The Next Day
School life.
Every student has probably experienced some struggles during their time in school.
Their position in the class, the distance between themselves and the person they’re interested in…
Who’s dating whom?
Who’s friends with whom?
What’s currently popular in the class?
Are you following the top-tier students on social media, or are they following you?
And so on…
Right now, I’m concerned.
I’m wondering what my classmates think of me.
“Hey, look at him…”
“He… he came to class like it’s no big deal.”
“Maybe he’s actually a really dangerous guy…”
“Idiot, didn’t Mr. Ansubarna say? That was just an accident when Aki’s gift went out of control…”
“Yeah, I guess… Aki did suddenly go flying, after all.”
Whisper, whisper, whisperrrr…
The classroom is now filled with stares and rumors directed at me.
Attention, fear, caution.
It’s interest and curiosity from others that I never had back when I was just another face in the crowd.
Hmm, this isn’t what I wanted.
What I want isn’t to be evaluated by everyone around me.
The kind of villain I envision is more like… well, more like…
“…This isn’t right.”
“Hey, someone should try talking to him.”
“No way, he’s not normal, I swear.”
“…I’ll go.”
“Eh. R-Ritsu!?”
“I-I’ll go too!”
“…Me too.”
“Wha—wait, Tsumugi and Akane, seriously!?”
It seems like there’s some commotion around me.
Let’s see, the next class is… Magic History, if I remember correctly. It’s an important class for the role I play in White’s villainous secret plot…
“Um, can we talk for a bit, Kasuya -kun?”
“…”
“Hm?”
Someone spoke to me.
Oh, it’s Nanasaki-kun, the popular guy. And he’s got two pretty girls with him. Social butterflies, of course.
“Sorry for bothering you during the break… um, about what happened yesterday—”
“Yesterday?”
“…Sorry, I know it’s a difficult topic and you probably don’t want to talk about it… but the whole class is curious.”
Hmm, Nanasaki-kun doesn’t look too well.
He’s technically a classmate and a potential protagonist, so I’d like to maintain a good relationship with him.
I should try to be friendly here.
Right, a smile is best in this kind of situation.
“You need something from me?”
Smile!
“Eek…”
“…He’s smiling… What does that even mean?”
The two girls hanging around Nanasaki-kun freeze up.
“…Both of you, go back to everyone else.”
“No, we can’t just leave you alone, Ritsu.”
“…We’ll stay with you, Ritsu.”
Huh? They all look like they’ve made up their minds about something.
Hmm, maybe being popular comes with its own problems…
Well, anyway, I should keep smiling to make a good impression.
“…Kasuya -kun, about what happened during Mr. Ansubarna’s class yesterday, when you sparred with Aki.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yeah… that. Kasuya -kun, was that really just Aki’s gift going out of control?”
Ah, so that’s what they think.
Good, good, it looks like the magic formula activated properly.
The speed of the Thunderous Lightning Kirin Transformation technique is truly like lightning.
After countering Aki-kun and knocking him away, I returned to my original position so quickly that it must have looked to everyone like Aki flew off on his own.
Heh, playing the hidden villain is all about savoring the moment when you finally reveal yourself, catching everyone by surprise.
Not like: “Oh, that guy? Yeah, he was always a bit odd; I figured he’d do something someday.”
But more like: “Him? No way, I can’t believe it… this must be some kind of mistake!”
That’s the kind of reaction I’m aiming for.
“Kasuya -kun, I know it might seem weird for someone who’s never talked to you before to suddenly reach out, but I really care about this class.”
Hmm?
“I want to value the bond we have as reincarnated heroes. That’s why I want to get to know you, too. I know it might seem late now, and you probably think I’m just being convenient, but—”
“Oh?”
Oh? And then?
“…So, what were you talking about with Aki back then? If there’s some kind of issue between you two, maybe I can help.”
Help?
With what?
