My Simulation… Why Is It Turning into a Real Romance?!-Chapter 104: V2 - 42: She Held His Hand

Who are they?

Shiina Taki stared at the two girls who had suddenly appeared in front of her, her face filled with confusion. Judging from their uniforms, they were from Haneoka High. Could they be friends from the same school as Tomori and that pink-haired girl?

Tch, this is annoying.

If she hadn't transferred to Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy and had instead stuck to her original plan of attending Haneoka, she would've been going to school with Tomori now.

They might've even been in the same class. If that were the case, then maybe she, Shiina Taki, would've been the one to help Tomori break out of her shell, not that smug Kazami Haru who got all chummy with Mutsumi and made Tomori want to start a band again!

What she didn't know was that both Ikuyo Kita and Chihaya Anon had thoughts of their own at that very moment.

Chihaya Anon's expression was stiff, her gaze drifting uncertainly toward Ikuyo Kita, who also looked slightly uncomfortable.

Considering they were standing on a busy street not far from their school, it wasn't all that strange to run into classmates here.

But why now, of all times?!

"Ahaha~ Chihaya-san, are you two out shopping too?"

"Y-Yes! I came with Tomori and Rikki to pick out some cute accessories. What a coincidence running into you and Gotoh-san here, Kita-san..."

Maybe the corners of the street had some kind of mysterious magnetic pull.

Even though they had no clue what the other was thinking, both girls instantly came up with excuses, trying to cover the situation with flawless reasoning.

At the same time, they both prayed silently: Please, please don't say something like "Wanna hang out together?"

On any normal day, the four of them going shopping wouldn't be a problem. But right now, both Anon and Kita were tailing Kazami Haru. If the others found out, that'd be real trouble!

Both Anon and Kita were silently thinking of ways to slip away.

"Grrr—"

Hitori Gotoh, who wasn't great at socializing, was excellent at reading the room.

Bocchi was always painfully aware of the attention around her.

The moment they approached, she felt Shiina Taki's sharp—almost hostile—gaze drilling into her. She immediately shrank back, hiding behind Kita's back like a terrified kitten.

Wh-Why is she staring at me?

That black-haired girl looked seriously scary, maybe even scarier than Ryo when she was in a foul mood!

"Hm...?"

Taki raised an eyebrow, still standing with arms crossed.

She was curious about the pink-haired girl with her face half-covered by her hair.

That weird, full-on pink tracksuit stood out like a sore thumb. And for some reason, it felt oddly familiar to Taki, like she'd seen that odd combo somewhere before. She couldn't help but glance a few more times.

But those few extra glances were almost enough to send Bocchi into meltdown mode.

"Ah! I just remembered—I need to take Gotoh-san to karaoke. We'll be heading off now!"

"And Rikki-chan here wanted to look at more accessories. I really wanted to browse clothes with you, Kita-san, but I guess today just isn't the day~"

Taki's eyes widened, almost blurting out a "Huh?!"

She really hadn't expected that obnoxious pink-hair to throw her under the bus so naturally. But since Tomori was right there beside her, she couldn't exactly go off. She just swallowed the insult and took the blame silently.

Damn you, rotten pink-hair!

"What a shame, Kita-san. It's too bad."

"Totally~ I was hoping to check out a clothing shop with Anon-san too!"

Seeing that both parties had other plans, Kita and Anon sighed in relief internally.

Now they could finally break away and resume tailing Haru and Mutsumi!

Kita felt a flicker of triumph, but kept her expression composed as she said softly, "Alright then, Bocchi and I will head off. Let's catch up tomorrow and talk about the newest fashion finds?"

"Sounds great! I actually know a lot about fashion~"

Anon giggled, her fingertips touching each other as she flashed her adorable little fang.

"Well then, Kita-san, Tomori and I—"

"Haru..."

Just as Kita and Anon were about to leave with visible relief on their faces—

Takamatsu Tomori, who had been silent until now, suddenly murmured.

Her voice, soft as it was, instantly drew the attention of all the girls nearby.

Without even needing to say anything, Kita and Anon turned their heads in unison.

There, outside the clothing store, was a familiar silhouette dressed in black.

Kazami Haru had just finished taking a picture with Wakaba Mutsumi, and now the two were browsing small accessories inside the shop. To most people, this would seem like a mundane, everyday moment, but to Mutsumi, it was a first.

"..."

Wakaba Mutsumi stared earnestly at the cluttered tray of trinkets in front of her. Most of them were cheap plastic knick-knacks.

Even if you combined everything in the store, it still wouldn't be worth more than the small bracelet she usually wore for formal events.

