Category: Toxic Game Streamer

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Spoiler Warning Obviously

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Yep, we’re back. Honestly, this came out quicker than I expected. Vol 2 was just released last week, but I was on an overseas trip so I couldn’t post anything. As for the schedule, I honestly don’t know.

On a certain holiday at 11 a.m.

“Nice, Ayachi! That cover was amazing!!” (?)

“You too, Rina-san~!” (Aya)

Ayaya, aka Aya, just finished playing a round of ABEX with Rina, another member of the professional gaming team, Axcis Crown.

Returning to the home screen, the two professionals continued their friendly conversation as usual.

“Well, well, now that we’ve finished our practice, shall we do the simultaneous live stream as planned? It’s a holiday, so a lot of people will come and watch, right?” (Rina)

“Yeah! I’m looking forward to it!” (Aya)

“Me too!” (Rina)

With an elegant face and excellent communication skills, Rina, who is also a streamer, is a 22-year-old with an impressive 600,000 channel subscribers.

There are likely very few ABEX players who haven’t heard of her. She’s often referred to as the “Gal who is kind to otaku”.

Today, Aya had a collaboration stream planned with Rina.

“Oh, right! Before we start, congratulations on reaching 400,000 subscribers, Ayachi. Your growth has been impressive lately!” (Rina)

“Thank you! It was a bit stagnant until recently, but collaborating with Oni-chan really helped a lot!” (Aya)

“Ah, Oni-chan the siscon! His popularity is seriously crazy. He’s trending on Twitto every time, and his number of subscribers is increasing rapidly.” (Rina)

“Yeah! I think he’s currently the most popular ABEX streamer as of right now!” (Aya)

“Well, that streaming incident had quite an impact. The character breakdown is also quite interesting.” (Rina)

Seated in her gaming chair, Rina crosses her legs, laughing softly as she shakes her golden hair.

Then, she throws these words at Aya, who has a connection with him.

“Seriously, Oni-chan is so smart. His response after the streaming incident is a perfect 100, and the way he added fuel to the fire was quite skillful.” (Rina)

“Um, skillful…?” (Aya)

“Huh? Didn’t Oni-chan plan out the entire thing that led to the incident?  He had already decided that he would give up on his toxic persona from the beginning and introduce a different side to him.” (Rina)

“No, that’s not it.” (Aya)

“Huh? Then, wasn’t everything he did after the incident intentionally done so that he could move on from his toxic persona?!” (Rina)

“Hehe, I don’t mean to say anything bad, but Oni-chan is really unique, so the result of working hard to return to the status quo was perceived like that.” (Aya)

“Wait. So, he wasn’t clever and didn’t plan anything from the start? All this time, he was just continuously self-destructing?” (Rina)

“That’s right!” (Aya)

“Well, um… What a total mess.” (Rina)

Rina, who had thought of Oni-chan as a calculating and intelligent streamer, couldn’t help but express her honest thoughts with raised eyebrows.

“If that’s the case, it must have been even more tough for him… To continue his toxic persona despite being so clumsy.” (Rina)

“His dedication is real, he writes scripts for provoking others and probably does image training too.” (Aya)

“People who put in extraordinary effort behind the scenes that no one knows about. Without something like that, it’s tough to get your channel going.” (Rina)

“Yeah, that’s true.” (Aya)

Neither of them initially belonged to a professional gaming team.

They started as independent streamers until they gained a certain number of channel subscribers and were eventually invited to join the team.

Having gone through the channel recognition process, they can understand the effort that goes into it.

“Oni-chan is truly an amazing person. He works harder than anyone to save up for his sister’s education.  Besides streaming, he also has a lot of other duties…” (Aya)

Aya, who attends university while earning education and living expenses through streaming, understands this well. Oni-chan, who is supporting not only himself but also his family in a similar situation, is doing something truly remarkable.

“Indeed, being able to work so hard for the sake of family is incredibly admirable. He’s got a really cool personality.” (Rina)

“This is a secret, but Oni-chan is also handsome. At least in my opinion, he’s the best in that regard!” (Aya)

“I can’t believe the Ayachi, who is popular at offline meetings, is saying such a thing…” (Rina)

“Also, his smile is wonderful! He’s super kind! And not only that—” (Aya)

When it comes to someone you care about, you can’t help but want to brag.

As these feelings come to the surface, Aya becomes more talkative.

“Eh? Ayachi, are you dating Oni-chan?” (Rina)

“W-Why would you think that!?” (Aya)

“Well, you look so happy when you talk about him, you praise him a lot, your energy changes whenever you talk about him, and if you met him before, it’s natural to assume so.” (Rina)

“That’s not it! We met by accident!!” (Aya)

Unfortunately, the more Aya tries to explain, the more credibility she loses.

In Rina’s mind, it’s pretty much already confirmed.

“Don’t worry, Ayachi. Even though I have this flashy appearance, I’m really good at keeping secrets. Besides, there’s no rule against dating in our team. At your age, you should enjoy having ‘fun’ with your boyfriend.” (Rina)

“Wha…” (Aya)

An unexpected word. And a lack of resistance to explicit jokes.

Aya, who has never engaged in such things, turns bright red and stumbles over her words.

“Could it be that the main reason you moved here was to meet Oni-chan in real life and have some ‘fun’?” (Rina)

“W-Well! I-I came here for university, you know!” (Aya)

“Hehe, sure, sure.” (Rina)

“M-Mouu! You’re totally misunderstanding…” (Aya)

It’s unavoidable that a misunderstanding arises from accidentally hitting on the worst possible topic at the worst possible time.

Realizing that nothing she says will be believed in this atmosphere, Aya decides to use her ultimate technique.

“I-If you tell anyone about this… I’ll tell everyone Rina-san’s secret.” (Aya)

“I know. But anyways, I’m starting to get curious about Oni-chan. So, let’s do a collaboration stream with the three of us next time.” (Rina)

“N-No!” (Aya)

Aya’s resolute refusal echoed.

…

“H-Ha… Achoo!” (Haruto)

At the same time, Haruto sneezes on the sofa, and Yuno approaches from behind.

“Onii-chan, do you have a cold?” (Yuno)

“No, it just came out of nowhere.” (Haruto)

“Then someone must be spreading rumors about onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Haha, if that’s the case, they’re definitely saying something bad.” (Haruto)

“Don’t push yourself too hard.” (Yuno)

Facing Yuno, who placed her hands on her hips and squinted her eyes, Haruto shook his head.

“It’s all part of my plan. I’ll work hard to become more famous.” (Haruto)

“You’re a reliable onii-chan. Good boy, good boy.” (Yuno)

“…Yuu? Isn’t it a bit weird to pat the head of your 20-year-old brother?” (Haruto)

Looking up, their eyes met.

“Hey, what do you want for dinner today? I’ll make whatever you want.” (Yuno)

“Really!? Well, it might take some effort, but… I want hamburgers. Hamburgers with melted cheese.” (Haruto)

“Got it.” (Yuno)

“I want to help.” (Haruto)

“Then, onii-chan’s job will be kneading the mixture.” (Yuno)

“I want to do the grilling.” (Haruto)

“No, onii-chan well definitely burn them. Just knead the mixture.” (Yuno)

“Y-Yes…” (Haruto)

The man who surpassed 200,000 subscribers on his channel today is, as always, no match for his sister.

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Thanks for reading!

And that’s the end of Vol 1. Considering how it ended, there has to be a vol 2 so I’ll be waiting for that to get released. Honestly, the ending was kinda weird, but maybe this is a setup to bring Rina in as a character or something. Aya did also mention something about Rina’s secret so it’s plausible.

The next series as mentioned before, will be ‘Will you support me because I like you?’ Illustration and prologue are already out. You can find it here.

Although, I have also considered doing ‘I Decided to Keep a Naive Classmate. Everyday I’m Forced to Stroke’. Ok maybe the previous translator didn’t translate the title all that well, but the LN looks fluffy. Maybe next time.

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1. None

The Reversi match was quite laid-back.

Haruto sat cross-legged, and Suzuha, with a cushion on her lap, engaged in casual conversation.

“Oh, since your exams are over, does that mean that you’ll come by the cafe again?” (Haruto)

“If it’s not a bother…” (Suzuha)

“I’ve never found it bothersome. If anything, I look forward to it.” (Haruto)

“T-Thank you very much…” (Suzuha)

“But, you know, the environment for concentration varies from person to person. Yuu mentioned that she can’t concentrate well when at a cafe.” (Haruto)

That opinion was quite accurate.

The voices of the customers could be distracting, making it hard to concentrate when studying.

But for Suzuha, she was there for a different reason.

(Just seeing Haruto onii-san’s face, and for the whole day…)

—A wave of happiness would overwhelm her, making it impossible to focus on anything. She couldn’t concentrate on her studies.

She would find herself staring at the cup with the message and latte art for a long time.

Sometimes, she couldn’t even bring herself to finish it.

It was because of all this that, during exam periods, she would always endure not meeting him.

All this to ensure that she could get good results and receive praise from Haruto.

“Ah, oops. I just lost a bunch of pieces.” (Haruto)

“Speaking of which, I heard from Yuno-chan. It seems that you got punished for forgetting to contact her.” (Suzuha)

“Huh!?” (Haruto)

“I was also asked to remind you about it.” (Suzuha)

“Haha… As expected of my imouto… I didn’t want Suzuha-chan to know, though.” (Haruto)

Seeing Haruto scratching his cheek with embarrassment, Suzuha unconsciously smiled.

Although she had heard many similar stories before, she had never once thought negatively about it.

If she had been bothered by such stories, she probably wouldn’t have had any reason to want to spend time alone with him.

(On the contrary, I’ve heard about many wonderful things too. Although Yuno-chan told me to keep it a secret.)

“Did she say anything else?” (Haruto)

“She mentioned that if you repeat the same thing, she won’t celebrate your birthday.” (Suzuha)

“I-Isn’t that a bit too much!?” (Haruto)

“If I were in Yuno-chan’s shoes, I might think the same thing?” (Suzuha)

(If you care about someone, it’s normal to worry about them.)

“…I’ll reflect on it more.” (Haruto)

“Hehe.” (Suzuha)

Some people might feel uncomfortable with having close relationships with siblings.

However, their family situation is complicated, having lost both parents before reaching adulthood.

It’s only natural to want to do anything possible to help each other and cherish each other even more.

