Chapter 23: Gaburii! Uu......Peeh!
[Tl note: gaburi, as in, to snap at. peeh, as in, phooey an Onomatopoeic or mimetic word, used to express repudiation or disgust.]
"......a?"
"Monster," when this guy said that about Chisome, blood rose in my head.
Judging from the way this guy talks, he doesn't seem to want to make Chisome his partner, so I'm relieved about that point but....... still, I couldn't forgive him for calling my precious little sister a monster. [Tl note: partner, as in, romance interest.]
(.....I should have been told the same thing by Chisome's mother, so why am I so angry with this guy)
There are probably two reasons for that, Souma is a reincarnator like me.
This is because he sees the people living in this world only from the perspective of a reincarnator, and he speaks as he pleases without knowing anything about the suffering that people have.
(Well that is the thing one can't help. This guy knows nothing......if I were in this guy's shoes, it wouldn't do to go on in this way with this kind of tone but, I don't want to get too close to Chisome bringing the death flags.)
There is only a difference in position.
In my case, I was reborn as Taiga, the closest being to Chisome, and I thought I should be able to do something about it before she went insane, so I acted――and most of all, I'll say it again and again, it's because I love her.
"... Just right, there are no people around, so ain't this a good opportunity, Protagonist."
"Good opportunity?....... wait, you!?"
Precisely because he's Souma, and because he's reincarnated as the main character, he should understand what my words mean.
Souma, who had the same common face as me, looked surprised, but immediately stared at me and said,
"I see... I thought it was strange. Rikudou Taiga should have been killed by Chisome when he was in middle school. I thought something was up when you still being alive."
"You can think about it that much right? I don't think you were one who approached Shindou like an idiot though."
"........!"
His approach towards Misora ended in a misfire, but when I pointed that out, Souma's face turned bright red to the extent it was easy to understand.
It's not as if who this guy is targeting is of my concern... Well, as for Misora, she was my second favorite character after Chisome, and since I actually interacted with her, "don't cause her any trouble," I do think that but... well, shall I give him a bit of a warning then.
"It's true that this world is the world of Byouai but, don't forget that, to the last, it's a reality, Protagonist. It's not just Chisome, the other girls also aren't programmed beings like us... properly with their own will, they're humans."
Originally, there was a time when I also thought of Chisome as a game character.
But in the end, no matter how much of a game world, just one different word to convey will make things far from the decided route... at that point, even if I become the main character, it's probably impossible to completely follow the official route.
"... Haa, so what are you trying to say. Are you trying to get in my way?"
"Not in particular to what you are going to do, as long as you don't cross a certain line, I won't get involved."
"Certain line?"
"Don't cause trouble for Chisome, don't let that girl's smile cloud over, and if you keep that up, I won't concern myself with anything... Next is, If I had to say it strongly, it's because Shindou is an acquaintance of the same class. That girl too, don't bother her too much."
It wouldn't particularly be a trouble if this guy found out that I was a reincarnator.
In the first place, Souma probably doesn't want the girls to be suspicious of him too much, and if he's that much concerned about me, he'll go give priority to attacking I'm sure.
"That girl is...... Chisome is a very precious girl to me. As long as you don't cause trouble for that girl, I'll wash away the fact that you called her a monster. But don't get me wrong alright? It's not forgive, just overlook."
To begin with, it would be a raging thing to suddenly call someone's little sister a monster.
Souma clicked his tongue like he found it bothersome, then turned his back and started walking but...... he glanced back at me.
"If, like you said, this world will be different from the original, there's a likelihood that Chisome, who you cherish so much, will fall in love with me, right? Don't grudge when that happens alright?"
"Chisome, with you? It definitely won't so I'll be taking it with peace of mind."
"....... Watch me. I will definitely make harem a reality you'll see."
"..........."
Sad news, the Protagonist was an irreversible idiot.
If you eat something like this, you'll probably get an upset stomach surely.
Nonetheless, in the present condition, I told him what I wanted to say... most likely though, it looks like that guy is going to self-destruct on his own, so even if I worry about it, it's useless.
"That guy doesn't know anything... even I, when I think of Chisome killing me, it's not like I wasn't afraid of it either. Any more than that, I, as that girl's older brother, because I think I wanted to save that girl, I got involved myself――and most of all, I loved Chisome so much that I didn't want to leave her. Of course, the other Chisome too."
No matter how many reasons I list, after all, the number one reason is because I love Chisome.
While thinking about this now, I sighed that I had spent a waste of time dealing with Souma but, just luckily, Chisome didn't come back, which helps.
".........Even Chisome would be confused. If she knows that I'm a person from another world and that I've always liked and loved Chisome since then."
I myself think it's not as if it would be a problem if it were known, but from Chisome's point of view, it would be an unbelievable thing.
After that, Chisome returned at the perfect timing, about 30 seconds later.
".....I'm home, Nii-san"
"? Welcome back, Chisome"
The expression is slightly awkward ...?
However, it seemed that it was just my imagination, and Chisome immediately returned to her usual atmosphere.
Kuro Chisome is silently clinging as she stick (paste-like) to my back as usual.
"......Nii-san,"
"Un?"
"Why are you so kind?"
"......What's wrong suddenly?"
It's a question I've been asked several times, but I didn't really understand the meaning of asking it in this situation.
However, I wasn't particularly at a loss for words and put into words my unchanging feelings for her.
"A brother should be kind to his sister. Besides, I've told you many times didn't I? I love Chisome lots."
"......Ehehe♪"
Chisome smiled as she loosened her cheeks.
It's not like I always tell her "Of course I love you lots," because I want to see her smile, no, I really like her...wait, how many times has this happened.
(... Such feelings like I can't leave this girl alone of course exist. But above that, I... am deeply in love with this girl from the bottom of my heart right.)
I've been aware of this for a little while but, hearing Souma's words made me think even more that I don't want to hand over this girl to anyone.
Beyond the realm of a big brother, alone he seeks this precious girl as a man.
I'm Rikudou Taiga but, I can't put my feelings of loving this girl into the framework of siblings...... Oh, this got me.
"Nee Nii-san"
"Un?"
"Summer festival... looking forward to it right♪"
"Yeah that's right"
Summer festival... I'm really looking forward to it.
No matter what I do with Chisome will still be fun won't change, but being able to spend a once-a-year event with her should become the best memory.
Nevertheless, although it was only for a moment, it's true that talking with Souma made me feel worse.
“Naa Chisome, make it hot pot today wanna do?”
"That's fine"
"Alright here we go!"
The number one way to restore one's mood is to eat something delicious.
Well, whatever food Chisome makes is delicious, but sometimes it's not bad to also make a request before she asks me.
Or rather, Kuro Chisome has been clinging to me since some time ago right.
I mentioned earlier that it's usual for her to cling to me in this way, but it's rare for her to remain clinging to me like this.
"For some reason she's been sticking there without moving tho."
"A~... un, it can't be helped today I suppose."
"What do you mean?"
"Who knows. It means that Nii-san is too attractive I guess♪"
Tell me what do you mean, even if I asked that, Chisome just dodged it.
Spending time with Chisome is fun, happy, and irreplaceable... however, it was also true that there was a part of me that was not satisfied with the current relationship.
Like that, the promised day of the summer festival arrives.
[Author's Afterword]
Kuro Chisome is always by one's side and incidentally, the senses are shared with Chisome is too late to be saying this isn't it.