I Reincarnated as the Villain in a Rom-Com but I’m Enjoying Youth with My Favorite Heroine - I Reincarnated as the Villain in a Rom-Com but I’m Enjoying Youth with My Favorite Heroine chapter 44

44. Room Camping ①

“Mashiro, let’s start with the vegetable prep. I’ll peel the potatoes, so can you take care of the carrots?”

“Understood!”

Deciding to enjoy room camping with Mashiro, I started with preparing dinner for today.

We had planned to make curry at the campsite, so we carried the prepared ingredients straight to the kitchen.

Mashiro was bouncing around excitedly, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her cheerful figure.

“Just don’t get too carried away and cut yourself, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be careful!”

When I cautioned her, Mashiro took the peeler in hand and began peeling the carrots with a serious expression.

This girl is truly remarkable. She never lets her guard down during important moments and gives her all. That’s why she always brightens up the surroundings and energizes those around her.

Seeing her like that naturally motivated me as well.

I held the potatoes and knife, peeling them with practiced hands.

For a while, silence enveloped us, the only sounds being the diligent chopping of ingredients by both Mashiro and me.

What would usually feel like an ordinary quietness now made me acutely aware of spending time with Mashiro. Just that was incredibly comforting.

As we silently worked, before we knew it, the prep for the ingredients was completed.

“Ryusuke, I’m done over here too!”

“Thanks! Now, let’s sauté the onions next. Once the oil is hot, we’ll add the potatoes, carrots, and then the meat in that order.”

“Got it! Leave it to me!”

“Good, good, what a good girl. Let’s make a delicious curry.”

“Hehe, you called me a good girl, Ryusuke. You know, you can pet me if you want?”

“That’ll be later. I don’t want to mess up your beautiful hair with my hands that have touched the ingredients.”

“Then, after we finish eating, make sure to pet me a lot, okay?”

“Yes, yes, as you wish.”

“Yay!”

With the promise of being petted as a reward for her hard work, she broke into a blooming smile.

Standing in the kitchen with Mashiro was incredibly fun.

Mashiro, seriously engaged in cooking, rejoicing in her tasks going well, and giving me her carefree smile.

Every time I saw her richly expressive and ever-changing face, I felt my heart fill up.

I don’t know any other girl as genuine and adorable as her. There’s probably no one else with whom I can feel happy just being together like I do with Mashiro.

I looked at Mashiro with affection as I skillfully continued with the cooking.

After a while, the savory aroma of curry began to waft through the room.

The rice was already cooked, and all that was left was to plate it up and complete the meal.

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“Hey, Ryusuke, if we’re going to eat, let’s do it at the table inside the tent. It feels more like camping, right?”

“That’s true. Since we’re at it, let’s go all out and do something really camping-like today.”

“I even prepared the dishes for today. Look, wooden plates and wooden spoons! Isn’t it nice and camping-like?”

“Oh, just having these makes it feel special. Alright, let’s use them right away.”

As we created an atmosphere as if we were at a campsite, we plated the finished curry.

After preparing the drinks, we took them to the living room and entered the tent, sitting down.

I placed the plate of curry rice on the low table, and Mashiro and I faced each other.

Just as our little room camping was about to begin, it happened――.

“Whoa!?”

“Whoa!?”

Thunder rumbled outside the window.

Startled by the sudden noise, both Mashiro and I jumped, our shoulders shaking.

Simultaneously, the lights that had been illuminating the room until a moment ago went out, plunging the interior into complete darkness.

“Ryu, Ryusuke… a power outage?”

“Looks like it. Just wait a moment.”

I stood up and peeked out the window to check the situation outside.

The streetlights that had been shining outside and all the surrounding houses had lost their light, leaving only darkness dominating the area.

It seemed there had been a lightning strike nearby.

At this rate, it looked like it would take some time to restore power.

“Could it be… that it’s trying to interfere this much?”

Does this story really dislike us having fun so much? First the rain and wind, and now thunder—how much more will it try to get in our way?

As I cursed at the sky, I heard Mashiro’s voice from inside the tent.

“Doesn’t look good…?”

“Yeah, it’s pitch black no matter where I look. I don’t think it’ll be back anytime soon.”

“That’s just unfair… we were just about to eat together.”

“We have to do something. At this rate, the curry I made will get cold.”

While I was racking my brain over what to do, I heard a clapping sound from inside the tent. Drawn by that sound, I turned my gaze, and a warm light suddenly illuminated the inside of the tent.

When I returned to the tent, I found Mashiro smiling with a lantern in hand.

“Ryusuke, it’s okay! We have an LED lantern!”

“Oh, right! We prepared it for camping, didn’t we?”

“Yep! With this, we can see what’s in front of us, and we can eat warm curry too!”

“Even if the power’s out and it’s pitch black, we’ll be fine with the lantern. As expected of Mashiro, you’re well-prepared.”

“Yay! I got praised again. Want to pet me?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you lots of pets.”

“Mm…”

I reached out and gently stroked Mashiro’s head.

Her expression softened, and she squinted her eyes like a cat, looking pleased.

“It feels like a real camping trip thanks to the blackout, doesn’t it? Even though we’re inside the house.”

“Yeah, it really does. Without electricity, it feels like we’re camping outside.”

“Our secret camping trip… it’s kind of fun.”

“Right? We don’t have to worry about anyone else, and we can take our time.”

“Hehe, then I’ll indulge in you today without holding back, Ryusuke!”

Saying that, Mashiro quietly sat down next to me in the dim tent.

She intertwined her arm with mine and looked up at me with a happy smile.

In the dim space shared by just the two of us, her soft touch made my heart race.

As I froze in embarrassment, unable to move, she leaned in closer, pressing against me.

The way she nuzzled against me with a smile was just like a cuddly puppy.

I couldn’t help but find her innocent closeness utterly adorable.

Today, I decided to spoil her as much as I wanted.

“Come on, Mashiro. We need to eat the curry before it gets cold.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s eat!”

Mashiro and I sat side by side, bringing the curry rice to our mouths.

The small light of the lantern flickered gently, illuminating us as we snuggled together.

Wrapped in a quieter, more peaceful glow than usual, we enjoyed our indoor camping, looking at each other’s faces.