The moment Toru looks at Ryo Yamada, her movements slow. She bows, collecting tips.
Her small, rosy lips part slightly, murmuring thanks.
"You play really well," Toru says, joining the crowd to applaud.
Though he's decided to pursue her in this life, he keeps things polite and respectful.
Even with game characters, Toru wants to be mature and perfect.
"Money?"
"What?" Toru blinks, caught off guard.
Did he hear that right?
"If it's good, show some real appreciation." Ryo Yamada bows slightly, spitting out the grass blade.
She hasn't eaten in days.
This freeloader simulator is totally unreliable—hunger in the game somehow affects reality… Well, she's starving in real life too.
[As a qualified freeloader king, you must bind a target to mooch off. Note: You must verbally request and gain their consent.]
That's right.
Like Bocchi-chan, Ryo Yamada has her own simulator: the Freeloader Simulator.
It lets her bind a target, mooch off them, and gain some of their skills.
In other words, to reap benefits, Ryo must latch onto a highly talented person in the simulation, like a vampire leeching their blood.
Most people might find this simulator gross or off-putting.
But for Ryo Yamada… it's perfect.
Her dream is to become a weirdo.
Free novel group: 255595300
This simulator is just the right amount of weird! No, it's perfect!
"Here, your bass playing was really good. Keep chasing your dreams." Toru Kitahara pulls out his wallet from his jacket pocket and hands her a thousand-yen bill.
"Thanks."
Ryo Yamada bows, accepting the bill.
With this money, she can finally eat a proper meal—at least in the game. A painted pie is better than nothing.
Ryo looks up at Toru's handsome face, thinking for a few seconds.
He seems kind of familiar?
After the crowd disperses, she approaches him. "Excuse me, can you sponsor me?"
A lightning-strike opener!
Toru is startled but doesn't refuse. He smiles. "Sure. How much monthly allowance do you want?"
He's been looking for a bass teacher, and her skills, by his estimate, are around LV.4.
Is his response too hasty?
Come on, it's a virtual game. What's wrong with sponsoring a 2D wife?
Do you negotiate with paper wives? When players in Azur Lane give out rings, do they ask the shipgirls' opinions? Of course not.
His usual combo is:
Meet, like, marry!
Ryo, expressionless, says, "I'll sponsor you instead. No payment needed."
She exchanges contact info with him, then turns to pack up her bass and head home.
[You have bound a leech (crossed out)… freeloader target: Toru Kitahara]
Ryo mentally opens his stat sheet.
[Toru Kitahara] [Current Affection: 61] (Max 100) [Skills: God-Level Photography, Professional Piano, Bass Playing LV.2, Acting LV.5] [Money: 300M+ Yen] [Talent: Peerless] (From lowest to highest: Worthless, Common, One in a Hundred, One in a Thousand, Peerless…) [Available Skills for Purchase: Acting LV.4, Master Photography, Piano LV.5] (You can only gain 60% of the skill's effect)
Hmm. Though it's Ryo's first time using the Freeloader Simulator, she gets it.
It's like raising a Pokémon in a game. Since she can only get 60% of the skill's effect, the better her "Pokémon's" stats, the better. …God-Level Photography sounds insane. Ryo muses to herself.
From the simulator, she knows most people max out at LV.5 in a lifetime. A Master appears once in millions, a Grandmaster in billions. God-Level? Ryo can't even imagine it—Toru might be the only one in the world at that level.
So…
How does she get these juicy skills?
[You need Affection Points to exchange for skills. Affection Points are earned as follows:] [Affection reaching 70/80/90/100 grants 100K/200K/500K/3M Affection Points] (Only triggers once per simulation; resets on new game) [Copper Anniversary (Surviving seven years): 500K] [Silver Anniversary (25 years married): 2M] [Gold Anniversary (50 years married): 3M] [Special Achievements: Variable Affection Points (10K–10M)]
Is this a vampire simulator or a simp simulator? Ryo pauses while packing her bass.
Does this mean she has to live a perfect life with her target in the simulation?
No, she'll check the skill price list first to confirm if this is really a simp simulator.
[Price List Opened:] [Acting LV.4] [Price: 300K] [Master Photography] [Price: 5M] [Piano LV.5] [Price: 800K]
Yup, it's a simp simulator. Ryo rolls her eyes prettily. Though it's a simulation, it feels so real—aside from the fast time flow, it's practically a second world.
These prices are steep. Normal dating without marriage might only afford one skill?
Master Photography is a pipe dream.
Unless Ryo goes all in, living with Toru until they're old and gray in the simulation…
Suddenly, Ryo rubs her temples.
She slings her bass case over her shoulder, realizing she's overthinking.
It's just a simulator. No need to get emotionally invested—just treat it like a game. The Freeloader Simulator made it clear: nothing in the simulation affects reality. It's a pure game.
So, being a bit pragmatic might be better?
Ryo glances at Toru, who's smiling at her.
Wow, what a perfect Pokémon—high stats, high looks… and those stats, yeah, he's got a stat-driven beauty.
Invincible.
Ryo suddenly recalls seeing him in a movie on TV.
"Why haven't you left?"
"I didn't get your name." Toru answers.
It's not that he doesn't want to leave—the special event timer hasn't ended! Might as well farm some affection with his paper wife.
"Ryo Yamada. You can call me Ryo." She steps closer. "Nice to meet you."
Toru smiles. "Toru Kitahara. Call me whatever you like."
"Tetsu-kun?"
Ryo says it deadpan.
"Isn't that a bit too intimate?"
This is the second time she's thrown him off—first time was a minute ago.
"No big deal. You're my trainer, after all."
Ryo glances at the "pet" info in her simulator, tossing out the line.
Rather than trainer, Toru's more like her digital pet, since the simulator's world is pure fiction.
[Toru Kitahara Affection +5]
Ryo sees the simulator's prompt and feels pleased.
Toru's such an easy guy to handle.