It happened on May 5th—my 18th birthday.
One night, as usual, I was busy helping my sisters with their work behind the scenes…
My mother suddenly contacted me through her secretary:
"Today is a celebration. We're having a family dinner. Come to the dining room."
It was the very first time in my life that my mother had ever spoken to me directly, outside of giving work instructions.
(How long has it been since I last ate with other people?)
(Actually… how long has it been since I even had a proper meal?)
(Maybe… they're finally going to celebrate my birthday…?)
That tiny hope was cruelly crushed the moment I opened the dining room door.
Inside sat my mother… and all seven of my sisters.
- Eldest daughter: Io
An actress possessing breathtaking beauty admired by all and talent that even the harshest critics praise.
- Second daughter: Futaba
A multi-talented actress whose cute appearance and rare charm make her a regular on variety shows.
- Third daughter: Mika
A model with an extraordinary figure uncharacteristic of Japanese women; frequent cover girl for major fashion magazines.
- Fourth daughter: Shiki
A voice actress whose clear, beautiful voice attracts huge audiences; appears in numerous anime every season.
- Fifth daughter: Mutsuki
An idol praised by both men and women for her cool, self-assured, almost arrogant performances.
- Sixth daughter: Nanana
A singer whose pure, crystalline high notes turn every new release into a chart-topping hit.
- Seventh daughter: Yachiru
A YouTuber known as "Japan's little sister" — loved for her earnest, hardworking attitude.
Everyone was seated around the table, listening as my mother spoke to me.
Each of them looked at me with clear contempt.
"...Huh?"
"Didn't you hear me? Unlike your sisters, you're truly useless. A disgrace to this family. But today—that ends."
My mother, the president of the talent agency that manages all seven sisters, spoke coldly.
"N-no, I heard you… but what do you mean by 'cutting ties'? I don't understand… Is this some kind of prank or…?"
"That's impossible!"
My mother slammed her hand on the table in irritation, then clicked her tongue loudly.
Mutsuki (the idol sister) sneered:
"Who would watch such a boring prank? Even a bottom-tier YouTuber could come up with something better."
Yachiru (the youngest, the YouTuber) looked at me with pitying eyes:
"Mutsyki-chan is serious, you know? You, Atsumu, are literally trash-tier, so it can't be helped."
Futaba nodded in agreement.
"Um… can you at least tell me the reason…?"
"You really don't get it, do you?"
Mutsuki spoke again, voice dripping with disdain.
"Because you're completely useless! Your very existence is a nuisance! It's disgusting that I'm siblings with someone like you—and you're supposed to be the older brother!"
Mika (the model) added with a cruel smile:
"Hey Mutsuki-chan, that's harsh even for a girl. But… I completely agree. Are you really our sibling?"
Io (the eldest actress) spoke calmly, yet mercilessly:
"Our family must always strive to reach greater heights. Do you truly believe someone mediocre, someone who never excels at anything, has any value within that family? You're pathetic for not even understanding something so basic."
Shiki (the voice actress) burst into laughter:
"If someone said that to me so bluntly, I'd die of embarrassment even if my pride was the size of a water flea. Kyahahaha!"
No matter how hard I tried, I could never become like them.
While I struggled desperately, my younger sisters easily surpassed me.
I was never able to become the kind of dazzling talent my mother wanted for the entertainment world.
"But I also… I tried my best to be useful to everyone somehow! I supported you all as much as I could!"
"Your best? Your effort? Intentions? That's just the whining of the weak. It's repulsive."
Futaba cut me off sharply.
"Even if an ordinary person works their hardest, we geniuses can reach far greater heights without even trying. We're stars because we can do things no one else can. Why are you acting so proud of doing things any random person could do?"
Everyone nodded at Mutsuki's words.
Then my mother delivered the final blow:
"You are no longer useful for making the family name shine brighter. I've already arranged for your replacement. So—you're fired."
