When I Thought I Was Reborn, My Family Turned Out to Be a Huge Landmine - Chapter 23: Stretch Out Your Arm

Chapter 23: Stretch Out Your Arm

“…”

I was at a loss for words. Nee-san revealed that she had been violated by her own father. Without showing any surprise, I just stood there, dumbfounded. However, Nee-san didn’t seem sad. Seeing my reaction, she gave a bitter smile. How could she manage to smile?

“It was disgusting… No matter how much I resisted, I couldn’t overcome the strength of an adult man. He just toyed with me, who was crying in pain, with delight. Of course, I thought about many things. He’s family, he’s my father, but… when you were used as a shield, Ren, I had no choice but to obey.”

“Me…?”

Nee-san calmed down a bit and poured some juice into a cup. My mind was still struggling to catch up, but the coldness as it went down my throat was somewhat comforting. And it was this calmness that made me fully grasp what Nee-san had shared.

“To me, you were a brother I had to protect. So, if I didn’t obey, I couldn’t tell what he would do to Ren. That’s what I was threatened with.”

“…”

Why is it that these memories are coming back to me now?

“Hey Ren, you love your sister and brother, don’t you?”

“Yeah! Everyone is so kind!”

“That’s right, that’s right. After all, being close with family is the best, isn’t it!”

This was an exchange between my father and me when I was very young. I tilted my head in confusion at the sight of Nee-san, her clothes disheveled. She just smiled back at me. Father was watching her, laughing. Was it true that when I was innocently laughing, unaware of anything, Nee-san was suffering?

I suddenly felt weak. I had sensed that something was off with Nee-san, but I never imagined it was something like this.

“…Ren.”

“!”

Seeing me stunned, Nee-san embraced me gently. I could feel her warmth, her kindness, the beating of her heart. Normally, this would have been comforting, but just then, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in her kindness.

“After some time had passed, Ryo, who learned about my situation, took action. He punched him hard, asking why I had kept silent. Was he really that unreliable? Then, after consulting with various people, I decided to sacrifice my family ties and turned him in to the police.”

I had noticed that father was no longer around from a certain point. But since Nee-san and Nii-san were always there for me, I didn’t feel lonely. However, it turned out I was completely oblivious to everything.

“It’s different from the previous world because you, Ren, didn’t remember much about him. Remember when I asked what you thought about father? Your answer back then made me feel a bit relieved. I had decided that unless you wanted to hear the story, I would never bring it up.”

“I see…”

“Yes. And then—”

At that point, Nee-san cut off her words and shook her head. Although I was naturally curious about what she was about to say, she told me not to worry and gently stroked my head. After a moment of contemplation, Nee-san said something unexpected.

“If you knew I was going through such a thing, would you have come to save me?”

“Of course, I would. That’s obvious.”

My response was quick. There’s no way to turn back time and erase what happened to Nee-san. The emotional scars she got when she was young are something she’ll have to carry for the rest of her life… and not just once, but twice. Despite having endured such experiences twice, Nee-san was now smiling beautifully before my eyes.

“…Nee-san, you’re strong.”

I listened to Nee-san’s story, thinking about how to move forward. Yet, I felt almost crushed by a story I couldn’t have imagined… Compared to Nee-san, why am I so weak?

“Nee-san was suffering, and I was… I was—”

At that moment, Nee-san placed a finger on my lips, signaling me not to continue. She seemed to convey that it was a thing of the past and not to worry about it anymore.

“Hey, don’t make such a face. True, I had such a past, but I’m not a woman who dwells on it forever. It’s not false bravery or a facade. Having the sweet Ren by my side makes me incredibly happy. And Ryo too, incidentally.”

“That’s harsh, saying ‘incidentally’.”

“Fufu, that’s enough for him, isn’t it?”

Well, that’s… I wonder about that.

The somber atmosphere from earlier seemed to have vanished, replaced by the usual air. But something Nee-san started to say earlier… What was that all about?

“Ah, if Arika hadn’t shown up, I could’ve had Ren all to myself. You said you loved me just a while ago, right? Doesn’t that mean, even with our blood relation, it’s okay? Like, having an incestuous relationship?”

“No, not to that extent!”

“…Do you hate the idea?”

“Ugh!”

Indeed, Nee-san is an attractive person, and being her lover would certainly be a joy. Just between us, it’s not like I never had such aspirations towards Nee-san. If my memory serves me right, I think I even said something about marrying Nee-san when I was younger.

…But in the end, no matter what, Nee-san and I are “blood-related family.”

“Fufu, I guess I should stop teasing my cute brother. I think Arika is a nice girl, and I’m okay entrusting Ren to her.”

“…We’re not in that kind of relationship yet.”

“But you’re definitely attracted to her, aren’t you?”

Seeing me at a loss for words, Nee-san gave a sly smile and stood up. As she turned her back and began to walk away, I unconsciously reached out my arm towards her… and then let it fall.

“Ren, despite everything we’ve talked about, there’s one thing about my feelings that will never change. I love you, as family, and I want to maintain that unchanging bond. I’m happy to have become family with Ren, but I can only resent the gods for giving us this blood connection♪”

Nee-san’s smile as she looked back was very beautiful… but somehow, to me, it also looked like she was crying. Why did I think that, why did I feel that way… I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t understand!

