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 73

73. A Return of Favor from Mashiro

After school.

Having finished getting ready to go home, I headed to the classroom where Mashiro was, in Class 1.

She had expressed her concern for me since I had caught a cold, telling me to feel free to call out if anything happened. I thought to myself that Mashiro really is a good girl, and at the same time, I felt compelled to lighten her burden.

However, while I thought that, my condition was steadily worsening.

I felt clearly more fatigued than in the morning, and my body temperature kept rising during the afternoon classes.

Even so, I couldn’t take a break because of the consequences of skipping school during the first semester. This was entirely my own fault, so I had no intention of complaining.

At the very least, I had to be careful not to let it worsen any further. With that thought in mind, I stepped into the hallway, where I saw Mashiro standing there with her school bag in hand.

As soon as Mashiro saw my face, a worried expression appeared.

“You look unwell, don’t you?”

“…I don’t mean to push myself, but my body is honest. Is my complexion bad or something?”

“Yeah, it’s really bad. You look feverish.”

“I see. If Mashiro is saying that, it must be serious.”

“I’ve been worried all day. Even during class, I was fidgeting, and there were times I didn’t even notice when the teacher called on me.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. I know that even when you have a cold, Ryusuke is a diligent kid who tries hard.”

With a gentle smile, Mashiro stood in front of me and slowly reached out her left hand.

I tilted my head, confused about what was happening. Seeing me like that, Mashiro’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.

“Here, let me carry your bag. Let’s get you home quickly, okay?”

“But it feels bad to have you do that much for me.”

“It’s okay. When I twisted my ankle, you were really kind to me, remember? This is a return of that favor.”

“Mashiro…”

Mashiro gently took my bag and started walking down the hallway, pulling my hand along with her.

I felt happy, but my sense of guilt overwhelmed me, leaving me at a loss for what to do. Ultimately, I decided to accept her help. To be honest, walking was exhausting, so it was a huge relief.

Moreover, she adjusted her pace to accommodate me. With her gently holding my hand like this, I truly thought Mashiro was an angel.

In my current state of being physically and mentally weak due to my illness, her kindness was the ultimate comfort.

“I really feel sorry for having you do so much for me today, Mashiro.”

“Hehe. No need to say that, Ryusuke. I think this is one of the perks of being childhood friends, don’t you?”

“Is that so… then I’ll gratefully rely on you.”

“Yeah, leave it to me. If you’d like, I can also prepare dinner? You always make the family meals, right? Today, I’ll cook instead.”

“Thank you, but I can’t let you go that far. You’re having a hard time too, Masaki.”

“You don’t have to hold back. I can’t just leave Ryusuke, who’s feeling unwell, all alone. Besides, I’m doing this because I want to, so don’t worry about it, okay?”

“Got it. I guess I’ll let myself be spoiled just this once. I really don’t have the energy to prepare dinner anyway…”

“Uh-huh. Then I’ll just stop by your house today. I need to pick up some sports drinks and do a little shopping on the way.”

Mai would be exhausted from club activities when she got home, and my mom would be late too, so I would have to cook for myself. But right now, feeling unwell, even standing in the kitchen was a bit tough.

So Masaki’s suggestion was truly appreciated, and I felt really lucky to have such a kind childhood friend.

With that, Masaki took my hand and led me to the entrance.

After changing our shoes, we left the school gate together and decided to head to a nearby supermarket before going to my house.

Masaki wandered around the store, tossing sports drinks and nutritious ingredients into the shopping basket. Feeling her desire for me to recover from my cold quickly, her profile looked much more dependable than usual.

After finishing our shopping, I walked home with Masaki at a slightly slower pace than usual.

As I exhaled, trying to release the heat trapped in my body, Masaki peered into my face, her brows furrowed with concern.

“Ryusuke, you really look like you’re struggling. Let’s lie down as soon as we get home, okay?”

“Thank you. Honestly, I’m at my limit just walking…”

“Yeah. Let’s take it slow and get you better soon, okay?”

“Thanks, Masaki.”

“Hehe. It’s fine, Ryusuke. I’m the one who’s always being taken care of…”

Masaki smiled happily and tightened her grip on my hand. The sensation of her strong grip, separate from my discomfort, felt very comforting.