"Another sudden set of choices?"
Kazami Haru glanced over the options in front of him, puzzled.
Something about them felt different this time. None of the choices looked particularly "strange," nor did they seem capable of drastically altering the course of the simulation.
It simply came down to one thing: whether or not to comfort Nijika.
Before becoming a couple with Nijika Ijichi, there had been plenty of ambiguous, even risky choices.
But these new options? They felt… ordinary.
No matter which one he chose, it didn't seem like it would have a major effect.
"Still, if there's a choice here, it must mean something."
Frowning, Haru stared at the screen and fell into thought.
First of all, the third option—"don't interfere"—was basically off the table.
Nijika was his girlfriend now. Ignoring her troubles would be irresponsible, and totally out of character for Haru.
That left only the first two options.
"Guess I should play it safe and pick the first one."
If Nijika was already feeling discouraged, and if this could shake her confidence, then Haru wanted to be her umbrella—just like always.
At the very least, he'd protect her passion for music.
[You chose to comfort and encourage Nijika, like you always do.]
[Nijika, who had been feeling a bit down, found her confidence again thanks to your words. She threw her arms around you, rubbing her head against your chest as if absorbing safety and warmth from your presence.]
[With her resolve restored, Nijika threw herself back into drumming. She made a firm decision: she would form a successful band and make it to Budokan, to complete the dream her sister Seika had left behind.]
[After summer passed, 16-year-old high schooler Nijika told you excitedly that she and a bassist named Ryo Yamada were forming a band.]
[Her bright, hopeful energy, her sweet shyness when alone with you, every side of her made you fall for her all over again.]
[They named the band Kessoku Band (Zip Tie Band).]
[While you expected Nijika and Ryo to team up, recruiting other members proved unexpectedly difficult. One runaway vocalist, and a lead guitarist who performed with a paper bag over her head, these mishaps made the process bumpy.]
[Still, despite the chaos, the band was officially formed. Through this, you also got to meet the rest of Kessoku Band.]
[They were surprised that the energetic and sunny Ijichi-senpai already had a boyfriend. When they learned you'd been childhood friends, they looked both shocked and incredibly jealous.]
[Nijika was shy about public displays of affection, but with your support, she began to open up, allowing you to hug her for "energy recharge" in front of others, and even occasionally teasing you with some flustered, slightly naughty talk.]
[She'd often sneak you snacks during class, always picking your favorite flavors. She even used her allowance to buy your favorite chocolate swirls from that specific shop.]
[Time passed. Nearly a month after its formation, Kessoku Band was about to hold their debut live performance.]
[Though Nijika was upbeat and encouraging to her bandmates, that night she collapsed softly into your arms in your room, murmuring about her anxiety and fear. You gently stroked her head, offering reassurance.]
[Later that evening, Nijika stared up at you, her cheeks faintly red. There was something vulnerable and longing in her gaze. You could tell, she wanted to take your relationship a step further.]
[So you decided—]
[1. Say yes.]
[2. Say no.]
[3. Virtual Reality: play it out yourself.]
A special choice?
Kazami Haru's brow tightened in real life.
He hadn't expected a pivotal option like this now.
A key moment like this demanded a careful decision. Without hesitation, Haru chose instinctively—
"Refuse."
A man who gets swept away by lust… is a fool.
Letting things progress naturally was the right way to deepen their bond, not making a rash decision in a moment of impulse. Nijika was nervous about tomorrow's debut. Getting too close now might mess with her body or mind for the big day.
No matter what, he had to put Nijika's wellbeing first.
[You gently told Nijika that now wasn't the right time, and that you'd celebrate together properly once the live was over. You comforted her with warmth and patience.]
[Nijika agreed. She admitted she was scared, but then flashed you a brilliant, confident smile and promised she'd succeed.]
[Feeling loved and reassured, she asked to simply sleep beside you tonight. With a radiant smile, she told you to be ready for your reward after the concert tomorrow.]
[Seeing her cheerful energy again helped ease your worries.]
[To her, everything felt perfectly in place.]
Looks like I made the right choice.
The tension in Haru's chest finally started to ease.
Refusing was clearly the best option for Nijika, for their future. But that final line from the simulator left him unsettled.
"To her, everything felt perfectly in place."
What… does that even mean?
The unease in Haru's chest stirred again, but he pushed the thoughts aside. Speculating wouldn't help. He should just focus on what came next in the simulation and see if his gut feeling was right.
[As an Impressionist painter, your emotions had shifted due to your relationship. You stayed up late, channeling your feelings into a new landscape painting. A breathtaking night sky glittering with stars—you titled it "Starlit Skies."]
