Have Mercy, ■■■■, on Me 7

Several hours later

Hiyori: ......

(Sigh... I thought venting all my pent-up frustrations to him would make me feel a little better.)

(But instead, just thinking about how childish I was acting before is making me feel terrible...)

(I was so fed up with that kid’s behavior. He didn’t understand a word I was saying!)

(But it’s because he can’t understand what I’m saying that he wouldn’t understand why I was angry, either.)

(So I was the one being immature about things, just because things weren’t going how I wanted them to.)

...I guess I was pretty mean back there.

This was a job Brother entrusted me with, and I gave up on it halfway through...

Brother has never done anything like that to me. That shows the difference between us.

Ohhh, just thinking about all of this makes me want to die. When did I get to be so awful, anyway?

Did I try so hard at playing the useless second son that I actually became utterly useless?

Ugh. It’s a waste of time to keep wallowing in self-pity like this.

I’ll have to go find that kid first and foremost...

...Huh? It’s already dark outside?

Oh, no, I really am stubborn. I can’t believe I didn’t even notice how late it had gotten...

...? What’s going on? There’s a lot of noise in the manor.

What could be happening this late in the day...? Oh, it looks like Brother has returned home.

It looks like he’s whispering something to the servants. Maybe I could eavesdrop a little bit... ♪

Sanbi: —A suspicious person was reportedly seen near the hideout I’ve been investigating as of recently.

That person appears to be searching for a certain silver-haired child.

Hiyori: (...! Does that mean—?!)

Sanbi: ...Yes, you’re correct about that.

In matters of safety, the Tomoe family shouldn’t be the one to shelter that boy.

At the same time, glory gained through the sacrifice of a child’s future is hardly beautiful.

It’s my belief that the Tomoe house should extend a hand to those in need as we work to reclaim our place in the sun.

If one is even the smallest bit aware that he is more fortunate than others, then he has the obligation to be all the more kind to those others.

That’s my personal philosophy, as one born into privilege.

Hm? Why did I entrust Hiyori with that boy, you ask?

Ahaha. It’s only because I have faith that Hiyori could get closer to him than I ever could.

Even if he were to stay right next to me, my obligations and work mean that I can’t always be with him.

For a child who probably has never received proper amounts of love and affection, that would do more harm than good.

It’ll be fine; Hiyori is kinder and more capable than any of you think.

I have no doubts that he’ll watch over that boy.

I’m proud to call Hiyori my little brother ♪

Hiyori: ...Brother.

(I really can’t measure up to him.)

(Sorry, Brother. I’m not that kind at all, nor that capable.)

(The truth is that I’m betraying your expectations right now.)

(I abandoned that boy you left to me, and all for the stupid reason that things weren’t going the way I wanted them to.)

...I’m the worst, aren’t I?

If I let Brother down, then “Tomoe Hiyori” is completely worthless.

The libertine who provides nothing but harmless smiles becomes a burden when he actually does cause harm.

Ahaha. Looks like I never even realized what kind of person I am.

And yet Brother never stops believing in me, no matter how abhorrent I am.

And here I am, having abandoned that kid at the drop of a hat. I’m a failure of a big brother...^[1]

Can I still hope to become a proper big brother like mine...?

No, I have to try. That is, if I want the Tomoe house, if I want Brother to be proud to call me his own.

Okay. It’s decided, then. I just have to resolve myself.

I’m going to be your big brother, no matter what.^[2]

All right. First step: apologize to that boy. I’ll tell him sorry for all the mean things I said.

(Well, that’s just for my own personal satisfaction. The real problem is what Brother was talking about.)

(From what he said, it sounds like some suspicious person is targeting the kid.)

(But why would someone be after him? You can’t even have a conversation with him...)

(I can’t figure out a purpose, but I can tell they’re definitely not a good person at least.)

Sigh... I can’t believe I did something so stupid in the heat of the moment. I’m such an idiot!)

Even if it were just to the courtyard, it was a mistake to send him out there. It makes a perfect target for the suspicious person.

I have to go find him right away...!