Chapter 11

The insolent brat seems to like rhinoceros beetles.

Broght to you by Noir

1

(POV: PAST)

Those magnificent horns. That shining black body and that spectacular form.

A child’s longing dream during the summer season.

It was a rhinoceros beetle.

Sayaka says, while peering at the breeding case from the side.

“Ah~ my goodness, that’s amazing. Did you catch this, Miya-chan?”

“Unn. I caught them just moments ago. I made a trap for catching them in the forest yesterday, woke up early in the morning and went to the forest with my father, and found a lot of them.”

“Is that so~. Wow, just wow.”

“Do you want to touch them too, Auntie?”

“Fuu~ e~?! Eh, rather than asking your auntie, why don’t you show it to Yuu— yes to Yuu-kun, first! That boy used to catch a lot of rhinoceros beetles in the past.”

[TL note: mother-san is scared of beetles? (◔◡◔)]

“Is that so! Then I’ll go and show it to Yuu-nii right now.”

2

“So hot!”

There isn’t any air conditioner in my room. Thus it’s always all windows open at all times. The electric fan in the room is swinging futile as it keeps the hot and humid breeze rotating in constant motion.

The video game that I was playing for a while ago was kept haphazardly there as I couldn’t concentrate on the game due to the amount of heat.

I hear small and fast footsteps coming upstairs. Ah~ so those noisy ones are here once again.

“Hey~ Yuu-nii, are you still alive?”

“I’m very much alive. What type of confirmation is that… wait, you and ..that?”

“Isn’t it great? I just caught a while ago!”

While saying this, Miya-chan held the breeding case up in her hand.

“Eh–…”

My body temperature drops in an instant. The hot sweat on my body suddenly turns cold as my body becomes stiff.

“…”

Arizuki Yuu, a man who doesn’t touch insects.

Rather to be precise, he is a man who doesn’t touch insects ‘now’ anymore.

[TL: haha-san sugoi~]

When I was still a child, I remember going to the mountains to catch rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles. Even if I found grasshoppers or preying mantis sitting on grass, I would catch them with my two bare hands.

If there were cicadas, I would swing my net to catch them and also I would chase dragonflies around.

When I was in 4th grade of elementary school, I would capture specimens of insects for my free research. I was often called the ‘king of insect collectors’.

[TL note: King of Insects – ‘Mushiking’]

I wonder when it was actually. I started to have a sick feeling whenever I looked at the stomach of the rhinoceros beetle.

It’s actually not that strange that someone would lose their interest in catching beetles once they grew up to be an adult. When we were still a child, our eyes wouldn’t perceive those areas as something, but as you grow up you start to perceive those areas more and more. Thus, one day you become unable to catch them anymore.

“Isn’t it cool?”

“Eh? Ah~ Un.”

Rather, even though she is a girl, yet she likes to catch rhinoceros beetles.

Miya-chan sits down and opens the lid of the breeding cage.

“Here~.”

She randomly takes hold of the small horn to pick one of them up as she takes it out from the cage.

“Stahp~ please don’t show me its back side.”

The shiny black surface on those undulating legs. What’s more, it is bushy. It has hair growing throughout. If I have to term this, then, yes, it’s gross.

The beetle, on being picked up so suddenly by its horns, started to struggle and move its undulating legs violently. The way it’s moving is now no longer different than a simple cockroach.

“Ah~ yes. Especially around the base of the legs. (the groin.)

“I’ll let even Yuu-nii touch that part too.”

“Eh~ NO, it’s totally fine, trust me.”

“Don’t be so shy. Go ahead.”

“No really, it’s seriously fine~ I’m allergic to beetles, and please don’t bring its backside near me.”

“Auntie told me that you used to catch a lot of beetles when you were a child.”

That Old Hag.

“Hoi~” 

said Miya, as she swiftly put the beetle on my lap.

“Uhhii”

I instantly felt a tingling sensation transmitted by the beetle on my lap and my skin started to pale.

“Uoohhh”

“Eh? Don’t tell me Yuu-nii, are you afraid of beetles?”

Miya looks up at me with a smirk on her face.

It’s no good.

If she finds out that I’m terrified of insects then she’ll make fun of me yet again.

“Yuu-nii is frightened of insects even though he is an adult. Are you a weakling~.”

I can easily imagine Miya-chan making fun of me while laughing.

“Ha~”

Before I knew it, that beetle had climbed up my clothes and had reached my shoulders.

Its inhuman eyes clash with my intent gaze.

With a ‘crack’ sound, the beetle’s back cracked open and he spread his thin wings.

“Uwa~ it’s so amazing. So cool.”

The beetle takes off and flies across the room, flapping its wings while Miya cheers in the background. Then as it flew towards me again, this time it landed right straight on my face.

“Pyo~”

I don’t remember what happened after that. It was one hell of a summer morning that I had experienced, fainting for the first time in my life.

[TL: Weakling…]

****

“Listen well, DO. NOT. EVER. TELL. THIS. TO. MAHIRU. AND. ASAKA. got it?”

“Wimp-nii who lost to a beetle.”

“That’s because it flew out of nowhere and sat on my face—-.”

“Wimp. Weak. AHaha~”

On going downstairs, my mother shouts out from the kitchen.

“Miya-chan, go again after having your lunch.”

“Unn~ Listen Listen~ Auntie, just some time ago, Yuu-nii— no~ this wimpy-nii… was you know~”

“What the heck damn brat. Ah~ it’s boiled Shrimp.”

On the table was Somen, pickled vegetables and a whole boiled shrimp were lined up. Shrimp is my favourite.

[TL note: Sōmen ​are very thin, white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. The noodles are usually served cold and are less than 1.3 mm in diameter. Somen noodles are stretched when made, as are some types of udon noodles. Sōmen are usually served cold with a light flavoured dipping sauce or tsuyu. Copied from Jisho.]

Split the back and rip off the head. Then, after peeling off the bundled legs, remove the meat from there.

Yes. It looks plump and delicious.

“Eh~ What’s wrong, Miya-chan?

Suddenly becoming ever so silent.

I look at her pale face.

“Yuu-nii, you’re amazing.”

“?”

“That is almost like an insect.”

“…?”

I didn’t understand why, but I am no longer called a wimp-nii anymore.

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