Chapter 4: Chapter 4

“Sorry to ask, but… are you sure that this is your class?”

 

I’m really tempted to laugh. If I can hold myself, it’ll be a miracle without equals.

Am I really this unrecognizable?

 

“E-ehm, well, yes. I’m Sofia Tanarako.”

 

Well, at least Akari had understood. Cutie! She’d always recognize me…

 

“Is it really you? I thought so because of the hair and eyes, but the rest was just different.”

 

“Yeah, I asked my… cousin, for some tips.”

 

Wait. I don’t have parents, but I should have a cousin? That is not impossible!

Still, it’s a difficult situation for the future. Let’s avoid any possible misinterpretation.

 

“I mean… spiritual cousin. Yeah.”

 

“Oh, of course.”

 

This character of the game is looking at me with both a confused and amused face.

I’m glad I got you to laugh!

I definitely don’t want to strangle you to death at this exact moment for the lack of respect towards my terrible lies.

I mean, social rules do not want me to do that. Let’s move on.

 

If you haven’t noticed so far, let me say it loud and clear. May even heaven and the Jade Palace hear it: I hate Miyuri Honomako! I really dislike her!

 

In the game she’s spoiled beyond belief, rarely if ever speaks, she becomes a borderline sociopath and her only light is Anais-san!

Except for the last part, does it remind you of anyone? No, don’t say it. No.

 

Anyway, in the flashback two years prior to the game's beginning she has never appeared. 

 

So, for me it’s surprising to know she is different than she was in the game and, even if that’s too little to be happy about, she talks to me!

Her original version would never. If it was the start date, she’d be looking at me with a disgusted and bored expression. Just like Akari.

 

If there’s an event in which her heart becomes black, I absolutely have to prevent it.

 

“So, why did you choose to sit here now, Tanarako-san?”

 

“I’d tell you to look behind you, Honomako-san. You can understand lots.”

Immediately, she turns back. Then, she gazes again at me with a surprised expression.

 

“Sannahiro-san has returned and she stole your seat, I see. I knew she was somewhat of a criminal.”

 

“No, that’s too far! She might not remember her spot. Well, even if she wants to be alone I don’t mind. If you don’t mind it either, of course…”

 

“Well, I–”

 

“So, you don’t mind. I’m happy, Honomako-san!”

 

I don’t know what she wanted to say, but I won’t let her for any reason. I won’t speak to Akari again today, may the sea mesh with the land and the land mesh with the sky!*

Miyuri’s pink hair, now that I think of it, offers a quite unrealistic impression of her.

You’d expect a much more extroverted character with these characteristics, even if it’s hard to say these things without resorting to prejudice.

 

Yet, her hair doesn’t seem natural. Maybe she wanted it to be like this, contrary to most characters who were born with it (developers’ fault, I’m sure you know by now).

 

“Finally I have a deskmate!” I can hear her whisper near me, while I move my hair from the desk to write better.

If there’s one thing I am flawless at by now which isn’t quoting books, it’s understanding when someone is lying to themselves.

 

It doesn’t even make sense to bring this up if she won’t, though. I’ll try to be as quiet as possible and listen to this boring lesson, so that she can feel at ease and pretend she has no deskmate.

 

Let’s grab a book from the bag, actually. That might be better.

Sofia Tanarako’s collection was not that bad at all, if I can be honest.

 

After just two hours of silence, Miyuri calls me again with a sweet and honey-like tone of voice.

 

I won’t say I was waiting for it, but I totally was. I’m so curious to know what she wants to say next.

 

“Tanarako-san, I think I want to know you better. In these school days, we’ve basically never talked.”

So, Sofia had already spoken to Miyuri? And she still did not remember her name or face?

I’m more shocked day by day by the person who inhabited this body. I hope you can hear me, I really do.

But I just nod.

 

“Do you have any hobbies, Tanarako-san?”

 

“Reading. And writing, I guess.”

 

“Really? Did you know I’m the owner of the book club inside of this school? You might wanna come there at times… we’re open to the public!”

 

“Sure, I don’t mind.” Seems really interesting. “I wonder what sort of art Honomako-san creates.”

 

“Ah, but in reality I hate books.”

 

She says such a thing with the most innocent little cute face ever, but I’m convinced this is the most honest and important key she has given me so far.

If I want to know her well, it’s time to listen.

 

But my internal reaction is not quite the same to my wisdom.

She hasn’t said it! I bet she hasn’t! I just heard wrong. Please, professor… even if you’ve been writing for ten minutes on that stupid blackboard, look at me right now. Change my seat. I’m a victim of abuse.

 

Joking! I’m not that childish that I would hate people who hate my passions!

Go, speak up. Before I cut your head.

 

“Why, Honomako-san?”

“I wanted you to ask me.”

She says with an even more fake sweet voice.

“We have a good synergy as deskmates, don’t we?”

