Chapter 195: Target the Lonely Wives! 

"Forget it."

Minami thought for a long time about whether he could use "Shouji Akane's Perfect, Enchanting Smile" to farm affection points.

But in the end, he shook his head.

Using it once in a while shouldn't be a big deal.

But he had seen the effects of his 10/10 appearance-level smile firsthand—and the impact was just too terrifying.

Especially for the girls who already liked him—

It was probably a serious test of their hearts.

If he kept using it too often…

Their hearts might not be able to take it.

"I'll leave it at that."

Having decided on the limited use of his "Perfect Enchanting Smile,"

Minami turned back to the simulation screen in front of him.

Affection Points: 660.

Which meant—

He could simulate Futaba Rio twice.

"Let's give it a shot."

Recalling the odd look on Futaba Rio's face earlier,

Minami let out a soft hum, thought for a moment, and reached out his finger—

"Start Simulation? Yes/No?"

→ Yes!

"Current remaining Affection Points: 330."

[Simulation Start.]

[Back in your apartment, you reflect on today's encounter with Futaba Rio. You are now almost certain—she does not have someone she likes.]

[Her admiration for others is nothing more than a moth's natural attraction to light.]

[Her gaze is always drawn to the sun, but the distance between her and the sun is simply too vast—so vast that no matter how far she stretches her hand, she will never reach it.]

[And you? You quietly bide your time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.]

[You know—your previous failure was only because you didn't choose to become the Cuckold Warrior! If you had another chance—without a doubt, you could conquer Futaba Rio!]

[And in fact—an opportunity of a lifetime is already right in front of you.]

[Right now, after having two conversations with her, you understand Futaba Rio better than anyone else. You've seen a side of this cold-faced science girl that no one else knows—]

[You decide—]

[1. You already missed one opportunity! This time, you absolutely won't let it slip away! Seize the moment, Cuckold Warrior! This is your destiny! No one can resist your charm!]

[2. Getting closer to her is just the first step! The true path lies in making her submit to you completely! Start now! Buy all sorts of training tools from an online store! Wooden horses, butt plug cat tails—don't leave anything out! After all, what could be more thrilling than a big-breasted, glasses-wearing catgirl who obeys your every command?]

[3. Rushing into a close relationship recklessly is unwise. A true apex predator secures their prey with absolute certainty.]

[4. Direct simulation!]

"..." Minami.

My simulator must be seriously malfunctioning.

Forget about the ridiculous first option.

That second option?

That was straight-up a crime waiting to happen.

Minami sighed, speechless.

He had no doubt in his abilities—if he truly wanted to, he could make Futaba Rio into the kind of obedient girlfriend described in option two.

Because judging by his observations so far—

Futaba Rio had no firm stance on emotional matters.

Even Yamada Ryo was able to completely lead her astray.

If it were Minami—with his superior conversational skills—

The outcome would be even more predictable.

But…

Being manipulated into submission isn't happiness—it's just dependency.

Minami shook his head.

What about the third option?

It was basically the exact same as the cautious choice he made in the first simulation loop, just phrased differently.

If he picked it, it would most likely lead to the Yamada Ryo route, reducing Futaba Rio to just another acquaintance.

"Even though option one looks like total nonsense with the whole 'Cuckold Warrior' label, ironically… it might be the safest choice?"

Minami sighed.

He reached out and selected Option One.

[You already missed one chance. Letting it slip again is simply not your style. You decide to take the initiative and push forward aggressively.]

[You don't see yourself as a so-called "Cuckold Warrior"—because, in your view, Futaba Rio never had any romantic feelings for Yuuma Kunimi in the first place. As long as you seize that fact and make your move, the outcome is guaranteed.]

[It's a quiet evening after school. You take the opportunity to head alone to the science prep room.]

[There, you find her standing behind a wall in her lab coat, overhearing whispers from the other students…]

Minami closed his eyes.

Inside the simulation, his memories began surfacing—

Faint figures and scenery flashing like waves in his mind.

A perfectly ordinary sunset.

The soft golden light of dusk spilling through the corridors of Shuka High.

Silence.

Stillness.

This should have been Futaba Rio's favorite time of day.

It was supposed to be her favorite time.

All she needed to do was grab her textbooks from the classroom, head home, and another day would come to a peaceful close.

But—

"Hey, isn't that glasses girl in your class kind of weird?"

Voices.

A group of girls stood by the classroom door, waiting for someone.

Out of boredom, they had picked a random topic to chat about.

"Seriously, it's so late, and she's still hiding in the science prep room alone? Such a freak."

Laughter rippled through them.

Futaba Rio remained silent, pressed against the corner wall.

"What's the word for this? Goody-two-shoes? Do people still act like that these days?"

"Haha… yeah, right? I've never even seen anyone talk to her."

"And the only guys who do talk to her? They're basically just staring at her chest the whole time. Honestly, just because she's a little good-looking and has a nice figure, does she really think she's all that?"

One of the girls, recalling Futaba Rio's figure during gym class, spoke through clenched teeth.

"All that, my ass! She doesn't even have any friends!"

They continued talking.

Casually.

Carelessly.

Tearing her apart with ease.

Behind the wall, Futaba Rio hugged herself tightly.

This was always the way things were for someone like her—awkward, unsociable, and different from the rest.

With her outstanding looks and top grades,

She was an easy target for jealousy and resentment.

The words stung, but she said nothing.

Because who could she turn to?

She hated bothering others with her problems.

She wouldn't call her few friends to vent.