“Oh, right. I know I’m changing the subject again, but Suzuha-chan, you can play chess, right?” (Haruto)

“If we’re talking about board games, it’s my favorite.” (Suzuha)

“Exactly! You mentioned that before! Actually, I’ve been practicing a bit, so could we have a match sometime?” (Haruto)

“…D-Did you learn the rules for my sake?” (Suzuha)

“Well, not exactly. It’s more for myself; I just wanted to pick up a new hobby.” (Haruto)

“Eh?” (Suzuha)

It depends on how you interpret it.

If you interpret it as “He wanted to do it together,” then it’s true, but if you see it as “He tried to increase the number of games we could play together,” it might not be so clear.¹

(…I’m happy.)

She felt both intentions, and that’s what made her feel this way.

“Um… I just remembered something from the past.” (Suzuha)

“Huh? Something from the past?” (Haruto)

“When I was in middle school… during the time I was being bullied.” (Suzuha)

She said this while gently touching her naturally silver hair.

Her hair, which was a symbol of her quarter genes, was once called ‘a strange color’, and she was even told by a teacher to ‘dye it black’.

It might be a dark story, but Suzuha has already come to terms with it.

Back then, it played a role in many awful experiences. This was because no one could empathize with her, but—because of those words.

“Back then, you ‘remembered’ for me too. You even used my grandmother’s native language to tell me, ‘Your hair is beautiful, so don’t waste it by lacking confidence. You don’t need to worry about what others think’.” (Suzuha)

“S-Stop bringing that up! Okay!?” (Haruto)

“Hehe, just a little more, please.” (Suzuha)

Ever since her elementary school days, Haruto and Suzuha had always been close friends through their mutual connection, Yuno.

Because of this connection, she knows.

She knows that back then, Yuno, who was trying to help her resolve the bullying issue, consulted with Haruto to make it happen.

(If it weren’t for Yuno-chan and Haruto onii-san, I definitely wouldn’t be who I am now…)

—Ever since that time, something in her changed.

She started to see Haruto as more than just a friend.

—(“Feel free to come over anytime.”)

Those words became even more precious to her.

“…Haruto onii-san, thank you so much back then.” (Suzuha)

“Even though you’re saying that, you’re taking my pieces! That’s the one I really didn’t want you to take!” (Haruto)

“Hehe, no mercy.” (Suzuha)

(For Yuno-chan, who did something considerate for me, and for myself, I have to enjoy this moment I have with him.)

Even though she found herself wanting to tease him, some things haven’t changed since that time.

“Ugh… Where should I place my piece…? There should still be a chance to win…” (Haruto)

“How about here?” (Suzuha)

“Huh? If I take that spot, you’ll just take a corner again², won’t you!?” (Haruto)

“Hehehe.” (Suzuha)

As the endgame approached, the conversation shifted from casual talk to discussions about the game of Reversi.

The two of them continued their enjoyable time in Yuno’s room for dozens of minutes.

Because of their engrossing conversation, they didn’t notice.

Yuno, who had returned home, was leaning against the door, squinting her eyes, eavesdropping on their conversation.

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Thanks for reading!

Happy new year. There’s an epilogue left, so I think I’ll go finish that and maybe release it at the same time as this one. Let’s finish this exactly on new year. 

Um, I probably scuffed it towards the end, but the way that the author worded everything was weird.

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1. I am so sorry, but idk what this is saying.
2. I don’t play reversi so I don’t get it, but it’s probably some part of a strategy of the game.

After exchanging greetings with Suzuha, Haruto secluded himself in the gaming room.

“I managed to do quite well here…” (Haruto)

He was currently editing his ABEX video, cutting out certain parts from about 30 minutes of footage and condensing it into a 10-minute video.

“I should add some intense effect here…” (Haruto)

Editing styles vary from person to person, but Haruto’s case was unique. Due to the nature of his character, his edits heavily emphasized the toxic part of the video.

However, he made sure to cover up the names of other players and cut out certain parts that felt too forced.

One thing that he had always paid special attention to was the quality of his streams and videos. This was something he consistently kept in mind when streaming or uploading.

Because it was related to his income, he had never once compromised on the quality of his work.

“Looks like I’ll be at it for another 6 hours today…” (Haruto)

For someone proficient in editing, they might be able to finish editing the video in half this time. Haruto follows the so-called standard format of editing, but his skills are still at a beginner level, so more time is necessary.

“Phew…” (Haruto)

Working six days a week at a part-time job, streaming games, and editing videos, Haruto rarely gets a break. Despite pushing himself physically, he has never once felt like quitting.

All of this is for the sake of his family. The more he works, the more money he can save. This ensures that he can afford to send Yuno to university without worry.

As her substitute parent, this is Haruto’s unwavering determination.

“Alright, let’s do our best…” (Haruto)

From then on, there was silence.

Armed with an energy drink, Haruto had been glued to his PC for about two hours when the sound of knocking echoed in his room.

“Ah, yes? Who is it?” (Haruto)

As soon as he noticed the knocking, he quickly took off his headphones and turned around.

“It’s me, can I come in for a bit?” (Yuno)

“Sure.” (Haruto)

There was no reason to refuse. Haruto turned his gaming chair around, and Yuno, wearing slippers, entered the room.

“Ah, sorry. Were you working?” (Yuno)

“It’s just editing, so it’s fine. Besides, I was actually planning to take a break since I reached a good stopping point.” (Haruto)

“Oh, I see. That’s good then.” (Yuno)

She spoke as if a genuine sense of relief washed over her. It was evident that she didn’t want to disturb his work.

“So… did something happen? Oh, did I choose the wrong snacks!?” (Haruto)

“Why would you think that…” (Yuno)

He had bought a considerable amount of snacks, yet he responded with this remark. In any case, Yuno’s reaction would be more appropriate.

“The thing is that I just got a call from my part-time job, and I have to go there now. I was told that it wouldn’t take long.” (Yuno)

“Oh… That’s still tough.” (Haruto)

Haruto had also experienced being urgently called back for work before. Even if won’t take long, it tends to still be tiring.

“So, onii-chan, I have a little favor to ask of you…” (Yuno)

“To be with Suzuha-chan until you get back?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, I’m sorry for asking all of a sudden, but can you please take care of her until I get back?” (Yuno)

“I’m fine with it, but…” (Haruto)

There’s something that he’s curious about and absolutely needs to ask.

“—Did Suzuha-chan say it’s okay?” (Haruto)

“I’ve already told her. She even said she wants to talk more with onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Really!? Then, we’ll play together until Yuu comes back!” (Haruto)

It’s typical of Haruto to not be bothered by such an event.

In fact, judging from his expression, he seems to have been waiting for this moment.

“You look really happy.” (Yuno)

“Well, of course!” (Haruto)

“Hold back your feelings a bit, otherwise, you will cause trouble for Suzuha-chan.” (Yuno)

“Haha, don’t worry about that. I’m already 20 years old, you know?” (Haruto)

“Even so, there are still some childish aspects of you, onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Is that so?” (Haruto)

“Yeah.” (Yuno)

An immediate response.

There’s no room for argument considering the large amount of snacks brought over upon learning that Suzuha was coming over.

“Well then, I’ll head over after calming down a bit.” (Haruto)

“Sure, I’ll leave that to you. I know you won’t do anything weird.” (Yuno)

“Oh, right. Is it okay to stay in Yuu’s room? Or should we move to the living room?” (Haruto)

“My room is fine. It’s a hassle to move the snacks and drinks around.” (Yuno)

“Got it.” (Haruto)

“Sorry for asking so suddenly, and thank you.” (Yuno)

“No, no, there’s nothing for Yuu to apologize for.” (Haruto)

“Mmm…” (Yuno)

If it’s a call from work, it can’t be helped. There’s no need for apologies.

“Well, then I’ll be off. I think I can be back in about 40 minutes, so I’ll leave the rest to you.” (Yuno)

As Yuno was about to leave the room, she was stopped by Haruto saying, “Wait a moment.”

“What is it, onii-chan?” (Yuno)

“Thanks for the message. Take care.” (Haruto)

“Ah! Y-You don’t have to bring it up again.” (Yuno)

“Haha.” (Haruto)

In the end, Yuno turned away, and the door closed. The sound of Yuno’s footsteps gradually faded away.

Even though the reaction might seem like she’s angry, Haruto knew she wasn’t, so he could laugh it off.

“…I wonder if I could have seen her off if I hadn’t thanked her just now.” (Haruto)

While muttering to himself with narrowed eyes, Haruto saved the file he had been editing on his PC and left the gaming room.

“Now then!” (Haruto)

Haruto shifted his focus away from his work and moved towards Yuno’s room, where Suzuha was waiting.

…

“It’s been a while, Suzuha-chan. You’ve heard about the situation from Yuu… right?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes. Um, I’m sorry for taking up Haruto onii-san’s time.” (Suzuha)

“On the contrary, I was actually looking forward to it.” (Haruto)

When Haruto entered his sister’s room, Suzuha had the door open and was waiting.

Though she raised her somewhat stiff shoulders with an air of elegance, he knew from the past that she gets nervous very easily.

He also knew that conversation tends to naturally ease her tension.

Without dwelling on anything specific, they exchanged greetings once again and entered the room together.

“Oh! Were you reviewing your test papers just now?” (Haruto)

He quickly noticed the test papers and answer sheets spread out on the table. One scored 88 points, and the rest were all above 90—impressive results.

“Y-Yes, I was studying with Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“That’s really amazing…” (Haruto)

While giving such a response, Haruto glanced at the stacked test papers. Yuno’s test paper was also visible.

“Do you want to see them?” (Suzuha)

“Ahaha. To be honest, yeah. She usually only gives me vague responses when I ask her about how her exams went.”

It seemed that his curiosity was all over his face, and Suzuha quickly picked up on it.

“This is a secret, but Yuno-chan has better overall grades than me.” (Suzuha)

“Huh, really!? In that case, she should proudly show them off…” (Haruto)

“She would rather show you a perfect score out of 100.” (Suzuha)

“W-What’s with that? Seriously…” (Haruto)

“Hehe, it’s so like Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“Indeed.” (Haruto)

As a brother, Haruto wouldn’t get upset over any grades that she got. On the contrary, he would praise her.

Even if the results weren’t outstanding, he knew she was consistently working hard in her studies.

“By the way, sorry about Yuu’s sudden call from work.” (Haruto)

“N-No.” (Suzuha)

“I wonder what she got called back for?” (Haruto)

“Uh…” (Suzuha)

For some reason, Suzuha’s shoulders twitched when he asked to increase the conversation.

“Um, well, it’s about… she mentioned something about missing information in some document.” (Suzuha)

“Ah, I see. In that case, she would probably have to show her face there.” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes, I think so.” (Suzuha)

Suzuha’s gaze was darting around, showing signs of restlessness. She was blushing as well, but it was probably another form of nervousness.

