I was Reincarnated as the Scum Older Brother of the Protagonist in a Romance Battle Game, But I don't want to Die, so I'll do my Best - Episode 18

The training ground owned by the Amamiya family, “The Black Tortoise’s Rain-Slicked Crags”—we have now arrived at its White Zone.

“It’s like a natural obstacle course…”

For stamina training in the White Zone, we changed into comfortable workout clothes. Right now, both of us are dressed casually in T-shirts, joggers, and sneakers.

Shiro and I are currently staring up at the natural cliff face before us—a natural sport climbing wall.

“Mm. First, I’ll show you the beginner route. Follow me, Joji.”

Shiro opened a nearby box resembling a weather station, coated her hands with white chalk for grip, and began scaling the relatively gentle slope of the cliff.

“This route is easy, so Joji can choose whichever path he wants.”

Like a ninja, Shiro effortlessly scaled the cliff and reached the top in no time, flashing me a peace sign.

I waved back at her and, following her example, applied the chalk from the box to my hands before gripping the cliff.

(Alright, grab here… place my right foot there…)

But after taking the first step, I struggled to find the next foothold.

“My right foot can’t get a grip…”

I regretted choosing such an unstable foothold, but I couldn’t stay frozen in place. Steeling myself, I kicked off with my left foot.

Sliiide—

The moment I pushed off with my left foot, my right hand slipped out of the crevice, and I lost my balance, falling backward.

Thud!

“Oww!”

I landed flat on my back… but it didn’t hurt as much as I expected.

“Joji… you barely climbed a meter.”

Apparently, I had only made it about 30 centimeters up. Even though I’d been diligently doing morning runs, squats, and push-ups for nearly two weeks now—

(If I were the protagonist, maybe… but for a trash mob like me, just putting in a little effort won’t yield immediate results, huh…?)

I must’ve been overestimating myself. Unlike in light novels, where reincarnation comes with instant buffs—

[Since I’ve never done anything before, just putting in a little effort should show results right away.]

—I might’ve naively hoped for something like that. But if I really thought about my position, it’s obvious. Kitano Joji is nothing more than a weakling mob character who gets wrecked in the game’s tutorial. There’s not a single shred of potential for him to become strong.

Maybe even what I’m doing now is just useless flailing…

But the only thing I have going for me is my ability to give my all, step by step. That’s how I was in my previous world, too.

“…I have no choice but to keep going. If giving my all isn’t enough, then I’ll find another way. That’s all there is to it!”

I stood up once more and reached for the cliff again.

(If I give up at something like this, nothing will ever change.)

“Hah… hah… hah… I… did it…”

“Mm. Good job.”

Shiro crouched beside me as I gasped for breath on all fours, patting my shoulder lightly.

I’d lost count of how many times I’d fallen. My body was covered in scrapes from the rocks and bruises from the impacts.

How many hours had I spent just to reach the top of the beginner course? The sun was already setting, painting the sky in hues of twilight.

“…Shiro, be honest with me. Where do I rank in our grade—top, middle, or bottom?”

“Bottom of the middle.”

“I see… bottom of the middle, huh? And what about you, Shiro?”

“Top of the top.”

“What about my little brother… Kitano Takashi?”

“Top of the middle.”

“Oh, and your ex-fiancée is middle of the top.”

“I see… yeah.”

“Did that kill your motivation?”

Shiro, sitting cross-legged in front of me, asked that with a completely calm expression. Only her two Meteor Eyes reflected the setting sun, glowing like gold.

“Hah! As if! If I’m bottom of the middle, then all I can do is aim for the top! I’ve been reborn—I’ll struggle with everything I’ve got!”

“…Well, that’s what my eyes see too. As long as Joji doesn’t give up, I won’t either. I’ll keep supporting you.”

“Yeah, I appreciate it, best friend.”

“Leave it to me, best friend.”

“Pfft—hahahaha! Ahahahaha!”

Our laughter echoed across the cliff as the sun sank below the horizon.

“Oww… ow ow ow…”

Since it would be dangerous to continue after dark, we called it a day and returned to our cabin. Shiro, calling me “filthy and covered in dirt,” sent me to the bath before dinner.

As I poured hot water from the outdoor bath over my body, the wounds stung painfully.

“Just one day, and I’m already covered in cuts and bruises…”

Gritting my teeth, I washed my hair and body with soap before sinking into the hot spring. The tub was large enough for four or five people, filled with natural spring water that supposedly helped heal cuts and bruises.

Though the wounds still stung, just knowing it was a hot spring made me feel like I was healing. Maybe that kind of mindset actually boosts the body’s recovery.

Gazing up at the starry sky, I cupped some water in my hands and splashed it over my face.

“Haaah… this is heaven… absolute bliss.”

“Mm. You sound like an old man.”

“I’m not an old man!”

“Just now, while washing up, you kept groaning ‘ow, ow’ like one.”

“Shut up! It can’t be hel—… huh?!”

“Hm? What are you looking at?”

“WH—WHY ARE YOU HERE, SHIRO?!”

I slipped spectacularly in the bath, sending water splashing everywhere.

Right in front of me, with her long blue hair tied up in a towel and only a single bath towel wrapped around her body, was Shiro—soaking in the same hot spring as me.

“Hm? What’s so strange about it? This is my family’s facility. The bath is mine. Do you understand?“

“Yeah, I get it! BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT! WHY ARE YOU JUST CASUALLY JOINING A BATH WITH A GUY IN IT?!”

Tsk tsk tsk.

Shiro wagged her index finger side to side with a smug look.

“I was here first. You were the one who came in afterward.”

“Huh?… Wait, so that means—?”

“Exactly.”

“GYAAAAH! I’M SO SORRY!!”

Panicking, I bolted out of the outdoor bath, barely drying myself before throwing on my underwear and sprinting back to my cottage room in record time.

“Hm. Now do you understand?”

Shiro, still soaking in the now-quiet hot spring after Joji’s escape, spoke to someone—her expression slightly triumphant.

“…I still don’t trust him. Men are nothing but savage creatures who think only of assaulting lovely women like you, Shiro-sama, out of sheer lust.”

“Especially that trashy, lowlife beast known as Kitano Joji…”