I really don't want to be reborn.

She walked back with her head down and looked at Kousaka Kyosuke again, finding that he showed no signs of anything amiss.

Everyone knows your sister likes you!

Are you just too cunning, or are you simply a slow-witted blockhead?

The atmosphere in the group of six became strange, except for Kyosuke Kousaka, who was unaware of what was happening.

Yes, he knew his sister was somewhat brother-obsessed and clingy, but he would never think of anything more extreme.

Because he once had the same feelings for Kirino.

His habitual thinking would only make him pay attention to and restrain his usual behavior and delusions, and he wouldn't pay too much attention to his sister's strange behavior.

A thief who steals will never imagine that his target will be a fellow thief.

Even though her sister had carried her for a while, she would just think that Kirino was too lazy to walk and wanted to slack off.

"Is this the manufacturer of the real-life female rapist?"

"Yes, related merchandise will also be available here today."

Amidst the subtle yet varied gazes of others, the brother and sister surveyed the surrounding buildings: "Ah, look, over there! Hurry up! I want the Summer Comi Limited Edition Disk."

"Slow down, be quiet on a hot day like this!"

Kirino ran along the road in a hurry, but her mood was not actually anxious at all. Instead, her joy was reflected in her light and cheerful footsteps.

Game merchandise and such are not important at all.

Her brother was right about one thing: her love for games could never become like Yoshino Yusuke's love for music in Clannad. Her interest in games was like duckweed floating on water, rising and falling, but never sinking.

What exactly made her obsessed with sibling-themed romance games?

Does that need to be said?

Only this original intention is like a stone at the bottom of the water, it will never change, it can't float up, and it won't let others retrieve it, it will rot in the water even if it rots!

My body felt so light, as if I could fly away at any moment. I was so happy, as if I had springs under my feet. It felt much better than being on the sports field.

Even on a drowsy summer noon.

The cicadas chirped listlessly in front of the shop, their calls echoing in a dejected manner.

Her voice was hoarse and filled with intense sleepiness, like a lullaby for a long summer day. But this drowsy state was shattered by the girl's courageous and exhilarating footsteps!

Is it wrong to like someone?

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be liked by that person, right?

She never doubted herself, no matter how tired or painful she was, because each time she revived, she was accumulating even stronger courage within herself.

That's not a destined loser, that's a phoenix rising from the ashes!

The fire raged and burned in his heart, and once the lava spewed from his mouth, it would burn away all hesitation, all cowardice, all wavering, beyond redemption.

Kirino was once again certain that she loved her brother.

Because liking is unrestrained, because love is restraint.

She can like many people and be unrestrained, but when she loves someone, she is already quite restrained.

She didn't want to wait any longer.

She was willing to continue to restrain herself, but she was no longer willing to restrain herself in that way.

------

The title of this chapter is actually quite interesting.

I'm probably still asleep when I read this chapter now.

This was a scheduled update that I set up early last night. Ugh, I'm exhausted.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Few Common Sayings

What is a "limited edition disk"?

"The data discs that can only be purchased at this event, if you put them into your computer, you can get several special outfits - should I call them souvenirs or collection items... anyway, that's what they are."

The fashion items released for special occasions in online games, you know, you know. After asking around, Kousaka Kyosuke understood why his sister was in such a hurry: "It seems to be a very rare item."

Saori pouted, her expression gloomy: "Yeah, but that's probably—"

Kirino's incredulous voice drifted from afar: "Huh—the sale's over?"

Kyosuke chuckled dryly, "That's a real shame."

Saori glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was talking to Eriri, and pulled him aside, lowering her usually loud and cheerful voice to a minimum: "Kyosuke, didn't you notice?"

Kyosuke Kosaka nodded, his expression somber: "I've found out."

Saori was even more surprised: "You actually found out? Then why didn't you say so?"

Why should I say it?

He was even more surprised than she was: "You want me to expose the girl I like for having her best friend wearing bra pads under her clothes in front of her? How am I supposed to live?"

Saori was so surprised that she could see her little tongue...

"But to be honest, Eriri actually dared to wear a bra pad in this awful weather. Ah, Sawamura's will to not lose face is truly terrifying. As expected, human will can transcend the environment."

Saori casually remarked, "Did they put ice cubes in the bra pads?"

"..."

Miss Saori Bagina really wanted to slap herself: "Ah, hahaha... so that's what you meant."

Which one could I possibly say?

"Hmm, hmm, that's... that's it, right?"

She gave a forced laugh, pushed up her glasses, and her gaze lingered for a moment on Sawamura's seemingly ample bosom before she let out a cryptic laugh: "A little disappointed..."

