How can my simulation be a real love?

The blonde girl remained reserved and nervous. A strong sense of inferiority mixed with the joy and anticipation hidden deep within her heart made her mind a bit confused, and for a while she could only stand there, not knowing what to do next.

Suddenly, I'm going to be living at Ming's house.

"……call."

Sanko Chuka took deep breaths to adjust her breathing frequency, as if trying to calm her pounding heart, but the turbulent emotions were like a spring.

The more Misaka tried to suppress it, the higher it bounced, making her so nervous that her shoulders began to tremble slightly.

The girl's reaction was naturally noticed by Kazami Mei, who was observing her. Her nervous and bewildered appearance made her seem somewhat confused. Kazami Mei softened her tone and said gently, "Then Hatsuka, you can sleep in my room. If you need anything... just let me know!"

"Huh? Where will Ming sleep?"

Looking at Misaki Hatsuka's adorable, dazed expression, Kazami Mei's lips twitched, and a look of helplessness gradually appeared on his face: "Of course I'll just spend the night on the sofa in the living room. You know I live in a single apartment, and there's only one bed in the entire bedroom."

"We can't both sleep together, can we?"

"...That's true!"

Sankaku Hatsuka was stunned for a full two seconds before blushing and lowering her head.

The girl's flushed cheeks made Kazami Mei raise an eyebrow, and a strange thought suddenly arose in her mind.

Could it be that she thinks I'm going to sleep with her tonight?

No, no, no... This is the strong and mature idol, Hatsuka-san. Even if Hatsuka-san is just a high school idol with high emotional intelligence, and even if she has already made a confession to Kazami Mei that can be described as 'explicit', she shouldn't have such extreme thoughts in her mind.

"Then, I'll go check the room first!"

A bright crimson blush quietly spread across the girl's exquisite cheeks. Perhaps it was because she had just taken a bath. Under the warm yellow light of the entryway, her face shimmered with a crystal-clear, dewy glow, and the beautiful crimson color also spread to her ears.

She seemed unwilling to let Kazami see her in such an embarrassing state, and the incredibly shy girl quickly left as if fleeing.

"Is it the shy Miss Chuhua? If her fans find out that I'm enjoying this scene all to myself, they might come knocking on my door and attack me out of jealousy, right?"

"Looks like I should install a metal security chain in the entryway beforehand?"

With his eyes narrowed, Kazami Mei couldn't help but mutter a complaint to himself.

Recalling Chu Hua's shy yet courageous and alluring gaze as she looked this way, even Kazami Mei, who had already prepared herself mentally, couldn't help but take a deep breath, trying to use her breathing to regulate her disordered rationality.

The more magnificent Chu Hua's face is, the greater the test it presents for him.

"I thought I could stay calm with Chu Hua, but it seems I overestimated myself."

This "stay" wasn't like taking care of stray cats; for Kazami Naruto, it was a true "alone man and woman" situation where they were alone in a room.

Especially since Miss Chuhua is such a perfect idol who combines maturity and beauty, and she secretly loves him and accepts everything. If something were to happen by accident, given her personality, she probably wouldn't resist no matter what.

Just thinking about that makes her a threat level that's already at its highest.

……

The wooden door to the bedroom was gently closed, and the still taut Triangle Chuhua leaned gently against the door.

The sudden change had caused her to lose her usual calm and elegance. An uncontrollable surge of tension and anticipation welled up in her heart, causing Misaka Chuka to reach out and touch her cheeks. The warmth from her palms made her let out a cute moan.

The moment she opened the door and saw the torrential rain, she was already prepared to brave the wind and rain and run home, but a sliver of unrealistic 'hope' still rose in her heart.

That was a hope she shouldn't have dared to hope for; even fantasizing about it might be a sin.

If it were the gentle Naruto, would he try to persuade her to stay?

At that moment, Mitsuka Hatsuka, who had this thought in her mind, laughed at herself for being stupid. She was just one of the few women with ulterior motives. It was already enough that Ming was willing to let her in to take shelter from the rain and take a bath when it was raining. How could she possibly ask for such unrealistic things?

"So I actually stayed?"

Unrealistic fantasies have actually become reality.

As Misaka Hatsuka recalled Kazami Mei's worried yet earnest gaze, a beautiful smile involuntarily curved her lips.