I had no words left.
All these years I had worked desperately behind the scenes to carve out even the tiniest place for myself in this house.
I made materials, managed schedules, arranged meals, handled social media—everything so they could shine on stage.
But in the entertainment industry… behind-the-scenes workers are infinitely replaceable.
It never had to be me.
"And the biggest problem of all… is that you're a man."
My mother has always harbored deep disgust toward men.
To her, men are nothing but ugly pigs or tools to be used.
That belief was drilled into all of us from early childhood.
"It's truly disgusting to have a man in this family. We're actively promoting ourselves as the 'Seven Sisters.' If the public ever found out there's actually a man in the family… how do you think we'd be perceived? Unbearable."
My mother glared at me with open loathing.
The seven sisters who are currently shaking the entertainment world…
In truth, there are eight siblings.
Only the family and a very small circle of insiders know that the fifth child is a boy: me, Atsumu.
"Hey hey, talking about this guy is a total waste of time. Hurry up and eat. I'm starving."
Nanana (the singer), who had been quiet, suddenly spoke while staring at the luxurious meal.
"Right… wasn't today supposed to be a celebration?"
"No. Today is a celebration. A memorable day—the day we finally kick him out of this house."
My mother looked truly delighted as she explained:
"When your grandmother passed away, she left a will stating that you would be allowed to live in this house until you came of age, in exchange for you inheriting her estate—which was used to fund the founding of our agency. If it weren't for that will, I could have thrown you out long ago. But today you turn 18. You're finally an adult. The will no longer binds me."
I never imagined…
That my grandmother—the one person who had ever been kind to me when I was little—had left behind such a will…
"But… a family meal…"
"That's right. We're going to eat now. Do you really think of yourself as part of this family?"
"An inferior creature like you sharing the same bloodline? I'm honestly more impressed than shocked."
"I thought he was boring, but at least he gave us a good laugh at the end. Hilarious."
"Don't you get it yet? Your mere existence lowers our value."
"Seriously, can you disappear from my sight already? Kyahahaha."
"Just looking at this gloomy guy irritates me."
"I never cared about him even once."
"I'm getting out of this house soon anyway."
I'd endured verbal abuse my entire life…
But this time, it nearly brought me to tears.
I had always thought of them as family.
Apparently… they never thought of me that way.
What the hell have I been doing all this time?
I thought that if I just worked hard enough, even someone like me might one day be accepted…
But that day never came.
In order to cause them the least amount of trouble possible…
There was only one thing left for me to do.
"…I understand. Today, I will sever all ties with this family and leave the house."
"That was the only choice from the very beginning."
"Good job, finally."
"Isn't this the first time you've actually done something useful for us?"
"Mika, I was just thinking the same thing. Kyahaha."
"Oh? Are you crying? You've always been such an unmanly coward."
"I'm starving."
"Never come back."
"..."
I clenched my teeth and endured.
(Don't cry. Don't you dare cry…)
"…Atsumu. Leave your smartphone here."
"Huh?"
It took me a second to process what she said.
"I gave it to you for work purposes. It contains all our contact information. We can't risk it leaking."
Indeed.
That phone was filled with work contacts—family, industry people, everything.
It wasn't just a phone; it was a work tool.
To me, though… it had been the last fragile thread connecting me to this "family."
I placed it quietly on the table.
In that moment, I felt the final thread snap.
No…
Perhaps there had never been any thread to begin with.
A real family wouldn't do something like this.
Even if families fight, they wouldn't say things like this.
How foolish I had been… desperately trying to be accepted by these people.
My heart suddenly felt very cold.
"As for that storage room you use as a bedroom—clean it up before you leave and you can stay one last night. Consider it my final act of mercy."
"…Thank you for your kindness."
"And don't forget to leave all your other work tools behind."
"…Understood. Goodbye."
I turned my back on the family.
I walked out of the dining room without looking back even once.