Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V5 Chapter 28: “A Little Talk Between Madoka and Shinonome, Yeah?” ①

Chapter 28: “A Little Talk Between Madoka and Shinonome, Yeah?” ①

While Hero Natsuki and his gang were on their way to Kyoto…

“Huh? When did I… fall asleep?”

Madoka Abe slowly opened his eyes.

He was lying in his own bed, in his own room—

But weirdly enough, he had no memory of actually falling asleep.

“Guess I’ve just been that tired lately?”

Oddly, his body felt totally fine.

Though he must’ve been out for quite a while, since his back and neck were a little sore.

Other than that, he was good to go.

He quietly got up from bed and headed into the living room—

Where his big brother, Shinonome Abe, was waiting.

“…Aniki.”

“Madoka. You were out cold for a while there.”

“Oh, yeah? You could’ve just woken me up if you were here.”

“What kind of monster wakes up their cute little brother while he’s sleeping peacefully? Not me. Anyway—mind if we talk for a sec?”

“Not really.”

Madoka opened the fridge in the kitchen.

There was breakfast inside, neatly wrapped—probably made by Kumazaki’s mom.

He figured he’d eat it later.

First, a drink.

He grabbed a cold bottle of mineral water and took a sip before heading back.

“You want something to drink, Aniki?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“Alright, suit yourself.”

The Abe brothers lived in separate rooms, but the living room was set up as a shared space where everyone could hang out.

Each sibling had their own favorite seat.

Madoka dropped down on the sofa right next to Shinonome’s.

“So? What did you wanna talk about?”

“You remember anything from yesterday?”

“…I was chatting with Kuma, and then I just kinda got super sleepy.”

“I see. That’s fine then.”

“…Wait, was there a reason you needed to ask that?”

“Just a curious big bro wondering what kind of day his adorable little brother had, that’s all. But anyway—let’s talk about something serious.”

Madoka tensed up.

Whenever Shinonome said “something serious,” the first thing that came to mind was his relationship with Ibaraki Doji.

He still remembered the other day—when he’d accidentally found out about it.

Back then, he stormed off before giving his brother a chance to explain.

But now that he’d had time to cool off…

He kinda wanted to hear the whole story properly.

Even if his big brother had gotten all chummy with an oni, it didn’t change what Madoka had to do.

Looking back, he realized he’d probably overreacted.

“So… what kind of serious talk we having?”

Madoka asked, and Shinonome responded with a faint, chilly smile.

“—I’m thinking of wiping out all the crusty old fossils in the Abe clan.”

“…WHAT?”

Yeah, not the answer he was expecting.

Madoka’s eyes went wide, and he dropped his water bottle to the floor with a loud clatter.

～～Afterword～～

Soon, we’ll start digging into what’s driving Shinonome and why he does what he does.

■ Meanwhile, in Mukaijima City…

Susa Susa: “I’ll protect Mukaijima’s peace with everything I’ve got!!”