When I Thought I Was Reborn, My Family Turned Out to Be a Huge Landmine - Chapter 25: The Final Push

Chapter 25: The Final Push

“Sigh, I really wonder what kind of man I am…”

After dinner, craving some fresh air, I stepped outside the house. Though I say ‘outside,’ I was just near the entrance. With November’s chill in the air, I planned to return inside once I had cooled down enough not to catch a cold.

After my talk with Nee-san, I contacted Arika. I wanted to share my decision, my feelings, and asked her to make time tomorrow. It was crucial not just for Arika but also for Nee-san to be there. So, we decided to meet at my house after school the next day.

“…”

My worst possible answer, I wonder if hearing it will leave Arika and Nee-san disappointed… Maybe they’ll even condemn me as the worst, just like the word implies. I couldn’t argue back. I didn’t run away; I made a choice… But in reality, it might also be an escape, an inability to choose between them.

“…Love is really complicated, huh?”

Having two beauties by one’s side should be a privilege, but would it have been easier if I were the kind of person who could think that way? Well, I can’t change who I am. And frankly, I doubt those two would be drawn to someone with such thoughts. Their encompassing kindness and the strength to act when it matters… Yeah, I really do think Arika and Nee-san are strong.

“…It’s about time to head back.”

Nee-san must have finished her bath and returned to her room by now. As I thought about this and was about to go back… a voice, neither mine nor Nee-san’s, echoed around me. If it wasn’t me or Nee-san at this place, there could only be one other person it belonged to.

“You look like you’ve had a lot on your mind.”

“Nii-san…”

Nii-san walked towards me with a wry smile. After I contacted Arika, he had returned home, apparently sensing something from the way Nee-san and I were acting. He seemed to have had a conversation with Nee-san afterward, probably about the truth I had just learned.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“It’s okay. No matter what past there is, the fact that I’ve lived as your brother hasn’t changed. You wouldn’t call me a stranger, right?”

“Of course not. You are my precious little brother, nothing more and nothing less.”

He ruffled my hair roughly. It was a bit painful, and I wanted to ask him to stop, but the gentleness in Nii-san’s expression was something I hadn’t seen before, so I couldn’t bring myself to say it. After a while, as he was stroking my head, Nii-san suddenly spoke up.

“It wasn’t just our father; our mother also resented Asami.”

“…What?”

Nii-san, looking up at the sky, shared more of the story. It wasn’t just what I had seen and heard from Nee-san; there was more hidden truth.

“Our mother knew about father violating Asami. But she never confronted him. What she did was abuse Asami, saying, ‘You seduced my husband.'”

“…What is that?”

How much… How much has this world hurt Nee-san? Unconsciously, I clenched my fist so tightly that my nails dug into my skin, causing pain.

“Well, in the end, as soon as she knew our father wasn’t coming back, she disappeared… Ren and I, who knew nothing, were left behind, while only Asami endured it all. It wasn’t just you who felt powerless… I felt the same.”

“…”

“And yet, she would speak harshly to me, but act bravely in front of you… Even now, I feel like asking if I was really that unreliable.”

“…Yeah.”

I somewhat agree with that. Even if it couldn’t be helped, if something had been different, our current situation might have been a bit better… But thinking about it now is pointless. It was clearly bad, but it’s already done.

“That’s why we have to look forward and keep walking. It’s impossible for me, but Ren – you can take Asami’s hand. Arika too, of course.”

“…”

“Haha, I see your dilemma. If it were just a simple romance, it’d be different, but with past lives involved, those feelings are overwhelmingly heavy. If I were in your place, Ren, I might have run away.”

Run away… Haha, that would certainly make things easier. But…

“I don’t want to run away. She cares that much… I want to face that.”

“Yeah, that’s good. You really are kinder than me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

As we both let out a smile… Wait a minute? Did Nii-san just mention ‘past lives’? There’s a lot to think about, but if Nee-san and Arika are like that, then there’s a chance Nii-san is too… Probably, that’s the case.

…Because it’s Nii-san, maybe it’s also good to talk to him about my current worries.

“Nii-san, will you listen?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Then, I told Nii-san everything. I shared the answer I was about to give, everything I intended to tell Arika and Nee-san. Throughout my explanation, Nii-san didn’t laugh or make light of it; he listened seriously to the end.

“It sounds good to me. Actually, I agree with it.”

“…Honestly, I thought you’d be appalled.”

I was prepared for that, but Nii-san’s reaction was unexpectedly different, and it surprised me a bit. He flicked my forehead and continued talking… it hurt more than I expected. I responded with a quick tap on his toes.

“I’m not disgusted, nor am I laughing. Who would laugh at an answer someone arrived at after serious contemplation and struggle? Even if it wasn’t the case, I was actually hoping you’d choose that path.”

“Is that… so?”

Nii-san continued, sipping from a bottle of sake he had been holding.

“When it becomes known to the public, it surely won’t be viewed favorably. You might even face some unwarranted resentment. But remember, whatever happens, I’m on your side.”

Nii-san said this with a reassuring smile. Like Nee-san, I had always looked up to him, but now I realized just how significant his presence was. …Damn, I feel my eyes welling up.

“H-hey, why are you crying? If Asami sees you like this, she’ll kill me!”

“Sorry…! But I’m just so happy… I’m really glad to have you, Nii-san. That’s what I truly feel.”

“…I see.”

Ah, Nii-san is getting embarrassed… Ahaha, but it’s true that his words gave me the push I needed. My worries haven’t completely disappeared, but now I’m more confident in the answer I’ve reached, regardless of what anyone might say. This reaffirmed my determination.

“Well then, we’ve talked for a while, but if we stay outside any longer, we’ll seriously catch a cold, right?”

“Yeah, let’s head back.”

As we were about to go back inside, I stopped and said something.

“Nii-san.”

“?”

“You said earlier that I’m kind because I’m different from you, but I think it’s probably because I grew up watching you.”

It wasn’t just Nee-san; I grew up watching Nii-san too. Sure, there were times when I thought about the game and felt different, but the memories of our time together far outweighed those. I felt it was complicated, even unpleasant at times, but more than that… I realized how much I love this. This must be the answer I have for this family.

Hearing my words, Nii-san’s eyes widened, but then he quickly smiled and put his arm around my neck, pulling me into a shoulder embrace.

“That’s a nice thing to say. There’s nothing more gratifying for a big brother than to hear that.”

“Then let’s add ‘cool’ to that.”

“As a big brother, I always want to look cool for my little brother. So, that’s a given.”

“Haha, I see.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Really…

I love this family so much.