[In just three short years of high school, you relied on your ever-improving piano skills to dominate competitions of all sizes, taking the top spot with overwhelming superiority. Your display of musical talent earned you a constant stream of awards.]
[Finally, at age eighteen, upon graduating from high school, you claimed first place at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.]
[Your reputation as a pianist gradually spread nationwide, among the younger generation, no one could compare to you.]
[As you continued to refine yourself, the once-more-skilled Sakiko could no longer keep pace. The harder her stubborn self practiced, the more she felt the gap between you.]
[Your hands seemed as if they were born to press the piano keys. Sitting at the instrument, your artistic realm had reached a level she could only look up to.]
[Yet, even struck by this reality, Sakiko did not collapse. Though she was a little disheartened that her talent could not rival yours, her heart was filled more with joy at your excellence, pride that came from the very depths of her being.]
[In your arms, she allowed herself to be soft, choosing to stand as the "wife" who supports you from behind.]
[With multiple international piano awards under your belt, you began to make a mark on the global stage. The prestigious Curtis Institute of Music extended you an invitation known as "the cradle of soloists," it is unmatched in fields such as composition, conducting, vocal performance, orchestral music, and keyboard, having produced several world-class musicians.]
[Faced with this, you decide...]
[1. Go abroad for further study, until your abilities are truly exceptional.]
[2. Give up this opportunity, you need to stay by Sakiko's side.]
A special option?
Haru had thought the simulator was steadily progressing the story by rights, there shouldn't have been another choice.
Yet in the blink of an eye, this special option suddenly popped up in front of him.
If he didn't react in time, the timed "special option" would automatically execute, potentially ruining all the effort that had finally gotten him onto Sakiko's route.
Without hesitation, he made his choice...
Going abroad was out of the question. How could he leave Sakiko alone here?
…
The phone screen in front of him glowed softly, displaying a short message.
[I've just finished bathing. Haru, can you come to my room a little earlier tonight?]
[There's something I want to talk to you about.]
Haru exhaled in relief as he read the message.
By now, Sakiko had been living with him for nearly three years. While their rented apartment had far more than two rooms, Sakiko insisted that as "lovers," they had to sleep together at night.
In her words: [If we're going to be husband and wife, what sense does it make to sleep in separate beds?]
Naturally, Haru couldn't win against her stubbornness, so he agreed to this small request without issue.
He went upstairs and opened the door.
The moment he stepped into the bedroom, he saw the blue-haired girl sitting on the bed. Wearing a pure white shirt and hugging a soft pillow, her flushed cheeks lifted slightly as she looked up at him.
The dim room was lit only by a faint glow, yet it was enough for the two to see each other's faces.
Her usual elegant braid and ribbon-tied ponytail were gone, her silky blue hair falling like a waterfall over her flawless shoulders. The loose white shirt did nothing to hide her graceful figure, and her lovely face was tinted with a blush like cherry blossoms.
"…P-please, sit."
Despite her shyness, Sakiko raised her head and met his gaze.
Haru smiled at her reserved posture and sat at the edge of the bed with practiced ease. At that moment, a faint scent of bellflowers drifted from her smooth hair into the air.
The blushing young lady said nothing, looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
Sensing her nervousness, Haru chuckled and asked:
"Why are you wearing my shirt tonight?"
"…Because I like the scent, and it's just right as sleepwear."
Suppressing her embarrassment, Sakiko quietly flipped the pillow in her arms.
Following the edge of the pillow with his eyes, Haru saw a large "YES" written across it. For two people already in a relationship, the meaning was more than obvious.
"I'll go get that thing? There should still be some left from before."
"…N-no need! Let's not use that tonight."
Sakiko leaned forward slightly, a trace of urgency in her voice. That unusually quick reaction instantly made Haru arch an eyebrow with knowing suspicion.
"Sakiko, what exactly do you want to say?"
"You'd better come clean!"
Realizing she'd been caught by her sharp-eyed boyfriend, the girl sitting on the bed pressed her crystal-pink lips together. The flush on her fair cheeks slowly gave way to a faint look of sadness.
But that gloom lasted only for a moment before it was replaced by firm resolve.
Taking a deep breath, she began:
"I saw the Curtis acceptance letter you hid. This is an incredible opportunity for you, Haru."
"To be able to study there as a specially invited student means you'll get the best teaching and treatment. In just a few years, by the time you graduate, your talent will surely make you one of the most famous musicians in the world. Your future is limitless!"
Haru looked at her in surprise, a faint realization dawning in his eyes.
"If I leave you, Sakiko… would you really be okay with that?"
The words were barely out before she lifted her head in agitation.
"Of course I can't stand you leaving me… but I'm not the kind of girl who's that selfish! As your lover, your future wife, I should think about your future. I can't let myself become some useless ornament that drags you down!"
