《Love Comes After Simulation》
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
[Want to experience the feeling of love? Do you want to truly¡ live?]
[YES/NO]
Minami Yuuki rubbed his temples as he looked at the translucent panel floating in front of him.
He set the panel aside for now; he had more pressing matters to deal with.
Lifting the thin blue nket, he put on slippers and walked across the wooden floor, exiting the bedroom to the washbasin next to the entryway hallway.
In the mirror above the sink stood a boy of about sixteen or seventeen. The boy had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his face as smooth as porcin, and was as handsome as Pan An.
However, the boy¡¯s face was a bit pale, and his lipscked color. It was unclear if this was due to some illness or if he was naturally this way.
This was not important. What mattered was¡ this wasn¡¯t Minami Yuuki¡¯s original appearance.
He had transmigrated.Taking a deep breath to fill his chest, Yuuki slowly exhaled, calming his racing heart.
The past life wasn¡¯t worth mentioning or lingering on. He began to sort through the memories in this body¡¯s mind.
The technological and cultural development of this world was on par with Yuuki¡¯s previous world, and the major countries wereparable, though there were some differences in details.
For instance, the country he was in was still called Japan, but the city names were entirely different. The economic center of Japan wasn¡¯t Tokyo, but Misaki City.
The name of this body was also Minami Yuuki, the same as his previous name. The Minami surname was quite famous in Japan, with celebrities like Minami Haruka and Minami Kotori.
Revisiting past memories in front of the mirror wasn¡¯t suitable, so Yuuki returned to the bedroom and sat at the desk to sort through this body¡¯s memories.
Minami Yuuki, sixteen years old, born in Ino Prefecture. His grandparents were farmers, his father worked at the police station, his mother was an employee at a smallpany, and he had a sister who had just started middle school. The family was ordinary.
Ino Prefecture was a small ce. At the strong insistence of his predecessor, his parents used their connections to transfer him to Misaki City, renting him a single apartment so he could study alone in Misaki.
The predecessor¡¯s purpose foring to Misaki was to experience a rosy youth. In simpler terms, he wanted to make many girlfriends and enjoy himself in the bustling city.
However, on the first day of school, the predecessor was mocked due to his narrow outlook and became reclusive, currently aplete loner.
This was perfect. Being a loner meant no friends, and with his family in Ino Prefecture, no need to spend energy maintaining the predecessor¡¯s rtionships.
After organizing the memories, Yuuki turned his attention back to the translucent panel in front of him.
[Want to experience the feeling of love? Do you want to truly¡ live?]
[YES/NO]
The chair beneath him was hard, and Yuuki clenched his fist, nails pressing into his palm, causing pain.
If he wasn¡¯t insane, this was reality.
In novels, transmigrators always had a cheat ability. This must be his cheat.
Though he didn¡¯t know how love was rted to truly living, he still clicked YES!
The ck text on the panel twisted, shrank into a ck dot, then dispersed and reformed into new words.
[Love Simtor, at your service.]
Yuuki frowned. Just a simtor? And starting with love?
He was more interested in money and power than love.
[With this simtor, you can select specific females and simte a romantic rtionship.]
[The simtion content will be presented in the form of text and memory scenes.]
[The simtion process is divided into three main stages: pursuit stage, passionate love stage, and change/tenderness stage.]
[At the end of the simtion, a score and review will be generated to help you evaluate the rtionship.]
[Note: Not all females can be selected as simtion objects. The female must meet the following conditions:]
[1. Has a certain connection with you in real life.]
[2. High-quality female.]
[Click to continue.]
Only females with a real-life connection? That meant no princesses or foreign queens. Yuuki felt a bit disappointed.
Let¡¯s give it a try.
He reached out and lightly clicked the panel, feeling a slight, gentle touch, like clicking on water.
The text on the panel changed again.
[Love Simtor]
[yer bound: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining simtion attempts: 5 (Simtion attempts can be recovered over time or actively obtained.)]
[Simtable objects: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao]
This was quite unexpected. He was worried that the simtor¡¯s high requirements might result in no simtable objects, but there were four!
Let¡¯s look through the memories to see who these four are!
Minami Airi, sister.
Minami Ruri, cousin.
Minami Kotori, cousin.
Asano Nao, unknown.
¡°¡¡±
It¡¯s understandable to have sisters, but the only one who isn¡¯t a sister, you don¡¯t even know her?
Fine, unknown is unknown.
Rubbing his forehead, Yuuki clicked on [Asano Nao].
[Selected: Asano Nao. Start simtion?]
[YES/NO]
Yuki clicked YES.
[During the simtion, you might experience mental disturbances. Please move to a safe ce.]
Yuuki climbed back into the still-warm bed.
[Simtion starting.]
[Remaining simtion attempts: 4.]
[Simted object: Asano Nao.]
[Initial rtionship: Unrequited love.]
Unrequited love? In the predecessor¡¯s memories, there was indeed someone with unrequited love, but it wasn¡¯t Asano Nao.
Could it be that Asano Nao had unrequited love for him?
Yuuki had never imagined that the love simtion would be so suspenseful.
[You open your eyes and find yourself in a parallel world, reincarnated as an eighteen-year-old boy. After confirming that the boy is handsome, has a decent family, and no major illnesses, you feel relieved.]
[Restarting life, you sigh with joy in your heart.]
[After spending ten minutes sorting through this body¡¯s memories, you feel excited but also a bit confused.]
[Please choose your next action¡]
[1. Change into your uniform and go to school; 2. Get back into bed and continue sleeping; 3. Change into casual clothes and go out; 4. Free simtion.]
Free simtion? Yuuki looked at thest option and tried clicking it.
A pop-up appeared.
[Spend 5 simtion attempts for a free simtion?]
[Free Simtion: Immersive scene with high freedom and high experience mode.]
Too expensive, can¡¯t afford it.
Yuuki closed the pop-up and chose option one.
Options two and three involved skipping school. Skipping school on the first day after transmigrating seemed toozy.
Better to go to school.
[You decide to go to school. It¡¯s now 8:03 AM, and you have 27 minutes left, plenty of time.]
[Before leaving, you find that both uniforms are unwashed, so you choose the slightly cleaner one. This dampens your mood a bit.]
[Thanks to your parents renting an apartment close to the school, it takes only ten minutes to get there, and you enter the ssroom just as the bell rings.]
[No one talks to you, and your ssmates ignore you. You deeply feel the predecessor¡¯s poor interpersonal rtionships.]
[Sitting at your desk, you choose¡]
[1. Pay attention in ss; 2. Sneak nces at the girls in ss; 3. Sneak nces at the boys in ss; 4. Free simtion.]
Yuuki chose option one.
[You pay attention in ss all day. After returning home, you continue studying, benefiting greatly.]
[Your knowledge has increased.]
As the text appeared, Yuuki¡¯s mind filled with scenes of himself sitting at the desk, studying diligently.
The frustration of difficult problems, the excitement of solving them, and the joy of increasing academic ability surged into his heart.
He felt as if he had personally experienced a day of hard studying.
Is this the ¡°memory scene¡± mentioned earlier?
By the way, isn¡¯t this supposed to be a love simtor? Did a whole day just pass like this?
[The second day, you study all day.]
[The third day, you study all day.]
Yuuki felt a sinking feeling in his heart, a bad premonition.
Sure enough, in the following simtion, he remainedpletely focused on studying.
[You studied diligently for a semester.]
[At the end of term exams, you ranked in the top ten in your ss and the top fifty in the school. You hear ssmates talking about you, amazed at your academic performance, and you feel the joy of studying.]
[During the summer vacation, you don¡¯t rx and use your pocket money to enroll in a cram school.]
[¡]
[After graduation, you received an eptance letter from Waseda University, the top private university. You feel a bit regretful that, if not for spending too much time on daily chores, you might have been admitted to Misaki University, the top public university.]
[Simtion ended.]
¡°???¡±
Where¡¯s the romance? What happened to the promised romance?
Yuuki couldn¡¯t quite ept it and continued reading the text below.
[Summary of this simtion.]
[Stages experienced: Pursuit phase.]
[Score: 1.]
[Comments: You were too focused on studying and ignored her presence.]
[Settlement: You gained a small amount of study experience.]
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
¡°I want to not focus on studying, but you didn¡¯t give me a choice! Aside from the first two options, I have no control over the rest!¡±
Wait. Minami Yuuki sat up and touched his chin.
Could it be that the first two options are leading to the subsequent results?
He restarted the simtion.
The previous text was the same as before, and he quickly skimmed through it, looking at the first option.
Removing the fourth option, the remaining three actually represent three activity areas.
One is school, the second is home, and the third is the street.
ording to thements, it says he didn¡¯t notice Asano Nao¡¯s existence, meaning he needs to find Asano Nao first.
First, eliminate the second option; you can¡¯t find anyone at home.Compared to the street, it¡¯s more reliable to look for someone at school; Asano Nao might be a fellow student.
He continued to choose the first option.
[You find that there are 15 minutes left until you¡¯rete. You quickly wash your face, put on your uniform, and run to school. You enter the ssroom just as the bell rings.]
The storyline changed!
Even though he chose the same option, the storyline changed.
Minami Yuuki looked at his phone. It was 8:16. He didn¡¯t expect this simtion to follow real-time.
He continued reading.
[The teacher is already standing on the podium. After you sit down, he starts the lecture. You try to concentrate, but your hunger makes it difficult to focus on studying.
[You choose¡]
[1. Peek at the female ssmates; 2. Peek at the male ssmates; 3. Secretly y on your phone; 4. Free simtion]
Time not only affects the storyline but also the options!
Because there wasn¡¯t enough time, the simted him didn¡¯t eat breakfast, leading to hunger, which in turn eliminated the option of paying attention in ss.
Minami Yuuki looked at the panel, thinking that if this simtor is simting in real-time and strictly follows the real world, then does it imply one thing¡ªthat the simtor can predict the future?
Can he use this simtor to foresee the future?
Lacking evidence, Minami Yuuki put this guess aside and looked at the options.
Since he needed to find Asano Nao, he obviously chose the first option!
[To alleviate your hunger, you sneak a peek at the girls in the ss. You recall Asano Nao mentioned in the love simtor. Is Asano Nao hiding among your ssmates?]
[Of course not. You¡¯re just on the fringes, not isted. You remember the names of your ssmates, and none of them is Asano Nao.]
Minami Yuuki was surprised. In the simted life, he actually remembered things from the simtor?
[You stare at Ichinose Shiori all day. The girl is slender, and her wet ck hair highlights her fair skin. She was the unrequited crush of your previous self, and you think your previous self had good taste.]
You should seriously look for Asano Nao!
[After school, while reminiscing about Ichinose Shiori¡¯s absolute territory, you don¡¯t forget to look for Asano Nao. You think, maybe Asano Nao is a student from another ss or another grade.]
[Compared to the shyness of your previous self, your behavior is much bolder. You choose¡]
[1. Shout at the bottom of the school building: ¡°Asano Nao, I like you!¡±; 2. Break into the teacher¡¯s office to search the student roster for Asano Nao; 3. Post on the school forum asking for help; 4. Free simtion]
Minami Yuuki¡¯s right hand uncontrobly raised, his index finger stretched out, about to click the first option!
He grabbed his right hand with his left.
¡°You can¡¯t be a joker. The simted you is still you!¡± he anxiously persuaded.
His right hand was persuaded, and his left hand quickly clicked the third option.
Although option two, breaking into the teacher¡¯s office to check the roster, was the most effective, posting on the forum was more stable, at least avoiding getting caught by the teacher.
[You go home, search the inte for a bunch of melodramatic stories, and carefully study them to extract the essence. Then, you log into the school forum and edit a post¡ª¡±Asano Nao, if you dare do this, don¡¯t hide!¡±]
[Considering Asano Nao¡¯s reputation, you couldn¡¯t fully unleash the melodrama, only writing a love-at-first-sight story.]
Minami Yuuki looked at the text, and the picture of himself sitting at the table, typing quickly on the keyboard with both hands, editing the post appeared in his mind.
¡°First, let me apologize. I¡¯m sorry to attract everyone with this title. I really have no other way. Can you help me find Asano Nao? She¡¯s a thief¡ªshe stole my heart.¡±
¡°Last month, I was waiting at the bus stop at the school gate. She passed by with a friend. I just nced at her and fell for her. She had some magical poison on her that followed my gaze and poisoned my heart. She made my whole body heat up, my heart race, and my eyes uncontrobly look at her.¡±
¡°By the time I realized it, she was already gone, but I heard her friend call her Asano Nao. Does anyone know this name?¡±
¡°It¡¯s been a month. I think about her while eating, while sleeping, while in ss, and even call my friends by her name while chatting.¡±
¡°Please, help me!¡±
Minami Yuuki shivered. The post was too cheesy.
[After the post is published, countlessizens are moved by your sincerity. They discuss and spread this post within the school,unching a vigorous campaign to find Asano Nao.]
[Asano Nao is not a student at the school. The campaignsts for a few days with no results. The heat quickly dies down.]
Even with this, you can¡¯t find her? Do I have to post on the city forum? But such a big forum doesn¡¯t get popr just with a little essay. Moreover, in urban times, people¡¯s connections are scarce, making it very difficult to find someone.
Minami Yuuki was troubled.
[You wait for a week. The post haspletely stopped receiving replies. You choose¡]
[1. Give up; 2. Post a bounty on the dark web; 3. Change the investigation area; 4. Free simtion]
Posting a bounty on the dark web? What the heck!
However, that seems like a solution. Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin.
He raised his hand and chose the third option.
Although posting a bounty on the dark web had a high sess rate, he didn¡¯t have enough money for a bounty.
He could only choose the third option.
[You remove the school from the investigation list.]
[If she¡¯s not from the school, where else could she be? Could she be from the old home? You call your sister, asking her to ask your parents about Asano Nao. Your sister asks what your rtionship with this woman is, and you brush it off.]
[An hourter, your sister calls back. She has asked around and no one knows Asano Nao. Your sister then asks who Asano Nao is, and you fail to brush it off. Facing her persistent questions, you hang up the phone. Your sister is very angry.]
[Asano Nao is not from the old home? You fall into confusion again.]
[You analyze: Not from school, not from the old home, so what¡¯s left is someone from society. But your previous self was very introverted, rarely going to the convenience store. Where did hee into contact with Asano Nao?]
[You decide to try your luck. You choose¡]
[1. Report to the police saying Asano Nao molested you, using the police to find her; 2. Investigate the usual convenience store; 3. Investigate the apartment building; 4. Free simtion]
Minami Yuuki tightly held his right hand.
Hold back, don¡¯t choose option one! That option surely leads to a bad ending!
He quickly clicked the third option.
[You think, the convenience store staff are generally average in appearance, not matching the simtor¡¯s requirement for high-quality women. You usually go to the convenience storete at night, rarely encountering other customers. Your interaction with Asano Nao shouldn¡¯t be at the convenience store.]
[You remember there¡¯s one more ce you frequently visit¡ªthe apartment building.]
[You live in a newly built apartment building, with a total of 13 floors, 9 rooms per floor. With so many rooms and residents, investigating one by one is troublesome. The most convenient and effective method is to get the resident list from the manager. But the manager won¡¯t divulge resident information. You¡¯ve seen the manager; he¡¯s difficult to deal with.]
[Abandoning this approach, you find a potential shortcut¡ªinvestigating nametes. In Japan, it¡¯smon to have a namete on the door with the surname. You just need to check for the surname Asano.]
[You immediately start the action, first checking the nametes on the usual route, then the whole building. You still find nothing; none of the doortes have the name Asano.]
Reading the text, Minami Yuuki felt like he truly experienced the entire search process.
Initially, he thought sess was near, and he was highly enthusiastic. After checking the frequently passed doors and finding no Asano namete, excitement disappeared, and fatigue set in. After checking all the doors, the soreness in his feet and the frustration in his heart struck him.
Minami Yuuki sighed; it really wasn¡¯t that simple.
[You didn¡¯t get discouraged. Your method of checking nametes wasn¡¯t wrong. You expanded your search area and finally found the Asano family in a detached house next to the apartment building.]
[The Asano house is a two-story wooden residence. You walk around the house and discover that a window at the back of the house faces the alley you walk through every day to go to school.]
Finally found it!
Minami Yuuki clenched his fist in excitement. This feeling was like solving a puzzle in a game that had stumped him for a long time.
He reread the text, shaking his head in amazement.
¡°The window at the back of the Asano house faces the alley I walk through every day to go to school,¡± he chuckled. ¡°This exins why I have no memory of Asano Nao, but she knows and has a crush on me.¡±
¡°There¡¯s only one truth-Asano Nao is a voyeur!¡±
¡°She peeks at me every day through the window as I go to school, and this voyeurism has turned into a unrequited love. Tut-tut-tut, I don¡¯t even know her, what a perverted woman!¡±
He grew more excited.
¡°What will happen next in the story? Since she¡¯s a voyeur, it might escte to stalking, then to coercion, and even kidnapping, right? In the simtion, when I checked out her house, did she notice? If she did, would she do something drastic?¡±
¡°For instance, on a dark, windy night, she could wear a hooded jacket, corner me in a garbage-filled alley, and threaten me with a utility knife to obey her!¡±
¡°Or even further, she could ambush me on my usual route, cover my mouth with a chloroform-soaked handkerchief, knock me out, and put me in a suitcase to take me home, locking me in a dark basement with just a single light bulb, venting her twisted desires on me every day!¡±
Just thinking about it made Minami Yuuki p his thigh in excitement!
Though encountering such a pervert in real life would be terrifying, this was just a simtion!
Pain is never truly empathetic. As a spectator, Minami Yuuki eagerly anticipated the simted him falling into such an entertaining predicament.
After all, it was just a simtion, not reality!
Wait.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s smile gradually faded. He touched his face, the sensation of his fingers pressing against his skin sobering him up. He thought, using his right hand to support his chin.
It seems¡ the simtor simtes ording to real-life conditions? Meaning, in reality, there really is a perverted voyeur fixated on me?
Not good, not good, not good, this is a huge crisis!
He definitely didn¡¯t want to have a utility knife pressed against his throat, nor did he want to be locked in a basement with a single light bulb!
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Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The warmth of the bed couldn¡¯t warm Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart. He lifted the nket, and the cool air of the spring morning chased away the warmth from his body.
He took arge bottle of oolong tea from the fridge, and as the dark tea entered his stomach, his spirits lifted, and his mood calmed a bit.
He thought, things probably weren¡¯t as bad as he imagined. Maybe he was just worrying needlessly.
In the first simtion, nothing unexpected happened. It showed that Asano Nao was merely a voyeur, not someone who would stalk, threaten, or kidnap.
cing the teacup on the bedside table, Minami Yuukiy back in bed to continue the simtion.
[You are 99% sure that the Asano house in front of you is where Asano Nao is hiding. She watches you through the window every day and has fallen in love with you.]
[Standing in front of the Asano house, you choose to¡]
[1. Ring the doorbell and meet her; 2. Turn around and leave, seeking another opportunity to meet; 3. Call the police and have her arrested; 4. Free simtion]
What should he choose?Option three was immediately ruled out. If he had more simtion attempts, he might choose it for fun. But with limited tries, it wasn¡¯t practical.
Option one was risky. Approaching directly without knowing Asano Nao¡¯s personality could lead to many unpredictable changes. It would be bad if she got scared and ran away or overreacted.
Rather than taking risks to approach someone, Minami Yuuki preferred to disguise himself as prey, waiting for the other party toe to him.
The highest form of hunter often appears as prey.
I choose option two!
Temporarily retreat and look for another opportunity to contact Asano Nao!
[After thinking for a moment, you turn around and leave.]
[For the next week, you lie low and live your normal life. Once you confirm that Asano Nao is behaving normally, you begin your actions.]
[First, you investigate Asano Nao. Using your handsome appearance, you strike up a friendship with Mrs. Tanaka, who loves gossip in the residential area, to inquire about the Asano family.]
Minami Yuuki felt his brain bing more active. The scene of talking with Mrs. Tanaka floated up from the waters of memory, creating ripples.
He closed his eyes to watch this memory.
The scene was by the roadside outside a park at dusk. Two children yed in the sandpit while he stood with a woman who looked just under thirty, with above-average looks.
¡°Mrs. Tanaka, does anyone live next door to you? I often see the lights on at night but never see anyone from that house,¡± Minami Yuuki feigned curiosity.
The vending machine by the roadside emitted colorful lights. He bought two cans of coffee, handing one to Mrs. Tanaka.
¡°You don¡¯t need to call me Mrs. Tanaka. It makes me feel like an olddy. Call me Mako or sister Mako,¡± Tanaka Mako epted the coffee, her pinky finger brushing against Minami Yuuki¡¯s palm.
With a click, she opened the tab and took a sip of coffee, saying, ¡°Next door? You mean the Asano house? Someone lives there. The Asano family¡¯s daughter lives in that house.¡±
¡°Daughter? Such a young girl living alone?¡± Minami Yuuki parted his lips slightly, his youthful, moist eyes looking at Tanaka Mako¡¯s face with confusion and curiosity.
Being seriously gazed at by such a handsome young man made Tanaka Mako¡¯s heart race. She felt her face heating up and quickly took a sip of the cold coffee.
Recalling Minami Yuuki¡¯s question, she smiled, ¡°Although she¡¯s called a daughter, she¡¯s actually quite grown. Hmm¡ four or five years older than you? She¡¯s a shut-in, a NEET, so it¡¯s normal you haven¡¯t seen her. I rarely see her myself.¡±
¡°NEET?¡± Minami Yuuki pretended to be shocked.
[Mrs. Tanaka likes you and enjoys talking with you. With a bit of guidance, she reveals everything about Asano Nao.]
¡°That girl, her name is Asano Nao, right? Six or seven years ago, she was still a cheerful child and quite good-looking. Now she¡¯spletely a social outcast. I saw her a few days ago, wearing dirty sportswear, with thick sses, and hunched over. She¡¯s beyond help.¡±
As Tanaka Mako spoke, she shook her head with a look ofpassion, showing her kindness.
¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine, a NEET and a girl at that,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed along.
¡°There¡¯s a reason behind it. Six or seven years ago, when she was in junior high, her parents died in a car ident. Her grandmother came from the countryside to take care of her, but those old country folks don¡¯t know much. Instead of raising her properly, she let her be a NEET step by step. Her grandmother¡¯s health deteriorated a few years ago and she went back to the countryside, leaving the girl to live alone.¡±
When mentioning Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother, Tanaka Mako¡¯s tone turned disdainful, ming the elderly woman. She attributed the fault to the grandmother.
¡°Such a thing happened,¡± Minami Yuuki lowered his eyes, feigning sadness.
He thought, his guess was more or less right. Asano Nao was a shut-in. Over time, her mind became fragile, and her actions edged on legality.
¡°Don¡¯t be sad for someone like that, Yuuki. In the end, it¡¯s her own fault for not being strong. Everyone has sad experiences, but not everyone turns out like her,¡± Tanaka Mako ced her hand on Minami Yuuki¡¯s shoulder tofort him.
¡°Living without parents must be hard. If my parents didn¡¯t send me living expenses, I wouldn¡¯t know what to do.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind, Yuuki. She¡¯s probably living morefortably than you think!¡±
The children ying in the sandpit ran home as night fell. Tanaka Mako took Minami Yuuki to a bench in the park and sat down.
After finishing her coffee, she ced the empty can on the bench and continued, ¡°Her parents¡¯pensation must be a huge amount. Her father was a small section chief at a bigpany! I don¡¯t know the exact amount. The house she lives in could be sold for tens of millions of yen.¡±
Tens of millions of yen, roughly a few million yuan.
With thepensation, Asano Nao must be quite wealthy.
¡°Yuuki, your home is in the countryside, right? Even if you graduate and enter a bigpany, buying a house in Misaki will take many years of hard work!¡±
Tanaka Mako turned to look at Minami Yuuki. Her arm, originally resting on the back of the bench, slowly moved up to encircle the boy¡¯s shoulders. The touch of his firm muscles made her heart pound.
She leaned closer to Minami Yuuki and said, ¡°Misaki is very prosperous, right? There must be many things you want to buy? Sister can give them to you.¡±
[Through Mrs. Tanaka, you learned about Asano Nao: in her early twenties, a shut-in, orphaned, with a grandmother in the countryside, and seems to have a lot of money.]
[Your feigned closeness these days made Mrs. Tanaka develop extra thoughts. She hinted that she could give you expensive items.]
[Facing her temptation, you choose¡]
[1. dly ept; 2. Politely decline; 3. Scold her and call the police; 4. Free simtion]
¡°¡¡±
Minami Yuuki held his forehead and sighed.
I just wanted to find out about Asano Nao. How did I end up in this situation?
What would happen if I chose option one?
In the memory scene, Mrs. Tanaka¡¯s legs looked pretty nice, though her face was just average.
He reached out and clicked option two.
[You pretended to be frightened, excuse yourself saying you haven¡¯t finished your homework, and flee the park. Mrs. Tanaka feels remorseful, thinking she was too hasty.]
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Chapter 4
Chapter 4
[You only used Mrs. Tanaka as a tool. This incident gave you a perfect excuse to distance yourself from her. As one of the Japanese who imed to be able to read the air, Mrs. Tanaka quickly sensed your intentions, and you two became strangers.]
[Having dealt with Mrs. Tanaka, you shifted your focus back to Asano Nao. You decided on your strategy: create opportunities for Asano Nao to approach and talk to you.]
Minami Yuuki nodded. Yes, this is the approach he would take.
In romantic rtionships, or rather, in all interpersonal rtionships, the one who takes the initiative is at a disadvantage. The initiator cannot control the other¡¯s response, cannot be sure if the other will ept or reject.
In contrast, the passive one conserves energy, responding to action with inaction. The sess of this encounter, at least for this meeting, depends entirely on him. He is in an invincible position.
[Three dayster, you get an opportunity. It¡¯s a rainy day. You walk out of school, deliberately not using the umbre in your bag, and walk home in the rain.]
The scene yed out in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
Thunder rumbled, lightning shed across the sky, like a hammer shattering foggy ss, the cracks spreading rapidly.
[You walked very slowly on purpose, pretending to be mncholy. When you got near Asano¡¯s house, you stopped and leaned against a wall, head slightly lowered, watching people pass by.]April, the spring chill lingered. Raindrops soaked his coat, seeping into his shirt, making his clothes cling to his body, feeling cool and rough, like touching a frog¡¯s skin when he was a child, very cold and harsh. The chill prated his skin.
Minami Yuuki sneezed. The wall, damp with rain, felt especially cold. The unpainted, rough cement surface stung his back.
He was proud of the scene he set up.
A mncholy boy soaked in rain, such a shoujo manga moment, such a straightforward scene, Asano Nao would surely rush over, right?
Minami Yuuki pretended to watch passersby and bicycles, asionally ncing quickly, imperceptibly, clearly in the direction where Asano Nao might appear.
¡°Um¡ are you okay? You¡¯ll catch a cold like this.¡±
A concerned voice spoke, but it wasn¡¯t Asano Nao, just an ordinary officedy.
Minami Yuuki shook his head, not responding.
Talking to such a woman would only make her think she had a chance, leading her to pester him.
The officedy tried to give him her umbre, but he still shook his head, expressionless.
The woman, at a loss, left.
[The rain gradually stopped, but you didn¡¯t see Asano Nao. You cursed her in your heart for a long time.]
Did she not notice me at all? Or was she too timid toe over?
Tch, this is troublesome.
[You caught a cold.]
[After recovering, you started jogging at night. Every evening at nine, on the dot, you ran around the neighborhood.]
Asano Nao didn¡¯t have the courage to meet him directly, so he created indirect meeting scenarios. Minami Yuuki thought while running.
Asano Nao could pretend to be a fellow jogger and ¡°coincidentally¡± meet him, or just act as a passerby, breathing heavily as he passed, greedily and perversely pursuing his scent.
[Two years passed. You gave Asano Nao many opportunities, including night runs and walking in the rain, but she never appeared.]
[Because of your persistence in running, your talent in track and field was discovered. You joined the track team and represented the school in manypetitions.]
[You graduated. Thanks to your achievements in track and field, you were epted into the top private university, Waseda University. You felt a bit regretful. If not for the time wasted enticing Asano Nao and other trivial matters, and your somewhat poor physical condition, you might have made it into the top public university, Misaki University.]
[Simtion ended.]
I failed again!
Minami Yuuki clenched his fists.
¡°That guy is such a shut-in. Two years, a whole two years, and she didn¡¯t show up even once?¡±
He picked up the water cup on his bedside table and drank the oolong tea in one gulp, still angry.
In the simtion, he looked so pitiful, yet Asano Nao remained unmoved? Does she even have a heart!
¡°No wonder she¡¯s such a creepy voyeur.¡±
He muttered and looked at the simtion summary.
[Summary]
[Phase: Pursuit]
[Score: 9]
[Comment: She is too shy, you are too reserved. Your romance remained within your hearts, failing to convey a single bit to each other.]
[Result: You gained the attribute point [Physique*1]]
Attribute point?
Speaking of which, in the first simtion, I also gained ¡°a slight amount of learning experience,¡± but I was too engrossed in the simtion game to remember.
He put aside the matter with Asano Nao and extracted the slight learning experience first.
Many high school knowledge points surfaced in his mind. His academic ability improved.
Unexpectedly, this simtor also had such an effect.
He extracted the attribute point.
How does this work?
As soon as he had the thought, the text on the panel changed.
[Name: Minami Yuuki]
[Gender: Male]
[Title: None]
[Physique: 7](+)
[Strength: 7]
[Agility: 7]
[Charm: 9]
[Spirit: 8]
[Skills: None]
There was a plus sign behind physique. Minami Yuki clicked it, and the value changed to 8.
He stood up, moved his limbs, jumped a bit, and felt much lighter.
He walked to the mirror, seeing more color in his previously pale face.
Not bad, not bad.
He was very satisfied with the simtor¡¯s reward. Health is the foundation of everything, something money can¡¯t buy.
It would be nice to get more attribute points.
He touched his chin, which was still smooth with only a fineyer of fuzz.
He pondered the rules of the simtion settlement.
¡°The first simtion, I focused on studying, so the reward was learning experience.¡±
¡°The second simtion, I was a sports prodigy, so the reward was physique.¡±
¡°It¡¯s rted to the experiences in the simtion.¡±
Minami Yuuki was more motivated. Hey back on his bed.
Third simtion, start!
[Simtion begins]
[Remaining simtion attempts: 2]
[Simtion target: Asano Nao]
[Initial rtionship: Unrequited love]
[You open your eyes¡]
Skipping the repetitive opening, Minami Yuuki went straight to the next choices.
[You pick up your phone and realize you¡¯ve missed ss. You don¡¯t care, your goal is not studying but¡ªAsano Nao!]
[With the experience from the previous two times, you understand you must take the initiative to capture that shy little rabbit.]
[You choose¡]
[1. Climb over the wall to steal Asano Nao¡¯s underwear, showing her you¡¯re also a pervert; 2. Wait until night and sneak into Asano Nao¡¯s house; 3. Knock on Asano Nao¡¯s door, pretending to borrow something; 4. Free simtion]
The first option had its unique appeal, attracting Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze. His right hand trembled, almost uncontrobly wanting to click it.
¡°Calm down, calm down. You only have two simtion chances left, you can¡¯t waste them!¡± Minami Yuuki tried to convince his right hand. ¡°Besides, if you get reported for such a criminal act, the review¡ no, the police wille and lock you up!¡±
His right hand calmed down, and Minami Yuuki breathed a sigh of relief.
He chose the most normal option, option three.
[You got dressed and went to Asano¡¯s house. Unable to lure the prey¡¯s hunter, you decided to be the hunter!]
[Standing in front of Asano¡¯s house, you felt nervous. The woman who made you redo twice would finally reveal her true face! You touched your right pocket, feeling the coolness of the folding knife, then your left pocket, feeling the hardness of the rm. You looked at the busy street, ensuring that as long as you didn¡¯t lose consciousness instantly, you could be saved.]
[You rang the doorbell of Asano¡¯s house.]
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Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The doorbell hadn¡¯t been pressed for quite some time, and the switch was stiff. With a forceful finger, Minami Yuuki finally pressed it.
*Ding*
The sound behind the door broke the silence in the room, dispersing both the interior silence and Minami Yuuki¡¯s unease. Once he started acting, he wouldn¡¯t easily waver.
[The door hasn¡¯t been opened for a long time, did Asano Nao not hear it? You know that¡¯s not true, because you just heard footsteps behind the door.]
[Asano Nao is behind the door, observing you through the peephole.]
[You feign a puzzled expression and press the doorbell again. Still no response.]
Standing in front of Asano¡¯s door, Minami Yuuki¡¯s face remained calm, though inwardly he was seething.
I¡¯vee all this way to ring the doorbell, and you still dare not to open the door, pretending not to be home, huh!
He pressed the doorbell a third time, feeling the friction as the switch depressed.Yet, the door remained closed.
Suppressing the urge to barge in, he sighed and turned away from Asano¡¯s home.
[You retreat to advance, hiding next door to Asano¡¯s house. Sure enough, three minutester, the door to Asano¡¯s house opens.]
Behind the door, a head wearing a knit cap peeked out, looking around cautiously. Behind the thick lenses of her sses, a pair of startled rabbit-like eyes flickered.
Her neck suddenly stiffened as she spotted Minami Yuuki standing on the other side of the door.
Asano Nao hurriedly tried to close the door, forgetting to retract her head, and the door caught her head as it closed.
¡°Ouch,¡± she eximed, holding her head and crouching down.
Wait, now isn¡¯t the time to worry about the pain!
She hastily raised her head, reaching out to close the door again, but it was toote.
Minami Yuuki stood in front of her.
The familiar face of the young man loomed over Asano Nao, his hand¡ªlong, fair, and with distinct knuckles¡ªfirmly gripping the doorknob, holding her fate, making it impossible for her to escape.
The weather was clear, the dazzling sun hung behind the young man¡¯s head, but his face was more ring than the scorching sun, his gaze hotter than sunlight.
The young man, subjected to her long-standing offense of not opening the door, showed no displeasure. He smiled slightly, warmly.
But warmth to a cold-blooded creature in a damp ce is poison. Asano Nao lowered her head, unable to meet Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze or speak.
¡°So, you were home after all,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Asano Nao immediately apologized, it was the only thing she could say smoothly.
¡°Hey, Sister, why didn¡¯t you open the door? Do you dislike me?¡± Minami Yuuki looked at Asano Nao, who was curled up on the ground.
Asano Nao wore a brown knitted hat, a khaki sportswear, and thick ck-framed sses on her nose. Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t see her face at all.
However, judging from the arc squeezed between Asano Nao¡¯s chest and knees, she had a good figure.
¡°Sister?¡± Asano Nao repeated softly. Her heart pounded violently, her cheeks burning, even her ears felt hot.
She felt that there were no regrets in this life, and she could attain enlightenment immediately by dying now, without bing a wandering spirit due to attachment.
¡°Sister, are you listening to me?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Asano Nao wanted to answer Minami Yuuki loudly, but her overheated brain and long-unused vocal cords could only produce faint sounds.
¡°So, Sister didn¡¯t open the door because she hates me?¡± Minami Yuuki pressed on.
Of course not!
Asano Nao shouted in her heart. The boy¡¯s question was like a knife, piercing her heart. How could she possibly dislike him? What a June snowfall of injustice this was!
She wanted to defend herself, but just maintaining herposure in front of the boy consumed all of her brainpower, leaving her unable to speak.
She grew anxious, and the more anxious she became, the less able she was to open her mouth normally.
Oh no!
She realized she had been silent for a long time. Lowering her head, from her angle, she could only see the boy¡¯s feet.
Those feet, d in ck sneakers, tapped on the ground, two dull thuds that echoed in Asano Nao¡¯s heart. Had the boy taken her silence as consent?
She was utterly despondent. In this despair, a sense of peace arose. If she was misunderstood and disliked by Minami Yuuki, she wouldn¡¯t have to be anxious or worried anymore. This was the secret to her life.
She closed her lips, giving up on speaking.
At that moment, Minami Yuuki¡¯s voice came, ¡°Since Sister isn¡¯t saying anything, it means you don¡¯t dislike me, right?¡±
How did youe to that conclusion!
Normally, isn¡¯t silence taken as agreement?
Wait a minute, has the meaning of silence changed during the years I¡¯ve been hiding in my own home? Is silence now interpreted as a positive, affirmative response in society?
So, I¡¯m not disliked yet?
The peace she had gained from despair was reced by nervousness because of hope.
¡°Um, do you have something you need?¡± Asano Nao struggled to ask.
She suddenly realized her current appearance¡ªsitting on the ground and talking to Minami Yuuki!
No, she had to stand up, she had to assume a normal posture!
¡°I heard that Sister is a NEET.¡±
The boy¡¯s words pierced Asano Nao¡¯s already fragile heart. Her ambitions to stand up evaporated instantly. She couldn¡¯t muster the strength to maintain her bnce and sat back down on the ground.
He knows that I¡¯m a NEET. This time, I must be disliked, right?
She closed her eyes, contemting where her body should be buried.
¡°Since you¡¯re a NEET, you must have a lot of manga or games, right? Can you lend me some? Here¡¯s my student ID, I live in the apartment behind.¡± Minami Yuuki squatted down, offering his ID to her.
Why must NEETs have a lot of manga and games? You are too prejudiced against NEETs! The so-called NEETs are people who live off their parents. As people who live off their parents, how can they have a lot of money to buy manga and games!
But, she did have a lot of manga and games, filling up an entire room.
¡°How about it, lend me a few manga or game cards? I have a handheld console, though no main console. If Sister could lend me a main console and monitor, that would be even better.¡±
Minami Yuuki pretended to be a cheerful boy and asked for things from Asano Nao without any sense of distance.
This is his offensive strategy. He is not only professional as a prey, but also as a hunter!
Thinking back to the past, when he was on Earth¡ Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about the past.
This was his strategy: posing as a cheerful boy interested in ACGN, and, being short on funds, borrowing mental sustenance from his neighbor, the NEET big sister. After a few visits, they develop a rtionship!
[T/N: ¡°ACGN¡± stands for Animation, Comics, Games, and Novels.]
Actually, it wasn¡¯t entirely pretending. He did have an interest in ACGN and in Asano Nao. Asano Nao was a high-quality woman as deemed by the simtor. Just how high-quality was she?
Asano Nao regained someposure, finding Minami Yuuki¡¯s casual attitude strangelyforting.
Supporting herself against the wall, she stood up.
¡°Please wait a moment,¡± she said, her voice trembling, then disappeared into the house.
Minami Yuuki watched the open door, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to follow. This progress was significant enough; there was no need to risk startling Asano Nao further.
[You borrow manga and games from Asano Nao. Your attitude and demeanor put her at ease, and she returns to her house, wrestling with indecision before bringing down a whole box of manga and game discs.]
[You only take three manga and one game card. After thanking Asano Nao, you head to school.]
[Your homeroom teacher takes you to the office to inquire about your tardiness¡ªtwo whole ss periodste. You im you overslept, and the teacher doesn¡¯t press further.]
[Back in the ssroom, you choose¡]
[1. Read manga to cultivate your character; 2. Sneak a peek at female ssmates to satisfy your hunger; 3. Nap on the desk to conserve energy; 4. Free simtion]
Not rushing to make a choice, Minami Yuukiy on his bed, massaging his temples.
In the memory he just experienced, he seemed to have sensed Asano Nao¡¯s inner thoughts.
Does the simtor really have this feature?
Well, if one could sense the other¡¯s inner thoughts, it would facilitate better understanding and evaluation of the rtionship.
But, only he, using the simtor in reality, could sense Asano Nao¡¯s inner thoughts; the simted version of him couldn¡¯t.
The NEET big sister with social anxiety, huh? Minami Yuuki chuckled; she seemed interesting.
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Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but look up and nce in the direction of the Asano house in reality.
The dark blue curtains were tightly drawn, blocking any view of the outside, let alone the Asano house. The curtains were thin, and the sunlight cast a square light screen on them.
Minami Yuuki thought, if the strategy route in the simtor goes smoothly, can he replicate it in reality?
No, he¡¯s still young and doesn¡¯t need to rush to find a girlfriend.
Besides, the simtion isn¡¯t finished yet.
Hey back down, pulled the nket, and looked at the options on the panel.
Should he readics? Or look at his female ssmates? Or sleep?
There was nothing to hesitate or struggle over; it was an easy choice.
Minami Yuuki chose the first option.[The hunger in your stomach makes it hard to concentrate on studying. You quietly take out aic book from your bag. It¡¯s a romanceic about a boy with body-swapping abilities and the girl whose body he swaps with.]
[You spend the entire day readingics, and your ACGN knowledge increases.]
[After school, you head straight to the Asano house and ring the doorbell. Asano Nao opens the door just a crack and asks what you want. You return threeic books to her and ask to borrow the remaining volumes.]
[Asano Nao brings out the whole set, a total of twenty-four volumes, but you only take three.]
The memory scene appears.
¡°I¡¯ve finished reading them, you can take them all back at once,¡± Asano Nao said to the boy in front of her.
¡°If I did that, it would be a long time before I coulde here to return them,¡± Minami Yuuki replied.
Asano Nao was stunned for a moment, realizing the implication of Minami Yuuki¡¯s words. Her face turned red, her heart pounding violently, and she felt so shy she almost bolted out the door.
She wondered, did Minami Yuuki mean what she imagined? Did the boy want to see her more often?
¡°Just kidding.¡± Minami Yuuki waved theics in his hand, ¡°It¡¯s too much trouble to take them all back, and I would end up staying up all night reading them, which isn¡¯t good for my health. Besides, you¡¯re always home, so I cane by anytime to borrow them.¡±
The boy openly mentioned her hikikomori status, but strangely, his words didn¡¯t make her feel nervous or inferior, probably because his expression was so cheerful, making her believe he had no intention to preach or belittle her.
¡°See you tomorrow, NEET sister.¡± Minami Yuuki left.
[Asano Nao clutched her burning face, watching your departing figure. She had never looked forward to the next day so much. She felt you were like an angel, sent by heaven to be by her side.]
On the bed, Minami Yuuki stroked his chin, a smile forming on his lips.
Sure enough, a mere NEET can¡¯t resist my charm! If things keep progressing like this, I¡¯ll definitelyplete this romance sessfully!
[Her heart was pounding, emotions high, and she couldn¡¯t help but take your photo into bed.]
¡°???¡±
Where did you get my photo, and what do you n to do with it?!
Besides peeking, you even secretly took photos!
Minami Yuuki clenched his fists, vowing revenge. He always believed in an eye for an eye, and he would make Asano Nao experience this humiliation too!
[Back at home, you choose¡]
[1. Readics and y games; 2. Do homework and prepare for sses; 3. Go out for a walk; 4. Free simtion]
Minami Yuuki grew cautious. This set of options was very simr to thest one, and it seemed this choice would affect the direction of his life in the simtion.
Choosing to readics and y games would likely lead him to indulge in ACGN; choosing to do homework would split his focus between study and leisure; the oue of going out was unknown.
If it were reality, Minami Yuuki would choose to study, as education is the most convenient andprehensive way to climb the socialdder.
However, this was a simtion, and his goal was not a sessful life but a romance with Asano Nao.
He clicked on the first option.
[You finish reading threeic books and y games until midnight, barelypleting your homework. Your ACGN knowledge increases.]
[The sweet romance in theics makes you yearn for a rtionship. Your interest in romance rises.]
[At eight in the morning, you visit the Asano house again. Asano Nao still only opens the door a crack, but this time the crack is wider.]
[During the day, you secretly readics in ss. In the afternoon, you y games at home. You visit the Asano house twice a day, gradually bing closer to Asano Nao. She is still nervous around you but can talk properly.]
[In a ss quiz, you barely pass.]
[Holding the test paper, you feel anxious. You realize thatics and games are affecting you, but they are also your bond with Asano Nao.]
[After careful consideration, you choose¡]
[1. Ha, studying hard is just to be a wage ve for capitalists. Who needs it!]
[2. Damn woman, disturbing my mind. From today, I cut ties with you!]
[3. Hey, a passing grade isn¡¯t bad! Passing is great!]
[4. Free simtion]
¡°Sure enough, the previous choices directly influenced the trajectory of my simted life,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed.
You can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too. Choosing one thing inevitably means giving up something else.
He had thought about whether he could borrowics and games from Asano Nao but pretend to read them while actually studying.
You think I¡¯m readingics and ying games, but I¡¯m really studying hard!
However, once he developed a romantic rtionship with Asano Nao, such a ruse would surely be exposed.
If exposed, Asano Nao might not care, or it could provoke her rebelliousness, ending the rtionship.
Asano Naoes first; it doesn¡¯t matter if life falls apart. After all, this isn¡¯t the real Minami Yuuki¡¯s life but the simted one.
¡°I choose the first option!¡±
[Preferring immediate joy over an uncertain future, youpletely give up on academics, borrowing moreics and games from Asano Nao. You visit her house four times a day, discussingics and games with her.]
[The Asano house¡¯s door is now always open for you, and you be friends with Asano Nao.]
[In the final exams, you fail, and the school notifies your parents. They are shocked, unable to understand how their top student became such a poor performer.]
[Returning home from the Asano house, you find your parents waiting at the door. You sense trouble but don¡¯t care.]
[Your father insists the environment in Misaki has corrupted you and wants to take you home. Your doting mother agrees to give you another chance and they grant you one more semester.]
Even his parents showed up, how absurd!
Minami Yuuki clicked his tongue in admiration.
In reality, he felt no guilt, only schadenfreude.
[Summer vacation was not up for negotiation, and you were taken back to Ino Prefecture by your parents. You and Asano Nao were separated for a month. You wanted to inform her but had no chance as you didn¡¯t have her contact information. During that month, you behaved well and fooled your parents, allowing you to return to Misaki City.]
[Stepping onto thend that haunted your dreams, your first stop wasn¡¯t your apartment but the Asano house. Dragging your suitcase, you rang the doorbell.]
[The door opened faster than ever, revealing Asano Nao in sportswear and a knitted hat, wrapped up tightly. Her eyes were brimming with tears.]
[You exined the reason for your disappearance, and she forgave your abrupt departure. Your rtionship returned to how it was and deepened due to the short separation.]
[Asano Nao stepped aside, inviting you in to chooseics and games yourself.]
[You and Asano Nao spent the night picking outics. Your rtionship progressed further.]
[You realized why Asano Nao was considered a high-quality woman. Behind the thick lenses were enchanting eyes, and beneath the loose sportswear was an alluring figure.]
[You moved into the Asano house.]
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Chapter 7
Chapter 7
[Your rtionship with Asano Nao deepened.]
[You learned more about Asano Nao, realizing she is a shy person. Despite knowing every inch of her body, she still blushes like an untouched maiden.]
[You also recognized Asano Nao¡¯s fear of society and strangers.]
[She never orders takeout. Groceries and daily necessities are delivered by courier, left on the doorstep. Only when the courier leaves, and the night is deep, does she retrieve them. She strives to minimize the number of deliveries, buying arge amount at once to stock up.]
[One night, you told Asano Nao about your summer vacation experience and your agreement with your parents. Under her supervision, you studied for two hours each day.]
[In the second semester, your grades were in the lower-middle of your ss, and your parents were reassured.]
[After graduation, you entered an ordinary university.]
[Without Asano Nao¡¯s supervision andcking a reason to study, you soon dropped out of university and moved in with the Asano family. Mrs. Tanaka¡¯s suspicion was correct; Asano Nao had a substantial amount of savings, enough for you to livefortably for a lifetime if used sparingly.]
[At the age of 22, you and Asano Nao submitted a marriage application and became husband and wife. There was no wedding, just an ordinary family dinner. Attendees included your parents and sister, and Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother.][It was supposed to be a joyful day, but there wasn¡¯t much cheerful atmosphere. Your parents didn¡¯t like Asano Nao, disliking her as a NEET. They vaguely sensed that your declining grades in high school and dropping out of university were because of Asano Nao, increasing their disapproval of her.]
[Before the wedding, they repeatedly asked you to return to Ino Prefecture and marry an ordinary woman. You firmly refused.]
[Your sister also didn¡¯t like this sister-inw. She had no personal issue with Asano Nao but resented her for leading her brother astray.]
[At the dinner table, your father, mother, and sister forced smiles. Their expressions were stiff, their acting full of ws, visible to everyone present.]
[Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother was at a loss. She liked you very much but also felt her granddaughter was dragging you down. She used her thin hands to make various gestures, trying hard to liven up the atmosphere, and spoke in a hoarse voice, searching her mind for old rural anecdotes,ughing dryly.]
[You used your eloquence to take over the conversation at the table. With your witty remarks, theughter gradually became genuine. You exaggerated, using all sorts of techniques, extracting sunny and cheerful moments from your daily life with your wife, Asano Nao, sharing them with everyone.]
[Your sister rxed first,ughing, followed by your mother, and finally, even your father smiled. He downed a ss of sake, and at your signal, Asano Nao picked up the bottle to pour him more. He hesitated briefly but then smiled at her.]
[The atmosphere gradually warmed,ughter echoing in the living room. Asano Nao gathered the courage to talk to your parents and sister. Her expression was still tense, and her voice soft, but it was a significant improvement from before. Your parents and sister¡¯s voices and expressions softened when speaking to her.]
[Grandmother Asano, seeing the warming atmosphere, beamed. She raised her ss topete with your father in drinking.]
[After three sses, she copsed, her body convulsing.]
[The living room was chaotic. Your father immediately squatted down to check on her, and you dialed for an ambnce.]
[The ambnce took Grandmother Asano away. You, your father, mother, and sister stepped out, ready to follow her to the hospital.]
[Asano Nao didn¡¯t step out. She stopped at the door, trembling as she looked at the crowd gathered by the ambnce.]
[You held her by the waist, pressed her head to your shoulder, and told her to close her eyes and just follow you.]
[Asano Nao took a step, but it was toote. You both noticed the disappointment shing across your family¡¯s faces, and the newfound closeness vanished.]
[Grandmother Asano was fine, just fainting from excitement and alcohol. At the hospital bedside, the doctor gave some simple instructions before leaving.]
[Your father, mother, and sister bid you farewell; they were returning to Ino Prefecture. Asano Nao greeted them, and only your mother responded.]
[You went downstairs to pay the bill. When you returned, Grandmother Asano was awake, sitting hunched at the bedside, looking at you with guilty eyes. Asano Nao wasn¡¯t by the bed; you found her crying in the bathroom and embraced her.]
[Grandmother needed to stay in the hospital for observation for a day. You and Asano Nao returned home. Asano Nao apologized to you, and youforted her.]
A memory scene appeared.
The bedroom was dark, with faint light filtering through the gap in the curtains. There was no moon tonight; it was the light from the streetmps.
On the double bed, Minami Yuuki held Asano Nao¡¯s shoulders. Asano Nao¡¯s face was buried in his chest, and he felt two cold lines on his shoulder ¨C his wife was crying.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Asano Nao sobbed softly.
¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Minami Yuuki patted her back,forting her.
¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±
¡°It is my fault. You arranged everything so well. If I had been able to step outside, Dad wouldn¡¯t have disliked me¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. Marriage is about the two of us. Our life ahead is just for the two of us.¡±
Minami Yuuki lifted Asano Nao¡¯s face. No, it should be Minami Nao¡¯s face. They were married now, and Nao had taken on his surname, Minami.
Nao didn¡¯t respond. She brushed Yuuki¡¯s hand aside andy down on the pillow beside him.
¡°Sleep,¡± Yuuki patted her back. ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll pick Grandma up, and you need tofort her, so she doesn¡¯t worry.¡±
In the darkness, there was no response for a long time.
Neither of them could sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Nao¡¯s voice suddenly broke the silence.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t have married me.¡±
¡°Regretting it already? Toote!¡± Yuuki replied yfully.
Nao sat up, her hands on either side of Yuuki, her face hidden in her dark hair in the darkness.
She said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gotten involved with me.¡±
Yuuki reached out to touch her face, but she sharply turned her head away, her hair brushing against his hand.
¡°You did well in high school. If not for me, you would have gotten into a top university, joined a bigpany, and then¡ had an excellent wife.¡±
She stared into Yuuki¡¯s eyes, her hair framing him in a small, confessional space, hearing her confession.
¡°You are an excellent wife. Excellent enough that I can¡¯t resist every night. My health is clearly getting worse.¡± Yuuki hugged her waist. ¡°Besides, I was only good in the countryside. I was quite average aftering to Misaki.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. I mean¡ excellence in spirit. At least someone who wouldn¡¯t be afraid to go out because of a crowd! Or someone who wouldn¡¯t avoid hosting a wedding because of too many guests!¡± Nao¡¯s voice was almost a shout.
She bowed her head, her cold hair spreading over Yuuki¡¯s face, with tears flowing down the strands, crossing his lips.
Yuuki realized his newlywed wife was serious.
Facing such a serious Nao,fort and pretense were futile. She had been thinking for a long time, for hours, days, months, or even years.
Her confession was already mature, alreadyplete, unbreakable, unassable.
Only more impactful facts could overthrow the foundation of her beliefs.
Yuuki had just such a fact.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s me who should apologize.¡± He lifted the hair off his face, looking at his wife¡¯s face hidden in the strands.
The light filtering through the curtains was dim. He could only see the outline of Nao¡¯s face, but he knew from the still sobbing that his wife was looking at him in surprise.
¡°Do you remember the first time we met? Do you think I was genuinely there to borrow manga and games from you?¡± Yuuki spoke slowly.
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Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Minami Yuuki rubbed his forehead, taking a break from the memory scene.
The scene contained too many emotions, and even his detached heart as an observer was affected, turning mncholic.
Moreover, the hunger in his stomach impacted his state, making it hard to concentrate.
The refrigerator by the bedroom door was empty, except for arge bottle of oolong tea and a piece of pineapple bread. He broke the bread in half, poured himself some tea, and sat on the bed to enjoy it.
Outside the window, the sun was already high. The time on his phone screen showed 9:27; he had already missed an hour of ss.
Given the current stage of the plot, it was impossible to abandon the simtion to attend school. He decided to skip school for the day.
After finishing the pineapple bread, his stomach¡¯s protest subsided. He washed his hands andy back on the bed.
He didn¡¯t rush to continue the experience; instead, he reviewed this simted life.
In the simtion, he waspletely addicted to ACGN, 22 years old, without a formal job, and hikikomori together with Asano Nao. His rtionships with his parents and sister were strained.Was this life a Happy End, a Bad End, or a Normal End? Although Asano Nao was a hikikomori, she was indeed a good woman. If only he could help her ovee her social anxiety.
Minami Yuuki looked at the simtor panel.
[You tell Nao that your meeting was not a matter of fate but a deliberate arrangement on your part.]
Minami Yuuki closed his eyes, and in the darkness under his eyelids, the memory scene unfolded.
In a dimly lit room, the silhouettes of the couple merged. Yuuki¡¯s slightly warm hand moved up his wife¡¯s cold arm, grasping her shoulder.
The force on her shoulder made Nao lose her bnce and fall onto the bed.
Their positions reversed, with Yuuki on top, looking at his anxious wife. Her wet, ck hair spread out on the bed, seemingly merging with the darkness.
¡°Soon after I moved in, you started spying on me, didn¡¯t you? That telescope in the study was used to watch me,¡± he said, reaching out to touch Nao¡¯s face.
The temperature from his fingertip rose as she turned her head away, unable to look at him.
¡°I noticed your spying long ago and did a little investigation.¡± His tone became cheerful, with a hint of teasing, ¡°To my surprise, the perverted sister spying on me turned out to be a beauty.¡±
Naopletely forgot her earlier hesitation, her emotions swayed by Yuuki¡¯s words.
¡°At that time, I had just arrived in Misaki, made a fool of myself at school, and wasughed at by some bullies. I was in a state of self-istion with no friends around.¡±
Yuuki stared at his wife below, her face turned away out of shyness, slowly turning back due to her interest in his words.
¡°Sister, do you know why I came to Misaki?¡± He used a term he hadn¡¯t used in a long time to address his wife.
The term made Nao unbearably shy. She covered her face with her arms, her soft, smooth skin showing a hint of redness underneath.
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because I wanted a rosy youth, a rose-colored romance,¡± Yuuki revealed. ¡°So, I sought out to my Sister.¡±
¡°Stop using that term,¡± Nao protested softly, her face fully flushed.
She had always thought it was she who seduced the unexpectedly met boy, dragging him into her dark, damp home, and into her gloomy, somber life.
Now, Minami Yuuki told her that it was the boy who had meticulously set a trap, capturing her and breaking into her home.
¡°Although at our first meeting, Sister were like a sow bug and scared me a bit, everything afterward matched my fantasies. Rosy, pink, white, yellow, every color was present. It was like a model romance, worthy of a manga, don¡¯t you think?¡±
These near-confessional words made Nao¡¯s face red and her body warm.
But she still had a trace of worry in her heart.
She was used to self-reflection, to belittling herself, tobeling her life as dark and failed, and thus felt guilty toward anyone drawn into her life.
¡°Anyone but me would be fine for you,¡± she whispered.
¡°I don¡¯t think so. When I said I wanted to drop out of school, Sister only slightly tried to dissuade me, right? All these years, you never insisted I get a proper job. If it were any other woman, she would¡¯ve made me go out, work overtime, curry favor, and earn money to spend on her, to maintain her pride.¡±
¡°I think you could find a woman who wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±
Minami Nao¡¯s stubbornness surprised Minami Yuuki. He sat up straight and drew the curtains. The hazy light from the streemp outside illuminated their bodies, casting a soft glow on their skin. The light was dim but enough for them to see each other clearly.
He gently pulled away Nao¡¯s arms covering her face, leaned down, and looked into her tearful eyes.
He thought, all these years, during nights he was unaware of, in corners he didn¡¯t see, Nao must have felt guilty and regretful like this, again and again.
He revealed his true feelings: ¡°I¡¯m very happy, I was very happy before, I¡¯m happy now, and when we submitted our marriage application, I was so happy I wanted to jump like a child. I¡¯m certain of my happiness. I think a life with you is fulfilling. If I could choose again, I would still knock on your door and borrow a manga from you.¡±
[Your sincere words moved Asano Nao, dispelling her doubts. You decide to have a child. Your bond with Asano Nao deepens.]
In the real world, Minami Yuuki, who had been quite touched, was now furious at this sentence.
The memory scene, where was the memory scene of having a child? Why were there only bittersweet memories? Where were the joyful memories of doing something significant afterward?
[The next morning, with your encouragement, Asano Nao apanied you on the subway to the hospital, where sheforted her grandmother.]
[The old woman apologized to you again. You held her hand, saying you didn¡¯t mind and invited her to spend New Year¡¯s in Ino County, at your parents¡¯ home. The old woman happily agreed.]
[You hadn¡¯t discussed the New Year¡¯s visit with your parents, nning to inform them afterward. Asano Nao decided to start training for that day.]
[With yourpany and encouragement, Asano Nao ventured outside, first to the quiet park at night, then to sparsely popted streets at noon, and finally to bustling shopping malls. As long as you were by her side, she felt no fear. You were her dreamcatcher, filtering all nightmares.]
[On New Year¡¯s Eve, you held Asano Nao¡¯s hand, bringing her and her grandmother to your parents¡¯ house.]
[Your parents and sister were surprised but delighted. Everything went smoothly. At midnight, fireworks lit up the winter night, and you and your wife, wrapped in coats, stepped into the alley to watch the dazzling disy.]
[There were many people in the alley, many familiar faces greeting you and your wife. Asano Nao held your hand tightly and talked to them, smiling.]
[Cold wind sneaked into your cor, and she put a hat on you, leaning on your shoulder. Your parents and sister watched your backs, sighed, and epted Asano Nao.]
[On New Year¡¯s Day, you nned to take Asano Nao to the shrine. Your mother brought out her treasured kimono, your father offered a splendid obi, and your sister provided a hairpin for Asano Nao. She looked beautiful in them. At the shrine, you met old friends who praised Asano¡¯s Nao¡¯s beauty, and she responded with a smile.]
[After the New Year, your parents expressed their wish for you to stay in Ino County, to stay close to them, and suggested that Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother could also stay.]
[Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother didn¡¯t speak, but her expression clearly showed her hope for you to stay.]
[You choose¡]
[1. Stay in Ino County; 2. Return to Misaki City; 3. Go abroad; 4. Free simtion.]
A rare choice appeared.
After hesitating for a moment, Minami Yuuki chose to return to Misaki City with Asano Nao.
Option three could be dismissed immediately; the real question was whether to stay in Ino County or return to Misaki City.
Minami Yuuki believed that returning to Misaki City, away from his parents, was the right choice.
It wasn¡¯t that he was unfilial, but the rtionship between mother-inw and daughter-inw had always been a thorny issue, not to mention his parents¡¯ eptance of Asano Nao was rather reluctant.
[Amid your wife¡¯s apprehension, you refused your parents¡¯ request and boarded the train back with her.]
[Soon after, Asano Nao became pregnant.]
[You and she were very happy, your parents were very happy, and Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother was also very happy. But you failed to notice that your wife¡¯s happiness grew increasingly strained. The Asano Nao who had been teasing you all her life finally deceived you once with a fake smile.]
Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart sank. The text exuded a sense of foreboding.
Returning to Misaki wasn¡¯t the right choice? Clearly, returning should make Asano Nao more rxed.
Suppressing his unease, he read on.
[As the pregnancy progressed day by day, you began to sense something was wrong. Your wife grew increasingly silent and withdrawn. You suddenly realized that, for your sensitive and fragile wife, the stress of pregnancy, hormonal changes, and both mental and physical pressures were overwhelming burdens.]
[You wanted to give up the child, but your wife insisted on giving birth. You didn¡¯t dare to upset her further and apanied her with extra care.]
[The day before the due date, your child was born. The baby was named Minami Rikka, a name chosen by your wife. She hoped your child would be a cheerful person. You handed the baby to your parents and stayed by your weakened wife¡¯s side.]
[Childbirth had severely impacted Asano Nao¡¯s health, making her a frequent visitor to the hospital. The doctors said her frailty wasn¡¯t life-threatening as long as she took care of herself.]
[On Rikka¡¯s fifth birthday, your wife passed away. You questioned the doctors, and they said she had died from prolonged depression.]
[You didn¡¯t understand. You had been home with her and the child all the time. What was she depressed about?]
[Looking at your daughter, you finally understood.]
[You entrusted Rikka to your parents and used the savings left by your wife to start a business.]
[Your business thrived, and you established apany named after your wife. You rarely went home to see your daughter because both she and her resemnce to your wife caused you too much pain.]
[On the 16th anniversary of your wife¡¯s death, you sold thepany and divided therge sum of money among Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother, your parents, and Rikka. You applied for assisted death by injection in Switzend. Your ashes were buried with your wife in the basement of Asano¡¯s house. The house had been in disrepair for a long time, and she could not step out. You chose to step into the house, which contained all the memories of you and her, and it became your tombstone.]
[Simtion End]
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Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Pulling back the curtains, the bright morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting its warmth onto Minami Yuuki¡¯s light blue pajamas. The breeze blowing in through the window crack was refreshing, while the sunlight on his skin felt slightly warm.
He looked at the roof of the Asano family¡¯s house, the kind with tiles, which had be quite rare.
He wondered, where did Asano Nao¡¯s final death, her ultimate mncholy, truly stem from within her heart?
If he truly married Asano Nao, how could he avoid such an oue?
Let¡¯s take a look at the summary first.
[Summary]
[Stages Experienced: Pursuit, Romance, Adversity]
[Score: 79]
[Comment: You and her lived an ordinary life, filled withughter, tears, happiness, and regrets. The arrival of the child you both expected brought unexpected changes.][Settlement: You gained [1 skill point*]]
The adversity arose because of the child. Minami Yuuki sighed.
After the summary interface dissipated, new text appeared.
[You havepleted a full romance]
[You can now use [Free Simtion] mode at any time]
[In the new simtion of [Asano Nao], you can select any point from the previous simtion life as the starting point, without starting from scratch.]
[You have 2 simtion attempts left. The simtor kindly reminds you that simtion attempts are restored weekly, or you can increase the number of attempts by receiving gifts containing the intentions of the simtion objects in reality.]
Minami Yuuki prepared to continue the simtion, but hesitated.
The speed of simtion recovery was too slow, and the other way to get attempts was to receive gifts in reality containing the intentions of the simtion objects.
Currently, there were four possible simtion objects. He needed to find a way to get these four people to give him very thoughtful gifts.
Without hesitation, he took out his phone, sliding his finger over the contacts list, and clicked on the numberbeled ¡°Beloved.¡±
¡°Hello? Brother?¡±
His sister¡¯s voice sounded puzzled, like someone waking up from a deep dream, not fully connecting with reality yet.
Perhaps because Minami Yuuki rarely called her, it made her momentarily unsure if she was dreaming or awake. He hadn¡¯t been very attentive to this sister before.
¡°Fold a thousand paper cranes for me,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°And then send them to me.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°Make sure it¡¯s heartfelt.¡±
¡°Why!¡± Minami Airi finally couldn¡¯t help but ask loudly, ¡°And I¡¯m still at school!¡±
¡°Please, I¡¯ll bring you a big gift when Ie home during the holidays,¡± Minami Yuuki pleaded, tempting her with both emotion and gain.
There was no choice, it was the requirement of the simtor. Among the four possible simtion objects, Asano Nao hadn¡¯t met in reality yet, Minami Ruri and Minami Kotori, his two cousins, weren¡¯t particrly close, so only his younger sister Minami Airi would listen to him.
To unlock simtion attempts by receiving gifts, he could only rely on Airi.
¡°I don¡¯t want to, why should I fold a thousand paper cranes for you? Do you only call me when you need something!¡± His sister grumbled.
¡°This is my lifelong request,¡± Minami Yuuki said sincerely, of course, pretending.
¡°That sounds so serious! Well¡ I guess I could help you fold a few,¡± Minami Airi¡¯s attitude quickly softened.
In her impression, her brother was a taciturn person who said whatever he needed to say. Hearing such a serious request from him, she was eighty percent convinced, twenty percent suspicious, and her whole body tensed up.
Unfortunately, her brother had be a smooth-talking, modern-day youth who was good at coaxing girls.
¡°Thanks a lot. Just fold a few in your spare time, send them to me tonight, and I¡¯ll cover the cost of folding and shipping,¡± Minami Yuuki said, unsure if his gift-brushing behavior would seed, but decided to give it a try.
¡°Let¡¯s make it clear, you¡¯re not nning to take the paper cranes I fold and give them to other girls, are you?¡± Minami Airi asked suspiciously.
¡°Of course not, I¡¯ll put them in a big transparent ss jar, ce it on my bedside, and bow to it in gratitude every night before bed,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°¡There¡¯s no need to make it so grand.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. Love you.¡±
Minami Yuuki hung up the phone, without considering the usual courtesy at the end, which brought a great shock to his pure and young sister.
He tossed his phone onto the bed and got back under the covers, ready to continue the simtion.
At that moment, his phone rang.
The number had no name attached, it was from an unknown caller.
Minami Yuuki pressed the answer button.
¡°Is this Minami Yuuki?¡± A middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through.
It was the homeroom teacher¡¯s voice. Minami Yuuki nced at the time, it was almost eleven o¡¯clock.
Morning sses were almost over, and his skipping ss had been exposed.
He immediately switched to a weak mode: ¡°Sorry, teacher, cough cough, I overslept, cough cough!¡±
¡°Are you okay? Are you sick?¡± the teacher asked.
¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit dizzy and coughing, maybe I caught a cold.¡±
¡°Then rest at home. I¡¯ll give you a day off, take care and stay warm. Are your parents with you?¡±
Minami Yuuki became alert, suddenly mentioning his parents was a signal. Was this homeroom teacher nning to inform his parents?
If he was really sick, it would be normal for the teacher to talk to his parents and express concern. But if he wasn¡¯t sick and the teacher talked to his parents, it would only take a few words to expose his lie.
Encountering such a responsible and clever homeroom teacher!
He immediately said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, teacher, I¡¯m not that serious, I¡¯ll be at school soon.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
The call ended, and Minami Yuuki kicked off the covers, reluctantly getting up.
Well, he had to go to school anyway.
While getting ready, he opened his attribute panel.
This time in the simtion, he gained a skill point, which, literally interpreted, could increase his skill level.
But¡ his skill column waspletely empty.
He didn¡¯t know how the simtor counted skills, but he didn¡¯t have any at all.
Let¡¯s leave it for now.
After washing his face with a towel, he picked up his school uniform from the floor. The uniform was Western style, deep blue, with stains on it.
He frowned as he changed clothes, thankfully only the pants were dirty, the shirt was rtively clean.
His predecessor was too sloppy, toozy. Although he had beenzy before, he had someone else to help him with his clothes and cleaning.
Dressed, it was already past eleven o¡¯clock, he grabbed the leftover half piece of bread from the fridge, using it as lunch, and then grabbed his backpack and headed out.
Passing by the back of the Asano family¡¯s house, he turned his head and nced at the window of Asano¡¯s study.
The window was pitch ck, Asano Nao had turned the study into a darkroom, where she could see outside but no one could see her.
Withdrawing his gaze, Minami Yuuki felt a strange sensation. He and Asano Nao had not met in reality, but in the simtion, they already had a child together.
Should he try to approach Asano Nao?
Better go to school first.
At a quarter past eleven, he arrived at the ssroom door, just halfway through the third period, and his arrival drew the attention of all the students.
The teacher didn¡¯t say much, just waved him in.
The day¡¯s sses were uneventful. During breaks, no one talked to Minami Yuuki; his predecessor¡¯s social skills were too poor, making him almost invisible in the ss. Though he wasn¡¯t entirely invisible; his good looks attracted some silent attention from a few girls.
In the afternoon, around three o¡¯clock, sses ended, and Minami Yuuki returned home, only to find a serious problem.
He had no money left for food.
His family sent living expenses at the beginning of each month, and now it was mid-month, with half of April already gone. His predecessor had spent all the money.
Minami Yuuki puzzledly scanned the room; the apartment was as empty as could be. Neither his phone nor hisputer were new models. Where had the money gone?
He racked his brain, falling into silence.
You actually spent all your living expenses on tipping a female streamer!
And she wasn¡¯t even showing her face, just a virtual avatar on the live stream!
At least leave some money for bread! Even the NEET Asano Nao knew how to manage money!
No wonder this body looked so sickly when I first transmigrated; it was malnutrition!
What to do now? He couldn¡¯t afford to go hungry. Should he ask his parents for money? Or borrow from his sister?
He had just arrived in Misaki and was already in trouble. If his parents found out, they might make him move back home, and he didn¡¯t want to end his freedom so soon.
As for borrowing from his sister, besides the difficulty of broaching the subject, she doesn¡¯t even have a bank card. Would she have to put the money in an envelope and mail it to him?
After weighing his options, Minami Yuuki sighed.
Looks like I¡¯ll have to live off my wife.
He looked toward the Asano residence.
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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
At the first ring of the doorbell, Asano Nao thought it was her imagination. She hadn¡¯t ordered anything online recently; no delivery person should be at her door.
It wasn¡¯t until the second ring echoed in her ears that she had to ept the fact: someone was visiting.
The clear ring of the bell pierced through the darkness and emptiness of the first floor, adding a touch of eeriness. She shivered, put down Minami Yuuki¡¯s photo, prepared herself mentally, and went downstairs.
The staircase, long in need of repair, creaked as one of the wooden boards groaned. She turned on the living room light and walked to the door.
The doorbell rang a third time.
She pressed her eye to the peephole and looked outside.
Outside, the streemp illuminated the visitor¡¯s face. That slender body, moist eyes, and somewhat thin lips were all parts Asano Nao was familiar with, parts thatbined into a person she both knew and didn¡¯t know.
How could he be here?
Asano Nao was so frightened she took a step back. The peephole seemed like the fierce eye of a wild beast, ring at her, instilling fear.Had he discovered the spying? Had he noticed when he nced at my window on his way to school at noon?
I clearly followed the online tutorials and created a so-called undetectable spy room!
Asano Nao linked her reckless judgment to the boy¡¯s unusual behavior today. He had only gone to school at noon, perhaps troubled by being spied on, causing him to oversleep?
If that was the case, he had discovered her wrongdoing yesterday.
Now, after two days of contemtion, the boy had finally decided toe and confront her!
What would he say?
Would it be, ¡°Even maggots are cleaner than you; stop your disgusting behavior,¡± or, ¡°I¡¯ve already called the police, you perverted old hag¡±?
Neither option was something Asano Nao wanted. She feared hearing such words and stood behind the door, letting the doorbell ring.
After the fourth ring, Asano Nao mustered a bit of courage. She looked through the peephole again, trying to gauge Minami Yuuki¡¯s expression to determine his mood.
The boy¡¯s figure was distorted by the peephole¡¯s refraction, but his beauty remained intact. Asano Nao had already printed a 3D model of his figure in her mind and could use her mental processing power to correct the optical distortion.
No, this isn¡¯t the time for spying!
Asano Nao pinched her thigh. Focus on his expression, his expression!
After the fifth ring, the boy gave her no chance to decipher his emotions and turned to walk under the bright streemp.
At the roadside, in the circle of light cast by the streemp, the boy pulled his phone out of his pocket, dislodging a white handkerchief without noticing.
The handkerchief fell to the ground alone, and the boy disappeared from her view.
All of Asano Nao¡¯s attention was on that handkerchief. She swallowed, her heartbeat quickening.
She wanted that handkerchief!
But the handkerchief had fallen outside, on the roadside.
The thrill in her heart dissipated instantly. She didn¡¯t want to go outside; she didn¡¯t want to step onto the roadside.
She thought, maybe Minami Yuuki would soon realize the handkerchief was missing ande back to look for it.
But wait, this also meant if she didn¡¯t pick it up now, the handkerchief would soon be gone!
Even if Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t return, a passing child or housewife might pick it up!
Her treasure would be picked up by an ignorant passerby and sullied, spoiled!
Click¡ª
Before her brain could make a decision, her hand had already pressed down on the door handle, opening the door.
Since the door was open, she might as well retrieve her treasure!
She cautiously took a step, poked her head out through the door crack, and surveyed the area.
The night was dark and windy; the sky was safe, the front was safe, and the sides were safe!
She could move!
She pushed the door open abruptly, striding quickly and silently to the roadside like a thief stealing a phone. Swiftly and urately, she picked up the handkerchief from the ground and retreated to her doorstep.
The smooth, soft texture of the handkerchief transmitted through her palm, making her heart beat more fiercely than it had in a long time.
With one foot inside the house, her hand gripping the door handle, she felt she had entered a safe zone. Unable to resist the allure of the handkerchief any longer, she lifted it to her face, cing it under her nose. The scent of camphor wood filled her nostrils, bringing her joy.
But her smile quickly froze on her face.
From the shadows beside her house, a familiar figure emerged.
Minami Yuuki held up his phone, the camera pointed directly at Asano Nao.
The smile spreading across his face plunged Asano Nao into an abyss, like falling into icy water. The chill and shivers came simultaneously, making it impossible to tell which came first and which was theplement of the other.
She was doomed.
Not only had she been caught, but she had also been recorded!
Grandma, I¡¯m sorry. You have to live strong. Mom, Dad, I¡¯ll be joining you soon!
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a cold light on the rooftops of the surrounding houses. In the distance, a piercing car horn sounded.
Holding his phone, Minami Yuuki walked up to the Asano house and bumped into Asano Nao.
Asano Nao hurriedly stepped back, opening the door wider. She was too terrified to react otherwise.
Minami Yuuki entered the house and closed the door.
He took a pair of pink slippers from the shoe cab and changed into them. He walked through the hallway to the living room. The fabric sofa was very old, and the TV cable curled up beside it, not plugged in.
Behind the sofa was the dining room, and beyond that was a semi-open kitchen.
Minami Yuuki sat down by the dining table. The table was clean, and the house was tidy overall¡ªAsano Nao was a neat person.
At this moment, the woman in clean sportswear stood behind Minami Yuuki, her head bowed, trembling with fear.
She handed the handkerchief to Minami Yuuki, her hand shaking violently.
There was no need for verbal probing, no need for special exnations. At this moment, Minami Yuuki was the master, and Asano Nao was the subordinate.
Ignoring the handkerchief, Minami Yuuki tapped the table with his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±
Asano Nao didn¡¯t move. The boy¡¯s words were too strange, too out of the ordinary for her to respond immediately.
¡°Is there anything to eat?¡± Minami Yuuki repeated.
Asano Nao jolted and stammered, ¡°P-please wait a moment.¡±
Not daring to dy, she ran to the master bedroom on the first floor.
When she came out, she held a bank card in her hand. Kneeling in a servile posture, she offered the card to Minami Yuuki.
¡°Please ept it. The PIN is 2130,¡± she said.
Minami Yuuki chuckled.
He turned to face Asano Nao, crossing his legs. ¡°Sister, you really are terrifyingly self-aware. As expected of a pervert who peeped at me, took secret photos of me, and picked up my handkerchief to sniff it.¡±
¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry. I¡¯ll never dare do it again!¡±
¡°I never said you had to stop. The bank card isn¡¯t necessary. Just make me something to eat; I¡¯m really hungry.¡±
Asano Nao, half doubting, went to the kitchen, took out some cooked rice from the fridge, heated it up, fried some tempura, made a te of tamagoyaki, and cooked a bowl of instant miso soup.
The boy ate quickly, proving he hadn¡¯t lied about his hunger.
This left Asano Nao¡¯s mind in turmoil, unable to make sense of the situation.
¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±
After eating, Minami Yuuki ced his chopsticks neatly on the bowl and thanked Asano Nao.
Seeing her face still full of apprehension, he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have no intention of holding you ountable. I was just hungry and came for food. As long as you don¡¯t threaten me with a box cutter to make me your ve, or lock me up in a dark basement, it¡¯s fine.¡±
¡°Oh, and by the way,¡± Minami Yuuki added, ¡°I don¡¯t dislike you, sister.¡±
An angel, he must be an angel!
Asano Nao was almost moved to tears. If Minami Yuuki started a religious sect now, she would be its most devout follower, willing to donate all her savings and house to support him as the leader!
Thinking of her dirty thoughts and the filthy things she had done towards such a holy angel filled her with guilt.
After spying and secretly photographing him in the future, she must reflect for an hour in front of Minami Yuuki¡¯s photo!
¡°Well, I¡¯m leaving now,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
His stomach full, satisfied with the meal, he felt content.
¡°The handkerchief,¡± Asano Nao reminded him, not to forget it on the table corner.
¡°Oh, this handkerchief is something I used as a child. It¡¯s not fashionable to carry handkerchiefs anymore; it was just bait to lure you in. You can keep it.¡±
A vast sense of happiness enveloped Asano Nao. A handkerchief used by Yuuki when he was a child!
Could she really possess such a holy relic?
¡°What time do you get up in the morning?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
¡°Seven.¡±
¡°And when do you have breakfast?¡±
¡°Around seven-thirty, noter than eight.¡±
¡°I see. Goodbye, sister.¡±
Minami Yuuki¡¯s footsteps echoed through the hallway, through the entrance. The door clicked open and then shut.
The house was left with only Asano Nao.
If not for the handkerchief on the table and the hot dishes still on it, she might have thought it was all a pitiful dream.
She recalled the conversation before Minami Yuuki left, covering her flushed face.
What did he mean? Why did he ask about breakfast time?
Was it what she thought?
Asano Nao felt joy first, then began to doubt¡ªnot Minami Yuuki¡¯s words, but her own ears and mouth.
Did that conversation really happen? Did she urately say seven-thirty? Did she mistakenly say six-thirty or seven?
She should have recorded it with a tape recorder!
The mingling of hope and self-doubt left her both joyous and troubled.
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Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Lying in bed, feeling the warmth of a meal in his belly, Minami Yuuki was content.
Indeed, with his talent, he never went hungry no matter where he was.
From a very practical perspective, considering the price of peeping and secretly photographing him, helping him solve his meals shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right? He even tacitly allowed Asano Nao to take photos of him, just for portrait rights, and Asano Nao would make a fortune.
From an emotional standpoint, as Asano Nao¡¯s only friend, it¡¯s only right to go to her ce for a meal when he¡¯s in need, isn¡¯t it?
What, he¡¯s self-proimed as her friend?
Impossible. Asano Nao has a ton of his photos. If they weren¡¯t friends, how could she have so many pictures of him?
With his belly full, and the warmth of the nkets enveloping him, his body rxed, his spirits lifted, and drowsiness washed over him.
A nap, then he¡¯ll continue the simtion when he wakes up.
His eyelids closed, the world turned pitch ck, and his consciousness slowly sank into darkness.When the rm clock woke him up, the morning sparrows outside had already quieted down, and he sat up to check the time, 7:10.
Today was Saturday, no need for ss, he didn¡¯t have to wake up so early, but Asano family¡¯s breakfast is at 7:30.
He drew back the curtains, letting the sunlight flood in, illuminating the entire room.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s rented single apartment wasn¡¯trge, with no living room, only a bedroom, bathroom, and toilet. The sink and cooking stove were in the corridor near the entrance.
In Misaki, wherend was scarce, given Minami Yuuki¡¯s family¡¯s circumstances, being able to rent such an apartment was already a big deal.
After a quick wash-up and changing into regr clothes, Minami Yuuki hung the damp clothes inside to dry on the balcony. Yesterday afternoon, he took his dirty clothes, including two uniforms, to the coin-operatedundry to wash.
Only after paying for theundry did he realize he only had a 500 yen coin left in his pocket, so he had to go to Asano¡¯s house for a meal.
The sunlight was still strong, and by noon, the clothes would probably be dry.
Theundry had a dryer, but Minami Yuuki was frugal, so saving a bit of money was worth it.
After hanging thest pair of pants, Minami Yuuki touched his hungry belly, walked out the door, and headed to Asano¡¯s house.
In the simtion life, he¡¯d walked this path countless times, but in reality, this was only the second time.
After two doorbell rings, the door finally cracked open a bit.
Through the crack, Minami Yuuki could see Asano Nao¡¯s nervous eyes.
Minami Yuuki grabbed the door and pushed it open to a width he could pass through, stepping inside.
¡°Morning, stay-at-home sister,¡± he greeted the familiar woman beside him.
In his memory, there was a scene where theyy in bed together!
Unfortunately, nothing happened in his memory.
¡°Morning,¡± Asano Nao replied timidly.
She hunched over, her eyes fixed on Minami Yuuki¡¯s feet, her long bangs and thick sses conspiring to conceal her lovely face, and her oversized tracksuit doing its best to hide her exceptional figure.
¡°What do you want for breakfast?¡± Minami Yuuki sat on the bench in the entrance, changing into indoor slippers.
His words were natural, as if he were facing not a stranger but a beloved wife.
If she were his wife, how would things develop from here?
Thinking about it, Asano Nao¡¯s face turned red.
¡°Why is your face red, sister? Are you thinking of something unhealthy?¡± Minami Yuuki teased her intentionally.
¡°N-no! I-I¡¯m not thinking of anything!¡± Asano Nao hurriedly shook her head.
¡°Is that so? I was thinking, to repay my sister¡¯s kindness in feeding me, I should help my sister realize her earlier thoughts.¡±
Minami Yuuki stared at Asano Nao¡¯s face. Sure enough, Asano Nao looked regretful, as if the sky had fallen and the earth had copsed, and her dreams had been shattered, like a small animal left behind by Noah¡¯s Ark in the flood.
Leaning against the wall for support, Asano Nao steadied herself, realizing what he meant, and protested softly, ¡°Don¡¯t tease me!¡±
¡°If my sister thinks it¡¯s teasing, then it¡¯s teasing,¡± Minami Yuuki continued walking forward.
He neither admitted nor denied, leaving Asano Nao anxious and unsettled.
The hallway in Asano¡¯s house had poor lighting, despite the bright sunshine outside, the corridor remained dim. It was probably because of the door; if it had a ss window, light coulde in from outside.
Entering the living room, the light was still dim, with the curtains tightly drawn on both sides.
¡°Are you a caveman?¡± Minami Yuuki approached the window.
¡°Huh?¡± Asano Nao didn¡¯t understand Minami Yuuki¡¯s meaning.
¡°Only wild people hide in the darkness, right?¡± Minami Yuuki drew back the curtains. ¡°Spring is the best season for basking in the sun.¡±
Sudden brightness dazzled Asano Nao¡¯s eyes. She shielded them with her hand and peeked out, seeing a boy with his back to her, bathed in sunlight.
Her mind swirled in disbelief. She hadn¡¯t expected Minami Yuuki to actuallye to her house.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw the scenery outside. Whether it was the overly bright alley or the office workers and housewives walking in the alley, it made her nervous.
Minami Yuuki suddenly opened the window with a bang, and the overly warm breeze made her skin tingle and itch.
Normally, just one of these factors would suffocate her and cause her pain, but now, a series of allergens overwhelmed her immune system, leaving her frozen in ce.
Too bright, too warm, she was going to be sunburned!
At that moment, a strong hand pressed against her back, pushing her forward.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go eat. I¡¯m starving,¡± Minami Yuuki pushed her towards the dining table.
The table was far from the window. Minami Yuuki guided her to sit in the innermost chair, pressing her shoulders. She didn¡¯t feel suffocated anymore; it wasn¡¯t a gradual recovery but rather a case of fighting fire with fire, as her attention shifted entirely to her back and shoulders.
She touched Minami Yuuki!
His hands were so warm, so sturdy.
She blushed fiercely. When Minami Yuuki left, she would have to go back to her room to change her clothes.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s hands left her shoulders and rested on the table in front of her. The boy sat across from her.
The treatment of fighting fire with fire ceased, and Asano Nao looked at the window. Though still nervous, her symptoms were limited to her mind, no longer affecting her physically.
¡°It looks really delicious!¡± Minami Yuuki eximed, looking at the table.
Japanese eating habits were very different from those in China, the biggest difference being that they ate white rice for breakfast.
On the table was a ssic Japanese breakfast.
White rice, grilled fish, thick tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), pickled cucumber, miso soup with tofu.
¡°I¡¯m starting,¡± he picked up his chopsticks.
Asano Nao quickly followed suit with her bowl and chopsticks. Apart from her grandmother, she hadn¡¯t eaten at the same table with anyone else for many years. Watching Minami Yuuki eat happily, she felt that the sunlight shining in from outside wasn¡¯t so harsh anymore.
This warmthsted for a few seconds before being reced by another emotion.
The way Yuuki-kun ate was so elegant!
The sound of him biting into the cucumber was so cool, the hollow of his finger holding the chopsticks was so cool, the movement of his throat as he ate was so cool!
I want to use a camera to take pictures.
At what angle should I ce the camera so that I can take pictures clearly?
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Chapter 12
Chapter 12
After finishing breakfast, Asano Nao anxiously looked towards the doors and windows.
She decided that once Minami Yuuki left, she would close all the curtains and restore the gloomy atmosphere of her home.
However, Minami Yuuki showed no intention of leaving. Hey on the living room sofa, ying with his phone.
Asano Nao felt a mix of joy and pressure with Minami Yuuki¡¯s presence.
She was used to being alone, avoiding being scrutinized by anyone. Even when she lived with her grandmother a few years ago, she spent most of her time alone in her room, only interacting during meals.
As time passed, the pressure increased, and she gathered the courage to ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back?¡±
¡°My apartment is too small, and my sister¡¯s ce is morefortable,¡± Minami Yuuki replied casually.
ncing at Asano Nao, he wondered, Just because we¡¯ve spent some time together, she feels pressured? How will she cope with the vast crowds outside?
She needs some toughening up.In the simtion life, Asano Nao¡¯s tragedies stem from her social anxiety. Would correcting that trait lead her to happiness?
Dr. Minami Yuuki diligently formted a recovery n for his patient Asano Nao.
However, he did not intend to sacrifice himself, so he did not take the route of borrowing manga and games like in the Simtion, but took a more aggressive route.
Not to develop a rtionship between lovers, but to develop a master-servant rtionship¡ cough, but to develop a friendship!
The cost of this treatment will be repaid by Asano Nao supporting him!
With Minami Yuuki unwilling to leave, Asano Nao had no choice. She had exhausted her courage with her previous question. She was restless, torn between wanting to watch Minami Yuuki and fearing being discovered, while also resisting the sunlight and the outside world.
Finally, she made a decision.
While Minami Yuuki was engrossed in his phone, she quietly went upstairs, then returned downstairs, cing a camera on the small bookshelf near the TV, aiming it at the sofa.
The whole time, she kept a close eye on Minami Yuuki, ensuring he didn¡¯t notice her actions.
With the camera set up and adjusted, she tiptoed back upstairs and returned to her room.
With the curtains tightly drawn, her bedroom was devoid of light. The darkness was her armor, and stepping inside, she felt her anxious heart ease.
She opened herptop and skillfully operated it.
The screen¡¯s images reflected in her sses as she connected to the downstairs camera, stealing nces at Minami Yuuki on the sofa.
Though the camera¡¯s position wasn¡¯t ideal, Asano Nao was satisfied.
Compared with close observation, it was more reassuring to peek from a distance, and it could remove the restraints and be unbridled.
She grinned foolishly at the screen.
It was Yuuki, lying on his side!
Video saved!
Today was truly her lucky day!
Slipping off her slippers, she curled up in a chair, giggling in the darkness of her bedroom, a scene that could leave a psychological scar on any child who saw it.
After half an hour, Asano Nao moved herptop from the desk to the bed, undressed, revealing her pajamas underneath, and climbed into bed.
She erged the image, filling the screen with Minami Yuuki¡¯s upper body, then pulled up the covers, cing them over herself and theptop.
It looked as though they were both covered by the nket, as though she and Yuuki were sleeping together.
Sheughed happily.
Suddenly, the camera¡¯s feed changed.
Minami Yuuki got up from the sofa.
Huh? Is he leaving already? Wait, I haven¡¯t started yet!
She nervously watched as Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t leave but wished he would.
His figure grewrger as he approached the camera.
The screen shook as the camera was picked up, pointing towards the ground. Minami Yuuki was checking the footage.
Another shake, and the lens faced Minami Yuuki¡¯s face as he shed a bright smile.
Asano Nao covered her head. Oh no, caught again!
On the screen, the view changed to the floor, then to the stairs. Footsteps echoed. Minami Yuuki wasing upstairs.
He¡¯sing.
What kind of horror movie scene is this!
Asano Nao covered her head with the nket, hoping it would protect her.
On herptop screen, the image stopped at a door.
It was her bedroom door.
A hand entered the frame, gripping the doorknob.
Click, the door opened.
He entered.
Footsteps passed by the bed, reaching the window.
With a swoosh, the curtains were drawn, sunlight piercing through,nding on Asano Nao. She shuddered, swallowing hard.
She looked at the screen, which now showed a bed. The camera zoomed in, focusing on the raised covers.
Suddenly, the light brightened, and a chill ran down her spine as the nket was ruthlessly pulled away, revealing Minami Yuuki holding the camera, aiming it at her.
She knelt on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry!¡±
Minami Yuuki captured her entire body. ¡°Although I allowed my sister to take secret photos, but the secret photos that were discovered are not secret photos, and they are not within the scope of permission. Are you ready to pay the price, sister?¡±
His cheerful words eased Asano Nao¡¯s nervous heart, as long as he didn¡¯t dislike her because of this.
¡°What price?¡± she asked cautiously.
¡°Come on, strike a few poses for me, sister,¡± Minami Yuuki ordered, shaking the camera in his hand.
His n was obvious. Since Asano Nao was filming him, he would also film Asano Nao.
However, Asano Nao, who was so nervous that she wanted to run away just by being watched, how could she withstand the camera that went beyond being watched?
¡°¡Can I pay?¡± She tried to avoid disaster by spending money.
¡°I¡¯m not a devil. I won¡¯t covet my sister¡¯s money.¡±
No, please covet my money!
What you are doing now is the devil¡¯s behavior!
¡°Take off your sses first, then lift your bangs. I want to pat my sister¡¯s face.¡± Minami Yuuki gave orders.
I haven¡¯t agreed yet!
Does this mean that I have no right to refuse at all!
Asano Nao hesitated but followed Minami Yuuki¡¯s instructions, removing her sses. Before she could ce them down, a hand reached out, pushing aside her bangs.
Startled, she leaned back, hitting the wall.
¡°It hurts.¡± She covered the back of her head andy on the bed.
¡°Just as I imagined, my sister is really pretty,¡± Minami Yuuki eximed.
Even though it was just a moment, he clearly saw Asano Nao¡¯s concealed face.
Her snow-like skin, moonlit eyes, and those tempting lips were just as he remembered, along with her well-proportioned figure hinted by her pajamas.
Oh no, I was a little moved.
He tried to calm down. He warned himself not to make up his mind too early, maybe he would meet a woman who would make him more moved in the future.
He picked up Asano Nao¡¯sptop and sent the video to his ount.
¡°Goodbye, sister. I¡¯lle over for lunch at twelve,¡± he said contentedly before leaving.
In the bedroom, only Asano Nao was lying on the bed with a nk look.
Today¡¯s emotional activities were too intense, exceeding her annual amount, and her energy was exhausted.
As Minami Yuuki left Asano¡¯s house, he heard a surprised voice. He followed the sound and saw another familiar face from the simtor.
It was Tanaka Mako, the neighbor¡¯s wife who was trying to seduce him and give him expensive gifts in the simtion.
¡°Good morning,¡± Minami Yuuki greeted her politely, ignored her astonishment, and walked towards his apartment.
Entering his own little nest, he went to the balcony and looked at the Asano family.
He pulled open the curtains and pulled them up again.
The transformation n for Asano Nao is a long way to go.
Thinking of Asano Nao¡¯s face and the rtionship between him and her in the simtor, Minami Yuuki felt a little anxious.
He drank a cup of oolong tea andy on the bed.
Love simtor, start!
Try to use the remaining two simtion times to get a Happy End!
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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
¡¾yer Bound: Minami Yuuki¡¿
¡¾Remaining Simtions: 2 (Simtions can be restored over time or actively obtained)¡¿
¡¾Avable Simtion Targets: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao¡¿
Minami Yuuki selected Asano Nao.
¡¾Load the previously experienced simted life?¡¿
Loading the previous simted life, setting the time point to just before thest choice.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t choose to start over because he wanted to verify something. He wanted to understand why, in thest simted life, despite their happy family life, Asano Nao ended up depressed and passed away.
Thest option in the simtor must be an important turning point. Maybe by choosing a different option, he could understand Asano Nao¡¯s situation better.
¡¾Simtion Start¡¿¡¾Remaining Simtions: 1¡¿
¡¾Simtion Target: Asano Nao¡¿
¡¾Loading Time Point: End of Dating Period¡¿
¡¾Summary: You used borrowing manga as an excuse to approach Asano Nao, catering to her interests. Your rtionship progressed smoothly, and at 22, you married her. However, Asano Nao¡¯s social anxiety made your family dislike her. That year, on New Year¡¯s Eve, you brought your wife back home, and her efforts finally earned your family¡¯s blessing.¡¿
Minami Yuuki looked at the options.
¡¾Your family wants you to stay in Ino County, by their side. You choose¡¡¿
¡¾1. Stay in Ino County; 2. Return to Misaki City; 3. Move Abroad; 4. Free Simtion¡¿
Previously, considering Asano Nao¡¯s personality, he thought returning to Misaki and continuing their life as a couple was the right choice.
Now, he chose the first option.
¡¾You heeded your family¡¯s advice and stayed in Ino County.¡¿
¡¾Your father, mother, and sister were all very happy. Your parents tidied up your grandmother¡¯s house for you to live in. They knew to give you space and only invited you for meals on weekends, which made you relieved.¡¿
¡¾Moving into the new house, Asano Nao felt uneasy, and youforted her. Knowing you were back, your childhood friends came to see you. After discussing with Asano Nao, you hosted them at home.¡¿
Minami Yuuki closed his eyes and looked at the memory scene in his mind.
Outside, it was pitch ck. His grandmother¡¯s house was on the edge of the city, with fields not far away. The moonlight fell on the fields, unable to illuminate the view but revealing a series of undting shadows.
Inside the tatami-floored living room, the lights were bright. A long table was ced in the center, and Minami Yuuki sat with five childhood friends.
The room was heated, the atmosphere as warm as the temperature.
Asano Nao brought thest dish to the table and walked to Minami Yuuki¡¯s side to sit down.
Minami Yuuki extended his hand, wrapped it around his wife¡¯s slender waist, pulled her into his arms, and rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling the fragrance of her hair.
His friendsughed, praising the delicious food and Asano Nao¡¯s beauty.
Asano Nao behaved like an ordinary girl, which made you mistakenly think she had ovee her inner trauma.
¡¾You used your father¡¯s connections to find a job at a local furniture store as a salesperson. Your looks and conversational skills quickly made you the top salesperson, earning a substantial sry.¡¿
¡¾You were very disciplined, only attending necessary social events, alwaysing home on time after work to be with your wife.¡¿
Minami Yuuki looked at the text, feeling the memories in his mind.
The fatigue ofing home from work, the joy of seeing his wife, the warmth mixed with desire when hugging her made him feel content.
¡¾You seldom attended gatherings, and your colleagues hadints. You decided to host them at home, just like you did with your childhood friends, so you could participate without being apart from your beautiful wife.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao agreed. In the evening, you both went out to buy ingredients for the gathering.¡¿
¡¾The gathering went smoothly, except thest dish was a bit salty. Your colleagues left satisfied, and you saw them off. Returning home, you didn¡¯t see Asano Nao.¡¿
¡¾She wasn¡¯t by the messy table, in the still smoky kitchen, by the washbasin, in the bathroom, or the bedroom.¡¿
¡¾You searched the house and found her crying in the bedroom closet.¡¿
¡¾You realized her previous behavior was a fa?ade; she was still the fragile person who got scared and anxious around others.¡¿
The light from the bedroom shone through the closet door Minami Yuuki opened, reflecting on Asano Nao¡¯s tearful face.
She looked like a frightened hamster, curling up in a corner, not wanting Minami Yuuki to see her in this state, not wanting him to worry.
¡°Sorry,¡± Asano Nao said, covering her face.
¡¾You carried her out of the closet and onto the bed, kissing her cheeks, wiping away her tears with your dry lips. You didn¡¯t say a word.¡¿
¡¾Amid your parents and sister¡¯s objections and your colleagues¡¯ attempts to keep you, you quit your job. You didn¡¯t tell Asano Nao, only saying thepany was renovating and gave you a break.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao soon discovered the truth. She urged you to return, but you imed you were too tired from work and wanted her to support you.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao¡¯s smile faded. With no strangers at home and you always by her side, she wasn¡¯t stimted by the outside world. However, she was also gued by guilt, feeling she was holding you back from a normal life.¡¿
¡¾You realized it wasn¡¯t just outsiders that made Asano Nao anxious. Anything that made her feel she was a burden would torment her.¡¿
Pausing the simtion, Minami Yuuki pinched his nose.
So that¡¯s how it was. The tragedy in thest simtion could be exined now.
In the simted life, their child was the product of their love, but also a death sentence for Asano Nao, a mirror. This mirror was too young to know how to hide the reflection. Through the child, Asano Nao saw herself as an inadequate wife and mother every day.
This exhausted her, leading to her depression and death.
In other words, to achieve a happy ending, they couldn¡¯t have a child. The simted version of himself should have known this.
Minami Yuuki continued to look at the panel.
¡¾You left Ino County and returned to Misaki City with her.¡¿
¡¾There were too many friends and rtives in Ino County. It was hard to refuse their visits, and each visit was a wound to Asano Nao.¡¿
¡¾In Misaki City, you could stay on an ind of solitude with no third person. Asano Nao¡¯s mental state gradually recovered.¡¿
¡¾You secretly used contraception. You forged an infertility report and acted extremely depressed.¡¿
¡¾Your n worked. To take care of your emotions, Asano Nao never brought up having children again.¡¿
¡¾You grew old together in the Asano household, only leaving for family funerals. Asano Nao never stepped out of the house again.¡¿
¡¾You were happy but with some regrets.¡¿
¡¾In the year you realized you would lose your ability to care for yourself, you chose a day when the cherry blossoms bloomed and ended your life.¡¿
¡¾Simtion End¡¿
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Chapter 14
Chapter 14
¡¾Summary¡¿
¡¾Score: 80¡¿
Only one point higher than thest simtion. Minami Yuuki sighed.
This life was simr to thest one, except there were no children. That was a blessing, but also a regret.
¡¾Phases experienced: Pursuit, Passionate Love, Tenderness¡¿
¡¾Comment: Despite the ups and downs in your rtionship, you lived a happy life. However, both you and she harbored regrets. You spent your life amodating her, unable to fulfill your own ambitions, which left you with regrets and made her feel guilty.¡¿
¡¾Result: You gained an attribute point [Spirit*1]¡¿
Gaining a point in Spirit was good. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Spirit was rted to his willpower and intelligence.
He added the point to his attributes.¡¾Spirit: 9¡¿
His Spirit attribute was now as high as his Charm.
He tried it out and found his memory had improved. He took a photo album from under the bed, flipped through it quickly, then closed his eyes and could recall all the model¡¯s sizes.
His mental calction ability had also improved. He categorized the models by size, and the calction process was swift.
Even just these two improvements were amazing. In his first simted life, he got into Waseda University. If he took the same path now, he could definitely get into Misaki University.
Should he take the university route? He suddenly thought about future ns, which were still nk on his nning sheet.
One step at a time; there was no rush now.
He opened the simtor panel and continued reading the text.
¡¾Youpleted a happy life (Score ¡Ý 80)¡¿
¡¾You received one Free Simtion opportunity¡¿
¡¾You received one Skill Extraction opportunity¡¿
Two new rewards appeared on the simtor.
Free Simtion didn¡¯t need much exnation. In life simtions, each choice had it. It imed to throw Minami Yuuki into the scene to experience everything realistically, but it required five simtion opportunities to use.
Yuuki rubbed his chin.
He remembered that in thest simtion, he gained the right to use Free Simtion at any time.
¡°Does that mean I can use Free Simtion in a post-marriage scenario to personally experience a night?¡±
This reward was fantastic!
He¡¯d save it for next time.
Yuuki shifted his gaze from Free Simtion to the second new reward ¨C Skill Extraction.
What was this?
He clicked on it.
¡¾Do you want to use the Skill Extraction opportunity?¡¿
¡¾You can choose one simted life and extract all expertise from that life in a specific field¡¿
Free Simtion was already exciting, but Skill Extraction was even better.
Free Simtion provided temporary enjoyment, while Skill Extraction could bring lifelong benefits!
That was a lifetime of experience!
If he chose an academic route in a simted life and became a schr, using Skill Extraction would grant him all the knowledge and skills in his research field!
Whatever he learned in the simted life, he would gain!
Such a valuable reward had to be used quickly. Let¡¯s see, what did he learn in his four simted lives?
In the first simtion, he graduated right away and was always studying, so he¡¯d probably get a full set of high school knowledge.
In the second simtion, he also graduated right away and was always running, so he¡¯d likely gain professional track and field knowledge.
In the third simtion, he spent the first half of his life in an intimate rtionship with Asano Nao and thetter half in business, so he¡¯d gain some business knowledge.
In the fourth simtion, he spent his whole life in an intimate rtionship with Asano Nao, so he¡¯d probably gain all their intimate techniques.
¡°¡¡¡±
What have I been doing!
Yuuki covered his face, deeply regretful.
Minami Yuuki, how could you be so unambitious, so content with doing nothing!
With your talent, how could you be so idle!
Of the four simted lives, the only seemingly useful one was the business knowledge from the third life. But he¡¯s only sixteen now; he couldn¡¯t just drop out and go into business, could he? It wouldn¡¯t be practical at all!
The simtor¡¯sment ¡°you couldn¡¯t fulfill your ambitions, which left you with regrets and made her feel guilty¡± hadn¡¯t struck a chord with him initially because his greatest ambition was to livefortably and do nothing, which he¡¯d achieved in the simted lives. Only now did he realize the simtor¡¯s good intentions!
Fortunately, he still had one simtion opportunity left.
Yuuki quickly clicked ¡°No,¡± choosing not to use the Skill Extraction opportunity yet, saving it forter.
Thest simtion opportunity couldn¡¯t be wasted, so Yuuki thought carefully about what to do in this life.
It would be great to have more simtion opportunities.
He thought of his sister and made a call.
¡°Airi, how¡¯s the paper crane folding going? Did you send themst night?¡± he asked directly.
¡°How could I send them out at night! The courier just packed them up and took them!¡± Minami Airi¡¯s voice was fierce.
It wasn¡¯t the fierce of a lion pouncing on a fawn on the savannah, bloody and gory, but rather the fierce of a cat pouncing on its owner¡¯s arm in its nest, rolling and acting coquettish.
This voice wasn¡¯t scary at all; instead, it gave a unique pleasure.
Maybe this is the mentality of those who enjoy being scolded? Yuuki had an epiphany.
¡°Hey? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? You have to reimburse me for the folding fee and the courier fee, and also the money for the drinks I had to stay up folding for you! That¡¯s five thousand yen in total!¡±
His sister¡¯s words snapped Yuuki out of it, and he thought of his empty wallet. Five thousand yen was certainly an exaggerated amount, but even a thousand yen, he didn¡¯t have.
He¡¯d have to stall for time.
He slowed his speech: ¡°Because I haven¡¯t heard your voice in a long time, I was feeling nostalgic.¡±
¡°Eh?¡±
The other end of the line fell silent, and after a long pause, her voice came through: ¡°Didn¡¯t we just talk on the phone yesterday?¡±
The fierceness in her words disappeared, her voice softening and carrying a hint of shyness.
¡°Even a day feels like a long time. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll receive your paper cranes. Misaki might be bustling, but it¡¯s a bit lonely without family around. Having your paper cranes might make it better.¡±
¡°¡¡Big brother, wait a moment. I¡¯ll call the courier right now and switch to express delivery!¡±
The call ended, and not only did his sister not mention the money again, but she also upgraded the courier service.
With express delivery, it would take about three days to get from Ino to Misaki.
He wondered if those paper cranes could count as simtion opportunities.
He¡¯d wait three days. Besides his sister, he could also look forward to Asano Nao, find an excuse to get a token of appreciation from this shut-in older sister.
As for now, let¡¯s continue the simtion!
No need to overthink the goals for this life; leave it to his simted self to figure out!
¡¾Do you want to load a previous simted life?¡¿
No!
Start anew!
Today¡¯s situation was different from yesterday¡¯s; he had already be friends with Asano Nao and developed a deep friendship!
What changes would this bring to the simted life?
He was looking forward to it.
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Chapter 15
Chapter 15
[Simtion Start]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 0]
[Simted Character: Asano Nao]
[Initial Rtionship: Unrequited Love, Friends]
So, they really are friends now? Minami Yuuki was surprised.
Upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t that strange. Although he and Asano Nao had only known each other for a day, both he and Asano Nao had been observing each other for a long time.
[You quickly adapt to your new life after crossing over. Using some tricks, you infiltrate the Asano household and be friends with Asano Nao. Because you¡¯ve spent all your living expenses, you start eating at the Asano house.]
Sure enough, the beginning has changed.
[Asano Nao is both happy and nervous about your arrival. You are like the sun, bringing warmth but also potentially draining the vitality from her life.][Every time after eating, you stay at the Asano house for a while. You pull back the curtains and open the windows, briefly dispelling the darkness around Asano Nao. She has vaguely noticed this. On the third day you meet, a Sunday at noon, she cannot hold back and asks you why youe to her house.]
[In response to her question, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because I fell in love with you, silly woman.¡±]
[2. ¡°Living alone is too exhausting. Sister, be my ve!¡±]
[3. ¡°I was swindled by a bad woman and lost all my living expenses. I have no money for food, so I have to rely on you, sister.¡±]
[4. Free Simtion]
Minami Yuuki looked at the options. Option three was the most realistic, but options two and one also made sense, as he did have such thoughts.
Considering Asano Nao¡¯s personality and the development of their rtionship, option one was more straightforward. Being straightforward is better than beating around the bush.
He chose option one.
[You tell Asano Nao that it¡¯s because you fell in love with her. The bowl in her hand falls to the ground, and her entire face turns as red as a tomato, which amuses you.]
[You pretend to propose to Asano Nao, enjoying her flustered and bewildered reaction.]
[As expected, Asano Nao rejects you. Faced with unexpected situations, she instinctively resists.]
Memories of the scene emerge.
¡°Why do youe to my house?¡± Minami Yuuki put down his bowl and looked at Asano Nao with a justified expression. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because I fell in love with you, sister!¡±
His words were so calm and natural that Asano Nao was stunned for two seconds before slowly reacting. Her hand trembled, and the rice bowl first fell onto the table, then rolled twice before falling to the ground with a crash.
The sound of the bowl breaking seemed like a signal, and a blush immediately spread across her face.
¡°Ehh¡ª?¡±
Asano Nao dragged out the sound, retreating sharply. The chair behind her scraped against the floor, making a piercing noise.
Minami Yuuki covered his ears. ¡°Is it necessary to be so surprised? Since you peek at me every day, it means you have feelings for me too, right? Once I be an adult, let¡¯s get married!¡±
¡°Ehh?¡±
¡°Whether it¡¯s a Western wedding or a traditional Japanese one, I like both. White kimonos and wedding dresses are both beautiful, so let¡¯s have two weddings, one in your hometown and one in mine.¡±
¡°Ehh?¡±
¡°After marriage, we should have a daughter and name her Rikka. I hope she¡¯ll be a gentle child.¡±
¡°Ehh?¡±
¡°You must be rich, right? After marriage, I can work, or stay home with you. But if we have a child, it¡¯s better if I go to work, right?¡±
¡°Ehh?¡±
Asano Nao¡¯s brain couldn¡¯t process such intense data andpletely crashed, bing a robot that could only utter interjections.
Seeing her dumbfounded look, Minami Yuuki almost burst outughing.
He delivered an additional attack: ¡°Sister, did you agree? I think we should speed things up. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. To ensure our daughter doesn¡¯t fall behind, shouldn¡¯t we bring her into the world as soon as possible? Ten months from now sounds perfect.¡±
¡°No, no!¡± Asano Nao shook her head frantically, waving her hands.
She moved like a crab, waving her ws while sidling to the corner of the wall, feeling safe in the 90-degree angle.
¡°Is it that having her early is not okay? Sister, you¡¯re such a traditional woman?¡±
¡°None of it is okay!¡±
Asano Nao huddled in the corner, her face burning red.
It wasn¡¯t that she rejected Minami Yuuki. She had experienced such scenarios in her dreams many times, but she knew they were just dreams and that it was unlikely to be reality.
So, faced with Minami Yuuki¡¯s words, she wasn¡¯t delighted but rather startled.
It was like a cat being called to dinner, running happily to the bowl, only to find the owner pouring an entire bag of cat food into its bowl, creating a small mountain. Even the greediest cat would pause, deeply shocked, wondering if something was wrong and if this might be itsst meal.
¡°You rejected me so decisively!¡± Minami Yuuki held his head, pretending to be heartbroken. ¡°My first love ended before it even began!¡±
Huddled in the safe corner, Asano Nao gradually calmed down, reflecting on the conversation.
What did I just say? Why did I reject him?
If heaven gave her another chance, she would definitely say, ¡°Sure, no problem, let¡¯s go to the bedroom right now!¡±
Could she do it again?
Shame turned into regret, making her sad. She hugged her knees and cautiously nced at Minami Yuuki.
The boy was smiling at her, his smile full of mischief.
It was a joke after all!
Asano Nao¡¯s face, already red from embarrassment, added a touch of anger.
She didn¡¯t dare re at Minami Yuuki, so she lowered her head and muttered, ¡°You¡¯re a bad guy!¡±
¡°Actually, it¡¯s because I ran out of money,¡± Minami Yuuki said seriously. ¡°I came to Misaki for the first time and identally spent all my living expenses. If you kick me out, I¡¯ll have to starve until next month.¡±
¡°Please answer like that from the start!¡± Asano Nao squatted down, cleaning up the broken bowl and spilled rice.
As her emotions gradually stabilized, her heart grew heavy. She felt it was her fault for believing Minami Yuuki¡¯s joke and getting all flustered. Any mentally sound person wouldn¡¯t take a confession seriously, right?
Asano Nao, you¡¯re such a narcissistic woman! Why would Yuuki-kun ever like you?
She looked at Minami Yuuki, and the boy¡¯s face was still smiling, which relieved her.
If her narcissistic misunderstanding made him feel awkward, it would be a huge crime.
Minami Yuuki came to her side, crouching to help clean up the broken pieces.
¡°It wasn¡¯t a joke,¡± the boy said.
¡°Huh?¡± Asano Nao¡¯s hand paused, and the sharp edge of a porcin shard cut across her palm. The wound stung, and blood dripped onto the floor.
¡°Where¡¯s the first aid kit?¡± Minami Yuuki hurried to fetch the medical supplies.
Asano Nao clutched her hand, squatting there, touching her burning earlobe with her other hand. Her mind was full of the boy¡¯s words.
Not a joke, what does that mean?
[Asano Nao realized your confession was a prank, feeling a bit annoyed. This incident caused a small change in your rtionship. Although Asano Nao was reluctant to admit it, she did start to think: maybe she could have you.]
[On Monday, the school day arrives, and you ask Asano Nao to prepare a bento for you. The bento is very sumptuous, and a girl who frequently observes you is surprised by it.]
[After school, the girl calls out to you, and you both walk to the back of the school building.]
A new character appears?
Minami Yuuki was surprised. Who is this girl who frequently observes me?
There were no answers in his memory, as his predecessor was too dense, and he had only attended school for one day.
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
[Behind the teaching building is an empty space, rarely frequented by people. The sky is gloomy, and the concrete ground is murky. Distantly, the noise of the sports clubs echoes from the yground.]
[You look at the girl in front of you, named Chitose Kazumi, with short hair and a petite stature. She doesn¡¯t stand out much in ss and is rather shy. You have a hunch about what she wants to say.]
[As expected, she expresses her feelings for you, hoping to start a rtionship with you.]
Looking at the simtor panel, Minami Yuuki strokes his chin.
In the previous simted lives, did this event not ur? Or perhaps it was deemed unimportant and skipped over?
[Faced with her confession, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°I like you too.¡±]
[2. ¡°Sorry, I prefer someone with broader horizons.¡±]
[3. ¡°You are¡?¡±][4. Free simtion]
Which one to choose?
Minami Yuuki picks up his phone and scrolls through the ss group chat, quickly finding a photo with Chitose Kazumi.
The girl looks a bit in, but her appearance is not bad, she could be considered cute.
She doesn¡¯t stand out much in ss, mainly due to her somewhat introverted nature. Contrary to her slightly in appearance, she has a good figure, with the uniform emphasizing her chest, putting her a notch above her ssmates.
Her grades are excellent, ranking in the top ten of the year on the entrance exams.
Putting down his phone, Minami Yuuki looks at the options again.
This is an easy question, of course, choose option two!
[You tell Chitose Kazumi that you already have feelings for someone else and wish her luck in finding her own love. She politely thanks you and leaves feeling dejected.]
[On the way home, you get ambushed.]
[The attacker is wearing the same uniform as you, a delinquent with dyed yellow hair. He punches you, and you kick him twice. He hits your waist while you hit his groin. He limps away awkwardly.]
Well, just got confessed to and then ambushed. Is this yellow-haired guy Chitose Kazumi¡¯s pursuer?
Good thing I learned some self-defense techniques in my past life; those kicks must¡¯ve hurt him for a while.
Minami Yuuki ponders whether to use one of his simted life opportunities to systematically practicebat skills.
In civilized times,bat skills are generally only used in arenas, with a low return on investment, but Minami Yuuki has the capital to squander with simted life opportunities.
He wonders what path his simted self will choose this time.
He continues reading the simtion.
