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 - 35-36

Chapter 35: Giving Sakurajima a Soda

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“That’s why I was really happy that you waved at me, senpai!”

“I-I see… Well, I’m glad it made you happy. I enjoyed cheering for you too, Sakurajima. I was really rooting for you in my heart.”

“Yes, thank you! I think I ran faster because you were cheering for me, senpai!”

“I-I see. By the way, you ran really fast, Sakurajima. You looked so cool. As expected of a basketball club member.”

“Eh? R-Really? Then I’m glad… Ehehe…”

When I said that, Sakurajima’s face shifted from looking downcast to a shy, blushing smile directed at me.

She genuinely seems happy hearing that. Seeing her so pleased makes me happy too. And when she shows such pure and honest expressions… It makes me feel soft toward her. It’s like I want to do nice things for her.

In the original game, there was a system where you could give presents to increase the heroine’s affection. Whenever the protagonist gave Sakurajima a gift, no matter what it was, she got genuinely thrilled every single time. Seeing her so happy made me feel good, and while it wasn’t exactly spoiling her, it made me want to give her things. So in the game, I often gave her many presents.

So, since I have the chance here in this world too, I want to give Sakurajima something as a gift.

As I thought that, I realized I was standing right in front of the vending machine.

“Ah, right. Sakurajima, you must be tired from PE, right? If you want, I can get you a drink. I’ll give a little present of juice to a hardworking kouhai of mine.”

“Eh? Really!? That would make me so happy! Then I’d love to accept your offer!”

“Alright. So, what would you like to drink?”

“Ah, then I’d like the same carbonated juice as you, senpai! After all, a fizzy drink is the best when you’re tired!”

“Haha, true. Alright, wait a second. Uh, ah… shoot.”

“Hm? What’s wrong, senpai?”

I checked my wallet and realized my coin pouch was completely empty. No bills either. I couldn’t buy a drink like this…

“Ah—sorry, Sakurajima… I just checked my wallet, and I don’t have any money. Sorry, even though you must be thirsty after PE…”

“Oh, really? No, it’s totally fine! I have a water bottle in the classroom, so it’s no problem! Please don’t worry about it!”

Sakurajima said that kindly to ease my embarrassment. I was trying to look like a responsible senpai, and yet my kouhai had to be the one comforting me.

“Hmm… Wait a second.”

“Eh?”

I looked at the can of soda in my hand. It was still fizzy.

“Then, how about I give you this?”

“Eh… W-what!? Senpai, that’s…! Y-You already drank from it…!?”

“Yeah, I did, but if you don’t mind me having taken a few sips, I can give it to you. Only two or three sips though. But I guess you might not want a drink someone’s already drunk from?”

“Eh!? N-No! That’s not a problem at all!! We often share drinks in the club, so I have no problem with a drink someone already sipped from! Ah… Aah…”

Sakurajima replied quickly, though she bit her tongue at the end and it looked like it hurt a little.

“A-Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes, I’m fine…”

“I-I see. That’s good. So if you really don’t mind, do you want this soda?”

“U-Um… Y-Yes! I’d really love it…!”

“Alright then. Here you go.”

I handed Sakurajima the soda.

“Ah, um… Th-thank you…!”

“No problem. Though I feel bad giving you a partially drunk can… Especially with my mouth already on it.”

“N-No, it’s completely fine! Like I said, we often share drinks in the club, so it doesn’t bother me at all! So…Thank you instead!”

“Thank me instead for what?”

“Eh!? Ah, n-no, nothing! Senpai, please don’t worry about it!!”

Sakurajima shook her head emphatically while saying it was nothing.

“I-I see… Well, if you say so, I won’t worry. Ah, if you don’t want it, you can just throw it away.”

“Eh!? N-No! I could never just throw away something senpai gave me! I’ll treasure it! Like, treasure it forever!”

“Uh, it’s just a can of soda, so I don’t expect you to treasure it forever. Just drink it quickly, but… Okay. I’ll head back to class to prepare for the next lesson. Sakurajima, you drink it and change into your uniform quickly, alright?”

“Y-Yes, I understand! Um, th-thank you for the soda! Good work today, senpai!”

“Yeah. Good work. See you later.”

We parted ways at the vending machine. I really wanted to treat her to a brand-new soda, but seeing her happy like this was enough for now.

Somehow, I feel there’ll be other opportunities like this with Sakurajima in the future. Next time, I’ll make sure to buy her a brand new one.

“Ah, hoam… I better head back to class.”

I yawned widely and returned to my classroom. Only two classes left today. I just needed to keep at it for a little longer. I needed to push through it all!

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Chapter 36: After School, I Went to the Library and Ran Into Sakagami

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

That day after school.

Since I didn’t have work that day, the after-school hours were pretty free. But going straight home like this felt kind of dull.

