Chapter 201: Wanna Touch Mine? 

"?" Minami.

The consequences of the option before him caught Minami somewhat off guard.

In his mind, the reason he ended up with a mediocre ending was because he hadn't chosen the more proactive first option here.

But now it seemed, the first option wasn't the right one either.

In the simulation, [On her, aside from the feeling of "being needed," there was another feeling within her that you failed to notice.…]—this line made him feel very uneasy.

He wasn't an idiot.

He certainly understood that the other emotion was Rio Futaba's self-loathing. She hated the selfish version of herself that longed for Minami to stay by her side, hated the part of her that craved attention from others.

This "self-loathing" was also the root of her inferiority complex.

After all, if one can't even like themselves, how could they possibly be confident?

In the original anime, Rio Futaba even developed a split personality due to this self-loathing, resulting in two different versions of herself.

From this alone, it was evident that Rio Futaba's mental state was already extremely unhealthy.

"Being needed" and "self-loathing"—both were psychological issues.

But if the first option wasn't correct either...

Was he supposed to go down Yamada's route instead?

"If even the first option here is wrong, then I need to trace the problem back to its source."

Minami's mind worked quickly. With a swipe of his finger, he moved the simulation screen back to the previous option.

[1. Make a move on the single lady near the Futaba household!]

"Looks like this option is the culprit."

He tapped the screen repeatedly.

The reason Rio Futaba felt uneasy stemmed from the fact that he had spent all his energy recently on getting involved with the single lady next door.

At that time, from Minami's perspective, it had seemed logical to gather intel on Rio Futaba by talking to her neighbor.

But now...

"I miscalculated right here."

It seemed he should have chosen to connect with Sakuta Azusagawa and Yuuma Kunimi instead.

Rio Futaba was friends with those two.

By actively approaching Sakuta and Yuuma, he would naturally have gotten closer to Rio Futaba.

She wouldn't have felt so anxious...

"Didn't expect it'd be you."

Minami looked thoroughly exasperated.

That crucial option was hidden way too subtly.

And the phrasing was completely unserious.

"Make a move on Sakuta Azusagawa and Yuuma Kunimi!"—with an option like that, there was no way a straight guy like Minami would ever choose it.

He sighed at how deviously the simulator had been designed this time.

But what's done was done; there was no point in dwelling on it.

Minami exited the options screen and turned to watch the simulation he had already set in motion.

The simulation continued under his watchful eyes.

[Though you intended for her to socialize, you didn't throw her directly into interactions with unfamiliar strangers.]

[Under your arrangement, you introduced her to the members of the band after practice.]

[The process went smoothly.]

[Nijika Ijichi is someone who's considerate of others. Even someone like Rio Futaba, who isn't particularly good at socializing, could converse happily with them.]

[But seeing so many outstanding girls around you, her self-loathing and inferiority only deepened.]

[She wanted to keep you by her side.]

[But watching you chat freely with other girls, she realized this couldn't continue. You deserved to keep moving forward. She couldn't selfishly keep you for herself.]

[These conflicting feelings tugged at her constantly.]

[She hid her deteriorating mental state from you to avoid worrying you and kept socializing.]

[But how could such minor thoughts escape your ever-watchful gaze?]

[You quickly noticed and told her she didn't need to force herself anymore.]

[You realized forcing her to make friends was pointless; only by unlocking her heart could you untie the knots inside.]

[Gradually, you gave up the idea of pushing her to socialize and, as always, spent your days with her in the science prep room.]

[Unable to meet your expectations, her eyes were full of guilt.]

[One morning, in the science prep room, you confessed to her. Moved by her feelings for you and overwhelmed by guilt, she accepted your confession and moved in with you—]

"So that's how it is."

Minami watched the developments unfold.

Everything was about as he expected.

After accepting his confession, just like in the second cycle, Rio Futaba became enamored with him due to his charm.

But once again, her inner struggles remained unresolved.

