Chapter 198: The Realm of Brother Complex!

“Wait? Why wait? Onii-chan stayed pure for seven years just for today, didn’t he?”

Swoosh! Her finger pointed straight at Himekoji Akito, Akiko had her other hand planted firmly on her hip. She glared at him angrily.

“You’re talking nonsense! How could that even happen?!”

“It couldn’t?”

“Of course not!”

Ah, heavens above…

It seemed another chapter of their usual silly exchanges was about to begin today.

Though it was a totally different flavor from Mashiro’s brand of silliness, the core remained the same—

Utterly ridiculous!

Totally stupid!

How did such idiotic conversations even happen!

“Hey, Akiko,” Nanami said seriously, trying to correct Akiko’s wrong words and actions. “Shouldn’t you wake up already? Even though your brother is a pervert, and it’s fine to joke about that, constantly reusing the ‘Brother Complex’ bit gets stale.”

“Nanami’s right!” Himekoji Akito quickly voiced his agreement.

“Huh? Wait…”

The next instant, he suddenly realized something—

“No! Right? Right my ss!” His tone promptly switched to annoyance. “What do you mean it’s fine to joke about me just because I’m a pervert? Perverts have rights too!”

…

“You guys!”

Seeing her own brother side with someone else and joining the “attack” against her, Akiko’s sharply arched eyebrows raised in what seemed like “heartbroken” fury.

“Onii-chan, I’m so disappointed in you! I can understand others not getting it, but how could you side with them?”

Akiko placed both hands dramatically on her shirt front.

“Wait! Akiko, what are you doing?” Himekoji Akito’s eyes widened. He watched his Imouto’s hands start unbuttoning her uniform jacket, one button after another.

Could it be…?

“Stop! Don’t take it off! No! Not here at least!”

Was this Imouto insane?! Himekoji was terrified!

“Not here? So somewhere else would be okay? Himekoji! You… You! I knew you were a pervert, but I never imagined you’d sink this low! Going after your own blood sister!”

The moment Himekoji Akito spoke, Nanami jumped right in, seizing the loophole in his words to attack him relentlessly.

Himekoji Akito didn’t even have time to retort.

After all, the most urgent matter right now—

Was to quickly stop his Imouto Akiko from stripping right here in public!

Please! There were outsiders present!

Imouto!

Calm down! Wake up!

Yet, Himekoji Akito didn’t make it in time.

His Imouto ripped open her jacket, revealing a unique T-shirt beneath printed with the words: “Brother Complex”…

“Brother Complex is justice!”

Declaring this, Akiko’s face seemed illuminated by holy light, sacred and utterly serious.

Akiko proudly thrust out her chest, causing the characters “Brother Complex” on her T-shirt to bulge slightly, creating a sort of 3D effect.

Whew—

Himekoji Akito let out a sigh of relief.

So she wasn’t stripping naked to do that embarrassing thing?

…

Damn, what a pity…

No way! Pity my ss!

Why did he feel disappointed and hollow inside?

That emotion had to be fake, right!

He, the super pervert Himekoji Akito, was absolutely not a sister con!

Hmm…

Even if he was, he was an ethical, morally upright, law-abiding siscon! The kind who would never cross forbidden lines!

Unlike his sister who spent all day shouting “brother” but secretly thinking “do him”! Totally different!

…

“If Brother Complex counts as justice, then justice might as well just die!”

The moment Akiko finished speaking, Nanami instantly put on a stern face. “Akiko, this Brother Complex thing you’re talking about? It’s not permitted or recognized by the law!”

“So what? As long as there’s love!”

This was the one point Akiko absolutely could not concede.

“Love? So what! You can’t get married! You can’t have kids! Society won’t accept it! That kind of love is inconvenient! Worse, it’s unhappy!”

Nanami was always straightforward. Getting caught up in the moment, she couldn’t control the harshness creeping into her tone. Finishing, she immediately felt she’d spoken too strongly.

But since the words were already out, there was no taking them back. Besides, a severe illness required strong medicine.

“Hmph! You without an Onii-chan wouldn’t understand!”

