Chapter 185: The Hidden Happy Ending in the Direct Simulation

After everything had settled, Shouji Minami gently stroked Shouji Hitori's soft hair, his eyes tracing the smooth, fair skin of her back, as flawless as a snow-covered mountain.

He was satisfied.

Truly satisfied.

With a wife so gentle and kind—

With a daughter so incredibly gifted—

Minami felt nothing but contentment.

And yet…

For some reason, deep in his heart, he couldn't shake the feeling—

That beneath his wife's serene and elegant expression, something was hidden.

Something she wasn't saying.

Perhaps because she didn't want to burden him.

"Fuu—"

Taking a deep breath, Minami buried his face in her hair, inhaling her familiar scent as his hand glided across the smooth curve of her back.

He spoke softly—

"Hitori, is something on your mind?"

"Ah…?"

Caught off guard, Hitori's already pale complexion instantly turned rosy.

"N-no, it's nothing, Nami—mm—"

Her voice dragged out into a muffled sound—

Because in the next second, Minami captured her lips.

Her ocean-blue eyes widened in shock.

"Talk."

As he pulled away, he gave a simple command.

"Mmm…"

Hitori lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting in hesitation.

"Um… mm—"

Her voice trailed off again.

Because Minami kissed her again.

And again.

"M-mmm…!"

Her entire face turned red as she escaped from his arms.

This was too much.

Even for her, this was too much.

Her blue eyes, shimmering with tears of embarrassment, flickered as she finally pushed away her hesitation—

And spoke.

"I'm actually thinking about Ryo-san, Nijika-chan, and Kita-chan..."

"...Thinking about them?"

Minami looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Mm."

Even as she spoke, her voice remained soft and beautiful.

"Ryo, Nijika-chan, and Kita-chan… they're already thirty… thirty-one years old. You know that too, right, Nami?"

"Yeah. I know."

Minami nodded.

He had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"They're still single…"

As she spoke, a small sigh escaped from Hitori's lips.

She wasn't stupid.

She knew why they were still single.

It wasn't because there were no men chasing after them.

In fact, they had plenty of excellent suitors.

And yet—

They rejected every single one of them.

And the reason why…

Hitori lifted her head slightly, her gaze landing on her husband.

Even after all these years, Minami hadn't changed.

His handsome, refined features remained untouched by time.

His eyes—bright, clear, and sincere—

Looked just as they did the first time she met him over a decade ago.

It was almost as if time had left no trace on him.

If anything, the years had only deepened his natural charm, adding a maturity that made him even more attractive than before.

"...So I've been wondering," she murmured, resting against his chest.

"Is it really okay for me to be the only one who gets to be happy?"

Her voice was soft, but there was a weight behind it.

"Kessoku Band has always been one."

Her life now was undeniably happy.

But whenever she saw Ryo, Nijika, and Kita—

A strange feeling would creep into her heart.

A kind of guilt.

A kind of sadness that was hard to describe.

Was it really okay—

For her to be the only one who found happiness?

Even though they had never said anything.

Even though they had congratulated her wholeheartedly.

Even though they still lived as a tight-knit family of sorts.

The reality remained unchanged—

They were still single.

"To be honest, Minami… I wouldn't mind sharing you with them."

Hitori lifted her head, looking straight into his eyes.

Her blue gaze was gentle, yet filled with conviction.

And as he looked at her—

Minami finally understood.

Ever since his direct simulation had ended, he had always wondered—

Why was Hitori's "happy ending" only 92 points?

Even though she had achieved everything—

Her dream.

A beautiful family.

A perfect marriage.

It should have been flawless.

But it wasn't.

Because even if Nijika, Ryo, and Kita claimed they didn't mind—

Hitori did.

She couldn't accept it.

She couldn't accept a reality where she was the only one to find happiness.

Because she truly loved them—

And always had.

"We four are one," Hitori whispered.

"That's why I asked you to buy them gifts today."

"...I see."

Minami exhaled.

"Mm."

Hitori nodded.

"Nami… you saw their faces today, didn't you?"

Their smiles—

Those genuine, radiant smiles—

Like the ones they had fourteen years ago, when Kessoku Band had just begun.

"When I saw their smiles today, I realized…"

Hitori whispered, pressing closer to him.

"I've always wanted them to be happy too, Nami."

She had kept this feeling inside for so many years.

But now, she finally said it aloud.

"I think… Ryo-san, Nijika-chan, and Kita-chan feel the same way."

Minami fell silent.

So…

Even in this simulation—

Even in a "happy ending"—

Hitori still couldn't let go of her feelings.

Maybe…

The true "perfect ending" was—

A future where no one was left behind.

His hand drifted to her hair, stroking it gently.

But…

If that was true—

Then what about the real world?

If Hitori's feelings in the simulation were this strong—

Then what about the real Hitori?

Was she hiding the same emotions?

Had she always been thinking about this?

This was a real choice.

One he would eventually have to make.

And in reality—

There would be no redoing it.

But before Minami could think too much about it—

His phone suddenly buzzed on the nightstand.

A LINE message.

He glanced at the screen.

"Who is it, Nami?"

Hitori peeked over curiously.

"Ah, it's from Seika-san."

He chuckled as he stood up to get dressed.

"She wants me to go drinking with her… at this hour? Guess I should head over."

Seika was a grown woman, sure—

But drinking alone this late at night? Probably not the safest thing.

And out of all the men she knew, Minami was the only one she could trust.

He might as well go.

Just to make sure she got home safe.

After all, the Ijichi, Kita, and Yamada families all lived on the same street as the Shouji family.

Back in the early years, when Kessoku Band was at the peak of its popularity, they had saved up quite a fortune.

So, after some discussion, they simply decided to buy houses on the same street and live close to each other.