"Is it because Ming is this kind of person that I've fallen hopelessly in love with him?"

She gently pressed her hands against her chest, feeling her heart pounding faster. In that instant, all the work stress and negative emotions from the past few days were completely wiped away.

Miss Chuhua, who had completely relaxed and started muttering to herself, paused for two seconds before suddenly realizing what she had unintentionally said.

With her pretty face slightly flushed, she quickly looked around to make sure no one else had heard her thoughts before she breathed a sigh of relief. Even now, she still found it somewhat unbelievable, and had even wondered if it was all just a beautiful dream.

"Am I really going to sleep in Ming's room tonight?"

"If it's a beautiful dream, then I'd rather never wake up..."

The girl sighed softly and began to observe the room.

Kazami Naruto's room, despite being a male high school student, is surprisingly simple in design.

A clean and tidy single bed, a computer desk for working and composing music, a wardrobe of moderate size next to it, and an easel placed in the center of the room, with oil paints and brushes neatly arranged, are perhaps the most unique things in this room.

Although she had been to his apartment many times, Mikasa Hatsuka had not yet properly observed his room.

"..."

The blonde girl gently lay on the bed that originally belonged to Kazami Naruto. Perhaps because the bedding had been recently sun-dried, she could smell the sunshine. The warmth and softness made her feel a little weak. If she brought her nose close, she could even smell his faint fragrance.

Sanjiao Chuhua's face gradually turned red.

She was fully aware of how abnormal her current 'behavior' was, but she just couldn't help wanting to feel more of his presence, as if being wrapped in his blankets was like being embraced by him.

Her gaze gradually became unfocused, but she immediately snapped back to reality and instinctively fled from this gentle abyss.

After a few seconds of silence, she couldn't help but explain—

"I was just lying down and trying it out normally; it was just a very ordinary thing to do..."

Although I don't know who I'm explaining this to, I'll try to come up with a reason for my behavior first.

With her thoughts somewhat confused, Misaka Hatsuka slowly shook her head. In short, if she continued to stay in this room filled with the scent of shikigami, she would probably become completely immersed in it and unable to extricate herself.

Miss Chuhua could only pat her cheeks to stay awake, then picked up her pillow, opened the door, and walked towards the living room.

"Chuhua? What's wrong?"

Kazami Mei, who was tidying up the sofa, looked at Hatsuka-san, who suddenly came out, with some curiosity. But she just stood there holding a pillow, looking nervous.

"I... I'm having a little trouble sleeping right now... Can I come over and chat with you, Ming?"

"Of course, of course it's okay if it's inconvenient!"

Clutching a pillow, Hatsuka stood timidly beside the sofa. Her humble and pitiful gaze made Kazami Mei frown slightly. He still vividly remembered the sad expression on the girl's face when she stood in the entryway, and he was still a little overwhelmed to face her again.

However, Chu Hua's current situation also makes him a little worried.

Kazami Mei sighed inwardly and sat down on the sofa. Then she reached out and patted the seat next to her, gesturing for the girl beside her to sit down.

"Then, excuse me."

A faint glint flashed in Misaka Hatsuka's eyes, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Because the sofa in Kazami Naruto's house wasn't very big, even though the two of them deliberately kept a distance, they were still very close. With a slightly flushed face, Mitsuba Hatsuka mustered a bit of courage and tentatively began to speak—

"Ming, how many people are you dating now?"

Asking this right off the bat?

Kazami Mei, who hadn't expected to be asked this question, only internally complained for a moment before quickly regaining her composure.

Including Kita Ikuyo, who only recently confirmed her relationship with Kita, there are only a few girlfriends who are willing to share their boyfriends with other women. Among them, the herbivore-loving sage Yamada Ryo has completely exposed her feelings and shamelessness, as well as Ms. Ritsuki, who refuses to admit that she likes him.

"Right now... there are probably six or seven?"

"Why does it seem like there are more and more girls around?"

Sanko Chuhua frowned.

"Do those girls know about it? About Minggan's affairs..."

"Don't make me sound like a criminal."

Kazami rolled her eyes and sighed softly, explaining gently, "They all know my current situation, and I would never do anything to deceive their feelings."

At this point, Kazami Mei glanced at Misaki Hatsuka's expression as if nothing had happened.

