I, Who Reincarnated as the Villain in a Romance Game, Somehow Became Doted on by the Heroine. And That Heroine Turned Out to Be a Yandere Stalker - Chapter 21: Preparing for the School Festival

Episode 21: Preparing for the School Festival

“As a result of the lottery, Mitsurugi Todo-kun and Tendo Tsukasa-kun have been chosen as the Culture Festival Executive Committee.”

In the classroom, amidst applause, I could feel the disdainful gazes of many directed towards me.
Well, when the best and worst are paired together, it’s bound to happen.

But this was as per the original story, and it was also my biggest chance.

Our homeroom teacher, Rin Nanchara-sensei, summed it up, and Mitsurugi and I were supposed to meet after school.

The cultural festival is next month, and first, we’ll list up some of the things our classmates proposed that they want to do.
Then, we’ll vote on them another day and announce the results.
There are other things to do as well, but in the original story, Todo doesn’t participate.

He just fools around in the backyard, bullies the weak with Akuudo-kun, extorts money from them, and causes havoc during the cultural festival. He’s the worst of the worst.

But it’s different. It’s different this time.

I’m enthusiastic about the cultural festival, and I want to get along with Tendo-kun.
In other words, if I can overcome this time, it’s as if I’ve avoided my downfall altogether.

My future looks bright. It’s shining.
Ah, Tendo-kun looks cooler than usual too.

“Hey, isn’t Todo glaring at Tendo-kun?”
“He probably didn’t expect to be chosen, so is he holding a grudge?”
“That’s scary… he’s really the worst.”

Hehehe, alright! The future looks bright!

—

“What?! Tendo-kun left?!”

After school, in the empty classroom prepared for the executive committee, I was informed by Hiyono-san.

“Yes. He left. Um, Mitsurugi-san, did you prepare all those markers and drawing paper yourself?”
“Uh, yeah… I did…”

I had bought all sorts of markers—oil-based, water-based—and all kinds of drawing paper for this day.
Of course, I could have gotten them from the school, but I was fully motivated.

And yet, he left…

Seeing me crestfallen, Hiyono-san starts to laugh.

“Hehehe, it’s amusing.”
“…Why are you laughing…”
“I just think Mitsurugi-san always tries his best.”
“Isn’t the cultural festival supposed to be the dream of all the students?”
“Who knows. Well, maybe it is.”

She sits back in her seat, brushing her hair back.
A faint floral scent wafts through the air. And for a moment, I catch a glimpse of her usually hidden neckline.

My heart rate quickens, faster than usual.

“What’s… wrong?”
“It must be tough doing this alone. I’ve got permission from Teacher Rin, so…”

Nanchara-sensei, huh, so that’s her name. Well, that’s beside the point.

“Hiyono-san, you’re quite perceptive.”
“I only know what I know.”

She has a duality, or rather, a quadrupleness about her, but she’s reliable at times like this.
She’s serious and never cuts corners.
It’s disappointing that Tendo-kun had to leave, but let’s just keep moving forward.

“Thanks. So, can I count on your help?”
“Yes, I was planning on it from the start. Shall we start unpacking?”
“Yeah!”

With more energy than usual, I reply, and we start unpacking the papers listing the ideas for the cultural festival.

There are a lot of ideas like shooting games, ring toss, cotton candy… it feels like a fair.

Yakitori stalls, fried chicken, sauce rice crackers, sweet red beans, cucumber stands.
There are a lot of businesses that seem to aim for small profits but quick turnover.

“Isn’t our class seriously trying to make money?”
“There seem to be a lot of practical people. Oh, how about this one?”

She hands me a paper that says “Naked Maid Café.”

“Nope, rejected.”
“But I thought it was good.”

Hiyono-san seems to be okay with this help.

Among others, I found papers saying “Spa Spa Championship,” “Croquette Shop if Reincarnated in Another World,” and “Boys’ Mischief Festival.”
Yeah, it’s definitely them. Rejected, rejected.

Before I knew it, we were running out of options.
Hey, does our class have no decent ideas?! I thought, but my hand stopped at the last piece of paper.

“What about this? Hiyono-san.”
“Oh, it’s wonderful.”

We have to choose three by process of elimination, but for me, or rather, it’s more like process of elimination, but it feels like the cultural festival is pretty much decided.

Written on it simply is “Maid Café.”

—

On another day, the official vote was held.

“That was close…”

Elected: Maid Café, 17 votes.

“Naked Maid Café,” 15 votes.
Cucumber Stands, 6 votes.
Heaven and Hell Puff Puff, 4 votes.

As I murmured to myself, it was surprisingly close.
I understand the Maid Café, but what’s the Heaven and Hell Puff Puff? Apparently, there were quite a few ferv

ent supporters. The possibility that someone was gathering votes behind the scenes even came up.

Well, for now, I’m relieved.

Tendo-kun later apologized lightly, saying, “Sorry, had something to do.” It was really a light apology, but well, it can’t be helped.

While the trend was for girls to wear maid outfits and boys to wear butler outfits, someone insisted that since it’s a maid café, everyone should wear maid outfits. Why, I wondered, but then I couldn’t help but wonder if I’ll get to see Hiyono’s maid outfit.

But a new problem arose.
The budget for the cultural festival is limited, and in this case, we need to gather a large number of maid outfits. Hiyono-san said she would provide them, but it’s not good for the school to rely on individuals, and I feel sorry too.

So, it was decided that Tendo-kun and I would go to a cheap cosplay shop to gather maid outfits.

And now, it’s finally the turn of the former protagonist and… to be continued.