Haruto thought that it was because he reminded her of them being alone together.

“So, what should we do until Yuu comes back? It might be a bit much to talk to each other while you’re studying, right?” (Haruto)

“Uh, well… I’m on break right now, so, um, I’d really like to talk with you, Haruto onii-san…” (Suzuha)

“Haha, thanks. How about we chat while playing Reversi? I recently installed an app for it.” (Haruto)

“Yes, please. I’d appreciate that.” (Suzuha)

“Just wait a moment. I’ll start it up right away.” (Haruto)

Haruto took out his smartphone from his pocket and quickly turned it on.

While he would rather play a party game using a controller, there wasn’t a gaming console in the house.

(Yuno said we don’t need one, but having one might be nice. It could be a good distraction from studying…)

With that thought, he pressed the ‘Two-player Match’ button.

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Thanks for reading!

I was gonna put in an explanation for Reversi but I don’t actually know what it is. In terms of board games, I only play chess and mahjong. Wait… Mahjong is a board game, right?

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1. None

[Yuno’s PoV]

After Haruto delivered the snacks…

“Well, Haruto Onii-san… is amazing, after all. That’s a lot…” (Suzuha)

“Haa.” (Yuno)

Looking at the snacks on the table and carpet, Suzuha gave a wry smile, while Yuno, placing a hand on her forehead, had a bewildered expression.

At a glance, there were countless snacks scattered around.

—Two-liter carbonated drinks, apple juice, and one bottle of tea each.

—Two bags of family-sized chips.

—One bag of family-sized chocolates and one bag of family-sized cookies.

—Several types of gummies and candies.

—Two triangular shortcakes.

The drinks and snacks instantly took over the table, which was supposed to be used for studying.

“S-Sorry, Suzuha-chan. Onii-chan just thinks that the more snacks there are, the happier people are… He never considers how much one can actually eat…” (Yuno)

She added a firm explanation and defense as a responsible younger sister.

“We don’t have to eat everything just because he gave it to us.” (Yuno)

Suzuha understands Haruto’s personality but she says this just to be safe.

“Haa. He must have gotten excited since it’s been a while since Suzuha-chan visited.” (Yuno)

As Yuno moves the snacks on the table onto the carpet to create a space for eating, she reflects on how things ended up like this.

“Normally, one wouldn’t even think about bringing in so much, right? There isn’t even any room on the table for us to eat.” (Yuno)

“Hehe, that’s so typical of Haruto onii-san.” (Suzuha)

“He’s always been like this. I know it’s one of his good points, but still.” (Yuno)

Yuno, with a disapproving look, could easily picture the situation that led up to this.

Her brother happily puts snacks and drinks into the shopping basket without any consideration for the cost, without checking the prices, just to make someone happy.

Although she knew this would happen, her brother refused to let her come with him.

He even proudly said, ‘I’ll go shopping alone! Look forward to what I’ll bring back!’ with a smile.

“Also, he forgot to prepare cups for the drinks and forks for the cake. This is like some malicious prank.” (Yuno)

“Oh, true. Hehehe.” (Suzuha)

“He looked so proud of himself when he brought in the snacks, and it somehow ended up like this… Why is onii-chan and I so different in this regard?” (Yuno)

While muttering complaints, Yuno’s tone and expression remained gentle, and she seemed to be smiling inwardly.

Suzuha, seemingly understanding Yuno’s feelings, silently watches and softens her expression.

She continued to talk about Haruto’s clumsy side one after another. Simple complaints come out, but the atmosphere in the room is warm.

Because they know Haruto well, the conversation ends with a ‘It can’t be helped’.

“Now then, I’ll go get some cups and forks. I’ll also bring wet tissues while I’m at it.” (Yuno)

“Ah, maybe you should wait a bit longer…?” (Suzuha)

“It’s fine. Onii-chan has probably already moved to his gaming room.” (Yuno)

Judging from the happily delivered snacks, it’s safe to say that Haruto read the apology message Yuno sent a little while ago.

Living under the same roof as Haruto, Yuno can easily anticipate what action he’ll take when in such a mood.

He’s definitely going to start working right away.

“Even if onii-chan is in the living room, you can just say you need to use the bathroom and get away with it.” (Yuno)

“Ehh? But the bathroom and living room aren’t near each other.” (Suzuha)

“Usually, yes, but he’ll apologize with a ‘Sorry for catching you at a bad time’ in response.” (Yuno)

“H-Have you tried that before?” (Suzuha)

Suzuha widens her eyes in shock at the surprising revelation.

“When living together, you’ll get used to onii-chan’s absent-mindedness. I’ve been using this to help out more in secret.” (Yuno)

Yuno has been consistently acting this way. If she could help out around the house without him noticing, she prefers it to be that way.

“Besides, if I bluntly tell him about what I’m doing in secret, my brother might cry or something.” (Yuno)

“Hehe, if Haruto onii-san were to cry, it would most likely be at Yuno-chan’s graduation ceremony, wouldn’t it?” (Suzuha)

“Yeah, 100%. He’d probably cry so much that one tissue wouldn’t be enough.” (Yuno)

“Maybe he should prepare three.” (Suzuha)

“Even that might not be sufficient.” (Yuno)

“Well, even though I say that, I’ll probably end up the same way at my graduation. I’ll cry along with him, and there are things that can only be said on that day.” (Yuno)

“Things that can only be said on that day?” (Suzuha)

“My brother may not say much, but because of our family situation, he gave up on his own education, prioritized part-time jobs even as a student, and worked hard for me… There’s no end to the list of things that makes him an amazing person.” (Yuno)

Even in difficult times, Haruto would cheerfully interact with her while hiding his feelings. If she seemed down, he would invite her to go out and show more consideration than usual. He even lied about preferring work over his studies to earn money for her.

Yuno may scold or get angry with him, but deep down, she feels that she can’t compete with her brother. Although it was more than a year away, she had already decided to use the graduation ceremony to convey these feelings that had been accumulating over the years.

“…Ah, we’re starting to get off topic. How was onii-chan when you greeted him? Since it was the exam period, it’s been a while since you saw him, right?” (Yuno)

“W-Well, yeah. I was nervous, but we talked a lot… It was really fun.” (Suzuha)

“I see, I see.” (Yuno)

She intentionally sent Suzuha alone for this reason, so that she could have some one-on-one time with Haruto.

“He praised you for the results, right? Since you worked so hard to be praised by him, you definitely told him about it, right?” (Yuno)

“Uh! W-Well, um…” (Suzuha)

“Well?” (Yuno)

“He… He did praise me.” (Suzuha)

“Hehe, that’s great.” (Yuno)

Yuno notices Suzuha blushing, using polite language, and nodding her head up and down. Unable to hold it in, she breaks into laughter.

Peeking from below, she could see Suzuha’s ears turning bright red.

“By the way, did he compliment your outfit?” (Yuno)

“W-Why are you asking about my outfit…” (Suzuha)

“That’s because the usually modest Suzuha-chan is wearing a shorter skirt today, right? It’s obvious you chose it with onii-chan in mind.” (Yuno)

“T-That’s… not true…? It was just particularly hot today…” (Suzuha)

“Right…” (Yuno)

“Ugh…” (Suzuha)

Her voice becomes softer, and her face continues to redden.

In the first place, today’s temperature is a cool 22 degrees. It’s clear that Yuno hit the nail in the coffin.

“From the looks of it, he complimented that too, didn’t he?” (Yuno)

“W-Well, um, he didn’t compliment my outfit, but he did say, ‘You look beautiful’. I-It’s embarrassing…” (Suzuha)

“W-What the!? I didn’t think onii-chan would ever say something like that! Hehe, if that’s the case, then it was worth coming over today, right?” (Yuno)

While nodding with a smile, Suzuha intertwines her fingertips and playfully wiggles them. It was a joyful reaction which only ever appears when Haruto is involved.

Yuno, who knows about this side of her, smiles without saying anything else. She decided that it was best not to tease her any further.

“Hey, Yuno-chan…” (Suzuha)

“Yeah? What’s up?” (Yuno)

“Um, it’s about Haruto onii-san… Was he not feeling well today?” (Suzuha)

“Huh? There didn’t seem to be anything particularly different about him today. Why do you ask?” (Yuno)

“Well, you see, before I greeted him, Haruto onii-san was lying on the floor face-up…” (Suzuha)

“Huh? On the floor, not on the sofa!?” (Yuno)

“Yeah. He was just sprawled¹ out on the floor…” (Suzuha)

It’s unusual for the clever Suzuha to show such expressions. Apparently, he was lying there like a dead fish.

“Gimme a moment. Let me see if I can figure out what happened.” (Yuno)

If he collapsed on the floor, something significant must have occurred.

If Haruto’s health was bad, and he was enduring it, Yuno couldn’t just brush it off lightly. While emitting a serious aura, making her difficult to approach, Yuno starts pondering what could have happened.

“Ah.” (Yuno)

Her expression quickly relaxed.

“It’s not because he’s unwell, so it’s okay. He probably rolled off while lazing on the sofa.” (Yuno)

“Maybe he hurt his back and couldn’t move…?” (Suzuha)

“W-Well, it’s onii-chan, so he’ll be fine.” (Yuno)

Yuno forces a wry smile.

What crosses her mind is the image of Haruto, hurt by insults like “stupid brother”.

She’s relieved that she sent the apology message before things got worse. Fearing that Suzuha might scold her if she found out, Yuno quickly changes the subject.

“*Ahem* Well then, I’ll go to the living room and get cups and forks. We shouldn’t wait too long to eat the cake.” (Yuno)

“I’ll help too.” (Suzuha)

“Thank you. But let’s prioritize not getting caught by onii-chan, okay? If he finds us together in the living room, it might be hard to cover up.” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah, you’re right. So, I’ll leave it to Yuno-chan…?” (Suzuha)

“Of course.” (Yuno)

As Yuno rises and reaches for the doorknob, the phone in her pocket starts to vibrate.

…

While opening the door with her right hand and taking out her phone with her left, Yuno, after checking the notification, turns to Suzuha with a surprised yet triumphant grin.

“Suzuha-chan, I just received a message from onii-chan. He said, ‘The outfit today really suited you!’ Apparently, he forgot to mention it when he greeted you.” (Yuno)

“?!” (Suzuha)

“He should have probably just said these things directly, right?” (Yuno)

Suzuha, upon hearing the message, tightens her lips, shaking her head left and right.

