It did not take long for him to get home from the café.
Normally, he would be on the sofa with Little Wooden Doll in his arms, watching TV. But today, the strange hunch brought on by the "simulation" lingered in his mind, making Haru focus all his attention on it first.
He went to his bed and, for the first time in a while, opened the simulation interface.
[Remaining simulations — 114]
[Confirmed simulation target — Togawa Sakiko]
[Begin simulation?]
Haru stared at the three-digit number with a subtle look. Even though the rewards from "close contact" with the target were limited, the accumulation over time was impressive.
Every simulation count could be "reset," which was like having over a hundred extra lives stacked on him. Even if he directly chose "VR simulation" every time, it would hardly make a dent in his current resources.
"I've never fought such a rich battle before."
He could not help making a mental joke as he slowly closed his black eyes, steadying his mood and focusing.
How many times had he married Sakiko in these simulations already? Entering hers carried zero pressure now.
If someone asked him whether he could even fail to clear her simulation on his first try, Mr. Kazami would probably answer with smug confidence:
"Nah, I'd win."
[Begin simulation]
[You have now fully demonstrated your abilities to others. Whether in music or art, creations that others find unimaginable come to you as naturally as breathing.]
[At only sixteen years old, you have already earned distinction in the world's cultural scene, yet your steps keep moving forward.]
[But this enviable career means little to you. What truly gives you peace of mind is an ordinary, calm daily life. Even with talents that could easily put you at the top, you choose to stay behind the scenes, working only as "Staff Member M" for three bands at once.]
[You can clearly sense that your relationships have grown more complicated. Without realizing it, you've built mutual trust with several girls. You know each of them may harbor special feelings for you, yet even though a single word could turn those feelings into reality, you still choose to walk your path alone.]
"…Wait a second."
Haru's expression turned odd, and he sat up to stare at the words on the screen.
"I 'walk my path alone'?"
What worldline is this supposed to be?
The moment he saw that phrase, his expression froze.
He thought back to the time when he faced simultaneous confessions from Chihaya Anon and Ikuyo Kita. The simulation, to force him into a "pure love" route, had gone so far as to remove his "VR simulation" option.
"…So because the real-life harem is already set in stone, the simulation forcibly 'corrects' itself?"
Haru almost laughed out of frustration. But thinking about it, it did fit the simulator's habits.
This so-called [Ultimate Romance Simulator] was forcibly aligning the simulation with reality. While the idea of it breaking character like this was a little jarring, given that simulations "had" to follow a single-route romance rule, if the simulation matched real life and he dated everyone, would it then still force him to marry only one person?
[After ending your talk with Yuutenji Nyamu, you finally arrive home. You think over today's conversation with her and realize that, even if she has temporarily chosen to compromise with you for now, there may come a day when her nature drives her to stab you in the back in spectacular fashion.]
[The connection between you is based solely on a thin veneer of mutual interest.]
[However, this is also a starting point for you and her.]
[Your relationship with Yuutenji Nyamu has deepened.]
"…Weird. Something feels off."
A flicker of wariness rose in Haru's eyes, his instincts alert.
In previous simulations, options would appear almost immediately after [Begin Simulation], because the choices he made would subtly shape his simulated thoughts. The very first choice often hinted at the general direction of the run.
It was also one of the standard patterns at the start of every simulation.
But this time, the simulation was developing directly from the "real" timeline, and without giving him any choices, it had already advanced his relationship with Nyamu-sensei.
What was going on?
[A new day. Last month, you promised Misumi Uika that you would go on a date at the planetarium. To fulfill that promise, you arrive on time. The original plan was for a "three-person date," but because Takamatsu Tomori had something come up at the last minute, it ends up becoming a private date for just you and Misumi Uika.]
[The "private date" at the planetarium feels unique to you. The blonde girl sitting beside you wears a look of enjoyment almost the entire time, as if simply being with you, no matter what you were doing, was enough for her to feel this pure and unshakable happiness.]
[Every change in her expression radiates genuine emotion. Even when Misumi Uika only glances at you quietly, you can still see that lingering joy in her eyes. Yet as nothing more than friends, you both spend the entire date politely keeping the proper distance.]
[You think the date was very fulfilling.]
"No options? Still no options?"
Haru looked at the ever-extending storyline in surprise. Even now, he had not been given a single choice to make.
In the blink of an eye, he had gone to the planetarium with Uika, yet there had been no chance for him to choose anything himself.
