Episode 7


I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat


Damn it, getting in my wayโ€ฆ Who the hell is that loser?

After getting home from school, I was thinking back to what happened during lunch break today.

I was finally looking forward to swapping lunches and stuff, but that asshole loser I don’t even know ruined it!

โ€œHey, Fumihiko-kun, when can we go on our next date?โ€

My girlfriendโ€”whatever number she wasโ€”lay sprawled on my bed, asking that question.

Her clothes were open, revealing a provocative sight, but I couldn’t muster any interest in that right now.

โ€œAhโ€ฆ I don’t know. I’m in a bad mood today, so I’m going to the arcade.โ€

โ€œEhh? The arcade’s too noisy, I don’t like it.โ€

โ€œFine, I’ll go by myself then.โ€

โ€œUgh, you’ve been ignoring me lately. It’s so boring.โ€

She was just a woman who fell for me easily. Even if one or two woman got tired of me, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

Right now, that’s the least of my concerns. Getting that womanโ€ฆ China is all that matters.

I walked down the street as dusk began to fall and entered the shopping mall where the game center was located.

โ€œWhat should I do? Maybe beat someone up in a fighting game to feel good?โ€

I moved to the area with the arcade machines and scanned the surroundings.

But there weren’t many people; everyone seemed drawn to the medal games instead.

โ€œโ€”Oh! Hey, you play fighting games? Wanna play with me?โ€

โ€œHuh?โ€

The voice behind me belonged to a tall, handsome guy wearing round sunglasses.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him; I’d spotted him walking with China before.

(Whoa, waitโ€ฆ isn’t this guy her dad?! Seriously, is God hinting for me to date China or something? lol)

Her brother messed up, but his dad probably won’t do anything weird.

This is my chance to play nice and boost my popularity!

โ€œI was busy at the office, but I finished early so I came to hang out.โ€

โ€œOh, cool! If you want, I can be your opponent!โ€

โ€œOh, sounds good~. Alright, let’s get started then.โ€

We both sat down in our chairs, picked our characters, and the match began.

I’d beaten the guys who hang around here who play pretty seriously, so this should be easy. I’ll just go easy on him and make him feel good.

Or so I thoughtโ€ฆ

“KO!!”

โ€œHuhโ€ฆ Wait, I lostโ€ฆ?โ€

โ€œHaha! Heyโ€ฆ you gotta play for real, man.โ€

โ€œ!โ€

Heโ€ฆ he saw through me. Well, now I had no choice but to go all out, forget about playing nice!

I gripped the joystick again, gritting my teeth.

But the result was a crushing defeat. There was no opening for attack, just an unbreakable storm of combos.

โ€œYou were moving way better than before! How about it? Want to go again?โ€

โ€œN-no way. Your moves are pro-level, I’d never win! No way!โ€

โ€œIs that so? I thought you had good instincts.โ€

โ€œI said impossible. Losing all the time isn’t fun either.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ. Ah, not fun, huh. Guess you’re different from Hope-kun.โ€

Her father switched to the dark sunglasses hanging from his breast pocket.

His eyes were hidden, but he’d clearly enjoyed himself immensely, my approval rating skyrocketing.

โ€œWell, I’m heading home now.โ€

โ€œAh, okay! See you later!!โ€

โ€œโ€ฆYeah, bye.โ€

Her father waved flutteringly and walked away.

I’d won over one person. That was the first step.

โ€œJust you wait, China. Soon, I’ll be right up your alleyโ€ฆ!โ€

Still in high spirits, I headed home myself.

๏ผƒใ€€ใ€€๏ผƒใ€€ใ€€๏ผƒ

โ€œI’m home~~~!โ€

โ€œAh, welcome back, Papa.โ€

While China was cooking, Papa came home.

Wearing sunglasses, he had that same shady dad as always.

โ€œChina-chan, Hope-kun said it was super delicious~. Thank you so much!โ€

โ€œFrom now on, act like an adult.โ€

โ€œYes, I’m reflecting on my actions.โ€

While talking with Papa, my younger Akitoshi, came into the living room.
And then he headbutted Papa. He must have hit a good spot, because Papa immediately doubled over.

โ€œPapa! I can’t find onii chan!!โ€

โ€œGah! Ah, Hitoshiโ€ฆ Papa doesn’t know any onii chanโ€ฆโ€

โ€œHe’s the amazing bug-catching onii chan!โ€

โ€œHmph! Then I summon my son, Hope-kun! He’s incredible, you know? He’s the next best pro gamer after me! Ha ha ha!!โ€

โ€œMph! onii chan is way cooler! Absolutely, definitely!!โ€

His mind was completely consumed by this big brother. Apparently, Papa was also quite infatuated with this Hope guy.

There was still no boy I was interested in, and absolutely no plans to date anyone.

But then again, today at lunchโ€ฆ

(Didn’t Watarai-kun help me?)

Watarai Nozomu.

The mysterious boy who wanders off during breaks and disappears after class before you know it.

But somethingโ€ฆ something’s stuck in my mind. What could it be?

โ€œOnee chan, is dinner ready yet?โ€

โ€œHuh? Oh, yeah. It’ll be ready soon.โ€

โ€œYay!!โ€

The source of that unease felt almost within reach, yet elusive.

Like waking up in the morning feeling like you had a dream but can’t quite recall itโ€”that kind of sensation.

Worrying about it wouldn’t accomplish anything, so I shook it off and focused on cooking.

Maiasa


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