At first glance, it might seem like a denial, but in Suzuha’s case, it was just a sign that she was embarrassed.

“By the way, Suzuha-chan, do you want to be alone with onii-chan…?” (Yuno)

“W-Wha-wha-wha…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha stumbles over her words, her face turning bright red. However, given their friendship since elementary school, Yuno’s intentions are clear.

“Why are you surprised? When you helped me with my studies during the exam period, I promised I would repay the favor, right?” (Yuno)

Repaying the favor means fulfilling the other person’s wishes within reasonable limits.

It’s something the two of them often do.

“Today is a great opportunity, and I thought that Suzuha-chan might not have had enough time to talk with Onii-chan. Of course, I’m sure this is what Onii-chan thinks too.” (Yuno)

She doesn’t want to selfishly involve important family members, but this suggestion comes from knowing that both of them want to talk more to each other.

“Yuno-chan… is it really okay? I mean, if you leave Haruto onii-san and I alone, you’d be by yourself for a while…” (Suzuha)

“I’d actually prefer that.” (Yuno)

“Eh?” (Suzuha)

“He gets so happy about it, you know? If he’s happy, then I’m happy too.” (Yuno)

Yuno chuckles softly.

That’s because she can imagine the delighted expression on Haruto’s face.

Some might think, “Why not the three of them play?” but even that would be troublesome for Yuno.

—Especially since she finds it challenging to be completely honest in front of her brother.

“U-Um, then I’ll take you up on that… Thank you.” (Suzuha)

“Sure thing.” (Yuno)

“Uh, and also… I need some time to prepare my heart…” (Suzuha)

“It’s okay. I can wait.” (Yuno)

Suzuha shows a relieved expression at those words.

“Well then, now that our little off-topic chat is over, I’ll go get the cups and forks first. Suzuha-chan, take your time.” (Yuno)

“T-Thank you.” (Suzuha)

“Don’t worry about it.” (Yuno)

With that, Yuno stands up, heads to the hallway, and closes the door to her room on her way to the living room.

—And, she backpedals.

She quietly opens her room door just a few centimeters and peeks inside.

“Hehe…” (Suzuha)

There stands Suzuha, covering her face with both hands, embodying the principle of “See no evil” from the three wise monkeys².

Being complimented on her outfit and the idea of being alone with Haruto seemed to bring her immense joy.

“…Hehe, you’re so easy to read.” (Yuno)

After completely closing the door, Yuno murmurs to herself and heads towards the living room.

---

Thanks for reading!

W-Wow, so Suzuha chose that short skirt on purpose. She’s more aggressive than I thought. I know that it might not seem like her skirt is that short, but I think in Japan, their school uniform usually has a super long skirt unlike in animes and stuff. I could be wrong tho.

Again, it’s a long chapter so there might be mistakes somewhere.

---

1. Sprawled means sit, lie, or fall with one’s arms and legs spread out in an ungainly way.
2. It’s that see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil thing. I don’t really know much about it but my family has a weird poster of it plastered on the fridge for some reason.

It was 1 PM on Sunday, the day after the siblings were eating out.

*Ring* 

The intercom of the house rang, and Haruto immediately stood up from the sofa.

“Oh? I wonder who that is.” (Haruto)

“You sure move quickly, onii-chan. It’s Suzuha-chan, so I’ll answer.” (Yuno)

“How do you know?” (Haruto)

“We were in touch with each other.” (Yuno)

“Ah, I see.” (Haruto)

Seated next to him, Yuno happily played with her phone while humming. The reason for her cheerful mood has now become clear.

“Well then, I’ll go welcome her.” (Yuno)

“Okay.” (Haruto)

(I’m sure Suzuha-chan would be happy if I told her Yuu had been waiting eagerly waiting for her.)

With such thoughts in mind, he stood up with newfound determination and slowly followed her sister’s back.

“Hey…” (Yuno)

“W-What is it?” (Haruto)

At that moment, Yuno stopped in her tracks and turned around.

“Don’t you ‘what is it?’ me, why is onii-chan coming along? I said I’d go welcome her myself.” (Yuno)

“Well, I just thought I’d take the opportunity to greet her too.” (Haruto)

(I don’t think I said anything particularly strange…)

However, dissatisfaction was evident all over Yuno’s face.

“Mouu… You don’t have to do it right now, right? Suzuha-chan probably expects me to be the one to come out. Are you trying to surprise her?” (Yuno)

“N-No, that’s not my intention…! Um, can you consider it, Yuu? Of course, I’ll stop if you think that Suzuha-chan wouldn’t like it, but I want to come with you if possible.” (Haruto)

Knowing that Suzuha was the person who had always supported Yuno, in areas where Haruto couldn’t, led him to feel a strange sense of obligation to greet her.

After all, he was like a parental figure to Yuno.

“D-Don’t make such a scary face. Besides, there’s no way Suzuha-chan would dislike it.” (Yuno)

“Haha… Suzuha-chan is kind, just like you.” (Haruto)

“Don’t include me in that and don’t praise us together! I’m not kind!” (Yuno)

“You’re saying that again. Even though I know you well enough.” (Haruto)

“I-it’s true! At school… I refer to you as ‘stupid brother (baka aniki)’!” (Yuno)

“Huh?… Wait, ‘stupid brother’!? Hold on, is that true!?” (Haruto)

Did he mishear? That thought crossed his mind for a moment, but he quickly grasped the reality.

He didn’t know that he was being called that. It was the first time he heard it. His mind went completely blank.

“Also, kindness isn’t the only reason why she wouldn’t dislike it.” (Yuno)

“Wait, Yuu. More importantly, what’s with that ‘stupid brother’ thing…!? When did you start calling me that!?” (Haruto)

“Well, I’ll see if I can create an opportunity for you to greet her.” (Yuno)

“Ah… R-Right. Thanks for that.” (Haruto)

He asked, but the topic was dodged. From the way she was acting, it seemed like she had no intention of answering.

“Well then, come on. Instead of standing around here, head back to the living room and wait. We can’t keep Suzuha-chan waiting any longer.” (Yuno)

“Sure…” (Haruto)

Overwhelmed by shock, his legs lost strength, but Yuno pushed him back into the living room.

After about 15 minutes…

“Ah…” (Haruto)

Such a deflated voice escaped when the sounds of two footsteps passed through the corridor to Yuno’s room.

It seemed like the greeting would have to wait a bit longer.

…

Despite trying to maintain composure and endure the sadness of being called ‘Stupid Brother’, when he realized that he couldn’t greet Suzuha-chan, the dam holding back his emotions seemed to break.

“Aaahhh…” (Haruto)

An inaudible sound left his mouth as his body lost all its strength and he collapsed onto the sofa, lying there like a corpse.

His body slowly slipped onto the floor and…

*Thud*

He was hit with a dull pain, but the shock to his heart was nothing compared to the pain.

…

There was only one thing that crossed his empty mind.

He pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and, with trembling fingers, opened a certain app.

One with an icon of “X”¹. On Twitto, he switched from the main account “Oni-chan the Toxic Streamer” to his sub-account, “Oni-chan the Second”.

This sub-account was set up so that only people who followed him could see his posts.

With 20,000 followers on this account, he quietly made a post.

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Question: Does my family hate me? Context: Apparently, when I’m not around, they call me ‘Stupid Brother’.]

With eyes that resembled those of a lifeless fish, he waited for incoming notifications. In just a few minutes, likes and comments started pouring in.

Twitto Post: [Are you okay, lol? Are you crying?]

Twitto Post: [Oof that sounds painful.]

Twitto Post: [Oh, things sound kinda serious over there.]

Twitto Post: [Oni-chan sounds devastated lol.]

Twitto Post: [You really love your little sister, huh.]

Twitto Post: [Cheer up, Oni-chan!!]

Twitto Post: [It’s cute that you think being called stupid equals being disliked lol.]

“What else could it mean other than being disliked… And they’re all ignoring the main question to begin with…” (Haruto)

No one answered the question.

While muttering to himself, he scrolled through the comments and finally found a follower who responded to his question.

Twitto Post: [To be honest, I don’t think you’re disliked! Oni-chan’s sister is pretty young, right? She’s probably just going through her rebellious phase, pretty normal stuff.]

“Rebellious phase…? Yuu?” (Haruto)

While it is true that she’s around that age, he couldn’t imagine her sister behaving like that based on their usual interactions.

However, whether it was because of this response or not, he started receiving numerous stories about rebellious phases.

Twitto Post: [My sister’s rebellious phase is way worse. She freaks out just from doing laundry together.]

“Eh?” (Haruto)

He was so shocked by the content that his voice slipped out unintentionally.

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [No way, right? That’s gotta be a lie.]

Another response:

Twitto Post: [My sister will always slip in a profanity every time I talk to her!]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Does that really happen?]

Another response came:

Twitto Post: [You guys are having it so easy. My sister ignores me, curses at me, and steals everything I buy.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [That’s probably because you’re being mean to her or something.]

Yet another response:

Twitto Post: [Ah, memories… Back then during my daughter’s rebellious phase, I was told by her that I stink lol.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Good job surviving that. If I ever get told that, I’ll come to you for advice.]

“H-Hearing everyone’s stories, I guess Yuu is on the gentler side… probably…” (Haruto)

Even so, being called ‘Stupid Brother’ by his beloved family was painful.

He had never been called that at home, and nothing was alluding to it. Because he wasn’t mentally prepared, the damage was quite severe.

“Haa…” (Haruto)

With a heavy heart, he remained lying on the floor, with Twitto still open. Then, another response arrived.

Twitto Post: [In my opinion, Oni-chan, you’re not disliked. She probably just doesn’t want people at school to find out that she’s close to her brother.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [You got my attention. Tell me more.]

This person seems to be a woman giving insight from her perspective.

Twitto Post: [Wow, I got a reply too! Hey, let’s ABEX together sometime.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [There’s no point in asking that. Come on, hurry up.]

Even at times like this, he still held on to his character.

The other person seemed to understand this and provided information straight.

Twitto Post: [Well, it can’t be helped. I don’t know your sister’s age, but if she’s in high school, everyone’s going through their rebellious phase. If word gets out that she’s close to her brother, people might tease her, calling her a brocon or something. She might end up standing out in school because of this.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [That’s true.]

Twitto Post: [In other words, what she says might not be what she thinks. It’s most likely just a cover-up. Anyways, isn’t it nice that she doesn’t actually hate you? Keep it up.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [I see. I get it now. Thanks.]

Certainly, there was a possibility that she was conscious of how others perceived her… With that thought, he pressed the like button on the message.

