(Music Rec: Grisaia no Kajitsu OST - 4 - The Town Where You Are)
....
[You were surprised by Nijika Ijichi's sudden request, but this time, you could clearly see she had no hesitation in her heart. She truly wanted to take the next step with you, so this time you didn't refuse her.]
[With care and mutual understanding, you both stepped forward, ascending the staircase of your relationship.]
[You couldn't have asked for a deeper connection. Still, you hesitated to give it your all, cautious with the girl you cherished, but sweet and perceptive as ever, Nijika noticed your restraint and, blushing furiously, she offered to help "compose a new arrangement" in her own way.]
...
A light freshness lingered in the air. Soft morning sunlight filtered gently through thin curtains, tinting the room in a delicate, painterly warmth. The sunlight brushed against the potted plant on the windowsill, making its leaves appear a more vivid green, alive with summer's breath.
Under the golden light, the soft bedding exuded comfort and warmth. Kazami Haru slowly opened his dark eyes, now fully awake. As his vision cleared, he was greeted by the peaceful, radiant sleeping face of the girl beside him.
Her golden hair, like sunbeams made real, spread gracefully across the pillow. The silky strands shimmered in the light, their edges etched in gentle halos. A quiet smile curled at her lips, and Haru's gaze naturally softened.
"Should I mess with her a little?"
He said it playfully, but the mischief was already underway.
Unable to resist, Haru poked her slightly chubby cheek with his finger, then leaned in and gave her a quick, feather-light kiss.
Nijika's long lashes fluttered, but she didn't react. A faint blush spread quickly across her cheeks, all the way to her ears, catching the light and glowing delicately.
She was definitely awake. Just pretending and Haru's mischief only grew.
"W-wait! Cut it out!"
Startled, Nijika suddenly opened her vivid red eyes.
"Geez… waking me up first thing in the morning. I wanted to sleep more…"
"Says the one who clung to me all night and wouldn't let me sleep."
Smiling, Haru pulled her into his arms.
Her petite frame instantly turned into a warm, soft human pillow. She struggled, pouting, but ultimately gave in and rested against him.
[Now that you and Nijika have truly become a couple, she finally came to understand her own feelings.]
[Even though you would always choose to support her without question, she realized running away wouldn't help. She didn't want to just be the one receiving your care.]
[She wanted to become someone you could lean on too.]
[After a few days of rest, Nijika returned to training, but this time, her mindset had completely changed. The grueling practice she'd put in had laid a solid foundation, and with you supporting her, she grew stronger and more confident.]
[Your injured left arm healed after treatment, but the doctor's warning about aftereffects wasn't just empty talk. When you tried to grip your pen, your wrist couldn't apply pressure like before.]
[This had a clear impact on your painting, and your once-refined techniques began to falter. You didn't tell anyone, but you hesitated when it came to telling her.]
[Before you could, Nijika, your childhood friend who had always watched over you, noticed.]
[Nothing about you could escape her eyes.]
[Realizing your dominant hand was permanently affected, Nijika cried in your arms for a long time. Her love for you seemed even deeper than your own pain.]
"Our future is tied together!"
[A child who never learns to ask for help can't grow strong.]
[Now determined, Nijika wanted you to rely on her. In fact, nothing made her happier than being the one you leaned on. Every time you came to her for support, she became as gentle and loving as a mother, solving every problem with warmth.]
[Now, she was just like the you from before.]
[You realized your roles had quietly reversed.]
[With her help, you decided to switch your dominant hand.]
As the simulation text flickered, waves of memory flooded back into Haru's mind.
Stars shimmered faintly in the indigo sky. The moon cast its pale glow like a gossamer veil, draping softly across the boy's focused, serious face.
Nijika sat on a little stool, watching her boyfriend draw with rapt attention.
She'd seen this scene countless times over the years.
But this was the first time she'd seen Haru use his right hand to draw. The left hand, once as magical as a painter's wand, was resting. The right hand carved out emotion stroke by stroke.
