I Was Reincarnated as the Villain in an NTR Eroge, but Since I Don’t Actually Want to Be a Villain, I’m Just Going to Live Normally - 20

Chapter 20: Let’s Keep Doing Our Best to Live From Now On

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A few days later, in the morning.

“Fwaaah… Mmh, I’m a little sleepy.”

I walked toward school while stretching lightly. During the past few days, I had spent my time buying and setting up things like a cage for Mii-chan, a litter box, a monitoring camera, and all sorts of other things. Some of the assembly work was pretty tough, so I even ended up a little sore. Well, Mii-chan’s living space had been successfully completed last night, so now I could finally live with her in peace. So from here on out, I was going to enjoy a slow, relaxing life with Mii-chan.

“Ah, Senpai! Good morning!”

“Fwaaah… hm? Oh. Sakurajima, huh. Morning.”

“Yes, good morning!”

At that moment, Sakurajima called out to me from behind. Like always, she showed me her lovely smile.

“How’s Mii-chan doing after that? Is she doing well?”

“Yeah, she’s doing great. And since I bought a cage and various things and finished her living space, she’s spending her time looking really comfortable.”

“Fufu, is that so? I’m glad to hear that! Then I’ll come visit your house sometime soon to see Mii-chan again!”

“Got it. You can come over whenever you want. Play with Mii-chan again for me.”

“Okay, thank you! Ah, well, I have a club meeting now, so I’ll head to school first! Excuse me!”

“Yeah. See ya.”

Thud thud thud!

With that, Sakurajima ran off toward the school at a brisk pace. She sure was energetic first thing in the morning. Well, that constant liveliness was one of Sakurajima’s good points.

“Ah, Kuze-kun! Good morning!”

“Hm? Ah, Sakagami, huh. Morning.”

After parting with Sakurajima, this time Sakagami called out to me. It felt like the first time she had spoken to me since we carried the homework books together, so it felt strangely nostalgic.

“How have you been since then? Have you been reading any new books or novels, Kuze-kun?”

“Yeah. I’ve been reading. Three days ago I borrowed a new book from the library, and that’s what I’m reading now. It’s a mystery novel.”

“Ooh, really! You read all kinds of genres, huh! That’s amazing.”

“Nah, it’s not amazing or anything. What about you, Sakagami? What have you been reading lately?”

“I’ve been rereading a romance novel I read a little while ago. My friends and I are going to see the movie adaptation soon, so I’m reviewing it a bit.”

“Heh, you’re rereading a novel you already read just to watch the movie? Now that’s impressive. I basically never reread a novel once I’ve finished it…”

“Fufu, well, normally people feel satisfied after reading a book once, so it can’t be helped. But rereading a book is actually pretty fun. Sometimes you notice foreshadowing on the second read that you didn’t catch the first time, and discovering that is really enjoyable.”

“Ah, I see. Now that you say it, noticing things through rereading sounds interesting. Maybe I should try rereading a novel sometime.”

“Yeah, I totally recommend it! Ah, well, I have something to do in the clubroom after this, so I’ll head to school first. See you later!”

“Yeah. See ya.”

With that, Sakagami also rushed ahead toward the school. After watching her go, I started strolling toward school again at a relaxed pace.

“Fwaaah… Still, the fact that both of them were so energetic this morning and greeted me with such bright smiles… They’re such good kids indeed.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean? Is that sexual harassment?”

“…Huh? No, what— wait, whoa!?”

While I yawned and muttered to myself, someone suddenly called out from behind. When I turned around, there stood Yukishiro—the third heroine.

“…What? Why are you making that surprised face?”

“W-well, anyone would be surprised if someone suddenly spoke to them from behind.”

“Hmph. You’re more timid than I thought. So? What were you talking about with Moeka?”

“Eh? Don’t tell me you saw that?”

“Yes, I happened to spot you talking with Moeka while I was walking to school. So? What exactly were you talking about? If you were trying to do anything bad to Moeka, I definitely won’t forgive you.”

Yukishiro glared at me with cold, narrowed eyes. Well, considering Sakagami was her precious friend, it made sense she’d be wary if she saw her talking to a delinquent like me.

“I wasn’t doing anything bad. We were just talking about interesting books we’ve read recently. We talked about the book I borrowed from the library.”

“…Huh? You and Moeka were talking about that? And borrowing a book from the library… Wait, you actually read books?”

“Yeah. I read it. It’s fun because I learn things I didn’t know before. I love reading, so I talk about books with Sakagami from the literature club sometimes.”

“I see. You have surprisingly unexpected hobbies. But listening to you now… I honestly have to wonder… Are you really a delinquent?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I graduated from being a delinquent a long time ago. I’m just a normal, decent person now.”

“Calling yourself a ‘decent person’ while looking like some huge lion is way too suspicious.”

“Haha, true enough. But I really am trying to be a decent person. I plan to come to school every day from now on, and I’m going to work hard at studying too.”

“Hmph. How admirable. But next month is midterms, you know? When the test period comes, you’re just going to skip school again, aren’t you?”

“Of course not. I’ll come and take the tests properly. But I’m not confident at all about getting passing grades in every subject, so I really need to start studying seriously… Haah…”

I sighed as I said that. I really did have to do something about studying.

“Hearing a former delinquent say he needs to work hard on tests is kind of shocking.”

“I told you, I’m not a delinquent anymore. But yeah, since I haven’t been serious about studying until now, I really do need to step it up…”

“I see. Then… If you’re having trouble, I could help you study a little, you know?”

“…Huh? You’d do that?”

“Of course. I owe you for helping me back then. If you need help academically, I can tutor you.”

“Uh, well, I’d appreciate that a lot, but… Are you sure? Wouldn’t helping me take away from your own study time?”

“It’s fine. Teaching someone is a good way to review the subject too. So if you want me to teach you, I don’t mind at all.”

“Y-Yukishiro… Ahh, that’d really help! Then could I ask you for a study session sometime soon?”

“Mm. That’s fine. But if we’re doing a study session, you need to be the one making the plan and inviting me, alright? I’ll never be the one to suggest we do it first.”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll check my free days and ask you again.”

“Alright. As long as I don’t have other plans, I’ll join you anytime, so just ask. Well then, I have student council work now, so I’ll head to school first. See you.”

“Yeah. See ya.”

With that, Yukishiro also headed toward school first. I watched her go, then resumed walking toward school alone at a relaxed pace.

“No, but… A lot really happened these past few days. And all of it was pretty interesting.”

I said that while smiling to myself. At first, when I became the villain Kuze, I wondered what I should do… But so far, there hadn’t been any real problems. Well, I was still completely shunned by the rest of the class, but that didn’t bother me at all. It dealt absolutely no damage whatsoever on me. Besides, if I was the only one getting affected by it, I really couldn’t care less about it. 

And for some reason, all three main heroines were approaching me, the supposed villain… But, well, this level of interaction was fine. After all, getting along with classmates was normal for any student.

Alright, that being said… I would keep striving to be a normal student and do my best! I would live my life seriously but still at my own pace!

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