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 70

70. Summer Festival ④

“Food bought from a stall just tastes better, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, Kyouya. It’s strange how the food sold at stalls is so appealing. I want to eat everything.”

“Ahaha, that’s true. Maybe it’s the special atmosphere of the festival?”

“Takoyaki, yakisoba, frankfurters. Chocolate bananas and cotton candy. I’ve eaten so much that I’m full, but my wallet is completely empty. Well, I had a blast, though.”

The lights and scents of the stalls, colored by the clamor and energy of the festival. Coupled with the special atmosphere unique to the festival, it’s easy to loosen the purse strings. Because of that, I’ve completely spent the allowance my mom gave me.

But I can confidently say that I had a fulfilling time that was worth every bit of it.

After finishing our tour of the stalls, we relaxed on a bench in a square a little away from the summer festival venue.

Reo and Nishikawa were contentedly picking at yakisoba with their chopsticks. Mashiro was playing with a water balloon yo-yo, splashing it around.

Watching the three of them with a smile on my face, I gazed at the beautiful goldfish swimming energetically in the plastic bag, like a sparkling jewel.

Including this lively and adorable goldfish, we had collected various prizes from the stalls.

A calico cat plush toy won from a shooting game. A bag of assorted candies won from a shape-cutting game. Other prizes included water balloons and super balls caught from a yo-yo fishing game.

Each one of these treasures is filled with our precious memories, marking an irreplaceable page of our youth.

In front of these items that I could never have obtained in my previous life, warm emotions overflowed in my heart.

All of this is possible because Mashiro, Reo, and Nishikawa are by my side.

The best moments that I could never have experienced alone; I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for being able to spend this time now.

(Really… thank you.)

I whispered words of gratitude in my heart and stretched out my arms wide.

Then, looking up at the night sky, I saw beautiful stars sparkling all around.

With the fireworks festival scheduled to start soon, the weather looked perfect for an amazing display.

It seemed Mashiro was looking forward to it as well, gazing at the sky with an excited expression.

“The fireworks festival starts at seven, right? It’s almost time!”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s about time to move, so let’s get going.”

The time for the fireworks festival was drawing near.

As I called out to everyone and stood up from the bench, Reo suddenly spoke up while cleaning up the finished yakisoba.

“Ryusuke, I remember a great spot to recommend. There’s a hidden place where you can see the fireworks really well, and it’s not crowded.”

“Oh, that sounds great. Where is it?”

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“Just follow me. It’s close from here.”

Reo flashed a refreshing smile and began to guide us to the recommended spot.

Curious about what this hidden place would be like, Mashiro and I followed behind Reo with eager hearts. Meanwhile, Nishikawa was munching on a frankfurter as he walked, prioritizing food over the fireworks.

As they walked for a while, Reo stepped into a residential area and continued down an alley.

“There’s a staircase up ahead, and if you climb it, you’ll find a path that leads to a shrine. If you go around to the back of the shrine’s grounds, there’s a perfect spot to watch the fireworks.”

“Wow, as expected of Reo. To have such information all figured out.”

“I have a wide circle of acquaintances, you know. I know a lot of other things too. If I get the chance, I’ll show you.”

“I’m looking forward to it. If it’s a spot Reo recommends, it must be great.”

As I praised him honestly, Reo blushed and smiled shyly.

Then the four of us climbed the stairs, and before long, we arrived at the shrine Reo had mentioned.

We went around to the back of the grounds and looked around, and both Masaki and I let out exclamations of wonder.

“Wow. I didn’t know a place like this existed.”

“Wow, amazing! Here, you can definitely see the fireworks well.”

Below us sprawled the residential area, with nothing obstructing the night sky, and the vibrant colors of the city lights and the twinkling stars were visible in one sweeping view. It was truly a breathtaking scene.

Here, we could fully enjoy the fireworks. Moreover, there were no other people around, and the soothing sounds of insects provided a calming silence.

As we were moved by such a magnificent view, Masaki, who stood next to me, tugged at my sleeve. With her clear blue eyes sparkling, she spoke to me in a cheerful voice.

“It’s amazing, Ryusuke. To be able to watch fireworks together in such a beautiful place feels like a dream!”

“Yeah. Just coming here for this view was worth it. And adding fireworks to that is just the best. I’m really grateful to be guided to a place like this.”

While thanking Reo, I smiled at Masaki. She responded with a beaming smile of her own.

Just then, a signal for the fireworks echoed from afar.

“It seems like it’s about to start. Hey, Kyouya, this isn’t the time to be eating. You have to be quiet when watching the fireworks.”

“Oh, right. Sorry. This frankfurter is just too good, I couldn’t help it.”

Even when Reo scolded him, Nishikawa remained unfazed, which made Masaki and me chuckle.

Then we returned our gazes to the night sky, waiting for the moment.

Soon――a large flower bloomed in the sky.

Beautiful lights adorned the darkness. In the pitch-black sky, beautiful light flowers bloomed and scattered, then bloomed again. Watching the fireworks that were launched one after another, we were left speechless.