[You clutch your waist, arriving at the Asano residence. Asano Nao nervously asks what happened, and you tell her about the incident with the yellow-haired guy and the confession before school ended, deliberately not mentioning whether you epted it or not.]
[Asano Nao wants to ask more, but she¡¯s afraid of revealing her feelings, even though her feelings are already obvious. She sulks.]
[You tell Asano Nao that the ending of the story is in the premium section, and a kiss is needed to unlock it. Asano Nao runs off, uncertain whether this is a joke or genuine.]
[However, she already guessed the oue of the confession, which puts her at ease.]
[You lie on the couch, pretending to be unable to move, letting Asano Nao apply the antiseptic for you. Asano Nao excitedly does it.]
[You thought Chitose Kazumi was just a passing episode, but her failed confession actually gave her courage, and with her deliberate contact, you became friends.]
[Chitose Kazumi is an honest girl, and you intend to use her. Alone, it¡¯s difficult to change Asano Nao¡¯s personality; you want Chitose Kazumi to help you.]
[Your rtionship with Chitose Kazumi deepens.]
This seems a bit ominous.
In the simted life, his actions were justified, wanting Asano Nao to return to a normal life, and relying solely on himself is not enough. He needs to make Asano Nao friends with more people.
But, the phrase ¡°Your rtionship with Chitose Kazumi deepens¡± revealed by the simtor seems to imply something deeper.
He continues reading.
[Your rtionship with Asano Nao is steadily developing. As long as you don¡¯t give her too much attention, Asano Nao can stay by your side without running away. You n to wait until Asano Naopletely gets used to you before arranging for Chitose Kazumi to meet her.]
[During this period of stability, you start contemting your life path.]
[You¡¯ve set your sights on the most beautiful girl in ss, the former crush, Ichinose Shiori.]
Wait, why are you contemting your life path and then fixating on Ichinose Shiori?
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t understand, even though Ichinose Shiori is really beautiful, especially those legs.
[You¡¯re not the predecessor, and you¡¯re no longer an outsider in ss. You¡¯ve gathered information about Ichinose Shiori from various sources.]
[Ichinose Shiori, 164cm, 45kg, 79/56/82.]
¡°???¡±
Isn¡¯t it normal to inquire about hobbies and family background? Why are you asking for these kinds of measurements?
Minami Yuuki doubts his mental state in the simted life.
He looks down and realizes he misunderstood himself.
[Ichinose Shiori is very mysterious, known by many at school but has very few real friends, making it impossible to gather much information. She¡¯s a member of the Homing Club, goes straight home after school, making it difficult to investigate her hobbies. The above body data¡¯s origins are unclear, just a snippet of gossip.]
[Furthermore, there are two rumors about Ichinose Shiori. One ims someone saw her getting out of a luxury car, and the other is about the principal bowing to her.]
[You give up on Ichinose Shiori and turn your attention to the school¡¯s wind ensemble. The wind ensemble is arge club with nearly a hundred members, including many attractive girls. Perhaps, among them, there might be a suitable simted target.]
[You¡¯ve decided on your lifelong goal¡ªmusical instruments.]
Minami Yuuki nods. Indeed, it¡¯s me. Even in simted life, I don¡¯t forget to simte the things that can assist my real self.
The wind ensemble mostly doesn¡¯t recruit beginners, so the simted self can¡¯t join.
But once he bes proficient, Minami Yuuki can extract his musical abilities and be experienced enough to join the wind ensemble.
But, are there really suitable simted targets in the wind ensemble?
Minami Yuuki takes out his notebook, logs into the school forum, findsst year¡¯s wind ensemble performance videos, where there are some cute girls, but the most beautiful one among them is still a tier below Asano Nao and his three sisters.
Joining the wind ensemble might not be necessary, but music has wide applications, so it¡¯s not a wasted effort.
[You borrow some money from Asano Nao and enroll in a music cram school that epts beginners.]
In Japan, a cram school is a supplementary education institution.
[After attending a few music sses, it¡¯s already May, and your parents send you some living expenses. You order pizza and invite Asano Nao.]
[At the dining table, Asano Nao sits nervously.]
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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
[You know very well where Asano Nao¡¯s anxietyes from. You intruded into her life because you ran out of living expenses and came to find food, and now you have money again.]
[Asano Nao nervously eats pizza, biting her finger in the process. Youugh.]
Memory scene appears.
Asano Nao holds her finger, Minami Yuuki¡¯sughter doesn¡¯t make her blush; at this moment, her heart is filled with unease and reluctance.
She looks up at Minami Yuuki, who always has a smile on his face, as if worries never touch him. He must be happy about the money, right?
Of course, with money, he doesn¡¯t have to see her gloomy self anymore and doesn¡¯t have to eat with a weirdo like her. Isn¡¯t that a good thing?
She gradually feels sad, puts down the pizza, and stands up, pressing against the chair.
She doesn¡¯t want to sit there, tormented by waiting, nor does she want to face the inevitable goodbye. Instead of waiting for Minami Yuuki to say he won¡¯te anymore, it¡¯s better to let him disappear suddenly, just like he suddenly barged into her life, making it all feel like a dream.
Dreams are always fragmented; an ending would only ruin this illusion.She takes steps toward her upstairs bedroom, wanting to dive into bed, using post-exercise fatigue to numb herself and forget her worries.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat, sister?¡± Minami Yuuki looks up at her.
¡°Yeah.¡± Asano Nao nods without stopping.
¡°Wait, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡±
The boy¡¯s words make Asano Nao feel despair. She had so decisively walked away to leave herself with some hope, yet she still can¡¯t escape this cold ending.
She stops, not because she wants to, but because Minami Yuuki called her to wait.
Minami Yuuki quickly finishes his pizza, wipes his hands with a napkin, and takes out a stack of money from his pocket.
¡°Here you go.¡± He hands the money to Asano Nao.
Asano Nao takes it, feeling the thick stack of bills, at least most of the boy¡¯s living expenses. Holding the money, she feels bewildered.
¡°Didn¡¯t I borrow money from you to enroll in cram school? Please let me repay you slowly each month.¡± Minami Yuuki puts his hands together earnestly. ¡°Since I gave you all the money, you¡¯ll still need to take care of me.¡±
An angel, he¡¯s an angel!
An angel who always finds a way to pull her back from the edge of fate¡¯s cliff!
Asano Nao clutches the money, her cheeks flushing with excitement.
She had forgotten about Minami Yuuki borrowing money from her. She never expected their story to take a turn for the better because of this!
How much did the boy borrow? At this rate, how many months will it take to pay off?
She quickly calctes, using her gaming skills. The cram school fees for a year, Minami Yuuki will take about half a year to repay.
Only half a year?
¡°Do you need more? There must be other expenses, right? Since you¡¯re studying music, you need instruments, and if you have instruments, you¡¯ll need a practice room and recording studio! And money for concerts, album printing!¡±
Loan manager Asano Nao enthusiastically extends a business offer to Minami Yuuki.
¡°Not for now, I¡¯ll tell you when I need it.¡± Minami Yuuki shakes his head.
¡°You can buy them in advance; if not now, you¡¯ll need them in the future anyway. There¡¯s a loan discount now, borrow 10 million yen, and you only need to repay 9 million!¡±
¡°What kind of loan is that? It¡¯s a direct loss.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it normal? Sometimes bank interest rates are negative.¡±
¡°Not that much negative, and I don¡¯t need 10 million yen.¡±
¡°Buy phones, watches, cars, antiques during the day, and go to nightclubs at night to see girls.¡±
¡°¡Sister, calm down. Skip the shopping spree, what¡¯s with the nightclubs? But if you¡¯re going, I wouldn¡¯t mind checking it out.¡±
¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t dare.¡±
¡°How decisive!¡±
[You handed over most of your living expenses to Asano Nao to repay the private tutoring fees you borrowed earlier, putting yourself in a financially tight situation and continuing to rely on meals at the Asano household.]
[This was part of your n all along. In fact, the bulk of your living expenses were originally spent on food. By doing this, it was as if you were paying to eat at the Asano household, and the loan was a way to get something for nothing.]
[Asano Nao didn¡¯t realize the intricacies of your n. She was overjoyed and wanted to tie you down with more debts. Enthusiastically promoting the idea, she lent you more money to buy musical instruments.]
[Your debt gave Asano Nao peace of mind, and the progress of your rtionship elerated.]
Minami Yuuki clicked his tongue as he looked at the simted text.
Sure enough,pared to emotions, material dependence made Asano Nao feel more at ease. Being a NEET, Asano Nao had a sense of inferiority, which made her deny her own emotional appeal.
A woman like her, rich, timid, and beautiful, could easily be targeted by bad men and be a cash machine.
Fortunately, Minami Yuuki was a man with ideals, morals, and a sense of responsibility.
He wouldn¡¯t deceive Asano Nao for her money; he wanted both her money and herself!
[You spent more time at the Asano household. You used the excuse that ying musical instruments in your apartment would lead toints, so you had to practice at the Asano household.]
[Gradually, except for sleeping, you spent all your time at the Asano household, staying by Asano Nao¡¯s side.]
[You studied diligently and practiced hard, making rapid progress. The private tutor admired your good looks and gave you a lot of extra help.]
Admiring good looks? Shouldn¡¯t they admire my talent or hard work instead!
[You discovered that your learning ability was outstanding. In just one semester, you caught up with the lowest-ranked students in the higher grade. The private tutor liked you even more.]
[You spent all your time on music, neglecting your high school courses. A week before the final exams, you asked Chitose Kazumi to help you with your studies, and the tutoring location was¡ªat the Asano household.]
[You did this based on three considerations.]
[First, improving your exam scores through tutoring. If you failed, the homeroom teacher would contact your parents, and you¡¯d lose your freedom during the summer vacation.]
[Second, Chitose Kazumi had be increasingly forward. Last weekend, she even sent you photos asking which clothes looked good. You wanted her to meet your official girlfriend and curb her improper thoughts.]
[Third, Asano Nao had grown ustomed to your presence. You were ready to start the second phase, introducing a few female friends to her.]
[To avoid making Asano Nao too nervous, you exined in advance and told her about your second consideration, asking her to pretend to be your girlfriend to discourage Chitose Kazumi. Asano Nao agreed.]
[On the day of the tutoring, Asano Nao stayed upstairs the whole time. You sent her many messages urging her, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself toe down.]
[You had anticipated this and weren¡¯t discouraged. At the very least, there were now people other than you entering the Asano household.]
[The tutoringsted a week, and Chitose Kazumi was amazed by your learning ability. She invited you to join her in aiming for Misaki University, but you refused, telling her your goal was Misaki Art University, Japan¡¯s top music school.]
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Chapter 18
Chapter 18
[Chitose Kazumi was surprised. She thought you just wanted to dabble in music, but unexpectedly, you made it your life¡¯s goal.]
[You brought your trumpet and showcased your skills to her. Chitose Kazumi didn¡¯t understand music, but she could tell you yed well. She praised your suona technique, and you politely corrected her, saying it was a trumpet.]
[The harmonious atmosphere between you made Asano Nao, who was spying from upstairs, very unhappy. For the past week, she had been sitting in front of herputer every day, watching you and Chitose Kazumi through a camera downstairs.]
The memory scene emerges.
In the pitch-ck bedroom, Asano Nao sat cross-legged on the bed in brown pajamas. Theputer on herp emitted a glow, illuminating her face in a kaleidoscope of colors.
She closed theptop, tossed it aside, and flopped onto the bed, causing it to creak loudly.
There was no anger, only sadness and resentment. She resented her own cowardice. Despite Minami Yuuki telling her to pretend to be his girlfriend to make Chitose Kazumi give up, she was too afraid to go downstairs and face the girl.
She turned over, the soft pillow enveloping her cheeks and obstructing her breath, causing her chest to feel tight.
She grabbed theptop, ced it in front of her, and lifted the screen. The Chitose Kazumi on the screen looked very honest, with her in, unadorned face, simple features, and gentle eyes,cking any aggressiveness.Maybe she could get up, change her clothes, and go down to meet Chitose Kazumi, to tell her that Yuuki-kun belonged to her?
Courage slowly grew in her chest as she stood up, bracing herself.
You can do it, Asano Nao!
She strode to the wardrobe and pulled the door open.
Inside the wardrobe, a row of tracksuits hung neatly.
Red, green, blue, purple, thick, thin, long, short, all kinds were avable.
Which one should she wear to go down?
How could she possibly go down in a tracksuit!
Chitose Kazumi downstairs was wearing a school uniform; a tracksuit would be no match for a JK uniform!
Moreover, wearing a tracksuit would embarrass Yuuki-kun, right?
That Chitose Kazumi might even spread rumors at school: ¡°Did you know? Did you know? Minami Yuuki¡¯s girlfriend actually wears tracksuits!¡± And people who heard the rumors would reply: ¡°Really? Really? So old-fashioned! I never thought Minami Yuuki would like such a country girl!¡±
In the end, dozens of ssmates would gather around Minami Yuuki, pping andughing, calling her a bumpkin! A bumpkin!
I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m a sinner!
Asano Nao pulled open the shrine in her room, knelt before the photo and handkerchief of Minami Yuuki enshrined inside, and began to repent.
All her courage dissipated, and shey on the floor, feeling that her ideal state was to stay quietly in her room, not meeting anyone, not causing trouble for anyone.
The faint smell of wood reached her nose; it was the scent of decay.
Maybe she should stay in a ce where no one knew and decay.
Downstairs, both Yuuki-kun and Chitose Kazumi were full of life. She didn¡¯t fit in with them, a rotten piece of wood among green trees, only ruining the atmosphere.
Her sadness and resentment faded away, leaving her heart dead. The coldness of the floor seeped into her forehead, and she pondered where to hide.
This house and the savings should be left to Yuuki-kun. She didn¡¯t deserve to enjoy them; she just needed a broken hut where she could eat cold water and steamed buns.
At this moment, a strange noise appeared, continuous and incessant.
Click, click, click, click¡
She turned her head. At some point, the bedroom door had opened, and Minami Yuuki was standing beside her, holding a camera in one hand and a phone in the other.
The clicking sound was from the phone¡¯s camera.
¡°This pose is so provocative. Are you seducing me, sister?¡± Minami Yuuki squatted behind her, quickening the shutter speed.
The emotions taken away by self-deprecation revived in Asano Nao¡¯s heart. She crawled, hands and feet, into the corner by the door.
¡°What are you doing!¡± She covered her flushed face.
¡°Just regr filming and photography.¡± Minami Yuuki walked up to her, the clicking continuing.
Entering a woman¡¯s bedroom with a camera and phone couldn¡¯t be considered regr by any means!
Wait, maybe this was the trend now?
Asano Nao¡¯s mind was in turmoil as she peeked through her fingers at Minami Yuuki, who was grinning and checking the images and videos.
The boy always easily tugged at her heartstrings, making her feel both ashamed and troubled.
She feared crowds because others made her anxious and pained, but the pure pain was different from the trouble Yuuki-kun brought her.
Pain was all sour, but the trouble had sweetness.
She was addicted to this sweetness.
¡°Eh? What¡¯s this?¡± Minami Yuuki noticed the shrine, asking in surprise.
¡°Nothing!¡± Asano Nao quickly closed the shrine door, hiding the treasures inside.
¡°Well, I already knew you were a pervert, so there¡¯s no need to hide.¡± Minami Yuuki held her hand, reopening the shrine.
His palm was warm, covering Asano Nao¡¯s cool hand. The small difference in temperature was enough to make Asano Nao¡¯s whole body burn.
Along with the touch of their hands came the closeness of their chests and backs. Minami Yuuki¡¯s firm chest pressed against her back, and she smelled the scent of his body wash.
This sudden intimacy was like a petrifying spell, leaving her motionless and dizzy.
¡°This is really something.¡± Minami Yuuki looked at the setup inside the shrine.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll take it down immediately.¡± Asano Nao snapped back to reality. She didn¡¯t dare move, knowing any movement would touch Yuuki-kun¡¯s body.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she found it hard to breathe.
¡°I¡¯m not ming you. If anything, I¡¯m a bit happy.¡± Minami Yuuki released her hand.
Asano Nao immediately closed the shrine, moving away from his embrace to kneel facing him.
A bit happy? She looked at Minami Yuuki.
¡°The handkerchief I gave you, I didn¡¯t expect you to ce it in such an honorable spot.¡±
Minami Yuuki stroked his chin. ¡°Thinking about it, you¡¯ve always taken care of me. How about I give you a gift every month?¡±
¡°A gift?¡± Asano Nao¡¯s hands trembled.
God, why do you always favor me!
She was so excited she wanted to bow in worship.
¡°What kind of gift would you like?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
¡°Something you¡¯ve used!¡± Asano Nao answered without hesitation.
¡°You¡¯re straightforward. Alright then, I¡¯ll think about what to give you this month.¡± Minami Yuuki, holding the camera, left the room.
[You realized that Chitose Kazumi¡¯s presence had a significant impact on Asano Nao, plunging her into depression. To alleviate this depression, you made a promise to give Asano Nao a gift each month.]
[The gifts were not just gifts; they were the kite strings tethering Asano Nao. To receive the next gift, she couldn¡¯t leave your side.]
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Chapter 19
Chapter 19
[You return home and rummage through your things, but you can¡¯t find anything suitable to give. You didn¡¯t bring much when you came from Ino County, and that childhood handkerchief was identally brought along.]
[In the end, you give Asano Nao a spare key to your apartment. Asano Nao takes the key and starts to giggle, like a pervert on ate-night show. Unfortunately, this pervert only has the intent but not the courage.]
[You slow down Asano Nao¡¯s treatment n. Since meeting in person is too stimting for her, starting with online meetings might be better.]
[The final exam results are out. You ranked in the top ten in your ss. You video call your parents to show them your report card. They are very happy and ask you many questions about your life in Misaki.]
[Finally, they ask when you will return to Ino County.]
[Faced with their question, you choose]
[1. ¡°I want to get into a prestigious university, so I¡¯ll stay in Misaki for summer sses.¡±]
[2. ¡°I want to get a girl pregnant, so I¡¯ll stay in Misaki and work hard.¡±]
[3. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a couple of days.¡±][4. Free simtion]
What the hell is option two!
Wait, this option seems to make sense?
Upon careful consideration, what seems like the most unreliable option, number two, might actually be the most truthful one.
But, people are artists of deceit, and truth has no ce in this art.
Option two is ruled out first.
What¡¯s left are options one and three, one is staying in Misaki, the other is returning to Ino County.
From the perspective of personal desire, there seems to be no need to hesitate, just choose option one.
But feelings often aren¡¯t controlled by desires.
In previous simtions, he was taken back to Ino County and separated from Asano Nao for a month. This month apart didn¡¯t hinder their rtionship; on the contrary, the longing and joy of reunion made their rtionship make breakthrough progress.
Hmm, both physically and emotionally, it was a breakthrough.
Looking at it this way, perhaps leaving is the right choice.
What should he choose?
Minami Yuuki folded his arms and fell into deep thought.
He looked at his phone; it was already past ten. In another hour, he could go to Asano¡¯s house for lunch.
Forget it, don¡¯t torture that shut-in older sister anymore.
He chose option one.
[You tell your parents that you want to stay in Misaki for summer sses to aim for a top university. Your father is delighted and immediately transfers you the tuition fees for the cram school. Your mother misses you but agrees for the sake of your future. Only your sister has a strong opinion about it.]
[Using the money your father transferred, along with the money borrowed from Asano Nao, you enroll in a cram school¡¯s intensive training course. You and the other students will go to a mountain inn for a week-long closed training session.]
[Before the training, you exin the situation to Asano Nao. She is very reluctant and uneasy.]
[She always thinks you will suddenly leave her. Usually, when this unease arises, you would appear at her house to calm her down. Now, you will be gone for a week, and she cannot imagine the torment she will endure.]
[You borrow another sum of money from her, but this can onlyfort her momentarily.]
[The intensive training is very rigorous, with almost no rest for the students. As soon as the bus arrives at the inn, the first ss begins.]
[In the morning, you study theory, in the afternoon, you practice instruments, and in the evening, you have supervised self-study and one-on-one talks with the teachers. This reminds you of your previous high school life. Thanks to your previous life, you are well-adapted to this intensity.]
[During dinner, you finally find a moment to video call Asano Nao.]
The memory scene appears.
In the dark room, only a small night light emits a glow. Asano Nao lies on the bed, with a rolled-up quilt on the left, holding aptop showing a secretly filmed video of Minami Yuuki, and on the right, a pack of tissues.
It¡¯s already dinner time, her stomach hurts slightly, and it growls, but shecks the energy to get up.
Minami Yuuki left in the morning, and they have been apart for 10 hours and 36 minutes.
What is the boy doing now?
The sound of an ambnce sirenes from outside. The short rhythm stimtes Asano Nao¡¯s nerves. She sits up and goes to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain to look in the direction of the sound.
In the misty night, she can only see the gray outlines of cold buildings.
Yuuki-kun said he would take a bus to a remote mountain inn; will he be okay?
The mountain roads must be difficult to navigate, and there might be cliffs. The mountains also have various wild animals and poisonous insects.
Like a child worried about their parents¡¯ safety upon hearing a siren, she starts to worry.
The siren quickly fades away. Asano Nao reassures herself that Yuuki-kun is in the distant mountains and that this ambnce has nothing to do with him.
She opens the window for venttion, takes herptop, sits at the desk, and decides to y a game to distract herself.
But the protagonist, who flirts everywhere in the game, brings new worries.
She stares at the game screen. The witcher on horseback already has two lovers but ends up sleeping with a newly met sorceress.
Is Yuuki-kun really studying now? The mountains must be quiet, and there are many girls studying music, many of them pretty. Is he already doing something bad with a ssmate in the dark woods?
The imagination solidifies into a powerful arm, squeezing her heart, making her anxious.
She turns off the RPG game and drives away her fantasies, starting a new casual game. This game doesn¡¯t even have humans, so it surely won¡¯t fuel her imagination.
She underestimates her own creativity.
As she controls the robot in the game to cut trees for wood, she sees the green leaves and her suppressed fantasies revive.
In a distant country, green seems to symbolize infidelity.
Is this game hinting at something?
She resists the fantasies with her willpower. At first, her armored willpower drives the fantasies to the corners of her mind, surrounding them.
But no matter how strict her orders, or how hard her willpower tries to clear them out, the fantasies never die. Eventually, her willpower grows weary, and the fantasies escape.
The fantasies grow wildly, even persuading her willpower. It¡¯s not enough that Minami Yuuki falls for another woman; the fantasies continue to add scenes.
Minami Yuuki promises another woman a future, flirts with many women but never her, grows distant after returning from cram school, kisses other women, gives other women gifts, marries another woman¡
It¡¯s so painful.
She slowly slides off the chair, sits on the floor, and then moves to the corner between the bed and the wall, hugging herself tightly.
The wind from the window is cold, piercing her bones.
Why do I have to endure this pain? We got closer, and those days of peeping were so happy.
Why is it that there¡¯s only joy when we¡¯re apart, but pain when we¡¯re close?
Sure enough, it¡¯s me who has the problem. She buries her face in her arms.
At this moment, her phone rings.
It¡¯s a call from Minami Yuuki.
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Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Discontinuing the memory scene, Minami Yuuki turned his head to look out the window at the bright sun.
Memory serves as the carrier of emotions; seeing Asano Nao¡¯s sadness in the memory scene, his own heart couldn¡¯t help but feel suppressed.
In the azure sky, the golden sun shone brightly, its warmth gentle. He pulled the curtains open a bit more, allowing more light to shine on himself.
He recalled Asano Nao and her indecisiveness.
He could understand Asano Nao¡¯s emotions, and it was precisely because of this understanding that he felt troubled.
In the previous simted life, Asano Nao¡¯s mncholy; this time in the simted life, Asano Nao¡¯s resistance to closeness, also had to do with these emotions.
What a naive girl.
Minami Yuuki thought of a phrase¡ªSince obtaining the moon, living in a world without the moon in the future would be terrifying.
The joy of attainment neveres alone; along with ites the fear of loss.Asano Nao is a mncholic, pessimistic person; shecks the confidence to hold onto the moon, always concerned about loss, and fear often easily overwhelms joy, causing her pain.
¡°Ah, troublesome woman.¡±
Minami Yuuki said with a hint of disdain, yet his heart was filled with tenderness.
He moved to the sunny side and continued the simtion.
The interrupted memory scene continued to y.
*Ding-ling¡ª*
The phone rang in the dimly lit bedroom.
Asano Nao quickly wiped her face and pressed the answer button.
On the screen, Minami Yuuki¡¯s figure appeared.
¡°So dark, has sister already gone to bed? What are you doing?¡±
The energetic tone in the boy¡¯s voice dispersed the gloom in Asano Nao¡¯s heart.
She felt nervous; this was Minami Yuuki¡¯s first video call to her. Although she had seen Minami Yuuki on the phone screen before, they were all prerecorded, but this time it was live.
¡°I¡¯m ying games,¡± she nervously turned the phone, showing herptop on the desk.
Thank goodness she didn¡¯t close the game; otherwise, she would have had to say she had just been crying.
¡°I¡¯m having dinner now, it doesn¡¯t taste as good as sister¡¯s cooking. I really want to go back soon. Why do we have to stay in the dormitory for sprint training? It¡¯s so troublesome. But the teachers participating in this training camp are verypetent. I heard that a famous teacher wille tomorrow, it feels like we can improve a lot.¡±
Minami Yuuki switched to the rear camera, showing Asano Nao his dinner and talking about his day.
Suddenly, Asano Nao felt guilty. The boy¡¯s sincere and natural words highlighted her own inner filthiness.
Asano Nao, you are truly despicable!
Yuuki-kun is clearly studying seriously, how can you specte on him doing bad things in the woods outside!
While specting, you also indulge in careful fantasies!
Too unhealthy!
¡°Has sister had dinner?¡± Minami Yuuki switched back to the front camera.
¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Asano Nao blurted out her inner thoughts.
¡°Huh? What did sister do to apologize to me? Did you dirty my handkerchief? I don¡¯t mind, but please don¡¯t do that to the key, it¡¯s just a rented key.¡±
Asano Nao hesitated for two seconds, her face flushing: ¡°I didn¡¯t do that kind of thing!¡±
On the screen, the boy shed a mischievous smile, teasing her.
She didn¡¯t mind this kind of teasing, although every time she felt so embarrassed she wanted to hide under the covers.
¡°Hey, who¡¯s Yuuki talking to?¡± Suddenly, a third voice came from the phone.
Asano Nao¡¯s heart tightened, before she could react, another head appeared on the screen.
It was a woman with a ponytail, wearing a small suit, with heavy makeup on her face.
¡°Don¡¯t look around, Inoue-sensei,¡± Minami Yuuki warned.
¡°As a teacher, isn¡¯t it normal for me to care about my students?¡± Inoue Takako waved at the camera. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m this guy¡¯s homeroom teacher. I remember this guy only has a middle school sister, are you the secret girlfriend he always talks about? I thought that was just his excuse for rejecting his female ssmates.¡±
¡°Teacher, don¡¯t be so familiar, it will scare my sister.¡±
¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of!¡± Inoue Takako greeted Asano Nao, ¡°I¡¯m Inoue Takako, nice to meet you.¡±
¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Asano Nao stiffly squeezed out the words.
Her mind was in turmoil.
Why did a stranger suddenly appear out of nowhere?
And this woman is wearing a suit! She even knows how to put on makeup! She looks so dangerous, like the kind of woman who would look at me with disdain!
Asano Nao shrank back, trembling with fear.
Should I hang up now and pretend the call got disconnected?
No, no, no, she¡¯s Yuuki-kun¡¯s teacher. If I suddenly hang up, she might get mad and take it out on Yuuki-kun! What should I do if she starts giving Yuuki-kun a hard time?
Should I pretend my phone died? Or that the signal is bad?
If I had acting skills like that, would I be hiding at home right now?
But if I continue this call, I¡¯ll probably end up embarrassing myself and making Yuuki-kun feel ashamed!
I¡¯m truly useless.
When Yuuki-kunes back, how should I apologize? Would ten million yen be enough? Should I cut off my little finger? Or go for the three cuts and six holes popr in some country across the sea?
Her resolve sank even lower.
¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡¡±
She heard the voice of Inoue Takako. Is she about to start mocking me?
¡°¡Take a closer look, at this small nose, this petite face, this fluctuating heart¡¡±
Is she going to attack me based on appearance? Asano Nao tensed up.
¡°¡And she¡¯s actually a busty beauty! You¡¯ve got quite the eye, kid!¡± Inoue Takako pped Minami Yuuki¡¯s back vigorously.
¡°Of course,¡± replied Minami Yuuki.
Huh? Isn¡¯t she supposed to be attacking me? Asano Nao cautiously raised her eyes to look at Inoue Takako.
¡°With those rabbit-like eyes, and still a weak type! It seems to suit your character quite well,¡± Inoue Takako squeezed even harder, ¡°By the way, did you use some kind of coercion on her?¡±
¡°Impressive, Teacher. You guessed right,¡± Minami Yuuki proudly raised his thumb.
He turned to Asano Nao, ¡°Right, Nae-nee!¡±
¡°Huh? Uh-huh, uh-huh,¡± Asano Nao didn¡¯t understand the situation at all, nodding in confusion.
¡°Damn it, showing off right in front of me!¡± Inoue Takako gritted her teeth.
She mentioned coercion just as a joke, never expecting both of them to go along with it, acting out a scene of flirting.
She turned around, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, don¡¯t want to disturb your intimacy.¡±
Minami Yuuki chuckled and propped his phone on the table, picking up chopsticks.
He said to Asano Nao, ¡°Didn¡¯t scare you, did she? Inoue-sensei might talk too much, but she¡¯s a good person.¡±
¡°Uh-huh, uh-huh,¡± Asano Nao nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with Minami Yuuki¡¯s words.
This teacher must be a gentle person, because she lied to me and praised me for being a good match for Yuuki-kun, and also praised me for being pretty.
How could a teacher who would distort her own heart for the sake of other people¡¯s feelings be a bad person!
[You reassured Asano Nao via video call and continued with the treatment n as expected. Your foresight told you Inoue Takako would likelye over to check things out. The first online meeting was a sess.]
[For the following week, you called Asano Nao twice a day, and ording to your arrangement, ssmates or teachers often joined in unexpectedly. These intruders were all cheerful and kind-hearted people, and with your guidance, they all praised Asano Nao¡¯s beauty.]
[You wanted to help Asano Nao build confidence this way, but she seemed to interpret their words as gentle lies.]
[This puzzled you, and you came up with a guess. Could it be that Asano Nao has issues with her perception of her own beauty? After finishing the sprint exercise, you went straight to Asano¡¯s house, and without beating around the bush, you asked her to rate her own appearance.]
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Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Staring at the panel, Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin.
Asano Nao had issues with her self-perception? No wonder shecked confidence despite being a beauty.
[Asano Nao took the pen and paper you handed her and carefully gave herself a score of seven. Under your gaze, she changed the seven to six¡ then to four¡ and finally to two.]
How could it be just text? How can such an interesting setting be without memory scenes!
Minami Yuuki thought to himself.
Soon, a scene flooded his mind.
It turns out you can actually request it actively!
He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the memory.
At the Asano residence, after finishing tutoring, Minami Yuuki pulled his suitcase and knocked on the door.Asano Nao joyfully came downstairs to open the door and wee him.
Upon their long-awaited reunion, she wanted to lean on Minami Yuuki¡¯s side, smelling the scent of the young man.
But her excitement vanished when she saw Minami Yuuki¡¯s face. The boy¡¯s burning eyes stared at her, his expression serious.
She stopped in her tracks, slowly retreating and hiding behind the sofa.
Minami Yuuki grabbed her by the cor and pulled her up.
¡°I know I was wrong,¡± Asano Nao trembled as she handed over a bank card.
She thought she had messed up during the video call, and Minami Yuuki hade to hold her ountable. Her eyes filled with tears, hoping that money alone would atone for her mistake. She didn¡¯t want to lose her little finger, nor did she want to pierce her own arm.
Minami Yuuki had no idea what she was imagining. He ced the bank card aside, took out pen and paper, and handed them to Asano Nao.
Asano Nao immediately started writing.
I haven¡¯t even said what I want you to write. Why are you starting to write already? Minami Yuuki was puzzled.
He walked behind Asano Nao to see what she was writing.
¡°I, Asano Nao, due to my own actions, have decided to cut off my left little finger. Any injuries I sustain are entirely voluntary and not coerced by anyone¡¡±
¡°¡Although I don¡¯t know what misunderstanding you have, sister, I don¡¯t intend to preserve your little finger in a ss jar, nor do I want your money.¡±
Asano Nao was stunned, ¡°Then what is it?¡±
¡°Giving you a pen and paper was to ask you to rate your own appearance.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not because of the mockery at cram school?¡± Asano Nao nervously looked at Minami Yuuki.
¡°No, quite the opposite, many people were envious of you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s wonderful! They are really kind people!¡±
Asano Nao sighed in relief and turned the paper over, preparing toplete Minami Yuki¡¯s task.
Rating her own appearance¡
She would rather cut off her little finger, she thought in despair.
¡°Hurry up and write, sister. Out of ten.¡± Minami Yuuki held her shoulder, preventing her from running away.
Under his pressure, Asano Nao slowly wrote down a number¡ª7.
Seeing Minami Yuuki frown, Asano Nao quickly drew a circle over the ¡°7¡± and wrote ¡°6¡± beside it.
¡°Are you sure?¡± Minami Yuuki tilted his head at her.
With trembling hands, she changed the ¡°6¡± to ¡°4.¡±
Minami Yuuki remained silent, and Asano Nao sobbed and changed the ¡°4¡± to ¡°2.¡±
To prevent her from going into negative numbers, Minami Yuuki took the paper and looked at the number, asking, ¡°Sister, what do you base your rating on?¡±
If it were up to him, Asano Nao would definitely score a 9 or even a 10. In Minami Yuuki¡¯s memory, only his former crush Ichinose Shiori could rival Asano Nao in looks.
Why did Asano Nao think she was only a seven? Even lowering it to two?
His question seemed too sharp. Asano Nao squatted on the ground, pressing herself against the back of the sofa, as if trying to hide in the gap between the sofa and the floor.
She turned her head to nce at Minami Yuuki, then quickly averted her gaze, looking at the dining table, the floor, the ceiling light, and then at Minami Yuuki again. Her eyes were like a timid rabbit, wanting to jump into Minami Yuuki¡¯s arms, but afraid of being disliked by the boy, so she jumped around the boy, got a little courageous, rubbed against the boy¡¯s feet, and then hurriedly retreated.
After her gaze wandered twice, Asano Nao nervously spoke, ¡°I guessed from Instagram.¡±
Instagram, a photo-sharing social app.
¡°Sister, you judged based on selfies posted on Instagram?¡± Minami Yuuki suddenly understood.
So that¡¯s it!
Asano Nao stayed at home all day and rarely saw other women. She could only judge other women¡¯s looks through the inte, through photos and videos on social media.
If it were twenty years ago, this method would be urate, as photos generally reflected a person¡¯s true appearance. But in today¡¯s age of rapid technological advancements¡
Not to mention the development of makeup techniques, just using photo editing tools could make pictures look entirely different from the person.
Comparing herself to overly edited online photos, of course, would create the illusion that there were many beauties!
However, Minami Yuuki had one more doubt.
He asked, ¡°Even judging by online photos, seven is still too low. Sister, if you just take off your sses and sweep aside your bangs, you canpete with those highly edited photos.¡±
Asano Nao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Isn¡¯t that considered stic surgery? That¡¯s not allowed!¡±
¡How did taking off sses and adjusting bangs be stic surgery?
¡°Besides, truly beautiful people don¡¯t post photos online, so what¡¯s on the inte are just ordinarily pretty girls!¡± Asano Nao continued.
¡°¡May I ask, why wouldn¡¯t truly beautiful people post photos online?¡±
¡°Because¡¡± Asano Nao¡¯s face turned red, ¡°They are all the mistresses of the powerful!¡±
You¡¯re even a conspiracy theorist!
[It turns out, Asano Naopared her unadorned appearance with highly edited online pictures, leading to herck of confidence.]
[You didn¡¯t correct her. As long as your therapy progresses smoothly, Asano Nao will understand as she interacts with more people.]
[You spent the rest of the summer at the Asano residence, often apanied by Chitose Kazumi for study sessions.]
[One evening, Asano Nao, having stayed upte gaming and napping until now, groggily came downstairs and ran into Chitose Kazumi.]
[Having prior online meeting experience, Asano Nao was nervous but didn¡¯t flee. She quickly greeted Chitose Kazumi and strategically moved to the kitchen.]
[Chitose Kazumi, having heard from you about your cohabiting girlfriend, had already sensed Asano Nao¡¯s presence through details like utensils and cups during her stay at the Asano house. But seeing Asano Naoe downstairs, she still felt disappointed.]
[You invited her to stay for dinner. As you expected, she agreed and walked into the kitchen to help Asano Nao.]
[You believed Chitose Kazumi to be a kind girl, somewhat introverted and in, a lower-tier version of Asano Nao. She didn¡¯t betray your trust. At the dining table, you saw Asano Nao visibly rx.]
[At your suggestion, they exchanged LINE contacts. You added them to a group chat named ¡°Asano House Small Team.¡±]
[You constantly steered conversations in the group. By the end of summer, Asano Nao could chat with Chitose Kazumi alone. Chitose Kazumi, who yed some popr games on her SWITCH, had no other friends, so Asano Nao often yed online with her.]
[The therapy progressed a bit further, making you very happy. You thought it was time to develop a branch of the therapy.]
[Besides encouraging Asano Nao in friendship, you also nned to encourage her in work.]
[In the inte age, one can work without leaving home. Asano Nao, being a shut-in, was well-versed in light novels, manga, anime, and games. After careful consideration, you encouraged Asano Nao to write a light novel.]
[For the novel¡¯s theme, you chose¡]
[1. ¡°Let¡¯s Have a Bittersweet Youth Romance!¡±]
[2. ¡°Time to Get Hit by a Truck-kun and Reincarnate in Another World!¡±]
[3. ¡°Lonely People Should Definitely Start a Band!¡±]
[4. Free Simtion]
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Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Minami Yuuki pondered the meaning of the three options.
The first option refers to a youth romance novel, the second to an isekai novel, and the third to a music or idol-themed novel.
Firstly, he eliminated the third option, as Asano Nao did not have any knowledge about music or idols.
This left him with romance and isekai.
In Japan, romance light novels are more popr than isekai light novels, which is the opposite of China. In the domestic online literary world, romance themes are not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath with fantasy and xianxia.
However, the gap between romance and isekai light novels isn¡¯t veryrge, and in terms of top-tier works, isekai can even surpass romance.
From a purely pragmatic perspective, the two genres are on par.
It mainly depends on what Asano Nao is suited for.
Also, Minami Yuuki isn¡¯t ying a light novel creation simtor, but a romance simtor. The sess of the light novel is secondary; the real consideration is which genre would be more helpful for Asano Nao¡¯s mental state.Is it innocent romance? Or passionate battles?
It¡¯s hard to judge.
Perhaps thinking about romance could motivate Asano Nao, or perhaps depicting battles could make her more cheerful.
After much hesitation, Minami Yuuki still couldn¡¯t decide. He took a coin from his pocket.
Let fate choose!
Heads for romance, tails for isekai.
With a ting, the coin spun in the sunlight, shing a few bright rays as it rose and fell.
Minami Yuuki pped his hands over it, then lifted the top hand to reveal a paulownia flower quietly lying in his palm.
It was heads.
Option one, a youth romance novel.
[Under your encouragement, Asano Nao created a folder, and you suggested a school romance theme.]
[Asano Nao shook her head and hands, repeatedly saying it was impossible. She had never attended high school, nor had she ever been in a rtionship, so how could she write a school romance novel?]
[You encouraged her, saying that only someone who hadn¡¯t attended school and hadn¡¯t been in love could write a truly excellent romance light novel.]
[Beauty oftenes from distance. Students currently in school often understand the fatigue of studying, and lovers in the throes of passion often feel the pain of love. Fatigue and pain are demerits in school romance light novels. Unlike literature, which delves into emotions and explores pain, light novels adorn beauty and embellish fantasy.]
[Asano Nao stillcked confidence, so you gave an example, saying that Kasumi Shiko wrote ¡°Love Metronome¡± while she was still single.]
[She became less resistant and decided to give it a try. However, she had one doubt; she asked you what ¡°Love Metronome¡± was, and who Kasumi Shiko was, and why she hadn¡¯t heard of it. You brushed off her questions.]
[Upon hearing from you, Chitose Kazumi learned of Asano Nao¡¯s n, and Asano Nao often discussed it with her.]
[To find inspiration, Asano Nao put down her games and sat in her study, pondering over school-themed light novels and manga.]
[Half a month passed, and the novel remained silent, still at the ¡°new folder¡± stage.]
[Every time you asked, Asano Nao would awkwardly change the subject.]
[You finally couldn¡¯t stand it and, on a dark and stormy night, you raided Asano Nao, snatching her notebook.]
[Amid her sobs, you looked through the documents. You saw more than a dozen drafts: ¡°Ten Thousand Yen Shrine Maiden,¡± ¡°The Immovable Purple Fairy of the Great Library,¡± ¡°ssmate Kiri Who Steals Books,¡± ¡°The Lady Who Can¡¯t Face the Sun,¡± ¡°Teacher Under the Moonlight with Horns¡±¡]
[Unfortunately, none of these drafts were up to standard. It wasn¡¯t that the ideas werecking; some of the settings were quite interesting. What these draftscked was the ability to depict characters. No matter what character Asano Nao wrote, they all had the same weak and gloomy personality.]
[Seeing the disappointment on your face, Asano Nao hung her head dejectedly.]
[You suggested she use herself as the character prototype, so the weak and gloomy personality would be a character trait, a plus.]
Memory scenes appear.
At the edge of the deskmp¡¯s light, by the bed, Minami Yuuki sat with Asano Nao¡¯s notebook on hisp. Asano Nao knelt on the floor in front of him, cautiously observing Minami Yuuki¡¯s expression.
Minami Yuuki closed the notebook without speaking immediately. Asano Nao read the mood and lowered her head even further, feeling she had betrayed the boy¡¯s trust.
¡°Alright then, let¡¯s make the character based on you,¡± the boy¡¯s voice came.
¡°Huh?¡±
Asano Nao was stunned. She felt it was inappropriate but didn¡¯t dare to oppose Minami Yuuki, so she softly said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too annoying?¡±
¡°Ha? Sister, so you know your personality is troublesome?¡±
Minami Yuuki¡¯s sudden jab hit Asano Nao right in the heart, and she copsed on the floor, remorsefully apologizing to the godlike Yuuki in her heart.
¡°But you¡¯re cute, so it¡¯s fine,¡± Minami Yuuki continued.
Cute? Asano Nao became wary. Was this the legendary sarcasm? Saying the opposite to mock her?
But even knowing it¡¯s sarcasm, it¡¯s still so delightful!
Yuuki-kun called me cute, hehe.
¡°Snap out of it!¡± Minami Yuuki hit Asano Nao¡¯s head with a pillow.
Asano Nao resisted the urge to ask Minami Yuuki to scold her a bit more and sat up straight.
She wore a navy-blue pajama, her waist held straight, with her white hands resting on her bamboo-patterned pajama pants. Her head was slightly lowered, and she wasn¡¯t wearing sses.
She indulged in the cute illusion, her gaze falling into an unknown ce, making her eyes appear serene. Her moon-like face reflected her night-like hair, and her fair neck was hidden among the strands, only visible through the gaps like scattered stars.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze was first drawn to the moon, then immersed in searching for stars.
A horn sounded from outside the window, and Minami Yuuki, with great effort, averted his gaze and hit Asano Nao¡¯s head again with the pillow.
Daring to seduce me, what a bad woman!
Awakened by the blow, Asano Nao looked at Minami Yuuki in confusion, not knowing what she had done wrong.
¡°Don¡¯t daydream!¡± Minami Yuuki preempted.
Asano Nao shrunk her head, nervously looking at Minami Yuuki.
The serenity in her eyes was gone, reced by ripples, no longer giving Minami Yuuki the same feeling as before.
Should¡¯ve taken a picture first, Minami Yuuki regretted.
He refocused on the matter at hand, putting down the pillow: ¡°Since everything you write ends up like yourself, just write yourself. No objections; I said to write this way, so write this way!¡±
¡°So dictatorial!¡± Asano Nao muttered softly.
¡°I¡¯ve given you a chance, but these drafts aren¡¯t eptable, so follow my way!¡±
Seeing Asano Nao had no objections, Minami Yuuki continued: ¡°The two main characters will be based on you and me. To avoid too much connection to reality, we¡¯ll reverse the genders.¡±
He pointed at himself: ¡°The female lead will be based on me, Japan¡¯s number one cheerful and lively beautiful girl.¡±
He then pointed at Asano Nao: ¡°The male lead will be based on you, Misaki¡¯s number one gloomy NEET.¡±
He put down his hand: ¡°Their story will begin with the female lead knocking on the male lead¡¯s door to borrow manga and game discs.¡±
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Chapter 23
Chapter 23
¡¾You recount to Asano Nao the process of how you met her in a previous simtion, suggesting she use it as the beginning and continue writing your story.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao raises many objections, the strongest being how could a high school girl (jk) possibly get involved with a NEET like Asano. You point to yourself and her, asking rhetorically, isn¡¯t this an example?¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao falls silent, still hesitating. You express your anticipation, emotionally pressing Asano Nao, and leave the Asano house without waiting for her to object.¡¿
¡¾In the following days, whenever Asano Nao brings up the novel, you change the subject, not giving her a chance to refuse.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao has no choice but to start writing.¡¿
¡¾Whenever you leave for school, Asano Nao sits at her desk, typing away. She writes slowly but earnestly.¡¿
¡¾As summer passes into winter, the days of winter break arrive. With your hard work, your grades at the private school are among the top, and with Chitose Kazumi¡¯s help, your final exam scores are stable in the top ten of your ss.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao has finished the first volume of the novel. You read it twice; the story she wrote is vastly different from your previous simtion. In the story, the visiting high school girl, much like you in this life, apanies the socially anxious young man, bringing him out into the light.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao¡¯s writing is immature, but the emotions of the characters are detailed and profound, making you realize again how sensitive she is.)¡¾You helped her submit it to Dengeki Bunko. The editor quickly responded, scheduling a detailed discussion after the New Year. From what they hinted, publishing the light novel shouldn¡¯t be a problem. You felt happy for Asano Nao, and Asano Nao felt happy for your happiness.¡¿
¡¾Your mother and sister sent messages, repeatedly urging you toe home.¡¿
¡¾You found an excuse not to return to Ino County during summer vacation, but you couldn¡¯t avoid it during winter vacation. You packed your clothes, locked your apartment door, and took the elevator downstairs.¡¿
¡¾In the courtyard of the apartment building, the bushes and trees were bare. You walked through the middle, heading towards the Asano house.¡¿
¡¾The weather was cold and windy. You wrapped your scarf tighter, carrying your suitcase, and walked to the front of the Asano house.¡¿
¡¾Before you could press the doorbell, the door opened, warm air flowing out and dispelling the cold. Asano Nao stood behind the door.¡¿
A brief memory scene appears.
¡°I¡¯m leaving now, sister.¡± Minami Yuuki pulled down his scarf, revealing lips that were slightly pale from the cold. He smiled at Asano Nao.
¡°Hmm.¡± Asano Nao kept her head down, her voice low.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯lle back after the New Year. It might not even be as long as the time we were apart during the previous training!¡± Minami Yuuki said.
Japanese high schools have three holidays: spring break, summer break, and winter break. With more holidays, the days are naturally shorter, and winter break is only a little over ten days.
¡°Hmm.¡± Asano Nao clenched her fists, still not looking up.
¡°Then, I¡¯m really leaving now.¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°I¡¯m really leaving?¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t sister n to do something? In manga, games, and light novels, before parting, the heroine usually gives a hug, a kiss, or even spends a night with the hero, leaving a mark of love, right?¡±
With Minami Yuuki¡¯s teasing, Asano Nao¡¯s face immediately turned red, but she still didn¡¯t speak.
¡°If sister doesn¡¯te, I¡¯ll take it myself!¡±
Minami Yuuki let go of his suitcase, tookrge strides with imposing momentum, approaching Asano Nao.
He took off his gloves, cupping Asano Nao¡¯s face.
The gloves were thick, and his warm palm touched Asano Nao¡¯s face, which had been chilled by the cold air outside the door.
Asano Nao instinctively stepped back half a step, but she quickly stopped herself with sheer will.
She leaned forward, closing her eyes.
However, the sensation on her lips was not what she expected.
She opened her eyes to find Minami Yuuki¡¯s fingers pressed against her lips.
¡°Sister is so lewd, what were you imagining with your eyes closed?¡± Minami Yuuki smirked.
Asano Nao¡¯s face turned even redder. She lowered her head, a wave of bitterness rising in her chest, making her eyes feel tingly.
She felt wronged. While she was saddened by the boy¡¯s departure, he was still thinking of teasing her.
At this moment, the fingers touching her lips moved downward, resting under her chin.
Minami Yuuki squatted down, bringing his face closer to hers. His face didn¡¯t stop, and his slightly cool lips touched her cheek.
¡°The remaining services will be unlocked when Ie back, otherwise, it would be too much like a story¡¯s g. I don¡¯t want toe back and not see you, sister.¡±
Minami Yuuki hugged Asano Nao, his lips close to her crystal-like earlobe.
His proximity, gentle words, and warm breath made Asano Nao captivated.
She suddenly realized something.
Was the boy deliberately stirring her emotions and then deliberately not satisfying them, just to tease her?
She hesitated for a moment, then ced her hand on the boy¡¯s back.
¡°I won¡¯t disappear.¡± She said.
¡°If you miss me, just video call, or I¡¯ll take the train to see you in the morning and return at night. Don¡¯t let yourself get mncholic.¡± Minami Yuuki added.
¡°Hmm.¡± Asano Nao responded softly.
She wasn¡¯t wearing gloves. The cold wind that had entered through the open door chilled her hands. She raised her arms, cing her hands under Minami Yuuki¡¯s hat, warming up.
¡¾At the moment of parting, Asano Nao faintly felt your feelings, and your rtionship deepened.)
¡¾She stepped out of the house, sending you off to the roadside, waving goodbye.¡¿
¡¾On the train back to Ino County, you kept thinking about the moment of your parting, feeling restless, wanting the train to turn around and take you back to her side.¡¿
¡¾You called Asano Nao, and her jet-ck hair, ripple-like eyes, and soft, snow-like voice reassured you. At that moment, it wasn¡¯t her longing for you, but you longing for her.)
¡¾You stayed on the phone with her until the train arrived.¡¿
¡¾Returning home, you talked to your parents about your studies, telling them you wanted to pursue a career in music.¡¿
¡¾Your sister was delighted, encouraging you to be a singer. Your mother was a bit worried, looking at you and then your father, without expressing an opinion.¡¿
¡¾Your father asked you to wait a moment. He made a phone call, inquiring about the music industry from a friend, then asked you some questions. You answered earnestly and showed him your private school grades. He agreed to your life n.¡¿
¡¾You stayed home for five days, and on the third day after the New Year, you took the train back. You didn¡¯t tell your parents about Asano Nao, not wanting to put pressure on her.¡¿
¡¾When you reunited, you kissed.¡¿
Minami Yuuki apuded in his heart. It wasn¡¯t easy, the rtionship had finally progressed to this point!
What does that feel like? Should I use a free simtion to try it?
He was very tempted.
But no, free simtion should be used for more important parts!
He ended the simtion and got up from bed.
It was already past eleven; it was time to go to the Asano house for lunch.
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Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Minami Yuuki opened the door, and the dazzling sunlight poured down from above. He shielded his eyes with his hand, giving them time to adjust.
Walking from the corridor to the elevator lobby, everything looked just as it had a few hours ago, yet Minami Yuuki felt a tinge of nostalgia. He had spent a long time in the simtion.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a mother and daughter inside. The mother stood while the daughter sat in a wheelchair. Both wore white dresses and white masks, obscuring their faces.
Hearing the ding of the doors, the daughter looked up at Minami Yuuki.
¡°Hello,¡± the mother greeted Minami Yuuki.
¡°Good afternoon,¡± Minami Yuuki nodded in response.
They didn¡¯t know each other; the greeting was just a courteous gesture between neighbors.
The elevator stopped on the first floor, and Minami Yuuki stepped aside to let them exit first. The mother thanked him and pushed the wheelchair out. They paused by the door as the mother opened an umbre for her daughter. Minami Yuuki walked past them, leaving the apartment ahead and heading quickly towards the Asano residence.
Even though it was just a few hundred meters, Minami Yuuki felt a bit irritable walking this short distance.He hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the mental immersion of the simtion. At this moment, influenced by the simted memories, he couldn¡¯t help but feel more affection towards Asano Nao.
By the time he reached the Asano residence and rang the doorbell, he had mostly regained hisposure.
Asano Nao opened the door just a crack, her eyes cautious, careful, and timid, as if there was a beast outside that would break in if the door opened too wide.
Minami Yuuki entered and changed into indoor slippers.
¡°The meal is ready. If there¡¯s anything that doesn¡¯t suit your taste, please let me know,¡± Asano Nao led Minami Yuuki to the dining table, pulling out a chair for him.
Her overly polite words and actions made Minami Yuuki find it amusing. From the stiff tone, he could tell Asano Nao had probably practiced this line many times.
Her courteous actions likely had another motive: to get Minami Yuuki to sit down quickly, leaving no time to draw back the curtains in the living room.
There was no way Minami Yuuki wouldply. He immediately turned to draw open the curtains and push the windows wide, letting in fresh sunlight and air along with the view.
Sitting down, Minami Yuuki looked at Asano Nao. ¡°Sister, are you training to be a hostess?¡±
¡°No, no.¡± Asano Nao stood upright, nervous.
Before Minami Yuuki arrived, she had rehearsed the conversation, but the boy¡¯s first sentence had already thrown her off script.
¡°Rather than a hostess, I¡¯d prefer a wife¡¯s greeting when Ie in!¡± Minami Yuuki teased her.
Wife!
The word made Asano Nao¡¯s heart skip. What does he mean by wife? Is he hinting at something?
Before she could make sense of it, Minami Yuuki picked up his chopsticks. ¡°I¡¯m starting. Sister, sit down quickly.¡±
Asano Nao, thrown off by Minami Yuuki, held her bowl, sneaking nces at the boy.
He ate quickly, and before long, half the bowl of rice was gone.
Is this the speed of a boy? Asano Nao quickened her eating pace, swallowingrge mouthfuls of rice, wanting to finish eating at the same time as Minami Yuuki.
¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡±
She choked, covering her mouth and coughing violently. Finishing at the same time was a form of etiquette, but loud coughing was certainly rude.
Perhaps from coughing too hard, her eyes were slightly moist. She always seemed to mess up at critical moments.
Just then, a hand touched her back, gently patting her.
¡°There¡¯s no need to match my pace. I just want to finish quickly.¡± Minami Yuuki initially intended to tease her, but seeing her pained expression, he felt a surge ofpassion.
He wondered if their story in this simtion would go smoothly.
His hand continued to pat Asano Nao¡¯s back, rising and falling, then hitting empty space.
The chair was empty. Asano Nao had already fled.
Minami Yuuki saw her bent over, still coughing, as she quickly walked to the living room and crouched behind the sofa.
She peeked her head out from behind the sofa, cautiously looking at Minami Yuuki, then pulled back again.
Had he not known her personality and seen the blush on her face, Minami Yuuki might have thought Asano Nao was scared of his closeness.
He had simted so many times that he forgot, in reality, they had only known each other for less than a day.
His act of closeness had frightened this timid rabbit.
The fact that Asano Nao hadn¡¯t run upstairs to hide in her room showed her affection for Minami Yuuki.
¡°Even though sister does such intimate things with my photo, she¡¯s especially distant from me in person,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed, teasing her. Even though it was his fault, he shifted the me onto Asano Nao.
Behind the sofa, Asano Nao epted the me, holding her head in guilt.
How does Yuuki-kun know about that!
No, the important thing is thetter half! The first part doesn¡¯t matterpared to the second!
Oh no, Yuuki-kun thinks I¡¯m distant from him. What should I do? How do I fix this?
Asano Nao¡¯s mind was in turmoil.
What if Yuuki-kun gets upset? What if he leaves her after getting upset?
She felt she hadmitted an enormous crime.
At the dining table, Minami Yuuki sat down again and resumed eating.
He intended to let time ease the atmosphere, but then he saw Asano Nao get up from behind the sofa, walk to the table, and sit down. She hunched over, coughed a few times, nced at Minami Yuuki, and then coughed again.
The coughs were all for show, without any real feeling.
Minami Yuuki understood her intention, admiring her clumsiness and earnestness. To prove she wasn¡¯t distant, she wanted to recreate the previous scene.
He went along with her, moving behind her and gently patting her back.
Spring clothes were thin, and through her tracksuit, Minami Yuuki could feel Asano Nao¡¯s smooth skin.
At first, she tensed her muscles but gradually rxed.
What have I done!
She thought, recalling her actions and wanting to crawl into the kitchen trash can.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand continued to pat. Asano Nao¡¯s shyness slowly faded. Through her clothes, she felt the boy¡¯s broad, strong hand.
The palm¡¯s warmth was higher than the fingers, whose light touch on her back sent a tickling sensation through her clothes.
When Minami Yuuki stopped, she felt a great regret.
Was it over so quickly? Hit harder!
The boy sat back down, picking up his chopsticks. ¡°Any more and I¡¯ll have to charge, ten thousand yen an hour.¡±
Asano Nao calcted her savings. She could afford to keep him for years!
But this was probably a joke.
She decided this would be her fantasy setup before bed tonight!
After lunch, Minami Yuuki put down his bowl and chopsticks. ¡°Sister, your cooking is delicious.¡±
Thispliment made Asano Nao¡¯s heart swell. She carefully pondered her words, hoping to give Minami Yuuki an elegant response that expressed her feelings.
But while she was still choosing her words, Minami Yuuki had already started the next topic.
¡°I¡¯m going to lie down on the sofa for a bit. I suggest you spy with your eyes. If you use a camera and I find it, there will be punishment.¡±
With that, hey down on the Asano family¡¯s sofa.
Full and content, he was toozy to get up and decided to continue the simtion at Asano Nao¡¯s house.
It was a good time to correct Asano Nao¡¯s behavior. If she wanted to spy without being punished, she¡¯d have to stay in the living room with the curtains and windows open.
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Chapter 25
Chapter 25
¡¾The atmosphere was just right, and you hesitated to take things further.¡¿
¡°¡¡¡±
What does ¡°the atmosphere was just right¡± mean? What does ¡°take things further¡± mean?
Minami Yuuki pondered over the previous simted text, lost in thought.
Is it really this intense right from the start?
¡¾While you hesitated, Asano Nao¡¯s rationality returned. She looked into your eyes, which were so close, and her face flushed deeply. Her soft body gradually stiffened, almost turning into a wooden figure.¡¿
¡¾You know you have missed the opportunity. Although Asano Nao will still let you have your way, she is no longer in her best state.¡¿
¡¾You decide to wait for the next chance when she is emotionally moved.¡¿
¡¾The moment you let go, Asano Nao felt a sense of loss. Then, shyness overtook her brain again, and she turned around, running upstairs.¡¿¡¾Watching her back, you smiled. Once she was out of sight, you grabbed your suitcase and left the Asano house, returning to your apartment.¡¿
¡¾You didn¡¯t take out any clothes from the suitcase; instead, you packed the apartment¡¯s daily necessities into it.¡¿
¡¾For your own happiness and to help Asano Nao get used to you faster, you decided to keep a set of toiletries at her ce and stay there from time to time.¡¿
¡¾If Asano Nao adapts quickly, you can give up your apartment and move into her house.¡¿
The memory scene appears.
Asano Nao burrowed under the covers, the thick nket tightly wrapping around her, giving her a sense of security.
She felt very hot, unsure if the heat came from the romance or the overly warm nket.
Carefully grabbing the edge of the nket, she quickly lifted it and put it down again, letting a rush of cold air into the nket, briefly lowering the temperature inside.
Her exposed skin cooled rapidly from the chill, her blood lost its heat, and her heartbeat slowed down.
Holding the pillow, shey on her back, the nket covering her face, and this sensation reminded her of what just happened.
She raised her hand, rubbing her cheek with her fingertips, recalling the feeling from earlier.
She hugged the pillow, rolling excitedly under the nket.
This joy slipped into worry within ten minutes.
Was Yuuki-kun really happy?
Do I smell good? Was my body too stiff?
Would Yuuki-kun misunderstand me running away out of shyness?
This closeness was Yuuki-kun¡¯s promise to make her happy, but did he truly feel joy in this moment?
She pulled down the nket, exposing her head to let the cold air cool her brain.
How did Yuuki-kum feel?
She was apprehensive.
Just then, she heard the doorbell.
Putting on thick pajamas, Asano Nao opened the door.
Minami Yuuki walked in with a suitcase. He changed his shoes, lifted the suitcase, walked through the entrance, across the living room, and opened the door to the bedroom on the first floor.
¡°From today, this is my room,¡± he announced, putting down the suitcase.
¡°Huh?¡± Asano Nao was stunned.
¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, sister. Come help me unpack.¡± Minami Yuuki opened the suitcase, taking things out.
Asano Nao, confused, started helping. Her mind was a mess, the reality of Minami Yuuki moving in was too shocking, making her feel on the edge of a dream and reality.
Once the room was set up, the suitcase stored in the closet, and her hands free, Asano Nao looked at the now coatless Minami Yuuki. Leaning against the wall, its hard, cold touch felt very real, confirming this was reality.
So, she was really going to live with Yuuki-kun!
Her once nk face turned entirely red.
What should she do now? Out of courtesy, should she make a night visit tonight? When would be the right time? Before Yuuki-kun fell asleep or when he was fast asleep? Besides making breakfast, what else should she do in the morning?
Should she lock the bathroom and toilet doors during the day? Would not locking be too unreserved? But if she locked them, would it be too distant?
She waspletely lost in her thoughts about their future life.
These thoughts led to a fundamental question.
Was Yuuki-kun happying to live here?
Did she bring him good feelings?
She wanted to ask but couldn¡¯t voice it.
¡°Do you want to sleep together, sister?¡±
Minami Yuuki¡¯s voice snapped her out of it. Looking towards the voice, she saw the boy already undressed and under the covers.
The boy looked at her with a teasing expression and mischievous eyes.
Asano Nao knew Minami Yuuki was just teasing her.
¡°Tonight¡¯s cuddle service is free, and it includes unlimited kisses,¡± he suddenly mentioned something she cared about.
¡°Was itfortable?¡±
Startled by her own voice, Asano Nao jumped. She had only thought it but identally said it aloud!
With such a soft voice, Yuuki-kun probably didn¡¯t hear it.
¡°Veryfortable. I don¡¯t mind paying you for it,¡± Minami Yuuki replied.
He actually heard it! And he gave it high praise!
Minami Yuuki looked at her and said, ¡°I knew something was off with you, sister. I thought it was because you were startled by me suddenly moving in. Turns out you were worried about this kind of thing. But one experience doesn¡¯t mean much. Come here, let¡¯s try a few more times.¡±
Minami Yuuki lifted a corner of the nket and patted the empty spot beside him.
No doubt, this was another prank.
Asano Nao rarely felt rebellious. She wanted to say ¡°Okay¡± and then dive into the boy¡¯s bed to see how he would react.
¡°Hurry up,¡± Minami Yuuki urged.
Asano Nao took a deep breath, clenched her fists, gathered her courage, and took a step forward.
She walked to the bedside, pinched Minami Yuuki¡¯s face, and quickly ran out.
Sleeping together was too embarrassing! Her brain would overheat!
Pinching Yuuki-kun¡¯s face was her boldest act of revenge!
After running out of the room, she stood against the wall, her heart pounding. Would Yuuki-kun be angry? She suddenly felt worried and regretted her act of revenge.
¡°Good night, sister. Don¡¯t wait for me for dinner. I¡¯m so tired from the trip; I¡¯m going to sleep until morning,¡± Minami Yuuki¡¯s voice came from inside the room.
¡°Okay,¡± Asano Nao responded. She breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed Yuuki-kun wasn¡¯t angry.
¡°And one more thing, as rent, you can use sleeping me however you like. That¡¯s it, see you in the morning.¡± Minami Yuuki yawned, his voicezy.
He went to sleep.
Outside the door, Asano Nao was thunderstruck.
What does ¡°use however you like¡± mean!
She tiptoed to the door, wanting to ask Minami Yuuki, but the boy had already closed his eyes.
She shut the bedroom door and could only ponder it herself.
The next morning, Minami Yuuki got out of bed, feeling refreshed. He walked to the window, opened it, and the cold wind made him shiver.
He slightly closed the window and walked out of the room.
¡°Good morning, sister,¡± he greeted Asano Nao in the living room.
Asano Nao turned her head, showing a tired face.
¡°Huh? Sister, did you stay up all night?¡± he was startled.
¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Asano Nao muttered in a voice only she could hear.
After Minami Yuuki said those words, how could she possibly sleep!
Whenever she was about to fall asleep, the boy¡¯s words, ¡°use however you like,¡± would echo in her mind, waking her up, making her think of ways to use him.
But she didn¡¯t have the courage to act, so she could only watch her ns fizzle out. Then, sleepiness would ovee her, and that phrase would echo in her mind again. She would rethink her ns, only to abandon them again, in an endless cycle.
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Chapter 26
Chapter 26
¡¾Unexpectedly, Asano Nao has adapted quite well to your presence, thanks inrge part to the groundwork you¡¯veid over the past six months. But another reason is that Asano Nao never leaves the house.¡¿
¡¾This homebody¡¯s domain isn¡¯t the entire Asano household, but her small bedroom. Except for cooking and mealtimes, she basically doesn¡¯t step out of her room.¡¿
¡¾To your astonishment, even though you¡¯ve moved into the Asano household, you only see this homebody three times a day.¡¿
Wow! I didn¡¯t expect you to be this much of a shut-in! You don¡¯t evene out to the living room!
Minami Yuuki turned his head to look at Asano Nao sitting at the dining table.
Asano Nao had her head down, looking like a student caught daydreaming in ss, hastily pretending to be attentive.
She was holding her phone, her thumb rapidly scrolling as if she was seriously browsing messages.
But the phone screen was dark, not even on.
Minami Yuuki chuckled softly, making Asano Nao aware of her blunder. She frantically went to press the power button, but her hand slipped, and the phone fell under the table.She hurried to pick it up, bumping her head on the table in the process.
Messed up again.
She held her head, feeling despondent.
Minami Yuuki put one foot on the floor, about to get up and check on Asano Nao¡¯s injury. That thud sounded pretty loud.
Just as he was about to rise, he suppressed the thought.
If he went over now, it would only make Asano Nao more nervous, possibly causing her to flee upstairs in embarrassment. If she escaped, he wouldn¡¯t see her again until dinner.
Judging by her reaction, her head should be fine; the table was wooden, not stone.
Continuing to lie on the sofa, Minami Yuuki looked at the simtor panel.
¡¾Moreover, due to that intimate moment, if you keep your gaze on her too long or mention suggestive topics, Asano Nao would quickly run away and hide upstairs. Your time together has actually decreased.¡¿
¡¾You think this can¡¯t go on, so one morning, you press the handle of Asano Nao¡¯s bedroom door.¡¿
¡¾The handle clicks, stopping your progress. Asano Nao had locked the door. You thought you¡¯d already breached herir, but it turns out she has air within air.¡¿
¡¾Facing Asano Nao¡¯s second line of defense, you choose¡¡¿
¡¾1. Knock and call out; 2. Ambush outside; 3. Break in; 4. Free simtion¡¿
What to choose?
Knock and call out? Given Asano Nao¡¯s personality, she¡¯d probably choose to stay shut in.
Ambush outside? This seems feasible; there¡¯s no bathroom in the room, so she has toe out eventually.
Break in? This action is a bit too forceful, might scare the indoor little rabbit.
These considerationse from thinking about the situation itself. Minami Yuuki steps back and thinks from an overall perspective.
From knocking to breaking in, it¡¯s a range from gentle to forceful approaches. Does Asano Nao need gentle treatment or firm action right now?
Impossible to judge.
So go for the middle ground. If points are assigned, knocking and breaking in might gain or lose points, while ambushing would likely be neutral.
Minami Yuuki clicked on the second option.
¡¾You decide to ambush Asano Nao. You stomp downstairs, making her think you left, then quietly tiptoe back up, standing by her door.¡¿
¡¾Half an hourter, the door opens, and Asano Nao peeks out, tiptoeing to the bathroom.¡¿
¡¾You hide by the stairs, and Asano Nao doesn¡¯t notice you. You wait for the sound of running water, then enter her bedroom.¡¿
¡¾As the toilet flushes, Asano Nao quickly washes her hands and runs back to her room.¡¿
Memory scene appears.
Asano Nao grabbed the door handle, slipped inside, and used her body¡¯s momentum to close the door behind her.
Perfect!
She scored herself full marks for her maneuver.
After locking the door, she feltpletely at ease, even a bit thrilled.
She knew Yuuki-kun wanted to pull her out of her bedroom, but she just couldn¡¯t do it. Wide, bright spaces made her anxious; only this small, dark room brought her peace.
She felt a bit worried too, wondering if this would anger Yuuki-kun.
But what she couldn¡¯t do, she couldn¡¯t do. She was already trying hard toe downstairs for three or four hours a day!
She opened the shrine, cing her hands together in prayer.
Oh God Yuuki, please make sure Yuuki-kun doesn¡¯t mind!
After praying to the photo and items in the shrine for a while, her chest suddenly felt warm. She thought of the hug and kiss from that day.
Today¡¯s worship ends here.
She took the photo from the shrine and climbed onto her bed.
The room was dark, with only a small automatic sensor light in the shrine casting a dim glow, outlining the room¡¯s items.
Asano Naoy on the bed, ncing to the side with confusion.
Did she put arge plush toy on the bed? Why was there a big shadow inside the bed? Was it the quilt? But the quilt was under her body.
The shadow remained still. She reached out and touched the head of the shadow.
She felt something furry, like hair, and as her hand moved down, she touched a tall nose and firm shoulders.
¡°¡¡±
Picking up her phone, she turned on the screen, shining its light on the shadow.
In the screen¡¯s dim glow, Minami Yuuki¡¯s face emitted a soft light.
Asano Nao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned off the phone screen and quietly, very slowly, began to turn away, nning to escape the bed, the room.
Her futile attempt was useless; Minami Yuuki pressed her shoulder.
¡°Where¡¯s sister going? Stay and keep mepany,¡± he said.
¡°I was wrong! I¡¯ll go out right now!¡± Asano Nao covered her face with a pillow, too scared to look at Minami Yuuki.
She was actually in bed with Yuuki-kun!
And she hadn¡¯t noticed the boy at all, even took out a photo to use!
Did Yuuki-kun notice? It was so dark, surely he didn¡¯t see!
She slowly moved the pillow aside, peeking through a gap at Minami Yuuki, who was putting the photo back in ce.
He noticed!
¡°Let¡¯s go, sister.¡± Minami Yuuki smiled, and in the shrine¡¯s dim light, that smile looked particrly sinister.
His words were even more sinister: ¡°If sister stays downstairs for a week, I¡¯ll forget what just happened. Sister doesn¡¯t want me to remember, right?¡±
¡°Can it be less?¡± Asano Nao shrank back.
¡°Of course.¡± Minami Yuuki came to her, holding her hand. ¡°Sister can reduce the days with other efforts.¡±
Asano Nao looked at the boy¡¯s shadowy jaw in the darkness, blushing.
¡°My hand.¡± She lightly tugged at her hand.
¡°To prevent sister from escaping, so I won¡¯t let go.¡±
¡¾You hid in the dark corner of the bedroom, found evidence of Asano Nao¡¯s misdeeds, and used it to coerce her, forcing her out of the dark, cramped room into the bright, spacious living room, by your side.¡¿
¡¾Initially tense, Asano Nao rxed when she saw you engrossed in your music theory studies.¡¿
¡¾During study breaks, you¡¯d chat with Asano Nao, not forgetting to tease her with some couple banter. She¡¯d always blush and lower her head, and you loved seeing her shy.¡¿
¡¾asionally, you¡¯d im studying was hard and you were worried, asking Asano Nao forforting kisses. She was getting more and more skilled at it.¡¿
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Chapter 27
Chapter 27
In the Simtion, the situation was steadily improving, and Minami Yuuki¡¯s worries began to subside.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Asano Nao in reality. The otaku girl had reached her limit and was bent over, tracing the wallpaper patterns along the wall as she made her way to the stairs, heading back to her bedroom. Every couple of steps, she would turn her head and steal a nce at Minami Yuuki.
He couldn¡¯t let her leave like this.
Minami Yuuki turned over, his T-shirt lifting slightly to reveal a small patch of skin on his waist.
Asano Nao turned back around and quietly sat down again.
Minami Yuuki shook his head inwardly. He was making a great sacrifice for this otaku girl.
[Shortly after you started school, an editor from Dengeki Bunko contacted you. You invited the editor to Asano¡¯s house for a discussion, and the editor chose a weekend.]
[You informed Asano Nao about the editor¡¯s visit. The otaku sister was reluctant to face a stranger, so you offered a deal: if Asano Nao met with the editor, you would grant her one wish.]
[Asano Nao gritted her teeth and agreed.][When Chitose Kazumi heard the news, she wanted toe as well, but you refused. Asano Nao¡¯s anxiety was proportional to the number of people around her, and Chitose Kazumi¡¯s presence would only hinder.]
[The editor from the publishing house was a kind-looking, unkempt woman in her thirties, which is why you specifically chose her.]
[With you by her side, Asano Nao sessfullypleted the meeting. She signed the publishing contract and would soon earn her first ie.]
[Asano Nao did not use her wish; she wanted to save it. You told her the wish was valid for a lifetime.]
[Half a yearter, ¡°Can a Hikikomori Also Have a Love Life?¡± was finally formatted and printed, illustrated by a moderately well-known artist.]
[It wasn¡¯t the smash hit she had hoped for, nor the disaster she feared. The novel performed reasonably well, and the editor urged Asano Nao to write the next volume.]
[You, Asano Nao, and Chitose Kazumi celebrated together at Asano¡¯s house.]
[From the start of the creation process to the final publication, you had celebrated with Asano Nao many times. Each time, you saw her smile, and today was no exception. When you called out to cheer, Asano Nao also gave a small cheer.]
[You suddenly began to doubt something. Was it the smooth progress of the light novel that made Asano Nao smile, or was it because¡ªyou were happy?]
[You felt there might be something wrong with your n.]
[Helping Asano Nao gain social identity, recognition, and a means of earning money¡ªdid this really help her mentally?]
[Asano Nao seemed too dependent on you.]
[Amidst your worries, the party ended.]
[In the bathroom, you took a shower while Asano Nao sat on the living room sofa, outlining the plot for the next volume in her notebook. Every now and then, she would look up at the bathroom door, then back at her notebook.]
[You walked out of the bathroom and discussed the plot of the next volume with Asano Nao. She intended to write about the time you had spent together over the past year.]
[Looking at Asano Nao, who could now talk to you freely, you were unsure whether your worries were an illusion.]
[It waste at night. You took Asano Nao out for a walk. She was reluctant, but you held her hand and wrapped your arm around her waist, sweet-talking her about how much you wanted to walk with her under the moonlight. Asano Nao agreed.]
[The street illuminated by streetlights was empty, with only the moonlight and the sound of the wind. Asano Nao clung to your body, gripping your shirt tightly and burying her face in your chest.]
[You supported her as you walked across the street to a nearby park. The park lights were broken, and the area around the sandbox was dim. You and she sat on a bench.]
[The darkness made Asano Nao feel at ease. She looked up, gazing at the park she used to frequent as a child.]
[The moon was covered by clouds. At this moment, the park belonged only to you two. You led Asano Nao to the swings and pushed her gently. Her softughter could not dispel the gloom in your heart.]
Reading the simtion text, Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart, which had just calmed, was now on edge again.
Had something gone wrong? Was there a wrong choice somewhere? Why did things seem ominous again?
However, a difficult process does not necessarily mean the oue will be a failure. He decided to keep reading.
[You buried your worries and observed Asano Nao more closely.]
[You remembered something. Due to your interests, you often talked to Asano Nao about music. She always remembered what you said, and you once thought Asano Nao was also interested in music.]
[Now you were unsure. You messaged Chitose Kazumi, asking her to probe Asano Nao. As you suspected, Asano Nao waspletely unwilling to discuss music with Chitose Kazumi.]
[Chitose Kazumi also told you that Asano Nao rarely yed games with her anymore. Their conversations were either about you or the light novel.]
[To this, Chitose Kazumi saw nothing strange. She thought it was normal to frequently talk about one¡¯s lover and that not ying games as much was also normal with age.]
[You, however, felt uneasy. You disagreed with Chitose Kazumi¡¯s view on gaming. For a casual yer, increasing offline social demands with age could rece gaming, but for a hardcore gamer like Asano Nao, she shouldn¡¯t have given up gaming so quickly.]
[You checked Asano Nao¡¯s recent book purchases, and they were all romance-rted, extending from light novels and manga to literary novels. You also checked the game discs, finding only a few, which were games you asionally yed.]
[You had to suspect that you were on the same path as in the previous simtion. Asano Nao had friends, a means of making a living, but she talked to her friends about you, and her livelihood was to make you happy.]
[You hadn¡¯t brought anything new to Asano Nao¡¯s life; you had only made her abandon much.]
[This realization panicked and depressed you. You were good at hiding your feelings, but Asano Nao quickly sensed your mood. On the sofa, Asano Nao kissed you, rested her head on yourp, and let you stroke her hair. Herfort made you doubt yourself even more.]
[You didn¡¯t share your concerns with Asano Nao, as it would make her anxious. You lied, saying you were feeling a bit down because you realized how far you were from Miasaki Art University. Did Asano Nao believe you? You were unsure.]
[You found that as your rtionship grew closer, there was a light in the eyes of this once easily understood otaku girl that you no longerprehended.]
[Facing this situation, you chose¡]
[1. ¡°She loves me, and I love her. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±]
[2. ¡°Maybe we should spend some time apart.¡±]
[3. ¡°I might be at my wit¡¯s end; it¡¯s time to leave it to fate.¡±]
[4. Free Simtion]
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Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Lying on the sun-warmed sofa, Minami Yuuki pinched the bridge of his nose.
Indeed, there was a problem!
However, contrary to his expectations of an external issue, the problem once againy with Asano Nao.
He recalled the text on the simtor. Did it follow the old path from thest simtion?
In this simtion of life, Asano Nao seemed more cheerful and strictly adhered to his treatment n, but the oue deviated significantly from his expectations.
His goal was for Asano Nao to develop other interests and bonds. It appeared that she had tied her strings to Chitose Kazumi and light novels, but in reality, she had only wound the middle of the string, originally tied to Minami Yuuki, around other things, creating the illusion of being interested in Chitose Kazumi and light novels.
He had been deceived!
What was more infuriating was that Asano Nao hadn¡¯t intended to deceive him; it was Minami Yuuki who had misunderstood on his own.
This realization made Minami Yuuki both ashamed and angry. He suddenly leaped off the sofa and strode towards the dining table.Asano Nao, sitting at the table, hadn¡¯t yet reacted when Minami Yuuki reached her. His broad hand sped her cheeks, kneading them forcefully for over ten seconds. Without waiting for her to respond, he returned to the sofa andy down again.
Asano Nao held her face, filled with shame and confusion.
Why did he suddenlye and pinch my face so hard? Did I do something wrong?
It seemed she really had done something wrong.
Was it because he noticed her sneaky nces at his waist?
She bent down, carefully lifted her butt off the chair, and tiptoed towards the bedroom.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t stop her. It was already surprising to him that she could stay on the first floor for this long.
He continued to look at the simtion panel.
Detailed reflection could wait until the simtion wasplete; for now, he needed to determine the direction of the next simted life.
Excluding free simtion, the three remaining options represented three different approaches.
Option one, ¡°She loves me, and I love her. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± could be simplified into two words¡ªeptance.
Undoubtedly, in the simted life, there was no problem with his and Asano Nao¡¯s rtionship, only her treatment had gone awry. Option one meant not worrying about how to reintegrate Asano Nao into normal life, as long as their rtionship was smooth.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t discriminate against various lifestyles. Whether a social butterfly or a homebody, he could ept different styles of living. However, Asano Nao¡¯s lifestyle would affect their married life and her future happiness!
Option one was the path he had taken in previous simted lives. He and Asano Nao both became recluses, resulting in either not having children and dying with regrets, or having a daughter named Rikka and Asano Nao eventually dying in despair.
If he chose this option, without significant changester on, it would surely replicate the oues of previous simtions.
Minami Yuuki crossed out this option.
Option two, ¡°Maybe we should spend some time apart,¡± was a very radical approach.
Since Asano Nao was focusing all her energy on him, he could step back and let her calm down.
This was a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. He couldn¡¯t truly leave Asano Nao, and when he returned, she would fall back into the same state. Moreover, suddenly withdrawing would undoubtedly deal a severe blow to her.
Minami Yuuki also crossed out this option.
That left thest option, ¡°I might be at my wit¡¯s end; it¡¯s time to leave it to fate,¡± which could also be simplified into two words¡ªlet go, or rather, go with the flow.
eptance is to give uppletely, while letting go still retains a glimmer of hope.
Minami Yuuki reconsidered everything from the beginning and made his decision.
He chose the third option.
[You decided to do your best and leave the rest to fate. You reduced your expectations of Asano Nao, and she keenly noticed this change. After a week of anxiety, she realized you were simply less strict, and she felt relieved.]
[Every night, you took Asano Nao out for a walk on the deserted streets.]
[One time, you were caught by a night patrol officer. Holding your hand tightly, Asano Nao was nervous, and you held hers just as firmly. The officer escorted you home, and after saying goodbye, you closed the door and exchanged smiles. You thought this wasn¡¯t so bad.]
[In your senior year, you moved out of your apartment and lived with Asano Nao. You began preparing for the Misaki Arts University entrance exams. Asano Nao provided you with a lot of support; with her backing, you didn¡¯t have to deal with any chores and could fully concentrate on studying.]
[Every night, you still went out for walks with Asano Nao. asionally, Chitose Kazumi would join you. Your walking route now included a convenience store, and holding your hand, Asano Nao could face the cashier.]
[You continued your walks until the day before the exam. To avoid disturbing you, Asano Nao seldom distracted you during the day, making the evening walks a rare time for you to be alone and talk.]
[After taking the written and interview exams at Misaki Arts University, you returned to the Asano residence to await the results. Asano Nao was more nervous than you, knowing exactly how much effort you had put in.]
[Receiving the eptance letter from the postman, you opened it, nced at it, and felt relieved. Only your anxious heart was relieved; you weren¡¯t passionately in love with music nor did you stake your life on it. Asano Nao was more excited than you, carefully preserving the envelope of the eptance letter, unwilling to throw it away.]
[You held a celebration party, with Chitose Kazumi also attending. Misaki Arts University¡¯s exams wereter than usual exams, and Chitose Kazumi had already received her letter. She didn¡¯t get into Misaki University, but instead went to Waseda University. She was optimistic about it, having realized six months earlier that she probably wouldn¡¯t get in.]
Memory scenes appeared.
Late-falling snowkes danced in the dim night. At the Asano residence, Minami Yuuki, Asano Nao, and Chitose Kazumi sat around a warm table.
Minami Yuuki twisted open a bottle of c, intending to pour himself a ss.
¡°Wait!¡± Chitose Kazumi grabbed the c bottle, ¡°How can you drink soda on a day like this!¡±
Showing rare firmness, she snatched the c from Minami Yuuki and brought out a white stic bag.
Inside the stic bag were three cans of beer.
¡°We¡¯ve graduated, we should be drinking this!¡± She popped open a can and forcefully ced two in front of Minami Yuuki and Asano Nao.
¡°Cheers!¡± Chitose Kazumi raised her beer.
The three cans clinked together, sshing beer foam.
The beer, freshly brought in, was ice-cold. Asano Nao, unustomed to the taste, coughed, and Minami Yuuki patted her back.
¡°Give it to me.¡± Minami Yuuki reached for her beer can, his hand covering AsanoNao¡¯s.
Asano Nao shook her head, ¡°I can do it.¡±
Chitose Kazumi watched them, downing arge gulp of beer.
The food wasn¡¯t half finished before Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao both copsed on the floor.
Minami Yuuki shook his head, pulled his legs out from under the table, and walked over to Chitose Kazumi to carry her to the guest room.
As he crouched down, his hand just touching Chitose Kazumi¡¯s hair, she opened her eyes and grabbed his wrist.
She lifted her head, looking at Minami Yuuki, her cheeks flushed and eyes dazed, whether from alcohol or from the boy in front of her. A long-suppressed impulse surged in her heart, and the beer was just her disguise.
She opened her mouth, ready to confess the feelings she had held back for three years.
Minami Yuuki ced a finger on her lips, stopping her words.
¡°Just sleep well,¡± he said.
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Chapter 29
Chapter 29
¡¾Chitose Kazumi took out the beer, handed it to you all. The intoxication gave her strength and courage, and she wanted to confess to you again. Before she could speak, you stopped her.¡¿
¡¾You picked her up and walked towards the guest room upstairs. On the stairs, Chitose Kazumi¡¯s fingers loosened their grip on your wrist.¡¿
¡¾After tucking Chitose Kazumi in, you returned downstairs and picked up Asano Nao.¡¿
¡¾Her body was stiff, her eyebrows trembling slightly. You knew she had seen what just happened.¡¿
¡¾You didn¡¯t expose her. You carried her to the bedroom upstairs, helped her take off her sweater, and tucked her in. As you were about to leave, Asano Nao grabbed your wrist.¡¿
¡¾You turned back, and Asano Nao looked at you with shy affection in her eyes. Beneath that affection was unease and apprehension. Since Asano Nao¡¯s bed was a single bed, you carried her to the master bedroom downstairs.¡¿
¡¾After the lovemaking, you and she soaked in the bathtub together, looking at the snow outside through the ts of the blinds.¡¿
¡¾The pure white snowkes floated down to the yellow streetlights, reflecting spots of yellow, like spring butterflies dancing at dusk.¡¿
Minami Yuuki looked at the simtion text and couldn¡¯t help but smile. Finally, it hade to this point.Poor Chitose Kazumi, though. She didn¡¯t get into Misaki University, her confession was stopped before she could say it, and she inadvertently deepened the feelings between her crush and his girlfriend.
He thought of the real Chitose Kazumi, the girl sitting diagonally across from him in ss.
Putting aside his wandering thoughts, he continued to look at the simtion panel. How would his rtionship with Asano Nao progress, and what would happen to Chitose Kazumi?
And there was another significant issue to consider.
Should he use the free simtion?
He had already tried demanding the simtor to give a memory scene, but it didn¡¯t respond, so it seemed impossible.
So, if he wanted to experience this piece of text, he could only use the free simtion.
The sun had already reached the height of the window, and the sunlight pierced directly into Minami Yuuki¡¯s eyes. He ced the back of his hand on his forehead, casting a shadow over his eyes.
Better to save the free simtion for now. If things go smoothlyter, there will be plenty of opportunities. If there are problems, he might need the free simtion to salvage things.
The text continued to appear on the simtor.
¡¾To avoid embarrassing Asano Nao, you restrained your actions and gaze, not teasing her, but she was still very nervous. She blushed and ran away.¡¿
¡¾You soaked for a while longer, then got up and put on a bathrobe.¡¿
¡¾Hearing your footsteps entering the bedroom, Asano Nao hurriedly covered her head with the quilt, pretending to be asleep.¡¿
¡¾You wrapped your arms around her waist and confessed your feelings to her.¡¿
¡¾In the morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains onto your face. You opened your eyes, your arm felt empty. Asano Nao was not beside you.¡¿
A memory scene appeared.
The warmth fromst night still lingered on his fingertips, in the crook of his arm, on the surface of his skin, but Asano Nao was nowhere to be seen, causing panic to rise in Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart. He threw off the covers, stepping barefoot on the cool floor, and quickly walked to the living room.
Asano Nao was in the kitchen, wearing an apron and preparing breakfast.
Hearing the footsteps and seeing that familiar figure in the corner of her eye, Asano Nao shyly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
¡°Morning,¡± she greeted with the frying pan.
Minami Yuuki walked into the kitchen, the cold from the tiles seeping into his body through his feet. He hugged Asano Nao, the warmth from his lover dispelling the chill.
¡°Wait, I¡¯m frying eggs.¡± Asano Nao blushed, protesting softly.
¡°Let our love fry them.¡±
¡°No matter how you think about it, that¡¯s impossible.¡±
¡°I believe in you, Sister.¡±
¡°Believing in me won¡¯t help.¡±
Asano Nao noticed the chill on Minami Yuuki. She put down the spat and reached out to touch his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
He was only wearing a bathrobe.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you put on clothes?¡± She pried his arms away, turning to see the boy standing there in a thin bathrobe, his pale feet on the light blue tiles, veins like patterns.
¡°You¡¯re not even wearing shoes!¡± She was startled.
¡°It¡¯s all your fault. I woke up this morning and couldn¡¯t see you. I didn¡¯t have the heart to change, didn¡¯t even have time to put on shoes, and came out to find you.¡±
His sincere words made Asano Nao¡¯s cheeks burn, his unusual dependence making her shy. She took off her apron, intending to give him her slippers and coat.
¡°No need, hugging you is warm enough.¡± Minami Yuuki held her again, sneezing.
¡°Go get dressed quickly!¡± Asano Nao broke free.
She turned off the stove and pushed Minami Yuuki back to the bedroom. The warm air from the heater made them both feel cozy.
She pressed Minami Yuuki back into bed. ¡°Sleep a bit more. I¡¯ll call you when breakfast is ready.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Minami Yuuki nodded, his gaze fixed on Asano Nao, his smile,zy demeanor, all tugging at her heartstrings, making her heartbeat quicken.
As she turned to leave, a hand grabbed her wrist.
The scene felt oddly familiar.
Upstairs, sparrows chirped noisily on the windowsill, unsettling Chitose Kazumi.
She hadn¡¯t slept all night, reyingst night¡¯s events in her mind.
She felt embarrassed, guilty even. How could she want to confess to her friend¡¯s boyfriend?
Luckily, Minami Yuuki stopped her in time, preventing her from making such a mistake.
But now, how was she supposed to face Minami Yuuki and Asano Nao?
Since dawn, she had been agonizing over this.
Might as well confess and let the rtionship break down, never seeing each other again!
She sat up, rummaging through her coat pockets, taking out the love charm attached to her keys. The red charmy in her palm, the gold-threaded characters seeming to glow in the sunlight.
She clenched the charm in her hand, marched to the window, opened it, and threw the charm at the chirping sparrows on the utility pole.
The red charm fell onto the gray concrete, the sparrows scattering. She put on her coat and headed downstairs.
It¡¯s just drunken antics, right? Nothing to be hung up about! Anything done while drunk can be excused!
She stomped down the stairs, each step steady.
She had a n: act dumb when she saw Minami Yuuki, pretendst night¡¯s her wasn¡¯t today¡¯s her, today¡¯s her knew nothing!
She reached the living room but didn¡¯t see Minami Yuuki or Asano Nao. The kitchen had half-fried eggs lying quietly in the ck pan.
A premonition arose in her heart, leading her to the master bedroom door.
She heard the sounds inside.
¡¾You found Asano Nao, and after a tender moment, when you both emerged, Chitose Kazumi had already left.¡¿
¡¾For a whole month, Chitose Kazumi didn¡¯t appear or respond to messages.¡¿
¡¾You were a bit worried but didn¡¯t go looking for her after much deliberation. Asano Nao was downcast, and you stayed by her side tofort her.¡¿
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Chapter 30
Chapter 30
[At the same time as breaking off contact with Chitose Kazumi, Asano Nao also hit a bottleneck in her light novel writing.]
[Over the years, Asano Nao submitted one volume per year to the publisher. Through three volumes, ¡°NEET¡± gradually gained sess. The editor frequently urged Asano Nao, but she couldn¡¯t speed up her writing.]
[Rather than creating novels, it was more like she was documenting your story with her. Gathering material over the year, she would then write one volume.]
[In these three years, you encouraged her multiple times to create her own plot, but she couldn¡¯t manage it. You showed herments from readers on forums, which were full of encouragement, hoping to boost her confidence. Previously, Asano Nao never browsed information about her novels online.]
[Contrary to your intentions, those positive reviews only made Asano Nao more anxious.]
[The more others praised the moon¡¯s brightness, the more Asano Nao worried about how to get through a night without the moon.]
[You chose to let go and stop interfering in this matter.]
[Upon hearing that you were epted into Misaki Arts University, your parents back home were very happy. Before the start of school, they nned to visit Misaki to celebrate with you and tour your campus.]
[You thought it was time to introduce Asano Nao to your family and sought her opinion.][To your surprise, Asano Nao refused the meeting.]
A memory scene unfolds.
As April approached, cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Standing on the second floor of the Asano house, through the guest room window, you could catch a glimpse of the two rows of pink cherry blossom trees by the distantkeside.
Minami Yuuki often walked from there. That not-so-wide river always reflected the blue sky, with pink cherry blossom petals falling into the river, as if floating from the ground to the sky. This river of the sky carried bits of pink and white, slowly flowing forward.
¡°How about we go see the cherry blossoms tonight?¡± Minami Yuuki looked at Asano Nao in his arms.
Hey on the recliner by the window, the sun warming his body. Asano Nao was cleaning the room, but he pulled her by the waist, drawing her into his embrace.
Asano Nao rxed her body, pressing her full weight onto the boy. She used to worry if this would crush the boy underneath, but now she hadpletely dispelled this concern.
She thought back to her childhood. The rocking chair beneath Minami Yuuki was her father¡¯s favorite piece of furniture, and her mother alwaysy on her father just like she did now.
As a child, she would add anotheryer to the rocking chair, sitting in her mother¡¯sp.
She raised her arm, imagining holding a four or five-year-old girl.
Hearing Minami Yuuki¡¯s voice, she snapped out of her reverie, looking up with confused eyes at the boy¡¯s jawline.
¡°What bad thing is sister thinking about, being so absent-minded?¡± Minami Yuuki tapped her head with his chin.
¡°Nothing.¡± Asano Nao¡¯s replycked conviction. She had indeed briefly thought about having a child.
¡°Not now, I have to go to ss soon.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t mean that!¡±
Asano Nao puffed up her cheeks and pinched Minami Yuuki¡¯s cheeks, tugging gently.
Seeing her shy and annoyed look, unable to be harsh with him, Minami Yuuki felt delighted.
After Asano Nao let go, he said, ¡°I asked if you wanted to go see the cherry blossoms tonight.¡±
¡°Sure, should we bring a pic nket and some bento?¡± Asano Nao intended to turn a walk into a pic.
¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble for you.¡±
Hearing Minami Yuuki¡¯s affirmative answer, Asano Nao showed a joyful smile.
¡°Did sister always like cherry blossoms?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
Asano Nao shook her head. She was not someone with leisure interests; flowers, birds, and fish didn¡¯t appeal to her.
¡°Then why are you so happy?¡± Minami Yuuki pursued.
Asano Nao turned over, lying on his chest, her hands sliding into the gap between his back and the chair, embracing him.
She said, ¡°I don¡¯t like cherry blossoms, but I like Yuuki-kun.¡±
Minami Yuuki was taken aback, smiling as he stroked her hair, ¡°I like sister too.¡±
¡°Mm.¡± Asano Nao responded happily.
¡°By the way,¡± Minami Yuuki made a decision, ¡°how about meeting my family? They¡¯ll be here for the start of school, my parents and my sister.¡±
He felt the woman on his chest tense up.
¡°With Sister¡¯s looks, my parents will definitely like you. My sister is a bit difficult, she might be unfriendly at first, but just praise her and she¡¯ll blush and be at your mercy.¡±
Minami Yuuki thought Asano Nao was worried about not being epted by his family, quickly reassuring her. He wasn¡¯t lying; with Asano Nao¡¯s current state, meeting a few times a year would be manageable.
Asano Nao pressed her face to Minami Yuuki¡¯s left chest, not responding for a long time.
Outside, a thick, broad cloud drifted from the east, covering the sun and casting a thin shadow on the street.
¡°I¡¯d better not meet them.¡± Asano Nao¡¯s voice was muffled.
¡°Why?¡± Minami Yuuki was shocked.
He had hesitated for days about arranging this meeting, thinking the only issue was whether Asano Nao could handle the pressure. He never imagined she would refuse.
¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good time to meet now, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Asano Nao¡¯s response was vague.
¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll wait until we decide to get married to tell them then.¡± Minami Yuuki stroked her hair, his fingers gliding down her neck, lifting her chin, kissing her rosy lips.
[You didn¡¯t understand Asano Nao¡¯s reason for refusal. She didn¡¯t seem willing to exin, and you didn¡¯t press further.]
[That night, you sat under the cherry blossom trees, had ate-night snack. Out of guilt, Asano Nao tried hard to please you. At night, she was at your mercy.]
[The day before enrollment, Asano Nao stayed home. You borrowed an apartment from a friend at a private academy, pretending it was yours, hosting your parents and sister who visited Misaki, and spent a day with them. The next morning, they toured your school and boarded the train at noon.]
[Before leaving, your mother pulled you aside, telling you to find a girlfriend quickly in college, as it would be harder after graduation. You thought of Asano Nao and reassured her not to worry.]
[University life didn¡¯t change much for you.]
[Misaki Arts University was a half-hourmute from the Asano house. Commuting time increased, but the course load lessened.]
[After getting familiar with the instrumental music curriculum, you often attended vocal andposition sses. You gradually showcased your musical talents.]
[In your freshman year, you joined the school¡¯s symphony orchestra, preparing for apetition the following year. To practice, you spent less time with Asano Nao.]
[One night, you and Asano Nao walked to a convenience store and met a ssmate from the orchestra.]
[The ssmate chatted enthusiastically with you, admiring your skills and speaking respectfully. You introduced Asano Nao, and they greeted her politely, which she reciprocated courteously.]
[This ordinary meeting became the turning point for Asano Nao¡¯s decision.]
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Chapter 31
Chapter 31
[In the evening, Asano Naoy in your arms, asking about your ns for the future. You told her you wanted to renovate or rebuild this house, either in an old-fashioned or period style, and then marry her in this house. The wedding could be either Japanese or Western style, and after marriage, you¡¯d like to have a child, preferably a girl, and name her Rikka.]
[She asked about your career ns, which you hadn¡¯t given much thought to. Music was your goal, not a career n. A career is often associated with status and money, neither of which you pursue. You believe in your abilities and are confident you can do well anywhere.]
[You honestly told Asano Nao, asking if she was worried about your future. You assured her that nothing mattered to you except her.]
[Asano Nao, resting her head on your arm, said she believed in you. You reiterated this in another way, recalling when you first met, saying you had long harbored intentions and hoped she would understand.]
[You watched the sparkle in her eyes, the flutter of her eyshes, the rise and fall of her breathing. Apart from the obvious teasing, you had never deceived Asano Nao, and you were certain she believed your words.]
[In the third semester, returning from the orchestra¡¯s practice room, you unexpectedly found a guest at home. You never thought this guest would return to the Asano household.]
[Sitting on the living room sofa next to Asano Nao was Chitose Kazumi in her winter uniform. Seeing you, she stood up and greeted you.]
[You thought the farewell after high school graduation was forever, never expecting to see her again. Sitting on the other side of Asano Nao, you talked about the past. The slightly awkward atmosphere became warm through conversation, and the year apart had not changed you much. You both tacitly avoided discussing the reason for Chitose Kazumi¡¯s sudden departure.]
[Through the conversation, you understood the reason for Chitose Kazumi¡¯s visit. Passing by the Asano household, Asano Nao recognized her at a nce, opened the window, and called her name, inviting her in.][You wondered if Asano Nao had such courage. Maybe now she did. You weed Chitose Kazumi and held a reunion dinner.]
[Everything seemed to revert to high school days. You, Asano Nao, and Chitose Kazumi always gathered at the Asano household. You still read books and practiced your instruments, while Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao shared a new hobby: making snacks together in the kitchen and chatting quietly.]
[Buying ingredients for snacks online was cumbersome, so you often went to the supermarket with Chitose Kazumi.]
[You found that the events of that day had not affected the girls¡¯ rtionship; they were closer than ever.]
[You also noticed that Chitose Kazumi appeared around you more frequently. Whether performing on stage at school or practicingte in the rehearsal room, or spending time in a caf¨¦ between two not-so-short sses, she often appeared with the seemingly legitimate reason that Asano Nao had sent her.]
[As thepetition approached, you immersed yourself in orchestra practice, having no energy to explore the reasons for Chitose Kazumi¡¯s changes. Each time you met her, you would recount the encounter to Asano Nao at home, trying to discern clues from her expressions.]
[You suspected Asano Nao thought you had a young girlfriend outside and sent Chitose Kazumi to investigate.]
[You also suspected Chitose Kazumi was a disruptor of your rtionship with Asano Nao. You deliberately taunted her a few times, hoping to distance her, but she always brushed it off with a smile.]
[Chitose Kazumi¡¯s resilience moved you, but you were more concerned about Asano Nao. Recently, Asano Nao seemed somewhat worried, but her actions at night were strong and energetic, not like someone depressed.]
[You decided to quit the orchestra after thispetition to spend more time with Asano Nao.]
Quit now!
Spend all twenty-four hours a day by Asano Nao¡¯s side!
Minami Yuuki watched the simted text, feeling agitated. He knew he couldn¡¯t me his simted self. The simted self couldn¡¯t see Asano Nao¡¯s changes from a god¡¯s perspective; in the simtion, his actions were irreproachable.
In reality, the simtion was virtual, but for his simted life, it was his real life. Thus, he couldn¡¯t willfully quit the orchestra before thepetition, facing the disappointment and anger of his teammates.
Should he use free simtion?
He hesitated.
Using free simtion, he could change his choices in the simted life, forcibly quitting the orchestra to stay with Asano Nao.
But he couldn¡¯t be sure it was the right choice.
Let¡¯s see how this simtion develops. After all, he could always load the save file of this simted life afterward.
What was Asano Nao thinking in this simtion?
He turned his head to nce at the light wood dining table.
The chair by the table was empty; Asano Nao had already gone upstairs.
He continued watching the simtion panel.
[Thepetition was held in Kyoto. You needed to stay in Kyoto for a week. You worried that Asano Nao will want Chitose Kazumi to apany you, because a week was too long. But Asano Nao didn¡¯t do that. Chitose Kazumi said goodbye to you normally, and you felt relieved.]
[On the morning of departure, Asano Nao made you a hearty breakfast, saw you off, and gave you a parting hug and kiss.]
[Thepetition went smoothly. Misaki Arts University was already the strongest music school, and you won first ce. Thepetition trophy would be disyed in the orchestra¡¯s showcase. The trophy belonged to no individual member, but each member received a certificate.]
[Holding the certificate, you felt joy and exhaustion. Returning to Misaki City, you decided to take a long vacation to spend a good one or two weeks with Asano Nao.]
[Exiting the subway station, you walked past a small river lined with cherry blossom trees. It was already autumn, and the cherry blossoms had long fallen. Feeling a bit warm, you opened your jacket, letting the autumn breeze brush your body.]
[After walking for six or seven minutes, you saw the roof of the Asano house in the distance. Your spirits lifted, and you quickened your pace.]
[In the pleasant sound of the doorbell, you waited for that familiar face to appear from behind the door. Asano Nao had given you a house key, but you never used it. You liked seeing her timidly open the door a crack, then squeezing through to hug her.]
[The footsteps never came, and the door remained closed for a long time. Using your key, you opened the door, threw your backpack on the entrance floor, kicked off your shoes, stepped onto the floor, and quickly walked into the living room.]
[Asano Nao was not in the living room, kitchen, or the bedrooms and bathrooms on both the first and second floors.]
[You texted her on LINE and called her phone, but there was no response.]
[Forcing yourself to stay calm, you searched the house again. None of Asano Nao¡¯s clothes or personal items were missing. The gifts you had given her, except for the handkerchief, were all in the cab under the bed. She always kept the lid closed, whether it was on the bedside table or the dining table, but now it was open, lying on the sofa where you always rested when you came home.]
[Theptop was in standby mode. At a touch, the screen lit up, showing a folder open on the desktop with a draft of ¡°NEET Life,¡± titled ¡°Final Volume.¡±]
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Chapter 32
Chapter 32
¡¾cing the notebook on yourp, you first dial Chitose Kazumi¡¯s number. As you expected, she too is out of reach, having conspired with Asano Nao for this day.¡¿
¡¾Putting down the phone, you open the document in the folder.¡¿
¡¾At noon, the autumn sun, no longer intense, shines on you, bringing no warmth. You pull the curtains in the living room, sitting in their shadow as you go through the final volume.¡¿
¡¾¡±NEET¡± has now reached its fifth volume, with the plot progressing to the bandpetition featuring a female lead modeled after you.¡¿
¡¾This final volume doesn¡¯t continue thepetition¡¯s events; instead, it contains disjointed scenes.¡¿
¡¾The first scene is your graduation. Underssmen wait at the auditorium entrance, offering flowers and blessings. You smile and thank them, then return to the Asano household.¡¿
¡¾The second scene shows you facing your parents. With your help, Asano Nao manages toplete the meeting safely.¡¿
¡¾The third scene depicts your job celebration party. Family members are allowed, but Asano Nao is not by your side. After attending the party, you return home, and Asano Nao apologizes to you.¡¿
¡¾The fourth scene is your wedding. To avoid upsetting Asano Nao, you opt for a simple ceremony with only close friends and family.¡¿¡¾As you flip through each scene, you notice a consistent theme: you are always helping Asano Nao, and she is constantly apologizing to you. Your kindness grows more epassing, while her remorse deepens.¡¿
¡¾This is indeed the future from the previous life simtion.¡¿
¡¾Without delving deeper, you skim through the remaining text. The story¡¯s development shocks you; in one scene, Asano Nao writes about you nning to invite colleagues home to avoid work gatherings, hosting them with her.¡¿
¡¾Except for minor details, the events in this scene match those from your previous life simtion exactly. At the end of the hosting, Asano Nao, overwhelmed by mental anguish, hides and cries. You find her and decide to quit your job.¡¿
¡¾Her writing borders on prophetic.¡¿
¡¾Moving further, you reach thest scene, where both of you are in old age, lying on the floor of a sealed house with a burning charcoal brazier.¡¿
Memory scene appears.
Minami Yuuki sits on the sofa. The sun is obscured by thick clouds, and the faint sunshine offers nofort. The door is open, letting in a cold wind, making his limbs cold from inactivity.
He looks at the notebook screen.
The novel is written in the first person; ¡°I¡± represents Asano Nao, and ¡°she¡± represents Minami Yuuki.
¡°My eyelids grow heavier. The sunlight outside is intense, the sun seemingly approaching, filling the room with blinding light. I turn my head to the right. I think I turned to the right; my brain is muddled, my eyes can¡¯t see clearly.¡±
¡°In the dazzling light, I see her face. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted. The marks of time on her face blur at the boundary between life and death. The wrinkles gradually fade, and color returns to her cheeks. Her gray hair falls out, revealing dense, ck hair like wet crow feathers.¡±
¡°She has returned to her sixteen-year-old self, to the time we first met, opening her bright ck eyes and smiling at me.¡±
¡°¡®Get up!¡¯ she calls with a pure, cheerful voice, smooth and free of worry. She moves her youthful, vibrant, and mischievous face close to mine.¡±
¡°I look into her ck eyes, reflecting me¡ªa decrepit old man lying on the worn floor.¡±
¡°I am horrified by the ugly, shrunken, wrinkled old man. The deathly aura in his eyes makes me shudder. I recall the dead mouse I saw as a child on a country road, ttened by a car. Its body was t, with gray flesh smeared everywhere, but its fleshy tail remained plump, curving grotesquely on the ground.¡±
¡°I am terrified by this endless horror, my eyes fixed as if held by tweezers, unable to look away. I see the reflection in the old man¡¯s cloudy eyes¡ªit is the girl before me.¡±
¡°The old man suddenly smiles, opening his toothless mouth. The deathly aura breeding in his body and spreading through his abdomen escapes through the open passage. The gray deathly aura, wing and grasping, aims to pounce on the girl before me, to prate her seven orifices, corroding her flesh, wearing down her spirit, turning her into another horrific old person decaying in a dark grave.¡±
¡°¡®Don¡¯t look at me!¡¯ I muster the strength to push the girl in front of me.¡±
¡°I push at empty air; the girl does not exist. I did not extend my arm. What I am holding is her gray, old hand. Lying beside me is her body, already decayed with me. This house has long be a gigantic tombstone. Once the girl stepped in, she could not escape bing a dried corpse within.¡±
¡°Tears flow from my eyes as I let out onest howl towards the window.¡±
Clicking the touchpad, the document stops scrolling. This is the ending.
¡¾The notebook slips from yourp. You stare ahead, covering your cold face with your hands. Asano Nao¡¯s writing makes you acutely aware of her inner despair, her love for you, and her self-loathing.¡¿
¡¾She left you, not wanting to drag you into decay with her at the Asano house.¡¿
On the sofa, Minami Yuuki covers his forehead, not knowing when he had sat up. His spirit is captured by Asano Nao¡¯s words, unable to move for a long time.
Until a thud sounds beside him.
He looks over, and in reality, Asano Nao is clumsily picking up a book that had fallen, blocking the camera in the cab.
Suddenly, he feels an impulse to run forward and embrace Asano Nao with his strong arms.
He does so, but halfway, changes his hug into a face rub: ¡°Caught you red-handed, what does sister have to say for herself?¡±
Asano Nao struggles but cannot break free, whimpering as she closes her eyes, letting Minami Yuuki have his way.
Looking at her closed eyes, still mentally immersed in the simted life, his emotions surge.
¡°I want a snack. Go make me one, sister,¡± Minami Yuuki stopped and said.
Asano Nao, as if granted a pardon, rushes into the kitchen.
Watching her back, Minami Yuuki rubs his forehead and sighs.
He needs to calm down.
Sitting back on the sofa, he thinks, in the simted life, Asano Nao left because of him.
This overly sensitive woman urately grasped their future together and was frightened by it, deciding to leave.
She believes in Minami Yuuki. Precisely because she believes, she knows this future is inevitable.
In the previous simted life, Minami Yuuki chose to join the NEET society, so Asano Nao could endure their future decay together.
But in this simtion, he is a student at Misaki Arts University, a promising performer, so Asano Nao does not want to drag him into a decaying coffin.
Minami Yuuki continues to look at the simtion panel, surprised that despite their separation, the simted life has not ended.
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Chapter 33
Chapter 33
[You¡¯ve taken a long vacation, confined to Asano¡¯s home. As usual, you often pull back the curtains in the living room, lying on the soft sofa, feeling the warmth and dizziness brought by the sunlight.]
[You read music theory books and practice instruments. Your fingers flip through the thin pages filled with crowded text, and amidst the clutter, you seem to catch a glimpse of her name. You search for it, hoping to find a single letter from her name, but sometimes find nothing. Your lips press against the instrument, gleaming with a steady metallic sheen, and in the interval between thest note fading and the next note emerging, you seem to hear her voice. You pause ying, listening intently, only hearing the wind and the footsteps of pedestrians outside the window.]
[A weekter, the doorbell rings.]
[Though you know it¡¯s impossible for her to be outside the door, a hint of hope still flickers in your heart. You hastily set aside your book and stride to the entrance, opening the door.]
[Outside stands Chitose Kazumi.]
[Her gaze is filled with guilt and anxiety as she avoids eye contact and remains silent. In that moment, you indeed see the shadow of Asano Nao in her.]
[The declining sun fails to dispel the autumn chill, and the wind tugs at the clothes of passersby. You invite Chitose Kazumi inside.]
[You don¡¯t ask about Asano Nao¡¯s whereabouts or any conspiracy between them. You only ask one thing: why Chitose Kazumi, who had lost contact a year ago, appeared at Asano¡¯s home.]
[Chitose Kazumi tells you that Asano Nao found her new LINE ount online and contacted her through her friends.][Her hands tremble, fearing your words will bring her sadness.]
[You end the conversation and apologize for mocking her long ago.]
[Recalling the simted future where Asano Nao died in despair, recalling the documents where Asano Nao predicted her own future with sorrow, you think, perhaps leaving her alone would be the best choice.]
[In this life, you unreservedly devote all your energy and talent to pursue music, making Asano Nao feel even more keenly the decay and death within herself. She loves you, you are her beloved moon, but the moonlight is too bright, revealing her decay and bringing unbearable torment.]
¡°Sigh¡¡±
As he looked at the simted text, Minami Yuuki sighed.
Alongside his sadness, a sense of frustration surged within him. He lifted his head, gazing in the direction of Asano Nao¡¯s room.
That mentally twisted shut-in girl was just too troublesome!
He knew that one couldn¡¯t control their own mind, but that didn¡¯t stop him from venting his emotions.
Why can¡¯t you just focus on having a proper rtionship instead of dwelling on pointless things!
Guilt, sadness, the moon, deathly aura, tombstones, a miserable future -what¡¯s the point of thinking about all that!
What¡¯s so important about it!
It¡¯s because you keep thinking about those things that they find a way into your mind.
It¡¯s like lying on a warm andfortable stone under the bright sunlight. It should be a blissful experience, but you insist on thinking about the darkness underneath the stone, lifting it up to observe the ugly earthworms, horrifying rats, and foul-smelling millipedes living in the crevices.
Those creatures, originally quietly dwelling in the darkness, would never willingly leave their damp crevices. But because of your actions, they are awakened and creep into the sunlight of your life with their repulsive steps and posture, turning your fears into reality.
Then, using this reality as a basis for imagination, you lift more stones, provoke more creatures, and immerse yourself in endless fear!
It¡¯s all because of you. It¡¯s because you gaze at them that theye.
Minami Yuuki thought to himself darkly, perhaps he shouldn¡¯t engage in any serious rtionship with her. Instead, on a dark and stormy night, he might sneak into her home, coerce her intopliance, lock her in her sunless bedroom all day, make her cook meals at mealtime, force her to support him with her savings, and thenpel her to wear a wedding dress and marry him in front of many rtives and friends, and have several children!
This way, since sunlight and the moon don¡¯t really exist, perhaps it would make her indulge in fewer dark thoughts and be content with the ¡°miserable¡± present!
Thinking like this for a while, Minami Yuuki¡¯s mood improved.
Of course, this was just a thought. He didn¡¯t have any criminal ns, nor did he think such actions would be meaningful in a simted life. ording to several reviews of simted life, the simtor advocated for healthy and pure romance, and a plot of coercion between a man and a victimized woman would definitely not score high.
He continued to look at the simtor.
[You return to school and devote all your energy to music. The Asano family is just a ce where you sleep. When you wake up, you¡¯re either in ss or in the practice room.]
[You often see Chitose Kazumi. Shees silently, looks at you for a while, then leaves silently.]
[After graduating from college, you stay at school for further studies. Chitose Kazumi starts working.]
[After obtaining a doctoral degree, you go to study in the United States. Chitose Kazumi moves to the United States due to work relocation.]
[At the age of thirty-two, you marry Chitose Kazumi.]
Sure enough, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s ahead!
Minami Yuuki rubbed his temples, feelingplicated.
[After marriage, you returned to Japan and joined the Misaki Symphony Orchestra, where your talent garnered much attention.]
[The orchestra frequently performed in various ces and countries, but you soon grew tired of the constant travel. You resigned from the orchestra and took up a teaching position at Misaki Arta University.]
