COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 118 - 114: Younger Brother

By noon, a long line had formed outside, indicating the event's success. As seats emptied, they were quickly refilled, and the maids bustled about tirelessly attending to customers.

I was one of those constantly moving. Just as I was about to carry an order to the back on a tray, Ryuuen grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.

"What is it? I'm busy right now."

"Obviously."

"Then let go. We need every hand we can get right now."

"Kuku, don't worry. I've already arranged for backup maids."

He jerked his chin toward a group of girls in traditional Japanese attire who, though inexperienced, were doing their best to serve customers. Some were likely coerced by Ryuuen, but at least this eased the burden.

"With the extra maids, we can focus on drawing in more customers."

"...What do you want me to do?"

"Look over there."

Peeking subtly from the back, I saw Hiyori at the register being harassed by a guy who looked to be around high school age. Probably a pickup artist. Hiyori was managing with an awkward smile, but she clearly looked uncomfortable.

"Dealing with that kind of guy is your job, isn't it?"

"Put on a little show. Make a big scene confronting that pickup artist."

"Won't that cause a commotion?"

"Look at the other customers. They're already glaring at him like he's a nuisance."

Sure enough, the other customers seemed annoyed, but no one wanted to speak up in front of a crowd.

Our classmates had also noticed the situation but only watched with concern. Ryuuen must have warned them not to interfere. Nishino was out distributing flyers, too.

"If you play the hero here, it'll attract more customers. Hurry up. Or are you fine with Hiyori getting dragged away?"

"Tch... Fine, I'll do it."

"Make it flashy."

With a dismissive wave, I steeled myself and headed toward the register.

"Um, please stop..."

"C'mon, just for a bit! Just a little!"

I grabbed the pickup artist's shoulder.

"My apologies, sir. If you've already paid, could you please leave to avoid disturbing other guests?"

Following Ryuuen's instructions, I raised my voice slightly, drawing attention from across the room. The guy scowled at me, while Hiyori's expression relaxed in relief.

"Hah? Who the hell are you? I'm a paying customer!"

"Our policy is to ask guests to leave once they've settled their bill."

"Annoying bastard. Quit nagging."

"Even though this is a maid café, we ask that you refrain from excessive interactions with the staff."

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Since family members of invited guests were present, this guy was probably someone's spoiled son. Some better parenting would've been nice.

Fed up, the guy clicked his tongue and shoved me hard. That gave me the pretext for self-defense. Now, all that was left was to make it flashy.

"Whoa—!!?"

I hooked his leg, restrained his arm, and slammed him to the ground. I exaggerated the motions enough to make it look dramatic. Gasps came not just from inside the classroom but also from the line outside.

"Y-You bastard...! Let go!!"

"You threw the first punch. Stay put until a teacher arrives."

The kimono really was a pain to move in. My usual uniform was way more practical.

Soon, a teacher arrived, followed by who I assumed were the guy's parents, and he was dragged away. Performance-wise, this should've been a success.

"Sorry for the disturbance."

I bowed to the room and was met with applause from all directions. Even passersby in the hallway had stopped to watch. Thanks to that idiot, foot traffic was guaranteed to increase.

When I glanced at Hiyori, her expression was a mix of happiness and unease. She often worried about relying on me.

"Don't look like that. I don't mind at all. Your safety is what matters most."

I patted her head, and her anxiety faded. As I watched her smile, I didn't notice the stares fixed on me from all around.

Returning to work, I found the number of female customers had exploded—though the reason was unclear.

........

The conflict within the former Ayanokouji Group had ended.

Airi, whom I had led to expulsion. Enraged by this, Haruka and Akito sought revenge on the class by offering to withdraw themselves. But after learning that Airi had started anew post-expulsion, Haruka realized revenge was pointless. She decided to move forward, aiming to become someone Airi could be proud of when they met again after graduation.

"Haruka. I won't ask you to move as swiftly as the other maids. But imprint the scenery Airi was meant to see in your mind. As her best friend, that's your duty."

At my words, Haruka began making an effort to help the class.

"Kiyotaka... Will our classmates really accept Haruka?"

At Akito's murmur, I nodded.

"It'll be fine. It'll take time, but she'll regain their trust."

"Yeah... Yeah, you're right."

For the first time in a while, Akito smiled without reservation. Then, noticing something, he whipped around. Haruka, too, seemed to hear footsteps and stopped mid-step as she tried to head back to the exam.

"———What are you doing?"

"H-Hikigaya... kun?"

Hikigaya's sudden appearance made the two widen their eyes.

Spotting me, Hikigaya pointed from Haruka to me as if guiding her.

"Your target for revenge is right there. I gave you plenty of options. Why aren't you moving?"

His gaze locked onto Haruka, who stood frozen before him.

"I-I..."

"We—Haruka's given up on revenge!"