Normally, the early stage of a simulation had the most choices. Once the story advanced far enough into a set route, options would stop appearing. Right now, Haru seemed to have run into exactly that kind of unusual case.
The simulator kept pushing the plot forward, and all he could do was watch helplessly.
[After the program at the planetarium ends, you and Misumi Uika take a walk through Ikebukuro Central Park.]
[She talks with you excitedly about all kinds of things along the way, from everyday matters to friendship, to band practice and even school courses. She shares her feelings with you, wanting simply to pass along her own happiness.]
[You realize you are slowly being drawn to her.]
…
Togawa Sakiko felt exhausted.
After returning from the café to the messy, worn-down apartment, she instinctively frowned at the living room piled high with beer cans.
She lifted her foot, only to accidentally kick over a half-finished beer. The spilled liquid dampened her shoes and white socks.
The sudden rush of frustration and disappointment churned in her stomach, but gritting her teeth, she bent down to clean up the mess. Only after clearing a narrow path through the clutter did she collapse onto the futon with a weary expression.
|1.68 billion yen | that was the amount her father had lost in the family business.
Once a bright and capable man, her father had changed completely after her mother passed away. Especially after being cast out of the Togawa household due to the business loss, he had fallen into utter ruin, losing all the vigor he once had.
Now he was nothing more than a drunkard drowning himself in alcohol every day.
But Sakiko still believed that the man who had worked so hard in the past could rise again. So when the Togawa family tried to stop her, she had not hesitated, choosing instead to follow her unreliable father.
"…And this is the result?"
Sitting in her cramped bedroom, hugging her pale knees, Sakiko's eyes were filled with fatigue and disappointment.
Even after "leaving," she was still the Togawa family's sole daughter and heir. She could return to the family mansion at any moment without issue. But her pride would not allow that. She could not throw away everything she had worked for until now.
She would not be afraid, nor would she regret it.
…
Sakiko pressed her thumb to her temple in a small massage, a method she had picked up from "someone."
If she had not left the Togawa family to live independently, she might never have met him at that little out-of-the-way café. Just being able to meet the person she truly liked, the one fate had destined her to encounter, meant she could never regret her choice.
Thinking of that confident, handsome boy with the smirk, a faint smile softened her tired eyes.
"…I should sleep early today."
Tomorrow was Ave Mujica's practice. Lately, she had been working to perfect every detail in preparation for the next performance.
If the show was not flawless, Ave Mujica's image would be ruined.
To catch up to or even surpass well-known bands in a short time, there was only one thing she could do.
Work desperately, without holding back.
She was a genius, but a genius who worked herself to the bone.
Sakiko was determined to prove her worth through her own effort. She would gain enough status through Ave Mujica to openly do what she wanted and confess her feelings to the one she loved.
No matter how hard she had to push herself, she would do it.
…
Her thoughts swirled until her eyes finally closed. Already worn out, she fell asleep within a few breaths.
But the next moment, Sakiko suddenly "opened" her eyes. Confused, she found herself holding a stack of papers clearly labeled "Ave Mujica Training Plan." The abrupt change left her stunned, unable to recover for a long while.
"Am… am I dreaming?"
Sakiko looked up in disbelief. The scene around her felt unreal, leaving her at a loss.
She studied the detailed training plan in her hands, then noticed she was standing inside the café, fully dressed. But she clearly remembered being at home just a moment ago, already curled up in bed, ready to sleep.
"What… what is going on?"
Was this reality, or a dream?
If she was awake, why wasn't she in the cramped, rundown apartment? But if this was only a "dream," why did she have such a clear mind?
Completely frozen, Sakiko sniffed the air slightly. The rich aroma of coffee beans unique to the café drifted through the air. If this was a dream, she shouldn't be able to smell anything.
Could it be that this was actually reality, and what happened in the apartment had only been a dream?
"Assistant manager, it's almost closing time."
A staff member's voice snapped her out of her daze, making Sakiko turn quickly.
"R-right… I'll head out now."
Flustered, Sakiko stuffed the "training plan" back into her bag. The confusing turn of events left her dizzy, unable to tell dream from reality. She grabbed her bag and hurried toward the door, but the more she tried to stay calm, the more restless she felt inside.
When a person loses their sense of security and is gripped by fear, they instinctively seek the thing that comforts them most.
Sakiko had great confidence in her memory. She clearly remembered everything leading up to returning to the apartment earlier. Yet she could not recall what she had done before arriving at Rabbit House, as if she had simply appeared there out of thin air.
"Wait..."