[Using your savings from working odd jobs, you bought a vi near the campus and lived there with Chitose Kazumi.]
[Teaching days were leisurely, giving you ample free time. You started practicing other musical instruments and resumedposing, picking up where you left off. Your handsome appearance and exceptional abilities won the admiration of many students, with female students often slipping love letters into your lecture notes or desk. You collected them and handed them to Chitose Kazumi to deal with.]
[Chitose Kazumi delighted in your honesty and grew angry at the frivolity of these newly adult girls. She dressy up herself and apanied you on campus, intentionally linking arms with you and being affectionate. The love letters gradually decreased.]
[At the age of thirty-six, you and Chitose Kazumi had a child, a girl named Touka. You hoped she would be a strong child.]
[Another year, during enrollment season, you noticed a female student in your ss who caught your attention.]
[With her raven-like long hair and eyes that shimmered with anticipation, she reminded you of a long-forgotten figure from your past.]
[Her name was Yumemi Miu, a solitary child.]
[You attempted to approach her, but each time, she would startle and shy away.]
[You persisted, never giving up, until finally, you became friends with her.]
[In the second semester, she dropped out.]
[You dialed the contact number on the registration form, but no one answered. You went to the address listed on the form, but no one lived there.]
[Like a white feather caught in a spring breeze, Yumemi Miu disappeared beneath the warm sunshine of spring.]
[Your child with Chitose Kazumi grew up healthy, resembling her mother in herck of words but strong inner strength. What left you somewhat regretful was herck of interest in music; she chose to be a chef instead. She inherited your vast talent and made a name for herself in the culinary world.]
[At the age of fifty-five, you retired from the university and entered retirement life.]
[Perhaps due to having too much free time, you often thought of her from your memories. You retrieved the key kept in the safe and went to that familiar ce, opening the familiar door.]
[Aside from the marks left by time, the interior remained unchanged.]
[On your sixtieth birthday, you received a letter.]
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Chapter 34
Chapter 34
[The envelope was delivered by the postman. You initially thought it might be some kind of invitation or an invoice. The moment you took the envelope, you realized your assumption was wrong.]
[A central bulge could be felt through the thin envelope, leading you to guess it contained a piece of silk and a thin letter.]
[Chitose Kazumi was not home; she had gone to a senior club an hour ago. These highly educated elderlydies had suddenly taken an interest in the education of children in the orphanage and often volunteered as teachers. Last month, she had even dragged you along to a music lesson.]
[When Chitose Kazumi was younger, she was rather reserved and often solitary. Now, with her hair turned white, she was enthusiastic about socializing. In contrast, you now only correspond with other influential peers in your field and are toozy to write or speak to anyone else.]
[Someone like you shouldn¡¯t have received a letter, but it was indeed addressed to you. You suspected Chitose Kazumi had used your name for some activity she attended, and the letter was actually meant for her.]
[After a moment of hesitation, you decided to open it.]
Minami Yuuki closed his eyes, the memory scene appearing beneath his tightly shut eyelids.
In the depth of winter, the faint morning light shone on the bare bushes in the garden. The elderly Minami Yuuki walked slowly to the pavilion, sat by the round table, and tore open the envelope with his wrinkled hands.
Inside the envelope, a transparent sealed bag contained two items: a letter and a handkerchief.The handkerchief, though white, was heavily worn at the edges.
Having handled many high-end fabrics over the years, Minami Yuuki immediately recognized this as a cheap item.
He couldn¡¯t recognize the handkerchief at first, but when he unfolded it and saw the ¡°Minami¡± character embroidered in fine blue thread at the corner, he suddenly remembered. This was his childhood handkerchief, the one he had given to a woman over forty years ago.
His hands, still steady enough to press piano keys, pluck strings, and hold a flute level even after sixty years, trembled in the winter sunlight.
Folding the handkerchief back into the sealed bag, he took out the letter and unfolded it.
A slightly messy handwriting appeared before him.
¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
The sudden, lonely apology at the beginning of the letter did nothing to soften Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart; instead, it made him more resentful.
Having chosen to leave without a word back then, why send a letter now? Why apologize?
¡°Last week, the powerpany employees came again, urging me to pay the long-overdue bill. I spent myst money on a nket. I am destitute.¡±
Minami Yuuki frowned. He hadn¡¯t expected Asano Nao¡¯ster life to be in such dire straits. In his previous simted life, her savings had been enough for both of them to live out their old agefortably. Had she been swindled? Or had she squandered it?
He didn¡¯t mind providing material support for Asano Nao. In fact, he was eager to use it as an excuse to bring her back into his life.
The emotions from forty years ago, buried under forty winters of snow, were well concealed and solid. Yet, the moment he saw the handkerchief, the cold snow umted over these many years melted silently away.
He eagerly read on, hoping to find an address or a contact.
¡°I haven¡¯t bought a new piece of clothing, nor a new piece of furniture. I stopped buying games,ics, and novels forty years ago. I sold my previous belongings, and I sold the things my grandmother left me. I couldn¡¯t sell them piece by piece; you know what kind of torment that was for me. I entrusted a second-hand shop to pack and sell everything.
I don¡¯t have money to pay for electricity. Three days ago, during the tail end of that cold wave, the powerpany cut off my electricity.
I lit a candle and wrote this letter to you on an ice-cold table. My body is freezing, my temples are throbbing. Writing this letter with such stiff muscles and a sluggish mind is torturous.
But what other option do I have if I don¡¯t write to you? You were everything to me in the past, and you still are now.¡±
Minami Yuuki turned up the cor of his coat. The cold wave had passed, but the temperature was still very low, especially in the night wind. He couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of bone-chilling cold it must be to endure these days without electricity and no air conditioning.
He wanted to grab Asano Nao by the cor and ask her why she didn¡¯t write earlier.
¡°I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Maybe you are full of anger as you read this letter, maybe you don¡¯t care at all, maybe you¡¯ve already forgotten about me. Your anger burns in my heart, your indifference makes me sad, your forgetting denies the meaning of my existence.
But I had to write this letter. You are myst hope. I am floating in a sea of suffering, and only you can pull me out.
I will tell you everything. I won¡¯t exin what you already know. My physical condition doesn¡¯t allow me to write too much. After writing each section, I have to stand up and warm myself.
I still clearly remember that you arrived at the apartment behind my house at 3 p.m. on March 25th. You came alone, carrying a gray travel bag and a silver suitcase.
That day, I was getting aic book from the study. When I drew the curtains, I unintentionally nced outside and saw you standing below my window. You were pulling your suitcase with your left hand and shading your eyes with your right hand, looking around for your apartment.
I was attracted to your luggage. You looked like you had just graduated from junior high school, yet you came to thispletely unfamiliar city alone with your luggage.
At that time, I had just finished ying a newly released game and was idle. I kept looking for you outside the window. Without realizing it, I stayed by the study window all day.
I was twenty years old then. I had never cared about a boy so much, never observed a boy so meticulously until you passed by my window. I write this to make you understand that my love has belonged entirely to you from the moment it began to sprout.
My pen cannot express my feelings for you, and my body won¡¯t allow me to say much more. My handwriting must be very sloppy, right? I apologize. I beg you to read it to the end.
You may have already noticed that I nned to leave you long ago. I made the n on an ordinary night. That evening, we went out for a walk and met your bandmates. Their respect for you made my heart ache. I was convinced that staying with you would only drag you into a life of failure.
After leaving you, I returned to the house myte grandmother left behind, and my grandmother came to take care of me. She worked hard all her life, first losing her son and daughter-inw, then her only granddaughter ended up in this state. She must have suffered greatly, but I couldn¡¯t take care of her.
My grandmother died thirty years ago. A distant rtive on my father¡¯s side arranged the funeral, which my grandmother had organized before her death.
I didn¡¯t pay for it, nor did I attend. The funeral was held in my grandmother¡¯s hometown, and I couldn¡¯t go. The funeral was kept simple, using my grandmother¡¯s meager savings. I couldn¡¯t afford to pay; I had calcted everything, and my money was just enough for my expenses.
I didn¡¯t expect what happenedter.
Yesterday, the hospital called, asking for the next payment. I can¡¯te up with the money. All I have left is the house in Misaki City.
I can¡¯t touch that house. You might still go there, use the key to open the door, lie on the sofa you used to sit on, touch the dining table we used to eat at, and gaze at the bed where we were happy. That thought is my sce. Just thinking about that possibility makes my heart tremble with joy.
But I have no money left. My grandmother¡¯s house in her hometown had already been sold by my grandmother, and the money was given to me.
I must pay the hospital fees. I can¡¯t dy it; I can¡¯t let the hospital cut off treatment like the powerpany cut off electricity¡ªcut off our daughter¡¯s treatment.
My beloved, pitiful daughter. I am sorry to her. Her hair is like mine, her eyes are like mine, her shoulders are like mine, her hands are like mine. Because she resembles me so much, she has ended up in this situation!
Sorry, there are several tear stains on the letter, right? Please forgive me. I don¡¯t have the strength to switch to a new piece of paper, and I don¡¯t have the courage to rewrite it.
Let me continue with our daughter. She is a piece of you that I stole from you.
She looks like me in every way except for her lips, which are like yours. Those warm, sunny lips that curl up when she smiles¡ªI have touched them countless times, kissed them when she was still a child, trying to reach you through them.
Sometimes, I envy her for having those lips. Just because of that, she can be different from me.
I couldn¡¯t bear my own fragility, the loss of my parents, the mockery of my ssmates, and I returned home in a daze. Yet she, with a ridiculous mother like me who only brings her ridicule,pleted her studies strong and determined.
I didn¡¯t name her Rikka. Partly out of shame for using that name, and partly because I feared you would recognize her if you passed by and heard that familiar name. She is the only piece of you I have left. Not even you can take her from me!
I didn¡¯t use the surname Asano; instead, I used my grandmother¡¯s maiden name¡ªYumemi.
Our daughter¡¯s name is Yumemi Miu.
You might find the name familiar. Twenty years ago, during summer vacation, Miu came home and told me she was very happy at her academy. A professor named Minami took good care of her.
I was stunned. Miu shook my shoulders to bring me back to reality. I nonchntly asked about that professor, and she happily told me everything.
I heard your name from her mouth, and my heart was in chaos. For so many years, I deliberately avoided your name. I never looked at news about the music industry. I never expected to hear that name from Miu.
Miu has been a bright child since she was little. When I was in school, my grades were average, but she always ranked first. She must have inherited extraordinary talent from you.
Selfishly and domineeringly, I wanted her to be more like you. I signed her up for music lessons and had her join the wind ensemble. She got into Misaki Arts University, the same school as you.
I didn¡¯t know you were teaching there.
When Miu was young, I always worried that she would meet you somewhere due to the pull of blood ties, hold your hand, and leave my side. After all, she is a piece of you that I stole.
As Miu grew up, those visions faded. I never expected them to resurface now, hitting me hard in reality!
I saw admiration in Miu¡¯s eyes. A daughter should admire her father. I believed that if you beckoned, Miu would leave me and stay by your side!
I tossed and turned. I had envisioned such a scenario before. In those scenarios, I always forcefully took Miu away, escaping to a ce you wouldn¡¯t know! In all my visions, without exception!
But then I hesitated. I didn¡¯t know if I should bind Miu so tightly. She had lived eighteen years without a father. Fate brought her to you. Should I separate you two and make her return to a fatherless life?
In my hesitation, a rare beautiful fantasy arose. I thought I could hide myself. As long as Miu didn¡¯t mention me, you might not guess that Miu is your daughter. This way, Miu would still belong to me, and I could get news of you through her.
My heart raced. I stayed up all night, only dozing off at dawn.
It was my fault!
This is the punishment for coveting what I shouldn¡¯t!
I woke up at noon and called for Miu. There was no answer in the empty house. I went to Miu¡¯s room, and my heart sank.
Miu was lying between the bed and the closet, clutching her chest, eyes closed, her lips pale.
If I hadn¡¯t slept so soundly that morning, I would have heard Miu and sent our daughter to the hospital sooner!
Miu had a heart condition since birth. I can¡¯t remember the name the doctor mentioned. My head hurts badly now. I wish I could smash my head open with a hammer, but I can¡¯t. I have to finish this letter.
Our poor daughter has been taking medication since birth. Her small body was filled with white pills and colorful capsules. She grew up enduring the pain and bitterness of medicine.
The savings left by my parents, thepensation from thepany, the royalties from that book, most of my grandmother¡¯s savings, and the money from selling the house in the countryside all went towards buying medicine for Miu.
I had it all calcted! I had it all calcted! The remaining money should have been enough for her medication until she was ny years old!
But now, it¡¯s not enough. My money is gone because I slept so soundly that morning and didn¡¯t hear Miu.
I called an ambnce and took Miu to the hospital. I missed the best time for rescue. Miu is still alive, but the rest of her life will be spent under hospital care.
My money is gone.
This house is already very dpidated. Wind seeps in from unknown ces, pounding on my spine. I can no longer feel my feet, and my teeth are chattering.
I don¡¯t have money to pay the electricity bill. I don¡¯t need to pay the electricity bill, but my Miu, our daughter, needs to pay for medication, care, and hospital stay¡ I have no money left. What is the temperature like in the hospital? Did Miu receive the nket I ordered online?
I am a useless person. I can¡¯t earn money. You taught me how to write books, but I can¡¯t write anymore. If I had money, I could rent a ce near the hospital and hire a home care team to look after Miu. Then Miu wouldn¡¯t have to stay in the hospital!
I am writing to you to beg you to take care of Miu, to pay the hospital fees. The hospital¡¯s information is written at the bottom.
If possible, please keep this from Kazumi. I am sorry to her. She knows nothing about Miu.
I am sorry to you, sorry to Miu, sorry to my grandmother, sorry to Kazumi¡
By the time you receive this letter, I will have surely died in a corner of this house. This dead woman begs you to save your daughter.¡±
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Chapter 35
Chapter 35
[The letter abruptly ended, followed by the hospital¡¯s address and contact number.]
[You touch the two crumpled spots in the center of the white letter paper, which are traces of dried tears. Shocked by the contents of the letter, you fold it up, trembling, and carefully ce it back into the envelope.]
[The sun climbed higher, a few snowkes fell from the branches of the trees, and the wind lifted them, hurling them against the fence.]
[You went to see Yumemi Miu, the daughter of Asano Nao. She was even more fragile than you had imagined. You used your connections to transfer her to Misaki University Hospital for further diagnosis and invited renowned Western doctors to discuss her condition. You could only slightly alleviate her pain.]
[Asano Nao¡¯s body was found at her home in Yori Vige, Yuhibi Prefecture. You and Chitose Kazumi held a funeral for her, attended by just the two of you.]
[Regarding Yumemi Miu, Asano Nao thought she had kept it a secret from Chitose Kazumi. In fact, Chitose Kazumi had long suspected it. Chitose Kazumi didn¡¯t expect that her intentional neglect would lead to such a result. She apologized to you, but you were unwilling to mention the past anymore.]
[Chitose Kazumi transferred her guilt to Yumemi Miu, visiting Miu whenever she had free time, sometimes even bringing her daughter, Touka. You visited the hospital room once a week. Yumemi Miu¡¯s body could no longer y wind instruments, so you taught her to y the electronic keyboard and the guitar.]
[You and Kazumi didn¡¯t tell the two children about the contents of the letter. Yumemi Miu¡¯s fragile heart couldn¡¯t withstand too much shock. To prevent Miu from doubting your feelings for her, you imed that Asano Nao was a friend of yours.]
[You lived to ny years old, nine years beyond the average male lifespan. Yumemi Miu died at sixty-one, twenty-six years short of the average female lifespan.][Before you died, you had two regrets: one was Asano Nao, and the other was music. Your achievements in music were astonishing, and you taught many famous musicians, but you were never able to stand among the masters of history. Your music was too technical,cking emotion and a distinctive style.]
[Chitose Kazumi died a year after you.]
[Simtion ends.]
Lying on the sofa, Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t get up for a long time after seeing the end message.
The reason why the simtion continued after he and Asano Nao parted was found: their story hadn¡¯t ended yet.
He rather wished the story had ended there. Theplex emotions from the memory scene still lingered in his mind, causing a knot in his heart.
This mncholy gradually turned into resentment, making him seethe with anger.
He got up from the sofa, looked toward the kitchen, and saw that Asano Nao was no longer there. A te of cookies was on the dining table. He walked through the living room, climbed the stairs, and stood at Asano Nao¡¯s door, pressing down the door handle.
Light from the hallway shone into Asano Nao¡¯s dim bedroom, where shey sound asleep.
Minami Yuuki stood by her bed, looking at her.
I¡¯m nearly depressed, and you can actually sleep? How can you sleep!
He pinched Asano Nao¡¯s sleeping face and pulled it to both sides.
Running away with the ball, are you!
Only thought to contact me after you died, huh?
Today, I¡¯m going to teach you a good lesson!
Asano Nao woke up from her dream, bewildered as she endured punishment for a possible future crime, watching helplessly as Minami Yuuki satisfiedly turned and left after ¡°assaulting¡± her face.
She sat up, holding her face, her mind racing, trying to figure out what had happened.
This time, besides in her dreams, she really didn¡¯t do anything! Could it be that she had to be punished for dreaming?
Or maybe, does Yuuki-kun have violent tendencies?
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. The boy often suddenly put on a stern face and bullied her.
What should she do?
She touched her cheeks, which had been kneaded by Minami Yuuki, feeling extremely distressed.
How can I make Yuuki-kun more intense?
The stairs in the Asano house, long overdue for repair, creaked as a wooden board sounded when Minami Yuuki stepped on it, reaching the first floor.
He sat back on the sofa, still feeling resentful toward Asano Nao.
In the previous simted life, I was by your side, and you died in sorrow because of your daughter. Now that I¡¯m not around, you can properly raise your daughter. Do you have some grudge against me?
The reason is not hard to imagine. After separating from Minami Yuuki, Asano Nao viewed her daughter as a substitute for Yuuki. For this person she loved, she naturally developed a strong tolerance, and besides, if the daughter left her, no one else would take care of her. She obviously couldn¡¯t be willful.
Wait a minute.
Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin, feeling enlightened.
Thinking carefully, in this simted life, a significant problem was solved!
Asano Nao can coexist peacefully with her daughter!
He looked up the simtion text, finding the ce where Asano Nao was hiding¡ªYori Vige in Yuhibi Prefecture.
What if he starts over, waits until Asano Nao gets used to her daughter¡¯s presence, then suddenly goes to Yori Vige to take them back? Wouldn¡¯t he then have a happy family!
Brilliant!
Let Asano Nao be on her own for a while, let her grow well in the countryside, and then he¡¯ll go and reap the benefits!
The more Minami Yuuki thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
However, he was out of simtion attempts.
To get more simtion attempts, he either had to wait for them to slowly recover or receive a heartfelt gift.
His sister¡¯s folded paper cranes were already on the way, arriving on Monday or Tuesday. Additionally, he could get Asano Nao to send him a heartfelt gift.
All of these would take time. Just as well, these simtions were exhausting. It¡¯s time for a good rest for a few days.
Rubbing his temples, Minami Yuuki opened the simtor.
He hadn¡¯t yet reviewed the summary of this simtion.
[Summary of this session]
[Stages experienced: Pursuit, Love, Change]
[Rating: 79]
[Comment: Your brilliance caused her anguish, leading to her eventual departure. Her daughter was a love letter she wrote for you, and the best gift you gave her.]
[Settlement: You gained a small amount of musical experience]
The simtor¡¯sments matched Minami Yuuki¡¯s expectations, corroborating his judgment¡ªAsano Nao could now get along with her daughter.
Next, he would wait for the simtion attempts to recover.
The settlement this time wasn¡¯t great. Minami Yuuki originally nned to use the skill extraction opportunity he was rewarded with before to extract the musical ability he had honed in this life, and now it seemed redundant with the small amount of musical experience he was awarded.
He decided to im it first and save the skill extraction opportunity forter. Perhaps in the next simtion, he could achieve even greater musical aplishments.
Clicking on the small amount of musical knowledge, Minami Yuuki closed his eyes as techniques for ying wind instruments, plucking strings, and other skills entered his mind, along with knowledge of music theory, scores, and critiques, all crystallizing in his brain.
This small amount of musical experience epassed the knowledge and performance experience of all the instruments he had learned in his simted life.
He felt that just this small amount was enough for him to join the school¡¯s music club and easily win awards in schoolpetitions.
It truly deserves to be the umtion of my lifetime!
All this was earned and practiced through my hard work, through braving the cold in winter and the heat in summer!
I¡¯ve really worked hard for myself!
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Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Experience alone was not enough; Minami Yuuki also needed a good instrument, which would be quite expensive. Unfortunately, all his money had been spent by his predecessor on virtual streamers.
Furthermore, this money wasn¡¯t just his monthly allowance; it included his high school savings and New Year¡¯s gift money.
Thinking about this, Minami Yuuki felt a pang of regret.
¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯m still a minor, right? Can I apply for a refund from the tform?¡±
Too bad Japan doesn¡¯t have such an ¡°advanced¡± technology.
He shifted his thinking; he didn¡¯t have money for an instrument, but Asano Nao did! As her close friend, it was reasonable to borrow a little money from her, right?
In the evening, while dining together at the wooden table, Minami Yuuki spoke up.
¡°Can you lend me some money?¡± he asked, looking at Asano Nao.
Asano Nao was stunned, surprised, and then lowered her head before meeting his gaze, her social anxiety kicking in.¡°Y-Yes, I can,¡± she agreed.
Inside, she was in turmoil. She wasn¡¯t a naive girl; she had seen enough of the world¡¯s dirtiness online and in games to always assume the worst.
A scenario where someone borrows money right after meeting, it must be a scam for sure!
A handsome boy targeting a socially anxious, invisible girl, using his charm to attract her, then tricking her with his words to borrow money. First a few thousand yen, then tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions¡
His goal was to scam all her money!
Asano Nao started trembling, her heart racing, her cheeks flushing.
This is amazing!
Until he scams all my money, Yuuki-kun will keep being nice to me!
I mustn¡¯tugh out loud, or I¡¯ll scare Yuuki-kun away!
¡°Then, please lend me 250,000 yen,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
Starting with tens of thousands right away? Shouldn¡¯t it begin with just a few thousand?
Such a thought shed through Asano Nao¡¯s mind, then she dismissed it, thinking that Yuuki-kun couldn¡¯t be like an ordinary scammer. Asking for just a few thousand yen would devalue his worth!
She was also a bit worried about how long her savings wouldst.
¡°Sure, a transfer¡ is that okay?¡± Asano Nao stuttered, taking out her phone.
Minami Yuuki gave her his ount number, and after confirming it, Asano Nao transferred 250,000 yen to his bank ount.
¡°Okay, I received it.¡±
Looking at the increased bnce in his ount and then at the woman who transferred the money without hesitation, Minami Yuuki was amazed. Although he had known from the love simtor that Asano Nao would obey him, experiencing it in reality was still surprising.
This was 250,000 yen! Over 12,000 RMB!
Asano Nao had transferred the money so readily!
As expected, this socially anxious otaku girl had serious mental issues.
¡°I can repay you about 10,000 to 20,000 yen a month. If everything goes smoothly, I can repay it within a year; otherwise, it might take a bit longer,¡± Minami Yuuki promised after calcting his living expenses.
He genuinely intended to repay the money.
Reality was different from the simtion. In the love simtor, he could use Asano Nao¡¯s savings without any psychological or ethical burden because he was her boyfriend, and her money was rightfully his.
But in reality, Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t n to date Asano Nao yet, so he couldn¡¯t use her money recklessly.
It wasn¡¯t that he disliked Asano Nao, although her personality was indeed troublesome.
This was because Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t want to settle down with a girlfriend too early. With the love simtor, he could simte rtionships with many women before making a decision.
With so many different kinds of flowers, he wanted to admire them all and then choose his favorite to nt on his balcony.
Choosing a flower hastily at first nce and iming to like it would be disrespectful to that flower and to the concept of liking itself. It would be too rash and perfunctory.
True liking, true fondness, shoulde after seeing, touching, smelling, and nurturing many flowers, then returning to choose one.
This way, when the flower asks why you chose it, you won¡¯t have to lie or give an unreliable answer like ¡°I fell for you at first sight.¡± Instead, you can scientifically and truthfully say, ¡°I found you to be the most beautiful after seeing many.¡±
As a noble person, an honest person, Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t lie or believe in things like destiny or fate. He had to be honest, believe in science, and use real experiences to judge who was the best.
The flowers named lovers came in too many shapes and too many petals. Originally, Minami Yuuki wouldn¡¯t have had time to deeply experience each one, but now, with the love simtor, he could savor them slowly.
He set a small goal: simte a hundred rtionships!
Until hepleted these hundred simtions, he nned to stay single, keeping the flowerpot in his heart empty, waiting for his favorite flower.
Therefore, he couldn¡¯t take advantage of Asano Nao. He had to control himself, not be tempted by her money, and not give her his heart¡¯s flowerpot.
He needed to draw a clear line with Asano Nao!
As he thought about this, he continued eating the tempura Asano Nao made. It was delicious!
What? He¡¯s living off Asano Nao? And he¡¯s enjoying it under the guise of friendship?!
The boundaries he¡¯s talking about are the boundaries of a romantic rtionship; friendship lies outside those boundaries!
Given Asano Nao¡¯s personality, trouble is bound to follow in the future, and Minami Yuuki will certainly have to clean up after her. He¡¯s just collecting a bit ofpensation in advance!
With his exceptional mental acuity, Minami Yuuki considered all this in a very short time. At this moment, Asano Nao was hesitating about how to respond to his repayment n.
¡°Mm.¡±
Asano Nao thought about many things, but by the time she opened her mouth, only this sound came out.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s spending n sounded very reliable, and the boy¡¯s expression was sincere enough. Asano Nao wondered if she had misunderstood him. Could it be that he really was just borrowing money, not scamming her?
On one hand, she was d that Minami Yuuki might not have deceived her, but on the other hand, she worried that an honest Minami Yuuki might leave her after repaying the money.
It would be better if he was just scamming me!
She wrestled with this thought for a long time, racking her brain for evidence to prove that Minami Yuuki intended to swindle her.
In her distress, the food in her bowl diminished by ayer, while Minami Yuuki¡¯s bowl was already empty.
¡°Thanks for the meal. See you tomorrow, sister.¡± Minami Yuuki put down his bowl and chopsticks and left the Asano residence.
The amber sunlight spilled over the gray street; there was still some time before dark. Minami Yuuki nned to buy musical instruments first.
While waiting at a red light on the roadside, he encountered the mother and daughter he had previously met in the elevator of the apartment building.
The mother held the handles of the wheelchair, and the daughter sat quietly in the chair.
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Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Every day, many people pass by Minami Yuuki, but not many leave a deep impression on him. But this mother and daughter did.
It wasn¡¯t just because of the daughter¡¯s wheelchair but also because of their looks.
Despite wearing masks, Minami Yuuki could still tell they were exceptionally beautiful, at least on the level of Chitose Kazumi.
Comparing them like this made it seem like he was using Chitose Kazumi as a unit of beauty. In his mind, Minami Yuuki apologized to Chitose Kazumi.
He wondered if the faces behind those masks could surpass Chitose Kazumi¡¯s beauty and whether they could reach the level of his sister Airi or his best friend Asano Nao, and perhaps even be a simtion target.
Minami Yuuki believed that one more simtion would lead him to a perfect ending with Asano Nao. After that, he would need to choose a new target. It was time to start looking.
Speaking of which, he wondered what the reward would be after achieving a perfect ending with the simtor.
Cutting off his scattered thoughts, he walked slowly,ing up behind the mother and daughter.
Beauty often has a kind of infectious power, spilling over from its bearer and entering the observer¡¯s heart, lifting their spirits and sparking pleasant imaginings.Looking at the mother and daughter¡¯s backs, Minami Yuuki¡¯s already good mood improved even more. He took two steps forward to greet them.
Just then, the mother bent down and spoke to her daughter.
¡°What do you think of your new dad, Yuko?¡± The mother¡¯s voice was cheerful.
Minami Yuuki stopped in his tracks. They seemed to be talking about something private, so it was not a good time to approach.
Before he could walk away, the conversation took a sharp turn.
¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s good,¡± the daughter said.
The mother¡¯s smile disappeared at the negative response. She stared at the back of her daughter¡¯s neck. ¡°Yeah, a brat like you wouldn¡¯t understand how good Taijie is.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think he wants to marry you, Mom.¡±
The daughter, with her pale neck, stared straight at the traffic light ahead, her eyes unmoving, her posture indicating she wasn¡¯t really talking to her mother.
Her words struck a nerve in the mother, whose face twitched momentarily.
¡°You useless, trashy, worthless thing! What do you know!¡± the mother said, her voice low and pressed. She gripped the wheelchair handles so tightly that her skin turned white fromck of blood flow.
She reached out her left hand, squeezing her daughter¡¯s shoulder hard.
The scene was so jarring that Minami Yuuki froze. He looked at the daughter, whose shoulder was being squeezed by her mother, but she didn¡¯t move, as if her mother¡¯s hand was a caress.
Step¡ª
Minami Yuuki took a big step forward, deliberately making a noise on the ground.
The mother quickly withdrew her hand when she saw someone approaching, resuming a normal, motherly demeanor.
The daughter nced quickly at Minami Yuuki before turning her eyes back to the traffic light.
There were still ten seconds left of the red light, and pedestrians on both sides were preparing to move.
The mother¡¯s phone rang suddenly. Judging by her delighted expression, it was probably her new boyfriend, Taijie.
Without hesitation, she left her daughter and walked to a quieter ce to take the call.
The news on the phone wasn¡¯t good, and the mother¡¯s voice grew louder and more agitated.
The green light turned on, and pedestrians began to move. The daughter remained stationary in her wheelchair, surrounded by the flow of people. It was dusk, and the crowd wasrge, making the petite girl seem like a small boat in a vast ocean.
Finally, as the crowd passed, the girl¡¯s ¡®boat¡¯ steadied, but the oing crowd was already at the center of the road, ready to surge towards her again.
The mother was still on the phone, seemingly unable to end the call anytime soon.
Minami Yuuki stepped forward to grab the wheelchair handles and push her to safety.
But he stopped short.
The girl moved her feet off the wheelchair¡¯s footrest, ced them on the ground, and stood up, holding onto the wheelchair¡¯s sides.
She pushed her wheelchair to a safe corner and sat back down.
Minami Yuuki: ¡°???¡±
You can walk!?
Minami Yuuki pinched his nose, reflecting on why he assumed that anyone in a wheelchair must be disabled. Perhaps she was just weak and couldn¡¯t walk far, or maybe she had recently had surgery and was temporarily using the wheelchair.
Stereotypes are dangerous.
Since the girl didn¡¯t need help, he moved on.
Minami Yuuki crossed the street and entered the subway station, heading to the musical instrument street.
Using the 250,000 yen he borrowed from Asano Nao, he bought a guitar.
Who in this day and age still thinks about ying the trumpet and joining a big orchestra? That doesn¡¯t attract girls at all!
Of course, ying the guitar, you can start performing solo or join a band. With fewer members in a band, you get more attention!
After adjusting the guitar in the store, he took theplimentary essories and returned the way he came.
By habit, he ended up in front of Asano¡¯s house.
Turning a corner, he returned to his own apartment.
The night had already fallen, and ying the guitar loudly would attractints, so he lightly yed a soothing tune.
Though he had never touched a guitar in real life, he yed perfectly.
As expected of me, he nodded.
Good job, he patted the guitar.
Following the rock tradition, he began to think of a name for his guitar.
It¡¯s decided, you¡¯ll be called Jimei!
See you tomorrow, Jimei.
He washed up, drew the curtains, turned off the lights, said goodnight to his guitar, and went to bed.
The weekend passed faster than he expected.
He only took Jimei to Asano¡¯s house to show Asano Nao the guitar he bought with her money, yed for a while, and the day slipped away quietly.
Just a bit of musical experience could captivate him this much. How enticing it would be to extract a lifetime ofplete musical skills using the skill extraction chance.
He needed to get more simtion opportunities quickly.
Stopping his strumming, Minami Yuuki looked at Asano Nao, who was dozing off on the sofa after listening for a whole day.
He yed a jarring note to wake her up.
¡°Alright, the concert¡¯s over. Time for my gift.¡± Minami Yuuki grinned.
¡°Eh? Gift?¡± Asano Nao, rubbing her sleepy eyes, was stunned by his words.
¡°That¡¯s right, there¡¯s always a gift or flowers after a performance, right? So you should give me a gift.¡±
Pulling this reasoning out of nowhere, Minami Yuuki put the guitar in its case. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time hearing a performance and you¡¯re not familiar with the customs, I¡¯ll make an exception today and let you give it to meter. Remember, it has to be heartfelt!¡±
With that, he slung the guitar over his shoulder and left Asano¡¯s house.
Now, he just had to wait for the gift and get his simtion opportunities!
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Chapter 38
Chapter 38
In April, the temperatures were still somewhat low. Although the girls had shed their winter coats, they still wore long sleeves, topped with a dark cardigan featuring the school emblem on the chest.
The high school girls, with bodies varying from good to not-so-good, made the emblems bulge out to different extents.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s school was called Tsukimori High School, a fairly decent public school. It was somewhat famous in Misaki, not for its academic achievements or clubs, but for its uniforms.
As more and more high schools transitioned from sailor uniforms to suits, Tsukimori retained the sailor uniforms, naturally making it stand out.
This was precisely why his predecessor chose this school.
Minami Yuuki found his predecessor¡¯s decision quite reasonable.
Unfortunately, the weather was still a bit cold, so there were no short-sleeved sailor uniforms to be seen, with long-sleeved ones covered by cardigans.
Compared to the changes in the upper body, the girls¡¯ lower halves remained almost unchanged. The skirts, reaching the knees, swayed as they walked, with the cute dimples of their knees asionally visible. Knee-high socks covered most of their legs, leaving just a small section of white skin exposed.
Minami Yuuki walked into the school, looking around. In front of the entrance filled with shoe lockers, the girls were taking out their indoor shoes, changing out of their outdoor shoes.Tsukimori¡¯s school rules were not strict. Technically, students were supposed to wear loafers, a type of slip-on leather shoe, on their way to school, but many girls wore casual shoes instead.
¡°This kind of JK uniform is iplete!¡± Minami Yuuki mentallyined as he changed his shoes and walked into the ssroom.
Most of the students had already arrived. Since his apartment was close to the school, he could arrive just on time.
Passing by groups of boys shouting out manga moves and ying around, and groups of girls chattering about male celebrities, he sat down at his seat.
He looked to the front row on his left, where Ichinose Shiori, whom his predecessor had a crush on, was sitting. Then he looked to the right corner, where Chitose Kazumi, who yed a significant role in his simtion life, was sitting.
These two people, along with the sight of real JKs rarely seen in China, were the three reasons Minami Yuuki came to school.
After the bell rang, signaling the start of ss, the teacher walked in. Minami Yuuki split his attention between listening to the teacher and thinking about the simtion.
In thest simtion, on this very day, Chitose Kazumi, who had a crush on him, felt threatened when she saw him take out a homemade bento and confessed her feelings to him.
He nced at the navy bento box hidden in his desk and wondered if the love simtor¡¯s storyline would repeat.
This was a perfect opportunity to test if the simtor could really predict the future.
After finishing the morning sses, Minami Yuuki took out his bento and observed Chitose Kazumi¡¯s reaction.
Sure enough, the girl seemed a bit uneasy, constantly sneaking nces at him.
In Japan, once you entered the school in the morning, you couldn¡¯t leave until the afternoon. For lunch, you could either bring your own bento or eat at the school cafeteria.
Previously, his predecessor, being short on money, always brought bread for lunch. His thin wallet was one reason for his istion. Once, the popr girls invited him to go to karaoke, but he declined because he had no money.
He heated his bento in the microwave at the back of the ssroom, ate it, and then took out a manga he had borrowed from Asano Nao¡¯s study.
At 3:30 PM, the school bell finally rang, signaling the end of the day. He quickly packed his bag.
¡°Minami-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?¡± Chitose Kazumi stood in front of him.
She acted quickly, her voice was soft, and since both she and Minami Yuuki were on the fringes of the ss, only a couple of ssmates noticed them. They walked out before anyone could wonder what they were talking about.
Walking to the back of the school building, Chitose Kazumi stopped and turned to face Minami Yuuki.
She took a deep breath, which neither bolstered her courage nor alleviated her nervousness. She did this because she saw deep breaths as a sort of spell, a final ultimatum, tricking herself into believing that after taking a deep breath, she would have the courage to speak, telling herself that after this breath, it was time to speak.
¡°I like you. Please go out with me!¡± She bowed to Minami Yuuki, the bow signifying the seriousness of her feelings.
Just as in the simtor.
This love simtor can really predict the future!
Minami Yuuki marveled.
Putting aside his other thoughts, he looked at Chitose Kazumi and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
The cool early spring air made Chitose Kazumi feel cold on the surface. Inhaling this air made her feel like her insides were freezing.
Her passionate heart cooled down. She thought, does Minami-kun already have a girlfriend? Is that bento made by his girlfriend?
Dejection and regret grew in her chest, ming herself for not confessing her feelings earlier.
¡°I¡¯m not thinking about dating for now,¡± Minami Yuuki said honestly.
Chitose Kazumi¡¯s downcast heart was lifted by his words. She looked up at the boy in front of her as he approached her.
Standing before Chitose Kazumi, Minami Yuuki took out his phone. ¡°How about being friends instead of lovers? Kazumi, you¡¯re always alone, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Hearing Minami Yuuki call her by her first name, Chitose Kazumi¡¯s face turned red. She hurriedly took out her phone and added Minami Yuuki as a friend.
¡°Just call me Yuuki. You take the train home, right? We can walk together for a bit.¡±
Guided by Minami Yuuki¡¯s words, Chitose Kazumi, somewhat bewildered, followed him and walked out of the school gate together.
Waving goodbye to the boy at the subway entrance and watching his figure disappear into the crowd, she finally had time to reflect and think about what had happened.
Confessing seemed to have failed.
However, I became friends with him?
She took out her phone and looked at the newly added Minami Yuuki on LINE, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
Minami Yuuki said he had no ns to date for now, so the one who made him bento wasn¡¯t his new girlfriend?
Thinking about it this way, although I didn¡¯t win, at least I didn¡¯t lose! And I¡¯ve already made some progress!
Chitose Kazumi clenched her phone and mentally cheered.
On the other side, Minami Yuuki looked at Chitose Kazumi¡¯s LINE on his screen and smiled.
Although Chitose Kazumi wasn¡¯t a simted target, he could tell from Asano Nao¡¯s simtion that his future with her seemed quite nice too.
The beautiful flowers in the garden were lovely, but the wildflowers by the roadside had their own unique charm too.
Marked, listed as a backup!
Even if they didn¡¯t get married, Chitose Kazumi would be a good friend. Having her around in school would make life much more interesting.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Minami Yuuki tightened his grip on the shoulder strap of his bag.
In the simted life, besides the confession, another event would happen today.
He walked slowly to the crossroads. Suddenly, a boy with dyed yellow hair burst out from the alley beside him, with a tense face, charging at him with a raised fist!
Bang¡ª
Minami Yuuki¡¯s bag, filled with books, collided with the yellow-haired boy¡¯s cheek.
In the simted life, Minami Yuuki was unprepared and got punched by him. Now, it was time for revenge!
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Chapter 39
Chapter 39
A bag filled with books is a powerful weapon.
The attacker was hit so hard by it, like a meteor hammer, that he was left dazed.
He clutched his face, still processing what had happened, as Minami Yuuki kicked him down, pressed his knee on his back, and locked his wrists with his hands.
With his face against the patterned bricks of the sidewalk, the attacker was baffled. He had ambushed Minami Yuuki, so why had he been the one attacked by the bag and ended up defeated?
He struggled but couldn¡¯t escape. Realizing he had lost both in love and war to Minami Yuuki, he was filled with sorrow.
After he calmed down, Minami Yuuki spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t know your name, and I don¡¯t want to know it. Think about what would happen if I handed you over to the police, and they contacted your parents and school.¡±
The attacker, Oda Yota, shivered. He just saw the confession scene of Chitose Kazumi, and followed Minami Yuuki in a frenzy to teach him a lesson, without considering the consequences at all.
Just thinking about his parents and friends at school finding out made him terrified and want to flee the city.
¡°It seems you¡¯ve thought it through,¡± Minami Yuuki released him and lifted his knee from his waist. ¡°Well, goodbye then.¡±Oda Yota was stunned for a while before he realized that Minami Yuuki had let him go.
Damn it, not only did he lose in emotions and fists, but he also lost in temperament!
He ran away with tears in his eyes.
Watching his retreating figure, Minami Yuuki sighed. How nice it was to act on pure impulse without considering the consequences at that age.
All this happened within a minute, as passersby stretched their necks, ready to help or call the police. Seeing the fight was over, they retracted their necks into their cors.
Among the onlookers, Minami Yuuki noticed a familiar figure.
The girl who had been in a wheelchair two days ago was now wearing the same uniform as him, carrying a canvas bag.
When she was in the wheelchair, Minami Yuuki only thought she was petite. Now, seeing her standing, he could definitely give her the title of dwarf.
If not for her Tsukimori High uniform, Minami Yuuki would have thought she was as young as his sister, Minami Airi.
The girl was still wearing a mask, covering half her face. In manga, it¡¯s often said that closing one¡¯s eyes makes the ears more sensitive. Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t know if that was scientifically true, but he was certain that covering half her face made the girl¡¯s eyes more striking, seemingly more lively.
The girl noticed Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze and turned to walk towards the apartment.
Minami Yuuki caught up to her.
¡°Hey, we meet again,¡± he greeted.
¡°Hello,¡± she responded.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect us to be at the same school.¡±
¡°There are many Tsukimori students in the apartment.¡±
¡°¡You were in a wheelchair before. Did you hurt your leg?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Was it for some other reason?¡±
¡°Not convenient to answer.¡±
As they walked, Minami Yuuki tried to make conversation. She responded but was clearly not very interested and often killed the conversation.
Apart from learning her name, Minami Yuuki got nothing.
¡°Ibuki Yuko, huh,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed as he exited the elevator. ¡°What a strange kid.¡±
He opened his love simtor, but Ibuki Yuko¡¯s name didn¡¯t appear among the potential partners.
He didn¡¯t know if it was because he hadn¡¯t formed a connection with her or if she didn¡¯t meet the simtor¡¯s criteria.
Forget it, never mind her.
Today, something more important awaited him!
Minami Yuuki quickly went to his room.
The thousand paper cranes his sister sent had arrived. He had scheduled delivery for this time slot.
Not long after, the doorbell rang. The delivery man stood at the door with the package.
After stamping his seal on the delivery note, Minami Yuuki received the package. He unpacked it to find arge cookie tin.
Opening the metal lid, he saw it filled with neatly folded paper cranes of various colors.
[You received a heartfelt gift from Minami Airi]
[Simtion attempts +1]
It worked!
The simtion attempts increased!
Minami Yuuki picked up a crane and examined it. Paper cranes aren¡¯t easy to fold well; aside from practice, they require some talent.
One can tell a person¡¯s dexterity from their origami skills.
The crane he held was a perfect example of fine craftsmanship.
Such skillful hands would be good for housework too, but since he already had Asano Nao, he didn¡¯t need his sister to take care of him.
He ced the crane back in the box, set the box on his bedside table, took a photo, and sent it to his sister, Minami Airi.
While waiting for her reply, he pondered the efficiency of obtaining simtion attempts from her.
In their previous call, Airi said it took her an entire evening to fold these cranes, estimating conservatively, an evening being four hours.
Four hours for one simtion attempt.
There are 24 hours in a day. Four divided by 24 means his sister could potentially produce six simtion attempts per day!
There are 8,760 hours in a year, so his sister could produce 2,190 simtion attempts annually!
But that was impossible.
Airi needed time to eat, sleep, study, and y.
Damn, why is my sister human? Why not a robot that can fold paper cranes 24/7? Or a ninja who can create multiple clones to fold them?
Minami Yuuki recalcted. If Airi sent him a batch of cranes weekly, that would already be very sisterly of her.
But still too slow.
His sister¡¯s efforts were limited. Minami Yuuki had to ce his hopes on Asano Nao.
He wondered about Asano Nao¡¯s efficiency in producing simtion attempts.
He¡¯d press her for answers during dinner and ask why her gift wasn¡¯t ready yet.
As he pondered this, his phone buzzed with a reply from his sister.
Minami Airi: How are they? I folded them really well, right!
Instead of typing, Minami Yuuki called her directly.
¡°Hello? Why are you calling again? Is there something wrong with the cranes?¡± Minami Airi asked nervously.
¡°How long did it take you to fold these?¡± Minami Yuuki asked about the specific time spent.
¡°Why the sudden question? Three hours, I folded them for three whole hours!¡± she boasted.
Minami Yuuki thought, three hours, one hour less than he estimated.
¡°Fold me some more,¡± he said.
¡°It¡¯s not impossible. Brother, how many do you want? Do you want me to make a thousand paper cranes?¡±
Minami Airi still didn¡¯t grasp the seriousness of the request, her words innocent. Minami Yuuki used cold words to show her the harsh reality.
He said, ¡°Six sets a day will do.¡±
¡°Eh? You mean another six sets?¡±
¡°Six sets every day.¡±
¡°¡That¡¯s impossible!¡±
Minami Airi¡¯s calm mood was shattered by her brother¡¯s unreasonable demand, her voice tinged with annoyance.
¡°There are 24 hours in a day. Three hours per set, six sets only take 18 hours. I even left you six hours of free time.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no way I can spend 18 hours a day on this!¡±
¡°Can¡¯t you? Sigh¡ª¡±
¡°Why are you sighing, brother! It¡¯s impossible no matter how you look at it!¡±
¡°Then how about five sets a day?¡±
¡°Still impossible!¡±
¡°One set then? One set should be doable, right?¡±
¡°Three hours a day can be managed, but¡ªwhy should I spend three hours every day folding paper cranes for brother!¡±
¡°To prove your love for me?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to tell Mom!¡±
Tch, she¡¯s actually threatening me by bringing up our parents!
¡°Anyway, help me fold some when you have time. Airi folds them beautifully. When I see them, my heart, which is as cold as the air outside the window, warms up.¡± Minami Yuuki changed his previous tough words and said these words in a mncholy tone.
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°I only have Airi to rely on.¡±
¡°Huh¡ª?¡±
Minami Airi wanted to ask what he meant by that, but before she could, Minami Yuuki hung up.
She put down her phone, and Minami Yuuki¡¯sst words lingered in her mind for a long time. When she was ying with dolls, doing homework, eating dinner, or sleeping, no matter what she was doing, this mncholy sentence would suddenly pop up in her mind.
¡°I only have Airi to rely on.¡±
What on earth happened! Don¡¯t rely on me! I¡¯m only 12 yers old, just started middle school!
In the dark bedroom, lying in bed, Minami Airi suddenly opened her eyes.
She threw off the covers, put on her pajamas, turned on themp, and sat at her desk, gritting her teeth.
Isn¡¯t it just folding a thousand paper cranes? I¡¯ll fold it for you!
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Chapter 40
Chapter 40
After finishing dinner at Asano¡¯s house, Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t rush back to simte. Instead, he leaned his chin on his hands, elbows resting on the table, and gazed at Asano Nao across from him.
Asano Nao tilted to the left, so he leaned his head to the right, and when Asano Nao leaned to the right, he shifted his head to the left. Eventually, Asano Nao lowered her head, and he withdrew his arms from the table, resting his chin on the tabletop, looking up at the face of the introverted otaku girl in front of him.
Unable to withstand this tant stare, Asano Nao used her arm holding the bowl to shield her face.
¡°This won¡¯t do, Sister. What will you do when you have children in the future?¡± Minami Yuuki said with emotion, ¡°Will you be able to get along with them?¡±
Children? Minami Yuuki¡¯s sudden words made Asano Nao blush. Why would he bring up children? Was this some new form of linguistic bullying?
Carefully lowering her arm, like a soldier peeking from behind a trench, she quickly nced at her target and then retreated back behind cover.
On Minami Yuuki¡¯s face, she saw casualness and a hint of mncholy. It seemed like he wasn¡¯t teasing.
Can she get along with children? Asano Nao tried to imagine, attempting to envision the future.
But¡She couldn¡¯t imagine it at all!
Forget about children, she wouldn¡¯t even have a husband!
Friends don¡¯t even exist for her!
And¡ she quickly nced at Minami Yuuki again.
If it¡¯s not him, then it¡¯s better not to.
With that thought, her brain started to overload. It wasn¡¯t just her cheeks; her whole head felt hot.
She couldn¡¯t help but ponder the feasibility of this future. With her savings, could she really impress Yuuki-kun? Maybe just for a few days!
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t expect Asano Nao to answer his question. Seeing her silent, he didn¡¯t press, instead moving on to the next topic.
¡°Is Sister¡¯s gift ready?¡± he asked.
Awakening from her thoughts, Asano Nao looked at Minami Yuuki, unsure how to respond. She had been troubled all day and couldn¡¯t think of a suitable gift.
If she told the truth, she feared Minami Yuuki would think she¡¯szy. If she didn¡¯t, she feared he¡¯d dislike dishonesty.
Caught in this dilemma, her mind spiraled into self-attack, self-depletion, and self-harm.
Her high spirits from Minami Yuuki¡¯s visit turned into a low ebb due to this futile expenditure of mental energy.
This decline in mental well-being due to love made Asano Nao feel exhausted. Weariness bred disdain, and disdain for tired things made her want to leave everything behind and retreat to the darkness of her bedroom, where she could find peace of mind.
¡°If you haven¡¯t decided yet, could you fold some origami cranes for me? I¡¯ve been really into themtely,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
This statement solved Asano Nao¡¯s dilemma perfectly. Her spirits lifted, and she nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Okay!¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, Sister. You can fold them however you like, ordinary paper will do if there¡¯s no special paper.¡±
Minami Yuuki hadn¡¯t been sure if folding origami cranes was feasible, but now, with Airi¡¯s sessful experience, he decided to have Asano Nao do it too.
¡°I have special paper,¡± Asano Nao said softly.
¡°That¡¯s even better.¡±
Minami Yuuki yed the guitar on the sofa for a while before leaving Asano¡¯s house.
He nned to take a shower and then lie in bed to enjoy the simtion.
This time, he would surely achieve a perfect ending and enjoy a good simtion life of freedom.
It was already dark, and on the asphalt road, streetlights cast circles of light. Passing through them, he walked to the entrance of the apartment building.
The bright lights in the lobby of the apartment¡¯s ground floor illuminated the steps clearly through the ss door.
On the steps stood a woman, rummaging through her handbag.
It was Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mother. She looked like she had drunk quite a bit, and you could smell alcohol even a few meters away. Every time she stood still, her body lost bnce, staggering a bit before regaining equilibrium.
Minami Yuuki took two steps forward and stood in front of the woman. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes unfocused, and she wasn¡¯t wearing a mask. Minami Yuuki finally got a clear look at her face.
Although time had made her face look a bit worn, it couldn¡¯t hide her outstanding beauty. She had a baby face, and if it weren¡¯t for the wrinkles on her forehead due to drunkenness, Minami Yuuki would have thought she was in her twenties.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t have a good impression of this woman who had verbally abused and even physically harmed her daughter. He observed her appearance out of curiosity about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s appearance, hoping to make an inference through her mother.
The inference now had a result¡ªthere was a high probability that Ibuki Yuko could be a simted object.
Thus, the probability of the woman in front of him being his future mother-inw increased.
Considering his rtionship with her, it seemed he couldn¡¯t not help. The woman was probably looking for her ess card; at night, residents needed to swipe their cards to enter and exit the building.
He walked to the door, swiped his card, opened it, and turned to look at the woman.
She understood Minami Yuuki¡¯s hint and stumbled into the building.
¡°Thank you.¡±
Even when she was drunk, she maintained politeness towards Minami Yuuki. But when sober, she couldn¡¯t treat her daughter kindly.
Oh well, considering she might be his future mother-inw.
Minami Yuuki grabbed her arm. ¡°The elevator is on the other side.¡±
¡°Eh? Is that so?¡± The woman rubbed her head. ¡°I feel really dizzy.¡±
¡°Come with me. What¡¯s your apartment number?¡± Minami Yuuki led her towards the elevator.
There were many bachelors in the building, and lively teenagers too. Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t want her to be taken advantage of by anyone, affecting his and Ibuki Yuko¡¯s reputation.
¡°1103.¡± The woman murmured the number, without any hesitation.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind wandered, unsure if it was a good time to ask for the bank card password. With that thought, he felt an added burden to protect his family¡¯s assets.
As the elevator ascended, the woman became increasingly intoxicated, transitioning rapidly from standing to leaning against the wall, then finally slumping to the floor.
When the elevator doors opened, Minami Yuuki found himself supporting her by cing her arm around his shoulder to help her exit.
Arriving at apartment 1103, he pressed the doorbell.
The door opened slowly, butpared to Asano Nao, it was considered swift.
Behind the door, Ibuki Yuko stood to the side, not wearing a mask, her features clearly visible to Minami Yuuki.
Seeing her face uncovered was normal, yet because the girl had worn a mask during their previous encounters, seeing her unmasked gave Minami Yuuki an unexpected sensation, akin to seeing someone who had previously been clothed suddenly disrobed.
She, too, had a doll-like face, even more striking than her mother¡¯s, but her expression was cold, her gaze towards people seemingly tinged with disdain.
She nced at Minami Yuuki, then at her mother being supported by him.
Moving to the other side of her mother, she seemed to want to emte Minami Yuuki, cing her mother¡¯s arm over her shoulder to help her to the bedroom.
However, her height fell short, so she could only lift her mother¡¯s arm and proceed forward.
This apartment was slightlyrger than the one Minami Yuuki rented, with an additional living room adorned with many plush toys on the sofa.
Minami Yuuki took off his shoes, crossed the living room, and helped Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mother onto the bed in the bedroom.
The woman closed her eyes, skillfully removing her coat and slipping under the covers.
Minami Yuuki nced at Ibuki Yuko, about to exin the situation, but he saw the girl draw the bedroom curtains, turn off the main light, switch on a dim night light, then walk out of the bedroom and close the door.
Minami Yuuki looked at the drawn curtains, the closed bedroom door, the woman lying in bed, and himself still in the room.
Ibuki Yuko,e back!
You¡¯ve definitely misunderstood something!
I was just bringing your mom home!
And how are you so proficient at this?!
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Chapter 41
Chapter 41
When Minami Yuuki emerged from the bedroom, Ibuki Yuko was holding a book, getting ready to leave.
She nced at Minami Yuuki and then at the digital clock on the entrance shoe cab.
Minami Yuuki clenched his fist. Was this girl suspecting that he had already finished?
¡°I saw your mom downstairs, so I brought her up here. Goodbye,¡± he exined briefly, walking past Ibuki Yuko, through the apartment door, then into the corridor, proving his innocence through action.
¡°Thank you.¡±
He heard her voice as he turned around, but Ibuki Yuko had already closed the door.
The situation in this family seemed somewhatplex.
Going down in the elevator, Minami Yuuki leaned against the handrail, thinking about how Ibuki Yuko had looked at him with disgust when he escorted the woman inside.
Was that look because of a misunderstanding? Was she displeased with her mother frequently bringing strangers home?He had initially thought she was a girl who always viewed people with disdain. It was somewhat regrettable.
Back in his room, Minami Yuuki quickly washed up andy down on his bed.
He opened the Love Simtor.
[Love Simtor]
[yer: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining Simtion Times: 1 (Simtion times can recover over time or be acquired actively)]
[Simtable Characters: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko]
Huh? Minami Yuuki looked at the name ¡°Ibuki Yuko¡± under simtable characters.
So that shorty is indeed a simtable character.
Her name hadn¡¯t appeared before, but now it did. Was it because of what just happened?
Because he hadn¡¯t developed a negative rtionship with her mother, her feelings towards him had changed, making her a simtable character?
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t delve deeper. Once he got Asano Nao¡¯s origami crane and obtained a new simtion time, he could simte Ibuki Yuko and understand her.
As for the current one simtion time, he naturally had to deal with Asano Nao first!
Asano Nao, who hadmitted the sin of being gloomy, today I will eradicate the negative emotions attached to you!
¡°Start simtion!¡±
[Do you want to load previously experienced life segments?]
Of course, yes.
In the previous simted life, the starting point was a few days ago, when he didn¡¯t yet know Asano Nao¡¯s hiding ce, and simting multiple times was useless.
[Simtion begins]
[Remaining Simtion Times: 0]
[Simted Object: Asano Nao]
[Initial Rtionship: Mutual Fondness]
The initial rtionship had changed from one-sided love to mutual fondness.
This was normal too; the Minami Yuuki in the simted life undoubtedly loved Asano Nao.
epting the memories of the scenes from the simtion in reality, Minami Yuuki inevitably developed some feelings as well.
This shallow sentiment didn¡¯t affect Minami Yuuki¡¯s grand n of exploring all flowers; he had many people he was fond of, such as: Kanna Hashimoto, Satomi Ishihara, Yui Aragaki, Mio Akiyama, and Mikoto Misaka¡
He needed to pick his favorite among those he was fond of.
Lying in bed, Minami Yuuki pulled up the covers, staring at the simtion panel.
[You quickly adapted to your new life and used a n to enter the Asano household, dering friendship with Asano Nao. You spent all your living expenses and ate meals at the Asano household. At school, you politely declined Chitose Kazumi¡¯s confession but became friends with her.]
The beginning of the simtion wasrgely simr to before.
Minami Yuuki worried; did he have to go through almost the same plot again?
His worries were unnecessary.
On the simtion panel, a popup appeared.
[Upon inspection, this simtion contains arge amount of simr text. Enable fast review mode?]
Fast review? Rapid viewing?
Minami Yuuki clicked yes.
The next moment, he felt a headache, his vision darkened, and a flood of memories surged in his mind. Scenes shed by rapidly, like winter winds sweeping snow-covered memories off the ground, hitting his face. It was like a carousel with an engine, images flying swiftly.
So this fast review was actually quickly passing scenes of memories through my mind!
Five minutester, the carousel of memories came to a stop.
Minami Yuuki opened his eyes, sat up, and rubbed his temples, his head throbbing.
After resting for ten minutes, the pain in his head eased. Hey back on the pillow and looked at the simtion panel.
On the panel, a summary of life events emerged.
[Under your shameless advances, Asano Nao slowly gets used to your presence. You introduce Chitose Kazumi to her as a friend, teach her how to write romance novels, and you grow closer. The nature of your rtionship bes clear without words.]
[Finally, one day after you graduate from high school, witnessing Chitose Kazumi¡¯s failed confession, Asano Nao bes anxious. She asks you to stay in her room, and you two be intimate. Discovering your rtionship, Chitose Kazumi chooses to leave.]
[You enter the Misaki Art University, and Asano Nao¡¯s feelings for you be increasinglyplex. She ultimately decides to leave. Before leaving, for your happiness and hers, she reconnects you with Chitose Kazumi and bes pregnant with your child.]
[One day in your sophomore year, you return home and find no trace of Asano Nao, only herptop on the sofa.]
[Opening theptop, you read the final volume of ¡°NEET¡± left by Asano Nao. It¡¯s her love letter to you and also her farewell letter.]
[Facing her departure, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°Kazumi is also quite cute, and she¡¯s got a nice chest.¡±]
[2. ¡°The day I finish my PhD will be the day I reim my love!¡±]
[3. ¡°I love you so much, yet you toyed with me like this. Your leaving is a betrayal of trust, and it makes me furious. Now, I will treat you the same way. I will be a monk, shave my head, renounce the world, and make you regret!¡±]
[4. Free simtion]
Option 3 is absurd!
Besides, monks in Japan can get married!
Minami Yuuki chose option 2.
[You had anticipated Asano Nao¡¯s departure and knew exactly where she had gone into hiding.]
[You didn¡¯t immediately go after her. You thought that perhaps it was because of your presence that Asano Nao couldn¡¯t grow; she relied too much on you. You decided to let Asano Nao go and weather the storms on her own.]
[You continued your studies. Chitose Kazumi came to see you with guilt, and you reassured her, making it clear that you wouldn¡¯t marry another woman.]
[You and Chitose Kazumi remained friends, and she often helped you fend off pursuers at school.]
[With a strong musical background, you excelled in your studies. You found time to perform at a proper bar, attracting many customers with your beauty and talent. Generous wages and tips left your finances quitefortable.]
[You hired a private detective to find a woman who worked in Misaki and lived in Yori Vige, giving her money to visit Yori Vige weekly to inquire about Asano Nao¡¯s whereabouts. Despite her seemingly smooth life in the previous simted life, you still worried.]
[To prevent the woman from neglecting her work, using fake information to deceive you, you employed a woman from a nearby vige,paring their weekly updates.]
[On the day your daughter was born, you were downstairs from Asano Nao¡¯s surgery room. After she gave birth, you received the news immediately. Fate did not change. Asano Nao gave birth to a baby girl. She named her daughter Yumemi Miu. Miu had a heart disease, which could not be cured. She could only take medicine to treat it. ]
[Under the care of her grandmother, Asano Nao and her daughter stayed in the hospital. You looked at her and your daughter from a distance several times. On her face, sadness and joy coexisted. ]
[Back in Misaki City, you slowed down the practice of ssical instrumental music and instead studied pop music. You needed a lot of money and free work to apany your wife and daughter. The road to instrumental music was too slow. Only pop music could meet your requirements. ]
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Chapter 42
Chapter 42
¡¾You left the symphony orchestra and, together with two like-minded students from the same school, formed a rock band, where you served as the guitarist and lead vocalist.¡¿
¡¾You were quite famous in the orchestra, so your departure and switch to the rock band caused a big stir. A group of people nned to make things difficult for you, but you received a tip-off from their girlfriends, avoided them, and got through the crisis safely.¡¿
¡¾After a brief period of adjustment with your band members, you used the contacts you had made from years of singing in bars to secure performances at various live houses. Initially, almost all the attendees were people you knew, but gradually, passersby began to be attracted by your music, and your poprity started to rise.¡¿
¡¾Unhappy with the slow progress, you realized that as students of Misaki Arts University, your skills were impable, but youcked original songs that could set a trend.¡¿
¡¾You recalled the rock songs that were huge hits in your past life, filled in the fragments of lyrics and melodies from your memory, and wrote new songs.¡¿
¡¾Some of these songs didn¡¯t be hits due to the different times, but most of them caused a huge sensation once performed. Your fan base grewrger, and many live houses invited you to perform.¡¿
¡¾Several talent agencies took notice of you and extended invitations, but you didn¡¯t ept any, patiently waiting for the right opportunity.¡¿
Minami Yuuki closed his eyes, his mind filled with many noisy images of their practice and performances.
The high-pitched sound of the guitar, the deep tone of the bass, the loudness of the drums, the bright practice room, the dim stage, the cheers of the audience ¨C all these sounds and images flooded his brain. He felt the fatigue in his hands, the sweat on his forehead, and his intense focus.His emotions were high, and he couldn¡¯t wait to pick up his guitar and strum it hard, making it produce intense sounds.
¡¾Chitose Kazumi often came to your performances. She wasn¡¯t interested in the music, just in seeing you. You understood this and hinted multiple times that there was no future for the two of you. She seemed to understand, but she kept showing up anyway.¡¿
¡¾In May, a day before your daughter Miu¡¯s first birthday, you found a desirable talent agency ¨C 765 Productions. They contacted you through the school to arrange a meeting. Their offer was excellent, but their demands were also high.¡¿
¡¾Your two bandmates were tempted but also had some reservations. You encouraged them, and you signed an artist contract with the agency. You included a use, prepared after consulting a well-known femalewyer, that would allow you to exit smoothly in a few years.¡¿
¡¾The agency secured many resources for you. You performed frequently, appeared on shows, and you brought out more ssic songs. Your band quickly gained immense poprity and received even more resources.¡¿
¡¾As the band¡¯s poprity soared, you started to worry. A few yearster, you would leave the band to live in Yori Vige. What would happen to your two bandmates then?¡¿
¡¾You had a good rtionship with your two bandmates. You found an opportunity to hint that you would retire once you earned enough money. Your two bandmates respected your decision.¡¿
¡¾In the face of their understanding, you chose¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°Since they said they don¡¯t mind, I shouldn¡¯t mind either, right?¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Actually, being a singer forever isn¡¯t so bad. There are so many pretty girls lining up to date me, why not just enjoy it and change one every month?¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°We are friends; how can I be so heartless? Let¡¯s cultivate a new lead vocalist.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free simtion¡¿
This was an easy choice! Of course, it¡¯s option three!
Minami Yuuki clicked option three.
¡¾You submitted a request to the agency for a new lead vocalist, saying that it was too troublesome to handle both roles of guitarist and lead vocalist yourself.¡¿
¡¾By this time, in the third year of your official debut, your band was at the peak of its poprity. The agency was more than happy to oblige ¨C even if they paired you with a pig, it would attract immense attention.¡¿
¡¾The agency selected a few artists who had already debuted for you to choose from, but you were dissatisfied with their mediocrity and rejected them all.¡¿
¡¾The agency then gave you a list of trainees. You observed their performances during artist sses and selected a male trainee your age, named Oda Yota. His name sounded familiar to you.¡¿
The Minami Yuuki in the simtion couldn¡¯t remember, but the real Minami Yuuki recalled it instantly.
Oda Yota was the boy who had ambushed him after school today and got beaten up. As one of the few blond-haired boys at school, Minami Yuuki remembered his name ¨C iming otherwise earlier was just a ruse.
Who would have thought that this guy would be a trainee after graduation, and at 765 Productions, no less?
¡¾The only reason you chose him is because his style is very simr to yours. You¡¯re sure that after training, he can rece you.¡¿
Goodness, so he was chosen as a stand-in!
¡¾You had long forgotten Oda Yota, but Oda Yota still remembered you. On the night of the wee party, he revealed his identity and apologized for the past.¡¿
¡¾Youforted him, saying everyone is impulsive when they¡¯re young, and it¡¯s nothing to dwell on. He originally admired your character and talent, and now he thought you were a gentle person. Soon, his impression of you changed. You set up a nearly cruel training schedule for him and demanded the utmost rigor from him.¡¿
¡¾After six months of special training, you had Oda Yota participate in the band¡¯s performance and let him be the lead singer for a song. The performance went smoothly, but Oda Yota faced public bacsh. Your fans suspected he was a tool the agency was using to take your ce.¡¿
¡¾You rified the situation on social media, and the storm subsided. Oda Yota respected you even more.¡¿
Reading the simtion text, Minami Yuuki scratched his head, puzzled as to why Oda Yota had so much screen time.
His confusion was soon resolved.
¡¾You held a concert at Misaki Dome, the tickets sold out instantly, and the atmosphere was electrifying. Everything went smoothly. But as you were leaving, you were attacked.¡¿
¡¾The attacker was a middle-aged man wielding a kitchen knife. Taking advantage of the chaos, he managed to get close to you.¡¿
¡¾His target was you. A year ago, he divorced his wife, suspecting that she was bewitched and seduced by you.¡¿
¡¾To some extent, his belief wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. His wife was your fan, and seeing that she was a renowned cardiologist, you intentionally approached her. After hearing herints about her overly controlling husband, you persuaded her to divorce him.¡¿
¡¾Your unintentional actions bore bitter fruit. The man who lost his wife sought revenge on you.¡¿
¡¾With fans surrounding you on all sides, you had nowhere to hide. Your luggage and instruments were with your assistant, so you had no weapon. In this critical moment, Oda Yota, who was beside you, used his guitar case to block the knife. As a result, he caught the attacker¡¯s attention, and the attacker shed his chest.¡¿
¡¾The bodyguards, now alerted, subdued the attacker. You rushed Oda Yota to the hospital. His injuries weren¡¯t severe, and he would recover after a few months of rest. Your bond with him deepened.¡¿
Minami Yuuki paused his reading, rubbed his forehead, and sighed in relief.
No wonder Oda Yota had so much screen time; he was a crucial figure in his life.
Without him, this attack might have cost Minami Yuuki his life or at least caused severe injury, likely ending the simtion there.
Thinking back, if he hadn¡¯t chosen the third option earlier, Oda Yota wouldn¡¯t have joined.
That option had a significant impact here.
Thankfully, he chose the third option.
Thankfully, Oda Yota was a brave, loyal person.
He stared at the ceiling in the dark for a while, thinking about the concept and possibility of being attacked.
He decided it was time to do another simtion to practice martial arts.
Stopping his thoughts, he continued reading.
¡¾The attack quickly made the news, and fans who were dissatisfied with Oda Yota let go of their prejudices and epted him as a member of the band.¡¿
¡¾Your parents and sister were worried about you, and you reassured them.¡¿
¡¾You stopped your activities for a while, waiting for Oda Yota to recover and rejoin the band before performing again.¡¿
¡¾In the year you decided to retire, your band had be the most popr national band.¡¿
¡¾You used the attack as an excuse, pulled some strings to get a diagnosis of severe depression, and officially announced your retirement, heading to the countryside to recuperate. The band¡¯s poprity wavered briefly but eventually stabilized after a slight decline.¡¿
¡¾Relieved, you took the huge fortune you had amassed over your career and went to Iori Vige in Yuhibi County, joining Asano Nao and Yumemi Miu.¡¿
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Chapter 43
Chapter 43
¡¾Yumemi Miu hasrgely recovered her health after treatment. As long as she takes her medication on time every day, her heart condition should not recur.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao let her attend an elementary school in the countryside. The school is not far from home; even at a child¡¯s pace, it only takes fifteen minutes to get there. This elementary school is shared by several viges, with only one ss per grade.¡¿
¡¾At first, she was worried about her daughter and asked her grandmother to pick up and drop off Yumemi Miu every day. Two yearster, when Yumemi Miu entered the third grade, they felt it was no longer an issue and stopped escorting her.¡¿
¡¾Yori Vige is a small vige where the residents are very familiar with each other. Such a close-knit society is peaceful and stable, but it also makes it difficult for outsiders to integrate.¡¿
¡¾You were prepared. Under the temptation of your money, a family in the vige epted you as a distant rtive. Using this family¡¯s connection, you settled in the vige.¡¿
¡¾In the first week in Yori Vige, with the help of that family, you met more than half of the vigers and had pleasant conversations with the vige women. This allowed you to wander around the vige without being questioned by the residents.¡¿
¡¾You also used your connections at the agency to invite a councilman from the town where the vige is located. The councilman came to the vige twice to support you, earning you the vigers¡¯ respect.¡¿
¡¾You bought the vige¡¯s only small shop, did some simple renovations, and made it your main business. You officially became a member of Yori Vige.¡¿
¡¾The small shop is the only one in the vige and is located next to the school. Sitting in the shop, you could see all the studentsing to school, including your daughter.¡¿¡¾Yumemi Miu was very interested in the newly renovated shop, but she was somewhat shy and had never visited. On a summer holiday morning, you finally found an opportunity to lure her to your house.¡¿
The memory scene unfolds.
Approaching August, the sun in the sky grew more intense. Every noon, the air seemed to be baked by the sunlight, creating a distorted shape in the vision.
Yumemi Miu woke up from the heat and opened her eyes to seeplete darkness.
In the darkness, a pair of arms were holding her, and her head was resting on a soft but stuffy ce.
¡°It¡¯s so hot, stop leaning on me!¡± She pushed away her mother¡¯s arms. The fan beside the bed whirred, but the wind it blew couldn¡¯t stop the summer heat at all.
She sat on the edge of the bed, letting the fan blow on her for a while, waiting for the still-sleeping brain cells to wake up, then she pulled open the curtains and opened the window.
A groan came from the bed, and the strong light that shot into the room forcibly woke the woman on the bed.
Asano Nao shielded her eyes with her hand and sat up groggily.
¡°Mom, you closed the window again!¡± Yumemi Miu scolded her.
¡°Because it¡¯s dangerous. How can you sleep with the window open at night? What if a wolf climbs in¡¡±
¡°The Japanese wolf has been extinct for over a hundred years! And if you want to keep the windows closed, you should get someone to fix the air conditioner!¡±
Yumemi Miu took off her pajamas and took a light blue dress from the wardrobe to put on.
¡°No way. Just thinking about a strangering into the house makes me shiver.¡± Asano Nao hugged her arms, expressing her fear.
¡°Aren¡¯t there more people at the hospital? You don¡¯t have any problem going to the hospital.¡± Yumemi Miu couldn¡¯t understand her mother.
She was also afraid of strangers, butpared to an air conditioner repairman, the crowd at the hospital was even scarier. Her mother took her to the hospital for check-ups every month without fear of meeting a lot of strangers, but was scared of a single repairman.
Asano Nao thought, going to the hospital is for your health. How can it be the same as getting the air conditioner fixed?
She didn¡¯t say it out loud, fearing to pressure her daughter. She deliberately avoided mentioning her daughter¡¯s illness.
¡°When is Grandmaing back?¡± Yumemi Miu asked again.
If Grandma were here, the air conditioner would have been fixed already.
¡°Grandma, well, she probably won¡¯t be back for a few more days.¡± Asano Nao adjusted to the brightness. She beckoned her daughter over.
Yumemi Miu walked to her bedside. She took her daughter¡¯s hand and looked at the girl¡¯s cute chubby face, showing a delighted smile.
¡°Why do you smile at me every day? The moms on TV don¡¯t do that. Is it because you¡¯re useless, Mom?¡± Yumemi Miu said, in an innocent tone, but the words were harsh.
Despite having epted her own uselessness, Asano Nao still felt a bit embarrassed facing her daughter¡¯s verbal attack.
She stroked the girl¡¯s face, her fingers brushing over her lips. ¡°That¡¯s right, but Miu mustn¡¯t be like Mom. Quickly freshen up and go y with your friends!¡±
The mother and her daughter walked out of their room together, washed up at the sink, and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Worried that she might suddenly encounter an ident, Asano Nao had taught her daughter how to doundry, cook, and shop online early on, making sure she could survive on her own even as a primary school student.
She had also left a contingency n, a sealed envelope for Miu to open when she had no other options. Inside the envelope was her father¡¯s contact information.
After breakfast, Miu was left to clean up the dishes while Asano Nao went to the second bedroom, opened the household shrine, and performed her daily prayers.
Yumemi Miu dried the dishes and ced them on the rack. She got down from the small stool, wiped the water sshed on the floor with a mop, and walked over to her mother.
With her hands sped and eyes closed, her mother was praying. In front of her in the shrine wasn¡¯t a memorial tablet or a photograph, but a handkerchief sealed in a stic bag.
For a while, Yumemi Miu suspected her mother had joined some cult, worrying herself sick over it. After all, keeping a handkerchief in the shrine was just too weird.
As years passed and her mother didn¡¯t turn into a fish person or a lizard monster, Miu finally felt relieved.
Once, she saw on TV that people would offer incense to photos or memorial tablets in their shrines. So she secretly took her grandmother¡¯s incense burner and sticks, ced them in front of the handkerchief, and respectfully lit one.
When her mother found out, she immediately removed the incense burner and pinched Miu¡¯s cheeks for a long time, making her write a promise never to offer incense to the handkerchief again.
Yumemi Miu couldn¡¯t figure it out. Not only was the item in the shrine unconventional, but even the way it was worshipped was against the norm. She asked her mother many times, but her mother never answered.
Now, at the age of eight, Yumemi Miu had learned the necessity of setting aside her doubts.
She knelt beside her mother, sped her hands together, and prayed to the handkerchief just like her mother did.
Unknown handkerchief god, please listen to my request. Crawl into my mother¡¯s head and take away her idea of forcing me to go out and y.
Let me stay peacefully at home!
Her prayer seemed to backfire as Asano Nao opened her eyes the next second and asked, ¡°Where are you nning to y with your friends today, Miu?¡±
Useless handkerchief!
It¡¯spletely ineffective!
Yumemi Miu cursed in her heart.
She didn¡¯t turn to her mother. She didn¡¯t need to look; she could already imagine her mother¡¯s hopeful expression. Her mom, who stayed at home without any friends, always wished Miu had lots of friends.
¡°Today, I¡¯ll just walk around the school,¡± Miu said.
¡°Isn¡¯t the school gate closed?¡±
¡°We can climb over the back wall. Everyone does it.¡±
¡°Amazing, that¡¯s my girl!¡±
Her mother¡¯s praise made Yumemi Miu ufortable. She quickly stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going out to y!¡±
Stepping out of the house and into the zing sunlit open space, the little bit of motivation she had mustered quickly dried up, scorched, and turned to ashes.
She had lied to her mother. She didn¡¯t have any friends.
Before she started school, her mother never allowed her to go out. Every few days, they would visit the hospital. In first grade, their hospital visits decreased, but her grandmother picked her up and dropped her off at school every day, giving her no chance to interact with other kids.
In second grade, her grandmother and mother rxed a bit. Her grandmother brought gifts to the nearest girl¡¯s house, asking the girl to y with Miu and promising weekly snacks as a reward.
That girl only wanted the snacks and had no intention of being friends. Miu found the girls¡¯ games like cat¡¯s cradle childish and uninteresting.
Thus, she and the girl developed a tacit understanding. Miu could lie about having a best friend, and the girl wouldn¡¯t expose her. The girl could receive her grandmother¡¯s ¡°sry¡± without actually being her friend, and Miu wouldn¡¯t expose the girl.
Since her grandmother and mother had moved to the vigeter on, the vigers rarely interacted with them, so they wouldn¡¯t expose the truth either. The deception continued this way.
She wandered aimlessly along the rural paths. The sun was hot, few people were out, and water buffaloes in the fieldsy resting on the ground.
Suddenly, she heard a burst ofughter as a group of children dashed past. Among them was the girl who received ¡°payment¡± from her grandmother. The girl nced at her but continued running without stopping.
Silence returned around her.
What should she tell her mother she did when she returned home?
She pondered while walking.
Unknowingly, she passed by the small shop near the school.
¡°Hey, little girl over there!¡±
A voice suddenly called out to her.
She looked around and confirmed she was the only little girl there.
Are they calling me? She looked in the direction of the voice.
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Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Under the zing sun, the school stood isted in the fields, with low hills lush with greenery behind it. During ss, Yumemi Miu always gazed at the stretching mountains through the window.
The sound didn¡¯te from the direction of the school but from the opposite direction, from a two-story building standing alone in the fields, just like the school, guarding the path to school.
The building had been old, with one room on the ground floor serving as a small shop, the only one in Yori Vige.
Last semester, the elderlydy who ran the shop moved away with her family. The day after they left, a red mini truck and a white van arrived. A group of people in blue uniforms got out of the vehicles and started working on the house.
During that time, the small shop and the construction crew became the hot topic among the students.
A young man who, like Miu¡¯s family, had moved to the vige from elsewhere, took over the house and the shop.
The shop was renovated and became three times its original size. It now had many more snacks and toys, and the wooden door was reced with an automatic one. The teachers said the shop was now almost like a convenience store in the city.
At school, Miu often heard her ssmates nning to visit the shop.
She had never been there. Her family¡¯s snacks and daily supplies were mostly bought online by her mother.At that moment, the voice calling her wasing from the shop.
¡°Hey¡ª!¡±
A fair arm stretched out from behind the shop¡¯s counter, waving at her.
Yumemi Miu confirmed that the person was calling her.
She didn¡¯t want to interact with strangers, and her mother had told her to stay away from handsome men. The new shop owner¡¯s looks could rival those of TV celebrities, so he could be considered handsome.
However, since he had almost called her by name, it was toote to pretend she didn¡¯t hear him.
She walked towards the shop. As she stepped inside, a wave of cool air greeted her, dispelling the heat from her body.
Miu took afortable breath of the cool air.
The arm that called her was still stretched out. She walked to the counter and looked at the owner.
Behind the white counter, there was a small folding bed. The shop¡¯s new owner was lying on it, watching a video on a tablet.
¡°Make me a cup of beef-vored instant noodles. The noodles are on the shelf, and the hot water is in the kettle on the table inside.¡±
The man¡¯s tone was very natural. He nced at her and then returned his attention to the tablet.
Yumemi Miu felt puzzled. Were they close? Otherwise, how could he make such a request so naturally?
She was too shy to refuse. She walked to the shelf, picked up a spicy beef-vored cup noodle, and headed to the back of the shop.
There was a long table in the back, with an electric kettle in the corner.
She picked up the kettle and shook it, then put it down and walked back to the man, poking his leg.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked.
¡°There¡¯s no hot water,¡± Miu said softly.
¡°Just fill it up and boil it. Don¡¯t be so reserved, just act like you¡¯re at home.¡±
I don¡¯t even know you!
How could I possibly act like I¡¯m at home?
Miu thought to herself.
She returned to the shop, filled the kettle, boiled the water, and made the noodles.
During the process, her small head was filled with big questions.
Why am I making noodles for a stranger in his house?
When the noodles were ready, she ced the cup on the counter.
¡°Thanks.¡± The man sat up from the folding bed, propped up his tablet, and continued watching the video while eating the noodles.
His thanks were so casual that Miu felt no sincerity in them.
Feeling a bit dissatisfied, the girl started to walk out of the shop.
¡°Wait a minute,¡± the man called her again. ¡°The mop is in the cleaning room at the back. Could you mop the floor?¡±
Forget about instant noodles, why should I mop the floor for you!
Yumemi Miu was full of doubts.
She wanted to ask the man, but he was engrossed in eating his noodles and watching a video. It was rude to interrupt someone who was focused, so she hesitated.
This hesitationsted for a few minutes, and a new problem emerged: it was also rude to refuse after so much time had passed since he asked.
So, there was only one option left.
Miu walked to the cleaning room and picked up the mop.
The blue mop head scrubbed harshly against the white tiles. Miu vented her frustration on the innocent floor tiles.
Next time, she would definitely refuse decisively!
While mopping, she tried to think of a good excuse to refuse.
A direct refusal was too impolite; it needed to be more tactful.
Right, she could say her mother was waiting for her at home!
With a n in mind, she worked faster. At home, she often cleaned with her mother, so mopping a small shop was no problem.
After washing the mop and putting it away, tidying up the messy cleaning room, and taking out the full trash bag and recing it with a new one, Miu sighed with relief.
She carried the trash bag to the man and said, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡± The man¡¯s tone was still casual and light, his eyes glued to the tablet, not even ncing at her hard work.
His lips paused for a moment before giving a new task: ¡°Help me throw this away too.¡±
He meant the empty cup of noodles. This task was simple, so Miu didn¡¯t refuse.
The girl opened the trash bag in her hand and ced the cup inside.
¡°Can you also get me a charger? There¡¯s one for sale on the shelf; just grab one.¡±
This request was also simple. Miu turned and took a step.
Wait!
Miu, didn¡¯t you decide to refuse?
Even though these tasks were simple, there was no reason for you to do them!
Damn adults, exploiting thebor of a child like me!
She handed the charger to the man and, before he could speak, quickly said, ¡°I have to go home now; my mom is waiting for me.¡±
¡°Really? I was hoping you could help me tidy up the house. Living alone is such a hassle; I¡¯ve been overwhelmed with chorestely. Could you finish this before leaving?¡±
¡°Sorry, it¡¯s gettingte, I have to go.¡± Miu was mentally prepared and had built a solid mental defense, determined not to be his freebor!
¡°I think it would be better if you helped me tidy up the house before leaving.¡±
The man¡¯s words reminded Miu of lines from crime shows. She stepped back in panic, clenching her fists nervously.
¡°No need to be so tense, I¡¯m not threatening you.¡±
The man¡¯s eyes finally left the tablet. That handsome face now had a mischievous smile, and his deep eyes curved into crescents as he looked at her.
He spoke in a lighthearted tone, ¡°How about this? Let¡¯s y a logic puzzle game. Whether or not you can figure out the answer, you can leave. How does that sound?¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Miu was puzzled about what the man was nning.
The next moment, chilling words came from his attractive lips:
¡°Question: On a hot summer day, other kids are either staying home to avoid the heat or ying with friends outside in the sun. But there¡¯s this one girl who neither stays at home nor ys with friends and spends many days wandering alone in the sun. Why is that?¡±
Miu¡¯s body stiffened, staring at the man in shock.
¡°The answer is, she told her mom she was going out to y with friends, but she has no friends, so she can only wander alone until it¡¯s time to go home. This girl is very inconsiderate, right? Her mom would be heartbroken if she knew.¡±
The man suddenly covered his mouth: ¡°Oops, I identally gave away the answer without giving Miu time to think.¡±
He scratched his head as if he was genuinely apologizing.
¡°Miu can leave now, right? Your mom is waiting for you, right?¡± He stood up, looking at Miu with a full smile, ¡°Or, did Miu realize she still has some time to help me tidy up the house?¡±
For the first time, Miu realized someone could smile so beautifully yet instill such fear.
This is a threat, right? Definitely a threat! If I don¡¯t help him clean, he¡¯ll tell my mom!
Just like on TV, some adults are really bad!
Her heart was crying.
¡°I¡¡± She swallowed hard, ¡°I still have some time.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great. Let¡¯s not waste any time, shall we?¡±
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Chapter 45
Chapter 45
¡¾Based on your understanding of Asano Nao and your observation of Yumemi Miu, you noticed that the lonely daughter deceived her foolish mother. You used this information to threaten Yumemi Miu, making her stay by your side to tidy up your house.¡¿
¡¾You¡¯ve been living here for just over two months, and the once tidy house has be very messy. In your past life, you were highly self-sufficient, but in this life, you¡¯ve beenpletely spoiled.¡¿
¡¾In high school, Asano Nao helped you with the cleaning, cooking, andundry; during the years she was away, Chitose Kazumi came over to tidy up for you; after you debuted, you had a little assistant by your side, managing your daily life.¡¿
¡¾Now, living alone, you desperately need someone to take care of you.¡¿
¡¾Who could be more suitable than your daughter?¡¿
On the bed, Minami Yuuki nodded in agreement as he read the simted text.
A daughter taking care of her father is only right!
¡¾Yumemi Miu mopped away the dust on the floor and the table, cleaned the piled-up dishes in the sink, put away the scattered books and CDs, washed your clothes, and hung them on the clothesline in the backyard. While she was tidying up, you followed her around, watching her long, crow-feather-like hair, her eyes full of thoughts, the sweat glistening on her forehead, her slender white fingers¡¡¿
¡¾In her, you clearly saw the figure of Asano Nao, and you were deeply moved.¡¿Is that your reason for watching her do all the work?
Even Minami Yuuki in reality couldn¡¯t stand it and criticized him inwardly.
¡¾Yumemi Miu walked to the sink and sshed water on her face to remove the sweat. You took a towel and helped her wipe her face. Your sudden intimate gesture startled the girl, but she lowered her guard when you handed her an ice cream.¡¿
¡¾The sky was a clear blue, a golden sun hanging in the sky, and the sunlight was blinding from indoors.¡¿
¡¾In the distance, parents were calling their children home. Yumemi Miu quickly finished her ice cream and was about to go home.¡¿
¡¾You bid her farewell and reminded her toe over again tomorrow.¡¿
¡¾Your demand took Yumemi Miu by surprise. She thought she only had to endure this once, not realizing you intended to exploit her long-term.¡¿
¡¾She wanted to refuse, but she was afraid you would tell Asano Nao about her non-existent friends. She didn¡¯t want to upset her mother, so she reluctantly agreed to your demand.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu¡¯s social anxiety was much milder than Asano Nao¡¯s. She was not good at refusing but would work sluggishly. She didn¡¯t arrive at your house until eleven the next morning.¡¿
¡¾You took her to the kitchen and had her make lunch for you.¡¿
A memory scene appeared.
Yumemi Miu, with a stern face, brought the prepared dishes to the table. When she put down the bowls and chopsticks, she did it with extra force, creating a loud noise to show her displeasure.
Minami Yuukiy on the tatami, fiddling with the record yer. He nced at the girl and smiled.
¡°It¡¯s done, I¡¯m going home!¡± Yumemi Miu took off her apron, folded it neatly, and ced it on the kitchen rack, ready to leave.
¡°No need to rush. Why don¡¯t you sit down and eat with me?¡± Minami Yuuki turned on the record yer, and the deep sound of a piano filled the room. He had recently rekindled his interest in ssical music.
¡°My mom is waiting for me to eat at home.¡± Yumemi Miu didn¡¯t stop walking and was already at the door leading to the backyard, intending to leave through it.
¡°Just tell her you had lunch at a friend¡¯s house.¡±
Minami Yuuki¡¯s words made Yumemi Miu pause.
¡°Having lunch at a friend¡¯s house is quite normal, right? You always say you¡¯re with friends, but your mother has never seen them or felt their presence. She must have some doubts by now.¡±
Minami Yuuki took his phone out of his pocket and ced it on the table: ¡°At this moment, if you tell your mother you¡¯re having lunch at a friend¡¯s house using this phone, it would surely put her at ease, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
Yumemi Miu couldn¡¯t outright refuse. She knew her mother had a knack for imagining the worst, and she must have already considered the possibility that Miu¡¯s friends were non-existent. She did need some evidence to reassure her mother.
Having lunch at a friend¡¯s house would be strong evidence.
But was agreeing to this man who ordered her around and threatened her really the right thing to do?
¡°By the way,¡± Minami Yuuki suddenly pped the table, ¡°there¡¯s a box of hairy crabs in the fridge. Miu, why don¡¯t you steam them, and we¡¯ll eat together.¡±
¡°Hairy crabs?¡± Yumemi Miu quickly turned her head and stared at Minami Yuuki.
¡°A friend from Hokkaido sent them. There should be four in a white box. They were alive yesterday, but I¡¯m not sure about today,¡± Minami Yuuki exined.
Hokkaido hairy crabs are a well-known delicacy in Japan. Since they cannot be farmed yet, their price remains high, making them a very precious ingredient.
He mentioned the hairy crabs just to keep the conversation going. Since they were already talking about what to eat, it seemed natural to suggest staying for a meal.
What he didn¡¯t expect was Yumemi Miu¡¯s intense reaction to the mention of hairy crabs.
Could it be that this daughter of his is a foodie?
¡°The ones on the second shelf of the fridge? I¡¯ll go make them now.¡± Yumemi Miu turned around and hurried to the kitchen.
¡°Call your mom first,¡± Minami Yuuki was worried that Asano Nao might be concerned.
¡°No, the longer we wait, the less fresh they will be!¡± Yumemi Miu refused him without hesitation.
The determination and firmness in her words were much stronger than when she had said she wanted to go home.
Only after preparing and steaming the crabs did Miu have time to take Minami Yuuki¡¯s phone and inform her mother that she would be eating at a friend¡¯s house.
Even while making the call, she stayed close to the crabs, fearing any mishap.
When the crabs were finally served, Minami Yuuki took back his phone from the girl and looked at the number in the call log, his smile growing even brighter.
He had gotten Asano Nao¡¯s new number.
¡°What are you smiling about?¡± Yumemi Miu sensed something was wrong.
¡°Now I have your mom¡¯s number. If you don¡¯t do a good job for me, I¡¯ll call your mom!¡± Minami Yuukiughed heartily. ¡°Finish eating quickly, then help me tidy up the yard!¡±
Yumemi Miu¡¯s chopsticks fell on the table, her eyes widening in shock.
So this was a trap!
On the surface, it seemed like he invited her to eat, but in reality, it was to get her mom¡¯s number and to upy her afternoon after the meal!
Adults are so cunning!
With tears in her eyes, she picked up a hairy crab.
It was delicious!
The moment the crab meat touched her tongue, all her worries vanished.
Maybe this isn¡¯t so bad. Instead of wandering around in the scorching sun, it¡¯s better toe here, do some work, and enjoy the air conditioning.
¡¾You used your words to keep her for a meal. The happiness on her face because of the delicious food reached your heart across the table. Since Asano Nao left, you hadn¡¯t felt such warmth.¡¿
¡¾From then on, every time you had Yumemi Miu do some chores, you would bring out some tasty food or snacks to treat her. Gradually, without needing any reminders, the girl would show up at your house every morning. She came earlier and earlier, starting with making lunch, then preparing breakfast, and finally waking you up.¡¿
¡¾Your bond with her grew stronger.¡¿
¡¾At the end of the summer vacation, after several days of continuous rain, she still came to your house in her cute red raincoat.¡¿
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Chapter 46
Chapter 46
¡¾The first person to discover your secret was Yumemi Miu¡¯s grandmother.¡¿
¡¾This careless, clumsy old woman, who was already eighty years old, uncovered the truth when she brought snacks to the girl who had taken on her request and thanked her for the meal. The girl failed to respond properly, and the truth was exposed.¡¿
¡¾The clouds and rain that came with the typhoon finally dispersed. In the morning, the long-awaited sun hung in the blue sky. The clouds were thick, blocking most of the sunlight.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu, under the supervision of Asano Nao, took her medicine and hurried out the door. She didn¡¯t notice that her grandmother was following her, trailing behind as she passed the house of the girl who had taken on her request and left the area where the vige houses were clustered.¡¿
¡¾The view became expansive, and the water in the roadside ditch reflected the somewhat dim sunlight, which wavered with the water ripples.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu walked briskly towards the school. She already saw the sign of the small shop and knew she would reach it after turning a corner.¡¿
¡¾As she turned, she habitually nced around and saw her grandmother standing under a tree.¡¿
¡¾Having been discovered, the old woman gave up following and walked straight to Yumemi Miu, asking where she was going and who she had been with these days.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu couldn¡¯t hide it anymore and said she was ying at your house, but she didn¡¯t mention that you were making her do things.¡¿¡¾The old woman had heard about you from the vigers: a single person of advanced age, returned from the city to the countryside toze around, idling away. That was her impression of you.¡¿
¡¾In her view, you were just like her granddaughter, a useless NEET. She was afraid Miu would be influenced by you, and she sternly told Miu not to associate with you and made her promise.¡¿
Closing his eyes, Minami Yuuki saw the memory scene.
¡°Hurry up and say it, you must never associate with him again!¡± The old woman grasped her great-granddaughter¡¯s arm, her expression stern.
Yumemi Miu lowered her head, staring at the ants on the ground, showing her attitude.
¡°Miu, you know, both your mother and grandmother don¡¯t want you to be someone who can only stay at home, so you can¡¯t be with such a person, understand?¡± The old woman switched to a gentle tone.
Yumemi Miu remained motionless. On the ground, a group of ants lifted a small beetle¡¯s corpse, marching towards their nest.
¡°Alright, if you think not speaking means I can¡¯t do anything, you¡¯re mistaken!¡±
The old woman was furious. Miu had always been an obedient and sensible child and had never resisted her like this.
She looked at the shop ahead. It must be that shut-in youth who had corrupted her Miu!
She strode towards that direction.
¡°Grandmother, what are you going to do?¡± Yumemi Miu sensed something was wrong and hurried to the old woman¡¯s side.
¡°What am I going to do? I¡¯m going to give him a good scolding! A bachelor, leaving an unfamiliar little girl at his house, how outrageous!¡±
¡°No, stop it!¡±
Yumemi Miu reached out to pull her back. Just the thought of her grandmother barging into Uncle Minami¡¯s house and scolding him made her very scared. Uncle would definitely be very angry, and knowing it was her fault that Uncle got so mad made her feel so guilty she wanted to cry.
The old woman ignored her and, shaking off her hand, walked even faster towards the house.
¡°I promise!¡± Yumemi Miu hugged her grandmother¡¯s leg, ¡°I won¡¯t go there anymore, is that not enough?¡±
Tears streamed from her eyes, and she buried her face in her grandmother¡¯s leg. The tiny sobs blended into the summer morning¡¯s sunlight, hazy and dim.
¡°No!¡± The old woman paused, then suddenly said.
Before Yumemi Miu could ask why it wasn¡¯t enough, the old woman grabbed her shoulders and pushed her in front, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were going to his ce. If it¡¯s him, there¡¯s no problem. You can go. You can even stay overnight there.¡±
Yumemi Miu was about to burst into tears, but upon hearing her grandmother¡¯s words, the crying got stuck in her throat. She looked ahead with tear-filled eyes.
In front of the small shop, a young man¡¯s figure emerged. He had his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall, looking at them with a very nonchnt posture.
¡°Go ahead, remember to listen to him,¡± the old woman gave Yumemi Miu another push.
The girl turned to look at her, confirming she wasn¡¯t speaking sarcastically or mockingly, and took a step forward.
The old woman stood still, watching the small, tearful figure walk towards therger figure leaning against the wall. The two figures held hands and went into the house together.
In her heart, surprise, fear, joy, and confusion mixed together. She recalled the youth¡¯s name that the vigers had mentioned. Yes, it was Minami Yuuki. Why hadn¡¯t she remembered it immediately?
That figure, she had seen it from a distance in Misaki City, and had scrutinized it in the photo album her granddaughter had hidden. That was Miu¡¯s father, Nao¡¯s boyfriend.
Why had hee to Yori Vige? How had he gotten the news? What did he want? To settle ounts? To take Miu away? Or¡ to find Nao?
How should she tell Nao about this?
The elderly woman stood for a long time and decided to act as if she knew nothing. Let the young people resolve their own matters.
She turned to go back.
The clouds gradually thinned, and the sun slowly climbed higher, shedding its early morningziness and casting intense light. Those who had ventured out while the sun was still mild now cursed as they hurried back home.
Minami Yuuki sat on the tatami mat in the living room, looking at Yumemi Miu, who was still wiping away her tears.
The girl had been terribly frightened and had been sobbing for a long time.
¡°Can you still make barbecue for me like this?¡± Minami Yuuki sighed deliberately.
¡°Grandma just told me not toe to your ce anymore! I¡¯m so sad, and all you can think about is eating! How can I have the heart to cook?¡± Yumemi Miu wiped her tears with a tissue, ring at him with her tear-streaked face.
¡°You have a point. In that case, let¡¯s forget about that Yonezawa beef and just have instant noodles.¡± Minami Yuuki stood up, pretending to head to the convenience store for cup noodles, watching the girl from the corner of his eye.
The girl ran up behind him and grabbed his shirt.
¡°Yonezawa beef?¡± She looked up with her tear-streaked face, staring at Minami Yuuki nervously.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°Marbled Yonezawa beef?¡±
¡°Yes, but it¡¯s a pity you¡¯re not in the mood to cook.¡±
¡°I am! Where¡¯s the beef? Where¡¯s the grill? And the hot pot! I want to make sukiyaki too!¡±
The girl quickly ran to the kitchen, her eyes still wet with tears, but her lips were already smiling.
After bustling about for a while, she brought everything to the table.
¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡±
She ate a piece of grilled beef, then a piece of beef dipped in raw egg, swaying happily.
¡°Don¡¯t just eat by yourself, give me some too.¡± Minami Yuuki yawned. He had grown tired of high-end ingredients long ago.
Yumemi Miu picked up some grilled and boiled beef and ced it on Minami Yuuki¡¯s te,ining:
¡°Uncle, you¡¯re gettingzier andzier. Soon you¡¯ll want me to feed you too.¡±
¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Miu. You¡¯ve spoiled me, so you have to take responsibility!¡±
¡°Huh? Is it really my fault?¡±
Yumemi Miu panicked.
She had breakfast at home and soon couldn¡¯t eat anymore, so she just watched Minami Yuuki eat, still having to serve him meat and vegetables.
¡°Do you know my grandmother?¡± She thought of her grandmother¡¯s change in attitude.
Her grandmother¡¯s attitude had shifted from wanting to separate them to supporting them after seeing Minami Yuuki.
¡°I do. I told you before, if questioned, just give my name and description, or bring them to meet me.¡±
Minami Yuuki was toozy to use his chopsticks. Hey beside Miu, opening his mouth for her to feed him.
¡°You might choke like that.¡±
¡°Trust me, I know what I¡¯m doing!¡±
Yumemi Miu picked up a piece of beef, carefully holding her hand underneath to catch any dripping juices, and put it in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mouth.
Minami Yuuki wasn¡¯t lying; he had a remarkable ability to eat while lying down.
¡°Why did Grandma change so much after seeing you? She even said I could live at your ce. Before, she always insisted Ie home by evening.¡± Yumemi Miu was very confused. Her usually overly concerned grandmother was now letting her do as she pleased.
¡°Because¡ I have some leverage over her!¡±
¡°Is that so!¡±
Rting it to her own experiences, Yumemi Miu immediately believed him.
She felt she had learned a new skill!
Yes, as long as you have leverage!
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Chapter 47
Chapter 47
¡¾Yumemi Miu¡¯s grandmother¡¯s attitude took a drastic turn upon seeing your figure. She recognized you.¡¿
¡¾She hadn¡¯t expected to see you here. When she first arrived in Yori Vige, she had imagined you would find your way here. You didn¡¯t show up. She thought about going to Misaki City to see you, but had to stop due to Asano Nao¡¯s attitude.¡¿
¡¾Now, she had prepared for Asano Nao and Yumemi Miu to face the world on their own, but you suddenly appeared.¡¿
¡¾She couldn¡¯t gauge your reasons or intentions foring over. In matters concerning Asano Nao, she decided to wait and see. However, regarding Yumemi Miu, she encouraged the girl to get close to you and even helped cover for her, ensuring that Asano Nao wouldn¡¯t find out.¡¿
¡¾Summer vacation ended, and Yumemi Miu had to start attending sses. Under the grandmother¡¯s cover, Miu woke up half an hour early every day to prepare breakfast for you and also made lunch boxes. After school, she came over to make dinner and helped tidy up the house. You always prepared delicious food for her.¡¿
¡¾Your rtionship with Yumemi Miu grew closer, and she became morefortable around you.¡¿
¡¾She discovered your practice room and saw your many instruments. After watching you practice once, she pestered you to teach her.¡¿
¡¾Faced with her request, you decided¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°Follow in your father¡¯s footsteps!¡±¡¿¡¾2. ¡°Inherit your father¡¯s greatest power!¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Your destiny should be your own choice!¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free simtion¡¿
Minami Yuuki looked at the options, interpreting them.
Option one likely referred to the trumpet, the instrument he used to get into Misaki Arts University. Option two was probably the guitar, as he was currently best at pop rock music. Option three could mean any instrument, depending on Yumemi Miu¡¯s preference.
¡°Wow, all the options are about teaching something; there¡¯s no option to refuse her. Spoiling his daughter so much, huh?¡± Minami Yuuki remarked.
Scanning the options again, he wondered what each would lead to. The information was too sparse, leaving only baseless spection.
The guitar might lead Yumemi Miu down a rock music path, which could be too loud and harsh for her delicate heart.
The trumpet was problematic too. In thest simted life, Yumemi Miu learned the trumpet and ended up in the hospital with a heart condition. While it was unclear if the trumpet was the cause, it risked repeating that life.
So, the only choice left was option three.
He chose three.
¡¾You decided to let Yumemi Miu choose for herself. The girl wandered around the practice rooms and sat at the piano.¡¿
¡¾You began teaching her to y.¡¿
¡¾During your years with the band, you didn¡¯t just focus on pop music. You earned your doctorate and learned many instruments. Aside from the guitar, your original favorite was the trumpet, but now both were taking a back seat to the piano.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu had a natural talent for music and learned quickly. By the end of the third semester, she could properly y a piece, earning your praise.¡¿
¡¾During winter break, she came to your house early every morning and returned home in the evenings. Apart from taking care of you, she spent all her time on the piano.¡¿
¡¾Her love for the piano became the reason she was found out.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao felt neglected, seeing her daughter running out all day, only around for meals and sleep.¡¿
¡¾One snowy day, she acted cutesy with Yumemi Miu, asking her to stay home today. Yumemi Miu agreed.¡¿
¡¾She called you to take the day off,ining about her mother¡¯s behavior. You felt a pang of jealousy, envious that Asano Nao could be cutesy with Yumemi Miu and that Yumemi Miu could receive it.¡¿
Reading the simtion text, Minami Yuuki clicked his tongue in amazement. Jealous of his own wife and daughter? That¡¯s beyond saving.
It looked like Asano Nao was finally going to discover his existence!
What would happen next?
He continued reading.
¡¾Asano Nao never goes out. The only things she does with her daughter are housework and ying games. She took out her treasured game discs to choose her favorite game, but in the end, she put in the one you y often.¡¿
¡¾She spent the whole day ying games with Yumemi Miu. In the evening, during a game¡¯s cutscene, she put down the controller and went out to get barley tea, leaving Yumemi Miu alone in the room. When she came back, she found the girl holding her phone, ying a virtual piano.¡¿
¡¾The girl¡¯s fingers moved skillfully, and a familiar tune flowed smoothly from her fingertips.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao had learned piano when she was young, so she knew very well that someone who hadn¡¯t studied piano couldn¡¯t y so well.¡¿
¡¾Where had her daughter learned to y the piano? Was there really someone in this vige who could teach piano? Was it the music teacher at school? Or did she learn through the inte? Asano Nao was full of doubts.¡¿
¡¾She decided to investigate on her own first.¡¿
¡¾After drinking the barley tea, it was alreadyte. Asano Nao took her daughter to the bathroom to bathe and coaxed her to sleep.¡¿
¡¾Once Yumemi Miu was sound asleep, she carefully got out of bed and went to her grandmother¡¯s room. She told the old woman what she had discovered and asked if she had any clues.¡¿
¡¾The olddy, who had been through many tough times and was a good liar, couldn¡¯t muster her usual skill in front of her granddaughter.¡¿
¡¾The olddy stammered, iming she didn¡¯t know about it. Asano Nao saw through her lie. She knew that her grandmother generally wouldn¡¯t deceive her. Something very serious must have happened to Miu, serious enough that her grandmother wanted to help cover it up.¡¿
¡¾The olddy, afraid that she would overthink, reassured her that it wasn¡¯t a bad thing and might even be a good thing. She suggested that if Asano Nao really wanted to know, she could quietly follow Yumemi Miu the next morning after she left the house.¡¿
¡¾Asano Naoy back in bed, tossing and turning. She had long noticed her daughter¡¯s unusual behavior but had attributed it to friendships with ymates. Now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case at all. She wondered, do Miu¡¯s friends even exist?¡¿
¡¾She also thought about her grandmother¡¯s words. To know the truth, she only had to follow Miu the next morning. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it; just the thought of going out tormented her.¡¿
¡¾At dawn, Yumemi Miu woke from her sleep to find her mother sitting by the bed, looking exhausted, which startled her.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao had made a decision. She directly asked her daughter about her piano skills and where she went every day when she left the house.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu panicked for a moment, but she soon remembered your words and how her grandmother¡¯s attitude had changed immediately after meeting you.¡¿
¡¾The girl truthfully told her mother that she learned piano from the uncle at the corner store and that she went there every day.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao pressed her for details about how they met.¡¿
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Chapter 48
Chapter 48
¡¾Under her mother¡¯s questioning, Yumemi Miu hesitated for a long time. She remembered your advice and decided to tell the truth.¡¿
¡¾The girl started with her friend, exining how she and the other girl had an understanding. She said she was going out to y, but she was actually just wandering around outside.¡¿
¡¾Then, she talked about that morning during summer vacation when she aimlessly walked to the front of the convenience store and was called inside by the shopkeeper, who then threatened her with that incident.¡¿
¡¾Isn¡¯t this coercion? And forcing an elementary school student to do chores for him! Asano Nao was furious. There was something vaguely familiar about the scene. She felt like she had seen it somewhere before, but she didn¡¯t dwell on this sense of familiarity.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu continued her story, mentioning how the shopkeeper would give her tasty treats and even teach her to y the piano.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao¡¯s anger subsided a bit, thinking that the shopkeeper might not be all that bad. However, she still felt indignant. No matter what, a single man tricking a little girl into taking care of him was too much!¡¿
A memory scene appeared.
Asano Nao clenched her fists, her face serious. ¡°Where is he? I¡¯m going to have a good talk with him!¡±
¡°Eh? Are you sure?¡± Yumemi Miu looked at her in confusion. ¡°Can Mom even walk out to face him?¡±Asano Nao wanted to firmly say she could, but she couldn¡¯t do it.
¡°I can¡ I think?¡± She looked at her daughter.
¡°It¡¯s a question after all,¡± Yumemi Miu sighed.
Seeing the disappointment on her daughter¡¯s face stirred courage within Asano Nao. ¡°I can do it!¡±
She got out of bed and rummaged through the bedroom for a while. She put on a knitted hat, a thick coat, and a pair of ck sunsses over a white mask.
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She pulled the hood of her coat over her head, shoved her hands into her sleeves, fully armed.
¡°Mom, can you talk properly when you see Uncle?¡±
¡°Of course I can¡ probably. At least I want him to know that the thing he used to threaten you no longer exists!¡±
¡°Okay, Uncle gets up at eight every day. We still have more than an hour.¡±
Outside, the snow that had fallen all day had finally stopped. The snow on the ground reached up to their ankles. Many vigers were shoveling the snow in their yards and on the roads.
Yumemi Miu, wearing a thick red down jacket and a red knitted hat, walked happily in the snow.
It was her first time walking out with her mom. They always took a taxi when going to the hospital.
Grandmother came along too, as her mother had insisted on bringing her. Her mother was too scared to face Uncle alone.
Come to think of it, I forgot to tell Mom Uncle¡¯s name? Anyway, as a shut-in, Mom probably doesn¡¯t know him. I¡¯ll just tell her when we meet.
As they left the yard, Yumemi Miu bent down, made a fist-sized snowball, and threw it at her mother. The snowball hit Asano Nao¡¯s head and slid off her knitted hat.
¡°Don¡¯t bully Mom. Come hold Mom¡¯s hand.¡± Asano Nao patted her knitted hat and continued to look around.
Her reaction was too weak, dampening Yumemi Miu¡¯s enthusiasm.
¡°I don¡¯t want to hold hands. I¡¯m a big kid now.¡± The girl put her hands behind her back, mimicking an olddy¡¯s walk.
¡°I know Miu is a big kid now. Soe hold Mom¡¯s hand, or Mom might get lost!¡±
¡°Eh?¡±
Yumemi Miu scratched her head.
Could Mom really get lost? Could it be a verbal trap? Intentionally putting herself in a weak position to gain sympathy?
Yumemi Miu studied her mother. Her cowering, anxious appearance didn¡¯t look like she was acting at all.
She had no choice but to walk to her mother¡¯s side, extending her hand d in a red glove to hold her mother¡¯s white-gloved hand.
In the snow, a big and a small set of footprints were close together.
After leaving the vige center and walking a little further, they arrived at a house.
Yumemi Miu led her mother into the backyard. The sliding door to the living room was locked. She took a key from under a flowerpot and unlocked the door.
¡°Come in.¡± She pushed open the sliding door and warmly invited her mother and grandmother inside.
Asano Nao was stunned by her daughter¡¯s practiced actions. It wasn¡¯t until the elderly woman behind her nudged her that she snapped out of her daze.
¡°No, I can¡¯t go in like this,¡± Asano Nao shook her head. ¡°You bring him out.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Yumemi Miu lifted her head and shouted upstairs, ¡°Uncle! My mom is here,e down quickly!¡±
After a while, azy male voice came from upstairs, ¡°Wait a moment. Miu, entertain your mom.¡±
¡°See, uncle knows. Mom and grandma,e in quickly.¡± Yumemi Miu reached to pull her mother¡¯s hand.
¡°No need, I¡¯ll stay right here.¡±
Asano Nao refused firmly. She was somewhat angry. What did that man¡¯s words mean? ¡°Miu, entertain your mom,¡± as if this was Miu¡¯s home and she was an outsider!
A great sense of crisis arose in her heart.
Was this shop¡¯s uncle trying to take Miu away from her? And with premeditation?
Miu was her and Yuuki-kun¡¯s child, no one could take her away!
She squeezed her daughter¡¯s hand tightly, and the girl looked up at her in confusion.
¡°You¡¯re not allowed toe here anymore!¡± Asano Nao told her daughter.
¡°Well, grandma said the same thing before, it scared me to death, but she changed her mind right away.¡± Yumemi Miu believed that her uncle could also make her mom change her mind.
The girl¡¯s words made Asano Nao frown, highlighting a doubt she had overlooked.
Asano Nao thought, grandma indeed knew clearly about this!
Why didn¡¯t grandma tell her the truth, why did she cover for this shop¡¯s uncle?
She turned to look at grandma, only to see the olddy had quietly retreated outside the yard gate. Noticing her gaze, the olddy started to run quickly, disappearing in no time.
Asano Nao was stunned. Grandma, why are you running away?
She was about to chase after her when Yumemi Miu suddenly broke free from her grasp and ran towards the living room.
¡°Uncle ising down!¡±
Her words were joyful, her steps light, like a young cub seeing its parents, darting towards the young man walking out.
The young man had his hands behind his back. When the girl got close, he raised a hand and threw a snowball at her head.
The girl¡¯s joyful mood and her happy run to reunite were all knocked down by the snowball. She never expected to be hit by a snowball at this moment, so she held her head, stunned.
The young man¡¯s heartyughter woke her from her daze, and she stomped her foot in anger, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re so childish!¡±
The girl turned her face away, deciding to ignore him.
¡°Alright, quickly call your mom in.¡± Minami Yuuki patted her head.
It was only then that Yumemi Miu remembered her mom.
She looked towards the yard and found her mom standing there rigidly, not speaking or moving, as if she had also been hit by an unexpected snowball.
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Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Asano Nao stared at the man next to her daughter. He was the man she had met countless times in her dreams and thought about endlessly. He was her lover, Miu¡¯s father.
She understood now why Grandma had kept it a secret and why she ran away. The uncle at the small shop was him.
She wanted to turn and run. The cold winter wind, carrying fine snow from the ground, blew against her body. She felt her body and mind freeze.
She couldn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t think.
Yumemi Miu finished picking up the snowballs on the ground and ran to her side, pulling her into the house and seating her at the low table.
The mother and daughter sat on one side, while Minami Yuuki sat across from them. The young man sat cross-legged, leaning back, smiling, his eyes fixed on Asano Nao.
Asano Nao kept her head down, not daring to look at Minami Yuuki.
The air conditioner had just been turned on, and the temperature in the living room was slowly rising, but the atmosphere was chilling. Yumemi Miu took off her coat, looking at her silent mother and then at the uncle whose eyes never left her mother.
What¡¯s going on?Her little head couldn¡¯t figure out theplicated situation.
¡°Uncle, you haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. I¡¯ll make something.¡± She didn¡¯t want to wait any longer. She pulled her legs out from under the table and stood up.
¡°I want noodles, with onions, gluten, and seaweed.¡± Minami Yuuki shifted his gaze from Asano Nao to Yumemi Miu.
¡°I don¡¯t know where the noodles are, Uncle. Can you help me find them?¡±
Yumemi Miu, who knew Minami Yuuki¡¯s house better than her own, couldn¡¯t possibly not know where the noodles were. This was just an excuse to talk to Minami Yuuki privately.
¡°Okay.¡± Minami Yuuki first went to the door leading to the backyard, locked the sliding door, and then followed Yumemi Miu into the kitchen.
¡°Uncle, can you handle my mom?¡± Yumemi Miu opened the refrigerator, took out the ingredients, and started preparing.
¡°No problem, don¡¯t worry.¡± Minami Yuuki took out some oolong tea and poured himself a cup.
¡°Mom just told me she wanted to separate us, Uncle! Don¡¯t be fooled by her looks; she¡¯s very stubborn!¡±
¡°Just cook the noodles. After I eat, I¡¯ll show you how easily your mom can be dealt with.¡±
Minami Yuuki put the oolong tea back in the fridge, patted Yumemi Miu¡¯s head, and returned to the living room.
Yumemi Miu quickly finished cooking the noodles, watching nervously as Minami Yuuki ate.
Minami Yuuki ced his chopsticks on the bowl and looked at Asano Nao. Feeling his gaze, Asano Nao shivered.
¡°Miu told me you want her to leave me?¡± he said.
Huh?
So direct!
Yumemi Miu was startled.
¡°¡No.¡± Asano Nao panicked and decided to deny it.
