I Possessed The Villain’s Childhood Friend

48 – The Villain’s Childhood Friend

Most of Arcana’s students are children of nobles, so of course there is a banquet hall.

After final exams, before vacations, imperial anniversaries, and graduation ceremonies, balls are held. Individuals must obtain permission to use them.

What the hell is Raina talking about?

She had no clue, to be honest.

Even if she continues the story from last time, does she really need to rent a banquet hall?

There were a lot of people when she talked in the Garden of Mist, but if it was a soundproof barrier, it would be magic that even Reina could use.

With that thought in mind, I moved on.

Arcana’s banquet hall is at the northern end of the site.

It takes about 10 minutes from the dormitory.

And it was 4:50 when I arrived at the banquet hall.

“… There is no one.”

The main and inner doors were open.

This must mean that you have been given permission.

But as I walked from the hall to the main building, I couldn’t feel anything.

The clock in the center of the main building was pointing to 4:55.

Raina is the type to set her appointment and she comes 10 minutes early.

That’s why I came just in time.

I can’t imagine Reina being late.

She wondered if there was something wrong with her coming.

“Ah, you have arrived, Ike.”

When I turned my gaze to the sudden voice, there was the prince walking from the aisle on the left.

“Why is Your Highness here?”

“Hmm? Of course you were called by Miss Reina, right?”

As expected, I’m thinking of continuing the story from last time.

What kind of answer can I give this time?

How can I hide this feeling that arises because I am not really Ike Access?

“Follow me. Everyone is in the break room in the aisle.”

“Yes.”

After nodding, I slowly followed the prince.

But for some reason it smells like something sweet.

“Here it is.”

It’s been a while since I thought about that.

I arrived in front of the break room before I knew it.

“I’ll go in.”

The prince knocked lightly and opened the door.

And what I saw in it.

“Happy Birthday!”

Welcome me by setting off small firecrackers towards the sky.

They were Reina, Sophia, Helen, and Attal.

Come to think of it, today, April 30th, was my birthday.

To be exact, it’s Ike Axus’s birthday.

“Did you really make these cookies Miss Sophia?”

“Yes, Helen. Reina-sama asked me to, so I worked hard on it for four days.”

“That’s amazing. It tastes better than most high-end snacks.”

“hehehe, thank you.”

It wasn’t a particularly fancy party.

It felt like an ordinary tea party.

Of course, I wasn’t saying that I didn’t like this.

I regretted the fact that I had been nervous up until now at a scene where there was no heavy atmosphere at all.

While drinking black tea without thinking like that.

“Princess Ike.”

Raina spoke to her.

“Yes, Ms. Reina.”

Fortunately, the words I said at the time that I would not give up didn’t seem to be the case now.

“Please take good care of me in the future.”

Reina smiled softly and she handed me a wrapped present.

“This is a gift prepared by all 5 of us, so I hope you like it.”

“To be precise, we only added money. The gift itself was chosen by Miss Reina.”

With Helen’s comment, I slowly opened the wrapping paper.

And what appeared inside was a thick book.

The title was ‘All the History of the Aether Continent’.

“This is a book written by all the famous historians of the empire. I heard that it is the best of all the history books in existence.”

“Miss Reina. I’ve been wondering since you talked about it yesterday, why did you choose the book as a gift?”

“I was curious about that too. Since Prince Ike is an aspiring knight, I thought he would naturally choose a sword or armor as a gift.”

In response to Helen and Atal’s question, Rayna tucked her hair behind her ear and said.

“I was going to do that too at first, but suddenly I think of the past.”

“What do you remember?”

“We just read books in the same room without talking to each other. It was really quiet with no sound, but I liked the atmosphere.”

Of course, it was a memory that I also have.

“At that time, Prince Ike particularly liked reading history books, so he referred to that part.”

Because that’s the time I got from proposing to Reina.

At that time, I had to understand the world as much as possible.

To make the best use of the time, I suggested that Reina read for an hour or so.

At that time, Reina originally hated books so much, but was surprised at what she was thinking.

But he was thinking like that.

“Then, shall we spend some time reading together later?”

“Good idea.”

To be honest, I was overjoyed.

I became possessed in this world after Ike’s 14th birthday.

And I spent less than two months with Reina.

The fact that she talked about what had happened in such a short amount of time in such a pleasant way was so happy that I wanted to tell Reina her true feelings.

But.

But you’re not really Ike.

Someone seems to be saying that.

“Thank you, everyone.”

I was at my limit to say that.

★

The clock was already past eight.

It was time to finish this place.

After cleaning up all the remaining refreshments.

“Let’s go in first.”

One by one.

“See you tomorrow.”

One by one.

