Episode 1 - I Became A Protagonist Of A Dating Sim (3)

"Hinako-nee," Naoya called out as he finished preparing breakfast. He was always the one in charge of cooking, since his sister couldn't manage even a simple meal. Naturally, he also handled dinner and, on weekends, took care of lunch too. Despite feeling weighed down by sleepiness, his excitement over the new protagonist powers from the dating sim game fueled him. He placed the plates in front of them with a satisfying clink, the aroma of the meal wafting through the kitchen.

"What is it, Naoya-kun?" Hinako asked, her eyes lighting up as she scooped up a generous portion with her utensils. She took a bite, savoring the flavor, her face breaking into a delighted grin. "Holy moly! Your cooking is really the best, Naoya!"

"Eat as much as you want," Naoya said, trying to hide his smile as he watched her enjoy the meal.

"Yay!" Hinako cheered, taking another bite and closing her eyes in bliss. "So good! Anyway, what do you want to talk about?"

"Hey, um, are you free this Sunday?" Naoya asked, his voice slightly trembling as he fumbled with his words. "There's this movie I really want to watch, but I don't have anyone to go with. I could totally go by myself, but I thought I'd see if you might be interested. Of course, if you're busy, it's no big deal."

Hinako's fork hovered in mid-air, her eyes locking onto Naoya. Her expression shifted from curiosity to surprise.

"D-Does that mean... you're asking me out on a date?"

It seemed like even though Naoya hadn't explicitly mentioned it as a date, Hinako could read between the lines and figured it out.

Naoya's face flushed a deep crimson. "Y-Yeah..."

A mischievous grin slowly spread across Hinako's lips. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and affection. She had always dreamt of going on a date with Naoya, or even just spending time with him outside their usual hangouts. The thought of being alone with him made her heart race. Her crush on him had been simmering for some time now. It wasn't surprising, really, considering Naoya was the only guy she'd ever been this close to. They first met when she was in her third year of college, and at that time, she'd thought of him merely as a younger brother—she didn't have siblings of her own, so it made sense. But as the days turned into months, and their bond grew stronger, her feelings for her best friend's brother had deepened into something more intense.

Hinako was head over heels in love with Naoya, and her wide grin said it all.

"Of course, I'd love to join you, Naoya-kun!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement and affection. The idea of going on a date with him felt perfectly natural. If everything went well, it could lead to them being an official couple. The thought of that future filled her heart with joy, and she couldn't suppress the affectionate grin that spread across her face.

Seeing that radiant smile made Naoya blush fiercely. Even though he felt like this might be a dream, he couldn't help but hope it turned into reality.

***

Naoya shared an apartment with his older sister, Naruse Yumi, and it was a less-than-ideal setup. Yumi was notoriously sloppy—her cooking was a disaster, cleaning was nonexistent, and she couldn't even manage her own laundry. Her lack of domestic skills was the reason she practically twisted Naoya's arm to move in with her.

What made Naoya reluctantly agree to this chaotic arrangement was the allure of Hinako's frequent visits. The idea of spending time with her, especially since Yumi was usually out working as a private tutor, was irresistible. The prospect of having Hinako all to himself, with no interruptions, was a tantalizing promise. Unfortunately, Naoya often squandered these opportunities, buried in his eroge games, and missed out on the chance to be close to Hinako.

"So... see you on Sunday?" Hinako asked, her voice carrying a hopeful lilt. She was dressed in her casual, university clothes, an outfit far too relaxed for a typical school setting. Her university's free uniform policy allowed her to wear what she wanted, and today she chose something that highlighted her carefree style.

"Yeah," Naoya replied, still clad in his high school uniform. As a third-year student, he had to adhere to the strict dress code, a stark contrast to Hinako's relaxed style.

They said their goodbyes, knowing their paths diverged and they needed to head in different directions.

Hinako turned, her grin radiant and full of promise. She waved with a flourish, and her smile was so captivating that anyone who saw it would surely fall for her. It was a magnetic charm that was impossible to resist.

Naoya's mind was a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement, completely blanking out on everything taught at school that day. He was so engrossed in thoughts of his date with Hinako that he drifted off into a daydream-like haze. The usual bullies who tormented him seemed like a distant memory, their presence entirely overshadowed by the thrill of his upcoming date.

He was practically buzzing with giddiness. No matter how hard he tried to keep his excitement under control, it was impossible. When he finally returned to the apartment, he found it empty—his sister was out, and it looked like Hinako wasn't planning to drop by either. She was probably busy preparing for their date on Sunday, and the thought made Naoya's heart race even more.

"Hehehe... A date," Naoya whispered to himself, his grin stretching from ear to ear. He was already envisioning his future with Hinako—reminiscing about their shared moments, exchanging vows with beaming smiles, and sealing their promises with a kiss. "It's like I'm seeing the future unfold before me. Is this how a dating sim protagonist feels when he finally wins over the girl he's been aiming for? I've only ever experienced that second-hand thrill from finishing a route in a game, but feeling it firsthand is exhilarating."

As he reveled in his giddy excitement, Sunday finally arrived. But with the dawn of that much-anticipated day came unexpected news that would change everything.

"Naoya..." Yumi's voice was heavy with sadness, bordering on grief. Naoya was confused, wondering why his sister wore such a pained expression so early in the morning. She was holding her phone, which she had just lowered from her ear. It seemed like she had just received a call. After staring at her brother for a moment, Yumi's tears began to flow. "H-Hinako... Hinako is..."

Yumi's voice broke on the last word, nearly lost on the tip of her tongue, but Naoya didn't need to hear it clearly to understand.

"Eh?" 

The moment he realized that Hinako had died, a huge, glaring "BAD END!" flashed before his eyes. It was the same "BAD END" he had seen so many times in dating sims whenever something went horribly wrong with the heroines. Naoya understood then that this wasn't a dream. The floating "Love Meter" above Hinako's name was real, and the "BAD END" in front of him was real too. It meant he had failed, and he'd lost the chance to complete Hinako's route.