I finally mustered up the courage to talk to this person about Xiaotongtong's affairs, but this interruption wiped out all my courage. Even my big, gleaming glasses couldn't give me much of a courage boost anymore.

Kyosuke was even more puzzled: "What are you frustrated about? Are you envious of Sawamura's small breasts? Get this straight, small breasts are not a rare resource, nor are they the mainstream. I think you should be proud of your Fujiwara Norika's figure."

"I...I'm not upset about this..."

Saori carefully examined his expression and realized that the other party's puzzled look was not fake at all, so she became even more frustrated and even suddenly began to feel sorry for her little Tongtong.

It must be very difficult to like an older brother like this.

Kyosuke has high emotional intelligence, so why does he act like a blind man when it comes to his sister?

Is this what they call "blind spot under the lamp"?

The group quickly headed toward Alice+’s booth.

Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly lagged behind, closing the distance between herself and the person who had been lost in thought. Hearing the little black cat sigh blankly, she suddenly asked, "What are you sighing about?"

"...!"

The black cat looked up in fright, then immediately looked down again. The up-and-down motion was so pronounced that its reflection was visible, showing how flustered it was. When a cat panics, it tends to flailing its arms and legs in bewilderment: "Because... because of that, it's a popular brand's product, and it's impossible for there to be any left at this time..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha gazed at her silently: "You know what I'm asking, Gokou-kun. I'm not asking about your attitude, I just want to know how you feel about this."

After a moment of hesitation, the black cat's red contact lenses reflected the somewhat irritable figure of Kirino Kousaka. For some unknown reason, it almost inexplicably uttered an Edo-era proverb.

"Those who dare to stick to their own opinions are far better than those who follow the crowd."

Upon hearing this, the warmth in Kasumigaoka's eyes slowly faded, revealing a proud expression that even Kousaka Kyosuke had never seen before. She also uttered an Edo proverb.

"Commendable courage, but ultimately it's like a spider web being spread, waiting for the phoenix."

This is what is meant by "like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

…………

Kyosuke Kosaka placed his hand on his sister's head again.

He recently discovered that Kirino's head and Kasumigaoka Utaha's hands are on the same level; the more you touch them, the more comfortable they feel. Although the weather prevents him from getting the warmth of tucking his hands into his collar in winter, the smooth hair and the curves of his head that fit his hands are just right.

And because this thing is sweating, it feels a bit damp and moist, making it even better to the touch.

Kirino tried her best to express her unique anger: "Have you touched me enough? Don't you know it's hot?"

"It's impossible to get enough of touching it, not even in a few years. So, how about that, Old Pigeon, how's that a high score?"

"evil!"

After comforting his sister, he was about to discuss with Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri whether they could rest at a nearby ice cream shop when a girl in work clothes spoke up timidly.

"Although the limited edition disk is sold out, the prizes for the event are still available—please check out the event over there if you'd like."

"Oh?"

"It's the arcade version of 'Shin-chan Dai-chan' which is scheduled to start this fall. You can get a limited-edition disk as a gift by defeating our staff."

She pointed to the side: "Guests who want to participate, please line up here. However, our staff are very familiar with the arcade version and are very skilled, so it's quite difficult."

He looked at Kirino: "What do you think? Are you going?"

Kirino snorted and strode ahead, her high-spirited demeanor making it seem less like she was going to a small game competition and more like she was walking at the head of a track and field race: "Needless to say! Being closer to the east means being further away from the west!"

It goes without saying that this is a matter of course.

"Actually, I could tell that Kirino was a little down this morning, but she's finally cheered up now."

Kasumigaoka asked softly, "Is it just happiness?"

"Hmm... she seems to be putting in a lot of effort, I've never seen her like this before, just how much does she want that merchandise?"

Kyosuke Kosaka waved his large folding fan, fanning himself and the girl beside him, and fell behind the group.

The two pseudo-otaku watched as the three old otakus in front of them talked to a new otaku, and their expressions were somewhat subtle. Kyosuke was naturally happy and worried. He was happy that his sister was having a good time in the summer comics, but he was worried about something else that he couldn't say out loud right now.

The subtlety of Kasumigaoka lies in Kirino's fighting spirit. She turns her head and stares at him sharply, as if trying to see through him: "Kousaka, do you really not know what your sister is so fighting for? Or... are you pretending to be confused?"

Kyosuke Kosaka frowned: "Explain it more clearly."

She pouted, her face, which had been either cold or warm, now looked as aggrieved as a green plum, sour to the extreme, just like when he leaned on her shoulder on a rainy day, she gently sighed against his shoulder.

There is a sense of helpless weariness.

He disregarded the strange behavior earlier and hurriedly asked, "Are you suffering from heatstroke? Are you hot?"