My Simulation… Why Is It Turning into a Real Romance?!

If you can hold her hand, why wouldn't you?

Kazami Haru wasn't some innocent, bashful schoolboy.

Even a beauty like Kita Ikuyo had mustered up the courage to say it out loud, if he still hesitated now, wouldn't that just be pathetic? So, without missing a beat, he softly thanked her and gently took her hand.

It was soft, like holding a smooth, jiggling pudding.

"Mm…"

Ikuyo tried to stay calm, but the subtle tremble in her fingers betrayed her emotions.

This wasn't Haru's first time holding a girl's hand, in fact, he'd held Tomori's hand plenty of times.

But Ikuyo really was a radiant, sunshine-powered extrovert of a beauty.

Even though she practiced rhythm guitar regularly and should've developed callouses on her fingertips, her fingers only had the faintest trace of hardness. Her palms were plush and tender, emitting a warm heat that felt like a small flame dancing between them.

While Haru stayed composed, Ikuyo's head was a mess of thoughts and emotions.

The instant he took her hand, her whole body went stiff like a robot. She barely dared to grip back. Her free hand nervously twirled a strand of her fiery red side ponytail, and her golden-green eyes started spinning in little circles from shyness.

Then, with their fingers still laced together, she spoke,soft and tentative.

"Haru… do you mind if we take a picture like this?"

"A picture like this?"

Haru blinked.

Well, taking photos wasn't weird in itself,Ikuyo was the band's self-proclaimed "Social Media Master," after all. She wielded the camera with absolute authority, always snapping pics and updating their accounts.

Wherever they were, whatever they were doing, if she whipped out her phone to snap a shot, it was just standard extrovert girl behavior.

Except this time… they were holding hands.

And Haru wasn't some oblivious romcom protagonist, he could tell something was different.

If a girl took the initiative to hold a guy's hand, that already meant her feelings weren't normal. And Ikuyo's heart was even more delicate and sensitive than she let on. The fact that she could bring herself to reach out like this… She clearly liked him.

His charm might be a little too strong. Even the unstoppable Kita Ikuyo had fallen under his spell.

In the simulation, she'd gently declined his confession with a soft "I'll think about it," only to slowly grow closer and reveal her feelings nearly a year later.

But now, it hadn't even been two months since they'd started spending time together.

Haru wasn't sure what she was thinking now,but it was probably time to test the waters.

"It's for the band blog, of course~ Just a casual 'End of the Day with Kessoku Band' post~"

"See, I've mostly posted pictures of the others, but there aren't many of you, Haru. So I thought I'd use this chance to get a few! You're part of the band too, so obviously you need to be in the photos!"

This was a lie.

Kita Ikuyo simply wanted to hold hands with someone she liked, and take a keepsake photo together.

"…Unless… Haru, do you not want to take one with me?"

That flash of visible disappointment in her eyes,no one could say no to that.

"I support this."

Haru raised both hands in mock surrender.

At this point, even if he'd figured out her real motive, there was no way he could turn her down.

Kita Ikuyo's lips curled slightly in triumph as soon as she got the green light. Her golden-green eyes shimmered with the gleam of a successful plan, and even her fiery red hair seemed to bounce with joy.

She smoothly pulled out her phone, lifted it at the classic 45-degree angle, and subtly inched closer to Kazami Haru. Just a little more, and she might end up sitting in his lap.

"Okay! I'm gonna take it now~"

The nervous excitement bubbling in her chest turned into a wave of giddy euphoria flooding her head.

Maybe because she was too tense, her normally bright and flawless expression became visibly stiff and awkward.

"Um, wait just a second…"

Now flustered, Ikuyo hesitated with a beet-red face, unable to press the shutter.

Not that it was really her fault.

Sure, she often fantasized about these kinds of intimate moments before bed, but reality and fantasy were two very different things. Even something this minor had her acting like a total romance noob.

Watching her struggle, Haru couldn't help but laugh softly. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"Ikuyo."

"Eh,!?"

The blush on her face vanished, replaced by pure shock and wide, trembling pupils.

"H-Haru! W-what are you saying? There's nobody named 'Ikuyo' here, okay?!"

"Haha~ Haru, you really love to joke around!"

That was absolute nonsense.