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, I just finished reading the novel I borrowed from the library earlier, so maybe today I’ll borrow a new one before heading home.”

I had borrowed a novel from the library that Sakagami had recommended to me before, and I had just finished reading it yesterday. So I figured I might as well return it and borrow something new, and I headed straight toward the library.

Clatter, clatter

“Excuse me… huh?”

When I opened the library door and stepped inside, I heard voices coming from the counter.

Normally, whenever I went to the library, it was pretty much empty by default, so hearing people talking there felt unusual. I immediately looked over toward the counter. And there…

“Hmm, I like this kind of thing though…”

“Ehh? But I don’t think clothes with that cool vibe suit you, Moeka. Stuff like this is definitely better for you! Look, look, these soft and fluffy outfits match you way more!”

“Hmmm, you think so…?”

“Oh? You don’t like clothes like these? Ah, then what about this one? Doesn’t this outfit look like it’d suit you too?”

“Really? Let me see—”

“…What are you two reading?”

When I looked toward the counter, I saw one of the main heroines, Sakagami, happily chatting with another girl who seemed to be her friend. It looked fun, so I approached them and spoke up.

“Eh? Ah—ahh, Kuze-kun! Hey there~”

“Eh… w-waa!? I-It’s Kuze-kun…! The real Kuze-kun!”

“Hey. Good work today, Sakagami. And this surprised-looking girl is?”

“Eh!? Ah, y-yes! N-Nice to meet you! I’m Megumu Asahina from Class 2-1! I’m Moeka’s friend! P-Please take care of me!”

“Megumu-chan is one of the library committee members. I was on the library committee back when I was a first-year, so we’ve known each other since then and now we’re good friends who talk a lot~”

“I see, so you’re a library committee member. Nice to meet you. I can finally greet you properly.”

“Y-Yes! N-Nice to meet you! …Wait, hold on!? Moeka, you’re talking so normally with Kuze-kun… A-are you two close!?”

“Yup! We’re fellow book-lovers! We talk a lot about books and novels!”

“Ehh!? Kuze-kun, you like books that much!? I-I never would’ve guessed…!”

“Haha, yeah, I guess it is surprising. But when I’m alone, I actually read quite a lot. So if you have any recommendations, Asahina, I’d be glad if you shared them.”

“E-Eh!? R-Really!? Y-Yes! I can recommend as many as you want, so feel free to ask anytime!”

“Yeah, got it. I’ll count on you.”

And just like that, I got to know Megumu Asahina, a girl from the library committee. She seemed like a bright girl, similar to Sakagami.

“So? Going back to earlier, what were you two talking about so excitedly?”

“Ah, right. Megumu-chan and I were looking at this magazine together and chatting.”

“Hmm? The one you’re holding now… Is a fashion magazine?”

Apparently, the two of them were reading a women’s fashion magazine.

“Hmm, I didn’t know this library had hobby magazines like this.”

“Ahh, no no, this one is from Megumu-chan’s house. Yesterday I mentioned wanting to buy some new clothes, and she brought this for me.”

“Oh, I see. So that’s why you two were happily looking for outfits that might suit you?”

“Yes, that’s right! Ah, hey—since he’s here, why don’t we ask Kuze-kun for his opinion?”

“Ah, good idea! Hey, Kuze-kun, do you have a little time right now?”

“I’m free, so yeah. Do you need something from me?”

“Great! Then could you look at this fashion magazine with us? And if you don’t mind, I’d love to hear your opinion!”

“Hm? I don’t know if my opinion will be helpful, but sure. I’ve got nothing else to do.”

“Thanks, Kuze-kun! Okay then… Here, take a look at this page first.”

They showed me the magazine. The page featured special outfit pairings for girls.

“I think Moeka would look great in this cute dress style. Don’t you agree, Kuze-kun?”

“Let’s see… Ah, yeah. This kind of soft, fluffy outfit really would suit Sakagami.”

“See!? I told you! Cute stuff like this is perfect for you!”

“Hmmm… I guess…”

“Well, judging from the conversation, Sakagami, you’re interested in a different style from this, right? What kind of clothes are you thinking about?”

“Eh? Ah, w-well, um… I was kind of interested in this style…”

“Hmm? Let me see…”

She pointed to a woman wearing black denim, a jacket, and boots—a stylish, cool, almost boyish outfit. That outfit was a very “cool older sister” vibe.

“Oh, I see. So this is the style you were interested in?”

“Y-Yeah. I just think people who can pull off outfits like this look super cool, and I kind of admire that. So I’ve always liked cool, mature older-sister-type fashion. But I have such a baby face that I know this kind of cool style probably doesn’t suit me… Haha…”

“Hm? I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”

“Ahaha… Wait—huh?”

She laughed as she said so, but her laugh sounded a little dejected. So, I told her that she was wrong. 

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー