I Reincarnated as the Villain Who Bullies the Protagonist in an Erotic Game, but I Just Want to Stay a Nobody, Yet Somehow the Heroines Keep Obsessing Over Me - Episode 43: Eating Fried Rice with Kana

Episode 43: Eating Fried Rice with Kana

The fried rice was ready, and I carried it to the table along with a side of vegetables. Since Kana didn’t know her way around the kitchen, I asked her to take a seat at the table first.

“Here it is—finally done! Dig in!” I set the plate in front of her, deliberately keeping my tone upbeat.

“It smells so good.”  “You said that earlier, too. Is it really that great?”
“Yeah… It smells kind of… nostalgic.” Kana narrowed her eyes as if reminiscing about something. Was she thinking of the fried rice someone made for her long ago?

I carried my own plate over and sat across from her. I live alone, so I didn’t think I’d ever need two chairs, but they ended up coming in handy.

“Alright, let’s eat.”  “Let’s eat.” We both clasped our hands together and started eating.

Kana took a bite, then froze mid-chew. “Uh… is it bad?”

Her face remained expressionless as she slowly moved her mouth, making me nervous. I hesitantly asked, but she silently shook her head. Then, all of a sudden, she started shoveling the rest into her mouth.

And then, she made a face. “I mean, it’s been a while since I made fried rice, so don’t worry if it’s not good—just leave it if you don’t like it!”

I hurriedly said this, but Kana shook her head again and kept eating.

“It’s really good.” While I was still fretting and nibbling at my own food, Kana murmured those words. I instinctively put my spoon down.

“Wait, seriously? You’re not forcing yourself?”  “I’ve never been forcing myself. I thought it was delicious from the start. It’s just…”
“It’s just?”  “It’s just… it’s been so long since I’ve had a meal like this.”

Then I realized. She wasn’t grimacing because the food was bad. Most likely— “Well, I’m glad you liked it.” She was probably on the verge of tears.

From what I knew of the game’s backstory, her parents had been cold and distant with her since she was a child. That’s probably why something as simple as leftover fried rice became a cherished memory for her.

“Thank you so much, Nishikikouji-kun. What can I do to repay you?”
“I didn’t do this expecting anything in return. I don’t know what happened, but it seems like you’re going through a tough time. Honestly… I’d just be happy if you felt better, Sasaki.”

“That’s all? Really?”  “Yeah. And besides, this kind of thing isn’t something you do expecting payback.”  “I see…”

Kana looked down, her eyes clouded with a hint of loneliness. Wait, did I mess up somehow? What did I do wrong?

“Then… would you do this for anyone, Nishikikouji-kun?”  “Well, I wouldn’t invite just anyone into my home unless I trusted them. But if there was a good reason, I might.”
“I see…”

For some reason, Kana smiled awkwardly.