Confession in the Snow

Night.

[Your skills have improved. Bass performance LV.4 → Bass performance LV.5]

Finally! Finally!

Kitahara Toru was thrilled! He had finally reached max level!

At this stage, normal skill progression would no longer advance—it all depended on his own exploration now.

Fortunately, reaching a professional level could be achieved with enough time.

But reaching the master level? That depended entirely on understanding—something far more mysterious.

Inside the simulator, the storyline was about to enter the high school phase.

Over the past two years, Hitori Gotoh and he had remained friends, just like Yamada Ryo.

However, something was a little strange—both girls' affection levels had reached 80, with Hitori Gotoh being the most surprising at 88 points.

If Kitahara Toru wanted to, he could date either of them.

However, since he had already decided to love only one person in this life, he wouldn't betray that.

Before time-traveling, when he played romance games, he didn't really like taking the harem route.

Besides, the simulator allowed for multiple playthroughs—there was no need to be greedy. He could just fall in love with one girl at a time.

One girl per playthrough—over multiple rounds, the experience wouldn't be any worse than a harem. It might even be better!

Kitahara Toru clicked on Yamada Ryo's bonds panel.

Time to choose a location for the confession.

[Winter Camp: A cozy cabin at a ski resort. Location: Hokkaido.][Christmas: Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck. Location: Tokyo.][Tokyo Disneyland: Special Winter Parade. Location: Chiba.]

[Note: The confession must be fully simulated. Text-mode cannot be used.]

Kitahara Toru hesitated for a moment.

This was the first time he had taken the initiative to confess.

The simulator's current timeline was winter of his senior year in high school, just a few months before graduation.

So, all the available locations were themed around the season.

After thinking it over...

He decided on winter camping.

That location had fewer people, so the confession wouldn't be as nerve-wracking.

As for Tokyo Skytree on Christmas or Disneyland in winter—he didn't even consider them! Those places would be packed.

Confessing there would be a near-impossible mission!

Done!

Let's start the simulation!

———

[Sending invitation...]

Kitahara Toru watched the message appear in the simulator, feeling a bit nervous.

Did he really have to consider his virtual wife's feelings before confessing?

What if she rejected him?!

[Yamada Ryo has accepted your invitation.]

Excellent!

———

In a small villa in Setagaya, Tokyo…

Yamada Ryo was lying in the bathtub when she received a notification from the simulator.

[Kitahara Toru has invited you on a trip to Hokkaido. Do you accept?]

Tch. What an easy man to handle.

Yamada Ryo checked his affection level.

Wait. 87 points?

That's way too high.

She knew the simulator could exaggerate, but even after two years, seeing the affection level that high was surprising.

His favorability points had also reached 360,000.

Aside from affection bonuses, there were also achievement rewards:

First dateFirst hand-holdingFirst hug…

Yet, even after two years, they still hadn't kissed.

"Bass performance LV.5??"

Yamada Ryo patted her cheek.

Her Pokémon-raising plan seemed to be complete.

As long as Kitahara Toru had a professional-level bass, she could spend her favorability points to acquire LV.5 skills!

In reality, her own bass level was only LV.4, and leveling up was extremely difficult.

To be bold—if Kitahara Toru could advance to master level, grandmaster level, or even god-tier…

Yamada Ryo could instantly skyrocket!

In reality, this was a vampire simulator—what a powerful system!

"This time, he's probably going to confess, right?"

Of course, Yamada Ryo wouldn't refuse.

But she wouldn't take it too seriously either.

To her, Kitahara Toru was just a tool to acquire skills.

A character from a virtual world.

A digital pet she could use.

Could someone really fall in love with an avatar?

Of course not.

Those guys online who scream "WIFE!" don't actually love their waifus forever.

When they find someone new they like better, they just switch to a new "wife."

So, it's perfectly normal for me not to take Kitahara Toru's feelings seriously, right?

———

[Preparing to enter full simulation mode.]

Yamada Ryo's consciousness slowly drifted away from reality.

———

Hokkaido.

Sapporo Ski Resort.

Kitahara Toru and Yamada Ryo were in their ski gear, sitting on the ascending ski lift.

"Ryo, thanks for the past two years." Kitahara Toru turned to look at her.

"No need to thank me, really."

Yamada Ryo knew what he meant—it was about the two days per week she spent teaching him bass.

But honestly?

It was all just a simulation.

She never had to actually teach him anything.

As for Kessoku Band inside the simulator?

Yamada Ryo didn't really care.

Everything was fake.

She had always understood the difference—she never lost sight of reality.

This ski resort, the man sitting beside her, his affection for her—all of it was nothing more than an illusion generated by the simulator.

"My bass skills improved so fast thanks to you, Ryo. Of course, I have to thank you."

Kitahara Toru smiled at her.

Yamada Ryo didn't react.

She was like a block of ice that couldn't melt.

Everything was profit-driven.

Since she had decided to be completely pragmatic, Yamada Ryo wouldn't get emotionally involved.

"Oh."

"…Well, thanks." Kitahara Toru felt a bit disappointed.

He knew Yamada Ryo wasn't much of a talker, but…

After more than two years together, she was still the same?

Was he just her wallet?

After spending so much time together—after hundreds of interactions and thousands of insults exchanged—had they not gotten any closer?

Kitahara Toru felt a small sting in his heart.

But maybe… Yamada Ryo didn't know that every time he asked her for bass lessons, he used Auto Simulator Mode to master bass-playing effortlessly.

———

A few minutes later.

They got off the ski lift.

"Ryo, do you know how to ski? I can teach you—"

"Not really."

Yamada Ryo didn't pretend to be skilled.

"Then let's start with the basics, okay? Your ski goggles are a little crooked."

Kitahara Toru slid over and adjusted her goggles for her, his movements friendly.

Yamada Ryo saw his handsome face up close and took a slight step back.

Too close.

Kitahara Toru: "..."

He didn't think much of it and just smiled.

———

Half an hour later.

"Ryo, you're learning fast." Kitahara Toru clapped.

She really was quick.

For a beginner, she was surprisingly good.

As expected of my wife.

———

As they skied down, Kitahara Toru suddenly noticed something.

She was veering off course.

"Ryo, stop!"

"…How do you stop this?"

Yamada Ryo's eyes widened as obstacles appeared in front of her…

She was about to crash.

"Ryo—!"

Kitahara Toru rushed forward at full speed.

A second later—

"PUM!"

They tumbled into the snow.