He felt a little relieved.

Recovering a bit from his fish-like gaze, Haruto continued to check his notifications. Just as he did, a new response caught his eye, and he promptly replied.

Twitto Post: [Hey, Oni-chan. I have three sisters, and they complain a lot, but every time they do, I’m thrilled!]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [What do you mean, thrilled? If you say something weird, I’ll block you.]

Twitto Post: [It’s not like that! I’m thrilled about their growth! Entering the rebellious phase means there are only a few years left before they become independent, right? There’s no time to be shocked, right?]

“!” (Haruto)

It was something he hadn’t considered, but it made sense once he thought about it.

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Thanks. Indeed, I don’t have time to be shocked.]

Twitto Post: [Yeah. Also, even if she dislikes you now, she’ll probably be grateful when she becomes an adult. Maybe.]

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Maybe, huh? Well, thanks for the tip.]

It was a message deserving of a hundred likes, but he maintained his character and responded coldly.

(Not that I take pleasure in others’ misfortune, but hearing people complain about their sister makes me feel a bit better…)

He chuckled as if the wound in his heart had healed.

While some people were teasing him, he felt that making this post was a good decision.

“Well then…” (Haruto)

He couldn’t dwell on it any longer.

As he was about to turn off his smartphone and try to lift his body from the floor, he was called out from behind.

“Um, excuse me… Haruto onii-san?” (?)

“!?” (Haruto)

It was a familiar voice.

With surprised eyes, he turned his head and there she was.

Lacy socks, a short skirt, and black pant—

“S-Suzuha-chan!?” (Haruto)

Even without seeing her face, it was clear who it was. He quickly stood up like a ninja, trying to hide the fact that he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

(D-Dangerous. Why did she approach me when I was lying down? No, more importantly…)

Cold sweat wouldn’t stop pouring. Despite his tense expression, he opened his mouth.

“Ah, um, Suzuha-chan… It’s been a while, huh?” (Haruto)

*Nod nod*

While nodding like a squirrel, Suzuha responded.

“I-It’s been a while. Um, you were lying on the floor just now… Are you okay…?” (Suzuha)

“Ah, y-yeah. I’m fine, totally fine! A-And, I didn’t see anything, okay?” (Haruto)

“Didn’t see anything?” (Suzuha)

Suzuha, maintaining her elegant posture, widened her beautiful eyes and tilted her head. Seeing her clueless expression, he felt both relief and regret for not explaining the context.

“Ah, don’t worry about it! I was just lost in thought for a moment…” (Haruto)

“I-I see.” (Suzuha)

There was no way he could tell her he accidentally saw her underwear.

It might be rude, but if she hadn’t noticed, it was better not to say anything… Otherwise, things would have become awkward.

That was the conclusion he reached.

“Ah! Thanks for coming all the way to greet me, Suzuha-chan. You haven’t been to the cafe recently, so I wanted to say hello.” (Haruto)

“Well, um… that’s because it was the exam period. It’s not that I was purposely avoiding Haruto onii-san…” (Suzuha)

“Oh, I see. Wait, it’s the exam period!? Yuu didn’t tell me anything… probably because she thinks I’ll start doing housework for her…” (Haruto)

“Hehe, that sounds just like Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“It would be nice if she relied on her big brother a bit more, don’t you think?” (Haruto)

“If things get too hard, I believe that she’ll genuinely ask for help.” (Suzuha)

“I’ll choose to believe that.” (Haruto)

Suzuha narrowed her beautiful jewel-like eyes at those words.

Though captivated by the smile on her well-featured face, Haruto shook his head to regain composure. She was his sister’s friend; he shouldn’t look at her with weird eyes.

Haruto utilized the conversational skills he gained from streaming to lead the conversation.

“Right, right! Suzuha-chan, how did your exams go?” (Haruto)

“Um, well, I think I’ll manage to stay within the top 10 in my grade.” (Suzuha)

“Wow! That’s great! That’s really amazing, Suzuha-chan!” (Haruto)

“T-Thank you… Just hearing you say that makes me happy…” (Suzuha)

“Keep up the good work. If you ever have any problems, feel free to look for me anytime. Though I’m not going to be much help when it comes to studying, haha.” (Haruto)

“I-It’s okay… If the time ever comes, I’ll appreciate your help…” (Suzuha)

After shaking her head left and right, Suzuha bowed politely.

(You don’t have to be that formal…)

He had that thought multiple times before, but this had always been a part of Suzuha’s personality since a long time ago.

“By the way, Suzuha-chan, you’ve become even more beautiful in the short time I haven’t seen you. I was surprised when our eyes met.” (Haruto)

“Huh!?” (Suzuha)

“Just between the two of us, you’ve got a boyfriend now, right?” (Haruto)

“N-N-N-No, that’s not true…!” (Suzuha)

He couldn’t help but laugh at her vigorous denial, making an “X” sign with both hands and vigorously shaking her head.

Yuno and Suzuha had been friends since elementary school. For Haruto, who had seen them grow together, Suzuha was like another younger sister to him.

“Is that so?” (Haruto)

“It’s true…” (Suzuha)

“Oh, really…? Well, I know a lot of good things about Suzuha-chan, so it wouldn’t be weird for you to have a boyfriend.” (Haruto)

“You always tease me like that, Haruto onii-san…” (Suzuha)

“I didn’t mean to tease you! I really mean it.” (Haruto)

“If Haruto onii-san wants to put it that way… then, do you have a girlfriend?” (Suzuha)

“Huh, me?” (Haruto)

“Yes. I also know a lot of wonderful things about Haruto Onii-san…” (Suzuha)

She brought her fingertips together and blushed slightly as she conveyed her thoughts. Haruto couldn’t help but swallow a breath at her cute girlish gesture.

“Thank you for saying that. But unfortunately, that’s not the case.” (Haruto)

“I-I see… Well, then… I’m glad.” (Suzuha)

“Eh? You’re glad?” (Haruto)

“Eek! Um, well, what I meant just now was…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha spoke in a transparent voice.

Even with her small voice, it was easy to understand. Watching her flustered state, Haruto put his thoughts together and could deduce the meaning behind those words.

“…Ah! I see, that makes sense. If I were to get a girlfriend, it would mean less time to spend with Yuu, and she’s still in high school, so that wouldn’t be good.” (Haruto)

“Eh, well…” (Suzuha)

“Really, I’m glad that Suzuha-chan is Yuu’s best friend. Please continue taking care of my sister from now on too.” (Haruto)

“Um… o-of course.” (Suzuha)

(There’s something a bit strange about her reaction…)²

He hadn’t said anything strange. It must be his imagination.

“Well then, I shouldn’t take up any more of your time since it’s your special day with Yuno. I hope you have a lot of fun today.” (Haruto)

“T-thank you… Well then, Haruto onii-san, I’ll take my leave.” (Suzuha)

“Sure. Take your time.” (Haruto)

Honestly, he wanted to talk more, but he didn’t want to bore Yuno so he waved goodbye.

“Ah, sorry. I forgot to mention one thing.” (Suzuha)

“Hmm? Forgot something?” (Haruto)

“Yes. It seems Yuno-chan sent a message to Haruto onii-san and she wants you to check it.” (Suzuha)

“I see. Thanks for letting me know.” (Haruto)

“N-No problem.” (Suzuha)

He saw her off to the corridor and when she entered Yuno’s room, he immediately checked his phone for the message.

“(Onii-chan, I’m sorry. I might have said too much earlier. You might not believe me, but I’ve never once thought badly of you. Thank you for always doing your best for my sake.)” (Yuno)

“Huh…” (Haruto)

—An unexpected apology.

Though not said in person, the sincerity behind the words was clear. Following what he heard from Twitto, it seemed that this was indeed part of going through a rebellious phase.

“So that’s how it is, huh? I see, I see.” (Haruto)

The more he read the message, the more a sense of joy welled up within him.

He wasn’t disliked after all. At this moment, Haruto felt as if he could soar through the sky.

“Hehehe. I guess I’ll give my all in video editing today!” (Haruto)

For Haruto, there was nothing more joyful than being able to spend an ordinary day with his beloved family.

“Alright, let’s get back to work!” (Haruto)

Haruto joyfully scattered musical notes around as he moved to his gaming room.

Twitto Post (Oni-chan): [Ha! As it turns out, she doesn’t hate me at all!! Take that, those who teased me!!]

Later, the sunny Haruto posted the details of his overwhelming happiness on his  ‘The Second Oni-chan’ account/

“Oh! But before that, there’s something I need to do…” (Haruto)

And then, he remembered.

In preparation for this moment, he hurriedly arranged the snacks he had bought and delivered them to Yuno’s room.

---

“Suzuha, maintaining her elegant posture, widened her beautiful eyes and tilted her head. Seeing her clueless expression, he felt both relief and regret for not explaining the context.”

---

Thanks for reading!

The fact that MC thinks that all siblings get along as well as they do. I don’t have siblings so I wouldn’t know, but I only ever heard people around me complain about their siblings and how they preferred to be an only child. It’s kinda funny, cause as an only child, I prefer to have siblings since it’s kinda lonely as an only child. I guess it’s one of those ‘you won’t know unless you’ve been through it’ things.

I know that I put ‘idiot big brother’ last time, but I should have probably used ‘stupid brother’ instead since it sounds more natural when you say it.

This was pretty difficult to translate and quite long so I may have made mistakes somewhere.

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1. Yup, the author referenced the X icon but kept the name as Twitto LOL. 
2. There’s something strange about your ‘deduction’.

[Yuno’s PoV]

*Ding Dong*

The familiar sound of the school bell echoed.

After finishing her Saturday morning classes, Yuno approached a girl nearby.

“Suzuha-chan, how did you do on the test earlier?” (Yuno)

“I got 96 points…” (Suzuha)

“Wow! So, Suzuha-chan had the highest score in the class after all. As expected of you!” (Yuno)

Yuno, who has been friends with Mochizuki Suzuha since elementary school, chatted with her while preparing to leave school.

“How about you, Yuno-chan?” (Suzuha)

“I managed to get 90 points somehow.” (Yuno)

“Wow… Getting 90 points in a subject you’re not good at is really impressive, isn’t it?” (Suzuha)

“Thanks! At least now my idiot big brother (baka aniki) won’t have to worry so much.” (Yuno)

“Hehe, that’s good.” (Suzuha)

Suzuha, with her medium-long silver hair swaying, narrowed her clear blue eyes and smiled softly. Yuno returned the smile.