Seeing Haruka shrink back, Akito stepped forward as if shielding her.

"She's accepted Airi's expulsion and let go of revenge. Things are finally looking up. Don't drag her back into this."

"Miyacchi..."

"'Extra trouble,' huh?"

Repeating Akito's words, Hikigaya lightly grabbed his shoulder and shoved him aside.

The force was so light that Akito stumbled—but in that brief moment, Hikigaya seized Haruka by the collar.

"Don't screw around. Weren't you going to avenge your best friend? If your resolve was this weak, why did you take my hand? Why did you rely on me for revenge?"

"..."

"In the end, you never really thought of Airi as a best friend. That's why you can give up so easily."

"Khh—!"

"Hikigaya!!"

Unable to contain his anger at Hikigaya's words, Akito grabbed his shoulder to pull him away.

"And you're no better, Miyake. It's because of half-hearted people like you that things turned out like this."

"This has nothing to do with you...!"

"Nothing to do with me? You're the ones who came to me. Did you just plan to waste my effort?"

"That's—!"

Haruka had relied on Hikigaya. That was an undeniable fact.

Hikigaya turned back to Haruka.

"If you're not taking revenge, then what? What do I get out of this?"

"...I'll give you all my points. Just... let this go."

"Your points are worthless."

At a severe disadvantage, the two had no cards left to play. Realizing this, Hikigaya sighed and clenched his fist.

"If you can't do anything, how about being a punching bag?"

"...Huh?"

"Stress relief. That's all you're good for."

"Y-You...! So you're just like Ryuuen's class after all...!"

Sensing Hikigaya winding up for a punch, Akito braced himself to shield Haruka—but before he could, I swung my right leg at Hikigaya.

"Kiyotaka!?"

"Kiyopon...!?"

The two gasped at the sudden kick. But Hikigaya blocked it effortlessly with his arm, unharmed.

"What's the idea, Ayanokouji?"

"You think I'd just stand by while you hurt my important classmates?"

"You're the one who shouldn't be involved. This is their own damn fault."

"Maybe. But Hikigaya, part of what you said is wrong."

"Oh?"

"Haruka's feelings for Airi aren't weak. It's because Airi was her best friend that she cried and regretted it."

Their gazes on me seemed to intensify, but Hikigaya scoffed, unfazed.

"Pathetic. That doesn't matter."

"Then what? If you plan to do anything more to Haruka and Miyake, I'll be your opponent as long as it takes."

Hikigaya narrowed his eyes, studying me before turning away without another word.

"...Not worth it. Forget it."

Having decided there was nothing more to gain, Hikigaya walked past me calmly.

But as we crossed paths———

"Keep them occupied from 3:00 PM for about 30 minutes."

"Understood."

I agreed to his whispered request. Even if he hadn't asked, I'd already prepared my final move.

........

I'd heard I had an older brother. But I knew nothing about his appearance, voice, or personality. I never really thought about siblings.

I learned of my brother's existence when the White Room's curriculum was temporarily halted. Brought into a room with all the fifth-generation students, I saw him for the first time.

"That's... my brother. Yagami Hachiman."

I don't remember the shock of seeing my blood relative for the first time. His calm, flawless execution of the curriculum was nothing short of a masterpiece.

"My... brother."

While the other fifth-gen students reacted with worship, hatred, or something in between, I just watched him in silence. I didn't even glance at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

"Um, I understand that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is the instructor's son. But... who is Yagami Hachiman?"

One of my peers, Ichika, asked the staff with a trembling voice. I wondered what she was getting at, but the staff answered without even looking at her.

"Yagami Hachiman is just like all of you. He's not the instructor's son like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, nor was he born with innate talent. He's just an ordinary person. Just human."

———What?

Ichika burst into tears, trembling with joy. But I realized my fists were clenched so tightly they were bleeding from the surge of emotion inside me.

That person—my brother—is just ordinary? Just human?

The sheer audacity of this staff member, answering so casually, made murderous intent flood my veins. I wanted to use everything I'd learned in this facility to kill him, to make him regret calling my brother ordinary.

I bit my tongue, clenched my fists, and endured. If I acted out, I'd be expelled.

"...Ah, I see."

A new emotion, felt for the first time.

This was it.

Ah, so this is how it is.

I'm proud that my brother is a masterpiece.

I'm proud to be his brother.

I'm proud to share his blood.

I'm proud of my brother.

This overflowing feeling—no other word could describe it.

This was———love.

Not worship like the other fifth-gen students. Not hatred. This was love. Love that could only be felt for an older brother, for someone who shares your blood.

If my brother saw me, if he knew me, he'd surely feel the same. We're siblings, after all.

Every time I longed to meet him, I hated Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Why does someone like you share the same title as my brother? Why do you stand beside him? That's my place. The place of his brother. Move. Disappear. Die.