But still, she was carefully choosing.

"Did you find something you like?"

Haru asked, watching her focused expression with amusement.

"Yes. This one."

After what felt like ages, Mutsumi finally made up her mind and picked out a keychain shaped like a cucumber. She held the little plastic cucumber tightly in her palm and offered it to Haru.

"This... is for you."

"For me?"

Haru looked stunned, caught completely off guard.

He had thought she was just picking out something for herself, maybe a souvenir. He hadn't expected her to choose a gift for him. Was that why she'd taken so long to decide?

Wait... could this mean she likes him?

Damn, maybe she really had fallen for him. Sure, his looks probably helped—thirty percent, maybe but the real deal was the seventy percent that was just him!

Even this quiet little cucumber was giving him a present. Wasn't that practically a love token?

"...You don't like it?"

Mutsumi hesitated when she saw Haru not immediately taking the keychain. She drew it back slightly, cradling it in her hands.

Her face didn't change, but the disappointment was unmistakable.

"I'll gladly take it, but you can't take it back later."

Knowing she had picked something with such care just for him—just that thought made him like it even more.

How could he not accept it?

Besides... he actually did like cucumbers.

In every sense.

...

On the other side—

"Ugh..."

"Ah..."

Kita and Anon had been watching the two from a distance, their eyes fixed on every move. Their usual cheerful expressions had begun to twist, distorted by envy and jealousy, jealousy toward that quiet, awkward girl who was lucky enough to go on a date with Kazami Haru.

Even their tone of voice had turned a little sour.

Why... why could she be so close to Haru?

It just didn't sit right!

In that moment, both girls seemed to realize something at once.

Kita Ikuyo forcibly averted her gaze, turning her head, only to meet Chihaya Anon's eyes dead-on. Both of them caught each other's strained smiles, and a bad feeling crept up from deep within.

No way...

C-Could it be?

Chihaya-san / Kita-san is also tailing Haru?!

A surge of anxiety hit Kita. She hadn't expected this bubbly pink-haired girl to stoop to sneaky tactics like tailing someone. Could it be that she also had some "ulterior motive" for getting close to Haru?

No way! Chihaya-san must've just thought it'd be cool to date someone as handsome as Haru!

That shallow reason couldn't compare at all to her own deep, tragic love born from regret and rebirth!

"Um, Anon-chan... don't tell me you're secretly following Haru-san too?"

Now on high alert, Kita's eyes flicked quickly past Anon to the two others behind her, Taki and Tomori.

Kita knew very well that Tomori had always been close to Haru, but in her eyes, their bond felt more like that of affectionate siblings rather than lovers.

There was no way their feelings had developed into anything romantic.

And considering how pure-hearted Tomori was, she probably didn't even know what romance meant.

She must've just been dragged along!

As for the tall black-haired girl standing coldly behind them with her arms crossed and that intense look. Well, she hadn't shown the slightest reaction when Haru appeared. Clearly, she wasn't interested.

That meant the real threat was Chihaya Anon!

Kita's brain kicked into high gear. In mere seconds, she'd concluded that Anon was her most dangerous "rival in love."

"You're the one following him, Kita-san! You and Gotoh-san were clearly tailing Haru!"

Just like Kita, Anon had sized things up fast.

She knew Kita and Bocchi were members of Haru's other band and while Gotoh-san had known Haru the longest, she didn't seem like the type to harbor romantic feelings. At least, not any that posed a threat.

No, Bocchi was practically harmless.

But Kita was another story.

Anon still remembered how Kita, who clearly had plenty of friends, had tried to buddy up with everyone at lunch. She seemed cheerful and lively, Anon's first impression of her had been overwhelmingly positive.

But looking back... hadn't she always tried to steer the conversation toward Haru?

Anon hadn't thought much of it at the time. But now...

Was Kita really just trying to bond with the new transfer student?

Or had she been looking for a reason to get close to Haru?

That red-haired vixen must've only been interested in Haru's face! So shallow!

Her intentions couldn't compare at all to the kind of beautiful, parallel-world-spanning romance she shared with Haru!

"Ahaha~ Haru-san and I aren't just regular bandmates! We talk all the time even outside of practice, and sometimes we even walk home together."

"As a good friend, I was just worried he might get tricked by someone, so I came to check on him!"

"Ehh~ Is that so~?"

Rage

Anon was boiling with rage at how naturally Kita claimed to be Haru's "friend." As if that relationship made her entitled to follow him around!

And the way she said it, it sounded like she and Haru were just "normal" bandmates!

