The Villainous Uncle in the Adult Game Gets Unusually High Praise from the Heroines - Chapter 35

Ever since I was little, I was always with my sister.

I was born alongside her, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.  

But compared to my sister, I was hopelessly lacking.  

Hopelessly inferior.  

And so, one day, on that day, I wished to become her instead.

—

◆  

“And that’s how it is. So, what do you think?”  

I asked the two of them how they felt about the novel I had shown them.  

My sister and Rindo-senpai flipped through the printed manuscript I had brought, slowly making their way through it.  

I anxiously watched their expressions.  

Feeling this way—it might actually be the first time for me. To have my heart stirred by wanting to hear their thoughts.  

I couldn’t tell if this was a good or bad thing.  

But, still.  

For some reason, I found myself welcoming this change with a positive outlook.  

Growth.  

Or perhaps regression.  

Which one was I experiencing?  

Either way, right now, I felt myself wanting to become something other than who I had been.  

But what exactly was this “something”?  

The new Yozuki Kongo.  

And what would that be—  

“Hmm…”  

Rindo-senpai groaned deeply.  

“…”  

My sister wore a very stern expression.  

From just that, I could almost guess what their feedback would be.  

I felt a little disappointed.  

And a little sad.  

But I still waited patiently for their thoughts.  

“I don’t think it’s good,” my sister muttered in a sharp tone.  

“Why did you suddenly decide to write fantasy, Yo-chan?”  

“Because I felt like it.”  

“‘Felt like it’? Well, I guess that’s fine, but didn’t we agree to stick to separate genres when writing?”  

“That was for the club magazine, wasn’t it?”  

“Yeah, but… What about you, Senpai?”  

“Hmm…”  

Rindo-senpai groaned again before responding after a brief silence.  

“I think… it feels like the atmosphere of this story is still being influenced by what you usually write. You know, the more grounded stuff.”  

“Is that so?”  

“Yeah. I’m not saying this work is bad—your ideas aren’t bad at all. But it doesn’t feel like you, Yozuki. It’s missing your usual touch.”  

“By ‘my usual touch’, do you mean writing modern-day settings?”  

I couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed.  

I had been prepared for harsh criticism, but their phrasing irked me.  

Still, lashing out with something like, “What the hell do you know!?” would only make me look petty.  

Suppressing my irritation, I let out a deep breath.  

“…Fine. I admit I may have rushed into this. I’ll stick to writing modern-day pieces for the club magazine, as usual. After all, we each have our roles to play.”  

“Wait a second,” Rindo-senpai called out, trying to stop me as I stood up to leave the clubroom.  

“Like I said earlier, I’m not rejecting your work entirely, Yozuki.”  

“I know that. I’m not storming off in anger or anything.”  

“Where are you going, Yo-chan?”  

“I’m heading home.”  

That, of course, was a lie.  

In reality, I was going to have a few acquaintances read my novel.  

People like Tendo-senpai.  

Or Hinomoto-senpai.  

…Or Take-san.  

“Well then, I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for your time,” I said, bowing my head toward the room. I turned on my heel and quickly walked down the hallway.  

…Summer vacation was only a few days away.  

With finals over, a relaxed and carefree atmosphere had taken over among the students.  

That said, once summer vacation ended, it would only be a few months before the school festival began. Preparations would start over the break.  

I supposed things were going to get busy from here on out.  

Not that I, as a first-year, really knew how big this festival was going to be.  

Still, it was hot.  

Well, it was summer, after all.

I just wanted to hurry and get to an air-conditioned room.  

Thinking that, I quickened my pace, aiming to leave the school grounds.