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

“…”

She looked up at me, as if wanting to say something. Her eyes were moist, her body tense with nervousness. Her lips parted and closed repeatedly, as though struggling to form words, until she finally took a deep breath to steady herself.

I was neither exceptionally perceptive nor blessed with sharp intuition. Even so, I could tell what she was about to do and the words she had resolved to say. It was something I had long wished for, something that defined who I was.

Yes, something that defined me.

“Tomoe-chan.”

I—Takeshi Tendo—had, for some reason, harbored feelings for Tomoe Hinomoto from the very beginning.

I believed those feelings had led us to this moment. Surprisingly, these feelings didn’t stem from my identity as a “reincarnated person”. On the contrary, they came from “me as a character in the original story”—the true essence of who I was, influencing how I felt, thought, and acted.

At the same time, it was likely because “the reincarnated me” existed that this all came to be. I had ignored this connection until now because it was painful to acknowledge.

…

I had spent most of my life being compared to my outstanding older brother.

From the moment I was born, I was expected to follow in his exceptional footsteps. It was presented to me as the “right” path to take.

I hated it.

After all, I wasn’t like my brilliant brother—I wasn’t exceptional.

So, I decided I wanted to live a different way. It was probably an act of escapism. Saying I wanted to “live doing what I loved” sounded nice, but for me, I chose that path simply because it wasn’t as painful or suffocating.

But in the end, that didn’t work out either.

“Idiot.”

“Your brother is so gifted, and yet…”

“You’ll never amount to anything.”

“Face reality.”

…

Perhaps such reactions were normal.

When there was someone exceptional, it was only natural to wish for others to be exceptional like them.

Parents hoped their children would succeed academically and lead normal, stable lives. Railroads, so to speak, were often seen as a predetermined and safe route—a path that shielded one from unnecessary suffering. Parents tended to steer their children back on track when they veered off-course.

But for me, staying on track wasn’t an option.

“…”

Tomoe-chan, on the other hand, was different.

Takeshi Tendo didn’t know this, but “the reincarnated me” did.

She wasn’t running away. She had a dream from the very beginning and was setting out to chase it, even if that dream led to a grim outcome where she fell into the hands of unkind adults.

But at the start of her journey, she had a radiant, brilliant dream.

That’s why—

“What kind of dream do you have, Tomoe-chan?”

Startled by my sudden question, she blinked at me in mild surprise.

“That… would be… well, it’s embarrassing, but I want to become an illustrator.”

Despite her embarrassment, she could say it with confidence now. She was absolutely dazzling.

Too dazzling for someone like me.

“Then you’ll have to give it your all—today, tomorrow, and every day after that—until you make it happen.”

I didn’t know what emotions she’d picked up from my words. She simply gave a small, wry smile and murmured, “Good grief…” before speaking again.

“Hey, Take-san.”

“What is it?”

“Be prepared, okay?”