Kita Ikuyo was clearly trying to pretend nothing happened, but her guilty eyes might as well have flown off to grandma's house. She was obviously self-conscious about being called by her first name.

She wanted to laugh it off, but Haru rolled his eyes and cut through the act.

"We're classmates, you know. How could I not know your name?"

"Uwaah! Don't call me that!"

"It's such a silly name, right? I mean, who's still named that in this day and age? And paired with 'Kita' it just sounds even funnier…"

Now she was spiraling.

"I should've just been named 'Kita Reimu' or something. I mean, it's red too!"

…That name didn't help either.

Watching Ikuyo panic like this, Haru couldn't resist the urge to mess with her. He considered pulling out his phone and snapping a quick picture for memories.

But before he could act, she caught him red-handed.

Her expression instantly turned into a pouty glare, filled with mock resentment.

"Haru, you're such a meanie, teasing me like that…"

Pouting a little, Ikuyo slyly extended a single finger and softly tickled his palm.

Haru visibly flinched, and when she saw it, her beautiful face lit up with a glowing smile. Like morning dew on a blooming flower, it was a pure, energetic, joy-filled expression that melted hearts.

Maybe it was his imagination, but…

Holding her hand didn't make him nervous anymore.

Her warm, pale hand was gently nestled in his. Even that simple skin contact made it feel like they were sharing warmth, and if she just squeezed a bit tighter, he could almost feel his heartbeat being exposed.

He didn't want to let go.

"…Okay."

An unexpected idea crept into Ikuyo's mind.

It lingered stubbornly in her thoughts like something sticky and sweet, so instead of brushing it away, the naturally impulsive girl just… went for it.

They were already holding hands,might as well go one step further.

Click,

The soft shutter sound broke the silence.

Haru's eyes widened as Ikuyo suddenly leaned in against him.

In the photo, she beamed brightly, flashing a playful peace sign, while her other hand clung tightly to his, fingers interlaced like a pair of lovers.

Their entwined fingers looked like the purest expression of affection.

And Haru had to admit…

He was starting to find Kita Ikuyo very hard to resist.

…

After a few more casual shots, Ikuyo returned to her usual cheerful self, laughing like nothing had happened.

Still holding Haru's hand, she strolled beside him in her cute black Mary Janes(shoes), guiding them toward Anon's house with a spring in her step, chatting about totally ordinary things.

It looked like nothing had changed, but both of them knew better.

"It's kind of hot today, huh…"

Ikuyo felt her face heating up again, so she waved her free hand like a little fan, trying to cool herself down. Even though her emotions were a whirlwind, she kept her expression composed.

Just a moment of impulse,and her brain had completely short-circuited.

What was supposed to be just a "normal" hand-hold…

…had somehow become a tightly clasped, interlocked-lovers kind of handhold during the photo.

Even walking down the street like this made her too shy to lift her head. But despite her embarrassment and a twinge of regret for acting on impulse…

She couldn't stop smiling inside.

Not even she expected things to move this quickly between them.

"Speaking of which, isn't your second live performance coming up this month, Haru? I'll definitely drag Bocchi and Ryo-senpai along to cheer you on from the audience!"

Although she was talking about ordinary band topics, the girl kept sneaking glances at his reactions.

Even though she had already boldly intertwined her fingers with his, Haru beside her showed no signs of resistance...

Could this be a hint that she could take things a step further?

If so, should she buy some 'supplies' in advance at the convenience store next time?

Thinking about this made Kita's cheeks feel as hot as a furnace.

Her shoulder-length fiery red hair seemed even more vibrant due to her shyness. When Haru looked over, she quickly turned her head to pretend to admire the scenery, not realizing that her fair earlobes had already turned a rosy red.

"It's hard to say how this live will go. There are still many tasks unfinished within the band, and our practice time is a bit tight. I don't know what the situation will be when we get on stage..."

Haru didn't deliberately avoid Kita's gaze, but his heart was far from calm.

Perhaps he was just testing the waters before, but now he's completely certain.

Kita Ikuyo definitely likes him.

Realizing this made Haru feel extremely conflicted. Since the simulation is still ongoing, he can't start a relationship with anyone right now. Even though he knows he'll have to marry someone in the future, now is definitely not the time.

