On the way to school.
The two of them began to talk.
"How did yesterday's game feel?" Toru asked the chief test player for her impressions.
He had decided that during middle school, he would first become an independent game developer. In college, he'd think about starting a company to make mone—*cough* to create the best games possible, crafting happiness with care.
With a tenfold experience boost, Toru didn't have to worry about time at all. His progress was astonishingly fast.
And this time, without illness interfering, his future achievements would only grow higher.
So he had plenty of time to pursue happiness, since happiness itself was one of the evaluation standards.
As for choosing a partner, Toru still wasn't sure.
If he decided right now to spend his life with Gotoh Hitori…
What if, someday, he met someone even cuter, with a better figure than Hitori? What then?
Cheat on her?
Besides, Hitori's personality was terrible.
She was withdrawn and bad at communicating. Dating her would be a hassle.
Of course, that was the Gotoh Hitori from the original timeline.
In the simulation, after Toru transferred to Yokohama, he had witnessed all of Hitori's changes.
And since he had let her down once in the second simulation, this time, if nothing unexpected happened, Toru would probably end up marrying her.
"The game? It was pretty fun, really addictive," Hitori said, recalling it.
Except the drop rate for equipment was way too low. She had farmed for ages and still didn't get anything.
"That's good."
In this era, gacha games on mobile phones hadn't yet become popular.
A bold idea flickered in Toru's mind.
"Ugh, when will I ever beat you in a game?" Hitori muttered under her breath.
Having inherited memories from the simulation, she felt a pang in her chest.
"No chance," Toru said flatly. With that little airhead's intelligence, she probably wouldn't beat him even once in her life.
As for going easy on her?
Sorry, a man's pride didn't allow that.
For other things, fine, maybe he could let things slide.
But in games?
Heh. Could that even be called being a man?
Sorry, women only slow men down when they play games.
"Wait… maybe there's one game you could win," Toru said suddenly, recalling the TV show he'd watched the night before.
"What game?"
He stopped, looked at her, and leaned in close to her ear. "I love you, Hitori."
"!"
Hitori immediately jumped back, covering her rapidly heating face.
Wait, what did he just say?
Was that… a confession?
"This is the 'I Love You Game.' It's really popular on a dating show right now. The rules are simple: Two people take turns saying 'I love you,' and whoever gets embarrassed first loses."
Once she knew it was a game, Hitori wasn't embarrassed anymore. "I-I wasn't flustered or anything."
Her heart had nearly stopped a moment ago, but her mouth refused to admit defeat.
For what little pride she still had left, she couldn't lose.
"I love you, Toru."
"I love you, Hitori."
And so, the two of them said it all the way to school.
In total, one hundred and ninety-three passersby mistook them for a couple of lovesick fools.
◇
[After Toru's "I Love You" challenge, the two of you began a long tug-of-war.]
[Your pride wouldn't allow you to lose.]
[To you, Toru was dazzling, like a blazing sun. Just being near him left you burned and breathless.]
[You thought that maybe, only by winning this game could you gain the confidence to truly date him. From there, you'd have to make yourself more attractive from improving your social skills, your looks, and, unfortunately, your studies, which you hated most of all.]
[And so, when the second semester began, the two of you kept playing the "I Love You Game" in secret, saying it no less than five times a day.]
[Half a month passed, and Toru never once got flustered.]
[Neither did you.]
Hitori exited the simulation and let out a deep breath.
Thankfully, time in the simulated world flowed differently. Half a day there was no more than a nap in reality, so Kita and the others hadn't noticed anything strange.
'Maybe I should go home early.'
Hitori figured this simulation would probably last quite a while.
Because Toru was stubborn to the bone.
It was just a game, and giving him a little leeway wouldn't kill her.
But she clearly didn't understand a boy's obsession with games, you could call him useless, but you couldn't say he was bad at gaming.
'Still early. I'll find an excuse to go home by noon.'
Who cared about finals when her husband was at stake?
[Time flowed on. The second semester ended, but your game still showed no progress.]
[Toru, unable to help himself, suggested revising the rules.]
Ha, so Toru was scared now?
Afraid of falling for me?
Gotoh puffed up with pride, even letting out a silly "hehe, hehe" laugh.
Until Yamada Ryo, sitting across from her, shot her a look, and she instantly quieted down.
[Toru proposed changing the "I Love You Game." From now on, whoever makes the other's heart race first loses. No longer limited to just saying the words "I love you."]
[You thought it over and agreed.]
[Over the next half year, you studied hard. Your grades rose from the bottom of the class to the lower middle ranks. Your looks improved too, once you learned how to take care of yourself, and even your social skills grew stronger.]
[After learning what topics girls your age cared about, you could finally join in their conversations.]
[And then, something caught your attention...]
[Toru had become more and more popular.]
[He was turning into the prince of the school, girls bringing him lunches and drinks every day. Before the holiday break, during the cultural festival, you found his shoe locker stuffed with love letters. Even upperclass girls from third year came by to give him gifts.]
[Maybe the two of you were drifting apart.]
[You realized that the once-simple game had gained a new and complicated meaning...]
[It had become the thread tying your hearts together.]
[If the game ever ended, maybe the two of you would go back to being just friends.]
[No. You couldn't let that happen.]
[You had to win... to earn the courage to spend your life with him.]
[Even if you were timid and uncertain, for this moment at least, you had a clear goal.]
Hitori felt that truth deep in her chest.
In her previous simulations, she had lost because she was too afraid.
[After school, the two of you walked home together through the sunset streets.]
["I love you, Toru," you said softly, your love spilling out like water from a full glass.]
["I love you too, Hitori," Kitahara replied, easily deflecting your move.]
[Soon it would be Christmas.]
[The streets were strung with glowing lights, stretching endlessly into the distance.]
[And your game...]
[How long would it last?]
————