World Record - Chapter 48. Sequel -New Relationship-

48. Sequel -New Relationship-

On the next day, Sunday.
A gloomy mood filled the Nagumos dining table.
Only the sound of the chopsticks and tablewares resounded, and even the usually cheerful Karen, looked downward in silence.
Upon seeing that, Iwato thinks again and again.

(Haa, I really did it)

The first was when he rejected Ayame. The second was when he rejected Karen. And, the third is the current situation.
What happens twice will happen thrice. Iwato thought how fitting this proverb for this situation.

[Thanks for the meal]
[Thank you for the meal]It doesnt seem to be planned, but the two stood up at the same time, took the tablewares to the kitchen, and ran to their own room at the second floor in haste.
Leaving Tsumugu whos filling her mouth with breakfast and Iwato who had a face of a monk.

[Say, Tsumu-san]
[NguNn. What?]

Tsumugu swallowed the food in her mouth, and talked to the monk.
The monk nods, and

[I beg you, please do something]Saying that, he kneel down on the floor.

Why Iwato is this troubled?
The answer will come out naturally if you were to be on his position.
The girls are certainly pretty. Even Iwato has some feelings on thembut its just that the feelings have not changed into love.
However, taking no account of that, Iwato thinks like this.
If possible, I want to continue this life like normal.
His hobby, wish, and even past. With those in mind, he still thinks that the current life is fun. Thats why, even if its impossible, Iwato cant help but to hope so.

But then, there are many problems.

First, the fact that they cant be together forever.
Because Iwato rejected both Karen and Ayame, they would probably find a new love even if it would take some time.
Then, Iwato has no rights to say anything on their new love, and he has no choice but to support their love.
And if the love bears fruit, its truism that the girls will leave this house, or rather, Iwato was fairly surprised by the fact that the two ate breakfast with him.

[Nnwellif I were themI would go somewhere for sure]
[Youre right I really thought that they would go back to their own home during the night]Iwato replied Tsumugu with those words.
Tsumugu closes her eyes and folds her arms upon hearing the reply, and starts to think of the second problem.
Although Iwato will never thought of this problem, for Tsumugu, its a big problem. An important one.

(I never thoughtNii-san wontlove)

Thats right. Regarding that matter.
Iwato has decided it. Tsumugu knew it for the first time after hearing it from Karen yesterday. Therefore, its an important matter for Tsumugu who had been aiming at Iwato with an eagle eye.

[What to do]
[Whatto do]Just like that, the two rack their brains.
Although what they are thinking is totally different, for some reason, only the atmosphere around them is the same.
Silence alighted in them, and only the sound of the clock ticking echoed.
And

you got thyou got the mail

[Uo!?]

Suddenly, two emails were sent to Iwatos status application.
Two mails. The senders are probably Eita and Nakajima-sensei, and Iwato opens the email box andfroze.

Komauchi Karen

Sumikawa Ayame

The two names are displayed there, and in other words, the emails were sent by those two.
Iwato turns his eyes towards Tsumugu instinctively.
Then, she quickly averted her eyes, and muttered this.

[AhaahIdidnt lockthe room. Our conversationmight betapped]The next moment, the sound of footsteps can be heard from the second floor, and immediately after that, the sound of two doors closing can be heard.
Iwato wanted to ask about the wiretap set in the first floor, but

(Well, this one should be prioritize)

Iwato muttered in his heart, and looked at his status applications screen. He then touched Ayames mail.
And, words appeared.

What do you mean by [Sorry, I plan on marrying a shampoo]? Are you an idiot? Please explain it properly. Similar to Karen

At the next moment, Iwato lie face down on the table.
Thats right, Iwato told that to Ayame. No wonder Ayame cried. Tsumugu also had some troubles.

[Lost to shampoo. Thats terrible]The mutter that he heard.
Iwatos heart is on the verge of being knocked out.
However, he need to read until the end. And if possible, reply to them. Otherwise, theres no progress.
Iwato sits upright with a disheartened face, and tapped Karens mail.

