"Why do you say that?"
Haru raised an eyebrow at the meaningful comment.
Yahata Umiri, who had suddenly turned cryptic, didn't answer him right away. Instead, she pulled another can of KISS coffee from her bass case but after trying twice with her fingernail, she still couldn't open it.
Unable to watch her struggle anymore, Haru reached over and helped.
If he didn't step in, she'd probably tear a hole in the can with her "Iron Fist of Fury" next.
"Thanks."
Umiri thanked him in her usual calm tone. Her deep green eyes seemed to flicker with something unreadable, but her expression remained as flat and composed as ever.
"I heard you've been swamped lately with the Ave Mujica compositions. So I figured you wouldn't be free. I'm kind of surprised you came today."
She raised the coffee to her lips and took a light sip.
Only now did she nonchalantly answer his earlier question. Her voice was flat, as if reading from a script.
Her casual attitude felt slightly unnatural. Haru knew his "bro" well enough to sense when there was something behind the words.
Considering their earlier "coincidental" encounter on the street, where she may or may not have seen him with Uika, Umiri had probably put two and two together and maybe it wasn't just about Uika.
From her point of view, Haru probably looked like a guy stringing along multiple innocent girls. A full-on playboy.
Even as friends, Haru knew Umiri wouldn't hold back the occasional jab if she thought he was being a mess.
"I just finished Ave Mujica's debut song and sent it to Sakiko. She'll probably contact everyone for rehearsals soon."
"Is that so."
Her eyes remained calm and unreadable.
Her long, slender fingers tapped the coffee can rhythmically, almost like she was plucking her bass. The soft tap tap tap carried a beat, betraying the stillness of her expression.
But Umiri wasn't really asking about the music.
"Joining Ave Mujica... Was that really the right choice for you?"
After a moment's pause, her voice came—still cool, but this time tinged with something more serious.
"Haru… I hate people who are kind to everyone."
Haru: ?
Wait, wasn't this line straight out of Yahata Eighth-grade Syndrome?
"Either way, you should make up your mind sooner rather than later."
"Otherwise, you're going to regret it."
She tapped the can's rim with her fingernail as she said this. Though her words were blunt and distant, there was a subtle undercurrent of concern.
In truth, Umiri should hate Haru.
Especially after realizing that Taki also had feelings for him. A girl like her, so prickly and cautious, was bound to get hurt deeply if things went wrong.
And yet… it seemed Umiri couldn't quite bring herself to hate him.
"I know."
Haru exhaled, responding with sincerity.
He understood what she was really saying.
Because of the simulation's lingering effects, he hadn't been able to sort out his feelings for anyone. That's why things were such a mess now.
His connections with each girl weren't lost on Umiri.
Though she always looked detached and cold, Haru knew she was one of the gentlest people he'd ever met.
Her so-called "mockery" was really just a friend giving him sound advice.
As a bassist who freelanced for over thirty bands, Umiri had seen it all. She knew exactly how and why most bands broke apart.
Love and hate are two sides of the same coin, that was the creed of the Uchiha clan.
To Yahata Umiri, if Kazami Haru kept going like this, he was probably headed for a disaster on par with becoming a horse girl trainer at Tracen Academy.
Maybe even worse.
"The performance is about to start. Let's get ready to head up."
With a sweep of her fingers, Umiri tucked away the loose strands that covered her pale ear and downed the rest of her canned coffee in one smooth motion. She grabbed her bass case and stood up.
Having ended the "personal talk," she reverted to her usual cool and collected demeanor. Haru, deep in thought, simply furrowed his brows before nodding and following her backstage.
As for Ririko, who had been peeking over the bar all this time. She was now shaking her head in pure headache.
…
Performing with Umiri was as seamless as ever.
Having played as "mercenary partners" many times, their synergy was second nature. Even if the drummer accidentally flung a stick across the stage, the two of them could still hold down the set with sheer technical skill.
After the performance, Haru headed straight home. With nothing pressing at the moment, he decided to make good use of the free time.
"Umiri was right."
Haru now had no doubt: Anon, Kita, and Soyo definitely had feelings for him and truth be told, he felt something for each of them as well. If any one of them confessed right now, he wouldn't be able to turn them down.