Under the quiet sky, time seemed to stand still. The only sound was the brush gliding across paper—sha… sha…
It felt like they were the only two people in the world.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Haru asked, smirking.
His sudden words startled Nijika.
She stammered, trying to explain, but remembered how he always teased her when she got flustered. Not wanting to lose, she smirked.
"I'm looking at you because I love you~"
"…Did I make you blush, Haru?"
Seeing him go quiet for a second, she puffed up with pride.
Haru's pen moved again, the lines flowing smoothly.
Then, with a teasing smile—
"Nijika, I want to hear you confess to me."
"E-eh?!"
She froze.
Before she could process, Haru put on a pitiful look and pushed further.
"Didn't Nijika say she'd support anything I wanted if I kept painting?"
"Of course I will!" she blurted, face red as a tomato.
Then, summoning all her courage, she leaned in and whispered something softly into Haru's ear.
But he just gave her a look—playful, amused.
The gentle sway of his head made her realize…
He was teasing her for whispering.
The nerve!
Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was just the two of them alone, but her head felt like it was going to explode.
Flustered beyond belief, Nijika stood beside Haru, took a deep breath—and shouted:
"Haru! I love you!!"
"I've loved you ever since we met ten years ago!"
"…And?"
"I want to marry you after graduation! And live with you forever! I'll even have as many kids as you want!!"
She said it all in one breath, face blazing.
Then, she noticed Haru's eyes drifting past her.
She turned around—
Her mom and Seika were standing behind her.
Smiling.
Watching everything.
Nijika's brain crashed instantly.
Meanwhile, Haru just chuckled quietly and painted a shooting star across the canvas behind them.
---
[Perhaps because she had tasted its sweetness, Ijichi Nijika grew bolder by the day.]
[Your 'honeymoon phase' with her seemed endless. Every weekend, she would blush and stay over at your place, leaving only the next morning to go to school together. Over time, your home became stocked with her personal belongings—towels, utensils, a toothbrush, and more.]
[Mrs. Ijichi often sighed in worry at her eldest daughter, Ijichi Seika. Despite the nearly twelve-year gap between her and her little sister Nijika, it seemed likely that by the time Nijika's child was in elementary school, Seika would still be unmarried.]
[An injury to your dominant hand led the art world to declare the 'fall of a genius.' Countless media outlets feasted on your downfall, proclaiming the youngest impressionist painter had met his ruin, all while greedily devouring the spectacle for clicks.]
[Every time Nijika saw these articles, she'd puff up in anger, on the verge of tears, but you reassured her, there was no need to care.]
[If everyone lived like heroes in manga, the world wouldn't function.]
[You had fallen from the pedestal of a flawless genius artist, yet perhaps because of her unwavering support, the art of 'love' in your heart began to take tangible form. Even your past self couldn't compare to the heights you now reached.]
[At eighteen, you unveiled your first new piece in two years, 'Waning Moon'. A stark departure from the warmth of 'color' and 'light' in your earlier works, it radiated serenity and detachment, as if your brushstrokes were mocking the hollow, artificial world.]
['Waning Moon', a piece surpassing even your past mastery, earned the prestigious Laguna International Art Prize. Once again, your name echoed across the world.]
[This time, however, no media dared to analyze the profound meaning of this painting.]
[By now, Ijichi Nijika had blossomed into a stunning beauty. Though her figure hadn't changed much, her grace and charm had matured. Even as a high schooler, she carried the warmth and diligence of a devoted wife, her smile alone could inspire boundless energy.]
[Every day, she prepared lovingly crafted 'wife's lunches,' attuned to your every need. If she sensed fatigue, she'd draw you a warm bath and cook lighter flavors for dinner. Whenever you painted, she'd watch with a gentle smile.]
[Even during band practice, she'd redden with effort, pouring her heart into everything for you.]
[From her friend Yamada Ryo, she'd picked up proper musical knowledge. Though shy, she'd finish every meal you cooked, sometimes even cutely asking for seconds to 'practice.']
