Chapter 142: Your Status in Rikka Takarada’s Eyes Has Risen 

[Regardless of whether it was a reward or a punishment, the choice you made had already been decided long ago.]

[You and Akane Shinjo became a couple.]

[At the same time, under both your gazes, the tokusatsu stage play The Monster of the Human Heart officially began.]

[The rich story background, the smooth performances refined through countless rehearsals, your exceptional narration skills, and the LCD stage screen that Akane personally rented—all of these elements came together to create a perfect atmosphere.]

[From Thanasis the kaiju's first appearance to the Japanese government's response, Rikka Takarada's commanding performance as the protagonist, her emotionally gripping monologue—every scene helped The Monster of the Human Heart stand out as one of the most captivating performances at the Shuka Festival.]

[The previously noisy audience gradually quieted down, holding their breath as they became immersed in the world you created.]

[And the concern Akane had—that your script's heavy social commentary might cause backlash—never actually materialized.]

[But that was already within your expectations.]

[For the students of Shuka High, all that really mattered was how engaging the story was.]

[As for the background themes of nuclear waste disposal? Hardly anyone focused on it.]

[The story continued to unfold.]

[Thanasis, mutated by nuclear waste pollution, began to wreak havoc on the city.]

[The intricately crafted models, the realistic miniature explosions—each detail drew gasps of amazement from the audience.]

[They never imagined that a tokusatsu stage play—usually aimed at children—could be so emotionally gripping.]

[And then, as the LED screen projected the devastated ruins of Tokyo, Thanasis stood amidst the wreckage, gazing back at the ocean.]

[A thunderous wave of applause erupted from the audience, louder than for any other performance that day.]

[The Monster of the Human Heart was an undeniable success.]

[Hearing the applause echoing through the gymnasium, Akane —who had been tense the entire time—finally relaxed.]

[She exchanged a smile with you as you both watched Rikka and the others take their final bow on stage.]

[For Akane, this wasn't just proof that she could pursue her tokusatsu dreams.]

[It also gave her the courage to overcome her long-standing anxieties.]

[After the performance, with you by her side, she personally thanked everyone who had helped her.]

[This was something neither you nor Rikka could have imagined happening before.]

[With your support, Akane had finally started breaking free from her childhood traumas, lifting her head to face the future.]

[And at this moment, her love for you grew even deeper.]

[That night, after the performance, she invited you to her house.]

[You spent the night there, and your understanding of her—physically and emotionally—deepened.]

[That night, she also revealed the truth about her dysfunctional family.]

[But what was once an unbearable topic for her—something she never wanted to talk about—she was now willing to confront, because you were by her side.]

[She told you that once she graduated high school and gained independence, she planned to sever ties with the Shinjo family completely.]

[For her to confide in you like this—about something she had never shared with anyone before—was a testament to her absolute trust in you.]

[And in response, you gave her your full respect.]

[This was her choice—something no one had the right to interfere with.]

[At the same time, you also voiced your concerns.]

[She had always lived a life of luxury, spending money freely—could she truly adapt to a normal life after leaving the Shinjo family?]

[Her response? She smirked, bit your shoulder, then—worried she had bitten too hard—licked it a few times.]

[For her, as long as she had you, material wealth was no longer something she cared about.]

[You became her irreplaceable other half.]

"Well, well, well. This is going great."

Reading through the simulation text and feeling the memories settle in his mind, Minami let out a breath of relief.

Unlike the previous timeline, where he had forced Akane into breaking ties with her family—

This time, she had made the decision on her own.

The end result might have been the same—

But the process was completely different.

And passive vs. active choice—though only a single word apart—

Could lead to entirely different outcomes.

Would something unexpected happen this time?

This flawless start left Shouji Minami feeling genuinely excited.

So, he continued reading.

[Time continued moving forward.]

[After the performance, news of your relationship with Akane quickly spread throughout Shuka High—thanks to her high-profile personality.]

[But she didn't care. When heartbroken male students asked her about it, she smiled brightly and openly admitted to being with you.]

[She no longer wore a fake mask. She no longer obsessed over how others perceived her.]

[She chose to live for herself—and for the people she truly cared about.]

[At your suggestion, she started working part-time jobs in preparation for her future independence.]

[Though she struggled at times, with your support, she steadily adapted.]

[She worked hard, and you continued studying together with her.]

[No matter what, you always ranked higher than her in academics.]

[She hated that and even begged you to "go easy on her" during tests.]

[But as her ever-ruthless boyfriend, you refused, keeping her firmly in second place.]

[Her only form of "revenge" was sneaking extra chili powder into your food.]

[Her cooking was excellent, so the spice didn't ruin the taste—but it was still her way of expressing her frustration.]

[Meanwhile, after the tokusatsu performance, Rikka developed an interest in tokusatsu acting.]

[She often visited you and Akane, asking for acting tips.]

[You always answered her questions patiently.]