[You gave the painting to Nijika as a gift. She knew how rare and valuable your works were, and initially refused to take it. But at your insistence, she finally agreed, and hung it in her room.]
[Kessoku Band's debut performance was set for today at STARRY.]
[It happened to rain heavily in Shimokitazawa, casting a gloom over the venue. The audience was sparse, just a few scattered guests.]
[You had even turned down an interview from a top art magazine to be here, watching her perform up close. You sensed the tension in the air, the rain had made everyone anxious.]
[Worried about your girlfriend, you stopped by the green room to cheer her on. Nijika beamed at your encouragement, flashing her trademark toothy smile and saying, "I've totally got this!"]
[She wanted you to see her, glowing proudly on stage.]
[But you could still feel the fear hiding behind her brightness.]
[The performance began. New guitarist Ikuyo Kita messed up the intro, though she recovered quickly. Her slightly trembling voice betrayed her nerves. Even bassist Ryo Yamada made some mistakes.]
[The first song's rhythm threw Nijika off. She started breathing heavily. As the drummer, the band's foundation, her slips in tempo made her panic.]
[The harder she tried, the more her mistakes stood out.]
[And since the drummer sets the rhythm, her errors threw off the entire band. Even lead guitarist Hitori Gotoh tried her best to save it, but it wasn't enough.]
Kessoku Band's debut live… ended in failure.
…
"I'm sorry, it was all my fault…"
The blond girl in a sea-green jacket pressed her palms together, apologizing with a soft, regretful smile to the rest of Kessoku Band.
But behind her gentle tone was a sadness she couldn't quite hide.
"Nijika-chan, are you okay?"
Even Hitori Gotoh could tell, Nijika Ijichi wasn't alright.
Even the always gentle and sunny Nijika Ijichi, at this moment, had a faint dimness clouding her usually cheerful smile.
"No, really—it's fine! But the problems in today's performance were mostly my fault, so don't worry about it too much!"
She waved her hand with a bright grin, pretending nothing was wrong.
"This wasn't your fault at all, Ijichi-senpai! As the vocalist, I was the one who messed up the most!"
"My guitar playing was all over the place, and I kept singing off-key…"
Ikuyo Kita squeezed her eyes shut, her voice trembling slightly.
But when even Nijika, usually the one best at comforting others was apologizing, it left the usually stone-faced Ryo Yamada glancing silently in Haru's direction with a subtle, meaningful nod.
"Well, it's okay! Everyone go home and get a good rest. We'll hold a proper reflection meeting later!"
"Let's practice hard and make sure the next live is a success!"
Nijika clenched her small fists and spoke to her bandmates with a smile.
After all, she was the leader of this band.
Seeing everyone else feeling so down, she couldn't allow herself to show unease or negativity in front of them. She had to be the one to hold everyone together.
"Let's do our best!"
She raised her fist with a big, cheerful grin, her light seemed to push back the surrounding gloom.
Seeing this, Ikuyo Kita, who had been on the verge of tears, managed a small nod in Nijika's direction. With a little encouragement from Bocchi, she quietly left.
"Ryo, you should head back too. It'll be bad if the rain picks up again."
Ryo, bass on her back, saw the smile on Nijika's face and decided not to say anything. She turned and left in silence, though before walking off, she threw one last glance Haru's way.
"Whew…"
Nijika let out a long sigh and turned to Haru, the corners of her lips still upturned.
But Haru was the only one who noticed—her fingers, behind her back, were trembling.
[You sense how deeply Nijika Ijichi is hurting. As her boyfriend, you know you can't ignore it. So without hesitation, you step forward and gently pull her into a hug.]
[That simple gesture, soft and warm, instantly breaks through her defenses.]
[Her face presses into your chest as she begins to sob softly. Her tears soak into your shirt.]
[It takes quite a while before she calms down. Then, with a brave smile, she wipes her eyes and insists she's fine now, trying to act as cheerful as usual.]
[But that forced brightness only deepens your worry.]
[Time passes.]
[She begins to cancel your dates more often. Every time you visit the Ijichi house, you see her practicing drums intensely. The next time you meet, her palms are chafed and bandaged, but she's still smiling mischievously, a chocolate stick between her lips.]
[Perhaps it's the overload of training, but she starts making more and more mistakes during band practice and each time, it increases her pressure.]
[Whenever you suggest she take it easy, she just laughs and insists she's totally fine.]
[But deep down, you know—Nijika is feeling lost. Anxious.]
"This is bad…"
In reality, Haru furrowed his brows.
He hadn't expected things to turn out like this.
He had assumed this whole simulation, the Great Angel Nijika route was just a smooth, rewarding bonus stage.
