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 36

Hokkaido, Sapporo Suburbs, Kitano Family Main Residence

(Kitano Joji ties red and light blue ribbons onto the two tails of Tora (White Tiger), now transformed into a cat.)

Tora: “Thou dares to defile the proud twin tails of this noble Divine Beast, the White Tiger!!”

(Note: While Tora and I can converse like this, to anyone else…)

(Sound: “Nyaa, Fshuuu!!, Mhyaaa–“)

Joji: …that’s all they hear. When a maid came to my room earlier, I desperately tried to cover for Tora, but she just said:

Maid: “Young Master Joji, is that cat a stray? I heard meowing earlier.”

Joji: When I confirmed this with Tora, he explained that only those recognized by the White Tiger, or in special places like divine realms or secluded areas, can hear him besides me… Couldn’t you have told me that sooner? You scared me half to death!

Joji: Still, even though it’s my room, keeping a cat without permission is problematic… I asked Tora to hide himself for now.

Joji: “…By the way, you look faded and transparent, but you haven’t actually vanished, right?”

Tora: “Thou art ignorant! This is ‘Invisibility’ – the ability to remove oneself from human perception. Thou canst see me only because thou recognizest my very existence!”

Joji: I barely understood half of that, but the bottom line is, if no one else notices the White Tiger, that’s good enough for me.

(Just then…)

(Knock Knock♪)

(The room door knocks.)

Joji: “Come in~”

(At his reply, the maid enters, bowing her head.)

Maid: “Young Master Joji, the Master wishes to speak with you. Please come to the reception room.”

Joji: “Understood.”

(Joji leaves the room, following the maid… At his feet, Tora follows unseen, cloaked by his Invisibility skill.)

(The maid stops before large double doors.)

Maid: “I have brought Young Master Joji.”

(She speaks, opens the door, and stands beside it holding the knob, giving a slight bow to signal Joji to enter…)

(Inside the room, four sofas are arranged around a large table. Three people are already seated.)

Kitano Fumiya (Father): “It’s been a while… A year since we last met face to face, I believe?”

(Seated directly opposite is my father, Kitano Fumiya. As usual, he radiates a stern, difficult air.)

(Seated to my right is my mother, Kitano Makiko. Mother looks at me with slightly teary eyes.)

(And seated closest to the front is…)

Kitano Takashi: “Hey there, Brother-in-law… I heard from Tachibana-san on the way here that you took trains and buses back? What brings you home after all this time?”

Joji (Thoughts): (Takashi’s expression is his usual self… In the game, even while being bullied by Joji, Takashi was portrayed as hoping his brother-in-law would someday feel ashamed of his actions and reform… But…)

Joji: “Ah, well, I felt bad making Tachibana-san go out of her way. Plus, it’s been so long since I’ve been home; I just thought I’d see the town scenery on the way back.”

Takashi: “Heeeh~————”

Joji (Thoughts): (What’s this? This discomfort… This unpleasant aura I’m picking up from Takashi… no, the protagonist…?)

(However, Takashi’s expression shows no change… Was it my imagination?)

Tora (Telepathic): ‘Oi, Joji! Be careful! This guy’s presence feels like it’s heading somewhere dangerous. Stay sharp!’

(Unable to reply aloud to Tora’s warning, Joji merely nods slightly.)

Fumiya: “Well, anyway, sit down.”

(Father indicates the sofa on the left. Joji sits down slowly and carefully, surveying the three of them.)

Fumiya: “Now that the family is gathered, let’s get to the main point.”

(Father glances briefly in Joji’s direction.)

Fumiya: “This time, it has been formally decided by mutual agreement between both families to dissolve the engagement between Joji and Miss Miyashita Aru.”

(Upon hearing this, Mother makes a sorrowful expression… Even though he’s trash, I’m still the son she carried in her womb… It’s unreasonable to ask her not to worry.)

Joji (Thoughts): (The one most at fault is Joji himself, who caused so much trouble for others.)

(Joji subtly shifts his gaze right to observe Takashi’s expression…)

Joji (Thoughts): (No change… in his expression… huh?)

Fumiya: “However, this resulted from the Kitano family’s own failings… Isn’t that right, Joji?”

(All eyes turn to Joji.)

Joji: “Yes. Miss Miyashita Aru’s annulment of this engagement is entirely due to my own dishonesty, misconduct, and disrespect. The fault lies solely with me.”

(Joji answers calmly. Mother covers her face and looks down.)

Fumiya: “Therefore, I have formally apologized to the Miyashita family and decided to pay compensation for the dissolution of the engagement.”

Joji (Thoughts): (I see… I hadn’t considered that compensation would be involved… This is bad.)

(Caught off guard by this unexpected development, Joji feels shaken but strives not to show it on his face…)

Fumiya: “Furthermore, I have proposed a new engagement between Miss Miyashita Aru and Takashi.”

Makiko (Mother): “H-Husband!?”

*(Even Mother can’t stay silent at this… Having the second son – an adopted heir – marry the fiancée discarded by the firstborn legitimate son…)

*(If the branch families and local notables learn of this, it will be obvious to all who is truly fit to be the Kitano family heir…)

Fumiya: “We haven’t received a reply from the Miyashita family yet, but the compensation payment has already been settled… Joji, do you understand what this means?”

(Once again, the gazes of all three focus on Joji.)

Joji: “Yes. It means that to take responsibility, I must repay this compensation money myself. Correct?”

(Thus began the family meeting on a bed of needles, a precarious balancing act like walking a tightrope.)