Chapter 18: German Orthopedics?

Kamikawa Chiye looked at the TV.

On the TV screen, the news anchor was broadcasting the news.

“At 4:30 this morning, a magnitude 4 earthquake struck our country; no casualties have been reported…”

“The Tokyo Earthquake Bureau has announced that seismic activity has surged recently, reaching the highest frequency in recorded history—please remain vigilant and take earthquake precautions…”

This news clip was a replay of this morning’s broadcast.

Kamikawa Mitsu noticed a horizontal banner scrolling across the top of the screen.

It was an earthquake alert.

Since Japan lies in a region prone to earthquakes, the country has implemented numerous warning systems to promptly notify citizens of seismic events.

When an earthquake occurs,

all major TV networks immediately overlay a horizontal alert on-screen, indicating the location and magnitude of the quake.

In addition, everyone’s mobile phones receive a text alert with the same content as the news report.

However, mobile earthquake alerts are typically triggered only by major quakes.

“So it really was an earthquake.”

Kamikawa Chiye also noticed the banner on the TV—the content matched the earlier quake, magnitude 3.

“Nii-san, why are there so many earthquakes this year? Could there be reasons beyond plate movement, like sea deities awakening and getting angry at our pollution of the oceans, causing the plates to shift?”

As she spoke, Kamikawa Chiye took a bite of cake, cradling her face in one hand, her cheeks glowing with happiness.

Mmm~ so delicious!

Desserts really are the best!

Kamikawa Mitsu, who had just swallowed his bite of cake, nearly choked.

This cheap little sister of his had an imagination that stretched too far.

But… that imagination sounded surprisingly eco-friendly.

“Chiye, are you talking about the revival of spiritual energy?” Kamikawa Mitsu smiled, in good spirits.

“Spiritual energy revival? What’s that?” Kamikawa Chiye tilted her head, twirling her cake spoon in her hand.

Kamikawa Mitsu was stunned.

He had forgotten that Japan had no concept of spiritual energy revival.

After a moment’s thought, he replied: “Something like a great change in heaven and earth—things that couldn’t exist before now appear.”

“Things that couldn’t exist before? Like gods or yokai?” Kamikawa Chiye, though appearing naive, was quick to understand.

“Yes.”

Kamikawa Mitsu nodded, glancing at the time:

“Chiye, it’s late. Go wash up and sleep. You’ve been busy all day—you’re tired. I’ll clean up here.”

“Okay.” Kamikawa Chiye looked up at the wall clock and obediently nodded.

Not long after returning to her room,

her door, just closed, opened again. She poked her head out and whispered to Kamikawa Mitsu, who was clearing the dishes:

“I forgot to say—I’ve made plans with classmates to go out tomorrow. I might be late coming back.”

“Hmm.”

…

Morning.

Before her parents’ memorial photos, Kamikawa Chiye lit incense and clasped her hands together.

“Father, Mother, please watch over Nii-san. I hope he succeeds in his studies and work, and stays healthy.”

After paying respects to her parents, Kamikawa Chiye rose to leave.

“Chiye, wait,” Kamikawa Mitsu called out to her.

He pulled out 3,000 yen from his pocket and handed it to her.

“You’re going out with friends—how can you go without money? Take this for snacks.”

“Ah? No, no, Nii-san, I’m just going out for a walk with my classmates.”

Kamikawa Chiye waved her hands, refusing.

Even though Kamikawa Mitsu had taken on a part-time job and their finances had improved slightly,

she didn’t want to spend frivolously. Yesterday’s small cake had already been her limit.

“Take it.”

Kamikawa Mitsu forced the money into her hand:

“This isn’t much. And even if you don’t care about yourself, think of your friends—if they want to buy something to eat and see you have no money, they won’t feel comfortable eating. You can’t let them pay for you every time.”

Besides, it’s not fair if they always pay—you should treat them sometimes too.”

“Also, every time you go out, I’ve never given you pocket money. Others might think I’m abusing you, giving you nothing.

Then, when I turn eighteen, what if your classmates report me for abusing a minor? I could get sentenced to years in prison.”

His long speech startled Kamikawa Chiye, who knew nothing about the law.

The hand that had reached to return the money froze.

Nii-san going to jail?!

Oh my god, that can’t happen.

She quickly pulled her hand back and hurriedly said: “Fine, I’ll take it.”

As she spoke, she thought to herself:

Nii-san’s right.

I know he’s good to me, but my classmates don’t.

Kamikawa Chiye thought of the boys in her class.

So many boys—from her class, even from other classes—have confessed to me. I’ve turned them all down, but they won’t give up; they keep trying to impress me, hoping to win my favor.

What if they find out Nii-san doesn’t give me pocket money? They might go to the teacher and accuse him of abusing me.

Thinking of this, Kamikawa Chiye grew angry.

Even though it was only speculation, something like this might actually happen.

After all, Japanese girls are among the most mature in the world. Even though she’d never dated anyone, Kamikawa Chiye understood how boys pursued girls.

Because her female classmates talked about it constantly.

Those boys are so annoying!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

No!

I have to find a chance to tell my classmates how good Nii-san is—he’s the best Nii-san in the world.

Yes, that’s settled.

Kamikawa Mitsu didn’t know what Kamikawa Chiye was thinking.

He simply felt that since he’d promised the original owner to care for his sister,

if he said he’d care for her, he had to raise her well.

After all, in his past life, he’d often heard people say: raise sons frugally, raise daughters lavishly.

Even if you went to extremes, Kamikawa Chiye, a sister like her, deserved to be lavishly raised.

“I’m off, Nii-san.”

“Be careful on your way.”

Stepping out of the apartment, Kamikawa Chiye turned back and looked up at her home on the upper floor.

Since coming home yesterday, Nii-san had changed so much.

Having lived with Kamikawa Mitsu for over a decade, she easily noticed the difference.

Ever since he left a suicide note, then came back alive, Nii-san had changed.

Perhaps it was because he’d faced death, experienced such extremes.

He no longer frowned or slumped; he smiled now.

As she thought this, Kamikawa Chiye blinked her long eyelashes, a sweet smile appearing on her pale face.

Compared to before, Nii-san’s smile now was much more beautiful.

…

Inside the apartment,

Kamikawa Mitsu closed the door, checked the time, and pulled out his phone.

He planned to check the view count and data for the video he uploaded yesterday.

“I wonder how popular it is—hope it’s not too bad,” Kamikawa Mitsu murmured.

He couldn’t be sure how popular the video would be.

This was his first time making a video—he had no idea what to expect.

The moment he opened his phone,

Ding! Video uploaded. Popularity assessment: score 75.

Ding! Script completed. Score 78. Video popularity: score 75. Overall rating: B-. Host has received 4,000 script points.

A cold system notification sounded.

Kamikawa Mitsu whistled.

"Four thousand points? Did I hear that right?"

Hastily opening the system panel to check his script points, Kamikawa Mitsu was overjoyed.

No mistake!

It really was four thousand points.

"Four thousand points—enough to exchange for plenty of things."

Eagerly, Kamikawa Mitsu used his script points to exchange for the character skill earned in this script.

……