Although Goto Nijika was only an elementary school student, her social skills were far better than her sister's, and she was lively and cheerful as well.
"Dear, do you think our child should see a doctor?" Goto's mother quietly asked the father beside her.
"We already covered her room with talismans, but it still doesn't seem to have worked." The old father was deeply worried too.
"How about inviting an Exorcism Master over?" the mother asked.
"I think we should invite a psychologist too." The father nodded.
"Well. Sis must have run into something happy at school," Goto Nijika said. "Like someone suddenly showing her some casual concern, or someone not forgetting her when they handed out chocolates to everyone during a holiday celebration."
"...Would something like that really make her so happy?" The old father still frowned with worry.
"Poor child." The old mother wanted to cover her face and weep.
"Anyway, there's no way Sis could have made a new friend."
Though still young and innocent, Goto Nijika's every word dealt a critical hit. Goto Hitori had often been stabbed in the heart by her little sister's words before.
Only then did Goto Hitori finally snap back to her senses and hear what her sister had said.
"Heh heh, my foolish little sister."
Instead of becoming depressed or flying into a rage after being critically hit like before, Goto Hitori sneered. One hand supported her forehead as she wore a mocking smile, giving off the full-blown chuuni aura of a major villain.
"Your big sister here didn't make a friend," Goto Hitori said smugly. "Not a friend—a boyfriend."
"A boyfriend!"
She suddenly stood up, planted her hands on her hips, and looked down at everyone in the house.
At that moment, Goto Hitori was like a victorious general returning from battle, making the little dog cowering beneath the table tremble in fear.
"Really? Sis is lying again." Goto Nijika still smiled brightly.
"This time it's real! Your sister has truly gotten a boyfriend and gone from a shut-in to a normie!" Goto Hitori said.
However...
The entire family stared at her, followed by a long silence.
"Um... is this one of life's three great illusions?" the old father tried to analyze it. "For example, a boy came close to you and helped you, so you thought he liked you?"
"No, no, he really is my boyfriend!" Goto Hitori emphasized. "He confessed to me!"
Goto's mother: ...
Goto's father: ...
Goto Nijika: Sis must have been confessed to while someone was playing Truth or Dare!
"Really, really, it's true! Sigh... I don't know how to explain it to you, but anyway, from now on, I'm no longer single!" Goto Hitori said anxiously, stamping her foot.
This was such a rare chance to show off. How could her family react like this? Where was she supposed to put her vanity now?!
"Dear, I think we should still take this child to see a doctor. She's been too lonely and has developed delusions." The old mother wore a sorrowful expression.
"I'm sorry, Hitori. We didn't take good enough care of you." The old father was nearly in tears as well.
"Sis... I'm sorry. I used to speak too harshly and never considered your feelings."
Goto Nijika, now old enough to understand, also looked sad.
"Ahhh! I really do have a boyfriend! Why won't you believe me?!"
Goto Hitori was speechless.
"Dear, I'll make an appointment with a doctor," the old father said.
"Mhm, I'll make an appointment with an Exorcism Master too," the old mother said.
"Sis, take good care of yourself. You have to stay strong." Goto Nijika took her sister's hand. "You'll definitely get better."
Even the little dog that could not speak wore a worried expression.
Goto Hitori: "..."
Why would no one believe her? Goto Hitori was utterly helpless.
Forget it. She would bring her boyfriend over some other time and see whether they believed her then!
Tsukikawa Shu had returned home as well.
He tossed his schoolbag onto a chair, then lay down on his soft bed and looked at his phone.
He had a house, his parents were both busy with work, and his only shortcoming was that he lacked a little sister.
Logging onto various related forums and opening his browser, Tsukikawa Shu looked through information about the Inner World.
There really were quite a few people posting about the Inner World and its dangers. Judging by the number of posters, there were not few of them.
Some people were also sharing their experiences.
"If you get transported into the Inner World, I suggest finding somewhere safe to hide. This time, our mission was to survive for three days. I got through it by starving myself. Letting your stomach suffer was better than dying in those monsters' mouths."
"I agree with the person above. If possible, hide somewhere with plenty of food. I never thought I'd get to experience a real famine in the twenty-first century. By the third day, even looking at my own shit made me think it was a gourmet delicacy."
"I couldn't endure it, but I didn't dare go outside either, so I could only survive on my own waste QWQ."
But some people objected to that post.
"You really think you can survive just by hiding? Let me tell you, killing other players gives Experience Points. Be careful not to get canned while you're hiding in a room."
"Yeah, yeah, especially places like restaurants. It's fine to collect food there, but they definitely aren't somewhere weaklings like us can hide. Be careful of those guys who specialize in hunting players—they might come in and wipe you all out in one go!"
Many of these people had done exactly as Tsukikawa Shu expected, finding safe places to hide, and they even shared plenty of their experiences for that purpose.
After scrolling through them, he still could not find anyone teaching others how to deal with those monsters.
That was only natural. Once people entered the Inner World, their true natures would be laid bare. Resources were limited, and those capable of hunting monsters would not create more competitors for themselves.
