Chapter 44 — Fourth Simulation

[Available Simulations: 4]

[Available Targets: Ryo Yamada, Tomori Takamatsu, Sakiko Togawa, Ikuyo Kita]

His interactions with Ryo Yamada and Tomori-san had helped replenish the number of simulations he could run.

Although he really did like little Tomori, he had to admit—when it came to simulations, she was a tough one.

Scoring high with Tomori's route wasn't just hard. It was brutal.

Even with a skill like "Enhanced Physical Health," he still wasn't sure he wouldn't just randomly drop dead from her emotional gravity.

"So then… who should I pick for the fourth simulation?"

Ryo Yamada seemed to have good chemistry with him. As long as he bonded with her during the simulation, things naturally progressed toward a relationship ending. Once she liked him, she would launch an irresistible full-force assault.

The real problem was, how to raise her score.

Last time, it was Nijika's emotions combined with the abandonment of her dream that left Ryo with a lifelong regret. To improve her ending, he'd need to tackle those issues head-on.

Besides, he was curious about trying out a new simulation target.

He wanted to see if chasing someone new would cause any changes in the system.

"Um, Kazami-kun."

A sudden voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

Kazami Haru slowly looked up at the figure blocking the sunlight. At some point, a short-haired girl who looked vaguely familiar had appeared in front of him.

She seemed to be one of his classmates, and a friend of Ikuyo Kita.

"Hey, Kazami-kun! Want to come to karaoke with us later?"

"With you all?"

Haru tilted his head slightly and looked past her at the others.

Ikuyo Kita stood surrounded by girls, covering her face with both hands in embarrassment while the group waved playfully in his direction.

It looked like he'd be the only guy there.

Well, it was a former girls' school, after all.

"I've got something else today. Maybe next time."

"Ah—then it's a promise! Next time, you have to come!!"

The girl's eyes sparkled with delight at his answer. She turned back to the group, clapping hands with the others in celebration.

They had only invited him on a whim, not expecting the usually aloof, lone-wolf pretty boy to respond at all—much less with something as gently positive as "next time."

If there's a "next time"… then there's a chance, right?

"Maybe—"

Seeing the brief flicker of joy on Miss Social Butterfly's face in the distance, Haru caught a vague hunch.

It might just be some nonsense from yours truly, but he was sure... Miss Social Butterfly totally had a crush on him!

In that case, why not go all in? Jump into the simulation and give it a shot!

He'd draw his blade and slash down with a thunderous iai strike, then turn into a vertical cleave plus a spirit-charged whirlwind slash! Shattering her emotional defenses with his undefeated charm, and finish it all with a magnificent judgement cut!

It's settled, then.

Let's go, Kita-Kita!

PIC: Kita

[Simulation Target Confirmed: Ikuyo Kita. Use item?]

So the items are [Infatuation Card] and [Random Identity Card], huh?

He didn't use either during Tomori's simulation. But this time, feeling both curious and easygoing, he figured: might as well test them out on Miss Social Butterfly. The items weren't going to multiply on their own anyway.

[Item [Infatuation Card] used successfully. Simulation score increased.]

[Simulation Start]

[Remaining Simulations: 3]

[After some effort, you've formed good friendships with several girls your age, and joined the all-girl band "Kessoku Band." Your life is clearly turning around for the better.]

[Today is a bright, sunny day. Your classmate, Koishi, invites you to karaoke. She keeps subtly hinting that Ikuyo Kita will also be there. You think this could be a great chance to deepen your bond with her.]

[So, you decide to—]

[1. Gladly accept. Who wouldn't want to hang out with a group of cute girls?]

[2. Coldly decline. You've got a part-time job and Kessoku Band training to get to.]

[3. Think this isn't rock enough, and ask if you can change the venue to a bar.]

[4. Virtual Reality– Enter the scene yourself.]

So the simulation starts from the same day he picked the target?

In reality, he already turned down the invitation, but the simulation still lets him choose again?

Or maybe if he just walked over and told them he changed his mind, the result would match the simulation choice?

Either way, if the goal is to get closer to Kita-san, choice 1 it is.

What really surprised Kazami Haru, though, was that the so-called [Infatuation Card] actually boosted the simulation score just by being used. Up to this point, this damned simulator played dumb and never gave him any hints.

Still, this had to be one of the keys to high scores!

[You gladly accepted Koishi's invitation. She was shocked by your response. This left Tomori Takamatsu and Hitori Gotoh standing stunned, their faces blank with surprise.]

[It seems they regretted not acting faster.]

[Tomori Takamatsu fell into depression.]

[After school, you followed Ikuyo Kita's group to their usual karaoke hangout.]

[Thanks to your "charming and witty" conversation style, plus your unrivaled charisma, it took only a few minutes to get along with these normie gyaru girls.]

[However, none of them showed clear affection for you, each keeping an appropriate emotional distance.]

The phrase "appropriate emotional distance" made Haru blink. Wait, was his charm already starting to fade?

This was bad. He thought his looks could carry him straight through.

Looks like he'd become a shrimp-head after all.

[Soon, Ikuyo Kita, urged on by her friends, walked up and asked for your contact info.]

Oh, so she was lying in wait for this moment, huh.