After a lunch break that could generously be called "acquaintance-making" with Hitori Gotou, Kazami Haru returned to the classroom and re-entered simulation mode.
...
[Faced with Yamada Ryo's sincere request, you followed your heart and agreed to help. You vaguely noticed a subtle change in the way she looked at you, but upon closer inspection, it seemed like it might have just been your imagination.]
[The impromptu band performance with Yamada Ryo featured your full effort. Though the result was barely passable, it was enough to make Ijichi Nijika deeply grateful. She even invited you to join the band, which you accepted.]
[Your relationship with Yamada Ryo deepened.]
[Your relationship with Ijichi Nijika also deepened.]
Looks like that choice worked out well. As expected, his bond with Yamada Ryo grew stronger. What surprised Kazami Haru, though, was that his relationship with Nijika, who wasn't even a romance option, also progressed.
Could there really be a cheating option later?
Anyway, by agreeing to Yamada Ryo's request, his simulated self naturally ended up joining the band as their keyboardist, another consequence of that choice.
Whether that was good or bad for the simulation was still uncertain.
[The band you joined was named "Kessoku Band," and later, they welcomed a new member: Kita Ikuyo.]
[With your help, the fledgling band gradually adapted, forming bonds like threads connecting each member.]
[Your musical instincts were excellent. Most of the compositions were created in collaboration with Yamada Ryo, the two of you developing an unspoken rhythm together.]
[Kita Ikuyo, who managed the band's social media accounts, often used promotional excuses to invite you out. Nijika, as the responsible and diligent leader, always took everything seriously, but you started to feel like she was subtly nudging you toward Yamada Ryo.]
[Your bond with all the Kessoku Band members deepened.]
[Though you got along well with everyone, your connection with Yamada-san grew particularly close. Going out together to hunt for tasty, cheap restaurants in Shimokitazawa became your new routine.]
[This sparked curiosity among the other band members about your relationship.]
[Finally, after a live show in your second year of high school, during the band's afterparty, Kita Ikuyo couldn't resist probing you about it under the festive atmosphere.]
[Even if it was couched in jokes and roundabout phrasing, to two emotionally perceptive people like you and Yamada Ryo, it was as transparent as glass.]
…
"Haru~ you're super popular with girls at school, right? I feel like every week I see some girl stuffing a love letter into your shoe locker. Now that we're in our second year, are you still not planning to date anyone?"
"Or is there someone you like already?! Who is it, who is it?"
"Could it be someone from Kessoku Band?"
As a bona fide social butterfly, Kita Ikuyo was quite good at indirectly probing for key information and everyone present had more or less noticed something, there was an unspoken awareness of the growing connection between Ryo and Haru.
Ironically, the most socially anxious of them all, Bocchi, was also the most observant.
But because of her intense social anxiety, even if she picked up on a lot, she remained as silent as a Mission-locked monster in a game, terrified that saying something would bring disaster.
"Ahaha… Kita-chan, that's a little too personal, don't you think?"
Nijika, ever the gentle soul, didn't want to push anyone into saying things they didn't want to.
In her heart, if two people really got to that point, they would tell everyone directly, they wouldn't try to hide it.
"I'm really sorry, Haru-san! I didn't mean anything bad!"
Kita lowered her head pitifully. She regretted blurting it out almost immediately, even she felt it was a bit inappropriate.
But the question had been clawing at her heart like a cat's paw.
What was the real deal between the Ryo-senpai she liked and Kazami Haru, whom she admired just as much? The thought kept circling in her head.
Yamada Ryo's beautiful eyes seemed to shimmer faintly, her pretty face flushed red from a bit of alcohol.
Unlike the serene blue snowflake Haru had first seen in her, now she looked like a rich and regal balsam flower.
Normally, once Ryo had a drink, she'd ramble on about all sorts of bizarre, meaningless things.
But now, she was even quieter than usual. She didn't respond to the question at all. She just stared at him, those deep, enchanting golden eyes fixed on his face.
She was waiting, for his answer.
PIC[1]:
[Kita Ikuyo's curiosity hangs in the air. Everyone knows what she's really asking. Yamada Ryo doesn't speak. Instead, she turns her gaze to you, her silence urging you to respond.]
[So you decide—]
[1. Face it head-on and confess your feelings for Ryo.]
[2. Say nothing and brush the topic aside.]
[3. Wait for confirmation of Ryo's feelings before acting.]
[4. Virtual reality simulation—run it.]
One moment, he was just deepening his bond with Yamada-san like always, and the next, the simulator threw him into a major turning point.
Even without thinking, Kazami Haru knew how important this choice was.
Whichever option he picked would directly shape the outcome of the simulation.
This was one of those special choices that had to be taken seriously, even someone like Kazami, who'd been treating things like a joke, now paused to think.
Option one—go all in, carried real risk.
After all, he didn't yet know how Yamada-san felt about him. Was she really interested?
Or did she just see him as a close friend?
As for option two—no way.
From both a rational and emotional standpoint, and even just his personality, if things had come this far, he wasn't the type to run away.
Then there was option three, a safe stall tactic.
More cautious, less awkward, but still a kind of evasion in Haru's eyes.
"Logically, I shouldn't rush things."
But he wasn't being logical. So Kazami Haru chose to go all in.
[1] https://imgur.com/FedLKik