Volume 4 - CH 11

〇 Past

“What do you want by calling me all the way over here?…..Saki”

One day at lunchtime, about a week after Midori came to my house. I was called by Saki and came in front of the pond in the school courtyard.

“Don’t’ be like that–, We’re on good terms, right? Me and Kouki kun. It’s not that strange, is it?”

The expression on Saki’s face as she said this could only be described as a smile. What is she trying to do?

“You cheated on me with my brother. I don’t even want to breathe the same air with someone like that.”

I’ve been saying it for a long time, haven’t I? I love you the most, Kouki kun. So, let’s go out one more time.”

“My girlfriend is Shinobu. Unlike you, I won’t cheat on her. Above all You disgust me.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something about me and Shinobu san. If you go out with Shinobu san, you’ll regret it, you know? Her family is poor and she seems to have a bad personality. I definitely think I’m better than her.”

“I’m not dating her because of money. I date her because I like her.”

“You don’t understand. Money is important. You’re still too childish. I like that part of you, too.”

……This conversation is really ot going to work. I’m saying that I don’t like Saki as a basic premise. Well, I wonder what should I do……

“Yo, bro.”

“……Daiki.”

While I was thinking about how to deal with Saki, where did he come from? Daiki, who had a flashy hairstyle like usual, approached me. Well, as long as I’m wearing this school uniform, it doesn’t really matter.

“Daiki kun !”

And the moment I had Daiki’s figure in my sight, Saki disappeared from my sight and hugged Daiki’s arms. …..Seriously, this girl.

“Listen, Daiki kun ! Kouki kun wants to go out with me…but I’m devoted to Daiki kun, so….”

“Hey, hey, please give me a break. This is my girl, you know? Don’t cling to her reluctantly.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

I don’t even have the energy to correct him now that I come this far. Do whatever you wnat.

“Hey, Daiki kun, you’re not going to end it like this, right? You will succeed, right? Will you make me happy?”

“Of course. I dropped out of school, but that’s not the end of the story. I know how to make money. If you follow me, you’ll have a good life.”

“Kyaaa ! Daiki kun is so cool ! I’ll follow you for the rest of my life !”

…..With this, I guess I can go home now. I don’t want to hear any more from these guys.

“Wait a minute, bro.”

“No, that’s enough……You can be successful on your own. I don’t care if you get rich or become a CEO. I just want to keep working hard and beat you.”

“Is that right? Are you sure about that? Your future wife, Shibayama Shinobu. I wonder where she went?”

“……You bastard…….!”

“While you’re leisurely shooting videos, studying, and exercising. Do you think I’m doing nothing? I know how to get people to come. You want to win against me someday? You’re a loser. I will always beat you !”

“……Hello, Hikari? I’m sorry, but right now I’m…..”

There’s no point in listening to Daiki. Just as I was about to go look for Shinobu, I received a phone call from Hikari. I answered the phone while ignoring Daiki.

“I rescued the kidnapped Shinobu senpai.”

Everything was resolved, as if she knew this was going to happen.

“Hikari……How…..!”

“I told you, didn’t I? I told you I would protect you. Senpai, please do what you want to do without worrying about unnecessary things.”

“No, like I said, how did you help her…?”

“The goddess told me.”

“Huh……?”

“And thanks to the help of all the fans. No matter how sneaky you are, you can’t win over people’s thoughts. Please don’t underestimate influencers.”

“Eh? Are you sick? Are you okay?”

“Oh, I see……it’s nothing. Then, please do your best on your own.”

She just said something I didn’t understand and hung up the phone……I really don’t know what it was. Whatever.

“Unfortunately, Daiki. I heard Shinobu is safe.”

“Huh !? What do you mean?”

“I’d like to ask that too. Well, Hikari is amazing. You’re no match for her.”

“That woman from the future……! Then it can’t be helped. You didn’t do it……so you didn’t win !”

“That’s true, but……”

“Remember this ! I’m going to beat you completely next time !”

Like Hikari, Daiki tried to go somewhere by shaking off Saki who’s clinging on his arm. …Well, I know that Daiki is like this.

“Wait a minute.”

“Ah!?”

“You’re right, maybe I can’t win someday. But, because my precious girlfriend is being targeted. Win or lose. I’m going to beat the shit out of you, right here right now.”

“……Huh. Are you going to do it?”

Daiki took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeve. A brawl….I don’t want to. I’ve never won anything in my life and if anyone sees me, I might get flamed. I exercise and work out every day, but I’m not supposed to fight……

“Hey,…… Daiki kun, fighting is not a good idea ! Violence has a record…….”

“Shut up you trashy bitch !”

“Ugh !?”

The arm that Daiki swung hit Saki squarely in the face and sent her tumbling backwards in a big way. Saki, who was hit by Daiki’s back fist, spread her legs wide and convulsed, but eventually stopped twitching. I don’t think she’s dead…….I think she just fainted. I don’t like violence, even in sibling rivalry, but the story has changed.

“Don’t be violent with women…!”

To my brother who doesn’t know such a natural thing. As an older brother, I have to teach him properly. How painful it is to be hit.

“Don’t lecture me like you’re some big shot ! You loser !”

Daiki comes running with his arms swinging wide. He’s running…I guess. But…..somehow.

“So….this is it.”

“What !?

Before Daiki hit me, I hit him first on the cheek, and his body hit the ground easily. Really…easy.

“Gu…guhaa….!”

Daiki, Who’s unable to even stand up, stared at me with only his face while he is still knocked down. His teeth are falling out, his nose is bleeding, and Daiki is lying on the ground in a miserable state.

“Don’t you dare to think you’ve won like this……! I’m still ….!”

“No, I don’t really……I wonder what it is……”

This is what I have been aiming for all along. I have been striving only to win against Daiki. But when I actually won, something was different. It doesn’t feel good at all.

“You’re always like this.”

It wasn’t far at all. It wasn’t even close. I just kept thinking I couldn’t win. I just kept thinking I wanted to win. When I tried to fight it head on, it was so….

“What’s that….look in your eyes ! Are you looking down on me,…..! Are you still…..!”

“Well, that’s right…….I beat you a long time ago,……ah,……this timing……”

“Don’t you fucking underestimate me ! How can I be lower than you….!”

“No, you are. At least I’m better than you who have been rotting for 50 years, because I’ve been working hard.”

“Fifty years……!? You…..don’t mean……!”

“Yeah, I’m back. after 10 years.”

This was the first time I’d seen this view in ten years. Daiki’s face is dripping blood while looking up at me. Seeing that figure, I……don’t feel anything. I’m glad I went back to the future once after all.

“Ha ha……did you come back to be beaten by me……!”

“Yeah, I came back for you.”

I’m going to tell Daiki as he staggers to his feet. I’ll tell him  the rules of the game between me and him.

“There are three conditions for me to become a test subject for the agent. The first is to repair A, my friend who came to see me to heal my body. The second is the temporary erasure of the Agent’s and A’s memories. The last is the deactivation of A’s ability to dissolve in your body. That means you can no longer produce your weapon or send me back to the future. But if we’re going to fight, it has to be fair. So I’m going to give you a weapon too.”

Two axes made of origami are thrown into the pond. Two goddesses with shining axes of gold and silver appear. The goddesses of the pond, who know nothing about this, asked,

[ [ Was it a golden ax you dropped? Or a silver ax?] ]