kscans

Chapter 871 - Confession

It was an unseeable cicada-shell technique, one that could rival even the stealth of the Undying.

No incantation was needed, and the minimal mana cost made it impossible to detect its activation. Anhelmia, the Illusion Magic that deceives a player's perception, was the grand prank Ri-na had set in motion.

I'll admit, both the prankster and the prank itself were utterly adorable. But—the problem was that the target of the prank was someone for whom an ‘adorable prank’ was anything but.

And, well…

"…Look, this kind of thing is really not good for me. You get that, right?"

I didn't just toss her off without a second thought. Which means that, at this very moment, a certain amount of ‘guilt’ has undoubtedly been assigned to me.

If I were to remain a perfect gentleman, true and sincere, I shouldn't have allowed this playfulness for even a second. But the reason I chose words over action at first was because…

"…Mm."

…the small back that had closed the distance more than ever before seemed more fragile and tiny than I had ever seen it.

I’m being soft, I know.

No matter what reason I give, no matter how I try to justify my train of thought, by being in physical contact with a girl who is not my intended partner, I am a bona fide scoundrel.

But still, if you’ll allow me just one excuse—

"……………………Sigh. What’s wrong, really?"

"……………Yeah."

"'Yeah' doesn't tell me anything."

—Maybe she really wants to call someone ‘Onii-chan’?

It was because I remembered the words my master had used to tease her here once before.

It was because Ri-na’s fragile state made her seem less like a girl a year younger than me and more like a little sister seeking comfort from her big brother, and I lost the will to push her away.

I mean, she’s my senior by a long shot, not my little sister.

"Well, whatever… If you have something on your mind, go ahead and say it. I’ll make a special exception and listen."

It can’t be helped. There must be times and situations in this world where you have to accept things, even if it means taking on the blame. …If I were to accurately describe the situation, I can easily imagine being scolded for different reasons regardless of whether I pushed her away or not.

After all, the people I care about are all paragons of virtue—

"…No."

See, what did I tell you?

"It’s not ‘no.’ You’re the one who created a situation where that’s not an option."

"…………Yeah."

What came back was not the voice of a woman flushed with a certain kind of passion, but the tone of a young girl sulking over some unmanageable something while hugging her knees.

I’m well aware that this doesn't lessen my current guilt, but I felt I could at least breathe a small sigh of relief. From the looks of it, this wasn't…

This wasn't about that kind of romantic feeling directed at me.

◇◆◇◆◇

—She was her family, not by blood but in truth. She was her sister, her younger sister, and her best friend. And now, next to that person, someone else irreplaceable had taken their place.

It was something she had supported, even if she hadn't actively wished for it.

It was something she had paid attention to, even if she wasn't serious about it.

And now that it had come true, the only emotion she felt towards it was sincere celebration.

Ri-na swore she was not jealous.

She didn’t feel lonely about entrusting the hand she had held since birth to the “someone” who would surely make her sister, her younger sister, and her best friend happy.

Having been by the side of her superior other half for over seventeen years, she had learned how to correctly read her own heart in order to live strongly and flexibly.

That is why Ri-na could verbalize that her heart was by no means troubled by negative emotions. Therefore, this was simply—

If she were to swallow her pride and confess, it was a simple matter.

"I… actually… have a serious brother complex."

"Come again???????"

Having it flaunted right in front of her by the person closest to her, she had simply… become envious.

"'Brother complex'—a condition where one has a strong affection or attachment to a male sibling. …To clarify, the type that develops into romance is, personally, a misinterpretation of the concept."

"I wasn't asking for the definition!"

It was no wonder that Onii-san was raising his voice in confusion.

But she hoped he would forgive her. It was impossible to tell him something like this without first setting up an absurd prank to block her own escape, then blurting it out suddenly, without warning, on pure impulse.

"Back in kindergarten and elementary school, whenever we had to write down wishes, like for Tanabata, I have no memory of ever writing a wish other than ‘I want an older brother.’"

"Seriously, hold on, what are we talking about here???"

"This is a top secret only my family knows, so take it to your grave."

"Could you please not implant such a ridiculously critical secret into a stranger’s brain out of the blue!?"

Again, it was no wonder he was confused. —And yet, the way he revealed his all-too-honest reaction while genuinely engaging with her was also exactly Ri-na’s ‘ideal.’