Sure, it cost some money—

But compared to the massive wealth they had accumulated over the years as one of the nation's biggest rock bands,

This amount was barely a drop in the bucket.

"Hmm. Be careful on the way, Nami."

Watching as Minami put on his jacket piece by piece, Hitori saw him off with gentle eyes.

"Yeah, I will."

With that simple reply, Minami headed downstairs.

Following the familiar memories from his direct simulation, he walked toward the izakaya where Seika and the others often drank.

…

Leaving the residential area, he continued down the main road for a bit, before heading down a gentle slope.

Before long, he saw it—

A small izakaya, its white paper lanterns glowing softly, deep navy curtains hanging at the entrance, and a warm orange light illuminating the inside.

Lifting the noren curtain, Minami stepped inside.

And with just one glance—

He immediately spotted Hiroi Kikuri loudly demanding more drinks from the staff.

Beside her, Ijichi Seika was elegantly eating a yakitori skewer, taking small bites at a leisurely pace.

Kikuri…

She hadn't changed at all.

Though she looked a bit more mature, her rowdy personality remained exactly the same.

Seika, on the other hand, wore a black knitted sweater, her golden blonde hair still as radiant as ever.

To their far right, PA-san sat with her usual graceful and relaxed demeanor, sipping her drink in silence.

Seeing Minami arrive, the three women visibly perked up.

Especially Kikuri—

She immediately stretched out a hand.

"Ah, Shouji-kun! You're here! Come, sit next to me!"

She spoke loudly, her voice carrying over the chatter of the izakaya, a bottle of sake clutched tightly in her hand.

Minami sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Someone, please control this forty-something-year-old woman who still acted like an overgrown child.

But, in the end…

Minami gave up and took a seat.

Right beside Seika.

"Eh—? Why aren't you sitting next to me, Shouji-kun?! How rude!"

Kikuri grumbled in protest, pouting like a child.

"You're over forty now. At least try to act your age," Minami sighed, accepting a yakitori skewer from Seika with a small nod of thanks.

"Ughhhh—Time really flies too fast…"

Kikuri let out a dramatic groan, clutching her sake bottle like a lifeline.

Her deep purple eyes misted over slightly as she muttered—

"The Shouji-kun who used to follow me around like a lost puppy, calling me 'Kikuri-neesan'… is actually married now…!"

"Okay, first of all, that's completely wrong," Minami deadpanned, taking a bite of his skewer.

"I never followed you around like a lost puppy."

"Second, I've been married for nine years. Not 'just got married.'"

Kikuri slammed a fist on the table.

"Damn it! Why am I still single?! Oi, bartender! Another bottle of sake!"

Minami exhaled in mild exasperation.

Kikuri, just like Seika and PA-san, had remained single all these years.

The difference was…

For Seika and PA-san, it was because they simply weren't interested in relationships.

But for Kikuri…

She never found anyone who met her standards—

And honestly, she had been so focused on her music career that she had zero time for dating.

And before she knew it…

She had dragged things out to this age.

"That's enough."

Before the bartender could pass the fresh sake bottle to Kikuri, Minami reached out and blocked it with his hand.

His expression firm.

"You forgot what the doctor told you?"

Kikuri had been drinking since her rockstar days.

Even now, she still couldn't quit.

Among all the people Minami knew, her health was probably the worst.

Late-night concerts.

Alcohol every single day.

Rinse and repeat.

At this rate, she wasn't going to last long.

Even in real life, Minami had seriously considered forcing her to quit drinking.

If this continued…

Her body would break down sooner or later.

Sure, there were medical treatments that could undo the damage—

But that didn't mean she should keep destroying herself like this.

Alcohol was fine in moderation.

But her drinking habits?

Were far from moderate.

"Eh—?"

Kikuri whined, clearly unhappy.

"I think Minami has a point."

Seika, who had only had two sips of her drink, spoke up.

She placed her glass down with a quiet clink.

"You should really quit drinking, Kikuri."

"Even Seika-senpai is against me?!" Kikuri dramatically gasped, clutching her chest in mock despair.

"No wayyy—Alcohol is the only thing that comforts me!"

"Maybe that's exactly why you should quit," Seika responded flatly, taking another bite of her skewer.

As the two women bickered, PA-san quietly covered her mouth—

Giggling softly.

Much like Kessoku Band, the "adult group" of Starry's live house had never changed.

Even after all these years—

Their friendship remained just as strong as ever.

Saying he was here to drink with them was a bit of an overstatement.

In reality, Minami barely touched his drink, instead focusing on his grilled skewers while engaging in casual conversation with the women.

Over the years, Ijichi Seika had long since passed down "STARRY" Live House to Ijichi Nijika, entrusting her younger sister with its future.

PA-san, on the other hand, was constantly hounded by her parents about marriage. But she herself didn't seem in any hurry, always smiling cheerfully, unbothered by their concerns.

As for Hiroi Kikuri...

Well, just as always.

Still absorbed in her rock music career, she had long since established herself as one of the biggest names in the industry. No longer confined to small live houses, she frequently played alongside major acts, even headlining her own concerts.

However, her health had taken a hit recently. Likely due to years of excessive drinking in her youth, her doctor had strongly advised her to cut back.

Minami's presence here tonight wasn't so much about drinking—rather, he was more like a "friend to women," listening to their troubles and complaints.

Though tonight's atmosphere felt different from usual.

Something was off.

Minami glanced at Seika, sensing that she had something else on her mind.

And his instincts proved right.

Downing the last of her sake, Seika, slightly flushed from the alcohol, finally spoke up:

"Minami, the truth is… there's something important I need to discuss with you."

She set down her cup, fixed her gaze on him, and carefully enunciated each word:

"It's about my little sister's future."