Chapter 15 - The Only One
I was recalling what happened yesterday.
On the way home from school, Mashiro walked beside me, saying she wanted to walk home together. But since I wanted to avoid my downfall by shedding my role as the villain, I harshly pushed her away, saying, "I can't stand you."
It was also to protect her from the catastrophic end that awaited in the future, and I felt guilty as I told her.
I said I disliked gyaru and that I actually preferred pure girls, and that’s why I couldn’t stand her because she was the complete opposite, a gyaru.
Mashiro's expression clouded over as she heard my words, and seeing her like that only made my guilt worse. But still, I convinced myself it was necessary to avoid a disastrous future.
However, Mashiro then smiled mischievously and said:
"Just wait, Ryusuke. I'll overcome your dislike."
Not understanding the true meaning of her words, I could only tilt my head in confusion, and with that, Mashiro bid me farewell and left.
That was what happened yesterday.
And now—Mashiro had transformed into the very image of the pure girl I mentioned yesterday. Her beautiful black hair was straightened, her uniform was impeccably worn, her makeup was natural, and there wasn’t even a hint of her previous gyaru style.
As a result, she had been reborn into an overwhelmingly perfect and stunning beauty, far surpassing the heroines that the story's protagonist, Fusegawa Raito, surrounded himself with.
I found myself standing up, unable to take my eyes off her. Her beauty was so breathtaking up close that I was left speechless.
Was she really the same person? The girl standing before me possessed such a completed beauty that I couldn’t help but question it.
As I stood there, frozen by her overwhelming beauty, I heard a voice as clear as a bell, yet warm and comforting in some way.
"R-Ryusuke...? I-It’s embarrassing if you stare at me like that... I get shy..."
Mashiro’s face turned bright red as she fidgeted with her fingers, a shy gesture that made her even more adorable, leaving me further at a loss for words. Then, she clasped her hands tightly at her chest, looking up at me with those big, innocent eyes. What kind of gesture is that? It’s unfair...
"So... how do I look? You said you preferred this style, Ryusuke... I had my hair redyed at the salon and got ready since this morning..."
Her deep blue eyes wavered with anxiety, making her so irresistibly cute that I had to quickly look away before I was overwhelmed.
Because I said I didn’t like gyaru, Mashiro had made the effort to change herself for me.
She had worked so hard to become the ideal girl, just to make me happy, just so I would like her.
For a girl to give up everything she liked about herself and change for the sake of one guy—that must have taken an extraordinary amount of determination.
But she did it.
She turned her feelings for me into determination and transformed into a girl more beautiful than even the heroines.
"…Ah."
I couldn’t find my voice in front of Mashiro. I couldn’t even come up with a simple compliment.
I was just so happy—so happy that someone in this world cared for me this much.
In my previous life, there was no one. Not a single person would go this far for me.
I didn’t know what to say to someone like that. I desperately tried to put my feelings into words, but I just stood there like an idiot.
Then, Mashiro blushed and stood on her tiptoes towards me.
She placed her hand on my cheek and smiled mischievously.
"That’s the face Ryusuke makes when he’s really happy. You don’t have to say anything—I’ve known you since we were in elementary school, after all."
Hearing her say that, my heart pounded so hard I thought it might explode. She had always known. She understood how I expressed my happiness and what made me happy.
—So that’s how it is.
No matter how much I tried to push her away, Mashiro would stay by my side.
I had convinced myself that I was doing it to protect her happiness, to save her from the impending doom, and so I resolved to push her away.
But that was wrong.
No matter what, Mashiro would never give up on me. No matter what, she wanted to stay with me. Ignoring the sincere feelings of such a dedicated girl—wasn’t that what a true villain would do?
If Mashiro wouldn’t give up on me, then I won’t give up on her either. We’ll fight together, not alone, to avoid the catastrophe and find happiness.
Even a villain wants to experience youth.
Just like I wished for that, Mashiro wants to experience youth too. So, there’s no need to hold back anymore. I’ll laugh and enjoy youth with Mashiro.
Thinking that far, realizing that, I finally managed to speak.
"You... you look great. Really, really cute."
Hearing my clumsy words, Mashiro broke into a radiant smile.
Her smile was like that of an angel, and for the first time since coming to this world, I felt truly happy.
And so, Amanatsu Mashiro became the one and only person in the world who made my life vibrant and full of color.