A Guy Who Thinks He’s a Villain in a World Where Gender Ratios Are Broken - Chapter 10: Side Story - Kyoko Nijou ③

Chapter 10.5: Side Story – Kyoko Nijou ③

After everything that happened, I drove my younger sister, Nako, back home.

As I stepped out of the car, I found myself staring at our house, something I hadn’t done in a long time.

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t been home in a while.”

I murmured to myself, a sharp pang of guilt tugging at my chest.

The young master was always at the mansion, and as his personal maid, it was my responsibility to attend to his needs. On top of that, as the head maid, I had to guide and supervise the other maids in handling his care.

This arrangement had been suggested by the lady of the house—Mika-san—and I had agreed to it.

As a result, time with my family had often taken a backseat.

“Thanks for driving me home, Onee-chan. And… I’m sorry for everything today.”

Nako said this to me, her expression filled with unease.

“Everything? What are you apologizing for?”

When I asked, Nako lowered her gaze, speaking hesitantly, almost in fragments.

“Well… for things like getting hit on, for suddenly deciding to start working as a maid, for using such harsh words with you… I keep causing you trouble, don’t I, Onee-chan?”

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

It wasn’t directed at Nako.

No, it was a sigh of frustration… at myself.

I truly cared about Nako.

She’s my one and only little sister, always calling me “Onee-chan, Onee-chan” with so much affection.

She’s so precious to me.

That’s exactly why I wanted her to live a carefree life—buy what she liked, attend the school she wanted, and enjoy life without any hardships.

I didn’t want her to experience pain or struggle.

But in reality… I was so focused on solving our financial problems that I failed to truly see her.

And as a result, I had let her carry such heavy feelings on her own.

I hadn’t been able to take care of Nako the way I should have.

“…I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry, Nako. I didn’t think enough about your feelings. I wasn’t paying attention to you the way I should have.”

When I said that, Nako looked a little surprised, but then her expression softened into a gentle smile.

“No, Onee-chan, you don’t need to apologize. It just means you’ve been working so hard for our family. But from now on, I’ll help you too! Because, you know, I… I love you so much, Onee-chan!”

Her words, and that smile I hadn’t seen in so long, made my chest feel warm and full.

“I see… Thank you, Nako. I’ll count on you. But remember, I’m the head maid at the mansion… and I can be strict.”

“Hehe, I’ll take on the challenge!”

It felt like it had been ages since we’d spoken like this as sisters. And yet… it left me feeling so warm inside.

“Onee-chan.” 

Nako suddenly said, her expression turning serious as she looked at me.

“What is it?”

“Has Reito-sama… always been like that?”

“…”

I paused, thinking about her question.

Like me, Nako had met him when she was younger.

And, like me, she had experienced his harsh words and selfish behavior, leaving a bitter impression.

She probably still felt uneasy around him.

“Onee-chan… Has Reito-sama changed?”

Nako’s question was cautious but sincere.

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

That’s right—his appearance and tone hadn’t changed much.

But—

“I want to enjoy my time at the academy properly. And more than that, I want you to find joy in your work as a maid, Kyoko. That’s why I’ll do my best.”

Those words he said, looking straight into my eyes.

“Let’s go, Kyoko!”

The way he called out to me without hesitation when he saw Nako being harassed.

Those moments felt… undeniably different.

“Whether you’re a man or a woman doesn’t matter when it comes to causing trouble for others! Being a man doesn’t give you a free pass!”

Those words, spoken so clearly and firmly, stuck in my mind.

And then—

“Kyoko, I don’t know everything about you two, but it’s clear to me that Nako cares deeply about her sister. She’s the type who might push herself too hard because of that. Wouldn’t you agree?”

He didn’t know us.

He hadn’t tried to know us.

He wasn’t supposed to care.

Yet, his words had been so precise, as if he could see right through us, right into the bond we shared as sisters.

Those words weren’t lies.

They felt genuine, like they came straight from his heart.

And that’s why…

“Lately, I don’t understand him at all. After all, he used to treat me—someone he’s known for years—like a pawn. But now… why is he saying such kind, thoughtful things?”

The words slipped out without me realizing it.

By the time I noticed, Nako had already heard everything.

She smiled softly at me.

“I see… You’ve been struggling all this time, haven’t you, Onee-chan? But now I’m here too, so I won’t let you go through that alone anymore. And as for me… I want to believe Reito-sama has truly changed.”

“…!”

To believe.

To hold onto the hope that someone might change someday.

When our father was still around, I used to feel that way too.

Even when he cheated, got addicted to gambling, or caused trouble for others, I thought… maybe someday, for the sake of his family, he’d change.

But in the end, he didn’t.

Worse, he abandoned us without a second thought.

I came to think that’s just how men in this world are.

Selfish, overbearing, and never considering anyone else’s feelings.

The first time I met him—Reito—he seemed like that too.

But…

“I won’t treat you cruelly anymore. So please… stay as my maid.”

Those words, and the way he’s been acting now… Can I believe in them?

“And also, Reito-sama said something when he left, didn’t he? ‘Take your time to talk things over.’”

“He did, but…”

“Doesn’t that mean… he wants us to take our time and talk as a family?”

I tilted my head, unsure of what she meant, so Nako continued.

“Think about it. Both of us agreed to his suggestion back there. But after that, he left the room, saying we should talk things over. Doesn’t it feel like he wasn’t just talking about us bringing this discussion home? Maybe… he was giving the three of us, as a family, a chance to talk and reconnect.”

Nako’s words felt a little far-fetched, but…

Given how he’s been acting lately, it might not be entirely impossible.

I realized that I was starting to think that way.

“Come on, Onee-chan, it’s fine, right? Let’s spend the day together!”

More than anything, my precious little sister was asking for it.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

“Really? Yay! Then let’s go inside! Mom’s going to be so happy to spend time with you again!”

With Nako tugging at my hand, I stepped into my family home for the first time in ages.

I couldn’t help but wonder…

Was my “dislike” for him… starting to change?

◆◆

Meanwhile…

“Young master, the head maid has informed us that she’s taking the afternoon off.”

“Eh… really?”

“Yes. It seems she plans to spend the time having a proper discussion with her family at home.”

“I see… so that’s it.”

Hearing this report from one of the maids, I headed back to my room.

“Wait, what does she mean by ‘proper discussion at home’??”

I had assumed that the two of them would spend some quiet time in the living room before heading back, which was why I said what I did.

But now it seemed like I’d somehow ended up lowering Kyoko’s favorability again.

Maybe she really didn’t like the idea of her sister becoming my personal maid. Are they about to have some kind of family meeting to talk about it?

“Seriously though, why is it so hard to raise favorability as a villain?!”

This man, as always, was making a completely ridiculous assumption.

After all, this was a world where the gender ratio was skewed and traditional values had been flipped.

And in such a world, trying to pull off “villain with a good-guy spin” was bound to lead to unexpected consequences.

He was about to find that out very soon.