In the end, they still arrived at the same mediocre ending.

The only difference this time was that Rio Futaba carried a sense of guilt towards him.

She knew Minami, as her husband, had been tirelessly trying to ease her mental burdens for years.

Even as she passed away, she tightly held his hand and whispered an apology.

[Simulation complete.]

[No change in current ending progress. No evaluation given.]

"Hmph—what a troublesome woman."

Minami stretched lazily, leaning back against the edge of the bed, and let out a heavy sigh.

It was only now that he realized just how troublesome Rio Futaba truly was.

Unlike Hitori(Bocchi), whose inferiority complex and social anxiety were clearly visible, Rio Futaba's self-loathing and need to be needed were deeply hidden.

Even from Minami's perspective, she usually came across as just a typical science geek—there was no sign of any psychological issues on the surface.

What a headache, what a headache.

As he was thinking this, he turned his head and happened to see Yamada Ryo sleeping comfortably on his bed.

Here he was, racking his brain over everything.

And this girl? She had shamelessly claimed his bed and fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow!

At that thought, Minami couldn't help but reach out and firmly grab Yamada Ryo's finely sculpted, androgynous face.

"?" Yamada Ryo.

A light sleeper by nature, Yamada Ryo quickly opened her inorganic amber eyes in response to Minami's touch.

She tilted her head, staring at the hand of the person she liked, and blinked.

If it had been Bocchi or the others, they probably would've blushed furiously and felt shy from such a sudden display of affection.

But Yamada Ryo didn't mind at all.

Not quite understanding what Minami was doing, she even leaned her face closer, rubbing her cheek gently against his fingertips.

"What is it, Minami?"

"Just thinking about something."

Minami's fingers lightly slid across Yamada Ryo's fair, soft chin, as though stroking a kitten.

Following the memory in his mind, he easily found the pressure point that brought Yamada Ryo the most comfort.

"Mm..." Yamada Ryo narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. "What's on your mind, Minami?"

"Hmm..." Minami pulled his fingers back, thought for a moment, then said, "Since you're here, Ryo, maybe you can help me figure something out."

He carefully chose his words and began, "I have this friend…"

Given Yamada Ryo's tendency to overthink things and her constant attempts to help him 'win over' Rio Futaba, it was safer to start with "I have a friend."

However—

"Is it Rio Futaba?"

"..." Minami.

Should he be surprised that Yamada-san, who scored an 89 rating after just one simulation, could immediately guess it was Rio Futaba they'd met today?

"It's her."

Since she'd already guessed, Minami didn't bother denying it and simply nodded.

"Oh?"

Yamada Ryo clearly perked up. "So? You're finally interested in her?"

Usually blunt and direct, she became unusually talkative when discussing topics she liked.

She held up her fingers, her expression serious.

"I knew I wasn't wrong before. Minami, you really do like Rio a lot. And it makes sense—after all, she's got this much—"

As she spoke, she gestured at her chest, indicating "this much" with her hands.

"Among the people I know, only Bocchi can compare... So you prefer big boobs, huh, Minami?"

Yamada Ryo tilted her head and pointed at her own chest. "Wanna touch mine? They're not big, but the shape's nice..."

"Okay, stop, stop."

She was really getting more ridiculous by the second. If Minami didn't cut her off, he had a feeling she'd actually grab his hand and make him test it out.

"I'm not here to talk about body types... And don't give me that blatant look of disappointment. What I'm talking about is a psychological issue."

Ignoring Yamada Ryo's obviously let-down expression, Minami continued.

"Ryo, what do you think about someone who hates themselves, but also craves attention from others... yet feels anxious and uneasy once they actually get that attention?"

"Eh? Sounds like a total pain in the ass."

Yamada Ryo frowned, clearly annoyed.

"..." Minami.

Honestly, he agreed completely with her.

But this wasn't about debating how troublesome Rio Futaba was.

