Hitori Gotoh Prepares to Steal the Boyfriend

Kitahara Toru didn't think much and quickly rejected Hitori Gotoh's confession.

"I like you, but there's someone I love more. I'm sorry."

As he refused, a sharp pain shot through his head.

He had developed severe migraines a year ago due to prolonged mental stress.

There was no fixed pattern to when they appeared—sometimes, they even struck while he was asleep, making his life miserable.

During this time, he had wanted to exit immersive mode countless times.

But Yamada Ryo kept encouraging him and supporting his dream.

Kitahara Toru was happy to have such a wonderful wife—truly happy.

He wasn't afraid of hard work or perseverance.

As long as someone expected something from him, he would give it his all.

He was stubborn and tenacious.

And above all—

Kitahara Toru was a man who kept his promises.

He had said he would only love Yamada Ryo in this life.

And he would only love her.

"Kitahara-san, you love her so much, but… where is she?"

He didn't want the other person to keep making mistakes.

Kitahara shook his head and said,

"Gotoh, love requires patience and trust. You can't just pluck a flower when you see it by the roadside. A flower without nourishment will only wither away."

The way he and Yamada Ryo were now seemed just right to him—he didn't see any problem.

"Kitahara-san, it's a shame that love isn't just about patience and trust—it also requires mutual support."

Hitori Gotoh had made it into university, so of course, she had some intelligence.

Was this going to turn into a debate?

Alright, let's do this. Who's afraid of who?

"When you were a freshman, you practiced bass until your fingers cracked and bled. But to avoid losing your feel for playing, you insisted on practicing through the pain. Who told you to take care of your hands? It was me—I was the one who treated your wounds."

*"Isn't that something a girlfriend should do? But what did she do? She just yelled at you: *'Keep practicing!'"

'Go to hell with that! Encouragement? Why didn't she just tell you to drop dead?'

Goto Ichiri didn't say that part out loud.

Kitahara Toru: "..."

Isn't this just Ryo-chan's usual terrible personality?

It's kinda cute.

"When you got so drunk that you collapsed in the street, who carried you home, cleaned you up, made you a hangover soup, and took care of you the next day?

"Weird, that was me."

Goto Ichiri smiled.

"And her? She was at some seaside villa looking for inspiration, feeling the ocean breeze, and posting on her blog: 'The wind is so loud tonight!'"

'Loud? Of course, it's loud! So loud you didn't even care about your boyfriend!'

Hitori Gotoh nearly ran to the beach to slap Yamada Ryo!

"..."

"When you traveled, I took two months off! I traveled all over Japan with you! And where was your girlfriend?"

She posted on her blog:

"I got lucky and found a rare record at an antique store."

She's still keeping up her weirdo personality—amazing!

Kitahara Toru lowered his head and said,

"I'm pretty sure she likes me."

It was written in the favorability score.

But why did he feel like…

He was turning into a pathetic lapdog?

No, no, no—this is unconditional love.

Goto Ichiri fired back:

"And me? I love you more than she does—so why won't you accept my love? Am I not as pretty as her?"

"..."

Kitahara Toru was speechless.

How was he supposed to answer that?

What does beauty have to do with whether or not I cheat?

But girls don't want to hear that—they don't want to hear it.

Hitori Gotoh lowered her head, recalling all the details of their relationship—

"You keep praising me—telling me I'm beautiful, calling me a guitar genius, saying you want me to become famous, that you want me to be the future Queen of Rock."

But were those things really important to Hitori Gotoh?

Not really.

As long as someone praised her, she was happy.

Hitori Gotoh was an easy girl to please.

"I've changed a lot for you—I learned how to do makeup, how to dress, I even practiced socializing..."

"Do you even know what university this is? It's the University of Tokyo! My dear friend! How does a dumb girl with a head full of birds suddenly decide to take the entrance exams for this university?"

"It wasn't just for me—I did it because I liked you, and I wanted to be with you!"

She had changed so much—

But it was all useless.

Just because Yamada Ryo got there first, she was the one who won Kitahara Toru's love.

"This isn't a waiting line!"

If I fail now, do I get another chance next time?

No! Life is only lived once!

"I practiced guitar for three years in high school... and I gave it all up for you. I abandoned all my dreams for you."

Hitori Gotoh spoke firmly.

"But I don't regret it."

Compared to the person she loved, her dream meant nothing.

Loving someone humbles you—turns you into dust.

But in that dust, you bloom.

She was willing.

"Kitahara-san, you're the only one in my world, so I can accept you flirting with other girls..."

Kitahara Toru understood her feelings.

But he couldn't be with two people at the same time.

"If you want, we can still be friends," he said.

For a girl, those words were cruel.

But accepting Hitori Gotoh would mean hurting Yamada Ryo.

This multiple-choice question… had no right answer for Kitahara Toru.

"No…"

I still lost in the end.

Hitori Gotoh forced a smile—she didn't want Kitahara Toru to see her vulnerable side.

"Go on and stay with Yamada. We won't see each other again. I don't want her to misunderstand."

After saying that, she turned around and left the classroom, carrying her guitar on her back, pretending to be cool.

As she opened the door…

Hitori Gotoh saw Yamada Ryo standing outside.

She left without saying anything.

To be honest, she wanted to slap her old friend—but she held back.

Yamada Ryo watched the tears glistening in the corners of Hitori Gotoh's eyes…

And then she realized what she had done.

During all this time…

Who did Hitori Gotoh really love?

Even Yamada Ryo was surprised at how much Gotoh had changed for the person she loved.

But at the same time… she felt a little lost.

It wasn't that she couldn't have chosen someone else.

But she had set her sights on the person her friend had secretly loved.

'…Fortunately, it's just a simulation.'

At least that was a small comfort.