NOVEL NEXT chapter 2
2. The Villain
The “delinquent villain character” that appears in romantic comedies—this is a sad existence that exists solely to highlight the greatness of the protagonist.
In the story, they appear only to be compared to the protagonist and are mercilessly defeated for the sake of entertaining the readers.
There are various patterns for villains, but they all share the commonality of appearing before the protagonist to commit misdeeds.
These misdeeds may serve as the catalyst for the heroine’s encounter, reaffirm the bond between the heroine and the protagonist, or help them overcome the barriers between them, but they are undeniably just a plot device, a mere stepping stone.
Such characters are generally depicted as background characters without much sympathy from the readers, often portrayed as complete scum when their actions escalate.
And, as expected, I vaguely recalled that the man I’ve reincarnated as had lived a life fitting for such a villain, though not perfectly.
Fighting, smoking, returning home in the morning after nights out—it was all commonplace. The only miracle was that I managed to get into a regular high school, thanks to my natural intelligence, but it seems I lived as an irredeemable delinquent before my reincarnation.
—
In the hazy depths of my memory, the name I recalled was “Shindou Ryuusuke,” a first-year high school student. The girl who had just passed by, with her gyaru-like appearance, was undoubtedly my younger sister, “Shindou Mai,” a second-year middle school student. Aside from our father, who was working away from home, we lived under the same roof with our mother.
I couldn’t quite remember the name of the school I attended, the route I took to get there, the structure of our house, or my friendships; everything felt shrouded in a mist, but I managed to grasp some of it.
However, the sudden explanation of this world that echoed in my mind, along with the vague memories I held, were merely understood as information. I couldn’t clearly discern whether they were facts or not.
I needed to clarify my past memories, and I had to take action to determine if this was truly a world of romantic comedy, and which romantic comedy it was based on.
Perhaps due to my overly serious nature, I couldn’t feel at ease unless I verified these things properly. Fortunately, this determination propelled my feelings forward.
If I had indeed been reincarnated into a world of romantic comedy, it meant that the vibrant school life I had only seen in manga and anime awaited me.
That dazzling world, where I could revel in the bittersweet youth I idealized, was waiting for me. Just thinking about it made my heart race.
The confusion and melancholy I felt right after my reincarnation had completely vanished, leaving only anticipation for my new life and a heart full of hope.
With that in mind, I prepared to head to school. I slipped into my uniform, tied my necktie, and reached for what I assumed was my student bag.
“…Huh, I definitely don’t need cigarettes and a lighter at school. Typical delinquent.”
Instead of textbooks, my bag contained perfume, cigarettes, and a lighter. I couldn’t find any textbooks; they must have been left in the classroom lockers or desks. There were no signs of studying in my room, making it seem like I hadn’t engaged in any self-study at all.
Given that my memories were so vague, there might actually be a mountain of assignments left undone, but I had no way to confirm that…
Having finished preparing for school, I left my room and headed to the living room. My mother, who was supposed to be living with us, had already left for work early in the morning, and my sister seemed to have left the house before me, so no one was home.
I had no appetite for breakfast, so I decided to head to the school that lingered in my memory. I had a vague sense of the route, but I was sure I wouldn’t get lost. If I went to school and met someone I knew, I could confirm various aspects of my current situation.
As I stepped outside, the sun was dazzling. It felt like the spring sunshine, close to summer. I remembered that the time I had died from overwork was in winter; there seemed to be a discrepancy in time.
Following the hazy memories, I made my way along the school route, and I began to see more boys in the same uniform as mine. I could also spot high school girls in sailor uniforms, adorned with cute ribbons around their necks.
I had been a working adult right up until the moment before my reincarnation. It had been quite a while since I had experienced high school life.
The thought of reliving my youthful days was somewhat exciting, but I also felt anxious about the school life that lay ahead.
After all, the previous Shindou Ryuusuke had not acted properly since enrolling. He skipped classes without a care, spent his nights playing around with bad friends, and got into fights with students from other schools—he was nothing short of a problem child. My sister had mentioned this morning that his attendance was barely acceptable.
My life, starting anew as a delinquent, was beginning not from zero, but from a negative. It was certain that my reputation among teachers was terrible. I couldn’t help but feel anxious about how my classmates would perceive me. The cheerful mood I had felt earlier was quickly replaced by a heavy sense of dread as I walked toward the school.
(No, I’ll be fine now… surely.)
If I only looked at the results, my previous life had been a dismal one. I lost my parents at a young age, had no siblings, no partner, and spent every day tormented by loneliness.
But I, who had only my seriousness as a virtue, had approached everything with earnestness.
During my student days, I never neglected my studies, and in the ten years after entering society, I faced many people and gained various experiences.
Surely, that wasn’t in vain.
This time, I didn’t want to have any regrets.
Steeling my resolve, I finally arrived at the school gate.
“This is… the Takizakura Academy High School I attend…”
Before me stood Takizakura Academy High School. The grounds were spacious, and the school building was new and clean. The courtyard was large, and I could see sports clubs practicing in the morning.
I had been given a chance to redo my gray youth in this place. I wouldn’t waste this second life I had been granted; I would fully embrace my youth and enjoy it to the fullest.
I stepped into a new world.