How can my simulation be a real love?

The sunny girl, devastated, immediately lost focus. She, who was usually unwavering in her cheerfulness no matter what setbacks she encountered, was now so gloomy, and her words began to mock herself without any restraint.

This made Kazami Mei seem to see a familiar Tsuchiya figure in her, and the contrast was so great that he couldn't help but laugh.

With her eyes gradually dimming, Kita-san gently pressed her two small hands against her chest, sobbing with a tone of grief and helplessness: "Mina-san actually laughed at me too?! So you still prefer the figure of Pochi or Souse-san, don't you?!"

"No, no, no, I didn't say that!"

Kazami Mei immediately shook her head.

"I just thought it was cute to see Kita looking so down, that's why I couldn't help but laugh. Besides, you don't need to be too discouraged right now. After all, Ikuyo, you're still growing, and you'll definitely grow a lot more in the future."

"The most important thing is that I don't care about my figure at all. In fact, someone as slender as Yudai is easier to pick up..."

Kazami Naruto's casual remark caught in her throat before she could finish. Kita Ikuyo, surprised to hear such a thing, blushed slightly and murmured to herself with a slightly evasive look in her eyes—

"I've tried papaya juice and things like that, but they didn't work at all... But besides diet, there are other 'rumored' methods..."

"..."

Unfortunately, Kazami Mei's hearing is exceptionally good.

When Kita Iku realized that her self-talk had been completely overheard, her expression froze, and her cheeks turned as red as if she had a fever. She subconsciously glanced at the jewelry section not far away.

So she hurriedly changed the subject: "Ming-san, look, there are a lot of cute accessories here, like this choker... eh?"

Collar?

Kazami Mei subconsciously looked at the heart-shaped choker that Kita Ikuyo had casually picked up to decorate her neck. This unique metal heart design seemed to carry a special meaning.

Ms. Kita, who was holding the collar with both hands, blushed and looked away with a pounding heart. Her pupils trembled slightly as a result.

This doesn't look like an 'ordinary' decoration at all, does it?

It actually happens sometimes! Couples sometimes experience this too!

Kita Ikuyo's mind went blank as she was dazzled by the sight. Kazami Mei, noticing her shy reaction, simply shifted his gaze nonchalantly before quickly looking at a pure black silk bow next to him.

When the other person remained silent, Kazami Mei quite naturally changed the subject: "Wouldn't it look cute if you tied this kind of bow around your neck? Ikuyo, do you want to try it?"

"That's true, that's true..."

The red-haired girl blushed and her heart pounded as she slowly put the collar back in her hand. However, before leaving, she couldn't help but glance at it a few more times, a strange look flashing in her eyes.

Kita Ikuyo blushed deeply, seemingly lost in thought. Before Kazami Naruto noticed her, she nonchalantly resumed her usual smile and quickly left.

Next time I come here, I'll secretly buy it.

……

Noon, 11 a.m.

After leaving the department store, Kazami Naruto had several small paper bags in his hands.

Inside were just some small trinkets he had bought for Miss Kita. The thoughtful and earnest Miss Kita didn't want Kazami Mei to spend money on clothes, bags, or the like. For her, a relationship was an equal one where both parties had to contribute to make it last, so she naturally didn't want Kazami Mei to spend so much money on her.

"It's almost lunchtime now, Miss Yudai. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"How's the ramen?"

Kita answered questions with lightning speed, her eyes gleaming with a dazzling golden light as she smiled.

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Kazami Mei's eyes.

It was only then that he realized the two of them seemed to have wandered into a familiar street, and there happened to be a 'Shiba Taisho Ramen' restaurant nearby that he often went to eat at. However, Kazami Mei really didn't expect Kita to take the initiative to suggest eating such greasy food.

The other person's reaction made Kazami Mei feel like she was seemingly 'taking the initiative,' but in reality, Kita Iku was leading the date on her behalf.

Kazami Mei hesitated for half a second before slowly replying, "That's no problem, but why do you suddenly want to eat ramen, Yudai?"

Kita-san, whose little hand was being held, was clearly taken aback. Then, her eyes instinctively began to dart away, but she tried to sound cheerful and sunny as she said, "It's nothing! I just sometimes crave ramen or something like that..."

Unfazed by her words, Kazami Mei simply narrowed his eyes and calmly gazed at her.

"to be honest."

Kita Ikuyo's soft cheek was gently pinched by the expressionless black-haired boy in front of her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she finally gave up resisting, only able to respond loudly in despair.

"Because Naruto really likes going to that shop, right?! But Naruto always goes alone with Ryo-senpai, and has never gone with me!"