Even without keeping her composure, Togawa Sakiko remained sharp and quick-witted.
Instinctively, she pulled out her phone from her bag. When her eyes fell on the date displayed on the screen, she froze in place.
December… ninth?
…
Under the night sky, Sunshine City glowed with a warm orange light. From the sloped stairway leading away from the planetarium, dazzling neon lights spread in every direction, and when one looked up, it felt as though the whole world was engulfed by an orange ocean.
The central fountain shimmered with a bewitching hue under the lights, the rippling water catching the glow.
The girl standing before him had her hands gently clasped behind her back, her eyes watching him from the corner of her gaze.
A simple beige baseball cap could not hide the golden silk of her long hair, and her oversized sunglasses could not conceal her breathtaking beauty. Yet the girl seemed not to care about any of that. She strolled ahead, then turned her head back toward him with a radiant smile.
"I'm really, really grateful to you, Haru-kun. I honestly didn't expect you would spend the day with me."
"I've been so happy all day!"
Haru only smiled and lightly shook his head, unable to resist teasing her a little.
"That's not true. I think spending today with you was absolutely the right choice."
"If anything, I feel like the time was a bit too short."
"Eh? Haru-kun thinks so too?"
Her face flushed like a rose in sudden bloom, the refined beauty of her features touched with surprise. Beneath the cover of her sunglasses, her eyes shifted nervously, the slight droop of her lashes betraying the feelings she kept hidden in her heart.
After only a moment of hesitation, Uika slowly removed her sunglasses and cap.
Her long golden hair, grown out and now like an art piece, flowed over her shoulders. Her delicate face showed a faint, wine-like flush. Before Haru could speak, she said on her own,
"Since there aren't many people around, I thought I could take them off for just a moment."
"Don't worry, I'll put them back on right away!"
Flustered, she waved her small hand, then lowered her gaze toward him with a hopeful look.
"I've had such a wonderful time today, but there's one last little selfish thing I want to ask…"
"Haru, could you hold my hand, just for a bit?"
Haru blinked at the request, instinctively glancing at her pale, delicate hands.
"…Is that not okay?"
Uika seemed to know that tilting her head like that made her look cute. Her lips pressed together in nervous anticipation, the natural glow of her skin shimmering under the amber light.
With such an endearing request, Haru found it impossible to even think of refusing.
He let out a small, helpless sigh and slowly reached out his right hand.
"Just this once. Next time, you'll have to pay a hand-holding fee."
"I will!"
Uika's face lit up with delight, the slight sway of her expression so adorable it made one's heart soften.
Carefully, she reached out and took his hand. Then, like a climber feeling for footholds along a rock wall, she inched toward something deeper, until ordinary hand-holding became fingers interlaced, hearts connected.
Only after completing this did she lower her head, shy yet thrilled.
…
[Your relationship with Uika has deepened]
[Your affection for Uika has increased]
…
Haru stared silently at the scrolling text on the simulator panel, a strange feeling settling in his chest.
The fragments of memory flooding his mind threw his thoughts into confusion, but knowing the simulator's usual quirks, he quickly calmed himself, pinching the bridge of his nose and forcing himself into a steady state of mind.
"No choices at all, and yet I'm already getting memory fragments."
"From the very start, the simulator hasn't given me a single option. It's been running entirely on its own, and in just a blink, I'm already this close to Uika. If nothing unexpected happens next… this will go straight into her route and keep going until the simulation ends."
One hundred and fourteen simulation runs, and at this moment, they were completely useless?
"Is this a bug caused by the influence of 'reality' or… ?"
Haru narrowed his eyes, as if something had just clicked.
Either way, he decided to keep the simulation going.
[Time advances]
[You find Uika appearing before you more and more often, yet she always keeps just the right distance so you never grow tired of her. In truth, you are gradually developing genuine feelings for her, so you have no resistance to her natural closeness]
[When both sides choose to accept each other, everything falls naturally into place]
[You and Uika have become lovers]
[Her love for you is hidden in her heart yet overflows in her actions. This contradictory yet pure affection makes her seem a little clumsy in your eyes. To be with you openly, she chooses to leave the idol stage. Even if it means giving up her successful career and bright future, she does so without hesitation]
[Because she truly, deeply loves you]
[Simulation ended]
[Score: 21 (Poor)]
[Evaluation: The bond between you and her seems enviable, yet the red string of fate never tied your fingers together. Until the very end, she never took the most important first step toward you. This means the two of you could never cross the chasm of regret. Perhaps from the very start, you had already abandoned 'destiny']
[You have received a score of (Poor), reward:
Soyo's Recon and Counter-Recon Lv.3 increased to Lv.4]
"…Just as I thought?"
