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 45

45. Camping in the Room②

“Still, it’s really dark, isn’t it?”

In the pitch-black tent due to the power outage, Mashiro cheerfully murmured as she snuggled up close to me.

Outside the window, there was only darkness, and nothing was visible. The sky was covered with thick clouds, and raindrops were pounding hard against the window glass.

The lantern we had prepared for camping was our only source of light.

After the power outage, I tried to contact my family, but it seemed they were also experiencing a blackout at home. My mother told me, “The weather is bad and it’s dangerous, so don’t come back. Just stay over at Mashiro’s house.”

I couldn’t just leave Mashiro alone in the dark. Tonight, I planned to spend the night cuddled up with her.

“Mashiro, would you like some coffee? I bought some beans for today’s camping.”

“Yeah, I want some. Thank you, Ryusuke.”

Since Mashiro answered with a smile, I took out the coffee beans and the portable stove from my belongings.

Fortunately, even with the power outage, the water supply was still usable.

Then I took out the outdoor pot, filled it with water, and started heating it on the portable stove. At the same time, I ground the coffee beans with a manual coffee grinder to prepare for dripping.

Mashiro watched me prepare the coffee with a cheerful smile.

“Ryusuke, you’re really good at making coffee. It feels like I’m watching someone from a shop.”

“I’m used to it. I’m quite particular about the coffee beans too; I chose a sweet one that matches your taste, Mashiro.”

“Ah, you’re so considerate. As expected of my childhood friend, you even know my likes and dislikes!”

“Well, we’ve known each other for a long time. I also brought some snacks, your favorite chocolate cookies.”

“Wow, I’m so happy! You’ve thought of everything!”

“You’re being overly dramatic. Look, the water has boiled. I’ll brew the coffee now.”

Mashiro nodded happily.

I set a paper filter in the dripper and added the freshly ground coffee beans inside.

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Then I poured the boiling water over them.

“What a calming aroma. It feels like we’re enjoying a luxurious moment.”

“Indeed. Sometimes, this kind of time is nice.”

“Yeah, even though there’s a power outage.”

“Precisely because there’s a power outage. It gives a special feeling that’s different from usual.”

“Well, I guess so. It’s exciting during times like this; it feels a bit like an extraordinary experience.”

“Right? Honestly, I’m also feeling a bit excited right now.”

When the camping trip in the forest park was canceled due to the rain and wind, I was surprised when Mashiro suggested we camp in the room as an alternative.

Then, with the unexpected power outage, we found ourselves in a situation that felt like we were really camping indoors. We were enjoying an extraordinary time that we couldn’t normally experience.

From now on, we would play cards in the tent, lie down lazily, and chat about trivial things, spending a different kind of time with Mashiro. Just thinking about it made my heart naturally leap with joy.

“It’s ready. Here’s a special coffee just for you, Mashiro. Lots of milk and a good amount of sugar, right?”

“Ehehe, thank you! It’s just how I like it!”

“It’s great. Then let’s drink it before it gets cold.”

“Yeah! Thank you!”

“Here, enjoy.”

We sat side by side with our mugs in hand, slowly savoring the coffee under the small light of the lantern.

Mashiro smiled contentedly, sipping with a soft sound, clearly enjoying it.

I brought my own coffee to my lips. The fruity, sweet aroma spread pleasantly in my mouth.

It’s strange how just drinking in the tent makes it taste so much better than usual.

Moreover, the warmth of Mashiro leaning against me was comforting. Mashiro also relaxed her cheeks, looking quite pleased.

“This is happiness… relaxing like this with Ryusuke is so calming.”

“The tent feels small, so it makes us feel even closer.”

“That’s true. There’s something reassuring about this tightness, it feels somehow comforting. It reminds me of playing in our secret base when we were in elementary school.”

“Ah, I remember well. We built a secret base in the park, didn’t we?”

“Exactly! We took cardboard boxes into the bushes at the park and made a secret base. We played there every day after school.”

“Back then, you and I were saying it was so cramped while snuggling together.”

“Ah, how nostalgic! We’ve been together since those days, haven’t we?”

“Speaking of which, Mashiro, even though you were scared of the dark, you wouldn’t come out of the secret base, crying for me to come quickly.”

“Muu, we promised not to talk about that. Besides, I’m a high school student now, so I’m not scared of the dark anymore.”

“Oh, you said it, huh? Then how about we turn off the lantern and make it completely dark?”

“Ah, no way! If you turn it off, I’ll get mad, you know? I really will get mad!”

“The way you reacted shows you’re still not good with the dark.”

“Th-that’s not true! I’m an adult now…! Ah, you definitely don’t believe me! You always treat me like a child!”

“Alright, alright, that’s true. Mashiro is already an adult now.”

“Geez!”

Mashiro puffed her cheeks out, but she still looked somewhat happy while laughing.

Seeing her like that made me involuntarily chuckle.

The time spent in the tent, alone together, talking while leaning against each other was peaceful and very soothing for my heart.

And so, the night slowly deepened.