Chapter 10: Daily Life Before the Cultural Festival
[Parting on bad terms, after finishing your daily workout, you found Shoko Nishimiya and asked for her opinion. Her answer exceeded your expectations.]
[She chose to listen to you.]
[In fact, before you arrived, Yukino Yukinoshita and Yumiko Miura had already visited her.]
[They each stuck to their own opinions, leaving Shoko Nishimiya at a loss. She didn't want the two friends she had finally made to fight like this, but she had no solution. In the end, running away was her only temporary escape from the problem.]
[But facing you, she instinctively chose to trust. This was a level of trust far surpassing what she held for Yukino or Miura. To her, she didn't know how to walk the path of the future or what to do, but she believed in you.]
[Facing such trust, you resolved to ensure she would never regret it.]
[You did not make her try to curry favor with others or force herself to fit into the so-called atmosphere. Nor did you specifically seek out people with so-called gentle personalities to be her friends.]
[Instead, you told her to focus on herself and improve her grades, just like you. You believe that Shoko doesn't need too many friends. Or rather, friendship values sincerity over quantity. True friendship is destined to be rare. Most of the time, so-called friends are just fair-weather acquaintances or plastic friendships. Therefore, it is better to focus on improving oneself; eventually, you will meet the right people destined for you.]
[Faced with this, Yukino and Miura, who learned of it later, were left speechless. Although they didn't necessarily think Haruka's method was correct, they respected Shoko Nishimiya's thoughts. Yukino Yukinoshita, in particular, was actually relieved. She didn't fully agree with her own harsh methods either; she only thought they would help Shoko. Now that Shoko hadn't chosen that path, Yukino felt a weight lift off her shoulders.]
[Time slipped by. Another month passed. In this school-wide mock exam, you emerged as a dark horse from the top hundred, seizing a spot in the school's top ten, shocking many people. One afternoon, your class's World History teacher, Mafuyu Kirisu, came to find you, hoping you would consider helping someone with their studies.]
[You choose to...]
[1. Accept.]
[2. Refuse.]
[3. Go take a look first and consider it.]
"Is this a branching option? Maybe accepting it would open the route for Fumino Furuhashi and the others? No, wait. This is Shoko Nishimiya's simulation, so it should just be an entanglement, right?" Haruka guessed.
It made sense.
Mafuyu Kirisu.
[Image : Mafuyu Kirisu]
She was also a plot character. Corresponding to her were the Literary Sleeping Beauty, Fumino Furuhashi, and the Mechanical Thumbelina, Rizu Ogata. Oh, and a certain tanned girl.
[Image : Rizu Ogata]
And he remembered that in the second simulation, it was mentioned that Fumino Furuhashi failed her exams.
Haruka rubbed his chin, thinking back to the previous simulation.
Wait.
Where was the original male protagonist?
Haruka suddenly thought of this question.
There was no reason for Hayama, a supporting male character, to still be here while the main protagonists disappeared, right?
The trajectory of fate must have changed.
That was why Fumino Furuhashi would fail. In that case, Rizu Ogata and the others must have had changes in their lives as well.
If he didn't get involved, then things should proceed exactly as they did in the second simulation.
But...
What did that have to do with him?
If it weren't for getting a better evaluation and more rewards, he wouldn't even want the "him" in the simulation to have too many connections with others. Wouldn't it be better to study quietly and climb to the peak?
Shoko Nishimiya already took up a massive amount of his time. Furthermore, the "him" in the simulation was at risk of having his goals twisted by love. Provoking more excellent women now? Did he think his life wasn't short enough?
Therefore.
The answer was already obvious.
Simulation continue!
...
[You chose to refuse.]
[For the following month, your life became disciplined and regular. You studied normally and helped Yukino Yukinoshita tutor Shoko Nishimiya. During holidays, aside from playing with your sister and studying, you accompanied Shoko Nishimiya on outings.]
[Although you went out to play, because of her condition, many things were off-limits, such as movies, or intense activities like roller coasters and swimming. Although she repeatedly indicated it was fine, you knew she was just trying to accommodate you. Of course, you wouldn't do that. You wanted to consider her feelings.]
[More often, you actually went to find Yukino Yukinoshita to study together in the library or read interesting novels and literature. Yumiko Miura usually didn't have time.]
[Or perhaps you went to the park to feed the koi fish. Shoko Nishimiya loved feeding the fish.]
[Yukino Yukinoshita also took Shoko to watch cats. You, the pitiful male, were excluded because that was an activity strictly for girls.]
[You lay on the grass to sunbathe, played board games...]
[Your exercise plan was also drastically reduced because of Shoko Nishimiya, leaving only light activities like jogging.]
[Shoko Nishimiya never caused trouble for you. She always watched you silently, providing whatever help she could. Whenever you were tired from studying, she would come up behind you, blushing as she massaged your temples. She would always arrive early to set up the tables and chairs for you and Yukino, bringing the books. She always wanted to work hard to do things within her power.]
Library.
Yukino Yukinoshita quietly held a book, sitting on a long bench. The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the window, sprinkling light upon her.
That icy aura seemed to have loosened, bringing out the feeling of an elegant, literary beauty.
The beauty glanced at the pair at a nearby table, a flash of helplessness crossing her eyes.
Haruka was holding a novel, pointing at certain paragraphs and laughing quietly. Beside him, Shoko Nishimiya covered her mouth with her hand, but she still let out bursts of laughter.
The laughter wasn't melodious.
It was even somewhat unpleasant, sounding hoarse and strained.
If this were the past, Shoko Nishimiya wouldn't have dared to make such a sound, because it would only invite strange looks. From childhood to adulthood, there had been no exceptions.
But the current Shoko Nishimiya looked normal, as if she didn't care.
Spending so much time together, the subtle influences of Yukino Yukinoshita and Haruka had brought about some changes in Shoko Nishimiya.
The current Shoko Nishimiya had rosy cheeks and bright, spirited eyes. There was a vitality about her that had been rare before. She truly looked like a girl of her age now.
This was their success.
Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head slightly and withdrew her gaze.
Although she hadn't found "something genuine" since school started, at least this wasn't a waste of time. She had helped someone worth helping and met some decent people. It could be counted as a memory worth keeping.
The only regret was that everything now was likely just temporary.
She wondered if this man could truly help Shoko Nishimiya. He hadn't taken the advice she and that Miura girl gave, insisting on his own way. In the future, could Shoko Nishimiya really find salvation?
She wasn't sure.
But this was no longer something she could interfere with. She was undoubtedly capable, but human effort had its limits.
However, as long as she had the ability, she would help her.
Because this gentle person, this girl whose sensibility made one's heart ache, was worth it.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the gentle Shoko Nishimiya, and a soft arc actually graced her perennially cold face.
...
[21 days until the Cultural Festival.]
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