Haru let out a deep breath, his feelings complicated.
"This simulator would never give me a run with zero opportunities—unless it really bugged out. Which means… there's something I didn't notice?"
After a moment's thought, he lifted his head, recalling the memory fragments that had just appeared.
Those memories were completely different from the simulator's text descriptions. From the text alone, it was clear something was off... there had been no selectable options from start to finish.
But in the images in his mind, Haru's brow furrowed deeply.
"Uika… weren't you being a little too bold?"
"I can't shake the feeling that she was unusually forward during this date, almost like she wasn't acting the same as usual."
Could it really be that she was just too happy about going on a date with him?
No… if that's all it was, that's kind of disappointing.
Haru slowly shook his head as his thoughts scattered. This kind of subtle, nagging sense couldn't be unraveled just by overthinking. Better to restart the simulation and see what happened. He had no idea what kind of path it might take this time.
After all, if there was one thing he had in abundance, it was simulation runs. Worst case, he'd just stack them one after another!
"Let's restart the simulation."
[Remaining simulation runs — 113]
[Simulation start]
Haru was determined to see exactly what the simulator was hiding.
…
"Assistant Manager, it's almost closing time, you know?"
The sudden voice beside her made Togawa Sakiko's slender frame jolt violently. The blonde waitress in a black-and-white café uniform had startled her so badly that she cried out something incoherent and stumbled several steps back, her bewildered expression almost comically out of place.
She stood there, breathing in shallow, uneven gasps, her pale face visibly drained of color.
But Sakiko knew perfectly well, it was nothing more than the aftershocks of being startled out of her skin.
"A–Assistant Manager? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
Her reply came automatically, but in the next moment, her face settled into that calm, resolute expression.
As if determined not to let anyone see a crack in her composure, the cool, blue-haired girl briskly took the bag of coffee beans from her coworker's hands, then turned toward the other staff and spoke in a level voice.
"I'll handle the rest of tonight's shift. You all can go home and get some rest, don't worry about the store. I'll explain things to the manager later."
"Eh? But, Assistant Manager..."
"That's enough. Off you go!"
Her tone was firm enough to leave no room for argument, and she all but shooed the evening shift workers out the door. Only then did the blue-haired girl sit down. Her calm and unflinching demeanor was only skin-deep, her neck and forehead were already faintly damp with sweat.
Togawa Sakiko was forcing herself to stay calm.
She took a deep breath, then unlocked her phone.
December ninth.
"I… I've gone back in time? Why is this happening?"
Those words from the waitress, this was the second time she had heard them.
Sakiko's expression was heavy, tinged with unease. Even if she had a strong heart, she was still an ordinary high school girl. To wake up after a single night's sleep and find herself in such a bizarre situation… anyone would have trouble staying composed.
Now she understood... this wasn't the real world.
This was a dream. And not just any dream, one caught in an endless time loop.
"What… what is going on with this dream? Am I… am I going to be trapped here forever?"
A crushing sense of powerlessness made her whole body feel weak. With something so incomprehensible unfolding before her eyes, even Sakiko, who was biting her lip to keep her emotions in check, felt her eyes grow damp.
But the next moment, she bit down hard.
"No… crying won't solve anything!"
"I have to find a way. I must find a way to get out of here!"
She hadn't yet achieved her dream. She hadn't reconciled with the members of CRYCHIC. She hadn't led Ave Mujica to the top. And she certainly hadn't had the chance to tell him the feelings she'd been keeping buried in her heart.
Togawa Sakiko could not remain trapped here forever. She had to wake up from this dream.
"…"
In her fear and uncertainty, one person came to mind.
"If this is my dream… then that means Haru will be here too!"
With that thought, Sakiko lifted her head. The amber of her eyes like treasures on display in a museum glinted faintly, and without a moment's hesitation, she picked up her phone and called the one person she would normally never contact first.
It only rang for a few seconds before the line connected.
"I–Is that you, Haru?"
Her heart was pounding, her thoughts nearly spilling into a silent plea.
Please…
"Sakiko? What's wrong?"
The familiar voice flowed into her heart like a stream of clear water. The way she'd been flailing moments ago seemed to melt away, replaced by the curve of a faint, almost shy smile. In words she would never imagine herself saying in reality, she spoke:
"I want to see you. Could you… come to Rabbit House?"