He was a little worried that talking about this topic would hurt Hatsuka's fragile heart; but when he looked up, he found that the beautiful blonde girl was still leaning on the sofa with a gentle and sunny smile on her face, and she still smiled even when Kazami mentioned dating several girls.

Kazami Mei, who was familiar with her personality, couldn't help but frown. He knew that this was probably just the disguise that the girl was best at as an idol.

Despite her seemingly gentle smile, she probably harbored endless sadness and disappointment. The culprit behind all of this was herself, who had rejected her confession. Thinking of this, Kazami felt a pang of self-reproach, and her heart wavered as she looked into her tender eyes.

Whenever Kazuka gave him that look, Kazami Mei couldn't bring himself to refuse her.

"But Xiao Xiang shouldn't know about this, right?"

"Xiangzi is probably still unaware of this."

Kazami Mei gently shook her head.

After spending time together, he also developed feelings for the 'sharp glass' Toyokawa Shoko. Their relationship was probably more than friends but less than lovers. Although Shoko was awkward and a bit stubborn, he was prepared to tell her about it sooner or later.

"Xiangzi doesn't know anything!"

Sanko Chuka smiled and suddenly felt a little better.

Despite claiming to be her 'love rival,' Xiangzi knows absolutely nothing about it.

I have a feeling that I beat her by a little bit?

"Although Ming only has these few girlfriends now, I think he'll definitely have more in the future, right?"

It looked like a question, but the girl's tone was quite certain.

Seeing this, Kazami Mei took a deep breath and said in a serious tone, "That's true. I don't know what the future holds yet... but at least I will respond seriously to the feelings around me now and will never treat any of them perfunctorily."

"Ning, you're really amazing."

Miss Chuhua, hugging her pillow, buried half of her face in it. Her bright, beautiful purple eyes were misty with tears, and her head drooped down. An unimaginable sense of humility and dejection surrounded her, as if tears would fall from her eyes at any moment.

She doesn't know what to do now; after being rejected by him, she doesn't even dare to express her feelings anymore.

Kazami Mei frowned deeply upon noticing this. As the culprit, he naturally knew how Hatsuka was feeling.

Perhaps in Miss Chuhua's eyes, he was a scumbag who was cheating on her with several other women and was unwilling to accept her. From her perspective, he might 'hate' her, which is probably why Chuhua was so careful in her interactions with him.

Each time he realized this, his response to Chu Hua would waver slightly.

Kazami Mei closed her eyes and leaned back gently on the sofa, speaking slowly and deliberately—

"Chu Hua, sometimes I also can't be sure of my own feelings."

"Eh?"

Chu Hua raised her head and stared at him blankly.

Kazami Mei slowly closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was staring straight ahead.

"I often don't see myself clearly enough. Sometimes I can't distinguish whether my feelings for others are pure friendship or other emotions. I also can't make up my mind when faced with something that I'm not sure about."

Kazami Mei didn't accept her confession back then because he was already thinking that he had to take responsibility and absolutely couldn't be with someone he had no romantic feelings for. But now, his 'rejection' seems to be wavering.

If Hatsuka were to sincerely express her love to him, Kazami Mei wasn't sure he could give her a rejection.

Sanjiao Chuhua was stunned.

The girl's previously dormant heart began to subtly change at this moment. The endless gloom and fog seemed to be swept away by a beam of light, revealing a clear path and allowing her to vaguely find her direction in the fog.

"Ming, are you free later?"

The girl gently rubbed her chin against the pillow that belonged to Kazami Naruto, and then raised her eyes as if she had made up her mind about something.

So, she also needs to make changes.

It enabled him to make a decision for himself.

"I heard that the astronomical drama 'Vega' will be rebroadcast on 'Evening Primrose' next month. I remember that Ming and Xiaodeng went to that planetarium together last time, so... how about the three of us go together this time?"

57

Chapter 57 Hai Ling is no ordinary girl.

The three of us went to see it together.

If Misaka Hatsuka were to directly invite Kazami Mei to the planetarium to see the stars, her intentions would be far too obvious; a man and a woman going to a place to be alone together is clearly a so-called 'date'.

Such ambiguous behavior, with its obvious intentions, is clearly unacceptable to Misaki Hatsuka, who is extremely concerned about Kazami Mei's opinion.

She can't be in a hurry.