COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 119 - 115: Crybaby

The person who took the bait—using the letter disguised as a love letter—looked at me and laughed.

"Nice to meet you, big bro."

I pulled back my right fist and took a step back, shielding Amasawa behind me. He tilted his head, puzzled.

"Why are you protecting her? She's unnecessary for our reunion."

"Amasawa, stay back. Don't even think about interfering."

"...Okay."

Realizing there was nothing she could do, Amasawa quickly retreated about seven meters. Confirming that, I turned my full attention to the figure before me—Yagami Takuya.

"Yagami. You're the other White Room student, aren't you?"

"Don't call me Yagami. You're a Yagami too, big bro."

The same surname as me, a White Room product, and the fact that he showed up here—more than anything, the way he called me big bro left no room for doubt.

"You're my... blood-related little brother, huh?"

"Y-Yes...! That's right!! I'm your brother!! Your only family!!!"

His face twisted with joy, his crazed eyes locked onto me. He spread his arms wide as if dancing, twisting his body playfully.

"Finally... finally! I've been waiting for this moment!!"

"To defeat me?"

"Of course not!! Hurting you is unthinkable!!"

If Amasawa's words were to be believed, White Room students either despised or worshipped me.

But from Yagami, I felt neither hatred nor worship—only pure, unadulterated happiness.

"I'm so happy... Talking to you like this feels like a dream."

"If you wanted to talk so badly, you could've approached me sooner."

"That wouldn't do. Our first meeting had to be on the perfect stage. That's why you sent me that letter, right?"

He seemed to have interpreted the letter in his own way.

Then, abruptly, Yagami's expression darkened, and he sighed.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you... But this defective product got in the way. She had no right to interfere."

His murderous gaze pierced through Amasawa, who stood at a distance. Despite being raised in the same facility, Yagami didn't hesitate to call her a defective product.

He stepped so close our noses almost touched, whispering:

"Hey, big bro... I want you to see me."

"Your sentence lacks a subject."

"I mean it literally. I want you to see me. To acknowledge me. That's why I worked so hard."

Continuing his monologue, Yagami stared into my eyes, his smile deepening.

"I'm your brother, so I understand. I know why you escaped that place. But... it's okay now."

"What are you—"

A kick aimed at my chin from point-blank range. I dodged by twisting my body, but a fist was already coming straight at me, forcing me to twist further.

"I'll surpass you!! Then you won't disappear!! Right!?"

With a grin, Yagami charged at me. Bracing for impact, I prepared to block—but Amasawa, who had been watching from afar, suddenly jumped between us.

"Takuya, STOP!!"

"Move. Defective product."

A vein bulged on his forehead as he launched a flying kick straight into Amasawa's torso. The impact sent her tumbling across the ground. Even as she struggled to get up, Yagami clicked his tongue and glared.

"No... you can't... fight him..."

"...You're really annoying. I should've killed you earlier. Big bro, just wait a sec—"

As he turned his attention from me to Amasawa, I swung my arm with full force, sending him flying.

"Amasawa. I'll say it again. Don't interfere."

At my command, she sat frozen, not even attempting to resist. Good. No more distractions.

"Ahahaha! You're getting serious too, big bro!"

Since the blow was only meant to create distance, it didn't do much damage.

"If you're so desperate to surpass me, I'll humor you."

"I'm so happy! I've always wanted this!! A good ol' sibling fight!!"

His focus entirely on me, Yagami unleashed a sharp jab in his excited state. As expected of a White Room student—his combat skills far surpassed the average person's.

The fist stopped just before impact—a feint. A crescent kick followed from his right leg, which I countered with my own, redirecting the momentum into an attack. But Yagami planted his blocked foot and aimed a kick at my head with his other leg.

I blocked with my arm, but the shock still reverberated through me.

"Strong. You're leagues above Amasawa."

"Thanks, big bro! I'm happy you praised me!"

His carefree smile radiated pure joy. This emotion wasn't hatred, worship, or anything like that.

"What do you think of me? Do you resent me?"

I dodged a spinning kick by a hair's breadth and asked. Yagami blinked, looking genuinely baffled—but only for a second before his smile returned.

"Don't say weird things. Of course I love you! You're my only brother!!"

"Love, huh?"

"I've loved you since the first moment I saw you!! You understand, right, big bro!?"

Familial love, brotherly love—these were things nurtured naturally in ordinary households. But for a White Room product, they were unthinkable.

"You're amazing!! So strong!! Big bro!! You really are the best!!"

Creating distance, he cheered with uncontainable excitement.