Red, blue, green, yellow, purple. Various colors bloomed vividly, and we were captivated by the beautiful and powerful brilliance of the fireworks.

“That’s amazing, Reo. This year’s fireworks are exceptional.”

“Yeah, really. They’re beautiful and so impressive.”

Even Nishikawa, who usually seemed uninterested in such things, was now sparkling with excitement as he enjoyed the fireworks, while Reo, who had introduced us to this place, smiled proudly.

“… so beautiful.”

Masaki murmured softly, her large eyes captivated by the fireworks.

The light flowers reflected in her clear blue eyes.

Illuminated by the colorful fireworks, Mashiro’s pure white profile looked the most enchanting and beautiful it ever had.

“Ah… truly, truly beautiful.”

Amidst the booming sounds that erupted with each firework, I whispered words so softly that no one could hear.

As I burned the image of Mashiro watching the fireworks into my memory, I tightly grasped her small hand.

Mashiro seemed surprised, but her face flushed with embarrassment as she intertwined her fingers with mine in return.

The warmth that flowed from our joined hands.

It was warm and gentle enough to make me forget the summer heat.

As I felt happiness radiating from the warmth in my fingertips, I heard Mashiro’s gentle, bell-like whisper.

“Since both you and Reo-kun are focused on the fireworks… is it okay if we stay like this for now?”

“…Of course.”

“Hehe, I’m so happy.”

After we spoke in hushed tones, Mashiro and I exchanged glances and smiled at each other.

Then, she leaned against me as she looked up at the fireworks.

The vibrant fireworks lit up the night sky.

In that moment, surrounded by my dear friends Reo and Nishikawa, and the one I cherished most, Mashiro, my heart was filled with a serene happiness.

This was just a fragment of the perfect youth I had dreamed of. I had struggled desperately to reach this moment, to obtain this piece.

A place I had earned through my own efforts, a place that a villain like me could never have reached.

The fleeting summer days were transforming into irreplaceable treasures. I felt that moment was now upon me.

“I’m really happy. I hope we can all watch together like this again next year.”

“We’ll definitely be able to. Next year, the year after, and forevermore.”

“Yeah! It’s a promise, Ryusuke.”

At those words, Mashiro replied happily and gently leaned her shoulder against me.

With the soft sensation, her warmth seeped into me, causing a sweet ache deep in my chest.

As I glanced at Mashiro’s profile illuminated by the beautiful fireworks, I etched the memories that colored the summer night sky into the depths of my eyes.

Interlude, Chapter XX, Christmas Special Short Story

“Merry Christmas! Ryusuke!”

Just after I opened the front door of Mashiro’s house, a loud pop sounded, and confetti and ribbons danced around me.

Startled by the suddenness, I widened my eyes, but upon seeing Mashiro holding a party popper, I quickly understood.

Wearing a red Santa hat adorned for Christmas, a lovely skirt with fluffy white trim, and a red coat resembling a poncho, Mashiro looked just like Santa Claus.

I had been invited to a Christmas party tonight, so I should have known in advance…

Still, it’s only natural to be surprised.

I had thought we would just enjoy delicious fried chicken and cake together, playing games and having fun, but I never expected her to have even prepared a Santa costume.

“W-Wow, you really went all out… I’m shocked.”

“Hehe, I wanted to surprise Ryusuke! Hey, hey, do I look good? My Santa outfit!”

Masiro placed her hands on her hips, beaming with pride.

In her Santa outfit, Masiro looked up at me, puffing her cheeks and breathing heavily, clearly in a good mood. It seemed she had a lot of confidence in this costume. Indeed, Masiro looked even cuter than usual in her Santa attire.

“Ah, I think it really suits you. Where did you buy it?”

“Um, well, I’d rather you not ask that. I went to a costume shop to pick it out.”

“You went all the way to a store… You were really looking forward to today’s Christmas party, huh?”

“Of course! I’ve always wanted to do something Christmas-y with you, Ryusuke. I really put my heart into preparing for today. Even the cake is homemade, you know? I worked hard on it!”

Masiro smiled brightly, puffing out her chest with pride. Just looking around the entrance, I could see that the room was beautifully decorated. It seemed Masiro had been preparing for this day for quite some time.

As I let out a sigh of admiration at the Christmas atmosphere inside the house, Masiro suddenly hugged my arm tightly. The soft sensation made my heart skip a beat. Masiro looked up at me with a mischievous smile, her clear blue eyes sparkling as she gazed up at me.

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“Ahaha, Ryusuke, you’re blushing. So cute!”

“…Y-You’re being more forward than usual today.”

“Well, it’s Christmas after all. It’s nice to do things like this once in a while, right?”

“W-Well…”

“Come on, Ryusuke! Hurry up! If you don’t, the food will get cold! We’re going to eat together for Christmas, and then we’ll have cake!”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Just don’t pull me, I need to take off my shoes. And if you keep squirming like that, Masiro’s chest will…”

“Hehe, look at you, your face is all red. You really are a boy, aren’t you?”