Hey? Mom, if you say that, it makes it look like I lied to Uncle!
Yumemi Miu was even more startled.
She hurriedly stood up to exin, but Asano Nao grabbed her waist with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, holding her in her arms to prevent her from speaking.
¡°Mmm!¡± Yumemi Miu struggled.
¡°So, you have no objections to Miuing here in the future?¡± Minami Yuuki asked again.
¡°¡No.¡± Asano Nao answered.
Yumemi Miu sensed something was wrong.
She stopped resisting, looked up at her mother, and then at Minami Yuuki. Her mother¡¯s expression was hidden by sunsses and a mask, while Minami Yuuki¡¯s expression was serious. Except when performing, this was the first time she had seen Minami Yuuki like this.
¡°Take off your hat, mask, and sunsses,¡± Minami Yuuki said again.
Mom would never take those off! She relied on them toe out!
Yumemi Miu wanted to smooth things over and help her mother exin, but she saw her mother release her, reaching for her face.
Huh?
Asano Nao pulled down the hood of her coat, took off her knit hat, removed her sunsses, and took off her mask.
Her somewhat pale face came into view of both Yumemi Miu and Minami Yuuki.
Yumemi Miu was shocked again.
She touched her mother¡¯s forehead, suspecting her mental state. She looked at Minami Yuuki, wondering if he had cast some spell.
From the moment she saw Uncle, Mom had been acting very strange!
She saw that the once upright uncle was now lying on his side, his posture more rxed, and the sternness on his face had faded.
¡°My waist and neck are a bit sore, give me a massage,¡± Minami Yuuki said as he turned over andy face down on the tatami mat.
Yumemi Miu stood up, grumbling internally: Uncle, look at the situation! My mom is still here, and you want to order her daughter around in front of her?
Before she could stand properly, a figure had already knelt beside her uncle and started massaging him.
Mom, why are you taking my job!
No, wait, was the request originally meant for Mom?
What is going on? Why is my extremely shy mom listening to Uncle so obediently and even daring to touch him!
Yumemi Miu stumbled back in shock and fell onto the tatami mat. She pinched her leg to make sure she wasn¡¯t dreaming and rubbed her eyes to confirm she wasn¡¯t seeing things.
At this moment, Uncle made another move. He raised his head and said, ¡°The tatami is too hard. Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡±
He got up, pulled Mom¡¯s hand, and headed upstairs. Mom kept her head down, without a hint of resistance, and followed him up the stairs.
This is it, isn¡¯t it?
The kind of scene in TV shows where the screen goes ck and then a long time passes!
Yumemi Miu covered her face and peeked at the two going upstairs through her fingers.
Why, Mom, do you have to do that with Uncle as soon as you meet him!
Something¡¯s wrong, something¡¯s very wrong!
It¡¯s not surprising that Uncle likes to order people around, but what¡¯s going on with you, Mom?
Yumemi Miu was troubled and deep in thought.
¡°Hey, Miu!¡±
A low voice called to her from the backyard.
She turned to see her grandmother crouching by the door, beckoning her.
She turned off the air conditioner in the living room, put on her coat, and opened the sliding ss door to go out.
¡°Let¡¯s go home, Miu. Don¡¯t disturb them,¡± Grandma said, holding her hand.
¡°Did Grandma see what just happened?¡± Yumemi Miu asked.
¡°Yes. But don¡¯t worry, Miu.¡±
¡°But Mom and Uncle went upstairs. Why is Mom so obedient to Uncle?¡±
Grandma hesitated for a moment, thinking it wasn¡¯t her ce to reveal the truth, so she softened the facts.
¡°Because your mom also has something Uncle is holding over her,¡± she said.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s why!¡± Yumemi Miu eximed in sudden realization.
Thinking about it, everything made sense now.
Mom sees Uncle, remembers her secret, and thus obeys Uncle without defiance!
¡°But isn¡¯t it too much for Uncle to use that secret to make Mom go upstairs?¡± She had a new doubt.
This question concerned Uncle¡¯s integrity.
¡°Doesn¡¯t Uncle also use your secrets to threaten you? Do you think he¡¯s too much?¡± Grandma smiled.
Yumemi Miu thought for a moment and concluded, ¡°I think Uncle is a good person. Even though I¡¯m being threatened, it¡¯s kind of fun.¡±
¡°Exactly. As long as the person being threatened doesn¡¯t mind, it¡¯s not really a threat. It¡¯s just their unique way of interacting, like a game just for the two of them.¡±
¡°I get it now!¡± Yumemi Miu said, enlightened.
Grandma held her great-granddaughter¡¯s hand, adding two new sets of footprints next to the ones they had made earlier.
¡°By the way,¡± Grandma suddenly had a bright idea, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like Mom to go out and y with you?¡±
¡°Of course I would, but Mom never goes out,¡± Yumemi Miu said.
¡°Go and act spoiled to Uncle, get him to ¡®threaten¡¯ your mom, and then she¡¯ll go out with you!¡±
¡°There¡¯s such a way? Grandma, you¡¯re so clever!¡±
¡°Of course. When I was young, I had my fun too!¡±
Under the pure white sky, snowkes were gently falling again. The snow was fine, silentlynding on rooftops and tree branches. It was near noon, and the vige children and the young-at-heart adults were building snowmen in the snowy weather.
Yumemi Miu built one in front of her house and, with her grandmother¡¯s permission, went to build another one in Minami Yuuki¡¯s backyard.
Upstairs, Minami Yuuki sat by the bed, lifting the curtain to watch the girl below.
The air conditioner hummed softly, warming the bedroom considerably.
He turned his head to look at the woman on the bed.
The woman was secretly watching him.
When she saw his sudden gaze, she quickly pulled the nket over her face to hide her expression.
Minami Yuuki smiled. After nearly ten years apart, they were still so in sync, and Asano Nao was still so shy.
He leaned down to pull the nket off Asano Nao¡¯s face, but she held it tightly, not letting it go easily.
So, he changed tactics and went to lift the other end of the nket.
Asano Nao immediately let go, revealing a face flushed with red. Her watery eyes had nowhere to settle their gaze. She nced at Minami Yuuki and then quickly looked elsewhere, letting her eyes roam over the room¡¯s furnishings.
Minami Yuuki gave her a light kiss on her rosy lips and patted her leg. ¡°Get up. Let¡¯s go downstairs and build a snowman with Miu.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to go down,¡± Asano Nao said, covering her face with the nket again, feeling both shy and frustrated.
After what they had done, how could she face Miu?
¡°Eh? Does that mean sister wants to stay and keep mepany? I wouldn¡¯t mind that at all,¡± Minami Yuuki teased, pausing his movement towards the wardrobe.
¡°Let¡¯s go down,¡± Asano Nao sat up.
¡°Oh? Does that mean sister dislikes mypany?¡± Minami Yuuki teased again.
¡°No! I don¡¯t¡¡± Asano Nao quickly denied, meeting Minami Yuuki¡¯s teasing gaze and realizing she had been tricked.
She dared not stay too long with this man she had longed for day and night. His voice, more mature than in his youth, the unchanged smile at the corners of his mouth, the new scent of his shower gel, his strong arms, his firm chest¡ all made her feel happy.
The man was the embodiment of happiness.
Happiness was the concept in his words; happiness was him. This small bedroom was filled with his scent. His every move, every nce was a projection of happiness in reality.
She dared not stay here too long, fearing she would drown in this sea of happiness.
¡°Let Miu y by herself for a while longer,¡± Minami Yuuki said, sitting back on the bed.
[After learning about her daughter¡¯s experiences, Asano Nao came to confront you. The moment she saw you, she lost her purpose, lost her words, and you led her to relive old memories.]
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Chapter 50
Chapter 50
[Asano Nao felt both happiness and sorrow upon reuniting with you.]
[She worried that you might ask about her sudden departure, about Yumemi Miu¡¯s existence, about her experiences and emotions over the past few years, and pull her back to the past, back to talking about marriage and the future.]
[Her worries werepletely unnecessary. You didn¡¯t ask her anything, nor did you bring up your present or future together. You only brought her to your house when needed or when Yumemi Miu requested it. You didn¡¯t let her live with you, nor did you cling to her.]
[At first, Asano Nao felt panicked. But after getting used to it, she thought this kind of life wasn¡¯t so bad. She felt relieved that you didn¡¯t have expectations of her. If you could marry another woman, she would feel even more at ease.]
¡°¡¡¡±
So you are this kind of woman!
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but exim as he read this. He pushed aside the simtor panel and pinched his nose.
His previous yful spection was correct; Asano Nao was not suited to be a wife but rather a lover.
A wife needs to bear the expectations of her husband and the burdens of the family, but Asano Nao neither wanted nor could bear these emotional pressures. In contrast, while a lover has no material guarantees, she bears much less emotionally.In other words, Asano Nao is a woman who only wants to y and doesn¡¯t want to take responsibility!
Minami Yuuki thought back to before Asano Nao¡¯s sudden departure. That¡¯s right, her strange behavior urred when their rtionship was progressing to discussions of marriage!
Before enrolling in university, when Minami Yuuki said he wanted to introduce her to his parents and sister, her sudden refusal made no sense to him at the time.
But now, everything was clear!
To think that someone so simply dressed and extremely socially anxious is actually such a woman inside!
Minami Yuuki hugged himself. The spring bed was warm, but his heart was very cold.
For the first time, aftering to this unfamiliar world and having a older sister he liked brought him ovepping joys. So, he was supposed to have a dreamlike time.
Unexpectedly, that sister turned out to be such an irresponsible woman!
However, this might not be without a solution. After all, Asano Nao is not unwilling to take responsibility; she¡¯s just afraid of pressure.
Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin, thinking of many ways to deal with Asano Nao. He believed that these methods were also thought of by his simted self.
He continued to look at the simtion panel.
[This situation continued until Yumemi Miu started school, and Asano Nao changed. She no longer hurried home; she would stay in the house, tidying up your room and helping with meals.]
[You felt gratified by this, but Yumemi Miu had someints. The girl was a bit unhappy about her mother taking over her chores, and the two started a silent rivalry.]
[You mediated between them, assigning household chores to Asano Nao and tasks at the small shop to Yumemi Miu. You taught Yumemi Miu how to stock and manage the shop, making her the shop¡¯s poster girl.]
[Asano Nao¡¯s situation gradually stabilized, and you thought it was time to manage your daughter¡¯s life properly, at least to help her find a friend her age.]
[Before you could take action, during one of her piano practices, Yumemi Miu happily told you she had sessfully coerced a girl her age.]
The memory scene appeared.
In the white practice room, Yumemi Miu walked to the piano and sat on the bench.
The bench was a bit low for her, and she couldn¡¯t ce her hands naturally on the keys.
¡°Uncle!¡± She turned to look at Minami Yuuki, patting the piano bench.
Minami Yuuki picked her up, sat on the bench, and then ced the girl on hisp.
¡°Didn¡¯t we buy you a high stool?¡± Minami Yuuki pinched her little face.
¡°No, it¡¯s morefortable when you sit.¡± Miu pushed away Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand. She straightened her back, lifting her white neck, and her small hands caressed the ck and white keys.
A yful tune flowed from her fingers.
The girl lowered her eyes, her expression serious, with a faint smile hidden in her pursed lips. Her ying was elegant and pure, pleasing to the eye. Minami Yuuki hadn¡¯t heard the tune before, but judging by the speed and the span of the keys, it wasn¡¯t easy.
Minami Yuuki suddenly felt a bit worried. With his not-so-deep piano skills, could he really teach the girl properly?
¡°How¡¯s this?¡± The girl stopped ying and looked up at Minami Yuuki.
¡°Not bad. What piece is this?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know either. I heard it in Rika¡¯s game.¡±
¡°Rika?¡± Hearing an unfamiliar name, Minami Yuuki was surprised.
¡°Yoda Rika, she¡¯s a girl in my ss,¡± Yumemi Miu said casually, as she started ying another piece, one Minami Yuuki had taught her yesterday.
Before the girl finished ying, Minami Yuuki asked, ¡°You actually have a friend your age?¡±
He had been thinking about how to get the girl a friend her age these past few days, and now she had found one on her own.
¡°I didn¡¯t really want to y with those childish girls, but it got a bit boring at school, so I pulled Rika to y with me.¡± Yumemi Miu kept ying, multitasking effortlessly.
Minami Yuuki was even more surprised.
The girl who used to be so solitary that she had to make up imaginary friends had now found a real one so easily? Was it really as simple as she made it sound?
¡°How did you get her to y with you?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
As Yumemi Miu yed a soothing melody, Minami Yuuki imagined two lonely souls finding sce in each other, or perhaps a popr girl befriending an outsider.
The girl revealed the truth: ¡°Rika¡¯s the one who took Grandma¡¯s snacks but didn¡¯t want to y with me. I asked Grandma to keep giving her snacks, and then used that to ckmail her. I told her if she didn¡¯t listen to me, I¡¯d expose her as a snack thief!¡±
Minami Yuuki was stunned by the girl¡¯s maneuver. He had envisioned a heartfelt friendship story spanning over a hundred thousand words, but she told him she had coerced her friend?
You¡¯re just a grade-schooler, yet you¡¯re already doing things on the edge of morality and legality!
This is¡ this is¡
¡°Wonderful!¡± Minami Yuuki put his hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder, feeling very proud. ¡°As expected of my¡ girlfriend¡¯s daughter!¡±
Yumemi Miu¡¯s ying was interrupted by the hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and gave Minami Yuuki a triumphant smile. The two of them were thoroughly enjoying the moment.
¡°I think there might be a problem,¡± Asano Nao, the listener, raised her hand.
¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. She doesn¡¯t have any friends,¡± Minami Yuuki immediately invalidated her opinion.
Yumemi Miu nodded and made a face at her mother.
Asano Nao shrank into the corner, feeling like she was being emotionally abused by her family.
¡°But,¡± Minami Yuuki looked at the girl, ¡°you do know you can¡¯t rely solely on coercion, right?¡±
¡°I know,¡± Yumemi Miu continued ying, ¡°I¡¯ve been paying attention to Rika¡¯s expressions. She seems pretty happy. Lately, she evenes to me on her own. These days, she even wants to hang out after school. I don¡¯t have time for that!¡±
Taking the opportunity toin, Yumemi Miu said to Minami Yuuki, ¡°When I turned her down, she looked so pitiful. It¡¯s really annoying. Should I just break up with her?¡±
Listening to his daughter¡¯s highly irresponsible statement, Minami Yuuki shook his head. ¡°I often face the same situation. Talk to her openly about it. You can spend a bit of time with her after school. Anyway, you shouldn¡¯t just cut ties over a small inconvenience.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Yumemi Miu agreed.
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Chapter 51
Chapter 51
¡¾Under your arrangement, Yumemi Miu brought Yoda Rika to your home. After observing their interactions with Asano Nao, you confirmed there were no issues and breathed a sigh of relief.¡¿
¡¾Intending to strengthen the bond between Yoda Rika and Miu, you used games, manga, and novels to lure her to your house frequently.¡¿
¡¾During their interactions, Miu was always the decision-maker. Having learned the theory of coercion from you, your daughter sessfully applied it to Yoda Rika, gaining much confidence from the experience.¡¿
¡¾You noticed that your daughter, who used to resemble her mother more, was bing more and more like you.¡¿
¡¾Feelingpletely at ease, you shifted your attention back to Asano Nao.¡¿
¡¾During Miu¡¯s fourth-grade winter break, her grandmother (Asano Nao¡¯s grandmother and your future grandmother-inw) visited you. Seeing that your rtionship was stable again, she expressed her desire to leave Yori Vige and return to her hometown.¡¿
¡¾The olddy had a lover in her hometown vige. For the past ten years, she had been visiting him annually under the pretense of having some business there.¡¿
¡¾You agreed to her request, and that very afternoon, she packed her things and left, using the excuse of business back home, never to return.¡¿
¡¾With her grandmother gone, Asano Nao no longer had to worry about her, and she spent more and more time at your house. However, she never stayed overnight; even if you deliberately kept her untilte at night, she would dress up and walk home under the moonlight.¡¿¡¾She needed a catalyst, one that was as inconspicuous as possible, without any emotional significance or pressure.¡¿
¡¾You enlisted Miu¡¯s help, tempting the girl with popsicles. Unable to resist the taboo of eating ice cream in the snow, she agreed to help you.¡¿
¡¾Late at night, Asano Nao came to the practice room to call her daughter, who was ying the piano, home.¡¿
¡¾Yumemi Miu walked to the hallway, nced out the window at the bare, wind-swept trees, and didn¡¯t want to go out into the cold. You took the opportunity to suggest they stay in the house, speaking so casually that it seemed to carry no other meaning.¡¿
A small memory scene appeared in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
In the dim hallway, Yumemi Miu opened the window slightly, letting in the sound of the howling wind and the cold air. Shivering, the girl quickly shut the window.
¡°It¡¯s so cold outside, I don¡¯t want to go out,¡± Yumemi Miu shook her head.
¡°But we have to go back to sleep,¡± Asano Nao looked troubled.
¡°Then stay here,¡± Minami Yuuki yawned as he followed behind them.
Stay over?
Just as this thought arose in Asano Nao¡¯s mind, Minami Yuuki continued, ¡°There¡¯s a spare bedroom on the second floor. You can sleep there.¡±
Not together?
The shyness and pressure Asano Nao felt were all converted to disappointment by Minami Yuuki¡¯s words.
She noticed another unusual phrase: ¡°I can sleep there? Then Miu¡¡±
¡°Of course, Miu will sleep with me!¡± Minami Yuuki picked up the girl. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miu-chan.¡±
¡°Mm!¡± Yumemi Miu wrapped her arms around his neck.
Their figures disappeared around the corner of the stairs, leaving Asano Nao standing alone in the hallway, feeling neglected.
Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be Miu who slept alone, while she and Yuuki-kun slept together?
Why had it reversed?
It was as if Miu had be the main character and she the supporting one.
She walked upstairs in disappointment, opened the door to the empty room, andy down on the bed alone.
¡¾Asano Nao moved into your house. The next day, you and Miu used the excuse of being very eager to practice piano all night to veto her suggestion of leaving.¡¿
¡¾For the following week, you kept using simr reasons. After a week, Asano Nao stopped mentioning leaving. Once she stayed long enough, leaving would be an unusual thing.¡¿
¡¾With your deliberate distance, Asano Nao felt a sense of reassurance. She thought of herself as a marginal person in the house, just a maid cleaning the rooms, or a little elf in a fairy tale doing chores. As long as she did her chores well, nothing else mattered to her.¡¿
¡¾Only for one or two hours a day would she be pulled into the bedroom by you to receive your brief affection. This period passed too quickly for her to think about anything.¡¿
¡¾You noticed that Asano Nao started secretly photographing and peeping at you again.¡¿
¡¾During Yumemi Miu¡¯s sixth-grade spring break, your parents and sister came from Ino County to visit you. You only told Miu in advance. Asano Nao didn¡¯t find out until your family arrived.¡¿
¡¾With your prior exnation, your parents and sister only considered Asano Nao to be your lover, just an ordinary divorced woman with a child. Their slightly distant attitude and your casual introduction made Asano Nao feel at ease. She hosted your family as usual, and the well-behaved and mature Miu was very liked by your family.¡¿
¡¾When leaving, your mother grabbed your wrist and told you that they thought Asano Nao was quite good.¡¿
¡¾They have been worrying about your marriage for many years. Over the years, their expectations had dropped repeatedly. Now, seeing you living with a woman, they were overjoyed and only hoped you would get married and have children.¡¿
¡¾After seeing off your family, you felt it was time and pulled Miu into a conspiracy.¡¿
¡¾One morning, Miu cooperated with you to bring up the topic.¡¿
A short memory scene unfolds.
¡°The sports festival ising up soon.¡± Yumemi Miuy in front of the fan, looking exhausted. ¡°The school wants parents toe and watch. Rika¡¯s dad is going. Mom, please find me a dad quickly. You can separate after the sports festival.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be so casual!¡± Asano Nao, folding clothes nearby, blushed.
¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve been a bit troubledtely too. My parents are urging me to get married and have a lively and cute daughter.¡± Minami Yuuki put down the music sheet in his hand and frowned, ¡°Should I just find a woman to deal with my parents and then divorce her?¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be so casual about it, right?¡± Asano Nao said weakly.
¡°Isn¡¯t this perfect?¡± Yumemi Miu turned over andy on the tatami, looking at the two of them. ¡°Uncle, you can marry mom. That way, I¡¯ll have a dad to attend the sports festival, and you¡¯ll have a wife and daughter to deal with your family.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Minami Yuuki touched his chin.
The expressions of the father and daughter were too natural, and their voices were too rxed, as if they were just having a casual chat, with even less emotional fluctuation than deciding what to eat for dinner.
Asano Nao¡¯s mind was in chaos.
Why was such a big deal as marriage just to deal with family and attend a sports festival?
¡°Let¡¯s go. I need to go out and buy some instruments anyway, and we can get the marriage registered along the way.¡±
Minami Yuuki stood up and took Asano Nao¡¯s hand, ¡°You¡¯ll help out, right?¡±
Huh?
Eh?
Why?
Are you really thinking like this?!
Asano Nao looked shocked.
¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. The sports festival is next week.¡± Yumemi Miu turned off the fan and grabbed her mom¡¯s other hand.
Asano Nao followed them, looking at their calm expressions, thinking that if it was just to deal with the sports festival and family, it might not be impossible?
¡°Just for a week, we¡¯ll divorce after a week,¡± Minami Yuuki promised.
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Chapter 52
Chapter 52
¡¾A weekter, you showed no intention of getting a divorce.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao reminded you, but you said you were too busy recently and that the divorce procedures were tooplicated. Besides, marriage wasn¡¯t that big of a deal, so you continued your marriage.¡¿
¡¾At first, Asano Nao was a bit worried, but when she found that married life hadn¡¯t changed much and she didn¡¯t have to face any responsibilities or expectations, she gradually rxed.¡¿
¡¾After graduating from sixth grade, Miu was admitted to a city middle school. Every morning, you drove her to school and picked her up in the afternoon.¡¿
¡¾Before the start of middle school, you changed Miu¡¯s surname. From then on, she was no longer Yumemi Miu, but Minami Miu.¡¿
¡¾After Miu started school, she joined the school¡¯s ssical music club and would onlye home in the evening. You told Asano Nao that since there was no one to help you with the convenience store anymore, why not have another child?¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao couldn¡¯t refuse your small request. After all, you only wanted a child to help manage the convenience store. How could she not fulfill that for you?¡¿
¡¾The following year, Asano Nao gave birth to a younger sister for Miu, and you named her Rikka. After Rikka was born, Asano Nao was a bit anxious and restless. You understood that your wife was feeling emotional pressure regarding Rikka.¡¿
¡¾You deliberately talked in front of Rikka about how unreliable her mother was, letting Asano Nao overhear. At first, Asano Nao was tormented by this, not wanting her daughter to have a bad image of her. Gradually, she got used to it and stopped worrying about Rikka¡¯s expectations and dependence on her. The mental pressure disappeared, and her emotions returned to normal.¡¿¡¾Once her emotions stabilized, you mentioned that driving Miu to and from school every day was too troublesome, so the family moved to the city. The new apartment you bought was very spacious, but your practice rooms took up several rooms, leaving only two bedrooms. Miu needed one, so you and Asano Nao had to sleep together.¡¿
¡¾That New Year¡¯s Eve, you said you wanted to eat Asano Nao¡¯s cooking and took her and the two daughters to your old home in Ino County. You asked her to cook and took the opportunity to inform your parents about your marriage.¡¿
¡¾Your parents and sister were very surprised. At the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner table, they tried to ce responsibility and emotions on Asano Nao, but you used rhetoric to deflect all of it.¡¿
¡¾After Miu graduated from middle school, you used your connections to get her into Tsukimori High School in Misaki City, your alma mater. The family moved to Misaki City and returned to the Asano residence. You bought a piece ofnd next to the Asano residence and built a practice room.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao vaguely felt something was wrong, but she couldn¡¯t confirm it. You remained indifferent to her, not showing any deep affection.¡¿
¡¾You often left her and the younger daughter at home to visit famous pianists, honing your skills. Your piano skills became increasingly profound.¡¿
¡¾During Miu¡¯s first year of high school summer vacation, youposed a piano piece inspired by your two daughters. You named it after them, and this piano piece brought you significant fame in the industry.¡¿
¡¾Your bandmates frequently visited you. Now, they were also semi-retired. Over the years, you wrote a song for them annually, and the band¡¯s poprity deepened over time.¡¿
¡¾You learned about Chitose Kazumi¡¯s whereabouts from Oda Yota. Years ago, to avoid leaving her with too many thoughts and fearing she might affect your rtionship with Asano Nao, you cut off contact with her.¡¿
¡¾Oda Yota told you that Chitose Kazumi had been looking for you for a long time. She even changed jobs to an agency for this reason and remained single.¡¿
¡¾He asked if you wanted to meet Chitose Kazumi. You hesitated for a moment and agreed.¡¿
¡¾He helped arrange the time and ce for your meeting. The meeting with Chitose Kazumi was uneventful. You reminisced about the past like old friends. You did not exchange contact information or arrange to meet again.¡¿
¡¾Returning home, you sat in the bright and quiet practice room, recalling your encounters with Chitose Kazumi. Youposed a piano piece and named it after her.¡¿
¡¾This piece, both joyful and sorrowful, brought you great fame. Even ordinary people who didn¡¯t follow the music scene heard and liked this piece through various channels.¡¿
¡¾The agency realized this btedly and approached you, wanting to turn you into a piano star. You declined their proposal. You had saved enough money, and pursuing piano further was just to better teach Miu.¡¿
¡¾You continued to write a few more pieces. Without the agency¡¯s promotion, your fame among the general public was limited, but your reputation in the industry grew.¡¿
¡¾More and more people visited you. Asano Nao was curious, but you never took the initiative to talk to her. Your slightly distant behavior made her feel very at ease.¡¿
¡¾Some curious individuals began to explore your creative journey and discovered that you had named manypositions after your daughter and friends, but conspicuously omitted your wife. Rumors spread that you did not love her. Upon hearing this, Asano Nao felt both saddened and relieved.¡¿
¡¾Miu adapted well to life in Misaki City. You secretly arranged for her friend Rika to be in the same school and ss as her. After entering middle school, Miu made many new friends, but she remained closest to Rika.¡¿
¡¾In her first year of high school, Rika confessed her love to Miu, who rejected her. This did not affect their friendship.¡¿
¡¾In her second year, under your guidance, Miu won the gold medal in the Misaki International Youth Piano Competition and received a direct admission offer from Misaki Arts University. In her third year, she went to Europe to participate in the 12th Lyrica International Piano Competition, where she performed a pieceposed by you and won fourth ce. She officially embarked on her musical journey.¡¿
¡¾Unlike her sister, Rikka was a mischievous child who often left Asano Nao exasperated. She learned guitar from you and, after graduating from high school, went to study in the UK, where she formed an all-girl band.¡¿
¡¾In Miu¡¯s first year of university, you secured a teaching position at Misaki Arts University, keeping a close watch on her health, frequently taking her to the hospital for check-ups, fearing she might suffer a sudden heart attack as in the previous simtion. Your worries proved unfounded; Miu was very healthy.¡¿
¡¾When Miu graduated from university, her grandmother passed away at the age of 92. She could have lived longer if not for the devastating blow of losing her old lover the previous year. Before she passed, she held your and Asano Nao¡¯s hands, wishing you happiness. She had a life with its share of hardships but no regrets.¡¿
¡¾At 61, your reputation in the industry reached its peak. You were a globally renowned pianoposer, scoring many films and holding numerous solo concerts. You even had a music award named after you, though it was a small local one.¡¿
¡¾By then, you hadposed nearly a hundred pieces, yet still none named after Asano Nao, giving rise to many urban legends.¡¿
¡¾At 73, you said goodbye to your father; at 77, you said goodbye to your mother. You and Asano Nao became the elders of the family.¡¿
¡¾At 91, Asano Nao passed away before you. During her final days, you and your two daughters stayed by her side, expressing your love for her. She passed away in happiness.¡¿
¡¾You lived until 98 when death finally came for you. On your deathbed, you held your daughters¡¯ hands, listening to their words of love and reluctance.¡¿
¡¾Before you died, you revealed a lifelong secret to Miu, telling her that you were, in fact, her biological father.¡¿
¡¾Seeing the astonishment in her tear-filled eyes, you left this world content.¡¿
¡¾Many people came to mourn you after your passing, and an online trend emerged of ying your piano pieces to remember you.¡¿
¡¾While sorting through your belongings, your daughters found a manuscript of a piano piece kept in a safe. The piece was titled ¡°Nao¡± and waspleted six years earlier. It was a love letter you had spent a lifetime writing for your wife.¡¿
¡¾This piece ended the rumors about you and your wife and was hailed as the most moving piece of the century.¡¿
¡¾Simtion ends¡¿
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Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Wait, it¡¯s over? I haven¡¯t even used my free simtion chances yet!
Minami Yuuki was heartbroken. Those were chances to experience simted life, to feel what it¡¯s like to have his own wife and daughter!
During this simtion, there were many moments perfect for using free simtions, but Minami Yuuki, thinking it might be even happierter, had missed the opportunity.
Never mind.
Compared to the simtions he could redo, the free simtion chances were more precious.
Experiencing life first, then picking a favorite moment to load and using the free simtion was the best approach.
Just like this life simtion¡ªif he had hastily used a free simtion, he would only have experienced Asano Nao and Miu, missing out on his second daughter, Rikka.
He emerged from the thin nket and reached for the bedside table. The slight chill of the spring night dispersed the lingering warmth from his body, stimting his skin and waking him up.
He picked up the cup of tea from the table and drank the slightly cold water. The memory scenes and quick review mode had left his brain a bit groggy, but now he felt refreshed.Leaning against the headboard, he continued to look at the simtor screen.
[Summary of this Simtion]
[Score: 95]
[Stages Experienced: Pursuit, Romance, Affection]
[Comment: After many attempts, you found the best way to get along with her. She is like a wild cat; your care should be measured, or it will burden her.]
[Final Settlement: You have received an attribute point [Physique +1]]
¡°A wild cat, huh? Getting too close would burden her.¡± Minami Yuuki sighed.
Indeed, Asano Nao was best kept outside, not suitable for being kept at home.
If only he could keep one affectionate cat at home and another asionally affectionate one outside, just like cats.
He patted his face, stopping his unrealistic thoughts. Lovers are not cats; you can¡¯t keep many.
Looking back at the simtion screen, his gaze skipped over thements and looked at the final settlement.
This settlement granted him a Physique attribute point. He had spent his life ying music without doing anything particrly rted to physique¡ could it be because he lived to 98?
To live to 98, his physique must have been extraordinary, so receiving physique as a reward made sense.
Minami Yuuki added the Physique point and nced at his attribute panel.
[Name: Minami Yuuki]
[Gender: Male]
[Title: None]
[Physique: 9]
[Strength: 7]
[Agility: 7]
[Charm: 9]
[Spirit: 9]
[Skills: Instrumental LV3, Composition LV1, Vocal LV1]
[Unused Rewards: Free Simtion Chance *1, Skill Extraction Opportunity *1, Skill Point *1]
The skills in his skill column were acquired from thest life simtion, earning a bit of music experience.
The unused rewards also came from the previous life simtion.
In thest simtion, he got 80 points. This time, he got 95 points¡ªwould there be other rewards?
His heart quickened. He extended his finger and swiped down on the simtion interface.
[You havepleted a fulfilling life (Score ¡Ý 90)]
[You have earned [Skill Point *1]]
[You have received a mysterious reward]
Indeed, a score of 90 or above alsoes with extra rewards.
Among them, the skill point had been received once before, and its exact function was still unknown. He would try it outter. What intrigued Minami Yuuki more was the other reward.
What was this mysterious reward? Minami Yuuki was very curious.
He extended his hand and clicked on the mysterious reward.
[Would you like to im a mysterious reward?]
[Please note, the mysterious reward will activate in your sleep.]
Does this reward get delivered only when you sleep?
Minami Yuuki switched from sitting to lying down, covered himself with a nket, and clicked to im the reward.
[im sessful.]
[Mysterious reward has been delivered.]
[Mysterious reward has been delivered.]
Why did it notify twice? Are there two mysterious rewards?
Minami Yuuki looked at the simtor screen, specting in his mind.
He examined himself but didn¡¯t feel anything different. Recalling the previous notification, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The night was deep, and the moonlight spilled through the gap in the curtains, drawing a line of light on his nket. Outside the window, the moonlight was bright, and a few clouds drifted across the dark blue sky.
Asano Nao stood by the window in the study. The study was pitch dark, making the moon over Minami Yuuki¡¯s apartment building appear even clearer. The hazy moonlight enveloped everything, making the world seem like a dream.
She reflected on the events of the past few days. Wasn¡¯t it like a dream? Suddenly meeting a boy she liked, and then that boy unexpectedly intruding into her home, was something she wouldn¡¯t dare to dream of.
But what would happen next? Would her feelings develop smoothly? How long would the boy stay by her side?
She found the moonlight particrly ring and quickly drew the curtains tightly shut.
Leaving the dark study, she returned to her dark bedroom andy on the bed.
Closing her eyes and opening them again, it was all darkness, which brought her peace.
She fell into a deep sleep in this tranquility.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dim room.
She was sitting on the only leather chair in the room, with arge screen in front of her, emitting a soft light.
¡
What is this? Is it going to show a movie? Is this the so-called mysterious reward?
Minami Yuuki looked around and then stared at the screen in front of him.
On the ck screen, four lines of white text appeared.
[¡°Yuuki and Nao¡±]
[Directors: Minami Yuuki, Asano Nao]
[Starring: Minami Yuuki, Asano Nao, Minami Miu]
[Rating: 95]
The text slowly faded, and the images and sounds emerged.
It was the scene of their meeting.
So it¡¯s turning this simtion into a dream movie? Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin.
From a purely rational perspective, he thought this had no practical value since it was just scenes he had simted.
But considering his emotions, he was very pleased with this reward. This movie would help him relive his story with Asano Nao.
More importantly, he could see Miu again.
If he missed Asano Nao, he could find her in reality, but if he missed Miu, he could only sift through his fading memories. Now, finally, there was a new way to ease his longing.
He hoped this movie wasn¡¯t a one-time view but could be revisited indefinitely.
Hey back in his seat, quietly watching the screen.
To his surprise, the movie not only had images and sounds but also conveyed emotions and feelings.
It was like a weakened version of a memory scene, an immersive experience.
He was engrossed, smiling constantly.
When the movie reached the post-wedding part, his smile grew even brighter.
It was wonderful. Besides Asano Nao, Miu and Rikka were also adorable.
The movie ended with the piano piece ¡°Nao,¡± and as the screen darkened, Minami Yuuki wanted to watch it again, but his consciousness fell into darkness.
The morning rm woke him up. He sat up, with the dream movie still in his mind.
[You have obtained the dream movie¡±Yuuki and Nao¡±]
[You can rewatch it in your sleep, once per day.]
Being able to rewatch would be nice. Minami Yuuki switched off the simtor interface and sat on the bed, pondering.
How about, for the sake of Miu and Rikka, he just goes along with Asano Nao?
This idea was quickly dismissed by himself.
Who knows, he might meet even cuter daughters in the future! How could he make such a hasty decision!
When Asano Nao sends over the thousand paper cranes and he gets the simtion attempts, he¡¯ll see what kind of daughter Ibuki Yuko upstairs can bring.
Patting his cheeks, he got out of bed.
¡
Asano residence.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, lighting up the bedroom. Asano Nao on the bed suddenly woke up.
She sat up, stretched out her arms, trying to grasp something but couldn¡¯t catch anything.
¡°Miu, Rikka¡¡±
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
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Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Minami Yuuki felt Asano Nao was acting a bit strange.
Today¡¯s breakfast was more Western-style, with sliced bread as the main dish, along with a vegetable sd, grilled bacon, and sausages, plus a box of juice.
At first, he thought Asano Nao was worried whether he would like a Western breakfast.
But even after he had finished all the breakfast on the table, showing his enjoyment, Asano Nao still kept ncing at him cautiously out of the corner of her eye, with a strange smile on her face.
Normally, Asano Nao didn¡¯t look at him so often, nor did she show such an infatuated smile.
Leaning back in his chair, Minami Yuuki inserted a straw into the juice box and sipped, staring at the woman in front of him.
Noticing his gaze, Asano Nao lowered her head, eating intently like a hamster.
¡°Did Sister put some kind of aphrodisiac in the breakfast?¡± Minami Yuuki scrutinized her as if examining a suspect.
¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡± Asano Nao covered her mouth, startled by the boy¡¯s sudden and explicit words, choking on her rice.Her cheeks were flushed, partly from coughing, partly from embarrassment.
¡°I did not,¡± she exined softly.
¡°Then why does Sister look like an infatuated woman? Like a bride about to spend her wedding night, sneaking nces at her husband and smiling happily at the thought of the intimacy toe?¡± Minami Yuuki pressed on.
¡°I did not.¡±
As soon as she spoke, Asano Nao felt the temperature of her face rise significantly. She didn¡¯t need to look to know her cheeks were even redder.
That was practically an admission!
She wanted to pinch her own face for betraying her and revealing her inner thoughts.
Strictly speaking, what Minami Yuuki said wasn¡¯t exactly what she was thinking, but broadly speaking, his words did reflect her inner feelings.
She looked at Minami Yuuki and thought aboutst night¡¯s dream, about the happiness and joy in the dream, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. Indeed, she was thinking about the uing intimacy and feeling happy, smiling at the thought.
Last night¡¯s dream was too vivid, too detailed, the images were still fresh in her mind, the emotions still in her heart. In the dream, she truly married Minami Yuuki and had two adorable daughters, living a happy life.
She believed it was a prophecy, a revtion from the gods.
Soon, she and the boy would fall in love.
This time, she would face it bravely, at least she wouldn¡¯t walk away like she did in the dream. They would certainly be happier than in the dream.
¡°Sister¡¯s denial with such a red face is really unconvincing,¡± Minami Yuuki continued.
Asano Nao couldn¡¯t tell the boy in front of her the truth. If she said she dreamt of their future, he would definitely be scared, right?
He might even doubt her mental state, although her mental state was already not quite normal.
¡°The origami cranes are finished!¡±
Her attempt to change the subject was very clumsy, but as long as the topic was interesting enough, the rough transition wouldn¡¯t be noticeable.
The origami cranes were currently Minami Yuuki¡¯s biggest concern, and she seeded.
Watching Asano Nao go upstairs to get the origami cranes, Minami Yuuki felt a bit worried, wondering if the origami cranes that worked for Minami Airi would still be effective for Asano Nao.
After finishing his juice, Asano Nao came down holding a white storage box.
Taking the box, Minami Yuuki opened the lid, and inside, various colored origami cranes were neatly arranged. The in box set off the colorful cranes, making them eye-catching and lifting his spirits.
[You received a heartfelt gift from [Asano Nao]]
[Simtion attempts +3]
Three simtion attempts!
Minami Yuuki took out one crane; it was neatly folded,parable to the ones made by Airi.
In terms of quantity, this set didn¡¯t differ much from Airi¡¯s.
¡°How long did it take you to fold these?¡± Minami Yuuki asked, looking up.
Asano Nao hadn¡¯t expected this question. She thought for a moment and gave an estimated time, ¡°A little over three hours.¡±
The time wasn¡¯t much different from Airi¡¯s.
So the main difference was in the intention? Airi¡¯s intention was only a third of Asano Nao¡¯s?
¡°I really like it,¡± Minami Yuuki said, closing the lid of the storage box.
Receiving affirmation from the boy she adored made Asano Nao overjoyed.
¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be relying on you again, Sister,¡± Minami Yuuki said. ¡°In two days, it will be our one-week anniversary since we met. Please prepare some more origami cranes asmemorative gifts!¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
The word ¡°anniversary¡± implied bonds and long-termpanionship. Just hearing these words made Asano Nao feel happiness and joy.
Come to think of it, has it already been so long since she met Yuuki-kun? It¡¯s incredible that their anniversary is just a few days away. Is it their first anniversary or the tenth anniversary?
Her mind suddenly cleared.
No matter how she thought about it, she and Yuuki-kun hadn¡¯t known each other for a year!
She recalled what Minami Yuuki had just said. This anniversary is¡ the one-week anniversary of their meeting?
Why would even a week bememorated?
Could this be a current trend? Thinking about it carefully, in today¡¯s increasingly indifferent society, where people are bing more atomized, a week of knowing each other is indeed a long time. It¡¯s a rare fate that deserves an anniversary!
¡°Is just folding origami cranes enough?¡± Asano Nao¡¯s gaze was serious. She decided to acknowledge and seriously treat this holiday.
¡°That¡¯s enough. I really like origami cranes,¡± Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t expect it would be so easy to deceive Asano Nao.
Having achieved his goal, he stood up with the origami cranes. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave now and take the origami cranes back to the apartment. See you tonight, Nao-nee.¡±
Minami Yuuki had already left the house, but Asano Nao stayed where she was, covering her face, unable to stop a silly smile from spreading across her lips.
Yuuki-kun called my name!
Lying on the sofa, Asano Nao hugged a pillow, her chest filled with happiness.
It turns out the dream was right; her rtionship with Yuuki-kun was developing smoothly!
Next, it¡¯s the part where Yuuki-kun borrows money from me to study music, right? He will even vow to give me a gift every month.
By the end of this year, Yuuki-kun will move into my house and live with me!
Chitose Kazumi will be just a minor episode, but it won¡¯t be a big deal. Yuuki-kun and I will build a strong bond, and he won¡¯t pay any attention to other women!
When Yuuki-kun goes to university, Miu can be born!
She hugged the pillow tighter, her face burning red, a naughty thought arising in her mind.
Could Miu¡ be born earlier?
She buried her face in the pillow, curling up into a ball, feeling intensely embarrassed, her body hot with anticipation.
Putting down the pillow, she closed all the windows in the living room and drew the curtains tightly. She took the camera from the cab opposite the dining table, grabbed a pack of tissues, and sat in the chair where Yuuki-kun had sat.
At that moment, the Minami Yuuki, whom she believed would ignore any woman but her, was walking with Ibuki Yuko on the way to school.
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Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Minami Yuuki put away the storage box and came out of the room, encountering Ibuki Yuko in the elevator.
The girl met his gaze and took two steps back, making space.
Her small figure stood in the corner of the elevator, making the already small elevator cabin seem muchrger inparison.
The smooth walls of the elevator reflected a metallic sheen on her, making the expressionless girl look even more lifeless, as if she were an emotionless doll modeled after a middle school girl.
¡°Good morning,¡± Minami Yuuki greeted the girl.
¡°Good morning,¡± Ibuki Yuko replied.
She was wearing a white mask, so Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t see her expression, but from her unflinching eyes, it was clear that the conversation hadn¡¯t stirred any emotions in her.
What a strange person, Minami Yuuki thought.
Generally, a girl of her age, in her adolescence, would at least steal a nce at his handsome face, even if her heart remained calm, right?After all, seeking beauty is human nature, and without a doubt, he is the embodiment of beauty.
After exiting the elevator, they walked together on the road to school. Minami Yuuki deliberately fell back a step, observing her from behind.
The girl¡¯s attire was very formal: she wore the school¡¯s custom sailor uniform, school-issued loafers, simple ck socks, and a canvas school bag without any decorations. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail with a ck hair tie.
Normally, if a woman¡ªor even a man¡ªwas being followed and watched by someone they had only met a few times, they would start to feel nervous and look back frequently.
But the girl¡¯s face remained forward. Her steps were steady and didn¡¯t seem to be restrained.
This gave Minami Yuuki a sense of frustration. Could it be that his 9 out of 10 charm wasn¡¯t as effective as he thought?
He reminisced aboutst night when he helped the girl¡¯s mother into the house, and the girl had a faintly disgusted expression on her face.
At least then, she had a reaction.
Should he find another chance to enter the house with her mother again?
Of course, this was a joke.
If he wanted to see other expressions on the girl¡¯s face, he could simte it with a dating simtor after ss.
He admitted he was a bit curious, a bit interested.
What kind of personality did the girl have to be able to ignore his beauty?
Come to think of it, her disgusted expressionst night was also excessive.
A normal lovestruck girl, seeing a handsome male ssmate with her mother, should feel a sense of loss, right?
Why did she look so disdainful?
Not normal, way too abnormal!
He had to study her carefully!
After making up his mind, Minami Yuuki temporarily set the matter aside.
Overthinking would only increase his troubles.
Entering the school, he changed into his indoor shoes and walked upstairs with Ibuki Yuko.
To his surprise, the girl walked into the second-year high school floor.
This little shorty is older than him?
My senior is super tiny?
He got a bit excited.
Entering his ssroom, Minami Yuuki sat down at his desk. Today, he arrived early, and only half of his ssmates were present.
Hey down on his desk, pretending to sleep, and opened the simtor interface.
¡¾Unused rewards: Free simtion times *1, skill extraction opportunity *1, skill points *2¡¿
Last night, he had been so focused on that mysterious reward that he forgot to use the skill extraction opportunity.
He clicked to use it.
¡¾Do you want to use the skill extraction opportunity?¡¿
Yes.
¡¾Please select the life to extract from. Currently avable simtion lives are numbered 001, 002¡¡¿
Select the most recent simtion life, number 006.
¡¾Extracting¡¡¿
¡¾Extraction sessful¡¿
¡¾You have acquired all musical field experiences from simtion life 006¡¿
Piano, organ, violin¡ guitar, bass, drums¡ ssical, pop, folk¡ a vast amount of experience flooded into his body.
Closing his eyes, Minami Yuuki digested the relevant memories and sensations.
In his previous simted life, his achievements were mainly in pianoposition, but his piano performance and proficiency with other instruments were also strong.
If he were to participate in an internationalpetition now, he would easily take first ce!
Moreover, the piano pieces heposed in the simtion were still vividly clear in his mind.
Even a mediocre piece would earn him the title of a young prodigy.
And if he showcased his best works, he would be world-famous.
However, he hadn¡¯t yet decided if he wanted to pursue a career in music.
Like with romance, he wanted to experience more professions before choosing his favorite.
He checked the skill section on his attribute panel.
¡¾Skills: Composition LV7, Instrumental LV6, Vocal LV4¡¿
Composition had surpassed Instrumental to be his highest-level skill.
Time to try out the skill points he was rewarded with earlier.
¡¾Use Skill Points?¡¿
¡¾Upon use, the simtor will create a dream space where you can practice an existing skill for a year (dream time) and gain rted experience.¡¿
Why do others get to directly add points while I have to work hard to practice!
Thinking carefully, those skill rewards were also earned through hard work in the simted life!
He dismissed the prompt and didn¡¯t rush to use the skill points, as he didn¡¯t need any of the three skills right now.
He lifted his head from the desk. The morning sunlight brightly lit the ssroom, which was now bustling with most of the students.
In his diagonal front, Chitose Kazumi was sitting and quietly watching him.
Meeting his gaze, the girl raised her hand and softly greeted him.
The girl sitting in front of Chitose Kazumi hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so Minami Yuuki turned that chair around and sat facing Kazumi.
He wanted to gather some information.
His sudden move startled Chitose Kazumi. Seeing his face so close, she blushed and instinctively leaned back. She wasn¡¯t trying to distance herself from Minami Yuuki but feared being too close would displease him.
Minami Yuuki was pleased with her reaction; this was how a normal teenage girl should act!
Unlike Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko, who were both unusual!
¡°Do you need something, Minami-kun?¡± Chitose Kazumi asked softly.
She initially tilted her face away, too shy to look directly at him. After speaking, she mustered the courage to look at him.
Her heart was filled with joy. Last night at home, she had been worried for a long time, uncertain whether their rtionship would progress smoothly from friendship to romance. She didn¡¯t expect their interaction to improve so quickly.
Minami-kun came to chat with her, right?
Friends do this, and lovers too¡ No, she shouldn¡¯t be so presumptuous!
What would Minami-kun talk about? Recent TV shows? School life? Difficult knowledge points?
¡°Do you know Ibuki Yuko from the second year?¡± Minami Yuuki¡¯s question was beyond Chitose Kazumi¡¯s expectations, and it hit her hard, making her hands and feet cold.
Why are you asking about another girl?!
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Chapter 56
Chapter 56
¡°I¡¯m not very close to Ibuki-senpai, so I don¡¯t know much,¡± Chitose Kazumi hesitated for a moment, deciding to reveal what she knew.
¡°So, you do know some things about her?¡± Minami Yuuki looked pleasantly surprised.
He had just asked casually, trying his luck and looking for a topic to chat about with Chitose Kazumi. He hadn¡¯t expected his luck to be so good; Chitose Kazumi actually knew something about Ibuki Yuko.
Chitose Kazumi looked at him. The joy in the boy¡¯s words was like a chilling winter wind, extinguishing the me that had ignited in her chest upon his arrival.
¡°We were in the same junior high school. Back then¡ she was quite famous,¡± Chitose Kazumi sped her hands together on the table, speaking slowly.
Junior high school here generally refers to middle school.
¡°Famous?¡± Minami Yuuki thought to himself. Given Ibuki Yuko¡¯s appearance, being famous was normal, but seeing the hesitation on Chitose Kazumi¡¯s face, this fame seemed to carry a different meaning.
¡°Ibuki-senpai is very cute, and whether it was teachers or ssmates, both boys and girls paid a lot of attention to her. People thought she was peculiar because her appearance was always changing.¡±
Chitose Kazumi reminisced for a moment and gave examples. ¡°There was a time she wore sses, a time she had short hair, a time she dyed her hair curly, a time she hung many cute dolls on her school bag, and a time she wore a bandage over her eye even though she wasn¡¯t injured¡ Her changes were always sudden and unpredictable, and after a while, she would return to normal. Plus, she had no friends and interacted with everyone in a in, indifferent manner. No one could understand her.¡±Sudden changes in appearance? Minami Yuuki remembered seeing Ibuki Yukost week sitting in a wheelchair.
¡°Just with that, she wouldn¡¯t be famous as you say, right?¡± he asked further.
¡°It¡¯s mainly because¡¡± Chitose Kazumi¡¯s words were hesitant. She paused, organizing her thoughts.
She continued, ¡°When I was in the second year of junior high, I heard that her mother was dating a boy from our school, and that boy took many intimate photos with her mother, which spread around the school.¡±
¡°How intimate?¡±
¡°Just normal date photos!¡± Chitose Kazumi¡¯s face blushed slightly.
The shyness in her heart should have made her entire face blush, but the topic they were discussing about Ibuki Yuko turned into a shadow, covering her heart and stopping the blush from spreading.
¡°Are there any other rumors about her, like her personality, hobbies, or anything?¡± Minami Yuuki continued to ask.
¡°No, that¡¯s it. Everyone says she¡¯s difficult to get along with. Although she answers normally if you talk to her, it¡¯s just that¡ªnormal answers.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Minami Yuuki summarized the information.
She often changes her personal style suddenly. Her mother has dated her ssmates, and she is very cold.
¡°Minami-kun, Koike-san is here,¡± Chitose Kazumi reminded Minami Yuuki when she saw her deskmate enter from the door.
Minami Yuuki stood up, ¡°Thanks. To prevent any possible misunderstanding, I have to say this: I currently have no intention of getting close to Ibuki Yuko, and in the short term, I probably won¡¯t be dating anyone. Also, as I said yesterday, just call me Yuuki.¡±
He waved and returned to his seat.
His words became a breeze of spring, blowing away the winter in Chitose Kazumi¡¯s heart. The green romance of spring returned to her heartbeat.
The girl touched her blushing face and sneaked a nce at Minami Yuuki.
Great, Yuuki-kun isn¡¯t interested in Ibuki-senpai!
Ibuki-senpai is so cute, though she¡¯s very short, she has a cool personality. If it were her, there¡¯s no way I could win!
As long as Yuuki-kun doesn¡¯t make a move, he won¡¯t develop anything with Ibuki-senpai.
That very cold Ibuki-senpai would never approach Yuuki-kun herself!
It¡¯s safe!
Chitose Kazumi was full of fighting spirit.
The ss bell rang, and the teacher, yawning, walked into the ssroom, starting the day¡¯s lessons.
Minami Yuuki propped his chin with his hand, listening to the lecture in boredom.
The knowledge points in the first year of high school were simple, many ovepping with what he had learned in his previous life.
Unfortunately, he had long forgotten his high school knowledge from his past life, so he had to pay some attention and listen carefully.
When he encountered parts he already understood but the teacher was still repeating, he would shift his gaze to the front row, to Ichinose Shiori.
This girl, whom his predecessor secretly admired, had a dignified appearance. She could probably be a target to simte. He thought, he needs to find a way to approach her.
The morning sses ended, and it was lunchtime.
A small portion of the students went to the cafeteria to eat, while the rest took out their colorful lunch boxes. After heating them in the microwave, the aroma of food filled the ssroom.
Chitose Kazumi was also part of the lunchbox group. Minami Yuuki moved his chair and ate with her.
In the afternoon, there was a physical education ss. The students changed into their sportswear in the locker room and then went to the sports field.
Minami Yuuki joined the boys¡¯ basketball game. He didn¡¯t n to get too close to the boys in the ss, but he didn¡¯t want to be as solitary as his predecessor either.
At the very least, he needed to develop two or three informants in the ss so he could know any news or gossip promptly.
Sports are often linked to friendship, and this is indeed true for team sports like basketball.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s basketball skills were average, but he was tall and had a physical advantage. With a calm attitude, he was always able to assist his teammates. Initially reluctant to team up with him, his teammates patted his back affectionately after a match.
The girls watching the game also had a much better impression of him.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s outstanding appearance had previously been overshadowed by his own despondence, pushing himself to the sidelines. After some girls faced rejection from him, they eventually distanced themselves.
Now, seeing Minami Yuuki cheerful and lively, the girls¡¯ attention returned to him.
A bold girl even offered him a bottle of water.
On the field, the boys on the opposing team were puzzled as they watched Minami Yuuki attract both female attention and camaraderie from his teammates.
¡°You guys clearly lost the game, so why do you look like you¡¯ve just won a championship in a manga? We¡¯re the ones who won!¡±
¡°Is this what it feels like to win the game but lose in life?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s exchange LINE contacts.¡±
Back in the locker room, Minami Yuuki exchanged social media ounts with the boys he yed basketball with, including those from the opposing team.
It wasn¡¯t just girls who liked handsome boys; even other boys felt goodwill towards attractive peers. By the time he returned to the ssroom, Minami Yuuki had nearly all the boys in the ss on his LINE.
After the sixth period, Minami Yuuki slung his bag over his shoulder, declined a few girls¡¯ invitations, and left with Chitose Kazumi.
¡°Yuuki-kun, you seem different today,¡± Chitose Kazumi remarked.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s newfound liveliness made her uneasy. She warily eyed the girls drawn to his youthful charm, afraid they might take away the treasure she had been guarding.
¡°I can¡¯t stay on the sidelines forever. Besides, it¡¯s boring not having many people to talk to at school.¡±
¡°Is that so.¡±
¡°But the only person I truly consider a friend is you, Kazumi.¡±
Chitose Kazumi¡¯s face immediately turned red, her insecurity reced by joy.
¡°We¡¯ve reached the subway station. See you tomorrow!¡± Minami Yuuki said goodbye and quickly headed to the Asano household.
Listening to the information Chitose Kazumi provided, he became even more curious about Ibuki Yuko.
Quickly finish dinner and then start a new round of simtions at home!
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Chapter 57
Chapter 57
¡¾Simtion Start¡¿
¡¾Remaining Simtions: 2¡¿
¡¾Target: Ibuki Yuko¡¿
¡¾Initial Rtionship: Acquainted¡¿
Lying on the bed, Minami Yuuki started the simtion.
¡¾Five days have passed since you arrived in this world. You¡¯ve be friends with Asano Nao, who now takes care of your meals; you¡¯ve befriended Chitose Kazumi, alleviating the boredom of school life; and you¡¯ve changed your ssmates¡¯ impression of you, transitioning from a fringe person to a social butterfly.¡¿
¡¾You¡¯ve set your sights on Ibuki Yuko, who lives in your apartment building.¡¿
¡¾The girl is a year older than you, yet she¡¯s a whole head shorter. Her exquisite appearance, emotionless face, and entric behavior surround her with an air of mystery, making her seem less human and more like a beautiful Japanese doll or a small fairy tale elf.¡¿
¡¾You want to put her in a disy case, to ce her by your bedside, and y dress-up games with her.¡¿¡°¡¡±
That¡¯s not true!
I didn¡¯t think that!
Stop making stuff up!
Putting her in a disy case and ying dress-up¡ does sound kind of nice?
Minami Yuuki thought of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s overly small, overly pale, and delicate face.
His reasons for protesting vanished, and he continued looking at the simtion interface.
¡¾You added the girl sitting behind Ibuki Yuko to LINE and asked her for information about Ibuki Yuko. You didn¡¯t get much valuable information, only learning that Ibuki Yukoes from a single-parent family, and her mother divorced her father a long time ago.¡¿
¡¾Chitose Kazumi and Ibuki Yuko went to the same middle school. Through a friend¡¯s introduction, you added one of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s middle school ssmates on LINE.¡¿
¡¾When you inquired, the other person wasn¡¯t very enthusiastic and responded perfunctorily. When you changed your LINE profile picture to your own photo, the other person immediately became enthusiastic and told you everything she knew.¡¿
¡¾You learned something that piqued your interest: Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mother seems to be quite flirtatious, often changing men.¡¿
¡¾You also searched for clues among the school¡¯s faculty. You added the homeroom teacher of ss C on LINE, but she couldn¡¯t provide the information you wanted.¡¿
¡¾Your investigation reached a deadlock, so you decided to¡¡¿
¡¾1. Continue investigating; 2. Start stalking; 3. Directly approach; 4. Free simtion¡¿
Looking at the options, Minami Yuuki pondered.
There was too little known information for him to determine the most appropriate choice.
Well then, let¡¯s just choose one randomly.
Number 3 it is!
What could be more reliable than direct contact?
¡¾You decide to approach Ibuki Yuko directly.¡¿
¡¾You go to the Asano household and borrow Asano Nao¡¯s study, watching the path Ibuki Yuko takes to school, and figure out her usual school-going time.¡¿
¡¾For the next few days, you stand by the elevator at this time, intercepting the elevatoring down from the eleventh floor to create a chance encounter. To avoid seeming too deliberate, you only meet her twice every three days.¡¿
¡¾Unlike Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko doesn¡¯t have an initial liking for you and shows indifference to your beauty. You prepare yourself for a long-term battle.¡¿
¡¾As you anticipated, every time you meet, Ibuki Yuko is polite but not close. Two weeks pass, and despite walking to school together many times and discussing various topics, your rtionship shows no progress. You aren¡¯t any closer.¡¿
¡¾You start adding encounters on the way home from school. However, your aggressive approach fails to melt the ice surrounding Ibuki Yuko.¡¿
¡¾In June, you decide to change your strategy.¡¿
¡¾You approach Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mother, Ibuki Honoka. You arrange a chance encounter with her when she returns to the apartment at night. Thanks to your looks and charm, Ibuki Honoka quickly bes friends with you.¡¿
Looking at the simtion text, Minami Yuuki nodded in satisfaction.
As expected of me!
If the daughter can¡¯t be won over, then go after her mom andunch a nking maneuver!
¡¾In your interactions with Ibuki Honoka, you notice that she has a certain level of affection for all handsome men, including you.¡¿
¡¾You recall a rumor you heard earlier, which said that Ibuki Honoka is particrly flirtatious. Indeed, this woman is very flirtatious, but not out of a desire for physical pleasure. Rather, she likes every good-looking man. She has the ability to find the cute aspects of almost all men and the capacity to tolerate almost all their ws. She is a natural flirt.¡¿
¡¾You maintain your boundaries and remain just friends with Ibuki Honoka, not developing a deeper rtionship with her.¡¿
¡¾After drinking twice at an izakaya with Ibuki Honoka, you feel that your rtionship has reached the right point, and you bring up Ibuki Yuko. Ibuki Honoka often talks about her daughter, so your words don¡¯t raise any suspicion.¡¿
A short memory scene appears.
The lighting in the izakaya is warm-toned. Many men are sitting at the bar near the entrance, mostly drinking and making noise.
Minami Yuuki and Ibuki Honoka are sitting in a booth inside the izakaya. The booth has wooden partitions on both sides, forming a small private space.
On the table, there are snacks like fries and green beans. Minami Yuuki is holding a juice, and Ibuki Honoka has a beer.
¡°How are Yuko-senpai¡¯s grades?¡± Minami Yuuki asks while using chopsticks to remove bones from a grilled fish.
¡°Quite good, it seems. During the sports festival, a teacher told me that she could aim for a well-known university,¡± Ibuki Honoka says, downing arge ss of beer and lying on the table, staring at the boy¡¯s face.
Unlike any man she has met before, this boy, whose every move radiates youthful beauty, doesn¡¯t need any emotional embellishments. Just seeing the beauty of his youthful body is enough to make her feel ted and lose track of time.
To make aparison, it¡¯s like doujinshi (fan-made works), where most manga works need to add essories like animal ears, ck stockings, or settings like siblings or childhood friends to capture the interest of seasoned readers. But a very small number of exceptionally well-drawn works can make veteran readers¡¯ hearts race just by seeing the characters themselves, causing them to lose weight over time.
The boy in front of her would be at the top even among those exceptional works.
When drinking with other men, Ibuki Honoka always needs to interact with them, pulling andughing to find enjoyment. But with this boy in front of her, just quietly watching him is enough to bring her joy.
¡°That¡¯s great. I wish I had a smart brain too,¡± Minami Yuukiins. ¡°The finals areing up, and if I fail, my family might make me go back to school.¡±
¡°Grades are just the struggles of those who arecking in other areas. Yuuki-kun, you don¡¯t need those to seed,¡± Ibuki Honoka reassures him. ¡°But family expectations can be a hassle. If there were a brain-swapping surgery, I¡¯d sign off immediately and give you Yuko¡¯s brain.¡±
¡°That¡¯s too scary. I just want to get through the finals.¡±
¡°By the way, you¡¯re a first-year, right? Yuko is already a second-year. Why not have her tutor you?¡±
¡°Is that okay? Wouldn¡¯t Yuko-senpai mind?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yuko listens to her mother!¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, Honoka-san!¡±
Seeing Ibuki Honoka patting her chest and making a promise, Minami Yuuki smiles.
The n is sessful!
Now he can approach Ibuki Yuko by visiting her home!
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Chapter 58
Chapter 58
¡¾You pretended to be worried about your final grades, coaxing Ibuki Honoka into suggesting her daughter tutor you, to which you dly agreed.¡¿
¡¾That very evening, after returning from the izakaya, Ibuki Honoka brought you to her home.¡¿
¡¾Ibuki Yuko sat at the low table in the living room, wearing headphones and reading a book. Ibuki Honoka took away her phone and book, instructing her to tutor you. Then Honoka sat on the sofa behind the low table, half-sitting, half-lying, watching you.¡¿
¡¾Despite her mother¡¯s sudden request and your unexpected arrival, Ibuki Yuko showed no signs of impatience or displeasure. She pulled out first-grade textbooks from the cab and began tutoring you.¡¿
¡¾The low table was small, and the girl was very close to you. Her clear voice surrounded you as she exined concepts you already understood.¡¿
¡¾A slight lift of your chin allowed you to see her fair hands and the delicate face beneath her long ck hair.¡¿
¡¾The girl sat upright, her posture and expression unchanged. Your arrival had not shaken her in the slightest. The elegance she disyed in maintaining herposure in your presence was a form of rejection. Her tranquility was a resistance against you, a refusal to let you affect her inner world.¡¿
¡¾You realized your n had failed.¡¿
¡¾Even this unexpected intrusion into the girl¡¯s home couldn¡¯t affect her emotions. You couldn¡¯t think of a way to break through the ice surrounding her.¡¿¡¾Facing such a dilemma, you chose¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°Go with the flow, wait for the right moment.¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Now that I think about it, Honoka is quite beautiful too.¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°I can only use more aggressive methods. Go buy some rope and a utility knife.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free simtion¡¿
Minami Yuuki nced at the options. Besides one and four, the rest were quite strange.
¡°What does ¡®Honoka is quite beautiful too¡¯ mean? If I can¡¯t be with Ibuki Yuko, I¡¯ll go for a father-daughter rtionship instead?¡±
¡°And what¡¯s the deal with ¡®buying rope and a utility knife¡¯? That¡¯s definitely criminal!¡±
He clicked on option one.
¡¾You decided to wait for the right opportunity. You believed no one could maintain elegance and calmness forever. One day, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s inner self would reveal itself. She would be anxious, afraid, joyful, embarrassed, and when that day came, you would seize the opportunity.¡¿
¡¾An hourter, you finished your tutoring and returned home. From then on, you visited the Ibuki home for half an hour each day to ask Ibuki Yuko for help with your studies.¡¿
¡¾asionally, Ibuki Honoka wasn¡¯t home. You thought you might see some change in Ibuki Yuko, but the girl¡¯s attitude remained the same.¡¿
¡¾For the final exams, you ranked in the top ten of your ss. That evening, you thanked Ibuki Yuko for her help. As you expected, the girl only politely congratted you.¡¿
¡¾On the first afternoon of summer vacation, you sat by your bed, contemting your next move.¡¿
¡¾Simtion ended¡¿
¡°¡?¡±
Minami Yuuki stared in disbelief at the words ¡°Simtion ended.¡± He scrolled down the simtor interface, but it wouldn¡¯t move. The simtion had indeed ended, and there were no more words.
¡°How could it end just like that?¡±
He sat up on the bed, looking at the abruptly terminated simtion interface, filled with confusion.
One moment he was thinking about his next n, and the next, the simtion was over?
It felt like reading a web novel where the author promised to start updating more frequently but then disappeared the next day, ending the story abruptly.
Did he miss something?
Minami Yuuki pulled up the simtor interface and reread the text of this simtion.
His eyes had not deceived him; the simtion ended just like that.
Next to the simtion interface, a summary box had already popped up.
¡¾Summary of this Simtion¡¿
¡¾Stage: Pursuit Phase¡¿
¡¾Score: 6¡¿
¡¾Comment: She hides her inner self behind a sturdy iron door. You failed to break through its defenses.¡¿
¡¾Settlement: You gained a small amount of learning experience¡¿
There were no clues in the summary.
Minami Yuuki dismissed it and looked back at the simtion interface.
What exactly had happened to cause the simtion to suddenly stop?
He recalled the simtions with Asano Nao. Even if their rtionship didn¡¯t progress, the simtions continued until he graduated from high school.
This simtion, however, onlysted until the summer of his first year.
Was it his series of actions that caused Ibuki Yuko to dislike him? Had she already categorized him as someone she could never be with, leading to the immediate end of the romance simtion?
No, in the simted life, Ibuki Yuko was merely cold, not to the point of dislike. It was already unbelievable enough for a young girl to be cold towards him; the idea that she could dislike him seemed even more far-fetched.
Moreover, the summary only mentioned that he couldn¡¯t get into Ibuki Yuko¡¯s inner world. If she disliked him enough to end the romance simtion, it would have been noted in the summary. Since it wasn¡¯t, that wasn¡¯t the case.
¡°Which means, the end of the romance simtion wasn¡¯t caused by our emotions,¡± Minami Yuuki murmured to himself.
His eyes gradually widened as a possibility emerged in his mind.
¡°If it wasn¡¯t an emotional issue, then it must have been a physical one.¡±
He looked at the simtion text again, staring at thest line.
¡¾On the afternoon of the first day of summer vacation, you sit at the bedside, contemting your next move.¡¿
¡°Before the simtion ended, I was sitting at the bedside in my apartment, so it shouldn¡¯t be my physical body that had a problem. It must be Ibuki Yuko who had a problem.¡±
There was no moon tonight. The pitch-ck night seeped through the gaps in the curtains. Minami Yuuki rubbed his chilled arms and shrank back into the covers.
To verify his guess, he started the simtion again.
¡¾Simtion Start¡¿
¡¾Remaining Simtion Attempts: 1¡¿
¡¾Simtion Target: Ibuki Yuko¡¿
¡¾Initial Rtionship: Acquaintance¡¿
¡¾Five days have passed since you arrived in this world. You¡¯ve be friends with Asano Nao, who has taken over your meals; you¡¯ve also be friends with Chitose Kazumi, alleviating the boredom of school life. You¡¯ve changed your ssmates¡¯ impression of you, evolving from a fringe person to someone popr.¡¿
Minami Yuuki swiped through the interface, skipping the repeated parts.
In this simted life, he mostly followed his previous actions.
He became friends with Ibuki Honoka and frequently visited the Ibuki household under the pretext of tutoring. He ranked in the top ten of the ss in the final exams and received a perfunctory thank you from Ibuki Yuko.
The change urred during summer vacation.
¡¾On the first day of summer vacation, you wake up early and wait by the elevator in your apartment, watching the floors where it stops. Every time ites down from the eleventh floor, you press the button to check if Ibuki Yuko is inside.¡¿
¡¾At noon, you spot your target.¡¿
¡¾Casually greeting Ibuki Yuko, you walk into the elevator. After descending, you follow her.¡¿
¡¾You¡¯re not skilled in following people, but luckily Ibuki Yuko doesn¡¯t mind your presence.¡¿
¡¾Ibuki Yuko goes to the library, returns her books, and picks out a new stack.¡¿
¡¾By the time she leaves the library, it¡¯s already afternoon. You focus intently on the figure of the girl in front of you.¡¿
¡¾The library is in a remote area, the road ahead is wide, and there aren¡¯t many pedestrians but plenty of vehicles.¡¿
¡¾The scorching summer sun makes it hard to keep your eyes open. Even ncing at the traffic lights takes great effort. The intersection is busy with vehicles, and there isn¡¯t a trace of greenery around, making you feel uneasy.¡¿
¡¾You see the cause of the abrupt end of yourst simtion.¡¿
¡¾On the ringly bright road, a green truck ignores the red light and heads straight towards where you and Ibuki Yuko are standing.¡¿
¡¾The surrounding vehicles honk loudly, warning the pedestrians at the intersection and trying to alert the truck driver.¡¿
¡¾Ibuki Yuko notices the approaching metal behemoth. She seems either dazed by the summer sun or frozen in fear by the massive shadow, standing immobile at the intersection.¡¿
¡¾You pull her aside and run.¡¿
¡¾The truck barrels past you and her, crashing into the library wall, and the gust of wind stings the back of your neck.¡¿
¡¾Once you steady yourself, you turn to look at her. She¡¯s unharmed, and you breathe a sigh of relief.¡¿
¡¾But soon, under the zing summer sun, a sudden chill invades your chest, making you shiver.¡¿
¡¾A question swirls in your mind¡ªwas the girl really scared just now?¡¿
¡¾Could theposed and graceful Ibuki Yuko, who remained unruffled by your advances, truly be frightened by a rtively slow-moving, ordinary truck?¡¿
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Chapter 59
Chapter 59
¡¾Ibuki Yuko expresses her gratitude for saving her in time, but you don¡¯t see any trace of fear or relief on the girl¡¯s face.¡¿
¡¾People on the roadside gather around, asking about your situation. You and Ibuki Yuko politely thank them and turn to leave.¡¿
¡¾You watch the girl¡¯s back. Despite the ordeal she just went through, her eyes remain calm and her steps steady.¡¿
The memory scene appears.
Minami Yuuki follows Ibuki Yuko into the subway entrance. The summer heat is blocked outside, and the cool air conditioning brings a sigh of relief.
¡°Did I ruin your n, senpai?¡± Minami Yuuki quickly takes two steps to catch up to the girl and looks down at her.
¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Ibuki Yuko grips the shoulder strap of her canvas bag.
She¡¯s wearing a short-sleeved shirt, her exposed arms are pale and slender, like ivory porcin, beautiful and fragile.
¡°Senpai never intended to dodge the truck, did you?¡± Minami Yuuki presses.Ibuki Yuko stops in her tracks. She looks up, the white mask covering half her face. The eyes above the mask gleam as they stare at Minami Yuuki.
¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± She looks down again and continues walking.
Minami Yuuki keeps pace with her. ¡°Since it¡¯s a secret, senpai doesn¡¯t want others to know, right? Can I use this to ckmail you?¡±
¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± The girl¡¯s calm response is delivered with such poise that even a threat can¡¯t disturb her elegance. Her elegance is her armor.
¡°Really? I was thinking of saying, ¡®If senpai doesn¡¯t go out with me, I¡¯ll spread this around!''¡±
¡°No one would believe you.¡±
The girl swipes her subway card. The gate emits a cold beep, the stic barrier opens, and after she passes, it closes, blocking Minami Yuuki.
Minami Yuuki swipes his card and catches up with her.
¡°This is indeed a problem. If no one believes me, I can¡¯t use it to ckmail you. I need evidence. There should be surveince cameras at the intersection, but the cameras can only capture your appearance, not your inner thoughts. You could just im you were scared.¡±
He mutters to himself, observing Ibuki Yuko¡¯s expression. The girl doesn¡¯t respond to this topic.
¡°I think there¡¯s something else I need to rify,¡± he grabs Ibuki Yuko¡¯s wrist, ¡°Senpai was just going with the flow, right? You wouldn¡¯t actively walk in front of a truck, would you?¡±
They stand in the middle of the subway tform, surrounded by the cold tiles on the floor and walls.
¡°Who knows?¡± Ibuki Yuko pulls her hand away and continues walking.
She doesn¡¯t look back at Minami Yuuki, but he seems to see a faint smile in her words.
This is the first time the girl has revealed her true feelings, but this casually spoken, emotionally unstruggled truth also bes part of her elegance, a link in the chain of armor that resists others.
This petite senpai might be an even bigger problem than Asano Nao.
It¡¯s troublesome.
¡¾You press Ibuki Yuko for the truth, and the girl tacitly acknowledges your suspicions. You ask if she would actively walk into the other side of life, and she tells you she doesn¡¯t know.¡¿
¡°It¡¯s troublesome.¡± Minami Yuuki rubs his forehead in reality.
That timid little wildcat from before was manageable, but now there¡¯s another problem girl!
A timid wildcat is easy to handle; just provide afortable environment and reasonable distance, and it will grow healthily.
But how to care for a world-weary Persian cat? It¡¯s elegant, not noisy, and not afraid of people, but this elegance is a dead elegance, born from detachment from the world, a transcendental elegance, a funeral dress cut by death.
How to tear off the girl¡¯s elegance and reach her heart?
Toozy to think about it, trust the wisdom of his simted life self!
Pausing his contemtion of the simted life¡¯s direction, Minami Yuuki reviews the simted life as a spectator and clicks his tongue in admiration.
¡°No wonder she¡¯s unaffected by my advances and blind to my beauty. It¡¯s not my problem, it¡¯s hers. Even a truck crashing into her doesn¡¯t faze her, let alone me. Though I hate to admit it, my beauty still belongs to this world, while her heart is on the edge, about to leave it.¡±
Minami Yuuki opens the attribute panel, looking at his charm of 9: ¡°A score of 9 should be nearing the limit of this world. I wonder what would happen if I added one more point.¡±
But acquiring attribute points requires effort in the simted life. What kind of life must he lead to increase his charm?
Be an artist? A model?
Speaking of which, he hasn¡¯t decided on his career in this simted life yet.
Judging by Ibuki Yuko¡¯s demeanor, it doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯ll let him live a peaceful life.
Minami Yuuki continues the simtion.
¡¾Back at the apartment, you start thinking about your next move and decide¡¡¿
¡¾Option 1: ¡°Death is like the wind; I am the windbreaker.¡±¡¿
¡¾Option 2: ¡°Death is like the wind; I have a storm shelter.¡±¡¿
¡¾Option 3: ¡°Honoka is only in her thirties; she can still have children.¡±¡¿
¡¾Option 4: Free Simtion¡¿
Just as you were thinking about trusting your wisdom in the Simtion, options appeared.
Now you have to think for yourself.
Option 1 suggests staying by Ibuki Yuko¡¯s side and stopping her if she gets any dark thoughts.
Option 2 suggests finding a ce to keep Ibuki Yuko confined, not letting her go out or approach death.
Option 3 suggests working hard with Ibuki Honoka, giving up the main game and starting a new one, having a little Yuko.
First, rule out Option 3.
Then, it¡¯s a matter of choosing between Option 1 and 2.
Option 1 is gentler, just following her around, while Option 2 is more aggressive, directly confining her.
Maybe Option 2 is better; Ibuki Yuko is already deeply troubled, so she needs a strong intervention.
But he has no experience confining people, though he was once confined by a woman.
Painful memories, Minami Yuuki brushed them aside and refocused on the options.
If he confines Ibuki Yuko, Ibuki Honoka will find out first, then the school will notice.
As for Ibuki Honoka, if he pleads, she might not intervene, but the school¡
What should he choose?
After hesitating for a moment, Minami Yuuki clicked an option.
¡¾You decide to keep Ibuki Yuko around you, preventing her from getting any dark thoughts while trying to get closer to her and touch her heart.¡¿
He chose to confine Ibuki Yuko, not out of strong intervention, but because he felt it was a bad option that would lead to negative consequences.
But¡ªsince he could simte again, being a little willful once in a while wouldn¡¯t hurt!
Option 2 is too tempting!
How could anyone give it up!
If Ibuki Honoka were more self-disciplined, Option 3 would actually be quite interesting.
Moreover, although Option 2 might lead to bad consequences, this strong intervention could bring him closer to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s heart, uncovering the hidden parts of her inner self!
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Chapter 60
Chapter 60
[Ibuki Honoka works at a stationerypany. She doesn¡¯t have much work but has a lot of social obligations. Using summer tutoring as an excuse, you got her house key from her. She vaguely sensed that your real target was Ibuki Yuko.]
[You found Ibuki Yuko and revealed your n to her.]
[You told her you were going to monitor her and asked her to cooperate.]
[She refused.]
[However, her attitude of letting everything happen, without showing emotion or resisting, made it impossible for her to effectively reject you.]
[Every morning, you go to the Ibuki house, making her study and learn. She teaches you as usual and talks to you.]
[At night, after Ibuki Yuko falls asleep, you return to your apartment.]
[asionally, when Ibuki Yuko wants to go out, you stop her. If she wants to buy something, you make her write a list, and you go out to buy it at night.]
[She never argues with you. As long as you are firm, sheplies with your demands.][Of course, thispliance onlysts under your watchful eye. She submits to your authority, but if you¡¯re not around, this authority has no binding power.]
[The summer vacation passed peacefully.]
[During these forty days, you tried to deepen your emotional connection with Ibuki Yuko and get closer to her, but you failed. You couldn¡¯t reach her heart; youcked a key, a chance.]
Seeing this, Minami Yuuki knew this romance simtion had failed.
It wasn¡¯t surprising, but the actions of his character in the simtion exceeded Minami Yuuki¡¯s expectations.
He thought that option meant actual physical imprisonment. He didn¡¯t expect it to be this flexible use of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s personality to create a pseudo-imprisonment.
Putting himself in the simted situation, yes, if he decided to confine a girl, he would choose this way, minimizing legal risks.
Through this, Minami Yuuki resolved one of his doubts. The choices in the simtion actually determine the way he solves problems. For the simted version of himself, these options are the ns he considered at the time.
He continued to look at the simtion interface.
[The second semester began. Every morning, you go to the Ibuki house, wait for her, and walk to school together. In the afternoon after school, you go to her ss and walk back to the apartment together.]
[To stay close to Ibuki Yuko, you haven¡¯t visited the Asano house for a long time, and your rtionship with Asano Nao has be distant.]
[You developed a ssmate of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s as an informant to help you keep an eye on her.]
[Ibuki Honokaughed and said you two are like a married couple. She gave up pursuing you and wanted you to be her son-inw.]
[Youughed and agreed, half-jokingly nning the wedding. This way, you could get more freedom from Ibuki Honoka, as you were already her prospective son-inw.]
[Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯tment on your arrangement. When Ibuki Honoka asked her, she calmly nodded and agreed.]
[You were unhappy with her indifferent attitude. After Ibuki Honoka left, you asked Ibuki Yuko if she would ept any arrangement. Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯t answer you.]
[Using your ¡°fianc¨¦¡± status, you tried to touch Ibuki Yuko¡¯s bottom line, making her reject you through actions instead of words. You failed.]
[Timely stopping, you were very disappointed with Ibuki Yuko. You couldn¡¯t find self-will, ideals, or emotions in her. She was an elegant shell, a ball-jointed doll made of y.]
[Leaving Ibuki Yuko, you left the Ibuki house.]
[What you desire is not a beautifully dressed, finely featured doll but a cute, interesting girlfriend with a fascinating soul.]
Lying in bed, Minami Yuuki felt uneasy reading the simtion text.
This development¡ could it be that he¡¯s going to have problems now?
He hurriedly looked at the next line.
[The next day, as usual, you went to the Ibuki house to see her and walked to school together. The whole time, you didn¡¯t smile and were unwilling to talk to her.]
As expected!
This time, he is the one with the problem!
Minami Yuuki sighed.
Thinking carefully, such a situation is quite normal. He asked himself if he had a lot of patience for beautiful girls. He didn¡¯t get annoyed when Asano Nao ran away, but that patience wasn¡¯t infinite.
Asano Nao left based on her own beliefs and personality. Looking back on this simtion, Minami Yuuki still felt a bit angry, but within that anger was also an acknowledgment of Asano Nao¡¯s feelings and willpower.
Although Ibuki Yuko was obedient and did whatever she was told, her actions werepletely detached from her heart. She treated herself like a puppet, allowing herself to be manipted.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t like such girls. Some might prefer such a nk te, enjoying the thrill of defiling that purity and sshing their paint on the canvas, but he was not one of those people.
So it was within Minami Yuuki¡¯s expectations that his simted self would grow weary.
At the same time, he also understood that unless someone was inherentlycking, no one would be such a nk te. Ibuki Yuko had just covered the picture in her heart with a white sticker.
At first, Minami Yuuki thought he could peel off the sticker, but he realized he couldn¡¯t.
If the sticker on the picture couldn¡¯t be removed, then the picture might as well not exist.
He continued to watch the simtion interface. Since his simted self had already grown to dislike her, what would happen next in the story?
Would he continue to interact with Ibuki Yuko, or¡ it couldn¡¯t be what he thought, right?
[In the ssroom, Chitose Kazumi noticed your unease. At noon, she sat next to you with her bento, wanting to show concern. Her hesitant words and evasive eyes, along with her awkward demeanor, lifted your spirits.]
[You told her about the issues with IbukiYuko and apologized to Chitose Kazumi. You had previously mentioned that you weren¡¯t nning on dating anytime soon, and now you had broken that promise.]
[Chitose Kazumi epted your apology. She wasn¡¯t angry, just a bit disappointed. Sheforted you and encouraged you to reconcile with Ibuki Yuko.]
[She didn¡¯t know that you were already contemting giving up.]
Lying on his bed, Minami Yuuki covered his face.
Of course, it¡¯s Chitose Kazumi again!
Is this simtion going to follow the Chitose Kazumi route again?
[You decided to continue a bit longer, not out of stubbornness, but to gather some information.]
[You continued to go to and from school with Ibuki Yuko, inseparable. Your ssmates thought you were dating.]
[In October, Ichinose Shiori approached you.]
Why did this character suddenly appear?
Wait, Ichinose Shiori? Could it be the one who sits in front of him, rumored to be 79/56/82, the secret crush of his predecessor, the Ichinose Shiori he failed to contact in the previous simtion?
Why did she suddenly make an appearance?
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Chapter 61
Chapter 61
[After a brief self-introduction, Ichinose Shiori stated her purpose and asked if you forced Ibuki Yuko to date you.]
The memory scene appears.
After school, at the far end of the first-floor hallway of the school building, Minami Yuuki and Ichinose Shiori stood together. The ssrooms on the first floor were all temporary ones, like the art room and the chemistryb, making the area very quiet.
Ichinose Shiori wore a serious expression, arms crossed, standing straight with an imposing demeanor. However, her legs d in ck stockings were too eye-catching, making it hard to focus on her expression.
It was like in a zombie movie¡ªmoving corpses are scary, but a moving ck-stockinged schoolgirl corpse evokes a peculiar feeling.
¡°Why are you asking this?¡± Minami Yuuki raised his eyes to look at Ichinose Shiori¡¯s face.
He thought that, given Ibuki Yuko¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t voluntarily speak out about such matters, let alone tell Ichinose Shiori, who was a year younger than her.
¡°I¡¯ve already asked Ibuki-senpai, and she confirmed my suspicions. Now, I want to hear your exnation.¡± Ichinose Shiori stared into Minami Yuuki¡¯s eyes.
Her face was expressionless, instantly reminding Minami Yuuki of Ibuki Yuko. However, Ichinose Shiori¡¯s face showed a firm belief, a determination Minami Yuuki had never seen in Ibuki Yuko.¡°What if I told you not to meddle in other people¡¯s bussiness, what would you do?¡± Minami Yuuki thought of the rumors he had heard in his simted life¡ªIchinose Shiori¡¯s family seemed quite influential.
¡°I have investigated. Minami-san transferred to Tsukimori High School through the connection of the grade head. I can make sure you go back to Ino County.¡±
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s words confirmed the rumors. To easily influence a school, the Ichinose family must be quite extraordinary.
¡°That is to say, if I don¡¯t stop, Ichinose-san will be my enemy?¡± Minami Yuuki found it amusing. Although he liked to take unconventional paths and be opportunistic, this was the first time he was being treated as a viin.
¡°Minami-san is handsome and socially adept. Not only did you nt a spy in Ibuki-senpai¡¯s ss, but you also won over ss C¡¯s homeroom teacher. Your future seems promising. If a sessful person like you seeks revenge, I might end up in big trouble.¡±
¡°Then what makes you take the risk of questioning and stopping me, despite the possible retaliation? Is it your sense of justice?¡±
¡°Because I think there¡¯s more to it. With Minami-san¡¯s skills, you shouldn¡¯tck a girlfriend.¡±
¡°So, Ichnose¡¯s earlier threat to make me transfer was just a bluff?¡±
¡°In a sense, yes. But I¡¯ve also prepared for the possibility that there¡¯s no hidden agenda, and Minami-san is just a simple pervert who intends to persist. In that case, it wouldn¡¯t be a bluff.¡± Ichinose Shiori¡¯s logic was clear and her stance firm.
¡°I wish Ibuki Yuko was more like you,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed.
¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ichinose Shiori sensed something was amiss.
¡°Nothing. I won¡¯t bother Ibuki Yuko anymore.¡± Minami Yuuki smiled, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been worried about what to do with her next. It¡¯s a big help that Ichinose showed up.¡±
Ichinose Shiori didn¡¯t respond, keeping her lips tightly shut, waiting for Minami Yuuki to exin further.
¡°Has Ichinose noticed any peculiarities about Ibuki Yuko?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
¡°Reclusive, weak, and has no opinion of her own. Precisely because of these traits, she fell prey to your coercion, didn¡¯t she?¡±
¡°Tsk, your harsh words only show that you¡¯re already aware of something unsettling. You¡¯re just trying to vent your unease on me.¡±
Minami Yuuki felt even more pleased.
¡°Reclusive, weak, and having no opinion of her own¡ªthese are just the shadows cast on the wall by the firelight. What is the reality behind this shadow?¡±
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but her tightly pressed lips revealed her emotions.
¡°Ichinose can ask her¡ªif she falls into a river, would she choose to swim desperately, call for help loudly, or¡ªsink to the bottom.¡±
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t wait for Ichinose Shiori¡¯s reaction and quickly walked towards the entrance.
¡°Since Ichinose is intervening, I¡¯ll leave her to you.¡±
Hisst words reached Ichinose Shiori¡¯s ears.
The girl stood in ce, frowning deeply.
[Facing an inquiry from Shiho Ichinose, you hesitated at first. After confirming she was a suitable person to take over, you entrusted Ayako Ibuki to her and withdrew from the situation.]
As expected of me!
Minami Yuuki nodded satisfactorily as he looked at the simtion interface.
Though weary of the puppet in his simted life, his simple morality made it hard to ignore. Ichinose Shiori intervention was like a timely help in need. Entrusting trouble to her was the right move!
Given Ichinose Shiori¡¯s gender and authority, she was better suited than him to care for Ibuki Yuko. Her keen perception and strong sense of justice, as evidenced by her action against his coercion, made her trustworthy.
With the trouble now off his hands, what would happen next?
Would it be a sessfulpanionship with Chitose Kazumi, or would Asano Nao make aeback? Perhaps there might be some stories with Ichinose Shiori?
Wait, wasn¡¯t the goal of this love simtion Ibuki Yuko?
Never mind, it felt doomed to fail from the start. Understanding Ibuki Yuko¡¯s stubbornness and knowing Ichinose Shiori¡¯s character, he had already gained enough.
He continued reading the simted text.
[You told your ssmate who cared about your feelings that you were only pursuing Ibuki Yuko before, but now you¡¯vepletely given up.¡±
[Without Ibuki Yuko¡¯s presence, Chitose Kazumi¡¯s figure is now around you.]
[You still care about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s situation and asionally go out to eat with Ibuki Honoka, asking about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s recent condition.]
[Ibuki Honoka tells you that she has been seeing her daughter less and less. A big shot through herpany arranged for her to meet, asking her to stop worrying about her daughter, Ibuki Yuko.]
[At school, Ibuki Yuko is always with Ichinose Shiori.]
[One day in the first semester of the second year, you three meet in the corridor. Youugh at Ichinose Shiori¡¯s current actions that are exactly the same as what you did before.]
[After school that day, Ichinose Shiori blocked you at your seat.]
[Ibuki Yuko isn¡¯t by her side, and you walk to a quiet ce where she tells you about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s recent situation.]
[She got Ibuki Yuko a psychologist, cut off her contact with her mother, and hoped to correct Ibuki Yuko¡¯s character. Her efforts were in vain.]
[She found that Ibuki Yuko was increasingly reliant on her. Perhaps not reliance, but mechanically taking her words as a guide. Previously, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s guide was her mother¡¯s demands.]
[Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯t follow her words out of liking or ideology, but because people are born to act, and action requires a guide, so she used her words to fill in.]
[Listening to Ichinose Shiori¡¯sints, you had no solution. She didn¡¯t want advice, but after saying it out loud, her mood improved. She thanked you and left.]
[You sessfully developed emotional bonds with Chitose Kazumi, and you introduced her to Asano Nao, and the two became friends.]
[With no troubled girl to care for, you had plenty of time. Chitose Kazumi invited you to sprint for Misaki University, so you studied hard and, through connections with your father¡¯s old grade director and Ichinose Shiori, who often came to talk to you about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s matters, expanded yourwork.]
[Building on your grades and using your connections, you helped yourself and Chitose Kazumi secure a guaranteed spot at Misaki University. On the day you got the spot, Chitose Kazumi looked at the sprint n she had made for herself, with mixed emotions.]
[During spring break after high school graduation, you learned from Ichinose Shiori about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s death.]
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Chapter 62
Chapter 62
[You asked about the circumstances of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s death, and Ichinose Shiori told you that the girl drowned in the river in front of the nearby subway entrance before dawn today.]
A memory scene appears.
It¡¯s March, and the temperature has risen quite a bit since the winter break, but it still can¡¯t be called warm, especially at night.
Minami Yuuki stepped back a couple of paces, allowing Ichinose Shiori to enter the room and poured her a cup of hot tea.
Outside, the night was deep. It was already nine in the evening, and Minami Yuuki was relieved that Chitose Kazumi hadn¡¯t stayed overnight; this conversation would have been unavoidable with her around.
Ichinose Shiori took a sip of the steaming tea. She looked exhausted, her usual straight posture now slumped as she sat crookedly on the carpet.
She added, ¡°I don¡¯t know if it was suicide or an ident. She went out shopping yesterday afternoon and then disappeared. I had people search the area but couldn¡¯t find her. We searched near this apartment building and finally, at dawn, found her hat floating on the water and retrieved her body.¡±
Minami Yuuki sat down next to Ichinose Shiori. He was very familiar with the river she mentioned; in another month, the cherry blossoms along the riverbank would be in full bloom.
He thought of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s appearance, imagining that doll-like girl floating in the river between rows of cherry trees. What expressions would the tourists have next month when they see the cherry petals floating on the river?He looked at Ichinose Shiori. ¡°You did your best.¡±
¡°Don¡¯tfort me,¡± Ichinose Shiori said, gripping the cup tightly and staring at the light reflecting at the bottom of it. Her hands and eyes seemed to be struggling with something, revealing a hint of agitation.
Minami Yuuki gradually realized that her agitation wasn¡¯t solely due to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s drowning.
¡°It¡¯s my fault. My interference harmed her. And I owe you an apology,¡± Ichinose Shiori abruptly put down the cup and turned to look at Minami Yuuki.
At the moment their eyes met, she looked away, her inner turmoil evident.
She lowered her head, staring at the artificial patterns on theposite floor. The overly regr imitation of natural wood grain slightly calmed her inner chaos.
Minami Yuuki spoke at the right moment, ¡°Why say such things? When ites to Ibuki Yuko, I couldn¡¯t have done better than you.¡±
¡°No, you could have done better than me,¡± Ichinose Shiori said firmly.
Minami Yuuki was surprised, wondering where she got such a conclusion.
Under his gaze, Ichinose Shiori revealed the torment she had been enduring:
¡°I had a feelingst year. Two years ago, I shouldn¡¯t have acted so recklessly. I thought I was helping Ibuki-senpai, but in reality, I wasn¡¯t, no, I definitely wasn¡¯t!¡±
She looked up at Minami Yuuki, ¡°Do you remember two years ago when I arrogantly asked you to stop coercing Ibuki Yuko?¡±
¡°I remember.¡± Minami Yuuki initially wanted to say something witty, but before the words left his mouth, he thought of the river that would soon reflect the cherry trees and opted for a simple response.
¡°You asked me why I approached you, and I told you, though I don¡¯t remember the exact words, that I deduced from observation that you were coercing Ibuki-senpai and confirmed it with her acknowledgment.¡±
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s speech was fast and somewhat disjointed. With these words, the turmoil on her face deepened.
Minami Yuuki frowned; as Ichinose Shiori began speaking, he had a vague suspicion.
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s next words confirmed his suspicion.
¡°Ibuki-senpai never acknowledged it. I asked her three times, a week apart each time, from hints to direct questions. Each time, she shook her head and denied it. Thest time, I had the homeroom teacher call her to the office during ss, and I directly asked if you were threatening her. She shook her head before I finished speaking and told me not to interfere with matters between you and her.¡±
The apartment windows were tightly closed, and the tea on the low table emitted wisps of steam. Minami Yuuki propped his elbow on the table, feeling the room¡¯s temperature was somewhat high.
Ichinose Shiori continued, ¡°I thought at the time that your coercion scared her too much, making her reject my involvement. So I turned to question you. I feared you wouldn¡¯t admit it, so I lied, saying Ibuki-senpai had acknowledged it.¡±
¡°That was the truth,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°External facts are not the same as internal truths!¡± Ichinose Shiori let go of the teacup, cing her hands on her knees, clenching them as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
She lowered her face, wiping away the tears: ¡°At the time, I thought I was someone upholding justice, a knight rescuing Ibuki-senpai, but was I really prepared to help her? Maybe I was just trying to satisfy my childish, twisted,ughable desire to execute justice!¡±
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t speak. He stood up, opened the window beside the bed, and the cool evening breeze failed to dispel the heat in the room, making him acutely aware of his body¡¯s warmth.
He sat back down by the low table. After sobbing for a while, Ichinose Shiori spoke again.
¡°Even after you told me that you were helping Ibuki-senpai when I confronted you, I stubbornly clung to my sense of justice, thinking your methods were wrong and that I could help her better. Later, when you said I unknowingly chose the same way to handle things as you did, I felt ashamed, but I obstinately believed that even if I chose the same way as you, I could do it better!¡±
¡°You did indeed do better than me.¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t! Because I was wrong from the start!¡±
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s voice grew louder. She raised her neck, as if not talking to Minami Yuuki but confessing to the victim, kneeling on the floor as she dered her guilt.
¡°Recently, I have clearly felt the problem. That Ibuki-senpai who seemed indifferent to everything and epted everything as it came, would she really conceal the crime for you just because you coerced her? That time, she told me not to interfere with matters between you and her; it was the only time I heard her firmly refuse something!¡±
¡°That¡¯s just your spection.¡±
¡°Please don¡¯t evade! Even I can muster the courage to sit here and confess to you, so please face Ibuki-senpai¡¯s feelings with the right attitude!¡±
They fell into a long silence. The evening breeze stirred the curtains, casting twisted shadows on the window from the light.
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s low voice suddenly broke the silence: ¡°She wanted to be coerced by you, she hoped to be coerced by you. You should have continued and eventually lived happily together. It was me who ruined everything. Ibuki-senpai¡¯s death is my responsibility. From that river, she could clearly see your apartment; she came to see you!¡±
With that, she copsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrobly.
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Chapter 63
Chapter 63
[You noticed something was off with Ichinose Shiori. Sure enough, after entering the room, she confessed her remorse and described her perceived sins to you. From her words, you learned that Ibuki Yuko had willingly submitted to your coercion.]
Sighing as he read the simtion text, Minami Yuuki pondered.
Before the memory scene appeared, he had sensed something was wrong. The simtion continued even after Ibuki Yuko¡¯s death.
From previous life simtions, he had deduced a conclusion: the simtion ended with the conclusion of a romantic rtionship.
In the past simtion, when Asano Nao died, the simtion did not end immediately because their rtionship had not ended.
Love is an emotion between two people; as long as the emotion is deep, even separation by death cannot end the romance.
In thest simtion, his rtionship with Ibuki Yuko was shallow, and the simtion ended abruptly with her death.
This time, he thought his rtionship with Ibuki Yuko was simr to thest one, yet the simtion did not end with her death.
It was clear that their rtionship had not ended; Ibuki Yuko still had unexpressed emotions.From this, he immediately realized that his belief that Ibuki Yuko was a lifeless puppet was a misconception, an illusion.
He had been deceived by Ibuki Yuko!
The girl had actually undergone a change within, quietly and subtly, masked by an elegant facade, hidden beneath her pure white face.
In in terms, Ibuki Yuko had secretly fallen for him!
¡°Indeed, no one can resist my charm!¡± Minami Yuuki¡¯s initially discouraged heart wasforted.
Feeling proud for a moment, he returned to the issue of Ibuki Yuko.
Heined, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already fallen for me, why not show it a bit!¡±
¡°No, perhaps she did show it? And I just didn¡¯t notice?¡±
He recalled the simtion¡¯s storyline, thinking of an incident that made him decide to give up on Ibuki Yuko.
He had tested Ibuki Yuko¡¯s limits by assuming the identity of her ¡°fianc¨¦.¡± When he failed, seeing her offer no resistance, he concluded that she was a puppet devoid of will.
¡°Is it possible that Ibuki Yuko did not resist because she was happy to go along with it?¡±
If so, herck of resistance was an action, an action that contained her own will.
These were just spections. Minami Yuuki set them aside and continued to look at the simtion interface.
[Ichinose Shiori¡¯s statements stirred waves in your heart. You do not me Ichinose Shiori; you had already decided to leave Ibuki Yuko before she intervened. It was you who failed to notice the girl¡¯s inner feelings.]
[At the same time, you have a different theory about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s deathpared to Ichinose Shiori. Shiori believes Ibuki Yuko stood under the cherry blossom tree by the river, gazed at the apartment, and then jumped into the water. You do not think so. Youfort Ichinose Shiori, encouraging her to cheer up and investigate the incident.]
[The next day, the investigation made progress. Through reviewing nearby surveince footage and questioning residents, the police identified the real culprits.]
[Around 1 a.m. that day, Ibuki Yuko was walking on the road near the subway entrance. Two middle-aged women, returning drunk from a bar, were jealous of her beauty. Approaching her, they used the excuse of her being outte to berate her.]
[Ibuki Yuko neither argued nor resisted, intensifying their malice. After being shoved a few times, the girl ran forward. Drunk and enraged, they chased her, causing her to fall into the water. Staring at the dark river, they, fearing responsibility, neither rescued her nor called for help, and fled in panic.]
[This led Ichinose Shiori to another question: did Ibuki Yuko fall in panic, or did she head straight for the moon reflected on the water?]
[She cannot determine.]
[Simtion Ends]
Thinking about Ichinose Shiori¡¯s question in the simtion, Minami Yuuki in reality also began to ponder.
He too couldn¡¯t find an answer.
But at least he knew that Ibuki Yuko did not truly seek death.
Perhaps, on the contrary, above the abyss of death, the girl clung to the cliff edge of life, hoping someone would reach out to her, pulling her back to thend of the living.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind was again filled with doubt. Since Ibuki Yuko¡¯s death was an ident, and since the girl longed for a supporter, the guess that she liked him no longer held.
He could be a supporter, and so could Ichinose Shiori. Ichinose Shiori previously said that Ibuki Yuko was craving his coercion.
That might be correct, but how could Ichinose Shiori prove that Ibuki Yuko wasn¡¯t craving her coercion?
Was it because the girl was very obedient under his coercion, but ran away from home under Ichinose¡¯s coercion, and even went to the vicinity of his apartment building? But this apartment building was also Ibuki Yuko¡¯s home, so how could he be sure that Ibuki Yuko was there to see him, and not to see her own home or Ibuki Honoka?
After thinking for a long time, Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯te to an answer.
Girls who bury their feelings deep inside are the most troublesome. Trying to infer a girl¡¯s inner thoughts from the few traces left in reality is too futile.
He put aside his thoughts and looked at the summary for this round.
[Summary]
[Score: 23]
[Stage: Pursuit Phase]
[Comment: Your feelings are confined to both of your hearts.]
[Settlement: You have obtained some memory fragments.]
Confined to both of their hearts, huh.
Minami Yuuki rubbed his head. In one simtion with Asano Nao, he seemed to have received a simr evaluation.
Having this evaluation means that Ibuki Yuko indeed had some good feelings towards him, right? It¡¯s just unclear if it was romantic love or simply a desire for a supporter.
Should he try another simtion? This time, avoiding Ichinose Shiori, or colluding with Ichinose Shiori to monitor Ibuki Yuko together!
Monitoring a beautiful girl together with another beautiful girl sounds a bit exciting!
He looked out the window; the night was already deep. This third simtion might consume a lot of time.
Forget it, he had to get up early tomorrow.
Let¡¯s see what kind of reward this settlement brought.
Minami Yuuki stared at the summary screen, looking at the words ¡°some memory fragments¡± in the settlement column.
This was a type of reward he had never seen before.
[Do you want to extract memory fragments?]
Yes!
The moment he clicked confirm, Minami Yuuki felt a lot of information flooding into his brain. These pieces of information formed more than a dozen small scenes.
Among them were scenes of the final exam at the end of the second semester of the second year, scenes of him shopping with Chitose Kazumi, and scenes of him listening to Ichinose Shiori¡¯sints.
So, the memory fragments were pieces of time he had spent in the simted life. These fragments were insignificant, so they neither entered the memory scenes nor were described by the simtion text.
This reward seemed ordinary, but Minami Yuuki was thrilled.
These memory fragments were scenes from the future!
For example, the final exam scenes meant he could now predict the exam questions!
Unfortunately, there were no scenes with lottery numbers or football matches.
As for the exam questions, he wouldn¡¯t need them if he just studied a bit more seriously. However, the scene of talking with Ichinose Shiori contained some potentially useful information.
Minami Yuuki sighed and closed his eyes.
He entered his dream, arriving at the dream theater.
¡¶Yuuki and Nao¡·
y!
The little senior is so troublesome; my Nao is still the cutest!
Miu and Rikka are the best in the world!
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Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Before the rm clock rang, Minami Yuuki woke up.
Outside the window, the sky was already bright, with orange sunlight filtering through the curtains.
He pulled back the curtains, letting the warm spring morning sun shine on him, while fresh breeze entered through the half-open window.
Looking towards the direction of the Asano house through the window, he still felt the lingering beauty of the dream-like scenes from the movie.
It was now 6:46, with sses starting at eight-thirty, leaving him almost two hours, which felt abundant.
He had one simtion left. Should he load the previous simted life with Asano Nao, using up the free simtion, to experience married life?
Once this idea surfaced, it was hard to shake off.
His wounded soul from the hurt caused by Ibuki Yuko needed healing from Asano Nao and their two daughters.
That settled it then!Minami Yuukiy back in bed, pulling up the nket.
Love simtor, activate!
[Do you want to load previously experienced simted life?]
Load!
Choose Asano Nao¡¯s final simtion!
[Please select a memory scene or a simted text segment as a node]
Select the time point¡ during Miu¡¯s senior year!
[Simtion begins]
[Remaining simtion attempts: 0]
[Simtion target: Asano Nao]
[Loading time point: Warmth Period]
[Since the node is too vague, a random day from this time period will be selected as the scene]
[Prior situation summary: You intruded into the Asano house, aggressively approaching Asano Nao. Already in love with you, Asano Nao¡¯s feelings for you deepen by the day. One day after high school graduation, you both slept in the same room.]
[However, your approach also pressured Asano Nao. From your actions of pulling her out of the house, she understood you wanted to heal her, to make her lead a normal life like everyone else. Shecked the confidence to lead a happy life with you, which tormented her loving heart. In the end, she chose to leave you.]
[She parted ways with you, yet remained connected. She took the handkerchief you gave her and¡ your daughter in her womb. You found out where Asano Nao had gone but chose not to pursue her. You decided to release her from the pressure of separation, hoping to create a better future when you reunite.]
[When your daughter Miu was in the third grade, you found Asano Nao hiding in a rural vige. You first approached Miu, having her around you, then met Asano Nao. This time, you deliberately acted cold, treating Asano Nao as an ex-girlfriend from the past, a lover now.]
[This lover-like, strong desire but emotionally distant rtionship allowed Asano Nao to feel at ease, knowing she was just a lover, enjoying the present without worrying about the future.]
[She fell into your trap, your feigned indifference, using trivial reasons to have her move into your home, marry you, and bear your second daughter, Rikka. Did she really think all these were mere coincidences? Did she truly not notice your hidden deep affection? Even she herself remained unaware of this.]
[Upon Miu graduating from junior high, you returned to Misaki City, moving back into the Asano residence.]
[Today is an ordinary weekend. Miu is 17 years old and has secured a guaranteed admission to Misaki Arts University. Rikka is 4 years old and attends a nearby kindergarten. Asano Nao stays home all the time, while you work on connections, preparing to teach at Misaki Arts University.]
The text stopped, and a small popup appeared.
[About to enter free simtion. Please lie down in a safe ce. This free simtion will take up 30 minutes of real-time (simted time: 24 hours).]
Minami Yuuki pulled the nket tighter, ensuring he was lying down properly, and swiped away the popup.
[Free simtion begins]
In front of the renovated Asano residence, a light-colored wooden fence surrounded a small garden where Minami Yuukiy on a garden chair.
At his feet, the grass leaves had turned yellow, the spring-blooming bushes had withered away, and the temperature had dropped, marking the arrival ofte autumn.
It was noon, the warmest sunlight of the day gently bathing him, with no wind, making it exceptionallyfortable.
Inside the living room, Minami Nao was folding clothes on the sofa, stealing nces through the window at her husband in the yard.
Seeing that he hadn¡¯t moved the chair for a long time, Minami Nao quickly finished folding the jackets in her hands, picked up a nket beside her, and walked into the garden.
Just as she was about to cover the man with the blue nket, his closed eyes opened. He looked lively, with a smile on his face, showing no signs of having been asleep.
She realized she had been deceived, but she was already drawn in by the bait and couldn¡¯t escape.
Minami Yuuki grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his arms, lying her down on top of him.
Minami Nao didn¡¯t resist. Shey on his chest, listening to the strong heartbeat beneath his firm muscles. Her face turned red.
¡°Someone might see us,¡± Minami Nao whispered softly.
¡°We¡¯re just lying here, not doing anything else,¡± Minami Yuuki held her waist, looking at her shy face, touching her soft body, lightly smelling her fragrant hair, and listening to her delicate voice.
Sight, touch, smell, hearing¡ªall felt particrly wonderful, particrly charming. Everything felt as real as it could be, as if he had traveled into the future with Asano Nao.
Minami Yuuki marveled at the magic of this love simtor.
Slowly, his neglected sense of taste began to yearn. Minami Yuuki gazed at Minami Nao¡¯s moist lips, lifting her chin with his right hand and leaning down.
Taste satisfied, all senses fully engaged, experiencing the beauty of Minami Nao.
As they separated, Minami Nao quickly buried her face in Minami Yuki¡¯s chest, avoiding her husband¡¯s burning gaze.
Suddenly remembering they were in the garden, she cautiously lifted her head to nce outside the fence.
There were no pedestrians on the road, and their intimacy hadn¡¯t been seen by anyone. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Luckily, this path was secluded. If a woman passed by and stared at Minami Yuuki with lustful eyes, mistaking him for a frivolous man, her guilt would have been greater.
As she withdrew her gaze, she instinctively nced to the side, and was startled to see her youngest daughter Rikka standing on the side of the lounge chair, gripping the armrest with her small hand, staring at her curiously.
The girl was wearing a pink dress, her ck hair tied up in a small bun on top of her head. Her twinkling eyes, tender cheeks¡ªall disyed her cuteness.
¡°I want a kiss too!¡± Rikka stretched out her arm. Her voice was loud, seeminglyining why her parents didn¡¯t include her.
Minami Nao¡¯s face turned redder than autumn leaves. She clung to Minami Yuuki like a startled squirrel, hastily seeking refuge in the nearby tree that could give her a sense of security.
Minami Yuuki chuckled as he lifted Rikka up and ced her next to Minami Nao. The girl used her hand to turn her mom¡¯s face towards her, nted a kiss on her cheek, then leaned over to kiss her dad.
¡°You¡¯re not supposed to kiss outside!¡± Minami Nao covered her daughter¡¯s mouth, her expression serious. ¡°It might attract evil women¡¯s attention to daddy!¡±
It was like a gaming console. If left alone, it could be kept under control when passing by, but once a game was running, passing by wouldn¡¯t resist taking up the controller and ying!
So, when outside, Minami Yuuki could only behave properly, not touch, not kiss.
Otherwise, it would tempt wicked women and lead to criminal thoughts!
¡°But you two were just doing it here!¡± Rikka pouted.
¡°Then hurry up, I¡¯ll keep watch for you,¡± Minami Nao watched vigntly around them.
The girl nodded, cautiously looked left and right, then quickly kissed Minami Yuuki on the cheek.
Minami Yuuki chuckled helplessly.
He held his wife and youngest daughter, affectionate under the sunlight. Before long, the wind picked up, shaking the dried branches of the bushes, and clouds covered the sun, bringing down the temperature.
Minami Yuuki first put Rikka down, then lifted Minami Nao in his arms.
¡°Where¡¯s Miu?¡± he asked.
¡°She¡¯s in the practice room.¡± Minami Nao told him.
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Chapter 65
Chapter 65
The practice room was next to Asano¡¯s house, a white modern building.
During its construction, Minami Yuuki hesitated whether to give it a more antique look to match the Asano house¡¯s style. He asked Miu, the girl who spent her childhood in the countryside, and without hesitation, she chose the modern style.
Entering the practice room, through the ss of the piano room, Minami Yuuki saw a girl practicing inside.
In the wooden room, a ck piano stood in the center. The girl in a white dress looked calm, her lowered eyes gazing at the keys with a dreamy, thoughtful look. Her slender fingers danced under that gaze.
All the windows in the practice room were tightly closed, and the temperature was somewhat high. Miu¡¯s long hair was loose, her shoes and socks off to the side, bare feet resting on the brown floor. The shadow of the piano cast a gray veil over her ankles.
Minami Yuuki pushed open the door and walked behind Miu to where there was a bench.
Someone was already sitting on the bench, Yoda Rika, Miu¡¯s childhood friend and the first person coerced by Miu.
Yoda Rika had not appeared in the memory scene before. It was the first time Minami Yuuki had seen her face, and surprisingly, she looked very obedient¡ªa child with shoulder-length hair, wearing narrow ck-framed sses, and a rather cute appearance.
Yoda Rika hurriedly stood up to greet Minami Yuuki. Minami Yuuki pointed to Miu, who was still ying the piano, shook his hand, and sat down with the girl.Listening to Miu¡¯s piano ying, Minami Yuuki turned his head to look at Yoda Rika next to him.
The moment he saw the girl, her name came to his mind, in his memory, with simted human memories.
His gaze was undisguised. Yoda Rika lowered her head to look at the tips of her slippers. Her two palms were on her knees, her elbows stretched straight, very nervous.
The piano stopped ying, and Miu pulled her fair leg out from under the piano, cing it on the piano stool, leaning sideways with her delicate cheeks on her bent knee, looking at Minami Yuuki.
¡°Dad finally decided to divorce Mom. Did you put your hand on Rika-chan?¡± Her face was not happy.
¡°Eh?¡± Yoda Rika raised her head.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s not bad, and then let your mom stay as a maid.¡± Minami Yuuki agreed, staring even more tantly at the girl.
Yoda Rika¡¯s face immediately turned red, and she lowered her head again, unable to meet Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze.
My charm has not diminished even after twenty years!
Minami Yuuki was very satisfied.
However, looking at Yoda Rika¡¯s reaction, it was just a little shy and a little moved, without that feeling of love. Is it really because I¡¯m getting old?
Miu said that sentence just out of dissatisfaction with Minami Yuuki staring at Yoda Rika. After seeing Rika¡¯s nervous appearance, her target also shifted.
She smiled mischievously, ¡°If you marry my dad, Rika-chan can always be with me, eat together, sleep together, and live in the same house.¡±
Yoda Rika lifted her lowered head slightly and cautiously nced at Miu and Minami Yuuki.
Apparently, the girl was very tempted by this proposal.
This surprised Minami Yuuki. Why are you so moved when ites to being with my daughter!
What do you want to do with my daughter using your stepmother¡¯s identity!
Immediately he thought of one thing. In the simted text, it was mentioned that Yoda Rika confessed to Miu and was rejected.
Are you really in such a rtionship!
This is too unhealthy!
Too contrary to worldly conventions!
Too¡ªsoforting for an old father!
It¡¯s great not to worry about my daughter being bullied by some scumbag!
¡°You can¡¯t take shortcuts like this,¡± Minami Yuuki patted Yoda Rika on the shoulder, encouraging her, ¡°If you like Miu, you have to rely on your own efforts!¡±
¡°Dad, what are you talking about!¡±
Shyness spread from Yoda Rika¡¯s face to Miu¡¯s cheeks.
Miu picked up the socks next to her and threw them at Minami Yuuki. The thin ck socks failed to hit the target, unfolded in mid-air, and fell to the floor.
Is this a breakthrough?
Oh, my foolish daughter, you¡¯re still too young!
Minami Yuuki put away the prepared more outrageous flirtation and changed the subject, ¡°By the way, how did you reconcile with Miu after confessing before?¡±
Usually, after a confession fails and feelings are rejected, there should be some awkwardness for a while, right?
Minami Yuuki was very curious about this.
As soon as the words came out, he saw Yoda Rika¡¯s body stiffen.
Miu hugged her knees, disying a smug smile. ¡°Yeah, how did we make up, again? I forgot by ident. Rika-chan, tell Daddy about it!¡±
Yoda Rika lifted her face, a tremor appearing on her cheeks. That past was a nightmare she couldn¡¯t shake off.
She began, ¡°The next day, Miu asked me to hang out and y as usual. I said I didn¡¯t want to go and then¡¡±
Her face drooped again, her voice trembling. ¡°Then Miu said she recorded our conversation yesterday. If I didn¡¯t listen to her, she would tell everyone about my confession to her, so that everyone would know that I am that kind of woman!¡±
¡°¡¡±
Minami Yuuki rubbed the girl¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡±
¡°Dad has no right to say that,¡± Miu pouted, displeased with Minami Yuuki¡¯s praise forforting Yoda Rika instead of her.
