I Want to Fall in Love After Getting Reincarnated as the Heroine on the Verge of a Bad Ending, but My OP Older Brother Won’t Leave Me Alone!? - Chapter 14
Translated by: ShinigamiTori
Chapter 14 ? Rank Exam 1
“Eh, are you not eating anymore?”
“…. Yeah. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
With the rank exam just two days away, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even eat. Even though I knew I would be fine, I still couldn’t help but feel anxious. It was similar to the feeling before the Center Test[1].
Seeing me stop eating, Julius laughed while saying, “You have a cute side, too.” Thanks to that, Jenny, who was sitting next to me, gave me a piercing gaze.
While I could probably manage the written exam, I was still worried about the practical exam that could potentially lead to failure due to my nervousness, as well as the method of invisible measurement of magic.
Without a doubt, the prince’s favorability has not increased. As for the two suspected capture targets, it may have gone up somewhat. Having grown used to this world and developed feelings for the people inside of it, I had come to dislike seeing them in that way.
Treating this situation like a game, them like game characters, and taking advantage of their emotions for my own advantage was no longer possible. They and I both live in this world together.
That’s why, from now on, I decided not to worry about the possible increase in magic power based on the capture target’s favorability. There’s still room for growth in other areas. In fact, it’s full of potential.
“Right, the rank exam is coming up soon. Do your best, both of you.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll do my best to achieve S-rank.”
“…. I’ll do my best too.”
Feeling envious of the confident Jenny, I left the dining table, returned to my room, and immediately picked up a pen.
“Good morning.”
“……”
“Ah, good morning to you too, Mister Painter.”
“Who’s a painter? Idiot.”
Once again, I greeted Prince Theodore and Yoshida the Painter near the school gate and headed to the classroom. Although I had decided not to worry about the favorability, greeting the prince had already become a habit.
By the way, as a thank-you for lending me his notebook the other day, I gave Yoshida a pen along with a letter expressing my gratitude for him. I gave different colored pens to Therese and my brother as well, and I bought the same one for myself. I’m very happy that everyone seems to be using it.
Upon arriving at the classroom, I immediately took out my self-made vocabulary book from my bag and immediately started studying.
“Wow, you’re studying this early? That’s amazing.”
“There’s only one day left.”
Looking at me, Willy had an unbelievable expression on his face. Although he had the same level of academic ability as the original Rene, I envied his composure.
“Rene, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Thank you. As Therese’s friend, I won’t let you be ashamed of me.”
“Even now, there’s nothing to be ashamed of being friends with you.”
What a kind friend she was. I have to do my best to be able to have lunch with her in the upper-class cafeteria with pride.
So, I attentively attended classes and before I knew it, school was over already. I was thinking of inviting Reinhardt again today and going to the library to study.
Suddenly, there was some kind of commotion near the classroom entrance.
Picking up my bag from the desk, I casually glanced at the door to see what was going on, only to be left speechless.
“Rene!”
There stood Reinhardt, with his bangs cut and his glasses removed. The girls in the class were captivated by his dazzling smile.
Rank doesn’t seem to matter when you’re faced with a handsome man. It’s a self-interest thing.
“Why are your glasses….?”
“Is it weird?”
“No, I think you look really nice.”
“That’s a relief. My sister always told me to wear them because she said my eyes are weird, but Rene complimented me instead.”
Perhaps his sister wanted to monopolize him. It was a common pattern of twisted affection.
“Ever since I took off my glasses, when the boys in my class started accusing me of things, the girls started defending me.”
“I guess that’s normal.”
Although his overly dazzling good looks have caused some pleasant damage to my eyes, they are definitely a plus for him.
Besides, he seems brighter than when we first met.
“Shall we go to the library to study together?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll hold your bag, Rene.”
“I can carry it myself.”
“But I want to carry it.”
As he happily took my bag, he looked adorable. Then, we studied until the last minute of the school day and headed home.
???
That night, as I was in my room studying diligently, there was a knock on the door.
Thinking it was Rosa, I said, “Come in,” but it was Julius who entered the room. It was the first time he had visited my room like this, so I was a little surprised.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just came to hang out.”
“Huh, what’s with that?”
I didn’t really understand what he meant, but I put my pen down on the desk, stood up from the chair, and sat down on the sofa across from my brother.
“Here, I have something for you.”
After saying that, he handed me a lovely assortment of sweets. I was so excited because of how cute they looked.
I thanked him and accepted it, and he shoved one of the sweets into my mouth. The sweetness spread in my mouth, making me feel happy.
“But seriously, you’re working so hard.”
Leaning back against the backrest of the sofa, Julius said that as if he was impressed. I replied, “Because I have my own ambitions,” while unwrapping another piece of candy and tossing it into my mouth.
I couldn’t eat much for dinner today, so I was quite hungry.
“Ambitions?”
“Yes. Anyway, I want to have a fun school life. To do that, I have to at least increase my rank from F-rank, right?”
As I answered, he laughed and said,
“A fun school life, huh… for example?”
“You know, hanging out with friends, or falling in love later.”
“Heh~? I didn’t know you were interested in romance.”
“Well….”
“Hahaha, you didn’t look like it at all.”
Now wasn’t the time for a romantic relationship just yet, but when I explained that, my brother seemed to come to his own conclusion.
“I want to try falling in love too.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true, though. I’ll be in your care, Rene.”
“What’s with you?”
As usual, my brother was incomprehensible. Besides, he didn’t seem to genuinely want to fall in love with someone.
“Anyway, you should stop here for today and go to bed. You’ve been working hard enough.”
“T-Thank you.”
“I like the underachiever-Rene too, though.”
“Hey!”
Eventually, Julius said, “Well then, good night,” and left the room with a wave of his hand.
??Perhaps Julius came just to encourage me. Even the sweets he brought, I thought might be because he was concerned about my recent loss of appetite.
“… I’m happy.”
It’s very heartwarming to have someone who cares about me by my side. And as Julius said, I had done everything I could in the past month. I’m sure everything will be fine.
After eating another piece of sweets, I closed my textbook, finished preparing for bed, and slipped into the covers.
Translation Notes:
1. “Center Test” or “The National Center Test for University Admissions” was a type of standardized test used by public and some private universities in Japan. ?