Toru stared at the list of mods, unable to make a decision for a long time.
In terms of rewards, Puberty Syndrome was undoubtedly the best choice…
Parasite and Tokyo Ghoul sounded frightening just from the names. Toru felt that his style did not match anything like that.
But unfortunately, the reward coefficient for Puberty Syndrome was simply too high.
In this simulation, Toru planned to pick a random profession.
It naturally came with a 1000 percent reward bonus. Adding another 300 percent on top would be wasteful extravagance.
He had already asked the simulator.
[Within 10 years, each mod can only be used once.]
Once used, he could not refresh it again.
Wait, ten years?
Would Toru still need that 300 percent bonus by then?
"I'll save it for next time. This round, I'll choose something else..."
After thinking it over, he chose number 3.
[3. Rare Disease: In this simulation you will obtain a unique special illness. Reward bonus +120 percent]
Alright, that would do.
[Notice, mod enabled!]
Next came the profession.
He selected 4. Random.
[Randomizing…]
[Your profession for this life has been determined——]
[Teacher (A teacher is one who passes on knowledge and answers doubts. Facing teenagers in their youth, how will you fulfill your duty?)]
Toru had expected something strange. He never imagined it would be so normal.
[April 5, the start of the first year of high school.]
[You have confirmed your career for this life: Teacher.]
[Recently you have sensed your body weakening, your thoughts hazy, and you often forget things.]
[You have acquired debuff:
Memory of a Fish (any concept related to friends cannot stay in your mind for more than a week. Every Monday, you will forget all memories regarding friends. Note: family is not included.)]
So that was it?
Toru had expected something much worse.
————
Inside Kita's room.
"Start gently, slowly raising Kitahara-kun's affection?"
Kita considered her strategy.
She had no idea that, thanks to Toru's choices, her odds of success in this simulation were nearly zero.
If she could not even remain his friend, how could she possibly win him over?
[April 5.]
[A beautiful season when cherry blossoms bloom.]
[The spring wind brushes your youthful cheeks. On this day, you become a high school student.]
High school entrance?
Kita thought the overlevel function really was impressive, it could manipulate the timeline.
She could approach Kitahara-kun early, before anyone in Kessoku Band met him.
Cut off the harem route at the root.
This time, Kita wanted him all to herself.
As for whether she could handle it later, she would worry about that then.
[At the start of the new year, you are assigned to Class 1-4.]
[Within a short few minutes, with your strong social skills, you find two like-minded friends.]
[By chance, you notice a handsome boy sitting alone at a corner of the room. No one dares to talk to him.]
[He is not a delinquent. People simply feel inferior in front of him——]
[Toru, a former child actor. Last year he temporarily left the entertainment industry and enrolled in Shuuka High.]
[Toru is a rising star among young actors. You have seen his shows. You understand that it is natural for classmates to react like this when a celebrity suddenly appears.]
…
[Moments later, some girls blush and walk toward him with notebooks, hoping for an autograph.]
[Toru does not refuse. He gives a cold nod.]
[Within minutes, he is surrounded by a crowd.]
[Seeing this, you decide——]
[1. Join the girls.]
[2. Stay sober while everyone else chases idols.]
[3. Kiss him forcefully, break his false mask of strength, and enter his heart.]
[4. Simulate personally.]
"The first choice came really fast."
Kita considered her options.
What was the difference between asking for an autograph or not?
Asking meant admitting she was a fan. Not asking meant she was not…
As for the forced-kiss option, Kita abandoned it without hesitation.
Such a perfect start should not be wasted recklessly.
Pick 2.
Play it steady and watch.
[You think for a few seconds and do not follow the crowd.]
[For the next half month, you continue your daily life.]
[One month ago, during spring break,]
[Yamada Ryo, whom you admire, joined a freshly formed band.]
[For her, you even took out a loan to buy a guitar and joined Kessoku Band, but sadly, you have no idea how to play.]
[After memorizing practice for a month, you achieved nothing.]
[There are only fifteen days left until your first performance.]
[You must consider whether this is the only chance in your entire life!]
[Your terrible guitar skills mean you need to find a teacher.]
[For Ryo-senpai, you must do so.]
[At this point, you think——]
[1. You see a girl from another class named Gotoh Hitori, who carries a guitar every day. Ask her for help!]
[2. Toru is a piano prince, he might know how to play guitar.]
[3. Flee the battlefield, retreat!]
Huh… why had the plot returned to the band route again?
Though surprised, Kita began planning her move.
The third option was something she had chosen in reality once.
She would not repeat that mistake.
The first option, asking Gotoh-san for help, approaching her early… hmm, that was not a bad thing.
But…
"Sorry, Gotoh-san, the second choice is too tempting."
She chose 2.
[With zero music theory knowledge, you decide to seek out Kitahara-kun for advice.]
[But what stands before you is Toru's cold and unapproachable attitude.]
[Even after all this time, Toru still has no friends in class. The reason is his icy manner. It is as if an invisible wall surrounds him, pushing away all goodwill.]
"Cold? That can't be."
In Kita's impression,
Toru had always been a bright, cheerful boy, gentle and kind, never rejecting or excluding anyone.
[One noon, you approach Toru.]
["Kitahara-kun, hello. May I ask you something?"]
[With sheet music in hand, you ask the boy who is napping.]
["No." A muffled voice.]
[Without even lifting his head, Toru keeps resting on his desk.]
[A poor start. You try several more times in the following days, but fail.]
[Toru is like an unmeltable block of ice.]
[You decide to switch targets.]