The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 3: The Kansai Guy, Befriended by a Heroine.

The Kansai Guy, Befriended by a Heroine.

Honestly, Natsume’s outfit was basically bait for those flashy guys. Blonde hair, shoulders bare, cleavage on display, exposed midriff, and outrageously short shorts showing off her legs—honestly, if anyone asked whether I was looking at her with lecherous eyes, I’d have no choice but to say, “Yes.” From the perspective of a thirty-something man from my previous life, it was all completely inappropriate—too dazzling to look at directly. Still, I managed to meet her gaze and talk.

“Am I… really that bad?”

“I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s way too revealing. Old guys on the street were staring at you.”

“Eh, really!?”

“You’re still in high school. You should tone down the exposure a little…”

“B-But…”

“Do you think you’ll be ostracized from your group if you change your gal style? Friends like that aren’t really friends. Just drop them.”

“Ugh…”

“You still have friends you can hang out with properly, right?”

She had her childhood friend group, so she wouldn’t end up alone. Me? In both my previous life and now, as Tennouji Daiki, I could see a future of pure loneliness. Pathetic. Compared to that, she had it a hundred times better.

“Y-Yeah… Mio-chan, Rinko-chan… and… Toshiya-kun.”

“See? Those friends will stick with you. Let them teach you how to dress more like a proper high schooler.”

“Got it… You know, Tennouji-kun, you’re kind of like… a big brother… or even a dad.”

Well, considering the guy inside this body is over thirty, that makes sense. Maybe he’d even have a kid in elementary school if things went that way. Me? Don’t ask—I’m still on the lonely path.

“Well… I just said it because I cared. Think of it as nagging from someone annoying.”

“Yeah. Hehe… it makes me happy somehow. I’ve never been scolded or corrected like this by either my dad or mom before…”

“Huh? Why? Your dad and mom… oh…”

“My parents… they’re hardly ever home…”

I remembered! Natsume’s family in the game was cold and distant, both cheating or busy with work, leaving her alone at home. She’d buy pizza with money left on the table or eat a beef bowl at Washinoya…

“I-I see…”

“It’s been like that forever… hehe. I kind of wanted someone to correct me like this… Friends do warn me, but no one’s as firm as you, Tennouji-kun… I’m really happy. Even though we just met today, right?”

Damn. I’m way too weak for stories like this. She must’ve been lonely… suffered so much… and still tried so hard to keep up with her group… I almost cried.

“Uuuuuuu!! Why does such a good girl have to go through this… I have to complain to God… uuugh!!!”

“Te-Tennouji-kun! Everyone’s watching! They’re watching!!”

I ended up crying so much that it delayed walking Natsume home. But who wouldn’t cry? God… or rather, the game’s staff. Should I send them another angry email: “Don’t you have a heart?”

***

“This is fine. We’re almost there.”

“R-Really?”

“Not even a hundred meters! So it’s okay! By the way, you said you were hungry… sorry.”

“If I’d just left you there and gone to eat a beef bowl, my future self would’ve beaten me up, Natsume-san.”

“What’s that… haha! Tennouji-kun, you’re funny! I had fun.”

“O-Oh… I’m glad. Well, I’ll be off then. Be careful with your clothes, alright?”

“Okay! Maybe I’ll ask Mio-chan for advice. Thanks so much, Tennouji-kun.”

“Alright. See you.”

As I watched Natsume leave, she didn’t move for a while.

“Natsume-san, come on, go home already.”

“Hm? I thought I’d watch you leave first, Tennouji-kun.”

“Eh…”

Damn it. She feels so indebted that if we leave it like this, it’ll turn into a game of ‘Natsume-san versus Tennouji-kun’ trying not to inconvenience the other. This…

“Well, I’m heading to Washinoya. Later!”

“Yeah, see you at school, Tennouji-kun!”

I waved and headed to Washinoya. I didn’t realize it at the time, but Natsume watched my back until I was out of sight. Like a loyal dog.

Thinking back… this moment truly marked the start of a complete shift in my high school life. That’s how the end of summer went.

***

“Wow… on the very first day of reincarnation, I run into one of the heroines… And this role… isn’t it supposed to be Toshiya-kun’s part?”

I ate my beef bowl at Washinoya, took a bath, and relaxed. School starts the day after tomorrow, so I prepped my uniform, ironed my slacks and shirt, and planned to fix this horrid bleach-blonde hair tomorrow.

“A game heroine in the real world… did I die in my past life for the better… or worse…? But seeing the real Natsume-san… that’s amazing. And anyone trying to steal her? Well, that’d be me—but not really me.”

That was huge. In the game, the “king of all villains,” Tennouji Daiki, stayed the top of the hated list for years, never letting go of the lead. But here… he wasn’t around. I could safely watch Natsume and the other heroines interact with Toshiya-kun without worry. Live, up close, as part of the same class. Experiencing sweet and sour high school life firsthand—that was incredible.

Naturally, I wanted to see the other two heroines too. Akitani Mio, the girl who brings lunch every day and wakes you up in the morning. Fuyuki Rinko, the cool bookworm who loves movies and eventually becomes devoted and affectionate. And of course, the protagonist Toshiya-kun, doted on by these girls. Honestly… it’s perfect.

“So, I’ll just be the helper who shields these four from trouble… that’s fine. But maybe I want at least one friend… a girlfriend isn’t necessary.”

Yeah. I had a chance to redo my bland high school life. Escape loneliness! But the handicap of being Tennouji Daiki is rough… Well, from today, I’ve literally been reborn as a real human being, not a delinquent. From the second semester, I’ll make friends, maybe even get a girlfriend, and enjoy a high school life in full color…!

“I won’t hold back on effort. I-I just want friends… even if it’s only one… I want a friend too…”

I got teary-eyed again. But this is my second life—I want to enjoy it. I want friends. That’s my earnest wish… and plenty of sleep, which I can secure. Perfect.

“Yes, when school starts, I’ll get to see Akitani Mio… and Fuyuki Rinko… my top favorite heroines, all together… in real life, with my own eyes… oh no, I’m too excited to sleep now!”

Well, all I have to do is watch over them. Just a background character, a mob. That’s fine with me. I’ll live my life to escape loneliness and have a peaceful high school life…! Thank you, God! I’ll do my best!

“Whoa, if I keep babbling, it’s already midnight…! Time to sleep!”

Tomorrow begins the first step toward a serious life. Hair dye first! And then, my life as a background character officially starts!

Little did I know, my high school life from that point would be completely entangled with my favorite heroine—and the protagonist—turning it into something utterly unforgettable.