As her figure grew distant, I…

…reached out my arm.

“!”

At the end of my outstretched arm, there was nothing. Or rather, the scenery before me had completely changed. Even though I was supposed to be talking with Nee-san, she was no longer there.

“What is this place…?”

I felt a floaty sensation, as if this couldn’t be reality, and it almost panicked me, but strangely, my mind was calm. Having experienced reincarnation, this wasn’t so strange… well, maybe a bit forced. While looking around, I… no, I moved forward of my own will.

“…”

As strange as this situation was, it was still my familiar home. I knew where everything was, whose room was where. My feet led me to a place I hadn’t entered in years, what should have been my father’s room if he were alive.

My hand was trembling as I reached for the doorknob. That’s when I heard it.

“…Do you intend to accept her, that woman?”

I didn’t need to turn around to know whose voice it was. To those words, I replied,

“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘accept,’ but at least, I want to be by Nee-san’s side. It might sound strange to say this to you, but I’m different from you.”

“Ha? You and I are the same, Ren Kamisato. We’ve been hurt and our family torn apart by those siblings!”

…No, you and I are different.

From what I’ve heard, it’s not that I don’t sympathize with your situation. Perhaps I, too, could have ended up thinking like you. The difference between you and me is just in our ways of thinking and perception.

“Arika is the same. She came close without knowing anything, acting as if she understood me, always smiling. It was really creepy! That’s why she too―”

“Hey, can you just leave already?”

I surprised myself with how coldly I spoke.

“You are you, and I am me. Don’t project what you felt onto me.”

We share the same appearance, the same face, the same name. Some might say we are the same person. But I, Ren Kamisato, am living in this world now. I decide how I live my life, and my feelings towards others are mine alone. No matter what anyone says, that’s something I’ll never compromise on.

But then… I smiled slightly.

“I once thought, after being reborn, and having a family was like stepping on a huge landmine. By setting aside the knowledge and preconceptions I had and interacting with Nee-san and everyone as just another person in this world, my feelings have changed greatly… I’ve come to love them.”

“…”

After saying all that, he finally fell silent.

“If you think you love someone, it’s natural to want to do something for them, isn’t it?”

So, I will keep moving forward.

There’s no certainty that anything will change… no, probably nothing will change. So this is just my own self-satisfaction, a modest attempt to make amends for not being able to notice anything earlier.

“Pity?”

“Pity? Idiot, do you think Nee-san wants that? Don’t you know? Nee-san is very strong.”

With that, I offered my best smile for the last time. Feeling the presence behind me disappear completely, I finally turned the doorknob and opened the door.

How many times has it been, me lying here in front of him, thinking these thoughts?

“Come, take off your clothes.”

“…”

I undressed as instructed. Exposing my skin and considering what’s to come didn’t stir my heart. A normal person’s heart would be broken… or maybe, my current state is already like that. But even so, I have someone I love. My dear brother, his presence gives me the strength to do anything.

“He’s such a fool, thinking I’m his real father. I took in Ren under the guise of an acquaintance when that guy died, but I never thought Ren’s presence would make you so obedient. It was a good find.”

“Don’t talk about him like he’s an object.”

“That’s the thing. You’ve grown up to be a fine woman, Asami, just like Shiori. It’s a pity she ran away, but I should thank her for leaving you behind.”

Shiori… mine and Ryo’s mother, but ultimately, she was just another person who abandoned us.

In the end, the only ones I can trust in this world are Ren and Ryo. I can’t find value in anyone else, just trash like this man, interested only in the body, like an animal.

“Then I’ll take what’s mine today.”

“…”

…No, this isn’t right, I can’t even muster the disgust anymore. Complete indifference – the fact that this man in front of me is my father feels like a lie. Just another day of being embraced, another dull, emotionless time passing by… that’s what I thought.

Then, suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang.

“Who’s there?”

“?”

Ryo? I thought for a moment, but no, it wasn’t him. Then Ren… but it wasn’t him either. Not the young Ryo nor the little Ren… but a boy, about high school age. As soon as he saw me being pinned down, he punched the man hard.

“Gah!”

Caught off guard, he took the full brunt of the punch. He probably won’t wake up for a while. Did this boy save me? But who is he…? Wait, why is he crying?

“…Haha, just after I said she didn’t need any pity, idiot… this isn’t very cool, is it?”

The boy draped his jacket over me, then gently embraced me. It was a sudden hug from a stranger, but my heart, which should have been unsettled, was calm. He kept hugging me, crying all the while. He looked older than me, but I found myself stroking the head of this boy I shouldn’t know.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize… It might not mean anything, but I wanted to save Nee-san. I wanted to protect Nee-san’s smile.”

Could this boy be…?

It’s impossible, but still, I found myself asking.

“…Ren?”

As he looked at me through his tears, I was certain – this boy was Ren.

It’s impossible, maybe I’ve been dreaming all along. I don’t know why Ren is here, what he’s feeling… but if he has found something, reached some answer, that would be something truly happy for me. That’s what I thought.