Chapter 51 — It Hurts, It Hurts So Much

[Ikuyo Kita, lost in a world of being miserable and emotional conflict, can't reach out to you. And you? You're too overwhelmed to notice her pain, because you know that besides her, your heart also leans toward Ryo and Sakiko in ways that aren't exactly normal.]

[You're frustrated with your own heart, how could it be so fickle? And yet, you can't bear to reject any of their sincere feelings.]

[Unable to make a choice, you push the burden to your future self.]

[By now, the band "Kessoku Band" has performed numerous live shows. You've become a popular regular at STARRY, drawing over a hundred people per gig. You've also started shining as a rising star at RiNG.]

[As the band's keyboardist and composer, all eyes are on you. Major bands have already begun approaching you in secret, trying to get you to sign with them as a professional songwriter.]

[But you've turned them all down.]

[Yes, signing a contract would earn you money and prestige but right now, none of that matters to you. You just want to stay with Kessoku Band and the girl you've chosen.]

[Even Nijika understands that. No matter how much she depends on you as the band's guiding star, as its leader, she would never stand in your way.]

[Even if you left the band, she would smile and send you off with the gentlest of blessings.]

[But the moment you chose without hesitation to stay with everyone, for the first time, you saw her puff her cheeks in frustration, showing a helpless, adorably pouty face.]

[Nijika Ijichi's affection for you has increased.]

PIC: Nijika

Could it be that no matter the timeline, Nijika-mama would always end up developing feelings for him?

But with her gentle, selfless nature, once she noticed either Kita or Ryo had feelings for him, wouldn't she just suppress her own emotions and quietly step aside, offering her blessings in the end?

It hurts. It hurts so much.

Why isn't Nijika one of the romanceable characters in this damn simulator!?

Once he figured out how the simulator's route selection system worked, the first thing he'd do was pull Nijika-mama into the rom-com family.

[It was summer. One day, you found Ikuyo Kita spacing out in the practice room.]

[Just as you were about to go over and comfort her, Nijika suddenly showed up out of nowhere with a smile and shoved Bocchi in your direction. With the serious excuse that "Bocchi needs to pick out a casual dress," she firmly insisted that you take her out shopping.]

[And weirdly, Bocchi, who was always so timid, showed surprising strength that day. She boldly grabbed your sleeve and pulled you away. You couldn't even imagine how much determination and courage it must've taken.]

[You understood both of their feelings, so you left it to them.]

[And over time, Ikuyo Kita's emotional state really began to shift.]

She's really making a comeback?

Did she just pull a minion reset and start over again to the fountain?

[The Ikuyo Kita who used to avoid you suddenly started joking around again, smiling and laughing with you. You even noticed the way she looked at you had completely changed—sincere, radiant, full of confidence.]

[Her innate charm, always blazing like fire, now burned even more brightly.]

[Maybe it was thanks to Nijika's guidance. Maybe she finally understood the bitterness and confusion she'd been bottling up.]

[Kita realized that the more she was around you, the harder it became to hold back those overflowing feelings. And since she'd never been short on courage, now that she understood her heart, she chose to face you directly.]

[You had planned to invite her out on a date but just then, you caught a rare fever. With a cold hitting hard, you had no choice but to cancel and stay home to rest.]

[While you were trying to recover peacefully, the doorbell rang.]

...

Your vision was foggy, like your face was wrapped in cling film, making it hard to breathe.

Kazami Haru reached up and gently touched his cooling forehead.

He'd already taken fever meds and rested for the whole morning. His "healthy" constitution had finally kicked in.

The worst of the fever had passed. He'd be okay.

But the fatigue and weakness from the viral flu still weighed heavily on him. His throat burned painfully, and the discomfort gnawed at him.

Just as he forced himself up to grab some water—

The doorbell rang again. A long, persistent ring.

"Who the hell's here… at this hour?"

It was a weekday. One in the afternoon. Everyone should be at school.

Dragging his weary body to the door, Haru opened it—and saw someone wearing a Stone Mask from JoJo.

Wait no, it was a blue-haired girl… wearing a Stone Mask.

"Looks like the fever's mostly gone, huh?"

Ryo Yamada reached up and removed the spooky mask with a sly grin, clearly proud of scaring him even a little.

She shook the medicine and cooling gel packs in her hand, showing her true reason for coming.

"Ryo, don't tell me… you ditched class for this?"

"This isn't ditching—it's called formally requesting leave."

As Haru rolled his eyes, Ryo placed her hands on her slim waist and struck a proud little pose.

That slight tilt of her head carried the smugness she couldn't hide.

"I brought you medicine. Even if your cold's basically gone—"

"I already paid for it, so you might as well take it all."

Expressionless, Ryo opened her hands. The mountain of meds was truly intimidating.

"I appreciate the thought. Really. I'm grateful you came to check on me."

"But my fever's gone. I don't need the meds anymore."

If he actually swallowed all that, he might not survive the day.

"Really better, huh?"

A glint flickered in Ryo's eyes, one Haru knew well enough to instinctively step back.

"In that case, I won't hold back anymore~"