On the contrary, these weakling players were quite a decent source of Experience Points.
Besides that, there were plenty of people pretending to have entered the Inner World and trying to pass themselves off as the real thing.
For example, they claimed that one could seek help from certain associations after entering the Inner World, or find weapons in certain fixed locations. In short, they made things up as hard as they could.
But it was foreseeable that when the Inner World opened for the second time, these fabricated claims would mislead many newcomers.
This also showed that aside from those who had truly entered the Inner World, no one else believed such a spacetime could exist at all.
"System, what kind of people get chosen to enter the Inner World?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.
[The Inner World selection rule is: 50% random selection, 50% people connected to players who have already entered the Inner World]
"There's a fifty percent chance that people around me will be transported in. That really can't be controlled."
Then, Tsukikawa Shu opened the system interface again.
[Number of marriages you have formed: 1] [Destiny Pact partner: Goto Hitori] [System Rating: S]
For a destiny partner to receive an S-rank evaluation from the system, the rewards seemed quite good.
He had already gained enough Experience Points during his first trip into the Inner World, as well as plenty of resources and weapons. He could not possibly use them all himself.
"These can all serve as capital for Widely Recruiting Virtuous Wives."
Tsukikawa Shu thought it over and began working on his grand Wife-Taking plan.
Of course, he also needed to do his homework regarding Goto Hitori.
After scribbling on paper for a while, Tsukikawa Shu stretched lazily. Seeing that it was already late, he went out to buy ingredients for dinner.
He cooked at home and served the food onto plates. He also made an extra portion and sealed it in a plastic lunchbox.
He went out again and arrived at his next-door neighbor's door.
The sounds of a video game battle came from upstairs, along with the excited cries of a sweet, childish voice.
"I'm a Demon God! I really am a Demon God!"
Tsukikawa Shu knocked on the door.
"Ah!"
The girl upstairs had clearly not expected anyone to come at that moment, and the sounds of the video game abruptly stopped.
After a while, the door opened by only a tiny crack, revealing pink-and-white hair with an ahoge. She wore a loose white shirt, and her pale red eyes watched Tsukikawa Shu outside the door warily.
There is an illustration here, available after updating the version.
"Has Mihari not come back yet?" Tsukikawa Shu smiled.
This girl was named Ouyama Mahiro, and she had a younger sister named Ouyama Mihari.
Well... if Mihari still counted as her younger sister now.
According to the plot of Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister!, Ouyama Mahiro had already been cruelly plotted against by her own sister at this point.
No martial ethics—deception, then a sneak attack! On her classmate in her twenties.
Then, Ouyama Mahiro had turned into a soft-voiced, soft-bodied little girl.
Now, Ouyama Mihari looked more like her older sister.
Tsukikawa Shu really wanted to advise young people these days to behave themselves and stop fighting among themselves all day!
Ouyama Mahiro was a severe shut-in. Her only daily companions were various sugary drinks and video games, making her a textbook home-security reserve member.
If she met Goto Hitori, the two might actually get along quite well. They were both shut-ins.
The only difference was that Goto Hitori could play the guitar, was highly popular online, and could earn money through advertisements, while Mahiro was merely a shut-in.
Ouyama Mahiro timidly shook her head. She was clearly still somewhat afraid of Tsukikawa Shu.
If Tsukikawa Shu had not been her neighbor, Ouyama Mahiro would never have opened the door at all. Her social anxiety was that extreme.
Ouyama Mihari was a very intelligent girl. She was currently a college student who had skipped grades, and her year level was now even higher than Ouyama Mahiro's.
Ouyama Mihari had already begun researching medicine. This was the period when she had returned to the laboratory to report her progress, leaving Ouyama Mahiro alone at home.
"Have you eaten?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.
"No..." Ouyama Mahiro paused before speaking in a soft voice. "...I was going to eat instant noodles tonight."
"I don't believe that. How can you eat instant noodles every day?"
Tsukikawa Shu lifted the lunchbox and handed it toward Ouyama Mahiro behind the door.
"I made an extra portion."
"Ugh..."
Ouyama Mahiro instinctively shrank back, wanting to refuse, but Tsukikawa Shu's cooking smelled quite good. Her nose twitched as she hesitated.
Tsukikawa Shu directly stuffed the lunchbox into her arms.
"I'll make extra for the next few days too. I'll make a portion for you as well," Tsukikawa Shu said.
"Th-Thank you..."
Ouyama Mahiro glanced at Tsukikawa Shu before timidly speaking.
"That's all, then. I'll be going." Tsukikawa Shu smiled, left his neighbor's door, and returned to his own home.
Ouyama Mahiro watched Tsukikawa Shu return to his room before slowly closing the door.
A moment later, the sounds of video games came from upstairs at the neighbor's place again.
"In a few days, I should introduce Goto Hitori to her. They should have plenty to talk about. Staying cooped up at home all day isn't a solution."
Tsukikawa Shu looked at the light in the room across from his and helplessly shook his head.
Before you continue