"Mi-na calls you ‘Onii-san,’ right?"

"Huh…? Y-Yeah, she does. ……Wait? Don't tell me she's one too?"

"She’s just piggybacking on it to tease me."

"What kind of game is that??? Wait, I just said ‘game,’ hold on, hold on, hold on, seriously, my thoughts and emotions can't keep up, just give me thirty seconds…!!"

Ri-na, or Rina Amahane, is Mi-na's, or Mina Saikado's, sister.

Therefore, given the environment they grew up in, the amount of love poured into them was boundless. And though not to the same extent as her sister, who was also her younger sister and best friend…

"Just as Mi-na was creating her ‘ideal place’ in the virtual world, I was searching for my ‘ideal brother.’ …Take this to your grave, too."

"It’s only been ten seconds…!!!"

Ri-na, too, had a nature that desired to love and be loved far beyond the average person.

This much was not entirely unknown to the world, given that she, with her not-so-boisterous personality, worked as an ‘idol.’ But when combined with her personal tastes, it was another story.

"Wha…??? Bro-co… um, but, you don’t actually have any brothers…………"

"Even without a ‘brother’ or ‘younger brother,’ there are ‘sisters’ and ‘younger sisters’ who suffer from a brother complex."

"That sounds philosophical? (???)"

As she had declared, Ri-na's ‘brother complex’ was quite severe.

Having a sister who was overly dependable in a pinch but like a troublesome younger sister in normal times had only accelerated her longing for a male sibling, who was similar yet different.

Especially an ‘older brother’—kind, cool, dependable… but also with a cute side, who would get flustered but still accept it when his little sister doted on or teased him.

She had lived her whole life wanting an onii-chan like that.

Candidate number one, Irori, was… somehow… just a little off.

He was kind, cool, and dependable—but not cute. He lacked that certain freshness. As a man, she could understand why his partner had fallen for him, but when measured against the standards of the ‘brother’ Ri-na sought, he unfortunately failed. Also, his face didn't look like an ‘onii-chan.’ Even if she was one of the country’s top beauties, a half-Japanese with blonde hair and blue eyes was too far off from her desired category.

And then, candidate number two appeared, who failed for the complete opposite reason. To be honest, at this point, she might as well cast aside all her shame… and just admit it.

"It was love at first sight."

"Hey, not this fantasy nonsense again…!!"

"Mi-na figured it out on the spot, too."

"You guys are so unreal!!"

Somehow, his ‘onii-chan’ aura was just that overwhelming.

His inner coolness… wasn't entirely clear back then, but his gentle and gentlemanly atmosphere could be sensed from his subtle expressions and mannerisms. And above all, the incredible ‘cuteness’ he exuded while blankly letting himself be swept along by the situation was fatal.

A direct, fatal blow to Ri-na.

His face was also perfect. Rather than being ridiculously handsome, a realistically well-proportioned appearance was a perfect score for a ‘brother.’ The fact that his smile had a childish air to it, combining elements of a ‘younger brother,’ was also excellent. It was almost too much to handle.

…So, in summary, it all came down to this.

"…Seeing Mi-na dote on you as much as she wanted was the last straw. I can’t take it anymore. I’m not interested in romance, but I want an ‘onii-chan’ right now."

"Wha-wh-whaaaat… —H-Hey, wait a sec…!?"

I know I’m being bad. I’m a very, very bad girl.

I know I’m being shameless. A very, very shameless girl.

But it can’t be helped. I am Mi-na’s other half.

Even if our surface personalities are polar opposites, the personality at our core is—

"I’m sorry. I’ll take full responsibility for convincing all of Onii-san’s lovers."

"What are you talking about! What in the world are you even talking about!! Hey, stop it! Stop that, you—hey, don’t hug me, that’s forbidden, that kind of thing is forbidden, stop, stop!!"

"…Seriously, stop it. I love that about you."

No matter what anyone says, a selfish girl who follows her own path and accomplishes great, or rather, catastrophic, things.

---

To all Ri-na-chan fans, please go back and rewatch all of her scenes immediately. You won't be able to see her as anything other than a little sister desperately trying to hold back from doting on her ideal 'onii-chan.'

She's adorable.