“What a dream…”
Waking up in her own room, Rias massaged the furrow between her brows.
A dream where she married the younger brother of the person she liked.
Furthermore, doing that right in front of Issei.
They say that dreams reflect a person’s subconscious.
There was no doubt that she had feelings for Issei.
In that case────.
“Do I…
want to make them both mine…?”
Rias laughed at her own words.
What was that?
Certainly, she didn’t dislike Kenji, but they didn’t have enough interaction for her to be conscious of him as a member of the opposite sex.
And even if that were the case, between a devil and a human, the time they live is literally different.
To use a Devil Piece to turn him into a Reincarnated Devil and keep him by her side?
That was out of the question.
“Come to think of it, today was Issei and Akeno’s date.”
That was surely the reason she had such a dream.
Because Issei was going on a date with another woman, she had such a dream out of a desire to get back at him or some similar emotion.
That must be it.
Once she reached a conclusion, Rias was satisfied, changed into minimal clothes, and left the room.
Walking a little way after leaving her room, she saw Kenji standing there blankly.
“Oh, Kenji.
Good morning.
What’s wrong?”
“Good morning.
Brother was a bit noisy this morning, so…”
“Is that so?”
Even talking face-to-face like this, she didn’t feel the strong emotions she felt when talking to Issei.
If anything, it was the same kind of feeling she had when dealing with Millicas, her brother’s son.
(As I thought, that was just a meaningless dream.)
Judging it so, Rias felt relieved and spoke with Kenji.
“Don’t mess with me!!”
In search of a vocalist for the band they were going to do for the cultural festival, Yosuke had made an appointment to invite Yoriko Kasahori from the same class and called her to a fast-food restaurant, but Hitomi Natsunaka, Yoriko’s friend who had come along, was strongly opposed.
Yosuke explained, wondering if he had been misunderstood as making a weird invitation by suddenly talking to her and suggesting they start a band.
“No, I know you might think it’s a weird invitation since we haven’t really talked much before…”
“It’s not about that!
How can we feel safe with him around!?”
“Me?”
“Your older brother is in the same high school as my older sister, and he sexually harassed her!
There’s no way I’m letting my friend be with the brother of a guy like that!”
“Hitomi!”
Hearing that, Kenji’s face turned pale.
Tomoya immediately stepped in to follow up.
“Wait.
I won’t deny that he’s a problematic person, but Ken-kun is different.
As proof, he hasn’t caused any problems so far.”
“How are we supposed to know that!
Besides, isn’t there some reason why the teachers glare at him like that!?”
“Hey, you!
Enough already!”
As Yosuke tried to stop the verbal abuse, Kenji stopped him.
“Kenji?”
“I see…
I’m sorry, because of my brother.
And, sorry for calling you out.”
“Um…
I…”
“I knew it, there must be something shady!
Don’t talk to us anymore!”
“Hmph!” Hitomi snorted and pulled Yoriko’s hand.
Tomoya said with a grim face.
“Like that, it’s as if you’re admitting you’re suspicious.”
“It can’t be helped…
I wouldn’t be able to easily believe it either if I were told to trust the relative of someone who does things like that.”
“But still!”
“Sorry…
let me go home alone today…”
Kenji left the shop, looking unsteady.
Behind him, Yosuke was saying something, but it didn’t enter his ears.
On the way home, Hitomi Natsunaka’s words were revived.
“It can’t be helped.
Because…”
Because, what?
Just how long would he have to deal with the stupidity his brother had committed?
Thinking about it made his stomach hurt, and he put his hand on a wall, leaning forward.
“Kenji?”
When he looked up after being called, his brother, who was supposed to be on a date today, and the members of his club were all there. The source of this chapter is g.com.
No, not just them, there were several other people he didn’t know.
“W-hy…
are you here…?”
“We ran into some of Issei’s work associates while walking through town.
We decided to have a meeting at home now.
More importantly, are you okay?
Your complexion is terrible.”
Rias spoke to him worriedly.
As he tried to say he was fine, Issei spoke up.
“What kind of face are you walking around with?
If you’re not feeling well, stay quiet.”
Issei tried to lend him a shoulder.
Normally, he should have been grateful for that.
However, his classmate’s words from earlier were revived, and his head boiled.
With a snap, he brushed Issei’s hand away.
“Eh?”
Issei had an expression as if he couldn’t believe his hand had been brushed away.
“Whose…
whose fault do you think it is that I was told those things…!”
Before he knew it, his fist was clenched.
His mind went blank, and he punched Issei in the face with all his might.
“Eek!?”
Asia’s short scream echoed.
“Issei-kun, are you okay!”
“Kenji!
What do you think you’re doing!?”
Akeno looked after Issei, who had fallen backward, and Rias tried to question him, but she was surprised when she saw Kenji’s face.
An unbalanced expression where tears were overflowing from his eyes, but his expression alone was dazed.
Was it surprise at having punched his brother and knocked him down, or surprise at the act of punching itself?
Kenji, who had stopped moving for a short while, soon saw his expression dyed with anger.
“Why, like that…!
Without noticing anything, being pampered by everyone, living comfortably…!”
With that, Kenji ran away.
“Hey, wait!
Ah, he’s gone!
He’s fast!?”
Holding his nose, Issei stood up, unable to grasp the situation.
He returned home, sent apology emails to his two friends, and sank into bed.