"Wha—?!"
The blue-haired girl lying on the bed jolted awake, her eyes snapping open as if from a nightmare. Sitting up on the soft, pure-white bedding, she gasped in small, rapid breaths. The scene around her was no longer the café, and that voice by her ear, words that had felt like a curse, was gone.
Before her was nothing but an ordinary tatami floor and a slightly aged paper sliding door. She sat in the cramped little room for a long while, unable to gather her thoughts.
"I… I came back from the 'dream'…?"
Sakiko tentatively reached up and pinched her pudding-soft cheek. The faint tug and the sting of pain made her eyes widen. The dampness in the air and the vivid physical sensations told her beyond any doubt, this was reality.
This was her apartment, the same place she had been before falling into the [Loop].
The last thing she remembered was the black-haired boy taking her hand and leading her out of the dark room...
The memories from that dreamscape were still crystal clear in her mind. Everything that had just happened had been real.
…
Growing quieter, she slowly lifted her right hand. For all the surreal and nearly soul-breaking things she had just been through, her hand was oddly calm and steady.
The lingering warmth from holding his hand still seemed to remain in her palm.
Now, Sakiko was certain that she had returned from the dream.
"…So my guess was right after all. The 'node' to end the time loop really was tied to Haru."
"I was able to escape the dream because… the final 'winner' was… me?"
Murmuring to herself, the girl bit down hard on her dry, delicate lips. Her eyes brimmed with moisture, and she could only tilt her head back slightly to stop herself from crying. But that joy, rising from the depths of her heart, couldn't be suppressed.
All she could do was let out a few cute whimpers, hugging her pillow and rolling back and forth on the bed.
She won?
After almost a hundred restarts in that endless looping 'dream', no matter how hard she tried, no matter how flawless her plans seemed, she always met with crushing defeat.
Even Mutsumi Wakaba, whom she had considered harmless, had once crushed her courage in a direct confrontation.
And yet in the end, by letting herself fall apart, she had somehow cleared a victory condition she had never managed before.
"…But I never even properly confessed to Haru at the end!"
"It's bad enough that I looked that pathetic, but in the end he was the one who dragged me out…"
She clenched her pink fists, her heart awash in an overwhelming mix of shame and frustration. But Sakiko felt no anger, only a faint smile on her beautiful face.
She knew full well she had only been putting up a brittle shell of 'strength'. The real her was ugly, cowardly, and weak. And yet, even when that side of her had been laid bare, Haru had still faced her with the same smile.
Only Haru could have pulled her out of that darkness.
"I can accept being weak in his arms, but I can't accept staying that way forever… I want to be able to walk at his side!"
She didn't regret entering that 'dream'. In fact, she was grateful for the training it had given her. At the very least, she could now face the overflowing feelings in her heart head-on.
No matter what, she would tell him those feelings in her own voice.
The real Sakiko would never hand Haru over to another girl again.
With her resolve set, Sakiko quickly stood up, nearly running straight to the entrance.
But the moment she slipped on her little lace-edged white socks, stepped into her loafers, and opened the door, she realized that the outside world was pitch-black.
Only then did it hit her: it was 5:30 in the morning. This wasn't the endless day of the dream.
"Seriously… what am I in such a hurry for?"
At this hour, Haru was surely asleep. She couldn't actually go bother him now.
If she barged in at this time, she'd probably be branded a weirdo before she even got her confession out.
…
Sakiko pressed a hand against her chest, breathing steadily to calm her racing heart.
Stay calm. Stay calm!
In the dream, how many times had she failed from acting on impulse?
How many chances had she let slip away because she wasn't thinking clearly?
What she needed to do now was get a good night's sleep. If she was going to see him tomorrow, she had to keep her skin in perfect condition. As a girl, that was non-negotiable.
With that in mind, Sakiko lay back down, pulling her small blanket over her face.
"At this point, there's nothing left to be afraid of."
…
[Faced with the 'inevitability' already set in your heart, you have never hesitated to act.]
[The despondent Sakiko hid in her room, too afraid to step out, but you dragged her out with your own strength. You thought she might be angry, or maybe smile at you, but instead, she just buried herself in your arms and cried her heart out.]
