When I Thought I Was Reborn, My Family Turned Out to Be a Huge Landmine - Chapter 11: The Smell of Alcohol Ruins Everything

Chapter 11: The Smell of Alcohol Ruins Everything

“Thanks a lot. You really helped me out.”

Nii-san expressed his gratitude after eating the dinner Nee-san had prepared.

I was a bit puzzled at first about what he was thanking me for, but soon realized it was about the mug incident.

“It’s not like Nee-san was seriously trying to do anything, even if I hadn’t been there…”

“No, Asami would have done it.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah.”

Indeed, Nee-san’s eyes at that time had been serious. 

If I had arrived just a bit later, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of disaster might have unfolded.

It was difficult to believe that the person who had been on the verge of killing someone was now peacefully sleeping in my lap, her eyes reflecting innocence.

“…Suu… munya… Ren~”

“What, am I appearing in your dreams too?”

“Kuku… She seems to be having a pleasant dream, judging by her expression.”

Nii-san observed. Indeed, Nee-san’s face looked blissful, as if she was really enjoying a good dream. 

Seeing her about to drool, I wiped her mouth with a tissue, causing her to shake her head as if it tickled. Nee-san, who usually exhibited a dignified and somewhat cold demeanor, showed a relaxed face that perhaps only family could witness.

“Nee-san really has a beautiful face, doesn’t she?”

“That’s true. Though, her body has been tainted by many men.”

“…”

Silence fell upon me, not out of shock but more from a sense of realization and acknowledgement of what I already knew.

“I don’t know what you think, but for us, intimacy with the opposite sex isn’t that significant.” 

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Especially in Asami’s case, even more so.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As I voiced my question, Nii-san explained.

“Asami is anorgasmic… but keep it a secret that I told you, okay? You didn’t hear it from Asami, did you?”

I nodded in response to his question. 

Anorgasmic… Although it was not a familiar term to me, I could guess its meaning from the word itself.

It referred to an inability to experience sexual pleasure. Somehow, this revelation made sense to me. 

When I was playing that game, Nee-san’s gestures seemed disjointed, and this might have been the reason.

“Because she can’t feel pleasure, she finds no meaning in sexual acts. That’s why she can treat her own body like a tool. It’s not the only reason Asami thinks this way, but it’s undoubtedly part of it.”

“…”

I fell silent, lost in thought, and Nii-san ruffled my hair a bit roughly.

“Well, there’s no point in you or me worrying about it. After all, it’s not like it makes life difficult for her, and most importantly, the reason and most important thing for Asami to live is right here. As long as Asami is satisfied with that, there’s no need for us to say anything more.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah. So let’s end this topic here.”

No, to begin with, it would have been better if Nii-san hadn’t brought up that conversation.

Although I thought this, the fact that I learned something new about Nee-san left me with mixed feelings of happiness and sadness.

As I silently looked down at Nee-san’s face, Nii-san laughed and joked, saying,

“I once said it would be tough for you if you got a girlfriend because of how Asami is. If anything happens to your girlfriend, it’s almost certain Asami will be the cause. It’s somewhat predictable, in a way.”

“That’s not really a joking matter.”

“True.”

I asked Nii-san who shrugged his shoulders.

“Don’t you have someone special, Nii-san?”

“Me? The guy who’s not serious and plays around with women almost every day?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I don’t know. Asakura keeps saying she’s serious about switching to me, but I’m not interested. And the rest who contact me are just too bothersome.”

“Huh… Wait, seriously, Asakura-san?”

I had just met Asakura-san in town, but hearing this story made me feel sorry for her boyfriend, who was there with her. This kind of thing could really make someone lose trust in women.

“Well, it’s getting late.”

“Yeah, I want to go back to my room, but…”

The one I looked down at, troubled, was Nee-san.

Still lost in her dream world and not returning, Nii-san commented casually and, though a bit roughly, picked up Nee-san.

“Ren, can you open the door to her room?”

“Got it.”

“…Ugh, what now!?”

“Guf!?”

“Ah.”

A perfect punch from Nee-san landed squarely on Nii-san.

Of course, she was still asleep, so it wasn’t intentional, but Nii-san’s eyes glared as if he was about to throw her down the stairs right then and there. 

Easy, easy, I expressed, trying to calm the situation.

“I really want to hit her back…”

“Come on, Nii-san, think of it as payback for the mug incident.”

“…Yeah, that’s true. I’ll accept it this time.”

Had it not been for that incident, he might have actually hit her. The societal norm is not to hit women, but there’s no such reserve between Nii-san and Nee-san.

