Chapter 4 : Catastrophe That Shouldn't Have Happened (1)

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After Returning From Another World, My Sister Become Obsessed With Me

Genre : Phychological, Thriller, Gore, Romance, Supranatural, super power

Chapter 4 : Catastrophe That Shouldn't Have Happened (1)

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The morning sun began to pour through the curtains, signaling that the night had finally passed. Frey stood before his mirror, dressing in his favorite casual outfit. To complete the look, he put on a mask that matched his clothes perfectly, hiding his scars while still looking stylish.

Once he was ready, he grabbed his deck of gaming cards from the desk and tucked them into a small sling bag. Checking the wall clock, he saw it was already 9:21 AM. He unplugged his phone from the charger and quickly sent a message to his sister, who was currently at school.

“I’m going out with my friends today. If you’re hungry after school, go ahead and buy some food. I left some money on the table for you.”

It didn't take long for Rika to reply.

“Eeh? Be careful then."

"And, Brother. Can you please come home before sunset?”

“I’ll try my best.”

With that, Frey stepped out, locked the front door, and hid the key in their usual spot. He hopped on his motorcycle and enjoyed a breezy, relaxed ride to his best friend Fin’s house.

Frey stepped out into the crisp morning air, the heavy thud of the front door echoing behind him. He reached under a loose brick near the porch, hiding the key in its usual spot before hopping onto his motorcycle. As he rode through the city, the cool wind against his mask felt refreshing. For the first time in a long while, the weight on his chest felt a little lighter.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to Fin’s house. Even from the driveway, he could hear the muffled sounds of intense shouting and button-mashing.

The moment Frey stepped through the door and the lock clicked shut, he reached for the straps of his mask. He pulled it off, taking a deep breath of the indoor air. In this house, he didn't have to hide the deep-red burn scars that ran down his jaw. Here, he was just Frey.

"The Legend has arrived!" Frey yelled Narcissistically.

"Frey! Get over here! Teru is absolutely destroying me, he’s on a twenty-kill streak! Avenge me!" Fin answer while still tapping on his controller.

"Move over, loser," Frey teased, tossing his bag onto the couch.

Anton, who was sprawled on a beanbag shoving chips into his mouth, let out a muffled cheer. "The King is back! Teru, say goodbye to your winning streak!"

Teru smirked, leaning forward as his eyes locked onto the monitor. "He might be a legend, but I’m on fire today. Bring it on, Frey!"

Frey grabbed the controller Fin practically shoved into his hands. The moment his fingers touched the buttons, his demeanor changed. For the next three hours, the room was filled with the sounds of battle, loud banter, and the comfortable, messy energy of brotherhood. Frey found himself laughing, ashe systematically dismantled Teru’s defense.

"Alright, alright, I give up! You’re still a freak at this game," Teru groaned, tossing his controller onto the rug after his fifth consecutive loss to Frey.

"I told you," Anton laughed, stretching his arms until his joints popped. He looked at a stack of DVDs. "Hey, how about we check out that new horror flick? The one everyone’s saying is 'too scary to finish'?"

"I bet it's trash," Fin smirked. "But let’s do it."

They dimmed the lights, expecting to be chilled to the bone. Instead, within the first twenty minutes, they were howling with laughter.

"Look at that CGI blood! It looks like strawberry jam!" Fin pointed at the screen, clutching his sides.

"And why is she running upstairs? That's the oldest trope in the book!" Frey added, his voice clear and unobstructed without his mask.

They spent the rest of the movie picking apart plot holes and making fun of the 'terrifying' monster that looked more like a wet mop.

By the time the credits rolled and the lights flickered back on, the clock on the wall read 4:07 PM. The realization hit Frey like a bucket of cold water.

"Crap, is it that late already?" Frey stood up, his eyes immediately landing on his mask on the coffee table. He reached for it and slid it back on, and he put on his slip bag too. "I should probably head back. I need to start on preparing the dinner before Rika gets hungry."

"Oh, come on, Frey! The sun is still up," Anton said, grabbing his jacket.

"Let’s take the bikes out for a spin around the city first. One quick loop, then you can go home, alright?"

Frey looked at his phone, thinking of Rika, then back at his friends' grinning faces.

“Sure, why not,” Frey agreed, caught up in the fun.

They rode aimlessly, enjoying the wind and the freedom of the road. Without realizing it, the sun began to dip below the horizon. Frey found himself at a night fair(night carnival) that had just opened. It was a really big event that more than thousand of people in here. The colorful lights beginning to flicker to life. His phone buzzed in his pocket, it was a message from Rika.

“Brother... where are you? The sun is already down. Why aren't you home yet?” She followed the text with a sad emoticon.

Frey replied quickly, “Oh! I forgot to tell you, I’m at the night Fair right now. I don’t think I can make it back just yet, Rika.”

“Yaaah... please come home soon if you can. I’m scared... for some reason, I just can’t seem to calm down.”

Frey sent a 'head-pat' sticker and replied, “Be patient. I’ll try to get home as fast as I can.”

“Okay... Rika will be waiting...”

At home, Rika was lying on Frey’s bed. She put her phone down with a sad expression, hugging her brother’s bolster(hug pillow) tightly, breathing in his scent to soothe her nerves. Meanwhile, Frey was facing a situation that was becoming... a bit complicated.

As Frey, Anton, Teru, and Fin were about to explore the market, they suddenly crossed paths with Fin’s girlfriend, who was also wandering the market with her own circle of friends.

“Oh boy. I think that’s my girlfriend,” Fin muttered, instinctively trying to hide his face with his hand.