Being rejected before I can confess. I wanna die

[Guhaa!?]

Kan kan kan!
A sound signaling a knockout can be heard from somewhere.
By the way, the source of the sound comes from the device that Tsumugu set on the table. By the way, the device was not there when they were eating their breakfast.

[UuWhat on earth should I do]Iwato muttered, and at the same time, Tsumugu said this.

[Nii-san. If by any chanceyour past is forgivenwho will youmarry?]Upon hearing those words, Iwato frowned.
In the first place, because Iwato expressed the boy as his acquaintance, he will only feel troubled when being said so.
However, Iwato sighed and answered as a responsibility of insinuating it.

[I dont know because Im not the boy. But if its me, I wont forgive him. Even if the victim forgives him, its a different thing. Sins wont disappear even after being forgiven, and the feelings of guilt will continue to follow around. Therefore, for me to like someoneis probably impossible]Saying that, Iwato looks at Tsumugu.
Tsumugu closes her eyes in sadness, and for some reason, a negative aura can be felt from the second floor.

(Dont tell me this is also tapped?)

Although Iwato thought such a thing, still his answer will never change. It would be awkward if he gave them hope and then betray them.
Then, its probably kind to say it clearly right now, he thought that this is way better than being a trash who wont give an answer to the girl but still get close to the girlNo, he wanted to think so.
Iwato concluded so while ignoring the pain on his chest.

And at the same time as that, two sounds of footsteps running down the stairs can be heard.

The footsteps are disordered, running down the stairs as if striving to the first. Usually, Iwato wanted to say Its dangerous so dont run, but Iwato stays silent this time and looks at the entrance of the living room.
Karen and Ayame who are breathing heavily while putting their hands on their knees, are there, and because their lay their face down, Iwato couldnt see their expressions.

[Ahits time for the guild wars in the online game]Tsumugu said such words, and leaves the living room.
The three knew that Tsumugu is being kind.
But

(Wait, Tsumu-chan!? Why are you leaving your brother alone in this kind of situation!?)

Iwato shouted in his mind.
Of course, he didnt show any change in expression, but Tsumugu is Iwatos younger sister. When shes leaving the living room, she turned back and showed a thumbs up purposely on top of knowing what Iwato was thinking.

(Nii-sanGood luck)

Such voice can be heard from her expression.

Awkward.
For Iwato, this is the first time for him to be in such awkward situation.
It was much more awkward than the time when his fathers adulterous lover was found out by his mother, and his father, the adulterous lover, his mother and Iwato, the four of them discussed about the matter.

(No, wait. At that time, it was definitely awkwardbut its more like I was afraid of Mother)

Iwatos thought tripped by the extreme awkwardness.
Iwato recalls that time.

Dear, what is the meaning of this?

The first one to talk is his mother.
Killing intent was leaking out from her body, and the adulterous lover whos an ordinary person, was quite afraid.
However, his father was quite a crazy fellow.

Un, I cheated

Hai, bucchun decided!

Just like that, his father was bucchun.
By the way, the word bucchun is written as torture for his mother. By the way, the torture(bucchun) is scary because even if everything has been confessed, it still continues. Theres nothing more harsher than an everlasting despair.
While Iwato was thinking such thing, Ayame suddenly said this.

[II like Iwato-sama, you know?]
[He? Ah, yes]Because it was too sudden, Iwato leaked out such weird voice.
However, Iwato immediately became serious, and said the words that he said many times.

[But I cant bring happiness to you. Thats why]At the next moment, Iwatos collar was grabbed by Karen.
Iwato opened his eyes wide by her action, and his chest started to feel pain when he saw tears rolling down her cheeks.

[Why are you deciding it for us!? We are the one who will be happy! We feel happiness just by marrying the person we love and be together with him forever! Dont tell me that Master cant even do that!?]Thats the first time Karen showed anger towards him.
Iwatos expression changed by that, but he immediately returned it normal, and replied.

