I’ve Been Reincarnated as the Strongest Villain in an NTR Eroge, so I’m Going to Break the Heroines’ Doom Flags on Behalf of the Main Character! - Chapter 76 - Culture Festival & the School Legend

Chapter 76 – Culture Festival & the School Legend

Wednesday, October 16th.

The school had started preparing for the culture festival next week. As the vice president of the student council, I was busy running around here and there.

Along with this, the entire school——or rather, mainly the boys——was enveloped in a strange atmosphere. They seemed unusually lively, almost fidgety. I wondered if they were really that excited about it. While thinking about this, I was walking down the hallway during a break when a girl called out to me.

“U-um, excuse me, Vice President Ibuse!”

“Huh? What’s up?”

The one who called out to me was a girl from my grade. I didn’t recognize her, so she must be from a different class. The girl was holding a notebook and called out to me nervously.

“Actually… I wanted to talk to you about the culture festival…”

“…Okay. Is now a good time?”

“Uh, yes, now is perfect! I mean, it’s actually the best time!”

Even though I’ve gotten used to it, I guess I still come off as intimidating. To help ease her nerves, I tried my best to put on a gentle smile and decided to listen to her concerns.

“Well, let’s keep it brief.”

“Y-yeah! Um… It’s about what’s written in this notebook…”

The girl opened the notebook and moved over next to me. The moment I tried to look at the contents of the notebook, a hand appeared out of nowhere and the notebook disappeared before my eyes.

“…Something like this is fine.”

The culprit who had stolen the notebook was Noa, who glanced over the contents, gave permission, and returned the notebook to the girl.

“Oh, thank you, Noa-chan…”

“Sure. If you ever need help with anything, just come to me. You can count on me. On. Me.”

“Okay…”

Even though the matter was resolved, the girl walked back to her class dejectedly. Watching her leave, Noa let out a big sigh and glared at me.

“Do you not get it?”

“…Get what?”

“…Never mind. I’ll deal with it.”

“O-okay…”

Noa coldly told me, then took my hand and led me to the classroom.

Later that day, during lunch break, the student council room couldn’t be used as a gathering place since it was occupied as a workspace. Plus, each class had its own festival projects to work on. Because of that, everyone ate lunch in their respective classrooms.

I quickly finished the lunch box I had made, and decided to continue with the many other tasks that remained. While I was doing that, I passed by the first-year floor and saw Akari talking to several girls. When she noticed me, she immediately came running over to me.

“Senpai! Are you busy?”

“Yeah. What about you——”

“Vice-President!”

“Ibuse-senpai!!”

When I was about to make small talk with Akari, the girl Akari was talking to started talking to me with incredible enthusiasm.

“Do you have any free time on the day of the festival?”

“If you do, please come to our class! We’ll be waiting!”

“Ah… if I remember correctly, your class is doing a café, right?”

“Yes! A maid and butler cafe! I’ll be on shift!”

“…Sure. I’ll definitely come.”

“Yay!!!” “That’s a promise!!”

The girls were excited by my answer. The first-years are probably not that familiar with the rumors about Ibuse Reo’s past, so they were more proactive in getting involved with me than my peers or third-years.

“No, no, no!!!”

As the girls were getting excited, Sakura, red-faced and panicked, came out of the classroom and got in between me and the girls.

“Don’t come!! Absolutely not!!!”

“What’s wrong, Sakura? Do you not want Senpai to see you in a maid outfit?”

“T-t-t-that’s not it!!!”

It would have been fun to keep watching the cute, flustered Sakura, but I remembered I was in the middle of work. Seeing Sakura glaring at me, I decided to say something and leave.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Kyuu…”

I said goodbye to Sakura, who was cowering and making a squealing sound like a small animal, and to Akari and the others who were giggling the whole time, and decided to get back to work.

And after school. I was in the middle of a discussion in the classroom with Himezaki, who is also a member of our class’ cultural festival committee.

“By the way, Ibuse-kun… Have you decided who you’ll be with for the after-party?”

“……No, not yet…”

After we wrapped up one part of our discussion, Himezaki asked me that question. The after-party is an event held after the cultural festival, supposedly to make an excuse for a bonfire while cleaning up——a bit of a fictional-world tradition.

And what Himezaki meant was probably the school’s famous legend:

The partner you are with at the after-party will live happily ever after.

It’s a pretty typical saying, almost a superstition. But thanks to that, many students participate in the cleaning up every year, which is a relief. Well, that’s what my homeroom teacher told me with a laugh in the teacher’s office.

“You have to decide soon, you know? That’s what’s been making the boys nervous.”

“Huh, that has nothing to do with me.”

“It’s got everything to do with you. Haven’t you noticed? The guys are all nervous, afraid you might snatch their crush next, so they’ve been trying really hard to get the girls’ attention.”

“Ah… so that’s what it was about.”

“That’s right. So if you don’t declare it early, the boys will keep being nervous.”

So that’s why the guys have been so intense recently. Come to think of it, one of them challenged me to a basketball match in the most recent PE class. Well, I didn’t want to lose, so I beat him with my Ibuse Reo specs. Having good athletic skills is just so much fun that I can’t help but try my best.

Speaking of boys…

“What about Himezaki? Have you decided who you’ll go with?”

“Hmm… It’s a bit uncertain for now.”

“…What about Teppei?”

“…I honestly don’t know.”

When the topic turned to Teppei, Himezaki’s expression quickly clouded over. Apparently they’d gone out to hang out a few times, but there hadn’t been any progress. Teppei seems to be at a loss, too.

“It’s not like you dislike him, right?”

“…Shut up. Even I have my own concerns. You wouldn’t understand, Mr. Popular.”

“…I see. Sorry about that.”

I sincerely apologized for upsetting her. We’re friends, and I’d like to help her out if possible, but this kind of thing has to be resolved between the two of them.

“Ibse-kun, please worry about yourself more than about me, okay? Stop meddling.”

Himezaki stood up from her seat looking a little angry, packed her things and left the classroom. I’ve definitely stepped on a landmine. I tend to be a bit too meddlesome, while Himezaki has a tendency to close herself off, so we don’t quite see eye to eye. Chasing after her would probably just make her angrier.

Teppei is the only one who can do something about the darkness Himezaki is hiding. I’ll just have to make sure their relationship doesn’t end because of any misunderstandings.

Besides, as Himezaki said, it’s no good to always be worried about others. I have a lot of things I need to do. The after-party is one thing, but first of all, I need to make sure my first big task is a success.

“I have to do my best.”

Muttering to myself, I decided to head to the student council room to finish yet another task.