¡°Your mom and I truly love each other. As for you and Rika¡ I¡¯m not getting involved.¡± Minami Yuuki walked over to Miu. ¡°It¡¯s piano time now, and you made three small mistakes just now!¡±
Miu put her feet down from the piano stool, showing no intention of getting up. Minami Yuuki sat beside her.
The dim sunlight filtered through the window in front, not too bright. A small pot of violets was ced on the window sill, blossoming towards the sky. Miu leaned forward, her bright face looking at Minami Yuuki¡¯s fingertips.
The piano began to y.
¡
The dim sunlight shone on the brown floor. The violets in the corner of the window frame were covered in the shadow of the wall. Yoda Rika stood up and took her leave. Only Minami Yuuki and Miu were left in the practice room.
Minami Yuuki stood up, cing socks and shoes in front of his daughter. ¡°Put these on and let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°Daddy, help me put them on.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already done more than enough by taking care of you. You still want me to help you? Put them on yourself!¡±
Her fair toes were covered by ck socks. Miu murmured audibly to Minami Yuuki, ¡°Back in the day, I used to help you put them on!¡±
¡°It¡¯s a daughter¡¯s duty to take care of her dad.¡±
¡°But you weren¡¯t my dad back then!¡±
¡°That was an advance payment. It¡¯s encouraged within the framework of capitalism!¡±
And besides, Minami Yuuki thought to himself, who says I wasn¡¯t your dad back then? I was already your dad while you were still in Asano Nao¡¯s belly!
He didn¡¯t say this out loud. It wouldn¡¯t be interesting to say it now. Miu would at most be surprised andin a bit. It would be better to wait until the end of her life to say it, so Miu could feel a mix of sorrow and joy, unable to find anyone toin to.
After putting on her socks and shoes, Miu muttered, ¡°Why do we have to go home? Why not let Mom bring us food?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to go home,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°Huh?¡± Miu looked at him in confusion. Where else could she go if not home?
¡°Aunt Airi misses you both. Take Rikka with you to her ce. She¡¯ll take good care of you. Come back after school.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Miu smirked mischievously. ¡°I see. It¡¯s not Aunt Airi who misses us, it¡¯s Dad who misses Mom, right? Are you nning to give me another sister?¡±
¡°Adult matters are none of a child¡¯s concern,¡± Minami Yuuki tapped her on the head. ¡°Hurry up and get out of here with Rikka!¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡± Miu ran out happily.
The girl¡¯s movements were swift. Minami Yuuki walked home. Minami Nao was looking at her two daughters who ran out hand in hand and was at a loss.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ve gone to Airi¡¯s ce.¡±
Minami Yuuki took off his coat, and Minami Nao hurriedly took it and hung it in the closet.
She faintly sensed what might happen and dared not ask, her cheeks slightly flushed.
¡°I¡¯ll cook.¡±
She wanted to escape, but Minami Yuuki grabbed her hand. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet. I heard that exercise is good for digestion. Let¡¯s digest first.¡±
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Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Outside the window, the dark sky gradually lightened, turning into a dusky deep blue. The moon grew dim, indicating the approaching sunrise.
Minami Yuukiy on his side in bed, his hand gently stroking his wife¡¯s hair as she slept. He gazed at the face of the woman, who could now be called a mature woman.
That face, made more charming by time and affection, was defenselessly closed before him. He couldn¡¯t resist and kissed those moist lips again.
Her eyelids twitched as if she was about to wake up, but her tired body prevented her from doing so. She turned over, her face pressing against Minami Yuuki¡¯s side.
Minami Yuuki nced at the digital clock by the bed. It was already past four, with about eight hours left until the free simtion would end.
He carefully moved his body, sliding out from under the nket, his feet touching the floor.
The tiredness from his body was bound by his spirit and set aside. There was no time for sleep now.
He went to the study, turned on theputer, and logged onto the web.
The sun finally peeked over the horizon, slowly rising into the sky. By noon, Minami Airi returned with Miu and Rikka. Minami Yuuki woke up Minami Nao, and the family enjoyed sukiyaki together.After bantering a bit with Miu, teasing Minami Nao, and doting on Rikka, Minami Yuukiy on a deck chair in the garden.
When he woke up again, he saw the ceiling of his apartment and a semi-transparent notification box.
[Free Simtion Ended]
He dismissed the box and briefly nced at the continuing simtion, noting that the content was the same as before, requiring no review.
[Simtion Ended]
[Due to the emotional progression being too simr, no summary will be provided]
Ignoring these prompts, Minami Yuukiy quietly in bed. In his mind, the smiling faces of Nao, Miu, and Rikka hadn¡¯t faded. The scent of his wife and daughters still lingered around him.
It was wonderful.
The girls were obedient and clever, and his wife was beautiful and alluring.
In his heart, the thought of simply being with Asano Nao surfaced again.
He patted his cheeks to invigorate himself, got out of bed, and walked barefoot into the bathroom.
After a quick wash, he changed clothes and went to his desk, drying his wet hair while flipping open a notebook.
Being a shrewd person, he couldn¡¯t possibly use the free simtion just to experience married life.
After Asano Nao fell asleep, he used theputer in the study to look up and memorize a bunch of information about the future world!
Lottery numbers, futures market changes, business conflicts, world affairs, all stored in his mind!
With these, he could easily manipte events, turning clouds and rain!
Spreading out the notebook, he picked up a pen, ready to write down the lottery numbers he had memorized countless times, so there was no way he could forget!
But his pen tip couldn¡¯t move across the paper for a long time.
He thought again about the futures market, emerging industries, political turmoil¡ no string of information surfaced.
His memory seemed to have been washed clean, or rather, only the memories of life with his wife and daughters were brought out.
¡°As expected, the simtor wouldn¡¯t leave such a loophole.¡±
Minami Yuuki sighed and put down the pen.
After seeing ¡°memory fragments¡± in thest settlement, he realized that using the free simtion to obtain future information might not work.
After all, the simtor had made ¡°memory fragments¡± such a reward for future information, so how could it allow him to freely obtain future information in the free simtion?
Closing the notebook, he grabbed his school bag and headed to the Asano house.
With the get-rich n failed, he could only continue to live off others.
On the way, he checked his phone and found that Airi had sent two messages on LINEst night, which he hadn¡¯t noticed due to being engrossed in the simtion.
Airi: I folded new thousand paper cranes for you! If the souvenir you bring me back this summer is less than 10,000 yen, I¡¯ll kill you!
Airi: Little yellow duck holding a knife.jpg
New paper cranes to be received? This cheap sister had obediently folded the cranes after all!
Minami Yuuki typed a reply.
Yuuki: I slept earlyst night and just saw your message today. Thanks a lot, I¡¯ll definitely bring you a big gift when Ie back this summer!
Yuuki: Little pony holding a heart.jpg
He had just sent a message when his phone buzzed again. His beloved had sent him another emoji of a little yellow duck with a knife. No matter which country you are in, emojis are a popr part of social media culture.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Minami Yuuki walked through the courtyard and out of the apartment building.
Thankfully, his sister hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about the material fees. He was currently penniless.
However, he needed to bring her an expensive gift when he went home for summer vacation. How could he save money to buy her a gift? He still owed Asano Nao money.
Standing in front of the Asano family¡¯s house, Minami Yuuki smacked his forehead.
There was no need to worry about money at all!
As long as he didn¡¯t go home for summer vacation, he wouldn¡¯t have to bring a gift for his sister!
Suddenly, his outlook widened.
Thinking carefully, he realized he wouldn¡¯t have any free time to go home during the summer. Love wasn¡¯t everything in life; he still needed to make some money to improve his life.
With the problem sessfully solved, he rang the Asano house¡¯s doorbell.
As soon as the doorbell rang, Asano Nao opened the door.
The speed was incredibly fast. Usually, she would hesitate for a long time at the door, considering her stance, posture, expression, and outfit.
Today, she opened the door driven by a surge of passion and uncontainable excitement.
Last night, after folding paper cranes and falling asleep, she had once again entered that magical dream.
She watched her and Minami Yuuki¡¯s story again. The intense happiness, the racing heartbeat, and the burning blood made her wake up immediately after the dream movie ended.
She had already been waiting in the living room for two hours.
¡°We¡¯re having udon today. It¡¯s almost ready, so please wait a moment.¡± She took Minami Yuuki¡¯s backpack and ced it on the cab in the entryway.
This action was overly intimate. Asano Nao¡¯s heart was still in her and Minami Yuuki¡¯s married life, forgetting their current rtionship.
¡°Sister is particrly forward today, taking my bag and cing it on the cab¡ªjust like a newlywed wife weing her husband home,¡± Minami Yuuki teased her habitually. ¡°Is Sister nning to have me repay my debt with my body?¡±
Asano Nao¡¯s face immediately turned red. She lowered her head and muttered softly to herself, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind that.¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Noticing her lips moving, Minami Yuuki leaned in closer.
She hurriedly avoided him and ran into the kitchen. Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t mind and went to open the curtains and windows in the living room.
The udon was already in the pot. Asano Nao adjusted the seasoning and brought it to the table.
¡°This is delicious,¡± Minami Yuuki slurped the noodles. ¡°But Sister doesn¡¯t need to go through the trouble of making such aplicated breakfast.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Asano Nao quickly denied.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t insist, focusing on eating his noodles.
Outside, the noise of office workers and students could be heard. The alley in front of the Asano house was narrow and only this lively during this time of day.
¡°Yuuki-kun, have you ever thought about studying music?¡± Asano Nao couldn¡¯t help but ask.
In her dream, their rtionship had started to progress rapidly after Minami Yuuki enrolled in a private music school.
Thinking about living together with Minami Yuuki, her heart, which had just calmed down, started to race again. Imaginary happiness enveloped her as she fantasized about their future life.
¡°No, I haven¡¯t,¡± Minami Yuuki replied.
This sentence shattered the foundation of her fantasy and the source of her happiness.
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Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Why aren¡¯t you nning to study music anymore? You clearly bought a guitar, and that dream was so vivid and beautiful. Every time I fall asleep, it ys in my mind.
Aren¡¯t you supposed to borrow money from me to enroll in a music school? What¡¯s gone wrong?
Asano Nao panicked, her face turning pale, her fingers trembling.
Did she do something wrong?
She thought of the butterfly effect in movies, where even a small change could drastically alter the world line.
Was it her actions that caused the world to change?
What should she do next? Would Yuuki-kun still marry her and have Miu and Rikka with her?
Her mind went nk.
When Minami Yuuki asked her about the paper cranes, she mechanically walked upstairs, took the cranes, and handed them to the boy at the dining table. Even the boy¡¯s thanks did not snap her out of it.Minami Yuuki should have noticed Asano Nao¡¯s odd behavior, but he waspletely engrossed by the paper cranes.
[You¡¯ve received a gift imbued with Asano Nao¡¯s feelings]
[+1 Simtion Attempt]
Why did it only increase by one this time?
He looked at the number of paper cranes, noticing not only had they not decreased, but there were also more of them. He picked up one, with sharp ends and perfect creases, no signs of cutting corners.
Then why did the number of simtion attempts decrease?
He thought back to his earlier hypothesis. The simtion attempts weren¡¯t based on the aesthetic of the cranes or the effort spent folding them, but on the feelings imbued in them.
The reduction in simtion attempts meant a reduction in feelings.
What caused the feelings to decrease?
Did Asano Nao fall for someone else?
He reached out to Asano Nao, ¡°Give me the bank card, and I¡¯ll marry you.¡±
Marry?
The word struck Asano Nao like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the darkness and chaos in her mind caused by the change in the world line. The lightning carried immense heat, evaporating the flood of catastrophe in her heart, restoring her rity.
She quickly ran to the master bedroom on the first floor, retrieved the bank card, and gently ced it in Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand.
¡°I also need the property certificates,¡± Minami Yuuki demanded. In Japan, property certificates are proof of real estate ownership.
Asano Nao returned to her room, retrieved two property certificates, and handed them to Minami Yuuki. One was for the Asano residence, and the other for the Yori Vige house.
Minami Yuuki ced the property certificates and bank card on the table, feeling puzzled.
It seemed Asano Nao¡¯s love for him hadn¡¯t diminished, so why had the simtion attempts decreased?
After thinking for a while, he suddenly had a hypothesis.
Could it be that the ¡°feelings¡± in the ¡°gift imbued with feelings¡± aren¡¯t infinite and need time to recover?
Thest gift was full of feelings, so it increased the simtion attempts by three at once. This time, the feelings hadn¡¯t fully recovered, so it only added one simtion attempt.
The more he thought about it, the more he believed this hypothesis was true. Verifying it would be simple, just experiment a few more times over several days.
Outside the window, students in the same uniform as Minami Yuuki¡¯s were gradually increasing, signaling it was almost time for ss.
Minami Yuuki set aside the problem and prepared to head to school.
He thought, with only one simtion attempt added, it wasn¡¯t enough. There was also Ibuki Yuko at school who could provide simtion attempts. He could find a way to get some from her. Additionally, there was Ichinose Shiori, the girl he had a bond with in the previous simtion life, who might also be a simtion target.
Crossing the living room, he walked to the entrance. Just as he picked up his backpack, a hand reached out and tugged at his clothes.
Turning around, he saw Asano Nao looking up at him, pitifully.
¡°Marriage,¡± Asano Nao reminded him, handing over the property certificates and bank card, reminding the boy of his promise.
¡°Huh? Did you really take it seriously, Sister?¡± Minami Yuuki looked at her in surprise. ¡°No matter how you think about it, that couldn¡¯t have been a serious statement, right?¡±
His mention of marriage was sudden and out of nowhere. From Asano Nao¡¯s perspective, she should have thought he was joking. Handing over the bank card and property certificates was just her unconditionally fulfilling his request.
What he didn¡¯t anticipate was that Asano Nao, her mind darkened by his decision not to study music, couldn¡¯t discern his words at the moment. She took everything seriously, purely based on her trust and love for him.
¡°ss is about to start, I¡¯m heading out now. See you this afternoon, Sister!¡± Minami Yuuki slung his backpack over his shoulder, grabbed his lunch bag and the paper bag filled with origami cranes, and opened the door.
As the sound of the door hinge echoed, the brilliant sunlight streamed in. Asano Nao squinted her eyes, watching Minami Yuuki¡¯s figure disappear into the brightness. Then, the door quickly shut, blocking the sunlight with a snap, leaving her standing alone in the shadowy interior.
Was the marriage a joke? The real estate certificate slipped from Asano Nao¡¯s hand and fell to the floor. She stumbled upstairs to her bedroom, copsed on the bed, and clutched her nket.
The marriage was fake, and Yuuki-kun didn¡¯t want to study music anymore.
How did ite to this? He was supposed to get into Misaki Arts University, then date, and have Miu and Rikka.
Could it all be my delusion? Was it my twisted mind, festering in the dark and damp corners, that conjured up such despicable, wretched fantasies?
Does Yuuki-kun even truly exist? She opened the shrine, seeing, touching, and smelling the handkerchief enshrined inside, and felt relieved.
The handkerchief was real, so Yuuki-kun must be real too.
But that dream was fake. Even if it was real before, it has now turned false because Yuuki-kun no longer studies music.
Shey back on the bed, staring nkly at the ceiling. Was the house always this dark? she wondered.
Oh well, a little more darkness isn¡¯t so bad.
Minami Yuuki was the moon she longed for, the story of their love in her dream movie was a porcin basin with beautiful patterns. She poured her feelings into it like clear water, cing it under the moonlight to reflect the moon¡¯s image. For days, she admired the basin, feeling that the moon¡¯s reflection in the water was something she held close, from which she drew happiness and security.
Just now, Minami Yuuki¡¯s words about not going to a music school were a verdict, dering the dream movie¡¯s falsehood. The porcin basin shattered, water spilled, the moon¡¯s reflection on the surface broke, and the water seeped into the ground, disappearing without a trace.
Only the moon¡¯s reflection vanished, the moon still hung in the sky, but Asano Nao no longer dared to look up.
If she couldn¡¯t even hold onto the moon¡¯s reflection, the moon in the sky would one day leave her too.
At this moment, the fear of the moon¡¯s disappearance tormented her more than the joy of gazing at it.
She didn¡¯t know what to do. Maybe she should lower her arm reaching for the moon, return to a corner where the moonlight couldn¡¯t reach, and resignedly sneak a peek at it.
Amidst this mental torment, she slowly fell asleep.
She found herself back in the dream cinema, with the gigantic screen before her.
¡¶Yuuki and Nao¡·
[Director: Minami Yuuki, Asano Nao]
[Starring: Minami Yuuki¡]
Stop!
Asano Nao mentally halted the film, deciding she would no longer be lured by its falsehood.
She got up from her seat, intending to flee the cinema and return to her former, disillusioned state.
As she turned, she noticed a small square table beside the seat, with a¡ VR headset on it?
Was this an instruction outside the movie?
Thinking of Minami Yuuki¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t resist and put on the VR headset.
The next moment, her vision brightened.
She was startled to find herself sitting on a couch in an unfamiliar living room, folding clothes.
Startled by the bright windows and the unfamiliar environment, she wanted to escape and find a dark corner to hide in.
But her body didn¡¯t obey her.
Of course, she was watching a VR movie.
This movie was too realistic, closer to reality than her dream film, no, identical to reality.
After folding two pieces of clothing, ¡°she¡± looked up at the man in the garden.
Asano Nao immediately recognized him as the grown-up Minami Yuuki. The sight of Yuuki-kun with stubble lying on a sun lounger made her heart race.
¡°She¡± picked up the nket beside her, walked to the garden, intending to cover the sleeping man. However, the man pretended to sleep, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into his arms.
The incredibly realistic visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile sensations overwhelmed Asano Nao¡¯s nerves, making her tremble. Despite knowing it was an illusion, she felt an immense joy.
The matured Yuuki-kun lowered his head,pleting the missing taste.
A happiness more vast than the universe enveloped her.
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Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Minami Yuuki returned the origami crane to his apartment and hurried to school.
It was alreadyte, and he hadn¡¯t met Ibuki Yuko. He entered the school with thest group of students and just made it into the ssroom before the bell rang.
The day¡¯s lessons were dull. There were no young, beautiful teachers like those in movies and anime. Amid the drowsy drone of lectures, Minami Yuuki pondered how to approach Ichinose Shiori and Ibuki Yuko to ask them to fold him a thousand origami cranes.
Both girls had somewhat troublesome personalities. Ibuki Yukocked emotions, while Ichinose Shiori intentionally kept others at a distance. Moreover, neither could be captivated merely by looks.
Approaching them might be simple enough, given Minami Yuuki had gathered some information about them in the previous life simtion. The challengey in establishing a stable rtionship with them in reality.
This rtionship wasn¡¯t just about emotional connection but about material presence.
Spiritual bonds relied on material existence, and only with a stable real-world connection could their spirits remain intertwined.
Otherwise, it would end like a long-distance rtionship, with fading feelings and inevitable separation.
In his rtionship with Asano Nao, Minami Yuuki was a frequent guest at her home, always appearing at meal times.In his simtion of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s life, Minami Yuuki had initially asked the girl to be his tutor, then he became a coercive figure in her life, but eventually, they drifted apart, and Minami Yuuki became Ichinose Shiori¡¯s confidant.
Now, he needed to establish a new, stable rtionship with both girls in reality.
Ibuki Yuko could be approached through her mother, but as for Ichinose Shiori¡
Minami Yuuki thought long and hard until unexpectedly gaining a clue during a conversation with the homeroom teacher.
During lunch break, Minami Yuuki finished eating his bento with Chitose Kazumi and responded to a broadcast call.
He packed up his bento box and headed to the teacher¡¯s office.
¡°South, over here!¡± The homeroom teacher waved him over.
He was a man in his thirties, somewhat handsome but scruffy, with an unkempt beard.
Deep in his memory, Minami Yuuki recalled the man¡¯s name: Nakajima Yohei.
Walking past rows of desks, he approached Nakajima Yohei.
Their conversation unexpectedly hit a snag when several female teachers were drawn to Minami Yuuki¡¯s appearance and struck up conversations with him.
After asking some not-too-intrusive questions, they ran out of topics and turned their attention to Nakajima Yohei, questioning why he had brought such a well-behaved student to the office, clearly intending to defend Minami Yuuki.
Nakajima Yohei nervously dealt with them and asked Minami Yuuki to leave the office.
¡°You really are a troublesome guy,¡± Nakajima Yohei sighed in a quiet corner of the hallway.
¡°I think the problem lies with you, teacher,¡± Minami Yuuki quipped, suggesting that the conversation shouldn¡¯t have happened around those women who were overflowing with sympathy yetcking in life¡¯s pleasures.
¡°Alright,¡± Nakajima Yohei ran his hand through his hair, ¡°to cut to the chase, you still haven¡¯t joined any clubs, have you? You should have known before you enrolled that all students here are required to join one. Of course, you can find a club that doesn¡¯t require much participation.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already joined the ¡®Homing Club,¡¯ where our daily activity is to go home as soon as school ends,¡± Minami Yuuki interjected jokingly.
¡°On the list of the ¡®Homing Club,¡¯ I didn¡¯t see your name,¡± Nakajima Yohei replied tly, not picking up on Minami Yuuki¡¯s humor.
¡°There really is a ¡®Homing Club¡¯?¡± Minami Yuuki was surprised.
¡°There is indeed one.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that name provoking the school? When will they round up the club members and order them to disband? Their weak point is their parents; as long as they say they will inform their parents, they will obediently obey.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that serious, and besides, the school has no way to deal with this club.¡±
The only person who can make the school powerless is her, right?
¡°Is it the club that Ichinose founded?¡± He asked.
Nakajima Yohei looked surprised, and his messy appearance finally disappeared: ¡°How do you know that club is rted to Ichinose? However, she is not the founder, just a member of the club.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve decided to join the Homing Club,¡± Minami Yuuki dered.
¡°Huh? Do you think you can just join because you want to? You need the club¡¯s approval, which means approval from Ichinose. If you just want to appease the school, joining the Go Club or the Chess Club would suffice. Both are ghost clubs,¡± Nakajima Yohei warned, not directly addressing Minami Yuuki¡¯s statement but implying the challenges ahead.
¡°Teacher, do you have an application form for joining?¡± Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t directly respond to Nakajima Yohei but subtly expressed his determination.
¡°Ichinose won¡¯t agree,¡± Nakajima Yohei discouraged him again.
¡°That¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll make her agree,¡± Minami Yuuki confidently said.
Giving up on persuading him, Nakajima Yohei went to the office to get an application form and took Minami Yuuki to theboratory building. The Homing Club¡¯s activity room was located inside.
¡°Here we are, Ichinose should be inside,¡± Nakajima Yohei pointed to the door ahead.
Minami Yuuki knocked twice and, upon receiving permission, opened the door and walked in.
In the ssroom-sized empty room, there was a leather sofa, and Ichinose Shiori was sitting on it, typing on aptop.
¡°What brings you here, Minami-san?¡± Ichinose Shiori closed herptop and adjusted her skirt. Her expression was t and distant.
¡°I¡¯m here to apply for membership,¡± Minami Yuuki said, shaking the application form in his hand.
¡°Sorry, as you can see, this is the Homing Club. Because the club¡¯s name implies defiance against the school, the school administration prohibits new recruits. Even if I submit your application to the student council, it will be rejected,¡± Ichinose Shiori exined sincerely, her logic was clear and impable. She used the school¡¯s decision as an excuse rather than outright refusal.
¡°Ichinose, you¡¯re being modest. How could the school dare reject your application?¡± Minami Yuuki exposed her lie.
¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, Minami-san. How could I defy the school¡¯s decision?¡± Ichinose Shiori feigned confusion.
Minami Yuuki stepped forward. ¡°Ichinose, your rm clock in the morning is set half an hour earlier than the absolute time you need to get to school because you like hitting the snooze button. After the rm goes off, you continue to sleep for another fifteen minutes.¡±
Ichinose Shiori frowned.
¡°You¡¯re very afraid of water snakes because you were scared by your family when you were young. When you were a child, while boating on the pond in the courtyard, one of your uncles told you that water snakes would climb aboard and wrap around your legs.¡±
¡°How do you know that?¡± Ichinose Shiori finally lost herposure, with her arms crossed and eyes sharp.
Because in the simted lifest night, you used me as a confidant and shared many of your little secrets. And I got memory fragments from the rewards in the simted life, some of which were scenes of chatting with you.
Minami Yuuki thought to himself.
He ced the application form in front of Ichinose Shiori. ¡°Now it¡¯s up to you to investigate, Ichinose.¡±
¡°I see. A challenge, then? I ept,¡± Ichinose Shiori took Minami Yuuki¡¯s application for membership and left the room straight away.
Her reaction was exactly as Minami Yuuki had expected. From the simtion of life, it was easy to deduce that Ichinose Shiori was a highlypetitive girl with strong self-esteem.
To her, Minami Yuuki revealing her secrets while she remained unaware of how he knew them was her failure. Minami Yuuki¡¯s offer to let her investigate was like initiating a second round ofpetition, with the application for membership serving as the challenge letter.
So she agreed to Minami Yuuki¡¯s application for membership. Now, she should be heading to the student council to register the new club member.
Everything was going ording to n.
Minami Yuuki left the club room, nced at Nakajima Yohei standing guard at the door, waved at him, and then left.
Nakajima Yohei watched his receding figure, then nced in the direction Ichinose Shiori had left, his thoughts racing about the application form in her hands.
¡°Did he really join? Did I just get myself into a big trouble? But it should be fine. The principal won¡¯t know I leaked information about the Homing Club. He¡¯ll just think Ichinose is being stubborn¡ right?¡±
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Chapter 69
Chapter 69
After the school bell rang, Chitose Kazumi quickly packed her bag and stood up, turning to look at Minami Yuuki, intending to leave with him.
¡°Kazumi, you go ahead. I have to stop by the club,¡± Minami Yuuki waved to her and then picked up his bag, catching up with Ichinose Shiori who was already leaving.
¡°See you tomorrow,¡± Chitose Kazumi raised her hand and waved towards Minami Yuuki¡¯s departing figure, then sighed softly.
Oh right, Yuuki-kun mentioned that the homeroom teacher forced him to join a club. Starting from today, he¡¯ll be participating in club activities, huh?
Which means, from today onwards, she won¡¯t be able to walk home with Minami Yuuki anymore.
She lowered her head.
¡
¡°Ichinose, how do you think those who are disillusioned with life feel?¡± Minami Yuuki followed Ichinose Shiori into the activity room of the Homing Club and asked this question.
Having taken over Ibuki Yuko¡¯s responsibility in the simtion life, Ichinose Shiori often confided in him, and now it was his turn to seek advice from her.¡°When you say ¡®disillusioned,¡¯ to what extent do you mean? No longer feeling attached? Or actively disliking?¡± Ichinose Shiori looked up from her notebook, examining Minami Yuuki.
Thinking about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s symptoms, he replied, ¡°It¡¯s probably not feeling attached anymore. If they see a trucking towards them, they might choose to stay in ce, but they wouldn¡¯t actively run towards the speeding truck.¡±
¡°Anything else to add?¡±
¡°Every day,cking expressions. Doing whatever her mother tells her without having her own opinion.¡±
¡°Anything else?¡±
¡°Her parents divorced early, her mother is affectionate and fickle towards men, but very strict towards her daughter.¡±
¡°Detailing it like this makes her seem like a real person.¡± Ichinose Shiori set aside her notebook, revealing her fair knees previously obscured by her ck knee-high socks.
¡°Ichinose¡¯s perspective isn¡¯t wrong.¡± Minami Yuuki affirmed.
His straightforwardness, however, made Ichinose Shiori furrow her brows.
She asked, ¡°Is this really okay? With this much information, I could easily figure out who this person is. Thoughts of disillusionment with life aren¡¯t a secret that can be easily exposed, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. I trust you, Ichinose,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
Ichinose Shiori carefully scrutinized the boy¡¯s face. When he said those words, his handsome face showed no emotional fluctuations, suggesting either this matter was trivial or he genuinely trusted her a lot.
She felt it was thetter. This groundless trust left her perplexed.
¡°Have we met before?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but guess.
¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to investigate yourself, Ichinose.¡± Minami Yuuki crossed his legs. ¡°For now, tell me your view on such people. I¡¯ll add that she¡¯s a second-year high school student.¡±
Disillusioned thoughts?
Ichinose Shiori had never thought about this question before. After a moment¡¯s contemtion, she gave her answer:
¡°Due to heavy studying, part-time work, or club activities, shecks the energy and time to appreciate the joys of life. Life to her equals busy monotony, hence she feels bored.¡±
Pausing, she continued, ¡°Or perhaps she isn¡¯t inherently trapped in tedious busyness, but due to emotional deficiencies, she can¡¯t actively seek happiness without someone guiding her, thus feeling life is uninteresting.¡±
¡°Or,¡± Ichinose Shiori looked at Minami Yuuki, ¡°she may have ced too much importance on one thing, suffered irreparable failure in that area, and subsequently believed her entire life to be bleak, losing faith in living.¡±
¡°No wonder you¡¯re Ichinose. All three of those guesses are quite enlightening to me,¡± Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin.
¡°There¡¯s another scenario,¡± Ichinose Shiori adjusted her bangs, somewhat pleased. ¡°The above guesses are based on the assumption that your information is urate and unbiased. But is what you¡¯ve seen truly genuine without prejudice?¡±
¡°In a detective novel, this would be a narrative trap.¡±
¡°So, which do you think she is?¡±
¡°Who knows? I¡¯ll try to find out when I get home.¡±
¡°If it were Ichinose, how would you help the other person?¡± Minami Yuuki asked again.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t intervene,¡± Ichinose Shiori replied.
Minami Yuuki was surprised by Ichinose Shiori¡¯s response.
¡°Why?¡± he pressed on.
It was clear in the Ibuki Yuko¡¯s description that in the simtion life, Ichinose Shiori had taken away the treatment rights from Minami Yuuki.
¡°From your description, it¡¯s evident this guy is quite troublesome. I dislike situations where I don¡¯t haveplete assurance. If it were something simple and easily resolved, I wouldn¡¯t mind lending a hand.¡±
Ah, so that¡¯s why.
Upon reflection, in the simtion game, Ichinose Shiori had intervened because she believed Ibuki Yuko was being coerced by him.
Once Ichinose Shiori understood Ibuki Yuko¡¯s troubles, she ended up being med by Minami Yuuki and couldn¡¯t bear to leave Ibuki Yuko alone, thus taking over.
Her constantints to Minami Yuuki now had a different exnation. She had thought it would be a problem solved in a few minutes but ended up spending a lot of time on an illness that couldn¡¯t be cured.
¡°What if Ichinose was already dragged into this?¡± Minami Yuuki continued to ask.
¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Ichinose Shiori replied arrogantly.
Minami Yuuki thought to himself, in the simtion life, not only did she foolishly get involved, but she also ended up mentally exhausted. After Ibuki Yuko¡¯s idental death, she even cried her heart out at his house!
¡°What are youughing at?¡± Ichinose Shiori keenly observed Minami Yuuki¡¯s expression.
¡°Nothing, thank you for your answers,¡± Minami Yuuki stood up.
It was time to return home and continue the simtion.
With the information now at hand, he could take apletely different path from the previous simtion.
¡°Oh, by the way, are there any other members in this club?¡± he casually asked.
¡°There¡¯s Ibuki-senpai from the second year and Akane-senpai from the third year,¡± Ichinose Shiori answered.
Ibuki-senpai? Ibuki Yuko? Minami Yuukiwas surprised. No wonder in the previous simtion life, Ichinose Shiori quickly noticed Ibuki Yuko¡¯s anomaly¡ªthey were in the same club, although it seemed Ibuki Yuko was a ghost member.
What an unexpected discovery.
After bidding farewell to Ichinose Shiori, Minami Yuuki returned home. There was still some time before dinner, so he decided to use up the remaining simtion attempt.
[Love Simtor]
[yer: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 1]
[Simtable Characters: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko]
Ichinose Shiori did not appear as a simtable character. Was their rtionship not close enough? Or perhaps, she wasn¡¯t a simtable character?
Not dwelling on this question, he clicked on Ibuki Yuko.
[Ibuki Yuko selected. Start simtion?]
Yes.
[Simtion starts]
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Chapter 70
Chapter 70
[Remaining simtion attemps: 0]
[Simtion target: Ibuki Yuko]
[Initial rtionship: Acquaintance]
[It¡¯s been five days since you arrived in this world. You¡¯ve be friends with Asano Nao, who takes care of your meals; you¡¯ve also befriended Chitose Kazumi, alleviating the boredom of school life. You¡¯ve turned around your ssmates¡¯ impression of you from an outsider to being epted.]
[You¡¯ve set your sights on Ibuki Yuko who lives upstairs in the apartment building.]
The beginning is the same as before, but now things are changing.
[You¡¯ve learned more about Ibuki Yuko from other sources: she seems like a cute doll without a will of her own, teetering on the edge between life and death. She appears to crave an end to it all, yet there¡¯s a faint seed of hope buried deep within her for life.]
[Now, the challenge before you is how to approach Ibuki Yuko and form a stable rtionship with her.]
[You choose¡][1. ¡°Propose to Ibuki Honoka and be Ibuki Yuko¡¯s stepfather!¡±]
[2. ¡°Use my charm to seduce Ibuki Honoka and convince her to give me her daughter!¡±]
[3. ¡°Wait for the right moment.¡±]
[4. Free simtion]
Minami Yuuki looked at the options.
Option one suggested establishing a father-daughter rtionship, which would provide legal authority as a guardian.
However, in this romance simtor, option one would raise serious ethical issues.
As for option two, it mirrored the path he took in a previous simtion where he approached Ibuki Yuko through her mother Ibuki Honoka, gaining her favor and securing a verbal engagement.
After analyzing the first two options, he clicked on option three.
He decided to stick to his original n and directly interact with Ibuki Yuko. After all, his previous attempts to approach her indirectly through Ibuki Honoka were unsessful.
Now, he had found an opportunity to engage with the young girl.
[You choose to wait patiently.]
[However, you didn¡¯t stop taking action. You observed Ibuki Yuko¡¯s schedule for going to and from school from Asano house¡¯s study, frequently coinciding with her and walking together.]
[During this process, you unexpectedly noticed something off about Asano Nao; she was subtly trying to seduce you. You guessed it was due to your excessive attention to Ibuki Yuko. You rejected her advances.]
[The temperature quickly rose, and the summer sailor uniforms appeared on the young girls, marking the arrival of summer.]
[The summer vacation finally arrived.]
[On the first day of vacation, you followed behind Ibuki Yuko, apanying her to the library to borrow books.]
[The road in front of the library was bustling with vehicles, and the sun in the sky was scorching. At the intersection, you saw that green truck, the metal beast, veering off course and heading straight towards you.]
[Faced with this imminent danger, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°Set aside my urge to help and respect others¡¯ fates.¡±]
[2. ¡°It¡¯s time to be a hero!¡±]
[3. ¡°If only one of us can survive, let the person who reincarnates in another world be me!¡±]
[4. Free simtion]
Minami Yuuki contemted the three options: avoiding alone, pulling Ibuki Yuko to hide together, and pushing Ibuki Yuko away while not hiding himself.
He chose option three, pushing Ibuki Yuko away but not fleeing himself.
This decision wasn¡¯t a mistake or a spur-of-the-moment choice; he had carefully considered it before the simtion began.
Faced with his sacrifice, if Ibuki Yuko truly were indifferent, like a block of wood, the simtion would abruptly end.
However, if her apparent indifference were merely a facade to conceal her vulnerable inner self, Minami Yuuki might glimpse hesitation on her face, allowing the simtion to continue briefly after his death.
After all, Minami Yuuki had saved her life and spent a semester with her, making them barely acquaintances or friends.
This was a test, an important one. Minami Yuuki was prepared to sacrifice a simtion life to gauge the depth of the girl¡¯s coldness.
Unexpectedly, the test took apletely unforeseen path.
[You remain in ce, ignoring the ring horns around you. Your gaze shifts from the speeding truck to Ibuki Yuko beside you. The girl is looking at you too.]
A slight dizziness washed over Minami Yuuki, a sign that a memory scene was unfolding.
Damn, why a memory scene now! I don¡¯t want to experience being run over by a big truck!
His internal protest was futile as memories surged, and he closed his eyes.
The memory scene unfolded:
ring horns echoed around them under the scorching sun, an unusually hot day with an unusually loud horn sound enveloping Minami Yuuki and Ibuki Yuko. Reality seemed distorted, or else why would that green truck be barreling toward them?
Minami Yuuki stepped back, steadying himself. He didn¡¯t immediately act; the truck still had some distance to cover. He nned to push Ibuki Yuko away at thest moment, for a more dramatic effect.
The truck drew nearer. Minami Yuuki observed the truck¡¯s front end with unprecedented seriousness. The green truck resembled a fierce beast, its windshield its eyes, and the silver grille below resembling insect mandibles. This giant green insect was charging straight at him!
Minami Yuuki wasn¡¯t afraid of the menacing truck itself, but the impending death it carried, ready to pour over him, shook his spirit.
Everyone harbors dark and deep-seated elements within themselves, and Minami Yuuki was no exception. Amidst the fear, a twisted sense of pleasure also emerged within him. This strange sensation, however, helped him regain rity. He decided to give up.
Not giving up on life, but giving up on giving up on life.
Although his memories reminded him that his current experience was a simtion, he couldn¡¯t treat it like a game. ying around with the idea of losing his life here would be too childish.
He also didn¡¯t intend to abandon the test. He thought about pushing Ibuki Yuko aside first, then fleeing from the other side. With luck, he might create an illusion of being crushed under the wheels.
However, just as he tensed his muscles, preparing to act, a figure threw itself in front of him, colliding with him and pushing him out of the truck¡¯s path.
His back hit the ground, and reflexively, he held onto the girl on him, using his other hand to push himself back.
The truck thundered past him, mming into the library wall. He lowered his head, looking at the girl in his arms who had tried to save him.
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s forehead was slightly red. Just now, she had fiercely collided her head against Minami Yuuki¡¯s chest, using all her strength to push the boy away.
Her slender arm was dusted with dirt, and a thin bead of blood trickled from her elbow where the skin had been grazed.
Minami Yuuki hadn¡¯t expected that this girl, who seemed to crave death and would have chosen to die under the truck if not for his intervention, would end up saving him instead.
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Chapter 71
Chapter 71
[Unexpectedly, before you could act, Ibuki Yuko lunged at you. She pushed you out of the truck¡¯s path, and the green iron beast roared past your feet, crashing into the library wall.]
[As the dust raised by the truck settled, passersby rushed to both sides, some to check on the truck driver, and others gathered around you and Ibuki Yuko.]
[You helped Ibuki Yuko up, thanked the concerned onlookers, and carefully checked her body, confirming that she only had a scraped right elbow.]
[From the passenger seat of the truck, a young man hurriedly got out. Together with a few pedestrians, he helped to lift the middle-aged driver from the driver¡¯s seat. The young man apologized to you, exining that his father, who was driving, had suddenly experienced severe chest pain, losing control of the vehicle. He asked if you could apany them to the hospital for a check-up. You looked at Ibuki Yuko, and she shook her head.]
[You declined the young man¡¯s offer. He pulled out his wallet and handed you all the money in it, along with a business card.]
[You epted the money and the business card.]
[While you were talking to the young man, Ibuki Yuko had already started walking, holding her right arm up to avoid getting blood on her clothes, calmly crossing the street.]
[The wound on her arm and the dust on her clothes highlighted her disheveled state, but this dishevelment transformed into a touch of elegance in her serene demeanor, like the Western patterns on a luxurious kimono belt, which not only did not detract from the kimono¡¯s grace but added a sense of noble inclusiveness.]
[You caught up with her and took her to a nearbymunity hospital, using thepensation money to pay for the consultation fee.][Themunity doctor, a middle-aged woman, examined Ibuki Yuko¡¯s body, confirming that she had no internal injuries.]
[Leaving the clinic, you both took the subway back. On the way, you were both very quiet¡ªIbuki Yuko wasn¡¯t talkative, and you were busy making ns in your mind.]
[You arrived at Tsukimi Station. You and Ibuki Yuko exited the subway station, walked along the cherry tree-lined riverbank, and headed towards the apartment.]
A memory scene unfolds.
Walking on the deep red brick-paved sidewalk, you can clearly see the cherry trees not far to the left. In the season when the cherry blossoms are not blooming, the cherry trees are like ordinary trees, covered in green leaves. Through the gaps in the branches, you can see the river reflecting the sunlight.
Ibuki Yuko is walking ahead of Minami Yuuki.
A square band-aid is stuck on the girl¡¯s elbow, and the white band-aid adds a sickly air to her, making her small body even more pitiable.
¡°Why did you save me?¡± Minami Yuuki walks beside the girl.
¡°Getting hit would mean death.¡± Ibuki Yuko¡¯s answer is in.
Coming from this world-weary person, the words sound quite odd, almost bizarre. Like hearing a lion talk about vegetarianism or a stallion talk about celibacy.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t dying be no big deal? Just like living is no big deal.¡± Minami Yuuki deliberately says this, curious about Ibuki Yuko¡¯s response.
The girl remains silent for a long time. Minami Yuuki follows her down the main road, into an alley, and into the apartment building.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ibuki Yuko answers.
They walk through the apartment building¡¯s corridor, with lush shrubs in the courtyard outside.
¡°Hey, you must have realized, right? I stayed in ce on purpose,¡± Minami Yuuki continues to probe, having formted a n.
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°So, are you ready for the consequences?¡±
Pressing the elevator button, Ibuki Yuko turns her head, looking at Minami Yuuki¡¯s face, waiting for him to borate.
Minami Yuuki throws out a seemingly unrted question: ¡°From a moral standpoint, why does a mother have the duty to raise her child?¡±
¡°¡Because she gave birth to the child.¡±
¡°That¡¯s surprisingly traditional. Yes, the mother gave the child life. The child originally did not exist in this world; it was the mother who forcibly brought them into the world, so the mother has the duty to care for the child.¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Just now, if you hadn¡¯t intervened, I would have been out of this world, dead. In other words, you forcibly brought me back into the world, giving me life. So, what is our rtionship now?¡±
¡°¡Mother and child?¡±
¡°Exactly. So, are you ready to take responsibility for me?¡±
¡°Doctors also give patients life.¡± Ibuki Yuko attempts to refute Minami Yuuki¡¯s logic.
¡°But patients willingly return to the world; doctors don¡¯t ¡®forcibly¡¯ save them. You, however, ¡®forcibly¡¯ saved me.¡±
Ibuki Yuko thought for a moment, unable to find a point to refute. If it were Asano Nao, she would have meekly epted it by now, but this girl was different. She was world-weary, not socially anxious.
¡°I refuse,¡± she said directly.
The elevator reached the 6th floor, and as the doors opened, the raspy voice echoed in the elevator car.
¡°Refusal is invalid. From now on, I leave it to you, Mama Yuko,¡± Minami Yuuki said as she stepped out.
[What made the death-seeking Ibuki Yuko save you? You¡¯re not sure, but you know one thing clearly: Ibuki Yuko cannot ignore your death. So, the next step for you is clear.]
[You decide to cling to Ibuki Yuko. There is a saying that humans love to force the virtuous into prostitution and persuade prostitutes to be virtuous. You think making Ibuki Yuko go from a seeker of help to a savior is a simr contrast.]
[When you return home, you think about Ibuki Yuko and start nning your ¡°escape from the world.¡±]
[Upstairs, Ibuki Yuko sits on the floor, thinking about you.]
[When the truck came, fear and joy assaulted her simultaneously. The joy was the joy of clearing the game, and the fear was the fear of leaving the world.]
[Which path is more correct, death or life? She doesn¡¯t know, so she chooses to refuse to choose. She stays in ce, not choosing death, but ignoring the truck. She waits for the red light to turn green so she can cross to the other side.]
[In her world, the truck doesn¡¯t exist, the surrounding honks don¡¯t exist; only she exists, waiting at the red light.]
[How did she notice your figure? She doesn¡¯t know herself. She saw the truck heading toward you, and the faint anxiety in her heart became her entire feeling, so she rushed towards you.]
[Reflection is a capability Ibuki Yuko had long discarded. She thought about it briefly and then buried the memory. Her world is a harsh winter; as far as the eye can see, everything is a snowyndscape. Everything is buried in the snow, unable to invade her body.]
[Two dayster, Ibuki Yuko went shopping at the convenience store. She saw your figure by the river.]
[You were sitting on the riverbank, legs hanging over the reflection of the blue sky on the river. Just a slight lean forward, or a sudden strong gust of wind, would push you into the blue expanse.]
[The girl walked to your side and tugged at your sleeve.]
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Chapter 72
Chapter 72
[You turned around and saw Ibuki Yuko behind you, knowing your rtionship was now secure.]
Goodness, pretending to be pitiful to deceive a kind-hearted girl, huh?
Reading the simted text, Minami Yuuki marveled at his own maneuver.
As expected of me!
If it had been just the truck incident, it might have been a coincidence. But now, with Ibuki Yuko falling for it again, it couldn¡¯t be exined away as mere chance.
This was Ibuki Yuko¡¯s pattern: seeing him ¡°seeking death,¡± she couldn¡¯t leave him alone.
He continued reading the simted text.
[Ibuki Yuko grabbed your wrist and tried to pull you away from the riverbank. Her strength was small, even using both arms, she couldn¡¯t budge you.]
[Her earnest effort and thepleteck of progress amused you.][You stood up voluntarily, your feet leaving the river¡¯s surface that reflected the sky, standing on solid ground.]
[The girl grasped your hand again, pulling you away from the riverbank under the cherry blossom tree, bringing you to the brick sidewalk.]
[Seeing you away from the river, she was relieved. Her delicate, petite hand left your palm as she turned and walked toward the convenience store.]
[You followed her, walking through the aisles together, watching her buy coffee and an ice pop before leaving the store.]
A memory scene appeared.
Amid the store clerk¡¯s ¡°Thank you for shopping,¡± Minami Yuuki and Ibuki Yuko walked out of the convenience store. A wave of heat hit them, their skin, which had just enjoyed a brief respite in the store, now facing the scorching sun again.
¡°Senpai, you¡¯re a bit too much. You pulled me away, but you¡¯re not paying any attention to me at all,¡± Minami Yuuki walked beside Ibuki Yuko.
¡°I just pulled you away from the river,¡± Ibuki Yuko replied, her elbows bent as she held a stic bag.
The clerk had given her a bag too big for her height, so if she let her arms hang, the bottom of the bag would drag on the ground.
Minami Yuuki took the stic bag from her.
¡°I was just sitting there enjoying the scenery.¡±
¡°That ce is dangerous.¡±
Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯t care about Minami Yuuki¡¯s intentions, only the dangerous behavior itself.
¡°Where isn¡¯t dangerous? Like right now, there¡¯s a road full of cars right beside us. If I fell over that way, I could easily end up under the wheels,¡± he said, deliberately walking on the edge of the sidewalk.
Ibuki Yuko turned her head, ncing at the passing cars. She grabbed Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand, pulling him to the inner side of the sidewalk.
Her small, smooth, and fair hand, like a doll¡¯s, had a warmth that was different from a doll¡¯s, gripping Minami Yuuki¡¯s fingers tightly.
Minami Yuuki turned his head, looking at her face. Though her expression showed no emotion, he could see the girl¡¯s inner resolve.
As she was about to let go, Minami Yuuki said, ¡°I might suddenly feel dizzy and run into the middle of the road.¡±
The girl¡¯s hand, which had just loosened a bit, gripped his hand tightly again.
Due to the heat, a fineyer of sweat had formed on her fair forehead, a few strands of hair sticking to it. This scene added a touch of life to her doll-like elegance.
Looking at her profile, holding her hand, Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but feel moved.
Japanese dolls have a unique elegance and purity different from real people, but they alsock the vitality of a real person. In his memory, Minami Yuuki had carefully observed his sister¡¯s beloved dolls, feeling both attracted by their elegance and frightened by their dead air, especially at night.
He had wondered if there could be something thatbined the elegance of a doll with the vitality of a real person.
Now, this fantastically delicate blend of doll and real person was right in front of him, in his hand.
His gaze became heated, his eyes scanning Ibuki Yuko¡¯s body, thinking about what kind of clothes to put on this doll-like girl and what pose to arrange.
He recalled the simted text describing his desire to bring Ibuki Yuko home, change her clothes, and disy her in a showcase.
Previously, he thought it was a bit exaggerated, but now it felt too conservative.
¡°Add me on LINE, senpai,¡± he said, taking out his phone with his other hand.
¡°No need,¡± Ibuki Yuko refused.
¡°August 11th, clear skies. Today I met Ibuki-senpai and asked to add her on LINE, but she said ¡®no need.¡¯ Such an unreserved and straightforward response deeply hurt my young heart, leaving me mentally scarred. It¡¯s not Ibuki-senpai¡¯s fault; she just spoke the truth. Yes, ¡®no need,¡¯ Ibuki-senpai doesn¡¯t ¡®need¡¯ me, this country doesn¡¯t ¡®need¡¯ me, this world doesn¡¯t ¡®need¡¯ me. My existence itself is inconsequential and worthless; without me, no one and nothing would be troubled. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t exist in this world¡¡±
Minami Yuuki recited his essay on the spot. Halfway through, Ibuki Yuko took out her phone.
¡°I¡¯ll add you, please don¡¯t think like that,¡± she said.
To give in so easily, how adorably naive, Ibuki-senpai!
After adding Ibuki Yuko¡¯s contact, Minami Yuuki saved it with the note ¡°fianc¨¦e¡± and ced it in a separate friends group.
The apartment arrived, and soon they would part ways. Minami Yuuki felt reluctant and wondered whether to use his ¡°desperation act¡± to coerce Ibuki Yuko intoing to his house.
He gave up; the act was merely an initial force to push the rtionship forward. If he kept coercing, it wouldn¡¯t be an all-ages story but an adult one.
¡°See you tomorrow, Ibuki-senpai.¡±
He handed the grocery bag to Ibuki Yuko, waved, and stepped out of the elevator.
[You asked Ibuki Yuko for her LINE, got rejected, then pretended to be desperate and hopeless, forcing the girl to add you on LINE.]
[The sess of your n boosted your confidence and made you more fond of this doll-like girl.]
[At night, lying in bed, you suddenly wondered what it would be like if gggtIbuki Yuko were really a doll. You called your sister Minami Airi and asked her to dress up one of her dolls as a long-haired, ck sailor suit girl. Your sister refused, so you coerced her with your desperation act. Half an hourter, you received a bunch of doll photos.]
[You picked the most striking ones and sent them to Ibuki Yuko, but she didn¡¯t respond.]
[In the following days of summer vacation, you went to the Asano residence every morning, monitoring the alley in front of the apartment building from the study window.]
[Whenever you saw Ibuki Yuko pass by, you quickly left and ¡®identally¡¯ ran into her ahead.]
[You would be studying the hardness of the wall, observing the speed of passing cars, or examining the load-bearing capacity of tree branches. Each time, Ibuki Yuko woulde to your side and pull you away from these dangerous objects.]
[She gradually began replying to your LINE messages, though only the seemingly important parts.]
[On thest day of summer vacation, she pulled you away from the library¡¯s third-floor railing and showed a displeased expression. This was the first time the girl showed any emotion, and you were overjoyed.]
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C
[T/N: ¡°ÎÒÓñÓñÁË¡± is a Chinese inte ng term, where ¡°ÓñÓñ¡± (Yu Yu) is used to express a feeling of sadness, frustration, or being overwhelmed. The term is derived from the sound of crying or the word ¡°ÓôÃÆ¡± which means depressed or gloomy. So, the phrase could be tranted as ¡°I¡¯m feeling sad¡± or ¡°I¡¯m frustrated.¡±]
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Chapter 73
Chapter 73
[Ibuki Yuko was not angry with your actions. She had once stood in the same ce as you, looking down from the skylight. From this angle, one could see the tops of the bookshelves, something not visible from the ordinary perspective.]
[Every time she observed this, her gaze would involuntarily be drawn to the sharp corners of the bookshelves. Her mind would conjure the dull sound of her bones colliding with those edges, and the scene of the bookshelf toppling over, burying her. She liked books, and being buried by them was a heart-stirring oil painting.]
[Seeing you looking down by the railing, the image that always yed in her mind resurfaced. However, at the end of this image, crimson blood seeped out from under the bookshelf, glowing with a demonic red light, making her heart fill with fear. She suddenly realized that the beauty she had previously envisioned in being buried by books actually concealed pain.]
[Thus, she became angry, not at you, but at the version of herself she saw in you.]
[The girl took your hand and led you downstairs.]
[She became somewhat afraid of you, as you had brought the horror of death to her. She had not feared death before, but now she was a bit afraid.]
[She decided to stay away from you, otherwise, the armor woven from her elegance in viewing death lightly would no longer exist.]
[She told you that she didn¡¯t want to see you anymore. You were not upset; you decided to proceed with the next phase of your n.]
[The next day after school, you returned home and sent her a photo, a photo of a sharp pen nib. Two minutester, she appeared at your doorstep.]A memory scene appears.
Ibuki Yuko wore a white sailor suit. In an era where Western-style uniforms were prevalent in high schools, sailor suits had almost be synonymous with middle school students. The girl¡¯s petite figure paired with this cute sailor suit looked like she had just entered middle school.
This little girl took off her small leather shoes, her ck stockings outlining the shape of her small, rounded toes, stepping on the brown floor. She walked unceremoniously into Minami Yuuki¡¯s bedroom, picked up the pen on the desk, and put it in her pocket.
¡°Stealing?¡± Minami Yuuki sat on the bed, watching the girl.
¡°It¡¯s to confiscate the murder weapon.¡± Ibuki Yuko nced around the desk and also took Minami Yuuki¡¯s pencil sharpener.
¡°Without a pen, a ballpoint pen will do. If the pen on the desk is gone, you can buy one at a convenience store for a very cheap price.¡±
¡°¡You¡¯re not allowed to buy one.¡±
¡°Why should I listen to you, senpai?¡±
¡°Because we¡¯re mother and son?¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite a remarkable statement.¡±
¡°You admitted it during summer vacation and even called me ¡®Mommy Yuko¡¯.¡±
¡°So, it¡¯s my joke that brought this unfortunate consequence?¡±
¡°So you¡¯re not allowed to buy one, understood?¡±
Ibuki Yuko walked over to Minami Yuuki and poked his waist, asking him to respond to her.
The girl¡¯s strength was small, her delicate fingers brushed against Minami Yuuki¡¯s side through the thin short-sleeved shirt, bringing a tickling sensation.
Minami Yuuki turned his head and saw the serious expression on the girl¡¯s face.
¡°But, isn¡¯t it normal not to listen to one¡¯s mom?¡± he said.
¡°No rebellion allowed.¡± Ibuki Yuko poked his waist again, this time with more force.
¡°If senpai were a good mom, I wouldn¡¯t rebel.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a good mom.¡±
¡°Good or bad isn¡¯t just about words; it depends on actions.¡± Minami Yuukiy back on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±
Ibuki Yuko quickly left the room and returned five minutester with a cup of hot milk, cing it in front of Minami Yuuki.
¡°¡Why milk?¡±
Faced with Minami Yuuki¡¯s question, Ibuki Yuko was very confused: ¡°Isn¡¯t being hungry supposed to be solved with milk powder?¡±
¡°Please adjust my age upwards a bit and make a meal.¡±
¡°Spending more money will get me scolded by Grandma.¡±
Minami Yuuki pondered who suddenly brought up the grandmother. He quickly understood; it referred to Ibuki Honoka. Since Ibuki Yuko was the mother, then Ibuki Honoka naturally became the grandmother.
¡°Then use your pocket money, Senpai.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any pocket money.¡±
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s answer didn¡¯t surprise Minami Yuuki. Over the past six months, every time he saw her shopping, it was always for things adults would eat or use. Her school bag was still the one she had used in junior high.
¡°There¡¯s money in the drawer on the right side of the desk. You can take it, just remember to pay me backter.¡±
Ibuki Yuko stopped mid-step toward the desk when Minami Yuuki added thetter part.
¡°Do I have to pay it back?¡± she asked Minami Yuuki.
¡°Huh? I¡¯m just lending it to you, of course, you have to pay it back.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s for cooking for you.¡±
¡°A good mother uses her own money to feed her child. If she uses the child¡¯s money, isn¡¯t that exploiting the child and being a bad mother? Senpai doesn¡¯t want to be a bad mother, right?¡±
Ibuki Yuko shook her head.
¡°So, this money is what I¡¯m lending to you, Senpai. That way, it¡¯s like it¡¯s your own money.¡±
Ibuki Yuko hesitated.
¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Senpai, once you start working, you can easily pay back this amount. You don¡¯t want to be a bad mother, do you? I won¡¯t listen to a bad mother.¡±
Minami Yuuki urged her again, and Ibuki Yuko finally opened the drawer and took out the money.
¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go to the supermarket together.¡± Minami Yuuki jumped off the bed and followed the girl out.
Ibuki Yuko turned to look at his face. The sunset light from the hallway cast an orange-red glow on his smiling face. He seemed very happy.
This way, he wouldn¡¯t think about using a sharp pen tip to pierce his neck, right?
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s gaze fell, passing his rosy lips, his statue-like resolute chin, andnded on his fair neck.
¡°Are you mesmerized by your child? Mama Yuko already has the qualifications to be a good mother.¡± Minami Yuuki teased her.
The elevator arrived, Ibuki Yuko pressed the down button, thinking, Mama Yuko?
Her mind shed back to her childhood, chasing after Ibuki Honoka. Back then, her parents hadn¡¯t divorced, and Honoka often held her hand and looked at her gently.
The elevator door opened, Ibuki Yuko took Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand and led him inside.
[Your n is going smoothly. Over the past month, you¡¯ve pretended to be a pitiful, world-weary child, sessfully making Ibuki Yuko care for and pity you. After the library incident, you confirmed that her concern was sufficient and began the next step.]
[You no longer waited passively for Ibuki Yuko to approach, triggering her emotions. You took the initiative, forcing her to establish a new rtionship with you, shifting from rescuer and rescued to guardian and ward.]
[You called her Mama Yuko. Beneath her calm expression, her heart was stirring.]
[You and her went to the supermarket together, buying ingredients for dinner and the next day¡¯s meals. Your rented apartment has an induction cooker and some basic kitchenware. Ibuki Yuko cooked for you at your ce.]
[Her cooking skills weren¡¯t as good as Asano Nao¡¯s, but herpletely different attitude and the way she looked at you gave you a spiritual sense of delight. If Asano Nao was a passionate yet cautious orange cat trying to get close, then Ibuki Yuko was a cold ck kitten treating you as a child, but with faint emotions.]
[Using the excuse that a mother and son should eat together, you had Ibuki Yuko dine with you.]
[After eating, you said goodbye to Ibuki Yuko and reminded her toe early every morning to prepare breakfast and lunch for you.]
[You sent a message to Asano Nao, saying you wouldn¡¯t be dining at her ce. To prevent her from overthinking, you emphasized that she was still your friend, her cooking was excellent, and you would still visit her in the afternoon. You just found a petite senpai to experience a mother-son rtionship and wanted to dine with your new family member.]
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Chapter 74
Chapter 74
[Morning, Ibuki Yuko arrives on time. Ibuki Honoka seems to have a new boyfriend; she eitheres back veryte every day or leaves very early in the morning. As a result, Ibuki Yuko is quite free.]
[At first, she was somewhat reluctant to take care of you. If you didn¡¯t ask for her help for a day, she wouldn¡¯te. Gradually, she started to arrive on time even on the days you didn¡¯t ask for her help.]
[During the times you spend together, you just have ordinary conversations with her, asionallyplimenting her cooking skills, like normal family members, like ordinary siblings, although Ibuki Yuko insists that your rtionship is that of mother and son. Your rtionship is bing increasingly harmonious.]
[You wonder if you can rely more on Ibuki Yuko and get closer to her.]
[After careful consideration, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°Help me out, Yuko-senpai!¡±]
[2. ¡°I should be a mature kid and not rely on Yuko-senpai anymore.¡±]
[3. ¡°Maintaining the status quo is fine.¡±]
[4. Free simtion]Looking at the options, Minami Yuuki strokes his chin. The meanings of the three options are clear: getting closer to Ibuki Yuko, bing more distant from her, or maintaining the current state.
There¡¯s no need to be conflicted about this. Ibuki Yuko has already shown a w, so it¡¯s time to seize the opportunity!
He doesn¡¯t rush to click but instead looks back at the simtion text above.
So far, the progress of the love simtion is very smooth. The reason for the smooth progress is that Ibuki Yuko is very willing to take care of people.
Whether it was pulling him away from danger before or cooking for him afterward, it can be summarized as Ibuki Yuko taking care of him.
Minami Yuuki recalls Shiori Ichinose¡¯s three guesses. The first two guesses suggest that the reason Ibuki Yuko is weary of the world is that she hasn¡¯t experienced the joys of life.
Has the girl now changed because she found happiness in taking care of him?
He thinks of his sister, Minami Airi. The girl always likes to y with her dolls, changing their clothes, putting on makeup, ying house. He also thinks of his grandmother in his hometown, who has a mischievous Shiba Inu(dog). Since taking care of dolls and dogs can bring happiness, then taking care of a person should also bring happiness, although he personally doesn¡¯t find taking care of people enjoyable.
Or perhaps, what makes Ibuki Yuko happy is not the act of taking care of someone itself, but because she is taking care of him, thus being with him. Everyone longs forpanionship; it¡¯s just that they often don¡¯t find the rightpanion.
After trying to analyze Ibuki Yuko¡¯s psychology, Minami Yuuki clicks on option one and continues the simtion.
[You decide to take it a step further and ask Ibuki Yuko for more care.]
[This noon, you refuse the invitation from Chitose Kazumi and some ssmates to have lunch together, and head to the second-year floor, standing outside ss C¡¯s window, looking for Ibuki Yuko.]
[As you expected, given Ibuki Yuko¡¯s height, she must be sitting in the first row. She is in the innermost corner of the first row.]
[The girl doesn¡¯t see you. You ask the boys by the window to call her for you, but none of the three boys respond.]
[You go to the front door and ask a girl with sses. The girl looks at your face, and you have to repeat your request twice before she understands. She helps you call Ibuki Yuko.]
[Using the excuse that mother and son should eat together, you have her bring her lunchbox to your ssroom.]
[Ibuki Yuko is very popr at school; half of the students in your ss know her. Some are amazed, and some are regretful about your rtionship.]
[You introduce Chitose Kazumi to Ibuki Yuko, hoping they can be friends.]
¡°¡¡±
Doesn¡¯t thest paragraph seem a bit familiar?
In the simtion with Asano Nao, didn¡¯t he do the exact same thing?
It shouldn¡¯t be a problem, though; it¡¯s just making friends.
He nces at the time. Half an hour has already passed, and in another hour or so, it¡¯ll be time to have dinner at Asano Nao¡¯s house.
Despite the tight schedule, Minami Yuuki still hopes this simtion willst beyond dinner time because if the simtion ends before dinner, it¡¯s likely just an ordinary ending.
He continues to watch the simtion screen.
[Chitose Kazumi had already learned about Ibuki Yuko from you. As someone who had been a schoolmate of the girl, she clearly understood the girl¡¯s charm. She adjusted her mindset and started talking to Ibuki Yuko about their middle school days.]
[Ibuki Yuko was not interested in Chitose Kazumi¡¯s topic. After responding a few times perfunctorily, she stopped paying attention to her. You intervened in the conversation, continuing Chitose Kazumi¡¯s topic, and only then did Ibuki Yuko continue to speak.]
Tsk tsk, Minami Yuuki thought as he read the text.
This loli senior is particrly cold-hearted in terms of interpersonal rtionships. It would be great if she could share a bit with Asano Nao¡ªone is overly concerned with others¡¯ feelings, and the other doesn¡¯t care at all.
[After school, you and Ibuki Yuko went to the supermarket together to buy ingredients. Ibuki Yuko owes you more and more money.]
[Having gotten used to the high-end ingredients at the Asano household, you couldn¡¯t stand the taste of ordinary food. Your spending on meals was substantial, and with the debt to Asano Nao, your money was running out.]
[You thought of ways to make money and created an ount on a video site in a country across the sea, posting some guitar ying videos. You didn¡¯t show your face, and the videos had almost no views.]
[This dismal reality was unbearable. With your master-level guitar skills, the double-digit view count was an insult.]
[In October, you decided to give up. You showed your face and posted a new video¡ª¡±Japanese Pretty Boy Watches Romance of the Three Kingdoms!¡±]
[This was the turning point in your career as an uploader. Within a week, the video exceeded a million views.]
[You grasped the essence of the inte, posting a new video every day, exploring the food culture, architecture, and TV dramas of the neighboring country. Additionally, you started a popr series¡ª¡±Japanese Pretty Boy¡¯s Try Not to Laugh Challenge!¡±]
[Each of your videos made it to the rankings, and your fan base grew rapidly, as did your video ie.]
[You paid off your debt to Asano Nao.]
[You had tried to introduce Asano Nao to Ibuki Yuko. You thought the difficult one to convince would be Asano Nao, but surprisingly, Asano Nao immediately agreed and came downstairs at the appointed time without hiding in her room.]
[Could it be that without your meticulous care, Asano Nao¡¯s mental state had actually improved? You couldn¡¯t help but think this way; otherwise, you couldn¡¯t exin Asano Nao¡¯s abnormal behavior.]
[This hit you hard. But after the frustration came joy. Asano Nao¡¯s mental state had greatly improved, which put you at ease.]
[When the two girls met, the problem was Ibuki Yuko. Ibuki Yuko treated Asano Nao even worse than she had treated Chitose Kazumi before. Shepletely ignored Asano Nao and only spoke to you.]
[These days, your rtionship with Ibuki Yuko had be increasingly close, but at the same time, she became more indifferent to others.]
[You felt joy but also had a bad premonition.]
It¡¯s doomed!
Minami Yuuki sighed deeply as he looked at the simtion interface.
Sure enough, their emotions couldn¡¯t be this smooth, and Ibuki Yuko¡¯s issues manifested in another way.
[By the end of the second semester, you had nearly a million followers on the video site. The site¡¯s operators contacted you, asking if you could attend the Top 100 G. You declined the g and the award, saying you were undeserving. They then asked if you would join the site¡¯s reality show, offering generous conditions, but you still refused.]
[There was one week left until winter break, and the cold air had already arrived. You bought a kotatsu, and it often contained you and Ibuki Yuko.]
[The kotatsu was toofortable. You identally fell asleep inside it. In the middle of the night, you woke up freezing, with your lower half warm inside the kotatsu and your upper half cold outside it. As expected, you had a fever the next day.]
[In the morning, you woke up groggily once, sent a message to Ibuki Yuko to ask her to help you call in sick, and then fell back asleep.]
[When you woke up again, it was already noon. The winter sun brought some warmth, and you turned your head to see Ibuki Yuko¡¯s small face.]
[The girl was sitting on the floor, her elbow resting on the edge of the bed, with her chin in her hand, her clear eyes watching you.]
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Chapter 75
Chapter 75
[Seeing you wake up, she picked up the water cup beside her. As you tried to get up to take the water, she gently pushed you back onto the bed.]
A memory scene appeared.
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s small hand, through the quilt, pressed on Minami Yuuki¡¯s chest. Usually, such a slender arm could never push down Minami Yuuki¡¯s firm chest, but now, weakened by a high fever, Minami Yuuki was easily pushed back onto the bed with a gentle nudge from Ibuki Yuko.
He looked at the girl with puzzled eyes.
If she didn¡¯t let him get up, how was he supposed to drink water?
Ibuki Yuko brought the cup to her face, took out a spoon, scooped some water, and ced it at Minami Yuuki¡¯s lips.
The water was just the right temperature, neither cold nor hot. Minami Yuuki¡¯s eyes nced at the thermos by the bed, clearly showing that the girl had been mixing hot water from the thermos to get the right temperature, waiting for him to wake up.
¡°Thank you, I feel much better,¡± Minami Yuuki said after drinking half of the water.
¡°I know,¡± the girl said calmly.¡°How do you know?¡± Minami Yuuki asked, surprised.
¡°I took your temperature, it¡¯s 37.2 degrees, you¡¯re almost better.¡±
The girl reached into her pocket and took out an electronic thermometer.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t realize something was off at first. It was only after she put the thermometer away that he noticed something unusual.
¡°¡If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is just a thermometer, not a forehead or ear thermometer,¡± he asked.
¡°Mm.¡± Ibuki Yuko touched his forehead, wondering why he was asking such a question, as a thermometer didn¡¯t look anything like a temperature gun.
¡°Since it¡¯s not a forehead or ear thermometer that gives a quick reading, how did you measure my temperature?¡± Minami Yuuki asked the real question.
The girl thought for a moment, decided that it was difficult to exin just with words, and chose to reenact the process.
She warmed her hands inside her cor, then ced the thermometer in her palm, and reached into Minami Yuuki¡¯s quilt.
Minami Yuuki felt two small hands touch his waist, move up his chest, and ce the thermometer under his armpit.
¡°Like this,¡± Ibuki Yuko said, withdrawing her hands.
¡°¡¡±
If it had been Asano Nao doing this, she would have been blushing and too embarrassed to face him.
But Ibuki Yuko¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as if she had just done something very ordinary.
She climbed onto the bed, crossing over Minami Yuuki without hesitation, and moved to the other side of the bed.
The girl knelt beside him, holding down his arm with the thermometer to ensure an urate reading.
Minami Yuuki turned his head to look at her. If Asano Nao made him feel the heat and excitement of love, Ibuki Yuko made him feel the warmth and tranquility of love.
Even after marriage, Asano Nao would still be like a shy girl, whereas Ibuki Yuko, even before their rtionship was established, behaved like a long-time wife.
Perhaps ¡°love¡± wasn¡¯t the right word, and ¡°maternal love¡± would be more appropriate?
Although that word didn¡¯t quite fit her petite figure.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s eyes swept over Ibuki Yuko¡¯s upper body, and he shook his head regretfully.
¡°Hmm?¡± Ibuki Yuko noticed his gaze.
¡°It¡¯s okay, Japanese dolls are also t and short!¡± Minami Yuukiforted her.
Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯t understand his words, decided it wasn¡¯t important, and ignored it.
The electronic thermometer only needed half a minute to measure. She warmed her hands on her stomach, reached into Minami Yuuki¡¯s cor, and took out the thermometer.
¡°37.0 degrees. Hungry? I made porridge.¡±
Minami Yuuki nodded, and Ibuki Yuko again crossed over his body, scooped some porridge from the rice cooker, and ced it by the bed, helping him sit up.
¡°By the way, how did you get in?¡± Minami Yuuki remembered another question.
¡°I got a spare key from the administrator.¡±
The young girl used the edge of the porcin spoon to skim the surface of the white porridge, scooping a shallow spoonful. Lowering her rosy, delicate lips, she lightly sipped from the spoon. The porridge was slightly hot, just the right temperature. She brought the spoon to Minami Yuuki¡¯s mouth.
After taking a couple of spoonfuls, Minami Yuuki continued to ask, ¡°How did the administrator give you the key?¡±
¡°I told her you had a fever and I couldn¡¯t reach you. I said I was your mother and needed to take care of you. Sheughed for a long time and then opened the door for me,¡± Ibuki Yuko replied.
What kind of administrator is this? How could she believe it so easily? But looking at Ibuki Yuko¡¯s doll-like face, Minami Yuuki suddenly wasn¡¯t surprised anymore. The girl¡¯s innocent and harmless appearance made it hard for anyone to be suspicious.
¡°I have something to ask you,¡± Ibuki Yuko said, quickly feeding Minami Yuuki.
¡°What is it?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
Half of the porridge was already gone. Ibuki Yuko put down the spoon and ced the bowl on the bedside table. She then took off her shoes, knelt by the bed, and leaned toward Minami Yuuki.
Her delicate face was so close to Minami Yuuki¡¯s that her small, fair nose almost touched his.
The girl¡¯s clear eyes were like a serene pool in a deep mountain in summer. The pure mountain water seemed to flow from her gaze, extinguishing the low fever on Minami Yuuki¡¯s forehead.
¡°It is a normal cold, not rebellion, right? It seems hard to die from a cold, and it would be very painful,¡± the girl said in a clear voice, her lips parting and her breath hitting Minami Yuuki¡¯s nose.
Ibuki Yuko wasn¡¯t intentionally being seductive, but her every move, every blink, and every breath made Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart swell with joy.
His heart itched uncontrobly, and the low fever on his forehead reignited in his chest. The only water source that could extinguish this me was the girl herself.
He gently lifted his head, touching her nose with his own. This minimal contact, like a drop of water under the scorching sun, only deepened his longing.
He answered the girl, ¡°Of course, Yuko is a good mother, isn¡¯t she?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Ibuki Yuko¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, a smile seemingly long absent from her face appearing.
Minami Yuuki felt his chest throbbing intensely. He continued, ¡°But if Yuko-mama loved me a little more, it would be even better.¡±
¡°What should I do?¡± Ibuki Yuko blinked.
¡°A kiss,¡± Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t hold back, revealing his goal too soon. He hadn¡¯t yet thought of a suitable excuse or any twisted logic.
Ibuki Yuko didn¡¯t question or hesitate. She lowered her face even further, her soft lips pressing down.
[Ibuki Yuko meticulously took care of you. Her overly intimate yet natural actions made your heart flutter. The girl¡¯s emotions weren¡¯t gathered in her chest, making her shy or annoyed. Instead, they were spread throughout her body, manifesting as her unguarded, non-resistant closeness to you.]
[Unable to suppress your surging love, you deceived her into giving you a kiss.]
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Chapter 76
Chapter 76
As he read the simted text, feeling the joy evoked by the memories, Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but smile.
Outside on the balcony, the shadows of the railing were growing longer, and the sun was nearly touching the horizon.
The sunlight, now angled steeply, streamed through the window, casting a single beam of light on the wall near the desk.
Gazing at the gentle, calm sunlight that had lost its noontime intensity, Minami Yuuki thought of Ibuki Yuko.
What could the girl be doing upstairs? Was she reading a book borrowed from the library, or preparing dinner for Ibuki Honoka?
He continued looking at the simtion interface.
[That night, Ibuki Yuko caught a cold.]
[The girl¡¯s emotions were hard to discern, as was her illness. It wasn¡¯t until after breakfast, when you noticed her movements slowing as she washed the dishes, that you realized something was wrong.]
[You let her sleep in your bed, put a fever patch on her, and made her some medicine.][After just one nap, the girl felt a bit better but struggled to get up.]
[You had no choice but to crawl into bed yourself, iming you wanted Yuko-mama to sleep with you, so she stayed by your side.]
¡°¡?¡±
Bah, was that really no choice?
That¡¯s clearly taking advantage of the situation!
Minami Yuuki felt jealous.
Jealousy was followed by envy.
How nice, I want a loli mama too.
Should I get closer to Ibuki Yuko? I could control the pace, just be a mother and son, not lovers, like with Asano Nao.
However, the initial truck ident happened during summer vacation, and now it¡¯s just the start of the school year. Looks like it will be a while before I can enjoy Yuko-mama¡¯s care.
[After a day of rest, Ibuki Yuko was mostly recovered, though she still had a slight cough.]
[Leaving the girl at home, you went to the supermarket to buy some instant food for her to cook. At dinner, you watched as the girl held her chopsticks in her palm, her hand pressed against her lips as she turned her head to cough softly, and you felt a little moved.]
[The girl¡¯s raspy voice from the cold, her lips paler than usual from the illness, and the soft, low cough muffled by her hand, wrapped her delicate, doll-like elegance in a tender weakness.]
[Though you felt sorry for the girl, in that moment, you found her very charming.]
[After dinner, you walked Ibuki Yuko home.]
[You took two days off, and when you finally went back to school, Chitose Kazumi expressed concern for your health. You thanked her. When you were sick, she had nned to visit you, but you refused. You didn¡¯t want her to intrude on your time alone with Ibuki Yuko.]
[Your mother from Ino Prefecture called to ask when you would be on break and when you woulde home.]
[During summer vacation, you imed you had to work in Misaki City and didn¡¯t go back. There¡¯s no avoiding it during winter break; you decided to go back on the third day of the break.]
[In the end-of-term quiz, you ranked in the top five in your ss, thanks to Ibuki Yuko. The girl¡¯s hobbies were few, besides reading and studying, so you ended up reading many books and reviewing a lot of material with her.]
[When you were alone with Ibuki Yuko, you told her about going home for the winter break.]
The memory scene appeared.
In the apartment room, Minami Yuuki and Ibuki Yuko sat facing each other, their legs under the kotatsu, each reading a book.
Minami Yuuki lifted his gaze from the book to look at the girl across from him, who showed no outward emotions and acted naturally.
Today, the girl was different from usual, wearing a narrow red-framed pair of sses on her nose.
Her doll-like, delicate, petite figure didn¡¯t look out of ce with any essory; her elegant demeanor could amodate anything.
The girl had no vision problems and soon found the sses bothersome, taking them off and cing them on the table.
The sses must have been at Ibuki Honoka¡¯s request.
After putting down the sses, Ibuki Yuko continued to focus on her book, not paying attention to Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze, which made the boy feel dissatisfied.
Those gray and white book pages, with theirckluster printed words, are they really more captivating than I am?
He lifted his foot from under the kotatsu and ced it on the girl¡¯s slender leg.
The girl¡¯s foot, d in white knee-high socks, wobbled from the sudden weight, her toes lightly tapping Minami Yuuki¡¯s calf.
Ibuki Yuko nced up at him, then returned to her paperback.
No reaction at all?
Minami Yuuki buried himself deeper into the kotatsu, extended his right leg, and lightly scratched Ibuki Yuko¡¯s abdomen with his toes.
The girl finally responded.
She kept holding her paperback with one hand while reaching under the kotatsu with the other, grabbing Minami Yuuki¡¯s foot to stop him from moving.
This gentle, motherly response to a mischievous child made Minami Yuuki feel warm yet frustrated.
He wanted to tease Ibuki Yuko, to make her feel shy and troubled. Her gentle and tolerant response made him seem like a childish attention-seeker.
He tucked in his legs, sat quietly for a while, then slowly got up from the kotatsu.
Ibuki Yuko noticed his movements out of the corner of her eye but paid no attention, letting Minami Yuuki leave.
It was only after ten seconds passed without the sound of running water that she realized Minami Yuuki hadn¡¯t gone to the bathroom.
Hastily, she put down her book and stood up to look for him.
Her school uniform skirt fluttered with her sudden movement, revealing her fair legs.
As she turned her head, she saw Minami Yuuki.
The boy was sitting right behind her, a triumphant smile on his face. Her panic made him feel his prank had seeded.
Such childish antics were something Minami Yuuki only did to Ibuki Yuko.
Perhaps it was because his more ¡°mature¡± methods had all failed on her, forcing him to resort to trickery; or perhaps it was because of her natural closeness and kindness that he couldn¡¯t help but put himself in a childish position, for only fledglings could unabashedly enjoy such affection.
He did enjoy a limited amount of care. Ibuki Yuko walked up to him and pinched his face.
The slight pain on his face and the smooth touch of her fingers left Minami Yuuki astonished.
The next moment, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s face drew closer, her forehead touching Minami Yuuki¡¯s, her moist lips right in front of his.
¡°Don¡¯t run off,¡± she said, staring into his eyes, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and her serene eyes rippling with emotion.
Guilt surged in Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart as he looked into her eyes, and at the same time, his feelings for her grew even stronger.
¡°If I don¡¯t run off, is there a reward?¡± he asked.
The reward was their mutual understanding.
Ibuki Yuko released his cheek and cupped his face with her hands, her soft lips approaching his.
Before their lips parted, Minami Yuuki reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her onto hisp.
His broad shoulders enveloped her petite frame, and as he inhaled her scent, he felt a bit intoxicated.
The orange glow of the setting sun cast shadows on the wall in front of the desk.
Minami Yuuki let go of the girl in his arms. Her face was slightly flushed, and she was gently panting.
Herck of experience in kissing made her unaware of the trick to catching her breath, resulting in her reddened face and erratic breathing.
¡°By the way,¡± Minami Yuuki finally remembered the most important thing, ¡°I¡¯m leaving Misaki during winter break.¡±
The young girl had just stood up, but upon hearing this, she sat back down in hisp and grabbed his cor.
¡°Rebellious phase? Running away from home?¡± Ibuki Yuko frowned.
¡°It¡¯s not running away from home, it¡¯s actually going back home. My hometown is in Ino Prefecture. No matter what, I have to go home for New Year¡¯s Eve.¡±
¡°Pretending to go home but actually running away?¡±
¡°¡ How about I stay on video call with you the whole time?¡±
¡°Going home only to rebel?¡±
In their conversation, rebellion was synonymous with death.
Minami Yuuki was speechless.
It seemed his previous actions had left such a deep impression that Ibuki Yuko simply couldn¡¯t believe him.
He wrapped his arms around the girl again. ¡°Indeed, without Mama Yuko¡¯s love, I might actually rebel. I need to go home for about ten days, so I¡¯ll need to make up for ten days¡¯ worth of love.¡±
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Chapter 77
Chapter 77
[The impending brief separation made both you and her reluctant to part; just the thought of soon being apart made you cherish the present moment even more, deepening your affection.]
[Ibuki Honoka got a new boyfriend. That young man who dropped out of high school didn¡¯t put in any effort during his school days and envied the well-behaved boys and girls who excelled. Because of his preferences, Ibuki Honoka dressed her daughter as a sses-wearing girl.]
Sure enough.
Looking at the simted text, Minami Yuuki thought, he had found the reason for Ibuki Yuko¡¯s constantly changing style.
As he suspected, it was because Ibuki Honoka dressed her daughter to please her new boyfriend.
Just like in the previous simtion, after he got on good terms with Ibuki Honoka and expressed his desire to marry Ibuki Yuko, Honoka immediately agreed without considering Yuko¡¯s feelings at all.
He also thought of Ibuki Yuko in a wheelchair.
Was Ibuki Honoka¡¯s boyfriend at that time into weak and sickly girls?
What a perverse fetish!Unlike him, he just likes to be sick and let nurse Yuko touch him.
[You have bought a ticket back to Ino Prefecture. While staying with Ibuki Yuko, you relish the sweet air with her presence while also worrying about the approaching departure date.]
[On the second day of the winter break, the day before your departure, things took a turn.]
[Ibuki Honoka¡¯s current rtionship seems to be going well; the boyfriend wants to take her home for the New Year, but there¡¯s not enough room at his ce. Ibuki Yuko¡¯s presence became an issue.]
[Ibuki Honoka left her daughter behind, gave her a meager living allowance, and left with her new boyfriend.]
[Upon hearing this, you choose¡]
[1. Take Ibuki Yuko home with you]
[2. Find an excuse to cate your parents and sister back home and stay in Misaki to apany the girl]
[3. Stick to your original n and leave Ibuki Yuko behind to go home alone]
[4. Free simtion]
Looking at the options, Minami Yuuki pondered.
Putting himself in that situation and considering it with simple emotions, he would definitely choose option one and take Ibuki Yuko home with him.
His family in Ino Prefecture hadn¡¯t seen him for almost a year, and it would be too much to disappoint them again.
Leaving Ibuki Yuko alone was an extremely cold and heartless choice.
However, sometimes the option that feels right doesn¡¯t lead to a happy ending.
Was taking Ibuki Yuko home really the right choice?
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but recall Asano Nao¡¯s situation, trying to find answers from past experiences.
Taking Asano Nao home was definitely a bad move; this socially anxious shut-in felt pressure from any serious matter, and the more pressure she felt, the more fragile she became.
Then, what about Ibuki Yuko?
This world-weary, petite mother seemed very natural, even a bit brazen, around Chitose Kazumi.
Such a person didn¡¯t seem like she would feel pressured by others.
Taking Ibuki Yuko home shouldn¡¯t negatively impact her emotions, but apart from inner feelings, external realities had to be considered.
For example, in the first simtion with the girl, there was an option to follow Ibuki Yuko.
He didn¡¯t choose it, and as a result, Ibuki Yuko got hit by a truck. If he had chosen to follow her, he might have saved her in time.
What negative real-world impact could taking Ibuki Yuko home have?
Minami Yuuki thought of Ibuki Honoka.
If there were external obstacles, they would probablye from Ibuki Honoka or Ibuki Yuko¡¯s long-lost biological father.
Ibuki Honoka shouldn¡¯t be an issue; in the previous simtion, she readily agreed to their rtionship.
So, it was down to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s biological father?
But someone who had been absent for many years suddenly appearing shouldn¡¯t affect the girl.
Minami Yuuki thought for a while and couldn¡¯te to a conclusion. He looked at the options and clicked the first one.
Since it was impossible to predict, he decided to follow his feelings and choose ordingly.
[You decided to bring Ibuki Yuko with you to your hometown in Ino Prefecture.]
[There were no seats left on the train to Ino Prefecture, so you bought a night flight ticket for tonight. Time was tight, so you went to Ibuki¡¯s house to help the girl pack her luggage.]
[Faced with your sudden decision, Ibuki Yuko easily epted. She opened her wardrobe and packed her intimate clothing without any reservations about your presence.]
[The girl had very few clothes, with only two sets of casual wear to alternate between. While her outer clothes were rtively new, her inner garments were very worn out. You took her to the mall to buy new ones, silently berating yourself for not noticing sooner.]
How could you have noticed earlier?
Those clothes aren¡¯t something you usually see!
Minami Yuuki grumbled internally.
[You said it was a New Year¡¯s gift for Mama Yuko. She epted and asked what you wanted in return.]
[You bought her a maid outfit as well, which was what you wanted.]
[In the early hours, you hauled tworge suitcases into a taxi and headed to the airport. You only managed to get middle seats, so the blue skies and white clouds outside the window were out of reach, but you were each other¡¯s beautiful scenery.]
[The nended, and you transferred to a bus to head to your hometown, Inozumi City.]
Japan¡¯s administrative divisions differ greatly from those in China; a prefecture is above a city.
[On the bus, you called your father to wake him up, saying you wereing home and bringing a female ssmate.]
[This was your mischievous delight. What could make parents more nervous than meeting their future daughter-inw?]
[When you arrived home, it was still dark. As expected, your father, mother, and sister were awake. Even though it was early morning, they had changed into formal attire.]
[Ibuki Yuko greeted your family and presented them with gifts. Her beautiful appearance and elegant demeanor reminiscent of the Nara period greatly pleased your parents.]
[Upon learning the girl¡¯s age, they were even more satisfied.]
[Your sister, who was as tall as the new ¡®sister-inw,¡¯ felt some resistance. She sat next to your mother, not speaking to you and acting as if you weren¡¯t there. When you gave her the famous artisan doll you had prepared, she was happy for only a moment before setting it aside.]
[You had to resort to your trump card: showing her the photos of the doll dressed in Ibuki Yuko¡¯s style.]
[Your doll-loving sister immediately realized that your petite girlfriend looked like a beautiful moving doll. She was tempted and slowly moved closer to Ibuki Yuko to observe her posture and features up close.]
[As dawn approached, your mother prepared a sumptuous breakfast, which you all enjoyed together.]
[After the meal, your sister wanted to take Ibuki Yuko to her room, but your mother stopped her and told you to go upstairs and rest first. Unfortunately for you, the house had plenty of rooms, so you couldn¡¯t sleep with Ibuki Yuko.]
[In the afternoon, Ibuki Yuko came to your room to wake you up, unaware that your mother was watching her.]
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Chapter 78
Chapter 78
[Seeing Ibuki Yuko enter her son¡¯s room, Minami Haruna excitedly went downstairs to share the news with her husband.]
[Minami Ryota, who worked at the police station, appeared calm on the surface but was secretly overjoyed.]
[Minami Haruna urged her husband to use the peeping skills he had honed at work to see what the two youngsters were up to, but he sternly refused. Left with no other choice, she decided to sneak upstairs herself.]
The memory scene appears.
The room where Minami Yuuki slept today was a usually empty guest room, quite simple, with some magazines and idle items piled up.
Minami Haruna had given Minami Yuuki¡¯s original room to Ibuki Yuko, unable to bear the thought of such a sweet girl sleeping in a in guest room.
This arrangement provided her with a perfect excuse, as the family shrine was located in the guest room.
Taking a stick of incense as a cover, she quietly went upstairs. She pressed her back against the wall next to the door and peeked inside.
It waste afternoon, and the sky was misty, seeming like it was going to snow. The curtain was only half-drawn, letting in a thin light from the uncovered half of the window.Ibuki Yuko was gently shaking Minami Yuuki¡¯s shoulder, looking somewhat troubled.
¡°Wake up,¡± her clear voice sounded in the boy¡¯s ear.
Minami Yuuki had been awake for a while but was deliberately pretending to be deeply asleep to tease the girl.
¡°Uncle is cooking, get up quickly,¡± Ibuki Yuko shook Minami Yuuki again.
¡°I¡¯m too sleepy, I don¡¯t want to get up. But, if I got a good morning kiss, I might wake up,¡± Minami Yuuki teased.
Minami Yuuki opened a slit of his left eye, sneaking a peek at the girl beside the bed.
Ibuki Yuko had long been ustomed to such requests from Minami Yuuki. Ever since that day when he had a fever and it happened for the first time, every day thereafter, the boy would demand such a reward.
What troubled her wasn¡¯t that he would make such requests, but that he would always deliberately misbehave for a while, either lingering in bed, lying on the ground pretending to be out of energy, or clutching his heart and saying he was very sad, before asking for the reward.
Clearly, he could just ask directly.
She looked at Minami Yuuki¡¯s lips, lifted her bangs, and bent down.
Outside the door, Minami Haruna, seeing that her son hadn¡¯t gotten up for a long time, was about to step forward and ask Ibuki Yuko to wake him up, but she overheard such embarrassing words.
The seemingly well-behaved girl actually agreed to his request!
For the conservative mother, this was too shocking.
Minami Haruna stepped back against the wall, waiting for more than ten seconds.
Peeking into the room, she quickly pulled her head back, feeling ashamed and furious:
Why are you still kissing?
Can it really take this long?
Won¡¯t you run out of breath?
After waiting another twenty seconds, she peeked again.
Still not done!
She covered her face.
When she peeked a third time, the two young people finally separated, but the scene in the room shocked her even more.
She saw her son sitting on the bed with the quilt pushed down to his legs, while the girl had taken off her cotton slippers and ced her sock-d feet on the bed.
What are you trying to do? The door is still open!
Minami Haruna looked at the door, hesitating:
Should she help close it?
But the sound of the door closing would reveal her presence and might ruin her son¡¯s moment.
No, she definitely wanted to ruin his moment, and she would give him a good lesson!
How could he be so careless!
This was at home, but what if it was somewhere else?
Just thinking about the shrine woods, park benches, and building balconies made Minami Haruna¡¯s mind race.
She took a step forward to stop them, but then she noticed something off.
The girl had climbed onto the bed to retrieve clothes from the far side. She rolled up a gray sweater and slipped it over Minami Yuuki¡¯s head, then grabbed his hand and guided it through the sleeve. Finally, she smoothed out the sweater.
Minami Yuuki squinted, looking at the girl with eyes full of affection.
So, she was just helping him get dressed.
But still, it¡¯s weird to help him get dressed!
Why are you acting like a child!
Even elementary school kids can dress themselves!
Minami Haruna couldn¡¯t stand it anymore.
Besides embarrassment, she felt a bit jealous.
Minami Yuuki had refused her help with dressing since the first grade, but now in his first year of high school, he was cooperating so well with this girl!
She suddenly felt like she wasn¡¯t Minami Yuuki¡¯s mother; that girl was.
Carefully retreating downstairs, she went to the kitchen to join her husband.
A new wave of jealousy arose¡ªher husband had never helped her dress, nor had he ever kissed her for that long.
¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Minami Ryota put the food from the pot onto a te and looked at his wife.
Minami Haruna nced at her husband, snorted softly, and walked out of the kitchen.
¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Minami Ryota looked around, trying to recall any mistakes he had made in the past three days but couldn¡¯t pinpoint anything.
He shook his head and continued cooking. His wife liked to throw little tantrums, but she usually forgot about them quickly.
Sure enough, before he could finish the next dish of Mapo tofu, she came back, full of enthusiasm.
¡°Did you know? I saw them kissing! And that girl was helping Yuuki get dressed. I just went up and saw she was even helping him wash his face! She looks like a child but is so good at taking care of people! If they can get married, I¡¯ll finally be at ease with Yuuki.¡±
¡°That boy has good taste.¡± Minami Ryota couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°But I wonder what that girl¡¯s family situation is like.¡±
¡°What else could it be? Didn¡¯t Yuuki say it before? Her family left her alone during such an important holiday like New Year. It¡¯s good this way; after they graduate, they cane live with us.¡±
The couple whispered in the kitchen, quickly moving from the kids¡¯ graduation and jobs to when to have kids, how many, which hospital to deliver in, where to buy baby supplies, and how to make their grandchildren closer to them¡
If it weren¡¯t for the cold weather and the food not keeping well, they could have talked for a long time.
At dinner, Minami Haruna suddenly worried about the rtionship between the two kids and whether they were taking precautions.
She kept looking at Ibuki Yuko¡¯s belly in her white sweater. The sweater was of average thickness and didn¡¯t reveal any curves on the girl¡¯s upper body.
Minami Haruna then worried about her future grandchildren¡¯s health.
Minami Yuuki noticed his mother¡¯s anxiety, though he didn¡¯t know what she was worried about, he decided to divert her attention.
¡°Mom, can I have another scoop of rice?¡± He held up his bowl.
Ibuki Yuko and Minami Haruna stood up at the same time, their hands reaching for Minami Yuuki¡¯s bowl and their fingers touching.
Minami Ryota: ¡°¡?¡±
Minami Airi: ¡°¡?¡±
Minami Haruna: ¡°¡!¡±
[You didn¡¯t hide your closeness with Ibuki Yuko, and your mother noticed it first, followed by your father and sister.]
[Your sister threw a tantrum and didn¡¯t talk to you or Ibuki Yuko for a day. The next day, she peeked into your room and found Ibuki Yuko wearing a maid outfit, immediately demanding to join.]
[Your sister, simr in size to Ibuki Yuko, took out a bunch of her own clothes and dressed Ibuki Yuko up. She was happy, you enjoyed the view, and the rtionship among the three of you improved.]
[Your father had some worries. Were you, in love, still studying seriously? If you didn¡¯t get into college, it would affect theid-back path they nned for you.]
[He called a friend at Tsukimori High School and learned that your reported grades were urate, and Ibuki Yuko¡¯s grades were among the top in her ss. He waspletely relieved.]
[Your mother bought Ibuki Yuko a kimono. On New Year¡¯s Day, the girl wore it and went to the shrine with you. You made a wish, hoping your rtionship would go smoothly.]
Reading this, Minami Yuuki, who was originally feeling sweet, suddenly pped his forehead, and felt something was wrong.
Why do you make such a wish?
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Chapter 79
Chapter 79
¡¾You stayed in your hometown longer than nned, deciding to return on the eighth day after the New Year.¡¿
¡¾Your father had a case to handle, and your mother and sister saw you off at the station. The snow that fell on the second day of the New Year had not yet meltedpletely; it had been swept into dirty piles of ice in the corners by the cleaning staff.¡¿
¡¾At the ticket gate, you and Ibuki Yuko waved goodbye to them and boarded the train back to Misaki.¡¿
¡¾Honoka told her daughter that she would return in three days. You thought returning three days early was a very prudent decision, but you didn¡¯t expect Ibuki Honoka toe back earlier than anticipated.¡¿
¡¾Upon arriving at the apartment, Ibuki Yuko parted ways with you and went back to her own home, where she found her mother sitting on the sofa watching TV.¡¿
A brief memory scene appears,
Showing a conversation between the mother and daughter in the living room.
¡°Where did you go?¡±
¡°Ino Prefecture.¡±¡°As expected of my blood. I went home with a man, and you also went home with a man. I was wondering why you¡¯ve been getting up so early recently. Who is he?¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, don¡¯t even think about seeing him again.¡±
¡°¡¡ He said you would know.¡±
¡°I would know? Oh, is it that boy living on the sixth floor? No wonder he was so enthusiastic when we met; I thought I might develop something with him.¡±
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°Did you do it?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t? At your age, that¡¯s unusual. How did it go at his house? What did his parents think about their son bringing a woman home out of the blue?¡±
¡°It went well, I think.¡±
¡°¡®I think¡¯ isn¡¯t a very reassuring phrase. Do you think he¡¯ll marry you?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡¾Ibuki Honoka¡¯s rtionship failed again, so she returned home early. She asked her daughter about your existence, recognizing you.¡¿
¡¾Over the past year, even though you didn¡¯t need Honoka to get close to Yuko, you still built a rtionship with her.¡¿
¡¾Originally, Honoka interpreted your enthusiasm as affection for her, but now she knows it was because of Yuko, which makes her jealous.¡¿
¡¾She inquired further about your progress with her daughter, focusing on marriage. Yuko¡¯s uncertain answer gave her a sense of satisfaction.¡¿
¡¾She assumed that Yuko¡¯s ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± indicated her realization of a bleak future with you. Based on her understanding of men, someone like you would have several girlfriends. What she didn¡¯t understand was that Yuko said ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± simply because she had never thought about it.¡¿
¡¾At dinner time, you were expecting Yuko, but Honoka also came along.¡¿
It seems there¡¯s no major issue?
Minami Yuuki quickly reviewed Ibuki Honoka¡¯s reaction; she didn¡¯t panic, get angry, or show any signs of interference.
He recalled a long time ago¡ no, it was yesterday.
When he helped the drunken Honoka into the house, Yuko looked at him with eyes like the moon reflected in a puddle after rain, with a muddy, damp hue.
It was loathing.
The loathing was faint, but for a girl who wouldn¡¯t change her expression even in the face of death, that slight emotion was a significant disy.
This indicated that Honoka was at least a significant, if not crucial, part of Yuko¡¯s life.
Although Minami Yuuki thought such an irresponsible mother wasn¡¯t worth much concern, emotions, unlike reason, contain an irrationalponent.
Affecting the girl as Honoka did, herck of clear opposition to his rtionship with Yuko could be considered good news. However, not opposing now doesn¡¯t mean she won¡¯t oppose it in the future.
Originally, Minami Yuuki intended to wait until Yuko graduated, then find her a job, gradually helping her distance herself from Honoka.
Now that Honoka had discovered them, he would have to face her directly.
He continued to observe the simted interface.
¡¾Facing Ibuki Honoka¡¯s arrival, you graciously entertained her, and the three of you had dinner together. At the dinner table, you and Honoka had a pleasant conversation.¡¿
¡¾Honoka didn¡¯t mention Yuko. Her silence on the matter was like a small pothole hidden on a dark road, making you worry that you might step into it someday, causing trouble.¡¿
¡¾Uncertain of Honoka¡¯s thoughts, you decided to wait a while longer. If she didn¡¯t bring it up, you would exin it yourself.¡¿
¡¾The mealsted a long time, and after the mother and daughter left, you began to worry about tomorrow¡ªwhether Yuko would continue toe to your house, wake you up, cook for you, and reward you.¡¿
¡¾Your worries were unnecessary. Early the next morning, Yuko used the key you gave her to open your door and wake you up.¡¿
¡¾Last night, you didn¡¯t receive a reward from the girl. The suppressed desire, like a tightened vine, drove you to ask the girl for it, using the excuse ofcking Yuko¡¯s energy.¡¿
¡¾After a kiss, the girl helped you get dressed, and only then did you notice another figure sitting at the heated table by the bed¡ªit was Ibuki Honoka.¡¿
¡¾Honoka greeted you with a smile, teasing your intimacy with Yuko. You couldn¡¯t read the woman¡¯s mind, so you responded ordinarily.¡¿
¡¾Together, you went to the Ibuki home for a meal. This was at Honoka¡¯s request.¡¿
¡¾You weren¡¯t surprised; you knew Honoka was very fond of you and liked having you around.¡¿
¡¾At first, during the few days you dined at the Ibuki home, you restrained yourself. After getting to know Honoka better, you gradually became more audacious, even flirting with her daughter in front of her.¡¿
¡¾After winter break came the third term, and after the third term was spring break.¡¿
¡¾Your rtionship with the Ibuki mother and daughter progressed smoothly. At night, you would asionally drink some beer with Honoka. In these conversations, you subtly hinted at Honoka to entrust her daughter to you.¡¿
¡¾What made you uneasy was that while Honoka didn¡¯t oppose, she also didn¡¯t readily agree. Each time, she either evaded the topic or changed the subject.¡¿
Not readily agreeing?
Minami Yuuki paused his reading and touched his chin, feeling the fine stubble that had not yet grown into a beard brush against his fingertip.
In previous simted lives, didn¡¯t Honoka easily promise Yuko to him?
Why hasn¡¯t she agreed after so many hints this time? He looked back at Honoka¡¯s initial reaction, feeling a chill in his heart.
Could Ibuki Honoka be¡ªjealous of her daughter?
The simted version of me, realize this quickly!
No more unting affection in front of the mother-inw!
Through the simtion text, the real Minami Yuuki could read Honoka¡¯s inner thoughts, but the simted Minami Yuuki did not have this ability. Honoka hid it well, and it would take some time for him to grasp her emotional core.
Could something be going wrong?
Minami Yuuki quickly nced down, his brow twitching. Something did happen, but¡ it seemed not?
¡¾You guessed that your rtionship with Honoka wasn¡¯t intimate enough, so she was unwilling to give her daughter to you. During spring break, you spent more time with Honoka, but by the time you realized the wrong direction, it was toote.¡¿
¡¾The cherry blossoms at the subway entrance bloomed, and Honoka said she hadnded an important order and received a substantial bonus, inviting you to her house to celebrate.¡¿
¡¾From the start, you felt something was off. Sure enough, shortly after dinner began, Yuko became unusually sleepy and went to bed, leaving only you and Honoka in the living room. The woman, who had been sitting across from you, slowly moved to your diagonal, and finally sat beside you.¡¿
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Chapter 80
Chapter 80
¡¾Faced with the approaching Ibuki Honoka, you choose¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°If I reject her, will she take it out on Yuko? For Yuko¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll have to endure this, as long as she doesn¡¯t find out.¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Hello, is this the police?¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we are not suitable for each other.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free Simtion.¡¿
Staring at the simtion text, Minami Yuuki felt a headacheing on.
The one he liked was Yuko-mama, not Yuko¡¯s mother!
Although it was partly due to his own perfection, Ibuki Honoka was too forward!
It was one thing for Ibuki Yuko to be a problematic girl, but why did even her mother, Ibuki Honoka, have to be a problematic woman!Minami Yuuki sighed deeply, looking through the dusty window towards the balcony outside. The sun had already set, and in the yellowish sky, a few unknown strange birds flew by.
There was no dilemma in choosing; he would definitely choose option three. What made him ponder was the issue represented by the options.
He recalled his previous spections:
Ibuki Honoka¡¯s refusal to promise their marriage was due to jealousy of her daughter. If this assumption held, then Honoka¡¯s current behavior had a sufficient reason.
Honoka, after her divorce, never had a sessful rtionship. The most progressed one only went as far as visiting the man¡¯s home for the New Year, and she got dumped right after the holiday. She longed for marriage but remained single to this day.
Now, her belittled daughter easily found a handsome boy like a bright moon, easilypleted the highest achievement of meeting the parents, and easily had that boy propose to her, stepping towards the marriage Honoka had desired for over a decade.
She thus felt jealous.
A mother being jealous of her daughter¡¯s happiness due to her own unhappiness is not umon.
At this point, she intervened in her daughter¡¯s rtionship.
On one hand, she indeed liked the boy; on the other, she wanted her daughter to fall into the same pit of unhappiness.
Minami Yuuki thought, if I ept her seduction, her n seeds.
Cheating is either zero or countless times.
Even if I pride myself on my strong will, I might not be able to break this curse. It¡¯s like once you try washing your face with hot water in winter, you can hardly go back to cold water. I would cheat repeatedly, with Asano Nao, Chitose Kazumi, Ichinose Shiori¡
How could Ibuki Yuko find happiness with such a frequently cheating husband?
What a vicious n!
Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart trembled.
What worried him more was what kind of actions Ibuki Honoka, who coulde up with such a malicious n, might take if her plot failed.
Would she try other schemes?
Or would she choose to break them up directly?
For instance, holding a knife to her throat, asking Yuko whether she wants her mom or her boyfriend?
Or secretly swapping her own child with her daughter¡¯s, watching her daughter and son-inw raise the enemy¡¯s child, satisfying her twisted mind?
Or maybe when Ibuki Yuko gives birth to twin sisters, she secretly takes one and educates her with hatred, making the sisters fight each other twenty yearster?
That seemed a bit too extreme.
Minami Yuuki patted his forehead, dismissing the scenarios from bizarre stories.
Ibuki Honoka wasn¡¯t that malicious.
The damage to the eggshell is obvious, and the rot of the egg white is also traceable.
Minami Yuuki considered himself not a dull person. Having been in contact with Ibuki Honoka for so long, if the woman had such big issues, he couldn¡¯t have missed them.
He estimated that the worst development would be the first example¡¯s level.
Even if this happened, he could still develop an underground mother-son rtionship with Ibuki Yuko¡
And it was almost time for Ibuki Yuko to reveal her true feelings.
On the surface, Nao Asano has a social phobia, but deep down, she is actually sensitive and afraid of the pressure in interpersonal rtionships, plus a bit of pessimism about the world.
On the surface, Yuko Ibuki appears to be world-weary, but what is going on inside?
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t be sure. He wasn¡¯t very good at dealing with girls with such indifferent emotions.
Clicking option three, he continued to look at the simtion interface.
¡¾You avoided Ibuki Honoka¡¯s advances, using the excuse that you were drunk, and left the Ibuki house.¡¿
¡¾Worried about Honoka¡¯s next move, you couldn¡¯t sleep well all night.¡¿
¡¾The next day, Ibuki Yuko arrived on time, calling you up for a meal. At the dining table, Honoka was as yful as ever, chatting and joking with you, as ifst night¡¯s incident was a fleeting dream, evaporated by the rising sun.¡¿
¡¾For the next week, Honoka showed no change, and you gradually felt at ease.¡¿
¡¾You began to contemte your career path. Being a YouTuber is not a technical job; you have reached the top tier of video bloggers with little room for further advancement and few skills left to explore.¡¿
I finally started thinking about my career path.
Minami Yuuki let out a sigh of relief.
Reaching this point, it should be safe now, right?
He quickly realized he was being too optimistic.
¡¾Before you could make a decision, something unexpected shattered your peaceful life.¡¿
¡¾¡ªIbuki Honoka disappeared.¡¿
¡¾At first, you and Ibuki Yuko thought she was just staying out for the night, maybe she had found a new boyfriend and was busy getting intimate with him.¡¿
¡¾However, as time slowly passed, a day, a week, half a month, Honoka¡¯s phone was disconnected, and there was no news of her.¡¿
¡¾Ibuki Yuko became increasingly anxious, with dishes in the Ibuki house decreasing at a rate of one per day, and her kisses with you bing more perfunctory.¡¿
¡¾You and she seriously searched the Ibuki house. A few clothes were missing from the wardrobe, the seal and bank cards were gone, and the suitcase was missing. Obviously, Honoka had left on her own.¡¿
¡¾You sought help from your father, who worked at the police station. However, your father had no acquaintances at the Misaki Police Station, and it would take some time to leverage connections to search for her. You couldn¡¯t wait and sought Ichinose Shiori¡¯s help to get Honoka¡¯s new number.¡¿
¡¾When the call connected, Honoka¡¯s attitude was very cold.¡¿
A brief sh of memory scene appears.
Ibuki Yuko, holding the phone with both hands, carefully ced it to her ear. The number had been dialed, and the phone emitted a waiting tone.
Finally, the tone ended.
¡°Hello? Mom?¡± the girl asked softly.
¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡± Honoka¡¯s voice came, particrly cold.
¡°When are youing back?¡±
¡°I¡¯m noting back. You¡¯re almost eighteen, almost an adult by the neww. We should separate, and you should be able to support yourself. Besides, don¡¯t you have a little boyfriend?¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s it. I wish you both well.¡±
The call ended, Ibuki Yuko looked at the phone in confusion, then at the boy beside her.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
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Chapter 81
Chapter 81
The daylight was dim, and only the shadows of clouds could be seen outside the window, with no sign of the sun.
The faint light filtering through the ss illuminated Ibuki Yuko¡¯s face, making the tears rolling down her cheeks exceptionally clear.
Minami Yuuki had never seen the girl cry; flowing tears had nothing to do with a motionless doll.
So when those tears rolled down her pale cheeks, he was captivated by this miraculous sight, and his first instinct was to reach out and catch those sparkling droplets.
Suppressing this instinctive action, he knew that catching the tears would be of no use.
Ibuki Yuko put down her phone. The tears had not yet marred her doll-like elegance.
There was no sobbing, no sorrowful cry; she was just quietly shedding tears.
Minami Yuuki held her in his arms, feeling the cool wetness spreading on his T-shirt.
¡°Mom doesn¡¯t want me anymore,¡± her voice was like a clear spring.¡°We can go see her. I¡¯ll find her,¡± Minami Yuuki promised.
Hisfort had no effect. This makeshift approach was not what the girl needed.
Ibuki Yuko shook her head, wrapped her slender arms around his waist, and a surprising strength emanated from her fragile arms.
She clung tightly to his shirt. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t leave you, Senpai.¡± Minami Yuuki lifted her tear-streaked face and kissed her lips, tasting the bitter saltiness of her tears.
[Ibuki Honoka coldly rejected her daughter¡¯s plea, bluntly saying they should live their separate lives. She didn¡¯t say goodbye, implying they would never meet again. As Ibuki Yuko wept, you consoled her.]
[Despite feeling a bit guilty towards Ibuki Yuko, you indeed felt relieved. In your mind, the only external factor that could affect your rtionship was Ibuki Honoka, and now, that obstacle had removed itself.]
In reality, Minami Yuuki also breathed a sigh of relief.
Previously, he had worried about whether Ibuki Honoka would strongly interfere with their rtionship, forcing Ibuki Yuko to choose between her mother and her lover.
But now, it seemed that Ibuki Honoka had chosen to step back and leave Yuko to him.
On closer thought, Ibuki Honoka¡¯s actions¡ªabandoning her daughter in such a cold manner¡ªmight actually contain remnants of her love for her daughter.
If all her feelings were jealousy, as a mother, she could have caused a lot of trouble for the two of them, but she didn¡¯t. She merely tested her daughter¡¯s boyfriend and then chose to leave.
The more he pondered, the more Minami Yuuki believed Honoka¡¯s actions stemmed from such emotions. His resentment towards her diminished.
¡°I misjudged you, Honoka-san! During the ancestral rites, I¡¯ll pour you a few extra cups of sake!¡± He continued reading the simtion text.
[The Ibuki family apartment is rented until next year. You inquired with the manager, and Honoka hadn¡¯t canceled the lease. Additionally, the household money left in the bedroom closet would barelyst until next spring. You suspected this home and money were left intentionally for Yuko toplete her high school studies.]
[Fearing that Honoka¡¯s departure might drive Yuko to despair, you thickened your skin and stayed at the Ibuki home, remaining by her side. Actually, before you could even voice your prepared excuse, Yuko offered to prepare a bed for you, and you naturally stayed.]
[The 11th-floor apartment was slightlyrger than yours, with an extra living room and a small kitchen, but only one bedroom and one bed. The girlid out two quilts, she slept on the outside, and you on the inside.]
[In the dead of night, estimating that Yuko had fallen asleep, you opened your eyes, intending to sneak a peek at the sleeping girl.]
The memory scene appears.
The bright moonlight seeped through the gap in the curtains, barely outlining the items in the room.
Worried about Yuko¡¯s condition, Minami Yuuki gently turned over to face her direction and opened his eyes a sliver.
He was taken aback.
In front of him was the outline of the girl lying on her side, and just like him facing her, she was also facing him.
Did the girl turn unconsciously in his direction, or was she harboring the same intention as him, with her eyes open, looking at him?
Could a girl, who was like a y doll, also have such soft and tender feelings?
The light was too dim for Minami Yuuki to see Ibuki Yuko¡¯s face clearly, and this question tickled his chest like a feather.
So he slowly reached out to touch the girl¡¯s cheek, and as his hand was in mid-air, her delicate fingers met his, guiding hisrge hand to her face.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand, just taken out from under the nket, was especially warm. This warmth reassured Ibuki Yuko, and the slight sting from the heat, like a tiny electric current, not only didn¡¯t difort her but brought her joy.
She squinted her eyes, savoring the long-lostfort. In childhood, her parents often caressed her face like this, and she used to push their hands away due to that slight difort. Now, they would never be by her side again.
Thinking of this, she suddenly opened her eyes, a strong sense of emptiness welling up from her chest, making her no longer satisfied with the light touch on her cheek.
She lifted Minami Yuuki¡¯s nket and, under his slightly astonished gaze, crawled from her nket into his.
Her hands wrapped around his neck, and with a familiarity forged over countless times, she found his lips in the darkness and bit them gently. The temperature in the bedroom gradually rose.
¡°I love you,¡± was the first thing Ibuki Yuko said after releasing Minami Yuuki.
¡°Don¡¯t leave me,¡± she tightly hugged his back and said the second thing.
[To your surprise, the girl was also looking at you. Honoka¡¯s departure finally made her aware of her own feelings, realizing her desire for love and to be loved. The happiest times of her life were in childhood, when her parents were still together, and she had two people who loved her and whom she loved.]
[Her father taught her cooking, her mother taught her schoolwork. She believed their family was an eternal pyramid. However, first, her father¡¯s decisive departure shattered one corner of the pyramid, and then her mother¡¯s unreturning gentleness, seemingly with resentment, coldness,pletely destroyed the crumbling pyramid.]
[What is called solidity is existence; once it disappears, it is illusion. The pyramid she had disillusioned in her childhood had been repaired and revived on you for nearly a year. How long could this newfound solidityst? She felt uneasy about this. Only by holding your back tightly, sticking to your chest, feeling your heartbeat full of desire, could she see the solid gloss of the pyramid under the sun without damage.]
[Ibuki Yuko¡¯s feelings for you deepened. Honoka¡¯s departure not only didn¡¯t harm your feelings, but also made you closer.]
[The girl took even more careful care of you. While you were happy, you also felt vaguely ominous.]
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Chapter 82
Chapter 82
[Ibuki Yuko¡¯s care for you seems a bit excessive.]
[Before this, you used to get her care by acting spoiled, but now, without you even asking, Ibuki Yuko takes the initiative to serve you. She brushes your teeth, feeds you, and even bathes you¡]
Bathes me?
Can you borate?
Minami Yuuki keenly grasped the keyword.
However, the simtor paid no heed to his request and did not transmit any memory scenes.
[You realize this care is a form of dependence; the girl fears being apart from you, hence her meticulous care. Of course, it also contains her affection for you.]
Upon reading this, Minami Yuuki sighed in relief. It turned out the previous ominous feeling was just about excessive care, and he had thought something major had happened.
Not that excessive care was nothing to worry about, butpared to the girl¡¯s previous life-threatening depressive moods, this was a minor issue.He continued watching the simtion interface.
[You keep your worries to yourself and continue your rtionship with the girl. Every morning, you are awakened by her good morning kiss, you eat the breakfast she carefully prepares, and head to school together. At noon, shees to your ssroom to have lunch with you, and in the afternoon, you go home together. She draws your bath and scrubs your back.]
[You feel like you¡¯ve entered married life early, living a life where everything is done for you, causing you to bezy.]
[When you finally remember to make career ns, more than half of your second year has passed.]
