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 48

48. Tickling and Playfulness

“Ryusuke, thank you for the meal! Today’s breakfast was so delicious!”

“It was nothing special. I’m glad you enjoyed it, Masaki.”

After finishing her breakfast, Masaki put her hands together and smiled contentedly. I was genuinely happy that she praised the food I had made.

At the same time, I finished eating and stood up to clear the dishes. Mashiro quickly lifted the dishes I had used.

“I’ll take care of the cleanup, so Ryuusuke, just sit on the sofa and wait.”

“Is that okay? I’ll help too, you know?”

“No way. I’m the one who lives here. Besides, Ryuusuke is a guest.”

“I see. Then I’ll take you up on that and relax while I wait. Thanks.”

“Leave it to me. Now, I’ll go wash the dishes.”

As I gently patted Mashiro’s head, she walked toward the sink with a cute smile, saying “ehehe.”

After watching her back, I leaned my body against the fluffy sofa in the living room.

I had originally planned to head back home after cleaning up, but Mashiro had insisted that I stay a little longer.

I felt a bit hesitant since I had already stayed over the night before and didn’t want to be a burden, but Mashiro seemed completely unconcerned about that.

On the contrary, when I mentioned going home, her brows furrowed sadly, and her face fell. When she grabbed the sleeve of my shirt tightly and looked up at me with those big eyes saying, “Don’t go…” the option to refuse disappeared from my mind.

(After all, being alone is lonely.)

Mashiro lived in this apartment with her mother, but her mother was hardly ever home, leaving Mashiro all alone most of the time. Her father had passed away when she entered junior high, and since then, she had been living a lonely life.

During summer vacation, she couldn’t even go to school to talk to friends, and when I left, she would be alone in this vast space again. That was indeed a lonely situation.

For that reason, when Mashiro asked me to stay a little longer, I couldn’t refuse. My mom had also said, “Don’t worry about us, just play with Mashiro,” so I planned to stay with her until she was satisfied.

As I was lost in those thoughts, Mashiro, having finished the dishes, returned to the living room.

She slowly sat down next to me on the sofa, gazing at me with a blissful smile on her face.

“Ryuusuke, I’m back. The dishes are done!”

“Welcome back. Good job, Mashiro.”

When I patted Mashiro’s head, she squinted her eyes in pleasure and let out a happy “ehehe.”

This girl is truly adorable.

Her gestures, voice, and expressions are all so endearing and soothing, making the time spent alone together very comfortable.

After gently stroking her soft hair for a while, Mashiro looked up at me with sleepy eyes.

“Ryuusuke, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Since I used you as a pillow last night, I slept well and my eyes are wide open.”

“When I’m cuddled up like this with Ryuusuke, I get sleepy. You’re warm and make me feel safe, and since it’s a day off today, maybe I should take a nap again.”

With a soft smile, Mashiro rolled over and rested her head on my lap. Her fluffy, silky black hair swayed like it was dancing on my thigh.

She gazed at me with a sweet look, rubbing her cheek against my thigh. This is what they call… a lap pillow, isn’t it?

This was a bit embarrassing, so I lightly poked her forehead with my index finger to get her attention, and Mashiro puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“Hey, don’t take a nap there.”

“Oh… that’s terrible, Ryusuke just flicked my forehead!”

When I poked her plump cheeks again with my finger, Mashiro squirmed, giggling.

“Stop it! You can’t just poke my cheeks like that!”

“But I can’t help it. Your cute cheeks are just too tempting, so maybe I’ll try pulling them this time.”

“Fuh, heehee!”

As I pinched Mashiro’s cheeks and stretched them side to side, she struggled to speak, letting out a series of incoherent sounds. It seemed like she was saying not to pull, but it was too amusing, so I kept going.

I continued to pinch her cheeks, pulling and pushing them.

The sensation of her cheeks, soft and bouncy like marshmallows, was addictive, and as I played, it seemed Mashiro finally decided to fight back, reaching her hands toward me.

“Hey, that’s cheating…!”

“Hehe, this is payback for earlier!”

With a mischievous grin, Mashiro accurately targeted my armpit and began to tickle me. I couldn’t help but shudder and squirm.

As expected of a childhood friend.

She seemed to know exactly where my weaknesses lay, and her attack showed no signs of letting up.

Even my body, honed as a villain, seemed powerless against Mashiro’s tickling assault. I was on the verge of bursting into laughter.

“M-Mashiro. If you’re going to do that, then I’ll retaliate too, you know?”

“Hehe, do you think you can win against me, Ryusuke?”

“You said it, so be prepared.”

I flashed a confident grin and reached for her side.

Just as Mashiro knew my weak spots, I knew hers too. After all, we had been childhood friends for a long time.

And Mashiro’s greatest weakness was her sides. Back in elementary school, just one touch would turn her face bright red and bring tears to her eyes.

Even now, just a light poke with my fingertip made her jump.

Seeing that reaction, I was convinced her weaknesses hadn’t changed since elementary school. I began to focus my attack on her sides.

Gently tracing my fingers over her thin T-shirt, she jolted, her shoulders shaking. Like me, Mashiro was ticklish, and with just a little movement of my fingers, she twisted and laughed.

“Ahaha, you idiot! That’s so unfair!”

“What’s wrong, Mashiro? Are you already giving up?”

“Not yet! I know other weak spots of yours too!”

“Oh really? I’m looking forward to it. But at this rate, it seems like you’re going to lose.”

“No way, I’m still fine! Your weak spot is right here!”

“Wait, Mashiro! Not there…!!”

Ignoring my protest, Mashiro slipped her hand inside my shirt and directly touched my stomach.

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I was startled by the sudden event and let out a strange sound.

I hurriedly tried to stop it, but it was already too late; Mashiro was unrelentingly tickling my stomach. Her slender fingers crawled over my belly, and the sensation of ticklishness and pleasure hit me simultaneously.

Seeing me squirm, Mashiro smiled happily, but that smile was like that of a little devil.

Unable to withstand the stimulation, I finally burst out laughing. Meanwhile, Mashiro laughed mischievously.

“Ah ha! Ryusuke, you’re so ticklish, aren’t you? Should I do it some more?”

“Please spare me… If you do it any more, I’ll laugh myself to death…”

“Hehe, did I win? You should remember that when you play tricks on me, this is what happens!”

“Yeah, yeah, I understand well…”

As I showed my intention to surrender, Mashiro smiled with satisfaction and let go of her hands.

Completely relaxed, I leaned back against the sofa’s backrest.

As I tried to catch my breath, Mashiro wore a triumphant expression, puffing out her chest proudly.

However, her position was still one where I was giving her a knee pillow, and from my perspective, it was incredibly cute.

Then, with a soft, squishy smile, Mashiro looked at me and nuzzled her cheek against mine affectionately.

“I got all excited and woke up. Hey, Ryusuke, what do you want to do now?”

“Hmm, I hadn’t really thought about anything. I didn’t make any plans since today is the day after camping.”

“Did Mai-chan or your mom say anything?”

“I contacted them before breakfast, but nothing in particular. They said as long as I’m with Mashiro, that’s good enough.”

“Then should we just laze around together today?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

As I gently patted Mashiro’s head and replied, she squinted her eyes happily and snuggled closer to my hand.

While soothing Mashiro, who was being sweet like a cat, I spent a relaxing time in the living room.