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 52: Nighttime Call

Episode 52: Nighttime Call

Nagitsuki stared at her phone screen as if she were trying to burn a hole into it with her gaze.

“Check the current time! It’s 7 PM—still a reasonable hour! Okay, good!” She then fixed her eyes on the phone number.

“So, Nagitsuki… you’re about to call a boy—your crush, no less.”

The truth was, Nagitsuki was quite the beauty, but she had never once called a boy before. Despite wishing for a boyfriend, she was shy and hesitant. Naturally, she had never been on what could be called a “date” either.

“Ugh, this is so nerve-wracking!” She rolled over in her bed repeatedly, caught in her own nervousness. But she couldn’t keep doing this forever. 

If too much time passes, it might genuinely become an inconvenient time to call. She needed to do it now.

“Alright, here goes! I can do this!”

Summoning all her courage, Nagitsuki tapped the call button on her screen. After three rings, the person on the other end picked up.

“Ah, hello? Nagitsuki?”  “Nishikikoji! Um, I just wanted to apologize for today…”  “Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. Just be careful with alcohol from now on, okay?”

“Yeah… I’ll be careful. Careful!” Even though he couldn’t see her, Nagitsuki nodded so vigorously it was as if her head might fall off.

—Yes, this call was to apologize for an incident involving whiskey chocolates that had left her tipsy.

After Nagitsuki had nearly kissed Nishikikouji and then snapped out of it (though the kiss had technically already happened), she was sent home by him. 

Concerned for her safety, Nishikikoji escorted her all the way back, explained the situation to her parents, and made sure they understood what had happened before leaving. In short, she had caused a lot of trouble.

“By the way, since we’re already on the phone, was there anything you didn’t understand from today’s study session?”

 “Something I didn’t understand…”Prompted by his question, Nagatsuki hurriedly opened her workbook. She began flipping through the pages with as much intensity as when she had first decided to call.

“Found it! Nishikikouji, it’s question 3 on page 25. I don’t get it.”
“Oh, that one…”

Nishikikouji started explaining. Nagitsuki, relieved that their conversation was continuing, suddenly became hyper-aware of her situation and blushed.

Now that she thought about it, Nishikikoji’s voice felt closer than usual, and the fact that they were talking on the phone after school made her incredibly self-conscious.

(What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…?) Panic set in. Her mind wandered, and the content of their conversation completely eluded her. Her heart was racing so fast it felt like it might burst.

Nagitsuki probably liked Nishikikouji. She hadn’t fully realized it yet, but she was starting to accept it.

More than anything, the fact that someone as smart and reliable as Nishikikoji was willing to support her affirmed her feelings.

(His voice is… so close!) Nagitsuki nervously pressed her hands to her face, peeking at her workbook through her fingers. 

It didn’t make any sense, considering Nishikikouji was on the other end of the phone, but she couldn’t help it.

“Nagitsuki? Are you listening?”  “Y-yes! I’m listening, I’m listening!”  “Okay, then explain it back to me.”  “Sorry, I wasn’t listening at all.”

She blurted out a lie, but Nishikikouji immediately saw through it. Even so, Nishikikouji seemed to notice that Nagitsuki was feeling down.

“…Well, you must be tired today. Sorry for suggesting this all of a sudden. Let’s pick it up again tomorrow, okay?”
“Y-yeah.”  “Alright, goodnight.”  “Good nigh—wait, hold on!”

Nagitsuki suddenly raised her voice, startling Nishikikouji. Ignoring his reaction, she pushed forward.

“Um, the test is coming up soon!”  “Yeah, it is.”  “Which means the study sessions might end, right? So…”

Nagitsuki desperately tried to think of a way to prolong their time together.

“If I do well on the test, could you take me somewhere as a reward?”She said it all in one breath and found herself gasping afterward.

 Nishikikouji was silent on the other end of the line for a moment. The longer the pause, the more nervous Nagitsuki became. Sweat began to bead at her temple.

“Well… I don’t think the study sessions will end, but yeah. Let’s go somewhere during summer break.”

At last, he spoke, and Nagitsuki let out a sigh of relief. The tension left her body, and she realized how tightly she’d been wound up.

“Thank you. Let’s decide on a place later. And… thanks for helping me study.”
“No problem. I’m learning a lot too. Plus, it’s fun.”  “Yeah… Well, goodnight.”  “Goodnight.”

The call ended. “That went well!” Nagitsuki flopped back onto her bed.

She lovingly stroked her phone’s screen before jotting down the plan in her calendar. “Summer break is going to be so fun. I need to work hard on studying.”

With newfound determination, Nagitsuki sat down at her desk and got back to work.