Konbini Ossan Volume 6 Chapter 2 — Pathetic at My Age
To be honest, I was uncertain. I hated the idea of hurting Arisa.
But keeping things vague forever while staying close to her was a problem too.
That was why I’d been pushing her to give up, even if the method was harsh. Yet after seeing her earlier, looking strangely pained and distant, my resolve wavered.
Maybe that’s why I ended up confessing all sorts of things to Kanehama.
What Arisa feels for me.
Why we’d come on this trip.
How I’d been trying to make her give up.
Even the misunderstanding during Mimori’s care — though I left out her preferences.
Kanehama listened quietly, thinking things over, then asked:
“So in the end, what do you think about Mikimoto?”
The question made me grimace.
“Whatever I think, the answer is the same. I’m her uncle, and she’s my niece. The conclusion doesn’t change.”
“You sure about that?”
When I tried dodging the heart of it, he dismissed it without hesitation.
“We came to another world. You don’t have to cling to Earth’s, or Japan’s, morals anymore. We’ve got to live here. What’s wrong here is wrong. What’s fine is fine.
…
If you want to find happiness in this world, dragging out Japanese standards doesn’t make sense.”
He gave a helpless smile and went on.
“Like me — I’ve got three fiancées now. Back in Japan that’s bad, or at least frowned on. But here it isn’t. They agree, I agree, and no one’s unhappy.
…
If I insisted on marrying only one because that’s how Japan works, it’d only cause problems and hurt people. So I accepted it. Honestly, took a while, but now I’m sure it was the right choice.”
He paused, then looked straight at me.
“And that’s why I think this makes sense.”
“I understand your reasoning. But polygamy and incest aren’t the same. And there’s even an age gap. If I care about her happiness, I can’t be the kind of man who lays hands on his niece.”
“Really? You’re in another world and still trying to act like a model adult?”
His words stopped me for a moment. But after thinking it through, I nodded.
“I want Arisa to be happy. I want to protect her. That’s the truth. Which is exactly why, as her uncle, I have responsibilities.”
“Responsibility, huh… But to me it sounds like being honest with her feelings would be responsible thing to do.”
I shook my head.
“I can’t return Arisa’s feelings. I can’t make her happy.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve got a record. I think I’ve already made her unhappy. Since the moment she was born, even. I’m not someone who deserves to stand beside her.”
So no matter what I feel, it doesn’t matter.
She needs to give up.
And I’ll do what I can for her as her uncle.
“I see.”
Kanehama frowned, thinking deeply. Silence stretched.
Finally, he spoke again.
“Alright. I get your view. The logic makes sense. But at least talk to her. Hear what she has to say. Whatever conclusion you choose, do it after that.”
In other words, we should finally have a real conversation instead of dodging everything.
“You two haven’t actually talked things through, right?”
“True. Not properly. Not once.”
I’d lectured, acted impulsively, forced decisions — but never sat down with her to speak honestly.
By that measure, yes, it’s too soon to decide anything.
“Alright. I’ll talk to her.”
“Good. Saori will bring Mikimoto back soon. We’ll figure it out then.”
And so our talk — as far as two men could reason things out — came to an end.
Now we only had to wait for the two walking ahead of us to return.
“Honestly… How pathetic for someone my age…”
During the quiet that followed, I murmured it without thinking.
“Not at all. Anyone would struggle. Feelings are hard to overcome.”
Hearing him say that, Kanehama looked far more mature than a man like me ever had been.
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E/N:
Honestly, as an Earthling, I side with Ossan. Not only incest is a taboo, these heroes are basically and literally aliens(monster-like) even, in this otherworld…
Can they even bear children? Will they be able to survive? And many more unanswered questions…
But that aside! Who the hell is this [Hero] skill holder? Where is Kanehama?!
You're telling me this guy's Kanehama?! The fool who thoughtlessly stepped up to help the Kingdom save humanity?
Sorry for the yap, orz!
Stay tuned!
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