“Sh-Shut up. This is completely beyond my control.”

I hurriedly retorted to Masiro, who was laughing playfully. Seriously, what a ridiculous Santa. There’s no way I could stay calm when being so close to such a cute girl.

After that, Masiro took my arm and led me toward the living room. As we walked down the hallway, she kept turning back, smiling happily.

In the living room, the party preparations were already in full swing, with a variety of dishes laid out on the table.

The indoor Christmas tree was adorned with colorful, vibrant ornaments, and the walls were decorated with sparkling party streamers. On the glass windows, snow spray had been used to create a snowman design.

Everything had been prepared by Masiro alone. She had gone to such lengths just to enjoy Christmas with me. I felt a surge of affection for her, finding her earnestness and determination utterly endearing.

“Wow, this is amazing. You made all of this, right?”

“Yep! I might have gone a bit overboard, though.”

“No, it’s perfect. Knowing that this Christmas party is filled with your feelings makes me feel really moved.”

“Hehe, thank you! I’m so happy to hear you say that!”

Next to me, Masiro showed off her adorable smile.

That smile was as bright as a sunflower, and just looking at it made me feel happy.

“Let’s get started right away! First, dinner together. It’s all homemade, so savor every bite, okay?”

“Of course. Anything made by Mashiro is bound to be delicious. I won’t hold back.”

“Hehe, dig in!”

We sat down at the table, laughing together.

Before us spread a lavish dinner specially prepared by Mashiro. There were colorful dishes lined up, including fried chicken, French fries, minestrone soup, and salad, all looking incredibly appetizing.

“Oh, let me pour the drinks first.”

Mashiro picked up a glass and began to pour some sparkling cider.

With a fizzy sound, the bubbles burst like tiny snowflakes. The festive atmosphere made my heart skip a beat.

“Alright then, Ryusuke. Merry Christmas!”

“Yeah, Mashiro. Merry Christmas.”

We gazed at each other and lightly clinked our glasses.

A pleasant sound echoed, marking the beginning of our private Christmas celebration.

I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip. The refreshing taste of carbonation and the sweet aroma of fruit spread through my mouth.

Yeah, when it comes to Christmas, sparkling cider is a must.

As I thought this, I looked over at Mashiro, who was gazing at me with a joyful expression.

“It’s delicious, Ryusuke. Drinking sparkling cider like this really feels like Christmas!”

“Feels like Christmas, huh? I guess so. Just being here makes me realize today is Christmas.”

“There are plenty of Christmas-y dishes too, so eat up! Oh, should I feed you?”

“W-wait a second. That’s a bit… I can feed myself!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Come on, hurry up or the food will get cold! Besides, it’s okay to be a little honest today, right?”

“Ugh… I-I get it…”

“Hehe, being honest is good!”

In the end, I was pushed into it by Mashiro. She offered me a piece of fried chicken on her fork, and despite my embarrassment, I took a bite.

The chicken was juicy with just the right seasoning and a spicy kick. That spiciness only made me want to eat more. …Yeah, it was incredibly delicious.

“I fed you, Ryusuke. Hehe, this is kind of fun.”

“But this is pretty embarrassing…?”

“But you’re happy, right?”

“Well, I can’t deny that.”

“Then next, let’s go for the French fries! Here, ahh.”

—

“Ugh…”

After that, Mashiro kept feeding me one thing after another.

It felt like I was being pampered, but with such a cute Santa, it wasn’t bad at all. Though I couldn’t put it into words because I was too embarrassed.

After this, we would eat cake together, then exchange presents. And there would be a gaming tournament late into the night.

Without a doubt, this year would be the happiest Christmas ever.

With that conviction, I savored the dinner that Mashiro had prepared. Everything was delicious, filling both my stomach and my heart.

As I brought the glass of sparkling cider to my lips again—Mashiro looked towards the window and murmured.

“Wow… it’s snowing.”

I followed her gaze, and outside, snow was falling gently.

White crystals danced down from the dark sky, shimmering as they caught the light from the street lamps and houses.

Captivated by the enchanting scene, we found ourselves lost in the view for a while.

“A White Christmas, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s so beautiful.”

Mashiro turned her eyes to the snow visible from the window, a soft smile gracing her lips.

I smiled in the same way, gazing at her profile.

That expression was somehow mature, beautiful, like an angel.

And as she reflected the silver world outside in her eyes, she said,

“I wonder if it will pile up tomorrow?”

“Should we make a snowman if it does?”

“Yeah. Let’s make a cute one together.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll make the best snowman ever.”

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”

And so we laughed together.

It was such a happy time.

An irreplaceable, precious memory.

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Our Christmas, like the falling snow, passed by slowly.

—☆☆☆—

Thank you so much for reading “Even the Villain Wants to Experience Youth.”

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The love story woven by Ryusuke-kun and Mashiro-chan, two villains. As we prepare for publication, I will do my best to enhance their charm and entertain all the readers, so please continue to support us!

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Chapter 3