But his personality made it impossible to casually choose just one.
If he wanted to avoid hurting anyone or creating unresolvable drama, he needed to consider… other options.
Like dating them all.
Of course, in principle, that was a complete no-go. No one is willing to accept that the person they like, not only likes them but more. Just thinking this made him feel like scum.
But since he didn't know what to do, he turned to "future simulation."
"Let's try this."
Haru focused on the familiar simulation interface before him.
[Simulation Attempts Remaining: 14]
[Available Characters: Gotoh Hitori , Ryo Yamada, Ijichi Nijika , Kita Ikuyo , Togawa Sakiko, Takamatsu Tomori, Chihaya Anon, Nagasaki Soyo]
No new simulation targets had appeared since Soyo's scenario ended.
Even though he'd interacted with other girls like Uika the idol and his close buddy Umiri, the simulator, like a stingy supermarket coupon, hadn't responded.
Haru was starting to wonder if there was a cap on how many people could be simulated.
"Of all the names here, the only ones I haven't run simulations for are Bocchi and Sakiko?"
He looked at Togawa Sakiko's name. He had a pretty good idea of what that route would look like, so he turned his gaze instead to Gotoh Hitori .
It didn't take long for him to make a decision.
[Simulation Target Confirmed – Gotoh Hitori ]
[Remaining Simulations – 1-$23]
[Simulation Start]
[In just two short months of summer vacation, you completed the gigs for two bands, served as the composer for three, and still managed to work part-time and provide live support. You are now, without question, a musical all-rounder. The word "genius" may just be your baseline.]
[At this point, calling you a "Superhuman" would not be an exaggeration.]
[Thanks to your guidance and hard work, the once-unknown "Kessoku Band" has successfully performed at the major Summer Festival Live. As the celebration dinner fades into memory, the band's morale is at an all-time high.]
[However, you also realize your relationships with those around you are becoming increasingly complicated. Like iron chains, they bind you, making it impossible to escape.]
[Even the smallest move on your part causes ripples through your entire circle.]
[The hectic summer vacation is nearly over. Despite all the memories created with the help of Ijichi Nijika , there was still nothing that really felt like "youth" to you.]
[Thinking the final days of summer might still be salvageable, you decide to—]
[1. Gotoh Hitori has spent most of summer indoors practicing guitar. To prevent this shy shut-in from turning into a fossil, maybe it's time to drag her out for some fun.]
[2. You promised Wakaba Mutsumi you'd go on a date. Time to finally keep that promise.]
[3. Kita Ikuyo 's been training hard for the next Live, but she's scared to go to karaoke alone. She wants you to go with her.]
[4. Virtual reality. Simulate it yourself.]
As the four options appeared, Haru began to think.
"Just as I thought."
His eyes gleamed with understanding.
The simulator always began based on real-life circumstances.
This time, he wanted to explore a "multi-relationship" route. But to access those alternate endings, he'd have to follow Bocchi's mainline story for now.
If he chose another girl from the start, the sim would probably lock him into a straight route and end early.
"Alright, let's stick to the main path."
He selected the first option without hesitation.
[Hitori, who had grown used to spending summers alone, was completely stunned by your invitation. She fainted on the spot. When she woke up, she even sent you a full-screen apology through Line.]
[Despite the panic, she genuinely longed to grow closer to you. After a long emotional rollercoaster, she finally worked up the courage to call you and accept the date, sounding like she was preparing for a formal wedding.]
[Her seriousness made you chuckle. Even over the phone, you could feel how nervous and excited she was.]
[You set the date for tomorrow.]
[On the day of the date, Hitori didn't show up in her usual tracksuit. Instead, she wore a blue-and-white ribbon dress you'd never seen before. The elegant outfit instantly washed away her gloomy aura, so much so that even you were stunned by how beautiful she looked. She stood there blushing, head lowered shyly.]
[She whispered that her mom dressed her up after finding out she was going on a date. She wasn't used to wearing such floaty clothes and felt uncomfortable.]
[You realized it was time to sincerely apologize… for ever underestimating Bocchi.]
Seriously?
Even just reading the simulation text, Haru couldn't tell what kind of scene the simulator was actually showing—yet somehow, it made even him feel like he owed Bocchi an apology?
