I Favor The Villainess Chapter 5

"Yo, Yuu and Claire. Morning all"

We were called out in such a lively voice by a handsome guy with short black hair.

"Good morning, Rod-sama"
"Morning, older brother"

His name is Rod Bauer.
He's the First Prince of this country, and as expected one of the capture targets.

"Huh, what's up. Something interesting? Include me too"

Laughing loudly, Rod joined our conversation circle in a frank manner.

"There is nothing interesting happening. It is only one person of the bunch who disturb the public morals of the academy"
"Is that it? You want to disturb the public morals together with me? Do you want to disturb them? Do you want them disturbed?"
"I will not disturb them!?"
"… What a fellow"

Seeing my and Claire-sama's comedy routine, Rod-sama looked at me like I'm a rare animal.

"The top new scholars.h.i.+p student Rei Taylor. She's quite interesting, isn't she you?"

Giggling with a smile, Yuu-sama introduced me.
According to etiquette I actually should have been the one to introduce myself.

"Certainly, there aren't many like her among n.o.bility. It seems the old man's policy has quite funny effects"
"Haa…"

I wonder if I was praised.
I sighed ambiguously.

"This reaction, how fresh. Rei, huh… I'll remember"
"Thanks"
"That's disrespectful, Rei"
"How many people do you think would like to be remembered by Rod-sama…"

I wasn't interested in Rod-sama either, although I responded adequately, Misha got angry and Claire-sama was astonished.

But, it can't be helped.
Rod-sama is the type I find difficult to deal with, the so-called ore-sama character.
Always going his own way, not breaking, not turning, just single-mindedly going forward.
His way of thinking is super-positive, his personality is cheerful.

But in reality, won't you get tired with such a person around?
Until this day I fail to understand why Rod-sama held the firm top position in the popularity ranking.
Well, because I'm more infatuated with Claire-sama than capturable characters, surely my sensitivity is slightly off.

"Sein, you come too"
"… I'm fine"

The one who replied to Rod-sama in a displeased voice was a silver haired young man prostrated on the desk in the back of the lecture hall.
He prostrated himself on the desk again immediately after.

"I think Sein-niisan doesn't like such atmosphere"
"What kind of atmosphere does that guy like"

Yuu-sama laughed troubled, Rod-sama made a bitter face.
As you can see from the complex reaction of these two, Sein-sama is what's called an "it's troublesome" person.

Sein-sama is the Second Prince of this country, and the last capture target.
He's the least popular out of the three capture targets.
If Yuu-sama is a typical prince character and Rod-sama is an ore-sama character, should Sein-sama be called a complicated character?

Yuu-sama is a genuine prodigy, he demonstrates high ability in whatever he does without much difficulty.
Rod-sama is a bright person, also demonstrating high ability thanks to acc.u.mulated efforts.

Being stuck between two such excellent people, Sein-sama is a person who can demonstrate reasonable ability with effort.
Always being compared to his younger and older brothers, Sein's personality has become troublesome in various ways.
He's a dishonest lump of complexes.

But among the capture targets, I like Sein-sama the most.
The reason is similar to why I like Claire-sama, he's full of human traits.
Rather than supermen like most people, I find people like him more fascinating.
It might be because I'm not a young woman who's excited with dreams and hopes but an adult who's aware of the reality.
Idolizing that, I think I'm too extreme.

"Sein-sama…"

The one who muttered with complex emotions is my dear Claire-sama.
As a matter of fact, Claire-sama is very fond of Sein-sama.

One of the reasons of Sein-sama's low popularity is Claire-sama being irritating.
Even under normal circ.u.mstances Claire-sama is meddlesome, in Sein-sama's route Claire-sama is really a little irritating.
To make matters worse, Sein who's experienced hards.h.i.+ps hasn't condemned Claire-sama in the ending.

"… I understand your feelings. It must have been tough"

With him saying such lines she was forgiven.
Catharsis caused by the great turnaround, present in other routes, for example Rod-sama's, is absent in Sein-sama's route.
I reckon it's unavoidable he wasn't very popular.
I don't particularly like "serves you right" very much, so I didn't dislike Sein-sama's response.

"How about calling out to him? Claire-sama"

Sein-sama basically never approaches willingly.
He has to be made to approach here.

"W, why should I?"
"Because, you like him, right?"

After saying that, I thought 'd.a.m.n it', but it was too late.

"Y, you are wrong! I do not think anything of Sein-sama!"

Because I hit the bullseye, Claire-sama reflexively raised her voice.
Her voice resounded through the lecture hall, naturally it was also heard by Sein-sama.

Sein-sama lifted his body, stood up and left the lecture hall expressionless.

"Ah… What should I do… I didn't mean tha…"

Claire-sama is fl.u.s.tered.
She's really clumsy.

"Let's apologize later, Claire-sama"
"…! Why would a lowly commoner speak like she knows anything!"
"Claire-sama"

I firmly met Claire-sama's eyes and put strength into my voice.

"W, what is it…"
"Sein-sama is a delicate person"
"I know that"
"That's why, let's apologize"
"… Y, you are noisy!"

Claire-sama sharply stood up.

"I feel unwell! I will retire for today!"
"Ah, Claire-sama!"
"Please leave me alone!"

Without letting her followers approach her, Claire-sama left the lecture hall.

But, I understand.
Claire-sama certainly chased after Sein-sama.

"Ah… You really are cute"

This is why Claire-sama is irresistible.
Seeing her off, I watched her curls sway.