[You decide you can¡¯t be thiscent anymore; you need to start working hard, honing a skill to be a master in a particr field! You share your aspirations with Ibuki Yuko and ask her to supervise you.]
[The girl cheers you on, cing your head on herp and massaging you with techniques she learned from books.]
[Since then, you be addicted top pillow massages.]
[As the end of the second year approaches, you finally recall your aspirations.]
A short memory scene appeared.
It was winter, snowkes covering the balcony with a thin white nket. The cold seeped through unknown gaps in the windows and walls, making Minami Yuuki, sitting in the kotatsu, sneeze.
Ibuki Yuko draped a nket over his shoulders and sat beside him.
She picked up a mandarin orange, her translucent nails peeling its skin, and her fair fingers feeding the segments into Minami Yuuki¡¯s mouth.
In the process, her fingers inevitably touched his moist lips, brushed against his rough tongue, or grazed his hard teeth.
Her expression remained unchanged, like a wife who knew her husband intimately or a mother who viewed her child as an extension of her own body.
asionally, Minami Yuuki would deliberately bite her fingers to tease her, and she would pinch his cheek in response.
To her, feeding him the orange segments was likeying bricks to build the pyramid of love.
She experienced the presence of love in this process, saw the construction of love, and felt secure and joyful.
Outside, a sudden gust of wind stirred up a flurry of snow, hitting the window with a thud.
Minami Yuuki nced over, ¡°This year¡¯s snow isn¡¯t as heavy asst year¡¯s, but the wind is strong.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Ibuki Yuko finished peeling the orange, wiped her hands with a tissue, and then wiped Minami Yuuki¡¯s lips.
Minami Yuuki sighed as he looked away, ¡°Another year has passed! I¡¯ve done nothing this year again!¡±
¡°It¡¯s the end of the year; let¡¯s talk about it next year.¡±
¡°No, postponing everything endlessly gets us nowhere. I¡¯ve decided to be a director! I have two years of experience as a video blogger, so I¡¯m not an outsider! Let¡¯s set a small goal first: win an Oscar!¡±
¡°Okay. Do you want a massage?¡±
¡°Senpai, how can you say that? I¡¯m talking about my dreams and future, and you mention a massage. Is that appropriate?¡±
¡°So, no massage then?¡±
¡°Want!¡±
Minami Yuuki turned over, keeping his lower body tucked in the kotatsu, lying t on the carpet.
Ibuki Yuko withdrew her legs from the kotatsu, carefully swung one leg over Minami Yuuki¡¯s waist, and sat on his back, her small hands pressing onto the back of his neck.
Minami Yuuki let out afortable sigh, not so much because of the neck massage, but because of the sensation of the girl sitting on his back. Her front was quite t, but her backside was quite round.
¡°I feel like Yuko-mama has spoiled me rotten,¡± he said. ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll ever aplish anything.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t,¡± Ibuki Yuko said. ¡°I¡¯ve graduated now. I¡¯ll work and take care of you.¡±
¡°No way,¡± Minami Yuuki flipped over, wrapping his arms around the girl who wobbled from his sudden movement. ¡°If you work, then who will take care of me?¡±
¡°But if Yuuki works, then who will I take care of?¡± Ibuki Yuko¡¯s fingers touched his lips.
Before Minami Yuuki could respond, the girl¡¯s kiss had alreadynded.
[You reflect on your ownziness to Ibuki Yuko, and the girl tells you that even if you arezy, it¡¯s fine. She will support you; she wants to support you. At this moment, you have yet to realize the deeper meaning behind her words.]
[After the New Year, you finish the third term and advance to your third year. Ibuki Yuko sessfully graduates and gets epted into the Faculty of Science at Misaki University.]
[On her first day of school, you apany her. During a break when the girl goes to the restroom, a few upperssmen guiding the new students mistake you for a freshman, drawn by your beauty. They flock around you, offering to show you around, until Ibuki Yuko returns and they disperse.]
[Ibuki Yuko tightly grasps your hand, and you can clearly sense her displeasure. It makes youugh; you didn¡¯t expect her to be such a jealous type.]
[Youplete all the registration formalities together and then see her to her ss, kissing her goodbye at the door. The boys attracted to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s cuteness and the girls drawn to your good looks all sigh in their hearts.]
[The vast knowledge and heavy workload of the science course inevitably demand some of Ibuki Yuko¡¯s energy. Plus, the different campus locations make it hard for her to always be by your side as before, giving you more free time.]
[During school, you rekindle your close rtionship with Chitose Kazumi, and after school, you renew your friendship with Asano Nao.]
[You are surprised to realize that over the past two years, you had gradually lost touch with these two girls, focusing solely on your intimacy with Ibuki Yuko.]
[Was this a coincidence? Or¡ deliberate guidance? You think you might be overthinking it. How could such a doll-like girl have such schemes?]
[Ibuki Yuko quickly adjusts to the disruption caused by university life and re-focuses on you, noticing your renewed rtionships with Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao.]
[That night, lying in your arms, she tells you she wants to take a year off from school and join you in university next year.]
[You don¡¯t doubt her and agree to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s request. You feel it¡¯s your fault for being too clingy before. Love isn¡¯t only about romance, and the world isn¡¯t just about lovers. You decide to help her make some female friends.]
[The first choice, of course, is Chitose Kazumi.]
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Chapter 83
Chapter 83
[Over the weekend, a nearby shrine is hosting a festival, and you, Chitose Kazumi, and Ibuki Yuko have ns to visit. The shrine has opened some areas for camping, so you can eat bento there and then visit the mall.]
[Chitose Kazumi¡¯s goal is Misaki University. Now in her third year, her schedule is bing increasingly hectic, but she immediately agreed to your invitation.]
[You can¡¯t help but admire how reliable Kazumi always is.]
[However, the same can¡¯t be said about your girlfriend.]
[The night before your outing, Ibuki Yuko started acting up. She initiated a kiss, prepared snacks for you, and opened a game on yourputer, trying to divert your attention towards her or the game, hoping you¡¯d stay upte and affect your ns for the next day.]
[Her n failed. Despite spending some time with her, you weren¡¯t further tempted and had a good night¡¯s sleep.]
[In the morning before departure, she prepared breakfast and bento, woke you up on time, and then tried to seduce you.]
[She wore a very demure ck and white maid outfit but made very suggestive moves. She extended her small feet in white stockings from under her skirt, bent over to reveal the unfastened neckline of her top, sat down in a way that entuated the curve of her buttocks under the skirt, and spoke to you with an innocent look, tilting her head, eyes sparkling, as if wanting to be teased.]
[This petite upperssman knew exactly how to disy her cuteness and had no qualms about using it to seduce you.][Her goal was to ruin your meeting with Chitose Kazumi.]
[You realized that your earlier neglect of Asano Nao and the growing distance with Chitose Kazumi were all part of the girl¡¯s scheme.]
[However, despite the covert nature of her n, it also had a kind of tant openness. The girl didn¡¯t disrupt or ruin anything; she simply took care of you so well that you couldn¡¯t think of any other woman.]
[Finding it amusing, you pulled the girl into your arms, pinched her cheeks, and let out a little bit of your mild anger.]
A brief memory scene appears.
Minami Yuuki sits on the sofa, pulling Ibuki Yuko, who was adjusting her white stockings, into his arms, pinching her cheeks, and lightly nibbling on her ear.
¡°In the future, don¡¯t deliberately seduce me and ruin my ns when I have something to do,¡± he tells the girl.
¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Ibuki Yuko looks at Minami Yuuki.
Her face shows no expression, but her inherently sincere face had previously deceived Minami Yuuki.
¡°A good mom doesn¡¯t lie,¡± he pokes her forehead.
¡°Then you can¡¯t go meet Chitose Kazumi.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going to have an affair with her, am I not taking you along?¡±
¡°Meeting her is having an affair,¡± the girl retorts.
¡°You¡¯re about to meet her too, so you¡¯re having an affair as well,¡± Minami Yuuki counters.
¡°I can choose not to meet her.¡±
¡°No, you must go!¡±
¡°Forcing an affair?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right, we must go have an affair with Chitose Kazumi today! Don¡¯t hold any illusions, give up your resistance!¡±
¡°¡Do you want a massage?¡±
¡°A massage won¡¯t work!¡±
¡°Then a bath?¡±
¡°¡We¡¯ll take one when we get back! Now hurry up and change, we¡¯re leaving!¡±
[You initially dismissed Ibuki Yuko¡¯s behavior as a small act of jealousy, but was it really just that?]
[The outing with the three of you didn¡¯t go smoothly. Ibuki Yuko seemed very down, barely speaking to Chitose Kazumi. You suspected your presence was the cause. So, you pretended to go to the restroom to give the two girls some space. Ibuki Yuko messaged you, but you replied saying you had a stomach ache and told them to continue exploring and buy some souvenirs for you.]
[Your lie didn¡¯t fool Ibuki Yuko. She knew your body and the food she made; there was no way you¡¯d have a stomach ache now.]
[Not understanding the motive behind your lie, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mind was soon overwhelmed by her deepest fears¡ªshe thought you were going to leave her.]
[Chitose Kazumi messaged you, saying Ibuki Yuko was heading in your direction, and she couldn¡¯t stop her.]
[You were sitting on a bench not far from the restroom when you received the message and immediately went inside.]
[You thought Ibuki Yuko was justing to wait for you; you didn¡¯t expect her to burst in.]
[The area was deserted, and you were the only one in the restroom. Ibuki Yuko pushed open the door, grabbed your T-shirt, and rested her forehead against your chest.]
[You held her and walked outside. Her pale face had returned to calm, but you clearly remembered the panic in her eyes when she burst in, before she even saw you.]
[You realized things were out of your control.]
[Chitose Kazumi soon caught up with you. You continued shopping, with Ibuki Yuko clinging to your hand, never leaving your side.]
[You reflected on your previous conclusion: Ibuki Yuko¡¯s care for you was actually a form of dependency. Since Ibuki Honoka left, her care for you had gradually be excessive, indicating her increasing dependency on you.]
[After parting ways with Chitose Kazumi, Ibuki Yuko still stayed close, only leaving your side for the minimal time needed to cook dinner and prepare your bath, constantly ncing at you.]
[You regretted lying during the day. Before, Ibuki Yuko could disguise her dependency, but now, you had shattered that facade.]
[Late at night, rain pattered on the balcony. You lifted your nket, pulling her in, apologizing for the day and assuring her you would always be with her, never suddenly leaving or disappearing.]
[Did your words dispel her inner anxiety? Probably not. She pressed tightly against your chest, her wet lips tracing your face along her tear-streaked gaze.]
[Words alone weren¡¯t enough. She confirmed your presence, your warmth, through kisses.]
[You let her take what she needed. She removed your light blue pajamas.]
[You had sex.]
[This act didn¡¯t stem from a desire for love or the progression of the moment but from a need topensate for inner insecurity.]
[¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡± This phrase, spoken a year ago on a simr night, came from the same lips.]
[You understood her heart¡ªa yearning for love, a fear of losing it, and a touch of obsession.]
[You reduced contact with Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao. You wanted to discuss it with Ichinose Shiori, but in this life, Shiori had not failed regarding Ibuki Yuko and hadn¡¯t opened up to you, so you weren¡¯t close friends.]
[After graduation, you entered Misaki University¡¯s Faculty of Science, studying physics with Ibuki Yuko.]
[Your presence didn¡¯t alleviate Ibuki Yuko¡¯s anxiety. She held your hand every day; even a moment of separation made her look like an abandoned stray cat.]
[If you showed any closeness to others, she¡¯d gaze at you with unease and at them with hostility.]
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Chapter 84
Chapter 84
¡¾Unlike Ibuki Yuko, Asano Nao, the socially anxious older sister, tends to hide her feelings, burying her anxiety and pain inside, enduring it silently. On the other hand, Ibuki Yuko is much more proactive.¡¿
¡¾When Ibuki Yuko feels stressed, she will tug at your arm, kiss your lips, lift your clothes, and tap on you with her little hands, drawing your attention back to her. As long as her figure is at the center of your gaze, she can feel at ease.¡¿
¡¾You try to ignore her, not turning your eyes to her for a long time. After several unsessful attempts to tease you, she will put away her little tricks and quietly follow behind you. Her expression reminds you of the first time you met her.¡¿
¡¾At this moment, you choose¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°Apologize to Yuko-mama immediately!¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°This is necessary education!¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°This kind of Yuko is also very cute.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free simtion¡¿
Options?Minami Yuuki was surprised.
He thought he had already reached the conclusion, but it turns out there is still room for adjustment.
However, at this point, any adjustment would likely be minor.
He reviewed the options and the scenario again, interpreting their meanings.
Option 1: Give up deliberately neglecting Yuko;
Option 2: Continue with the intention of education;
Option 3: Continue because the dejected Yuko is cute.
First, he ruled out option 3.
The remaining options were 1 and 2.
Minami Yuuki thought, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s problem is overdependence, manifesting in life as a strong possessiveness.
Whenever he looks at someone else, the girl would cling to him, making him look back at her. This is undoubtedly not a healthy romantic rtionship.
The reason for this unhealthy behavior is clear¡ªit¡¯s due to the departure of Ibuki Honoka.
Ibuki Yuko started changing from that day.
The girl, who used to rely on her mother, began to cling tightly to him, fearing he would also suddenly disappear one day.
Returning to the options, option 1 means giving up the treatment, while option 2 is about actively correcting the behavior.
Minami Yuuki chose option 1.
Although actively correcting the behavior seems like the right choice, some problems cannot be solved just by active handling.
On the contrary, sudden intervention might make the problem worse. It¡¯s like a bent iron ruler; if you try to straighten it recklessly, it will only snap with a crack.
There are hints in the simtion text as well.
Minami Yuuki looked at the line above the options.
¡°Her expression reminds you of the first time you met her.¡±
When they first met, Ibuki Yuko was a world-weary girl who wouldn¡¯t dodge even if she saw a truck.
If he ignores the girl, making her feel the absence of their strong bond of love, she will slowly retreat and build a strong fortress in her heart.
If the love given is neglected, it will be left in the wilderness. If the expectations in her heart remain unanswered for a long time, she will dismantle the lighthouse of anticipation.
Disappointment leads to withering, and she will uproot all the nts. The difort of scorching heat and freezing cold will make her remove the changes of the seasons. As long as her inner world is barren, she will be impervious to knives, guns, water, and fire.
Minami Yuuki had previously wondered how such a girl, who could act so coquettishly and proactively, could be so world-weary.
Now he understoodpletely. The girl must have tasted the bitterness of love from her mother and decided to abandon everything, bing an unconscious puppet.
Having undergone such a mental cleanse once, the girl who finally managed to revive must have a fragile heart. She is a well-behaved child, and her demands are surely due to ack. If this love is not given to her, a huge void will certainly appear in her heart.
The simtion had already started to cross time, indicating it was nearing its end. At this point, no matter what he did, it was toote. It would be more prudent to do nothing.
After clicking on option one, Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t continue reading.
The simtion text stopped as he shifted his attention away. He stood up and headed to the Asano household.
His phone had been vibrating for the past five minutes; an rm he had set to remind him it was time to go to the Asano household for dinner.
The sky had darkened.
At the entrance of the apartment, Ibuki Honoka returned with a bag of snacks for drinking.
She brushed past Minami Yuuki and, from a corner where the boy couldn¡¯t see her, turned and watched him for a long time.
Asano Nao was sitting on the sofa, already a little anxious from waiting.
Although it wasn¡¯t yet the appointed time, Minami Yuuki usually arrived much earlier.
Finally, she heard the doorbell ring.
She let out a sigh of relief, quickly walked to the entrance, checked through the peephole, and opened the door.
¡°Good evening, sister,¡± Minami Yuuki said as he took off his shoes and put on the slippers Asano Nao had ced by his feet.
Asano Nao¡¯s attire was somewhat different today. She had removed her thick sses, revealing her delicate face. The in sportswear was gone, reced by a ck, straight-cut nightgown.
The nightgown was loose, covering her body¡¯s curves but not hiding the impressive height of her chest. As she walked, the hem of the nightgown flipped up, revealing her ck-stockinged calves.
¡°Sister, you look hot today,¡± Minami Yuuki said, giving a thumbs up.
Asano Nao immediately blushed, forgetting how to walk, her steps bing disordered.
She shyly thought, has Yuuki-kun felt my charm?
The VR experience at the Dream Theater had restored her confidence because, in that memory, Minami Yuuki was very infatuated with her body, especially those two things that used to trouble her during gym ss.
So, she decided to use this future knowledge to take the initiative!
The method of attack was simple since she couldn¡¯t think of anythingplicated. She pulled out her mother¡¯s nightgown, put on contact lenses, and resolved to seduce the boy!
In the dream, Yuuki-kun was a very responsible person. As long as she tempted him into touching her and doing some blush-inducing things, he would certainly be close to her, leading to a romantic and eventually a marital rtionship!
Then, she could have a dreamlike beautiful future!
Miu and Rikka could also be met again!
She stole a nce at the boy.
Was he moved? Restless? Ready to make a move?
She was disappointed.
The boy finished dinner normally,y on the sofa to rest, and apart from looking at her for a long time at the beginning, he didn¡¯t cast another nce her way.
Did I fail?
She wavered again, wondering if that dream was truly a scene from the future.
The movie scenes in the dream were heavily edited, but the VR experience was very detailed. She blushed as she recalled the scenes in the bedroom.
In the VR, under Yuuki-kun¡¯s right shoulder de, there was a shallow gray mole. If the dream was real, then there would also be a gray dot on the real Yuuki-kun¡¯s back.
But how could she see Yuuki-kun¡¯s back? Asano Nao fell into new troubles.
At this moment, Minami Yuuki had already found afortable position on the sofa.
Using a pillow to support his head, he continued to look at the simtion screen.
As expected, that was thest option just now. His simted life with Ibuki Yuko was moving forward quickly.
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Chapter 85
Chapter 85
[You think that if it¡¯s just some over-dependence, it won¡¯t affect your future. You really like this petite doll and are willing to keep her by your side for life, giving her all your love.]
[You¡¯ve distanced yourself from your friends.]
[Your outstanding appearance and inseparable rtionship have made you quite famous at school. Everyone sees you as a model couple.]
[A private section named after you and her has appeared on the school forum. Some students have be fans of your rtionship, secretly updating the section with loving photos of you two and describing the affectionate scenes they witness.]
[Several talent scouts have approached you, wanting you to debut as a couple, but you refused.]
[Among those who only see the beauty and cheer for you, Chitose Kazumi is particrly clear-headed. She sessfully got into Misaki University, but couldn¡¯t enter the Physics Department and chose History instead.]
[Your rtionship with her remains the same as in high school, but you meet less often and chat more online, because of Ibuki Yuko.]
[Chitose Kazumi realizes that your real rtionship is the opposite of what it appears. Others think you are the tall younger brother being taken care of, and Ibuki Yuko is the petite older sister looking after you, but only she knows that Ibuki Yuko is the one demanding and needing your care.]
[She worries about you but can¡¯t think of a solution. She has tried multiple times to get close to Ibuki Yuko, hoping to be friends and share some of your burden, but Ibuki Yuko shows no interest in her.][After graduation, you didn¡¯t pursue further studies and married Ibuki Yuko, who wore a white kimono for your traditional wedding in your hometown, Ino Prefecture.]
[The simple and elegant white kimono highlighted her grace and purity even more. You bought that dress and often took it out at night for her to wear.]
[Ibuki Yuko changed her name to Minami Yuko after the marriage.]
[You didn¡¯t rush into work after the wedding. Using the ie from a video streaming site, you bought a house in your hometown and settled down. The house is only a ten-minute drive from your parents¡¯ ce.]
[A month after the wedding, Minami Yuko became pregnant.]
[Your parents were overjoyed. Your mother stayed by her daughter-inw¡¯s side every day after work, and your father consulted friends about the entire process from pregnancy to the birth of the grandchild. Even your sister often rode her bike over to see her little sister-inw. Now, she is taller than Yuko.]
[Minami Yuko sessfully gave birth to a baby girl, and you named her Mayuri, hoping she would be a strong child.]
[The new family member attracted everyone¡¯s attention, including yours. Your mother took a long leave to care for her granddaughter, and your father headed straight to your house after work. Your sister, however, didn¡¯t take much interest in the baby and just stuck to her sister-inw.]
Minami Yuuki frowned. Isn¡¯t something wrong with this sister?
Why are you so concerned about my wife?
Well, she¡¯s my sister, so it shouldn¡¯t be a big issue.
He put aside this detail and looked at the name of his daughter on the simtion interface.
Mayuri, huh.
I wonder what she¡¯ll be like when she grows up.
Will she be like her mom, just like Miu?
If possible, I hope she only resembles Ibuki Yuko in looks, not in height and build.
Outside the window, the sky hadpletely darkened. From his daughter, Minami Yuuki thought of Miu, and the lively, adorable figure of the girl in the simtion appeared in the dark window frame.
This made him think of Nao.
Asano Nao was sitting at the dining table, holding a ck handheld game console, seemingly focused on the game, but her motionless fingers betrayed her inner thoughts.
Seeing her changed from her simple attire, Minami Yuuki thought of the beginning of the simtion where Asano Nao seduced him.
Is this the seduction mentioned in the simtion text?
Just talking about the body, indeed more tempting than Ibuki Yuko.
His unabashed gaze was soon noticed by Asano Nao, the older, socially anxious sister who got so startled that she almost dropped the handheld console on the floor.
She held the game console firmly and then quietly looked at the boy on the sofa. The boy had already withdrawn his gaze.
She sighed softly.
Minami Yuuki continued to look at the simtion interface. Although the current simtion plot was very stable, he couldn¡¯t rx.
A huge, imaginable shadow hovered over his simted life, and with the birth of his daughter, the shadow became increasingly oppressive, almost touching his family.
He hoped the shadow was just his imagination.
[You can only hold Mayuri, kiss her cheek, and shake her little hands and feet properly during your parents¡¯ busy moments.]
[Although your sister isn¡¯t as obsessed as you are, she also loves this tiny human baby. She brought many of her dolls and lined them up in the nursery.]
[The only person who doesn¡¯t like Mayuri is the one who should love her the most¡ªIbuki Yuko.]
Just as I thought!
Minami Yuuki pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to re at Asano Nao by the dining table.
You wives, every one of you has issues with the kids!
After realizing that Ibuki Yuko wanted to monopolize him, he had vaguely thought of this problem.
To monopolize meant not wanting to share with anyone, including their own daughter.
Now, how should he handle this? He was troubled.
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s mental state should be more stable than Asano Nao¡¯s, and she shouldn¡¯t end up depressed because of their daughter.
He continued to watch the simtion interface.
[Your discovery stemmed from a familiar feeling.]
[After your mother¡¯s vacation ended and she went back to work, it was often just the three of you at home. Before leaving, your mother taught Yuko how to take care of the baby, and Yuko¡¯s skills were impable.]
[You also wanted to take care of Mayuri, but Yuko always held her daughter first. Her care was considerate and meticulous, and Mayuri was indeed calmer in her hands than in yours.]
[You didn¡¯t think much of it until you suddenly realized you hadn¡¯t yed with your daughter for a long time. By then, Mayuri was almost one year old.]
[You quickly recalled high school, when you lost contact with Asano Nao and Chitose Kazumi for a while due to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s seduction. From this, you realized that Yuko was hindering your closeness with Mayuri. Whenever you tried to y with your daughter, your wife would always find ways to divert your attention.]
[You felt a sense of panic as a fundamental question surfaced in your mind.]
[Was Yuko¡¯s meticulous care for Mayuri out of motherly love, or was it to prevent you from getting close to your daughter?]
[You observed your wife¡¯s actions and soon discovered a crucial clue that revealed her true mindset.]
[Yuko never yed with Mayuri.]
[Every time it was time to feed, change diapers, or when Mayuri cried, Yuko would pick her up, expertly resolve her issues, and then put her down without any reluctance.]
[She acted like a high-quality childcare doll¡ªperfectly professional but emotionally detached.]
[Hoping you were wrong, you asked your wifete one night if she wanted to have another daughter.]
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Chapter 86
Chapter 86
¡¾Normally, your wife would always unquestionably agree with your ideas, but now she shook her head without hesitation. You felt a tremor in your heart.¡¿
¡¾She quickly realized her slip through your expression, nervously gripping your arm and cing it on herp, trying to divert your attention.¡¿
¡¾This once foolproof tactic now had no effect.¡¿
¡¾You pressed her, asking if she didn¡¯t like Mayuri after all. She gently nodded, looking at you cautiously.¡¿
¡¾You couldn¡¯t me her; reproach only hurts, and she is the person you love most. You didn¡¯t bring it up again.¡¿
¡¾Yuko thought she had upset you, and for several days, she tried hard to please you. Once she confirmed you didn¡¯t me her, she breathed a sigh of relief and dropped the pretense.¡¿
¡¾Except for necessary feeding and cleaning, she paid no attention to Mayuri¡¯s cries. Whenever you picked up your daughter, she would cling to your side, vying for your attention.¡¿
¡¾You were preparing for the civil service exam under your father¡¯s arrangement, already with little time to care for your daughter. Yuko¡¯s clinginess overwhelmed you, and you finally made a decision.¡¿
¡¾Your parents came over and took Mayuri away. They loved their granddaughter very much, and handing Mayuri over to them aligned with their wishes.¡¿A brief memory scene appears.
Under a cloudy sky, Minami Yuuki and Minami Yuko stood at the doorstep, watching their parents carry their daughter across the street to the waiting car.
With Grandma¡¯s teasing, Mayuri let out giggles. Across the road, a house had a blue flower on its windowsill. The little girl reached out her small hands, trying to touch the flowers in sight, only grasping at empty air.
Father opened the car door, and Mother ced Mayuri in the rear baby seat. Sensing something wrong, Mayuri looked around, unable to find your figures, muttering anxiously and kicking her legs in resistance.
Mother went around to the other side of the car to soothe Mayuri. As the car started moving, Mayuri¡¯s cries swiftly passed before you, disappearing into the alley under the darkened sky.
¡°Yuuki.¡± Yuko took a step forward, anxiously grasping her husband¡¯s hand.
Minami Yuuki turned his head, seeing his wife¡¯s delicate face. Compared to when they first met, her expression now held many more emotions. These expressions only surfaced because of him.
Minami Yuuki touched her face, his slightly warm fingers brushing against her cool cheeks, leaning down to kiss her pale lips.
¡°Let¡¯s go home, stubborn Yuko-mama.¡± Minami Yuuki held her hand.
¡°Yeah.¡± His wife smiled faintly.
¡¾Mayuri was a small detector, always reminding you of Yuko¡¯s abnormality. Now that she¡¯s left home, everything seems to have returned to normal. In every emotion, there¡¯s more or less hidden strangeness; as long as you avoid detection, you can say it doesn¡¯t exist.¡¿
¡¾Yuko noticed your dismay and parting from your daughter was a heavy blow. Sheforted you in her own way, and at night, she called you ¡°Dad¡±.¡¿
¡¾From then on, you added another title.¡¿
¡°¡¡?¡±
Minami Yuuki had not yet recovered from the sadness in the memory scene when suddenly he saw this turn, emotions of sorrow and joy intertwined, unsure which way to lean.
¡¾You and your wife studied together and both passed the exam, bing government employees. With your father¡¯s connections, you and Yuko were ced in the same office.¡¿
¡¾At work, you were still a model couple.¡¿
¡¾As Mayuri grew up, every weekend, your mother would bring her to your home so you and Yuko could see her. In front of your mother, Yuko showed herself as a good mother.¡¿
¡¾When Mayuri entered kindergarten, your mother felt it was no longer appropriate for her to care for her granddaughter; Mayuri should be back with her mom and dad. This decision was not out of frustration but out of consideration for Mayuri¡¯s emotions. The little girl had asked her more than once why she couldn¡¯t stay with her mom and dad like other children.¡¿
¡¾Mother thought that when you and Yuko initially handed Mayuri over to her, it was due to the baby¡¯s fussiness. Now that Mayuri had started kindergarten and gained some self-care abilities, she wouldn¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡¿
¡¾With a tentative mindset, you decided to take Mayuri back.¡¿
¡¾Things didn¡¯t go smoothly. Over the years, Yuko¡¯s condition not only didn¡¯t improve but worsened. She treated her daughter like air, never initiating conversation with her. When Mayuri tried to talk to her a few times, she was met with indifference. This made Mayuri unwilling to get closer to her mother and wanting to stick by your side. But Yuko always pulled you away, interrupting her closeness with you.¡¿
¡¾Mayuri stayed at home and did not suffer from material shortages. On the contrary, Yuko was happy to use new toys and new clothes to stop her daughter from bothering her. There were many more valuable things in her room.¡¿
¡¾However, material things never provide true satisfaction. Mayuri wanted the love and care from both you and Yuko, something she could never obtain.¡¿
¡¾The once lively and outgoing girl gradually became quiet and withdrawn.¡¿
¡¾Every week when your mother came over, she noticed the changes in her granddaughter and thought that you both didn¡¯t understand how to raise a child, wanting tomunicate with you.¡¿
¡¾You asked her to take Mayuri back.¡¿
¡¾Mother began to realize that something was wrong.¡¿
¡¾Three dayster, she came with your sister. Your sister kept Yuko away and talked to you, asking for reasons.¡¿
¡¾You didn¡¯t tell her, just saying that you and Yuko weren¡¯t suitable for raising a child.¡¿
¡¾Mother angrily asked you when you would be suitable, when Mayuri was in elementary school? Junior high? You didn¡¯t answer.¡¿
¡¾Yuko realized that your mother already knew something. Observing your mother¡¯s attitude, she noticed that the elderly woman just sighed about it. Gradually she stopped pretending to be a good mother during weekends with Mayuri. Not only that, she began to look at you with pleading eyes, obstructing your closeness with Mayuri.¡¿
Watching the simted text, Minami Yuuki rubbed his forehead, feeling both amused and exasperated.
This petite senior sister was adept at seizing opportunities and pushing boundaries. First, she tried to conceal things as much as possible. When the truth came out and everyone still loved her, they were all very forgiving, so she didn¡¯t even bother with face-saving projects anymore.
If Asano Nao was an honest kitty, then Ibuki Yuko was a cunning little fox.
¡¾You couldn¡¯t refuse your wife¡¯s pleas. Every time Mayuri came over, all she got was disappointment. You and Yuko were even less close to her than the couple next door.¡¿
¡¾Mother reduced the number of times she brought Mayuri over.¡¿
¡¾You were worried about your daughter, so you hid it from Yuko and secretly met with Mayuri. Such a meeting was bound to be hasty and short. Mayuri was looking forward to your arrival, but alsoined about this insignificant care.¡¿
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Chapter 87
Chapter 87
¡¾You started using the nighttime to meet with Mayuri after Yuko fell asleep.¡¿
¡¾Mayuri often had disagreements, so you took her out on adventures. The nighttime streets and parks became your favorite ces to y, shrouded in mystery due to darkness and silence, which excited Mayuri.¡¿
¡¾When Mayuri was in third grade, a touring art troupe came to Ino County with evening performances. You had nned to go see their show with Mayuri, and the girl had been looking forward to it.¡¿
¡¾You stood her up. Yuko discovered your nightly outings and looked at you with uneasy eyes, staying awake all night, lying by your side.¡¿
¡¾She didn¡¯t stop you, but you couldn¡¯t abandon her, no matter her emotions.¡¿
¡¾You heard from your mother that Mayuri waited all night.¡¿
¡¾By the time you settled Yuko, the art troupe had left Ino County, and you missed your chance to make amends.¡¿
¡¾Mayuri stopped talking to you.¡¿
¡¾Yuko watched you more closely, making it increasingly difficult for you to meet with Mayuri.¡¿¡¾Your contact with your daughter gradually diminished.¡¿
¡¾Mayuri inherited your stature, always a head taller than her ssmates, and strong. From your mother, you learned she often caused trouble at school.¡¿
¡¾After graduating from elementary school, Mayuri insisted on going to Misaki to attend junior high school. Your mother couldn¡¯t persuade her, so she came to you.¡¿
¡¾Thinking of Mayuri¡¯s rebellious nature, you felt a change of environment might suit her. Leveraging your connections, you arranged for her enrollment at a girls¡¯ high school in Misaki. Your sister Airi is studying for a master¡¯s degree in Misaki, and she can take care of Mayuri.¡¿
¡¾You stayed in touch with Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao, informing them about Mayuri¡¯s move to Misaki.¡¿
¡¾One night, you received a photo from Chitose Kazumi, showing her, Mayuri, and Asano Nao. She and Asano Nao were on the left and right, sandwiching the embarrassed girl in the middle. You saved the photo and put it in a folder named Mayuri.¡¿
¡¾The folder¡¯s collection of photos grew, expanding from home settings to streets, malls, cinemas, bedrooms, and beds¡¡¿
¡¾Mayuri¡¯s expression gradually changed from being embarrassed at first to being cheerful.¡¿
¡¾Unable to receive maternal love from Yuko, she found love from Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao instead.¡¿
¡¾You thought this was okay.¡¿
¡¾Under their care and guidance, Mayuri, initially an average student due to her rebellious nature, soon became an honor student.¡¿
¡¾She got into the mathematics department at Misaki University.¡¿
¡¾She continued through to her doctorate, stayed to work in Misaki afterward. Rarely returning to Ino County, when she did, she only stayed with her grandparents, and you sometimes went a year or two without seeing her.¡¿
¡¾Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao continued to send you photos. The three single women seemed destined to stay together forever. Parental pressure for Mayuri¡¯s marriage waned over time.¡¿
¡¾Your career progressed smoothly, and in your forties, you became a department head. Time left few marks on you and your wife, still a model couple admired by your subordinates for what seemed like eternal love.¡¿
¡¾At sixty, you retired with a generous pension, traveling across the country with Yuko.¡¿
¡¾Visiting Misaki, you took Yuko to dinner at Asano¡¯s home.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao, Chitose Kazumi, and your greatest concern, Mayuri, sat around the table. Despite their advanced age, your wife still couldn¡¯t ept your daughter.¡¿
¡¾While clearing the table, you struck up a conversation with Mayuri, asking about her recent life. She rejected your concern, saying if you truly loved her, you would have divorced Yuko long ago and married either Asano Nao or Chitose Kazumi.¡¿
¡¾You couldn¡¯t respond to her.¡¿
¡¾At ny-three, you passed away in your sleep. Yuko followed closely, taking sleeping pills.¡¿
¡¾Your younger rtives, whom you had cared for, arranged a funeral for you. Mayuri hastily lit a stick of incense and returned to Misaki.¡¿
¡¾End of simtion¡¿
Minami Yuuki sighed as he got up from the sofa.
Indeed, it¡¯s not a perfect ending. The conflict between mother and daughter¡ It must trouble Mayuri deeply. Every night, as she falls asleep, she must wonder why she can¡¯t receive love from her parents, where things went wrong.
Rubbing his forehead, Minami Yuuki contemted the irreconcble nature of this conflict. Harmony and restraint were merely patching up the mismatch of love. True happiness requiredplete alignment.
The cause of this oue, he thought, must be Ibuki Honoka. The girl, hurt by her mother, couldn¡¯t give her love to her daughter.
He checked the assessment:
¡¾Summary¡¿
¡¾Stages experienced: Pursuit phase, honeymoon phase, adversity phase¡¿
¡¾Score: 86¡¿
¡¾Review: You two are likeplementary fish, embracing tightly, each other¡¯s only one, creating happiness, but others, including your daughter, can¡¯t interfere.¡¿
¡¾Settlement: You gained a small amount of political experience¡¿
Minami Yuuki first sighed at the metaphor in the review, then was surprised at the high score of 86.
Previously, his perfect life with Asano Nao barely achieved 80 points. How did his score with Ibuki Yuko rise by 6 points this time?
Upon careful thought, he didn¡¯t find it strange.
The time with Asano Nao, they had no children. This time, Mayuri was safely born and grew up healthy. Moreover, Mayuri, whocked maternal love in her early years, found sce from Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao.
He couldn¡¯t help but look up at the empty dining table beside him. The chairs were vacant, and Asano Nao, overwhelmed by inner shyness, had gone upstairs.
ncing back at the simtion interface, there were still some rewards left.
¡¾You havepleted a happy life simtion¡¿
¡¾You gained one free simtion opportunity¡¿
¡¾You gained one skill extraction opportunity¡¿
Simr rewards to the 80-point life simtion before. It seemed that every score above 80 could earn him these rewards.
Scores above 90 came with a dream movie as an extra.
Minami Yuuki set a small goal in his mind: to achieve 90 points in the next simtion!
Then, with the free simtion opportunity, he would truly care for Mayuri and experience Yuko-mama deeply. To achieve this goal, he needed to make efforts in two areas.
First, acquire more simtion attempts.
Second, ensure Ibuki Honoka doesn¡¯t leave without saying goodbye. Ideally, she would start loving Ibuki Yuko, the only way to solve Ibuki Yuko¡¯s psychological issues.
The former was easy; thetter, difficult but not impossible.
From the simted text, Minami Yuuki could gather that Ibuki Honoka was a gentle and kind mother before the divorce. Her change stemmed from the failure of her marriage.
So, if she had a sessful marriage again, could she recover?
But which man could be the suitable candidate?
Ibuki Honoka liked handsome men, ruling out those with ordinary looks. She often fell victim to men who used marriage as bait, so she needed a man who genuinely wanted to marry her and was stable and reliable.
Were there any such men around him, besides himself?
Minami Yuuki pondered deeply.
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Chapter 88
Chapter 88
On Thursday, the paper cranes that his sister Airi had sent arrived at Misaki. Minami Yuuki scheduled the delivery for after school in the afternoon.
He wondered if these paper cranes could provide a simtion attempt. It had been three days since Airi folded thest batch of cranes. To be safe, he decided to ask Asano Nao for another batch of paper cranes.
Quickly freshening up and getting dressed, Minami Yuuki hurried downstairs.
At the Asano family¡¯s dining table, Minami Yuuki asked Asano Nao for more paper cranes under the pretense of wanting to collect a thousand cranes.
Although Asano Nao didn¡¯t understand Minami Yuuki¡¯s obsession with paper cranes, she readily agreed.
This way, after school, Minami Yuuki could at least get one simtion attempt. Now, the second problem was bothering him.
Where could he find a handsome and morally upright man to marry Ibuki Honoka?
For the past two days, he had scoured his memory and even asked his sister back home. While there were plenty of bachelors, finding a handsome one suitable to marry Ibuki Honoka proved impossible. This gave him a headache.
¡°Do you know any handsome, single, middle-aged men?¡± he asked Asano Nao abruptly.Asano Nao was taken aback by this sudden, seemingly unrted question and shook her head vigorously.
¡°Figures, you probably don¡¯t know more people than the turtles in the supermarket¡¯s seafood section,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed.
Even Asano Nao didn¡¯t like beingpared to turtles, so she red at Minami Yuuki in retaliation.
¡°See you tonight, Sister.¡± Bidding farewell to Asano Nao, Minami Yuuki grabbed his bag and lunch box and headed to school.
The weather was sunny, and the sunlight made the weeds growing stubbornly at the wall corners and the dark soil beneath them look dazzling.
Minami Yuuki hadn¡¯t intentionally timed his departure or looked out for a particr girl¡¯s presence, so he was startled to see Ibuki Yuko right in front of him.
¡°Good morning, senpai,¡± he greeted Ibuki Yuko.
¡°Good morning,¡± she replied normally.
¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®good morning,¡¯ say ¡®I love you.''¡±
¡°I¡¯ll tell the teacher.¡±
¡°I was just joking, please spare me.¡±
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t mean to tease Ibuki Yuko, but after such intimate simtion experiences, her indifferent response left him a bit disappointed, causing him to speak frivolously.
Ibuki Yuko nced at him, then looked back at the road ahead and quickened her pace.
However, no matter how fast her short legs moved, they couldn¡¯t outpace Minami Yuuki.
¡°How has Aunt Honoka beentely?¡± Minami Yuuki tried to gather some information.
He waited for a long time, but even after reaching the school grounds, he didn¡¯t get a response from Ibuki Yuko.
Shepletely ignored me!
In the simtion, you not only said ¡°I love you¡± but also gave me a morning kiss!
I¡¯ll remember this grudge and once I find a suitable father-inw candidate and start the simtion, I¡¯ll get back at you for ignoring me!
I¡¯ll y around with Mayuri and make you watch!
After parting ways with Ibuki Yuko at the stairway, Minami Yuuki entered his ssroom.
¡°Good morning, Minami-kun,¡± Chitose Kazumi greeted him.
¡°Morning, Kazumi,¡± Minami Yuuki replied, ncing towards Ichinose Shiori¡¯s seat.
The girl had not arrived at the ssroom yet.
Morning sunlight spilled over the desks and chairs by the window. Minami Yuuki¡¯s seat was in the third row by the window, with light pooling at his feet. He raised his hand, feeling the warmth of the spring sun.
¡°Do you know any handsome, single, middle-aged men, Kazumi?¡± he asked.
¡°Eh?¡± Chitose Kazumi was also taken aback by the sudden topic.
¡°I know an aunt who has wanted to get married for many years but hasn¡¯t found a suitable partner,¡± Minami Yuuki exined briefly.
¡°Minami-kun, you really worry about many things,¡± Chitose Kazumi remarked, sifting through her memories.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that must be seized firmly!
It¡¯s for the aunt that Minami-kun would worry about!
If one of my rtives could marry that aunt, my rtionship with Minami-kun would be even closer!
Round it up, and Minami-kun and I would practically be family!
Uncle? Too fat; Second uncle? Too skinny; Third uncle? Deceased; Fourth uncle is a handsome middle-aged man, but he¡¯s my dad, and mom wouldn¡¯t agree.
After thinking through all her middle-aged male rtives, Chitose Kazumi still couldn¡¯t find a suitable candidate. She then expanded her search to acquaintances, but still came up empty.
There were plenty of handsome young men, but handsome middle-aged men¡ Most men stop caring about their physique and appearance by middle age.
Handsome and middle-aged are practically antonyms.
The preparatory bell rang just as she was about to regretfully tell Minami Yuuki that she couldn¡¯t find anyone. Her eyes swept over their homeroom teacher, Nakajima Yohei, who had just walked in.
¡°I remember now, Nakajima-sensei is divorced!¡± Chitose Kazumi eximed excitedly, thrilled to have found a solution for Minami Yuuki.
When she realized how loudly she had spoken, the entire ss was already looking at her.
¡°Chitose Kazumi! Do you have a problem with me?¡± Nakajima Yohei mmed his hand on the lectern, staring directly at the girl.
This kind of situation might be nothing to a seasoned adult, but for sensitive teenagers, it was extremely embarrassing. Chitose Kazumi¡¯s shoulders trembled, and she was about to stand up with her head bowed.
Minami Yuuki raised his hand.
¡°Sensei, I asked her. I was a bit curious about you.¡±
Atmosphere is a flexible thing. The same situation can feelpletely different depending on who says it and how.
If Nakajima Yohei¡¯s stern words earlier felt like a courtroom interrogation, Minami Yuuki¡¯s flippant tone now made it feel like a light-hearted gossip session.
¡°Sensei, you¡¯re divorced? But you¡¯re still quite handsome.¡±
¡°Tell us more! I¡¯m curious!¡±
¡°Must have been a bad woman, right?¡±
A few nosy students seized the opportunity to banter.
¡°Alright, get your books out, let¡¯s start ss!¡± Nakajima Yohei tried to regain control, but the whole ss was buzzing, insisting he exin.
He had no choice but to briefly summarize.
Chitose Kazumi gratefully looked at Minami Yuuki, who made a funny face at her before attentively listening to the teacher.
Nakajima Yohei and his ex-wife had divorced amicably. They were college ssmates and joined the same research institute after graduation. They had a daughter after getting married, but she had poor health and needed constant care. The institute¡¯s work was demanding, and his wife wanted to leave their daughter with her parents, but he disagreed.
His wife wanted a career, while he wanted a family, leading to their marriage breaking down. He quit his job at the institute to be a rtively free high school teacher.
Minami Yuuki used LINE to ask Ichinose Shiori, who didn¡¯t add any extra details but didn¡¯t contradict Nakajima Yohei¡¯s story either.
It seemed Nakajima Yohei was a suitable candidate.
He¡¯d try it out once he got home!
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Chapter 89
Chapter 89
After school, Minami Yuuki hurried back to the Asano residence, thinking about his paper cranes.
When she handed them over, Asano Nao looked exhausted.
She was a night owl who often only slept a little at night or sometimes stayed up all night until morning, making breakfast and lunch for Yuuki before sleeping.
Yuuki guessed that this sudden paper crane business severely disrupted her sleep.
Taking the box of paper cranes, he felt a pang of guilt. The thought of continuing to trouble Nao like this deepened his guilt.
The idea of giving in to her desire crossed his mind again, but he quickly dismissed it.
Using himself aspensation felt too much like an adultic plot¡ªbetter to use Chitose Kazumi aspensation.
Even in Ibuki Yuko¡¯s simted life, Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao could be close friends, indicating they were natural besties.
Bringing her a natural bestie while asking for some paper cranes didn¡¯t seem like too much to ask, Yuuki reasoned, easing his conscience.What he didn¡¯t know was that it wasn¡¯t the two hours spent folding cranes that disrupted Nao¡¯s sleep, but her desire to see his back.
To verify the truth of the dream movie and VR, to know the authenticity of her happy future, and to gain unwavering conviction, Nao needed proof¡ªshe needed to see if there was a light gray mole under his shoulder de, just like in the dream.
Last night and today, she had been pondering ways to peek at Yuuki¡¯s back. For instance, putting sleeping pills in his tea and serving it to him; deliberately spilling soup on him and having him change clothes in a monitored room; bribing his sister to get information¡
All these methods required strong execution skills, which, unfortunately, shecked. This worried her for a long time.
¡°See youter,¡± Yuuki said, waving to her with the box in hand. His goal had been achieved.
The moment he took the box, a notification appeared:
[You have received a gift imbued with the feelings of Asano Nao]
[Simtion Attempt +1]
He could go back to simting now. He hoped Nakajima Yohei would be a suitable candidate and wouldn¡¯t waste his simtion attempts.
Yuuki wasn¡¯t worried about whether Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka could get married.
Even he had been tempted by the mature Ibuki Honoka, let alone Nakajima Yohei.
As long as Nakajima Sensei wasn¡¯t the type who only dated without getting married, everything would go ording to n.
Back at his apartment, he received his beloved sister¡¯s paper cranes as well.
[You have received a gift imbued with the feelings of Minami Airi]
[Simtion Attempt +0.5]
It even had decimals!
Toozy to find a container for the cranes, Yuuki threw both boxes into the closet. Hey on his bed and brought up the simtor interface.
[Love Simtor]
[Bound yer: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining Simtion Attempt: 1.5]
[Avable Simtion Targets: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko]
[Selected: Ibuki Yuko. Start simtion?]
Yes.
[During the simtion, you may experience a state of disorientation. It is advised to move to a safe location]
[Simtion starting]
[Remaining Simtion Attempt: 0.5]
[Simtion Target: Ibuki Yuko]
[Initial Rtionship: Acquaintance]
[Detected arge amount of simr text in this simtion. Enable fast view mode?]
Was he about to go through the memory-dense fast view mode again?
Yuuki hesitated a bit.
He got up, drank some water, mentally prepared himself, theny back down and clicked confirm.
The familiar feeling of pressure appeared, as a flood of memories and sensations poured into his mind.
The brain¡¯s storage capacity is immense. If it were just ordinary memory infusion, it wouldn¡¯t cause difort. But these new memories stirred his existing ones, causing a tumultuous sea of memories.
[You pretended to be a world-wearypanion to Ibuki Yuko to notice and care for you. The girl, whose heart was dead silent andcked emotional actions, was sessfully awakened by your actions, leading to a closer rtionship between you two.]
[You also pretended to be a helpful high school student and assisted a few times with the drunken Ibuki Honoka, bing acquainted with her.]
[Additionally, you started a career as a content creator and earned a lot of money.]
[During the first year¡¯s winter break, you brought Ibuki Yuko home for the New Year. Knowing Honoka would return home early, you returned to Misaki before her, and your rtionship with Ibuki Yuko remained undiscovered.]
[In the second year, after solidifying your rtionship with Ibuki Yuko, you began the next phase of your n.]
[You choose¡]
[1. ¡°To solve the daughter¡¯s issue, first solve the mother¡¯s issue.¡±]
[2. ¡°True strengthes from one¡¯s own power.¡±]
[3. ¡°I wonder what Nao and Kazumi are doing now?¡±]
[4. Free simtion]
Yuuki quickly analyzed the choices. The first option meant addressing Ibuki Honoka¡¯s issues to solve Ibuki Yuko¡¯s problems. The second option implied that making Ibuki Yuko strong was the most important task. As for the third option¡ why were Nao and Kazumi in the same choice?
Resisting the urge to choose the third option out of curiosity, he followed his original n and chose the first option.
[You decide to correct Ibuki Honoka¡¯s emotional state. The woman has lost her tenderness due to a failed marriage, and you need to repair her broken marriage.]
[You have selected Nakajima Yohei as the person to marry Ibuki Honoka.]
[You directly approached your homeroom teacher, Nakajima Yohei, to introduce him to a prospective partner. As expected, you were chased out by Nakajima Yohei.]
[After being chased out, you went to his mother¡¯s house.]
[Upon hearing about the marriage proposal, Nakajima Yohei¡¯s mother was overjoyed. Learning that her son had driven you away made her furious. She summoned her son, scolded him, and ordered him to agree to your introduction.]
[The next day, under your arrangement, Nakajima Yohei and Honoka Ibuki met at an izakaya.]
[Nakajima Yohei, unhappy with your pushy behavior, came unkempt on purpose. The moment he saw Ibuki Honoka, he regretted it.]
At this point, Yuuki smiled. Nakajima Sensei was interested¡ªit was working!
As expected, the story progressed smoothly from there.
[Ibuki Honoka was also satisfied with Nakajima Yohei¡¯s appearance and didn¡¯t mind his disheveled state.]
[Their rtionship developed quickly.]
[A monthter, Nakajima Yohei called you to the office after school and gave you a box of high-end sweets.]
[Awkward and shy, he told you that he and Ibuki Honoka had decided to get married.]
[You were shocked by their speed.]
[Declining his gift, you offered your own gift box, asking him to mention Yuko often in front of Honoka. You subtly informed him that Honoka¡¯s rtionship with her daughter was not very harmonious.]
[He was impressed by your foresight.]
[As a father himself, he easily agreed to your request, and you both exchanged gifts.]
[You suddenly became curious about what Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter looked like.]
[On the day of their wedding, you were invited to attend and met the girl in a wheelchair. To your surprise, Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter was a beauty on par with Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko.]
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Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter is very beautiful?
Comparable to Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko?
Minami Yuuki keenly grasped the critical information.
Both Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko are simtive targets, so could Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter be one as well?
He had not yet figured out the criteria for simtive targets, but it was certain that all of them were exceptionally beautiful.
Therefore, it¡¯s highly likely that Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter is a simtive target. It seems he needs to get closer to Nakajima Yohei.
He continued to look at the simtion interface, hoping to get more information.
Unfortunately, the daughter was only briefly mentioned, and his simted self did not seem to interact with her.
He wondered whether his simted self was either steadfastly loyal or simply monitored too closely by Ibuki Yuko to have the opportunity to interact with her.[Nakajima Yohei does not own property; they rented a single-family house nearby, diagonally opposite the Asano house. The house is close to the apartment, not affecting your rtionship with Yuko.]
[You understand that this is Nakajima Yohei¡¯s way of repaying you. Property prices in the area are high, and it¡¯s far from the mall, with the only advantages being its proximity to the school and subway station.]
[After registering the marriage, Ibuki Honoka changed her name to Nakajima Honoka, but Ibuki Yuko¡¯s surname remained unchanged. Nakajima Yohei¡¯s reasoning was that it would have to be changed again in a couple of years anyway, so might as well skip this step. This was said for your benefit.]
[Honoka no longer lives in a daze every day. She stopped attending her frequent evening parties and returned home after work to spend time with Nakajima Yohei. When you visited the Nakajima house a few times, their lovey-dovey behavior made you feel ashamed.]
[After life settled down, Honoka quickly noticed your rtionship with Yuko. She consulted Nakajima Yohei, who instructed her not to interfere, so she did not intervene in your rtionship.]
[Everything seemed to be improving.]
Minami Yuuki¡¯s lighthearted mood vanished the moment he read this sentence.
All beauty fears ambiguous words like ¡°seems¡± and ¡°perhaps,¡± as they often foreshadow a turning point.
Indeed, the following plot took a turn.
[However, Ibuki Yuko did not ept this happiness.]
[Her mother¡¯s happiness brought her great pressure because she was not part of it. That happiness excluded her. Whether she was there or not, that happiness remained unchanged. She felt useless and unnecessary.]
[You were the first to notice this.]
[Ibuki Yuko spent more and more time at your apartment, returning hometer andter. Honoka and Nakajima Yohei thought you wanted to keep Yuko close, deliberately keeping herte.]
[You did not do this. On the contrary, you always urged her to go home. Herte returns were a form of escape, avoiding her mother¡¯s happiness because that happiness cruelly shut her out.]
[You approached Nakajima Yohei, asking him and Honoka to pay more attention to the girl. However, Honoka had long abandoned the skills to care for her daughter and needed time to rekindle their rtionship.]
[Ibuki Yuko did not give her that time.]
[One summer night during your second year and her third year, she hugged your waist and said she didn¡¯t want to go home.]
[She moved in with you.]
[Honoka felt guilty. When a person falls into a mud pit, dirty and disheveled, they no longer mind the raindrops on their head or the dust by the roadside. They be base, their soul and actions wrapped in the foul smell of mud. But once they leave the mud pit and return to cleanliness, the raindrops that wet them and the dust that dirties their makeup be things they avoid. They be fastidious, their soul and actions returning to the realm of virtue.]
[Honoka is such a woman, easily influenced. Around Nakajima Yohei, she once again became a good mother.]
[Every weekend, Honoka woulde to your house. Not adept at housework, she showed her affection with expensive snacks and ingredients, dining and conversing with you both.]
[Did Ibuki Yuko change in response to her mother¡¯s goodwill? You weren¡¯t sure.]
[After graduation, Ibuki Yuko entered Misaki University. The busy school schedule and change of location reduced the time she spent with you, making her anxious. This anxiety drove her to establish a stronger, more intimate rtionship with you.]
[You became physically involved.]
[In Yuko¡¯s second year, you also entered Misaki University, joining her in the same department.]
[She continued to cling to you, and you were known as a loving couple on campus.]
[Everything seemed to change, yet somehow remained the same.]
There it was again¡ª¡±seemed¡±!
Minami Yuuki rubbed his forehead as he looked at the simtion interface.
All this ambiguity¡ªwas the simtion sessful or not?
His head felt a bit numb.
He thought that if Honoka¡¯s marriage failed, she would leave in jealousy, causing psychological issues for Yuko. If Honoka¡¯s marriage seeded, her happiness would still cause problems for Yuko.
Just like Asano Nao, this girl was troublesome!
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Minami Yuuki pondered Ibuki Yuko¡¯s psychology.
He realized that both the failure and sess of Honoka¡¯s marriage brought the same feeling to Yuko.
A failed marriage meant Honoka would leave, making Yuko feel abandoned. A sessful marriage meant Honoka would be happy with another man, making Yuko feel left out again.
Now, he could only hope that Ibuki Yuko¡¯s issues would be resolved in the future and that Honoka and Yuko would eventually get along well.
Anxious, Minami Yuuki continued reading the simtion text.
[You tried to get close to others, but each time, Ibuki Yuko would interrupt, pulling you back to her side, looking at you anxiously with eyes that feared abandonment.]
[Her pleading gaze defeated youpletely. She was like a beautiful pitcher nt, luring you into her pitcher-shaped leaves, closing the lid, making you her treasured possession.]
[In your first year of university, something happened at the Nakajima household. Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter from his previous marriage passed away in the hospital. You and Yuko attended her funeral.]
[After graduating from university, you two got married. You held two weddings, one Western-style in Misaki City and one Japanese-style in Ino County, one led by the Nakajima family and one by the Minami family.]
[You originally nned to stay in Misaki City to facilitate closeness between Honoka and Yuko. However, Honoka was pregnant, and you thought that seeing Honoka happy with her new child might hurt Yuko¡¯s feelings. So, you moved to Ino County.]
[Soon after the wedding, your child was born, and you named her Mayuri.]
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Chapter 91
Chapter 91
[The birth of your daughter is like winter snow: you are moved by the beauty of the snowkes, but also worried about the impending harsh cold.]
[You pay close attention and soon realize that your wife has very conflicted feelings toward your daughter.]
[When there is no one else in the room, or when she thinks you are already asleep, she keeps a half-meter distance from the crib, looking at her daughter with aplex expression. Her hand often rises and falls, wanting to get close to the baby but fearing the baby might bring misfortune.]
[Her attitude towards her daughter is like facing a fierce ck cat, wanting to touch its fur but afraid of a sudden attack.]
[In the end, your wife chooses to distance herself from your daughter, but this discovery brings youfort. At least this time, Yuko hasn¡¯tpletely rejected Mayuri.]
[You temporarily entrust Mayuri to your parents. Every week, you and Yuko visit your daughter, hoping your wife can adjust herself and get close to your daughter soon.]
[But this waiting yields no progress. You choose¡]
[Option 1: ¡°Maybe some tough measures are needed.¡±]
[Option 2: ¡± It¡¯s been a while since we saw my mother-inw¡¯s family.¡±][Option 3: ¡°It¡¯s time to tell Mayuri that she has two stepmothers.¡±]
[Option 4: Free Simtion.]
¡°Choices again.¡±
Minami Yuuki sits up, supporting himself with the bed board, with no memory scene appearing for a long time, so there¡¯s no need to continue lying down.
He takes a sip of the cool boiled water beside the bed. The oolong tea in the fridge is long gone. The tasteless cool water brings a bit of refreshment to his body but has no other effect. If possible, he¡¯d like to drink something sweet during the simtion.
Maybe he should simte on Asano¡¯s couch next time so he can enjoy the drinks in Asano Nao¡¯s fridge for free.
Shaking off these extraneous thoughts, he continues to look at the options.
Three options: one is aggressive therapy, two is a gentle approach, three is actively arranging for the aftermath.
Minami Yuuki clicks on option two.
[You decide to ask Honoka for help.]
[Nakajima Yohei and Honoka vaguely know something about Yuko and Mayuri from your parents and their own observations. Honoka feels this is her fault, thinking she wasn¡¯t a good mother, which is why Yuko is so averse to the mother-daughter rtionship.]
[She hands the child to Nakajima Yohei andes alone from Misaki City to stay at your house.]
[Yuko feels uneasy about her mother¡¯s arrival, but she doesn¡¯t resist Honoka.]
[Under the arrangement of Honoka and your parents, you and Yuko take Mayuri and drive to arge aquarium in the neighboring city for a visit.]
[The baby-sounding whale, the acrobatic dolphins, the very beautiful jellyfish under the lights, none of these could liven up your atmosphere. The problem lies not only with Yuko but also with Mayuri. Both treat each other as if the other is invisible.]
[Mayuri, who has already started primary school, is somewhat precocious. She initially thought this trip was a signal of her mother wanting to reconcile with her. Before the trip, she pondered for a long time whether to forgive her mother and at what moment to forgive her.]
[After meeting, Yuko¡¯s attitude made her feel that her worries were a joke. This mother didn¡¯t look at her at all; she was being self-indulgent. Her rejection of her mother deepened, along with her resentment toward you.]
[The trip to the aquarium was very unsessful, as you expected, so you weren¡¯t upset. This meeting was a signal, indicating that you would fully begin to intervene in their mother-daughter issue.]
[After returning home, you, together with Honoka, talked to Yuko, persuading her to ept Mayuri. Yuko remained silent. Is her silence a firm refusal, or is she also unclear about her own attitude? You think it¡¯s thetter.]
[You leave Yuko to Honoka and return to your parents¡¯ home. Besides Yuko¡¯s attitude, Mayuri¡¯s attitude is also crucial.]
[Your departure makes your wife anxious, and she wants to find you but is stopped by Honoka. The matter of the daughter and her mother¡¯sfort gives Yuko an unprecedented tolerance. Despite her immense worry, she doesn¡¯te to find you or obstruct you.]
[Honoka took Yuko back to the small town where she grew up. All the beautiful scenes of Yuko¡¯s childhood are preserved in the corners of this modest town.]
[Progress is smooth on Honoka¡¯s side, but on your end, you¡¯ve encountered some minor issues.]
[Mayuri seems to have inherited your stubbornness or Yuko¡¯s; she is exceptionally obstinate.]
[She refuses to talk to you because she knows clearly that you are on Yuko¡¯s side. She says she hates you and doesn¡¯t want you to appear in front of her again, just like before. Is this really her true feeling?]
[Your father and mother have joined a senior travel group and gone on a trip. Your sister is attending college in Misaki, so it¡¯s just you and Mayuri at home.]
Looking at the simted text, Minami Yuuki sighs. This daughter seems to have significant issues too.
However, this is all his and Yuko¡¯s fault; he can¡¯t me their daughter.
How to break this deadlock?
Just as he was pondering, he felt a bit dizzy¡ªa sign that the memory scene was about to appear.
He quicklyy down on the bed, ready to receive the iing memories and feelings.
[In the morning, you prepared a Western-style breakfast for Mayuri.]
The memory scene appears.
His parents¡¯ house is very old, silently old. It doesn¡¯t have creaky floors, mottled, drafty walls, or a leaking roof that drips rain.
Instead, it reveals its old age in the style of the furniture, the cramped storage, and the subtly changing colors of the walls and floors.
¡°This house needs renovation.¡± Minami Yuuki ces the breakfast, takes off his apron, and sits at the dining table.
He looks at Mayuri across the table. The girl has shoulder-length short hair. Even though she is only in the second grade, she is almost as tall as Yuko.
In contrast to her height, her face looks a lot like her mother¡¯s. Looking at her, Minami Yuuki recalls the first time he met Yuko.
¡°Why don¡¯t you renovate your own house!¡±
The girl makes a fierce face with her cute features, frowning and pouting, ring at Minami Yuuki aggressively.
¡°Doesn¡¯t Mayuri think this house is very old? How about making a game room after renovating? Would you prefer a modern game room with carpet or a Showa-era style game room with tatami mats?¡±
A game room? Carpet or tatami mats?
Mayuri is momentarily torn, both seem great.
The modern style looks cooler, but the Showa style is morefortable.
Which renovation to choose?
No, why should she support Dad¡ support this man¡¯s renovation n!
Mayuri, Mayuri, the person in front of you is Minami Yuko¡¯s first general, your lifelong arch-enemy.
You can¡¯t be tempted by him!
Although a game room is nice, you must oppose anything the enemy supports!
¡°This is my grandpa¡¯s house, not yours! If you keep being so presumptuous, I¡¯ll kick you out!¡± She says coldly for an elementary school student.
¡°Eh?¡± Minami Yuuki teases her, ¡°Did Mayuri forget that your grandpa is my dad too? ording to the Minami family rules, when the head of the family passes away, the house goes to the eldest son. So, if grandpa is not around, this house is mine!¡±
The girl had never thought about this problem, and she is momentarily flustered, her intentionally fierce face showing a hint of panic.
Thinking about her trump card failing and that she has been living in the enemy¡¯s house all these years, her heart fills with sorrow, and tears well up in her eyes.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t expect the girl to be so easily defeated and hurriedly tries to make amends:
¡°But grandpa hasn¡¯t passed away, so we can¡¯t go by the family rules. Given how much grandpa loves Mayuri, he would definitely change the family rules to leave the house to Mayuri.¡±
Mayuri¡¯s sadness stops, but the tears brimming in her eyes cannot be withdrawn.
She can only cover it up by eating bread, quietly wiping the corners of her eyes.
Raising her head, the girl returns to her earlier fierce demeanor, ring at Minami Yuuki:
¡°You better know that!¡±
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Chapter 92
Chapter 92
The dining table fell silent as the father and daughter focused on the bread, ham, and bacon on their tes.
Cooking was not Minami Yuuki¡¯s forte. This simple breakfast was already the peak of his culinary skills.
¡°Why do we have to eat bread every day!¡± Mayuri, having filled her stomach, started toin.
It wasn¡¯t that she disliked Western-style breakfasts.
On the contrary, she enjoyed thebination of bread and meat.
When Grandpa was home, he always made her eat those detestable vegetables.
¡°When your momes back, you¡¯ll get to eat something different for breakfast.¡± Minami Yuuki deliberately mentioned Yuko to gauge Mayuri¡¯s reaction.
As expected, his daughter was furious.
¡°I don¡¯t want her toe back!¡± She jumped off her chair, stood straight, and clenched her fists.Just hearing that name brought a wave of bitterness to her heart, which surged through her veins and flooded her mind. The boiling blood turned her feelings of grievance into intense anger.
¡°I don¡¯t want you either! Just leave my house!¡± Sheshed out at Minami Yuuki, who had mentioned that name.
After saying that, she quickly ran back to her room. The sound of the sliding door hitting the wall was unusually dull.
The moment she uttered the second sentence, Mayuri regretted it.
The force that drove her to run away contained both resentment towards her parents and remorse for her words.
Lying on her bed, she was restless.
I was just saying¡ That man wouldn¡¯t really leave the house, would he?
She stood up, moved quietly to the sliding door, tilted her head, and pressed her ear against the door, listening carefully for any sounds outside. She heard a car passing by and a cat meowing outside, but beyond that, there was nothing.
At this time, that man should be at the sink, washing dishes, with the sound of running water.
Growing increasingly uneasy, she paced around her room before pressing her ear against the door again. Hearing nothing, she slid the door open and, driven by her anxiety, headed to the dining room.
The familiar figure by the dining table made her rx, her worry dissipating and joy surfacing.
Crossing her arms, she mimicked the posture of a ve master from the TV and said to Minami Yuuki, who was ying on his phone, ¡°Hey, get up and do the dishes! Or get out of my house!¡±
¡°Yes, yes.¡± Minami Yuuki put away his phone, picked up the tes from the table, and walked into the kitchen.
Mayuri felt triumphant.
Not only had she confirmed that the man hadn¡¯t left, but she had also sessfully suppressed the arrogance of the Yuko faction!
She returned to her room, her steps light and happy. What she didn¡¯t know was that she wasn¡¯t the only one doing the ¡°confirming.¡±
Minami Yuuki was ¡°confirming¡± her as well.
For this daughter he only saw once a week, with little time or energy for deep conversation, Minami Yuuki knew almost nothing about her.
These past few days, he had been observing her, analyzing her personality, and figuring out how to get along with her. By today, his analysis was nearlyplete.
The conclusion¡ was quite surprising.
For the sake of uracy, he needed to conduct one final test. He started washing the dishes, deliberately making a lot of noise to reassure the girl listening from her bedroom. Then, he checked the camera on the wine cab to ensure it covered both the living room and kitchen.
Once everything was ready, he began his n. At exactly twelve o¡¯clock, Mayuri, who was ying on her handheld console, saved her game, closed the immersive story-driven game, and opened a casual game. She yed absentmindedly, her eyes and ears attentive to any sounds outside.
It was lunchtime. What takeout would the man bring back today? When he called her for lunch from outside, after how many calls should she respond? And after responding, how long should she wait before going out?
These details troubled the girl. Often, she couldn¡¯t think of an answer, so she would just wait in standby mode until the call came.
But today, the call didn¡¯te for a long time. She nced at the time on her handheld console¡ªit was almost one o¡¯clock. In the past few days, they had already finished lunch by this time. She opened the door a crack and peeked out. It was very quiet outside; there was no sign of the man.
Walking down the hallway and standing in the living room, she still couldn¡¯t see the figure she had in mind.
Unease flitted across her heart like a bird suddenly soaring across the sky. She pushed open the sliding door to the dining room and walked into the narrow kitchen. By the stainless steel sink, tworge tes were standing in the drying rack, their water already drained.
There was no sign of the man in the kitchen.
She quickly walked through the other hallway to the entryway. Standing on a low stool beside the entryway, she stood on tiptoes to check the surface of the cab. The car keys were gone. The man was probably not at home.
Had he gone out to buy lunch? Why hadn¡¯t he returned yet? The unease in her heart grew stronger.
She sat by the entryway, and every car sound on the road made her heart flutter with expectation, like the tremor of a fishing float in summer.
But every time, she was disappointed.
Each car passed by without stopping. The sound of the wheels rolling over the road came from one direction and left in the other. The door didn¡¯t open, and the man didn¡¯te in.
She climbed back onto the stool and carefully checked the cab again. The square stone pot held a delicate asparagus fern, its leaves stretching towards the door. The space beside the flowerpot was empty; there were no car keys.
She walked through the living room, down the hallway, to the man¡¯s bedroom door, and pushed it open. The tatami bedroom was also empty.
The man was not in the bedroom either. Sitting on the living room sofa, she looked at the dining room ahead. It was already past one o¡¯clock. She should have been sitting there eating lunch with the man an hour ago.
She thought about what she had said that morning.
¡°I don¡¯t want you either! Just leave my house!¡±
¡°Hey, get up and do the dishes! Or get out of my house!¡±
Now, her father had really left.
The wetness in her eyes quickly turned to tears, rolling down her face. She lowered her head, about to open her mouth and cry out loud.
¡°Click¡ª¡± The door close to the living room suddenly opened. It was the master bedroom, the room of Minami Haruna and Minami Ryota, which Mayuri hadn¡¯t checked.
Minami Yuuki came out, yawning.
¡°I went in to get something and identally fell asleep. I¡¯ll go buy lunch now,¡± he said apologetically. ¡°Hmm? Why is Mayuri crying?¡±
¡°I stubbed my toe!¡± Mayuri wiped her tears, but the surge of sadness couldn¡¯t be stopped, and two lines of tears turned into another kind of grievance. ¡°Daddy, you big dummy!¡±
[Mayuri obviously loved bread and fried meat, yet she scolded you for always making such breakfasts.]
[You were suspicious and conducted a small test, discovering something that left you with mixed feelings.]
[Your daughter, Minami Mayuri, is a tsundere.]
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Chapter 93
Chapter 93
After understanding your daughter¡¯s personality, you heaved a sigh of relief.
It turned out that Mayuri¡¯s rejection and harsh words were just an external facade, not her true feelings.
You quickly found a way to get along with your daughter, and your rtionship grew closer by the day.
However, the growing closeness didn¡¯t change Mayuri¡¯s character; you began to worry about her future, fearing that her tsundere nature would make her miss out on many things.
During the day, Mayuri didn¡¯t want to be seen with you by acquaintances or be asked about her parents, so she never agreed to go out with you.
You then invited her to go out at night. Although she refused outwardly, you helped here up with a suitable excuse.
A small memory scene shed in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
¡°Mayuri, do you want to go to the supermarket with me? You can pick out some snacks.¡±
¡°No way!¡±¡°It¡¯s so dark outside, juste with me.¡±
¡°You¡¯re actually scared of the dark? How cowardly! In that case, I might as well go with you.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±
You took her to a big supermarket in the city center. She had never been out sote before, and everything at night fascinated her. The novel items in the supermarket captivated her.
¡°Mayuri, do you want this excavator?¡± Minami Yuuki stood in front of the shelf.
¡°No way, only kids y with that!¡± Contrary to her firm tone, her eyes lingered on the blue remote-controlled excavator.
¡°I think it¡¯s pretty fun. Let¡¯s buy it and dig in the backyard.¡±
When Minami Yuuki put the excavator into the cart, a quick smile shed across Mayuri¡¯s face. She quickly withdrew it, nced at Minami Yuuki, and pretended to say nonchntly:
¡°This is pretty hard to operate. If you can¡¯t figure it out, I can teach you.¡±
You bought many things that she clearly liked but imed she didn¡¯t. Her stubborn demeanor made you chuckle.
After returning home, Mayuri yed with the excavator in the backyard untilte. You sat beside her and told her a ghost story.
The ghost story you carefully prepared had the desired effect. While ying wildly, the girl didn¡¯t find the ghost story scary, but when shey alone in bed in the dark room, she felt like something terrifying might be hiding under the bed, in the closet, or under the desk. The shadows in the corners seemed to be moving.
She opened your door.
¡°Are you afraid of the dark?¡± The girl pushed the door open a crack, poking her head in to look at Minami Yuuki on the bed.
¡°No.¡±
¡°You said you were scared of the dark before!¡± The girl¡¯s voice was urgent, her tone and eyes already pleading.
¡°Okay, I actually am afraid of the dark.¡±
Mayuri immediately smiled: ¡°Then there¡¯s no other way. I¡¯ll have to sleep with you.¡±
She pushed the door open a bit more, squeezed in sideways, climbed onto Minami Yuuki¡¯s bed, andy down beside him.
The warm bed calmed her anxious heart quite a bit, but it wasn¡¯t enough to dispel her fear entirely.
¡°If you¡¯re really scared, you can hold me a little.¡± She hinted to Minami Yuuki.
She was very scared and wanted to sleep with you, but she refused to admit it, cing her fear on you. You struggled to hold back yourughter.
In the days that followed, you told your daughter a ghost story every day, letting her sleep beside you every night.
Mayuri tried to refuse to listen to ghost stories. When you asked if she was scared, she immediately changed her mind and asked you to tell two stories.
Mayuri also tried to make herself stronger. At night, she endured her fear and didn¡¯te to you. You controlled the speaker in her room, ying the sounds of monsters breathing and footsteps. Within five seconds, the girl appeared in your arms.
[Your rtionship with Mayuri began to improve.]
[At the same time, Honoka¡¯s advice to Yuko had an effect.]
[Staying in her childhood hometown, recalling happy scenes of her childhood with her mother on the streets and alleys, Yuko finally relented. After countless times of persuasion from Honoka to bring Mayuri back home, she softly replied with a ¡°yes.¡±]
[Honoka immediately took her back to Ino County.]
[You made a phone call, extending the trip for Haruna and Ryota by another month, to prevent their return from affecting your rtionship.]
[Honoka stayed at your house, and Yuko came to the old house, living together with you and Mayuri.]
[Mayuri was extremely hostile towards this sudden appearance of her mother. This extended to you, her bedmate who she saw as an intruder, and she refused to speak to you for days.]
[One night, seeing Yuko enter your room and take her ce, Mayuri¡¯s resentment grew deeper.]
[Late at night, she finally gathered courage and came to your room door to confront Yuko, only to find Yuko sitting on top of you, giving you a lecture, and you werepletely defenseless. It startled her, and she looked at Yuko with fearful eyes for many days.]
[Initially, the rtionship between mother and daughter was not smooth. Yuko was too cold, and Mayuri was too tsundere. Their interactions seemed like Yuko was intentionally teasing Mayuri.]
[Yuko went to wake Mayuri up, and instinctively, Mayuri refused. Yuko simply responded with an ¡°okay¡± and left. Mayuri, needing to use the bathroom, had to hold it in for another hour, keeping her promise to not get up.]
[Yuko offered fruits to Mayuri, who said she didn¡¯t want any. Yuko responded with another ¡°okay,¡± and ate the fruits deliciously in front of her.]
[The cunning wife soon discovered a pattern: no matter what she said, Mayuri would contradict her, and she did so physically.]
[Yuko began to exploit this pattern.]
[When Mayuri yed games with you, Yuko walked over and said, ¡°ying games with dad is great,¡± causing Mayuri to drop the controller and run back to her room. Yuko picked up the abandoned controller, gave a small ¡°yeah,¡± and started ying with you.]
[Mayuri liked beef, and so did Yuko. Mayuri had a strong appetite and ate quickly, always beating Yuko to it. So, Yuko started by saying to Mayuri, ¡°Eat more beef,¡± and from then on, Mayuri never touched the beef te again. Yuko gave a small ¡°yeah¡± in her heart and took the entire te for herself.]
[Initially, you didn¡¯t want to intervene, as it was their way of interacting as mother and daughter. However, Yuko¡¯s actions became too extreme, and Mayuri was deceived too miserably. You had to make a pact with Yuko: she could only bully her daughter three times a day.]
[You couldn¡¯t understand how such a shrewd person like yourself and a cunning person like Yuko could have raised such a naive daughter.]
[You felt that Mayuri had spent too much time with her beloved aunt, which made her naive.]
[Mayuri didn¡¯t really hate Yuko; she kept her distance because Yuko resisted getting close to her. Now, despite enduring many of Yuko¡¯s tricks, her resistance towards Yuko slowly diminished.]
[From Yuko¡¯s attitude, she noticed that her mother was no longer resisting her.]
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Chapter 94
Chapter 94
[Mayuri has a small diary. She doesn¡¯t write in it often, but she likes to gamify reality and write some strategies in it. In her diary, there is thetest information about you and Yuko.]
[Minami Yuuki]
[Danger Level: Low]
[Human Friendliness: High]
[Main Activity Locations: Innermost bedroom, living room sofa]
[Encounter Frequency: Very High]
[Characteristics: Appears as an adult male, very tall, handsome, able tomunicate normally.]
[Main Threats: Tells scary ghost stories to those he encounters; frequently apanied by the extremely dangerous Minami Yuko.]
[Main Benefits: Drops snacks, toys, various small gifts;p isfortable to sit on; warm bed.][Coping Strategy: No special response needed.]
[Minami Yuko]
[Danger Level: Extremely High]
[Human Friendliness: Low]
[Main Activity Locations: Kitchen, anywhere Minami Yuuki is.]
[Encounter Frequency: Very High]
[Characteristics: Appears as a young girl but is actually an adult, very short, has a cute appearance used for disguise, speaks in an irritating manner.]
[Main Threats: Appears suddenly when the victim is happily doing something, uses special abilities to make the victim dislike what they are doing, thus tormenting them.]
[Main Benefits: Does housework.]
[Coping Strategy: Do not approach! Do not look! Do not engage!]
[Mayuri couldn¡¯t understand how Yuko used her personality to make her give up her game position and beef. So, she connected her mother¡¯s arrival with her interrupted activities, forming a simple cause and effect, filling the process in between with a special ability akin to witchcraft. She believed Yuko was a witch who manipted her mind. ]
[Mayuri was a bit afraid of Yuko and often avoided her.]
[However, Yuko, having sessfully grasped the girl¡¯s behavioral patterns, found amusement in using them.]
[Every day, Yuko would use up her three chances to bully her.]
Some memory fragments emerged.
Faced with her daughter still ying games in the living roomte at night, disrupting her and Yuuki¡¯s nightlife, Yuko said, ¡°Games are so much fun, right? Mayuri can y all night without a problem.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Mayuri immediately turned off the TV and ran back to her room to sleep.
Faced with her daughter napping on Yuuki¡¯sp, upying her spot, Yuko said, ¡°Mayuri and daddy have such a good rtionship.¡±
¡°Not at all!¡± The girl immediately sat up and left the sofa where Yuuki was.
Faced with the dusty living room, Yuko said, ¡°The floor is a bit dusty, Mayuri can just sit there, no need to clean.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll clean¡ never mind, cleaning such arge area is too much trouble.¡± She shrank back and continued ying her game, pretending not to hear her mother¡¯s words.
Undeterred by her failed attempts, Yuko thought for a moment and walked over to Mayuri, patting her head. ¡°Mayuri is so good.¡±
The girl¡¯s hand holding the controller tightened. She wanted to grab the mop right then and clean the living room spotless, to defy Yuko. But the fatigue of mopping was more intimidating than the damage to her pride.
Yuko tilted her head, surprised that her daughter held out this long against two waves of attack.
Only the final trick remained.
Yuko bent down and kissed Mayuri¡¯s cheek. ¡°Mommy loves Mayuri the most.¡±
The girl¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment at the sudden assault.
After a moment, she jumped up. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to love me! I¡¯m not good at all!¡±
With that, she stormed to the bathroom, grabbed a mop, and began cleaning the dust off the floor with an icy determination.
Yuko made a peace sign at Yuuki.
Yuuki, who witnessed the whole thing, rubbed his forehead and hugged his approaching wife, worried about their daughter¡¯s future.
Yuko sat on hisp, her light body barely exerting any pressure on him. Holding the hand that circled her waist, Yuko looked up at his chin.
¡°My favorite is Yuuki. I was just lying to her,¡± Yuko exined to her husband.
¡°I wish it were true. When will you and Mayuri get along?¡±
Yuuki tapped his wife¡¯s fair forehead with his chin, tightened his arms around her waist, and pulled her closer, pressing her soft back against his firm chest.
Yuko shifted slightly, her gaze quickly bing misty as she looked at Yuuki. ¡°If Yuuki gives me a little reward, maybe I¡¯ll consider it.¡±
¡°Now you¡¯re even trying to deceive me?¡±
Yuuki felt a tickle in his heart from his wife¡¯s close body and sincere words.
He picked up Yuko and quickly walked to the bedroom.
[Yuko¡¯s bullying of their daughter gradually stopped being just about making the troublesome girl leave. She started making Mayuri do her household chores, so she would have more time to spend with you.]
[Despite Honoka¡¯s counseling, the presence of their daughter still caused her some stress, and her way of relieving it was to seek more of your closeness.]
[After a week of doing chores, Mayuri¡¯s pride finally gave way toziness.]
[She still put up simple resistance to Yuko, but once the cost of resisting became too high, she chose to endure Yuko¡¯s closeness.]
[Once behavior starts to change, emotions inevitably follow. Mayuri gradually got used to Yuko¡¯s praise.]
[Her resistance further weakened, bing limited to verbal objections, and she was no longer willing to physically express her discontent.]
[Now, it was Yuko¡¯s turn to be troubled.]
[At the lunch table, Yuko routinely told Mayuri to eat more meat. Previously, Mayuri would remain silent, but her chopsticks would never reach for the meat. Now, Mayuri would grumble that she didn¡¯t want to, but the next second, her chopsticks would be picking up the meat and enjoying it.]
[Mayuri gradually felt that this mom wasn¡¯t so bad. She not only praised her but also encouraged her to eat more meat, y more games, and sleep more.]
[While ying her handheld console in the living room, she often liked to stick close to you. Now, she started sticking close to Yuko as well.]
[Yuko was flustered for a while but eventually got used to her daughter¡¯s closeness.]
[As long as Mayuri didn¡¯t interfere with her intimacy with you, Yuko didn¡¯t mind her daughter following her around.]
[You were pleased with the normalization of the mother-daughter rtionship. Although your wife didn¡¯t love Mayuri passionately, at this moment, she could be considered an ordinary mother.]
[After Minami Haruna and Minami Ryota returned, the whole family went to Misaki¡¯s amusement park, with Honoka¡¯s family joining in. The trip went smoothly, with Mayuri holding both your and Yuko¡¯s hands,ughing in between you two.]
[Mayuri¡¯s grandparents on both sides were delighted by this.]
[After returning to Ino County, you and Yuko helped Mayuri pack her things and brought her to your home.]
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Chapter 95
Chapter 95
[When Mayuri was in fourth grade, you and Yuko resigned from your government jobs and moved back to Misaki City. Mayuri transferred to the girls¡¯ elementary school in Misaki.]
[After opening her heart, your daughter stuck to you and Yuko like glue, which started to annoy both of you.]
[You introduced her to Asano Nao and Chitose Kazumi, her two godmothers, who got along very well with Mayuri. Thus, every weekend, you would leave Mayuri with them.]
Looking at the simtion interface, Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Well, that¡¯s ironic. Before, I was trying everything to get my daughter back, and now that she¡¯s here, I¡¯m annoyed by her.¡±
[You returned to Misaki City not only to let your daughter have the love of two mothers but also for Yuko. Living in Misaki City meant that Honoka could visit your home often.]
[You prepared for the civil service exam again and sessfully became an education officer in Misaki City.]
[Your outstanding abilities, emotional intelligence, and appearance made you thrive in your role. You quickly gained the appreciation of your superiors and were given important responsibilities. Your path to promotion was smooth, and you began to get acquainted with politicians.]
[When you were 39, the influential Assemblyman Shimada in the education sector asked if you would divorce your current wife and marry his daughter. You refused. This refusal interrupted your promotion path in the education system.]
[That same year, Assemblyman Ichinose extended an olive branch, inviting you to be his aide and assist him.][You decisively resigned from the education system and joined the Ichinose family. There, you reconnected with the long-lost Ichinose Shiori. To your surprise, Ichinose Shiori had royal blood and was now the gatekeeper at Seikenji Temple.]
[Apanied by the ancient temple, Ichinose Shiori briefly chatted about the past with you, and then you lost contact again.]
[At the Ichinose family, you learned many political techniques and uncovered many secrets. You quickly stood out among the many aides and became Assemblyman Ichinose¡¯s right-hand man.]
[At the age of 47, Assemblyman Ichinose became the Vice Minister of General Affairs, and you became his secretary, getting your first close look at the center of Japanese politics.]
[Eight yearster, Assemblyman Ichinose was promoted to Minister of General Affairs. With the support of the Ichinose family, you were elected as a member of the House of Representatives.]
[At 71, you became the Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. After the Minister resigned due to a scandal, you were promoted to Minister, entering the cab.]
[With the support of the Ichinose faction, you significantly weakened the influence of Assemblyman Shimada, who had offended you in the past, within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.]
[At 85, after holding many key positions, you announced that you would no longer run for office and retired from politics.]
[Your political career could be described as a legend of amoner rising to power. Your zero-scandal record became a benchmark for integrity, inspiring many young people.]
[You were not interested in external fame. In your retirement, you traveled around with Yuko. Due to your advanced age, you could no longer engage in strenuous activities, which left you with some regrets.]
[Your father passed away when you were 77, and your mother passed away a couple of yearster. They lived longer because you, with your influence, provided them with top-notch medical care.]
[Honoka and Nakajima Yohei passed away one after the other when you were 68. They refused to spend their twilight years in the hospital.]
[Mayuri changed her nationality to a Nordic country at 53 and married Chitose Kazumi.]
¡°¡?¡±
Minami Yuuki, peacefully watching the simted life in hister years, was shocked by this explosive news!
What was going on with his daughter? How could she marry Chitose Kazumi!
That¡¯s your dad¡¯s friend!
And Chitose Kazumi, how could you go after your friend¡¯s daughter!
Is this how you repay our years of friendship?
He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling conflicted.
Well, Mayuri and Kazumi are family, so keeping things within the family might be a good thing.
By the way, Miu was like this before, and it¡¯s unclear about Rikka due to the simtion text not mentioning much. One daughter could be a coincidence, but now there¡¯s another one, Mayuri¡ Is it in the bloodline?
Both Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko have these hidden genes!
Who would¡¯ve thought you were such women!
Minami Yuuki did not reflect on himself at all and continued to watch the simtion interface.
[They did not leave the Asano family after getting married and continued living with Asano Nao.]
[You are an open-minded person, and Yuko doesn¡¯t care about societal norms. Neither of you interfered with your daughter¡¯s life and wished them happiness.]
[Asano Nao passed away at 96, Chitose Kazumi at 97, Minami Yuko at 101, and you at 101.]
[Mayuri held funerals for all of you in session. She wrote a memoir, recalling her life and remembering you.]
[Simtion Ended]
It¡¯s over.
Minami Yuuki sighed and got up from the bed.
Outside the window, the twilight was magnificent. The evening sun, appearing wider than during the day, showed a corner of orange-red between two tall buildings, about to sink into the horizon.
[Summary of this Session]
[Score: 93]
[Life Stages: Pursuit Phase, Love Phase, Warmth Phase]
[Commentary: You untied her heart¡¯s knots, allowing her to experience love through actions, and soothed her wounds with the return of love. You spent a fulfilling life together. Near your death, you had a slight regret of not being able topete for the position of Prime Minister.]
[Reward: You received [Skill Point*1]]
Minami Yuuki clicked his tongue. The Prime Minister of Japan is often referred to as the Cab Prime Minister, and this time, he really had high aspirations.
Speaking of which, thest time he got 80 points, he was rewarded with a skill extraction opportunity.
Should he extract the political experience from this life?
This thought shed through Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind and disappeared.
He valued the free simtion opportunity, also an 80-point reward, more than the skill extraction opportunity.
Besides, there was also the 90-point reward.
He eagerly looked down, and sure enough, as long as he scored 90 points, he would get the dream movie.
[Youpleted a fulfilling life (score greater than or equal to 90)]
[You received [Skill Point*1]]
[You received a mysterious reward]
[Would you like to im the mysterious reward?]
[Please note that the mysterious reward will activate in your dreams]
Minami Yuuki clicked no; it was almost dinner time, and he would im it after eating.
As dusk fell, it was gettingte. He swiped his finger to dismiss the simtor interface, but another popup appeared.
[Detected that you havepleted two fulfilling lives, unlocking the peripheral exchange project]
Peripherals?
Minami Yuuki clicked in, revealing an interface simr to an electronic catalog.
[Yuko¡¯s Photo (You can freely select a scene from your simted life): 3 simtion attempts]
[Nao¡¯s Photo (¡): 3 simtion attempts]
[Miu¡¯s Photo: 5 simtion attempts]
[Mayuri¡¯s Photo: 5 simtion attempts]
[Rikka¡¯s Photo: 5 simtion attempts]
[Group Photo: 50 simtion attempts]
Seeing these photos, Minami Yuuki¡¯s first reaction was joy. Although he could see his wife and daughters in dream movies, having actual photos to touch and admire was more satisfying.
Then he noticed the prices marked after the photos.
Swindlers!
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Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Minami Yuuki swiped through the main interface. He only had 0.5 simtion attempts, but even the cheapest photos of Nao and Yuko required 3 attempts.
It seemed that this merchandise exchange function was irrelevant to him for the time being.
After closing all interfaces, Minami Yuuki propped himself up on the bed. The sun had already half set; it was time to go to the Asano house.
Tonight¡¯s dinner was barbecue. The weather wasn¡¯t particrly cold, and the heat from the electric grill turned the pink meat brown, raising the temperature a bit.
After eating, Minami Yuuki picked up the guitar he had left at the Asano house and began to y a melody from memory.
He yed the piece he had written for Asano Nao on the guitar. The melodious music gradually carried Asano Nao¡¯s thoughts to a distant ce.
¡°What are you thinking about, sis?¡± Minami Yuuki asked, putting down the guitar pick and looking at her.
At the dining table, Asano Nao rested her chin in her hand, her eyes unfocused, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond reality. She had reverted to her usual attire¡ªa bright orange tracksuit that harmonized well with the walnut-colored table. Her disheveled bangs partially obscured her face behind ck-framed sses, revealing her beautiful eyes intermittently.
¡°Nothing!¡± Asano Nao snapped out of her reverie. She had been thinking about Minami Yuuki¡¯s back in VR, about the gray mole below his shoulder de, and about whether the scene in her dream could exist in the future.The beauty of the dream was like a bright full moon, captivating her. But she first needed to know whether this bright moon was a tangible treasure hanging in the sky or a reflection in the Milky Way.
The only method she could think of to verify this was to confirm the existence of the mole on the boy¡¯s back.
¡°Thinking naughty thoughts?¡± The boy squinted, a mischievous smile ying on his lips.
¡°No!¡± Asano Nao denied again, blushing.
It wasn¡¯t wrong to say she was thinking naughty thoughts; she was indeed thinking about the boy¡¯s bare back.
¡°There¡¯s a legend at Misaki Grand Shrine that if you lie to the boy you love, your love will never prosper. Sis, were you thinking naughty thoughts?¡±
¡°¡Yes.¡±
¡°What were you thinking?¡±
¡°Can I not answer?¡±
¡°Then you¡¯ll face divine punishment even more!¡±
¡°¡I was thinking about Yuuki-kun¡¯s back.¡±
¡°After all, Sis is at that age. Rather, I¡¯m a bit surprised it was only to this extent.¡±
Asano Nao was first touched by Minami Yuuki¡¯s understanding, then ashamed of her sordid fantasies. She covered her face and slumped over the table, tormented by a sense of shame.
¡°Is there really such a legend?¡± she asked cautiously.
¡°Of course not.¡±
As expected, she had been fooled again, tricked by Yuuki-kun!
¡°Take your time thinking, Sis. I¡¯m going home.¡± Getting up from the sofa, Minami Yuuki walked towards the entrance.
¡°Oh, right.¡± He stopped, recalling the closeness between Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao in the simted life.
He said to the curious Asano Nao, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce someone to you in the next couple of days, so be prepared.¡±
Asano Nao instantly guessed the person¡¯s name. If Yuuki-kun were to introduce someone, it could only be Chitose Kazumi!
She quickly realized that this was also a way to verify the uracy of her dream!
After all, she had never seen or heard of Chitose Kazumi before. If Chitose Kazumi indeed appeared in her life, it would prove that the dream was real, that she and Minami Yuuki could have a beautiful future, and that Miu and Rikka would exist!
Her spirits lifted, and she looked forward to the meeting.
¡.
The night sky was pitch ck, and the dim light of the waning moon shone faintly. Minami Yuuki left the Asano house and walked toward his apartment. On the way, he pondered Asano Nao¡¯s recent behavior, finding it strange.
Hasn¡¯t the socially anxious older sister been acting a bit too normaltely?
When he teased Asano Nao just now, Minami Yuuki thought she would break under the emotional pressure after admitting her naughty thoughts and run upstairs to her bedroom like an ostrich. To his surprise, she merelyy on the table in embarrassment.
Thinking carefully, even her reaction to the curtain therapy sessions had been unusually mild. It seemed Asano Nao had quickly gotten used to the sunlight and passersby outside the window.
It¡¯s probably a small butterfly effect.
Not dwelling on it, Minami Yuuki entered his apartment. In front of the elevator, he saw a familiar figure.
¡°Good evening, Senpai,¡± he greeted Ibuki Yuko.
The girl was holding a stic bag filled with ingredients for dinner.
¡°Hmm.¡± The girl was very cold.
¡°Don¡¯t just say ¡®hmm,¡¯ say ¡®good evening,''¡± Minami Yuuki corrected her.
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°As expected of Ibuki-senpai!¡± Minami Yuuki gave her a thumbs up. This indifferent reaction matched his impression of Ibuki Yuko perfectly.
While Asano Nao had strangely changed, at least Ibuki Yuko remained the same.
The elevator door opened, and Minami Yuuki entered together with Ibuki Yuko. He didn¡¯t speak to her further.
Now, the Ibuki Yuko phase had passed. After using the free simtion to experience the warmth of married life, he could move on to the next version and experience a romantic rtionship with the next young woman. There was no need to linger on this little Yuko-mama.
Mainly, there was no use in lingering. Minami Yuuki liked this doll-like girl a lot, but what he was fond of was the way the doll-like girl loved him.
He nced at Ibuki Yuko. The girl stood motionless, staring at the floor numbers on the elevator¡¯s LCD panel.
The current doll-like girl loved no one.
Her turning point was still many days away, during the summer vacation more than two months from now.
Better to think about how to obtain the next simtion target.
Ichinose Shiori¡¯s name had not appeared on the panel for a long time. He didn¡¯t know whether it was due to insufficient rtionship points or if she simply wasn¡¯t a simtion target. It was time to get in touch with other candidates, like Nakajima Youhei¡¯s daughter.
But there was no rush. Every new version required many simtion attempts for trial and error, so he needed to save up simtion attempts first.
Thinking of this, he couldn¡¯t help but look at Ibuki Yuko again. If only he could get simtion points from her.
But that was impossible. Inducing or forcing Ibuki Yuko to fold paper cranes was easy, but obtaining simtion attempts required more than just paper cranes; it also required heartfelt intention.
The current Ibuki Yuko had no such intention.
They reached the sixth floor. Minami Yuuki stepped out of the elevator and returned to his room. Hey on his bed.
[Love Simtor]
[Bound yer: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 1.5]
This extra simtion attempts wasn¡¯t from folding paper cranes with Asano Nao and Minami Airi. Even Minami Yuuki felt embarrassed about frequently taking up their time.
This simtion point was restored over time. The reason Minami Yuuki left the Asano house in a hurry was because he had received a notification about the increase in simtion attempts. These attempts only restored once a week, making the process very slow.
Now, he nned to use this simtion attempt for a free simtion to enjoy daily life with Minami Yuko and Minami Mayuri.
Before starting the simtion, he decided to take a nap. He still hadn¡¯t imed the mysterious reward. He would im it, enjoy a dream movie with Yuko, and then choose the free simtion time period. This would also help soothe the heart that had just been coldly treated by Ibuki Yuko.
[im Mysterious Reward?]
[Note: The mysterious reward will be activated in your dreams]
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Chapter 97
Chapter 97
[Sessfully imed]
[Mystery Reward Has Been Issued]
[Mystery Reward Has Been Issued]
Two notifications again?
When Minami Yuuki first received a mystery reward with Asano Nao, he was puzzled by the double notification. He thought it meant two rewards, but the actual reward was just one dream movie, with no second part.
Could it be that the simtor uses repeated text for emphasis? But this had never appeared in other notifications.
Unable to figure it out, Minami Yuuki decided to stop thinking about it. He wasn¡¯t one to dig to the root of things, finding it silly to dwell on questions he couldn¡¯t answer and to make hypotheses without practical significance.
After a simple wash, he changed into his pajamas andy on the bed. Sleep came faster than he expected, and his mind quickly sank into darkness.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself standing in the hallway of a dream cinema. This time, he wasn¡¯t in the movie viewing room but in a dimly lit hallway.There were two doors to viewing rooms on either side of the hallway. Each door had a glowing sign with a number: 1 and 2.
Minami Yuuki entered Viewing Room 1, where the screen disyed the title ¡°Yuuki and Nao.¡± Next to the central seat was a VR headset.
Viewing Room 1 was the same as before.
Leaving Viewing Room 1, Minami Yuuki stepped into the door of Viewing Room 2. He sat in the central seat and looked at therge screen.
[Yuuki and Yuko]
[Directors: Minami Yuuki, Ibuki Yuko]
[Starring: Minami Yuuki, Ibuki Yuko, Minami Mayuri]
[Rating: 93]
The screen suddenly went ck, then his familiar apartment appeared on the screen.
Watching his story from a third-person perspective was refreshing, allowing him to notice details he hadn¡¯t seen before. As the scenes changed, the emotions and sensations from the movie flowed into Minami Yuuki. He closed his eyes; there was no need to watch the screen as everything yed out in his mind.
The disappointment and monotony of being ignored by Yuko, the joy and surprise of identally gaining the girl¡¯s concern, the ease and excitement of spending time with her, the headache and happiness of dealing with their mother-daughter rtionship¡
The emotions from the simted life flowed through Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart, rushing forward like a river formed by the screen¡¯s images. This was the river of his life.
Reluctantly, the final scene ended abruptly.
The screen went ck, and his consciousness followed into darkness.
When he opened his eyes, the faint light of dawn filtered through the thinly lit sky. The sparrows¡¯ chirping and the cool morning breeze blew through a partially open window.
He reached for the cup on his bedside table, gulping down a big mouthful. The cool water made him feel a few degrees cooler, clearing his mind. The sorrow and mncholy from the end of the dream movie, the separation from Yuko and Mayuri, swept away like dust.
But as the coolness faded, the mncholy returned.
Maybe he should just go with Ibuki Yuko. The doll-like mother and tsundere daughter were both adorable.
Such thoughts shed through Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
Before acting on them, he snapped back to reality.
Minami Yuuki, how could you think that? Is Nao¡¯s figure not good enough? Is Miu not obedient enough? How could you deny Nao and Miu¡¯s charm just because of a fleeting emotion from a movie?
And there are many more like Nao and Miu waiting for you to discover!
Patting his face, stiff from sleep, Minami Yuuki opened the simtor interface.
[You have acquired the dream movie ¡°Yuuki and Yuko¡±]
[You can rewatch it in your dreams, once per day.]
Swipe away this screen to return to the initial interface, Minami Yuuki.
The dream movie ¡°Yuki and Yuko¡± leaves you wanting more. It¡¯s time to use the free simtion and personally experience the cuteness of Yuko and Mayuri!
[Love Simtor]
[Bound yer: Minami Yuuki]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 1.5]
[Avable Simtion Targets: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko, Nakajima Reina]
Selecting Ibuki Yuko, loading the previous simted life!
Wait a minute, something seems off.
Minami Yuuki moves the simtion interface aside and looks back at the initial screen.
The list of avable simtion targets seems longer. Who is this name after Ibuki Yuko? Nakajima Reina? Who is that?
Minami Yuuki scratches his head, trying hard to recall any information about this name.
First, he performs a precise search for ¡°Nakajima Reina,¡± but finds nothing, so he switches to a vague search for ¡°Nakajima¡± and ¡°Reina.¡± When searching for ¡°Nakajima,¡± he associates it with Nakajima Yohei.
Could it be that this Nakajima Reina is Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter?
Last night, he was thinking about approaching her, and today she just appears as an avable simtion target?
What did I do? Isn¡¯t it supposed to require a connection before someone bes a simtion target?
If he didn¡¯t know for sure that he doesn¡¯t have a habit of sleepwalking, Minami Yuuki would suspect he snuck outst night and met Nakajima Reina in his sleep.
What he can be sure of now is that the problem is not on his end, so it must be an issue on Nakajima Reina¡¯s side.
I¡¯ll ask Nakajima Yohei about it at school.
Setting this issue aside, Minami Yuuki continues with his n.
Select the previous simted life and load it!
[Simtion Start]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 0.5]
[Simtion Target: Ibuki Yuko]
[Loading Time Point: Emotional Midpoint]
[Due to the vague nature of the node, a random day within this period will be selected as the scene]
[Summary: Ibuki Yuko¡¯sck of will in life displeases you. You follow her, trying to find proof of her remaining emotions in the moment of life and death as a truck approaches her.]
[By a twist of fate, Ibuki Yuko mistakes you for a fellow suicidal person and saves you. In your apparent attempt at suicide, she sees a reflection of herself and pulls you away from death, thus also pulling herself back.]
[You keenly grasp the girl¡¯s inner world, realizing she cannot ignore your death. You then pretend to be suicidal, repeatedly appearing around Ibuki Yuko, forcing her to stop you.]
[You guided Ibuki Yuko¡¯s actions, and in these actions driven by her own will, she gradually regained some of her emotions. She fell in love with you.]
[However, this abruptly revived emotion inevitably grew distorted, magnified by Ibuki Yuko¡¯s childhood experiences. The girl, fearing you might suddenly leave, wanted to possess youpletely.]
[After the birth of your daughter Mayuri, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s psychological issues became more pronounced. She started to reject her daughter because the daughter would take away part of your love.]
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Chapter 98
Chapter 98
[After discovering the conflict between Ibuki Yuko and your daughter, you sent Mayuri to your parents¡¯ home. Ibuki Yuko was already prepared to be reprimanded by you and had prepared herself to pretend to be a good mother. She was moved by your understanding in sending your daughter away.]
[When Mayuri was in the second grade, you thought Ibuki Yuko should have calmed down by then, realizing that her daughter was not an enemy or an outsider intruding on your rtionship. You asked Honoka to talk to Yuko, while you went back to your parents¡¯ home to console your daughter, who was upset from not receiving your love.]
[Ibuki Yuko finally agreed to live with her daughter. After spending time together, the proud but naive Mayuri was quickly manipted by Ibuki Yuko. This reassured Ibuki Yukopletely; such a simple-minded daughter could not be her opponent and could not steal your affection.]
[When Mayuri was in the fourth grade, you moved back to Misaki City and bought a single-family home not far from the Nakajima house.]
[Today is an ordinary summer day. Mayuri is 15 years old. She has inherited the intelligence of both you and Yuko but does not enjoy studying or socializing. She often visits the Asano family to y games with Aunt Kazumi and Aunt Nao. Ibuki Yuko works at a school and has many holidays. In her free time, she either takes care of you or bullies Mayuri. You are on the verge of a promotion at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and are busyworking.]
The simted text stops, and a pop-up appears.
[Free simtion is about to begin. Please lie down in a safe ce. This simtion will take 30 minutes of real time (24 hours of simted time).]
Minami Yuuki gets up and opens the window wider to let the cool morning breeze blow away the stuffiness of the night.
Lying down in the bed, he clicks [Confirm.][Free simtion begins.]
The bedroom was shrouded in darkness, with ckout curtains tightly drawn and security measures in ce. Only a few rays of light managed to sneak in through the edges, creating narrow patches of light on the floor.
At the head of the bed, two wooden desks were ced side by side. One was neat and tidy, while the other was piled high with documents, which even spilled over the gap between the desks, encroaching on the corner of the other desk.
On the beige double bed, Minami Yuuki opened his eyes. He sat up and looked around. The sensation of his joints and muscles moving was vividly clear, and he could distinctly feel the difference in temperature inside and outside the nket. The air conditioner in the opposite corner emitted a faint hum.
Even though it was his second time using the free simtion, it still felt novel to him. The realism and freedom of it made him feel as if he had been transported to a real world.
He felt a bit disappointed that Ibuki Yuko was not sleeping beside him; otherwise, he could have started with the most important thing.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard footsteps outside the door. He quicklyy back down and squinted his eyes.
The bedroom door gently opened, and Ibuki Yuko peeked her head in to check on her husband in bed.
Is he still sleeping? The sun is already high in the sky. What azy child. Such a child needs to be severely punished!
She stepped into the bedroom, slowly closed the door, and quietly walked over to Minami Yuuki.
She took off her slippers, then removed her socks, and slipped into Minami Yuuki¡¯s bed.
The nket, warm with her husband¡¯s body heat, made her body hot and her heart race.
She stared at Minami Yuuki¡¯s face for a while, kissed his lips, sat on top of him, and pulled up his pajamas.
Minami Yuuki had intended to pretend to sleep and make unreasonable demands on his wife, but he hadn¡¯t expected Yuko to be so proactive.
He opened his eyes and looked directly at his wife.
¡°This is the punishment for sleeping in,¡± Ibuki Yuko exined softly, guiltily letting go of his pajamas.
¡°A truly good mother wouldn¡¯t punish a child just for sleeping in,¡± Minami Yuuki said, grasping his wife¡¯s slender waist and pushing her down onto the bed. ¡°A bad mother like you deserves a good punishment!¡±
The passage of time had left little trace on his wife. Even though she was the mother of a teenage girl, she still looked like a charming middle schooler, with a petite figure, smooth skin, a tender voice, and adorable expressions.
The patches of light by the curtains grew narrower as the sun climbed higher in the sky.
Mayuri, sitting in the downstairs living room, had waited a long time for her parents toe down. She went upstairs and knocked on the door.
¡°Wake up, youzy pigs!¡±
No one responded to her; the two people inside were very busy.
It wasn¡¯t until noon that Minami Yuuki and Yuko finally came out to shower and headed downstairs.
¡°I¡¯m supposed to go y with Nao-san and Kazumi-san today! You should have gotten up earlier!¡± Mayuriined as she walked into the kitchen.
She turned on the stove and poured in some cooking oil. ¡°How can you both sleep in like kids? Especially you, Mom. You got up and then went back to sleep! That¡¯s worse than a child!¡±
¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re not kids anymore that we stay in bed in the morning,¡± Yuko said, sitting on the bench at the dining table.
Having a bench at the dining table was unusual, but it was Yuko¡¯s preference. Individual chairs couldn¡¯t let her sit close to Minami Yuuki, but a bench could.
¡°That makes no sense!¡± Mayuri retorted.
¡°A child like you wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Yuko said with a slight, smug smile.
Mayuri, at an age where she longed for maturity, puffed out her cheeks at these words.
¡°I¡¯m taller than you now!¡± she said.
¡°If height was the measure of maturity, then giraffes would be the most mature beings.¡±
Unable toe up with a retort, the young girl sulked, cracking an egg with unnecessary force.
Minami Yuuki stepped in to change the subject. ¡°Why is Mayuri making breakfast today?¡±
The girl, busy with breakfast, turned her head away, not wanting to discuss the topic.
Yuko wrapped her arm around Minami Yuuki¡¯s, a hint of pride on her otherwise expressionless face. ¡°Because she lost a gamest night. Not just breakfast, she¡¯s doing all the chores today.¡±
¡°She lost a game?¡± Minami Yuuki was surprised.
Yuko wasn¡¯t fond of games, while Mayuri was almost obsessed with them. Even if Yuko was sharper, she shouldn¡¯t have been able to beat her daughter in something she excelled at.
¡°Mom cheated!¡± Mayuri red angrily at her petite mother. ¡°We were racing to clear levels, and she used a bug to fly from the start to the end. This game doesn¡¯t even have a flying feature!¡±
Yuko felt no shame at her daughter¡¯s usation. She simply shed a peace sign. ¡°Before the race, we agreed that anything in the game could be used.¡±
¡°I thought you meant using items to skip levels, not bugs!¡±
¡°Hmph, losers always make excuses.¡±
Seeing Mayuri¡¯s hand trembling with anger as she held the spat, Minami Yuuki quickly tried to change the subject again. ¡°What¡¯s for breakfast? Have your cooking skills improved, Mayuri?¡±
¡°Of course they have! I make breakfast half the time!¡±
This topic shift wasn¡¯t sessful.
Remembering how her mother constantly tricked her and how she had been doing chores since elementary school, Mayuri¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. It wasn¡¯t the chores that upset her; it was the humiliation of always losing to her mother in every littlepetition.
Being a strong-willed child, Mayuri didn¡¯t like talking about her failures. But this time, she couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions and revealed something she had kept hidden for a long time.
¡°Dad, did you know? When we first moved to Misaki, Mom tricked me into thinking I wasn¡¯t your biological child and that I was adopted from an orphanage! I felt guilty for so long and didn¡¯t dare to refuse when she made me do chores!¡±
Minami Yuuki sifted through his memories.
Mayuri had indeed been exceptionally obedient back then; he had thought she was bing a model child.
He turned to his wife.
Yuko averted her eyes guiltily. ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying. I just thought the adoption papers were fun, so I filled in Mayuri¡¯s name and left them on the table where she identally saw them.¡±
That definitely sounded premeditated!
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Chapter 99
Chapter 99
After Mayuri finishedining, most of her grievances dissipated.
Typically, at this age, teenagers are either exceptionally sensitive, dwelling on every little action and detail, or they be engrossed in their own little world, paying little attention to anything else.
Mayuri was thetter; apart from games, everything else was just a part of life¡¯s background, not something she cared much about.
When Yuko walked into the kitchen and handed her a 1,000 yen hush fee, Mayuri immediately stoppedining. Yuko then handed her another 1,000 yen, and Mayuri smiled.
Returning to sit beside Minami Yuuki, Yuko wiped her forehead, looking as if she had gone through a lot of trouble.
¡°All settled,¡± she said, forming a V with her index and middle fingers.
¡°That¡¯s a dirty way to solve things,¡± Minami Yuuki remarked.
¡°Dirty is reality. Maturity is dirty. Dirtiness is the way of the world.¡±
¡°Well, if Mayuri has no objections, then neither do I.¡±Mayuri was already nning what to buy with the 2,000 yen. Having reached an out-of-court settlement, she withdrew herint from Minami Yuuki¡¯s court.
She ced the cooked eggs and ham between slices of bread and served them to Minami Yuuki and Yuko, then took off her apron.
¡°I¡¯m heading to Nao-san¡¯s ce. I won¡¯t be home for lunch,¡± she said, picking up her small handbag.
The handbag was pink, with a heart-shaped golden sp on the p, very fitting for a young girl. However, inside, she packed a handheld console and game discs, items unrted to traditional girlhood.
¡°Stay safe,¡± Minami Yuuki said.
¡°Come back a bitter,¡± Yuko added.
¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Mayuri said, returning from the doorway, ¡°Dad, do you have time tonight? Nao-san said she could lend me the Double Star game disc. Kazumi-san and Nao-san have already yed it, and I don¡¯t want to make them y it again.¡±
¡°No!¡± Yuko clung tightly to her husband¡¯s arm.
¡°Yes,¡± Minami Yuuki replied.
¡°Yay!¡± Mayuri cheered, clenching her small fists in excitement.
¡°Not allowed,¡± Yuko tugged on Minami Yuuki¡¯s arm. She puffed out her cheeks and stared into her husband¡¯s eyes.
Today was a rare day off, and she had nned to have Minami Yuuki all to herself.
Now their daughter was stealing some of that time!
She had to reim it!
¡°Mom, how old are you? Stop pretending to be cute; it¡¯s shameless!¡± Mayuri pulled at her eyelids, making a funny face.
¡°I am actually cuter than you, Mayuri,¡± Yuko said, pressing her index fingers to the corners of her mouth and pulling out a smile.
She was telling the truth. Mayuri, nearly in high school, was already 170 cm tall, looking very much like an adult, while Yuko, in her thirties, still resembled a middle schooler.
When the family went out, although people didn¡¯t mistake Mayuri for Yuko¡¯s mother, they often thought Yuko was Mayuri¡¯s younger sister.
This made Mayuri very upset. She didn¡¯t want a mother who looked like her sister.
¡°Immature olddy!¡± Mayuri snorted and dashed out the door.
Her clumsy movements caused the door to open and close noisily, the sound echoing through the quiet living room.
¡°No ying games with her tonight,¡± Yuko said, shaking her husband¡¯s arm. She leaned her face close to Minami Yuuki¡¯s. Her doll-like, adorably innocent face made him a little dizzy.
Compared to her younger self, Yuko had be more straightforward and bold. She would cling to Minami Yuuki and directly state her desires.
¡°What should we do if we don¡¯t y games?¡± Minami Yuuki was reluctant to agree.
With only a day for free simtion, time should be evenly split between mother and daughter. How could he neglect his daughter just because her mother was cute?
¡°Me,¡± Yuko said, moving even closer to her husband¡¯s face.
She intended to exert a sense of pressure, but all she disyed was her beauty, and all she revealed was temptation.
Minami Yuuki bit down on her cherry-colored lips.
¡
The sky was filled with many thin clouds, and as the setting sun dipped behind them, its light scattered, resembling an orange egg yolk spreading in a cdon bowl.
Chitose Kazumi drove Mayuri to her doorstep, where she hastily bid her goodbye and entered the house.
Even though her dad had agreed to let her y games, she still worried her mom might intervene and spoil her ns. Opening the living room door, she finally felt at ease.
Minami Yuuki was sitting on the sofa in front of the TV, flipping through a manga magazine out of boredom.
Mayuri quickly walked over to her father and looked around. ¡°Where¡¯s mom?¡± she asked.
She noticed a mysterious smile on her father¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t be able to bother us for a while,¡± he replied.
At fifteen, Mayuri had gleaned some understanding of adult matters from her games, but although curious, she didn¡¯t press further.
She inserted the game disc into the console, grabbed a controller, and jumped onto the sofa, lying next to Minami Yuuki.
Resting her head on her father¡¯s shoulder, her cheek against his corbone, she felt the firmness and warmth of his shoulder.
If her mom were here, she would be pulling her away from her dad¡¯s side. Only when her mom was absent could she enjoy her dad¡¯s embrace.
Handing the other controller to her father, she leaned over to rest her head on hisp.
¡°Let¡¯s start. Which character will you choose, Dad?¡± she asked.
¡°I¡¯ll be Mom,¡± Minami Yuuki selected a female character.
¡°Then I¡¯ll be Dad,¡± Mayuri chose the remaining male doll.
Her youthful energy made her restless even while gaming. She constantly changed positions¡ªsitting and leaning on Minami Yuuki¡¯s shoulder, squatting and leaning on his shoulder, resting her head on his thigh, legs on his thigh, and eventually sprawling entirely across his body¡
When she lifted her foot onto Minami Yuuki¡¯s shoulder, the man couldn¡¯t hold back and grabbed her ankle. ¡°Watch your image, you¡¯re wearing a skirt!¡±
¡°So what? Mom isn¡¯t here, it doesn¡¯t matter. Besides, I¡¯m wearing leggings underneath.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not okay even if mom isn¡¯t here¡ Wait, that sounds strange. Shouldn¡¯t it be that it¡¯s okay because I¡¯m your dad? You¡¯re turning our father-daughter bond into something like an affair behind mom¡¯s back!¡±
The word ¡°affair¡± was too much for Mayuri; she immediately sat upright, her face turning red.