[That said, your date with her wasn't exactly smooth sailing.]
[Even while walking, she was frantically grasping at conversation topics. During the meal, she was stiff as a board, and when you pointed out she had sauce on the corner of her mouth, she passed out cold.]
[As expected of Gotoh Hitori 's first-ever personal date, she was awkward and nervous to an adorable degree. Every embarrassing moment caught you off guard, and over time, even you started getting flustered.]
[But... she was smiling. She smiled so genuinely.]
[She told you that she's glad she bowed down to you in that tiny dark corner all that time ago. Without that moment, she never would have changed like this.]
[But she was scared too.]
[She's afraid that the Kessoku Band might one day break up. The life she once only dreamed of is finally right in front of her, and she'll do everything she can to protect it. But the uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her lack of confidence.]
[You couldn't help yourself, you gave her a karate chop to the head. Then naturally followed up with your usual encouragement. Even after being "attacked," she just smiled goofily, clearly comforted just by your presence.]
[Her worries slowly began to fade and the silly little smile she showed you then… it was a kind of beauty you couldn't ignore.]
[All in all, this date wasn't a failure.]
[Your bond with Gotoh Hitori has deepened.]
Nice.
Haru figured that clearing Bocchi's route wouldn't be too difficult, but he didn't expect it to be this easy. After all the mental gymnastics he did for Soyo's simulation, this felt like a breeze. A full-on speedrun.
"This should be about the point where…"
He narrowed his eyes, voice trailing off with a knowing tone.
He'd been through enough simulations to know exactly how this thing worked.
The next prompt would probably be a "confession" choice. Once he accepted that, it'd solidify his route with Bocchi, then the trap choices would start appearing.
In rhythm games, this would be the part where you had to memorize the patterns by heart. This janky simulator was fully cracked in Haru's mind.
And next… it was time to step into one of those traps on purpose.
[Without you noticing, this shy little hedgehog has been quietly growing.]
[The timid girl who used to freeze up at the slightest obstacle has, with your help and encouragement, begun to change. Bit by bit, she's learning to be brave.]
[She's started sending "good morning" and "good night" texts on Line. Whenever you respond, she reads them instantly. For someone like Gotoh Hitori , even that's a major leap.]
[You genuinely feel proud of her progress.]
[But her sudden shift in behavior… hasn't gone unnoticed by others.]
[One day, Kita Ikuyo shows up at your place out of the blue.]
[She says she wanted to thank you for everything, so she got up early to make you a heartfelt lunchbox. The energetic, sunshine-filled girl bounces in with a tiny fist pump. And in her radiant smile, there's just the faintest hint of something more.]
[Faced with her sincerity, you decide to—]
[1. Accept it.]
[2. Refuse.]
[3. VR Mode: Simulate it yourself.]
…
"Excuse me~!"
A cheerful, energetic voice echoed from the entryway.
Holding a small bag, Kita stood there beaming with a bright, radiant smile.
Today, she wore a deep navy-blue one-piece dress, a laced ribbon choker around her neck, and her long, pale legs were wrapped in neat white socks—an adorable, lively look that could turn heads anywhere.
Before Haru could even speak, those yellow-green eyes curled up like smiling crescent moons.
Her very presence felt like sunlight. Just standing near her, you couldn't help but feel uplifted.
Her sudden appearance made Haru raise an eyebrow in confusion. Her mysterious smile made him ask, "Ikuyo, what brings you here today?"
"I came to say thank you!"
She gave her fists a subtle clench behind her back, steeling her nerves. Gripping the hem of her dress, she spoke, her lovely expression tinged with a hint of regret.
"Up until now, you've always helped me. Without your support, I wouldn't have had the courage to apologize to the others…"
"But even now, I still haven't done anything to help you…"
She gently placed her small bag on the ground and carefully took out a bright red lunchbox.
"No matter what, I wanted to thank you. So…"
The tips of her ears turned red as she looked down and held out the lunchbox.
Seeing her anxious yet determined look, Haru exhaled slowly. After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and accepted it.
It was still warm in his hands, just like the passionate heart of the girl in front of him.
Now what was he supposed to do?
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