WITH this, I should be back on track to accomplish Shizuki’s mission. In one move, I now held Rikka’s favor and obtained an ace up my sleeve to facilitate Nonoka and Ruki’s encounter.
Remember when I said that? Utterly hare-brained, empty confidence. The fact of the matter was that, academically, I still had a long way to go.
At home, I studied. At school, I hung on to every word my teachers said while pretending like I didn’t care. During breaks, my only respite was reading to seem more cultured.
This repetitive cycle consumed me. As a result, after almost two months at my new school, I hadn’t made a single friend. Seriously. Who’d ever heard of a loner villainess? The Villainess Has No Friends. Sounded like a bad light novel title.
My attempts to escape my daily monotony through bad jokes aside, I really did apply myself fully in my studies. On one such night, after finishing up with my tutors, I was returning to my room when I was accosted by Shizuki. She seemed utterly deflated, a stark contrast to her usual self, appearing just like any other normal, lost girl.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“The story just won’t stay the same,” she replied sullenly.
“No problem. Just tell me what I need to do. I’ll fix it.” I tried to project a little confidence, cheer her up a bit, but it didn’t help. Her face dropped even further.
With her gaze downcast, she said, “Nonoka has no friends.”
My eyes fluttered in surprise. Nonoka was the protagonist of an otome game. Bubbly, sunny, a golden retriever in human form—how could someone like her end up friendless?
“Could you elaborate?” I prodded.
“You know that she chose to attend Sosei as a regular student and even kept her old last name?”
Of course I knew that. That was why she’d earned the ire of the villainess’s underlings that day of the entrance exam. But in the original storyline of the game, she was meant to be popular among regular students.
“The Corporate students, as expected, look down on her. But now, in this version of events, the regular students are also keeping their distance. They see her as connected to the elite,” Shizuki explained.
“Connected to the elite?” I racked my brain, trying to figure out what Shizuki could possibly be talking about, but nothing. “But how?”
“You, Mio. It’s because of you.”
“Me?”
“Your friendly little chat with Nonoka at the new student mixer was witnessed by a large portion of the hall. As a result, they perceive her as being associated with you.”
“Wait, what? But I rejected her outright!” With the words I chose, there was no way anybody listening could’ve mistaken that for anything but pure disdain, so how did we…
Wait, anybody listening?
“Yes, your rejection was clear, but it was also unexpectedly abrupt,” Shizuki pointed out. “To an onlooker, the rapid shift from what seemed like a friendly chat to outright hostility was too jarring to comprehend as a simple dismissal.”
“So, it’s my fault…” I was forced to admit that I did push her away rather abruptly. The stress of those contemptuous stares on me as I bashed Nonoka had been more than I could bear. In my eagerness to avoid the consequences of being the villainess, my strategy had backfired spectacularly. “I can’t seem to do anything right…” I lamented.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one at fault. I tunnel visioned too heavily on the game’s original plot and failed to consider how the narrative would change outside of it.” Shizuki clenched her fists, her gaze meeting mine with renewed resolve. “I also tried to exert some control over the flow of information to change the public consensus on Nonoka, but that ploy failed as well. So now, it’s all in your hands. We need to show everyone that you have no plans to play nice with Nonoka.”
“…Right.”
“I’m truly sorry, Mio. I know I promised you wouldn’t have to engage in such actions for a while, but I’m left with no other choice.”
“It’s fine. I know.”
But something didn’t make sense to me. By adhering to the original plot of the otome game, we aimed to avert an economic catastrophe and find a cure for my sister. Additionally, it was crucial for the Sakurazaka family to emerge unharmed to expedite her treatment. This heavy reliance on the game’s storyline had been our steadfast approach, but now, I questioned its singular focus.
“Lady Shizuki. Why are you so intent on following the game’s script?”
“Why? I believe I already explained that to you.”
“You did, but I don’t accept it.”
The plan, as it stood, required the heroine to unite the three most influential corporate families in Japan in order to weather the economic storm. It made sense, but was it really the only way?
