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 69
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- 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 69
69. Summer Festival③
While Mashiro was enjoying the shooting game with Nishikawa, I was sharing some takoyaki bought from a nearby stall with Reo.
The bonito flakes danced lightly, and the savory aroma of green onions whetted my appetite.
As I popped a round takoyaki, skewered with a toothpick, into my mouth, the exquisite blend of sauce and mayonnaise, combined with the chewy texture of the octopus, was delightful.
Yeah, this is pretty good.
As I savored the taste, I turned to Reo beside me.
“By the way, have you hung out with Fusegawa recently? You mentioned that after the training camp, you had more flexible time, right, Reo?”
“Several times, yes. But it’s a bit different from just playing around, I think.”
“A bit different… That sounds like a loaded statement.”
Reo is originally the protagonist’s best friend character.
From a different position than the heroines surrounding Yoshito Fusegawa, he has the role of supporting the protagonist as a same-s*x friend.
So, it feels a bit off that Reo is here at the summer festival with me, the villain, instead of Yoshito Fusegawa. That’s why I asked if something had happened with him.
Reo’s expression doesn’t look good. While I wait for him to start talking, I pop another takoyaki into my mouth. As I savor the umami spreading in my mouth, Reo begins to speak.
“Recently, Yoshito’s been acting a bit strange. To be honest, I’m worried about him as a friend.”
“…In what way is he strange?”
“Maybe since around the time the final exams ended. He seems a bit absent-minded, you know? When I ask him what’s wrong, he just insists that it’s ‘nothing’ and won’t tell me… And since summer vacation started, it seems he had a fight with Senior Sakurami.”
“A fight… with Senior Sakurami, the student council president he was always with?”
“Yeah. Just as Ryusuke thinks, it’s definitely the student council president, Senior Sakurami.”
That’s news to me. I can’t believe Yoshito Fusegawa had a fight with one of the heroines.
Now that I think about it, when I ran into Yoshito at the beach, Senior Sakurami Miyuki wasn’t there. I thought she just couldn’t make it, but I was surprised to find out it was because they had fought.
“Also, it seems he recently had a fight with his childhood friend, Hime no-san. Apparently, there was a beach volleyball tournament at the seaside. After losing that tournament, he ended up angering Hime no-san.”
“…A beach volleyball tournament.”
I remember that well.
It was an event set up to showcase the protagonist’s prowess by pitting the awakened Yoshito Fusegawa against me, the villain.
But at that time, I was able to rally the readers enjoying this world as a story and the audience present by wholeheartedly confronting Yoshito while encouraging Mashiro and Mai, temporarily gaining the power to stand toe-to-toe with the protagonist.
As a result, I, the villain, awakened my strength as a protagonist and snatched a comeback victory… but to think that Yoshito Fusegawa and Hime no Kakeru had fought afterward is surprising.
I had noticed that the atmosphere was tense during the match.
Every time Hime no Kakeru or Hanazaki Yuna made a mistake, Yoshito would shout loudly in anger.
His behavior as a protagonist was nowhere to be seen; he was selfish and obstinate, and his boorish conduct stood out.
“I know Yoshito is competitive. But it seems he started blaming Hime no-san’s play for their loss, and that led to an argument.”
“I see… Well, that would definitely upset Hime no-san.”
From my perspective, Hime no Kakeru was really giving it her all. She was using her physical abilities to dash around the court, desperately going after the ball for Yoshito’s sake.
To lash out at her instead of supporting her dedication… Yeah, it’s clear that he’s in the wrong here.
Still, I can’t shake this feeling of discomfort.
The Yoshito Fusegawa I know from the original story was much more gentlemanly; he shouldn’t have acted so roughly.
He was kind, considerate, and always worked hard for someone else’s sake. That’s why the heroines admired him, and they fell for him as they witnessed his earnest efforts.
But the Yoshito Fusegawa now feels like a completely different person.
Though he holds the title of protagonist, the behavior displayed by Fusegawa Raito during the match is completely unimaginable from what I know of “Fusekoi.”
The man known as Fusegawa Raito, as depicted in the manga and anime I’ve seen, is a kind guy who resonates with readers and viewers, possessing a friendly charm that endears him to the heroines.
Just as my reincarnation has significantly altered the character of Shindo Ryusuke, perhaps there has been some change in Fusegawa Raito as well…
I ponder this, but no answers come to mind. Even if I try to guess the reason for Fusegawa Raito’s change, there simply isn’t enough information to make a judgment.
“By the way, Reo, do you know why Sakuramiya-senpai and Fusegawa Raito had a fight?”
“I don’t know the details, but it seems it was due to their scores on the final exam.”
“Scores on the final exam? Sure, Fusegawa missed first place, but… still, being second in the grade is a commendable achievement.”
“I think it’s more about the fact that he lost to Ryusuke. Raito seems to have made Ryusuke his rival for some reason.”
“I see… he’s frustrated about losing to me.”
“But Ryusuke doesn’t need to worry about it. Exams are fair and impartial, and they reflect a person’s efforts in numbers. Ideally, one should praise those who rank higher, and getting angry because someone ranked lower is misplaced. Right?”
