I Was Reincarnated As the Hated Scummy Best Friend in a Gal Game and the Protagonist Is Useless

65

21, A Deep Conversation

I continued the conversation with Sayaka until she was satisfied, and as evening approached, I was about to head home.

“It’s not like I mind if you stay over, Hideyori.”

“How am I supposed to do that without any overnight gear…”

“Then next time you come to nurse me, bring a sleepover set.”

“Could you try not to catch a cold in the first place…”

She boldly plans to make me nurse her again.

Indeed, Sayaka does look like someone who falls ill easily.

“Ah! If you catch my cold and get bedridden, I’ll come to your house and nurse you overnight!”

“I’ll kick you out if you’re not wearing a maid costume.”

“Choosing a maid over a nurse, I can see where your preferences lie…”

Bantering with Sayaka, I leave the room and walk to the shop where the master is.

“Master, I’m about to head home.”

“Hey, thank you so much for today, Hideyori-kun.”

The master was wiping a cup and expressing his gratitude.

Hearing this, Sayaka approaches the master.

“I’m all better now, Master!”

“You look really energetic. The ice water I prepared must have done the trick.”

“You and your dad say the same thing, huh.”

As he pointed that out, the master laughed heartily.

While placing the cup down, the master turned to face Sakuya.

“Since you’re still recovering, you should get some sleep. I’ll bring dinner later.”

“Okay. See you then, Hideyoshi.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

Sakuya waved her hands vigorously as she returned to her room.

Having seen her energetic figure, I decided it was time for me to leave too.

“Ah, wait a minute, Hideyoshi. Let’s have a little chat,” the master called out.

“I think you and your daughter like talking way too much…”

“Genetics, perhaps… But you know, she was on the quieter side before she met you…”

The master chuckled wryly as he poured coffee and offered it in front of me.

Taking a sip, I wondered what the master wanted to talk about, staring intently at his face.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a serious conversation,” he said.

“What are you talking about? We’ve had deep discussions about things like Sawamura Yama,” I retorted.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about a serious talk,” he clarified with an exaggerated cough.

What now? Not another ridiculous request to take care of his daughter, I hope?

“Do you, by any chance, have a Gift?”

“Huh?”

“A Gift, you have one, don’t you?” the master asked with a tone of certainty.

I couldn’t understand why he suddenly brought up the topic of Gifts.

“Sakuya’s fever was just under 38 degrees this morning. It’s impossible for it to change so much in a few hours.”

“I don’t know anything about that. Maybe the ice water was just really good.”

“There’s no such thing as that kind of ice water. I didn’t just become certain today. I’ve thought so for a long time, even before you first came to this shop.”

“…”

While drinking the coffee, I pondered about the Gift.

I couldn’t see the master’s intentions at all.

But I trusted him enough not to deny it outright.

“What made you think I have a Gift?” I asked.

“It’s commonly believed that children born to parents with the Gift are more likely to possess the Gift themselves. Your father had the Gift, after all. I figured the chances were high.”

“But that’s just a common belief, right?”

“Even children of parents both possessing the Gift can be born without it, and conversely, children of parents without the Gift can still be born with it.”

“In other words, it’s almost like luck.”

“Yeah. But your sister’s husband… I mean, your uncle, he’s a piece of work, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, he is.”

“It was easy to imagine that scumbag mistreating Hidetoshi, the kid he took in. But what’s with the current husband of your sister? Working diligently, buying you all sorts of things, and even taking your sister on an anniversary trip? That’s not like him at all.”

Although the Master and my aunt seemed to get along well, I sensed a nuance of contempt for my uncle.

In fact, I agree that my uncle is a scumbag.

“So something must have happened in the Akechi family, right? Did my sister change her husband? No way, she doesn’t have the guts for that. So, it must be Hidetoshi, the kid they took in, who did something to my uncle. That’s the only explanation.”

“I was the one who persuaded my uncle.”

“No way. The husband wouldn’t listen to you. He’s like a starving lion. Even if you tell him not to eat meat, he won’t listen. He’s the type to devour meat greedily. He’s stupid and beastly.”

“Haha, you got that right.”

“So, you used your Gift to change the husband. I’ve suspected that ever since I heard that the husband unnaturally stopped the domestic violence against Hidetoshi.”

To think he pegged me as a Gifted from the start without even meeting me… The Master’s not just a doting parent, it seems.

“Here’s the main point. This is something I haven’t even told Sakuya, so keep it a secret.”

“What? This is the main topic now?”

“Just go with it, just go with it,” he chuckled.

“You see, I really hate the Gifted. Sakuya might idolize them, but it’s better not to have the Gift at all.”

“I remember you talking about that a long time ago.”

“I don’t even want to let the Gifted into the shop.”

“I see, I see.”

I pondered over my coffee.

After finishing it, I pretty much understood what the Master wanted to say.

“So, you want to ban me from coming and going?”

“Before I say that answer, there’s something I want you to hear.”

“No thanks to remarriage.”

“I would never say I want to marry you.”

I braced myself for a proposal from the Master, but was simply turned down.

From noble mtl dot come

I’m glad… because I’m straight.

“There’s a reason I hate those with the Gift.”

I didn’t quite understand why I needed to hear the Master’s personal doctrine on Gift bearers, but I prompted him to continue without interruption.

“A friend of mine became a victim of a Gift bearer and was murdered. Moreover, it was her husband who used the Gift. It’s like, both brothers are scum, aren’t they?”

“What do you mean?”

My friend became a victim of a Gift bearer.

That’s why it’s logical for the Master to hate the Gift.

But what comes next.

The word ‘brothers’ doesn’t make sense.

If I were to connect the conversation…

“My mother was the Master’s friend. My father was the Gift bearer and the murderer of my mother. And my father’s brother is the Master’s sister’s husband—my scummy uncle, I guess?”

“You’re sharp, Hideyoshi. You’re excellent.”

It’s been about seven years since I was reborn as Akechi Hideyoshi, and it feels strange to have my parents mentioned for the first time.

Various backgrounds of the Master are coming to light.