Chapter 11: The Woman Known as a National Treasure

'Love Simulator'

'Bound user: Minami Shouji'

'Appearance: 9,

Athletic: 6,

Academic: 8,

Special Skills: Learning LV4,

Music LV1,

Item: [End of Love, Gotohhh Hitori (Rock Queen) Learning Card]'

'Simulator Evaluation: A promising young man, rare and highly sought after by women of all ages, including some men with exceptional interests.'

Minami Shouji thought for a moment and clicked on Music LV1.

Some rough and basic music theory knowledge began to surface in Minami Shouji's mind.

With his high academic score of 8, the music theory knowledge didn't seem difficult for him to understand.

However, since "music" covers such a broad category, Minami Shouji could only temporarily set aside the miscellaneous instrument knowledge and focus on some guitar-related content.

The guitar knowledge provided by the system was extremely basic and shallow, fitting for a LV1 level.

Minami Shouji thought that with the guitar as an example, LV1 probably represented a beginner who had been learning for about a month.

They could handle basic finger placements and had some appreciation skills, but in short, they were just starting out, a total newbie.

Considering his LV4 learning skill and academic score of 8, Minami Shouji figured he could easily reach that level after practicing for a week.

This made him even more curious.

If LV1 was at this level, what about Gotohhh Hitori, the Rock Queen, in her second round? What level was she?

He turned his attention to the content of the learning card.

[End of Love, Gotohhh Hitori (Rock Queen) Learning Card:]

[Outstanding talent and relentless practice have honed her guitar skills to perfection. She has performed as the lead guitarist countless times, and her performance style is unmatched. Whenever she takes the stage, she inevitably becomes the center of attention. Her rise marked an era in Japanese rock, and at her peak, she retired, like a meteor that fell to earth, which only enhanced her legendary life.]

[When the wooden-colored guitar begins to play, can you still remember the shy girl who once hid behind you?]

[By using the Gotohhh Hitori (Rock Queen) Learning Card, you will temporarily acquire all of Gotohhh Hitori's musical understanding and stage experience, and her guitar skills forged through relentless practice.]

"Eh?"

Minami Shouji blinked.

So, by using the learning card, he would temporarily gain all of Gotohhh Hitori's guitar talent and musical understanding, including her stage experience? That would be like a game's experience boost card, right?

He glanced at the 24-hour mark next to the Rock Queen label and felt he had a rough idea of how long the effect would last.

But—

What kind of love simulator is this? It should just be called a learning simulator.

Minami Shouji couldn't help but poke at the system panel in front of him.

The items provided were all for him to learn.

The key was still the learning card of Gotohhh Hitori.

Minami Shouji didn't have the money to buy a guitar.

As mentioned earlier, he came from a small county and made his way to the Bunkyo district of Tokyo. Though it seemed glorious, his family situation was not affluent.

Just covering his living and studying expenses in Tokyo was already stretching their budget.

Buying a guitar and nurturing a hobby? That seemed unlikely.

Though, he really did want to learn the guitar—having such a skill might allow him to work at places he couldn't before, to help support his family.

No.

It wasn't impossible.

Minami Shouji glanced at the remaining afternoon class, already having a plan in mind.

...

"Achoo!"

A loud sneeze erupted from Gotohhh Hitori, who quickly covered her mouth and nose. Meanwhile, her anxious eyes, hidden under her bangs, nervously scanned the surroundings, fearing her loud sneeze had disturbed her classmates.

Fortunately, the room fell silent for a moment, but the other students only glanced at her briefly before resuming their conversations.

The timid look in her eyes relaxed, but soon a sense of disappointment flooded her heart.

It was best not to disturb anyone, of course.

But being on the fringes of her class, looking like this, wasn't it a kind of sadness?

She nervously stood up from her seat with her guitar on her back, pretending to browse through popular rock band magazines. After confirming no one was going to approach her, Gotohhh Hitori walked toward the classroom door.

Then...

The footsteps stopped.

With her fair little hand, she gingerly pushed against the doorframe, cautiously peeking her half-face into the classroom. After confirming once again that no one was going to approach her to discuss music, she quietly pulled her head back.

After enduring a day of torment at school, Gotohh Hitori, with a heart full of wounds, sneakily retracted her head.

"Of course, I know!"

The pink-haired girl, walking alone in the campus courtyard, clenched her small fist, her expression serious as she spoke to the empty air beside her, "It's just that waiting for others to approach isn't enough, you have to take the initiative. But... but... I've already tried my best today!"

"Since you've worked so hard today, it's normal to go home and rest, right?"

Gotohh Hitori felt a slight itch on her backside. Without caring about her lady-like image, she scratched it with her hand, continuing to seriously explain to the air.

The steps stopped.

As if the empty air had responded to her, she nodded vigorously, continuing to speak to herself:

"Mm, thank you for your recognition, Kita, I know, you're indeed my best friend."

"Hehe... What 'national treasure,' they aren't worthy of being my friends... Although they are indeed that outstanding, but Kita, you shouldn't say it so directly—ah, don't pounce on me."

She made a forward leaning motion as if something had collided with her, and the pink-haired girl fell to the ground with a soft thud.

At the same time, she made an annoyed yet amused sound at her 'air friend':

"Really, Kita you—uh."

The smooth flow of her chattering with her imagined air friend halted.

One of her little school shoes was kicked off, revealing her unamusing black socks, but she no longer had the attention to care about these details.

If you were to ask her what she feared most in the world...

There was no doubt, it was being seen while communicating with her imagined air friend.

What was even more terrifying was that her embarrassing moments were being recorded on a phone in front of her.

The most terrifying part was that the person in front of her was none other than the man known as the top of the food chain at Ocha High School—Minami Shouji.

"Mm..."

Minami Shouji, satisfied with the recording that had reached its last second, ended the video, smiling as he stood up. "Let's talk, Gotoh-san."

"Ah, I want to go back..."

Gotoh Hitori, looking frightened, attempted to back away.

"I hope Gotoh-san can reconsider," Minami Shouji said with a bright smile, opening the video recording on his phone.

Inside, a smug and silly laugh from someone was heard: "Hehe, national treasure..."

After playing halfway, he pointed to a bench. "Now we can sit down and have a good talk, Gotoh..."

"Woof!"

"...What are you doing?"

Seeing Gotoh Hitori crouched like a dog on the campus bench, Minami Shouji couldn't help but ask.

"To... to express my full obedience to you. Please, for the video, I beg you to spare me..."

Minami Shouji fell into long silence.

Had he really thrown himself into this simulation for this silly person?

Thinking this, he silently pressed the phone's recording button again.

Well, it's strangely amusing, better record it first.