I Reincarnated as the Villain of an NTR Game, But I Don't Want to Make the Main Heroine Unhappy so I'll Live Earnestly

School is over for the day.

Today, I planned to go home with Hiro, but he was invited by his friends to hang out after school, so I decided to go home alone today.

“Well, since I’m by myself, maybe I should stop by somewhere on the way home for a change.”

Usually, I go home with Hiro or other friends, so going home alone like today is quite rare for me. So, I started thinking that it might be nice to stop by somewhere before heading home.

“But where should I stop by… Oh, maybe there’s a new book out.”

At that moment, I suddenly remembered something. My favorite mystery novel’s new volume might have been released recently.

Actually, I’ve loved reading books since I was a child. I read anything from manga to novels, as long as it’s a book, but among them, I especially love mystery novels. So, even now, I often go to bookstores or libraries when I have free time.

“Alright, then today I’ll stop by the bookstore on my way home.”

Since I have this rare opportunity to be alone, I decided to stop by the bookstore before heading home.

There’s a big bookstore two stations away from where I live, so today I’m planning to go to that large bookstore near the station.

By the way, that station is also where the cram school I attend is located, so I use that station quite frequently.

“Hehe, I’ll be happy if they have the new book.”

With that in mind, I decided to walk to the station first, heading towards the bookstore.

◇◇◇◇

Several minutes later.

I transferred trains and got off at my target station, then walked into the large bookstore in front of the station.

“Let’s see… Ah, there it is!”

I quickly found the book I was looking for, picked it up, and lined up at the register.

“Customers in line, please come this way.”

“Ah, yes.”

The store clerk called me over right away, so I moved to the register and started the checkout process.

“Alright, that’s two items for a total of 1,400 yen. Would you like a cover for them?”

“Yes, please. And here’s 2,000 yen.”

“Thank you. Here’s your change of 600 yen. I’ll put the cover on right away, so please wait a moment.”

“Alright, thank you.”

The clerk skillfully put a cover on the book. While I waited, my eyes wandered to a poster displayed next to the register. The poster was…

“A signing event?”

It seemed to be an announcement for a book signing event. Apparently, there will be a signing event at this bookstore this Saturday.

“Hmm, an event the day after tomorrow… Wait, what?”

I was idly staring at the announcement poster, but then my eyes widened in surprise. The author hosting the signing event was my favorite mystery writer.

(What? A signing event with my favorite author at a bookstore this close? And it’s the day after tomorrow… That’s so soon!)

I was really surprised, thinking this to myself. I definitely want to go to this signing event, but…

(But the readers of this author… they’re mostly very mature adults…)

The author I like the most right now is an old man nearing seventy, so most of his readers are very mature adults. That means this signing event is mainly targeted at adults…

(If that’s the case… a kid like me going alone would feel out of place and a bit embarrassing…)

A young girl like me going alone to a signing event filled with mature adults is a bit daunting. It would be nice if I had at least one other person to go with… Oh, that’s right!

(Oh, maybe I could ask Hiro to come with me!)

I came up with the idea. Hiro knows I love books, so if I asked him to come to the signing event with me, he’d probably agree to help.

The problem is that the signing event is the day after tomorrow, Saturday, so Hiro might already have plans…

(Yeah, that’s right. So, tomorrow at school, I’ll ask Hiro right away.)

I remembered that Hiro said he had a club meeting in the morning, so he would be at school early. I’ll ask him during lunch tomorrow.

So, while the clerk was putting a cover on my book, I decided on my plan for tomorrow’s lunch.