Chapter 39: 2nd Confession (2)
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[Ding Condition 2: "Make Nejire forgive you for betraying her" is yet to be fulfilled.]
Looking at her face as she yells incest is bad, Neji found himself thinning his lips.
She hasn't forgiven him… 'I got the weird idea that she did, based on how she defended Kimi.'
Nejire was huffing, her eyes were red and her lips were quivering. Did he push her too far? Maybe he should have waited for a few more months…
Neji stared at her eyes apologetically. "Sis…"
"Hahh…"
"Do you hate me?"
"..." Nejire stopped briefly, a state of shock appearing on her face. "I- I would never. I just yelled a second ago that I love you, you idiot...."
Neji blinked. Of course, she doesn't. He knew. Je just wanted to hear it from her. "Ah, my choice of bad words. I meant to ask – do you hate something I did?"
Nejire frowned as her breathing started to calm down. "There are many things you did that I hate."
"Do you hate me for having a weird relationship with Kimi?"
This was time for Kimi to fall silent. She felt her throat die seeing the direction the talk was going. What if he says he wouldn't mind leaving her behind for Nejire…?
"No… Or maybe, I am not gonna tell you."
At first, Nejire wanted to say – No, I don't hate you. I just don't want to have an incestuous relationship – but she felt like being straightforward, being truthful.
"That's a yes."
"..."
Neji fell back on his seat. "Is there any way for me to redeem myself? Mind you, I am a really dense kid."
"..." she had an idea as she narrowed her eyes on him. "Will you be able to leave Kimi for me?"
Neji stilled.
"Sorry to break it to you – but this is not a harem-ecchi manga." Her breathing was even at this point as she stared at Neji with an unreadable look on her face. "And you're not a harem protagonist."
"..." Neji stayed silent.
Because of the space created by the Orb of Silence, a creepy silence fell over the table.
Will he be able to leave Kimi for her, his Big Sister, who he loves so dearly?
'I...'
To begin with, Kimi was his rapist. Yes, he has indeed forgiven her and even entered a Master-Slave relationship – but he's not obliged to follow it, at all.
He is the master, he can break the chains and stop 'owning' her anytime. She can still work as a maid, Neji supposed Nejire would be fine with that.
So…
Neji turned to Kimi with an indifferent look on his face.
Kimi was visibly shaking.
Sweat was covering her forehead as she stared at Neji with a hopeful look on her face.
But… even her hopeful eyes started shaking as Neji looked at her with an apologetic look on his face.
Sweat trailed down her cheeks as her eyes went red and teary.
She was regretting ever coming with them at all…
Ignoring her, Neji turned to Nejire and looked at her.
"I,"
He sighed. 'I guess I still have a few more months.'
"I can't."
He clenched his fist. "The start of Kimi and my relationship was quite bad. She made a mistake after I provoked her. But in response to that, I ended up corrupting her mind and making her see me as the only person valuable in her life." He looked at Kimi's surprised face. "If I leave her, I can only imagine what she'll do. And, frankly, I don't want that."
He turned to Nejire who stared at him with an impossibly unreadable look on her face.
"I am sorry, I can't leave Kimi – even for you."
"..."
Kimi covered her mouth with her hands as tears trailed down her face while Nejire stared at her.
Nejire got up from her seat, causing Neji to sigh. Today wasn't the day, and it was seeming like that day might never come… he wasn't willing to push Nejire that far, his weak heart wouldn't allow that.
Incest was fine for him, but it doesn't seem to be fine for Nejire. She was but a normal girl, after all. What type of normal girl would think about fucking her own brother? Such bullshit.
But unlike how he thought that she'd turn around and leave, she turned her face back to confirm that the shop owner was busy, and walked to him and suddenly... sat on his lap.
"Looks like you are not as much of a bastard as I thought you were." Her face formed a smile. "Glad to know the man I am in love with would not neglect me."
Nejire placed her head on his chest, all to Neji's surprise.
"Don't look so dry, I forgive you."
[Ding! Both conditions have been met!]
[Quest Complete!]
Neji sighed to himself. 'Thanks
«—(★)—»
They were back in the car. The ride was silent, Kimi noted.
Nejire was avoiding eye contact, contrary to her initial approach. While Neji was just awkward after saying all those cringey lines, even if it was the best possible move according to Nejire's [State].
Meanwhile, Kimi was driving the car with a huge smile on her face. She felt happy.
'So he does care about me…'
She was so sure that he'd go along with Nejire's flow and say he would leave her for his older sister. She expected him to say that.
But he, instead...
'He's softer than he acts, heh. Tsun, Tsun.'
She has said last time – she was in love with a kid. While her feelings did increase over time, there was an emptiness within her. She was giving her everything, but the other party only seemed to be taking her for a sex doll. Of course, she didn't mind at all – he was the best thing she could hope for in bed. That was all she needed...
Yes, that was good enough. With that only, she was fine… but now… she was feeling finer. No, she was feeling the finest.
She didn't know when was the last time she felt this much happy emotion rushing through her body. Was it when she saved the first person as a hero…? No, that was not it.
She… she could not remember.
'Hah…' she sighed to herself. Looking into her head, she found more sorrowful moments than happy ones in her life.
Her mother died while giving birth to her. Her father died in a fight between villains and heroes when she was 8 years old. She only had her older sister to rely on after that. But even she…
After Kimi became a hero and captured her first criminal, that criminal's friends had attacked her sister and taken her hostage. They planned to make Kimi release their brother using her – even though a Pro Hero can't do that. So in the end, they molested her older sister and killed her.
She still held on to it. It was fine, she told herself. She could still move along, she believed.
Amongst all this, she got to meet some really good people. Her heart warmed up to anyone who treated her well. At that moment, when a new graduate U.A student became her sidekick, she thought maybe she has found another person to rely on…?
Alas, even he was killed by that man… no, that literal Evil God.
She hoped none of her close people would ever have to meet that man. Especially… the person she cares about the most.
She didn't know what she'd do if that happens.
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Author's Note: Well… as they say, As the universe keeps expanding so does the Harem.
Anyway, the "Nejire Capture" arc ends here. My first time trying something relatively close to 'romance' (I don't count Kimi's situation, and I am also sceptical about this too). So yeah, bai.
...Also, powerstone if you liked the chapters.