Who could have guessed the real danger… would appear after they became a couple?
Right now, Nijika was in a precarious state.
If he didn't do something soon, all his progress in this simulation might end up being for nothing.
No more pointless speculation, Haru focused back in.
[As her family, Seika Ijichi had noticed something was wrong. Though she played it cool with a cold tone, the truth was she cared deeply about her sister.]
[She believed it was time to give Nijika a bit of a reality check.]
[But her words hadn't gotten through. So Seika came to you directly.]
[She believed that, as Nijika's boyfriend and childhood friend, you were the one Nijika trusted most and the only one who might reach her.]
[You agreed with Seika, but now had to decide how to approach Nijika.]
[You chose—]
[1. Keep comforting and praising her like always.]
[2. Change things up: give her a firm but caring reality check.]
[3. Take her out to change the mood—it might help more than words.]
[4. Virtual Reality: test it yourself.]
As expected—a major choice.
This one clearly mattered. It might decide the fate of this whole simulation.
Haru had to be serious.
He could immediately rule out the third option. A distraction wouldn't solve what was clearly a deeper issue.
That left the first two—
"How should I approach this?"
Haru went quiet.
Each of these choices had weight. He needed to think carefully.
Option one seemed the safer bet—rebuilding her confidence with warmth and encouragement.
Option two was closer to Seika's method: a wake-up call, something Nijika wasn't used to from him.
He'd already chosen reassurance many times in this run. But that had also led to Nijika becoming more and more emotionally dependent on him.
Maybe… a gentle scolding would push her to stand on her own.
But after long thought, Haru still chose the first option.
Even if Seika wanted Nijika to feel a bit of pressure, Haru still believed in the Nijika he knew. If he gave her enough support, she would rise again on her own.
[After Seika's encouragement, you decide to have a heartfelt talk with Nijika.]
[Lately, she's looked pale. When you ask to speak with her privately, she gives you a tired but happy smile and agrees.]
[Just like always, she clutches the stuffed animal you gave her as she sits carefully beside you.]
[You notice the worry in her eyes, she's nervous about what you might say. The vulnerability tugs at your heart, and you pull her gently into your arms.]
...
"Nijika… I think you need to rest for a bit."
As Haru held her close, the delicate girl squeezed back tightly. Her pale-gold hair, so soft it felt unreal, shimmered under the warm lamplight.
"No way. I know my limits."
She whispered, eyes half-closed in embarrassed contentment.
His scent was intoxicating. The closer she got, the harder it was to pull away. If not for her sister dragging her home each night, she could've slept like this every day.
"You don't have to push so hard. What happened last time was just nerves. If you calm down next time, everything will be fine."
Haru's gentle concern made Nijika suddenly feel… guilty.
He'd always taken care of her, ever since they were kids. No matter what went wrong, he'd be there to fix it and she had to do nothing. Just sit back and enjoy being loved.
Wasn't that… kind of unfair?
Even the confession, it had been him, not her.
She never confessed because she was afraid, afraid she wasn't good enough.
And now… if someone better came along, would Haru leave her?
Just imagining that possibility made her nose sting.
The reason she'd wanted to get closer the other night was fear. He'd seen right through it.
When it came down to it… did someone like her really deserve to be loved by him?
Their love, suddenly felt unbalanced.
...
[Nijika Ijichi hugged the stuffed toy tighter, a hint of sorrow clouding her expression.]
[You noticed that Nijika Ijichi was growing more and more depressed. Flustered, you tried to comfort her, but surprisingly, Nijika quickly returned to her usual energetic self with a bright smile.]
[She began taking her training even more seriously. Even at night, she carved out time to practice drums and rhythm. You realized it was starting to take a toll on her body, and asked her to rest.]
[But when you asked her to slow down, Nijika froze.]
[The closer she got to you, the more she felt the overwhelming gap between you.]
[So wide, it felt hopeless.]
[One day, when you gently suggested she stop practicing for a bit, Nijika, crushed by frustration and sadness, suddenly stood up and ran out of your house crying.]
[She even dropped the plushie you'd given her. The whole situation happened so fast, you couldn't react.]
[Faced with her sudden escape, you had to decide—]
[1. Go after her—you can't let her run off alone.]
[2. Don't chase her—she needs space to calm down.]
[3. Call someone else to keep an eye on her.]
[4. Virtual Reality: experience it yourself.]
"Nijika ran away?"
Even Haru in the real world was caught off guard, just like his simulated self.
He genuinely didn't expect that his comforting would trigger Nijika's emotional collapse.
Just thinking about it left Haru numb. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and steadied himself before reopening them, fully determined.