"I really don't get it. Why is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka treated as your equal? He's not even close to you."

"You sound confident you can beat Ayanokouji."

"Of course. I was planning to crush him before meeting you."

By now, Yagami should've gauged my strength from our exchange. Yet, his expression never faltered—he kept swinging his fists with pure delight.

This wouldn't end anytime soon, so I switched tactics.

"'Crush Ayanokouji,' huh?"

"I'll prove it right now. How fragile he really is."

"Your mouth works faster than your fists. But you've already lost to Ayanokouji."

"Hah?"

His fist froze mid-swing.

"...I don't like that joke, big bro."

"It's not a joke. Before my letter, you received another one, didn't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

Despite his denial, his subtle tells betrayed him.

"That letter was from Ayanokouji. It told you to meet him in the student council room at this exact time. If not for my letter, you would've fallen for his trap."

"Stop saying nonsense. This is our time now."

"You dragged too many unrelated people into this. Komiya, Kinoshita, even Horikita. Normally, all of that would've been exposed, and you'd be expelled by now."

"Why won't you focus on me!? Big bro...!!"

His movements grew erratic—easier to read.

"At this point, you've already lost to Ayanokouji."

A furious front kick, stronger than before, came from Yagami. His breathing grew ragged as I delivered the final blow.

"You're———beneath us."

"Khh—!?"

A desperate punch. I could've dodged—I saw it coming. But I didn't. I let it hit me.

"NO!! I'll prove it!!!!"

I didn't block the kick to my arm either. I just relaxed to minimize the damage.

"You left that place because there was no one above you!! Right!!?"

No matter what he said or did, I wouldn't move.

"That's why I'll surpass you!!! I'll go beyond you, big bro...!"

The first straight punch to my face in years. But it barely hurt. The reason was obvious—Yagami himself was the proof.

The fists that had been striking with full force earlier now had no strength behind them.

"Takuya, STOP!! You know he's letting you hit him!! That doesn't mean you've surpassed him!!"

"Shut up, defective product! I will surpass him! I have to! Or else... or else...!!"

Ignoring Amasawa, Yagami kept throwing weak punches at me.

He had to realize his strikes were growing weaker. But he didn't stop—couldn't stop.

"I have to... be the best...! I have to be stronger than big bro...!"

His fist stopped at my chest. His trembling body had reached its limit. Yagami dropped to his knees before me, head bowed.

"Otherwise... big bro won't... look at me."

He understood the meaning of the teardrops hitting the ground better than anyone.

Believing in the reason I escaped, Yagami had spent all this time trying to surpass me.

But he was wrong.

He must've believed that unless he became the strongest, unless he surpassed me, his big bro would never acknowledge him.

"Unless I'm the best... you won't look at me. Unless I surpass you... you'll leave me behind..."

A weak fist, refusing to give up, still reached for me. I grabbed his hand and crouched to meet his eyes.

"Did I ever say that?"

His shocked eyes welled up, refusing to meet mine.

"But... big bro, you..."

"You're overinterpreting. The reason I escaped that place... Well, maybe part of it is what you said. But I can say for sure—you're wrong."

"That can't be...!"

"Then answer me. Did you ever hear me say, 'I won't acknowledge you unless you surpass me'?"

Of course not. Our first contact was after the new semester started. I hadn't even known his identity until today.

Yagami couldn't respond. His face went blank, lips trembling as he looked away.

"But big bro! I... wah!?"

Finally looking up, he got a flick to the forehead. After all he'd put me through, this was nothing.

"You've honed your skills all this time to surpass me, right?"

To surpass his big bro, Yagami had run forward relentlessly.

But from another perspective, it took on a completely different meaning.

"But not to defeat me. Isn't that right?"

Speechless, he just stared at me.

"You wanted me to praise you. You wanted me to see how hard you worked."

"Khh—"

He desperately fought back the tears threatening to spill.

"I felt the strength you've built. Firsthand."

"I... I...!!"

Not with clenched fists like during the fight—but with an open hand resting on his head.

"You've worked hard———Takuya."

"Ah..."

A small gasp escaped him as fat tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"You don't have to surpass me. Even without that... I'll always see you. You're my———proud little brother."

"Big bro..."

He wiped his tears, trying not to look pathetic, but they wouldn't stop. I stood up and glanced at Amasawa, who had been watching from afar.

The situation must've surprised her—it wasn't what she expected. Her expression was a mix of shock and visible relief.

"Can you stand, Takuya?"

Offering my hand, he let out a small voice.

"...Big bro, I———"

Footsteps.

Multiple pairs, approaching from behind.

