[After you become a couple.]
[Life does not change at all.]
[It feels as if nothing is different, except for one thing between you.]
[You have become his girlfriend.]
[He has become your boyfriend.]
[Nothing more.]
[You maintain a secret underground relationship, telling no one.]
[Time slips by.]
[Another two years pass.]
[Your feelings for Toru grow warmer and warmer.]
[You no longer stop at hugging. You begin kissing, begin growing addicted to each other's skin.]
[However.]
[Because your boyfriend is still underage, you do not cross that final line.]
…
[When spring arrives, even horses race with joy, seeing every blossom in a single day.]
[As your love flourishes, your career blooms as well.]
[Your band's third album becomes a hit again, climbing the music charts.]
[The dream of the Budokan draws nearer.]
[This year, Toru enters high school.]
[You turn twenty seven. Your mother, unaware of your secret relationship, becomes worried about your marriage, like every other mother. She starts hinting that you should find a boyfriend and try dating.]
[Her persistence leaves you exhausted.]
[You don't know how to explain that you are already dating your younger brother.]
[Besides that.]
[Your sister brings you trouble as well.]
[Nijika, being Toru's childhood friend, is very close to him, a little too close, which makes you jealous.]
"The story is getting more and more ridiculous."
Seika's fair cheeks turn a bright cherry red.
Falling for a high school boy is embarrassing beyond belief.
Even knowing simulation and reality are different, Seika still felt shame on behalf of the other her.
[If it were only your sister stealing attention, it would be fine. But Toru also knows a pink haired girl who secretly likes him, named Gotoh Hitori.]
[Not only that.]
[Among your sister's friends is someone named Yamada Ryo, who often invites Toru out lately.]
[And finally.]
[Gotoh Hitori's friend, Kita Ikuyo, seems to have developed feelings for Toru as well.]
Well now.
The Kessoku Band is complete.
Seika knew that all four members had crushes on Toru.
But she never expected these little girls to become her love rivals in the simulation.
So sorry.
You girls have no chance.
Seika cannot date in real life. Now that she finally has a simulator, she intends to experience it thoroughly.
At least she won't worry about having nothing to talk about with her girlfriends when dating topics come up.
Thinking about it…
"Dating someone younger is actually pretty nice."
Seika thought that if a gentle, perfect, handsome boy wanted to date her in real life, she could accept it.
As long as they had a strong emotional foundation before dating.
Just like in the simulation, her and Toru's story.
Living under the same roof, growing close for more than ten years. If it is not family affection, then it can only be love.
For some reason.
She remembered the Toru she met yesterday, and the guitar he played for her.
After a few seconds, she felt a bit disappointed.
A simulation is still a simulation.
She could not copy its actions in reality. Her mother still could not come back to life.
"But since the simulator exists, reviving Mom shouldn't be impossible, right?"
The thought slipped into her head.
A few minutes later, she rubbed her temples, putting away the question that had no answer for now.
Better to continue the simulation.
[In the hot season.]
[Early August.]
[Toru invites you on a date to Fuji Q Highland.]
[You have triggered a special event. Enter?]
Special event?
Seika presses enter.
Her consciousness leaves the real world.
◇
Fuji Q Highland.
One of Japan's most thrilling amusement parks. Compared to the gentle Disneyland, this place is far rougher. Roller coasters, haunted hospitals, moon roulette rides…
Toru brought his girlfriend here for one simple reason. He wanted to see her scared and adorable reactions.
Seika is twenty seven this year, yet still sleeps with a teddy bear every night. This sort of place hits all of Toru's mischievous buttons. The contrast is irresistible.
"A… are we really going to ride that?"
The moment she enters the simulation, Seika sees the massive roller coaster waiting at the end of the long line.
She had barely visited amusement parks before.
She had taken Nijika to Disneyland a few times, but since Nijika was always scared, they never dared try anything thrilling, like roller coasters or pirate ships.
I definitely cannot scream.
As the older one, the older sister type, she absolutely must protect her dignity.
"When you're scared, sister, just hold my hand."
Toru leans close, breathing in the soft scent of her hair.
Seika pulls back a little at his sudden nearness, but remembering they are siblings and lovers, she forces herself to bear it.
"What's wrong?"
Toru notices something off about her today.
How should he describe it?
A bit more like an adult. Normally, when Seika acted spoiled with him, she was very good at it.
For example.
Whenever they were getting intimate in bed, if he called her sister, she would hide her face in embarrassment and turn into a sweet little girlfriend. Adorably shy.
But today feels different.
"N… nothing. What you did just now tickled a bit." Seika leans on his shoulder.
Professional actress Seika is committed to playing the role.
She is going all out.
She doesn't care if people call her a ridiculous older woman acting cute.
…
Sister is quite funny today.
Toru wraps an arm around her and murmurs, "People are looking at us, sister."
The moment he says that.
Seika freezes, then burrows into his chest like a startled marmot.
She refuses to move.
"Really not letting go?"
"No."
If I let go, my dignity will be gone.
We're an older woman and younger man couple, we must look super obvious.
"Sister's outfit today is beautiful. I'm happy you're holding me like this, but I can't see your outfit at all, which makes me a little sad."
Honestly…
With Toru at one meter eighty and Seika at one meter seventy, they don't look like a large age gap couple.
For starters.
Toru's face isn't that boyish.
And Seika looks young for her age.
From a stranger's perspective, they look like a loving university couple.
"Where did you learn lines like that?"
Seika calms down enough to let him go.
"Previous life maybe?" Toru answers lightly.
Counting them all together.
He has run the simulation seven times.
And dated five girlfriends.
After so many relationships, if he still couldn't sweet talk, he would have wasted his lives.
He also mastered plenty of romantic tricks along the way.
"So that means little Toru didn't drink the water of the river of forgetfulness?"
"Want to check for yourself?"
The next second, as Seika stares at him in a daze, Toru kisses her.
Sweet river water flows through a soft, skillful bridge.
Into Seika's mouth.
They exchange the water.
Five seconds later.
Seika lightly bites his restless tongue.
She lets go.
Covering her mouth with both hands, she steps back, face burning.
"You…"
Just as she is about to finish, she stubbornly says, "Next time you kiss me, tell me first."
Sneak attacks like that…
They are too sneaky.
And to think her first real kiss ended up with tongue involved.
It was far too strange.