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 - 33-34

Chapter 33: Glancing at the School Grounds During Class

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During class on a certain day.

Scrible, scrible…

“So, in other words, you can solve this problem by using the formula we just covered—…”

“…Fu, faaah…”

I let out a big yawn while copying the contents written on the blackboard into my notebook.

This is bad. I’m way too sleepy today…

I had a late-night shift at my part-time job yesterday, so I was still carrying that fatigue today. Because of that, I had been attacked by sleepiness for the entire class period. But since we had tests next month, I understood that it would be bad if I didn’t properly pay attention in class, so I forced myself to keep listening, doing my best not to fall asleep.

Chatter, chatter… noisy, noisy…!

…Hm?

While I battled drowsiness and kept scribbling down what was on the blackboard, I suddenly heard voices from outside the window. They were coming from the school grounds. I wondered what it was and, as a quick way to shake off my sleepiness, decided to take a brief look outside. There, I saw that a P.E. class was taking place on the field. It seemed to be only female students. That probably meant the boys were having class inside the gym.

And judging from what I saw, today’s P.E. class was some kind of physical fitness test. The girls were being made to run on the field. Probably the 100-meter dash.

It looks tough in this heat… Wait, is that—

While I absentmindedly watched, thinking about how rough it must be, I spotted a familiar person. It was Shizuku Sakurajima. Wearing her gym uniform, Sakurajima looked like she was just about to start running. Which meant this P.E. class happening on the grounds right now belonged to the first-years.

I see. Well then, since I’ve got the chance, I might as well cheer her on.

So I decided to stave off my sleepiness by watching the field for a bit and cheering for Sakurajima in my heart. Before long, it was Sakurajima’s turn to run, and she sprinted across the field at full speed. Her form was beautiful. As expected of someone in an athletic club.

Hmm… Still, you know… Sakurajima really has a great figure, doesn’t she…

But I wasn’t just admiring her running form. I found my attention drawn to her physique as well. Well, I guess it couldn’t be helped. Sakurajima wasn’t in her usual school uniform, but in a gym outfit with a half-shirt and shorts. Unlike the school uniform, her arms and thighs were visible, so my eyes naturally drifted that way. Well, being interested in a girl’s bare skin was just the unavoidable instinct of a teenage boy.

But a senpai staring intently at the upper arms and thighs of a kouhai he got along with… That would just make me look like a genuine creep, so I quickly shook off those impure thoughts and focused only on cheering for her. After a bit more, Sakurajima finished her 100-meter dash with a perfect goal. As expected of a basketball club member—she reached the finish line with impressive speed.

Ohh, Sakurajima really is amazing… Wait, ah, crap!

And at that moment… As I stared at her, Sakurajima suddenly looked straight at me. For some reason, she turned her gaze toward me all at once.

C-crap, did she catch me watching her…? Wait… huh?

Waving vigorously!

I worried for a second about what I’d do if she got creeped out from realizing I’d been watching her, but instead of showing any discomfort, Sakurajima beamed at me with a bright, happy smile and waved her hand enthusiastically. She looked kind of like a puppy. Honestly, she looked cute.  Since she didn’t seem angry, I let out a relieved breath and waved back at her.

But still… Why did she suddenly look up toward my classroom on the third floor? Did she maybe sense my gaze somehow?

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Chapter 34: Running into Sakurajima During Break Time

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Ding ding…

“Haah…It’s finally over…”

Not long after, math class ended. It was a miracle I managed to stay awake until the end. Catching sight of Sakurajima on the field earlier had helped wake me up a bit, but still, sleepiness was still sleepiness. I couldn’t escape from its clutch.

“Faa… I guess I should grab a drink or something…”

I muttered as I yawned. The vending machines were only on the first floor, so going all the way there from this third-floor classroom was a bit of a hassle,  but I wanted something to help wake me up, so I didn’t have any other choice left.

With that, I immediately left the classroom and headed toward the vending machines on the first floor.

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Not long after.

“Nngh… Nnngh… Ahhh… Carbonated drinks are definitely the way to wake up.”

I had arrived at the vending machines on the first floor, bought a soda, and was gulping it down. The fizzy, refreshing bubbles were perfect for shaking off sleepiness.

“Ah, Senpai!”

“Nngh… Nngh… Hmm?”

As I was thinking this while drinking, a voice called out from down the hall. I turned to see Sakurajima, dressed in her gym uniform. And she came running toward me with quick, light steps.

Ah, right. This hallway with the vending machines is on the path from the field to the locker room.

“Haah… Haah… phew. Senpai, good work today!”

Sakurajima arrived in front of me and bowed energetically, speaking in a cheerful voice. Her forehead had a little sweat, probably from finishing gym class.

“Hey, good work. But you didn’t need to run over here. You just finished PE, so it’s fine. Running in the hall can be dangerous. You might get hurt.”

“Eh? Ah, s-sorry, but I wanted to talk to you, even for just a little…”

When I said that, Sakurajima suddenly looked dejected.

Hmm… Just like in the game, Sakurajima really shows her emotions openly. She’s so friendly and affectionate, like a little puppy… Well, she’s generally very cheerful and very cute.

But wait… Wasn’t that friendly, puppy-like side supposed to be reserved only for the protagonist, Kakeru? In the game, her high trust and affection for the protagonist made her clingy, obedient, and openly affectionate. 

So why does that same side appear to be aimed at me in this world? Hmm… Well, I don’t really understand why, but maybe it’s not worth worrying about.

For now, leaving the cute, puppy-like girl dejected in front of me would be cruel, so I quickly spoke to her.

“No, it’s not like I’m mad. And I’m glad you came over. I wanted to talk to you too.”

“Eh… R-really?! Senpai wanted to talk to me too? That makes me so happy! Then let’s talk a lot since we have the chance!”

“Of course. So, what should we talk about?”

“Yes! Ah, right! By the way… Hehe, earlier during PE, we made eye contact, didn’t we?”

“Eh… Eh? W-well, yes… Ah, right…”

Her question made me panic a little inside. 

Oh no… Is this a ‘caught peeking’ situation? Am I about to get scolded?

“Yes, that’s right! So… Senpai, why were you looking at me on the field?”

“Eh? W-well… The field was lively, so I glanced over to wake myself up a bit. Then I saw my junior, Sakurajima, running, so I was cheering for her in my head while watching.”

“Eh… Really?! You were cheering for me?! Hehe, that makes me happy! Thank you for cheering, Senpai!”

“Y-yeah. Ah, but now that I think about it… Why were you looking back at me? Did you maybe sense my (creepy) gaze?”

“Oh, no, that’s not it. I didn’t see you because I felt your gaze. Making eye contact with you was completely by chance!”

“By chance? Then why did you suddenly look up at my third-floor classroom?”

“Ah, well… I came by your classroom a little while ago, and someone showed me where Kuze-senpai’s seat is. So I thought maybe I could see him from the field during PE, and I looked up at your window. Then we just happened to make eye contact! I was happy to see you, so I waved. And you waved back, which made me even happier!”

“Ah… I see… That makes sense.”

So it seems I hadn’t been caught staring creepily at her after all.

At least I know I haven’t been perceived as a creepy senior, which is a relief.

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