“Thanks, Reo. I appreciate your support like that.”
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“I’m just stating the facts. Ryusuke should hold his head high. Scoring full marks in every subject isn’t something just anyone can do.”
With that, Reo smiled at me. I could feel my cheeks soften at the kindness of such a friend.
“By the way, what happened with Fusegawa? They didn’t break up or anything, did they?”
“Ryusuke is worried about Raito, huh? That’s impressive. But it’s okay. I really wanted them to reconcile, so after the training camp ended and we returned, I worked hard to mend Raito’s relationship with her. It ended up going well.”
“So that’s why you were speaking ambiguously earlier. They met but didn’t hang out.”
“Exactly. Thanks to that, I’m feeling a bit worn out. The fatigue from the camp combined with mental exhaustion has me kind of shaky right now.”
Reo wore a self-deprecating smile. If I looked closely, there were indeed dark circles under his eyes. He must really be tired.
On the other hand, the results of his hard work seem to be quite good, as Reo’s expression looked somewhat satisfied, and it likely wasn’t just my imagination.
“I’m feeling a bit worn out right now and seeking some comfort. That’s why I ended up calling Ryusuke, sorry for interrupting your summer festival date.”
“Not at all. I wanted to make memories at the summer festival with you and Nishikawa, and I was really happy you reached out.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. No, really. When I hang out with Ryusuke, I can relax without feeling tense, and I truly appreciate that.”
“If you ever have any troubles, feel free to consult me. I’ll help with whatever I can.”
“Thank you, Ryusuke. Next time, I’ll make it up to you.”
Reo bowed his head apologetically. He really doesn’t need to worry this much.
If Reo’s account is true, then after losing in the final exam, he had a fight with the student council president, Sakuramiya Miyuki, and quarreled with his childhood friend, Hineno Karen, during the beach volleyball tournament, leading to the gradual collapse of the harem that had formed around the protagonist.
Thanks to Reo, it seems that relationship has been mended, but I can’t shake the image of a dark shadow that has fallen. There’s certainly a possibility that something will happen again between the protagonist and the heroines.
The content has already started to deviate from the original story, and irregular developments that I don’t know about have occurred multiple times.
In any case, it’s undeniable that my role as the antagonist has brought about significant changes to the story. I vowed to continue putting in my utmost effort without letting my guard down.
As I was chatting with Reo, Mashiro and Nishikawa rushed over with troubled expressions.
“Ryusuke, I have a favor to ask… Is now a good time?”
“Hmm? What’s up, Mashiro? Do you want to win a prize at the shooting game?”
“I’m counting on you too, Ryusuke. I was aiming for that cat plushie because Mashiro-chan asked me to… but I just can’t seem to get it. I thought since you’re a Predator in Eirex Legend, you’d be great at shooting games.”
“Yeah… Ryusuke, please. That cat plushie is so cute… but I can’t get it.”
“Alright, got it. Leave it to me.”
“Yay! Thanks, Ryusuke!”
The two had been playing at the shooting game for a while, but it seemed they had been stubbornly trying to win the cat plushie without success.
Once I quickly agreed, Mashiro led me to the shooting booth with sparkling eyes.
I handed over some money and received a toy gun and cork bullets, then immediately began to take aim.
I see, the plushie Mashiro wants is a calico cat.
It looks quite sturdy, and just hitting it with a half-hearted shot probably wouldn’t budge it. It’s no wonder they had given up.
I carefully took aim. Pointing the gun at the head, which was higher than its center of gravity, I steadied my breathing. I could hear Mashiro, Reo, and Nishikawa holding their breath behind me.
Then, I slowly squeezed the trigger—BANG! The bullet was released and hit the cat’s head.
The calico cat plushie wobbled and then fell backward.
Mashiro jumped up behind me, delighted, while Reo and Nishikawa applauded.
“Wow, you got it in one shot! Ryusuke, you’re so cool!”
“Seriously. Your goldfish scooping skills were impressive, but you’re also good at shooting games, Ryusuke.”
“As expected of a Predator. You’re reliable both in real life and in games.”
Feeling bashful from their praise, I received the calico cat plushie from the booth owner.
As I handed the plushie to Mashiro, she smiled happily and cradled it carefully with both hands. Seeing her gently pet it, it seemed she really liked it.
“Hehe. Thanks to you, Ryusuke, I’ve got another cat to decorate my room. Thank you!”
“If you want anything else, just let me know, Mashiro.”
“Okay! I’ll ask you again next time, Ryusuke!”
Mashiro buried her face in the plushie with a relaxed smile. Her happy and adorable appearance naturally made my face soften too.
“Alright, Ryusuke. Next, let’s try the shape-cutting game. It’s perfect for testing our dexterity.”
“Whoa, Kyouya. If that’s the case, it’s my turn to shine here.”
“I’m good at shape-cutting too! How about a competition to see who can do it the fastest?”
“Sounds good, Mashiro. I’ll show you my skills honed through gaming.”
We headed enthusiastically to the next game area. Enjoying the fun and fulfilling time spent with important people, we returned once again to the hustle and bustle of the summer festival.