¡°How are Nao and Kazumi?¡± Minami Yuuki asked while controlling his character in the game.
¡°Not much has changed. They often ask about your rtionship with Mom. They seem really worried about you two.¡±
Minami Yuuki nced at the girl and thought, ¡°My foolish daughter, do you think they¡¯re worried about your parents¡¯ rtionship? They want to be your stepmother!¡±
¡°I want to switch characters, let me y as Mom!¡±
Mayuri and Minami Yuuki exchanged controllers, and she becamepletely engrossed in the game.
Minami Yuuki had nned to y with her all night. He had spent the day with Yuko, so he wanted to dedicate the night to his daughter. However, his willful daughter ended up falling asleep on hisp in the early morning hours.
He carried Mayuri back to her room, took off her shoes and socks, tucked her in, and then returned to his own bedroom.
The noise of him getting into bed woke up Minami Yuko. Half-asleep, she reached out her arms like a doll and wrapped them around his neck, holding him close before falling back into a deep sleep.
Minami Yuuki embraced his wife¡¯s waist, and by the moonlight filtering through the half-drawn curtains, he admired her sleeping face.
The faint moon shadows outside couldn¡¯tpare to the delicate flutter of her eyshes and the rise and fall of her chest beside him.
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Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Opening his eyes, Minami Yuuki saw the familiar ceiling. He reached out to his side, but the warm, soft body of his wife was gone.
The spacious double bed had be a narrow single bed. His hand extended beyond the nket, and the wind from the balcony brushed through his fingers.
The free simtion had ended. A pop-up window appeared in front of him:
[Free Simtion Ended]
He swiped away the window, revealing the simtion text interface. The ongoing simtion was not much different from the previous ones, and it quickly came to an end.
[Simtion Ended]
[No summary provided due to the emotional progress being too simr]
Outside, the sun had fully risen, and the chirping sparrows had flown off to somewhere unknown. Minami Yuuki nced at his phone; it was just seven o¡¯clock, still early.
He ced a pillow behind his back andy down at the head of the bed, reminiscing about the day with Yuko and Mayuri.It was wonderful.
An unusually proactive petite wife, a daughter who loved ying games, and their noisy, lively mother-daughter rtionship.
It was apletely different experience from thest free simtion.
In Asano Nao¡¯s simted life, there was an exceptionally shy, well-endowed wife, a diligent and motivated daughter, and a harmonious, loving mother-daughter rtionship.
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t help butpare the experiences of the two simtions. Which wife, which daughter was better?
The answer was neither. Their styles were so different that it was impossible topare.
He recalled the various attempts in his multiple simted lives. Compared to Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s simtion went much smoother, which was also rted to the girl¡¯s personality. Unlike Nao, who silently endured pressure, Yuko was extremely proactive.
Asano Nao suffered a lot because of her daughter, while Ibuki Yuko¡ chose to push her daughter aside, unwilling to wrong herself even if it meant wronging her daughter.
The main difficulty in Asano Nao¡¯s simted life was after falling in love, while in Ibuki Yuko¡¯s life, it was before falling in love. There were significant differences in every aspect.
Thinking this, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the real Ibuki Yuko. He looked at the ceiling, towards the direction of Ibuki¡¯s apartment on the 11th floor.
What was Ibuki Yuko doing now?
¡
Ibuki Yuko had just woken up from a dream.
The Ibuki family¡¯s apartment had only one more living room than Minami Yuuki¡¯s. The girl and her mother slept in the same bedroom, with Ibuki Yuko on a folding bed and Honoka on a double bed.
The girl suddenly sat up from the folding bed. She opened her mouth, wanting to shout, but stopped when she realized she was back in the apartment.
She recalled the scenes from her dream: the movie theater in the dream, the movie in the dream, the VR sses, and the experience after putting them on.
Everything was vivid and unfaded, even though dreams should quickly fade upon waking.
Was it really just a dream? Ibuki Yuko keenly sensed that the moment she thought this, it proved that it was more than just a dream.
Normally, she wouldn¡¯t be so fixated on a dream.
In that emotionallymunicative dream movie, Ibuki Yuko experienced long-forgotten joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. She felt the budding of her own romantic feelings and the growth of her love.
It was too sneaky. Forcing emotions into her body like this.
The girl covered her chest, feeling her heart pounding. The wind leaking through the window was cool on her cheeks, and she realized her face was flushed and burning.
Thinking of the scenes in the VR sses made her whole body heat up.
Minami Yuuki¡ my future husband? My lover?
Like Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko took the dream as a sign of her future.
She repeated the name of the man she was about to fall in love with in her heart, and immediately, she found his image in her memory.
It was the boy who had recently started talking to her out of the blue. Just thinking about Minami Yuuki made her heart race.
The dream movie affected her even more than Asano Nao, not only because Asano Nao had already liked Minami Yuuki, but also because Yuko experienced the emotions in the movie with an empty heart, feeling the warmth in the VR world.
Her heart was like a ss of clear water, and the emotions conveyed by the dream movie were like dye dropped into it, coloring her entire being.
Her mind was now filled with the image of the boy. She recalled thest time she saw Minami Yuuki to ease her inner longing.
The most recent encounter wasst night, in front of the elevator, where Minami Yuuki spoke to her.
What did they say again? Their conversation reyed in Ibuki Yuko¡¯s ears.
¡°Good evening, senpai.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t just say ¡®hmm¡¯, say ¡®good evening¡¯.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
¡°As expected of Ibuki-senpai!¡±
¡°¡¡±
What did I say!
Ibuki Yuko held her head in her hands.
How could I be so cold to my love!
Various ways to apologize shed through her mind quickly.
Maid outfit? School swimsuit? White stockings? Bunny girl? No, her rtionship with Yuuki was still quite ordinary, no need for an apology.
Ibuki Yuko lowered her head in disappointment. She quickly perked up again. From the dream and recent encounters, it was clear that Yuuki cared about her and was actively approaching her.
As long as she cooperated a bit, their rtionship would progress rapidly. Then, she could apologize to Yuuki in various ways!
Getting out of bed, she couldn¡¯t help but smile softly. She quietly left the bedroom, and in the living room, the bright sunlight streamed in through the windows. Even her movements while preparing ingredients and cooking were filled with joy.
When packing the lunch box, she took some food from Honoka¡¯s lunch box and put it into her own. If Minami Yuuki came to her at noon, she could use this to treat the boy.
After getting everything ready, she ate her breakfast, took her lunch box, and left the room. She didn¡¯t need to wake Honoka; the woman would get up on her own.
Entering the elevator, Ibuki Yuko pressed the button for the first floor while her gaze lingered on the sixth floor for a moment.
Is Yuuki still at home?
Thest time she saw him in the morning, he didn¡¯t seem to being from the apartment.
Uncertain of Minami Yuuki¡¯s whereabouts, Ibuki Yuko stood at the school gate, waiting.
She hade out early, so Yuuki should be behind her.
Sure enough, after waiting for ten minutes, she saw Minami Yuuki.
Quickly straightening her clothes, Ibuki Yuko stood still, her heart pounding harder and harder as the boy approached.
She wondered, after Minami Yuuki greeted her, how intimately should she respond?
Should she just say good morning? Confess her love outright? Or take action and hold his arm? First, she ruled out simply responding with ¡°hmm¡±.
Minami Yuuki had now walked up to her. She was ready, waiting for the boy to talk to her, so she could naturally follow him.
However, Minami Yuuki walked right past her.
The boy didn¡¯t pause at all, his steps steady and determined.
¡°¡?¡±
It seemed there was a small problem.
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Chapter 101
Chapter 101
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t speak to Ibuki Yuko not out of indifference but because he was thinking about this clever and cunning doll-like girl.
He didn¡¯t want to greet Ibuki Yuko right now.
The memory of her affectionate and clingy behavior in the free simtion was still fresh in his mind.
If he approached her now and faced her coldness and distance, it would be too cruel for his heart.
He needed to take a break for a day or two. After a while, he would be able to let go of the feelings from the simtion and face her calmly.
The ssroom curtains were wide open, letting in bright sunlight that bathed the boys and girls in their prime.
Chitose Kazumi sat at her desk, reading a light novel. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn¡¯t notice Minami Yuuki¡¯s arrival.
It wasn¡¯t until his school uniform pants entered the edge of her lowered field of vision, and his figure blocked the light on her book, that she looked up, startled, causing her hand to tremble and the book to slide onto the desk.
¡°Is your first reaction to seeing me really fright?¡± Minami Yuuki sighed, pretending to be dejected.¡°No,¡± Chitose Kazumi hastily tried to exin but couldn¡¯t find the words.
She was startled because the person she liked suddenly appeared beside her.
How could she easily say something so embarrassing!
¡°Just saying ¡®no¡¯ isn¡¯t very convincing.¡±
¡°Sorry.¡±
¡°If apologies worked, Japan would have be the number one country in the world long ago.¡±
Chitose Kazumi, backed into a corner, found herself strangely calm in this tight spot.
¡°Bullying me?¡± She realized Minami Yuuki¡¯s intent, looking up at him with a slightly red face.
¡°Not exactly bullying. If you apany me after school, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡±
Her ssmate who sat in front of her walked in, and Minami Yuuki stepped aside, patting Chitose Kazumi on the shoulder. ¡°So, it¡¯s settled.¡±
Huh? I haven¡¯t agreed yet!
Though, there¡¯s no way I could refuse.
Chitose Kazumi covered her burning face.
Apany Yuuki-kun after school? This is a date, right? It must be a date! And today is Friday, which means tomorrow is the weekend. If she used the excuse of staying over at a friend¡¯s house, she could stay out all night!
This wonderful thought, like the dazzling light from the tiles at the window¡¯s edge, made her dizzy. However, that light was quickly blocked. She realized her n had a major w.
Setting aside the question of whether Minami Yuuki, who had previously rejected her, would let her stay over, the main issue was¡ªshe had no friends.
Earlier this month, something happened back in her rural hometown, causing her to start school two dayste. Her ssmates had already formed their groups, and she, not being good at socializing, couldn¡¯t integrate into any of them.
This meant she had no friends to cover for her, making it impossible to stay out all night.
This realization deeply discouraged her, and she was distracted throughout the day¡¯s sses.
She thought about Ibuki Yuko. There were rumors among the girls in the ss that Minami Yuuki had been often seen with hertely.
Could it be that he wanted her to apany him after school to meet Ibuki Yuko and make her give up?
She was anxious and uncertain.
The final bell rang. She hastily packed her pencil case into her bag and looked at Minami Yuuki.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Minami Yuuki said, standing up.
They walked straight out of the school, not heading to the second-year ssrooms or waiting at the school gate, which relieved Chitose Kazumi.
So, they weren¡¯t going to see Ibuki Yuko.
That means it¡¯s a date, right?
Standing in front of the Asano residence, she saw Asano Nao¡¯s figure appear from behind the door, and her fantasies were shattered.
This woman, though dressed inly, had an amazing figure and a beautiful face.
Who is she!
She thought Ibuki Yuko was a formidable rival, but she hadn¡¯t expected the true ¡°big¡± rival to be here! This size difference is too unfair!
Following Minami Yuuki into the house, Chitose Kazumi sat on the sofa, thanking Asano Nao for the oolong tea she served, feeling dejected inside.
No wonder she failed to confess her feelings; such a beautiful woman was by Minami-kun¡¯s side.
¡°This is my older sister, Asano Nao,¡± Minami Yuuki introduced.
So she¡¯s his sister!
The tender sprout of Chitose Kazumi¡¯s emotions, which had wilted, stood tall once again.
Yuuki continued, ¡°As you can see, she¡¯s a stay-at-home girl. I hope you can be her friend, but of course, if you feel ufortable, you can refuse anytime.¡±
How could she refuse?
This was a perfect opportunity to get closer to Minami-kun!
Chitose Kazumi was full of determination as she introduced herself, ¡°I¡¯m Chitose Kazumi. Just call me Kazumi. Can I call you Nao-nee?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Asano Nao replied, equally excited.
Indeed, Chitose Kazumi existed!
That dream was real!
Her happy future with Yuuki-kun was definitely real!
Though there had been a minor mistake, she could correct it with a bit more effort¡ probably.
Nao tapped her head¡ªno ¡°probably¡±!
She couldn¡¯t retreat anymore. In the dream, she had retreated too many times, causing Yuuki-kun so much trouble!
This time, she had to be strong!
Not just for Miu and Rikka, but she needed to have even more daughters!
Go for it!
You¡¯re no longer Asano Nao; you are now¡ªMinami Nao!
Her gaze was resolute.
The two enthusiastic women began conversing in the living room.
Having had few friends since childhood, Chitose Kazumi had read many novels and manga and yed some games. She and the seasoned otaku Asano Nao had a great time discussing these topics.
Initially, Minami Yuuki had to guide the conversation, but once they got into it, he, with his limited ACGN knowledge, couldn¡¯t keep up.
He went upstairs, brought down a game console from Asano Nao¡¯s room, and connected it to the TV in the living room to y.
Kazumi and Nao¡¯s eyes were glued to him.
Seeing the game console in his arms, Nao was d she had hidden all the R18 games under her bed.
Kazumi¡¯s foot, which had been resting on the floor, moved back half a step as she thought about joining Minami Yuuki in the game, but then she remembered she was supposed to apany Nao. Her slightly lifted bottom sank back onto the sofa.
Nao noticed Kazumi¡¯s reaction but was not surprised.
She had already known about Kazumi¡¯s feelings from the dream. In the dream, they were both close friends and rivals. When she left with Miu, she had even thought about leaving Minami Yuuki to Kazumi.
But feelings were feelings, and threats were threats.
With the memories of the future, Nao believed Kazumi posed no threat.
In the future, she hadpletely defeated the girl in front of her, who had no resistance at all!
Kazumi?
Hmph, just a defeated opponent!
Nao was brimming with confidence.
What she didn¡¯t know was that someone with simr thoughts was observing her through the window.
It was Ibuki Yuko.
In a nearby alley outside the Asano residence, Yuko put down her binocrs.
Chitose Kazumi and Asano Nao?
Half an hour ago, she had followed Minami Yuuki from school, seen him and Kazumi enter an unfamiliar house, and used binocrs to get a closer look. It turned out to be the house of Asano Nao, Kazumi¡¯sckey from the dream.
These two were deeply in love with Minami Yuuki. In the dream, even after she married Yuuki, they refused to give up, always lurking nearby, waiting for her to let her guard down so they could pounce on Yuuki.
That Kazumi even managed to whisk away her daughter, Mayuri.
But it wasn¡¯t a big problem.
Although these two were determined, theirbat abilities were very low. In the future, they hadn¡¯t caused her any emotional pressure.
Kazumi, Nao?
Hmph, just defeated opponents!
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Chapter 102
Chapter 102
During dinner, Chitose Kazumi stayed behind, half-willingly, at the insistence of Asano Nao, to help prepare the evening¡¯s dishes.
Although Asano Nao did the actual cooking, Kazumi cut the ingredients.
By rounding up, this meant that she made dinner, and Minami Yuuki was enjoying a meal she had a hand in making!
She was lost in this dream-like post-marriage scenario until the end of dinner. When she reluctantly put down her chopsticks, she realized something.
The color and taste of the dishes on the table were very simr to Minami Yuuki¡¯s lunchbox!
So, it was Nao-nee who made Minami-kun¡¯s lunches!
Last week, when Minami Yuuki, who usually ate bread, took out a lunchbox, she thought he had a new girlfriend and hastily went to confess to him.
Was it a misunderstanding?
Kazumi felt a bit regretful. Would it have been better if she had be friends with him first instead of rushing to confess?No.
She quickly dismissed the thought.
Without that impulsive confession, she might have always remained silent, hiding in the corner, just watching Minami Yuuki.
Thinking of this, she felt a surge of gratitude towards Asano Nao.
The three of them cleaned up the table and washed the dishes together. By the time they finished, it was already dark. Minami Yuuki walked Kazumi to the subway station.
¡°This is far enough,¡± she said, despite her true feelings.
She actually wanted to spend more time with Minami Yuuki, but hermute was over twenty minutes. If Minami Yuuki were to escort her, it would take nearly an hour for a round trip.
¡°Kazumi is so cute; I can¡¯t let you go home alone,¡± Minami Yuuki said, swiping his card at the gate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stop at a distance from your house, so your parents won¡¯t misunderstand.¡±
It¡¯s not about misunderstanding; in fact, a misunderstanding would be better, Kazumi thought to herself.
She hurried to catch up with Minami Yuuki, clutching her bag.
¡°What do you think of Nao-nee?¡± Yuuki asked while they waited for the train.
¡°She¡¯s very pretty,¡± Kazumi replied.
And her figure is amazing. I consider myself above average, but I feel a bit inferior next to her. She added in her mind.
¡°I meant her personality and how you felt interacting with her.¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± Kazumi blushed.
Why did I think about her looks? This kind of question is obviously about how the interaction felt!
Does Minami-kun think I¡¯m weird? Although Nao-nee¡¯s appearance and figure did make my heart flutter a bit, this is just pure friendship between girls!
Understanding what Yuuki meant, she answered, ¡°She seems very kind and easy to get along with. I¡¯ll visit often.¡±
¡°That helps a lot. She¡¯s quite a loner. I¡¯ve been worried for a while. It¡¯s a relief that you two get along well.¡±
Loner? Such a beautiful, gentle big sister with a great figure can be friendless too?
Kazumi suddenly felt that not having friends wasn¡¯t such a big deal.
The sound of the approaching train echoed through the tunnel. The brightly lit carriages emerged from the darkness, and the doors opened.
Yuuki and Kazumi boarded the train.
It was early evening, and the train was neither too crowded nor too empty. They stood in a corner, talking about the game Yuuki had yed before dinner.
Ten minutester, they switched to another train. After two more stops, they reached the station near Kazumi¡¯s home.
She lived in a high-rise apartment building. Yuuki watched her walk into the building, waved goodbye, and started his way back.
As he walked, he pondered something strange, something he couldn¡¯t understand.
In the simted life, Asano Nao, who was very averse to outsiders, had an initial meeting with Chitose Kazumi that didn¡¯t go well at all. Why was this meeting so smooth, so ordinary, so¡ªnormal?
Normal to the extent that Kazumi didn¡¯t notice anything unusual, thinking Nao was just an ordinary, pretty otaku.
Minami Yuuki thought back to a week ago, recalling his initial interactions with Asano Nao.
At that time, this well-endowed older sister was a genuine shut-in, taking forever just to open the door. The open curtains and bright windows filled her with dread.
How, in just one week, did she be a normal person in Chitose Kazumi¡¯s eyes? It was as if she had undergone a lifetime of healing in just one week.
Minami Yuuki furrowed his brow, pondering.
This shouldn¡¯t be possible. I haven¡¯t done much this week. If it were so simple to cure Asano Nao, then what did all my efforts in the simted life amount to?
The train rocked and came to a stop at Tsukimi Station. The announcement pulled Minami Yuuki from his thoughts. He stepped out of the station, still without an answer.
Oh well, no point in overthinking. At least it¡¯s a good thing.
More importantly, it¡¯s time to consider the next simtion target.
Who is this Nakajima Reina who suddenly appeared in my simtion targets?
Is she, like Asano Nao, someone who has a crush on me?
But Nakajima Yohei said his daughter has been hospitalized for a long time. I haven¡¯t been to or passed by a hospital recently, so I shouldn¡¯t have interacted with her.
Or is Nakajima Reina not Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter at all? Maybe she just happens to have the samest name?
The moonlight was hazy, the streetlights bright. The recently wilted cherry blossoms cast shadows in the evening breeze, their reflections rippling on the calm water beneath the trees.
Minami Yuuki took out his phone. Yesterday, he had obtained Nakajima Yohei¡¯s LINE contact from a female teacher in the office.
This morning, he sessfully added the man who might be his future father-inw.
Maybe he could ask directly. At least he needed to confirm whether Nakajima Reina was Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter.
In addition, there was another important matter to discuss with Nakajima Yohei.
¡ªHe needed to marry Ibuki Honoka.
With Chitose Kazumi around, Asano Nao should be able to lead a rtively happy life even in Yuuki¡¯s absence. This didn¡¯t mean Yuuki had decided not to choose Asano Nao; it was just a precaution.
Compared to Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko¡¯s issues were more significant and required intervention. And the way Minami Yuuki chose to intervene was by helping Ibuki Yuko regain her mother¡¯s love.
Ibuki Yuko¡¯s issues primarily stemmed from Honoka. As long as Honoka found happiness and became gentle again, Yuko could recover somewhat.
Although in the simted life, Ibuki Yuko had a tantrum because of her mother¡¯s happiness, even causing a tantrum in the doll-like girl was a significant positive progress.
The evening chill couldn¡¯t dispel the warmth umted from his brisk walk. Minami Yuuki unzipped his jacket, deciding to stand under the cherry blossom tree for a while, letting the wind cool him down while he sent a message to Nakajima Yohei.
Before he could open LINE, hurried footsteps sounded behind him. He turned to see a small figure rushing towards him under the streetlight.
It was Ibuki Yuko.
The girl collided with Yuuki¡¯s waist, tightly hugging his back.
¡°Don¡¯t jump,¡± she said.
¡°¡?¡±
The tree¡¯s shadow obscured the streetlight. Yuuki nced at the moon¡¯s dim reflection in the nearby river, understanding the girl¡¯s logic.
I just wanted to enjoy the breeze by the river!
Why would you think that a world-ss pianist, Japanese Cab Minister, and the world¡¯s number one beautiful boy would contemte jumping into the river?
No matter how you think about it, you would be the one to jump!
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Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Minami Yuuki looked down at Ibuki Yuko. The girl¡¯s small frame was tightly pressed against him, her slender arms wrapped around his waist. She looked up at him with her doll-like, expressionless face, her deep eyes reflecting the moonlight.
Memories and sensations from the free simtion quickly resurfaced in Yuuki¡¯s mind. He recalled his experiences and instinctively reached out to touch her cheek.
He quickly suppressed this impulsive action.
Now was not the time. If romance were a singingpetition, this was still the preliminary round. He couldn¡¯t hastily choose a champion and award the trophy.
¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to jump,¡± he told her.
After he said it, he found himself puzzled.
He had thought that the key moment was the truck during summer break, when they both ignored it. Simple thoughts of death and merepanionship hadn¡¯t worked before.
The green truck, barreling towards them under the ring summer sun, had cast them in the same shadow of death. His presence, borrowing the power of death, briefly intruded into Yuko¡¯s tightly closed inner world, leaving a clear mark that sparked her interest in him.
Now, he had to doubt himself. Just standing by the river had drawn her concern, much like that truck incident.Is it enough to just be on the brink of death?
He quickly dismissed this thought.
It wasn¡¯t simply being near death. Over the years, Yuko must have seen others standing by the river, but she had never thrown herself into anyone else¡¯s arms like this.
Why did Ibuki Yuko make this unusual move this time? Yuuki furrowed his brow, his mind racing.
Was it because of his looks? No, a doll-like girl unafraid of death wouldn¡¯t be so superficial, although his looks were indeed top-notch.
Was it because of hispanionship? No, he had only been around her for a few days. With her appearance, there must have been many who had lingered around her.
He looked at the girl in front of him, who still hadn¡¯t let go of his waist. This was also different from the simtion, where she would quickly leave after saving him.
¡°Really?¡± Yuko¡¯s clear voice echoed over the river.
She let go of Yuuki¡¯s waist, stepped back, and lightly clenched her hands. Her eyes never left his face. She had been following him, fearing that the death-seeking boy from her dreams might meet a premature end.
After Yuuki and Chitose Kazumi left by train, she couldn¡¯t follow because she didn¡¯t have a train card and had to wait at the station.
Finally, she saw him return, only to watch him walk straight towards the river.
In her dream, the boy didn¡¯t stop until summer break, until the green, insect-like truck approached, trying to end his life.
She thought this time he might just be looking at the water, without the intention or decision to jump. To be safe, she should act ording to the dream, waiting for the truck and then rushing to him.
But she couldn¡¯t wait. She was a poor swimmer, and even with her small frame, good swimming skills wouldn¡¯t help save him. If Yuuki really jumped, she would be helpless.
She couldn¡¯t take the risk. She had to run out and hold onto him by the river.
¡°¡Really,¡± Yuuki ced his hand on Yuko¡¯s head. Her soft hair brushed against his palm, sending a ticklish sensation.
He was deliberately taking advantage of her, but he was also testing her. If she were her usual self, she would brush his hand away.
But this Yuko didn¡¯t.
¡°Senpai seems a bit strange today,¡± he directly asked.
Caught!
Approaching him now was definitely a bad move!
Yuko¡¯s mind raced, searching for a way to divert his attention.
If she lifted her skirt and revealed the top of her ck stockings¡
No, that would only make him more suspicious.
She was frustrated by her current distance from Yuuki.
She chose not to answer his question, maintaining her cold demeanor, a reflection of her previous self and her current disguise.
¡°Let¡¯s go, time to sleep.¡± She grabbed Minami Yuuki¡¯s hand and pulled him towards the apartment.
Walking beside the girl, Yuuki nced at her delicate neck under her soft cheeks. The white, swan-like neck wrapped in the light blue cor of her sailor uniform reminded him of a white swan gliding on water that mirrored the blue sky. His heart beat a bit faster.
The events of tonight left him puzzled, and he tried to find an exnation but couldn¡¯t.
¡°Do you like paper cranes?¡± Ibuki Yuko suddenly asked.
¡°Is senpai going to give me one?¡± Yuuki countered.
¡°Yes.¡±
Yuko¡¯s sudden proposal and promise took Yuuki by surprise.
Paper cranes!
The symbol of simtion attempts!
The thing he currently wanted andcked the most!
Since Yuko was beginning to care about him, it meant she already had feelings for him. If he could obtain paper cranes imbued with her feelings, he could gain more simtion attempts!
Yuko had never given out a paper crane before; optimistically, even if it didn¡¯t convert to five attempts, it could still yield two or three!
He might be able to get more simtion attempts from Nakajima Reina too!
¡°How does senpai know about paper cranes?¡±
More than the excitement of receiving the paper cranes, Yuuki was curious about how she knew about them.
¡°I saw you carrying themst time,¡± Yuko said.
So that¡¯s how. He had indeed been carrying bags of paper cranestely.
Seeing that Yuuki wasn¡¯t suspicious, Yuko felt a bit smug. From her dream, she had seen arge pile of paper cranes in Yuuki¡¯s closet and concluded that he was collecting them, especially since she had seen him carrying paper cranes recently.
Those cranes must havee from Asano Nao. That sneaky cat!
This time, she was determined to rece all the cranes in his closet with ones she had folded!
¡°I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow morning,¡± Yuko said, setting the time for the handover, ¡°So you can¡¯t die.¡±
She looked up at the moonlight. It was gettingte, and Honoka would being home after drinking.
She quickened her pace.
Yuuki followed behind, letting the petite senpai pull him along.
A fewte-returning office workers found their dynamic amusing and heartwarming, smiling at the sight of the small girl leading the taller boy by the hand.
Yuko walked Yuuki all the way to his doorstep, waved goodbye, and turned to leave.
Watching her disappear around the corner, Yuuki turned and opened his apartment door.
His mind now had anotheryer of confusion.
How did Yuko know exactly where his apartment was? Had he mentioned his apartment number in front of her? Or had she seen him enter before?
The mystery of Asano Nao wasn¡¯t solved yet, and now there was the mystery of Ibuki Yuko.
Never mind, the priority now was to ask Nakajima Yohei if Nakajima Reina was really his daughter.
If Yuko wasn¡¯t messing with him, he would get more simtion attempts tomorrow morning.
He needed to find clues about Nakajima Reina quickly; otherwise, he¡¯d end up like he did when he first started simting Asano Nao¡ªgoing through the whole simtion without seeing the person he was supposed to interact with.
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Chapter 104
Chapter 104
¡°Nakajima Sensei, do you know someone named Nakajima Reina?¡± Minami Yuuki typed into LINE and sent the message.
While waiting for a reply, he couldn¡¯t help but think again about Ibuki Yuko and Asano Nao.
Two seemingly unconnected people disyed simr strange behaviors today.
It was almost as if they had both undergone some kind of life-altering healing.
From their unusual behavior, Yuuki¡¯s thoughts drifted to the anomalies with the simtor. The mysterious reward for a 90-point simtion always seemed to broadcast twice in a row.
Could there be a connection? Both of them seemed like they had experienced a life-changing healing, and the mysterious reward supposedly delivers a dreamscape film that conveys feelings and emotions¡
Could it be¡
Sitting on the edge of his bed, with the breeze blowing through the window, Yuuki shivered slightly as his body cooled. His heart pounded, and a tingly sensation spread across his tongue.
What if the mysterious reward indeed consisted of two parts, one for him and the other for Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko?This would perfectly exin their changes!
He covered his forehead, pondering how he would face Yuko and Nao if this were true.
Would he need to take responsibility? But how could he be responsible for both of them, one after the other?
Wait a minute.
He suddenly hit upon a key point.
The dreamscape film happened in a dream, and what happens in dreams shouldn¡¯t be something he needs to take responsibility for.
He felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Yes, even the strictestws and the oldest moral codes don¡¯t hold people ountable for their dreams.
Dreams are illusions, the opposite of reality, and they don¡¯t affect the real world.
If there was an issue, it would be with Nao and Yuko for taking their dreams seriously¡ right?
Tomorrow, he would observe them more closely. He couldn¡¯t yet be sure that they had received the dreamscape films. He shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions.
And if it was just the dreamscape films, they would likely believe it was a gift from the heavens and wouldn¡¯t suspect him. He could pretend to know nothing.
After multipleyers of self-reassurance, Yuuki¡¯s heart finally calmed. Though he still felt a pang of guilt.
Perhaps it was the influence of his youthful body; despite having dated many girls in his previous life, he was now troubled by such matters.
He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, if only one of them could find happiness in the dreamscape, would the other person be sad, resentful, or even hate the dream?
He turned his head, looking towards the Asano household, then up to the 11th floor where the Ibuki family lived, finally resting his gaze on the waning moon outside the window.
Calcting the simtion times, Yuuki realized that by the time he approached Yuko a few days ago, Asano Nao had already received the dreamscape film.
This meant that during his simted life with Yuko, Nao had been holding onto the memories of the dream, watching him find happiness with Yuko.
What was Nao thinking then? Was she sad? Was she resentful? Yuuki believed she wouldn¡¯t be. On the contrary, she would be grateful.
Lying in her dark bedroom, Nao couldn¡¯t help but let her thoughts spiral to the worst-case scenario concerning what she cared about most.
If the future changed beyond her control, like in the movie The Butterfly Effect, and she could no longer hold Yuuki¡¯s hand and walk towards the happiness of the dream, what would she do?
If she, who had experienced the gentle, clear moonlight, ultimately couldn¡¯t attain the full moon embodying that happiness, would she resent the beautiful memory of the full moon in her heart?
Would she think that if she couldn¡¯t have it in the end, it would be better never to have experienced that happiness in the first ce?
She wouldn¡¯t. Even though she would be deeply saddened, she would never resent the dream scenes. If given a choice, she would resolutely demand this dream from fate.
Because this dream was also her treasure, her healing, the remedy for her loneliness and depression, and the most important thing for her now and in the future when she had nothing else.
The disappearance of the moon itself isn¡¯t terrifying. What¡¯s terrifying is not being able to recall any memories of the moon during a moonless night. Nao couldn¡¯t help but pull open the curtains and gaze at the hazy sky where the crescent moon hung.
On her balcony, Ibuki Yuko also looked up at the dim crescent moon.
Honoka was asleep in bed. Before falling asleep, her cold demeanor towards Yuko made the girl feel sorrowful.
The faith she had gained from the happiness of the dream wavered due to Honoka¡¯s attitude. She began to contemte the possibility of losing Minami Yuuki.
If that time came, how would she console herself? Would she shut herself off again like she did after losing her parents¡¯ love, turning back into the doll Yuuki once referred to her as? Or would she have a more extreme reaction andpletely sumb to death?
No, she wouldn¡¯t do that. Because she still had the dream of happiness, a dream that made her cheeks flush and mouth dry every time she thought of it. That dream strongly connected her to reality and life.
Without that dream, standing on the balcony, she wouldn¡¯t be contemting the beauty of the crescent moon but rather the low railings, the lure of the wind, the dizziness from the height, and the call of death.
If she couldn¡¯t attain that happiness, she would quietly stay by Yuuki¡¯s side, watching him silently.
On a side note, her father divorced her mother due to an affair. Would Yuuki have an affair too?
If she were the one marrying him, she¡¯d hope he¡¯d stay faithful. But if it wasn¡¯t her under the wedding veil, she¡¯d hope he¡¯d be a little less restrained.
Returning to her bedroom, Yukoy down on her narrow bed. It wasn¡¯tfortable, but she flipped through her memories of Yuuki, smiling as she drifted into sleep.
¡
Nakajima Yohei, standing on the hospital¡¯s smoking area balcony, also gazed up at the moon, conflicted. He took a drag from the half-smoked cigarette in his left hand, frowning at his phone in his right hand.
On the screen was the chat.
¡°Minami Yuuki: Nakajima Sensei, do you know someone named Nakajima Reina?¡±
How did he know my daughter¡¯s name! I haven¡¯t told anyone! If it were someone else, maybe I could understand, but why does it have to be this guy who looks like he¡¯s great at charming innocent girls! What do you want with my cute, well-behaved daughter!
He finished his cigarette, stubbed it out harshly in the ashtray, and typed a reply.
¡°Nakajima Yohei: Yes, that¡¯s my mother¡¯s name.¡±
By admitting it, Yohei feared his daughter might fall into danger. But by denying it, he worried Yuuki would find out through other means. So, he chose to give false information.
Yohei smiled.
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Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Before long, Nakajima Yohei received a reply.
¡°Minami Yuuki: I guess I made a mistake.¡±
At least from the text, it seemed Yuuki believed his lie. Yohei breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°Nakajima Yohei: Where did you hear my mother¡¯s name?¡±
¡°Minami Yuuki: I must have been mistaken. Forget about it, Nakajima Sensei.¡±
How could I forget! Where did you hear my daughter¡¯s name!
Yohei typed out a long message, intending to ask more questions, but he deleted it before sending. If he seemed too eager, Yuuki might be suspicious.
¡°Nakajima Yohei: Focus more on your studies.¡±
¡°Minami Yuuki: Nakajima Sensei is so considerate. It would be great if you had a good wife.¡±¡°Nakajima Yohei: Don¡¯t joke about adult matters!¡±
¡°Minami Yuuki: I¡¯m not joking. I could introduce someone to you.¡±
Yohei raised an eyebrow. This guy was really this kind-hearted?
¡°Minami Yuuki: In return, please introduce your daughter to me.¡±
So that¡¯s your game!
¡°Nakajima Yohei: No need!¡±
¡°Minami Yuuki: How cold. By the way, has your mother ever met me?¡±
Yohei¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Why would Yuuki ask such a question? Had Reina met him? What kind of question was this?
¡°Nakajima Yohei: I wouldn¡¯t know. Why do you ask?¡±
¡°Minami Yuuki: It¡¯s nothing. Have a good rest, Nakajima Sensei.¡±
Yohei frowned at his phone, troubled by Yuuki¡¯s questions. Reina shouldn¡¯t have met Yuuki, but she did know about him.
He reviewed their chat, specting that someone named ¡°Nakajima Reina¡± must have contacted Yuuki, prompting his message. But that was impossible. With Reina¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t reach out to Yuuki.
Never mind, these young people are unpredictable. It¡¯s not worth overthinking.
Putting the ashtray back on the railing, he walked out of the smoking area, trying to rid himself of the smoke smell.
The hospital was quiet at night. Lights reflected off the stic floors and wall railings, casting soft, blurry glows. This scene, this silence, always made him think of death. Once he felt the smoke smell had dissipated, he walked down the corridor.
Pushing open his daughter¡¯s room door, he was met with a white scene: white walls, floors, curtains, and fluorescent lights. The white curtains were drawn open.
A girl in a blue hospital gown sat on the white bed, covered with a white nket. Her face turned toward the window, looking out at the garden below.
¡°Reina,¡± Yohei called as he entered the room.
¡°Hmm?¡± The girl turned her head, a gentle face lighting up with a soft smile when she saw her father.
That gentle smile, like a statue of a deity, dispelled the feeling of death that had clung to Yohei in the corridor.
¡°Sorry, I went out for a smoke.¡± Yohei sat on a chair two meters from the girl, afraid the lingering smoke smell might bother her, even though she¡¯d neverined.
¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Reina shook her head and looked back out the window.
Yohei scratched his head. He wasn¡¯t great at dealing with his daughter. Compared to the overly lively students at school, his daughter was particrly quiet.
Sometimes, while reprimanding his rowdy students, he felt a sudden envy. He wished Reina could be as lively, as willful, as passionately opinionated as they were, even if only for a fleeting moment.
¡°This morning, I made a fool of myself,¡± Yohei tried to find a topic. ¡°I identally woke upte, rushed to grab a tie, and ran out the door. It wasn¡¯t until I got to school that I realized the tie was the same color as my shirt¡¡±
As he began speaking, his daughter¡¯s gaze was fixed on him, seemingly listening intently.
He knew this was just a form of politeness, a kind of tolerance.
Was she really interested in his tie? Probably not.
But she didn¡¯t dislike his topic either, willing to hear him out and gently call him silly or remind him to be more careful next time.
This wasn¡¯t the reaction he wanted. He wanted to bring some excitement to his daughter, who had been confined to the hospital for so long. He tried many different topics, but none were sessful. Finally, he had to use his trump card.
¡°That Minami Yuuki, he went home with Chitose Kazumi again today.¡±
The moment he mentioned Yuuki, Yohei keenly noticed a subtle shift in his daughter¡¯s demeanor. This topic intrigued her.
¡°I thought, after getting involved with Ichinose Shiori, he¡¯d be clinging to her more often¡ªmarrying her would mean not having to work hard for the rest of his life. But he¡¯s still sticking with Chitose Kazumi.¡±
Yohei recounted his observations of Yuuki from that day. He discovered his daughter¡¯s interest in Yuuki¡¯s stories at the beginning of the month.
Alone, his stories were limited and he soon ran out of things to say. So, he often talked about his students, using their antics as material for conversations with his daughter.
Over the years, he had shared countless tales of his students. Some of these stories, some of the antics, would momentarily spark his daughter¡¯s interest, making her more focused and her eyes brighter than usual.
In early April, a new batch of students arrived, and the striking presence of Minami Yuuki naturally became new material for Yohei¡¯s talks.
This handsome boy from a remote area, who quickly fell into istion due to a few minor mishaps, was the perfect story. As expected, once he began sharing Yuuki¡¯s story, his daughter was hooked.
While delighted, he also thought his daughter would soon lose interest, as she had with previous students. She had never maintained an interest in a person or a thing for more than five days.
He was wrong. Yuuki¡¯s story had been ongoing for over half a month, and her interest not only didn¡¯t wane but seemed to grow stronger with time.
Even when he talked about trivial things, like how many times Yuuki yawned in the morning, how he secretly looked at his phone during ss, or whom he spoke to, his daughter found it fascinating.
While it was good that something could continually capture her interest, her deepening interest in a boy made him feel jealous.
For the past twenty days, Yuuki had be a regr topic. He felt as though a third party hade between him and his daughter.
He desperately wanted to find another topic to rece the daily discussions about Yuuki but had not yet seeded.
¡°Mr. Nakajima, time¡¯s almost up,¡± the nurse on duty reminded him, knocking on the door.
¡°Okay,¡± Yohei replied, stopping the discussion about Yuuki and acknowledging the nurse.
He stood up. ¡°See you tomorrow, Reina.¡±
¡°See you tomorrow, Dad,¡± Nakajima Reina waved to him.
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Chapter 106
Chapter 106
After her father left, Nakajima Reina, with the help of a nurse,y down.
Though it wasn¡¯t yet the designated sleep time and she wasn¡¯t sleepy, she still had the nurse turn off the overhead light.
A bright light went out, and a few dim night lights turned on; darkness would never fully upy this room.
In this twilight, she recalled the life snippets her father had just shared about the boy named Minami Yuuki.
These snippets were like pieces of a puzzle.
Over the past month, she had collected countless such pieces.
Every night, in this dim light, she would pick up these shining puzzle pieces, y with them in her mind, and piece together an image of the boy.
As she held each piece in her hand, her mind conjured images of the boy yawning, strolling, daydreaming in ss, and talking to girls.
With each new piece, his image became more vivid and brought her more joy.Her favorite piece was the scene where the boy tried to skip ss by feigning illness, only to be caught by her father.
The boy she cared most about and the father she cared most about in real lifebined to create a lively, youthfuledy that always made her smile.
She had reyed this scene in her mind countless times, having the boy perform in different styles. Besides this, she also favored scenes of him on his way to school, talking to girls, and yawning.
In the ¡°On the Way to School¡± scene, she often used wide shots, frequently changing the background of the boy¡¯s stroll to includendscapes from her own memory.
In the ¡°Talking to Girls¡± scene, she used close-ups, ignoring the girls¡¯ appearances and focusing the camera on the boy¡¯s upper body, observing his actions and expressions.
In the ¡°Yawning¡± scene, she used extreme close-ups, either closely examining the boy¡¯s slowly opening mouth or admiring the sparkle in his curved eyes and the corners of his eyes.
She had given Minami Yuuki another name¡ªthe boy of the spring days.
The first puzzle piece came in April, which was springtime, when the cherry blossoms bloomed, and the weather was neither too cold nor too hot, just perfect.
Closing her eyes, she cherished the boy pieced together in her heart and fell asleep.
She dreamt that the boy, who existed only in her heart, suddenly one day split open her heart like Athena emerging from Zeus¡¯s head, jumping out of her chest as a real, living person.
Waking up from the dream, she found it amusing.
The boy of the spring days was already a real, living person!
At this moment, this real, living boy was entertaining a girl who hade to his home.
Minami Yuuki looked at Ibuki Yuko in front of him. The girl was petite, her face expressionless, just as before.
But before, she would never havee to his house!
¡°Here,¡± Ibuki Yuko said, handing him a paper bag. Inside the bag were numerous paper cranes. Minami Yuuki took it.
[You have received a heartfelt gift from Ibuki Yuko.]
[Simtion attempts +3]
Three attempts added. Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart skipped a beat, sensing something amiss.
His guessst night was right!
The number of simtion attempts depended on the recipient¡¯s feelings.
Asano Nao¡¯s first batch of paper cranes also added three attempts, meaning Yuko¡¯s feelings were as strong as the somewhat obsessive Asano Nao¡¯s!
Under normal circumstances, Yuko shouldn¡¯t have such a high level of affection!
This meant the current situation was definitely abnormal. That mysterious reward indeed sent a dream movie to both him and the girl!
Could he retrieve the reward? Could it be returned?
Though he hadn¡¯t done anything in reality, Yuuki felt guilty as if he were being a yboy.
Thankfully, he quickly got used to it. What had happened had happened; there was no point in fretting. He would take it one step at a time.
Putting away the paper cranes, Minami Yuuki looked at the girl in front of him. ¡°Thank you, Senpai. I¡¯m currently collecting paper cranes.¡±
¡°Do you need more?¡± Yuko asked.
¡°Not for now,¡± Yuuki replied.
¡°Okay.¡± Yuko nodded and stood up.
Minami Yuuki thought she was about to leave and got up to see her off, but instead of heading to the entrance, Ibuki Yuko walked toward his bed. She grabbed the messy nket and folded it into a neat square.
¡°The bed is too messy,¡± she exined.
She then picked up a broom from the corner of the room. ¡°The floor has some dust.¡±
Opening the closet by the bed, she said, ¡°Your clothes are a bit disorganized.¡±
She leaned over the edge of the bed, saying, ¡°If you leave yourics here, they¡¯ll get dusty.¡±
Finally, holding a handheld game console and a cartridge, she said, ¡°This game can be yed by two people.¡±
Yuuki found himself retreating in the face of her fierce onught.
Despite Asano Nao receiving the dream movie, she had remained almost unchanged.
Why had Ibuki Yuko be so formidable?
After ying a couple of games with her, Yuuki realized this couldn¡¯t go on. The sky was getting darker, and who knew what excuse Yuko woulde up with next, or what she would do?
Faced with such a proactive girl, he was finding it hard to maintain hisposure.
¡°Sorry, Senpai, but I have an appointment with someone,¡± Yuuki said, putting down the game controller.
¡°Can you cancel it?¡± Yuko asked, bending her legs beneath her skirt, revealing her slender, pale thighs.
This overly suggestive pose,bined with her expressionless face, created a pure yet tempting allure.
How are you so practiced at this? How many times did you rehearse in the dream movie?
Yuuki, with great effort, averted his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s hard to cancel.¡±
¡°Can Ie with you then?¡± She leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of his lowered face.
¡°I¡¯m afraid that wouldn¡¯t be convenient,¡± Yuuki said firmly.
¡°Then, can we at least have dinner together?¡± she persisted.
¡°I¡¯m eating with friends.¡±
After refusing all of Yuko¡¯s requests, Yuuki finally left the apartment.
Yuko stood by the hallway, peering over the low wall, watching him exit the building. As expected, he headed towards Asano¡¯s house.
Although Asano Nao wasn¡¯t a threat, her presence was troublesome. If Yuuki kept having dinner at her ce, Yuko would never get to dine with him.
She listed Asano Nao as enemy number one and reflected on the recent rejection.
Though she had sessfully tempted Yuuki, he still turned her down. Was she moving too fast? Did Yuuki actually prefer more conservative girls?
Yuko recalled being very cold to Yuuki at first in the dream, which probably fit the bill for being conservative.
Maybe it was better to follow the dream¡¯s plot and approach Yuuki after summer vacation. Her small head was filled with big worries.
Contrary to her distress, Yuuki felt relief when he reached Asano¡¯s house. Lying on the living room sofa and sipping the orange juice Nao handed him, his racing heart finally calmed down.
Yuko¡¯s aggressive tactics were overwhelming; it was morefortable to stay in thepany of the unassuming Nao.
With some time left before dinner, it was perfect for a simtion!
He wouldn¡¯t im the final mysterious reward this time, ensuring the simtion subjects wouldn¡¯t receive the dream movie.
Through his conversation with Nakajima Yoheist night, Yuuki had confirmed that Nakajima Reina was indeed his daughter!
That cunning teacher had lied, saying Reina was an elderly woman. That was impossible; an old woman couldn¡¯t be a simtion target.
Such a deceitful lie revealed Yohei¡¯s guilt, confirming Yuuki¡¯s suspicion.
Now that he had confirmed Reina¡¯s identity, finding out which hospital she was in would be simple.
The rest he would leave to his simted self.
Simtion, start!
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Chapter 107
Chapter 107
¡¾Love Simtor¡¿
¡¾Bound yer: Minami Yuuki¡¿
¡¾Remaining Simtion Attempts: 3.5 (Simtion attempts can recover over time or be actively acquired)¡¿
¡¾Avable Simtion Targets: Minami Ruri, Minami Airi, Minami Kotori, Asano Nao, Ibuki Yuko, Nakajima Reina¡¿
The fractional number of simtion attempts made Minami Yuuki a bit uneasy. He thought about asking Airi to fold paper cranes when he got home tonight to make it an even number.
It had been five days since thest time the girl folded paper cranes; he wondered if her feelings had recovered by now.
Asano Nao hadn¡¯t folded paper cranes in a long time either.
Minami Yuuki turned his gaze towards the kitchen, scanning past the dining table to focus on Asano Nao, who had her back to him.
With the weather warming up, it was a bit hot in the kitchen, so Asano Nao had taken off her sports jacket, revealing a white T-shirt under her light green apron that highlighted her remarkable figure. The apron tied around her neck and waist, entuating her upper body¡¯s curves. When she turned sideways to fetch and handle ingredients, Minami Yuuki could clearly see the light green hills.Asano Nao was entirely focused on cooking, showing a pure allure rather than any sensuality, contrasting sharply with Ibuki Yuko¡¯s pure yet enticing appeal.
Pulling his gaze away, Minami Yuuki pinched his nose, cursing himself for not being focused.
He was supposed to simte Nakajima Reina, but he was still thinking about other women.
He clicked on Nakajima Reina¡¯s name.
¡¾Selected [Nakajima Reina], start simtion?¡¿
Yes!
¡¾During the simtion, there might be mental disorientation. It is advised to move to a safe ce.¡¿
Minami Yuuki adjusted himself on the sofa to make sure he was fully settled and clicked confirm.
¡¾Simtion Start¡¿
¡¾Remaining Simtion Attempts: 2.5¡¿
¡¾Simtion Target: Nakajima Reina¡¿
¡¾Initial Rtionship: Unrequited Love¡¿
Just like Asano Nao, is it unrequited love?
But Nakajima Reina should have never met me. How can there be an unrequited love rtionship? Or maybe we¡¯ve met before, but I don¡¯t remember?
A lot of questions shed through Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind, but he quickly set them aside.
The simtion will provide answers soon; there¡¯s no need to dwell on it now.
He looked at the simtion interface:
¡¾It has been a week since you came to this world. You¡¯ve met Asano Nao, Chitose Kazumi, and Ibuki Yuko. You understand that they all have feelings for you. However, you are not nning to choose them.¡¿
¡¾You have set your sights on your homeroom teacher Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter¡ªNakajima Reina.¡¿
¡¾Aside from Nakajima Reina¡¯s name, you know nothing about this future partner: her appearance, age, or where she is.¡¿
¡¾You start gathering information.¡¿
¡¾At school, there are three female teachers you can talk to. You inquire with them.¡¿
¡¾To your surprise, these three gossip-loving, meddlesome teachers have no information about Nakajima Yohei¡¯s daughter. Nakajima Yohei keeps his daughter extremely well-hidden, seldom discussing her with others, and has never revealed any rted information.¡¿
¡¾They help you make inquiries but only find out that Nakajima Reina is staying at the Chikusa University Hospital.¡¿
¡¾Chikusa University Hospital is arge hospital. Although its medical level is not as high as that of the Misaki University Medical School Affiliated Hospital, it is still considered excellent. The hospital is best known for its long-term care services.¡¿
¡¾Knowing Nakajima Reina¡¯s location, you choose to¡¡¿
¡¾1. ¡°How can I get my father-inw to agree to our rtionship?¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Proceed without telling my father-inw.¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Nao, Yuko, and Kazumi are also good options.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free Simtion¡¿
Minami Yuuki studied the options, stroking his chin.
Option one is to approach Nakajima Reina through Nakajima Yohei, while option two is to try to get close to Nakajima Reina on his own. Option three is to give up.
Eliminating option three, he was left with options one and two. Which would be better?
Option two is quite difficult. Chikusa University Hospital has strict management, so sneaking in would be challenging. Option one also has its difficulties¡ªbased on previous conversations on LINE, Nakajima Yohei doesn¡¯t seem inclined to introduce his daughter to him.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Minami Yuuki selected option one.
Hospitals are different from other ces; patients are different from ordinary people.
It¡¯s better to meet Nakajima Reina through Nakajima Yohei.
More importantly¡ he has a ready-made leverage to make Nakajima Yohei agree to his request.
¡¾You decide to obtain the opportunity to meet Nakajima Reina from Nakajima Yohei, using an excellent bargaining chip.¡¿
¡¾You begin to approach Ibuki Honoka. What could be more bonding than introducing a wife to Nakajima Yohei? As long as Nakajima Yohei has any conscience, he can¡¯t refuse your request to meet Nakajima Reina.¡¿
¡¾Moreover, with the clingy Honoka around, Nakajima Yohei will have less time to spend with his daughter in the hospital, and if you rece him, he will appreciate you.¡¿
¡¾There is a small issue with Honoka. She has found a new boyfriend, a handsome, tall middle-aged man.¡¿
¡¾You n to break them up.¡¿
¡¾After some investigation, you learn from the middle-aged man¡¯s ex-girlfriend about his past. The man was supported by a wealthy woman in his youth, worked at a nightclub in his twenties, and had several girlfriends to support himself. Now, in middle age, under pressure from his parents, he married a woman from his hometown, but still dissatisfied, returned to Misaki and pretended to be a single man to deceive Ibuki Honoka.¡¿
¡¾You marvel at Honoka¡¯s knack for attracting bad men. With your intervention, Honoka soon breaks up with her new boyfriend.¡¿
¡¾Taking advantage of her sadness, you promise to find her a new man.¡¿
¡¾Ibuki Honoka thinks you¡¯reforting her and feels warmed. She wishes that if she were twenty years younger, or you were twenty years older, how wonderful that would be.¡¿
¡¾After dealing with Ibuki Honoka, you use the same trick again. You first directly ask Nakajima Yohei if he wants a girlfriend. After being rejected, you contact Nakajima Yohei¡¯s mother, Nakajima Seiko. Under the pressure of the olddy, Nakajima Yohei agrees to meet with Ibuki Honoka.¡¿
¡¾Their first meeting goes smoothly, and their rtionship quickly heats up.¡¿
¡¾Half a monthter, you bring up his daughter to Nakajima Yohei.¡¿
A brief memory scene appears.
In therge office filled with desks, each piled high with exam papers and documents, it¡¯s very messy.
The school bell has rung some time ago, and aside from Nakajima Yohei, there¡¯s only an old man with headphones watching short videos.
¡°Teacher, you must be very busy these days,¡± Minami Yuuki says, pulling up a chair and sitting next to Nakajima Yohei.
¡°Mind your own business,¡± Nakajima Yohei assumes Minami Yuuki wants to talk about inappropriate matters and taps the boy¡¯s head with a textbook.
He puts on a stern face, showing his unwillingness to discuss.
Minami Yuuki pretends to sigh, ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but Reina must be very lonely. Daddy is spending less and less time with her. Sigh.¡±
¡°¡What do you want?¡±
¡°If Nakajima-sensei is too busy, I can visit Reina on your behalf.¡±
¡°No need!¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll have to ask Grandma Seiko. Grandma Seiko knows that things are going well with Aunt Honoka and would be very pleased. If I can help you visit Reina and give you more time to sort out your marriage, she¡¯d be even happier!¡±
Nakajima Yohei is caught off guard. He reflects on his mother¡¯s personality; if Minami Yuuki makes such a request, his mother will undoubtedly agree. The boy has a high reputation in his mother¡¯s eyes.
¡°Alright. I¡¯ll talk to the hospital,¡± he chose topromise.
After putting aside his prejudice against his daughter meeting a boy, Nakajima Yohei felt it wasn¡¯t too bad. After spending so much time with Minami Yuuki, he knew the boy wasn¡¯t bad. Yuuki was inherently charming, and Reina was also interested in him. Allowing him to visit Reina might help her catch some of his youthful energy.
¡°Huh? Won¡¯t my Father-inw take me there himself?¡± Minami Yuuki said disappointedly.
¡°Don¡¯t go too far, kid!¡± Nakajima Yohei swung the textbook again, this time with a bit more force, causing Yuuki to feel a sharp pain in his head.
¡°Alright, alright, I get it. It would indeed be inappropriate for Dad to bring a boy to meet his daughter.¡±
Ignoring the provocation in Yuuki¡¯s words, Nakajima Yohei made detailed arrangements: ¡°Tomorrow you and Chitose Kazumi will go together. I¡¯ll inform Reina tonight that you¡¯re student representativesing to visit. You¡¯ll need to handle the part with Kazumi.¡±
¡°How cunning. Completely distancing yourself.¡±
¡°Enough talk. Here¡¯s the address. Hurry up!¡±
Nakajima Yohei shoved a note with the room number into Yuuki¡¯s hand and pushed him out of the office.
¡¾After your negotiation, Nakajima Yohei agreed to let you visit his daughter, but on the condition that you and Chitose Kazumi go as representatives of the ss.¡¿
¡¾You agreed, and Chitose Kazumi, who received your message, also agreed.¡¿
¡¾The next afternoon after school, you and Chitose Kazumi left your backpacks at the Asano household and took the subway to Chikusa University Hospital, buying a bouquet of flowers along the way.¡¿
¡¾The long-term care ward is at the far end of the hospital. The nurse registered you, gave you some instructions, and then let you in.¡¿
¡¾Room 303, Nakajima Reina¡¯s ward.¡¿
¡¾You lightly knock on the door. From behind it, a gentle voice invites you in.¡¿
¡¾You open the door.¡¿
¡¾White, exceptionally white. That¡¯s your first impression of the ward. Amidst this sea of white, a girl in a blue hospital gown sits on the bed, with a nket covering her legs, exposing only her upper body.¡¿
¡¾The hospital bed is next to the window. The blue of the hospital gown blends with the sky outside, and the girl¡¯s pale hand and face are reflected in the blue of the sky.¡¿
A memory scene shed in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
¡°Hello,¡± Nakajima Reina greeted them with a smile.
Her demeanor was naturally gentle, like the light blue spring sky.
Her appearance was graceful and soft, reminiscent of clouds drifting in a clear blue sky.
The glint in her eyes when she looked at them was like a fish darting fleetingly at the bottom of a clear spring.
Such an elegant beauty should not be confined to this stark white hospital room, wearing a in hospital gown.
Instead, she should stand on the high tform of a golden pavilion, dressed in a ssical gown adorned with pearls, gazing out over the garden.
Chitose Kazumi was mesmerized by Nakajima Reina¡¯s grace and beauty.
It was only when Minami Yuuki stepped in front of her, blocking her view, that she snapped back to reality.
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Chapter 108
Chapter 108
¡°Good afternoon.¡±
Chitose Kazumi and Minami Yuuki greeted the young woman together. Minami Yuuki sat down on the nearby chair, while Chitose Kazumi attempted to ce the flower stem into the vase on the bedside table.
Nakajima Reina watched Kazumi¡¯s actions with a gentle, serene expression. Kazumi appeared nervous, struggling to untie the string around the flower, so Minami Yuuki stood up and took the flower from her.
Reina¡¯s gaze shifted to the young man. Like Kazumi, Minami Yuuki was also struck by the young woman¡¯s elegance upon meeting her for the first time.
Her long, jet-ck hair falling neatly behind her white neck reminded him of the queens or princesses in historical dramas.
However, unlike the actors in those dramas, who used fake makeup, exaggerated gestures, and extravagant costumes to convey elegance, Reina¡¯s grace was inherent. She sat there in inness, her elegance as naturally present as her flowing hair.
Once the flowers were arranged, Minami Yuuki returned to his seat. Kazumi, still flustered, forgot to introduce herself, so Minami Yuuki took the opportunity to state his name.
¡°My name is Minami Yuuki. I¡¯ve received a lot of care from Nakajima-sensei at school.¡± His words were very polite.
¡°I¡¯m Chitose Kazumi,¡± Kazumi quickly followed up.Minami Yuuki noticed that Reina disyed a moment of surprise upon hearing their names.
Did she hear about us from Nakajima Yohei? Yuuki wondered if the surprise meant she didn¡¯t recognize them at first.
He quickly understood that Reina had probably heard a lot about them from Nakajima Yohei but had never met them in person.
After the introductions, Minami Yuuki started a conversation with the young woman, using Nakajima Yohei as a topic.
The young woman on the bed listened quietly.
[The initial meeting didn¡¯t go smoothly. You¡¯re unsure about Nakajima Reina¡¯s personality, and Chitose Kazumi¡¯s presence keeps your conversation cautious. After an hour, you leave the hospital.]
[You understand that despite never having met, Nakajima Reina feels connected to you because Nakajima Yohei has spoken a lot about you to her. However, this understanding hasn¡¯t provided you with any guidance.]
[Nakajima Reina is polite and gentle, and the atmosphere of your conversation is pleasant, but ¡°pleasant¡± is a form of selffort. Your conversation hasn¡¯t delved deeply into personal matters, remaining on the surface of formalities.]
[You wonder if Reina truly has a one-sided affection for you. From her polite manner, you cannot sense any intense emotions.]
[You recall Ibuki Yuko. Both girls present a calm demeanor.]
[The difference is that the calmness of the doll-like girl feels like resistance, creating a clear sense of dissonance, while the princess-like girl¡¯s calmness doesn¡¯t seem to be a facade but rather her true nature.]
[Back at the Asano house, you grab your backpack and see Chitose Kazumi off to the subway. Kazumi praises Nakajima Reina¡¯s beauty, and you engage in the conversation absentmindedly.]
[The next day, you visit Nakajima Yohei to inquire about his daughter.]
[What you consider an unsatisfactory meeting seems to have received positive feedback from Nakajima Reina. Nakajima Yohei extends an invitation, asking you to visit his daughter more often if you have the time.]
[After school that day, you head back to Chikusa University Hospital.]
[Chitose Kazumi is not a variable; even without her, your rtionship with Nakajima Reina hasn¡¯t progressed. Your conversations remain superficial,cking strong ideological shes or emotional highs and lows.]
[The girl¡¯s every frown and smile merely reflect the sunlight on the surface of your soul¡¯s waters, with the depths remaining silent.]
[You haven¡¯t given up. Every afternoon after school, you and Chitose Kazumi take the subway together; she goes home, and you head to the hospital. As you part ways, Kazumi¡¯s nce at you holds a hint of sorrow.]
[You hoped that seeing each other daily would change the situation, but after a semester, your interactions with Nakajima Reina have only be more natural and casual without any substantial progress.]
[Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka have married. Ibuki Yuko has epted this new father figure but refused to take the Nakajima surname. At her request, Nakajima Yohei rented a house near the Asano residence.]
[Ibuki Yuko appears in Nakajima Reina¡¯s hospital room as a sister. Every time you visit the hospital, she is always sitting by the bedside.]
[Her presence is troubling for you as it prevents you from having private time with Nakajima Reina. You intentionally alter your visiting times, evening to the hospital at night.]
[But no matter how you try to surprise her, Ibuki Yuko always follows soon after your arrival.]
[You quickly realize that it is Nakajima Reina who is alerting her.]
[Chikusa University Hospital¡¯s visiting hours end at 8 p.m. That day, you arrive at the hospital at 7:30 p.m.]
A memory scene appears.
The hospital is silent at night. Although visiting patients is allowed in the evenings, few peoplee during this time.
Minami Yuuki walks briskly under the fluorescent lights. The hospital is a strange ce; the lights are bright yet create a sense of unease, as if walking in darkness.
Perhaps because the hospital is close to death, the light can dispel physical darkness but not the darkness of the human mind.
On the wall next to Room 303, there is a sign with Nakajima Reina¡¯s name.
This building is for long-term care, and every patient here will stay for at least a few months.
Minami Yuuki knocks twice on the door and, without waiting for Nakajima Reina¡¯s response, opens it.
As expected, Nakajima Reina is reaching for the phone on the bedside table to message Ibuki Yuko.
¡°If possible, I¡¯d rather spend time alone with Sister Reina,¡± Minami Yuuki says, pulling up a chair and sitting by the bedside.
Nakajima Reina hesitates for a moment, then withdraws her hand from the phone. She agrees to Minami Yuuki¡¯s request.
¡°It¡¯s sote today,¡± Nakajima Reina said, peeling an orange and handing it to Minami Yuuki. ¡°Yuko waited from five until seven and only left a little while ago.¡±
¡°I only left after Yuko-senpai went home,¡± Minami Yuuki replied, taking the orange. The segments were tender and juicy.
Nakajima Reina smiled, her tone yful yet reproachful. ¡°You¡¯d better not let Yuko hear you say that. She¡¯ll be upset for a long time.¡±
¡°Why do Sister Reina always side with Yuko-senpai?¡± Minami Yuuki asked directly, his impatience evident.
He wanted to understand Nakajima Reina¡¯s true feelings.
¡°Because it¡¯s what my cute little sister asked?¡± Nakajima Reina replied with a teasing remark. ¡°But Yuuki-kun, you get along so well with Yuko yet keep avoiding her. It¡¯s really puzzling.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because I like you, Sister Reina.¡±
¡°Trying to stir things up? If Yuko hears that, she¡¯ll be very upset with me.¡±
¡°Then marry me, so Yuko-senpai will have no more thoughts about it.¡±
¡°Yuuki-kun, you really like to joke around.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not joking!¡±
¡°Are you not?¡± Nakajima Reina looked at Minami Yuuki¡¯s face.
¡°¡Alright,¡± Minami Yuuki said, scratching his head.
Despite having a fondness for the princess-like girl after spending so much time with her, he couldn¡¯t say he was in love.
Although Nakajima Reina¡¯s beauty and grace were exceptional, Minami Yuuki wasn¡¯t shallow enough to be swayed only by appearance.
If he were to fall in love, it would be because of a deeper connection, an emotional resonance that would make him linger and delight in her presence.
But neither he nor Nakajima Reina had experienced that yet.
He looked into the girl¡¯s eyes and continued, ¡°I haven¡¯t fallen for you yet, but that¡¯s your fault. If you agree to marry me, I believe I¡¯d fall in love with you soon.¡±
¡°That sounds like a scam trying to get people to invest,¡± Nakajima Reina teased.
¡°How can I get Sister Reina to agree to marry me?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± the girl replied.
¡°Why not?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t talked with Yuuki-kun about my condition, have I?¡± The girl turned her gaze to the dark night outside the window.
The night was moonless, the starlight dim, and the shadows of shrubs and trees in the garden loomed over the earth.
She continued, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by how well I can sit or lie down, looking healthy. In reality, because of my heart condition, I can¡¯t do any strenuous activity. Yuuki-kun is a normal man with desires, right?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°In about three or four years, I¡¯ll need to undergo surgery. The sess rate is very low; almost everyone who goes under the knifees out as a corpse.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too stubborn.¡±
Nakajima Reina didn¡¯t refute the boy but instead said this with a tone of indulgence and tolerance, which left Minami Yuuki feeling frustrated.
¡°Yuko is a good girl. She really likes Yuuki-kun,¡± Nakajima Reina shifted the topic.
¡°Actually,¡± Minami Yuuki brought the conversation back, ¡°even if Sister Reina¡¯s health wasn¡¯t an issue, my proposal would likely still fail, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
Nakajima Reina was silent for a moment before her gentle voice replied, ¡°After all, a proposalcking in genuine emotion is difficult for both me and Yuuki-kun to ept.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Minami Yuuki sighed.
They looked at each other and shared a smile.
[You and Nakajima Reina had an honest conversation, discussing your rtionship as if you were strangers analyzing it. She pointed out that you don¡¯t love her, and she hasn¡¯t reached the level of infatuation with you. You might be very good friends, but you¡¯re not lovers.]
[Is Nakajima Reina¡¯s statement true? Is her affection for you merely a longing that hasn¡¯t reached the level of love? Is this a facade she has put on because of her illness, or is it her genuine feeling?]
[You think it doesn¡¯t really matter. What¡¯s important is that you don¡¯t love this princess-like girl, and there¡¯s no emotional catalyst for your rtionship.]
[You reduced the frequency of your hospital visits from once a day to every two or three days. You and Nakajima Reina remained good friends, but there was no romantic atmosphere between you.]
[Your obsession with Nakajima Reina faded, and the figure of Ibuki Yuko, who was always by your side, became increasingly vivid in your mind.]
[In the spring of your second year of high school, Ibuki Yuko confessed her feelings to you while wearing cat ears, a maid outfit, and white stockings. You epted her.]
[Nakajima Reina offered her blessings for your rtionship.]
[Nakajima Yohei sighed with relief. This year, he had been deeply worried about the love triangle involving you and his two daughters. Now, your rtionship had finally settled.]
[He felt a slight regret that his biological daughter hadn¡¯t received your love. He knew that this was Reina¡¯s closest chance at romance, and missing it meant she would have no further opportunities for love.]
[After graduating from high school, you were admitted to the Misaki University School of Medicine. Although you had moved on from Nakajima Reina, you still wanted to contribute in some way.]
[In the second semester of your first year, Nakajima Reina passed away. You were her closest friend.]
[Simtion Ended]
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Chapter 109
Chapter 109
Is it over? Minami Yuuki was astonished.
Although the simtion text had been hinting at something bad, he hadn¡¯t expected it to end so quickly.
I only chose one option!
Is this simtion life so harsh that one choice leads directly to a Bad End?
He looked at the summary screen.
[Summary of This Session]
[Score: 29]
[Stage: Pursuit Period]
[Comments: Your feelings remained at the level of friendship and vague affection. Your interactions were too nd, and you failed to experience love from each other.]
[Oue: You gained a small amount of learning experience.]
Not enough emotion?
Minami Yuuki sighed, leaning his head against the armrest of the sofa and resting on his bent arm.
Outside the window, the sky was growing dark, and the smell of hamburger meat wafted from the kitchen.
He recalled the simtion life¡ªhis interactions with Nakajima Reina had indeed been very dull.
Nakajima Reina was always lying in the hospital bed; they had never even left the hospital building.
Their only movie setting was the hospital ward.
Their conversations never sparked any real emotion.
Such interactions naturally couldn¡¯t produce any heart-throbbing feelings, let alone y the music of love from those thrills.
How can I make a romantic rtionship develop?
Minami Yuuki wondered.
He thought again about the options in the simtion.
<1. How can I get my father-inw to agree to our ns?>
<2. Let¡¯s act without my father-inw¡¯s knowledge.>
<3. Nao, Yuko, and Kazumi are also nice.>
It¡¯s not yet clear whether these three options are all good choices, but it¡¯s certain that option one, involving Nakajima Yohei to approach Nakajima Reina, was a bad choice.
The difference between option two and option one is whether to contact Nakajima Yohei or not.
Nakajima Yohei seems like a negative element, but his rtionship with his daughter looks quite good.
Maybe the issue isn¡¯t Nakajima Yohei himself but rather the influence he brings? What about Ibuki Yuko? If Minami Yuuki doesn¡¯t choose to contact his father-inw, he wouldn¡¯t need to introduce Ibuki Honoka and Nakajima Yohei to each other. Ibuki Yuko has already been healed through dreams and doesn¡¯t need further consideration.
If Nakajima Yohei hadn¡¯t married Honoka, Ibuki Yuko wouldn¡¯t be Nakajima Reina¡¯s sister and wouldn¡¯t have any reason to be in the hospital. Thus, the doll-like girl wouldn¡¯t have intervened between him and Nakajima Reina.
In the simtion, Minami Yuuki is unsure what Ibuki Yuko said to Nakajima Reina, making Reina willingly be her supporting role.
Since Nakajima Reina has positioned herself as a supporting role, love bes difficult to develop.
Minami Yuuki suspects that Ibuki Yuko is disrupting his rtionship with Nakajima Reina.
Of course, it¡¯s not the doll-like girl¡¯s fault; rather, her proactive and highly motivated nature only makes Minami Yuuki more attracted to her.
Compared to Ibuki Yuko, Asano Nao seems much more passive, and in this simtion, her role is even less significant than Chitose Kazumi¡¯s.
Turning his head, Minami Yuuki looked at Asano Nao, who was serving the dishes.
Noticing his gaze, Nao instinctively shrank her white neck and timidly turned away.
If it were Ibuki Yuko, she would have followed his gaze and moved closer, pressing against him.
¡°Nao-nee, if you continue like this, I might end up leaning towards Yuko-senpai,¡± Minami Yuuki mused inwardly.
A gust of wind suddenly blew outside, lifting the curtains and revealing the previously hidden view of the road.
When the wind stopped, the curtains quickly fell, and the road scene was concealed again.
In the swaying of the curtains, Minami Yuuki caught sight of a familiar figure.
It was Ibuki Yuko.
The doll-like girl, noticing the curtain flutter, hurriedly hid behind a streemp.
¡°¡¡¡±
Forget what I said beforepared to the somewhat intimidatingly proactive Ibuki Yuko, the timidly shrinking Asano Nao, who only dares to peek outside from the safety of the house, is far more reassuring.
¡°Time for dinner, Yuuki-kun,¡± Asano Nao said, bringing over the rice.
Minami Yuuki got up from the sofa, and Asano Nao helped pull out his chair for him to sit.
He ignored the figure of Ibuki Yuko outside.
The girl was like a ghost from legends; once invited in, she coulde and go freely.
Minami Yuuki did not want his final refuge invaded.
¡°Yuuki-kun, are you feeling unwell?¡± Asano Nao asked.
¡°Why do you say that?¡± Minami Yuuki asked, picking up a piece of hamburger meat. It was neither burnt nor undercooked, perfectly done.
¡°Because you were lying on the sofa sighing.¡±
Upon hearing Asano Nao¡¯s words, Minami Yuuki¡¯s chopsticks paused. After the simtion ended, he did sigh over the failure, but he only nced toward the kitchen while sighing. Asano Nao had her back to him at the time and shouldn¡¯t have seen his face; he didn¡¯t make any noticeable noise.
Under his gaze, Asano Nao looked a bit flustered. She first lowered her head to avoid eye contact and then changed the subject.
¡°What would you like to eat tomorrow?¡± she asked.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t answer. He set down his chopsticks and looked around the living room¡ªthe TV cab, bookshelf, table, and walls.
He removed a small object, about the size of a Bluetooth earbud case, from the curtains directly facing the sofa. It was a sports camera, blending in perfectly with the curtain¡¯s color and nearly impossible to spot.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked, cing the camera in front of Asano Nao.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Asano Nao said, turning her face away nervously.
¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s in your own house!¡± Minami Yuuki pinched her cheek.
The touch under his fingers was soft and stic. He applied a bit of force, and the owner of the cheek let out a whimper.
¡°I thought you¡¯d be normaltely, but it turns out you¡¯ve just upgraded your equipment! Next time, will you be using a pinhole camera?¡±
¡°You can¡¯t buy that online.¡±
¡°You actually went looking for it!¡±
Minami Yuuki continued to pinch Asano Nao¡¯s cheeks, causing her body to sway back and forth with her head.
When she leaned forward, her high white T-shirt pressed against the edge of the table, forming a noticeable curve. When she leaned back, it snapped back into ce.
Minami Yuuki was soon fascinated by this physical phenomenon.
When he came to his senses, Asano Nao¡¯s face was flushed with a pink hue, and her gaze was evasive. She had noticed Minami Yuuki¡¯s stare.
Releasing her cheeks, Minami Yuuki picked up his bowl and quickly shoveled rice mixed with hamburger meat into his mouth.
Neither of them spoke, and even Minami Yuuki felt a bit awkward at this moment.
Not far outside the window, Ibuki Yuko put down her binocrs.
The girl looked down at her feet, which were fully visible, with no obstructions in her line of sight.
She had lost decisively.
She tapped the nearby utility pole, raised her binocrs, and continued to observe the Asano household.
After finishing dinner in silence, Minami Yuuki and Asano Nao tidied up the table together.
Asano Nao, bending over, tried hard to conceal the two culprits who had made the atmosphere awkward. Her attempt at covering up only made Minami Yuuki more concerned.
Once everything was cleaned up, Minami Yuukiy back down on the living room sofa.
Time to continue the simtion!
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Chapter 110
Chapter 110
[Simtion Start]
[Remaining Simtion Attempts: 1.5]
[Simtion Subject: Nakajima Reina]
[Initial Rtionship: One-sided Love]
The simtion text has appeared, but Minami Yuuki still hasn¡¯te to a clear decision.
He doesn¡¯t know how to resolve the issue of moving from friends to something more with Nakajima Reina.
However, thinking alone is ineffective.
If the simted version of himself can¡¯t figure it out even after interacting with Nakajima Reina, how could the real version of him, who hasn¡¯t even seen Nakajima Reina, have any insightful ideas?
The only option is to let the simted version of himself explore and make mistakes.
He¡¯ll have to rely on the simted self¡¯s wisdom.
[It has been a week since you arrived in this world. You have made friends with Asano Nao, Chitose Kazumi, and Ibuki Yuko. You realize they all have feelings for you, but you¡¯re not interested in them.]
[You have set your sights on the daughter of your homeroom teacher, Nakajima Reina.]
[You know Nakajima Reina lives in room 303 of the Chikusa University Hospital¡¯s rehabilitation wing. You know she has less than four years to live, and that she is a quiet and gentle girl who is unlikely to develop romantic feelings easily.]
[With this information, you choose to¡]
[1. ¡°How can I get my father-inw¡¯s approval without using the method involving Ibuki Honoka?¡±]
[2. ¡°Proceed without informing my father-inw.¡±]
[3. ¡°Nao, Yuko, and Kazumi are also good options.¡±]
[4. Free Simtion]
The options haven¡¯t changed much, except that Option 1 now has a precondition¡ªit will no longer involve using Ibuki Honoka to get close to Nakajima Yohei.
Should he choose Option 1, which has been adjusted, or should he go with Option 2 and bypass Nakajima Yohei altogether?
At the moment, there¡¯s no evidence suggesting that Nakajima Yohei has any issues.
It seems that with his support and blessing, the rtionship between Minami Yuuki and Nakajima Reina could be smoother and happier.
However, reality doesn¡¯t adhere to ¡°seems okay¡±; often, what appears problem-free is the biggest problem.
Unable to make up his mind, Minami Yuuki lifted his upper body from the couch and looked toward Asano Nao in the kitchen.
¡°Nao-nee.¡±
Minami Yuuki¡¯s sudden call made Asano Nao flinch.
She swiped away the living room footage on her phone¡ªimages from Camera 2.
Camera 1 had been captured over ten minutes ago.
Unlike Ibuki Yuko, Asano Nao¡¯s spying on Minami Yuuki wasn¡¯t out of surveince but rather a desire to see more of the boy¡¯s image, to preserve more of his moonlit presence for the moonless nights toe.
¡°Hm?¡± She turned to look at the boy on the couch, her voice tinged with a hint of guilt.
The kitchen wasn¡¯t aligned with the couch, so Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t see the expression on Asano Nao¡¯s face and missed the chance to remove Camera 2.
He asked, ¡°Let¡¯s say my friend likes a girl now. Do you think it¡¯s better for him to approach her through her father¡¯s connections, or should he try to contact her directly?¡±
Asano Nao¡¯s te ttered against the edge of the sink, making a dull sound.
She set down the te and struggled to suppress her rising anxiety.
When a question¡¯s content and emotion hit too close to home, ¡°let¡¯s say¡± and ¡°a friend¡± are often just disguises.
Her mind went nk.
She realized she had been silent for a while, needing to answer Minami Yuuki, but the sudden question had left her stunned and unable to articte a response.
Indeed, had the future filled with dreams and happiness already turned into a mere illusion in the water due to the butterfly effect?
¡°That girles from a single-parent family, lives in the hospital, and has only a few years left to live,¡± Minami Yuuki added.
Asano Nao¡¯s inner turmoil abruptly ceased.
Although she felt very sorry for the girl, hearing the phrase ¡°only a few years left to live¡± immediately calmed her restless heart, filling her with relief.
She reassured herself that she had discussed Minami Yuuki¡¯s acquaintances with Chitose Kazumi yesterday, and there was no mention of a girl in the hospital.
On closer reflection, a hospital-bound girl with only a few years to live seemed quite unrealistic¡ªperhaps this was just a hypothetical scenario or about someone else entirely.
Once her mind was at ease, she considered Minami Yuuki¡¯s question.
¡°If possible, it¡¯s better to approach her through her father,¡± she answered. ¡°Meeting directly would be too abrupt. Also, if she¡¯s in the hospital, it¡¯s difficult to meet her without her parents knowing.¡±
¡°I see. Thank you, Sister,¡± Minami Yuuki said as hey back down on the couch.
The shut-in older sister¡¯s advice was Option 1.
What she said makes a lot of sense. Apart from anything else, how to hide the meeting between him and Nakajima Reina from Nakajima Yohei is a big problem.
Minami Yuuki nodded and decisively selected Option 2, bypassing the father and meeting Nakajima Reina directly.
After all, who would trust the advice of a single, socially anxious hikkikomori?
In Asano Nao¡¯s simted life, romantic endeavors always seemed to be ruined by this older sister!
Minami Yuuki had consulted Asano Nao to eliminate the wrong options with a love level that was negative!
Since Asano Nao had endorsed Option 1, Option 2 had to be the right choice!
He looked at the simtion interface.
[You decide to meet Nakajima Reina directly. Since you already know the hospital and room number, you don¡¯t necessarily need Nakajima Yohei¡¯s help.]
[However, Chikusa University Hospital has strict management. To enter the rehabilitation wing, you must register the patient you are visiting and obtain permission. You need to get this permission.]
[You call your mother, Minami Haruna, to ask if there are any rtives or friends staying in the Chikusa University Hospital rehabilitation wing. You only need to get into the wing; the nurses won¡¯t check which room you visit.]
[You couldn¡¯t get any help from home. Your mother tells you she doesn¡¯t know anyone in the Chikusa University Hospital, and she asks what¡¯s happening. You give a vague response.]
[You log onto the web to check the admission requirements for the Chikusa University Hospital rehabilitation wing. Unless you have a severe injury or internal health issue, you cannot secure a private room in the rehabilitation wing.]
[Next, you look into the security measures of the wing. The robust security guards and steep walls make you abandon any ns of sneaking in.]
[Only your initial idea seems practical and feasible.]
[You restart your search for a patient who might help you and, with a tentative attitude, ask Chitose Kazumi.]
[To your surprise, Chitose Kazumi tells you that she has a cousin staying in the rehabilitation wing.]
[You want to ask for her help, but the torment of your conscience prevents you from speaking up. You believe that the girl would definitely help you, but this kind of assistance seems too cruel for her.]
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Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Looking at the simtion text, Minami Yuuki pinched the bridge of his nose.
Why did the key character appear with Chitose Kazumi?
This is troublesome¡ªasking the girl for help feels too awkward, but not asking for her help is a waste.
What would the simted version of myself choose?
[You know Chitose Kazumi¡¯s feelings for you and cannot bear to put her through this torment. You are usually not averse to using others¡¯ affections for you, but that is limited to those with whom you have only a shallow rtionship. Although you and Chitose Kazumi have only just met, she is already a close friend in your heart.]
[You brush off Chitose Kazumi¡¯s inquiries.]
[You also asked Asano Nao and Ibuki Yuko, but did not gain anything.]
[The convalescent ward at Chikusa University Hospital is small, and there are not many patients, most of whom are elderly and difficult to contact. Your n is at an impasse.]
[Ibuki Yuko frequently pesters you, and Asano Nao always waits at home for you. Ignoring them, you continue your search for the patient. You considered asking Ichinose Shiori for help, but your rtionship with her is not yet close enough for such a favor.]
[As summer vacation approaches, Chitose Kazumi learns from Asano Nao that you have been searching for the convalescent ward patients. She is puzzled why you are still searching when she had already told you that her cousin was in the ward. She quickly figures out the reason.]
[During the summer vacation, she contacts you and takes you to meet her cousin. She does not ask about your intentions but simply brings you to her cousin¡¯s room and then leaves under the pretext of something else.]
[You are moved by Chitose Kazumi¡¯s kindness.]
Indeed, it¡¯s you, Kazumi!
Minami Yuuki feels deeply touched.
[Chitose Kazumi¡¯s cousin is in the hospital due to a lung surgery. She has been there for half a year and will recover and be discharged in about a month.]
[Because of her status, you cannot have a deep rtionship with her, so you engage in a purely transactional arrangement, exchanging money for her help in faking information.]
[You n to sell some songs to raise money, write a few pieces, and send them to popr singers. Before you receive the funds for the songs, you borrow some money from Asano Nao to pay Chitose Kazumi¡¯s cousin.]
[You told the cousin and the nurse that you are her brother and will visit her often. The nurse registered your name, granting you ess to the convalescent ward, though this privilege is only valid for a month.]
[After a few days of observation, you have basically figured out when Nakajima Yohei arrives at the convalescent ward. The man visits his daughter¡¯s room every day after dinner and stays until visiting hours end.]
[You schedule your approach to Nakajima Reina during the day to avoid Nakajima Yohei.]
[The first attempt takes ce in the morning when there are many visitors. After registering at the front desk, you head to room 303.]
[After knocking on the door, you hear Nakajima Reina¡¯s voice inviting you in.]
[You open the door and see Nakajima Reina lying under a clean white nket, with only her arms in light blue sleeves visible, and a slightly surprised expression on her face.]
[Facing her puzzled look, you choose¡]
¡¾1. ¡°Don¡¯t move, you¡¯ve been kidnapped!¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Are you Nakajima-sensei¡¯s daughter?¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Do you know that cherry blossoms fall at a speed of 5 centimeters per second?¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free choice¡¿
Option two!
Minami Yuuki smiles.
Having options means the romance is progressing. Indeed, the decision to follow Asano Nao¡¯s advice¡¯s opposite was correct!
After the excitement, he looks at the simtion interface options.
Aside from option two, both one and three seem quite inappropriate.
What does ¡°kidnapped¡± mean?
And why discuss the falling speed of cherry blossoms?
The answer is obvious without much thought.
Minami Yuuki selects option three, the topic of cherry blossoms.
Option two must be the wrong choice. ¡°Are you Nakajima-sensei¡¯s daughter?¡± seems like the best way to exin your identity and start a conversation, but it mentions ¡°Nakajima Yohei.¡±
After sessfully avoiding Nakajima Yohei in the previous choice and meeting Nakajima Reina, choosing this option would reintroduce Nakajima Yohei into the situation.
So, the previous effort to avoid him would be meaningless. Therefore, this option is not viable.
Among the remaining options, the kidnapping joke is too extreme. Discussing cherry blossoms, though somewhat abrupt, is rtively normal.
[You enter the hospital room and sit on the chair by Nakajima Reina¡¯s bed, starting a conversation about the speed at which cherry blossoms fall.]
[It¡¯s already midsummer, well past the cherry blossom season, so your topic is out of ce. She has never met you before, and you don¡¯t introduce yourself, leaving her puzzled by your presence.]
[You are a small anomaly intruding into Princess Reina¡¯s domain. She looks at you with mild interest and engages in conversation. She expects you to leave your information, but she is mistaken. Half an hourter, you bid her farewell. Your departure is as unremarkable as your arrival; your voice lingers in Nakajima Reina¡¯s mind as a few threads of confusion.]
[The next morning, you knock on Nakajima Reina¡¯s door again and sit beside her.]
[Youin to her about the heat outside and the crowded subway, never mentioning your identity as if you and she are already beyond formalities. After more than half an hour, you turn and leave.]
[For a week, you appear in Nakajima Reina¡¯s room every morning, sometimes chatting with her, sometimes looking out at the garden together. Your conversations mostly involve you talking, and you both fall into silence when gazing at the garden.]
[Initially, Nakajima Reina viewed you as an unexpected intruder into her realm. However, with your frequent visits and overly familiar demeanor, she graduallyes to see you as a regr guest. The daily morning meetings be a tacit routine between you.]
[You are like the morning breeze, blowing in through the open door, gently brushing past the furniture, stirring a few strands of her hair, and then blowing out through the open window. Besides a refreshing coolness, you leave nothing behind.]
[One day, after a week, while looking out the window together, you suddenly ask her which flower she likes best in the garden.]
[She chooses the blue hydrangea.]
[The next morning, you enter the room with one hand behind your back. At her surprised gaze, you approach the bed and present her with a freshly picked blue hydrangea. The flower rests on the pure white nket, like a small patch of blue sky amidst the white clouds. She runs her delicate fingers over the flower petals and smiles.]
[You take a paper cup from the bedside, fill it with water, and let her ce the hydrangea in it.]
A memory scene appears.
The hospital room¡¯s window isrge, covering a significant portion of the wall, and the azure sky spreads across it, reflecting off the light blue hydrangea in the girl¡¯s hand.
The hydrangea¡¯s stem is short, fully submerged in the paper cup, while the flower ball floats above it, its petals trembling slightly.
The girl gazes at the hydrangea in her hand, somewhat entranced, with blue reflections appearing in her dark eyes.
¡°Does Reina-san like other flowers too?¡± Minami Yuuki asks.
Nakajima Reina shakes her head. ¡°If the nurse finds out, I¡¯ll get scolded.¡±
¡°True. While I¡¯m confident I could pick all the flowers in the garden without being caught, it¡¯s not something Reina-san could hide here.¡±
Nakajima Reinaughs at the boy¡¯sment. She says, ¡°If all the flowers in the garden were gone, I¡¯d be troubled when looking outside. Let them quietly grow in the ground.¡±
¡°Why did you choose hydrangeas? They look nice, but they don¡¯t smell good at all, do they?¡±
¡°Well¡ because while I sit here, I can only see those flowers and can¡¯t smell them.¡±
¡°Exactly, since you can¡¯t smell them, there¡¯s no need to worry about their scent, just their appearance.¡±
Minami Yuuki pauses, his gaze shifting from the hydrangea in the girl¡¯s hand to the view outside the window. He stands up, taking in the entire garden.
¡°Would you like to¡¡± he starts to say, but before he can finish, a knock on the door interrupts.
The knock is clear and unmistakablying from outside Nakajima Reina¡¯s room.
Nakajima Reina looks towards the door, thinking it might be her father arriving.
She then nces at the boy, who has yet to introduce himself, preparing to exin and introduce her father to him.
However, the boy is startled by the knock. He hurriedly gets up from the chair and opens the wardrobe door.
The wardrobe door closes, and the boy hides inside.
Huh? Why is he hiding?
Nakajima Reina is a bit confused.
¡°Reina?¡± Nakajima Yohei, having not heard his daughter¡¯s voice for a while, calls out softly from outside the door.
¡°Mm, Dad, you cane in,¡± Nakajima Reina quickly replies.
Nakajima Yohei opens the door and sits in the chair by the bed.
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Chapter 112
Chapter 112
At the moment he sat down, Nakajima Yohei¡¯s face showed confusion as he touched the surface of the chair, feeling its warmth through his palm.
¡°Has anyone been here?¡± the man asked.
¡°Well¡¡± Nakajima Reina felt troubled.
She cast a sidelong nce at the wardrobe, its door firmly shut, with no sign of the boy emerging.
Though she didn¡¯t understand why Minami Yuuki was hiding, he clearly didn¡¯t want to meet her father.
Should she conceal it from her father?
¡°Was it the doctor? Did she say anything?¡± Nakajima Yohei pressed on.
¡°Nothing specific, just asked some ordinary questions,¡± Nakajima Reina lowered her head.
Though it wasn¡¯t the first time she had hidden things from her father, lying to him like this was new.
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Nakajima Yohei interpreted her reddening face as difort with the topic and thought that the doctor must have said something only a girl would discuss.
Believing he understood the situation, he sympathetically shifted the subject.
¡°This hydrangea is beautiful. Did the doctor give it to you?¡± he asked.
¡°Mm.¡±
¡°That stern-looking woman has such a delicate touch, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Her father¡¯s remark deepened Nakajima Reina¡¯s shame, causing her to lower her head even further.
The room fell silent.
Nakajima Yohei, thinking his daughter was not in the mood for conversation, skipped other topics andunched into his main point.
¡°I heard some things about Minami Yuuki from Tanaka-sensei¡¡±
Usually, Nakajima Reina enjoyed such discussions.
Each new detail about Minami Yuuki from her father added another piece to the puzzle of the boy¡¯s image in her mind.
But today, she couldn¡¯t focus.
The fact that Minami Yuuki was hiding in the wardrobe and the two lies she had told her father left her restless.
She interrupted her father, ¡°I want to read a book. Could you help me borrow one from the library, Dad?¡±
Nakajima Yohei was delighted by the interruption.
His usually calm daughter had not so directly made a request in a long time!
This wasn¡¯t just about a book; it was a rare disy of her enthusiasm!
He immediately stood up.
¡°What book do you want? I¡¯ll go buy it directly.¡±
Nakajima Reina hadn¡¯t actually thought of a book to read; it was merely a tactic to divert her father.
This tactic, she remembered, was something she¡¯d learned from a TV show whose name she had long forgotten.
As her father agreed, she hurriedly thought of a book title.
¡°The Boy in the Wardrobe,¡± she said to her father.
¡°I¡¯ll go buy it now and be back in half an hour!¡± Nakajima Yohei stood up and left the hospital room withrge strides.
As soon as his footsteps hadpletely faded away, the wardrobe door creaked open slightly.
Minami Yuuki, assured of safety, emerged from the wardrobe.
¡°The book you ordered, ¡®The Boy in the Wardrobe,¡¯ has arrived,¡± he said as he approached Nakajima Reina¡¯s bedside, joking with her, ¡°Do you prefer it fried or steamed?¡±
¡°Am I a cannibalistic royalty?¡± Nakajima Reina chuckled, cing the hydrangea she was holding on the bedside table.
The hospital room, which was starkly white and somewhat deste, felt much warmer with the addition of the sky-blue flower.
¡°Why are you hiding?¡± the girl asked Minami Yuuki.
¡°Actually, I¡¯m a creature that dies when seen by adults.¡±
¡°Then the receptionist must have killed you many times.¡±
¡°Alright, that was a lie. Now, let me tell you the harsh truth.¡± Minami Yuuki straightened his face and lowered his voice. ¡°In reality, I don¡¯t exist at all; I¡¯m just a figment of your imagination, Princess Reina. If you had introduced me to your father, he would have been astonished to tell you that there¡¯s only the two of you in the room¡ªthere is no boy here!¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m imagining you. Can I summon you when I can¡¯t sleep at night?¡±
¡°That won¡¯t work; I¡¯m sr-powered, so I can only be active in the morning.¡±
¡°Even though you¡¯re just a figment, you have energy constraints?¡±
¡°If Princess Reina has anyints, you should look into your own issues. I¡¯m just a product of your imagination.¡±
¡°Can you stop calling me ¡®Princess¡¯? It feels a bit odd,¡± Nakajima Reina said.
¡°I think the title suits you, Reina-nee,¡± Minami Yuuki replied.
¡°It¡¯s not fitting at all; it¡¯s too embarrassing.¡±
Nakajima Reina sat on her hospital bed.
Her clear voice and elegant demeanor made her protest seem weak.
¡°To prevent your imagination from fading, I need to leave before your father returns. See you tomorrow,¡± he said, waving at Nakajima Reina before leaving the room.
[You asked the girl why she liked the scentless hydrangea, and she replied that, lying in bed, she couldn¡¯t smell the flowers in the garden below. You intended to invite her to the garden, but your offer was cut off by the sudden arrival of Nakajima Yohei.]
[You hid in the wardrobe. After Nakajima Reina sent her father away, you quickly said goodbye and left the room.]
[After you left, Nakajima Reinay back on her bed, turning to gaze at the hydrangea on her bedside table. The image of ¡°Minami Yuuki¡± in her mind merged with the flower. The boy¡¯s shadow seemed to hide beneath the pale blue petals, giving her a shock.]
Minami Yuuki looked at the simtion text and thought, ¡°This Nakajima Reina actually associates the hydrangea I gave her with Minami Yuuki! Is this for real?¡±
Wait a minute, I am Minami Yuuki.
Never mind.
He reviewed the scene again.
The atmosphere this time seemed much better than thest, progressing more smoothly. But it wasn¡¯t enough just to be better.
Comparing the two simtions, thest meeting with Nakajima Reina was very formal, with all procedures followed and Nakajima Yohei as an intermediary.
This time, the meeting was entirely informal¡ªno procedures, no applications, and not even a self-introduction.
Yet, the informal setting made the atmosphere much better.
In other words, the seemingly dignified and elegant girl actually wasn¡¯t so proper after all!
I didn¡¯t expect Nakajima Reina to be like this!
So the question is, how to approach this seemingly proper girl?
Minami Yuuki had an idea and continued to review the simtion interface.
[After returning home from the hospital, you sit in front of your notebook, browsing medical journals to find out about Nakajima Reina¡¯s illness. You also reach out to medical professionals online, hoping for more cutting-edge information.]
[At night, lying in bed, the harsh white light reminds you of the stark white hospital room and the girl lying in the bed.]
[The next morning, after registering at the front desk, you don¡¯t rush upstairs.]
[You borrow a wheelchair from the nurse.]
[You push open the door to Nakajima Reina¡¯s room on the third floor. The girl is surprised by the wheelchair in your hands.]
[You invite Nakajima Reina to take a stroll in the garden. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she declines your invitation.]
[Faced with the girl¡¯s refusal, you choose¡]
[1. ¡°Woman, how dare you refuse me!¡±]
[2. ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t want to, I¡¯ll just give up.¡±]
[3. ¡°A refusal means a yes, a shake of the head means consent, and resistance meanspliance.¡±]
[4. Free simtion]
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Chapter 113
Minami Yuuki was focused on the simtion text when suddenly a shadow fell over him, leaning against his chest. It was Asano Nao approaching the sofa.
It had already gotten dark, and the temperature had dropped a bit. Asano Nao, wearing a sports jacket, stood at Minami Yuuki¡¯s feet.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s sudden gaze startled her, and she took a step back, her long hair swaying like a raven¡¯s wings in the wind.
¡°Is there something wrong, Nao-nee?¡± Minami Yuuki sat up.
¡°Are you worried about something, Yuuki-kun?¡± Asano Nao voiced her concern.
Minami Yuuki then realized that he had been lying motionless on the sofa, staring ahead, which might have seemed odd to others.
Previously, when he was at the Asano house in the simtion, Asano Nao felt pressured by the curtains being pulled and his presence, causing her to retreat upstairs to her bedroom after a while. Now, with her social anxiety eased, she could stay on the first floor.
Seeing the worry on Asano Nao¡¯s face, he said, ¡°I¡¯m troubled about how to propose to you.¡±
¡°Eh?¡±
¡°Actually, I¡¯m troubled about the future.¡± Minami Yuuki exined; the simtion life was his future, and saying he was troubled about it was not wrong.
¡°Are you thinking of studying music?¡± Asano Nao¡¯s face showed surprise.
¡°No.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Asano Nao¡¯s mood dropped.
¡°However, if you would give me ap pillow, I might consider it,¡± Minami Yuuki teased, hoping to make her blush and run upstairs.
In the simtion life, they were already married, and even as her husband, Minami Yuuki¡¯s request would make Asano Nao hesitate for a long time, at most blushing and somewhat reluctant.
Minami Yuuki believed that even with the dream movie¡¯s memories, Asano Nao wouldn¡¯t be more proactive than after marriage and would certainly not agree to such a request.
So, when Asano Nao walked to the front of the sofa and sat behind him, he was genuinely surprised.
He underestimated Asano Nao¡¯s resolve.
Even a reclusive, socially anxious girl like her could have assertive thoughts.
This determination made his heart flutter.
Asano Nao lowered her head, her face flushed deeply.
She stared at the pants of her sports jacket, not daring to look at Minami Yuuki beside her.
When the back of the boy¡¯s head rested on herp, and his youthful eyes nced up at her face, she quickly looked away and turned her head.
She covered her face, not wanting Minami Yuuki to see her burning cheeks and¡ her blissful smile.
Her worries were unwarranted.
The moment Minami Yuukiy down, his attention was drawn to other sensations.
With his eyes closed, he focused on his sense of touch and smell, feeling the softness against his head and savoring the pleasant fragrance around him.
Asano Nao¡¯s long hair brushed against his ears, causing a slight tickling sensation.
Even with his eyes closed, the simtion interface was still visible to Minami Yuuki.
This interface was not projected into the physical world but into his mind.
Minami Yuuki nced at the simtion options.
He felt a bit guilty, lying on Nao¡¯sp while looking at the simtion life with Reina, feeling a slight sense of moral conflict.
Maybe he should get up and simte after going home instead?
His conscience was pointing him in the right direction, but his body did not heed the moral guidance.
Physical sensations often outweigh moral considerations, guiding one¡¯s actions more than ethical thoughts.
Pretending to be asleep, Minami Yuuki took a moment to clear Asano Nao¡¯s image from his mind and focused on the simtion interface.
What should he choose?
First, he eliminated ¡°How dare you refuse me!¡±
This wasn¡¯t a ¡°CEO falls in love with me¡± scenario, so that line wasn¡¯t needed.
The remaining two options were to either give up on taking the girl to the garden or to persist stubbornly.
Minami Yuuki chose to persist stubbornly.
From previous deductions, it was clear that although Nakajima Reina seemed proper, she actually preferred less conventional behavior.
Given the options, giving up was the conventional choice, while persisting stubbornly was not.
The choice was obvious.
[You did not follow Nakajima Reina¡¯s advice and used persuasion to convince her. Under your continuous persuasion, the girl agreed.]
A short dialogue appeared in Minami Yuuki¡¯s mind.
¡°Eh? Why not go? It¡¯s still early, it¡¯s not hot outside, and there aren¡¯t many people.¡± Minami Yuuki leaned forward, resting on the back of the wheelchair, his words carrying a hint of pleading and reproach.
¡°The doctor said it¡¯s best to stay in bed,¡± Nakajima Reina said, gazing out at the garden with hesitation.
¡°But she didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t go out. The use of ¡®best¡¯ rather than ¡®absolute¡¯ means it¡¯s permissible to go out. Besides, with a wheelchair, it¡¯s not much different from sitting in bed.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
¡°Come on,e on. I even borrowed a wheelchair. Reina-san, you wouldn¡¯t be avoiding going out with me, would you?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that¡¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go. Just wear this and head out. It¡¯s much warmer outside than it is in here.¡±
Nakajima Reina hesitated for a long time.
Yes, the attending physician hadn¡¯t insisted that she stay in the hospital room. So why did she instinctively resist the idea of going out?
Her gaze swept over the hydrangeas at the head of her bed. Among the tightly packed blue petals, she found her true feelings.
¡°I haven¡¯t been outside since I was admitted,¡± she murmured.
She looked at the ck wheelchair.
Her refusal came from habit. She had grown ustomed to staying in the hospital room, sitting by the bed and looking out at the garden.
She had never considered wandering around the garden.
¡°Then isn¡¯t that even more reason to go out and have a look!¡± Minami Yuuki positioned the wheelchair by the bed and waited for Nakajima Reina to get out.
Nakajima Reina was still hesitating when Minami Yuuki lifted her nket. ¡°Just think of it as apanying me. If I return the wheelchair right away, it would be so embarrassing. I just borrowed it and would have to return it immediately¡ªit clearly means the date failed, and the nurse willugh at me.¡±
¡°Aunt Kawauchi isn¡¯t like that.¡±
¡°Come on, we¡¯ll just take a quick stroll by the garden ande back.¡± Minami Yuuki reached out to support Nakajima Reina¡¯s arm.
¡°Just a quick stroll?¡± Nakajima Reina let her feet dangle off the side of the bed.
¡°Of course. If I lie to you, then I¡¯m a puppy.¡±
[Nakajima Reina sat in the wheelchair. She was familiar with this mode of transportation; every time she had a physical checkup, she would sit in the wheelchair, pushed around by her father.]
[What was unfamiliar to her was the person pushing the wheelchair. This unfamiliarity brought both unease and curiosity.]
[You took the elevator down to the first floor, crossed the lobby, went down the ramp, and turned into the garden behind the building.]
[The garden was one of the features of Chikusa University Hospital. It was a small garden that could be crossed in a minute, filled with many seasonal flowers and nts.]
[You didn¡¯t adhere to the promise of just a quick trip, and Nakajima Reina didn¡¯t mention it either. The girl looked at the surroundings, so different from the hospital room, and forgot everything else in her mind.]
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Chapter 114
[The summer sun is scorching; even though the sun has only just risen above the horizon, the temperature is already high. After walking in the sunlight for a while, you start to sweat.]
[Nakaima Reina hasn¡¯t experienced this kind of heat in a long time; she finds it refreshing. The garden scenery, which she had be very familiar with in her hospital room, suddenly looks unfamiliar from this new perspective.]
[You push her towards the flowers, encouraging her to smell the pollen. She smiles.]
[At the end of the garden, you circle around from the other side and stop in the pavilion in the center of the garden. The pavilion¡¯s roof casts a cool shadow. You and Nakaima Reina sit in the shade; she looks out, while you watch her.]
[Nakaima Reina¡¯s gaze gradually shifts away from the garden, and she looks towards a distant point. In the southeast of the garden, she sees a small mountain standing against the blue sky. The mountain¡¯s slope is lush and green, with the sun hanging above its peak.]
[She is first surprised to find a mountain nearby, and then even more surprised that she had never noticed it before, despite it being directly in view from her window.]
[You tell her that it¡¯s called Azuki Mountain.]
[As the sun rises higher, the sunlight bes even more intense, and you push Nakaima Reina back to the hospital room.]
[Back in her bed, the familiar gardenes into view again, but what upies her mind is that unfamiliar perspective.]A brief memory scene appears.
¡°How do you feel?¡± Minami Yuuki asks, resting her elbows on her legs and supporting her chin with her hands, looking at the girl in the hospital bed.
¡°It¡¯s very hot. I haven¡¯t sweated like this in a long time,¡± Nakaima Reina responds realistically, resonating with amon experience.
¡°Shall we go again tomorrow?¡± Minami Yuuki asks.
The girl hesitates, unsure if she should go out again.
¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Minami Yuuki says, standing up.
The girl doesn¡¯t object, indicating her willingness to agree.
[It was gettingte. You said goodbye to Nakaima Reina, returned the wheelchair to the nurse, and left the hospital.]
[The nurse at the front desk recognized all the patients in the clinic. When you and Nakaima Reina left, she immediately recognized you both. She looked through your visit records and saw that you were not listed as visiting Nakaima Reina.]
[She wondered how you two hade together. She didn¡¯t tell Nakaima Yohei about this. The thirty-something unmarried nurse still harbors fantasies from her youth, and she secretly observed you and Nakaima Reina, turning your every move into a romantic story in her mind.]
[The summer vacation was halfway through, and the temperature had reached its peak for the year. You and Nakaima Reina continued to visit the garden every morning.]
[One day, after pushing the girl back from the garden, your back was wet, and her forehead was sweaty.]
[You told her that the mornings were getting hotter and suggested that it might be better to go out in the evening to enjoy the scenery. However, since Nakaima Yohei was there in the evenings, you only had a short window of time after he left and before visiting hours ended.]
[To urately track when Nakaima Yohei would leave, you exchanged LINE contacts with Nakaima Reina.]
[Nakaima Yohei usually left half an hour early, which was your window for evening outings.]
[On your first night outing, Nakaima Reina tensed up and was a bit anxious when she saw the pitch-ck darkness outside the door in the lobby. However, as you pushed her into the darkness, her anxiety quickly dissipated.]
[She looked at the shadows of the buildings in the night and at the moon and stars in the sky. She could also see such scenes from her hospital room, but the feeling waspletely different. The sensation of being enveloped by shadows and shrouded in night was something she could never have imagined, no matter how she tried to envision it from her brightly lit hospital room.]
[While resting in the pavilion, Nakaima Reina stood up from the wheelchair.]
A memory scene appears.
The sky is dim, with the moon obscured by thin clouds.
The garden lights are faint, and the streemp next to the pavilion attracts summer night insects.
One by one, they bump into the translucentmpshade, making a soft ticking sound.
¡°It¡¯s a bit scary at night,¡± Nakaima Reina says.
¡°Then hold my hand,¡± Minami Yuuki says, cing his right hand on her shoulder with his palm up.
He stands behind the girl, unable to see her face.
He doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s thinking, only that after about five or six seconds, her hand rests in his palm.
Her hand is slender and delicate, and Minami Yuuki grips it firmly.
¡°Could you support me?¡± Nakaima Reina looks up, gazing at the boy¡¯s chin from behind.
Minami Yuuki continues to hold her hand with one hand while cing his other hand on her shoulder to prevent her from losing bnce.
Nakaima Reina¡¯s body is still capable of standing.
She smoothly rises from the wheelchair, takes two steps forward, and stands beside Minami Yuuki.
She¡¯s never been this close to him before.
Their shoulders are almost touching, and the warmth of his body seems to seep through the air to her.
She smells a fresh fragrance, a mix of men¡¯s shampoo and body wash, and her heart beats a little faster.
¡°Have you ever been to that mountain over there?¡± she asks, looking at the outline of Azuki Mountain in the darkness.
¡°No, I haven¡¯t been, just heard about it. It¡¯s not very difficult to climb; you can reach the top in a little over half an hour.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
Nakaima Reina gazes at the distant hill, lost in thought.
¡°I have something for you,¡± Minami Yuuki says, leading her to a corner of the pavilion.
He pulls out a stic bag from underneath the pavilion bench.
Nakaima Reina opens the bag, revealing a variety of snacks inside.
¡°The doctor didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t eat these, did he?¡± Minami Yuuki pulls out potato chips, a Swiss roll, some Pocky, and a bottle of soda.
¡°Just said to stick to the hospital¡¯s nutritional meals,¡± Nakaima Reina says, finding an excuse for herself without needing Minami Yuuki¡¯s persuasion.
¡°Just to be safe, have a little, and I¡¯ll keep the rest.¡±
Nakaima Reina picks up a chip, and the taste and texture of childhood that she had forgotten return to her tongue.
She wonders when she had started eating only hospital meals and fruit.
She looks at the boy in front of her and realizes that if not for him, she would have forgotten the world outside the hospital room.
¡°Want to try this?¡± Minami Yuuki asks, holding a Pocky stick in his mouth and looking at Nakaima Reina.
The long stick of cookie oscites between his lips, seemingly urging her.
Sharing a Pocky is a ssic romantic gesture, something Nakaima Reina has seen many times on television.
She never thought this scene would y out in her own life.
After hesitating for a moment, she tilts her long neck.
At that moment, her gaze drifts past the boy¡¯s shoulder, catching the bright lights of the rehabilitation building.
She thinks of the boy named Minami Yuuki, who, though she doesn¡¯t know what he looks like, has been with her every night in her memories.
Her neck drops again, and she doesn¡¯t bite the Pocky stick from the boy¡¯s mouth.
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Chapter 115
Nakajima Reina¡¯s refusal was anticipated by Minami Yuuki.
He removed the pocky stick from his mouth and, with the girl¡¯s head lowered, he crouched in front of her and extended one end of the pocky stick toward her lips.
Nakajima Reina, surprised, opened her mouth and bit into the approaching pocky stick.
To her further astonishment, the boy suddenly leaned in, and with a soft snap, the pocky stick broke into two pieces.
Standing up, Minami Yuuki saw that Reina¡¯s eyes followed him.
In the dim light of the night, he seemed to be lost, with one piece of the pocky stick still in his mouth and the other in hers.
Realizing what had just happened, Reina¡¯s face turned red, and she turned her head away.
Her tongue touched the chocte-covered piece of pocky in her mouth, and the sweetness spread on her tongue.
¡°I bit into the side without chocte,¡± the boy¡¯s clear voice and the sound of him chewing the pocky came from above. ¡°It feels a bit unfair, so for fairness, Reina-san, you should eat the piece without chocte.¡±Nakajima Reina¡¯s mind was entirely upied by the broken Pocky stick, and she didn¡¯t catch the boy¡¯s words.
She took the pocky out of her mouth and held it in her hand.
She moved her legs, avoiding the boy, and hurriedly walked out of the pavilion.
¡°It¡¯s almost break time. I need to go back.¡±
¡°Wait.¡±
The boy¡¯s plea made her walk even faster.
¡°At least wait for the wheelchair!¡± The boy chased after her.
She stopped, turned her face away from the boy¡¯s gaze, and sat back in the wheelchair.
Her breathing was rapid; those few hurried steps had made her feel exhausted.
The boy pushed her back to the ward.
As he secured the wheelchair¡¯s wheels and was about to help her, Reina quickly got up and sat on the bed with two steps.
Watching her lie down on the bed, the boy turned off the light and left the room.
In the dim light, Nakajima Reina tilted her ear to listen to the boy¡¯s footsteps until the soundpletely vanished.
She then propped herself up from the bed, extended her right hand from under the nket, and opened the tightly clenched palm.
Half of the chocte pockyy in her palm, broken into three pieces, with the chocte smeared onto her skin.
The bitterness of the chocte lingered on her tongue.
The ward was silent, with only the dim light from the nightmp casting a shadow at the foot of the bed and the distant footsteps of the nurses making their rounds.
[After two weeks of interaction, you¡¯ve grown quite close. You invited her to y a flirtatious game, but she gazed at the lights of the sanatorium and refused. She thought of the spring boy in her mind and recalled your joke about hiding in the closet. You are not the partner of her fantasies; that spring boy is.]
[Your sudden proximity made her flustered. Back in the ward, she gazed at the dim night and felt sorrow.]
As the simted text in his mind reached this point, Minami Yuuki wanted to sigh, but he quickly suppressed the impulse.
He was still pretending to be asleep on Asano Nao¡¯sp.
Recalling the memory scenes and the simted text, he thought that the romance was going smoothly, but Nakajima Reina¡¯s heart remained troubled by sorrow.
She only had some over three years of life left.
How should this illness be addressed? Change hospitals? Change therapies? Change the attending physician?
He didn¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t even know the name of the illness.
Shaking off this useless worry, Minami Yuuki turned his thoughts to something else.
Now, he finally understood what ¡°Minami Yuuki¡± represented in Nakajima Reina¡¯s mind.
In the recent memory scene, Nakajima Reina refused his flirtatious game because she thought of ¡°Minami Yuuki,¡± and he had been thinking that he was somehow a rival to himself.
It didn¡¯t seem to be that way now.
The ¡°Minami Yuuki¡± in Nakajima Reina¡¯s heart was not the real him but rather the springtime boy she had imagined, apanion for her loneliness and sorrow.
¡°Minami Yuuki¡± was just a name; all fantasies require a real-world basis, and Minami Yuuki was the material for her fantasies.
Tsk, the princess really had quite the imagination.
Minami Yuuki turned onto his side, resting his face against the soft fabric of Asano Nao¡¯s sportswear, and continued the simtion in his mind.
[That night, the veil over your rtionship was lifted, and you both clearly sensed each other¡¯s feelings.]
[You didn¡¯t press the advantage but instead gave the girl some time to adjust.]
[Every day, you visited the hospital in the morning to chat with Nakajima Reina, and in the evening, you came back after Nakajima Youhei left, taking his daughter out for a stroll in the garden.]
[You often looked out at the distant mountains from the pavilion.]
[You noticed the front desk nurse¡¯s attention to you. With the subtle promotion from the nurse named Kawauchi, the entire sanatorium¡¯s nursing staff became observers and supporters of your rtionship with Nakajima Reina.]
[You added several on-duty nurses on LINE. Now, you could find out Nakajima Youhei¡¯s whereabouts without needing messages from Nakajima Reina.]
[Several times, you almost ran into Nakajima Youhei, but avoided thanks to advance warnings from the on-duty nurses.]
¡°¡¡±
Reading the text, Minami Yuuki suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Nakajima Youhei.
The man still believed his daughter was quietly receiving treatment at the hospital,pletely unaware of her daily rendezvous with his student.
The hospital¡¯s nurses had tacitly agreed to help keep it hidden.
[You expanded your meeting locations. Each floor of the hospital has a small lounge with a TV, magazines, and sofas. Though called a lounge, it¡¯s actually a ce designed for patients to socialize. During the day, some patients who cannot stand the solitude gather there to chat and make friends.]
[The sanatorium has six floors, with only the bottom five upied. The sixth floor¡¯s rooms are empty, and the lounge there is naturally vacant. You and Nakajima Reina often went there, finding the soft sofas much morefortable than hospital beds.]
[You always took off your shoes and lounged on the sofa. This casual act was nothing to you but felt somewhat provocative to the well-behaved Nakajima Reina. Lying on the sofa itself was already informal, and cing your feet on it made it even more so.]
[Encouraged and coaxed by your words, Nakajima Reina also started lying on the sofa. From then on, the sofa became her new bed.]
[The sofa in the center of the lounge is quite long, made from two sofas joined together. You lie at one end, and Nakajima Reina lies at the other. You often use your feet to touch her feet, and each time, she would blush slightly, draw her legs up, and try to avoid your teasing.]
[Your rtionship with Nakajima Reina grew increasingly ambiguous, but you both struggled to move beyond this ambiguity.]
