Chương 29: Helping Rito

(Ryoto's pov)

Rito: "Nii-san, can you help me with something?"

I turned to Rito with a confused look. He doesn't usually ask me for help. Actually, no one asks me for help. That's why I'm confused.

Ryoto: "I'm not lending you money."

Rito: "That's not what I wanted to ask!!!"

Rito quickly replied.

Ryoto: "Then what did you need from me?"

I'm really am curious at this point.

Rito: "Can you help with Haruna?"

Ryoto: "I mean, I already have Lala, but if she allows it, then..."

Rito: "Not that way!!!"

At this point, Rito wanted to grab me by the shirt and shake me, but he stopped himself. Probably because he still needed my help.

Ryoto: "I know, I know, I was just joking. Now tell your older brother how he can help you."

Rito: "The thing is, you know how I was unlucky with all my previous confessions."

I nodded my head.

Rito: "Every time I gather my courage, something bad happens, causing me not to be able to do it, so I want you to help me succeed."

Karen: "Ho~ so he asks Mr.stealyourgirl to help him with a girl. Not the smartest move on his part."

'Since when I'm Mr.stealyourgirl? And I don't even plan on stealing Haruna from him.'

Karen: "That's what you're saying now, but the next time I see you, you'll talk about getting Haruna and genderbent Rito into your harem! Plus, you technically stole Lala from him."

'It won't happen, I'm not even looking for a harem right now, and I didn't steal Lala since she wasn't with him when we got together, so it doesn't count.'

Karen: "Right now is a keyword. Do I need to remind you in what kind of show you are?"

'Touche, but seriously though, I won't do this.'

Karen: "And you've just set up a flag. I'll go to your strange, convoluted, and hopefully happy wedding and throw some flowers or something. I don't know. I've never been to a wedding."

'You'll have withered flowers then because, like I said, it won't happen.'

As I was having a talk with Karen, Mikan and Rito looked at me, not moving for a whole minute.

Rito: "Is he okay?"

Mikan: "He tends to do that sometimes but don't worry."

She took a swing at me, but I automatically dodged and returned to my previous position.

Mikan: "See?"

Mikan started cleaning up the table after dinner, and Lala helped her.

Rito: "Nii-san?"

Ryoto: "Yes?"

Rito: "So, will you help me?"

I thought a bit and had a great idea.

Ryoto: "Sure, I'll help you."

Rito: "Really!?"

Rito instantly cheered up hearing my answer.

Ryoto: "Yeah, but the results will depend on you."

Rito: "That's all I'm asking for!"

He tried to grab my hands, but I dodged it with excellent reflexes.

Ryoto: "Do you know about the suspension bridge effect?"

Rito looked confused.

Ryoto: "It seems not. In short, it's about how in scary situations, a person in the state of fright sees you, and they fall in love with you. We are going to use it."

Rito: "How?"

Ryoto: "Do you know what is Haruna scared of?"

Rito shook his head.

Does he even know anything about her besides being pretty, kind, and being part of the tennis club?

Ryoto: "She's a severe fear of ghosts and the supernatural, and by chance, there is an old school building near our school. We'll go there in a group, and I'll try to separate is, leaving you and Haruna alone. You'll act brave and all a d at the right moment you'll confess."

Rito: "B-but what if she'll reject me?"

Backing off already? *Sigh*

Ryoto: "Then don't do it and wait for someone else to confess to her."

Rito: "NO!!! I'll do it!"

Ryoto: "Great! I'll ask Risa to help me get inside the old building since she wouldn't fancy being there of her own accord. Remember though, as I've said before, the success depends on you and no one else."

Rito: "Yes, thank you again very much, Nii-san!"

---

The next day in class, I talked with Risa about my plan.

Ryoto: "...and that's why I need your help."

Risa nodded her head a few times while listening to my explanation.

Risa: "So what's the real reason for our little trip to the haunted building?"

Ryoto: "Is this so unbelievable for me to just want to help my helpless little brother with his love life."

I exaggerated my being hurt by her words.

Risa: "Yes."

Ryoto: "..."

Risa: "..."

Ryoto: "...I wanted to see ghosts."

Risa: "I'm in."

Risa proceeded to drag Haruna to the old school building. Our group consisted of Risa, Mio, Haruna, Lala, Rito, and me. There was also someone following us, but as our follower wasn't dangerous, I ignored it for now.

The while building was in ruin. It obviously wasn't used or maintained for a very long time. Haruna was clinging to Risa, and Rito walked behind with a frying pan. At this, Risa and I sighed. Lala, as always, was nonchalant about our situation, and I was too.

*CREAK*

Haruna: "Kyaaa!!!"

Haruna jumped towards Risa, clinging to her even more than before.

Rito: "W-what's wrong, Sairenji?"

Rito asked in a panic. He wasn't the bravest boy in town, but for Haruna, he tried.

Ryoto: "Don't worry, it's just the old floor."

I stopped at the old wooden plank.

*CREAK*

Ryoto: "See?"

Haruna: "I-I see."

*CREAK*

Once again sound of the old floor being stepped on spread through the hallway.

Risa: "We get it already. No need to demonstrate it two times."

Ryoto: "It wasn't me."

Hearing that, Haruna's face lost its color.

*STEP* *CREAK* *STEP* *CREAK*

Someone was approaching us. With every step, Haruna was more terrified, and the more scared she was, the closer she was to grabbing something or someone to fight off whatever was coming closer. Behind us, a figure could finally be seen, and it was...

---

END

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