“Should I go now too?”

Everybody got up and started to leave the room.

All that was left were me, Reina, and Sophia.

“Young master Ike. I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday.”

“Thank you, Ms. Sophia.”

“I will get up now too. I have to prepare for class tomorrow.”

“You worked hard. See you tomorrow.”

“Yes, Lady Reina.”

Finally, Sophia also left the banquet hall.

But Reina and I just sat there without talking.

It was Raina who spoke first there.

“Ike.”

“Yes, Ms. Reina.”

“Right now, it’s just the two of us. Wouldn’t it be okay if we could talk comfortably?”

“I gave you that answer the other day.”

She said things she would never have said if she was the old Reina.

Let’s go back now.

If we talk more here, it seems like things will go awry.

After consolidating my thoughts, I also got up from my seat.

“Wait a minute.”

But Reina grabbed me like it was natural.

Of course she didn’t have the option of ignoring her raina, so she turned her head and looked at her.

“This.”

After saying that, Reina handed me something wrapped on the table for some reason.

It was different from the book I received earlier.

It was a little lighter and had a cute atmosphere.

“It’s a personal gift.”

“Thank you.”

“Open here.”

At Reina’s words, I untied her string and opened the wrapping paper.

Inside it.

“… Is this Madeleine?”

It contained madeleine, a type of snack.

I felt a little greasy from eating the various sweets Sophia had just prepared, but I couldn’t refuse my sincerity.

“Mmm.”

“How is it?”

To be honest, Sophia’s snack I ate earlier was much better.

This madeleine was too sweet and had a strong greasy taste.

“It’s delicious.”

But this is also an undeniable gift.

I had no intention of complaining like that.

“I’m glad.”

“Then I will leave.”

I tied the wrapping paper with a string again and turned my back.

And the moment you open the door.

“Wait.”

Reina got up from her chair before she knew it and grabbed her right wrist.

“Why do you keep avoiding me? Why are you refusing my request?”

“….”

My mouth didn’t open at Reina’s question.

But the reason was simple.

Because I’m not really Ike Axus.

“I just want to live like before because you are precious. Do you hate that?”

No. In my mind, I wanted to do the same.

“Or maybe I did something wrong?”

Reina’s voice was shaking so badly that anyone could hear it.

“Is it too late to decide to change?”

“It can’t be.”

At those words, I turned my back and looked at Reina.

Tears welled up in Reina’s eyes.

I didn’t want to see that expression.

“Reina. You are not wrong. It was me who was wrong.”

It’s all because I’m not the real Ike Axus.

“Ike couldn’t have done anything wrong. You saved me. You made my wish come true. You saved Anna. He alone protected us when everyone fell. Even when we went to the Magic Tower, Lady Charlotte said she worked hard. But what did you do wrong?”

I just accidentally possessed this body.

“What are you so scared of, Ike?”

“… I am afraid you will be disappointed someday.”

I realized that I wasn’t the real Ike, and I was afraid that the smiling face of me might turn cold.

Knowing that fact, I was afraid that I might be told that I would have done better if I was the real Ike Axus.

Even though you know you couldn’t.

“Ike.”

Seeing Raina’s eyes staring at me quietly, she couldn’t breathe for a moment.

I could feel the warmth in her gaze, when the tears in her eyes disappeared.

Rather, I felt like I was about to shed tears.

“I will not be disappointed in you no matter what happens. Even if another assailant comes and you can’t protect me, I won’t blame you.”

“Even if I am lying about something very important?”

“Yes. Never. If it’s Ike, I’m sure there must be a reason.”

Without hesitation, I laughed out loud without even realizing it.

Because I was certain that what he said was true.

The Reina I know is the villain in her novels anyway, and she’s known her for less than half a year.

Although I was aware of that, there was a me who believed in you absolutely.

“… It feels like I was worrying for nothing.”

Yes. What does it matter that I’m not the real Ike Axus.

In the first place, he couldn’t save Reina.

In the original story, he let Reina die.

No matter what happened to him, that fact would not change.

Yes.

The fact that Reina and Sofia are now close, and that her relationship with the people around her is not twisted.

The fact that we can talk to each other while laughing like this.

All because I tried.

All of this was done by me, Ike Axus.

Isn’t Raina a doll that moves the way I want?

Of course not.

Because she is not a doll to me, but a precious person.

What’s wrong with working hard for someone important to you?

It goes without saying that you do your best to make that person smile.

As expected, a genius doesn’t know the heart of an ordinary person like me.

“Please take good care of me in the future, Reina.”

“Yes. Please take care of me too, Ike.”

I smiled and held out her right hand, and Rayna smiled and took it.

Today, I became a childhood friend of my favorite villain.