“Oh… Is Haruto onii-san doing well?” (Suzuha)

“He’s doing great. The other day, he came home without notifying anyone, and he spent over an hour talking nonsense.” (Yuno)

“Did Yuno-chan punish Haruto onii-san?” (Suzuha)

“I gave him a good spanking on the butt. Hopefully, he would remember it next time.” (Yuno)

Suzuha, who has been friends with Yuno since elementary school, is well acquainted with Yuno’s family situation. In fact, she is the only person who knows the details.

Amid their lighthearted conversation about family matters…

“!?””!!””!?”

A trio of male classmates who had been standing nearby overheard the conversation, and upon hearing it, they turned their heads and glanced at the girls.

Upon meeting the gaze of the boys, Yuno immediately shifted her expression to a stern glare.

“What? You boys over there. You seem like you guys have something to say.” (Suzuha)

“N-No, nothing at all!” (Trio)

The boys quickly denied with nervous expressions.

Despite their synchronized denials and attempts to form a circle again, it was clear that the boys overheard the conversation.

“Hey, did you hear that!? Yuno-chan is willing to spank her brother just for causing a little bit of trouble!” (Student)

“I’m so jealous of her brother…” (Student)

“Isn’t he lucky…” (Student)

Yuno and Suzuha remained oblivious. They had no idea that they were currently the top two in the “Cute High School Girls Ranking, According to Second-year Boys”.

It was precisely because of their popularity that such conversations took place.

“Uwaa…” (Yuno)

“Hey, it’s just a joke! Don’t be so repulsed, Yuno-chi! It’s just a joke, right!?” (Student)

“I think there are good jokes and bad jokes.” (Yuno)

As Yuno responded to the first boy who tried to explain himself, another boy chimed in.

“Don’t say such awful things!” (Student)

“I’m just stating the obvious.” (Yuno)

With a twitching brow, as Yuno grew disdainful, the last boy made a different suggestion.

“Come on, don’t say things like that! Oh, how about we all go bowling together today? What do you think?” (Student)

“W-well, I’ll pass…” (Suzuha)

“I’ll pass too. And aren’t there club activities for the baseball club today? Stop saying weird things and go already.” (Yuno)

These words served as the final blow to the boys.

“Did you have to say that…” (Student)

“That’s just mean…” (Student)

“I wanted to escape from reality a bit longer…” (Student)

“Yeah yeah. Good luck to the three of you.” (Yuno)

“Woo-hoo…” (Trio)

After casually dismissing the boys and waving goodbye, their conversation resumed.

“Haa… Why are they so childish? They’re supposed to be second-year high school students.” (Yuno)

“Maybe they just want your attention, Yuno-chan… You’re popular, after all.” (Suzuha)

“I think they’re just teasing me.” (Yuno)

“But weren’t you confessed to yesterday? During lunch break?” (Suzuha)

“Huh… W-Wait, were you watching!?” (Yuno)

“No, I just assumed so because you were called out. The guy who called you out looked extremely nervous. You rejected him, right?” (Suzuha)

“He wasn’t a bad person, but compared to my baka aniki, he just seemed too childish.” (Yuno)

“I think it’s a bit unfair to compare him to Haruto onii-san…” (Suzuha)

“Hmm.” (Yuno)

Watching Suzuha hesitantly express her opinion with hands over her mouth, Yuno stared at her for a few seconds, then lifted the corner of her mouth and said with a smirk.

“As expected of someone aiming for my onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“I-It’s not like that…” (Suzuha)

“I know you drop by the cafe where he works just to chat with him.” (Yuno)

“Uuu…” (Suzuha)

“By the way, I’m planning to have dinner outside with my baka aniki.” (Yuno)

“Ugh…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha furrowed her eyebrows, a clear expression despite her quiet demeanor.  Yuno, who was well-aware of this part of Suzuha, teased her further.

“Look, you’re making an envious face.” (Yuno)

“M-Mouuu!” (Suzuha)

“By the way, Suzuha-chan, you’re always welcome to join us. Baka aniki will be at home on Sunday so feel free to come over during that day too.” (Yuno)

“Un… Okay, got it.” (Suzuha)

After widening her blue eyes, Suzuha smiled faintly. It was a mix of surprise and joy.

“Now then, I have to head to work soon, but are you planning on staying at school a bit longer, Suzuha-chan? If you’re going home—” (Yuno)

“Yeah, I have something to do today, so let’s go home together?” (Suzuha)

“All right!” (Yuno)

Suzuha usually stayed back at school for self-study while Yuno had to rush home immediately to take care of household chores, cooking, and her part-time job.

Due to their conflicting schedules, they rarely walk home together.

After finishing their preparations, they passed through the corridor from the classroom to the entrance, and the two of them encountered an unexpected event.

As Yuno reached up to open her shoe locker as usual, something unexpected happened.

“Whoa!” (Yuno)

Two letters fluttered out from the shoe locker, landing on their heads.

“Phew, that was a surprise… I thought it was a bug.” (Yuno)

“Ah this again…” (Suzuha)

They were letters with ‘To Yuno-san’ written on them. Everyone was clear from a glance.

Following suit, Suzuha opened hers and…

“Ah…” (Suzuha)

Two letters, each addressed ‘To Suzuha-san,’ fell out.

“…” (Yuno)

“…” (Suzuha)

The two exchanged silent glances and then bent down to carefully pick up the fallen letters.

Students passing by who observed the whole scene couldn’t help but think:

—(Someone’s confessing to them again…)

—(Are there going to be more casualties…)

—(They don’t even have a chance…)

Except for the two girls involved, no one else was surprised by the event. It was a common sight in this school, and there was already a widespread rumor circulating among the students that killed any chances of any boys dating them.

There was a certain monster (man) out there who managed to seduce the two girls, who had been confessed to by dozens of people. Because of that, it was believed that no one could date them!

This aforementioned individual, who is currently sweeping the entrance of his house energetically with a broom, was eagerly anticipating something today

And so, In the evening on that day…

===

[Haruto’s PoV]

“Heh.” (Haruto)

“W-What’s with the grin, onii-chan…” (Yuno)

Yuno, done with her part-time job, had joined her brother for dinner at a family restaurant.

Haruto wore a gentle smile when they were looking at the menu together.

“S-Sorry. It’s just that it’s been a while since we went out to eat together.” (Haruto)

“…” (Yuno)

“Hmm?” (Haruto)

Although he apologized and gave an explanation, he received no response and instead was met with a half-hearted glare.

“It’s creepy when you look that happy.” (Yuno)

“Isn’t it normal?” (Haruto)

“What part of it?” (Yuno)

In reality, Yuno was not wrong. With how happy Haruto was, if judged solely by their atmosphere, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for someone to mistake them for a “fresh couple”.

“W-Well, I hope you can forgive me for being that way… Like I said, it’s been a while.” (Haruto)

“It’s been a while because onii-chan rarely ever invites me. If you invited me, I wouldn’t refuse.” (Yuno)

Yuno lowered her gaze, flipping through the menu, but her thoughts were clear: “Just casually invite me. I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, in that case, how about we set a goal to go out for a meal about twice a month? It would make things easier for you, and we could both relax. Coming up with a menu every day must be tough, right…?” (Haruto)

“That’s a no.” (Yuno)

“Huh, you don’t like it?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. I don’t want to.” (Yuno)

Haruto, having researched how challenging daily cooking can be through the voices of housewives online, made the suggestion to lighten Yuno’s load. However, it was promptly rejected, leaving him a bit taken aback.

“Can I ask why?” (Haruto)

“Simply put, it’s more of a luxury. Dining out costs more than cooking at home, you know? With the money spent on one meal outside, I could make enough food for two or three days.” (Yuno)

“But, you know, having days when you don’t have to cook, can relax, and don’t have to think about the menu seems like a good balance, doesn’t it?” (Haruto)

“If I hated cooking and did it begrudgingly, maybe. But I enjoy cooking. Besides, we made a promise, right? ‘Don’t push yourself on days you’re not feeling well.’ So, there’s no need to force dining out days.” (Yuno)

“Is that so?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. Rather than increasing dining out days, I’d be happier buying a pudding from the convenience store and eating it together with you.” (Yuno)

“I-I see… Then, how about buying pudding on our way home today?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. I’ll go for the baked pudding.” (Yuno)

“Then I’ll take the milk pudding.” (Haruto)

“Sorry, but they’re sold out of the one you like. I forgot to tell you last time as a punishment.” (Yuno)

“In that case, maybe I’ll sneakily eat Yuno’s pudding.”

“If you do that, I’ll spank you again.”

And so, they decided on their dessert for the trip home, playfully discussing which one to buy.

“Well, then, let’s drop the dining out talk. Onii-chan, just keep enjoying my cooking, okay? Got it?” (Yuno)

“Hahaha, got it, got it.” (Haruto)

The frequency of dining out remained unchanged. They reached the conclusion of ‘occasionally going out,’ and the topic quickly shifted.

“Hey, speaking of which, there’s something I want to confirm.” (Yuno)

“What is it?” (Haruto)

“You haven’t forgotten that Suzuha-chan is coming over tomorrow, right?” (Yuno)

“Uh…” (Haruto)

Haruto let out a pathetic sound and covered his mouth. With this reaction, it was evident to anyone that he had indeed forgotten.

“E-Eh… Did you maybe forget to re-schedule the livestream?” (Yuno)

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that I forgot to buy sweets for the two of you…” (Haruto)

“Haa?” (Yuno)

“Ouch!?” (Haruto)

Seeing Haruto’s face filled with despair, as if he had done something irreversible, Yuno promptly gave him a forehead flick.

“Come on, don’t make such a face over something like that, it’s misleading. We can just buy them together after this, right?” (Yuno)

“No, I wanted to buy it by myself…  It’s better if it’s a surprise. Yuu would be happier that way, right?” (Haruto)

“For that reason?” (Yuno)

“Yeah… Ugh. Instead of getting hung up on our dining session today, I should have gone to buy them earlier…” (Haruto)

The planned surprise didn’t go as smoothly as intended.

Watching Haruto’s shoulders slump and his mood dampen, Yuno wore a puzzled expression.

