Episode 7 – The Tale of Getting Scolded and Begging My Brother

* Heroine perspective

“I want to be able to talk to my senpai–anytime!”

I did it. I said it out loud!

Oh… My face is hot. My heart is racing.

I wondered if he thought I was an immodest sister… I looked at my brother fearfully, and he was frozen in a daze with his mouth half-open.

“T-That’s all…?”

“Eh?　What do you mean that’s all? …no, I think that’s already quite a big wish.”

“Ah haha, I see… My sister is quite pure…”

My brother let out a deep sigh. I feel like I’m being made fun of for some reason here.

“Just to reiterate, don’t you want to go out with him or get married?”

“Th-that’s… a story further down the lane!　I haven’t even been able to get to know senpai properly yet!?　And yet, the idea of going out with him, thinking of getting married, or having a girl or boy first, is just too much.”

“Yeah, I didn’t mention the last one…”

“It is called ‘counting the fried chicken that you haven’t caught.’ “

“You mean, ‘counting one’s chickens before they’re hatched​’ “

(TN: I modified the actual sayings in the above lines with something I thought would be easier to understand. Original was different.)

I was hit on the head with a rolled-up magazine. It was a light blow, but it hurt a little.

“Well, considering how reserved you’ve been, it certainly seems like this… But Akari, let me be clear. It’s not possible with such a mindset.”

“uh…!!!”

“Look, there are a lot of people like you. If you’re half-hearted, you’ll never be able to take one… two, or three steps forward ever.”

“N-never…?”

I felt a strong impact on my heart.

This time, it wasn’t as if I had been hit with a magazine, but as if my head had been shaken directly by words.

“It’s the same with entrance exams. If you don’t reach a level that exceeds the standards of the university you want to go to, there’s always a chance you’ll fail the entrance exam.”

“What should I do, Onii-chan?　Someone will steal senpai from me at this rate.”

“… You’re not at the stage where you can say he has been stolen from you yet.”

Gasp!

The second impact. That’s right, I’m a stone in the road for senpai. Villager A. I’m like the recyclable trash that was put out on burnable trash day…

“But you know who your brother is, don’t you?”

“The worthless Onii-chan who’s all about appearances…”

“Such an insult during this conversation!? And as if you are any better!?”

“I can study at least!  I even got A’s at the university Onii-chan and senpai got into!”

“No, it’s not worth bragging because I’m in it… That’s what you call worthless.”

I was about to throw my slippers at my brother who was laughing at me but stopped myself.

Fights only happen between people of the same kind. By showing my brother that I was mature enough not to get angry with him, I could prove that I wasn’t a worthless person.

“Back to the point, I’m the best friend of your crush. Of course, my understanding of courting is much higher than yours.”

“Are you bragging?”

“It’s nothing to brag about… But, are you okay with taking that attitude?”

“Eh?”

“The only reason you came to me in the first place was that you thought I might be able to change the situation, right? But if you offend me, I’ll be in a bad mood… get it?”

My brother smiled nastily.

I felt my blood drain quickly when I saw that.

Yes, I came to ask my brother for help. I wanted to get along with my senpai, I wanted to change, and I needed his help–

“Akari, if you’re going to ask someone for help, you should have the right attitude…”

“Please, Onii-chan!　Please lend me your strength!”

“Too fast!　You changed your tone too fast!”

Without even thinking about it, I deeply rubbed my head on the floor.

Japanese Dogeza. It’s a style of humility that has been handed down since ancient times.

“My dear sister, if you’re this desperate, Onii-chan will start to worry about you, okay..?”

“Because… because it’s painful. Even if I go to school now, senpai is not there anymore. It was part of my daily routine to hide Onii-chan’s lunch box every day, to carry it with me, and to see senpai while delivering it during lunch break. “

” That was you?　No, I had a feeling it was… But give me back my mental anguish every morning when I was trembling in fear that I might actually be without lunch…”

By the way, my mom was also a collaborator.

I helped her make lunch boxes, so it was easy to get her on my side.

Since my brother is an early eater who eats before lunchtime, I would deliver his lunch during the lunch break. To say the least, it was easily done. Fufufu.

“Anyway, please, Onii-chan!　Just like that!　It’s a request of a lifetime!”

“Too desperate…!　I mean, raise your head!　When I think about it, having my sister do dogeza is a pretty bad situation!”

“I won’t relent until you say you’ll do everything in your power to help.”

“That’s a heavy request!　All right, I’ll help!”

Alright, I’ve got a deal.

When I looked up without hiding my loose cheeks, my brother was drooping languidly.

“Haa~… I’m so tired…”

“Onii-chan, they say happiness escapes when you sigh.”

“Raightt…”

It was hard to talk to him anymore, so I waited for a few minutes while he sagged.

“…I have an idea.”

“Eh?”

“I’ve got an idea. A way to get Akari and Motomu in contact with each other.”

“Really!?”

True to the saying ‘with all my might’, I jumped up. 

Apparently my brother, who had been sagging his shoulders, had been working on a concrete plan in the meantime!

Great!　I can count on you!　I kind of like you!

“Listen, Akari. This strategy is a bit risky. It’s going to depend on luck, and most of all, it requires your determination.”

“D-determination..!”

“But if you succeed in the first stage of this operation, you will be able to talk to Motomu anytime for a limited time.”

“I-is there really such an amazing plan?!”

“Not only that… but, under one roof!”

“U-u-under o-one roof!!?”

Isn’t that marriage already?

“Do you want to hear about this plan…?”

“I want to!　I want to hear it!　I want to hear it to the extent that it may be the most important information I’ve ever wanted to know in my entire life!”

“Okay. All right, before that…”

My brother pointed to the tissue he had just thrown at me and said.

“Stop the nosebleeds.”

“Eh? …Ah”

Perhaps it was because I was overexcited, but my nose was bleeding in droplets.

TN: I know I’m too late with this series. But I can’t even find motivation for my main projects these days… So let’s see.