'Thinking about how the famous series like Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Fairy Tail doesn't exist in this world, it makes me feel complicated! Those works were very famous in my previous life, but they don't exist in this world! I never expected the ACG industry in this world is so backward!'
Haru was in shock. He had surfed on the internet and browsed everything related to this world's ACG industry. With the Wi-Fi connection of the apartment complex, he could easily access the internet. In the end, he discovered this shocking truth.
The year of this alternate world was 2016. Yet, the development of the ACG Industry in his previous world when the year was 2016 was more advanced than this world!
By the way, Haru died in the year 2020.
Now, back to the main topic, Haru felt dissatisfied by the absence of his favorite works. However, it also presented an opportunity for him. He could publish those works here and used the royalty to support his and his sisters' lives!
As someone who was desperately in need of money to support him and his sisters, Haru wouldn't waste this opportunity.
Haru was going to plagiarize the famous works from his past life! So, what? Haru didn't care about stranger's opinions! Well, his soon-to-be readers wouldn't know that he was plagiarizing someone else's works!
'I am not confident with my drawing skill, though I remember those famous works panel by panel. Hence, I am going to focus on the light novel industry for the time being. After I become successful in the light novel industry, I will try to move to manga, and then anime too, perhaps.'
Haru quickly made up his mind and started browsing the famous light novel chart.
After surfing on the internet for a while, Haru discovered that many famous works never got published here! Even a renowned web novel platform such as 'Shōsetsuka ni Narō,' 'Webnovel,' and others that existed in his world was nonexistent here!
'Whatever. With the low quality of light novels published in this world, I can use it to get easy money!'
Haru browsed the list of famous publishing houses in this world. He discovered that there were the parodies of the publishing company that existed in his previous world. For example, Dangoki Bunko was the parody for Dengeki Bunko, and Kodokawa Bunko was the parody for Kadokawa Bunko. Those publishing companies were related to the famous MediaWorks. They also had published some famous novels in Haru's past life, such as Kadokawa with their 'God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!' and Dengeki with their 'Sword Art Online' and 'A Certain Magical Index.'
'What kind of works I'm going to introduce to this pitiful world…'
Haru carefully contemplated his choices, but something interrupted him.
*Knock!*—*Knock!*—*Knock!*
Haru stopped his brainstorming and turned his head to the door. "Yes?" He replied warily.
"Oh. You have woken up, Onii-chan. I thought you are still sleeping."
Haru blinked his eyes after hearing the polite voice of a girl from outside. Then, he recognized the voice belong to Suzuka, his stepsister.
All of a sudden, Haru felt a great urge to see Suzuka with his own eyes. Although he had known her from the assimilated memories, he wanted to see her directly. After all, she was one of his favorite 'Cute Little Sister' type characters in his past life.
"Ano, Onii-chan," Suzuka wanted to say something, but Haru responded in a hurry as he left the swivel.
"Wait! I am going to open the door. Please wait for a moment!"
Haru finally reached his door. He then opened it, after which he met face to face with Suzuka.
When Haru saw her with his own eyes, he was stunned. The girl was so pretty. Her purple hair also made her look exotic. He swore that his heart throbbed when his eyesight landed on her.
Suzuka was wearing a pink Pajama that looked like a bunny costume. It showed her toned yet smooth thighs, giving Haru a clear, enticing view. She let her long hair loose.
Overall, the 2D animation didn't give justice to the real-life version of Suzuka.
"Um, Onii-chan?"
Haru snapped out of his shock-induced daze. When he looked at Suzuka, he saw red hue staining her fair skin.
It seemed like Haru had been gawking at Suzuka, making her self-conscious and embarrassed.
"Ah, sorry, Suzuka." Haru apologized to his new stepsister. "By the way, what's it?"
"Well, it's already past six-thirty in the morning. Usually, you are already awake and waits for breakfast in the kitchen with Nee-san. When you didn't show yourself on time, I felt concerned and wanted to check you out."
