“We’ll have regular classes until the sixth period starting tomorrow. Don’t forget your textbooks. And behave yourselves on your way home… or your conduct grades will suffer. See ya!”

Oniki-sensei left the classroom with a casual wave.

A sense of relief spread through the room.

Today, being the entrance ceremony, school ended at noon.

Heeding Oniki-sensei’s warning and preparing for tomorrow’s classes, everyone began packing up.

Her warning was probably to prevent us from doing anything rash on the first day, fueled by the excitement.

Plus, she had said she hated troublesome things, so she was covering her bases.

As the villain, I couldn’t afford to cause trouble on the first day either.

Everyone in the class seemed to understand the meaning behind Oniki-sensei’s words.

But… their gazes were restless and wandering.

“I really want to talk to him…”

“No way. Oniki-sensei would definitely get mad at us.”

“Besides, he seems unguarded, but he’s still that boy… If we all talk to him at once and scare him…”

“What if the worst happens, and he doesn’t come to school tomorrow…?”

“Yeah, let’s be content with seeing him and breathing the same air today.”

Some of the girls glanced at me, quickly averting their gaze if our eyes met.

Well… it was a typical first day!

I put the distributed papers and stationery in my bag, ready to go!

Glancing to the side, I saw Naoko fiddling with her phone. Perhaps she was contacting Kyoko or Maki.

Looking at her closely… Naoko really was beautiful.

Soft flaxen hair, large, gentle eyes. Even sitting down, her good figure was apparent. She exuded an aura that attracted attention.

Yep, she was definitely a main heroine.

And I was the villain.

In novels, manga, and games, we were usually on opposing sides…

But behind the scenes, we were Bocchama and personal maid.

Our relationship was a secret at school.

If it were revealed, I could become the target of resentment.

Therefore, I wouldn’t do anything that suggested a close relationship, like going home together.

Besides, Naoko would probably go home with Kyoko and Maki today. I shouldn't interfere with their family time.

But I… didn’t leave immediately.

I was a bit hesitant.

Naoko had revealed that she was my support during her self-introduction… and it felt wrong to just leave without saying anything.

“Naoko.”

“Eh? Y-yes!”

Naoko looked up, startled, as I called her name.

Sorry for surprising you. But since she was going to be my support at school, I felt I should at least say something.

“I look forward to working with you tomorrow, Naoko. I’m counting on you.”

“Y-yes, Reito-san. I look forward to working with you as well.”

Good, good. Naoko’s response was smooth.

This much interaction wouldn’t arouse suspicion, right?

Without another word, I left the classroom.

For the first day of school, hadn’t I done fairly well?

I’d even say I’d managed to get through it—

“Rei-kun, welcome home!”

As I was walking across the school grounds… someone called out to me from the side.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, Rei-kun! Did anything happen? Are you alright? Mama is better than those girls in your class, right? Should you take a day off from school tomorrow?”

Mom rushed over, her voice and… chest… bouncing.

The overprotective villainous mom had returned.

And she was talking as if I’d just returned from a battlefield…

Perhaps the original Reito became spoiled because Mom pampered him too much.

Beside her were the dozen or so maids and the two female bodyguards in black suits.

The same situation as this morning.

Oh, right.

The school day wasn't over until I got home.

Which meant… I’d be attracting attention again.

“Let’s go home, Rei-kun♪”

“Please don’t worry, Reito-sama.”

“We will ensure your safe return.”

No chance of going home alone…

“Ah… yes. Please do.”

I was a villain who could adapt.

Alright! I'd do my best again tomorrow!

◆◆

(Naoko’s POV)

After Reito-sama left, the other girls in the class began to leave one after another.

But it wasn’t my imagination that many of them glanced at me as they left.

Because I was Reito-sama’s support.

Yeah… everyone was curious about him.

Unlike ordinary boys, he didn’t seem intimidated by or dismissive of girls.

On the contrary, he made those unguarded remarks and smiled softly even surrounded by so many girls…

Besides, Reito-sama was the only one in this class—

“Naoko! Are you okay?!”

The one who rushed over to me was my best friend from junior high.

She was a boyish girl with bluish-black, very short hair, sharp features, a tall stature, and healthy, tanned skin.

It was Inose Nagisa.

Nagisa looked at me with a serious expression, almost accusingly.

“Um… what’s wrong, Nagisa-chan?”

“What’s wrong? You were just talking to a boy!”

“Ah, well… yes.”

“‘Yes’? You’re not good with boys! Aren’t your hands sweating like crazy?”

At Nagisa’s loud voice, I instinctively looked around the classroom.

Fortunately, we were the only ones left.

With Reito-sama gone and Oniki-sensei’s warning, everyone decided to go home quickly.

Nagisa seemed to have been waiting for a chance to talk to me.

“Huh… wait, your hands aren’t sweaty?”

Nagisa, who had somehow taken my hand, frowned as she rubbed them.

“But they’re a bit warm.”

“Uh… M-maybe it’s because I was holding a hand warmer because it’s a bit cold today?”

I quickly replied.

It was a lie.

It was a bit chilly today, but… I didn’t have a hand warmer.

But I knew why my hands were warm.

“I look forward to working with you tomorrow, Naoko.”

Reito-sama’s words had warmed me from the inside out.

“Hmm, whatever. And what’s with him calling you by your first name?”

Nagisa’s questions continued.

It was natural for her to be curious.

Reito-sama’s actions today… weren’t normal for us girls. They were rare occurrences.

“I think he called me by my first name on a whim? H-he told me to call him by his first name too.”

The name-calling was part of Reito-sama’s strategy.

“Hmm, a whim, huh? And I’m also curious why you, who’s not good with boys, took on the support role, which requires you to be near a boy~”

Nagisa furrowed her brow, and I was thinking about how to explain myself…

“Well, sorry for bombarding you with questions. Oniki-sensei gave that warning to prevent this kind of interrogation, and here I am, your best friend, doing it to you. Anyway, I’m glad nothing happened to you, Naoko. But if you have any problems from tomorrow onwards, tell me immediately, okay? I’ll come running!”

Nagisa said, a shy smile on her face. I nodded and replied, “Okay.”

Honestly, I was grateful.

The support role. At first glance, it seemed like a role to support Reito-sama in his school life…

But in reality, I could see myself becoming a mediator between him and the girls in our class.

Because everyone wanted to talk to Reito-sama.

They wanted to get to know him.

And if possible… they wanted to become something special to him.

Even I…

“Let’s go to the shoe lockers together, Naoko.”

“Okay, Nagisa-chan.”

Talking with Nagisa was still as enjoyable as ever, even now that we were in high school.

But lately, no matter what I did, Reito-sama's face, and his words…

“Naoko… don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

…kept lingering in my mind.