"Well, I'm a good friend of Haru's too! He eats a lot of junk food at school, so I started making him bento lunches~"

"And now he's already gotten used to my cooking. It's kinda a problem, you know?"

Unbelievable!

Kita's radiant smile began to falter. Just because she made Haru lunch twice and he accepted it, she thought she had some kind of special claim?

She'd completely forgotten that in the "dream," Haru had confessed to her! And even in reality, they'd already shared plenty of romantic moments!

Chihaya Anon was just the newcomer! The late arrival!

In just a few short sentences, both girls had locked onto each other as direct rivals.

The air between them grew thick with unspoken hostility.

"Guys... please don't..."

A faint, trembling voice broke the tension.

Standing beside them, Takamatsu Tomori bit her lip, her soft gray hair drooping beside her cheeks. Her amber eyes wide and brimming with tears, she stepped forward and gently tugged at the sleeve of Anon's jacket.

It was a small, almost weightless touch but enough to pull Anon back to her senses.

As the tension between Kita and Anon had escalated, the ever-sensitive Tomori had grown more and more distressed. Her large eyes shimmered with tears she tried to hold back.

She opened her mouth as if to say something... but couldn't.

"You two..."

"Enough already!!!!"

Shiina Taki's voice rang out sharp and clear, echoing in both girls' ears.

Her brows furrowed tightly, fists clenched at her sides. She looked like she was barely keeping her emotions in check—until suddenly, she snapped her head up. Her long black hair whipped through the air with the motion.

Any trace of her earlier indifference was gone.

Her deep purple eyes gleamed like blades as she swept her gaze over the two.

"Tomori, we're leaving!"

Seeing Tomori on the verge of tears because of these two? No way Taki was going to stand by and do nothing!

She pulled Tomori firmly to her side, making it perfectly clear she was taking her away.

"You two figure your own mess out. We're not sticking around!"

When they'd restarted the band, Taki had promised herself that she'd never let Tomori get hurt again.

She wasn't going to let anyone—anyone—hurt this pure-hearted, lonely girl who had already suffered enough.

If she had known things would turn out like this, she never would've let Tomori come along!

"I'm sorry, Tomori!! It's all my fault! Please forgive me, I'll do anything!"

"Tomori-chan, I'm really sorry! I-I'll even do a dogeza if you want! Please don't be mad at me!"

They were both kind, cheerful, and genuine girls and they were both Tomori's friends.

The moment they realized they'd almost made Tomori cry with their petty rivalry, regret instantly replaced anger in their hearts.

Without hesitation, they dropped their fight and rushed to apologize.

"I-It's okay..."

"As long as... everyone gets along..."

Seeing the two no longer at each other's throats, Tomori's sadness began to fade.

The memory of CRYCHIC's breakup still lingered in her heart—the arguing, the collapse. It had left behind a scar so deep that even now, whenever friends fought, she couldn't find the words to stop it.

And back then, that silence had only led to the worst possible outcome.

No matter what, she didn't want her friends to fight.

"I just... don't want to see everyone arguing."

"Yeah... this really isn't the time to be talking about that kind of thing. I'm sorry, Anon-chan..."

"No, I should be the one apologizing! I got a little carried away. I'm really sorry, Kita-chan!"

Even though they'd both recognized each other as "rivals," they chose to put their differences aside, for now.

Because there was something more important they needed to focus on!

Kita Ikuyo and Chihaya Anon exchanged a glance. Without a word, they understood each other's intentions.

If they were going to work together temporarily, they couldn't afford to fall apart from within. First, they needed to figure out just what kind of relationship that girl had with Kazami Haru.

"Um... Haru-san is... gone."

At that moment, the ever-shaky Bocchi spoke up at last.

That one meek sentence instantly drew every eye toward her, and the pressure made cold sweat break out all over her back.

"Eh? Where's Haru?"

"Mutsumi's gone too."

Only then did they all realize that the pair who had been picking out trinkets moments ago had vanished without a trace. No matter where they looked, there was no sign of them.

Where did they go?

"Ah..."

Chihaya Anon let out a dumbfounded little sound.

They'd... lost them!

...

A breeze swept through strands of jade-green hair, flowing like a wind-up doll set in motion.

Wakaba Mutsumi carried her schoolbag in her left hand. Her delicate, boneless right hand held onto Kazami Haru's.

In that moment, her small, graceful figure revealed an unexpected strength.

The instant she tugged his hand and started to run, it felt like a runaway princess eloping with her knight.

Rushing toward freedom on the sunlit steps.