[The first month of summer vacation wasing to an end, and a typhoon passed through the waters around Misaki, bringing two days of heavy rain. After the rain, the temperature cooled significantly.]
[In the morning, you and Nakajima Reina walked to the lounge. The girl sat down on a single sofa by the window, gazing out at the world after the rain.]
[You sat beside her, both of you looking out together. Neither of you spoke. Nakajima Reina was absorbed in the clear sky after the rain and the unusually vivid green of the freshed washed Azuki Mountain.]
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Chapter 116
Nakajima Reina was also unaware of why her gaze always seemed to be drawn to Mount Azuki.
Whether it was a habit or an interest, she could no longer distinguish, but it was probably true that anyone stuck in one ce would inevitably look around. And looking around requires a target, a focal point, and apart from the frequently visited garden, the tall and conspicuous Mount Azuki was the most suitable.
She had unwittingly memorized the appearance of Mount Azuki, just as she had with the garden.
At night, sitting on her bed, she looked out at the dim night through the window; although she could only see the outline of Mount Azuki, the entire mountain¡¯s shape would appear vividly in her mind.
However, despite gazing at the mountain so many times, she had never entertained the fantasy of actually going there. So, when you suggested going to Mount Azuki together right then, she was taken aback.
A memory scene appears.
The entertainment room was about the size of two patient rooms, with a ck LCD TV mounted on the wall and orange fabric sofas filling the space.
The longest sofa was in front of the TV, while the other sofas were either ced by the table or by the window. The window was a floor-to-ceiling one, with the upper half upied by the blue sky and the lower half revealing the lush green mountains.
Minami Yuukiy on the sofa in front of the TV, his neck resting on the armrest as he stretched out.Nakajima Reina sat at the other end of the sofa, ncing nervously around to ensure that her actions would not be seen by anyone or cause any trouble. After confirming this, shey down in the same manner as Yuuki.
She lifted her feet, still in her white cotton socks, out of her hospital blue slippers, cing them on the surface of the orange sofa.
Unlike Yuuki, she did not lie down as casually; her legs were initially curled up, and it took a while for her to stretch them out.
Her particrly quiet, elegantly curved, and adorably small feet came to rest in front of Yuuki¡¯s feet. Yuuki, lowering himself, used his own ck-socked feet to nudge Reina¡¯s white-socked feet. Startled, her feet immediately retreated, and the girl curled her legs up, looking at the boy with a mix of shyness and irritation.
The boy smiled without a trace of remorse, his expression tinged with the childish joy of having sessfully teased the girl.
He pushed himself up, used his waist to turn around on the sofa, his head and feet switching ces. Kicking off the armrest of the sofa, he slid down to the girl¡¯s feet like a swimmer making a turn in a pool.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± Nakajima Reina was startled and hurriedly sat up, trying to move her feet away from the boy¡¯s head.
She was overwhelmed with embarrassment; it was incredibly rude and irritating to have her feet so close to someone¡¯s head!
Minami Yuuki grabbed the ¡°snow rabbit¡± that had leaped over his head, and the delicate rabbit could not escape his grasp. The warm, tender touch conveyed from his palm.
¡°Please let go.¡± Reina¡¯s face turned red.
Although her heart was in turmoil, her voice didn¡¯t show it; her reprimand was soft andcked authority, imbued with a certain elegance.
Yuuki released her feet, still smiling.
The girl put on her slippers, feeling the lingering warmth from his hand on the top of her foot hidden inside the fabric. She was both embarrassed and annoyed.
Unversed in matters of intimacy and only familiar with rtionships through TV shows and movies, she did not realize that every part of her skin was a temptation. She thought Yuuki was deliberately teasing her.
¡°Let¡¯s go to Mount Azuki now.¡±
Yuuki¡¯s suggestion came so suddenly and was so surprising that Reina immediately forgot about her feet and the boy¡¯s teasing.
¡°But that¡¯s outside the hospital!¡± She thought the suggestion was impractical.
¡°The hospital doesn¡¯t have electric fences, machine guns, or bunkers; of course, we can sneak out,¡± Yuuki said.
¡°But¡¡±
Reina¡¯s mind was a mess.
She did care about Mount Azuki, but she had never considered actually going there.
Yuuki¡¯s abrupt proposal shattered her purely observational view of the mountain, leaving her hesitating, just like the first time she went to the garden.
¡°The doctor never said we couldn¡¯t leave the hospital, right?¡±
¡°Even though they didn¡¯t say so, it¡¯smon sense that you shouldn¡¯t sneak out while hospitalized!¡±
¡°I think, since Princess Reina has stayed in Chikusa Pce and never interacted with society, she doesn¡¯t have the right to say mon sense¡¯. Trust me, if they didn¡¯t say it, it means it¡¯s allowed.¡±
Nakajima Reina was not good at handling verbal pressure.
In her panic, she couldn¡¯t help but turn her gaze toward Mount Azuki, hoping that the distant peak would provide her with an answer.
¡°It¡¯s too far, and such a high mountain, I can¡¯t possibly climb it,¡± she said, her mood sinking as she looked at her blue slippers.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are trails on that mountain. I¡¯ve checked it out, and pushing a wheelchair up there is no problem at all. Today¡¯s weather is cool; tomorrow it will get warmer, and climbing the mountain then would be a real ordeal. This is a unique opportunity,¡± Minami Yuuki said, standing up from the sofa and extending his hand to her.
Reina looked up at him, her sense of disappointment softened by his words.
She realized that Yuuki had researched Mount Azuki in advance, and choosing today was not a spontaneous decision but a thoughtful one.
She understood that behind this seemingly whimsical invitation was Yuuki¡¯s sincere affection.
Before happiness could even take root, she was reminded of her current situation.
This was not the Chikusa Pce Yuuki referred to, but Chikusa Hospital. She was not a high-born princess but a renowned patient on the verge of death. The sense of disappointment returned, apanied by sadness.
¡°I don¡¯t want to see that mountain,¡± she said, lowering her head and speaking coldly.
¡°I know,¡± Yuuki said, taking her hand, ¡°It¡¯s not about wanting to see it. I want to take you there.¡±
[Nakajima Reina refused you once again, but you stubbornly took her hand and helped her out. You went down to the first floor, borrowed a wheelchair, and sneaked out of the hospital with her.]
[The feeling of sneaking out was more in your and Reina¡¯s minds than in reality. In fact, you took out a light jacket from your backpack, helped Reina put it on, and walked out the side door with confidence. The security staff didn¡¯t stop you, mistaking you both for discharged patients.]
[You pushed Reina onto the subway, where the crowd of passengers startled her. She had forgotten thest time she had seen so many people gathered together.]
[Instead of taking Reina to Mount Azuki, the subway headed in the opposite direction.]
[Reina asked you, puzzled, about where you were going. You joked about selling her off, and sheughed, thinking you were just teasing her.]
[You took her to your apartment and handed her a dress you had picked out with Chitose Kazumi¡¯s help. The hospital gown was too conspicuous, and you were tired of seeing her in long pants and shirts.]
[Reina felt ufortable in the dress and kept adjusting its hem, finding it too breezypared to pants.]
[When she asked if she could change back into pants, you refused her impolite request.]
[You ced a white sunhat on her head and took her back onto the subway. This time, you were heading toward Mount Azuki.]
[At first, Reina was anxious about sneaking out of the hospital, but soon that anxiety turned into joy. This unprecedented act of rebellion made her cheeks flush with excitement. If deceiving her father and wandering the garden were minor mischiefs, then escaping from the hospital was truly momentous.]
[She looked at you, the one who had led her into this grand adventure.]
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Chapter 117
¡¾After exiting the subway station, you transferred to a bus and, after another fifteen minutes, arrived at Azuki Mountain.¡¿
¡¾It was nearing noon, and Nakajima Reina was worried that the nurse delivering the meals might notice her absence, but once they entered the forest, her anxiety was quickly soothed by the rustling of the lush green trees.¡¿
¡¾After the heavy rain, the scent of the earth and trees mixed in the wind, fresh but somewhat pungent¡ªa smell only found in the mountains. Water droplets clung to the leaves and pooled in depressions, sparkling in the gentle sunlight.¡¿
¡¾As you walked along the trail, a woodpecker tapped away on a tree trunk behind you, while two grayish-white birds fluttered and yed among the treetops ahead.¡¿
¡¾Nakajima Reina was captivated by this new world. For forty minutes, she said nothing, her eyes moving from the treetops to the tree trunks, then to the leaf-strewn ground. Even the dust on the trail, the floating leaves in the puddles, and the few stones by the roadside fascinated her.¡¿
¡¾The rtively gentle trail only reaches two-thirds up the mountain. Beyond that are long staircases.¡¿
¡¾You left the wheelchair by a small, unattended shop at the bottom of the stairs and continued up, holding Nakajima Reina¡¯s hand.¡¿
¡¾After thirty steps, the girl¡¯s breathing grew rapid.¡¿
A memory scene appears.Azuki Mountain is not a popr attraction and is only somewhat well-known in the hiking circles of Misaki City.
Hikers usually take the forest trails and avoid the regr stairs, so the less-traveled stairs are quite narrow, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
The sun had risen high, and the effects of the rain were fading, with the sunlight growing more intense.
Minami Yuuki tightly held Nakajima Reina¡¯s hand, feeling her palm bing slightly sweaty. He heard her light breaths.
¡°Are you tired?¡± he asked.
¡°No,¡± Nakajima Reina shook her head.
She looked up, the narrow stairs appearing intermittently between the trees on either side, stretching endlessly and seemingly leading up to the azure sky.
¡°Your out-of-breath appearance is hardly convincing,¡± he said.
¡°I can walk a bit more,¡± she replied.
¡°Are you sure you can make it?¡±
Nakajima Reina fell silent.
Amid her shallow sadness, the boy released her hand and squatted in front of her.
¡°Come on,¡± he said.
¡°No need¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay, I actually want to carry you, Princess Reina.¡±
Nakajima Reina settled onto the boy¡¯s back, the broad and sturdy muscles of his back making her cheeks flush slightly.
She rested her chin on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck, while his hands rested on the outside of her thighs.
The surrounding scenery suddenly lost its charm.
She turned her head to the side, looking at the trees, while the boy¡¯s warmth, scent, and breathing enveloped her.
Her heart raced.
Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart was also speeding up.
The girl¡¯s hair fell on his shoulder, and its faint fragrance reached his nose. With each step he took, the ends of her hair swayed back and forth, brushing lightly against his cheek.
Her pale, slender hands rested in front of his chin, their delicate whiteness making him want to gently bite them and leave a faint imprint of his teeth.
Though Nakajima Reina¡¯s figure was not extraordinary, it was far fromgging behind the average. She wore only a thin white dress, which did little to cover her soft form.
Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t see the girl¡¯s face, so he looked down at their shadows on the steps.
Nakajima Reina, too, avoided looking at his face, focusing instead on their distorted shadows on the steps.
Birds were chirping, leaves rustling, and the two slowly made their way up, absorbed in their feelings for each other rather than the scenery around them.
After an unknown amount of time, the stairs ended abruptly, revealing the clear sky hidden behind the trees. Minami Yuuki quickened his pace and stepped over the final stair.
He set Nakajima Reina down from his back. His own back was drenched in sweat, and a patch of her white dress was damp as well.
Nakajima Reina didn¡¯t find the damp patch ufortable. She shyly turned her back to the boy, pretending to look down the mountain, but actually avoiding his gaze.
The sensation and warmth of the dress against her front felt like the boy¡¯s long fingers.
The sunlight and wind quickly dried the dampness.
She was captivated by the seemingly tiny city below and looked up at the sky again, feeling it was closer to her than ever.
¡°How¡¯s the view? Not bad, right?¡± Minami Yuuki asked her.
¡°Mm,¡± Nakajima Reina replied, moving to the edge of the steps to look down.
The length of the steps surprised her, and she found it hard to believe she had climbed such a long staircase.
¡°Put on your jacket; it¡¯s cool at the summit,¡± Minami Yuuki offered his jacket.
Nakajima Reina was about to reach for it but suddenly had a whimsical thought. She raised her arms and looked at the boy.
Minami Yuuki quickly understood her hint and teased, ¡°You even need help putting on a jacket? Princess Reina, you really haven¡¯t grown up!¡±
The girl blushed slightly and began to lower her arms, but Minami Yuuki had already grabbed her wrists.
He helped her into the jacket, his strong arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled the jacket¡¯s hem down and slowly zipped it up.
The coarse jacket snugly covered her upper body.
The sun was directly overhead, and the temperature hadn¡¯t yet risen, but the sunlight was particrly intense.
The summit tform was deserted; tourists avoided it at noon during the summer, and hikers were reluctant to climb through the damp forest after yesterday¡¯s heavy rain.
On the mountain, there were only Minami Yuuki and Nakajima Reina.
They had lunch in the nearby pavilion¡ªa variety of small snacks. They walked around the tform and then sat quietly in the pavilion.
As the sun gradually shifted, Nakajima Reina first gazed at the shrinking city and then at the orange-yellow sunset drawing closer to the horizon.
The two stood at the edge of the tform, hands resting on the iron railing, shoulders touching as they gazed together at the fading twilight.
The sun hadpletely dipped below the horizon, turning the blue sky into an inky ck. The bright moon cast a hazy light, and the city lights began to shine. The vast buildings¡¯ shadows sparkled with countless lights,ing together to form a brilliant gxy of stars.
The boy¡¯s face was partially obscured by moonlight. His eyes, like stars, slowly drew closer to her, and her gaze fixed on his slightly reddened lips. A fragment of a chocte pocky suddenly shed in her mind.
She took a step back, avoiding his approaching lips, turning her face away as she recalled a boy from spring days long past, using those memories to resist the summer boy¡¯s advances.
¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t introduced myself to you, have I?¡±
The boy¡¯s light-hearted voice echoed through the forest: ¡°I¡¯m Minami Yuuki.¡±
Nakajima Reina was stunned by the familiar name.
The boy who had apanied her in the spring now merged with the summer boy before her, and she found herself without the strength to resist.
Minami Yuuki kissed her lips.
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Chapter 118
¡¾You carried Nakajima Reina up the remaining steps, and you dined at the mountaintop, staying until sunset.¡¿
¡¾Under the pale moonlight, you revealed your name and kissed her lips in her dazed state.¡¿
¡¾As the kiss ended, tears streamed down the girl¡¯s face.¡¿
¡¾The glistening tears, shimmering in the moonlight, fell one by one onto the gray cement floor.¡¿
¡¾You weren¡¯t sure why the girl was crying. When you asked her, she didn¡¯t tell you.¡¿
¡¾It was already veryte, and you carried her down the mountain. Just as you arrived at the hospital room, the front desk nurse sent a message that Nakajima Yohei had arrived.¡¿
¡¾With no time to change clothes, Nakajima Reinay under the covers, pretending to be asleep. You hid in the wardrobe and listened to the sounds outside.¡¿
¡¾Nakajima Yohei knocked twice, received no response, and then entered the room. The curtains by the bed were open, and the night light and moonlight illuminated the girl¡¯s face. Nakajima Yohei looked at her sleeping face for a moment, gently closed the curtains, and quietly left.¡¿
¡¾The front desk nurse sent a message that the target had left. You emerged from the wardrobe, and Nakajima Reina sat up in bed. You looked at each other andughed, yourughter echoing in the dim hospital room.¡¿¡¾You waited outside the door while the girl wiped herself down and changed back into a blue hospital gown.¡¿
¡¾The dress she changed out of was stuffed into your backpack. She watched you with a flushed face as you did this. The dress had her sweat on it, and she wanted to ask you to clean it, but she was unable to do so.¡¿
¡¾You teased her, saying that the dress was your treasure and would never be washed again, making her face turn even redder. The girl¡¯s shyness carried an air of grace, different from Asano Nao¡¯s mortification or Ibuki Yuko¡¯s indifference.¡¿
¡¾You sensed that the princess¡¯s spirits were low. Did the journey to Mount Azuki make her mncholic? You weren¡¯t sure, but you thought about the girl¡¯s crystalline tears under the moonlight.¡¿
¡¾You tried to cheer up the girl, but your efforts only had a fleeting effect.¡¿
¡¾Visiting hours were about to end, and you said goodbye to the girl before taking the subway back.¡¿
¡¾A nurse came to check the room, and one of them quietly inquired about the girl¡¯s romantic life. Herpanion immediately pulled her away, and the room fell silent once more.¡¿
¡¾Lying on the pure white hospital bed, Nakajima Reina looked toward the window, seeing only a dim gray¡ª the curtains were drawn.¡¿
¡¾She turned to the hydrangea at the head of the bed. The flowers had long since withered and decayed, turning into a gray-ck mass floating in a paper cup.¡¿
¡¾As night fell, at the mountaintop of Azuki, beneath the silver moon, she heard the boy¡¯s name. She realized that the boy of summer and spring was the same, and her heart fluttered, feeling that fate, which had consistently ignored her, had finally cast a gentle nce her way.¡¿
¡¾She thought of a dream from long ago, where the boy of spring leaped out of her heart andnded before her. Now, that dream had be reality.¡¿
¡¾The proximity of the boy¡¯s face, the warmth of his lips, and the heat from his breath gave her external sweetness, while memories of spring and summer, nightly fantasies and longing, and the joy of their time together gave her internal happiness. The external and internal, the material and the spiritual, seemed to converge, making her feel that her happiness was like the vast night sky overhead, enveloping the whole world.¡¿
¡¾Yet, fate¡¯s favor was merely an illusion. What she had forgotten lurked behind the door of her happiness, and when she was lost in self-satisfaction, it emerged, casting a cold nce at her.¡¿
¡¾The boy¡¯s lips loosened, about to part from hers. She wanted to chase after him, to continue their intimacy. At that moment, a sharp pain in her heart struck.¡¿
¡¾The brief, slight pain was amon issue, fading after a moment. The pain itself did not bring sadness, but it ruthlessly pierced through her illusion of happiness. She recalled that she was going to die. The night sky quickly darkened, the cold wind chilled her heart, and exhaustion and weakness overwhelmed her body.¡¿
¡¾On the hospital bed, she raised her hand to touch her cheek, and tears began to flow again.¡¿
Minami Yuuki paused the simtion, feeling somewhat oppressed.
His mind was entirely upied by the girl he had yet to meet. He wondered if his simted self could provide her with a future filled with happiness.
Nakajima Yohei loved his daughter deeply, and he must have tried every medical option avable with the girl, but she still left this world in the future.
Could he change the future?
Feeling the warmth of Asano Nao¡¯s profile, Minami Yuuki lifted his hand and hugged her waist, resting his face on her soft abdomen.
Asano Nao, startled, thought the boy might have had a troubling dream and ced her hand on his head.
After finding somefort, Minami Yuuki returned to the simtion interface.
¡¾After the trip to Mount Azuki, the girl seemed to have changed, or perhaps not. She still often gazed into the distance, but her eyes did not linger anywhere.¡¿
¡¾The first month of summer vacation passed, and Chitose Kazumi¡¯s cousin was discharged. With the help of Nurse Kawauchi, you registered a new patient, an elderlydy on the fifth floor.¡¿
¡¾News of your activities spread through the sanatorium. In the entertainment room on the sixth floor, residents often pretended to pass by, peeking through the transparent ss on the door. Nakajima Reina felt embarrassed, so you covered the ss with newspapers and tape.¡¿
¡¾You often kissed in the corners of the entertainment room, by the bedside in the hospital room, and in the garden pavilion. Your rtionship grew closer, but each time you expressed your love to the girl, she never responded.¡¿
¡¾After summer vacation, your meetings with Nakajima Reina decreased. You came every evening and stayed until the sun set.¡¿
¡¾At the end of September, Nakajima Yohei married Ibuki Honoka.¡¿
¡°¡¡¡±
¡°¡¡?¡±
Minami Yuuki was shocked by the news.
Why had Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka suddenly gotten married?
He hadn¡¯t done anything!
Wait, could it be¡¡
He looked further down and, sure enough, it was Ibuki Yuko¡¯s doing!
¡¾It was only after Ibuki Yuko appeared in the hospital room that you learned the news. You ¡°happened¡± to meet Nakajima Honoka, congratted her on her marriage, and then pretended to be curious about her and Nakajima Yohei¡¯s rtionship. Nakajima Honoka, with a happy smile, told you everything.¡¿
¡¾After breaking up with her ex-boyfriend, her emotionally indifferent daughter suddenly had a change of heart and introduced her to Nakajima Yohei. After spending the summer together, they smoothly got married.¡¿
¡¾You hadn¡¯t expected Ibuki Yuko to go this far, and you found it troublesome.¡¿
Minami Yuuki looked at the simtion text with a mixed mood.
On one hand, he marveled at how cunning Mama Yuko was; on the other, he was anxious about Yuko¡¯s potential interference.
The shut-in big sister in his arms was still the most obedient!
He tightened his embrace a bit more.
Returning his focus to the simted life, he thought there shouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem.
Last time, with no substantial progress in his rtionship with Nakajima Reina, Yuko took advantage of the gap.
This time, since he and Nakajima Reina were already in love, Yuko certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to break them apart!
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Chapter 119
Chapter 119
¡¾Nakajima Reina learned about her father¡¯s uing remarriage during the summer, when she saw photos of her new family members on his phone. They were a beautiful mother and daughter. When she was young, she had wished for a sister, and now that wish wasing true.¡¿
¡¾She didn¡¯t ask about her sister¡¯s age, but when they first met and you called out ¡°Ibuki-senpai,¡± she was startled. It turned out that Ibuki Yuko, whom she had imagined as a middle schooler, was already a second-year high school student.¡¿
¡¾She thought that if she were still in school, she would be in her second year of high school too.¡¿
¡¾She first noticed her sister¡¯s feelings during their second meeting. Her sister was quiet and always held a book during her free time. Her father often said she was calm, and Reina felt that her sister truly embodied calmness. This quiet sister, whenever you arrived, always kept her gaze fixed on you and followed you around.¡¿
¡¾Reina initially thought it was because her sister was too shy to be alone with her, so she always followed you, someone familiar. However, when Reina arrived before you the next day, her sister showed no sign of shyness.¡¿
¡¾This discovery surprised and saddened her, making her realize that while her world revolved around you, your world did not have to revolve solely around her.¡¿
¡¾She liked her Japanese doll-like sister very much and tried to convince herself to let her sister have you, so that she and you could remain family.¡¿
¡¾She began to give up and let her sister have the opportunity.¡¿
¡¾You noticed her thoughts and decided to¡¡¿¡¾1. ¡°What I want is an older sister.¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°A younger sister is not uneptable.¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Let¡¯s not make choices like children!¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free Simtion¡¿
This is a straightforward question. There¡¯s no need to overthink it.
Rather than focusing on this option, Minami Yuuki is more concerned with how Ibuki Yuko acts in the simted life.
He mentally grumbles:
To steal someone¡¯s boyfriend, you first persuade your mother to marry someone else¡¯s father, making yourself their new sister, and then use that sisterly rtionship to get close to someone¡¯s boyfriend¡ that¡¯s so scheming!
So despicable!
Even I wouldn¡¯t do something like that!
And Nakajima Reina too, don¡¯t give up your boyfriend just because your sister is cute!
How can you be so indulgent?
Sighing again, Minami Yuuki selected option one.
¡¾Facing Ibuki Yuko¡¯s advances, you remain steadfast and devoted to Nakajima Reina. No matter how cute Ibuki Yuko dresses, how adorable her essories are, or how charming her poses might be, you remain unmoved.¡¿
¡¾Nakajima Reina notices your unwaveringmitment and feels a pang of bitterness.¡¿
¡¾You change the time you meet Nakajima Reina and start making surprise visits to the therapy building, preventing Ibuki Yuko from knowing when you¡¯ll arrive.¡¿
¡¾This tactic only works for two days. During these two days, you kiss Nakajima Reina again and realize that as long as you deal with Ibuki Yuko, your rtionship with Reina can return to how it was before.¡¿
¡¾Two dayster, Ibuki Yuko begins to wait for you by the door. Every day after school, she stays in Nakajima Reina¡¯s hospital room until visiting hours are over, denying you the chance to surprise Reina.¡¿
¡¾Faced with Ibuki Yuko¡¯s persistent presence, you choose to¡¡¿
Minami Yuuki is surprised to see more options.
It seems Ibuki Yuko is indeed a troublesome character; both options rte to her, and her presence significantly affects the development of his rtionship with Nakajima Reina.
He looks at the options.
¡¾1. ¡°Ibuki-senpai, could you please stoping here? You¡¯re being a nuisance.¡±¡¿
¡¾2. ¡°Nakajima-sensei, Aunt Honoka, I think your marriage isn¡¯t suitable. Maybe you should consider divorcing?¡±¡¿
¡¾3. ¡°Princess Reina, it¡¯s time to inspect your empire.¡±¡¿
¡¾4. Free Simtion¡¿
These options are quite aggressive and a bit intimidating. Minami Yuuki curls up a bit more into Asano Nao¡¯s embrace.
Option one attacks Ibuki Yuko, option two attacks Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka, and option three¡ Minami Yuuki thinks for a moment and understands the meaning of option three.
Since Ibuki Yuko waits in the hospital room, maybe it¡¯s enough to avoid being in the hospital room?
What should he choose?
He hesitates.
Option two can be ruled out first.
Even if Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka divorce, Ibuki Yuko could still use her former sister status to ess Nakajima Reina¡¯s hospital room.
He believes that the petite senpai¡¯s determination would make disrupting Nakajima Yohei and Ibuki Honoka¡¯s rtionship ineffective.
With only options one and three remaining¡
Ibuki Yuko is a cunning opponent. Choosing option three would mean continuing to outwit her, and Minami Yuuki isn¡¯t confident of a guaranteed win.
However, with option one, Minami Yuuki is certain that Ibuki Yuko would withdraw from thepetition.
The doll-like girl seeks his love, and if she realizes she cannot obtain it, she would let go, which at least prevents any animosity.
Yet, option one seems too harsh.
Sighing, Minami Yuuki uses his will to select option three.
Even in another girl¡¯s simted life, he cannot bring himself to say such things to Ibuki Yuko.
If this simtion fails, he¡¯ll find another solution.
¡¾You decide to abandon the siege strategy and switch to guerri tactics.¡¿
¡¾The weather has turned autumnal, and the nights are pleasantly cool, no longer oppressive with heat. Since marrying Honoka, Nakajima Yohei has be busy in the evenings, visiting his daughter during his work breaks. You no longer need to worry about running into him.¡¿
¡¾That evening, after finishing dinner at the Asano household, you n your next move.¡¿
¡¾Asano Nao knows about your rtionship with Nakajima Reina. After sessfully infiltrating Nakajima Reina¡¯s hospital room, you revealed your situation to this shut-in older sister. Your actions were quite crafty, pretending to be honest while actually refusing. After a brief period of sadness, Asano Nao chose to bless your rtionship.¡¿
¡¾You used the same tactic to reject Chitose Kazumi. The girl cried a lot in Asano Nao¡¯s arms, epting that her rtionship with you would remain only as friends.¡¿
¡¾Only Ibuki Yuko remains unwilling to give up.¡¿
¡¾At six o¡¯clock, you board the subway heading to Chikusa Hospital. By six-thirty, you arrive at the therapy building.¡¿
¡¾Hearing your footsteps, Ibuki Yuko puts down her book and jogs over to open the hospital room door for you.¡¿
¡¾Until seven o¡¯clock, you maintain a calm demeanor. You chat with Nakajima Reina and respond normally to Ibuki Yuko¡¯s attempts to converse. You even share the drinks you brought with Ibuki Yuko, making the doll-like girl gradually rx her guard.¡¿
¡¾When Ibuki Yuko heads to the restroom, you seize the opportunity to act.¡¿
¡¾You first remove your shoes, hanging them by your side, then pick up Nakajima Reina in your arms. The girl looks at you in surprise and is about to ask something, but you press your lips against hers to silence her.¡¿
¡¾Before she can react, you carry her out of the hospital room. Once on the first floor, you ce her in a prepared wheelchair and hurriedly push her out of the therapy building.¡¿
¡¾By the time Ibuki Yuko catches up, your figures have already disappeared from sight.¡¿
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Chapter 120
[Chikusa University Hospital is located on the outskirts of the city, near a shopping district and a pedestrian street, both of which are quite deserted, especially at night.]
[You are pushing Nakajima Reina¡¯s wheelchair along the side of the road. There are no other pedestrians or vehicles, and the night sky is vast. The streetlights cast a stark, lonely white light.]
[The sound of the wheelchair wheels scraping the ground reverberates within the circle of light from the streemps, while Nakajima Reina looks down at the shadow on the ground, silent.]
A memory scene appears.
On a cool autumn night, with a gentle breeze, Minami Yuuki is walking along the road, feeling the temperature is just right. He wonders if the same is true for Nakajima Reina in her wheelchair.
¡°Hand,¡± Yuuki says, cing the back of his hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder.
Reina looks at him in confusion and obediently ces her hand in his palm. Her slender handcks warmth.
After letting go of her hand, Yuuki stops the wheelchair at a corner, takes a ck cloak from his backpack, and drapes it around the girl¡¯s shoulders.
Reina puts on the sleeves, pulling the hem of the cloak down to her calves, and her slightly cold body quickly warms up.¡°The hat is a bit odd,¡± she says, feeling the extra bit of fabric on the top of the hat with curiosity.
¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s a cat-ear sleeping robe,¡± Yuuki exins as he stands before her.
The ck Egyptian cat-style robe wraps around the pale, ssical-looking girl, blending a touch of exotic charm with her elegant appearance.
¡°Cat ears¡¡± Reina¡¯s cheeks flush slightly.
¡°And there are cat-ear slippers, too.¡± Yuuki takes out ck cotton slippers from his backpack and lifts her foot.
¡°Wait a minute!¡±
Her protest is ineffective, and Yuuki removes her sandals, holding her soft foot to put on the cotton slippers.
He puts the sandals back into the backpack and stands up.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue,¡± he says, returning to the back of Reina¡¯s wheelchair and pushing it forward.
Reina lowers her head, looking at the ck cotton slippers on her feet and the hem of the cloak at her knees.
The night was a world she had never visited before, and the streets were a rare sight for her, yet she had no mood to appreciate them.
Minami Yuuki took her to a convenience store to let her choose some snacks. The bright lights inside the store starkly contrasted with the deep darkness outside. The array of products on the shelves overwhelmed her, but it lifted her spirits a little.
After much hesitation, she chose only an ice cream.
Sitting on a swing in a nearby park, she opened the ice cream cup and took a small wooden spoon. The cold, sweet vor spread across her tongue.
¡°What does strawberry ice cream taste like?¡± Yuuki asked as he squatted in front of her, looking at the ice cream in her hand.
His hint was obvious.
Nakajima Reina scooped out a bite and held it to his mouth.
The boy held the spoon in his mouth for a while before pulling it away and revealing a teasing smile. ¡°Besides the taste of strawberries, there¡¯s also Reina-san¡¯s taste.¡±
This intimate teasing was like a soft, white feather that should have brushed against Reina¡¯s side or the soles of her feet, making her feel ticklish and shy with sweet embarrassment.
But this time, the feather brushed against the wound in her heart, its tiny barbs scraping the flesh inside her chest and drawing out blood.
Tears began to slide down her cheek as the long-suppressed sadness from her childhood surged forth.
The ice cream rolled from her hand and fell onto the concrete ground beneath the swing.
She covered her face with her hands, her tears flowing into her sleeves, spreading a cold dampness.
¡°What a crying princess you are,¡± the boy¡¯s voice reached her ears.
The cheerfulness in his tone contrasted sharply with her inner sadness, and her tears flowed even faster.
At that moment, she felt a strong hand grasping her wrist. The hand forcefully pulled apart her own, revealing her tear-streaked face.
Through her tear-filled eyes, she saw the boy¡¯s face, and the next moment, the smile from his slightly flushed lips was pressed against hers.
Her tears fell onto Yuuki¡¯s face, the wet, cold droplets causing him to tremble inside.
He couldn¡¯t dispel the shadow that hung over her; he could only cover her tear-filled eyes, preventing her from seeing the sorrowful future.
As their lips parted, they had unknowingly switched positions. Yuuki was now sitting on the swing, with Nakajima Reina sitting sideways on hisp.
Lost in the world of the kiss, Nakajima Reina, after a brief moment of daze, realized her situation. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to push Minami Yuuki¡¯s chest, wanting to escape from his embrace.
Yuuki held her tightly around the waist, not letting her leave his arms, and pressed his lips against hers again.
Reina closed her eyes, bracing herself for a passionate kiss, but Yuuki only gave a light, fleeting touch before lifting his head.
She lowered her gaze, her long eyshes fluttering, feeling a sense of disappointment.
She stopped struggling and remained sitting on Yuuki¡¯sp.
Yuuki freed one hand to grasp the swing¡¯s chain, pushing off with his toes to make them sway gently.
Reina, afraid of falling, wrapped her arms around his neck.
The waning moon was obscured by thin clouds, and the park¡¯s lights were dim. The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, dead silent except for the soft creaking of the swing.
¡°I have a heart condition,¡± Reina¡¯s voice, hoarse from crying, mixed with the swing¡¯s creaking. Her cheek rested against Yuuki¡¯s chest.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Yuuki gently inhaled the scent of her hair.
¡°There¡¯s almost no chance of recovery. The best oue is to live a few more years after surgery.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡±
The boy¡¯s unhesitant response made Reina wonder if he was truly listening, if he was sincerely responding to her.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, feeling guilty for hiding her illness and wasting his feelings.
¡°I know everything,¡± Yuuki said.
Reina looked up in surprise at the boy before her.
¡°From the moment I entered Reina-san¡¯s hospital room, I¡¯ve known it all,¡± Yuuki said, looking into her eyes.
¡°If you knew, then why¡ I only have three years left!¡± Reina clenched her fists.
¡°Only three years?¡±
¡°Only three years!¡±
¡°Then we¡¯d better hurry. Embraces, kisses, dates, weddings, love¡ We need to experience a lifetime of romance in these three years.¡±
The boy¡¯s gentle words made Nakajima Reina¡¯s eyes well up with tears once more.
She wiped her tears and said, ¡°Because of my poor health, I can¡¯t have children.¡±
¡°Then we can adopt one.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t even do that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s alright. Princess Reina is so cute. As long as I can look at you, I can manage on my own.¡±
Reina turned her flushed face away, stammering, ¡°I-It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t help you.¡±
¡°How would you help?¡± Yuuki asked, biting gently on the girl¡¯s flushed ear and smiling.
Reina took his words as a hint, her cheeks reddening even more. ¡°But you haven¡¯t confessed yet.¡±
¡°I love you.¡±
The boy¡¯s lips were close to her ear, and his gentle voice prated her mind.
Reina felt that all the happiness in the universe surged into her body at that moment, flooding her heart. She fought to suppress her shyness and turned to look at his face.
¡°I also love¡¡±
A sharp pain struck her.
Her frail heart couldn¡¯t hold such immense happiness, and fate once again warned her not to becent.
The pain was more persistent and intense than before.
She clutched her chest, cold sweat forming on her forehead, her cheeks losing color, and her consciousness bing hazy.
She heard Yuuki¡¯s urgent cries and the hurried, brief exchanges of nurses and doctors.
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Chapter 121
[You try every possible way to cheer up Reina Nakajima, who is feeling down. The two of you sit in an empty park at night. Your closeness saddens Reina; she feels that someone like her, with little time left, doesn¡¯t have the right to be loved.]
[You kiss her, expressing your love through the heat of your lips. She tells you about her illness, and your response revives her withered heart. However, fate ys a small joke on her¡ªjust as you confess your love, her heart condition acts up.]
[She¡¯s not in serious danger.]
[With the help of Yuko Ibuki, who had been secretly watching you two for a while, you quickly get Reina back to the hospital. The attending doctor rushes in, checks her test results, administers medication, and instructs her to rest well.]
[It turns out that her condition red up due to emotional stress overwhelming her heart.]
[The nurses help cover up your night outing. You stay in the hospital room and end up running into Yohei Nakajima and Honoka Nakajima, who havee after hearing the news.]
[Yohei looks at you and Yuko Ibuki, then at his daughter on the hospital bed. His daughter, who has always been so calm¡ªso calm it sometimes worried him¡ªhow could she have gotten so emotional that it triggered her condition?]
[The night outside grows deeper, and Yohei proposes that on Friday night, two days from now, they talk together in the hospital room about what happened.]
[He says this only to put his daughter at ease. After leaving the hospital, he asks Yuko and Honoka to head home first, then takes you to an izakaya.][You apologize to Yohei Nakajima and confess your rtionship with Reina.]
[Yohei is first shocked that you two have been secretly dating under his nose for over three months. Then, he feels as if he¡¯s dreaming¡ªhe¡¯s often fantasized about his obedient daughter being a little more willful. That fantasy hase true, but he never imagined her first act of rebellion would be so astonishing.]
A short dialogue ys out:
¡°After bringing Reina back to the hospital, you could¡¯ve left immediately. The fact that you stayed to wait for me shows that you¡¯re serious, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Yohei Nakajima lights a cigarette.
¡°I am.¡± Yuuki Minami adopts a rare seriousness, needing Yohei to understand his intentions.
¡°Did she tell you about her condition?¡±
The waiter brings the food. Yohei puts down his cigarette, eats a piece of edamame, and takes a gulp of beer.
¡°I knew about it earlier, but she only told me the full details tonight.¡±
¡°What made you approach her in the first ce?¡±
¡°Curiosity about Nakajima Sensei¡¯s daughter.¡±
¡°What about Yuko? What role does she y in all this?¡±
When Yohei brings up Yuko, Yuuki realizes they¡¯ve moved past the main questions.
He doesn¡¯t know how to answer this one. Is he supposed to admit that Yohei¡¯s stepdaughter interfered in his rtionship with Yohei¡¯s biological daughter? ?
¡°¡You¡¯ll have to ask Ibuki-senpai about that yourself.¡± It¡¯s the best he can say.
¡°Asking you or asking her¡ªwhat¡¯s the difference?!¡± Yohei res at Yuuki, trying to pressure him into revealing the truth, a skill he¡¯s honed in his years as a teacher.
¡°Even if I answer, Father is going to ask her again once you get home.¡±
Yohei furrows his brows, specting on what Yuko could¡¯ve done. Based on the boy¡¯s words, it must be something hard to believe.
He takes a puff of his cigarette and chews on another piece of edamame.
Suddenly, he realizes something and narrows his eyes at Yuuki. ¡°What did you call me a moment ago?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Yuuki tly denies it.
Yohei studies the boy in front of him. Despite harboring some hostility toward this guy who¡¯s stolen his daughter¡¯s heart, he can¡¯t deny one thing¡ªthis boy is undeniably a stunningly handsome young man.
Although Yohei Nakajima held his daughter in high regard, he had to admit one thing: the boy standing before him meant more to his daughter¡¯s life than she did to his. The boy could have another rtionship¡ªperhaps several more in the future¡ªbut this was likely the only chance his daughter would ever have.
To be honest, he felt a bit guilty at this moment. He didn¡¯t know how their rtionship had developed, but he suspected it was his daughter who pursued the boy. After all, even before they met, his daughter had shown great interest in the boy¡¯s existence.
¡°Reina¡¯s illness is practically incurable,¡± he said, steering the conversation back.
¡°I know.¡±
¡°Are you truly prepared?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°And what about Chitose Kazumi?¡±
¡°She¡¯s known about me and Reina from the very beginning.¡±
¡°Hah, who¡¯d have thought you¡¯d be so honest?¡± Yohei¡¯s tone carried mockery, but in truth, he appreciated Yuuki Minami¡¯s approach.
¡°I intend to marry Reina after graduation,¡± Yuuki said next.
¡°Hah! Barely grown, and you¡¯re already talking about marriage!¡±
¡°Got it. I¡¯ll let Reina know that her father disapproves of our marriage.¡±
¡°¡?¡± Yohei set his drink down. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to bring this up with Reina!¡±
¡°Seems like Father doesn¡¯t understand how to ask for a favor.¡± Yuuki¡¯s earlier seriousness faded, reced by a yful smirk. ¡°Not just what you said just now, but the whole situation tonight. You lied to Reina, saying you¡¯d talk in two days, but instead dragged me to ate-night izakaya for questioning.¡±
Yohei took another sip of his drink, the bitterness sinking into his throat. He realized he was in trouble. The boy had been so well-behaved in the hospital and on the way here that Yohei hadpletely forgotten he was dealing with someone difficult. His approval had been too obvious, and the boy had caught on¡ªhe wasn¡¯t afraid of him anymore.
¡°You don¡¯t want Reina knowing about tonight, either, do you?¡± Yuuki cornered him.
¡°What do you want?¡± Yohei conceded.
¡°Thest page of the menu. There¡¯s a deluxe special set meal highly rmended by the chef.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the most expensive one!¡±
[Yohei wasn¡¯t truly upset. On one hand, Reina¡¯s condition this time, while frightening, wasn¡¯t serious. On the other hand, he himself had been far more reckless in his youth.]
[He had used the boy¡¯s unease and guilt to gauge his attitude, and he was very satisfied. He felt grateful his daughter had met Yuuki in the final years of her life.]
[But Yohei had made his approval too obvious. Yuuki seized the opportunity, using Reina as leverage to extort him into ordering the most expensive set meal.]
[While Yohei winced at the cost, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange warmth toward the boy¡¯sck of reservation. He began to see him in a fatherly light.]
[When the set meal arrived, Yohei, feeling defeated, sought to reim some pride¡ªand to better probe the boy¡¯s thoughts¡ªby pressuring him to drink.]
[You hesitated. Your body in this life had never touched alcohol, and you doubted you could handle more than a few sips. You prepared to cheat if necessary, but it turned out you didn¡¯t need to.]
[At dawn, you escorted a thoroughly drunk Yohei Nakajima back home. You hadn¡¯t expected the man¡¯s alcohol tolerance to be so abysmal.]
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Chapter 122
Minami Yuuki wasn¡¯t sure how long he had been simting, but it had definitely been a significant amount of time. He couldn¡¯t keep lying on Asano Nao¡¯sp any longer.
Pretending to wake up, he sat up and stretched.
During simtions, he liked to move around and change positions frequently, but having to feign sleep and stay still for so long had been ufortable for him.
Though Nao¡¯sp pillow was soft and fragrant, his freedom was far more important.
Getting up from the sofa, he waved at Asano Nao.
¡°I¡¯ll head back now. Thanks for hosting me today, Nao-nee.¡±
¡°Mm,¡± Asano Nao murmured, watching the boy hastily leave. She ced her hands on her thighs, where the sensation of his hair lingered.
On his way back to his apartment, Minami Yuuki¡¯s thoughts turned to the simtion, specifically about Ibuki Yuko. He had thought his gueri tactics had worked; he and Nakajima Reina had sessfully shaken off his pesky little sister-inw. But as it turned out, Ibuki Yuko had found them and had even hidden nearby to spy on them.
As he passed through dimly lit streets and entered the apartment building lobby, Minami Yuuki stepped into the cramped elevator. Watching the silver doors close slowly and listening to the elevator¡¯s mechanical hum, a sense of unease crept over him.Could gueri tactics really work? Could he truly shake off Ibuki Yuko? No¡ªforget about eluding her after stepping out; figuring out how to avoid her just to leave the apartment was already a massive challenge. The doll-like girl wouldn¡¯t fall for the same trick twice. Next time, she would definitely be even more vignt.
The elevator stopped, and with a heavy heart, he walked through the hallway to his door. Distracted, it took him two tries to insert the key into the lock.
As he stepped into the entranceway, he tossed his keys onto the console table by the door and reached back to push it closed.
Just as the door was about to click shut, a hand gripped the edge of the doorframe.
Even for someone as bold as Minami Yuuki, encountering such a situationte at night startled him.
Fortunately, the hand¡¯s owner wasn¡¯t a gory monster or a murderous criminal from a horror film. Instead, it was someone both unexpected yet entirely unsurprising.
The door was pushed open, and the figure of Ibuki Yuko appeared.
¡°Does Senpai need something?¡± Minami Yuuki quipped. ¡°The way you¡¯re showing up feels like you¡¯re here to settle a score with me.¡±
¡°May Ie in?¡± Ibuki Yuko asked, stepping into the entranceway as she spoke.
The tiny space couldn¡¯t amodate both of them, so Minami Yuuki quickly removed his shoes and stepped into the hallway.
Dressed in a blue dress, Ibuki Yuko lifted one foot back, using her finger to hook off her small leather shoe as her ponytail swayed behind her.
Her petite feet, d in ck stockings, slipped out of the shoe¡¯s confines andnded softly on the floor.
¡°What brings you here, Senpai?¡± Minami Yuuki asked again. Internally, he groaned. It was bad enough that he had to stress over her schemes in the simtion, but now he had to worry about her advances in real life too.
¡°I forgot my keys and can¡¯t get into my apartment,¡± Ibuki Yuko said, standing at the edge of the entranceway. Her posture was upright, her hands sped together in front of her, pressing down on the hem of her dress.
She looked up at him with slightly misty eyes, her teeth lightly biting her lip. ¡°Until Momes back, can I stay here?¡±
Even though Minami Yuuki knew she was acting, his heart still skipped a beat.
Should he let her stay? Being alone at night with a girl could be risky. He prided himself on his self-control, but no matter how disciplined a man was, he was still a man with worldly desires.
Should he turn her away? If he refused, the girl would likely choose to leave rather than ruin her image in front of him.
But there was a crucial problem.
What if she really had forgotten her keys? If she had thrown them aside for the sake of a convincing act, rejecting her would mean leaving her out in the night¡ªtoo dangerous.
And even if she had her keys but still chose to wander the streets after his refusal, all for the sake of maintaining her act, it wouldn¡¯t sit right with him.
¡°Doesn¡¯t the building manager have a spare key?¡± Minami Yuuki asked.
¡°My family recently changed the lock. The manager doesn¡¯t have a backup,¡± Ibuki Yuko replied.
Minami Yuuki sighed inwardly and said, ¡°Come in. I¡¯m really tired and need to sleep. Make yourself at home.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly.
Ibuki Yuko took two quick steps forward, moving to Minami Yuuki¡¯s side. Her steps were light as she reached out and pushed open the door to his bedroom.
Minami Yuuki turned on the deskmp, illuminating a corner of the room.
Hey down on the bed.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to shower? Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Ibuki Yuko asked.
How could I not mind you? You¡¯re definitely nning to do something while I¡¯m in the shower!
¡°Let me take a nap first. Wake me up when you¡¯re leaving, Senpai,¡± Minami Yuuki said, closing his eyes.
Ignoring the real-life Ibuki Yuko, he turned his focus to the simted version of her, wondering what her next move would be.
¡ª
[The hungover Nakajima Yohei wakes up, recalling his drinking contest with you, andments his poor judgment. He knows his alcohol tolerance is low, but he didn¡¯t expect to lose to a teenager.]
[Honoka, tending to him, listens to his story and reassures him that even a small tolerance is charming.]
[Nakajima Yohei ends upte for work. That evening, he reflects on his conversation with you and asks his stepdaughter why she got involved in your and Nakajima Reina¡¯s affairs.]
[Her answer shocks him. He never imagined that both of his daughters would fall for the same man.]
[He feels conflicted. As their father, who should he support?]
[Ibuki Yuko notices his dilemma and assures him that she has already given up.]
[Last night, Ibuki Yuko found you in the park. She watched your kiss and confession with Nakajima Reina from start to finish. Convinced she had no chance of winning, she decided that continuing to pursue you would only make you dislike her, jeopardizing her n B.]
Seeing that Ibuki Yuko had chosen to give up, Minami Yuuki felt a wave of relief. But when he saw mention of n B, his heart sank again.
What is this n B? What kind of operation is this, and what¡¯s the goal? He quickly reviewed the avable intel and spected¡ªif he were Ibuki Yuko, then¡
Could it be¡
He continued reading the simtion text.
[After finishing her conversation with Nakajima Yohei, Ibuki Yuko heads to the hospital and sits by Nakajima Reina¡¯s bedside.]
[Nakajima Reina has decided to continue her rtionship with you. Seeing her sister, Reina feels uneasy for the first time, experiencing what it means to have a romantic rival.]
[Ibuki Yuko makes a deal with Nakajima Reina. For the next three years, she promises not to interfere in her sister¡¯s rtionship. She even offers to assist Reina and, in return, asks for Reina¡¯s help in ensuring she can appear by your side, whispering in your ear and preparing for three yearster.]
So it was this kind of n. Minami Yuuki nced at Ibuki Yuko, who was seated at his desk, and felt a twinge of mncholy.
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Chapter 123
Yuko Ibuki¡¯s small figure was wrapped in the intery of light and shadow cast by the deskmp. She sat in the chair, its modestly sized backrestpletely obscuring her spine. From his vantage point, Yuuki Minami could only see the upper part of her ponytail and her elbows resting on the desk.
The girl retrieved a paperback from her small shoulder bag and started reading.
Was she truly focused on the book in her hands? Or was her mind instead churning with ns and thoughts? Yuko¡¯s persistence gave Yuuki a tinge of mncholy, reminding him of Nao Asano¡ªhis reclusive elder sister whose determination was no less intense than the girl under themp.
This steadfastness moved him, yet it also nted an unsettling idea in his mind. Why should his flowerpot hold only one bloom? Perhaps he could create an entire garden and nt hundreds of flowers¡ No, even setting aside legalities and the opinions of the girls involved, his own body couldn¡¯t handle it.
It was wiser to find one favorite flower to cherish.
With that, Yuuki closed his half-lidded eyes and continued looking at the simtion interface.
¡ª
[Friday Night: You, Yohei Nakajima, and Yuko Ibuki gather in Reina Nakajima¡¯s hospital room.]
[Yohei Nakajima sends Yuko Ibuki away, leaving you to talk with his daughter.][Reina, worried her father might separate the two of you, feigns weakness. She repeatedly cites the doctor¡¯s advice, emphasizing that she can¡¯t handle strong emotional stimtion and needs to rest.]
[Her implied message is clear: if her father opposes your rtionship, it will only hurt her already frail body.]
[Yohei feels both sorrow and bitterness at his daughter¡¯s na?ve coercion. He res at you before voicing his decision.]
[He allows the two of you to date, but only under the condition that you exercise restraint.]
[Joy washes over you both. As Reina¡¯s anxiety dissipates, she reflects on her actions with guilt. She peels fruit and offers it to her father repeatedly, trying to atone for her perceived misdeeds.]
[Her filial gestures warm Yohei¡¯s heart. After a while, noticing Reina frequently ncing at the clock on the wall, he tactfully excuses himself.]
[He takes the eavesdropping Yuko Ibuki with him, leaving the room to you and Reina.]
¡ª
The memory scene unfolds.
The night was deep. The sweltering summer had passed, giving way to autumn¡¯s refreshing coolness. Yet regardless of the season, the temperature within the convalescent building remained unaffected.
The air conditioner hummed softly, maintaining a stable climate year-round. Outside, the view resembled arge oil painting on the wall, mechanically rotating through changes. In this hospital room, time seemed to have stopped.
At least, that had been the case.
Reina Nakajima nced at the boy beside her. Over three months ago, he had intruded upon this stagnant timeline, pulling her into a whirlwind of summer heat and autumn breezes. He had taken her into the ¡°oil painting¡± world beyond the window.
She thought of the garden, the climb up Azuki Mountain, the swing from the previous night, and that kiss that had filled her with indescribable happiness.
Her mind wandered back to the park swing, where destiny¡¯s mischief had interrupted her words. The boy had confessed his feelings, yet she had been unable to respond.
¡°I like you,¡± she said softly, lowering her head as her fingers nervously clutched the nket.
¡°So do I,¡± Yuuki Minami replied, lying on her bed with his head resting near her feet.
Even with the nket as a barrier, the girl was visibly embarrassed. She bent her legs and pulled her feet back.
Yuuki found it amusing. Had she not been confined to the hospital, there would likely be a long line of people admiring her slender feet. Yet here she was, feeling self-conscious about such a trivial matter.
Propping himself up on his elbows, Yuuki shifted closer to Reina¡¯s feet, cornering her against the bed¡¯s headboard.
He rested his head on her feet, separated by the thin nket, relishing the delicate texture beneath.
¡°Please don¡¯t do that,¡± Reina said, gripping the nket tightly as she gazed at the boy in distress.
There was a hint of disappointment in her voice. She had known, the moment her confession escaped her lips, that Yuuki would tease her. However, she had expected his teasing toe in the form of kisses.
What she longed for was the kind of kiss that would leave her breathless, enveloped in love and being loved¡ªnot this yful game with her feet that only left her flustered.
¡°How should I do it then?¡± Yuuki Minami tilted his head up. From this angle, all he could see were Reina Nakajima¡¯s tightly pressed calves.
¡°You could¡ do something else,¡± Reina said, parting her legs slightly. Through the gap, her slightly flushed face peeked down at him, offering a subtle hint.
¡°Something else? Got it.¡± Yuuki got up from the bed and stood by Reina¡¯s bedside.
The boy¡¯s intense gaze made her feel unbearably shy. The thought that she had been the one to suggest it¡ªthat she was essentially asking him for a kiss¡ªdeepened her embarrassment.
She closed her eyes.
But what came next wasn¡¯t what she expected. Instead, she felt the boy¡¯s hands slide under her back and knees. A momentter, the weight beneath her disappeared¡ªhe had lifted her up.
What kind of kissing method was this?
Something felt wrong. Opening her eyes, she saw Yuuki was already carrying her out of the hospital room.
¡°Why are we leaving?¡± she asked cautiously. Even now, she clung to a sliver of hope that perhaps he was just looking for a better ce to kiss her.
But Yuuki¡¯s words shattered her illusion.
¡°Didn¡¯t Reina-san say we could do something else? I thought I¡¯d try carrying you downstairs. It¡¯s amon scene in dramas, right?¡±
His gaze was earnest, as if he genuinely thought this was what she had in mind.
Reina felt a wave of frustration. What I wanted wasn¡¯t a princess carry¡ªit was something far more heart-pounding! In dramas, those kinds of moments are way more frequent than princess carries!
¡°Put me down.¡± She wriggled lightly in his arms and slid to the ground, running barefoot back into the hospital room.
Yuuki watched her retreating figure and wondered if he¡¯d taken the teasing too far.
He took a few steps back toward the room when Reina came out again, this time wearing slippers.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, walking ahead.
Inside the elevator, she stole nces at him, carefully observing his expression to see if her little tantrum over the princess carry had annoyed him. Once she was sure he wasn¡¯t upset, she let out a sigh of relief.
At the nurse¡¯s station on the first floor, they borrowed a wheelchair. Yuuki helped her sit down, carefully draping a nket over her knees and shoulders before pushing her outside.
It was autumn, and the garden¡¯s flowers had dwindled, reced by lush greenery.
Reina still couldn¡¯t shake the longing that burned on her lips. The cool breeze of the autumn night cooled her skin, but it only made the heat in her chest and the fire in her lips and tongue even harder to bear.
She turned to look at the boy behind her, only to find his gaze wandering among the greenery on either side. He was marveling at the odd shapes of certain leaves or branches, sharing his observations with her.
She answered absentmindedly, but inside, she was filled with frustration. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to directly voice her desires, so she directed her resentment toward the nts that had stolen his attention.
The garden, which she normally found so beautiful, now seemed annoyingly intrusive.
She ced her hand on the nket covering her legs, forming a kissing gesture with her thumb, middle, and ring fingers, hoping he would notice and share her longing.
But even when they sat down in a gazebo, Yuuki showed no reaction.
When he reached into his backpack to take out some snacks, she came up with a new n of attack.
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Chapter 124
Love is a feeling of the heart, an impression. It is first a product of real-life experiences, then replicated in memory. If someone feels love, they¡¯ve either directly experienced it in reality or something in the present has awakened a stored impression of love from their memory.
Minami Yuuki was the key to Nakajima Reina¡¯s heart. The boy¡¯s silhouette unlocked the storehouse of love within her, and a tidal wave of emotions surged forth, filling her mind. This joyful impression should have brought her happiness, but her greed tainted that happiness with a trace of torment.
The simted impressions in memory can neverpare to the ones felt in reality. Just as the happiness from a lover¡¯s photograph can never rival the joy of being with the lover in person. Nakajima Reina understood this all too well. The happier she felt from the impressions being awakened, the more she longed for the true source of that happiness¡ªthe kiss of Minami Yuuki.
She held a Pocky stick in her mouth, refraining from chewing it, imitating what Minami Yuuki had done when they first came to the garden.
First, she lowered her head, then nced sideways at the boy. Finally, mimicking his previous actions, she shook the stick up and down with her teeth.
Still, the boy made no move. Was he deliberately teasing her? Nakajima Reina grabbed Minami Yuuki¡¯s arm, her moist eyes gazing up at him, on the verge of tears.
¡°That¡¯s not allowed,¡± Minami Yuuki said, gently stroking her cheek. ¡°The doctor specifically instructed that your heart needs to rest for a week.¡±
He took the stick from her mouth and bit into it himself. ¡°So, you¡¯ll have to wait for a bit longer.¡±
¡°Just a little,¡± Nakajima Reina pleaded, pressing herself against Minami Yuuki¡¯s side, looking at him with imploring eyes.Minami Yuuki wanted to taste her delicate lips as much as she did, but she had fainted just two days prior. He couldn¡¯t ignore the doctor¡¯s warnings.
¡°If Princess Reina lets me touch her feet, maybe I can give you just a little,¡± he teased, offering an outrageous condition to deter her.
¡°Okay,¡± Nakajima Reina agreed without hesitation.
Minami Yuuki didn¡¯t expect her to be so persistent.
¡°I won¡¯t hold back. I¡¯ll really bite your foot,¡± he warned, trying to scare her off.
¡°Okay,¡± she hesitated for a moment but nodded again.
The way she fearlessly and recklessly sought a kiss made Minami Yuuki¡¯s heart race.
¡°Keep your heart rate under control,¡± he reminded her, cupping her soft cheeks.
¡°Mm.¡± Her heart was already racing.
Their lips touched briefly, a fleeting moment of true happiness. Nakajima Reina touched her lips, where Minami Yuuki¡¯s warmth lingered, and smiled.
¡°You¡¯re such a willful princess,¡± Minami Yuuki said, pinching her cheek.
¡°Because I¡¯m a princess, Yuuki just needs to obey,¡± she retorted.
¡°Oh? Princess Reina seems quite rxed. Have you forgotten your earlier promise?¡± Minami Yuuki¡¯s gaze shifted to her feet in blue slippers.
¡°Did I? I don¡¯t remember.¡± She shrank back, nervously averting her eyes.
¡°No worries. I remember.¡±
Back in the simtion room, Minami Yuuki stared at the screen.
[Up until today, every kiss with Nakajima Reina had been initiated by you. You thought she wasn¡¯t that attached to it. You underestimated her. She¡¯s willing to strike demanding bargains just to relive that fleeting happiness.]
[In the garden pavilion, you kissed her lips.]
[Back in the hospital room, you mercilessly yed with her feet.]
As the simtion text reached this critical point, it suddenly turned descriptive.
Why did it turn to text now of all times? Detail the foot scene!
The simtor ignored his protests, and the narrative continued.
[As the clock approached 8 PM, the visiting hours drew to a close. Unwilling to waste the remaining time, you sat by the bed with Nakajima Reina, gazing at the dark night sky.]
The text abruptly stopped because Minami Yuuki¡¯s attention had shifted.
Lying on the bed with his eyes closed, Minami Yuuki felt a slight movement.
As he wondered whether it was just his imagination, the bed shook again.
What¡¯s going on? Why is my bed moving?!
Various images of ghosts and strange creatures shed through his mind, until the scene settled on a petite figure.
He lifted his eyelids slightly, and sure enough, it was Ibuki Yuko crawling from the foot of the bed to his side.
The girl gazed at his sleeping face for a moment, then slowly lifted the thin nket and slipped inside.
What are you trying to do?! Minami Yuuki panicked a little.
Once her entire body was under the nket, Ibuki Yuko slowly moved closer to Minami Yuuki, resting on the corner of his pillow.
She didn¡¯t press up against him. Instead, she ced a hand near his arm, her pinky lightly touching his skin.
This appeared to be the extent of her actions; she made no further moves.
As she drew near, Minami Yuuki hurriedly closed his eyes, fearing that his trembling eyshes would give him away.
Though he couldn¡¯t see her face, he could smell the rich fragrance emanating from her body and feel the rising warmth from her proximity under the nket.
For a fleeting moment, he felt joy at the situation, but his rational mind quickly discarded that troublesome happiness.
Ibuki Yuko really is a big headache!
Should he pretend to wake up and chase her off the bed? She¡¯d probably fake being asleep the moment he opened his eyes, iming she was too tired and had identally climbed onto the bed. She¡¯d look at him with pitiful eyes, leaving him with no grounds to scold her.
Perhaps pretending to wake up would just cause more trouble. If he feigned sleep, he could avoid interacting with her altogether. Waking up would force him to speak with her, giving her an opening.
After much deliberation, Minami Yuuki abandoned the idea of taking action.
Continue the simtion!
Lying next to Ibuki Yuko, he focused on advancing his rtionship with Nakajima Reina in the simtion.
Suddenly, a pang of guilt hit him.
Suppressing his conscience, Minami Yuuki forced himself to focus on the simtion screen.
[At 8:15 PM, the duty nurse arrived at Nakajima Reina¡¯s hospital room to remind you of visiting hours. You said goodbye to the girl.]
[On Saturday and Sunday, during the visiting hours, you stayed in the hospital room the entire time. You brought textbooks and notebooks to study by Nakajima Reina¡¯s side. You decided to aim for Misaki University¡¯s medical school, even though you knew Nakajima Reina couldn¡¯t wait long enough for you to graduate.]
[When Nakajima Yohei arrived, you were focused on your practice problems. Subjectively, you didn¡¯t interrupt their father-daughter conversation, but objectively, Nakajima Reina kept ncing at you, distracted while talking to her father.]
[Nakajima Yohei angrily ordered you to leave. You took your backpack and went to the sixth-floor recreation room.]
[After her father left, Nakajima Reina came upstairs to find you. She sat beside you, observing your studies, then moved to the sofa by the window to gaze outside.]
[After solving a set of problems, during a break, you squeezed her hand, kissed her cheek, and stared at her figure. She helped you quickly recover your energy and dive back into your studies.]
[Nakajima Reina wasn¡¯t much of a talker. You were only enthusiastic when teasing her. Most of the time, your rtionship was quiet.]
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Chapter 125
[It¡¯s been a week since the park incident. Together with Nakajima Y¨hei and Honoka, you helped the girl undergo a simple medical check-up. The attending doctor reviewed the report and told you all that the girl had returned to her state from a week ago, so there was no need to worry anymore.]
[Nakajima Y¨hei asked you to wheel his daughter back to the room, saying he and Honoka had some matters to discuss with the doctor.]
[Both you and Nakajima Reina were curious, wondering what they needed to discuss.]
[You soon found out part of the answer.]
[Half an hourter, Nakajima Y¨hei returned to the room with a bag of medication. He pulled you into the attending doctor¡¯s office, where the doctor taught you how to use the medication. Among them were injectable drugs, and the doctor guided you in practicing with the tools provided.]
[Nakajima Y¨hei reminded you that if Reina faced the same situation as in the park, you would be responsible for her emergency treatment.]
Reading this far, Yuuki Minami was a bit surprised.
Not only had Nakajima Y¨hei given him the medication, but he¡¯d also entrusted him with the freedom to take Reina around.
Otherwise, the medication would serve no purpose. After all, in the hospital, any nurse would be far more professional than him.It was just like Y¨hei, who had yed the role of his father-inw several times in his simted lives¡ªalways so thorough!
He sighed with admiration but then grew puzzled. The simtion text said this was only ¡°part of the answer.¡± What else had the Nakajima couple discussed with the doctor?
He continued reading the simtion interface.
[After you left, Nakajima Honoka went into her stepdaughter¡¯s room. She told her not to attempt anything beyond kissing with you and left her with some emergency tools.]
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡?¡±
Yuuki Minami was utterly stunned.
At first nce, this behavior seemed odd, but on closer consideration, it was perfectly practical.
Unable to suppress his imagination, the scent and warmth emanating from Ibuki Yuko beside him only fueled his restlessness.
Steeling his will to banish those thoughts and calm his racing heart, he continued reading the simtion text.
[On the way back, Nakajima Y¨hei repeatedly reminded you that kissing was the limit, and going further was out of the question.]
[You promised him. His concerns were unnecessary¡ªyou did not harbor a beastly fervor for Reina. You cherished the girl, just as you would protect the delicate petals of a flower.] R?¨¢
[Nakajima Y¨hei and Honoka left. You sat by Reina¡¯s bed and asked her what she had discussed with Honoka.]
[She blushed, stammered, and refused to tell you.]
[You guessed part of it but could not have imagined how extreme Honoka¡¯s methods were.]
[You patted your bag containing the medication and asked Reina if there was anywhere she wanted to go. She immediately mentioned two ces: a nearby park and Mount Azuki.]
[Both were ces you had visited before. You asked her if there were any other ces she wanted to visit.]
[She thought hard for a long time, finally dredging up a small hope from distant memories.]
[It was from before she was hospitalized, a time when her condition hadn¡¯t worsened yet. She was still resting at home, and her parents hadn¡¯t divorced.]
[Was she four years old then? Or five? She couldn¡¯t remember clearly, only recalling a conversation with her father.]
[In the early years of her hospitalization, this conversation echoed in her mind endlessly. Even as she grew older, it asionally appeared in her dreams. She remembered it vividly.]
A short conversation yed in Yuuki Minami¡¯s mind, only the voices without any apanying images.
¡°Reina¡¯s health is improving! At this rate, you¡¯ll be running and jumping around in no time!¡± That was Nakajima Y¨hei¡¯s voice.
¡°Then can I y in the snow?¡± This was Reina¡¯s voice as a child.
¡°Of course! We¡¯ll y in lots of snow! The snow in Misaki is too weak¡ªwhen the timees, we¡¯ll go to Hokkaido! The snow there is big enough to bury youpletely!¡±
¡°Are there hot springs?¡±
¡°Of course, and at a hot spring inn! Let me think¡ we¡¯ll go to Yoshida Town. Among the ces I¡¯ve been, Yoshida Town is the most beautiful.¡±
¡°Does it snow the most there?¡±
¡°Not the most, but it has the most beautifulke. The color of theke is even deeper blue than the sky. Theke stretches into a small forest, and in winter, when the first real snow falls, theke freezes into a jade-like blue. The trees turn into crystal-clear ss, and their branches, as delicate as fine ss, are covered with snow like ayer of sugar. The wholeke looks just like a blue sundae!¡±
¡°Can I eat it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s just a metaphor, not a real sundae. Once you¡¯re feeling better, I¡¯ll take you out for a real sundae.¡±
The memory stopped there, but Reina¡¯s emotions lingered. Yuuki Minami could feel the girl¡¯s joy at hearing about the snow, her longing for the most beautifulke, and her craving for a sundae.
Hokkaido¡¯s Yoshida Town, huh? He made a mental note of the name.
[When she was little, her father promised her that once she was feeling better, he would take her to Yoshida Town in Hokkaido to y in the snow and see theke he thought was the most beautiful.]
[Was that wish ever fulfilled? She couldn¡¯t remember. Based on her guess, it remained unfulfilled. If she had already been to Yoshida Town, yed in the snow, and seen thatke, she wouldn¡¯t recall that promise so many times.]
[The fact that she now sat on a hospital bed proved that her condition hadn¡¯t improved¡ªin fact, it had worsened.]
[She fell into her memories, and you had to call her name twice before she snapped out of it.]
[The girl shared that memory with you, telling you she wanted to go to Yoshida Town, to see that sundae-likeke during the first snowfall.]
[You made a promise with her: you would take her there no matter what.]
[Aside from that, the girl had another ce she wanted to visit, though it wasn¡¯t an actual location with a name.]
[She wanted to attend a festival¡ªnot the grand, borate ones in Misaki, but the kind of small-town festival described in TV shows and novels.]
[You teased her, saying she was greedy for listing so many ces at once.]
[The girl puffed her cheeks indignantly, insisting it was you who asked her to share so much.]
[She couldn¡¯t refute you, though, because she really was quite greedy.]
[Shey down on the edge of the bed, looking at you with damp eyes. Her cherry-pink lips parted slightly. What she wanted was beyond words, and you leaned down to deeply kiss the girl brimming with passion.]
[For some reason, during a kiss, the girl¡¯s heartbeat was always much faster than during any other action. Even if you pressed your face against her feet, took advantage of close contact, or whispered the sweetest words to her, nothing could match the speed of her heartbeat during a kiss.]
[You were a bit concerned, so you limited the frequency and duration of your kisses, which the girl oftenined about.]
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Chapter 126
[Your rtionship with Reina Nakajima is progressing smoothly.]
[You often leave the hospital together, wandering about. Your most frequent destination is the nearby park, where Reina enjoys sitting with you on the swings. Next is Azuki Mountain, where you either head there in the morning to pic and watch the sunset or arrive in the evening to admire the serene night sky after the sunset.]
[The nurses cover for you, allowing you to slip into the sanatorium building before curfew or linger for a while after the allotted time.]
[Reina is already familiar with both the park and Azuki Mountain, so you start nning visits to two other ces she longs to see: a festival and Yoshida Town.]
[Summer has long passed, so the festival will have to wait until next year. Only Yoshida Town¡¯s snow andke remain.]
[You consult Reina¡¯s attending doctor. She tells you that as long as Reina¡¯s health remains stable and she is kept warm during the trip, a visit to Hokkaido is possible. However, any signs of trouble would necessitate immediate ess to a nearby major hospital.]
[You also ask Yohei Nakajima about Yoshida Town. He informs you that theke is in a remote vige within the town, requiring a long bus ride to reach. When the snow falls, transportation often grinds to a halt for several days, making it imperative to visit before the snow arrives.]
[The transportation challenges make you hesitant, and the risk of being stranded by a snowstorm ultimately leads you to abandon the idea for now.]
[You resolve to spend the next year preparing, promising Reina that you¡¯ll take her there next year.][You write down most of the popr songs you remember and sell them. The few songs you had previously sold have dominated the charts for some time, and numerous agencies are vying for yourpositions. Ultimately, a major agency backed by an international corporation purchases all your songs, earning you a substantial sum.]
[While selling your songs in batches might have been more lucrative, you are unwilling to wait.]
[Through the agency¡¯s connections, you purchase the only private hospital in the vige near theke in Yoshida Town and begin equipping it with medical facilities.]
[You cannot improve the town¡¯s transportation, but you can ensure that Reina has ess to a suitable hospital.]
[Your meticulous efforts quickly deplete the proceeds from your songs, prompting you to sell a few pianopositions. Foregoing credit for these pieces, you have the agency secretly contact buyers, resulting in unusually high prices. You save the money to prepare for next year.]
[The hospital is still under construction when winter break arrives. Your parents call you back home, unaware that their son has a little girlfriend in Misaki¡ªand that he¡¯s even met her parents and gained their approval.]
[You n to gradually broach the topic with your parents, giving them time to adjust before introducing Reina to them.]
[Winter arrives, bringing biting winds. A recent rainstorm left the air damp, and the wind feels even sharper against your skin.]
[Emerging from the subway station, you pull your knit hat down, wrap your scarf tightly, and walk briskly toward the hospital.]
[The sky is overcast, and raindrops begin to fall. You step into a nearby convenience store to buy an umbre, and by the time youe back out, it¡¯s raining steadily. The rain is light but carried by the cold wind,shing against your face.]
[In this wind and rain, holding the umbre takes both effort and skill. It takes you twice as long as usual to reach the sanatorium. Your pant legs are damp, your shoes soaked, and your socks cling ufortably to your feet.]
[A nurse hands you a pair of slippers and asks you to remove your shoes and socks so she can take them to the rest area to dry by the electric heater.]
[You thank her and crouch down to untie your shoces.]
[Your fingers brush the shoe¡¯s surface, and you freeze. You see a few crystal-like snowkes melting on the whiteces.]
[It¡¯s snowing.]
[Reina Nakajima watches out the window. At first, snowkes mingle with the rain. Gradually, the rain diminishes, and the snowkes grow in number until the entire world is enveloped in swirling, white snow.] ?
Memory Scene Unfolds
Yuuki Minami, having taken off his coat, sat at the edge of the bed. Beside him, Reina Nakajima leaned against him as the two gazed out the window at the snow-covered, hazy world outside.
¡°Will this affect your ns for tomorrow?¡± the girl asked, turning to look at the boy¡¯s profile.
Yuuki Minami replied, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t, unless it keeps snowing heavily all day tomorrow.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Reina Nakajima turned her head back and, supporting herself on the bed frame, leaned closer into Yuuki Minami¡¯s arms. He wrapped his arm around her waist.
She felt a sense of loss. Even half a day apart during the holidays seemed unbearable to her, and now, they were about to be separated for several days.
¡°Your dad, mom, and Yuko Senpai will be with you. Next year, I¡¯ll take you to my ce for New Year¡¯s,¡± Yuuki Minami said, leaning down to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
The gentle touch did little to soothe Reina¡¯s heart. She turned her face, seeking more from Yuuki Minami.
The hospital room was silent, with only the sound of snowkes tapping against the window.
Reina¡¯s fervor was overwhelming. She kept pressing herself closer to Yuuki Minami, as if trying to merge into his chest and be one with him.
Yuuki Minami, pushed to the edge of the bed, held her waist to keep her from falling off.
¡°It¡¯s time,¡± he said, gently pushing the flushed girl away.
¡°I want to make up for tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, and even the day after that!¡± Reina Nakajima wrapped her arms around Yuuki Minami¡¯s neck, pulling herself up and chasing his slightly red lips.
Yuuki Minami couldn¡¯t escape her pursuit. The sorrow of their impending separation was lodged in his heart too, making him yearn for the girl in his arms.
When their lips parted the second time, Reina had pushed Yuuki Minami to the center of the room. She stood barefoot on the vinyl floor, her gaze hazy as she looked at him.
¡°You¡¯re such a bold little princess,¡± Yuuki Minami said, giving her a yful smack on the bottom.
¡°I am not!¡± Reina¡¯s cheeks flushed an even deeper red.
She wanted to loosen her arms around his neck and push him away to prove her innocence. But as she started to lift her arms, reluctance surged in her heart, making her hug him even tighter.
¡°Your actions don¡¯t make a convincing argument,¡± Yuuki Minami teased.
¡°Well, this is just how I am. Got a problem with that?¡± Reina snapped back, embarrassed, revealing her pearly-white canines.
¡°And if I do have a problem, what will Princess Reina do about it? Toss me into Misaki Bay? Bury me under the road? Feed me to the dogs, fish, or snakes?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll tie you to my bed and not let you go anywhere!¡±
¡°Let me guess, would this bed happen to be the one Princess Reina sleeps in?¡±
¡°Of course!¡±
¡°And what exactly does Princess Reina n to do with me at night?¡±
Unable to contain her embarrassment, Reina avoided his gaze, turning her face toward the snow-covered world outside. On the window ss, her crimson cheeks were faintly reflected.
Her shyness was soon carried away by the falling snow. Driven by her desires and the urgency of parting, she pressed her hands against Yuuki Minami¡¯s chest, pushing him down onto the white hospital bed.
¡°Something like this!¡±
[The beautiful snow reflects the passion ignited by your impending separation. Reina Nakajima pushes you down on her hospital bed, pulling out the tool Honoka gave her.]
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Chapter 127
[She failed to make good use of that thing.]
[The door to the hospital room wasn¡¯t locked; anyone could open it. Though there was a thin curtain by the bedside that could be drawn for privacy, it offered zero resistance to intrusion. In such an unprotected environment, the psychological pressure on you was immense.]
[You hesitated over how to reject the girl, but soon realized your rejection wasn¡¯t necessary. Reina Nakajima¡¯s knowledge in that area was woefullycking, her mind filled with only shallow imaginings. She fumbled clumsily, at aplete loss.]
[Youughed at her. She buried herself in your arms, biting your shoulder in embarrassment and frustration.]
The joy spilling out from the simted text flooded into Yuuki Minami¡¯s heart. The fragmented memories and scenes of love stitched together an impression so vivid that he forgot about Yuko Ibuki beside him and thought only of Reina Nakajima in the hospital.
In the previous simtion, Reina Nakajima had passed away during his second semester of freshman year. In this simted life, they had less than three years left together.
The girl likely died from a failed surgery. Would the surgery seed this time? Would switching to another hospital or assembling a different team of experts change the oue?
The answer was likely no.
Surgery isn¡¯t a dice roll, where all oues are equally probable. The sess or failure of a surgery isn¡¯t typically determined by the procedure itself. The surgeon¡¯s skill is only a small variable; therger, unchanging factors are the current state of medical science and the patient¡¯s physical condition.Thinking this, the happiness in Yuuki Minami¡¯s heart was draped in a thin, ck veil. Watching himself in the simted life, he could feel a thick fog of death enveloping him and Reina Nakajima.
He continued to observe the simtion interface.
[In the afternoon, the snow stopped. A lightyer of snow nketed the garden shrubs and grass, which brought you delight.]
[You had worried earlier that the rain at the start of the day would melt the falling snow. While the roads indeed failed to retain any, the shrubs and grass managed to.]
[You left the hospital room in a hurry to buy warm clothes for Reina Nakajima, intending to take her outside to admire the snow. Before you exited the hospital, Yohei Nakajima called you¡ªhe had already prepared the clothes.]
[You waited for him at the hospital entrance. His car stopped by the road, and Ibuki Yuko got out, handing you the bag containing the clothes.]
[A few months ago, you had asked Yohei Nakajima about Yoshida Town, about theke there. Remembering an old promise, and with a mix of guilt and pity, he had asked Honoka to help pick out clothes that would keep his daughter warm even on snowy days.]
[The clothes were thick andprehensive¡ªhat, gloves, scarf, everything was included. When Reina Nakajima put them on, she joked that she looked like an escaped penguin from Antarctica.]
[You ignored her minorints and pushed her wheelchair toward the garden.]
[The borrowed wheelchair was narrow, and the girl bundled up inyers was almost squeezed into it, deepening her resentment.]
[But as they approached the snow-covered garden, her mind was consumed by the sight of the pristine white nket adorning the greenery.]
[Together, the two of you gathered snow and built a small snowman, cing it in the garden pavilion.]
[She removed her gloves and sank her hands into the soft snow. The pure white snow clung to her fair hands, the image strikingly elegant.]
[She scooped up a handful of snow and tossed it at your face. In retaliation, you rubbed her cheeks with your icy hands, her crispughter echoing in the snowy garden.]
[While you were momentarily distracted, the girl scooped up more snow and stuck out her soft tongue to lick it like white frosting. The coarse, icy texture melted on her tongue, intriguing her enough to try licking the snow again.]
[By the third time she extended her tongue, you pinched the mischievous little slug.]
A Memory Scene Unfolds
The horizon was painted in hues of orange and red, the sunset nearing the rooftops in the distance, ready to sink below the skyline. The snow, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun, glimmered with a faint orange glow.
Reina Nakajima held a small handful of orange-tinted fine snow. A tender pink little slug peeked out from its nest.
Yuuki Minami had been prepared for this. He swiftly reached out, pinching the adorable little creature between his thumb and forefinger.
Soft, moist, and a lovely shade of blush, the slug shuddered violently when caught.
Reina Nakajima froze, like a startled cat grabbed by the scruff of its neck, momentarily unable toprehend what had just happened. By the time she realized, it was toote¡ªher vulnerability was now firmly in Yuuki Minami¡¯s hands, leaving her powerless to resist.
¡°Mm-mm-mm-mm,¡± she mumbled, unable to speak, her lips slightly parted as she cast a pleading look at Yuuki Minami.
¡°What¡¯s that, Reina-san? I can¡¯t hear you,¡± Yuuki teased with a smile.
¡°Mm-mm-mm-mm! Mm-mm-mm!¡±
Watching her flustered and panicked, Yuuki Minami felt satisfied and finally let go.
The pale pink slug immediately retreated into its delicate shell. Reina Nakajima covered her mouth with her hands, staring at Yuuki Minami with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
This boy¡ªhow could he do something like that? Terrifying!
¡°Still thinking about licking snow?¡± Yuuki grabbed a handful of snow and held it in front of Reina. She shook her head vehemently.
She didn¡¯t dare open her mouth, afraid her delicate tongue would fall prey to the boy once again.
¡°If you really want to eat snow, I can take you to a dessert shop. There¡¯s no way the snow falling from the sky is clean,¡± Yuuki said as he pinched her cheek. ¡°And even if you just wanted a taste, one try would¡¯ve been enough. Why go for a third? You greedy little thing!¡±
A blush spread across Reina Nakajima¡¯s face. She turned away and muttered softly, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Yuuki.¡±
¡°Wait, how is this my fault?¡± Yuuki asked, baffled.
¡°Because Yuuki won¡¯t kiss me.¡±
¡°I just kissed you for ages when it started snowing. What does kissing me have to do with licking snow?¡±
Reina¡¯s face turned even redder. Her voice grew quieter still, but Yuuki leaned closer and caught her words.
¡°Because licking the snow¡ feels a bit like it.¡±
Like what, she didn¡¯t need to borate. Yuuki couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He pinched her cheek again. ¡°So that¡¯s it¡ªyou¡¯re just a greedy little kiss monster.¡±
After being called a ¡°greedy little thing¡± and now a ¡°kiss monster,¡± Reina Nakajima was thoroughly annoyed. She turned her head and bit down on Yuuki¡¯s fingers, the ones that had been pinching her cheeks.
[You hadn¡¯t expected Reina Nakajima¡¯s reason for licking the snow to be tied to the sensation of kissing you. You warned her not to eat anything so dirty again and tugged on her tongue as punishment.]
[What you didn¡¯t know was that, when you caught that blush-colored slug, Reina¡¯s heartbeat had quickened.]
¡°¡?¡±
Yuuki Minami reread the simted text, confirming his suspicion. A simple thought crossed his mind: Really?
He knew everyone had their quirks and sensitivities, but he hadn¡¯t expected Reina Nakajima¡¯s to be so¡ unique.
He¡¯d always found it curious why Reina¡¯s heartbeat spiked the most during their kisses. Sure, kissing was an intimate act, but there were plenty of things even more intimate.
Now he understood. Reina Nakajima¡¯s sensitivityy entirely in her tongue!
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Chapter 128
As expected, the pretty girls around me are all abnormal!
As Minami Yuuki thought of Ibuki Yuko and Asano Nao, he realized these two were only mentally abnormal, while Nakajima Reina was physically abnormal!
Speaking of which, there was still his beloved Airi in the simtor. What was abnormal about this little sister? Minami Yuuki searched his memories. His little sister was just a bit tsundere and didn¡¯t seem to have any other issues. Nothing unusual had appeared in the simted life either.
Could it be¡
He thought of a possibility.
Yuko and Nao had mental issues, Nakajima Reina had physical ones, and Airi¡¯s problem might be¡ªrtionship issues.
No matter how you think about it, it¡¯s impossible to simte a romantic rtionship with your sister, right? Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Minami Yuuki continued to look at the simtion interface.
¡ª
[The light snowfall did not disrupt the high-speed train schedule. After parting ways with Nakajima Reina, you returned to your hometown in Ino Prefecture. There are only two days left until New Year¡¯s. Your parents were busy cleaning the house, and your little sister came to the station to pick you up.][She first asked why you came back sote and then why you didn¡¯t return during the summer vacation. She was indignant, holding a grudge over you leaving her alone for so long.]
[You told her you were busy apanying her sister-inw in Misaki.]
[Your sister was confused about which rtive was her sister-inw. When she realized ¡°sister-inw¡± referred to your wife, she was stunned.]
[She first suspected you were lying, but when you showed her a photo of you and Nakajima Reina together, she pouted and dered her opposition to your rtionship.]
[You patted her head, dismissing her objections.]
[After arriving home, she immediately told your parents about this, hoping they would discipline you and break you up. She was disappointed. Your father, thinking you were of an age to date, didn¡¯t interfere. Your mother not only didn¡¯t object but was a little excited, pulling your sister aside to ask for more details.]
[Your sister remained sullen until New Year¡¯s Day.]
[On New Year¡¯s morning, your sister dragged you out of bed to apany her to the shrine for the traditional New Year¡¯s visit.]
[The shrine was packed. New Year shrine visits are a tradition, and Ino Prefecture is a very traditional ce.]
[You video-called Nakajima Reina, letting her see the bustling shrine and introducing her to your sister.]
[Although your sister initially didn¡¯t want to give a good attitude to the woman who ¡°stole¡± her brother, when she saw Nakajima Reina¡¯s surroundings, her attitude changed. Even though she was young, she could recognize a hospital room and a patient¡¯s attire.]
[You introduced them to each other. Your sister half-heartedly exchanged a few words with Nakajima Reina before you ended the call.]
[Your sister asked about Nakajima Reina¡¯s condition, and you exined it to her. When you returned home, she told your parents about it. This was part of your n; it was better for your sister to break the news than for you to do it directly.]
[The whole family was shocked by the news. They secretly discussed it without you. Your parents¡¯ stance became clear¡ªthey did not support and opposed your rtionship with a seriously ill woman. However, your sister spoke up for you, dissuading them from confronting you.]
Minami Yuuki was surprised. This little sister actually stood up for him this time? He continued reading, only to find out this mischievous girl wasn¡¯t so kind after all. ?
¡ª
[Airi thought to herself: in any case, that woman doesn¡¯t have long to live. She can keep those other bad women in Misaki away for now. Once that woman passes away, you¡¯lle back home.]
[She had already picked out a suitable match for you¡ªher best friend, Jun. Jun was her little sidekick. If her n seeded, she could use Jun to influence you and ensure you remained her closest brother forever.]
¡ª
The amount of information in this part was a bit overwhelming, and Minami Yuuki couldn¡¯t process it all at once. He took a moment to sort through it and couldn¡¯t help but think, Well, well.
This little sister of his had already picked out a sister-inw for him! And she had even set her sights on her little sidekick!
No wonder, in the past simted lives, she had opposed Nao and Yuko¡ªhe had assumed she was a little possessive, but it turned out she didn¡¯t want her ns disrupted!
Taking note of his sister¡¯s n, Minami Yuuki continued to read the simtion text.
¡ª
[On the third day after the New Year, you boarded the high-speed train back to Misaki. You used the excuse of going back to study, and both your parents and sister knew it was a lie. You knew they knew it was a lie too. Next year, you nned to bring Nakajima Reina home, so you needed to prepare them mentally.]
[The temperature in Misaki was warmer than in Ino Prefecture. After getting off the train, you headed straight to the hospital.]
[From the moment she received the news that you were back, Nakajima Reina had been eagerly waiting. When you opened the hospital room door, she jumped down from the bed and threw herself into your arms, kissing you passionately. The emotions she had been holding back were intense, and she wouldn¡¯t let go of your lips for a long time. You, too, were reluctant to pull away.]
[Only when her breathing becamebored did you finally make up your mind and gently pushed her back toward the bed.]
[You heard a lightughing from outside the door. When you turned around, you saw three nurses peeking in. When they noticed you looking, they giggled and hurried away.]
[Turning back to Nakajima Reina, you noticed that she didn¡¯t appear shy; instead, she lowered her head, a touch uneasy.]
[Her earlier enthusiasm wasn¡¯t just from the joy of reunion; it was mixed with deep apprehension.]
[She had been in the hospital since childhood, disconnected from the various social rtionships outside. Until now, she had only considered whether you could ept her illness.]
[On New Year¡¯s Day, when you introduced her to your sister, she realized you weren¡¯t just an individual¡ªyou had a sister, a father, a mother¡ a whole host of family and friends.]
[Would her existence be epted by your family and friends? This thought weighed heavily on her.]
[She wasn¡¯t a sentimental person by nature. In the past, when she gazed at the distantndscape, it was just to admire the scenery. But over the past two days, even when she looked at the familiar, joyful sight of Mount Azuki, she couldn¡¯t focus. In the woods of Mount Azuki, it felt as though the attitudes of your family and friends were hiding, making her wary and anxious.]
[You picked up on Nakajima Reina¡¯s worry. You held her close and told her that everyone would bless you both.]
[You tried to soothe her with a kiss, a method that had always worked in the past, but now it had lost its magic and couldn¡¯t fully dispel her worries.]
[During the spring break after the third semester, you and Nakajima Youhei nned a meeting. Yohei brought his daughter home from the hospital, and you invited your parents and sister to visit Misaki for a trip.]
[You set up a ¡°coincidence,¡± and Nakajima Reina had an informal meeting with your parents. You intentionally acted a little affectionate with Reina. The gentle and elegant young woman left a great impression on your parents.]
[After returning home, your parents indeed asked you about Nakajima Reina. You told them everything honestly.]
[Your mother was indecisive and wavered, but a few heartfelt words from you swayed her to your side.]
[Your father was initially opposed but, after realizing your determination, he relented and agreed. He asked detailed questions about Nakajima Reina¡¯s condition and then used his connections to inquire with the medicalmunity about the possibility of her recovery.]
[Your sister remained neutral; she was still thinking about her own ns.]
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Chapter 129
[Your father was unable to find a cure. Y¨hei Nakajima had already spent the first half of his life seeking out the best doctors for his daughter, but he failed. Neither you nor the father could reverse this oue.]
[Your father managed to contact a professor from the Faculty of Medicine at Misaki University. You apanied Reina Nakajima to the affiliated hospital of Misaki University¡¯s medical school for an examination.]
[The doctor in charge of the examination was a vice director. She predicted that, without surgery, Reina Nakajima would have only five years left to live, with the final year spent weakly confined amidst a host of medical devices. If she underwent surgery, the operation should ideally ur within the next three years. Given Reina Nakajima¡¯s current physical condition, the chances of sess were slim. If sessful, she could live for another decade or so, but another surgery would be required at that time.]
[This type of low-sess-rate, niche surgery was one that most doctors and hospitals were unwilling to perform. It was only due to Y¨hei Nakajima¡¯s connections with a vice director at Chigusa University Hospital that they had initially agreed to take on the procedure.]
[Now, thanks to your father¡¯s influence, Misaki University Hospital is also willing to perform the surgery.]
[Although Chigusa University Hospital is not as renowned overall as Misaki University Hospital, the doctor handling this particr type of surgery is a leading expert in the field, on par with the doctors at Misaki University Hospital. This is why you haven¡¯t yet considered transferring Reina Nakajima to another hospital.]
[You need to decide now. If you choose Misaki University Hospital, Reina Nakajima must immediately transfer there so that the attending physician can familiarize themselves with her condition and prepare a surgical n.]
[Faced with this situation, you must choose¡]
[1. Opt for Misaki University Hospital and proceed with the surgery at the optimal time.][2. Abandon the surgery and pursue conservative treatment.]
[3. Begin with conservative treatment and resort to surgery only when Reina Nakajima¡¯s body can no longer hold out.]
[4. Free simtion.]
The options were presented.
Yuuki Minami shook off his fatigue and carefully read through the three choices.
The option to have surgery at Chigusa University Hospital wasn¡¯t included¡ªunsurprising, as in the previous life simtion, Reina Nakajima¡¯s surgery at Chigusa University Hospital had failed.
He examined the first option. Misaki University Hospital was the best hospital in Japan, but would choosing it improve the chances of a sessful surgery? Probably not. The simtion text had already exined that Misaki University Hospital held no clear advantage for this procedure.
Then he looked at the second option. If he gave up on the surgery, Reina Nakajima would have five years left to live. In the previous simtion, she had passed away two yearster. Giving up the surgery would grant her an extra three years.
Finally, the third option. Dying the surgery until the fourth or fifth year. By then, Reina Nakajima¡¯s health would have deteriorated to the point where the chances of sess were exceedingly slim.
Which one to choose? He went over the meaning of each option again.
Option 1 was the aggressive choice: proceed with the surgery in two years, when the chances of sess were at their highest. If sessful, the girl would live on. But if it failed, she would die, just as in the previous simtion. ?
Option 2 was the conservative choice: abandon the surgery and let the girl live for about three more years, but with no chance of survival beyond five years.
Option 3 was the middle-ground choice: dy the surgery until the fourth or fifth year. The girl could live one or two more years this way, but the chances of sess would be very low.
Should he take a big gamble, refuse to gamble, or take a small one? He couldn¡¯t make up his mind for a long time.
He didn¡¯t want to give up the possibility of a sessful surgery, nor did he want to gamble with the remainder of the girl¡¯s life. How could he let her give up the chance to live? How could he let her risk what little time she had left? The three options turned into swirling clouds of varying shades in his mind, shrouding his thoughts and filling him with restless anxiety.
This was the first time he¡¯d encountered such a difficult decision¡ªone that felt wrong no matter what he chose. He didn¡¯t want to touch any of these options!
He turned over in bed, shifting from lying on his back to lying on his side. He opened his eyes and looked at the room shrouded in the darkness of night.
The bedsidemp hadn¡¯t been turned off. The faint light spilling from the corner of the bed wasn¡¯t enough to illuminate the room, but it kept pure darkness at bay. The entire bedroom was bathed in a gray haze¡ªneither fully lit nor fully dark, with ck and white blurring together, the boundaries of up and down inverted¡ªa scene as chaotic as his mind.
It was a most tormenting sight. The surroundings seemed shrouded in darkness, yet also seemed to hold traces of light, leaving one unsure whether to stay asleep or rise to greet the dawn.
Yuuki Minami closed his eyes again and took a deep breath.
When reading the options earlier, the emotions conveyed through the simtion text had affected him, filling him with sorrow. But in truth, he didn¡¯t need to feel so conflicted.
In reality, this would be an unsolvable dilemma¡ªa problem with no visible answers or hope. But this wasn¡¯t reality. It was merely one possible future, a simtion of what mighte. If one attempt failed, there would still be another chance. What he needed to do was explore the possibilities of the future and find the path that led to happiness.
Stepping back from the simted life, the choice now seemed clear.
He clicked on Option 1.
If there was a door leading to happiness among the three choices, it had to be the option of proceeding with the surgery. Options 2 and 3 would inevitably lead to the girl¡¯s death.
And if Option 1 also failed? Then it would prove that this particr route was incorrect, and he would need to try another path.
The simtion text began to advance, and he watched with unease.
[You decided to proceed with the surgery at Misaki University Hospital. Reina Nakajima and Y¨hei Nakajima agreed with your choice. Reina Nakajima moved from the Chigusa University Hospital rehabilitation ward to a room at Misaki University Hospital.]
[The day before the transfer, you brought gifts to the nurses at the rehabilitation ward to thank them for their care.]
[The nurses were reluctant to see you go. Even after you moved her to Misaki University Hospital, they often came to visit her.]
[You were in charge of handling the transfer. After your father pulled the necessary strings, he stepped aside, showing little concern for your future. He didn¡¯t hold much hope for whaty ahead.]
[Y¨hei Nakajima was initially worried that his daughter might struggle to adjust to an unfamiliar ce. But when he saw her enter the expensive private ward, his worries shifted in another direction.]
[The private ward offered meticulous care and flexible policies, designed entirely to serve the needs of patients and their families. There were no restrictions on visiting hours, and if a patient wanted to go home, a small medical team could even apany them.]
[What now concerned Y¨hei Nakajima was his wallet.]
[You were the one paying for Reina Nakajima¡¯s hospital stay. You kept it quiet, and no one except the people at your firm knew where you had managed to get such arge sum of money.]
[At the payment counter, Y¨hei Nakajima inquired about the costs and found that the majority of the hospital fees had already been covered for three years. He assumed it was thanks to your father¡¯s help and felt grateful. When your father visited Reina Nakajima and saw the luxurious ward, he thought the Nakajima family was sparing no expense to care for their daughter and felt deeply moved.]
[Amid their mutual misunderstandings, you sessfully concealed the truth about your finances.]
[The surgery was scheduled for the autumn of the year after next.]
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Chapter 130
[The new hospital room felt much more alive than the old one. Gone were the stic floors and the sterile white bedding and curtains. If not for the bars on the walls and the medical equipment by the bed, one could hardly tell it was a hospital room.]
[What pleased you most was that the new ward didn¡¯t require wearing those drab, pale blue patient gowns. Reina Nakajima could wear anything she wanted¡ªor rather, anything you wanted her to wear.]
[You bought her a variety of outfits, letting her try on something new every day. No matter what she wore, the girl always exuded an elegant charm.]
[The room¡¯s temperature was kept at a constant 22 degrees Celsius, making it unsuitable for thick formal kimonos. Your favorite look for her was either a dress or a casual yukata.]
[What Reina regretted, however, was that while there was a small garden outside the window, the distant sky was mostly obscured by tall buildings, robbing her of a view of the horizon.]
[The special ward was equipped with many recreational facilities for patients, and quite a few wealthy elderly people treated it like a retirement home. Reina, however, had little interest in such amenities. When you weren¡¯t there, she would sit quietly by the window, watching the view. Over time, even the skyscrapers blocking her view became part of her scenery.]
[After school, you woulde to the hospital to keep herpany, staying until she fell asleep before leaving.]
[Anxious about her surgery two years down the line, you cherished every moment with her even more. Not wanting to be separated from her because of sses, you discussed the matter with your father. You made an agreement: as long as you maintained your grades by taking monthly tests, you would be allowed to skip attending sses.]
[To secure this privilege and free you from attendance requirements, your father went to great lengths on your behalf.][You practically moved into the hospital, living alongside Reina Nakajima.]
[You continued your frequent visits to Azuki Mountain, the Chigusa University Hospital garden, and nearby parks.]
[The first semester of your second year passed, and summer vacation arrived.]
[You kept Reina¡¯s wishes in mind. What she wanted most was to see the snow and thekes in Hokkaido that her father had spoken of. Her second wish was to visit one of the small local festivals often shown on TV.]
[You picked the destination. At the end of July, you took Reina and two nurses aboard a train.]
[The train ride was far slower than a ne, but you worried that the difort of takeoff andnding might strain her heart.]
[It was Reina¡¯s first time on a train, and she was curious about everything, holding your hand as she gazed around in wonder.]
[You booked two rooms¡ªone for the nurses and one for you and Reina. Your room was a small sightseeing cabin with a sofa, two foldable narrow beds, and arge ss window.]
[You imed the seat by the window, hoping Reina would plead for it and give you an excuse to bargain. To your surprise, she simplyy down on yourp.]
[As the train left the city, the vivid blue sky and verdant green countryside filled therge window. The pure blue and fresh green reflected in Reina¡¯s dark eyes, making your heart skip a beat.]
[Your hand rested on her face, and she opened her lips to bite one of your fingers. At some point, this princess-like girl had developed a habit of nibbling on you¡ªyour fingers, ears, and neck had all been her targets at one time or another.]
[By evening, you arrived at your destination: a tourist town called Hoiri.]
[The town was internationally famous, and the streets were dotted with foreign visitors who hade for the festival. These foreigners became Reina¡¯s first source of amazement upon arriving in the town.]
[That night, Reina was captivated by the traditional charm of the inn where you stayed, exploring it with curiosity.]
[In Reina¡¯s life, the only time she had seen ces beyond Misaki was when she apanied Y¨hei Nakajima on his search for medical treatment during her childhood. Those memories had long faded with time, leaving behind only fragmented, disjointed pieces. This trip was precious to her.]
[The festival was set to begin the next day. During the day, you wandered around the town with her, and in the evening, you asked the nurses to take her to enjoy the hot spring she had been dreaming of.]
[Late at night, she sneaked into your room. Together, you gazed through the window at the town¡¯s nighttime scenery and the moonlit sky. Before bed, she pulled out her cherished keepsake.]
[She sessfully used the keepsake.]
[The next morning, you arrivedte to the festival. Neither you nor she paid much attention to the ceremonial sword-drawing event at the shrine.]
[That evening, you helped her put on a yukata and made your way to the shrine atop the mountain.]
[Her frail body gave out after climbing only a few steps. She clung to you, pouting yfully, and you carried her on your back, ascending the mountain slowly.]
[The long stone staircase leading to the shrine was nked by twin rows ofnterns, connecting the town below to the shrine above. On either side of the stairs, countless simple stalls were neatly arranged, offering food and games: takoyaki, crepes, candied apples¡; shooting games, goldfish scooping, dart throwing¡]
[The evening air atop the mountain was pleasantly cool. Over the past year, your frequent hikes to Azuki Mountain had strengthened you somewhat. Reina Nakajima was slender and light, making the task of carrying her manageable.]
[You bought her a candied apple. The vibrant red of the treat matched beautifully with the deep crimson id pattern of her yukata.]
A vivid scene shed in his memory:
The enticing aroma of street food, the lively chatter of festival-goers, and the warm glow ofnterns from the stalls all blended into a sensory overload that filled Yuuki Minami¡¯s mind.
The girl on his back wrapped one arm around his neck, holding the candied apple in her other hand. The hem of her yukata swayed near his face as she rested against him, the faint sound of her biting into the candy crisp and clear in his ears.
Before long, the hand holding the candied apple fell limply, her arm draped over Yuuki¡¯s shoulder. Her palm rested just below his chin, the half-eaten apple¡ªnow missing two small bites¡ªdangling in front of his eyes.
The glossy red candy coating gleamed under thenterns, its vibrancy entuated by the translucent sugar ze. Its purity and luster reminded Yuuki of the girl¡¯s shy yet eager expression the night before, when she had longed for his kiss.
Within the bitten edges of the apple, the beige, moist flesh peeked out from the crimson shell. Its soft, tantalizing allure, swaying gently with her hand¡¯s movement, stirred memories of her figure from the previous night.
His gaze followed the candied apple as it bobbed up and down.
Reina noticed his lingering look. Holding the apple closer, now marked with even more bites, she offered it to him.
¡°Do you want a taste?¡± She tilted her head curiously, studying his expression. In her memory, Yuuki was never one to crave sweets. Why was he so interested in this candied apple today?
¡°I do.¡±
¡°Then why don¡¯t you just take a bite?¡±
¡°I¡¯m saying I want your bite.¡±
¡°Fine, take one¡ ah, why are you biting my hand?¡±
Yuuki didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he gently took her pale, lotus-like fingers into his mouth, savoring the sugar ze still clinging to her fingertips.
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Chapter 131
Chapter 131
The candy apple fell to the ground, its sugary coating shattering into countless tiny shards that sparkled under the light.
Reina Nakajima buried her face in Yuuki Minami¡¯s shoulder, the red of the candy apple staining her cheeks.
Yuuki Minami let go of the girl¡¯s fingers, turning to look at her face nestled against his shoulder. The girl raised her head to nce at him briefly before hastily lowering it again.
¡°Why did you bite me?¡± Reina whispered.
¡°What, are you the only one allowed to bite me?¡± Yuuki crouched down, picking up the fallen candy apple and cing it into a stic bag in his hand. ¡°Besides, didn¡¯t we already bite each otherst night? Why are you making a big deal about it?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not allowed to mentionst night!¡± The blush that Reina had tried to suppress surged back to her cheeks.
She tightly covered Yuuki¡¯s mouth with her pale fingers. The boy chuckled, then yfully nibbled on her fingers.
¡ª
[The bright red, tender interior of the candy apple reminds you of the girl on your back. You nibble her fingers and tease her yfully.][The candy apple shattered. Ahead, there¡¯s a stall selling taiyaki. You buy some for the girl.]
[She takes a bite and offers you one, but you deliberately avoid biting where she has, watching her puff up her cheeks in mock anger.]
[Passing by a game stall, you set her down and y alongside her.]
[By the time you reach the mountain shrine, the stic bag in your hand is filled with food wrappers. The girl on your back is holding a stuffed toy in one hand and a stic bag with three goldfish swimming inside in the other.]
[The stuffed toy was won by you at a dart game; the goldfish were caught by you at a scooping game. The girl also tried both games but barely hit any dartboard and broke her paper scoops almost instantly.]
[This left her quite frustrated. Later, at a shooting gallery stall, she refused to y and only let you take part. Unfamiliar with shooting, you only managed to win a constion prize. Sheughed at your failure, and you nibbled her fingers in retaliation.]
[As the time for the fireworks disy approached, you discarded the trash and stood by the shrine with the girl, gazing at the sky by the mountainside.]
[The sky above the mountain and the town below was faintly gray, illuminated by bright lights,cking the pure darkness of night. The organizers had taken this into ount and set the fireworks off from the mountainside, near the river by the town.]
[The mountain was a bit far from theunch site. Many visitors had gone to the riverside to watch, but you didn¡¯t have time to make it there. You also didn¡¯t want the girl to struggle for a spot in the crowd. So, you stayed in the woods nearby, watching as fiery reds pierced through the night sky.]
[The first firework climbed unsteadily, dragging a long tail behind it, before abruptly extinguishing in the night sky. Only the faint glow of its tail lingered as it slowly faded. Your heart tightened instinctively.]
[Just as the glow was about to disappear, a sudden burst of light exploded. For a fleeting moment, you couldn¡¯t locate the origin of the brilliant light; the first thing to light up was the clouds around the sky. Then, a dazzling red flower bloomed in the sky, its petals spreading like a vibrant chrysanthemum. The smoky remnants of its tail glowed faintly, forming its stem.]
[You and Reina Nakajima were both captivated by the enormous, radiant red chrysanthemum. Holding each other¡¯s hands tightly, you both stared fixedly at the distant sky.]
[The chrysanthemum¡¯s petals spread further, covering a portion of the sky. After its swift bloom came an equally swift withering, the firework scattering into countless red sparks that slowly fell through the sky, vanishing into the dark earth below.]
[With one firework ending, more trails of light ascended into the sky, faint sounds of dyed explosions reaching your ears from afar.]
[The subsequent fireworks were even more dazzling and grand, but they couldn¡¯t evoke the same emotions as the first one did.]
[You captured a photo of Reina Nakajima. In it, the girl was smiling sweetly, with the brilliant fireworks blooming behind her. Dressed in a red yukata, she seemed to blend seamlessly with the crimson fireworks.]
[After the fireworks ended, the two of you continued to stare at the now-silent night sky for a while, feeling a tinge of mncholy as you returned to the inn.]
[The girl¡¯s use of her props was bing increasingly adept.]
The sudden twist in the simtion caught Yuuki Minami off guard.
He thought to himself, Let¡¯s see if you can borate on this part!
Pausing the simtion, he took a moment to rest, recalling the images in his mind. When the simtion mentioned fireworks, a memory of watching them surfaced in his thoughts. Fireworks were indeed beautiful, but he would dly trade their beauty for a scene like the previous one.
Uncertain whether this simtion would seed, he wondered how well Reina Nakajima¡¯s use of props would turn out.
Pulling himself out of the simted world temporarily, he sighed inwardly. In the simtion, he was always surrounded by beautiful girls, but in reality, he was still sleeping alone in a small studio apartment.
Wait, wasn¡¯t there someone else behind him?
Yuuki Minami had been so engrossed in the simtion that he had forgotten about Yuko Ibuki.
Why was this petite senior still here? He had been simting for quite a while now.
Sitting up and pretending to wake from a dream, he nced to his side. Yuko Ibukiy motionless, her eyes closed as if she were sound asleep.
Checking his phone, he saw it was already past nine in the evening.
Is this girl nning to stay the night here?
¡°Wake up!¡± He reached out and nudged her shoulder.
Yuko Ibuki turned over but showed no sign of opening her eyes.
Yuuki Minami felt a headacheing on. He recalled the series of events that led up to this: first, she forgot her keys and waited at his ce, then fell asleep on his bed, pretending to be deeply asleep no matter how much he called her. Wasn¡¯t this starting to feel like a carefullyid-out n?
But then, Yuuki thought again: she could only be sharing the bed with him because he had fallen asleep as soon as he got home, something she couldn¡¯t have predicted. Quickly dismissing his doubts, he reasoned that all she needed to do was say she was tired and climb into his bed¡ªit was just taking advantage of the moment.
This sly girl¡ªhow cunning of her!
If he let her stay the night, their rtionship would undoubtedly change. Even if he didn¡¯t give in to temptation, she could use the fact that they¡¯d ¡°slept together¡± as leverage to push her advances further!
He had to get rid of her!
Yuuki nudged her again, muttering to himself, ¡°Are you really asleep? What do I do now? There¡¯s only one bed here¡¡±
His suspicions were spot-on. Everything was going exactly ording to Yuko Ibuki¡¯s n.
As long as she spent the night here, she could im to be the girl who¡¯d spent the night with Yuuki Minami!
With this bond established, that Nao Asano wouldn¡¯t stand a chance!
Hearing Yuuki¡¯s muttered words, a small sense of triumph swelled in her heart.
¡°There¡¯s no helping it. I¡¯ll let her sleep,¡± came the boy¡¯s second sentence.
Before Yuko could silently celebrate, Yuuki¡¯s third sentence shattered her joy.
¡°I¡¯ll just borrow a room at Nao-nee¡¯s ce.¡±
¡°¡!?¡±
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Chapter 132
Ibuki Yuko heard the sound of Minami Yuuki shuffling around in his slippers and the rustle of him putting on his jacket. It seemed like he was really nning to go to Asano Nao¡¯s ce.
Wouldn¡¯t that just let Asano Nao take advantage of the situation, making her the ultimate winner?
Ibuki Yuko turned over and sat up ¡°groggily.¡±
After rubbing her eyes for a moment, she said to Yuuki, ¡°I must¡¯ve fallen asleep. Mom¡¯s probably home now, so I¡¯ll head back.¡±
Her petite face revealed no emotion, and her soft voice betrayed no fluctuations. She climbed out of bed, put on her shoes at the entrance, and walked out the door.
Once the door closed, the calm expression on her face vanished. Her brows knitted together, her cheeks puffed out, and each step she took was firm and heavy. When she pressed the elevator button, her finger seemed intent on pushing it into the wall.
Arriving home, she opened the door to find her mother, Ibuki Honoka, sprawled on the floor clutching a bottle of wine, fast asleep. Yuko had no idea when she¡¯d returned.
Stepping over her mother¡¯s body, Yuko went into her bedroom to reflect on why her n had failed this time and to strategize for her next move.
She revised her list of threats, bumping Asano Nao above Chitose Kazumi. Then she began analyzing the two rivals again.Chitose Kazumi: Slightlycking in looks, close to Yuuki yet unmotivated, full of desire butcking the courage¡ªno real threat.
Asano Nao: Attractive butcking skill, an elder sister in name only, timid and spineless¡ªnot worth worrying about.
When it came to being Yuuki¡¯s wife, there was only one candidate: herself.
Having figured this out, Ibuki Yuko felt reassured. A minor setback wasn¡¯t worth fretting over. Looking toward the long road ahead, she was confident she would be the one toughst.
¡°Yuko! Yuko!¡±
Her mother¡¯s voice called out. Ibuki Yuko got up, walked into the living room, and helped the groggy woman sit up. She wiped her mother¡¯s face and tossed her onto the bed.
Looking down at the woman on the bed, a storm of emotions surged within her.
In her dreams, her mother had eventually married Nakajima Yohei, transforming back into a gentle and virtuous woman who became affectionate toward her again.
But her mother¡¯s change had nothing to do with her. It was all Nakajima Yohei¡¯s doing. Even the affection her mother showed wasn¡¯t for her; it was merely the overflow of love meant for her husband.
Only Yuuki truly loved her, and she truly loved him.
A n began to form in her mind.
In the dream, Yuuki had been the one to bring together Nakajima-sensei and her mother. If Yuuki could do it, so could she.
Once Nakajima-sensei and her mother were married, not only would she get rid of her mother as a troublesome obstacle, but she¡¯d also gain a closer connection to Yuuki¡ªshe¡¯d be the daughter of Yuuki¡¯s teacher.
At that point, she could leverage the favor she¡¯d done for Nakajima Yohei topel him to help her. As a homeroom teacher, Nakajima-sensei had considerable influence in the ss. If he agreed to use his position to her advantage, it would open up countless opportunities to get closer to Yuuki.
The more she thought about it, the more perfect the n seemed. Sacrificing one mother to gain Yuuki and the help of his homeroom teacher?
Totally worth it!
But how had Yuuki acted in the dream?
She needed to revisit the dream and investigate this detail further. After all, she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it before. First, though, a quick shower to prepare for bed.
Ibuki Yuko walked into the bathroom. To save time, she didn¡¯t fill the bathtub but sat on a small stool beside it, letting the shower¡¯s delicate streams of water cascade over her petite figure.
¡
Water streamed down his head and along his back, rinsing away the white foam of body wash.
Minami Yuuki stood up, picked up the showerhead, rinsed his front, and turned off the water.
Nakajima Reina¡¯s simtion was captivating, tugging at his thoughts. Foregoing a bath for a shower, he rushed to get back to bed as quickly as possible. ?§¡
The night wasn¡¯t particrly cold, so he wrapped himself in the bathroom¡¯s lingering warmth as he stepped into the hallway, putting on his pajamas.
As he pulled up his pants, a sudden sense of mncholy washed over him, and he lowered his head with a sigh.
A de with no battlefield.
Though he had the freedom to simte, illusion was ultimately just illusion.
No matter how many girls he had married, how many post-marriage lives he had lived, or how many daughters he had raised in the simtions, he was still untouched, a pure and innocent young man.
With a slight restlessness in his heart, hey down on the bed.
The sheets still carried the faint scent of Ibuki Yuko. Closing his eyes, he reimmersed himself in the simtion with Nakajima Reina.
¡ª
[You both stayed in the small town for another week. It wasn¡¯t the local scenery or culture that held you, but your mutual infatuation with each other.]
[It wasn¡¯t until Nakajima Reina needed to resume her routine checkups that you returned to Misaki.]
[Because her husband was attentive to your activities, Ibuki Honoka quickly took notice of the progression in your rtionship. Nakajima Reina¡¯s ¡°tools¡± had increased, and the Nakajima family only visited her during the day. The nights became exclusively yours.]
¡ª
[September. The second semester began. You attended the opening ceremony, where Chitose Kazumi was delighted to see you.]
[You visited the Asano household once or twice a week to check on Asano Nao. Although she was no longer as socially anxious, she still refused to go out. It was a matter of her personal philosophy¡ªher ambition in life was to stay at home, reading novels and manga and ying games. She had the means to live that way.]
[You often discussed Nakajima Reina with Asano Nao. Last year, a few days before you made the decision for her surgery, you had poured out your inner turmoil and anxiety to Nao, and she hadforted you.]
[You felt she was like a real older sister to you and often considered suggesting that your father adopt her as a foster daughter. But the thought remained shelved¡ªyour father was already worried enough about Nakajima Reina, and you didn¡¯t want to add to his burdens.]
¡ª
[In September, you began preparations for a trip to Hokkaido to see the snow andkes. You spent a considerable sum searching for a specialist in the relevant field to apany you to Yoshida Town.]
[The ideal candidate was Nakajima Reina¡¯s current attending physician. You had been inviting her for over a year, but she had always declined. She was advanced in age, highly aplished, and no longer swayed by money. In a capitalist society, money didn¡¯t always equal power. You thought that if you could leverage authority to negotiate with Misaki University Hospital, she might find it hard to refuse.]
[The second-best candidate was Nakajima Reina¡¯s former attending physician, a professor from Chigusa University Hospital. She epted your invitation and agreed to bring a medical team to Yoshida Town after the first snowfall, nning to stay there for a month.]
[You intended to spend New Year¡¯s in that small town with Nakajima Reina. If your parents, sister, and Nakajima Reina¡¯s family were willing, both families could celebrate the New Year together in Yoshida Town.]
¡ª
[In October, everything was arranged, and you were merely waiting for the first snow in Yoshida Town. Nakajima Reina was full of anticipation, and you took the opportunity to suggest various technical adjustments to her. Blushing, sheplied.]
¡ª
[In mid-November, the first snow fell in Yoshida Town, but Nakajima Reina¡¯s condition no longer permitted such a journey.]
[Starting in early November, her health began to deteriorate.]
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