Chapter 15: It's Great When the Male Characters in a Rom-Com Completely Ignore the Heroine and Act Like Idiots with Each Other.

[Interactions Between Male Characters]

Since romance is the main theme, it's inevitable that the story revolves around the protagonist and heroine. Therefore, in most works, the interactions between the protagonist and heroine are treated as the main storyline.

Even if that's not the case, stories featuring cute girls tend to be more popular, so male characters tend to be somewhat overshadowed in works that focus on romance.

Of course, this doesn't mean they have no screen time at all.

They might be given a role that helps the story progress, such as the good old friend character who tells the heroine how much the protagonist likes her, or they might be given the role of a love rival vying for the heroine's affection.

It's just that they're less often featured as the main character compared to female characters, and therefore tend to be relatively less prominent; there are many attractive side male characters with significant screen time even within works that focus on romance.

In some works, the interactions between the protagonist and a male character can be so interesting, passionate, and moving that the male character might even win first place in a popularity poll. 

In fact, there's definitely a certain kind of dynamic that can only be expressed between people of the same gender, and male characters are incredibly useful in making the protagonist more appealing.

After all, if the story only revolves around interactions with the heroine, it can become monotonous and drag at times!

Well, before I say I'm a fan of sickly heroines, I'm a fan of rom-com and romance in general, and what I want to say is that the carefree, silly, stupid, and pointless interactions between the protagonist and the other male characters are great...

I really like that kind of vibe because it provides a different kind of nourishment than the interactions with the heroine.

If there's a scene where the sickly heroine looks envious of that, I could eat three bowls of rice in one sitting!

And if there's a scene afterwards where the male characters help the protagonist who is doing his best for the sickly heroine, I'll cry.

I did cry!

★★★

"It's hot..."

"Chitose-sama, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. It's just really hot, as the solstice is approaching."

It's been several months since Chiharu-kun came to our house. He's become a full-fledged member of the Onjōji family, and the season is now approaching the peak of summer.

Incidentally, in this world, the seasons are divided into Yin and Yang too, with spring and summer being dominated by Yang, and autumn and winter by Yin.

There's also the solstices, which in my previous life was called the Summer Solstice, and it's called the Yang Solstice here because it's the day when Yang energy is at its highest. Conversely, the Winter Solstice is the Yin Solstice, the day when Yin energy is at its highest. 

It's simple, or rather, it seems to be evidence that the existence of Yin and Yang energy is deeply intertwined with the customs of this world.

"I'll bring you some water right away. I'll also change your clothes and wipe away your sweat."

"Hehe, thank you, Sakura. But I'd prefer something cold rather than just water."

"No. As the saying goes, 'Nourish Yang in spring and Yin in autumn and winter.' Cooling your body too much just because it's summer will only make you sick. Spring and summer are seasons when Yang energy is high, and it's important to harmonize it by increasing Yin energy.

However, too much of that can be harmful. Especially for someone like you, Chitose-sama."

"I know, but... I've been feeling fine lately..."

"That's precisely why. For you, Chitose-sama, this season of high Yang energy naturally reduces Yin energy, making it inherently comfortable. That's precisely why you must prepare your body for autumn and winter from now on. Didn't Sensei repeatedly tell you that?"

"Muuuuu..."

"I won't fall for that face again."

"..... Haa. I get it, Sakura. I'll refrain from eating ice cream today."

"Thank you. And I apologize for being presumptuous."

"Don't apologize. I know you always put me first. It's just that I wish you'd be a little more considerate of yourself. You're always so formal; aren't you getting tired?"

"There's no problem. I'm Chitose-sama's attendant, after all."

"I wonder if position as an attendant is really that convenient, like being immune to the summer heat...?"

While exchanging lighthearted banter, Sakura efficiently wrings out the towel and wipes Chitose-chan's sweaty skin.

And what a beautiful scene it is, with Chitose-chan letting Sakura do as she pleases in the sunlight streaming through the shoji screen.

It almost feels like a breath of fresh air, dispelling the oppressive heat. I never tire of seeing it, and above all, the situation of being cared for is, so to speak, home ground for a sickly heroine.

'Simply put, Chitose-chan is so cute it hurts...!'

Well, this body hardly sweats at all, and its body temperature is low, so it's not really necessary!

Since it's permeated with Yin energy, which is responsible for sedation, stagnation, and inactivity, Chiit's-chan's body's metabolism and other functions are in a state of collapse, and because she stays quietly in her room, she doesn't sweat very often.

Thanks to that, this body is terrible at regulating its temperature.

