Another set of four options appeared.
Kazami Haru began to weigh them.
The first option was a no-holds-barred approach, powering through regardless of his condition.
In the simulation, he had already become stubborn enough to do anything to form a band with Tomori and help her achieve her dreams.
The second option, the "afraid-to-die" route, if anything went wrong, the simulation might just end.
Then there was the third option, admittedly a bit reckless.
In theory, asking Tomori for anything wouldn't likely get him rejected. The little penguin rarely said no.
But the option felt vague and risky. If he picked it, Shiina Taki might be the first to call him out.
One wrong move, and all previous efforts would be in vain.
Logically, the second choice was safest.
Still, it was probably just a minor illness despite all the intense training.
Was it really worth giving up the first performance just because of a small setback?
Giving up this easily would feel weak—no, a real man chooses Option 1 and powers through!
[You decide the flu-like symptoms aren't serious, just a mild illness. You take some medicine, rest briefly, and push yourself back into intense training. After all, nothing matters more than Mygo's upcoming performance.]
[No one in the band seems to notice your condition, except Chihaya Anon. She hints, indirectly, that she's not confident in her guitar skills and asks you to spend more training time helping her.]
[A few days later, it's finally time for your first performance.]
[Everyone in Mygo is visibly tense, and even Tomori wears a worried expression.]
[Thanks to your efforts, rehearsals were successful. Now it came down to whether you could bring that same energy and skill to the stage.]
[Just before going on stage, Tomori grabs your hand.]
[Even without her saying a word, you can read her feelings. Despite all the rehearsals, she's still terrified of making a mistake. The shadow of her past failure still haunts her.]
[She fears that a single misstep could make Mygo fall apart, just like CRYCHIC did before.]
[You respond not with words, but by tightening your grip on her hand, silently conveying your support.]
[Soon, Mygo steps onto the stage of "STARRY." Just before the performance begins, you notice a blue-haired girl in the audience. At some point, she had quietly arrived to watch. She smiles and mouths something you can't quite hear.]
Kazami Haru couldn't help but laugh.
Even at the risk of being noticed by Soyo, Togawa-san still came to see his performance.
That woman definitely had a secret crush on him.
[Your first song had a minor hiccup due to nerves, the rhythm was slightly off. But you quickly stepped in with a solo on keyboard to save the moment. Thanks to your quick thinking, you got through it.]
[Your solo gave Tomori a boost of confidence. Her voice carried the emotions from deep inside her heart. As everyone settled into the performance, the rest of the set went smoothly.]
[Your debut performance was a success.]
[Chihaya Anon and Shiina Taki's trust in you has increased.]
[The whole band was elated after the show. Anon buzzed with excitement, chatting non-stop, while Taki—normally so aloof, lightly punched you in the chest in a rare show of praise. Tomori simply smiled and tugged gently at your sleeve.]
[Soyo Nagasaki, standing next to Tomori in the audience, seemed like she wanted to say something but simply smiled and shook her head instead.]
Just as he suspected.
Because of his involvement with Mygo, the butterfly effect meant they never recruited "Noraneko," the key instigator.
Even though Togawa-san came to see the performance, there was no meltdown, no runaway keyboardist.
Still, something about Nagasaki's behavior in the simulation felt off.
Togawa-san came all this way, and yet here she was, just hanging around and chatting?
[Maybe thanks to the successful debut, Mygo's popularity began to grow rapidly.]
[As a rookie band, it felt like you'd caught a big break. The music videos you created for your new songs were being met with rave reviews online.]
[Now in your senior year of high school, two years of intense training had brought your keyboard skills to a level even Togawa acknowledged.]
[Your songwriting had also matured, just a step away from professional standards.]
[You noticed something odd about Nagasaki lately. From Togawa, you learned she rarely asked Wakaba Mutsu about her anymore.]
[She often looked at you with a faraway gaze. When you asked her about it, she just smiled and brushed it off.]
[Tomori had also begun to emerge from the shadow of CRYCHIC. Though her underlying pessimism remained, the wall around her heart seemed to have finally come down—thanks to you.]
[She clung to your side like a little penguin that never wanted to grow up, quietly leaning on you for comfort.]
[In response, you decide——]
[1. Should you confess your feelings? Right here, right now?]
[2. The timing isn't quite right. As members of a band, maybe you should just continue to interact naturally.]
[3. Both Soyo and Anon-chan are really cute, maybe it's better to proactively deepen your relationship with them.]
[4. Virtual reality—experience it personally.]
The simulation has progressed to this point, you could almost pop the champagne at halftime.
How can we lose this?
Even in a situation this tough, pulling off a win seemed inevitable. It was the kind of performance that would earn a standing ovation from even the most jaded veteran.
Taking down someone like Tomori? That should've been a walk in the park.
What's surprising is that Soyo hasn't done much, this was unexpected.
Logically speaking, the reason she joined Mygo was to gather everyone and bring back Sakiko. Why is she actually playing seriously in the band?
Could it be because he also plays keyboard, and she's just treating him as a substitute?
In any case, Tomori has mostly come out of her shell now.
After putting in so much effort, they're finally seeing results.
At this point, if he still hesitates and triggers some strange event, it would be a huge waste.
Now is the time to go straight in and marry Tomori already!
[On the pedestrian bridge where you were walking her home, you confessed your love to her.]
[You were rejected.]