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 33

In the end, the cold stares directed at me didn’t let up throughout the afternoon classes. It was the same outside the classroom too.

• “Hey, it’s him, right? How disgusting…”
• “No way… Amamiya-san would neverlisten to some lowlife trash like him.”
• “Oh, I heard he offered her a huge pile of cash and begged on his knees?”
• “Eww, seriously? What a total loser. So pathetic. So stupid.”

Every time people spotted me in the hallway, everyone who passed by sneered at me, convinced I’d forcibly dragged Mashiro into being my ally.

(Well… I guess the looks of disgust aimed at me are understandable… I feel the same way about myself.)

However…

“Yahoooo— Joji-chi! Gettin’ Mashiron on your team? Way to go, you sly dog~!”

On the way back from changing classrooms, my classmate Ikegami Amane caught me, jabbing me with her elbow.

“…Ikegami-san, you don’t think like the others? That I forced Mashiro to join me?”

“Huh? Why would I~? A’tai only believes what her own eyes see and her own ears hear. I’ve seen Joji-chi and Mashiron coming down from the rooftop looking all chummy and happy times after lunch.”

(I see… The rooftop doesn’t get many people, so I didn’t think about it. I never imagined we’d been seen… Still…)

“Oh, right… By the way, Ikegami-san, why were you on the 3rd floor?”

Then, laughing heartily as she shook her long, curly blonde hair, “Ahahaha! Whaaat~? Joji-chi, are ya fallin’ for little ol’ me~?”

“Ah, no, it’s not like that…”

“Hey! Amane! Quit wasting time chatting with that guy and get back here!!”

Saying that, a male student grabbed Ikegami’s hand and forcibly pulled her away from me.

(Toudou… That guy makes no effort to hide his hostility toward me…)

Pulled along by Toudou, Ikegami looked back at me, making an apologetic gesture with one hand and winking. Behind her, for just an instant, Toudou glared at me with eyes full of hatred.

(Sigh… Normally, Toudou’s glare should be aimed at Takashi, not me…)

As you saw, Toudou Tokiya has a crush on his childhood friend, Ikegami Amane.

When Amane got into fashion in middle school and started liking gal-style outfits, he changed his own style to something wild and slightly flashy to try and win her favor.

The Toudou family is the main house of an ancient staff-fighting style (Koryu Boujutsu), and Tokiya has literally been drilled in Toudou-ryu Souboujutsu since early childhood.

Because it’s an ancient martial art, his family is extremely strict about etiquette and appearance, and he constantly fights with his parents over his current look.

On the other hand, Amane’s family is the main house of the Ikegami-ryu, representing the Omotesenke school of ikebana (flower arrangement), with disciples nationwide.

Though Amane dresses like a gal now, her talent is said to have already surpassed that of her mother, who is both her teacher and the head instructor (Soushihan), and is approaching her grandmother, the headmaster (Iemoto) of Ikegami-ryu.

Her rare aesthetic sense and keen eye for discerning the character of flowers is an innate talent beyond imitation.

Ikebana and martial arts might seem unrelated, but the Toudou and Ikegami families are actually distantly related.

It stems from the Bakumatsu period (late Edo) several generations ago: the eldest son of the Toudou family, on a warrior’s pilgrimage, rescued the daughter of the Ikegami family who was being attacked by rebels. They fell in love, and a bond was formed.

Their descendants are the current heirs of the Ikegami and Toudou families.

◇

“Well, fundamentally, Ikegami isn’t a heroine meant to be ‘conquered’…”

In the original story, there were slight hints during the plot of Amane having faint romantic feelings for Takashi, but it was never deeply explored.

Since she only participates as an NPC in a limited capacity, the only reason I know about the relationship between their families is because I was involved as a developer. While it’s technically official lore, since it wasn’t actively publicized, you could call it backstory.

…

…

And so, aside from the irregular presence of Ikegami, the malicious stares remained unchanged, and the classes before the long weekend ended.

“Thank you very much!”

