I woke up from my second nap to a similar scene as before. Kyoko was there, and a dozen or so maids stood respectfully at the edge of the room.

The only difference was the presence of a female doctor in a white coat… who promptly began examining me.

Apparently, Kyoko and the others had left to arrange for a doctor.

I was being treated rather well for a doom flag-ridden villain.

The doctor seemed experienced, and the examination proceeded smoothly.

But why were her cheeks perpetually flushed?

“—The examination is complete. Now, I’ll ask you a few questions.”

A brief interview followed.

Name, age, blood type, family structure. Today’s date, favorite foods, hobbies, and so on…

The result of the interview?

Aside from my name, I got every question wrong.

Strange… I still couldn't remember anything about the character I'd supposedly been reborn as, the world's setting, or any other relevant details. Nothing clicked.

However, there was a silver lining.

Being asked questions meant I could learn the answers.

My name was Hazumi Reito.

I was fifteen years old, the only son of a prominent wealthy family.

My father was deceased, meaning I lived in a single-parent household.

Currently, I resided in this excessively large mansion with dozens of maids.

And this world wasn't a fantasy realm brimming with swords and magic… but a modern world, just like my previous life.

I see…

It seemed I’d been reincarnated as the villain in a modern romantic comedy!

Villain reincarnation was trending in the rom-com genre, after all!

It was a shame I couldn't wield swords and magic in a fantasy world, but… in a modern setting, I probably wouldn't suffer a gruesome death. In fact, I probably wouldn't be killed at all.

Because in the modern world, that would be a crime.

The diminished threat to my life brought a sense of relief.

But I couldn't let my guard down.

I was still the villain.

I never knew when or where I might stumble upon a doom flag.

As I was pondering this, the doctor’s pen stopped moving.

“Your memory seems a bit hazy, perhaps because you’ve just woken up… but there are no physical abnormalities. You should be able to resume your daily life without any problems.”

The maids waiting at the edge of the room sighed in relief at the doctor’s diagnosis.

But one person…

“…”

Kyoko, who stood beside me, maintained her serious expression.

“Hazy memory… I see. I thought your way of speaking and demeanor were different from usual…”

Kyoko’s words made me stiffen.

I was reincarnated as a villain.

Meaning, I wasn't the original Hazumi Reito.

Naturally, there would be discrepancies in my speech and behavior.

Furthermore, I didn't know what kind of person the original Hazumi Reito was. Why couldn’t I remember?

Regardless, I couldn’t let them suspect anything.

Kyoko was already looking at me with a mixture of worry and suspicion.

But maybe I didn't need to worry too much?

Villain reincarnation stories were a popular genre in my past life; I’d read tons of novels and manga, and it was one of my favorites. So even if I didn't know the specific scenario, I could probably mimic the speech and mannerisms of a typical villain reincarnation protagonist.

Besides, the fact that I immediately recognized my situation as villain reincarnation was thanks to my memories from my past life.

Past life memories were useful, after all!

“I-If you’re worried… we can conduct a more detailed examination at the hospital? Or perhaps you’d like to be hospitalized, Reito-sama?”

“Huh?”

Lost in thought, I was startled by the doctor’s sudden question.

“Hospitalized…?”

That didn’t sound like a bad idea.

It would give me time to strategize my next move.

“If you’re hospitalized… then I… I can take care of you, down to the last detail? E-Even at night…”

The doctor averted her gaze from my face, her eyes drifting downwards.

Huh? Did her eyes just gleam? And her breathing seemed a little ragged…

“—That’s enough.”

A calm yet firm voice interjected.

Kyoko.

She was looking at the doctor with a hint of anger.

“Thank you for examining Reito-sama, Doctor. However… any further measures are unnecessary, aren’t they?”

“B-But…”

“If you subject Young Master to any more unnecessary procedures… I won't hesitate to take action.”

“Eek…!”

The doctor let out a small squeak, seemingly intimidated by Kyoko's pressure.

“Well then, please be careful on your way home.”

“Ugh… Such a good chance to take care of a male patient…”

Muttering something under her breath, the doctor gathered her things and left the room.

Then… Kyoko slowly spoke.

“The rest of you, make sure she leaves the premises.”

“““Yes!””””

Three maids promptly left the room at Kyoko's command.

Their efficient teamwork continued to impress me…

But chasing away the doctor who recommended a detailed examination and hospitalization…

It was as if she didn't want me to go to the hospital at all.

If I were a beloved young master, they’d definitely send me to the hospital.

This reinforced my belief that I had indeed been reincarnated as a villain…

Did Kyoko… dislike me?

Well, in a way, it was understandable.

Judging from her behavior so far, Kyoko was the one who primarily took care of the original Reito. She also seemed to be the leader of the maids.

Being the primary caregiver likely meant… she also bore the brunt of his troublesome behavior.

This significantly increased the possibility that she disliked me.

However, in villain reincarnation stories, the maid was often the first to witness the protagonist's changed behavior, reassess their opinion of him, and become his first ally.

Kyoko was undoubtedly a key person in this world.

Which meant my first task was… to raise Kyoko’s favorability rating!