Episode 1 - I Became A Protagonist Of A Dating Sim (2)

The game Naoya dived into last night was called "Love Odyssey." Out of all the dating sims he'd tackled, this one was a real standout. Not because it was exceptionally tough or because the main character was a bumbling idiot, but because it allowed players to pursue routes with practically any female character, even those who weren't originally marked as heroines. In other words, you could get involved with any character you wanted, whether they were a main love interest or not.

Most players opted for the easier routes. They gravitated toward characters who weren't originally heroines, simply because these characters had less dialogue and fewer significant moments in the game. The producers had put minimal effort into fleshing out these non-heroine characters, resulting in a lot less content and depth. Essentially, if you went for these side characters, you were getting a lot less bang for your buck.

This unique feature was a huge draw for the game, letting players pursue relationships with characters beyond just the main heroines. One of the most talked-about characters wasn't even on the main roster or designated as a heroine. However, the chance to unlock her route and catch a glimpse of a tantalizing sex scene with her at the end made the game a standout hit.

So why did Naoya focus on one of the main heroines? It was because she was his exact type. Naoya had a major crush on his older sister's friend, Hinako, and the heroine he was after last night bore a striking resemblance to her. She was warm and open, with almost no personal boundaries—often wrapping you in hugs with that cheeky, irresistible grin. Most compelling of all was her appearance, which was eerily similar to Hinako's. Naoya couldn't help but think her character might have been inspired by Hinako. And with a juicy sex scene promised at the end, he was hooked. Sadly, the main character's sheer stupidity meant Naoya spent the entire night playing without seeing any real progress.

Naoya was in shock, his mind reeling. At first, he thought he might be imagining things. Maybe the fact that he'd only had an hour of sleep was playing tricks on him. Was it possible that Hinako, right here and now, was somehow the heroine from that game? Had she somehow come to life? No, that was impossible. It just couldn't happen. But then why was there a "Love Meter" floating above Hinako's head, just like the one he'd seen over the heroine last night? And it was set at 90/100. That meant he only needed 10 more affection points to unlock the sex scene.

"T-There's no way, right?" Naoya stammered. "There's no way I've just become the protagonist of a fucking dating sim..."

This was reality. This was undeniably reality. Hinako wasn't featured in the game at all. Naoya remembered her vividly from his younger days, and since the game had only been released this year, it wasn't like one of those light novel plots where the protagonist gets trapped inside a dating sim and only realizes he's living within one, right?

"W-Wait, more than that, Hinako-nee has a crush on me?"

A wide grin spread across Naoya's face before he quickly tried to shove it away. His heart raced at the thought, a mix of excitement and disbelief flooding his senses.

"What's got you grinning like that?" Hinako's voice cut through his thoughts, curious and a bit teasing. She had already found her underwear, which had apparently been in the wash. The "Love Meter" continued to hover over her head, glowing with a tantalizing 90/100. Naoya's mind raced with possibilities. How the hell could he push that number to 100?

"If I remember correctly, a quest would suddenly pop up out of nowhere. After I completed it, the love meter would rise, depending on how tough the quest was. I'm really trying to figure out how to make those quests appear. The thought of going through them makes me shudder, but if there's even a tiny chance of being with Hinako-nee, I'd endure it—even if it's just in a dream. It's a bit of a mindfuck to think this might all be a figment of my imagination, but the idea of experiencing being with her, even if only in my dreams, makes it worth it. I want to taste that experience, even if it's just a dream."

He wasn't thinking about lewd stuff, of course. What he really meant was that he wanted a genuine relationship with her. He played dating sims not for the lewd content but for moments like this, where he could actually try to make a meaningful connection.

Suddenly, he gulped and bolted from his seat, rushing off to the bathroom.

"N-Naoya-kun?!" Hinako's voice rang out, her eyes widening in bewilderment. "What's got him all flustered like that? Hmm... Maybe he really just needs to pee or something?" She speculated, her face a mix of concern and confusion as she watched him vanish behind the bathroom door.

Inside the bathroom, Naoya slammed the door shut and locked it with trembling hands. Panting heavily, he stared at the panel that had appeared before him. It looked strikingly familiar—just like the interface in a dating sim where you choose responses to heroine dialogues and quests.

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✽Quest✽

✱Ask Hinako on a date

Reward:

﹡5 Hinako's affection points

﹡1 Attribute point 

﹡5 Gold Coins

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A quest panel materialized before Naoya, shimmering with the familiar glow of those game notifications he'd seen countless times. It was as if the game had leaped out of his screen and into his reality. The panel laid out the quest with a promise of rewards, this time offering 5 affection points with Hinako.

If he could accumulate another 5 points, he'd push the Love Meter to a perfect 100 and finally achieve success.

In his excitement, Naoya didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, he eagerly clicked "yes," accepting the quest with a fervor that bordered on reckless.

It wasn't until much later that the weight of his oversight crashed down on him. His mind was too clouded with anticipation to realize the gravity of his mistake. By the time the reality of the situation hit him, it was too late. Hinako... was already dead.