I think the friendship event with Aki-kun is probably already over, and as for racking up points with Snow-san… that’ll have to wait…
Wait, could it be? Is Nanasaki-kun actually trying to help me fit in with the class?
Wow, he’s a good guy.
He’s almost like Snow-san…
I think I read in a book somewhere that good relationships start with being honest about your feelings and thoughts.
Okay, let’s try that right away.
“You’re just like Snow von Untz Licht, you know?”
“…Why are you bringing up Snow-san?”
“You remind me of him a little, Nanasaki-kun.”
“…Me and Snow-san? Kasuya -kun, you’re…”
Oh! That’s a really good reaction!!
Isn’t that great!
I feel like the faces of the two beautiful girls next to Kasuya -kun are getting darker, but it’s probably just my imagination. Alright!
Hmm, I feel like I’m having a nice interaction with Kasuya -kun.
If I can get friendly with someone like him, who is at the center of everyone, it might spice up my villain play.
“Kasuya -kun, thank you for caring. I’m not really good at interacting with people, so I might be saying something weird.”
“No, I might have misunderstood you, Kasuya -kun. I couldn’t really tell what you were thinking… Um, can I ask you one more thing?”
“Sure?”
“You get along well with Snow-san, right? Were you two already acquainted before?”
Silence.
Before I knew it, the entire class had gone quiet.
The chatter that had been there just a moment ago had vanished.
Why?
“Kasuya -kun?”
“Oh, sorry. Do I get along well with Snow-san? Does it seem that way?”
“At least to me.”
I feel like Kasuya -kun’s voice has dropped a tone.
Wait, really?
Is that how it looks to others? Hehe, it seems my efforts to increase Snow-san’s likability are going smoothly.
But I should stay humble.
“It’s just your imagination. She’s kind to everyone. I think she’s just being considerate to someone like me, who doesn’t have a place to call home.”
“I see. I might be a little jealous of you, Kasuya -kun.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing. Sorry for suddenly talking to you. Is it okay if I talk to you sometimes from now on?”
“I’d love to! I don’t have many friends.”
Ah, I messed up.
I just revealed a weakness.
“Oh, so you can laugh normally too?”
“Hmm.”
“That’s kind of pervy.”
“Wait, surprisingly…”
“I was having a normal conversation with Kasuya -kun…”
Oh no, I might have lowered my evaluation among my classmates.
…Well, whatever. Let’s switch gears.
“Um, Kasuya -kun?”
“Eh?”
While I was lost in thought, Kasuya -kun was still talking to me.
“If it’s alright, starting tomorrow, there’s training— the dungeon exploration class, can we do it together?”
Kasuya -kun spoke quietly.
The door creaked open.
“Oh, excuse me, Kasuya -san, you’re here, right?”
Everyone in the class focused on that voice.
It was Snow-san.
Come to think of it, she wasn’t in the last class, the magic tool creation class.
“Oh, you’re here.”
With surprisingly firm steps for a princess, Snow-san walked over to me.
She was strong.
“Oh, Snow-san…”
Kasuya -kun seemed to freeze up.
What’s wrong?
“Hello, Kasuya -kun. It’s rare to see you with Kasuya -san.”
“Oh, um, I just wanted to talk to Kasuya -kun for a bit.”
Oh? Kasuya -kun’s face is slightly red.
Is he catching a cold?
“Snow-san, do you have something for Ritsu?”
Oh, one of Kasuya -kun’s friends, a bubbly, air-headed beautiful girl, spoke up. She’s smiling widely.
Snow-san is also popular with girls.
As expected.
“Hanayoshi-san? No, I don’t have anything in particular for Kasuya -kun. I just thought it was rare to see him talking to Kasuya -san.”
“I-I see.”
Does Kasuya -kun look a little disappointed?
Hmm, maybe it’s just my imagination.
“That’s how it is— because, Ritsu, Snow-san has something to say to Kasuya -kun! We shouldn’t interrupt, so let’s go over there!”
