The Villainess Becomes a Commoner

ally think that the three of them are all at fault here.

「Miss Kotone, your coffee.」

While sipping coffee, I look at mother and see that she’s still crying.
I couldn’t help but think, if she’s this regretful then she should have mustered the strength to go against father instead.
It would have been simple if that was possible but I don’t really think that that guy could be changed so easily.
Rather, it’d probably end up with mother confined somewhere.

「What I’ve just said may be all wrong.
Still, mother, please think about it as well.
About whether your actions have affected this situation or not.」
「I’m really sorry.
As a parent, it was my responsibility to correct my daughter’s conduct.
That’s why, I don’t mind whatever you have to say to me.」
「Still, was it tough going against that father of mine?」
「Uugh, if I made a wrong move, I might have gotten kicked out myself.
But if that happened, the twins would end up being left to that man.
That was something I had to prevent no matter what.」
「That’s true.
Right now, mother can still follow up on them.」
「Besides, the you back then became a good example of how not to behave and the two are sensitive to the subtleties of human emotions, so their crisis avoidance abilities are high as well.
That’s why they shouldn’t grow weirdly twisted now.」

That might be why they didn’t approach Kotone in the past as well.
After all, if they just carelessly talked to Kotone, there’s no telling how Kotone would reply.
That probably worked out for the best.
Considering that, Kotone’s existence had a great role to play.

Still, the biggest issue here is going to be the male twin.
He is being raised to be the successor, so it’s worrying to think whether or not he’s gotten somewhat influenced by father.

「Was it also you that suggested having me live by myself, mother?」
「Yes.
At first, your father wanted to kick you out with nothing but the clothes on your back, so I proposed an alternative plan.
I thought at the time that this was just too much.」

Yeah, at that point, I’ll just die.
Rather, what was his plan if I got kidnapped then and there immediately after? Or does he just hate being with Kotone so much that he was going to leave her on the spot? He really doesn’t think about his daughter at all.
He’s one of the main causes of this problem to begin with.

「Hearing that I would be separated from father, I killed myself.
Father likely saw this as just one less nuisance for him.」
「In truth, an attempted suicide would be a major topic for gossip but he likely didn’t care at all.」
「Is that why mother didn’t come to the hospital either?」

「I was stopped by your father.
Besides, if I had gotten emotional back then, there was no telling how the anxious twins would react.
That’s why, I’m really sorry, but I had no choice except to continue life as usual.」
「I understand the situation.
I’m not bothered by it.」

The actual Kotone herself is essentially dead after all.
The one here right now is a being that is both Kotone but strictly not actually Kotone, me.
From Kotone’s point of view, she likely can’t bear the reality of her father abandoning her.
She’ll try to die again.
That’s probably why I’m here inside her.

「Rather than being Kisaragi family property, is this mansion under mother’s name?」
「Being only focused on kicking you out, there was really no telling where your father would have dropped you off.
Besides, this is a place I’ve considered in case I ever get driven out of the family.」
「So the apartment manager is an acquaintance of yours?」
「She’s a friend from my academy days.
I only asked her to watch over you but your father said a word too many.」

She likely meant the part about kicking me out.
If it was Kotone, then she’ll certainly get kicked out here.
There’s no helping that part.
After all, if Kotone starts causing trouble again, it’ll affect the other tenants and the manager as well.

References

Lyly Here and some parts, the guy is referred to as “my husband”, but it doesn’t quite read right when translated so I interchanged “husband” and “your father”.
Slightly relevant information