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 7

In this world, there wasn’t a single person who would stand by me as an ally.

But now, I’ve made a friend who would.

That friend is Ariel of the rooftop—Amamiya Mashiro.

In the game Metropolis Tokyo 1999, Mashiro appears from the early stages of the story, but she doesn’t become deeply involved with the protagonist until the mid-to-late stages.

Because of that, she’s one of the strongest party members, possessing immense power from the start.

To have Mashiro join the party and later become a romance option, you need to trigger an encounter event at an anime shop early in the game.

This event occurs when the protagonist learns that Mashiro loves comedy anime, creating a connection between the two. From there, their conversations gradually increase, leading to an event where the protagonist sincerely listens to Mashiro’s loneliness and struggles, eventually guiding her into the light.

But that event… probably won’t happen this time.

Why?

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“So, like, in that scene, jumping into the ocean is totally the wrong move~ Kukukuku.”

Ever since the day Mashiro and I became friends, I’ve been heading to the rooftop every lunch break, making my way behind the water tank.

And today, too, I’m happily chatting with Mashiro about trivial things.

“Yeah, huhu~ Well, in that case, just go back the way you came~ Ufufu.”

We’ve grown completely comfortable with each other, talking freely like this.

I’ve been subtly weaving topics I know Mashiro likes from the original game into our conversations, then expanding on them whenever she shows interest.

It might seem a little underhanded as a way to raise affection points, but when your future—and survival—are at stake, you’d do anything…

Besides, seeing Mashiro, my favorite character, smile at me like this—just for me—makes it all worth it. I’d use every bit of knowledge I have just to see that smile.

“Joji, by the way… that Miyashita girl, was it? Your ex-fiancée… hasn’t she done anything since then?”

This was the first time Mashiro had brought up Aru’s name since the day we first talked.

“Nah~ Nothing’s happened since then. Or rather, I’ve been avoiding her by coming up to the rooftop~”

“I see…”

Mashiro’s expression darkened slightly, looking somewhat troubled. I guess I still don’t fully understand her feelings as a girl.

“Ah, but right now, I come up here because talking with you is fun, Mashiro!”

That was the absolute truth… Not that I could hide anything from Mashiro anyway, with her Meteor Eyes.

“Fufufu, thanks. I look forward to talking with you too, Joji.”

Mashiro replied with a radiant smile.

(Kuuuuu~ So cute!!!)

“By the way, what are you planning to do about the Forbidden Zone Test you mentioned before?”

“Ah, that~ Well, you know how everyone hates me, right? There’s no way anyone would willingly team up with me. I’ll just have to find another way to regain my family’s trust outside of the test.”

Tug tug.

Mashiro pulled on my sleeve and pointed at herself.

“There’s a willing idiot right here?”

“!? Eh? Seriously? Are you sure, Mashiro?”

Nod nod.

With a smile, she nodded repeatedly. I grabbed her hand and shook it up and down excitedly.

“Yesss! Thank you, Mashiro!! You’re seriously the best friend ever!”

“Fufufu, you can thank me a little more, you know? Joji~ Fufufu.”

“Ahahaha! Mashiro, you’re the best!! Next time we go to that anime shop we promised, I’ll treat you to whatever merch you want!”

At my words, Mashiro happily shook my hand up and down.

Now, I’ve finally secured my qualification to take the Forbidden Zone Test… All that’s left is to train my Divine Sight to a level where I can perceive gods before the test date.

But neither of us noticed…

The figure watching us from behind the rooftop door…

“What… is that… That’s Amamiya-san, right?… The ‘Ariel of the Rooftop,’ laughing like that with him… And Joji-kun’s gentle smile…”

Methods of Divine Sight Training…

Divine Sight training can be broadly divided into three types.

The first is physical training. To withstand the exertion of powerful divine abilities, one needs a robust body… Using divine power without proper conditioning can leave the body unresponsive afterward.

Since the day I reincarnated, I’ve been sneaking out before dawn every morning (careful not to wake Michiyo) to go running. At first, I couldn’t run much, but this body—Kita-no Joji—has surprising potential. Within two or three days, I could handle 20-kilometer runs. Recently, I’ve been adding push-ups, sit-ups, and squats (about 200 each) at a nearby park after my runs.

Since this world doesn’t have protein supplements, I’ve been mixing kinako (roasted soybean flour) with vegetable juice in a blender and drinking it (it’s disgusting).

The second method is repeatedly practicing the forms used in Divine Sight training. At a glance, they seem arbitrary, but upon closer study, combining multiple efficient forms can yield results in a short time. My experience with karate (which I practiced until middle school in my past life) has been helpful here.

The third method is Awase—a partnered exercise. This involves synchronizing breathing while performing physical training and form repetitions together. The effectiveness of Awase scales with the partner’s Divine Sight strength, making progress far faster than solo training. Schools even incorporate Awase into their curriculum.

And as a seasoned gamer, I know the most efficient training methods. Right now, I’m using all of them to strengthen my body and mind.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Joji?”

I zoned out for a second and missed what Mashiro said.

“Ah, sorry… I was just thinking about the Divine Sight exam before the Forbidden Zone Test…”

Mashiro tilted her head cutely, the straw of the coffee milk I bought her still in her mouth.

“I’ve been training every day, but… I wonder if I’ll make it in time…”

“Fufu, I know… Joji, you’ve improved so much since the first time we met. Your growth speed is unreal… What kind of training have you been doing?”

I explained my routine to Mashiro.

“I see… You’ve been pushing yourself with harsh training, huh? It’s impressive you’ve kept it up without anyone watching over you.”

“Not really. You’ve been watching my progress, Mashiro.”

“Fufufu, true. Oh, hey—why don’t we do Awase together over Golden Week?”

“!? Seriously!? If you’re willing, that’d be a huge help! Please!!”

And so, Mashiro and I decided to put in one last push before the Forbidden Zone Test.