Mutsumi had always been generous with her friends. Ever since childhood, she'd share her most beloved dolls with Sakiko, and Sakiko would return the favor.

To her, friendship was the most priceless treasure.

But now, Cucumber-san felt a selfish desire bloom in her heart.

Just this once... she didn't want anyone else around.

Not even her childhood friend.

After running for some time, Mutsumi realized no one was following them anymore. She slowed her steps.

But when she looked back at Haru, she saw him panting heavily.

"Haa... I'm kind of... out of breath."

Sweat rolled down his forehead. His "Endurance" stat might have been up to level 3, but it still didn't seem to help with real-world endurance.

What the hell did that Endurance even affect, anyway?!

"...Sorry."

The little wooden girl lowered her head in apology, her voice quiet.

She hadn't meant to run so fast. She hadn't considered how Haru would feel.

Even though her expression stayed blank, Haru could feel the tension in her trembling fingers.

"...You're trying to avoid Tomori and Taki, aren't you?"

That one sentence from Haru made Mutsumi's head shoot up.

He noticed?

Mutsumi was surprised. She'd assumed only she, with her sensitivity to eyes and presence, had noticed they were being tailed, but apparently, Haru had picked up on it too, even while chatting with her.

Then again, it would be weird if he hadn't.

"Well, their tailing skills were abysmal and with Anon's bright pink hair standing out like a traffic cone, I spotted her with a single glance."

"...Tomorrow's gonna be a pain."

Haru let out a dry little sigh.

He was already hypersensitive to people's stares and now he had to deal with a bunch of amateur stalkers? There was no way he wouldn't notice them.

That pink-haired idiot probably followed him because she liked him, and he'd turned her down. That much was obvious.

And now she caught him "on a date" with another girl?

Yup. He was definitely getting chewed out tomorrow.

Especially since he turned her down... and then got caught hanging out with someone else not even an hour later.

He'd need one hell of a good excuse to smooth things over.

"...I'm sorry."

Again, that faint apology in her eyes.

"You don't have to apologize to me. You're the one being stalked, it must be uncomfortable, right?"

Haru let out a slow breath, softening his voice to comfort her.

But Mutsumi didn't lift her head. When she didn't know what to say, she always went silent like this.

"In that case... you can make it up to me."

"...Make it up to you?"

She lifted her head.

"Put this on. Let me see."

A teasing glint sparkled in Haru's eyes as he pulled a bracelet from his pocket.

It was a simple string of glass beads, light green and cheap, but when hit by the setting sun, it shimmered with beautiful, colorful light.

It looked cheap and yet, it captured her attention completely.

Mutsumi stared blankly at the bracelet.

She remembered it, she'd picked it up twice while browsing earlier, thinking the color reminded her of a cucumber. But she gave up on it, thinking bracelets weren't right to give to boys.

And yet, here it was in Haru's hand.

"To a rich girl like you, this is probably just junk, but I figured it'd make a decent return gift for that keychain."

He gave the keyring a little jingle.

Sometime while they'd run, he'd already attached the little plastic cucumber keychain. It dangled next to his keys, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise boring bundle.

It made something flicker in Mutsumi's calm eyes.

"What? Don't want it?"

"I do."

This time, she replied almost instantly, a rare thing for the always-slow Mutsumi.

Afraid he might take it back, she quickly took the bracelet from him and slid it gently onto her pale wrist. Her fingers caressed it carefully.

She kept staring at it with wide, dazed eyes.

But no one could tell what she was thinking behind that expressionless face.

"...Oops. Looks like it's getting late."

Satisfied, Haru glanced up at the sky.

The setting sun spilled gold across the earth. Its orange glow lit up the girl's delicate face, her cheeks tinged with the color of the clouds, was it the sunset... or something else?

"Well, if we're already playing runaway ninja, why not go all the way and let me steal your dinnertime too?"

"What do you say, Wakaba-san?"

With a playful smirk, Haru held out his hand.

You have to eat your greens, but junk food's important too.

That's what makes a person balanced.

Sure, the Wakaba family had strict rules, but they didn't stop her from seeing friends.

Even if she got home late, she could always say she was having dinner with Sakiko. Her family probably wouldn't question it.

Besides... technically, eating with Sakiko's money was eating with Sakiko, right?

"..."

The doll-like girl lifted her head.

Her fingers gently brushed the bracelet like it was something precious.

At this hour, she was supposed to be sitting stiffly at her family's dinner table, eating a joyless meal surrounded by maids.

But instead, she stood in the glow of the sunset, looking at the sky.

And for the first time in her rule-bound life, she felt the stirrings of rebellion.

She held his hand.