(M) Chapter 7 – Past Trauma (Part 1)
Chapter 1, Part 5
Novel Title: 融愛~Melt Down~ (Melted Love ~Melt Down~)
Author:風結子 沙野 (Fuyuko Sano)
Illustrator:雅良 水名瀬 (Masara Minase)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 葉越海理 (Yougoshi Kairi -MC), 葉越翼久 (Yougoshi Tasuku -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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⚠️TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains depictions of sexual grooming/exploitation and drugs abuse. Readers’ discretion is advised.
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Despite sharing the same parents and enduring the same terrible diet, how had they ended up so different? Kairi, standing at 174 cm and weighing 58 kg, was easily dwarfed by Tasuku, who surpassed him by a solid ten centimetres and at least ten kilos.
“Well, how about I return the favour now and give you a nice, big hug?”
Before Tasuku could make good on his offer of an overly warm, playful embrace, Kairi stood up. He reached for the cone-shaped metal lampshade and gave the hanging cord two quick pulls. Only a small nightlight-sized bulb flickered on.
“Goodnight, Tasuku.”
In the faint light, Kairi slid under his futon.
“Tch. Goodnight.”
On the bed, Tasuku lay on his side, turning his broad back to Kairi with a sulky air. Almost comically, he began to snore almost immediately, even though his usual sleep schedule had him going to bed around noon. Kairi found it amusing how easily Tasuku could fall asleep at a normal hour like this.
Since childhood, Tasuku had always been a sound sleeper. On the other hand, Kairi, who had trouble falling asleep, often found himself syncing his breathing with his younger brother’s steady, rhythmic snores before drifting off without realising it.
“Then and now, I’m different from you… I’m the sensitive one.”
Kairi remembered the words he had uttered earlier during dinner.
Calling himself ‘sensitive’ sounded almost noble. But Kairi knew better and couldn’t help but smile bitterly at his own self-mockery.
Even though both of them had eaten ramen for nearly two straight weeks, Tasuku had continued to enjoy it, right up to the last bowl. It wasn’t just about food, though. The same applied to women.
Because of what had happened with their mother, Kairi had developed a deep mistrust of women that he could never shake off. That wariness had solidified over time into a hardened aversion he couldn’t overcome.
And yet, Tasuku had chosen to work as a host, making a living off interacting with women—and succeeded at it, no less.
Growing up in the same environment, the contrast only served to highlight Kairi’s weakness in sharp relief.
Burying the simmering feelings of inferiority he held toward his brother deep in his heart, Kairi matched his breathing to the sound of Tasuku’s peaceful slumber, letting it lull him into sleep…
***
In front of him, a plastic water bottle has fallen over. A transparent plastic container with a waistline-like curve… no, that’s not it. Sprouting from that bottle are a pair of thin white hands and legs.
Attached to the blue cap is a white face with tattered, yellowed hair.
“Yoku-chan~”
The woman giggles.
Despite the freezing cold, she’s only wearing a thin camisole. Her shoulders are paper-thin, revealing the joints of her bones, and her collarbones protrude as if carved out. In contrast, the swells of her breast, like two inverted bowls, are abundant.
“Welcome. I’ll give you a hug, in place of your mother.”
Her speech is slurred. Tasuku thinks it might be because the woman’s tongue is too long.
“I’ll become your mother, okay?”
The thin white arms reach out to him. Along the bluish-black veins on the inside are several bruises. That’s where she injects herself. She just injected herself again. But since both arms have become hardened, making it hard to insert the needle, she stuck the needle in the underside of her long tongue instead. Tasuku, who hates even getting the flu shot at school, watches with a pained expression.
“You don’t have to become my mother. The real one is coming back.”
Scared to go near the woman, Tasuku shakes his head while hugging his knees by the wall.
“Yoku-chan, I’ll give you money.”
Her fragile fingers crawl across the tatami and grasp a designer bag. She says it was a gift from a ‘Kamo’. From the bag, she pulls out a wallet in the same pattern. Over the past two months, Tasuku has received money several times from the sex worker living in the apartment next door.
Just by letting her hug him a little and pressing their lips together, he can protect his life with his brother. He can keep the lights on in the room so Kairi won’t be afraid. He can buy rice and bread. He can even buy side dishes.
But he knows this must be kept a secret from his brother at all costs.
“Five thousand… no, ten thousand yen… so, come here.”
The woman wearily sits up, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.
“Come here!”
“No.”
“If you don’t come, I’ll tell your brother.”
Tasuku had initially asked her not to tell Kairi that he was receiving money. But now she uses that against him, commanding triumphantly.
“Yoku-chan, come here.”
Threatened, Tasuku reluctantly crawls on all fours and sits in front of the woman.
Bracing himself for the usual embrace that reeks of perfume, he squeezes his eyes shut. The sensation of the woman’s breasts pressing against his body is horrifying. It must be because it reminds him of being hugged by his mother, whom Tasuku hates very much for always slapping his brother’s back.
But today, he is not embraced as usual.
Instead, the sleeve of his left arm is rolled up, and the inside of his elbow stings sharply.
Tasuku opens his eyes in surprise.
A needle is stuck in his arm. Just like when he gets the flu shot, the liquid is being injected into his body. Instinctively, he swings his arm widely. The needle of the syringe breaks off and remains embedded in his skin.
For a moment, it feels like all the blood has drained from his head, and then his temples start pounding. His body is consumed by a cold shiver. His stomach lurches below his ribs. And in the next moment, he’s vomiting. But even as he vomits, the woman’s arms wrap around him from behind.
“Ugh, ugh, aaaah.”
The blood vessels in his head are writhing like worms.
“Help… Nii-chan…”
He might die like this.
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*Translator’s Note: That lady shortened Tasuku’s name to Yoku. Maybe she shortened it for personal or affectionate reasons. It was written in katakana (ヨク) so I believe it’s her nickname for him. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Onii-san / Onii-chan / Nii-san / Nii-chan / Aniki = (Big/Elder) Brother
☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation.
- A host club in Japan is a type of entertainment venue where primarily female customers pay for the company and attention of male hosts. These clubs are often located in entertainment districts like Tokyo’s Kabukicho. The male hosts are hired to engage in conversation, flirt, and make their clients feel special and entertained. They provide companionship through attentive listening, playful banter, and flattering remarks. The hosts are usually dressed stylishly and trained to create an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere, focusing on building emotional connections with their customers. In return, the clients pay for time with their favourite host, as well as expensive drinks and sometimes gifts, which contributes to the club’s profits. Some clubs track the revenue generated by individual hosts, leading to competition among hosts to become the club’s top earner. The interactions are usually non-physical and revolve around creating a fantasy of romance and companionship, although the emotional connections can sometimes become complex.
- ‘Kamo’ means easy target or sucker. In slang, 「カモ」 refers to someone who is easily tricked or exploited, like a “sucker,” “mark,” or “easy prey.” It’s often used to describe someone who can be taken advantage of, especially in a con or scam situation.
Next update: 2025.01.02