[After the Shinto wedding ceremony.]
[Now officially husband and wife, you began your honeymoon. Since it was late autumn, you chose Okinawa, often called Japan's southern paradise, as your destination.]
[You booked a seaside resort hotel, planning to spend a blissful month-long holiday together.]
[Sharing one hotel room made you feel shy.]
[In truth, over the years you'd been dating, you never once let him touch you. You had focused entirely on your dream, relegating romance to second place.]
[On Valentine's Day, when couples went on dates and checked into hotels, you were practicing drums. On Christmas Eve, when the city lit up and snow fluttered down, you were practicing drums. On Tanabata, when the Cowherd and Weaver met on the Magpie Bridge, you were practicing drums. Even on your birthday, you spent it with the other members of Kessoku Band, never once giving Toru a chance.]
Huh?
[Ryo Yamada once tried to warn you. She said a platonic romance wouldn't work. Toru was obviously a herbivore type, if you didn't take the initiative, even after ten years of marriage nothing would progress.]
So that's how it was?
Got it. Understood.
Besides, this was just a simulator. Nijika Ijichi didn't feel there was anything to fear.
[Note: A first kiss can generate a massive amount of Happiness Points. It is recommended that the master activate Full Realism Mode.]
Pfft… do you think you can lure me into the simulation world just so I'll kiss Kitahara-kun?
Angel Nijika smiled faintly. She had no intention of giving away her first kiss so easily.
[Master, the simulation will not affect reality.]
But if I kiss the simulated Kitahara-kun, what about the real one?
Sure, I don't know him yet, but in the future, if we start dating and he notices his girlfriend is suspiciously skilled at kissing, won't he be heartbroken?
[…Master, have you considered the possibility that Toru might be very skilled himself? That maybe, kissing him in the simulation wouldn't even count as betrayal?]
Nijika covered her mouth, giggling softly.
This simulator… it was actually kind of funny.
[On the first day of your honeymoon, you visited Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, famous for its diverse collection of rare marine life.]
Watching the scene in the simulator, her and Toru strolling through the aquarium. Nijika Ijichi felt a flicker of sweetness inside.
When I get married to Kitahara-kun in reality, we'll pick this place for our honeymoon too.
[After a fulfilling day, evening fell…]
Mm-hm. Evening?
Did they go watch the sunset together by the sea, or something else?
[You have triggered a special event. Enter?]
Enter.
Nijika Ijichi wanted to see the ocean sunset.
◇
The resort hotel.
Toru had reserved a room with a stunning ocean view and perfect lighting.
In the spotless room, on the large bed at its center, Nijika Ijichi turned her flushed face away, unable to meet Toru's handsome features so close at hand.
Her soft voice stammered, "Wh-what are you going to do?"
Ugh, so it wasn't the sunset after all. She'd miscalculated, Kitahara-kun was going to devour her.
"What do you think?"
Toru gently lifted a few strands of her golden hair, his voice tender.
But he wasn't as gentle as he seemed, not in every regard. At least in this, he was carnivorous to the core.
Toru didn't believe for a second that Nijika, like Ryo Yamada, was indifferent to intimacy.
Nijika wanted desperately to flee back to reality, but unfortunately, once a special event began, it couldn't be ended early.
She'd been tricked by the simulator, like a helpless lamb walking straight into the wolf's den.
"…Husband, I'm not ready yet." Nijika's voice was timid, almost coquettish.
She'd intended the word "husband" to soften his heart, but instead, his gaze grew sharper, more intense, less gentle.
An inexperienced girl had no idea how devastating words like "husband" or "master" could be to a man.
Seeing she was still afraid, Toru cupped her soft cheek, his eyes on her shy expression as he whispered, "Nijika, we've been together for four years now. It's time we took the next step."
In this simulation and the previous one with Ryo Yamada, Toru had been stuck as a virgin for twenty years. The thought alone was a little pitiful.
"But…"
"I know girls dislike doing that before marriage. But Nijika, we're already married, aren't we?"
"No."
Nijika shook her head firmly.
Toru let go of her.
Alright, maybe he had been too hasty.
But just as disappointment flickered in his eyes, Nijika whispered weakly, "…I-if it's just kissing… that's okay."
Kissing her husband... that, Nijika could barely accept.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, golden hair spilling across the white sheets, her expression one of nervous surrender.
Bathed in the glow of sunset, the boy and girl leaned into each other.
A light kiss.
Then another. A third. A fourth.
Without realizing it, they kept going until the sun sank below the horizon.
◇
[You have exited Full Realism Mode.]
Back in reality.
Nijika Ijichi pressed her face into the sofa cushion, banging her head against it in frantic embarrassment.
AAAAaaa… what did I just do?
Caught up in the moment, she had almost gone all the way with Toru.
Thank goodness she'd come to her senses at the last second.
Love really was terrifying.
[Happiness Points +50,000pt]
Damn it, I can't let the simulator trick me again.
Taking deep breaths to calm her pounding heart, Nijika touched her lips with her fingertips.
It was just a simulation, so it should be fine, right?
Yes. My first kiss is still intact.
But still…
Kissing really did feel wonderful.
[Over the following days, you and your husband enjoyed a leisurely holiday at the resort hotel.]
[Master, are you sure you don't want to continue using Full Realism Mode? The honeymoon is one of the happiest times in a married couple's life, and a great source of Happiness Points.]
Ugh…
Fine. Just this once.
But only this once.
——
Tokyo, Minato Ward
In a luxury apartment, Toru temporarily exited the simulation to check Nijika's status screen.
[Marital Status: Married]
No problem.
[Husband: Toru]
No problem.
[Physical Condition: Unwell]
[Debuffs: Frail, Prone to Illness.]
He had once modified the Extreme Pressure Training Method to reduce its side effects. Though less effective, it no longer shaved years off a person's life, deaths so abrupt even hospitals couldn't detect or prevent them.
That was why he had given the training method to Nijika as a gift, believing the risk small enough.
But now, it seemed there was still danger.
In future simulations, he would have to avoid certain risky decisions.