The Man Whose Beloved Girlfriend Was Stolen Destroys Everything ~After Being Forced to Witness the NTR Scene, What Awaited Him Was a Dungeon.

Episode 3: Wish. (Little Sister’s POV)

“…This is bad… my consciousness…”

After forcing down the barely palatable chunk of meat, a heavy, dreamlike haze crept over my mind.

Defeating the Night Wolf had been a victory, yes… but I’d already lost so much blood in the opening moments of the fight. And then I went and bled even more afterward. That was probably the fatal mistake…

“…I don’t wanna die…”

Murmuring those words through overwhelming drowsiness, I couldn’t fight it any longer. Within seconds my awareness sank into a bottomless swamp.

《You have leveled up. Your status has increased.》

《You have leveled up. Your status has———》

《Level up———》

《Level———increase———》

《———up———》

《Level———》

《Level up———》

《You have acquired a skill.》

***

Natsume’s POV.

The day my brother left home in a hurry—his face tight with some unspoken urgency, without even telling the family where he was going.

From that day on, my brother—Shinomiya Haruto—went missing.

The rest of the family sat around the dining table, warm dinner laid out before us. No one spoke. We simply moved our chopsticks in silence, mechanically bringing food to our mouths again and again.

It had been nearly a week since he disappeared. This mute ritual had already become painfully familiar to me.

『—————』

The local news program we used to watch together as a family every evening—back when we still turned it on to “recreate” the days when my brother was here.

Comedians who once made me laugh now felt completely unfunny. Their jokes registered as nothing more than background noise.

『—————』

Only the television’s chatter filled the quiet meal, time slipping past in lonely increments—

『———“D Disaster”』

The moment I set my empty plate in the sink, those two words spilled from the screen.

「「「………！」」」」

Everyone who had been ignoring the TV until now snapped to attention.

『Whoa〜! Never thought we’d get a “victim” right here in our prefecture!!』

Probably just trying to keep the segment lively. The chubby comedian said it in a bright, cheerful tone—

『My condolences to the family!!』

—and flashed that friendly, affable smile while tossing the words out so casually.

「……!!」

I snatched the remote and killed the power in an instant. I knew—rationally—that there was no malice behind those words.

Even so… even so—!!

“Haah… haah… haah…”

—You don’t get to say something like that so lightly…!

My breathing came in harsh gasps; I could feel myself edging toward hyperventilation.

After a few moments the worst of it passed. Behind me, I heard my mother’s choked, tearful whimper, and my father’s low voice trying to soothe her.

「……」

Unable to bear it any longer, I slipped quietly back to my room. The instant the door closed behind me, I collapsed face-first onto the bed.

I buried my face in the pillow and called the name of the brother who would never come back.

“…Haru-nii…”

A frail whisper that vanished into the room, drowned only by the steady tick of the clock.

Days had passed since he left the house, yet he never returned. Of course we went to the police. They investigated—

『It is highly likely that your son was caught in a “D Disaster”…』

—When we heard the conclusion, every one of us crumpled to the floor right there.

Father simply held his head in silence.

Mother kept murmuring something over and over while tears streamed down her face.

And me—I felt a small, hollow hole open inside my chest, empty and aching.

「……」

Remembering that past version of myself, I thought of my brother’s gentle, reserved smile.

Timid by nature, yet kinder than anyone. Whenever someone in the family was in trouble, he was always the first to help. Father loved him. Mother loved him. And of course, so did I.

He even had an adorable childhood friend—someone so close she called me “Rii-chan.” When he told us the two of them had started dating, the whole family celebrated together.

But why does it feel so long ago? It hasn’t even been that many days… yet it already seems like ancient history.

「……!!」

Memories of every moment with my brother raced through my mind. A directionless anger welled up inside me.

—Haru-nii never did anything wrong. He only ever helped our family, made us laugh, made us happy. He didn’t… he didn’t do a single thing to deserve this.

And yet… and yet—really… truly—!!

“—Why…!? Why did this have to happen…!?”

The words burst out before I could stop them.

Tears I thought I’d already cried dry began to spill again. A wail that sounded more like a scream echoed through the room—maybe loud enough to carry outside. Right now, I didn’t care.

God, Buddha, anyone—please, I’m begging you.

“Come back…!! Haru-nii…!!”

Please… give me back my big brother.