“You know the future, Lady Shizuki. Are you telling me that with all that knowledge, this was the best strategy you could come up with? Leave everything in the hands of an amateur while you sit here, appearing so…helpless.”
I owed her everything for showing me a glimpse of Shizuku’s future. I was grateful beyond words that she had chosen me and given me this chance—but I still couldn’t help thinking she was stupid for pinning the future of the country and her family on a random stranger like me.
After a moment of silence, Shizuki conceded, “You’re right. If my sole objective was to prevent the economic crisis and save the Sakurazaka Group, I had other, simpler options. But I’m…no longer doing this just for myself.”
If not for herself, then who? She didn’t elaborate, leaving me to speculate whether her motivations involved the heroine, the love interests, or perhaps everyone connected to the game. But what I did understand was that despite the struggle and guilt she carried, Shizuki was steadfast, moving forward for someone else’s sake—and that was enough for me.
Shizuki and I were kindred spirits, driven by purpose. There was no need for her to stress over the decisions she was forced to make. “I am also committed to protect what is precious to me,” I announced with renewed confidence.
“Shizuku?” she asked.
“Yes. She’s my sister. Well, perhaps no longer legally, but she’ll always be to me. That’s exactly why I’ve got to save her, no matter what it takes.” To that end, I’ll do whatever it takes, face any challenge head-on. “I jumped onto this burning ship willingly, so no part of you needs to feel guilty for the tasks you set before me. Just guide me, and I will act without question.”
“Even now, you still put others before yourself…”
“I do with you—because you are my sister now too, Shizuki.”
A flicker of sadness passed through her eyes, quickly hidden as she nodded in agreement. “In that case, your next move is in three days, during gym class. It involves a dance lesson. Nonoka should have no partner to dance with. Or perhaps I should say that she won’t, because I will make sure of it. Pair with her, then openly reject her, making your disdain for her known.”
“Understood. Leave Ms. Hiragi’s social situation to me. I’ll improve it or die trying.”
“Thank you. But you will not physically injure her, nor inflict irreparable emotional harm.”
I agreed, though the notion provided little comfort. The plan was not to hurt Nonoka, but merely to stage an act that would dispel any misconceptions of friendship between us. This was slightly easier to accept, albeit only just. It was a lesser evil compared to a strategy aimed at causing her direct harm.
“You have my absolute trust, Mio,” Shizuki said. “And always bear in mind, you are and will remain Shizuku’s sister, no matter what anyone says. It’s truly admirable and heartfelt, the lengths you’re going for her. Keep your chin up.”
“Thank you!” I replied with an enthusiasm that nearly bordered on shouting.
Bullying is a crime.
My actions were morally questionable. Nonetheless, I had no regrets. For when the time came for me to face judgment, I would meet the consequences with dignity and grace.
“Oh, and by the by, the theme for the dance lesson is hip-hop. You might want to start brushing up on that.”
“Wait, what?!” There was absolutely no way I just heard what I thought I’d heard. “Hip-hop, not waltzing?!”
Shizuki explained, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, “Why would they teach waltzing in school? The Corporate students already know it, and the regular students would prefer something more contemporary, like hip-hop.”
“H-Hold on just a second. You’re not telling me to master hip-hop dancing in just three days, are you?”
“Oh, you’ll be fine. You’ll have the best instructors at your disposal as usual.”
“Three days. Three days.”
“Just think about your sister. You’d do it for her, won’t you?”
My throat rumbled in irritation. “Fine. Fine! I just have to do it, don’t I? Then I’ll freaking do it! For Shizuku, I’ll take on hip-hop like it’s nothing!”
And so began my journey into the world of hip-hop dancing. However, as I delved into the basics, a thought nagged at me—did a villainess really need to master such a skill, or could I just scrape by with a basic understanding? Was it truly in character, or was something else going on here?
Reflecting on this, it dawned on me that perhaps Shizuki was keeping me occupied with this task to prevent me from overthinking. Truly, figuring out the essence of her generosity was often the hardest task of all.