Translator: Haruto.

“Kasashima-kun, when Yuito’s with you his eyes sparkle as if he was a child who’s just gotten a new toy,” Mahiro tells me.  

“You think?”

Well, he always does have a smile on his face and seems rather happy when looking at me.

“Hehe, you don’t even realize the effect you have on him?”

“Effect? I just think it’s normal to be happy when you’re hanging out with a friend. Don’t you?”

After becoming the ever-so-intimidating Kasashima Yuuji, there’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot, and that’s the fact that even if I know judging things by their appearance is natural, being constantly misunderstood is undeniably sad. Without Yuito, my time at school and elsewhere would probably have been filled with much loneliness. I might have even strayed to the wrong path out of spite. That’s how important friends are in your life.

“…I just wonder if what Yuito is feeling stems from friendship alone…”

“Hm?”

Mahiro just whispered something, but she quickly averted her eyes from me, so I guess she was talking to herself. I decide not to ask her about it.

“So? Would you consider my request?” she asks me.

Unfortunately…

“So, you want me to teach you how to make someone flustered? I honestly doubt I can teach you that kind of thing.”

In fact, I wish someone would teach me how to do it.

Making other people’s hearts skip a beat on command is something that only a handful of individuals can do, and most of them have incredible looks like Mahiro. On the other hand, I have a pretty intimidating face, to say nothing of the fact that I’m supposed to be the main villain, so I’m in no position to be teaching others how to do that.

“In other words, you think my assessment of you is wrong?” Mahiro asks.

“…Huh?”

She takes a step toward me for some reason.

“I’ve been paying careful attention, you know?” Her smile disappears and a serious expression appears on her face. “In class, the school camp, our study session, and the mall… Yuito is not the only one I’ve been watching, Kasashima-kun. I’ve also been looking at you.”

It’s kind of surprising to hear that from her. I figured she didn’t pay any attention to me.

“You see, you’re something of an ‘irregularity’ to us, Kasashima-kun.”

“…Urk!” My face tenses up reflexively at the word “irregularity.”

According to the original plotline, the villain Kasashima Yuuji was never supposed to hang out with Yuito and the two sisters like this.

“We’ve been through a lot… It doesn’t matter how hard or painful what we lived through actually was. As long as you once thought of it as painful, it stays with you, you know?” Mahiro says as her shoulders slump. “But, even though you were completely unaware of our past… you appeared one day and soothed the pain left within us from those awful experiences that everyone else ignored.”

She then continues, “Yuito and Rina are now able to move forward, away from that pain, because they got to meet you, Kasashima-kun. They even seem to be happier than before. Once again, let me express my gratitude for what you did at the school camp… Thank you.”

“D-Don’t mention it…”

Mahiro smiles briefly before taking on a serious expression again.

“You have a certain charm about you, Kasashima-kun. I’ve felt it faintly, but… I still don’t understand it completely. That’s why I’d like you to teach me…”

“…”

The conversation stops for a moment.

When she first made her request, I was extremely taken aback, but… it seems this is more like a consult on how to “charm” people… I think?

The problem is that I still don’t know what I should tell her, and I can’t just come up with some half-assed answer when I know how important this is to her. I’m in a bind.

“I understand I’m putting you on the spot by springing this on you,” Mahiro says.

“Ah… yeah, kinda…” I answer, nodding my head and knowing there’s no point in lying.

“I’m sorry for troubling you,” she apologizes.

“No, it’s fine… I don’t mind lending you an ear.”

The fact that Mahiro decided to open up to me about this goes to show just how worried she is. But it’s not just that. I also get the feeling she’s freaking out a little and trying to rush things for some reason…

“There’s something you should know, though,” she begins. “I’d do anything for the person I like, and I mean anything. For their sake, I’d have no issue becoming a villain.”

Her eyes are serious.

Also, she said “the person I like,” but there’s no doubt she’s referring to Yuito.  

I’m sure you’ll fall in love one day, Kasashima-kun, and then you’ll understand exactly how I’m feeling.

Fall in love, huh…

The conversation I had with Mahiro in that café at the mall plays in the back of my head.

I first found out about her feelings for Yuito when this was still a game, but now that it’s all become real, the fact that she’s head over heels in love with him has become even more obvious. I bet even a complete stranger would pick up on it. Unfortunately… I still don’t understand how it feels to love someone so much that you’d do anything for them.

“…”

“…”

Mahiro and I make eye contact. It appears we’re both hesitating on what to say next or who should be the one to continue the conversation…  

It is at that moment, however, that someone else breaks the silence.

“Heeeyyyy! Kasashima!! Mahiro-saaaaan! There you are!!”

“?!”

We hear someone call our names all of a sudden. The voice resembles Tajima’s, but… Wait… Tajima?

“Huh?! It’s really you?!” I ask, bewildered.

“Yup, it’s me, Tajima! What are you two doing—”

“We came here looking for you, dumbass!!”

“Huuuh?! Ouch!”

The moment Tajima finally reaches us, I hit him softly… Actually, I hit him a bit hard on the shoulder.

“Where the heck were you?” I ask him.

“A-Aahh, ermm… More importantly, I’m really sorry for worrying you!!” Tajima apologizes, putting his hands together and bowing.

It looks like he doesn’t want to tell us why he didn’t make it in time to our group’s meet-up. Oh well, no point in prying.

“Okay, let’s go, shall we? Rina and Yuito are waiting for us.” Mahiro’s usual refreshing smile returns to her face. “On second thought, you should go ahead, Tajima-kun. Those two were super worried about you, so maybe you should even run to them… you know?”

“O-Okay!” Tajima runs off the moment he sees her smile.

It seems he’s incredibly afraid of making her angry since he’s running with everything he has. He reminds me of a large, obedient dog following its owner’s commands.

“Haa… I don’t really feel like continuing our chat after that little distraction, so can we just leave it for some other time?” Mahiro asks me.

“Yeah, sure…”

“Thank you, Kasashima-kun,” Mahiro says before walking off.  

“Haahh…” I raise my eyes to the sky without thinking. There’s not a single cloud in view. Looking at such a clear sky, I can’t help but lose myself in thought…

It’s already been about half a year since my soul came to this world and I became the villain, Kasashima Yuuji. There have been a few incidents and surprising developments along the way, but nothing too big or dramatic. I’ve just been spending my days enjoying the “slice-of-life route.”

“…”

There’s a sudden pang in my chest.

I get the feeling that something… something major is about to happen.

I can only wonder how this summer is going to turn out.

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