“That sounds good. Sorry, Kasuya -kun, for the suddenness.”
“Huh? Oh, no problem.”
Ah, the cool, beautiful girl also spoke to me.
Hehe, maybe I’ve been somewhat accepted by my classmates.
Ugh, I want to betray that trust.
“Wait, you two… don’t…”
“Come on, Ritsu, we shouldn’t interrupt!”
“Let’s plan for tomorrow’s dungeon exploration class, Ritsu.”
Kasuya -kun was dragged away by the two beautiful girls…
This is like a romantic comedy; Kasuya Ritsu is something else…
“Well then, take your time, Snow-san.”
“…Good luck, Kasuya -kun.”
“…That’s a bit rude to say. I didn’t know, Kasuya -san, that you were popular.”
“Eh? Me?”
“Yes. You’ve been talking with Hanayoshi-san and Asagiri-san without realizing it.”
Hanayoshi-san and Asagiri-san?
Oh, those are the two beautiful girls next to Kasuya -kun, the bubbly one and the cool one.
“It wasn’t really a conversation—”
“What were you talking about?”
Huh? She seems a bit eager?
It’s not like Snow-san to act this way, always so calm and gentle.
《…Player, it’s best to answer honestly and succinctly.》
Navi-chan…!
What’s with that serious tone?
Well, whatever. I’ll just follow her advice.
“Kasuya -kun just talked to me, that’s all, Snow-san.”
“…But it felt like Asagiri-san was talking to Kasuya -san specifically.”
??
Isn’t the conversation a bit odd?
It has nothing to do with Snow-san.
《Player, please don’t say that out loud, seriously.》
O-Oh… What’s up with you, Navi-chan? You’re scaring me??
“It’s not really like that.”
“It is, though? Even before, Asagiri-san occasionally talked to Kasuya -san at school.”
“Eh, is that so? How does Snow-san know that?”
“…So, what did you talk about with Kasuya -kun? I mean, if it’s private and hard to say, that’s fine.”
Huh? Huh?
Something feels off.
My high IQ and the intuition I’ve gained from managing women through White’s guidance tell me something.
Is Snow-san in a slightly bad mood??
《Ah, correct.》
Navi is saying something too.
Hmm, I’ll sneak a quick use of my magical eye.
Oh, there’s a slight disturbance in her magic.
What’s going on?
《…Please just tell her what Ritsu Kasuya said honestly, and that will be the end of it.》
Phew—Navi-chan, that sounds a bit too straightforward, doesn’t it?
Isn’t it irrelevant since Snow-san is in a bit of a bad mood?
《Just do it.》
What’s up with Navi-chan? She seems a bit strict.
Well, whatever.
“If it’s hard for Kasuya -san to say, that’s fine. I think it’s great that you’re making female friends. However, personally, I’m a bit wary. If it’s because of the attention you received in yesterday’s close-range magical combat class, I can’t help but be skeptical. It’s a bit concerning that classmates who ignored you until now suddenly change their attitude just because you showed a glimmer of talent—”
“Kasuya -kun said that we seem to get along well… Was that bothersome?”
“—That’s wonderful! Interacting with classmates is certainly very beneficial for you, Kasuya -san. I’m happy about that too.”
Oh, the disturbance in her magic has disappeared in an instant.
She seems to be in a good mood now?
《Of course.》
Navi seems to be making a smug face.
Well, I’ve never seen her face.
She feels like a cute girl.
《…That’s exactly the point, Player.》
“Ah, ahem, right. Kasuya -san, do you have a moment after school?”
“After school?”
Snow-san cleared her throat.
After school, huh? I was thinking of sneaking out of the academy to hunt bandits or something…
“Yes, Mr. Ansubarna wants you to come to the teacher’s tower with him. And…”
Snow-san took a breath.
“Aki wants to apologize to you.”
Aki-kun?
To me?
“Why???”
Hmm, school life is complicated.
Well, alright. Let’s go check it out.