"I can handle things on my own now! I can run Ave Mujica perfectly well by myself. My talent might not match yours… but you shouldn't hold back for my sake. You could go so much further."
"You should chase the best future you can. And when we meet again, years from now..."
Before she could finish, Haru's hand came down in a light karate chop.
Sakiko, eyes welling up, reflexively covered her forehead. The next thing she knew, her pudding-soft cheeks were being pulled outward by her expressionless black-haired boyfriend.
The faint sting made her whimper softly, but she had no way to resist, forced to endure his "attack."
When her cheeks were red from the pinching, Haru finally let go, frowning slightly.
"Sakiko, you really are selfish."
"Eh? I… I'm selfish!?"
Clutching her cheeks, she stared at him in disbelief. She'd been ready to endure years of loneliness for the sake of his future, yet the man she loved most was calling her selfish? Her eyes grew misty with wounded resentment.
"You didn't even think about my feelings, did you?"
That calm remark left her speechless.
When she lowered her head, eyes full of apology, Haru sighed softly. "My feelings are that I have no intention of leaving you. I'd rather give up that so-called 'better' future you speak of and stay with you."
"You're making me start to wonder whether you even like me, Sakiko."
"…I-I'm sorry."
Tears began falling from her eyes, one drop after another, though she tried to hold it back by pressing her lips together.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Haru couldn't help but relent. He sighed again and leaned forward slightly.
He wrapped his arms around her head, drawing her into his chest, and spoke in a gentle tone. "Besides, you're underestimating me far too much, ojou-sama. Do you really think that without studying at the best school abroad, my talent and skill can't still lead me to a better future?"
She froze for a moment, then nodded, eyes brimming with tears.
"…I understand. Haru… staying by my side is still the best."
Sniffling softly, she gave up on trying to push him away. She'd never wanted him to leave in the first place, her earlier words were only an attempt to avoid becoming a burden.
Now, all she could do was keep clinging to him.
"Haru, can you hold me while I sleep tonight?"
"No."
"Eh?"
His flat refusal made her blink in shock.
"After saying all that, you still think we're going to sleep? You're about to learn what 'discipline' means."
When it came to a selfish ojou-sama, the only solution was a full-force counterattack.
…
(Song: Luna Haruna - Overfly)[1]
[Believing that your talent would lead to success even without going abroad, you turned down the school's invitation after serious consideration. In the eyes of others, your attitude seemed unbearably arrogant.]
[But only the one closest to you, Sakiko, understood that you had that kind of absolute confidence.]
[After giving up the chance to study abroad, you put Sakiko through a rigorous session, she spent the entire night forced into piano performance and composition drills. Even when she cried and begged for mercy later on, you refused to let her off. In fact, because her begging was so cute, you subconsciously increased the pace of your duets.]
[Your composition skills continued to grow, each step steady and sure.]
[News of your rejection of the Curtis Institute naturally spread throughout the industry.]
[Many began doubting this "once-in-a-century" genius, saying your excessive arrogance would only lead to regret. Some opportunistic media outlets seized on the story, using it to draw traffic at your expense.]
[You were dubbed "Little Maksim" because of your arrogance, named after the classical piano master known for his pride and disdain for others. With such a title, you naturally became the target of both open and veiled ridicule.]
[You, of course, paid no mind to these hollow labels, though Togawa Sakiko often fumed so much over them that she could not sleep.]
[After graduating high school, you chose to enroll in Tokyo College of Music. With your exceptional ability and the school pouring all its resources into you, you absorbed knowledge and the essence of classical music at an astonishing pace.]
[Finally, at the age of twenty, you composed Black Fate. The moment it was released, it caused a sensation in the outside world.]
[Its Romantic classical style overflowed with intense artistic passion. What seemed like a radical shift in your composing style was, in truth, a natural result of emotional elevation. The piece earned you a retrospective award from the Brit Awards, and the outstanding achievement made you shine brilliantly on the international stage.]
[For a time, the entire industry was flooded with your name. The reputation of "Little Maksim" reversed overnight, and because of the similarity in classical composition style, you were even dubbed "The Soul of Beethoven." Whatever the case, you had become Japan's most elite musician.]
[In the same year, you and Togawa Sakiko became engaged.]
[Having reached full bloom, your achievements were already enough to leave a name in history. No one could find it strange that your bride was Sakiko, and the Togawa family formally recognized you as the one to marry away their sole heir.]
[However, the future required that you and she have multiple children, with at least one to inherit the Togawa family.]
"Black Fate, huh?"
"This title feels less like my style and more like Sakiko's."
Thinking this, Haru smiled knowingly, as if he was beginning to understand the mindset of his simulated self.