Although Kita in front of him is indeed very charming.

But Haru couldn't forget that little wooden head, or the pink-haired girl and Ryo from the simulation who grew old together, or the ever-heartwarming Nijika, and the always-worrisome little Tomori.

He never intended to bring the simulation into reality, but it seems some influences are unavoidable. Unknowingly, he had attracted so many girls, it felt like he was heading straight into being a playboy.

But if he were to cruelly reject them, it would hurt others, especially someone as delicate as Tomori. If he rejected her, he didn't know what the outcome would be.

This growing inner conflict made him feel a bit lost.

"We're at Anon's house!"

Kita's words pulled Haru back from his thoughts. Unknowingly, they had arrived at the two-story villa of Anon's family. Realizing this, he temporarily set aside his thoughts and focused on the present.

"Come to think of it, I haven't met Anon-chan's parents yet. I wonder if the gifts I prepared are sufficient..."

Kita's tone was quite relaxed.

As a cheerful and sociable girl, she had many friends wherever she went. Occasionally staying over at a friend's house was normal for her, and she was well-versed in the process.

"What a coincidence, it's my first time meeting them today too."

Haru glanced at the fruit basket and milk in his hands. As a male friend visiting Chihaya Anon, her parents would undoubtedly look at him with curiosity.

Ding dong...

The long doorbell rang, and after a while, the iron gate of the Chihaya family opened.

A beautiful woman with short light brown hair appeared. Seeing the sudden appearance of Haru and Kita Ikuyo, she asked with some confusion, "May I ask who you are?"

"Hello, Anon-chan's mom~ I'm Kita, who called earlier. We're here to visit Anon-chan~"

"Oh! So you're Kita-chan!"

Mrs. Chihaya immediately showed a look of realization, then turned her gaze to the boy beside Kita. Because of his handsome appearance, she couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Haru promptly introduced himself, "Hello, Auntie. I'm Haru, a friend who plays in a band with Anon."

"A friend who plays in a band together?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chihaya blinked meaningfully.

Since her daughter returned from London, she had been a bit gloomy. But later, it seemed she formed a band at school and became more enthusiastic, even secretly bringing people home sometimes.

Although Anon thought she was discreet, Mrs. Chihaya had noticed.

"Come in, both of you~ But Anon is still having a fever, so she might not be able to entertain you personally."

"No problem! In fact, we wanted to come and take care of Anon."

Hearing this, Kita Ikuyo responded energetically and earnestly.

Haru also nodded in agreement with her. After all, Anon had caught a fever precisely because she came to take care of him yesterday. Feeling guilty, he had immediately decided to visit and check on her once he heard the news.

Besides, his body had already developed antibodies, so there was no need to worry about catching anything from Anon in her current state.

"Oh? Are you sure that's okay?"

"No problem at all! Just leave it to us!"

Kita confidently patted her flat chest, producing a dull thump.

"Well, since you both say so, then I'll leave her in your care…"

Mrs. Chihaya blinked in mild surprise and once again turned her gaze toward Haru.

This was the first time Anon had made such a close male friend. Though she said they were "just" bandmates, Mrs. Chihaya's womanly intuition told her it definitely wasn't that simple.

"This might be interesting~"

Naturally curious about this kind of thing, Mrs. Chihaya smiled and decided to leave Anon's care to them for the time being.

If things got too busy later, she would come help,and maybe sneak a peek to see what was really going on.

…

"Excuse us."

Haru politely spoke before entering the room, but received no response.

All the curtains in the room had been drawn shut. Anon lay on the bed, her long sakura-pink hair spread out. A cold white towel rested on her smooth forehead, and her face was flushed from the fever.

Haru wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but Anon seemed smaller than usual, curled up obediently in bed, with faint wisps of steam almost rising from her feverish head…

"She's burning up! This doesn't look mild at all…"

Kita Ikuyo recoiled after just touching Anon's forehead, startled by how hot she felt.

Haru also noticed that the towel had warmed up, so he immediately dipped it into a water basin to re-soak it, wrung it out, and gently placed it back on her forehead.

Perhaps the sudden drop in temperature brought some relief. The half-asleep Anon slowly opened her hazy silver-gray eyes and looked dazedly in Haru's direction.

"…Harumi…?"

- - -

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