Chapter 47 — Just a Bit of Interest

[After joining "Kessoku Band," Kita Ikuyo is emotionally reunited with Ryo and Nijika, now as the "runaway guitarist." You see the unmistakable look of love in her eyes, and realize the person she truly admires is Yamada Ryo.]

He was… outshined by his ex-wife?

How did I end up in this kind of dream?

[She still feels guilty for fleeing the band because she couldn't play guitar. That guilt now drives her to practice harder than ever.]

[You often see her fingers wounded from over-practicing, and you carefully help disinfect her cuts with iodine. Though shy at first, she gradually becomes accustomed to your care.]

[Your thoughtful actions do not go unnoticed by Kita. While she acts the same on the surface, she's quietly begun to scheme something behind the scenes.]

[Your relationship is slowly progressing in a good direction.]

[Then, by chance during a rehearsal at the live house, Yamada Ryo sprains her ankle after zoning out. In pain and unable to walk home alone, you're the only one in the band who can take her back.]

[You must now decide—]

1. No matter what, you can't leave an injured person alone.

2. Your heart already belongs to Kita Ikuyo—you must maintain boundaries with other girls.

3. Recently, Takamatsu Tomori seems down—you think you should check in on her.

4. Virtual reality—simulate it yourself.

Now this was a choice with deep consequences.

During the last simulation with Tomori, Kazami Haru learned that choosing a path directly shifted the simulation's internal logic. A wrong choice could lead to irreversible results.

So… what to choose this time?

When Yamada Ryo first started the simulation, he deliberately chose to ignore Nijika's feelings for the sake of a single pure love route, which caused Ryo to always feel guilty about this, and this has always been one of her regrets that she can never forget.

But if he wanted to pursue the simulated target, he had to stay firmly on the pure love route with Kita. Otherwise, the entire simulation could collapse.

That meant he couldn't worry about the depressed Takamatsu Tomori, nor could he help the injured "troublesome" Yamada Ryo.

Would he have to ignore both to stay unwaveringly on Kita's route?

"Whatever, I don't care anymore."

Kazami Haru didn't hesitate much and chose to help the injured Yamada Ryo.

Although he genuinely felt bad for the cute, introverted Tomori, he couldn't just ignore the injured "ex-wife" in this simulation. Doing so could potentially create internal issues within the band, which would ultimately affect Kita.

Plus, with his personality, he couldn't just watch someone suffer and do nothing.

It probably wouldn't be a big deal—

Could helping a troublesome woman across the street really turn him into a lovestruck idiot?

[You couldn't leave the injured Yamada Ryo alone, so you decided to personally escort her home.]

[Since she couldn't put weight on her right leg, she leaned her whole body on you, wrapping her left arm around your neck intimately. You, in turn, supported her slim waist to help her walk.]

[Her scent and softness continuously stimulated your nerves.]

[Yamada Ryo's intimate actions felt very deliberate.]

[But from her expressionless, indifferent face, you couldn't guess her true thoughts.]

[So, you walked her home in silence.]

...

Her stunning face was bathed in the hazy moonlight.

It was a warm and brightly lit mansion, even beneath the dim night sky. The Western European aristocratic style, paired with a lawn and fountains, flaunted the homeowner's wealth and prestige.

The nameplate at the front gate read [Yamada.]

Always carefree and unconcerned with societal norms, her prestigious status was far beyond what most people could imagine.

If he hadn't seen this jaw-droppingly large mansion with his own eyes, no one would've guessed that this mushroom-munching troublemaker had the air of a proper "young lady from a rich family."

"Thanks for walking me home," she said softly.

Yamada Ryo gently released her arm from around his neck and let her injured foot barely touch the marble floor. She crossed her arms gracefully and leaned her back against the nameplate with "Yamada" engraved on it.

A gentle breeze brushed across her cheeks, sending ripples through her clean, short blue hair.

Her elegant, golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight like a galaxy illuminated by starlight.

"It's rare to hear you thank someone. So, Ryo-san, shouldn't you be paying a little gratitude fee?" he teased.

"Thank you," she replied again, using the same indifferent tone, completely ignoring his joke.

Yeah, she's still the same in this regard.

"You know, you probably didn't need me to walk you home. One phone call and your family could've come—"

Before Kazami could finish his sentence, he swallowed the words back.

Because the same Yamada who just moments ago had a sprained ankle had suddenly reached out and grabbed his tie. That beautiful face, with a tear mole under her eye, closed in on his, forcing him into a direct stare.

PIC: Ryo

xx

"But, Haru."

The girl's usually frosty and aloof expression now softened into a faint smile.

At that moment, the dim world around him seemed to brighten, as if illuminated by the first sunlight that melts winter ice in spring.

"Even so, you still walked me home."

"Didn't you?"

Even though her voice retained its usual coolness, her doll-like, delicate face was tinged with a bewitching blush. Her long, fine eyelashes fluttered slightly, and the curve of her cold expression lifted into a subtle flirtatious smile.

Ryo grabbed Haru's collar with one hand, pulling him even closer.

"You held a beautiful girl like me for so long, you should at least pay me two million yen."

"You got that backwards. You're the one who should be paying me two million," Kazami responded, his tone stiffening. In that moment, his fluster was, of course, instantly noticed by her keen eyes.

A mischievous glint danced in her unique golden eyes, and as he stood there frozen, her soft pink lips quickly brushed the corner of his mouth like a dragonfly skimming the water. Then, without a trace of shame, she lightly licked her lips.

She was still just as lofty and unrestrained. Even after doing something like that without permission, there wasn't the slightest hint of panic on her face.

As if she had already known Kazami wouldn't get angry.

"This time, let's just call it interest."

...

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