[Unknowingly, your relationship with Rikka deepened.]

[And then—a notification appeared.]

[Your relationship with Rikka Takarada has deepened without Akane knowing.]

"Wait—what?"

Reading that suspicious line, Minami rubbed his temples.

This…

Wasn't this exactly the kind of unexpected situation he wasn't hoping for?

Shouji Minami rubbed his temples.

Miss Takarada's sudden interjection made it impossible for him to ignore her presence.

However, the simulation was still ongoing.

Continuing to dwell on the current situation wouldn't change anything.

Minami once again immersed himself in the simulation.

[Your bond with Akane continued to grow as you spent more time with her.]

[At the same time, you never forgot about her long-standing dream of creating a tokusatsu series.]

[Because of that, you and Rikka, who also had a strong interest in tokusatsu, studied a lot about tokusatsu films together.]

[As you delved deeper into the world of tokusatsu, your relationship with her became even more familiar.]

[Sometimes, she would drop by your place and, just like Akane, cook something for you.]

[Likewise, when she noticed you were exhausted, she would leave for the train station alone, not wanting to trouble you.]

[Her laid-back yet somewhat straightforward personality was completely different from Akane.]

[You truly admired her frank and honest nature.]

[Over time, the two of you became inseparable friends.]

[Yet, throughout this process, you also noticed a certain hesitation in her personality… or perhaps, a softer side she didn't readily show.]

[But since she never spoke about it, you chose not to pry.]

[After all, even between friends, there are some secrets that are difficult to share.]

[Time continued to move forward.]

[One month before high school graduation, while Shinjo Akane happened to be away, Takarada Rikka came looking for you.]

"?" Shouji Minami.

Just when he had finally calmed his heart, the simulation stirred it up again due to Takarada Rikka's actions.

[After the previous performance of The Monster of the Human Heart, she developed a great interest in tokusatsu. However, at the same time, she also showed significant hesitation about stepping into a field she had never touched before high school.]

[She wanted to pursue her dreams with the same reckless abandon as Shinjo Akane.]

[But she also worried about the heavy and difficult path that lay ahead.]

[Because of that, she sought you out, hoping to hear the thoughts of you—Shuka High School's top student.]

The memories within the simulation started to surface.

The location was Akane's home.

It was likely a weekend, as Akane had gone out to buy newly released tokusatsu merchandise and gather materials for crafting monster models.

As a result, only Minami and Rikka were in the house.

"So…"

Lying on the couch, eating potato chips with one hand while playing on her phone with the other, Rikka lazily turned her deep blue eyes toward him.

"What do you think of my idea, Minami?"

In front of an old friend like Shouji Minami, she never really cared about maintaining a proper image. As long as she wasn't exposing anything inappropriate, she acted however she pleased.

Hearing her question, Minami lifted his gaze and calmly asked back:

"You mean the idea of becoming a tokusatsu actress?"

"Yeah."

Rikka set down her bag of chips. Although she appeared casual, her body was slightly tense, and her gemstone-like clear eyes couldn't help but fixate on Minami.

Under her gaze, Minami's indifferent response came:

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"…Really?"

His nonchalant attitude made Rikka pause for a moment before speaking.

"Yeah."

Still flipping through his novel, Minami continued as he read:

"To be honest, no matter what path you choose for the future, it's going to be difficult."

"It's hard to make a living as a tokusatsu actress, but does that mean other industries are easy?"

Without looking up, he added,

"Strictly speaking, there's nothing easy in life. From my perspective, the fact that you have a goal for the future already makes you remarkable."

"Don't dwell too much on failure, but don't ignore it either—that's the best advice I can give you."

"As for planning your future or making decisions on your behalf, I'll be straightforward—I can't do that."

Shouji Minami finally shifted his gaze away from his novel and looked at her.

"I support your decision and will help however I can, but I can't be responsible for your future, Rikka."

"..."

Another moment of silence.

Takarada Rikka turned her eyes back to her phone screen.

After a long pause, her voice finally broke the quiet.

"Thanks, Minami-kun."

"Mm."

Shouji Minami nodded in acknowledgment.

A minute later—

A potato chip bag was extended toward him.

"Want some, Minami-kun?"

"Yeah, I'll have a few."

Without hesitation, Minami took a few chips from her bag before returning his attention to his novel.

Behind him on the couch, Takarada Rikka quietly shifted her gaze back to her phone.

She continued eating her chips and scrolling through her screen.

This kind of life was ordinary—perhaps even mundane.

But to Takarada Rikka, it felt just right.

[You clearly told Rikka that you couldn't be responsible for her future, nor could you make a decision on her behalf.]

[Upon hearing your words, the once-hesitant Rikka made up her mind.]

[She decided to work toward a goal—just like you and Akane.]

[Even if she ultimately failed, she felt she could accept that outcome.]

[Your standing in Takarada Rikka's heart has risen.]