"I'll surpass you and become a masterpiece like my brother."

I whispered this declaration, knowing he couldn't hear, then left the room, leaving the other fifth-gen students behind.

From that day on, my hatred for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka—and my love for my brother—became my driving force.

........

My brother escaped the White Room. During the facility's suspension and relocation, he slipped away.

The news left me numb. Ichika seemed the same, muttering my brother's name like a mantra every day. She must've had special feelings for him.

I couldn't think. Nothing mattered. Searching for why he left, I arrived at one answer.

"If I become stronger than him... will he finally look at me?"

My brother was called a masterpiece because no one in the facility surpassed him. If that was why he ran———

"Then I'll become that existence!"

If I do, he'll acknowledge me! I'll defeat Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and surpass my brother! Then he'll—!

Coincidentally, it was decided I'd enroll at the Advanced Nurturing High School, where my brother was, to retrieve the two masterpieces.

"...Ah."

When I found my brother after enrolling, I was proud of myself for not running to him, for staying put.

Not yet. It wasn't time. A normal meeting would disappoint him. I'd arrange things properly before we met.

Later, I happened to spot Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and spat in disgust.

........

"Yagami-kun. Got a minute?"

One day, as the cultural festival approached, Horikita-senpai—a student council senior—asked me to deliver a love letter to Nagumo. Horikita was in Ayanokouji's class. The fact that she asked me meant there was definitely something to it.

Alone, I opened the letter before delivering it.

At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but an anagram analysis revealed words like important, expulsion, and secret scattered throughout. I couldn't help but smirk. This was a declaration of war from Ayanokouji.

I'd been eagerly awaiting our confrontation. I'd already decided I'd only meet my brother after defeating Ayanokouji.

But then, an unexpected person delivered another letter.

"Yagami-kun, can I ask you a favor?"

"Ichinose-senpai? What is it?"

She, too, asked me to deliver a love letter to Nagumo. The sender was also anonymous. Suspicious, I skimmed the contents—and felt goosebumps rise all over my body.

"Brother... what is this? Haha... Ahahaha!!"

The anagram revealed words like Cultural Festival 3 PM, important, and secret, but the final word alone confirmed it was from my brother.

———Siblings. That was the last word embedded in the text.

I couldn't hold back anymore.

Ayanokouji didn't matter.

My brother had found me—he'd seen me!

He was calling for me!!

"To think he'd reach out first—my brother's got style!"

The cultural festival would surely be the happiest day of my life. I'd surpass my brother. He'd finally look at me.

Everything was perfect.

.......

3:00 PM on the day of the festival.

As promised, I arrived at the designated location alone, unarmed, without any schemes or subterfuge.

The path lined with cedar trees was deserted. Rumor had it that an event on the second floor of the special building was drawing crowds. That must've been where everyone was.

"!"

Trying to control my trembling excitement, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Finally... finally! Brother...!"

Every fiber of my being screamed in joy. Behind me stood the brother I'd longed for, his eyes fixed on me.

Steeling myself, I turned around.

"———Huh?"

The person behind me wasn't who I'd hoped for.

"...Eh? Why are you here...?"

"Let's stop this, Takuya."

The heat in my body drained away. Why you? It wasn't you I wanted. The one I longed to see was———

"You're not him!! Ichika!!!"

"I know."

Her reddened eyes fixed on me with sorrow.

"It's impossible. No matter what we do... we can't win against him. Surpassing him is hopeless."

"Shut up!! Outsiders don't get a say!! I'll surpass my brother—I'll make him acknowledge me!"

"If you keep this up... you'll be expelled."

Had I ever been this furious with her? An outsider had no right to interfere with my reunion with my brother. How dare she.

"It'll be even more entertaining!! I'll expose the past and end the festival with a bang! That way, I can———"

"Takuya... so that was your plan..."

"Just disappear. I'm here to meet my brother."

"I won't... If you and him clash, something terrible will happen..."

"So you're stopping me? You've never beaten me even once. Don't make me laugh."

"But... I'll still try."

"Stop spouting nonsense. If you keep wasting my time, I'll kill you."

"There's a difference in strength. Against him... I couldn't even lift a finger..."

"Then just die. Your existence is meaningless anyway."

I'd end this in an instant. Before my brother arrived, I'd tear her apart———

"Eh?"

The hand I thrust forward to crush her was caught in a larger palm. Ichika, who had braced herself, looked up with tear-filled eyes.

"I only told you to come. I never said to show yourself, Amasawa."

"...I'm... sorry..."

"I've never seen you like this before."

My mind went blank. I couldn't think.

But for just a moment—my hand was released, and when I looked up———

"Ah..."

Finally... finally, we met.

"Hah... haha!"

Laughter spilled out uncontrollably. This wasn't the reunion I'd imagined, but he had come for me.

"Nice to meet you———brother."

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