“…”

“…”

“…”

At the family restaurant. 

After Tatsu left, Nanaka and I sat side by side, with Mina sitting across from us.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The silence continued. But then, both of them spoke at once.

“Nanaka-san, are you my brother’s girlfriend?”

“Mina-chan is this guy’s girlfriend, right?”

“Huh???”

I ended up joining their chorus of surprise.

What did these two just say…?

“…Let me take charge here and clear things up. First, Mina, what did you say?”

“Um, I asked if Nanaka-san is your girlfriend, big brother?”

“Why would you think that?!”

Absolutely impossible. This girl and I were rivals – either she was trying to steal someone, or I was trying to prevent her from stealing!

“Okay… Nanaka, your turn.”

“I asked if Mina-chan is your girlfriend.”

“Why would you think that?!”

Mina was my sister! Having a romantic relationship with your sister would be forbidden!

I quickly explained to clear up the misunderstandings – Mina was my sister, and Nanaka was just a junior from school, not a terrible bi—I mean, just a junior.

“I see, so you’re his junior from school.”

“Hmm, not his girlfriend…”

For some reason, the two of them were looking at each other with curious interest. 

…Why?

“W-well anyway… Mina! Did you remember that guy’s face from earlier?”

“Uh, well… I mean, you don’t see many obviously sleazy guys like that these days.”

“Good that you remember! If he ever approaches you again, scream like you did earlier! I’ll come running right away!”

Though it would be impossible if we were in different places. Maybe I should get some listening devices—

“Big brother, do you know that person?”

“Yeah, he’s the worst kind of acquaintance. I wish I didn’t know him. He’s a guy who loves stealing other people’s partners. He’s dangerous!!”

“Hmm. So why did this dangerous person approach me?”

“Th-that’s…”

I averted my gaze from Mina.

It was undoubtedly because I got involved with Nanaka. And then he targeted Mina after I encountered him at the pool.

Glancing over, I noticed Nanaka also looking at me awkwardly.

It was all because of my actions. If I didn’t have memories of my previous life from that netorare game, Mina and I could have just been normal siblings.

I was the one who got her involved in this mess.

…That’s why I had no intention of exposing Nanaka as a partner-stealer to Mina.

“It’s, it’s my fault. Because of me, Mina was targeted…”

“Um!”

Nanaka cut in.

“Actually, it’s my brother who’s targeting Mina-chan. I share some responsibility for this. I suspected a while ago that my brother was targeting you… But I didn’t do anything to stop it, and I let him come into contact with Mina-chan like this… I’m sorry.”

“…Nanaka.”

I was surprised she would say something like this. We were usually at odds with each other. Really, if you took away the partner-stealing, she might actually be a decent person.

The silence continued for a while until Mina spoke up.

I was prepared to be scolded or dismissed. Bring it on—

“Don’t worry, you two. I’m strong, you know.”

I looked up at these unexpected words. Nanaka did too.

Mina smiled reassuringly.

She meant that she was mentally strong, right? My sister was an angel even at times like this.

But… I was still really worried!!! I would definitely protect Mina!!!

Chapter 32: Routes

“Alright… now we’ve formed a team to drive away that home-wrecker!”

We exchanged contact information so we could share intel.

“What kind of team are you talking about?”

“I need to teach that home-wrecker a lesson so he’ll change his ways.”

Why did Mina seem so excited about this? Well, I guess being positive was good.

Then… as things calmed down, I suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom. Come to think of it, it was hot outside, and I’d been chugging drinks from the self-serve bar trying to get my money’s worth, hadn’t I?

“I need to hit the bathroom.”

Tatsu had already left, so nothing should happen while I stepped away from the table.

“Call me if anything happens! Promise!! Even if it’s something trivial!!”

“Yes, yes. Take your time in the bathroom, big brother. I’ll be fine with Nanaka-san here~”

Though Mina said that, I still hurried to the bathroom.