 

I just asked a question. Answer.

And, sure enough, she sighs. Then, she opens her mouth to mutter some words I was not ready to hear.

 

You are reading story If I Fell in Love with the Villainess at novel35.com

“I don’t know how to explain it, but someone who writes or reads to me… they’re just hiding in their fantasy world. 

When there’s something in your life you hate, something you can’t fix, something that disappoints you to no end, it’s an easy way out.

Then, you’re not Tanarako-san. You’re a happy, carefree protagonist who lives a good life! And for a second you forget what state you are in.”

 

Huh. So, there’s that. 

 

“You prepared this answer, didn’t you?” I ask.

 

“From the very second I saw the book you had hidden inside of your school bag, I felt like you might be the same as me.

Really, books are just the second thing I hate the most. I’m sorry if you sincerely like them and such a thing breaks your heart, Tanarako-san.”

 

Just like Akari, I can see in this person only now the characteristics that made her such an original character in the game.

There you were, Miyuri Honomako. The real Miyuri, to be precise.

 

Her words had a double meaning: the first one was to make me change my set if I really was that type of person that lightheartedly reads for enjoyment.

In that case, I doubt she’d bear with me.

It’s obvious this person doesn’t want me here in general, that’s no new information.

She wants me to be offended.

But she doesn’t know she has called towards herself an invincible demon. Me.

Okay, too much bragging. Let’s answer.

 

“So, what would you replace books with? If that’s the easy way out, what’s the hard one?”

The second objective. She wants to know if I’m like her, because deep down he wants me to help her, even if just unconsciously. 

 

No answer to my question. But I don’t need one.

I already know very well what she is talking about. Heh.

 

The deeper message is also beyond obvious. 

Scattered all around her desk are papers and books, not all of them can be needed for the lesson.

If I were to look through them, I’d probably see poems and novels written by famous authors.

She has taken the easy way out so far, it seems. I wonder if she has ever written.

 

It seems like she stops reading literature before the start date, because that is a trait no fan knew about.

That is a sign that must not be underestimated. 

I really want to know what happened during that period.

 

“You don’t need to answer. 

Just bring me a poem tomorrow and show me how you feel inside.”

 

That is my final answer towards the insecure girl in front of me.

It’s understandable that she doesn’t answer. More than understandable, I’d say. We just met.

 

It’s also understandable for her to refuse. In her position, I doubt I’d do it either.

“I– have never written anything. Never, ever.”

 

Her face is surprised to tears, which makes me wonder what everyone else is thinking about this situation for a split second. Just for a second, though.

 

The only person I see in that period of time is Akari gazing at us, her expression being very curious and her face being very beautiful.

I don’t swing that way, just respect.

I mean, if I have to be respectful, then I shall also say that even with the threat of tears running out of her pupils, Miyuri keeps an insane beauty.

 

“Then you should.” I say.

 

“Why should I, who hates books, write you a poem to tell you, a stranger, how I feel inside? Why do you care so much?” She asks. 

Her voice almost cracks at a point. It’s crazy how such a conversation can be had without anybody noticing.

 

“I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful poem.” Truthfully, I answer.

That finally brings out a tear from the person I’ve just met but that has managed to cry in less than a hour. Not my fault, though. All her.

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it’s very sweet to write about your worst feelings. It’s also very sweet to read about them, much sweeter than your best ones.”

 

This time I’m not even lying. I don’t hate writers who describe beautiful things, feel joy and write panegyrics. 

Still, I think there’s something infinitely more interesting in feeling bad.

 

It’s not a coincidence if Dante’s Inferno is more famous than his Paradiso, is it?

 

Well, whatever. I wonder if I can solve the problem that’s making her sad.

The second thing you hate the most, was it?

 

“Don’t ever pick the hard way out, please. Trust me.”

 

-=-

 

After having told me that we’d meet tomorrow in the book club after our lessons, Miyuri, who seems not to have any friend but me, decided to accompany me to the Cafeteria.

 

“It’s my treat. Thank you, but let’s talk about something happier now!” She proclaims. That is the most fake declaration of today.

“Don’t force yourself. And don’t worry, I have brought some food from home.”

“Alright. I wonder if you can cook well.”

“Of course not. It’s all raw.”

“Oh, are you lazy, Tanarako-san?”

Kinda. I want to tell her that there were more pressing issues than preparing something to eat yesterday, but it’s not worth it. 

 

“Do you know how to cook, Honomako-san?”

“That is no answer. But yes, of course.”

“And still, your food is bought?”

 

Oh, she’s surprised. Before she asks me how I could tell, the package has “Mizuku Shop” written on it.

 Do you think I’m an idiot?

 

“You better leave.”

I hear a familiar voice say such a thing, which makes me immediately turn my back to where it came from.

There are two people who aren’t talking happily at all.

 

And one of them is Akari.

 

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