Well, as long as the Yin energy is regulated and Yang energy is sent in, there's no problem, so it's perfectly fine.

In fact, it's helpful because it allows me to play a truly convincing sickly heroine, including things like poor growth.

Look, Sakura-chan is worried about me right now! Isn't she just so cute!?

"...Chitose-sama, everything is finished."

"Thank you, Sakura."

"No problem... that's my job."

"Even so. Sakura, you're always helping me out. I'm the one who should be sorry that I can only say thank you."

"Such words are more than enough for me. I'll go get some water now."

"Please do. By the way, Chiharu has been missing for a while now. Sakura, do you know anything about that?"

"I saw him a little while ago, being led by Moritsugu-sama towards the dojo."

"Is Onii-sama here again?"

"Yes, he's here again today."

"Did he take Chiharu to the dojo again?"

"Yes, he did."

"This is happening again, isn't it?"

"Yes, I thought so."

"Sakura!"

"Understood."

As expected of the highly capable attendant Sakura-chan, she and Chiharu-chan understand each other without words.

And Onii-sama!

Again, Onii-sama!

It's been like this lately, Onii-sama!!!

★★★

Two figures stood in the training dojo built in a corner of the Onjōji family's grounds.

One was still small, unmistakably a boy. The other, in stark contrast to the boy, was large, robust, and a fully formed adult.

Literally, an adult and a child.

The difference in their fighting abilities would be obvious just by hearing or seeing it. However, that was only if the boy were an ordinary being.

The boy, who had adopted a low, almost animalistic stance, vanished. His footwork shook the dojo, his body, strengthened by the excessive Yang energy though somewhat weakened, combined with the boy's light body, achieved a speed that was utterly impossible for the human eye to follow. The distance between them vanished in an instant.

The man, still motionless.

The boy raised the wooden sword he held. The movement was remarkably linear, a predictable action of simply raising and lowering, without any real or falsehood. But even that, when accompanied by superhuman speed, can be a deadly blow.

The wooden sword, brought down upon him, would inevitably strike the man.

However, that would only be the case if the man were also an ordinary being.

"Naive!"

"!?"

The counter-attack. By some logic, the wooden sword of the man who swung it afterward struck down the boy who had raised his first. It was an utterly inexplicable situation, yet there was neither a sense of accomplishment nor surprise on the man's face.

Perhaps this was something only he could do.

Without even catching his breath, the man stood before the fallen boy.

"Your speed is good, and your reflexes and eyesight are good enough to keep up. However, as I've said many times, your movements are too linear. It's as if you're asking to be cut. You won't be able to protect Chitose like this, Chiharu."

"Nghh!"

"Hmm. That's good spirit. Now, one more time."

"Yes!"

Both males raised their wooden swords once again. Just as the boy was about to charge into the man's range once more, a voice that neither of them could ignore echoed through the dojo.

"Onii-sama!"

It was the voice of someone they both loved dearly. However, that voice was clearly different from usual. Specifically...

"What are you doing?"

She was clearly angry.

"Umm, we are.... training?"

"Training? No! As I said before, Chiharu is still very young. Please stop doing dangerous things like directly hitting him with a wooden sword!"

"It's alright. I'm being careful not to hurt him and even if he does get hurt, I'm aiming for spots that will heal easily."

"That's not what I meant! Lately, you've been paying too much attention to Chiharu, and the time we spend together has been... well... Onii-sama no Baka!!"

"Guhack!!!"

Where had his imposing presence from moments before gone?

The man—Onjōji Moritsugu—was easily brought to the ground by his little sister.

"Oh, that's right, Chitose! I brought some ice cream as a souvenir today!"

"Really!?..... Hm, Sakura~"

"...Okay. Just a little bit."

"Love you, Sakura! Alright Chiharu, hurry up, let's leave Onii-sama behind and eat it all ourselves!"

"Guhh!!"

How pathetic.

Despite his attempts to appease her, Onjōji Moritsugu met his end a second time.

"Let's go, Chiharu."

"....."

The boy, who had been gripping the wooden sword, now had his hand enveloped by the pale-skinned girl. Her hand was white, soft, cold, and small. A warmth, one the boy still couldn't quite describe, filled his heart.

Filled with that warmth, he simply gazed at her hand, then gently gripped it back. Anyone who knew would have told him that it was compassion.

In the sunlight of the approaching height of summer, the boy and girl stood side by side, bringing sparkling chunks of ice to their mouths.

This was a summer memory.

A precious, precious summer memory for the boy.