When I Woke Up, I Seemed to Have Become the Villain in an Erotic Game I Was Hooked On, But the Route for This Character Is Nothing but Death Flags? - Episode 14-15: The Cheeseburger | Gradually Speaking Up

Episode 14: The Cheeseburger

“Yuya-sama, it’s our turn! What would you like?” While I was soaking in the difference between the world the real me used to see and the world seen through the eyes of Nishijo Yuya (an authentic handsome guy), it seemed our turn had come.

“Let’s see. I’ll go with the cheeseburger you recommended, Misaki.”  “Wh-what?! Th-that puts so much responsibility on me! What if this junk food doesn’t suit Yuya-san’s refined palate? I should’ve suggested a pricier burger instead…”

“You’re overthinking it. Besides, this junk food might surprisingly suit me, don’t you think?”
“Th-that’s true, but…” With an exchange resembling that of a newly dating couple, we ordered a cheeseburger set, which included fries and a drink, together.

After placing our order and waiting for a bit, the cashier called out the number on the receipt. I stepped up to receive the tray with our meal.

“H-he’s too handsome… I-I can’t take it anymore!”  “Le-leader?! Leader! Are you okay?!”
“I-I’m fine. I just… exceeded my capacity for heart-fluttering moments after seeing his smile… Please, take over for me.”  “Leeeader!!!”

I had only smiled lightly with gratitude while nodding when receiving the tray, but the cashier lady who handed me the food seemed to have collapsed. 

The scene grew a bit chaotic, but she appeared to be fine, so I didn’t intervene and simply moved to an empty two-person table in the store, sitting across from Misaki.

As I unwrapped the cheeseburger, I took a moment to examine it. The packaging looked similar to the McDonald’s I knew but was slightly different, with unique logos and designs. It reminded me once again that this was a different world.

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot that Yuya-sama can do anything, but this is your first time at a McDonald’s. To eat it, you just unwrap the paper like this and take a bite straight out of it. It’s not the most elegant way, but it’s delicious all the same.”

Seeing my hesitation, Misaki must have misunderstood, thinking I didn’t know how to eat it. She eagerly demonstrated with animated gestures, explaining step by step.

“Hmm… It’s good.”  “R-really?! I’m so glad to hear that!” Following Misaki’s instructions, I took a big bite of the cheeseburger. My mouth was filled with a nostalgic flavor that warmed my heart.

When I voiced my satisfaction, Misaki’s face lit up with a radiant smile, as though flowers were blooming.

Her smile was so infectious, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest. Had Misaki not been assigned as Nishijo Yuya’s attendant, she would’ve been sharing moments like this with her friends or classmates instead of with me. That thought made her joy bittersweet to witness.

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Episode 15: Gradually Speaking Up

“Misaki… I’m so sorry for having forced my selfishness onto you until now!” Seeing her like that, I found myself bowing my head and apologizing before I even realized it.

“Huh? Um… W-What do you mean? P-Please, lift your head! I’m not sure what’s going on, but I can’t think of anything unpleasant you’ve ever done to me. So, there’s absolutely no need for you to apologize!”

Of course, Misaki had no idea what I was apologizing for since it came so out of the blue. She quickly urged me to raise my head.

“By keeping you as my attendant all this time, I’ve only just realized that I stole your chance to enjoy your student life. I know it’s far too late, and I understand an apology alone could never make up for the years you’ve lost. But even so, can you allow me to apologize?”

Despite my continued bowing, Misaki grew serious and addressed me. “Why? Why does that warrant an apology? Have I ever once expressed that I was unhappy with the current situation?”

“Well, no… You’ve never said that. But still, I can’t help but think about it. If I hadn’t bound you to me as my attendant, maybe you’d be enjoying your school life with your classmates right now, making lots of friends, and perhaps even having a boyfriend.

 That kind of ‘what if’ life might’ve been possible for you. And the one who robbed you of that future… was undoubtedly me.”

“…I… see. But even so, I cannot accept this apology. If this burden of guilt has been weighing on you all this time, then I’m the one who should apologize. I’m deeply sorry for failing to notice your feelings. If it’s not too late, could I continue serving as your attendant from here on out?”

This time, after hearing my words, Misaki bowed her head and apologized to me instead.

While I could understand why I might feel the need to apologize to her, I couldn’t grasp why Misaki felt the need to apologize to me.

Sensing my confusion, Misaki slowly began to speak. “I think I’ve been leaning on you too much, Yuya-sama. When we first met, back in the third grade of the elementary division… I was, as you likely remember, being bullied by the class leader. 

The reason was my circumstances. When I first enrolled in Seijou Academy’s elementary division, my parents divorced, and I was taken in by my mother. But my mother, who was already frail, couldn’t work outside, so we survived on the child support provided by my father.

In such a life, even taking regular baths became difficult, and my clothes grew shabbier by the day. It was only a matter of time before I became the target of bullying.”