[Then Karen, can you say that you will absolutely be happy just by being on my side? I have a past that I cant tell. Theres a reason that I need to be in this town. Thats why, there are things that I cant do. And I cant get out of this town. Why dont you find another guy? You can do anything with him. You can even go somewhere for your honeymoon. Ill make it happen. If you like, I can even pay for the trip]Before Iwato realized it, he has already said unnecessary stuffs, and at the end, he sneeredon himself for sure.
Happy just by being on my side. Such words are whitewashing.
You can only feel happiness for a short time just by doing so. Once you get used to it, you will start to seek for something new.
And, if you couldntsurely, something starts to change.
However, even if Iwato knew it, hes glad that hes told so. Happy to the extent that he would dance for joy.

But he who dont accept ithates the coffin nesting inside him.
And, he extremely hateshimself that cant live on if he dont lay the blame on it.

How many times have I thought of this? Its always the same conclusion.
ISuch man can never bring happiness to someone.
Im a dependent a.s.shole who cant live on without laying the blame on him.
Thats why, I made everyone feel uneasy. I caused my younger sister to worry, and I hurt the two who had feelings on me.
No matter what action I pick, it all backfires on me.
Whats left in me isonly to protect someone with this power.
But

[You cant be happy just by being with me. Happiness will never reach just by protecting. I cant create happiness with my power. Thats why, this is my last warning]Saying that, he looks at the girls.
And

[Dont choose me]He said so sorrowfully.

Upon receiving those words, Karen releases Iwatos collar.
Iwato felt relief when he saw that

[Fundoraaaaa!]
[Kuhoa!?]He was. .h.i.t.
Due to the rapid development, Iwato was blown off, and Karen who hit Iwato, hurt her fist by Iwatos unexpected defensive ability.

[Ow! W-Whats with that hardness!? I punched your cheek, didnt I!? Its completely different than normal!]Iwato wanted to ask.
You, when did you touched my cheeks?
And he decided. From today onwards, he would shut his rooms door and windows completely before sleeping.
Iwato straighten up while rubbing his cheek, and he took off the crushed gla.s.ses.

[What are you doing so sudden?Look what you did to my gla.s.ses]Iwato said so, and Karen throws out her chest and said this.

[Master is that! Insidious!]Insidious : Concealing evil intention in the mind while looking nonchalant.

Iwato thought that she clearly said the wrong word, but he didnt put into words. Because its troublesome.
Karen who misunderstood Iwatos dumbfounded expression, pointed at him and opened her mouth.

[You never know if you never try! Saying so many excuses before you try it Since when you become so insidious! I dont remember making you into such insidious guy! You insi]
[Karen, say insidious one more time and Ill hit you]
[U-Ussu]Karen became disheartened immediately.
Ayame who saw that from the back, sighs, and walks to Karen.
And she looks at the sitting Iwato, and opens her mouth.

[Well, in short, we will be the one to decide whether we feel happy or not. Iwato-sama should just shut up and flirt with us. Please dont think of such troublesome thing]By those simple words, Iwato smiled wryly.

[You sure?]Iwato asked so.
He has already knew the answer when he was punched by Karen.

[[Yes]]Thats why, he didnt felt surprised by their immediate reply, and he only leaked out a sigh.
Although its possible to use strength to change their mind right now, if he do that, the girls might be unhappy.
In other words, no matter what Iwato choose, what awaits the girls are just sorrowful future.
Its natural that Iwato would think so, and what kind of conclusion he reached is perfectly obvious.

[Haado as you like]Iwato sighs exhaustedly, and said so to the two.

At the same time as that.
Tsumugu stood at Iwatos room alone.

[Nnwellgood common ground]She nods upon hearing the voice through the wiretap, and at the same time, she looks down at the book placed on the desk.
The page isShutendouji.
Tsumugu squints when she saw that, and she teared the page.

[Nii-sandoesnt needthis past]She burns the teared page with white flame, and she turned back without doing anything further.

At the back.
The page left on the opened book.
The ill.u.s.tration of the fox-eared woman shook as if it entered from the window.