180: Brother-in-law’s Got You Covered (2)

"Sis, your brother-in-law's here! Watch your image!"

"You think I'm stupid? Don't try to trick me."

Maki thought Shijo Mikado was lying and raised her hand to smack the back of his head.

But before her hand could land, a warm hand gently caught it.

"Maki, what's going on?"

Oh no—it really was Takashi!

The image I worked so hard to build in his eyes...

Maki now really wished she could've gone back in time and interrupted her parents the moment they decided to have a second child. 

Her brother-in-law came, and this idiot didn't even bother to let her know.

Shijo Mikado shrank back under his sister's terrifying, demon-like glare and immediately ducked behind Takashi, explaining aggrievedly, "I did say something."

"Maki, who is this?"

Takashi looked at Shijo Mikado curiously.

Trying to calm herself, Maki introduced, "Takashi, this is my useless little brother, Shijo Mikado."

"Shijo… Mikado?"

Takashi's expression looked a bit off.

He had just been discussing with Tanaka Kota earlier today about ganging up on Shijo Mikado during their next basketball match—one would slide-tackle his ankle, the other would kick him in the gut. And now, here the guy was, right in front of him.

Even more unexpected—he was Maki's brother.

So he was scamming the sister and planning to beat up the brother. That didn't feel very ethical.

"You've probably heard his name before—he ranked first in the mock exams for the first-year students this year."

Oh, so you were the one who came first, huh?

Well, next time, it'll be me.

"Nice to meet you, Shijo-kun."

"Nice to meet you too, brother-in-law!"

Shijo Mikado warmly grasped Takashi's hand.

"Brother-in-law?"

Takashi turned to Maki with a playful, ambiguous smile.

Didn't you say we should wait a bit?

Why is your little brother already calling me that?

Maki's cheeks flushed with color. "He's just saying nonsense—don't take it seriously."

Takashi leaned down to look Maki in the eye. "What if I do take it seriously?"

The distance between them was so close their eyelashes almost touched.

Shijo Mikado's eyes widened in shock: (°Д°)

Facing Watanabe Takashi directly, Maki felt her face burn like it was on fire, her heart about to leap out of her throat. 

She turned her head aside, flustered: "I—I don't know. Don't ask me."

Takashi reached out and gently turned her face back to him.

Maki could only tightly close her eyes.

Takashi cupped her cheeks in both hands, kneading them like dough.

Shijo Mikado's jaw almost hit the ground.

Wait, brother-in-law, are you this bold?

Even in his dreams, he wouldn't dare do that to his sister.

"Watanabe Takashi, don't go too far!"

Maki's eyes flew open, glaring at Takashi in shame and anger.

To think he'd do something like this to the heiress of the Shijo family—the rightful bloodline of the Shinomiya household.

Unforgivable.

He's doomed, thought Shijo Mikado.

That was his only thought.

He tilted his head and leaned in close to Maki's ear, whispering, "We agreed that the loser of the game had to obey the winner for a day."

"What? Maki, are you planning to go back on your word?"

"So Shijo women go back on their promises now?"

Upon hearing that, all the fire in Maki deflated instantly.

Just like Shinomiya Kaguya, once she gave her word, she'd rather die than break it.

To go back on her promise? You might as well kill her.

"What did I do?"

Takashi continued to squeeze her cheeks in front of her little brother without a hint of guilt.

"You seem really upset?"

Maki lowered her head, silently swearing revenge for today.

She'd endure—for now.

"…Nothing."

Takashi gave a satisfied hum and finally let go, turning to the stunned and speechless Shijo Mikado. 

"Mikado, what would you like to drink? I'll have your sister buy it for you."

Letting my sister run errands for me?

Wha-wha-what? Is that really okay?

Shijo Mikado was tempted but scared he'd get hit.

"Brother-in-law, that feels kinda rude~"

"It's nothing. Go, get your brother something to drink," Takashi waved at Maki like she was a servant.

Maki clenched her fists tighter and tighter. 

Just when Shijo Mikado thought his sister was about to land a precision punch to Takashi's face, he saw her turn and actually went to buy him a drink.

"Wait a sec!"

She'd only taken a few steps before Takashi called her back.

"Give me the water I asked for first."

Maki walked back, shoved the bottle into his hand, and turned to leave again.

But Takashi wasn't done. "Not going to put in the straw for me?"

Maki glared at him, silently telling him not to push it.

"What, can't you take a joke?"

Maki took a deep breath, inserted the straw, and held it up to his lips.

"Anything else, Takashi?!"

Takashi waved her off nonchalantly. "Nope, that's it."

Shijo Mikado looked at him in awe. "Brother-in-law, how do you do it?"

The guy standing in front of him wasn't much older than he was—how did he manage to make his terrifying sister do whatever he wanted?

"Maybe it's because she's head over heels for me~" Takashi shrugged.

"If she bullies you again, let me know—I'll straighten her out."

To Shijo Mikado, Takashi was shining like a beacon of hope in that moment.

"You have no idea, brother-in-law, that she's been bullying me for years. 

She's not sweet like she looks—she's a violent maniac! Always hitting people! She even stole money from me today! 

Though it was to buy you a gift, but still…"

Having found someone to back him up, Shijo Mikado started listing every one of his sister's sins like a waterfall.

He didn't notice that Maki had returned and was standing not far away, holding a bottle of water so tightly it looked like she was practicing how to crush his skull.

Takashi did notice.

He silently offered a three-second prayer for Shijo Mikado.

I dared to say it, and you actually believed me.

…

The three of them spent over an hour playing around in the arcade. After going through all the attractions with the Shijo siblings, they finally parted ways.

When it was time to leave, Shijo Mikado looked reluctant to go.

The moment Shijo Mikado got into the car, Maki punched him in the gut with a full-powered southern fist.

"Guh—!"

Shijo Mikado's eyes rolled back, his stomach spasmed uncontrollably, and he collapsed onto the car floor mat.

"I'm a dragon, huh?"

"I'm a violent maniac, huh?"

"I like hitting people, huh?"

Maki went at him like a wild beast. Shijo Mikado held his head, shouting, "Sis! If you keep this up, I'll tell my brother-in-law!"

That was a mistake.

Because the moment he said that, Maki hit him even harder.

___

20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~

Check out the other translations too

___