“Onii-chan, it’s a bit late now, but since Suzuha-chan isn’t coming early in the morning, couldn’t you have secretly gone to buy them tonight or tomorrow morning without me knowing?” (Yuno)

“…Ah, yeah. I guess you’re right.” (Haruto)

“You don’t need to get so down about it. I appreciate the thought.” (Yuno)

“Please don’t say it with a ‘you’re so stubborn’ face.” (Haruto)

“Well, you are stubborn though.” (Yuno)

“Y-You say that quite often, don’t you?” (Haruto)

“Well, let’s not dwell on that so much and continue with our order, okay? Look, they have onii-chan’s favorite cheese hamburger on the menu.” (Yuno)

“Hmm, there’s also a cheese topping…” (Haruto)

“Why not add it on top of the hamburger? Think of it as a reward for trying to make us happy.” (Yuno)

“Sure, let’s give it a try. I wonder how it’ll taste like with extra cheese.” (Haruto)

“I’ll go for gratin¹ and seafood salad. Also, let’s get two drinks from the drink bar.” (Yuno)

“Is that all? You can order more meat and stuff, you know? And look at the desserts, there are so many nice options.” (Haruto)

“My stomach isn’t as big as yours… Besides, isn’t the pudding later already a dessert?” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah, you’re right.” (Haruto)

Haruto could only offer a wry smile, looking somewhat embarrassed as he shifted his attention to the menu.

Observing this scene, Yuno muttered under her breath softly:

“…Is having an onii-chan like this really okay, Suzuha-chan?” (Yuno)

With a relaxed expression, she let out these words, as if speaking to herself.

---

Suzuha, with her medium-long silver hair swaying, narrowed her clear blue eyes and smiled softly. Yuno returned the smile.

---

Thanks for reading!

Nooo don’t do it Suzuha, you’re not the main heroine, you can’t win!

On a different note, Merry Christmas! As a Christmas present, I’ll tell you the next series I’m considering picking up after this. The harem consists of an idol, VTuber (of course!), and a cosplayer. Reminds you of ODL eh? It’s called:

Will you support me because I like you?

There’s already an NU page here. Of course, I might change my mind down the line, but this is what I’m considering so far.

I’ll be taking a break tmr, which I think is also the same time when Ruan Mei is coming out, so here’s an early good luck to your pulls.

---

1. A gratin is a dish that is topped with cheese, or bread crumbs mixed with bits of butter, then heated in the oven or under the grill until brown and crisp.

[Aya’s PoV]

Right after parting ways with Haruto…

“Ugh, I’m such an idiot…! Ahh mouu! Why didn’t I just hold hands with him!? It was such the perfect opportunity, wasn’t it!?” (Aya)

Aya, who had flopped onto the sofa in the living room, buried her face in the cushion, and flapped her legs in frustration.

“Even though it was a perfect chance, why do I go and do something so stupid!? Mouu…!” (Aya)

Expressing her regrets, Aya kept fidgeting until she eventually stopped, as if she wore herself out.

“Haa… I could have held hands with Haruto-san…” (Aya)

The heavy weight of ‘regret’ pressed against her back.

“This is normal for someone from an all-girls school, right? It’s not like I’m the only one who’s weird when in such a situation…” (Aya)

She attended an escalator all-girls school¹ from middle school to high school.

Interactions with the opposite sex were practically nonexistent, and the last time she held hands with someone was during an elementary school field trip.

“But being able to grasp the hem of his clothes is a big step forward! Yeah…! It was nerve-wracking, but I did it properly!” (Aya)

It was a shift in mindset.

“Haruto-san probably hasn’t even caught on, but we’re going on a date! Oh, I should check my schedule…!” (Aya)

While the decision to go on a date had been made, the date was still undecided.

She quickly stood up and moved to her streaming room.

Without even sitting on her gaming chair, Aya hurriedly brought her PC out of sleep mode and opened the management software.

“Uh, let’s see… Saturday, Saturday is…” (Aya)

This Saturday – assignments.

Next Saturday – collaboration.

The Saturday after – a tournament.

The Saturday after that – no plans.

“The earliest date is three weeks from now… Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it…” (Aya)

If possible, she would want to go on the date as soon as possible, but work had to take priority.

“All right! I look forward to it! Having more time means I can use it to plan the date!” (Aya)

Reassuring herself, she clicked on the calendar for the Saturday three weeks from now and reached for the keyboard and typed in: “Date with Haruto-san (Temporary).”

“…Let’s add a heart. And make it pink. Hehe.” (Aya)

It was still a long way off, but just putting those words in her schedule made her genuinely happy.

“W-Wait, I-I’m smiling too much… Th-This much is not good…” (Aya)

Looking at her face faintly reflected on the computer screen, she realized she was loosening up a bit too much.

She tried pinching her cheeks to regain composure, but it didn’t quite work as smoothly as she hoped.

“W-Wah my face is getting hotter…” (Aya)

It wasn’t just that. Even her heartbeat was beating louder.

“I-I’m being too easy! I… I won’t even be able to handle the real thing at this rate…” (Aya)

Suddenly, her body lost strength. She spun the chair around and quickly sat down.

“I… I might seriously be in love with Haruto-san after all…” (Aya)

Before, it was just a matter of being interested. But now, it’s more than that.

To hide the overwhelming embarrassment, she buried her face on the desk.

“…Unn, I really like Haruto-san…” (Aya)

It was at that moment that she understood her own feelings.

---

Thanks for reading!

This chapter was seriously just two and a half pages long, and yet this is the most progress we’ve seen so far… We’re gonna get the date chapter this volume right…? From what I can see, next chapter is about Yuno’s friend coming over.

Also, this is the first time I heard of this escalator school thing. I wish my country had this system, getting into university is so competitive here.

---

1. Escalator school is an educational institute that provides continuous education from elementary school or middle school to University. As long as the student passes all their grades, they’re guarenteed to get into university.

“I have a lot to learn…” (Haruto)

“Well, I have my reasons—I want to monopolize Oni-chan’s true self as much as possible, you know?” (Aya)

“W-What’s that supposed to mean?” (Haruto)

“Don’t mind it. It’s just a personal interest of mine~” (Aya)

With a sly smile, she made a joke, sensing that the counseling session had ended.

With just this, the somewhat heavy atmosphere that lingered during the consultation was dispelled, and the usual cheerful mood returned.

This is probably a skill she honed as a streamer. Despite being younger, she still excels in many aspects.

“Watch out. After surpassing 200,000 subscribers, my next goal is to surpass Ayaya-san!” (Haruto)

“If you can achieve that goal, I’ll grant you any one wish, whatever it may be.” (Aya)

“That’s quite ambitious.” (Haruto)

“Well, I have no intention of losing!” (Aya)

“Haha, I see.” (Haruto)

Haruto was glad that he consulted with her on this today. And before they knew it, they reached the usual crossroads. It was at that moment…

“Ah!” (Aya)

“Are you okay?” (Haruto)

“Oh, that was close! Stumbling over a step like that, I’m so clumsy.” (Aya)

For the second time today, she stumbled and almost fell. It must have been quite a scare, judging by her wide-open eyes.

And she didn’t trip over a small stone this time. She tripped over herself.

“That’s unusual. Constantly stumbling like that.” (Haruto)

“Well, you know!” (Aya)

“…Hm?” (Haruto)

It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. She averted her gaze for a split second.

“Shirayuki-san, is there something you’re hiding?” (Haruto)

“Huh!?” (Aya)

This time, she even seemed to hold her breath.

“Um, you know, is it possible that you’re sick, Shirayuki-san? I heard that repeatedly stumbling could be a sign of an illness.” (Haruto)

“I’m not sick at all!! It’s not an illness, it’s just…” (Aya)

“It’s just…?” (Haruto)

She hesitated in her words, which was unusual for her. When pressed on, his worries turned out to be unfounded.

“Oh, you see, when I was waiting for you, I lost one of my contacts…” (Aya)

“C-Contact? Ah, I see. So that’s why you seemed a bit off.” (Haruto)

“Yeah… Maybe I misplaced them? It happens occasionally.” (Aya)

“I wonder…” (Haruto)

Aya turned towards Haruto, tilting her head with a troubled expression. It was a cute gesture, but he was genuinely troubled by the question she posed.

“At least it would be better if it were daytime right now…” (Haruto)

“Well, I can see with one eye, so it’s okay!” (Aya)

“Even though you’ve already stumbled twice?” (Haruto)

“T-That was an accident!” (Aya)

The reliability she showed earlier seemed to have disappeared. It was moments like these that reflected her age appropriately.

(But I guess everyone has moments like these…)

With such thoughts, those words slipped out of his mouth unintentionally.

“If it’s okay with Shirayuki-san, how about we hold hands? You can just grab my wrist if you want.” (Haruto)

“Huh!?” (Aya)

“Otherwise, you might stumble again, right?” (Haruto)

“Uuu…” (Aya)

“If you fall and get hurt, it might affect your streams. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right?” (Haruto)

“Ugh…” (Aya)

Whether she understood it or not, every time she speaks, there’s a groan that seems to suggest that she agrees.

“Of course, I won’t force you, but what do you think?” (Haruto)

As Haruto offered his hand, Aya remained still and started fidgeting.

“Etto, um, then, is it okay to… hold the hem of Haruto-san’s shirt…?” (Aya)

“Of course, it’s okay, but your tone has become more polite than usual. Is there something wrong?” (Haruto)

“W-Well, you know, I haven’t done something like this since elementary school…” (Aya)

“Oh, really…” (Haruto)

As if to prove her words through actions, Aya timidly grabbed the hem of his shirt with trembling fingers, seemingly looking down to pay attention to her steps.

Perhaps due to the height difference or maybe because of nervousness, she appeared like a lost child being guided back home.

“W-What!? Surely that’s a lie, right? Since elementary school?” (Haruto)

“I wouldn’t make up such embarrassing lies… If I can get used to it, I don’t mind holding hands with Haruto-san…” (Aya)

“W-Well…” (Haruto)

With her cute appearance and gentle personality, there’s no way she isn’t popular. But looking at her blushing so much from just holding the hem of the shirt, there is probably some truth to her words.

“H-Haruto-san is way too used to this… I-I don’t like how I’m the only one affected by this…” (Aya)

“I’m not used to it at all.” (Haruto)

“I don’t believe you.” (Aya)

She tightens her grip on the hem of the shirt, pulling it a bit. It seems she wants to turn the tables even just a little.

Although her strength is quite weak, you can sense her determination.

With a faint smile, Haruto meets her gaze. The moment their eyes meet, the hand pulling on the shirt stops.

“Hey, Shirayuki-san.” (Haruto)

“W-What is it…?” (Aya)

“I just wanted to say it again, but thank you for today. Thanks for listening to my troubles.” (Haruto)

The direction he should take for his channel was now clear, all thanks to her. He couldn’t thank her enough.