A look of understanding flashed in Kazami Mei's eyes. He then gently pinched Kita-san's cheek before slowly releasing it. He rolled his eyes and said somewhat irritably, "Couldn't you have said that earlier?"

However, he was a little surprised that Kita-san would be so 'resentful' and jealous. It seems that Kazami Naruto will have to pay more attention to these subtle details in the future.

Thinking of this, Kazami Mei gently shook his head, took the girl's small hand, and led her towards the 'Shiba Taisho Ramen' shop.

Speaking of which, because he's been busy with a lot of things lately, it's been quite a while since Kazami Naru last visited this shop. And this time, he suddenly came with a different girl.

The general probably doesn't think he uses this store as his regular blind date spot, does he?

“Welcome~”

The cheerful and lively blonde shop assistant habitually greeted customers as they entered the store, but when she noticed the familiar face of the customer who walked in, her smile froze at a visible speed.

She stood frozen in place as if her whole body were frozen by frost. A force seemed to grab her throat from somewhere, but she forced herself to suppress her ugly expression and force a very unnatural smile.

Kazami Mei didn't seem to notice the other person's strange expression, and just casually said as usual, "Please go to the usual spot, and bring me grapefruit juice."

Seeing that Kazami Naruto was about to lead Kita Ikuyo inside, the blonde girl, whose face was quite pale, frantically waved her small hands: "Wait, wait! Customers, the shop still needs to be cleaned!"

cleaning?

Kazami Mei glanced strangely at the clean and tidy environment inside the store, as well as the tiled floor that had been mopped until it shone. From any perspective, it didn't look like it needed cleaning.

Suddenly, he noticed that the shop assistant seemed to be deliberately blocking something, so he used his height to look behind her and suddenly saw a black and white photo of someone being worshipped with leeks...

Kazami Naru: ?

Why chives?

"Well, um... anyway, please, you and your girlfriend, take your seats quickly!"

The blond shop assistant, realizing what was happening, coughed and hurriedly took a few steps back to block his view.

Upon hearing the word 'girlfriend,' Kita-san's pretty face flushed slightly, and she seemed to bury her head in her chest like an ostrich. Seeing her face looking like it was about to burn, Kazami Mei had no choice but to temporarily give up on examining the black and white photo closely.

However, I feel like something's not quite right.

Thinking of this, Kazami turned her head to look at the direction of the photo again, only to find that the photo had disappeared without a trace, as if everything she had just seen was nothing more than a mirage.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Kazami was about to call the waiter over when the waiter quickly placed two plates of barbecue side dishes on the table, said "These are complimentary items," and fled as if his life depended on it.

"...Wait, why are there chives and oysters again?"

49

Chapter 49 We're probably here to sing, aren't we?

He had a strange, inexplicable feeling about this.

"Huh? This restaurant used to give out side dishes?"

Sitting across from her, Kita Ikuyo blinked in confusion. When she came to eat here with Kobochi last time, there was no food service, let alone two small dishes served at once.

At this moment, Kita Ikuyo suddenly remembered that when the band finished their first celebration party, the restaurant manager seemed to have specially sent over some dishes.

Does this mean that the so-called 'food delivery' is actually selective, depending on the recipient?

Suddenly noticing something amiss, Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but look at Kazami Naru across from her. She knew he was a regular customer of the shop, but she never expected that a 'regular customer' would receive such special service.

This is enough to show just how many times Kazami Naruto has secretly visited this shop.

Wait a minute! Could it be that Ming came with all sorts of different girls?

Kita Ikuyo's eyes flashed with realization as she suddenly noticed this.

Just as she was about to take the initiative to 'test' the waters, the blonde shop assistant walked over rather inappropriately and brought out several steaming Japanese dishes that completely attracted the girl's attention.

As a beloved, sunny, and popular high school girl, Kita Ikuyo would never miss the "phone-first" step before enjoying her food. With her eyes sparkling, she excitedly and expectantly took out her phone and skillfully snapped a few photos. Only after admiring the beautiful pictures did she nod with satisfaction.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~ Let's get started!"

The greasy, piping hot ramen was steaming, and the girl with long, bright red hair was looking down, seemingly a little uncomfortable. A troubled look appeared on her face.

Just as she was about to tuck her hair behind her ear to make it easier to eat, Kazami Mei, sitting opposite her, subconsciously reached out and tucked the few strands of messy red hair behind her ear, revealing the girl's fair earlobes.

"……Eh?"

Kita Ikuyo was clearly a little stunned.

After the set of movements was completed smoothly, Kazami Naruto's face stiffened, revealing his usual habits.