She simply endured.

She always endured.

But—

"Aren't you going to say something?"

A clear voice suddenly spoke beside her.

Futaba Rio instinctively lifted her head.

And in her slightly dazed line of sight—

Minami's handsome face entered her view.

"Aren't you going to fight back?"

The black-haired young man lowered his voice and asked again.

"Are you really okay just standing here? Letting them say all that about you, and you're not even going to say anything?"

Futaba Rio didn't answer.

She simply lowered her head—

Like she had lost her soul.

"If you won't say it, then I will—"

Minami took a step forward.

But the next moment—

His sleeve was tugged.

At the same time,

A faint, trembling voice reached his ears.

"...Don't."

"..." Minami.

"Why?"

Minami stopped and looked back at her.

To him, it was simple.

Gossiping about others like this was disgusting—so why not just shut them up?

"I... hate myself."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, laced with self-loathing.

"So I don't want… Minami, I don't want you involved in my mess… I don't want you dragged into trouble because of me."

Futaba Rio's tone was filled with self-deprecation.

"..." Minami.

Minami didn't say anything.

But he stopped moving forward.

"Thank you…"

As if sensing Minami's hesitation,

She tightened her grip on his sleeve.

Her voice barely audible,

A thank-you, yet almost a murmur to herself.

"Really… thank you."

Minami lowered his gaze.

Even now, he could clearly recall—

The way she had bowed her head, gripping his sleeve with trembling hands, her face a picture of pure sorrow.

Her rosy lips pressed into a pained line.

Her delicate brows furrowed deeply.

She looked—

So completely broken.

And that desperate grip on his sleeve—

It was as if she had poured all her strength into that one action.

[You didn't take another step forward. Instead, you stood still and quietly stayed by her side.]

[Watching her tormented expression—one that had clearly endured this many times before—there was only one thing you could do.

You gently reached out,

And softly patted her head.]

[The effect was weak, but under your touch, the pain on her face eased just a little.]

[Yet—her grip on your sleeve only tightened.]

"Huh…?"

Coming back to reality, Minami raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected—

To hear words like 'I hate myself' from Futaba Rio.

Just that single sentence alone…

Minami immediately realized—

Her self-destructive tendencies ran even deeper than Gotoh Hitori's.

But from just that sentence—

"I still can't quite analyze it yet."

Minami gave up on trying to completely figure out Futaba Rio's mental state for now.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the simulation.

[Time moves forward.]

[Neither you nor Futaba Rio ever bring up what happened that day behind the wall.]

[Your relationship with her, however, progresses rapidly.]

[She frequently starts conversations with you under the pretense of 'relationship advice'—though, more often than not, the topics have long since drifted away from romance.]

[And every time you casually visit the science prep room, it's enough to make this always-expressionless science girl reveal a softer side.]

[At Shuka High, she has only ever had two friends.]

[One is Azusagawa Sakuta. The other, Kunimi Yuuma.]

[But after meeting you, the list of friends she cherishes so deeply—

—now has one more name.]

[Your bond with Futaba Rio has deepened.]

[You have become Futaba Rio's friend.]

Memories from the simulation resurfaced in Minami's mind.

The setting—Shuka High's science prep room.

The one speaking—Minami.

"Rio, make me a cup of coffee. I'm freezing."

As he walked into the science prep room, holding a light novel, Minami casually spoke.

"...This isn't your personal shelter from the cold, Minami."

Her voice was cold and indifferent.

But soon enough, the white-lab-coat-clad girl still handed him a hot cup of coffee.

"Here."

She passed the cup to Minami.

Then, leaning against the prep room table, she rested her chin on her palm.

Her golden eyes watched as Minami gently blew on the steaming surface of the coffee, then carefully brought his lips close to the rim, taking a small, cautious sip—

And let out a satisfied sigh.

Just watching him make that expression—

Futaba Rio's usually cold face softened.

"Do you want more?"

She leaned in slightly, holding up her own cup, and asked softly.

"I still have... cough, cough, cough!"

He spoke too quickly and choked on the coffee.

"Geez... I told you to drink slowly."

Frowning,

She looked impatient.

But in the end, she still reached out her pale hand and gently patted Minami's back.

Watching Minami struggle with a coughing fit—

The corners of her lips curled up slightly in amusement.

If only time could just stop like this...

A strange thought suddenly popped into her otherwise logical, science-driven mind.

It made her fair cheeks flush slightly.

Lowering her hand,

She returned to leaning against the prep room table, resting her chin on her palm—

Secretly watching him.

Just like how he was watching his book.

Today, as always—

Was quiet.

[Even though you've become friends, you clearly understand—there is still an unresolved 'knot' in her heart.]

[Her self-deprecating words from that day still cling to her like an unshakable shadow. It hasn't disappeared—only hidden itself, lurking where even you can't see.]

[If something similar happens again—]

[That hidden darkness will once again consume the seemingly ordinary girl before you.]

[And when that happens, her fragile side will resurface.]

[You want to figure out what caused her psychological state—because without knowing the root cause, you cannot correct or heal it.]

[You've occasionally tried to subtly probe for answers.]

[But clearly, such indirect methods haven't worked at all.]

[To uncover the hidden 'knot' in the girl's heart, you decide—]

[1. Target the lonely housewives near the Futaba residence!]

[2. Target Azusagawa Sakuta and Kunimi Yuuya!]

[3. Target the arrogant girls in Futaba Rio's class!]

[4. Simulate it Yourself!]