The Villainous Uncle in the Adult Game Gets Unusually High Praise from the Heroines - Chapter 2

As I rose from my light slumber, my consciousness slowly awakened. Opening my eyes, I saw the dark ceiling of my room. I abruptly sat up, scanning the darkness-drenched surroundings of my unchanged room and its familiar scenery. 

Yet, despite the familiarity, this house had undoubtedly changed.

It was no longer our home—no longer my family’s. This house now belonged to that mysterious man, Takeshi Tendo, who always wore an unsettling smile, as though gauging others’ moods, his true nature thinly veiled. 

Though our encounters were infrequent, my impression of him was far from favorable. He was, as I had been told, my father’s younger brother.  

Now, I found myself under Takeshi-san’s guardianship. Anxiety lingered within me, though he had yet to do anything overtly harmful. 

Still, I knew better than to let my guard down so soon. I knew little about him and felt an unshakable duty to scrutinize his every move. If he were to harm this house, which Mom and Dad had left behind, I would never forgive him. 

Despite it now being his, it remained filled with memories of my family.

“…I’m hungry,” I murmured as the thought struck me. Though I had been eating regularly to avoid falling ill, the portions had been meager. Lately, I’d been surviving on instant noodles, lacking the energy to cook proper meals. My empty stomach now demanded attention.  

Deciding it was better to satisfy my hunger than to let it keep me awake, I left my room.

Noticing the downstairs light still on, I wondered if Takeshi-san was awake. As I descended the stairs, the savory aroma of burning soy sauce wafted toward me.  

“Ah, you’re up, Sakurako-chan,” Takeshi-san greeted me warmly as I entered the kitchen.  

Something about him felt different. His smile seemed more natural than before.  

“Um…”  

“You came at just the right time, Sakurako-chan. ‘This’ is almost ready, so please wait at the dining table,” he said, motioning toward the table.  

Following his suggestion, I took my usual seat in the dining room. Shortly after, Takeshi-san appeared, carrying a plate of… grilled rice balls? They looked somewhat unusual—flat, with an intriguing shine.  

“Is this…”  

“It’s my special grilled rice ball. I found a hot sandwich maker and thought I’d experiment with it,” he explained.  

“I… see.”  

“When you fry them, the surface turns crispy and delicious. I used sesame oil this time, so they smell great and should taste even better,” he added with a smile.  

Encouraged to try one, I cautiously picked up a piece with my chopsticks and took a bite.  

—It was delicious.  

The crispy, fragrant surface perfectly complemented the salty soy sauce with a subtle hint of sweetness, possibly from sugar.  

“It’s delicious,” I said, voicing my honest thoughts.  

“I’m glad to hear that,” Takeshi-san replied with satisfaction, his expression then turning unexpectedly serious.  

“Sakurako-chan, if you ever have any troubles, things you want to do, or anything you’d like to say, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”  

“…Eh?”  

“I’m new to this house, but I’m older than you—a proper adult. As your guardian, I feel obligated to help fulfill your wishes, naturally within reason,” he said earnestly.  

“…Why?” I asked softly, looking down. “Why are you saying this now?”  

“Well, that’s…” His serious expression softened into a gentle smile.  

“From today, you and I are housemates living under the same roof. I thought it would be best to say this early on.”  

“I see…” I nodded slightly, acknowledging his reasoning. The word “housemates” stood out. It felt like a deliberate choice, respecting the bonds of our family while acknowledging the new reality. That small consideration made me a little happy.  

Even so, I said nothing further and focused on finishing the grilled rice balls.  

“Well then, I’m going to bed,” I announced, standing abruptly and heading upstairs.  

“Yeah, good night,” Takeshi-san replied.  

The last expression I saw on his face was calm and gentle, a stark contrast to the unsettling smile I had first associated with him.