[Everything seems to be moving in a good direction.]
Seika let out a quiet breath.
As long as things kept turning for the better…
Her mother had not died, she had been saved, and even her brother, who had suffered the same accident, recovered smoothly.
"The rest of the story should be calm now, right?" Seika's goal in this simulation was simple, she only wanted to save her mother.
Now everything felt complete.
As long as her family stayed healthy, Seika would be content.
[After your mother is discharged.]
[In the second month, your band performs at the largest live house in Shimokitazawa, a place where many famous bands took off.]
[On this night.]
[You ignite the entire venue.]
[The audience lifts their hands and cheers your name.]
[In the crowd.]
[Toru raises his phone and records your energetic movements.]
[Number 623. A good one to keep.]
Hey.
Wait.
How many times have you secretly taken photos of me? And you remember the numbers?
You are way too practiced at this.
[Beside your brother, Nijika is drawn to your remarkable guitar skills. She decides to…]
Hm…
Is she going to learn guitar from her big sister?
When Nijika originally chose the drums, Seika had been upset for a long time.
She never expected this simulation to patch up that regret.
[Nijika decides to follow her dream of becoming a civil servant. In your sister's view, being in a band is unstable. Even if you manage to become popular, once the hype fades, you will be forgotten. You will end up spending your days in bars, living one day at a time, maybe even wandering the streets.]
"…?"
She was happy for nothing.
[Nijika does not want that kind of future.]
[The future she imagines is to grow up healthy, find a boy she likes while she is young, get married, have kids. In middle age, she will watch her husband leave for work, take his bag when he comes home, raise the children. In old age, as her children grow up, her hair turns white, her vision blurs. She will leave the world peacefully under the gaze of her husband and children.]
"Marriage huh…"
Seika tried imagining it.
She truly could not picture what she would be like if she married someone.
When she was young, her whole heart belonged to the band.
After her mother died, she focused entirely on the live house.
So until now, she had never dated anyone.
She remembered that in her student days, a few people had liked her.
But none of them matched her personality, so she never accepted them.
As for her family…
Her father never pressured her, even though she was already twenty eight.
"Living alone is pretty nice." Seika murmured.
Pushing thirty while still daydreaming about a prince on a white horse like some little girl…
She set her thoughts aside and continued watching the simulation.
[Time flies.]
[Two years pass in the blink of an eye.]
[In these two years, you achieve remarkable success. Last year, at a small music festival, you earned the slot for the final performance.]
[This year, Toru is twelve.]
[He enters a public middle school, his grades stuck firmly at the middle, never moving.]
[Toru doesn't want attention. He stays low profile. He wants to study in secret so that during the high school entrance exams he can shock everyone who underestimated him.]
[According to your investigation, even though he is at the age when feelings awaken, your brother has no one he likes at school.]
[This makes you a little worried. In these past years, Toru has stuck to you without changing.]
[You once thought that when he said he wanted to marry you as a child, it was just childish talk, but this year, you discover…]
[Toru really wasn't joking.]
[He has been quiet and steady, slowly influencing you until you can no longer pull away from him.]
[Living under the same roof.]
[As the boy grows.]
[You can no longer look at him as a child.]
[Toru has grown to one meter sixty. His features are more mature, the childishness fading.]
Seika glanced at the simulated image of the gentle, jewel-like boy. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
With a beautiful boy of this level pursuing her.
Could another version of herself withstand that?
[In the same year.]
[Your university life ends. At the graduation ceremony, a classmate from your major confesses to you. His tone is serious, so serious that you do not know how to respond.]
[You decide…]
[1. Accept him. It is the last moment of youth, why not be reckless once.]
[2. Reject him directly. How could someone like him expect to date me.]
[3. Say you already like someone and refuse gently.]
Which one…
The first made Seika instinctively uncomfortable. She did not want to watch herself dating some stranger in a simulation.
Not to mention his looks were not great. And the timing felt strange.
If he liked her, why did he wait until graduation to confess?
In the end, he just didn't like her enough.
He was probably confessing with a lottery mindset.
Seika despised that kind of attitude.
The second one…
Too rude, so also no.
The third one…
Fine, she would pick that.
[You refuse him gently, but unexpectedly, he asks who the person you like is.]
[A soft spring breeze stirs your golden hair. A hint of struggle appears on your delicate face.]
[You do not like anyone your age. The only boy with similar feelings is Toru, who is twelve years younger…]
[But.]
[You do not want to admit that you fell for a child you spent every day with.]
[At this moment.]
[Just when you are at a loss.]
[A handsome young boy walks toward you. He sees exactly what you are doing, and without any hesitation, he comes to your side and takes your hand.]
[Sorry, I came late.]
[Toru says this as he ignores the other boy's expression and leads you toward the school gate.]
[On the way home.]
[When you pass a quiet alley.]
[Toru: Nee-san, were you planning to accept him just now.]
[You stay silent for a few seconds.]
[I don't know.]
[If it were me instead of him, would you accept me.]
[Maybe.] You answer him like you would answer a kid.
[The moment the words fall.]
[Toru stops and lets go of your hand.]
[What's wrong.]
[His face gets closer and closer.]
[You close your eyes on instinct. Something soft touches your lips.]
Was she…
Being kissed by him?
[A few seconds later.]
[You hear a faint laugh. When you open your eyes, you realize…]
[What kissed you was not his lips but his fingers.]
[Toru: Nee-san, your expression just now was really cute. Very cute.]
[Toru grins and shows you the photo on his phone.]
[Sorry, you were too cute. I couldn't help playing a trick.]
[You glare at him in protest.]
[What is it? Unless…]
[The beautiful boy leans close to your ear and whispers, Sister, were you actually hoping I would kiss you for real.]
[Your face turns red as you push him away.]
[For the rest of the walk home, you refuse to talk to him.]
[You do not want to admit…]
[In that moment.]
[Facing your younger, charming brother, your heart trembled.]