“I’d like to express my gratitude properly. Do you have something you’d like?” (Haruto)

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve already received a lot of help from Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“Do you have something you’d like?” (Haruto)

“I-I told you…” (Aya)

“Hmm?” (Haruto)

“Uwah, you’re not going to back down now, aren’t you?” (Aya)

“You’re absolutely right. If you can’t think of anything now, it’s fine to tell me later. Take your time.” (Haruto)

Knowing her personality, he had anticipated this kind of response from her. Still, he wanted to make sure he could give her a thoughtful thank-you gift.

“U-Um, if it’s okay with you… I’d like to go out and have fun with Haruto-san. Is that okay?” (Aya)

“Is that what you want the most?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, it would make me really happy.” (Aya)

“I-I see…” (Haruto)

While holding onto the hem of his shirt, her words made his heart skip a beat. It sounded like she was suggesting a date, but she might not have thought about it that far.

“Haruto-san, your only free day is Saturday, right?” (Aya)

“Yeah, but you have a stream every Saturday, right? I can rearrange my work schedule to another day.” (Haruto)

“No, Saturday is fine! But I’ll have to check my schedule and contact you again!” (Aya)

“Thanks. I’ll be looking forward to that day.” (Haruto)

“Me too!” (Aya)

By this point, her timidness earlier had disappeared, and her usual cheerful demeanor returned. As they continued walking, they discussed various details about the outing, such as the meeting place, time, and activities.

“Oh, this apartment building is where I live!” (Aya)

“Eh? Here!?” (Haruto)

“Yeah! There’s a soundproof room on the upper floor.” (Aya)

She stopped in front of a beautifully designed black and white 20-story apartment building building.

“As expected of a streamer… Living in such a nice place.” (Haruto)

“I actually wanted to live in a more budget-friendly place, but finding one with soundproof rooms was difficult.” (Aya)

“That’s true… It’s also important to live in a secure place to stay safe.” (Haruto)

“Oh! If Haruto-san lives with me, we can split the rent, and security will be even more perfect!” (Aya)

“That’s a good idea. Can my sister live with us too?” (Haruto)

“Of course, she’s more than welcome! There are some vacant rooms available!” (Aya)

“Well, in that case, I have no choice but to live here. Anyways, enough joking around, let’s head back.” (Haruto)

“Haha, you switch gears so quickly!” (Aya)

Even if it was a joke, she wouldn’t have said it without trust. Besides, her sharing her home address was also a sign of trust in itself.

“Thank you for walking me home, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

And with that, she released the hem of the shirt she had been holding. 

“Also, thanks for guiding me back, I really appreciate it!” (Aya)

“No, thank you for helping me with my troubles.” (Haruto)

“You’re welcome.” (Aya)

With a somewhat overly casual “you’re welcome,” she headed towards the entrance of the apartment building.

“Well then, let’s meet again at the cafe, Haruto-san!” (Aya)

“Yeah, see you.” (Haruto)

Taking the card key from her bag, she held it up to the authentication device and entered.

After the entrance closed, Aya turned around abruptly one last time and waved ‘bye!’ with a smile.

---

“Etto, um, then, is it okay to hold onto the hem of Haruto-san’s shirt…?”

---

Thanks for reading!

That was totally an invitation to a date. I’m calling it right now, they’re gonna hold hands during the date.

---

1. None

“Good job today.” (Haruto)

“Yeah! Good job to you too, Haruto-san!” (Aya)

At 22:00, having finished the part-time job without any issues, they change into their regular clothes, exchange their usual greetings, and start walking home together.

“Hey~ let me I’ll walk you back home today, Haruto-san!” (Aya)

“I’ll pass.” (Haruto)

“Why!? I gathered up the courage to say that!” (Aya)

“Haha, it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that today is a special day for Shirayuki-san, so let me walk you home instead.” (Haruto)

While there might be some mixed feelings about being escorted by a younger girl, the spoken sentiment was stronger.

“A special day for me?” (Aya)

“Yeah. Didn’t you surpass the viewer goal you set for today’s stream? 10,000 viewers.” (Haruto)

“Ah, hehe… If you put it that way, I’ll have no choice but to accept it.” (Aya)

She gives him the biggest smile of the day. 

“Alright then, I’ll be the one to walk you home.” (Haruto)

“Okay!… Whoa!?” (Aya)

*Thud*

“Hey, are you okay!?” (Haruto)

“I’m okay, I’m okay! I just stumbled a bit.” (Aya)

“Be careful, it’s dark outside.” (Haruto)

“Yeah! Thanks.” (Aya)

She’s not only a streamer but also part of a professional gaming team. It would be bad if she got herself injured in such a way.

It’s the one thing she has to be careful about.

“But still, you achieved quite an incredible goal.” (Haruto)

“I’m the one most surprised. Getting true thatI I couldn’t have done it without Oni-chan, but honestly, I never thought I could achieve the goal… for a long time.” (Aya)

“For a long time?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. I haven’t told anyone this, but recently, I’ve been struggling a bit lately. Both my channel subscribers and viewers have remained stagnant for a while now.” (Aya)

“Oh, I see. I never thought of it that way at all.” (Haruto)

Some might argue, “As long as it’s not going down, it’s fine,” but the motivation for every content creator is always, “I want to become more famous!”

“I tried my best to hide it. It’s a bit discouraging to show it with my kind of character, you know?” (Aya)

“I totally understand. With that kind of happy-go-lucky character, it might be awkward to show it. Besides, if someone with over 300,000 subscribers talks about such things, it might piss off other content creators. The situation doesn’t resonate with everyone, after all.” (Haruto)

“Hehe~ As expected of you. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” (Aya)

“We’re working on the same field, so I can understand it to some extent.” (Haruto)

Despite having different numbers of subscribers, they share a lot of common ground because they’re in the work in the same industry.

“This is actually why I decided to shift from just streaming to posting videos. I thought relying only on streaming would be tough, so I wanted to establish another pillar.” (Aya)

“…” (Haruto)

“In that sense, finally achieving my goal felt really rewarding.” (Aya)

She wasn’t a famous streamer for nothing. Despite being young, she thinks and acts carefully without becoming complacent.

“I owe a lot to Oni-chan. It was only after getting involved with him that I started to grow again.” (Aya)

“I’m glad that I could help.” (Haruto)

(I didn’t know about the stagnation issue though…)

“Hey, Haruto-san, do you have any troubles or anything? I’d like to repay you if there’s something I can do.” (Aya)

“As a matter of fact, I do.” (Haruto)

“Really!?” (Aya)

Just as she was eager to hear more…

“Oh, umm! Sorry! It’s not that I’m happy you have troubles or anything!!” (Aya)

“Haha, don’t worry, I didn’t think of it like that.” (Haruto)

She frantically waves her hands, clearly in a state of panic.

“…I’ve been thinking about consulting with Shirayuki-san about something for a while now. There’s hardly anyone I can talk to openly about streaming matters, so you’re the only one.” (Haruto)

“I’ll do my best to help you, so fire away!” (Aya)

“Thank you. That’s reassuring.” (Haruto)

Aya clenches her fist, showing determination. It’s a bit embarrassing to consult with someone younger, but when it comes to this matter, there’s no one more reliable than her.

“So what I want to ask is—” (Haruto)

“Yeah?” (Aya)

“Lately, I’ve been having trouble thinking about the direction my channel should be taking…” (Haruto)

“In other words, whether to keep that toxic persona or change to a more natural personality, right?” (Aya)

“Exactly.” (Haruto)

Knowing the situation makes her the perfect person to consult with. With just a brief explanation, she grasps the situation accurately.

“My current number of subscribers is around 180,000… The fact that my channel is close to doubling in size¹ ever since the incident makes me think a lot about what I should be doing in the future. Especially because the growth has been so rapid.” (Haruto)

“Are you thinking of graduating from the toxic content around your 200,000 subscribers milestone?” (Aya)

“Something like that… Maybe. Lately, I’m not sure what kind of character my viewers want.” (Haruto)

What has been built up over more than a year can be caught up to in just a month. While it’s a situation that a content creator would normally be happy about, it also introduces uncertainty about the direction of the channel.

“If I were in Haruto-san’s position, I’m sure I’d have the same worries. The growth is extraordinary, after all.” (Aya)

“…Ah, haha. Yeah, you’re right.” (Haruto)

“As a third party, I can offer my perspective on things. But it’s up to you to make the decision.” (Aya)

With such a considerate line of words, she starts speaking in a calm and relaxed tone.

“Firstly, what Oni-chan has built up so far is by no means wasted. If you hadn’t built up that toxic persona of yours, the current results wouldn’t have been possible, right?” (Aya)

“Yeah.” (Haruto)

“So, all the hard work you’ve put in so far hasn’t been wasted.” (Aya)

“… ” (Haruto)

Her words seemed to penetrate right through his heart.

Deep down, he felt uncomfortable that the various struggles he went through in the past to reach 100,000 subscribers were easily overtaken in such a short amount of time.

It went from:

—(There’s no way I can reach 100,000 subscribers.)

To:

—(If I can reach 200,000 subscribers this easily, what was the point of all the effort I’ve put in until now.)

“Oh, I see… I should have thought about it that way.” (Haruto)

He understands that this was the source of his troubles. His perspective had been narrow.

It was all about his own perception being misguided.

“…Actually, I’ve also had the same thoughts when I first started.” (Aya)

“R-really?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. I was working hard but my channel wasn’t growing much, and I even considered retiring. Then, I coincidentally matched up with a famous streamer and saw an unprecedented amount of growth… It made me happy, but I couldn’t help but wonder what all my previous efforts were for.” (Aya)

“…” (Haruto)

“But if I think about it, without putting in all that effort, the people who watched me might not have become fans. When I started thinking that way, it became much easier to cope.” (Aya)

A shy, small smile appeared on her face. It was an expression that lightened her heart.

“Ah, to get back on topic, I think you should continue with your current character as it is. If you were to change it now, you might only retain about half of the number of fans that you have since that is what they signed up for. You could end up going through a period of stagnation similar to mine. Moreover, the unique charm that only you have now might disappear, right? Teasing the viewers and being teased by them—that’s what suits you the best.” (Aya)

Being able to speak so accurately about someone else’s situation suggests she has thoroughly analyzed strengths, selling points, and elements that resonate with viewers.

Is she really 18? It was a moment where I couldn’t find words to respond.

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Thanks for reading!

This reminds me of when Fortnite blew up and every YouTuber switched to playing that because it was easier to grow. I mean, it was a hot trend so it was expected, but seeing my favourite YouTuber ditch their previous game for Fortnite makes me have mixed feelings.

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1. He used to have around 100,000 subs before the incident