[You realized, you couldn't imagine life without her.]
Countless simulated memories flooded Kazami Haru's mind.
Even as fragments, the sheer intensity of 'love-struck' Nijika was overwhelming.
The girl who once nestled in his arms had now ensnared 'him' in her warmth and energy.
The words ''can't live without her'' weren't an exaggeration.
At this point, even Kazami Haru doubted he could resist such devotion in reality.
No, he definitely couldn't.
In every sense of the word.
[After two years of polishing their sound, Kessoku Band had risen to fame while still in high school. With your help, they secured a record deal, their songs featured in major anime openings and endings. Their CDs sold out instantly.]
[As a rising star, they were invited to perform at the legendary live house 'Rainy', fulfilling Nijika's dream of walking the path her sister once dreamed of. This time, she'd face it without fear.]
[That night, Kessoku Band delivered a performance so electrifying it went viral as an MV, their Twitter followers soaring past hundreds of thousands.]
[Next stop, Budokan.]
[Together, you built a staircase of love, lifting each other toward your dreams.]
[At just eighteen, prestigious international art universities and associations courted you as an honorary professor. Yet you declined, choosing instead to walk an ordinary college life hand-in-hand with her.]
[At twenty, Kessoku Band, now at the peak of Japan's music scene, received their Budokan invitation. Music magazines hailed it as destiny fulfilled.]
[On the cusp of her dream, Nijika clung to her sister Seika and wept for hours.]
[Through perseverance and your unwavering support, she'd conquered every obstacle. As cheers roared from tens of thousands, her drumsticks, held for decades, struck the opening beat.]
[She had made it.]
[At twenty-three, you married Ijichi Nijika.]
[News of the prodigy artist's wedding exploded across media. When fans learned your fiancée was your childhood friend, envy and blessings poured in. Kessoku Band rode the wave to viral fame.]
[No one in the band or even the Ijichi family, was surprised. To them, this was inevitable. Had you two eloped with a child first, they'd have shrugged.]
[Your Western-style wedding was held in a quaint chapel, attended only by close friends and family.]
[In her white dress, Nijika glowed like a golden angel bathed in snow. Clutching the white roses you'd grown, her ruby eyes shimmered as you knelt with a ring. Her radiant smile was the happiest you'd ever seen.]
[She tossed her bouquet, tradition said whoever caught it would marry next. Seika, poised to intercept, barely grazed it before the roses arced magically back into Nijika's hands.]
[You chuckled. Guess you'd have to marry her again.]
[That same day, you moved into your cozy new home.]
[Kita Ikuyo preemptively set up a nursery, while Gotoh Hitori tearfully gifted a week-long Hawaiian honeymoon. Yamada Ryo, ever deadpan, presented twenty different bass guitars.]
["When you have a kid," she said solemnly, "they 'must' learn bass."]
[Once alone, the golden angel in white, still clutching her roses, peered up at you shyly.]
[No words were needed.]
---
The small villa had settled into quiet comfort, bathed in warm orange light. Dressed in a loose white shirt, the red ribbon still tied around her slender neck, the girl nestled in Kazami Haru's arms as they watched TV.
"Hey, Haru…"
"Tsk tsk. Shouldn't you call me something else now?"
He pulled her closer. Nijika had practiced this moment countless times in secret, yet now, her heart raced faster than before any live performance.
A blush bloomed on her cheeks.
Steeling herself, she turned, her crimson eyes, bright as pigeon's blood, glistening with emotion.
"…Darling?"
PIC: Nijika[1]
Kazami Haru inhaled sharply.
[None of the 'preparations' Nijika made for the night were used. You showered together repeatedly, never once closing your eyes. Only by the third day did you finally tidy the disheveled house.]
[Before marriage, your paintings had already earned prestigious awards, selling for hundreds of thousands. Financial security let you focus entirely on her dreams.]
[Then, during your honeymoon, a miracle arrived.]
[Kazami Nijika was pregnant.]