And if we're really talking about trouble... to be honest, Yamada Ryo wasn't much better.

So he quickly changed the topic. "Setting aside how annoying it is, how do you think one could change that person's mental state?"

Truthfully, Yamada Ryo wasn't someone who cared much about emotional or psychological issues.

She was naturally confident and had almost never experienced such a state herself.

But this was the first time Minami had come to her with a problem.

If she could solve it decisively...

Would Minami start to see her in a new light?

With that thought, Yamada Ryo did her best to fire up her single-core brain.

She thought long and hard before finally squeezing out a sentence: "That depends... what exactly do you mean by 'hating themselves'?"

After saying those words, she could clearly feel a bit of heat rising to her head.

"What do you mean by... roughly like what?"

Minami thought for a moment. "Like hating their own thoughts, feeling that being such a selfish and horrible person makes them completely unworthy of being friends with others... that kind of thing?"

Ah...

Another one of those troublesome topics.

Yamada Ryo expressionlessly patted her own head.

Her already overheated brain couldn't quite piece words together.

But with sheer effort and stubbornness, she still managed to force out a sentence:

"I think... being like that... isn't so bad, is it?"

Nope, that was it.

Right after saying it, Yamada Ryo looked away, feeling a pang of guilt and regret.

She was never suited for handling these kinds of complex emotional issues—not with her single-core processor of a brain.

The sentence she squeezed out had absolutely no real meaning.

And...

Now Minami wasn't saying anything.

He was probably left speechless by her random, nonsensical remark.

Thinking this, the completely poker-faced Yamada Ryo became even more guilty, turning her eyes away completely.

Just as she was wondering how she should explain herself to Minami...

"So that's it... I see now."

"Eh?"

Yamada Ryo looked up in surprise at Minami's face, which had suddenly lit up with understanding.

"Ryo, I think I get what you mean now. I see..."

Minami narrowed his eyes, speaking thoughtfully:

"You're trying to say that hating oneself isn't necessarily a bad thing, right?"

"Eh?" Yamada Ryo looked at him, completely lost.

On the other side, Minami wore an expression that screamed, "I totally get it now."

Yes.

He understood.

He understood what Yamada Ryo had meant by her words.

"Hating oneself isn't inherently wrong. Giving up on change, letting go of trying too hard—that's a choice too. There's no need to chase perfection, and no need to force a flawless outcome."

As he spoke, he tapped the table. "Ryo, what you meant was, expecting someone to always be perfect is impossible, right?"

"Eh?"

Yamada Ryo's pink lips parted slightly, and she stared at Minami, dumbfounded.

At that moment, she genuinely felt Minami lived up to being ranked number one in the national simulation exams.

Because she hadn't thought that deeply at all.

Minami, just like answering a reading comprehension question about 'the author's intentions, had spun something detailed and convincing from absolutely nothing she had considered.

And honestly...

It kinda...

Made sense?

Unable to respond, she rubbed her head, letting out random noises—"Mm-hmm" and "Ah, ah"—to fill the silence.

"Didn't expect you to think that far ahead, Ryo."

Having found a possible path to help Rio Futaba, Minami didn't hold back on praising Yamada Ryo.

Focused on Rio Futaba, he completely missed Ryo's inner panic.

Meanwhile...

Yamada Ryo was feeling incredibly guilty.

Normally, she would have accepted Minami's praise with her usual deadpan, maybe even a bit smug.

But seeing how seriously Minami was taking this...

Receiving praise for nothing made Miss Yamada feel a little uneasy in her conscience.

After a moment's hesitation, she suddenly reached out and pressed Minami's hand against her chest.

"What are you doing?"

Still deep in thought, Minami clearly didn't expect her to make such a move.

"All done."

As if by that gesture she had repaid some sort of debt, Miss Yamada contentedly removed Minami's hand from her chest. "Minami can keep praising me now."

"..." Minami.

This woman... what kind of nonsense is she spouting now?