Chapter 10

Looking at the innocent face of Tsubaki, Doi Sousuke fell silent.

Wait a moment!

Could it be that drinking too much whisky, vodka, and Remy Martin recently has made his memory a bit fuzzy? Indeed, one should drink Maotai instead!

He tried hard to recall.

One day ago.

Doi Sousuke stood in front of the new house with a radiant smile.

"Risa, this is our new home, hahaha, with all these smart appliances installed, doesn't it feel like our new home is full of technology, hahaha..."

Absolutely no boasting intended!

"Big Brother, couldn't we have installed these things ourselves? Are these people...?" Risa didn't directly answer Doi Sousuke's question but pointed to the workers who were still busy around them.

Idiot.

As a穿越咸鱼者 (穿越者, a穿越者 is a person who has traveled through time or dimensions, and 咸鱼者 is a slang term for a laid-back, unambitious person), Doi Sousuke thought and smiled as he spoke.

"My foolish Risa, there's an old saying, 'Spend money early,' and besides, if we two were to install these appliances, hahaha, would you want to exhaust Big Brother, or exhaust yourself...?"

"Now, we can do everything with just a little money. This is called 'paying to get stronger'!"

"My foolish Risa, whether in games or in reality, only by paying can you get stronger..."

Looking at Big Brother who was lost in his own world, Tsubaki nodded foolishly: "Uh, uh!"

Indeed, professional workers are different. They finished the installation in a very short time, and after a polite farewell from both sides.

Tsubaki began her treasure hunt adventure.

"Big Brother, what's this?"

"Wii U!" The latest game console from Nintendo.

Tsubaki's eyes sparkled.

Walking to a screen with two gun handles, Tsubaki drooled again.

"Big Brother, what's this?"

"That, it's said to be an online FPS game. See the mat under your feet? It's said to be some kind of motion sensor. When you move on it, the game character will follow your movements..."

"《Red, Red Akasaka Fireworks》?" Before Doi Sousuke could finish his introduction, Tsubaki's eyes widened, and she hugged Big Brother's arm.

Looking at Tsubaki's sparkling eyes.

Doi Sousuke felt a rare moment of awkwardness and pushed Tsubaki away: "Yeah, remember what Ryuji said, it's called this, right? What? Is it famous?"

"Not just famous, Big Brother!" Tsubaki, still serious, said: "《Red Akasaka Fireworks》 is a gem, not just in the otaku world, but in the entire gaming world. It's said that the internal slots are already priced at 5 million yen. Am I really seeing this?"

"Probably real." That guy Ryuji wouldn't lie to him, right? This should be real!

Getting confirmation, Risa's eyes blurred as she rushed forward: "Big Brother, Risa feels so happy!"

"Uh, uh," I know, go play the game. While saying this, he felt a bit guilty. Speaking of which, will that guy Ryuji really not cause trouble?

"Beep beep beep..."

Tsubaki wanted to say something, but Doi Sousuke's phone rang. Looking at the caller's number, Doi Sousuke frowned slightly.

"Big Brother?" Tsubaki seemed to sense something and looked up at Sousuke.

However, Doi Sousuke still had a radiant smile.

"Alright, Big Brother will take the call, and Risa can go inside to play the game. Whoever doesn't do it, well, hahaha..."

"Got it. Big Brother, stop treating me like a child!" Tsubaki angrily turned on the game console. What is Big Brother? Big Brother is nothing compared to the game, don't joke around!

Leaving the house.

Doi Sousuke answered the call from Doi Keiryu.

"Hello." A lazy voice, this was Doi Sousuke's usual greeting.

Then.

"Doi Sousuke!" On the phone, a man's voice was screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Hey, hey, old man, still full of energy, looks like I don't have to worry about you dying suddenly." He dug his ear, and Doi Sousuke's smile remained.

The phone was silent for a while before a low voice said,

"Tell me, why did you drop out of Tootsuki?"

"Well, how should I say this, since the Doi family has already signed the contract with Tootsuki, whether I'm there or not doesn't matter, right?"

"Damn it, do you know how important the title of Tootsuki's Ten Elite is for your future?" The voice on the phone sounded agitated, with a hint of frustration.

To this,

Doi Sousuke was silent for a second, then he smiled and said,

"Well, cooking isn't interesting at all, just like the piano back then. I, indeed, just want to pursue interesting things! And, do you really think the Ten Elite is important to me?"

"..." After a brief silence on the phone,

"Leaving aside the dropout, I want to know why you took Risa away from the Doi family without a word."

"Well, I just want Risa to have her own future." He glanced at his otaku sister who was struggling with the game and said casually.

"Damn it, are you saying the Doi family can't give Risa a future?"

"No, no, no..." Doi Sousuke laughed, "Old man, you're misunderstanding me. I mean, I want Risa to have a 100% future, one that she chooses herself."

Silence, endless silence.

How could Doi Keiryu not understand Doi Sousuke's meaning? Complete freedom means no family restrictions, no political marriages, and even...

"Don't forget, everything you have is given by the Doi family!" After the silence, the phone rang with an extremely cold voice.

However,

Doi Sousuke laughed.

"Are we talking about benefits? Then, we should calculate..."

"Shut up!"

"Sousuke, you should understand that Risa can only receive the best education, the best protection, and can only..."

Hearing this, Doi Sousuke's face turned cold.

He looked at his otaku sister again.

"Are you talking about the kind of young lady who has to wear a false smile despite her sadness?"

"..." The phone fell silent again.

"I don't want that kind of Risa."

"Are you talking about the kind of young lady who has to walk gracefully despite her pain?"

"..."

"I don't want that kind of Risa."

"Are you talking about the kind of young lady who can only cry in secret when her husband yells at her?"

"..."

"I don't want that kind of Risa."

"Are you saying..."

...

"Enough!" Doi Keiryu shouted again, "Then tell me, what do you want!"

Looking back at his otaku sister, Doi Sousuke smiled: "I just want a sister who gets excited playing new games, who shouts 'awesome' when drinking cola, who chuckles while reading *Shonen Jump*, who is occasionally sly, but always happy, a laid-back sister!"

Silence, another long silence.