After seeing Nii-san back to his room, I was about to return to mine when I heard Nee-san’s voice.

“Ren… don’t go… please don’t leave…”

“…!”

I thought it was just her talking in her sleep, but when I leaned closer, I was shocked.

She was crying… Nee-san was crying.

I couldn’t tell if she was having a scary or sad dream, but her tears flowed as she fumbled her hands around as if searching for something.

Unable to just stand there, I grasped Nee-san’s hand.

“Ren… are you there?”

“Yeah. I’m right here.”

Her eyes opened slightly, probably still half-asleep. The smile on her face was uncharacteristically beautiful and pure, almost like a child’s.

“Ren is here… right… you haven’t died or anything.”

“Don’t say such ominous things.”

I haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m not sick, so there’s no way I’m going to die yet. 

I gently flicked Nee-san’s forehead, and instead of showing annoyance, she seemed happy.

“How about we sleep together then? Onee-chan, I want to sleep with Ren.”

“Well, that’s…”

Her grip on my hand tightened. 

It seemed like Nee-san was half-asleep, but then again, her eyelids were heavy, and it appeared she was really drifting off. 

Feeling somewhat sorry for leaving her like this, I let out a small sigh and climbed into Nee-san’s bed.

(I’ll go back to my room as soon as Nee-san falls asleep)

That was my plan, but Nee-san clung to me before I knew it. She wrapped not just her arms but also her legs around me, making it impossible to leave easily.

“Ufufu… This is Ren’s smell. But… is that also the smell of alcohol? Such a naughty little brother, still in high school.”

“It’s coming from you.”

I retorted in a serious tone, but Nee-san just chuckled, unbothered. 

　As it was, Nee-san went to sleep again, but …… this one can’t leave.

She fell asleep again, but… now, I couldn’t leave. Every time I tried to move even a little, she tightened her hold as if to prevent me from escaping. 

It seemed like giving up on returning to my room tonight would be best.

Warmth and softness… it was a blissful time that any guy would feel happy about, but the overriding thought in my mind was this:

“…She smells like alcohol.”

I’ll need to take a bath tomorrow morning.

But sleeping in the same bed with Nee-san like this, it’s been quite a while. 

If I turn to the side, I can see Nee-san’s face. It doesn’t make my heart race much, but I can’t help thinking she’s really beautiful.

“…Yawn… I’m getting sleepy. Goodnight, Nee-san.”

Right before falling asleep, I felt something touch my cheek.

[It’s been a while, hasn’t it? For Aki-nii to come to my room like this.]

I couldn’t quite understand how it came to this, but after an encounter with Arika’s brother, the story continued.

“…What’s going on here? But, could this be a hidden route?”

The man murmured while looking at the monitor. 

There were no special choices, just innocuous conversation continuing, and when the protagonist Akito reported to Takuma about dating Arika, Takuma’s eyes widened in surprise.

[Eh? Really?]

It was an unexpected reaction. 

According to the main story, it was clear that Arika had feelings for Akito at this point, and it had already been revealed that they were in a mutual relationship, given that Arika confessed in the first half of the prologue.

Then, Takuma, being her brother, should either know or have guessed Arika’s feelings… or perhaps, being her brother, he was kept deliberately unaware.

[I’m surprised… I mean, my sister, she usually… never mind. Anyway, congratulations.]

The reaction felt somewhat unresolved.

As Akito and Takuma immersed themselves in the game, making up for the years they hadn’t spoken, Takuma suddenly said something unexpected.

[I always thought big sister was in love with Kamisato-san.]

[!?]

[…Because she’s been crying ever since that day, all this time.]

Akito was surprised, but from the player’s perspective, the man found this turn in the story confusing. 

Kamisato, that name had only briefly appeared in the main story. 

Ren Kamisato, if he remembered correctly.

Who is that? As he pondered, a black and white scene emerged on the screen.

It was like a flashback, with images rapidly changing.

“…Whose perspective is this?”

He wondered, observing Arika and an unfamiliar character from a distance. Finally, an empty classroom appeared with someone shoving something like a wallet into a bag. 

He questioned whose hands those were.

After this flashback-like sequence ended, the screen blacked out and went to the save screen. 

He saved the game and returned to the title screen, which had dramatically changed.

“…A grave?”

The previous title screen depicted Arika with hands on her chest and lower body, showing an expression of embarrassment. But now, it was completely different.

Arika was alone in front of a grave, crying uncontrollably under heavy rain.