There was no time for hesitation, he had to chase her.
[You immediately decided to go after her.]
[You caught up with Nijika, who seemed paralyzed by her own emotions, her eyes red and lost. After a moment of standoff, her feelings finally calmed, and she hugged you tightly with a sorrowful smile.]
"Haru… I think I need to go home and cool off for a bit…"
[Hearing her hoarse voice from crying made your heart ache, but you knew you had to avoid pushing her further, so you walked her home, waving goodbye at her door just like always.]
[But things don't always go the way we hope.]
[The next time you saw Nijika, she looked just like before, radiant and cheerful. However, you could feel it… she was different. More focused. More distant.]
[Maybe because of that incident, Nijika truly realized the gap between you.]
[A world-class Impressionist genius and… someone who messed up her debut live. The difference between you felt like heaven and earth.]
[To her, it was like reaching for the sun—too warm, too far, too dangerous. No matter how much she yearned for your warmth, she kept getting burned.]
[After a long period of contemplation, Nijika met with you again.]
[She broke up with you.]
[She said she was too immature. That she'd been like delicate glass, only protected by your careful shelter. She knew she wasn't worthy to stand beside you yet.]
[She never once blamed you, only herself.]
[She promised that once she became truly worthy, she'd return to your side, head held high.]
Time passed—
[You studied abroad, immersing yourself in art. With your unmatched talent and relentless dedication, you became one of the greatest artists in the world. But fame and fortune meant nothing to you.]
[Alone, in your final moments, all you could recall was one thing—]
[That bright, cheerful girl flashing her toothy smile. Her sunny energy, her blushing face, that golden ponytail shining like sunlight—]
[This was your most precious memory.]
Simulation complete.
Score: 39 [Poor]
Evaluation: Like the sun, she was warm and radiant, but beneath your protective wings, she became fragile. You tied a thread of fate between you, but couldn't hold onto its fruit. Even though others saw you as a perfect first love… your sweet, tender bond ended just one breath away.
Reward: New romance route unlocked — Nijika Ijichi
Simulations remaining: 4
Staring at the glaring red score, Kazami Haru felt like his stomach had been twisted into knots.
He gasped for breath, trying to escape the crushing weight of regret.
To be dumped… by Nijika mama of all people…
That just couldn't happen.
At the very least, not until ten years after I'm dead!
"This ending… I can't accept it."
The memory echoed in his mind, making his chest tighten, his breath shallow.
Nijika's route, the one that was supposed to be smoothest, most perfect had ended in failure and not just a normal failure. A brutally harsh, heart-wrenching one.
They had already become a couple. He'd imagined a perfect future: graduation, marriage, three kids…
But then this?
He looked back at the choices he had made:
[1. Go after her—you can't let her run off alone.]
[2. Don't chase her—she needs space to calm down.]
[3. Call someone else to keep an eye on her.]
[4. Virtual Reality: experience it yourself.]
The first option seemed like the obvious, correct answer. But it had led to total collapse.
Clearly… Nijika herself had a deeper issue.
"I used the Random Identity Card this time, and the simulation is completely different."
Haru calmed himself and started thinking carefully.
This Nijika… wasn't like the real one.
In the real world, Nijika had lost her mother in childhood. That sorrow made her strong. That pain gave birth to the energetic, radiant, unshakable "Saint Nijika" who inspired others.
But the simulated Nijika had never experienced that loss. Instead, she had always been protected, by him.
And that made her fragile.
When something finally went wrong… she couldn't stand back up.
"This is bad. This is all on me."
"Total boomerang, backfired hard."
He had sheltered Nijika too well. Now, she'd grown soft and dependent. And being so gentle with others, she took on all the blame when the band struggled.
Her guilt… combined with her overwork… was a dangerous mix.
This pain... It hit harder than even the worst simulation he'd ever played.
Even when he died in that one… it wasn't this bad.
Letting Nijika suffer like this hurt far more than death.
Might as well just have that dump truck from Kita's bad ending run him over again.
[Start new simulation?]
"There's still a chance—"
Haru hesitated, then looked at the simulator interface.
[You still have enough revive tokens. If that's the case…]
He slowly closed his eyes to calm his mind.
No matter what—he had to change this ending.
[Continue from last checkpoint?]
Simulations remaining: 3
One revive token used. Haru now had three chances left—exactly enough to initiate a virtual reality sim.
Last time he used it… he got wrecked by a dump truck.
If these three tries failed… there'd be no second chances.
But looking at the remaining options, "Don't chase" and "Notify others", neither felt like they'd solve anything.
So this time, he'd go all in.
All or nothing.
- - -
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