Five expressionless adults stepped into the previously empty space. All familiar faces.

"W-Why... No, not now... Not when I'm with big bro...!"

"W-What are you doing here...?"

Yagami wasn't the only one looking horrified. Amasawa was too.

"We were told to observe and retrieve you once the situation concluded... But the circumstances have changed."

"Sorry, but plans have changed. You're leaving."

Shielding Amasawa and Yagami behind me, I stepped forward to face the five adults.

"They're my junior and my brother. Don't forget—this school values autonomy."

Of course, words alone wouldn't suffice. I leaned in and whispered a message to the man at the front.

After a brief phone call, the man nodded, and the group silently retreated.

"It's over now———whoa!"

Turning around, I was tackled by a red-haired missile. I could've resisted, but I let myself fall back.

Clutching my chest, Amasawa buried her face in me, sobbing.

"———I was scared."

Tears soaked into my shirt as she wailed louder than ever before.

"I was so scared!!! Senpai!! Senpai!! I was terrified!!! I thought I'd lose you again!!!"

"...First time I've seen you cry."

"I don't wanna be apart from you anymore!!! That's why I was scared!!! But you protected me!!! I'm so happy!!! Thank youuuu!!!"

"Alright, alright."

She was too excited, blurting out whatever came to mind.

Patting her head to calm her hiccuping sobs, I noticed Yagami staring from a short distance away. His expression was easy to read.

"Don't look like that, Takuya. It's okay to cry when you need to. Come here."

"Khh...!"

He ran over, tears streaming. The added weight on my stomach was worth it.

"I'm so sorryyyy!!! Big bro!! I kicked you, I hit you, I'm sorryyy!!! I'm so sorry!!! I'm a terrible brother!!!"

His grip on my clothes tightened. Both of them were crying their hearts out.

"When you called me your brother... I finally... finally felt like you'd found me!!! I'm sorry!!! I'm such a useless brother!!!"

"Don't worry about it. Cry as much as you need. You've held it in long enough."

I hadn't expected this much crying, but now that it had started, I'd let them vent.

"I love you, senpai!!! I never wanna be apart from you again!!! There's so much I wanna do, so much I wanna try...!!!"

"Me too!! There's so much I wanna do with big bro!! As brothers...!!"

"Yeah, we'll talk about all that later. We've got plenty of time."

For now, I'd keep gently patting their heads until the tears stopped.

"Senpaaai!!"

"Big bro...!"

"Honestly... What a pair of crybaby juniors."

........

"Calmed down now?"

"Yeah..."

"Sniff... Senpaaai..."

Several minutes had passed since their crying session. While Yagami seemed composed, Amasawa was still sniffling. But with the cultural festival nearing its end, it was time to get up.

"Takuya, there's something I need you to do now."

"Leave it to me. I'll do anything you ask, big bro."

Though his eyes were red and swollen, Yagami looked refreshed, as if a weight had been lifted.

"First, how many private points do you have?"

"About 10 million? Oh, I'll transfer them all to you!"

Given Amasawa's substantial balance, I'd expected as much—but Yagami had even more.

I stopped him before he could send them.

"Don't send them to me. They're for something else."

"Something else?"

"Apologies. You've caused too much trouble. You're going to bow your head and hand over those points as compensation."

Ryuuen had been looking for Yagami too. With enough points, even he could be appeased.

Yagami's face twisted in disgust.

"This isn't optional."

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"...If big bro says so..."

He clearly hated the idea, but leaving these loose ends was dangerous.

"And you're apologizing to Amasawa too."

"...Huh? Me?"

She pointed at herself, bewildered.

"Calling your childhood friend a defective product is unacceptable. And you're apologizing for kicking her."

"W-Wait, big bro! I...!"

"Come on, you've got a lot of people to apologize to. No time to stall here."

"Grr...!"

Like a rusty machine, he turned toward Amasawa, trembling as if resisting with his entire being. Just how much do you hate this?

"...I'm sorry for calling you a defective product... and for kicking you... Ichika."

Amasawa flinched in surprise—then smirked, her usual lazy tone returning.

"Hmm~ I dunno. Doesn't feel sincere."

"! Don't push it! I'm only doing this because big bro told me to...!"

"Senpaaai~ He's not sorry at all!"

Seizing the opportunity, she clung to my arm, recruiting me to her side. She was always one step ahead in these situations.

"Can't be helped. Takuya, apologize properly."

"I'll forgive you if you bow for ten more seconds~ ♪"

"Grrrrrr!!! Damn it!!"

...Maybe they got along better than I thought?

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