“So? What’s the problem? Why are you hiding?” Anton asked, looking confused.

“You don’t get it! If she sees me, she’ll insist we all hang out together. She’s with her three best friends too. This is going to turn into a massive group date,” Fin whispered, trying to retreat.

“A group date? That sounds like a great opportunity! Let’s go talk to them,” Teru said excitedly.

“Hey!” Fin tried to grab Teru’s arm, but it was too late.

“Fin?” a girl’s voice called out from behind them.

Fin flinched. He slowly turned around with a sheepish, awkward smile. “W-wow? What a coincidence, Hana!”

“FIN!” Hana cheered, running toward him and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

Fin reluctantly hugged her back for a moment. When she pulled away, she kept a firm grip on his hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Are these the friends you’re always talking about?” she asked, looking at Frey, Anton, and Teru.

“Yeah. I guess this is the first time you’ve all met. This tall guy here is Anton, the suspicious-looking one is Teru, and the one in the mask is Frey,” Fin introduced them, and they all exchanged polite handshakes.

Hana’s three friends stepped forward to join them.

“This is perfect! Let me introduce my best friends too!” Hana exclaimed.

“The shortest one here is Maya, the stylish one is Luna, and the graceful one over there is Aira.”

The group began to chat, the awkwardness quickly fading as they started to bond over the vibrant atmosphere of the night market.

“Let’s walk around together!” Hana said, pulling Fin’s arm.

“A-ah... actually, I was thinking—”

Before Fin could finish, Hana flashed him a forceful, 'don't-you-dare-say-no' smile. Fin immediately folded.

“L-let’s go! The more the merrier!” he stammered.

They began to walk in a long line through the crowded market stalls. Fin and Hana led the way at the front, followed by Anton and Luna. Behind them were Teru and Maya. And bringing up the rear, walking side-by-side in a quiet, slightly awkward rhythm, were Frey and Aira.

The group moved through the night fair like a slow-moving tide, surrounded by the smell of grilled corn, the bright neon glow of the stalls, and the constant hum of the crowd. Frey, however, felt like he was only half-present. His hand kept wandering to his pocket, checking his phone every few minutes. Each time he saw a notification from Rika.

"Is that your sister?"

Aira’s voice was soft, barely audible over the music blaring from a nearby carousel. Frey flinched slightly, realizing he had been staring at his screen for too long.

He quickly tucked the phone away.

"Eh? Ah, yeah. Sorry," Frey said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’m just... a bit worried about her being home alone."

"It’s okay, really," Aira replied, her pace steady beside him. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at him with a curious expression. "I’m not offended. Actually, I think it’s sweet that you care so much."

"You think so? Thanks," Frey muttered, his voice muffled by the black fabric of his mask.

Aira tilted her head, her eyes scanning his face. "You know, when we first met, I thought you’d be the shy, awkward type—the kind of person who hides in the corner. But I was wrong. You're actually quite easy to talk to. You don't seem nervous at all."

Frey let out a soft chuckle. "I’m definitely not as confident as I look, believe me. But I appreciate the compliment."

Even though his mouth was covered, Aira could see the way the corners of his eyes crinkled. She smiled back, her gaze lingering a bit longer on his mask.

"So," she began, her tone shifting to something more gentle, "is there a reason you wear the mask? Or is it just a fashion choice?"

Frey’s footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. "Yeah... that. It’s a bit of a long story. Not exactly the best topic for a fun night out."

Aira looked ahead, watching their friends laugh and push each other around further up the path. The atmosphere was light, but the air between her and Frey had grown thick with unspoken truths.

"Is it because of scars?" she asked softly.

Frey didn't answer immediately. He let out a dry, awkward laugh that served as a confirmation. He expected her to go quiet, to look away in discomfort, or to offer a shallow apology like most people did.

Instead, Aira slowed down to match his pace. "You don’t have to worry about that with me, Frey. I’m not the type of person who judges someone by their skin. Just by the way you talk, the way you carry yourself, and the way you treat your friends... I can already tell you’re a good person. That’s what matters."

Frey turned to look at her, his gaze warm and genuinely surprised. "I... I didn't expect that. Most people usually get uncomfortable or start acting weird once they figure it out."

"Then most people are missing out," Aira said with a shrug, then gestured to her friends.

"I’m just glad my friends think the same way I do. They like you, too."

The two of them continued to walk, the conversation flowing more naturally now that the "elephant in the room" had been addressed. But the group dynamic was about to change.

Hana, who was practically vibrating with energy, suddenly gripped Fin’s arm. "Fin! Look! The shooting gallery! I want that giant teddy bear!"

Before Fin could even protest, Hana had dragged him out of the line and toward the stall. Seeing this as a cue, the others followed. Anton and Luna peeled off toward the food court on the left, while Teru and Maya disappeared toward the Ferris wheel, laughing as they went.

Suddenly, Frey and Aira were standing alone in the middle of the crowded thoroughfare.

Frey glanced at his watch. He wanted to go home, but leaving Aira standing there by herself felt incredibly rude. He scanned the nearby stalls, looking for something quick.

"Well, since everyone has abandoned us," Frey said, gesturing toward a game nearby where people were tossing balls into wooden holes. "Want to try that one? It looks fast and... well, I might be a 'Legend' at games, but I’ve never tried that one."

He hoped a quick game would satisfy the social requirement so he could head back to Rika soon.

Aira’s smile widened, genuine and bright. "A challenge? I’d love to."

›› TO BE CONTINUED ‹‹

— KS