[In just a few minutes, her tears had soaked through your shirt. You could only stroke her hair in comfort, dabbing away the redness at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Watching those endless tears, you couldn't help thinking to yourself, "Girls really are made of water."]
[No matter the process, you succeeded in bringing her out of that room.]
[Sakiko's affection for you has grown. Your relationship has deepened.]
"Haa…"
Seeing the text on the simulation panel, Haru let out a long breath. He had just exited [VR Simulation], and though the process had left him a little tired, the joy of achieving results far outweighed the fatigue.
He slumped back into his chair, completely relaxed.
If nothing went wrong, things should progress normally from here.
After all, he knew himself better than anyone that seeing Sakiko cry like a little kitten in that simulation… there was no way he wouldn't fall for her.
"Still, I can't get complacent. I've got to run the simulation all the way to the end."
Rubbing his temples, Haru refocused on the panel.
[Since that day, your interactions with Sakiko have grown more frequent. You've realized you care more and more about her. Her reckless disregard for her own health in her work still makes you uneasy.]
[So you start helping with her band's work, taking care of her day-to-day needs, and lightening her burdens where you can.]
[You thought her strong pride might make her reject such one-sided help.]
[But to your surprise, her response is the exact opposite. She happily accepts the lunch you make for her, and she doesn't refuse your offers to share her workload.]
[The face that was always tense is now softening, like snow in early spring.]
[She's smiling more and more.]
[Only now do you realize, this might be her truest self.]
[Your relationship is getting closer. So you decide...]
[1. Jump high at sunset to get her attention.]
[2. Play the "Happy Sachiko" game with her, rumor says it keeps two friends together forever.]
[3. Cop a feel to test her reaction.]
[4. Virtual reality, Direct Simulation.]
"…What are these options even supposed to be?"
Haru's face stiffened. Whether it was jumping at sunset or playing "Happy Sachiko," there was something undeniably off about them, like they were designed to be wrong.
By process of elimination, the least absurd option here… was copping a feel?
After a moment's thought, Haru picked the most shameless choice.
Yes, he would like to cop a feel.
Haru was aiming for the kind of route where he and Sakiko would go from school uniforms to wedding dresses, from dating to marriage.
That so-called "game that lets friends be together forever" was totally out of the question, if they were going to play something, it should be a lovers' game!
Besides, their relationship by now had probably gone beyond ordinary friendship. They could talk about anything, so there was no need to go around "attracting her attention."
All things considered, "copping a feel" was the best choice!
[Testing the waters is a good way to determine the status and feelings between two people. You decide to try copping a feel.]
On the empty rooftop, there was only a single bench large enough for two.
The beautiful, blue-haired girl sat quietly beside him, her expression calm.
In her hands was a delicately prepared, colorful bento.
With elegant, refined movements, she used her slender fingers to work the chopsticks, picking up each dish one by one.
Every time she tasted something, she would close those crystal-clear eyes just a little in delight.
In a daze, her gentle, light praise spilled from her lips...
"It's delicious today too! It's almost like magic~ Haru, how do you make food taste this good?"
"It started with last year's baseball game…"
He started to answer without thinking, but when he noticed Sakiko looking puzzled, he coughed lightly and said casually:
"If you practice regularly, it'll come naturally.
And my bentos aren't something you'll get every day."
Sakiko blinked at this teasing remark.
"Eh? But I want to eat it every day."
The blue-haired girl tilted her swan-like neck slightly.
Warm spring sunlight shimmered in her eyes, making her smile shine brilliantly like poetry or a painting, radiating pure and beautiful charm.
Haru just raised an eyebrow at her reaction.
"You're being greedy. Even a boss can't push an employee like that."
"…B-but I really do want to eat your cooking every day."
Without realizing it, she had slipped into her "o-jousama" refined speech.
Strangely, hearing it from her didn't feel odd at all. In fact, it carried a certain charm.
Haru propped his chin on his hand, smiling slightly.
"If that's the case, then give me a lap pillow as payment."
"Eh?"
Her cheeks instantly turned the color of the sunset.
Flustered and unsure of what to do, she was silent for a moment before nodding slightly, carefully placing the bento beside her.
