The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best

“Then, to my mom, Mai. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble with my foolish behavior. I even ruined my health. It’s too late now, but I’m sorry. Even though I’m no longer your son or your big brother, I’m still sorry. I’m really sorry.”

My older brother with his head bowed is walking away…

Big brother! Wait, don’t leave me behind… Hey, why can’t I move my body?

Wait…

Wait for me…

“Wait! Ugh… y-you…”

Since I started living apart from my older brother, I’ve been having this dream over and over again…

My name was Gouda Mai, but now, for certain reasons, I go by Okada Mai.

“Big brother…”

My life changed completely one day. It’s him. Sawakaze Kazuya. Ever since he appeared on netTube, my brother has been acting strange.

At home, my older brother lived however he wanted, but every once in a while, he would give me candy or pat my head when he was in a good mood, so he had a lot of good points…

Even so, ever since Sawakaze Kazuya appeared, my brother has been getting more and more unruly day by day. His words and actions have also become more rough and frightening.

But that was understandable. Even though this was my brother’s house, things were being thrown in without permission, and the once-clean exterior walls were getting dirty.

It seems that my brother couldn’t stay silent either and contacted someone, but nothing has changed, and things have gotten even worse.

He has started to take out his frustration on objects more often. Sometimes it would bounce off and hit me or my mom, who were watching nearby, and we got hurt. We couldn’t avoid it because we were too close, and worried about him.

From that time on, it became known throughout the school that I was living with a man (my older brother), and I started receiving harassment from seniors and juniors I didn’t even know.

It was also my mother, who had been working. One day, she collapsed. Apparently, she was pushed from behind, but due to her usual fatigue and stress, she couldn’t get back up and was taken away by ambulance.

Since the hospital contacted me, I went directly to the hospital. Then, for some reason, I was immediately admitted because my complexion was bad too.

The reason became clear immediately. My mother had consulted a men’s activity support center (an organization where women living with men can seek help when in trouble) to try to improve our current situation.

The next day, a dedicated lawyer came to the hospital. The person introduced herself as Houga Ritsuko.

According to that person, the man (my brother) who causes such problems will repeat the same thing again. They say he can’t reflect on his actions because he is unaware of the trouble he causes to the family.

In our case, our address has been identified and our family structure has been exposed, so it is particularly dangerous.

In such cases, due to jealousy and envy from women who have had no connections with men, there is a high possibility of receiving even more harassment under the pretext of chaos, and in severe cases, it can escalate to assault or even murder.

To lead a normal life, they recommend cutting ties with him (my brother) and keeping a distance.

Just because it hasn’t become public, many families cut ties with men they can no longer handle, so there’s no shame in it. I want you to feel reassured.

If a male is a minor, the state will protect him, and if he is an adult, he will be made independent. Even if he is an adult, if he cannot live on his own, the state will protect him, so there is no need to worry.

I opposed it, but my mother, after being told by the lawyer to think carefully about my future, issued a letter of disownment as the lawyer recommended.

Mom, you were crying in secret.

But my brother didn’t end up like what the lawyer said. He managed to pull through on his own. As expected of my brother. But I was worried because he had lost so much weight.

Actually, it’s not allowed, but I secretly went to see it many times.

Especially when I watched the apology video, I felt like my chest was being squeezed.

I shouldn’t have listened to what the lawyer said.

I should have opposed my mother a bit more strongly.

He also transferred a sufficient amount of money to my mother’s account, saying it was for compensation, so she wouldn’t have to worry about living expenses… even the lawyer was surprised by that amount.

Soon after that, Lawyer Houga-san came to apologize.

Things I had judged based on my own experiences and what I had learned.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive.

Because it seems that withdrawing a letter of disconnection can’t be done immediately.

Apparently, there have been cases in the past where someone was pretending to be nice and deceiving those around them, so we need to keep an eye on them for at least a year.

*****

“Mai, you should watch Sawakaze-kun’s videos too. He’s really cool.”

“Hmm, I think I’d prefer Gouda-kun over him.”

“Oh~, Gouda-kun, right? Gouda-kun is cool too. I like Gouda-kun as well. Recently, Akane-chan from the Akane Various Channel did a collaboration, right? The view count was amazing.”

“Yeah, yeah. That game just came out, but it’s already sold out everywhere, so it’s hard to get. I heard it can be played by up to four people at the same time, so it would have been fun to play together.”

“Hehehe, actually, I ordered it online before it sold out. It’s going to arrive soon, so let’s all do it together.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it.”

“Ahh, I hope Gouda-kun is playing too. It seems like he can play online, so maybe we’ll get lucky and end up playing together at the same time… Hehe, hehe.”

“Haha, Takako’s illness (her delusions) has started again.”

“Eh~ I don’t want to hear that from you, Karin-chan. You too… *burp* *gurgle*“

Karin-chan is hurriedly covering Takako-chan’s mouth. This is a scene I’ve been seeing often lately.

“This is my place. Takako-chan, Karin-chan, see you tomorrow.”

While talking with Takako-chan and Karin-chan, whom I’ve become close with, I quickly found myself near my apartment.

Actually, I received enough money from my brother to easily buy a house, but my mother still hasn’t used it, and I don’t think I need to force myself to use it either.

“Oh, yeah. Bye-bye, Mai-chan.”

“Mai, bye-bye.”

I’m currently attending a school in the neighboring town. I’ve even made some friends.

“Mai, are you home? Welcome back~”

My mom is also working hard at her new job, which she got through the government’s placement program.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Yeah. But more importantly, Mai! Look, look, your brother, Taketo-kun, was modeling again!”

Mom was holding a paper bag from a men’s specialty store. Something that looked like a poster was sticking out of the bag.

“Eh! Really, show me, show me… wow!”

“You’re cool, big brother.”

“Yeah!”

The poster had five men on it. It’s amazing that there are five men, but still, the guy standing in the middle is the coolest.

I can’t get close to my brother yet, but with this poster, I think I can hold out for a while.

“Hey, Mom, what are you going to do with these clothes?”

“Hmm? I’m giving it to your big brother.”

Of course, for now, it will be sent anonymously through Lawyer Houga-san, but I’ll include the usual message, “I’m a fan of Taketo-kun. Keep up the good work.”

I want to live with my older brother again.