Instead of being crushed by Nanami’s words, Akiko’s spirit soared even higher. “Yes, I admit Brother Complex is inconvenient! But Brother Complex is absolutely NOT unhappiness!”

THUMP.

Akiko slammed both fists down hard on the table, eyes blazing with passion.

“That’s right! Most people wrongly believe Brother Complex = unhappiness! There are even pitiful, narrow-minded, unreasonable people who occasionally insist Brother Complex is a mental illness—and they believe it wholeheartedly! But—even so, we absolutely must not yield! We must resolutely fight prejudice to the very end!”

Akiko, suddenly unable to contain herself, planted one foot right on her chair. She flung her arms wide and launched into a passionate speech delivered solely for herself.

Himekoji Akito could only stare.

“Onii-chan! What are you standing there for? Say something!”

“Eh? Me?”

It was exactly like suddenly being called on in class to answer a question he hadn’t remotely understood. Himekoji Akito gaped, bewildered.

“Hurry up! Say something! Anything! Just express our determination! Tell them we absolutely won’t bow to worldly prejudice!”

Akiko strove fiercely to rouse Himekoji Akito’s passion.

Sadly, he was a normal guy, completely unable to key into his Imouto’s independently located G♂Spot of excitement…

“Um… I don’t quite get what you’re saying… but, just putting it out there, Brother Complex isn’t such a great thing, right? You can’t even have a serious relationship.”

Keeping silent wasn’t working. Unable to refuse Akiko’s enthusiastic invitation, Himekoji Akito casually backstabbed his Imouto instead.

…

We absolutely won’t yield?

No, no, I’m definitely not part of that “we”!

Himekoji Akito was just glad he still had his sanity.

“Hmph, sure enough! Though I kinda knew already… it still truly saddens Akiko. My dear Onii-chan… You’re another poor soul afflicted by this illness called ‘common sense.’ Sigh, that’s almost the only flaw my beloved brother possesses.”

“Hey! Akiko, that’s enough! Don’t just ignore what I said earlier!” Nanami couldn’t stop herself from barging into the sibling exchange. “Didn’t I already say it? Siblings? You can’t properly have babies! Combining genes between close relatives causes genetic defects! Historically and scientifically proven, right?”

“Hmph! Exactly! This! This is exactly what I wanted to talk about!”

Hearing this didn’t discourage Akiko at all; if anything, she grew inexplicably excited. Standing on her chair, she gave a little fist a powerful shake. “It is precisely this taboo that makes blazing passionate love soar ever higher! I dare declare, Brother Complex is a heaven-sent gift! An irreplaceable talent!”

“Hah?”

“Eh?”

Akiko’s shocking statement stunned Himekoji Akito and Nanami into silence.

Even Mashiro, who had been sitting properly and quietly as if asleep beside them, couldn’t help but lift her head to look at the Imouto.

“Yes, true, because I have Brother Complex, I occasionally suffer unfounded criticism, or face thoughtless persecution I can’t revenge. In reality, it’s inconvenient. I have to admit that.”

“Just who persecuted you? And who exactly are you planning revenge on?”

Amidst his Imouto’s passionate performance, Himekoji Akito managed to sneak in this quip…

Honestly, he’d only just learned today that his Imouto had this severe a Brother Complex! So how could she already talk about facing criticism and persecution because of it? Wasn’t it way too soon?

Before today, who even knew you had a Brother Complex?!

“But, even so, you cannot label Brother Complex as unhappiness! How do you know what bliss I enjoy every day loving Onii-chan deeply? Think about it! Me! Loving my own blood-related brother as a member of the opposite sex! What a truly radiant, glorious life I lead!”

“…Um, couldn’t you just love someone unrelated and be equally happy?”

Himekoji Akito raised his hand, interrupting.

“Absolutely not! You’ve got it all wrong! Defying morality is precisely what makes Brother Complex so captivating! It’s the forbidden nature, the taboo, that lets you savor the ultimate bliss! Seriously now! Smooth, problem-free romance? Who in the world finds that fascinating?! The answer is a definite, resounding NO!”

Word by forceful word, they fell like stones!

“…”

Damn… she kind of had a point. He was left speechless!

Himekoji Akito clutched his head in agony.

…