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 8-9: Predicting What Will Happen Next | I Am Me

Episode 8: Predicting What Will Happen Next

Thinking about how this scenery was an everyday reality for Saijo Yuya, I can’t help but think, “Well, of course, it turned out this way.” While half of this atmosphere stems from others’ jealousy, the other half is undoubtedly his own doing. 

For that reason, I don’t feel sorry for him. This is the world Saijo Yuya himself chose, after all. Even so, whether it was when I learned about this reality through his memories or now, experiencing it firsthand, I didn’t feel any emotions like pain, discomfort, or the urge to escape. Those thoughts never even crossed my mind.

Is it because this body is already accustomed to this situation and that somehow affects my emotions? Or is it because I’m fundamentally a different person, and all this hate isn’t truly directed at me, allowing me to view it from a detached, third-person perspective? Perhaps it’s a mix of both.

Regardless of the reason, I’m relieved. I had been worried that experiencing this hostile environment firsthand, hearing the whispers and feeling the hateful stares, might be unbearable. But it seems that concern was unnecessary.

However, that’s only true for me. For her, it’s a completely different story. Really, I can’t help but wonder why Saijo Yuya never realized her worth.

No, he must have realized it. That’s why he kept her by his side as his attendant and maintained a careful distance, genuinely believing that was a form of kindness.

But to see her suffer under the weight of unreciprocated feelings, which he surely knew better than anyone… It makes me realize how truly clumsy he was.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t feel a thing.” “B-But…!” “Misaki, whose attendant are you?”

“…Saijo Yuya-sama’s.” “Then stand tall. Look at the people around us as insignificant nobodies compared to me. 

Besides, if you said those things to me, it would probably hurt. But from those people? They’re strangers. 

What strangers say doesn’t bother me, and it doesn’t get to me. What matters more to me is seeing you upset because of them. So hold your head high.”

“A-ah, um, o-okay!” If someone standing beside me is hurt by the malice directed at me, the least I can do is tell them not to worry. If doing so can make things even a little easier for her, then that’s all I ask.

Despite my resolve, the murmurs and stares grow sharper the closer we get to the classroom.

I know why this is happening. And if the game’s story plays out as it did… I also know what’s going to happen next.

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Episode 9: I Am Me

If this had been a first encounter, there’s no doubt that his surprise attack would have succeeded. But that’s the nature of a surprise attack—it works because it’s unexpected. If you know about it in advance, success is impossible.

“Saijo Yuyaaaaa!! How dare you get engaged to Hojo?!”

The one launching the surprise attack, and the protagonist of this eroge world, Tojo Keisuke, had probably been waiting for me in the classroom (out of sight from the hallway).

With a furious shout, Tojo Keisuke charges at me, throwing a punch.

However, as expected from the protagonist, his handsome face remains perfectly attractive, even as it’s flushed with anger.

He’s tall and lean, with a look that could easily land him a position as the prince of a nationally popular male idol group. I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

Returning to the story, in this scene from the eroge, the protagonist’s furious shout and surprise attack would normally leave Saijo Yuya unable to react, getting hit as a result. 

But because I already knew this would happen, I was on guard. Since I knew I was going to be attacked and punched by Toujou Keisuke, I didn’t freeze up, and of course, I wasn’t punched.

By the way, I actually believe that Saijo Yuya might have let himself get hit on purpose.

That’s because, based on my assessment of Saijo Yuya as a person, who seems to be a clumsy mess, I think it wouldn’t be surprising if he allowed himself to be punched by Toujou on purpose.

After all, a character who, as a child, learned martial arts (kickboxing) to protect himself, wouldn’t fail to dodge a punch from an unskilled protagonist, right?

My guess is that the scene in the eroge was written from the protagonist’s perspective, which is why it depicted the punch landing. I think that’s a fair conclusion.

However, I’m not quite that clumsy, nor am I someone who would just let myself be punched if I knew it was coming.

If I knew I was going to be punched, I would dodge.

That’s only natural. I don’t like pain, and I’m not into any sort of masochistic fetish.

So, I easily dodge Toujou Keisuke’s wild punch, using the kickboxing skills I’ve gained.

“Oh, you can move your body after all.” And I was more surprised than anyone when I easily dodged his punch.

It seems that the skills and experiences I accumulated as Saijo Yuya, along with the knowledge, haven’t been lost. They’ve been transferred to this body as well.

Now, with all the knowledge, experience, and skills inherited, I wonder: can I really say I am still Saijo Yuya?

It feels like I’m facing the “mud man” problem or being questioned by the “where’s the door?” issue. But no matter what, I am me. I am not Saijo Yuya.