Chapter 53 The Elder Brother's Outrage (？)
After Rifine's greeting ended, I stepped back behind the stage.
I had just made a huge mistake by accidentally amplifying Rifine's muttering with magic, making it echo throughout the venue.
I really wanted to be by her side as she sat there, almost ready to collapse from embarrassment, but...
"Pant, pant, pant, pant...!!"
Due to my magical power running out, I was on the verge of actually collapsing myself, so I couldn't stay in the venue any longer.
Yeah, I mean, the floating magic I used to catch Rifine when she almost fell was indeed arranged for the performance.
I tried to make it look as graceful as possible, so her skirt would sway beautifully.
But the result? Unlike before, the magical power consumption actually increased compared to the original floating magic. It really did.
Using that magic in a pinch while also highlighting Rifine's greeting with the planned performance magic, it was no surprise that my weak magical power ran out.
I feel like I should give myself a pat on the back for not collapsing in front of all those spectators in the venue.
"Yumie! Are you okay!?"
"Ah, Elder Brother...?"
As I was searching for a place to rest with unsteady steps, I noticed my Elder Brother rushing over in a panic.
He was supposed to be waiting in the venue, so why was he here...
"Ah..."
"Yumie!"
Seeing my Elder Brother's face made me lose my composure, and I crumpled down to my knees.
He quickly caught me.
"I'm so sorry, Elder Brother. Thank you for saving me..."
"Honestly, Yumie, you really overdo it... You knew that using magic like that would make your magical power run out, right?"
"Ahaha, well, of course I knew that about myself, but... I promised. I told Rifine that I would be there for her, so she could relax."
The complete depletion of Magical Power is quite dangerous, as it is a huge burden.
Moderate consumption has a slight strengthening effect on Magical Power, just like muscle training, but excessive consumption, like muscles, is said to lead to physical abnormalities due to complete damage, and even death in the worst cases.
However, dying from it is a rare case.
Most of the time, you'll pass out before it gets that far, and this time I made sure to save a bit.
So it's fine, I tell myself, but Elder Brother looks at me with a face of exasperation.
"So... after resting and recovering a bit, I'll go back to Rifine."
"No, that's not good. You have to lie down for at least an hour."
"But Rifine is alone now, and must be feeling lonely... I know how comforting it is to have someone by your side at such times."
It was the same for me right after I regained my memories of my past life.
The house was full of enemies, and I had to win over my family alone... Still, Lisa was on my side from the very beginning.
That was so important to me.
"Rifine is similar to me. I want to be of some help to her."
When I convey this, Elder Brother scratches his head, looking troubled.
He probably wants to stop me, but he knows I won't stop.
I feel a bit guilty for worrying him.
"I guess there's no other way... So, as a compromise..."
"Huh...?"
As I look at him with that expression, Elder Brother puts his hand on my face.
I wonder what he's trying to do, and before I know it, Elder Brother's face is right in front of me, filling my entire field of vision.
Elder Brother's lips are pressed against mine.
"Huh!!!??!?!?"
I'm completely confused, not understanding what's happening.
Wait, am I kissing Elder Brother? With me? Why?!
"...Okay, do you feel a little better now?"
"...Huh?"
Elder Brother slowly pulls away and asks me this.
Only after he said that did I finally become aware of my own body, and I realized that my depleted Magical Power had recovered, and I felt much better.
"See, the last time you squeezed out all your Magical Power and ended up in tatters, right? I asked Father how to treat that kind of situation in an emergency. He told me that if I pour Magical Power through mouth-to-mouth, it will help recover the depleted Magical Power a bit."
"So, that was what it was..."
In other words, it was like emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
I now understood that it was Elder Brother's way of trying to ease me a little from my recklessness, without any deeper meaning.
I understood, yet my heart kept pounding, showing no signs of calming down.
"Yumie, I'll say it again and again... You are the most important sister to me. I know you're kind to everyone, but don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"H-Huh..."
I couldn't meet his gaze as he spoke to me with an unusually serious expression.
Not knowing what my own expression looked like, I instinctively hid my face with my arm.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Yumie?"
"N-Nothing! Well, thank you! Please come again after you're done greeting Rifine! See you!!"
"Hey, wait, Yum!"
Elder Brother saw me off, tilting his head in confusion as I hurriedly ran away.
Meanwhile, I was overwhelmed by my own thoughts.
"Why am I feeling like this... Normally, even between siblings, a kiss between guys is impossible...! Why am I so nervous...!?"
I ran with all my might, trying to shake off the heat that had built up in my face, for a different reason than before.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)