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 66

66. A Calm Summer Day④

“Ryuusuke, I cut the watermelon!”

“Thanks, Mashiro. Let’s eat it together.”

Mashiro neatly arranged the cut watermelon on a plate and brought it to the living room. She placed the plate on the table and sat down on the sofa next to me.

The bright red flesh and scattered black seeds.

The refreshing scent was incredibly appetizing, and I reached for the cut watermelon.

“I wonder how many years it’s been since we ate watermelon together. It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”

“I think it’s been since elementary school. It feels nostalgic!”

“Just thinking about it brings back memories. When we were playing at my house, my mom brought out the watermelon she had cut. We went out to the garden and ate it together.”

“Yeah, yeah! She treated us on a hot summer day. I remember it being really sweet and delicious.”

As we munched on the watermelon flesh, we used to play by spitting the seeds into the garden. I also recalled my mom scolding us for being rude. Now that we’re in high school, I definitely wouldn’t think of playing with seeds like that anymore.

“That’s right. Since we’re at it, how about we eat on the balcony together?”

“Yeah! That sounds so much more summery, let’s go!”

With a cheerful response to my suggestion, Mashiro and I stepped out onto the balcony, watermelon in hand.

The sunshade provided just the right amount of shade, so we weren’t directly exposed to the sunlight, and a refreshing breeze blew, making the heat feel less intense. It seemed like it would be just fine to eat outside.

I leaned against the balcony railing and took a bite of the chilled red flesh. The scent of watermelon filled the air, and the crisp texture was delightful. My mouth was filled with sweet, cold juice.

Mashiro was nibbling on her watermelon with her small mouth, looking like a squirrel as she stuffed her cheeks, which made me smile.

Then, as we soaked in the gentle summer day, we looked up at the large cumulus clouds floating in the blue sky.

“The weather is nice, isn’t it? The breeze feels good, and I hope it stays clear like this for a while.”

“Hehe, yeah. Since it’s summer, I want it to stay sunny all the time.”

“If it keeps raining, we won’t be able to go outside, and I wouldn’t want to miss out on playing with you, Mashiro.”

“Especially on Sunday, it absolutely has to be sunny. Our next outing is the summer festival, and it would be a problem if the fireworks got canceled.”

“Oh, right. I had something important to discuss about Sunday.”

“Huh… something important? Ryusuke, did something else come up?”

Surprised by my sudden mention, Mashiro furrowed her brows and peered into my face. She seemed anxious about not being able to play, and her eyes appeared to waver slightly.

Realizing I had brought it up poorly, I gently patted her head as if to say, “It’s okay.” She then squinted her eyes and smiled, leaning into the comfort.

Feeling relieved, I began to explain to Mashiro about my conversation with Reo.

On Sunday, I was planning to go to the summer festival with Mashiro, but Reo and Nishikawa had expressed a desire to join us.

Since I hadn’t hung out with those two since summer vacation started, I thought it would be nice to gather all four of us for some fun.

Upon hearing this, Mashiro’s voice brightened with excitement.

“Reo-kun and Nishikawa-kun? Wow, that sounds like it’s going to be fun!”

“Right? They said they wanted to hang out to unwind after their tough basketball camp. So, what do you think, Mashiro?”

“I totally agree! I think it would be even more fun with everyone together, and you want to hang out with Reo-kun and Nishikawa-kun too, right?”

“Well, yeah. They’ve helped me out a lot since we started going to school, so I’d be happy to hang out with them.”

“Then it’s settled! Let’s invite Reo-kun and Nishikawa-kun and go to the festival on Sunday, and we’ll have a blast going around the stalls together!”

“It sounds like it’s going to be lively. We should start thinking about how to go around now.”

“Hehe, we absolutely have to eat cotton candy and candied apples. And also try the shooting gallery and goldfish scooping…”

Mashiro murmured her list of things she wanted to do while counting on her fingers. Her clear blue eyes sparkled, and it was clear she was looking forward to the summer festival we would all attend together.

I felt exactly the same way as Mashiro, and I could imagine that we would be in this excited state right up until the night before.

“And I want to wear a yukata. What kind do you think would be good?”

“I think any yukata would look great on you, Mashiro. Because a cute girl like you would look charming in anything you wear.”

“Come on, Ryosuke. You say things like that so casually, it makes me embarrassed and flustered.”

“Sorry, sorry, but it’s the truth. I’ve been thinking about it since this morning, and even now, in your relaxed loungewear, Mashiro, you’re really cute. There’s no doubt that you look good in anything.”

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“…Ryosuke, you’re really unfair.”

Mashiro said this while fiddling with her hair and looking down. Her face was as red as a watermelon, clearly showing that she was flustered by my words.

Just a little compliment and she reacts this cutely—it’s unfair, and somehow I could feel my own face getting warm.

Then, Mashiro cleared her throat as if to gather her thoughts and opened her mouth again.

“Um… then let me change the way I ask. What kind of yukata do you like, Ryosuke?”

“Hmm, my favorite yukata, huh? I like ones that look refreshing. I think floral patterns with morning glories or hydrangeas that feel summery are beautiful. But is this really helpful?”

“Of course! If you say I look beautiful in anything, then wearing a yukata that you like will make you even happier, right?”

“If you wear a yukata that matches my preferences… that would definitely be effective.”

Having such a cute girl adjust herself to my tastes and show it off for me is certainly something to be happy about.

Moreover, even in her casual clothes, which I should be used to seeing, she looks adorable, so imagining her in a summer-only yukata is beyond comprehension. Just the thought of it made my cheeks loosen up.

Mashiro quickly noticed my reaction and mischievously smiled up at me.

“You really are easy to read, Ryosuke. Your face right now looks super happy.”

“Well, of course. It’s unreasonable to expect me not to be happy about this.”

“Hehe, look forward to it. I’ll make your face even more relaxed than it is now.”

“You’re going to make me look even more disheveled than this… If Rei and Nishikawa see me, they might laugh.”

“Ahaha, that’s true. But it sounds like it’ll be fun. I can’t wait for Sunday!”

“Ah, I’m excited already. I’m really looking forward to it.”

A day spent with Rei, Nishikawa, and Mashiro will surely become another wonderful memory. Mashiro seems to be looking forward to it too, her smile is so bright and cute.

I took a bite of the juicy red fruit and looked up at the summer sky with Mashiro.

Together, we let our hearts flutter as we thought about the summer festival on Sunday.