After the closing homeroom greeting…

“Kitano, stay behind for a moment. The rest of you are dismissed.”

“Yes.”

…Seeing that I was being kept by the teacher, my classmates left the room, laughing scornfully as if I was about to get scolded.

Following Minagawa-sensei as she suggested moving locations, we headed to the student guidance room.

Seeing this, other students also assumed I was getting chewed out, whispering insults and mocking me under their breath.

(Sigh… After this break, coming back to school is gonna be hell…)

“We’re here. Come in.”

Minagawa-sensei unlocked the door to the student guidance room, turned on the lights, and after I entered, locked it from the inside.

(Huh? Is this about something sensitive I shouldn’t be overheard talking about?…)

A single desk with two chairs in the center of the room… Minagawa-sensei and I sat facing each other.

“First, I want to ask you straight out. Did you get Amamiya to join you to conquer the Forbidden Zone Test and show results to your family…? Is that why?”

“…Yes.”

At my answer, Minagawa-sensei’s eyes showed disappointment.

“I see… It seems I overestimated you… I thought you, reincarnated into this body of Kitano Joji, were a man whose earnest, hardworking spirit I could believe in and genuinely want to support…”

At this point, I didn’t really care what Ayase thought of me… but…

“You’ve got the wrong idea, haven’t you? My immediate goal from the start was to conquer the Forbidden Zone Test… Getting Mashiro’s cooperation was for that purpose. What’s wrong with that?”

My slightly detached attitude seemed to irritate Ayase; her tone unconsciously grew sharper without her realizing it.

“Then, tell me this: How did you manage to get that Amamiya Mashiro to cooperate? I don’t intend to react to every student rumor, but all I hear is talk that you used underhanded methods to force Amamiya’s cooperation.”

Hearing Ayase talk to me like that made my feelings toward her instantly grow cold.

(As I thought… Even though she’s one of Takashi’s heroines, and even though she knows my true identity, she can’t change this route of viewing me as an enemy…)

“Sensei… What you think of me… It doesn’t concern me. But if I have to give a reason… it’s because Mashiro is my only friend… my best friend, I guess.”

“Hah? Best friend? With Amamiya? How could you two possibly be…”

Naturally, Ayase, who couldn’t recall any connection between Mashiro and me, didn’t believe my statement. Amidst this, I remembered Amane, the only one in class who treated me normally today.

“Sensei, today, Ikegami-san from our class said this to me:”

• ‘Huh? Why~? ‘Cause A’tai only believes what her own eyes see and her own ears hear!’

I relayed Amane’s words to Ayase.

“Do you understand? The meaning of Ikegami-san’s words… I genuinely reevaluated her. Not swayed by others, believing in her own senses and acting on them… In that moment, she made me realize something too.”

“With her appearance and vibe, I’d prejudged her as just another shallow, modern girl who takes everything lightly. But I realized she’s a woman who always acts based on her own convictions, someone I can deeply respect.”

“Wha- what are you trying to say…? That unlike Ikegami, I’m not worthy of respect? Is that it?”

I quietly closed my eyes and shook my head at Ayase.

“Sensei… Did you take on the role of a teacher at this school because you wanted someone to respect you?”

“!?”

My words made Ayase’s face twist in shock and anguish.

“Remember. Why did you accept the Headmaster’s request to become a teacher here…”

“Wasn’t it for the sake of your precious memories… and the pain and regret you can’t erase…? Wasn’t it for the sake of that single earring, the other half of that pair?”

Ayase reflexively reached for the earring on her ear.

“Y- You… How do you know that…? No, that itself is proof you’re a reincarnator…”

I stood up quietly and looked down at Ayase.

“Minagawa-sensei… If you let yourself be swept away by others and lose sight of yourself… you’ll just repeat the same mistakes. Well then, excuse me.”

Leaving Ayase alone in the room – hunched over, fists clenched on the desk, shoulders trembling from the words I’d thrown at her – I left the student guidance room.