3:00 PM —
Classes for the day were over. It was now time for students to freely participate in club activities.
But Kazami Haru had little interest in those so-called clubs.
He always had things to do after school, making him an important member of the "Go-Home Club."
"Sigh…"
"It's all my fault. My overwhelming charm… this is what it leads to."
Now completely detached from the simulation, Haru let out a long sigh. Indeed, being too attractive could be a curse. Without realizing it, Nijika's feelings had shifted from friendship to something else.
It seemed his natural excellence was more alluring than he thought.
"If I ever get the chance to run a Nijika romance simulation, I'll make sure to make it up to her properly."
Watching the schoolyard slowly empty, Haru sat up and stretched his stiff back.
Having kept the same posture while immersed in the simulation, his arm had gone completely numb.
His first simulation had gone incredibly smoothly, almost suspiciously so.
From meeting Miss Yamada to all those bizarre choices that turned friendship into love, he felt luck had played a big role.
And maybe, just maybe, it was because Ryo-san's thought process wasn't exactly "normal."
If it had been someone else, he'd probably have crashed and burned by now.
"But one thing's clear, these simulations might actually be 'glimpses of the future.'"
"If I really follow this simulation's path, maybe that ending could become reality."
Realizing that, Haru became far more alert.
Kessoku Band's breakup was partly—no, largely his fault. You could even say he was the reason Ryo gave up on her dream.
They say beauty brings misfortune… but what about him?
[Simulation Complete]
[Score: 82 – Excellent]
[Evaluation: You lived a calm, warm, and fulfilling life. Driven by your love for music and natural talent, you became a composer admired by many. Your bond with her grew naturally, from meeting, to understanding, to falling in love. Your personalities were a perfect match, and your relationship remained strong throughout.]
[Both of you gave up your dreams for each other. She always carried guilt for neglecting her best friend's feelings, and the emptiness left by quitting music lingered in her heart. In the end, even she... who always insisted on being "herself", chose to settle into an ordinary life, all for your sake.]
[You received an Excellent rating and earned the reward: Skill Upgrade Card. You may choose three of the following five rewards:]
[Professional Pianist Kazami Haru – 24-Hour Trial Card] (Grants LV4 ability level from the simulated Haru; may permanently increase your current skills.)
[Sunflower Bracelet Handmade by Kazami Kanade] (Enhances focus; a precious gift symbolizing your daughter's admiration and love.)
[Song: "Blooming Blue Snowflower"] (The final piece you composed for Yamada Ryo.)
[Infatuation Card] (Increases chance of being adored by multiple romantic interests in the next simulation, but also increases risk of falling for others.)
[Punk-Style Couple Earrings from Yamada Ryo] (Her first gift to you; increases charm with punk-type characters. Unbelievably, she actually spent money on this—highly sentimental.)
First simulation, and already an Excellent score—as expected of me!
Without hesitation, Haru chose rewards 2, 4, and 5.
Reward 1 was tempting for its potential skill boost, but the bracelet handmade by his daughter was something he might never receive again without marrying Ryo in future simulations.
The song was important too, but he remembered much of the melody. Maybe he could recreate it someday.
This was still his first simulation. It made sense to keep a memento from Ryo-san.
Though he was a pure love god of war inside the simulation, Kazami Haru was still fully grounded in reality once he left it. He never confused the two worlds.
After selecting his rewards, Haru stretched and prepared to leave the classroom.
"Huh?"
Only then did he realize not everyone had left. Just a short distance away, Takamatsu Tomori still sat at her desk, staring intently at something.
Curious, Haru walked over and discovered that Tomori was watching a lone black ant crawling on her desk.
It must've been blown in through the window and separated from its colony. It now scrambled in confusion across the surface.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Eh?"
Startled by his question, Tomori blinked in surprise. Once she understood, her amber eyes returned to the little ant. Her always slightly melancholic face had a soft, endearing quality to it.
Maybe she wasn't good at expressing herself, despite Haru initiating conversation, she didn't know how to respond.
It was like she feared that sharing her odd thoughts might push people away.
"Ants are tough creatures. Even separated from the colony, they can probably survive. So… what are you going to do with it?"
"—It can't survive alone."
For the first time, Tomori spoke.
She stared at the ant, her tone quiet and somewhat disheartened. Her voice seemed to send a ripple of melancholy through the air.
"Then let's help it find its way back."
"Ants are like Saiyans, they're survivors. When they move, they leave behind a unique scent trail. That scent helps them find their way back or communicate with their colony."
As he spoke, Haru let the black ant crawl onto his finger.
Under Tomori's astonished gaze, he gently carried it outside to the flowerbed and placed it on the soil.
Sure enough, the moment it touched the ground, the ant began confidently marching in a specific direction, gone was the earlier panic.
Following behind him, Tomori's eyes widened slightly as she watched.
"There. Now you can relax, right?"
Takamatsu Tomori's fingers gently gripped the hem of her skirt, trying her best to appear natural. After hesitating for a long moment, she finally gathered the courage to thank Kazami Haru: "…Thank you."
"In this version, saying 'thank you' means you have to hold up your middle finger."
"Eh? L-like this…?"
Tomori actually began earnestly fiddling with her fingers, her cute, furrowed expression of concentration so captivating it was hard to look away.
Kazami Haru, successfully pulling off his prank, had to fight the urge to snap a photo. He casually waved at her and slung his bag over one shoulder as he walked toward the school gate.
The simulator displayed that his relationship with Takamatsu Tomori had changed from "somewhat unfamiliar" to "slightly familiar." His melancholy from the simulation began to lift.