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 39

〇 Hokkaido, Sapporo Suburbs – Kitano Family Main Residence, Reception Room

(Later…)

◇ Kitano Family Home – Seiji’s Room ―――――――――――

The family dinner featured numerous dishes made with fresh fish, steak from locally raised domestic beef, pesticide-free vegetables from nearby farms – a feast far more extravagant than anything you’d find in Tokyo…

But…

…Takashi wasn’t there. According to Mother, he got airsick on the unfamiliar flight.

I had mixed feelings about it, but decided it was wiser to leave him be for now.

That day, I finished the meal making harmless small talk with my parents, then eased my fatigue in the spacious bath of the main house.

Back in my room, I video-called Shiromashiro to thank her for earlier.

Seiji: “Seriously, Shiromashiro, you saved me back there.”
Shiromashiro: ‘Huh? Not sure what you mean, but… glad I helped, I guess?’
Seiji: “Speaking of which… you’ve started exploring a new manga genre again, haven’t you?”
Shiromashiro: [Startled sound]
Seiji: “Let me guess… Red Sky Fist, right?”
Shiromashiro: ‘H-How did you know?!’
Seiji: “You might not realize it, Shiromashiro, but you’re pretty impressionable. You get influenced by manga right away.”
Shiromashiro: ‘N-No way! That’s rude! “If you’ve got complaints about the manga, take them up with me!”‘

On the screen, Shiromashiro mimicked the signature line of the Red Sky Fist protagonist, pointing defiantly at a strong enemy…

Seiji: “…Shiromashiro. What’s that?”
I pointed at the thin object she had in her mouth.
Shiromashiro: ‘Hm? This…? It’s chocolate shaped like a cigarette.’
Seiji: “…Shiromashiro, that’s banned outside your room.”
Shiromashiro: ‘!? Whhyyyyyy?! I bought twenty boxes!’

And so, my enjoyable conversation with Shiromashiro continued late into the night…

◇ Kitano Family Home – Takashi’s Room ―――――――――――

After the family meeting in the reception room… in Takashi’s room.

Knock knock

Maid (Outside Door): “Master Takashi, dinner is ready. Please come to the dining room.”

The female servant called out from beyond the door… However… Takashi replied:

Takashi: “I’m sorry… I think I got motion sickness on the plane… I feel nauseous, so I’ll have to skip dinner tonight. Please tell Father and Mother that… Oh, and my brother too.”
Maid: “I see… I’ll prepare motion sickness medicine right away.”
Takashi: “Ah, no, really. Sleep will fix it. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
Maid: “Very well… Please let us know if you need anything.”

The maid’s footsteps faded away until they were gone.

Takashi: “Phew―――. It’s a bit hard facing my adoptive parents right now…”

Takashi lay flat on his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He thrust out his right hand and opened his palm, examining it.

Takashi: “What’s wrong with me…? I never would’ve snapped back at Brother like that before.”

Takashi himself was bewildered by the change in his feelings…

It would be an understatement to say he liked his adoptive brother. But the Kitano family had shown him immense kindness, and Seiji was the eldest son and heir.

Since childhood, Takashi had recognized Seiji not so much as a “brother,” but as “someone to support”… or so he thought.

However, that perception had shifted dramatically one particular day… It was the night after Aoi confided in him about Seiji’s bullying.

◇ (Flashback)
[Takashi on the phone]: ‘Ah, yeah… Big Brother’s just bad at showing affection, that’s all. He’s covering up his embarrassment… Yeah, yeah… Got it. I’ll talk to him about it later… Ah, yeah, it’s fine for me. I’m just the adopted brother… Besides, getting hit? I’m used to it. Yeah, thanks for worrying about me.'”
◇

He used to soothe Aoi with gentle words like that, explaining Seiji’s behavior as “just embarrassed,” “bad at expressing affection,” and “only truly likes Aoi,” ultimately persuading her not to dislike Seiji and striving to prevent any escalation… Yet now…

Takashi: “…Aoi… Aoi put up with so much until now… I think it’s okay now. She should ditch that trash brother and find her own happiness.”
Takashi: “Yeah. Tomorrow, before my resolve cools, I’ll make that trash brother cancel the engagement!!”
Takashi: “? Provoke him? Ahahaha, like that useless, lazy bastard could ever be my match… Oh, wait! Actually, I could use his shitty personality against him! Provoke him into laying a hand on me?”
Takashi: “Huh? No, no… That way, with so many witnesses around, the trash brother wouldn’t be able to escape. Right… So tomorrow, I’ll get to school early and wait in the hallway by the shoe lockers…”

Yes. Since that day, it felt like all his feelings towards his adoptive brother had crumbled and vanished… As if…

◇

Takashi now calmly recalled the scene from the family meeting earlier…

Even there, he had intended to subtly inform his adoptive parents about his brother’s misdeeds by bringing up Amemiya.

(So… does that mean I want to bring Brother down?)

Yet now, looking back on the past, he wondered why he had ever held back against a brother who treated him so cruelly…

It seemed utterly inexplicable now. Considering that, weren’t the feelings of anger and resentment he’d harbored earlier perfectly natural human emotions?

And besides…

Takashi: “That trash brother… he seemed like a completely different person… What the hell happened to that bastard?”

No… I’m not wrong. He might look serious and changed now, but as Father himself said, you can’t just erase all the awful things the trash brother did in the past. Heaven… the gods… they must surely be on my side.

The one who should be eliminated is… Hm? Gods? …Gods!

…………………….

Takashi: “Komainu God, answer my call! Manifest yourself!”