Under his gaze, she offered the soft folds of her skirt and the smooth black over-the-knee socks.
But he didn't move right away, just watched her.
After waiting a long time without him doing anything, her ears burning hot, Sakiko suppressed her embarrassment and whispered, almost inaudibly:
"Please… feel free to use it."
Only a saint could resist that.
Haru didn't hesitate.
He gently laid his head on her slender, soft thighs.
The smooth texture of her socks, along with a faint, clean fragrance, made him raise an eyebrow slightly.
Without giving her time to adjust, he also took her small piano-playing hands and held them in his own.
Sakiko sat frozen, not daring to move, but a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Haru, is this enough for you?"
"Well, unless you want to kiss me too?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the scent of bellflowers brushed against his nose.
Blushing furiously, she adjusted his head slightly, then before he could react, quickly leaned down.
The empty rooftop was now filled only by the two hearts beating together.
[You may not have expected it, but the one who usually dominates was the one to take your first kiss this time.]
[From the moment you "tested" her, the thin membrane between you was pierced.
From now on, you are no longer restricted to the actions allowed between "friends."]
[Your feelings have become deeply entwined.]
[You and Sakiko are now lovers.]
Haru slowly opened his eyes, the memory still fresh in his mind.
"Wait, this is Sakiko we're talking about?"
From the very beginning, she had been dropping hints left and right, and the moment he inched closer, she couldn't hold herself back and went straight for it.
It was hard to believe that the girl in his memories, always stiff-faced and unable to be honest was the same person.
The difference was just too much.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
It seemed that maybe the "choices" didn't matter much after all.
Even if he backed off, she would still close the distance.
Becoming lovers was inevitable, it was just a matter of whether it happened sooner or later.
Perhaps the moment he pulled her out of that room, their fates had already been bound together.
[Now that you are lovers, your way of interacting changes drastically.]
[Sakiko completely lets go of her "pride." Without the sharp shell protecting her, she is soft as water. Her beautiful, spring-like smile often leaves you dazed, and she often takes advantage of that, glancing around before tiptoeing up to share her love with you.]
[She is bold, far bolder than you expected.]
[Despite having no experience with romance, and only learning about it from shoujo manga, she is far bolder than you imagined.
Even if it's only ten seconds in an elevator, she'll make a passionate move on you.]
[Naturally, this change in your relationship attracts attention.]
[The other members of Mygo, who had been preparing for their next live, seem shaken.
They still practice as usual, but behind the scenes, they seem quietly heartbroken.]
[You thought they would bury these feelings, but they surprised you again.]
[At Mygo's debut live performance, they all confessed to you.]
"…Huh?"
Haru was stunned, he hadn't expected that.
In past simulations, once he confirmed a relationship with someone, the others usually never expressed their feelings.
But now? All of them confessed, wasn't that openly challenging Sakiko?
[They seemed to have decided beforehand to confess to you in turn.
But you knew you couldn't accept their feelings now.
After apologizing sincerely and turning them all down, they accepted it… but vowed not to give up.]
[If Sakiko ever wronged you, they would openly steal you away.]
[When Sakiko heard about this, she personally apologized to all of Mygo and declared she would accept their "supervision."]
Haru couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
In front of him, the simulated Sakiko was like a clingy, docile kitten.
But in front of her "love rivals," she was the same as ever, strong and serious.
She laid everything bare before them, apologized, and then, right in front of everyone, took his hand.
To others, this was practically the same as a direct provocation.
[You and Sakiko were like the "brain" and the "heart" of the band.
Under your joint management, Ave Mujica's performances achieved overwhelming success.
Already a professional-level band far beyond the ordinary, you both easily stepped onto the very top rung of the strength ladder, showcasing everything you had to the world.]
[Ave Mujica, with an unstoppable momentum, earned the qualification to perform at the Budokan.]
[Preparing for the Budokan Live didn't necessarily require your personal involvement, but Sakiko, long accustomed to handling everything herself decided to take on most of the work alone.
As her lover, you naturally chose to stand by her side, but that meant the two of you would be pulling all-nighters for several days in a row to get everything done.]
[And so, after some discussion between you, Sakiko showed up at your place with her luggage.]
[You and Sakiko began living together.]