"Ming! How many girls have you actually eaten alone with?!"

Do you remember how many slices of bread you ate?

"Probably not many, right?"

Kazami Mei's somewhat inaccurate and vague answer was not convincing at all, and this answer made Kita-san in front of her quite jealous and she pursed her lips.

It seems her 'intuition' as a girl is really accurate. Sure enough, Ming's 'first experience' of eating with a girl had already been taken by someone else!

I'm not reconciled, I'm really not reconciled!

Just as Kazami Mei was about to speak first to comfort the jealous girl, the cheerful Kita quickly suppressed her jealousy, and a bright smile reappeared on the girl's delicate face.

Kita Ikuyo simply said to herself, "There's nothing I can do about it. Who told me to arrive so late?"

"Although it's too late in this regard, but—"

Halfway through her sentence, Ms. Kita smiled and raised her delicate eyebrows. Then, she suddenly stood up and sat down directly next to Kazami Naru. The booth, which was designed for two people, did not feel crowded at all even with the addition of the petite and beautiful girl.

She then picked up a piece of fried tempura with her chopsticks, carefully placed her other hand underneath to catch any crumbs, and tilted her head to offer it to Kazami Naru's mouth.

"I doubt anyone else has done this before, right?"

Why wouldn't you eat meat that's offered to you?

Without the slightest hesitation, Kazami Mei opened her mouth and bit into the tempura. The girl's delicate body pressed against her side, her warmth faintly emanating through her clothes. Only after seeing Kazami Mei swallow the tempura completely did the girl breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, as if she had received a 'change' condition, she gently leaned her whole body against him.

Kita-san's reaction made Kazami Mei raise an eyebrow slightly, and she softly uttered, "Ikuyo, don't you mind?"

"Eh? What...?"

"You prepared so carefully for our last date, didn't you, Yu Dai? But instead of helping me find Aine, you told me to go find Aine instead. And when you found out I was dating other girls at the same time... didn't you just want to punch me, you scumbag, to death?"

"While I'm still in good health, how about Miss Yu slaps me a few times to vent her anger?"

Upon hearing this, Kita Ikuyo blinked in surprise, not expecting the black-haired boy beside her to suddenly say something like that.

However, this clearly shows that Kazami Naruto cares a lot about her feelings. Because of that idiot pink-haired girl, the date she had carefully prepared could not go on until the end. Any girl would probably feel disappointed, upset, or even angry.

But Kita-san, who always had a sunny disposition, smiled and took the initiative to let Kazami Naru leave first.

"How could I possibly do such a thing? Rather, it's more like..."

"Or rather?"

Completely bewildered, Kazami Mei stared intently at her before she could finish speaking. The red-haired girl leaning against her blushed slightly and averted her gaze, but pretended to be nonchalant as she spoke—

“Aine and I are very, very good friends, and I definitely don’t want to see her give up everything and leave like this…”

"At first, of course I thought I would compete with Ryo-senpai and the others with all my might, but later I gradually came to understand... I really couldn't bring myself to argue with Ryo-senpai and Aine and ruin our friendship... Besides, with my abilities alone, it's impossible for me to monopolize Naruto. In the end, it was because of Aine's situation that I finally made up my mind!"

However, Ms. Kita still had her own selfish motives.

Even if she couldn't be his "only one", she wanted to try her best to be "number one".

"As for the last date... after all, I prepared so carefully, so of course I'm a little disappointed! But... I also know that Naruto definitely won't be able to leave me alone after this."

"In the end, Ming will definitely still want to ask me out, and he'll try his best to 'make up' for it, right?"

"Actually, the fact that I have this idea of ​​using Naruto to take responsibility... makes me a very despicable and scheming woman, doesn't it? After knowing my thoughts, will Naruto also hate me because of this?"

The girl, with her eyes lowered, seemed to speak with a hint of trepidation and nervousness, as if she was extremely concerned about what Kazami Mei would say next—words she dared not hear.

Mr. Kazami, who was being constantly glanced at by her, could only sigh helplessly. Then, he suddenly reached out and pulled the red-haired girl into his arms. This sudden action made Ms. Kita's face burn with embarrassment.

Before Kita Ikuyo could exclaim in surprise, Kazami Mei said softly, "In that case, we really should make amends."

"After lunch, let Yudai decide where we'll go on our next date. I'll go wherever you want."

Upon hearing this, Kita Ikuyo's shyness vanished instantly, replaced by extreme excitement and unbelievable astonishment. She raised her head and opened her mouth, ready to say something.

Kazami Mei, as if she had already guessed her thoughts, simply spoke first with a blank expression—