cheeks, making her look adorable.

Ah, seeing this makes me understand why those sweet guys follow her around.

While Sehee was the top in terms of overwhelming looks and charisma, Yuri had the kind of charm that made you want to protect and hug her like a small baby bird.

“I just made gimbap. I made a little too much and wanted to share it, but Aazin isn’t home, and Sehee seems to be sleeping.”

How impressive.

Always looking out for others… whoever ends up with her must truly be a lucky guy.

Jihae gently pinched Yuri’s cheek. Her delicate and cautious gesture was a way of teasing her because she was just too cute.

“Hurry in. Let’s eat together.”

“Yes!”

Yuri said she’d set up something simple, but when they laid everything out on the table, it turned out to be quite a feast.

‘Since when did gimbap have whole chunks of meat in it?’

Along with cheese, perilla leaves, spinach, carrots… and in the center, was that plump white meat shrimp?

This kind of gimbap was hard to find anywhere around, and even if it were sold, it would easily surpass ten thousand won in quality.

“You can dip it in the broth or soy sauce for flavor. It can be a bit heavy, so I also prepared wasabi. And I put grilled eel in with the seasoning instead of meat, it’s delicious.”

“Yuri.”

“Yes?”

Jihae, gazing at the cute little chick blinking her eyes, couldn’t help but shed tears of joy.

“Will you just marry me already?”

She cooks well. She’s pretty. And she has a great personality. A multi-talented ideal wife just can’t be resisted.

In the time she spent in this world, she had only encountered rough, eccentric, or intimidating people, so Yuri was like a supreme drug that stunned her.

Though she caught a glimpse of it during their last camping trip, experiencing such service firsthand made Jihae understand why Sehee cared for Yuri so much.

In response to Jihae’s playful confession, Yuri blinked her eyes with a pure expression of confusion.

“Ha!”

Then, breaking into a warm laugh, she said, clearly amused, her eyes glistening with a hint of tears.

“I’ll have to decline.”

Her bright smile didn’t match the explicit rejection.

“Eh~? Why? I’m confident about returning to school, I study well, and if I get a job in an office, I can make a lot of money.”

“Um, I’m sorry. I already have someone in mind.”

“Someone? Who is it?!”

Who dared to lay their eyes on our little cutie of the Hero Squad, the precious younger sibling? What punk is it?

At first, Jihae was half-joking, but seeing Yuri’s innocent face, she put a finger to her lips.

“It’s a secret.”

The red tongue that peeked out at the end looked like a red snake hunting prey, slipping back into its cave.

*

*

*

After finishing their meal and tidying up, they were lounging comfortably in the living room.

Yuri’s sudden disclosure of her aspirations felt abrupt.

“I’m thinking of taking the GED next year when my curse is lifted.”

“Oh, Yuri, you were a high school student? You have to stay here all year because of that curse? You’re really struggling.”

“Yes. I’ll need time to catch up on my missed studies, so I’m treating it as a gap year. But, I have a favor to ask, sis.”

“A favor?”

Jihae watched carefully as Yuri nodded seriously, curious about what it could be.

Like an eager audience waiting for the next act, she stared at Yuri, waiting for her response.

“Could you please tutor me?”

Tutoring?

Oh, for a student needing a tutor, it shouldn’t be too much to ask. It had been so long since she heard the word that there was a lag in her mental processing.

Tutoring, huh…

“So you’re saying you need tutoring?”

“Yes! Hehe, if you’re from S University’s Law program, you must be really smart…”

Yuri’s boldness made Jihae hold back a laugh that seemed about to burst out.

No wonder this girl had that strange energy in her gimbap. So that was her motive.

Jihae collected her thoughts, figuring out if she could manage her studies while also tutoring her cute little sister in front of her.

And if she could enjoy some hobbies while doing it, too.

“Well, there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

Seeing Yuri’s eyes gleam with excitement at the bait, Jihae couldn’t help but smile slyly.

“Your tutoring fee will be paid in food.”

This could be seen as labor exploitation against a minor, but back when she was riding high as a top student in the law program, she had tutored plenty of students in Gangnam for good money.

Even with eight years gone by, brushing through the textbooks would have her hooked up again in no time.

“Deal.”

“Yes!”

Yuri’s acceptance had Jihae clenching her fist in triumph.

With Sehee providing the house and Yuri providing the food, she could at least indulge in a more abundant life for the next year…

As for clothing… Well, she would be cooped up at home like a bamboo shoot for a year, what more could she need?

“Hey sis, this is yours, right?”

“Huh?”

Lost in thoughts of boundless happiness, Jihae snapped back to reality at Yuri’s voice.

Curiously, Yuri pointed at the beautifully kept guitar that Sehee had brought after some band practice. It was her go-to item for refreshing herself while studying.

“I played it when we went camping… when did you learn?”

“It’s… I wandered a bit until my first year of high school, but the guitar became my soul at that time. I practiced so much, neglecting my studies. I even dabbled in composition and many things.”

“Oh….”

That was when she had seriously contemplated changing her career path. In the end, though, she threw herself into studying.

“Can you play for me?”

“Of course.”

Seeing her little sister’s sparkling eyes, Jihae smiled and pulled the guitar from its corner.

—Ding dong~.

The melody that flowed into her ears didn’t quite resonate well with her, causing her expression to frown slightly.

“Um. Something about it just feels off.”

Although she strummed the strings a few times, she couldn’t recall a melody that struck her heart.

In front of her, her fellow hero and sister shone with expectation; she couldn’t play carelessly.

Even if it was short, it had to leave an impact.

‘What to do?’

It might be too early, but she had no choice but to use her cheat key.

Exhaling, she drew upon her energy.

As her fingers strummed the strings, a flow of internal power surged forth, releasing an unprecedented vibration.

“Wow!”

Maybe sensing even a faint flow of energy, Yuri’s amazement erupted louder than ever.

If she had busted this out while camping, she might have hit over a million views by now.

As the martial arts she’d manifested in this world came alive once again, she truly felt the cheat key’s power was undiminished.

Because in a band, sound is everything.