[The Ijichi family mobilized instantly. Even Seika, perpetually busy with the livehouse, rushed over. Mrs. Ijichi stayed up all night in excitement.]
[But no one was more nervous than you.]
[You spared no expense for her health. If Nijika was once your princess, she was now your life. She noticed your efforts, soothing your stress in her own ways.]
[Time passed—]
[Your daughter, Kazami Himari, was born.]
[The thirty-something, childless Seika fumbled through babysitting, while Mrs. Ijichi scolded her clumsiness, relegating her to grocery runs.]
'Huh. That name feels familiar.'
Kazami Haru's brow arched slightly.
No matter which wife he married, the children he gave birth to were always daughters.
A strange 'fate,' but not unwelcome. If anything, doting on a daughter sounded perfect.
'Though at this rate, Seika's gonna retire single. Guess Himari'll have to take care of her.'
[Kazami Himari grew up adorable, her refined aura befitting a young lady of privilege.]
[She inherited her mother's delicate features and her father's allure. Athleticism came from Nijika's drumming days. She excelled in sports, though academics proved trickier.]
[You expected spoiling might make her bratty, but she defied expectations, cheerful and down-to-earth, with no trace of arrogance.]
[At eight, her musical talent emerged. Though skilled with instruments, she preferred singing. With parents who cooked well, she could whip up a four-dish meal by ten.]
[You assumed she'd follow Nijika's musical path or your artistry. Instead, she fell in love with anime and manga, aspiring to be a voice actor.]
[You and Nijika supported her. Your wealth meant she didn't need fame. (Though her moving out someday wouldn't hurt.)]
[At voice-acting school, Himari landed major roles instantly. Versatile in a dozen vocal ranges, she became a singing 'seiyuu idol.']
[Fatherhood reshaped your art. New works like 'Sunflower' and 'Sea of Blossoms' radiated warmth, moving viewers to tears with their joy.]
[Your evolving style earned titles like 'Grandmaster of Art' and 'Living Legend.' Novels chronicling your life sold globally.]
[The boy genius, the fall, the resurgence through love. Your legacy inspired countless artists.]
[Years later, you and Nijika often sat in your garden, surrounded by flowers you'd planted. Even aged, you clung to each other like lovestruck teens.]
[As time claimed Nijika's vitality, you held her hands, just as you had decades ago on that summer day.]
[You vowed to paint no more, but first, one final piece.]
[Museums housed your masterpieces, yet you'd never painted the one who mattered most. Until now.]
[You know, you were not qualified before]
[You once again raised the 'dominant hand' that had changed only because of her, and carefully painted the warmest colors in your heart bit by bit. Sitting in the garden, you seemed to have a kind smile in your eyes]
[This is your first portrait, and also your last]
[The erosion of time has not buried your painting skills that you have honed until now. Your right hand, which has created countless works, holds the brush firmly. Every moment is integrated into the story between you and her. You and her, who is as gentle as the sun, must go hand in hand. Every bit of your time with her is engraved in your mind.]
[Until the last stroke of the paintbrush in your hand, you are very clear that your life has been extremely fulfilled at this moment. Feeling that time has stopped, you contentedly place the paintbrush that you have held for a lifetime in front of you.]
[As the brush lifted, you knew your life was complete. The Alexander Lucci Prize hailed it as a historic masterpiece, the highest award in the world of painting, which is known as the Nobel Prize in the painting world. It is also regarded as an indispensable collection in the long river of history and is forever engraved in time.]
[Perhaps no matter how many years have passed, countless scholars who are obsessed with art will be extremely shocked when they see this painting, because this is a masterpiece left by a master]
[In the picture of this work, there seems to be an extremely ordinary blonde girl, looking at the world with her gentle eyes, and her face is smiling like a flower]
[This legendary work is called 'Summer.']
[Simulation End]
---
- - -
If you want to read up to 50 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit
our patron: pat reon . com / Loverice929 (remove space)
[1] https://imgur.com/yIImb1J