“Um, Mina-chan…”

“Yes, what is it, Nanaka-san? Or would you prefer I call you Nanaka-senpai?”

“No, Nanaka-san is fine. Being called senpai would be embarrassing…”

With Shotaro leaving his seat, Nanaka and Mina were now alone together.

Although they had met at the amusement park, this was their first real conversation.

“Then Nanaka-san it is. What kind of relationship do you have with my brother?”

That question made Nanaka reflect.

Her relationship with him…

Oh, right—she was the ‘terrible bitch’.

It had all started with those words.

He’d suddenly appeared and persistently tried to stop her from taking Isamu-senpai away. Someone who absolutely refused to allow partner-stealing. He was nothing but an annoying obstacle to her.

But…

“…”

“Nanaka-san?”

Even Nanaka couldn’t admit they were in a relationship revolving around preventing and committing cuckolding.

“Relationship… we’re j-just people from the same school. And I’m his junior.”

“Is that so… I don’t think you’d spend so much time together or seem so close if you were just schoolmates…”

“Did you say something, Mina-chan?”

“Nothing at all.”

“I-I see… Then let me ask you something. At the amusement park I thought you were lovers… but you’re his sister?”

“Yes, I’m his sister.”

“I-I see…”

She wanted to ask why they were pretending to be a couple at the amusement park, but asking that would reveal she had been following them.

She moved on to her next question.

“From a sister’s perspective, what do you think of… not him, but Shotaro-senpai?”

“I have a good impression of my brother, or rather Shotaro-kun, both as a brother and as a member of the opposite sex.”

As a brother made sense… but “opposite sex”?

Nanaka was caught on that.

“Um, opposite sex…?”

“Yes, the opposite sex.”

“You mean you have a good impression of him as a man?”

“That’s right… It’s strange to think of your own brother that way, isn’t it?”

“Uh, well…”

“Hehe, it’s okay. Anyone would be confused if someone said they viewed their real brother that way. But in the end, it would be fine if we weren’t siblings.”

Mina paused before continuing.

“Actually, we are—”

She told her. Something she had never told Shotaro, something he would never hear.

“What…”

After listening, that was all Nanaka could manage to say.

——One week later.

At an abandoned factory. There was a rusted fence with a lock and chain thrown aside, and several motorcycles parked inside.

This place was out of the public eye, rumored to be a hangout for dangerous troublemakers. Seo Tatsu was in this place where no one would normally approach.

The inside of the factory was relatively well-equipped with sofas, a TV, food, and more. It seemed the rumors about it being a hangout were true.

Sitting in a chair, Tatsu was intently looking at his phone. Finding this strange, one of the men teased him.

“Hey Tatsu, I heard you’re unusually having trouble with a girl!” 

“Really? The experienced woman-stealer Tatsu?” 

“Finally defeated without even getting to use your tireless manhood?” 

“Seriously? Hahaha!!”

The men here were like Tatsu, taking pleasure in stealing other people’s partners. Among them, Tatsu was known for his exceptional size and technique, with everyone admitting they couldn’t match him. Some even had their targets stolen by him. So the rare news that this Tatsu couldn’t seduce just one woman was cause for great laughter.

BANG!!!!

“—Shut up.”

Seeming irritated, Tatsu kicked a nearby oil drum. The men stopped laughing and watched his face.

“First of all, I haven’t lost, and I haven’t even started yet.”

“…Well, it’s not that you haven’t started, it’s that you haven’t been allowed to start, so that’s why we’re saying you’ve lost—”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, nothing at all!!”

“But do you have a plan?”

Asked that, Tatsu replied with a wicked smile.

“That’s already decided. I can’t wait anymore. Who needs a plan? I want that girl no matter what. I want to make that strong-willed beauty submit and cry out. So–I’ll rape her.”

Which route will you choose?

▶︎▷Mina 

▶︎▷Nanaka 

▶︎▷Shotaro