Haru wordlessly nodded. He had turned off the alarm when it rang; he didn't want any interruption when he was so focused on his task. He also ignored everything else, even when the sky got brighter. However, he never expected that he would make his stepsister worry.
"So, are you okay? Do you feel sick?" Suzuka inquired in worry.
When Haru received such concern, he couldn't help but feel touched. As an orphan, he rarely received genuine care from a stranger. Granted, Suzuka wasn't a stranger in this new life despite he just started a short time ago.
"No. I am not sick. Well, I have been gathering some information on the internet. I guess I have lost track of time."
"Gathering… information?" Suzuka tilted her head out of curiosity. "For what, exactly?"
"I want to be a Novelist. I hear a successful novelist have a large sum of money from royalty."
Suzuka didn't respond. Her expression darkened when she was reminded of her family's situation.
Haru didn't understand why Suzuka made a gloomy face. He wondered if it was his fault, but he was at a loss; he didn't feel like triggering anything that could make her mood plummet like that.
Haru decided to 'Appraise' her to find the truth. Information surged in his mind with a mild headache.
Haru then sorted the pieces of information in her mind. There were many interesting pieces of information, but he focused on the source of Suzuka's bad mood.
In addition, a part of him that was affected by the assimilation felt guilty and sick from disregarding Suzuka's privacy. However, he pushed that part aside. He was doing that for Suzuka's own good, after all. At the very least, he justified his action as such.
After discovering the cause of her bad mood, Haru felt awkward. He never meant to remind her of their precarious situation.
Haru was unable to see Suzuka sad. A part of him, which was affected by assimilation, and his own feelings due to his bias for 'Little Sister'-type girl couldn't allow it to happen.
"Now, now, no need to have such a gloomy face. You look cuter when you aren't in a bad mood, Suzuka," Haru petted Suzuka head and said.
Suzuka was caught off guard by Haru's action. She had a wide-eyed, dumbfounded expression. At the same time, her cheeks and ears were reddening.
Haru stiffened when he realized his mistake. His predecessor had a strained relationship with Suzuka because of an incident in their childhood. After that incident, their relationship was very awkward at best, and Haruka Kasugano never petted her head anymore since then.
"Er, sorry." Haru gave Suzuka an awkward grin and tried to pull back his hand.
However, Suzuka surprised him by holding his wrist. She then averted her eyes and muttered faintly.
"I don't mind… It has—*mumble*—*mumble*…"
Haru was unable to hear her words clearly because he was also in shock.
Right after Haru recovered from his shock, he quickly averted his eyes away. He felt a fluttery sensation in his chest. His face was also a bit hot.
Haru had received an effective surprise attack from Suzuka, who was unaware of the critical attack she had sent to him.
Although Haru knew of his predecessor's romantic feeling for his stepsister, he finally became conscious of it. Both of the assimilation and his fetish for a 'Little Sister' type made him an easy target for someone like Suzuka.
Thus, Haru couldn't help but petting the red-faced Suzuka's head while averting his eyes. When anyone saw them, they would receive Area-of-Effect damage from how awkward it was.
Or maybe, not everyone.
***
Unbeknownst by Haru and Suzuka, someone was watching them while hiding.
A girl with long hair with the same hair color as Haru's hair and the same two antennae, wearing a frilly nightgown, was watching their awkward interaction with a grim expression.
She was hiding behind a wall in a corner, hidden from Haru's and Suzuka's peripheral view, while carefully peeking on their awkward yet sweet interaction.
Her eyes narrowed, almost hiding the dangerous glint in those eyes. Her teeth ground together as she bottled up the bitterness in her chest due to witnessing Haru's and Suzuka's interaction.
This girl was Sora Kasugano, Haru's new fraternal twin. She was in love with Haru, or rather his predecessor, just like her other version in another parallel universe where the story of 'Yosuga no Sora' happened.