[Your wedding with her was held on a grand scale. The wife who often wore black gothic dresses with crimson ribbons in your band now appeared in stark contrast, wearing a pure white bridal kimono for the banquet that belonged only to you both.]
[The veil of white silk lightly draped over her long, azure hair. Her serene, waterlily-like eyes gazed at you with a smile.]
[On the wedding day, the two of you exchanged smiles almost in unison. Her smile was like pure moonlight, filled with elegance and romance. Pure happiness intertwined between you.]
[You married Togawa Sakiko.]
"So it finally came to this?"
Seeing the words "married," Haru finally let out a long sigh of relief.
In past simulations, it was all too easy to fall into a marriage route with Sakiko, but this time, the effort to reach this point had been extraordinary. Still, his efforts had finally paid off.
At this stage of the route, the ending was practically decided.
Back when he first entered Sakiko's route, the simulation's direction was already set. Haru had been polishing it ever since. Had he chosen to study abroad, even if they reunited years later, it would have left a lingering regret in Sakiko's heart.
And regret would mean a flaw in the simulation, which could directly affect the final outcome.
Haru gathered his thoughts and refocused on the simulation panel.
[On the night after the wedding banquet, you and Togawa Sakiko spent the entire night awake in your new home.]
[Whether it was the Togawa family's request to "have several children," or Sakiko's remark that "I could raise dozens," you were completely wrapped in her love and entanglement. In short, you decided to stay in this gentle bliss for the time being.]
[The wheel of time kept turning...]
[In the first year of marriage, Sakiko gave birth to a calm, composed, and highly gifted daughter. You named her Kazami Setsuki.]
[The next year, you had a second daughter. With her naturally graceful and confident demeanor, and a striking resemblance to your wife in her youth, you named her Kazami Shiori.]
[You and Sakiko held nothing back, and in the third year came your third daughter, Kazami Kurumi. Cheerful, lively, and romantic, she somehow got along better with her godmother, Wakaba Mutsumi, than with her own mother.]
"How many?"
Haru widened his eyes in disbelief. He really had not expected that he and Sakiko could produce three in just three years.
Even knowing the Togawa family wanted an heir, wasn't this a bit much? He could hardly imagine the usually aloof and reserved Sakiko being so uninhibited after marriage.
Playing around was one thing, but this was without the slightest restraint.
[Kazami Setsuki inherited your piano talent and her mother's beauty. At only eight years old, she debuted as the daughter of a former prodigy, becoming the youngest pianist in the world. Her post-school awards filled the Togawa family's trophy room, though the poised girl still often came to you for head pats.]
[By her own wish, your second daughter Kazami Shiori became the Togawa family's future head.]
[Carefully trained by Sakiko from an early age, Shiori possessed outstanding talent and the skills of an heir. Even at a young age, she managed the household flawlessly. However, you noticed that the gentle, refined girl seemed less close to your wife, and instead was more attached to Takamatsu Tomori, who occasionally visited.]
[Your third daughter Kazami Kurumi was obsessed with ACG and manga. With two exceptional elder sisters, the optimistic girl felt no pressure at all, instead pouring herself entirely into playing and forming a band.]
[She learned guitar from her godmother Wakaba Mutsumi, inheriting the seven-string guitar once used to reach the top of the music scene, and often performed at live houses with her own youth band.]
[Even after marriage, your steps in music never halted.]
[At the age of twenty-five, you compiled your recent classical works into an album that caused a global sensation. Countless music academies adopted your pieces into their curriculum, and the album received multiple Grammy Award nominations.]
[This year, your music composition reached its most mature stage.]
[Your compositions were even included in the soundtrack for your autobiographical film. As your fame grew, many began to compare you to Mozart, and some even believed that if you had been born in that era, your achievements would have surpassed the greatest musicians of the past.]
[Time flew by...]
[You gradually grew old. In your youth, you had sparked another golden wave in classical music. Your twelve symphonies and twenty-four piano works made immense contributions to the art, and your innovations in musical structure might inspire generations to come.]
[At this age, you no longer pursued achievements or fame. You chose to travel the world with your wife, walking long mountain paths and endless rivers, seeing all the vast world had to offer.]
[When you returned from your final journey, you found yourself back in the summer where you first met her.]
[The air was still hot, the cicadas still sang in your ears. Sitting with your wife in the shaded garden, you playfully fanned her, ruffling her graying hair, smiling with satisfaction as you closed your eyes.]
[A faint scent of bellflowers reached your nose. You knew it was her fragrance.]
[It is said that when bellflowers bloom, happiness will return. If you grasp it, it will become eternal love. If you cannot, it will slip away.]
[Her petals were resilient, holding hope even in adversity.]
[The hand she once reached toward you was her unwavering choice.]
[Simulation complete.]
[1] https://youtu.be/CpDyF4pkbAs?si=CMeLaynZUdookmnE