Kyoko continued as head maid. Naoko becoming my personal maid, however, seemed to have hit a snag during the Nijo family meeting…

The next day, Maki, the mother of the two, visited the mansion.

She was a beautiful woman with a small mole under her lip, her refined features clearly inherited by both Kyoko and Naoko.

The entire Nijo family was stunningly beautiful.

However, I hadn’t expected their mother to come charging in.

Maki… was probably here to object to her two daughters serving me, Hazumi Reito, as maids.

As their mother, she likely sensed their dislike for me. It’s only natural for a parent to worry if their children have to work for someone they despise.

But I needed Kyoko and Naoko by my side as maids.

Because in this world, they were likely key players.

Perhaps even heroines.

If I let her take the lead in the conversation, it would likely turn into a protracted confrontation. One that might even trigger my downfall flags.

So… I decided to strike first.

After the maid showed Maki into the spacious living room and she sat down…

“Please, entrust your two daughters to me. I won’t let any harm come to them. I’ll make them happy! Please, I beg you!”

“!!”

I stood up and bowed deeply.

My preemptive strike: simple is best.

Showing sincerity.

However, being in a one-on-one situation… even I was nervous.

So nervous, in fact, that I couldn’t quite recall what I’d just said.

Well, I don’t think I said anything weird, so it should be fine!

“…Reito-sama. Please raise your head.”

A gentle voice reached me, and I looked up.

Maki paused for a breath, then…

“Kyoko and Naoko are both precious daughters to me. Please… please take care of them.”

This time, Maki stood and bowed deeply.

When she raised her head, there were tears in the corners of her eyes.

Her daughters were going to be working for a man they disliked.

Of course, she’d be in tears.

But I had her clear consent! She couldn't take it back!

Though, what did she mean by “take care of them”? Did she really mean to entrust them to me for such a long time?

In any case, I now had their mother's official approval for them to be my maids.

Time passed… and spring arrived.

The day before the entrance ceremony at Soutei Academy. It was early afternoon.

“Whoa… Soutei Academy’s uniform. This is pretty cool.”

I slipped into the newly delivered uniform and smiled at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

A black blazer with a crown-motif emblem on the chest, a striped tie, and blue-based checkered slacks.

It looked similar to my high school uniform from my previous life… but it felt much more comfortable.

The fabric was soft yet fit perfectly. Was it made of some high-quality material? Perhaps Soutei Academy was a prestigious school.

Anyway…

“I look good, don’t I?”

The uniform was worn by a boy with sleek, center-parted black hair and a healthy physique. He stood tall and confident.

Although my attempts to raise my likeability had been unsuccessful… I still continued the floor-scrubbing and moderate exercise in the training room.

Thanks to that, I'd built up a good amount of muscle, and my dark circles had disappeared due to my healthy routine of early to bed, early to rise.

I'd avoided the unhealthy, chubby villain trope!

Looking at my reflection, I nodded in satisfaction at my progress.

I was now fully accustomed to and in control of this body.

I had decided to live as Hazumi Reito.

…Even if it meant being a villain loaded with downfall flags.

Still, I really wanted to know what kind of world this was and what the storyline was, as soon as possible.

But I had no inkling of remembering. It was strange, right? I was definitely supposed to have been reincarnated as a villain…

Well, I’ll just have to believe it’ll come back to me eventually!

“Come to think of it, I haven’t decided how to act at school.”

Raising Kyoko’s likability was my top priority, but since I’d be attending school, how I behaved there was also important.

For now, I'd focus on avoiding the downfall route… but how should I interact with others?

And… how should I interact with the heroine and protagonist once I found them?

“Hmm, there’s a lot to think about.”

Just then… knock, knock, someone knocked on my bedroom door.

“Yeah, come in.”

As I replied, the door opened… and Kyoko, in her usual maid attire and cool expression, entered after a small bow.

“Excuse me, Young Master. …You’re already wearing your uniform.”

“Yeah. I wanted to make sure it fit properly. So? Does it fit?”

“It seems a bit large, but considering you’re still growing, I think it’s just right.”

“I see.”

Since Kyoko also said so, it must be fine visually!

Even if my position as a villain is problematic!

“Um… Young master.”

“Hmm?”

Kyoko was staring intently at me… Huh? Was there something wrong with it after all?

“Young master. The uniform… suits you very well.”

“!!”

Kyoko said with a smile, and I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

…Kyoko had complimented me.

Come to think of it, I felt like it was the first time someone had praised me directly.

Could it be… that her likability had gone up a little…?

“Well then, I’ll be taking the afternoon off.”

In the next instant, Kyoko’s expression returned to its usual crispness.

“Oh, okay. Give my regards to Naoko.”

“Yes. Please excuse me.”

With that, Kyoko promptly left the room.

Yeah, her likability definitely hadn't gone up.

Besides, “suits you very well” is a common courtesy, right? I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.

Still, it felt… kind of nice to be complimented by a beautiful girl.

Incidentally, Kyoko was also taking the morning off tomorrow.

Because tomorrow was… Naoko’s entrance ceremony as well. It seemed Naoko had decided to attend Soutei Academy with me.

Now, tomorrow, my school life would finally begin.

Although I still didn’t know what kind of world this was or what the storyline was… Today was the day before the entrance ceremony.

This was probably the prologue.

School life would be the main story.

“Alright, let’s do this! I’ll break all the downfall flags and have a fun school life!”

I nodded firmly at my uniformed reflection in the mirror.