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 67

67. Summer Festival ①

Sunday—The day of the summer festival.

As expected, I had trouble falling asleep the night before.

Going to a summer festival with friends—this was a youthful scene I had never experienced in my previous life, and my heart was racing.

I chuckled to myself, feeling like an elementary school student before a field trip, as I stretched my body and got out of bed.

My sister, Mai, was away for a day on a track and field trip, and it seemed she wouldn’t be back until late tonight.

Yesterday, she was really down, saying, “I wanted to see Mashiro in her yukata…” so I tried to cheer her up, but given her mood, she might be feeling down again today.

She asked me to take a picture of Mashiro in her yukata and send it to her, so for now, I hope she can be satisfied with that and focus on her club activities.

The meeting time is set for 5 PM.

We were supposed to gather at the square in front of the station, close to the summer festival venue.

There seem to be various events happening during the day, but since the daytime temperature easily exceeds 30°C, I decided against it. Instead, I planned to participate in the festival from the evening, enjoying the food stalls and primarily the fireworks display.

I finished my household chores and daily training before the meeting time, took a shower, and changed my clothes. All that was left was to grab my wallet, smartphone, and other essentials before heading out.

Reo and Nishikawa were coming together, while Mashiro said her mother would drive her to the station.

“It’s rare for Mashiro’s mom to give her a ride…”

Normally, Mashiro’s mother hardly comes home, but today she was at home and was helping with the yukata dressing and drop-off.

It’s truly strange how rare such things can be. The last time I met Mashiro’s mother was during the entrance ceremony of high school, and since then, even though I had been hanging out at Mashiro’s house, I had never once run into her.

So, it’s a bit hard to believe that Mashiro’s mother is going out of her way to come home for her daughter’s summer festival.

Whether it’s due to work circumstances or a change of heart, the reason isn’t clear, but it’s certainly a happy thing that Mashiro was able to spend time with her mother.

“Well then… I guess it’s time to go.”

Glancing at the clock, it was just past 4 PM.

I decided to leave home early and wait for everyone to arrive, so I put on the shoes by the entrance and reached for the doorknob.

As I opened the door, the humid, steamy air enveloped me. Outside, the sky was clear, with not a single cloud in sight.

During the camping trip, a sudden thunderstorm had ruined our plans, but today, it didn’t seem like there would be any rain.

Perhaps it was because I realized that no matter the bad weather, nothing could tear apart my bond with Mashiro; today, the weather seemed unusually calm.

In any case, wishing for the good weather to continue, I began walking toward the station, feeling weary of the sweltering heat outside even after 4 PM.

As I got closer to the meeting spot, the number of people on the street increased.

Everyone seemed to be preoccupied with thoughts of the festival, and seeing the lively atmosphere of the townspeople naturally lifted my spirits.

I continued walking and arrived at the meeting place.

Looking around the fountain square in front of the station, I saw many people gathered to enjoy the summer festival.

There were couples holding hands heading toward the venue, children already enjoying the festival wearing character masks, and families with kids heading toward the station platform.

Joyful voices of people of all ages filled the air, and I felt a rush of excitement to experience the summer festival atmosphere.

At that moment, my smartphone rang.

I took it out of my pocket to check, and there was Mashiro’s cat icon along with the call screen displayed.

I immediately tapped the screen to start the call, and Mashiro’s cute voice came through the speaker, making me smile.

“Hello, Ryusuke. Are you still at home?”

“No, I’ve already left and arrived at the meeting spot.”

“Wow, you’re early! There’s still more than 30 minutes to go.”

“I couldn’t help but feel restless at home. So, I decided to leave early and wait.”

—

“Hehe, Ryusuke, you’re so cute. I’m just about to arrive; my mom is sending me over.”

“Alright, I’ll head to the car. Where should I have them drop you off?”

“Near the taxi stand. That’s where I plan to get off.”

“Got it. It’s just up ahead, so I’ll go on ahead.”

“Yeah, thanks! I’ll be there soon, so wait for me!”

“Sure, see you then.”

I hung up and started walking toward the taxi stand, my pace quickening with anticipation to see Mashiro.

Before long, I spotted the car she was likely in. It was a white luxury sedan, one I remembered from the entrance ceremony, slowly coming to a stop in front of me.

The passenger door opened.

And stepping out was—Mashiro, her glossy black hair tied up, wearing a yukata.

I couldn’t help but gasp.

The white yukata, adorned with a scattering of wildflowers in gentle hues, was perfectly complemented by a light cherry blossom-colored obi that looked refreshingly beautiful on her. Her hair was styled in a bun, and a beautiful hairpin shaped like hydrangea petals in purple was secured with a golden branch.

Her usual cuteness was, of course, still there, but combined with the mature elegance of traditional attire, she exuded a captivating allure that could melt a man’s heart.

Her clear blue eyes, gazing at me, seemed to hold a deeper sparkle than usual, enhancing her beauty even more.

And above all, I was thrilled that she was wearing the yukata I had said I liked, leaving me utterly entranced, perhaps more than ever before.

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As I stood there, momentarily speechless and dazed, Mashiro opened her mouth with an expression that seemed almost feverish. Her cherry blossom-colored, moist lips trembled slightly, and she looked up at me with a gaze that seemed to expect something.

“Ryusuke, how do I look? Is the yukata… strange?”

“It’s not strange at all. In fact… you look incredibly beautiful; I couldn’t take my eyes off you. It really suits you so well.”

When I answered honestly, Mashiro shyly lowered her gaze. That gesture was also endearing, making my heart race even more.

“I-I see. Hehe… I’m so happy.”

Saying that, Mashiro smiled and gently placed her hand on her chest.

That smile radiated genuine happiness, and I could feel her joy from the bottom of her heart. I couldn’t help but smile back, and a gentle atmosphere enveloped us.

After a brief moment of gazing at each other, the passenger window rolled down, and I heard a voice calling for Mashiro, snapping me back to reality.

As she approached the window, she exchanged a word or two with her mother, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, and bowed her head slightly. The window began to close, and the car started to drive away.

Watching the car leave the station, I turned to Mashiro and asked,

“That was your mom, right? What were you talking about?”

“She told me to call her when I’m done playing. She said she’d come pick me up.”

“That’s unusual; your mom is actually picking you up?”

“Yeah, it really is rare. She came back after a long time today and helped me with everything, from putting on the yukata to styling my hair.”

“I see. It must be tough to put on a yukata by yourself, so it’s nice she helped you out.”

—

“Yeah. And Mom said, ‘Say hello to Ryuusuke for me.’”

Mashiro said this with a bright smile.

She must have been happy to be with her mother after such a long time, and the fact that she even got help with her yukata made her expression much brighter than usual.

“Well then, it’s hot here with the sun shining, so let’s move to a cooler spot. We still have quite a bit of time before we meet up.”

“Okay! Let’s find some shade and relax for a bit!”

Taking Mashiro’s hand, I started walking with her towards the gathering place in the square.

I couldn’t help but smile at Mashiro, who was bouncing along next to me.

(I have to make sure she has the best time.)

I wanted to make this day, where she could see her family and enjoy the summer festival with her friends, even more special for her.

Through this moment before the summer festival began, I renewed my vow to create the best summer memories.