The Case When Strange Things Started To Happen When I Reincarnated As A Guy Whose Life Ends After Attacking The Heroine - 63 - The Essence of Family

Chapter 63: The Essence of Family

I witnessed my older brother being rejected by his girlfriend right before my eyes.

His clearly rejected expression… to be honest, it was somewhat comical — but I refrained from ridiculing him like that.

I thought it would make me no different from them if I were to do such a thing.

“Wait, wait… if you leave me, then I—”

“What? Are you going to say you’d feel so lonely you’d die without me? If so, that would still be better.”

“…”

“I’m sure you’ve been pretending not to realize what you’re really looking for through me, maybe because I was too swept up in the moment. But I thought that wasn’t too bad either.”

“Huh?”

“Family, you see, is the closest entity to ourselves. I also have a younger brother who’s incredibly cheeky and annoying. But I’ve never once wished he didn’t exist or had never been born.”

Their exchange was observed by many, including me and Shirayuki.

That might be why my brother and his ex-girlfriend didn’t notice Shirayuki and me watching them.

“I don’t plan to deny it when you, Yoshiya-san, say you hate your brother. But, even if you hate him that much, I wouldn’t want to be involved with someone who wishes for the death of their own flesh and blood.”

Saying that, the woman walked away.

My brother reached out his hand, but she never looked back and walked away, making the atmosphere unbearably tense.

“Let’s go, Touma-kun.”

“…Alright.”

Shirayuki pulled my hand, and we quickly left the scene.

Shirayuki and I ran to a place at some distance, bought sports drinks from a vending machine, and sat down on a bench.

“She’s a smart person.”

“That woman from earlier?”

“Yes. I met her at a party my mother took me to a long time ago. She was polite and well-spoken. Though her family is smaller than the Nikaido family, it’s somewhat famous. Her parents said they’d leave her love life to her own choice, wanting her happiness more than family connections.”

And… she fell in love with my brother.

Considering that my brother is good-looking and would probably be a normal person if I didn’t interfere, she must have fallen for him for those reasons.

But lately, it seems like a string of unfavorable events have frustrated my brother, mostly concerning me.

“I guess I’m affecting people in various ways.”

“That’s true. A positive impact on us, but negative on your former family?”

“Yeah.”

Well, not that I’m too concerned about it.

Of course, I have influenced them, but I understand why people who were supposedly unhappy might become envious when they see someone suddenly engulfed in happiness they consider excessive.

But worrying about that would be pointless.

“But… Touma-kun, you’re really kind.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you didn’t laugh at what happened earlier. You didn’t say it was miserable or ridiculous.”

“…I thought it was ridiculous, though.”

Yes, I didn’t say it out loud, but I did think about it.

Shirayuki chuckled and continued, 

“Not saying it out loud even when you know it shows the person’s kindness. When I think about you, I feel like laughing when it comes to them being unhappy. I’m that devilish of a person.”

I do think she is a girl with devilish cuteness.

As for Hisui, she is a woman with devilish eroticism… In conclusion, they’re both like succubi.

“And that you don’t look at me with disdain after saying such things also proves your kindness.”

“Come on. I can’t think ill of Shirayuki and Hisui no matter what they say. It may sound like I’ve given up on thinking, but that’s just how I feel.”

Laughing together, we quickly finished our drinks.

Well, what I saw earlier isn’t worth worrying about anymore… but being resented in turn is annoying.

It’s just troublesome if it leads to any real harm.

“Don’t worry, Touma-kun. I’m thinking about various things.”

“…I see.”

It’s mysterious that everything seems okay when Shirayuki says so.

There is no need for noise when Shirayuki and I are together, so let’s just forget it. That’s how this discussion ended.

We finished exercising and walked back home together.

In the midst of that, I found myself pondering about something in a vague manner.

(It’s like gears that were meshing well are starting to come off one after another…)

Originally, the gears would have meshed and moved if I… if Arashi had exited. But because I, an outsider, have intruded, the gears that were supposed to come off continue to stay, and they disturb the movement of many other gears.

What’s perfectly meshing is me and Shirayuki, and what’s completely going crazy is Yousuke and my former family.

“Thinking again, huh?”

“…Sorry.”

Shirayuki pointed it out when I got lost in my thoughts for a moment.

She didn’t seem angry, just smiled and held my hand.

“I can’t read minds, but I kind of understand what you were thinking.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m a Touma-kun Masterclass, you know?”

“What’s that?”

I think only Shirayuki and Hisui could pass such an exam.

With her hand on her lips, Shirayuki continued speaking.

“Touma-kun causing many gears to go astray is not a bad thing. Rather, isn’t that how it should be?”

“…Maybe you’re right.”

“That’s what I think. Simple changes affect many things… that’s normal in human life. Rather, if nothing changes, it’s unrealistic and undesirable.”

Indeed… A single choice can change many things.

If this world was pre-programmed, a fatal error at this point would bring everything to a halt.

But even as we diverge from the original course, our world continues… that is the ultimate answer.

“Alright, I’m fine now! I won’t think about this anymore. I’ll focus on what’s important to me.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

With that, we never brought up the events from earlier again.

When we returned home, Hisui was already there. As I entered the living room, she greeted me with a warm embrace and a kiss.

Though we didn’t talk about my former family, Shirayuki was included in discussions about the Nikaido family, and as a result, their downfall was practically sealed.

“I don’t know how you say it, but if you’re going to do something, do it thoroughly. They crossed a line they shouldn’t have… a fitting end for those who think of my beloved daughter as a mere object.”

“…Mom.”

Shirayuki and Hisui often bicker with each other.

However, when Hisui earnestly referred to Shirayuki as “my beloved daughter,” I might have seen Shirayuki blushing at Hisui’s words for the first time.

Though it made me a little wistful, thinking that this is how a true family should be, they immediately sensed my emotions and hugged me tightly.

“You both look a bit sweaty. Shall we take a bath?”

“All three of us…?”

“Come on, don’t make such a disappointed face.”

“…I was looking forward to taking a bath with just Touma-kun.”

Well, it’s just as usual… I chuckled while looking at the two.