How can my simulation be a real love?

"Why didn't you apologize to me?"

"Because I'm not afraid anymore."

As the girl poured out her heart, Kazami Mei also noticed the increasing pressure on her hand.

The warmth emanating from their veins intertwined in the center of their palms, creating a unique warmth between them. The afternoon sunlight pierced through the glass and gently sprinkled on their backs. The girl's elegant light green hair seemed to have a stunning, translucent quality, full of comforting vitality and life force.

Ruo Yemu gently rested her chin on the boy's shoulder, her thin, delicate lips whispering in his ear.

"Ming, what does Mom think?"

"...If your aunt is unhappy with my relationship with you, she probably wouldn't let Xiao Mu come home with me. Besides, the 'bet' we just made means that you will get engaged to me no matter who wins or loses, which means that your aunt has completely given up on you continuing to date me."

The girl paused for a moment upon hearing this, then slowly said, "But, what if Ming fails..."

Kazami Mei took a deep breath and replied seriously, "I won't lose, otherwise I wouldn't have the right to say such a thing."

The girl was slightly taken aback, but then nodded seriously.

"However, my aunt still needs me to paint in person, which makes me a little unsure of her intentions..."

Kazami Mei narrowed her eyes slightly and chuckled as she replied, "Maybe she just wants to see... whether I'm as amazing as she claims. After all, I shamelessly said I'd marry them all."

Of course, it's also possible that they simply wanted to mess with him.

The doll-like girl pursed her lips, then stretched out her other hand and clenched her small pink fist.

"Ming, keep it up!"

"Okay, okay~ I'll work hard to marry you openly and honestly."

Kazami Mei suddenly felt the hand being held tighten even more. Wakaba Mutsu, her pretty face slightly flushed, opened her bright and beautiful golden eyes and nodded at him as if she were using all her strength.

"Ah."

68

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Cucumber Afternoon.

In the blink of an eye, Kazami Mei returned to the Wakaba family once again.

In the center of the reception room, there was a sheet of drawing paper, size 50.

Kazami Mei held an ordinary bristle oil paintbrush in his right hand, which seemed particularly plain compared to the high-end items prepared by the Wakaba family. However, Mori Minami didn't say anything about him running home specifically to get such an ordinary oil paintbrush, and just nodded in understanding.

After all, most artists have some quirks. They are often different from ordinary people in terms of personality or habits, especially when they are 'creating', they may have unimaginable behaviors. Compared to those who need to paint naked, his obsession with his paintbrush is perfectly normal.

Sitting nearby watching, Minami seemed to have thought of something. She glanced at her expressionless daughter not far away and then asked casually, "Kazami-kun, I remember you're good at landscape painting, right?"

"No, I can draw a little bit of anything."

Kazami Mei simply smiled and answered in a humble tone.

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared in Minami's eyes, and she immediately suggested, "How are your portraits? Since we have this rare opportunity, could you help Mu complete a portrait?"

Ruoye Mu was slightly taken aback, and looked up at Mori Minami not far away with a questioning look.

She had never realized that her mother had this side to her before, and for a moment she was at a loss.

"That probably still won't work."

Kazami Mei slowly shook her head.

"I will not start painting Xiao Mu's portrait without sufficient time and energy, because once I start painting, I must create a work that satisfies me. It may take a very long time from the start of painting to the completion of the work."

"At least for now, I don't have any plans to take this step."

Of course, that wasn't the only reason. Kazami Mei had already decided to leave the first portrait painting to Nijika.

Hearing this, Minami nodded in understanding. After all, an artist's painting is often based on time and effort, and is built with heart and talent. Sometimes, it can take a month or even several months to complete a painting.

Since it was just a work to 'prove' to her, it was destined that it wouldn't take much time.

"Although I'm not good at portraiture yet, I can still paint portraits of Mu."

At this point, Kazami Mei couldn't help but turn her gaze to the little wooden figure not far away.

Then he suddenly swung his paintbrush, hovering it steadily on the white canvas. In that instant, an overwhelming aura emanated from him. He simultaneously held several different paint tubes between his left fingers and then suddenly flung them all onto the canvas.

Upon seeing this scene, Senmina couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"Action drawing?"

This painting method of directly splashing paint is typical of bold and unrestrained style. It is usually a master who has practiced for many years to use this painting technique. It is not something that only a young man like Kazami Mei can understand. Isn't the method used by this young man a bit too unrestrained?

Before she could even process what was happening, Kazami Mei's right hand had already placed the paintbrush on the canvas.

That skill, seemingly honed through countless days of practice, takes ten, twenty, thirty years… or even longer to develop, magically revealing a unique 'beauty' from a jumble of paints, a bold and extreme process of constantly shaping the form of the painting.

Such superb and unparalleled skill made it seem as if the person standing there was not a teenager at all.

The wheel of time keeps turning, second by second—

Minami's gaze remained fixed on the boy for almost an entire moment, who maintained a faint smile throughout.

By the time Minami snapped out of her reverie, the black-haired boy standing not far away had already finished his last stroke.

What comes into view is a painting with extremely bright and vivid colors.

Within the small canvas lies an unimaginable vibrancy of life; lush green fences encircle verdant fruits and vegetables; and a miraculous brilliance adorns golden flower stamens. The simple colors contain boundless light.

The more closely Minami looked at the painting, the more familiar the flower stamens in it seemed.

"Mu?"

Minami was stunned. She thought she had just seen Mu's figure inside.

Recalling what Kazami Mei had just said about the painting being made for 'Mutsu', the mother seemed to suddenly understand something at that moment.

Minami Mori isn't someone who understands art very well. Despite having some influence in the entertainment industry and high society, she has no connection with art. But even an ordinary person like her outside the circle knows how strong the pure visual impact of this painting is!

Unlike her previous painting, "Summer Flowers," this painting possesses a stunning and perfect artistic beauty. Even paintings that Minami Mori had seen at the "Bunshō" exhibition might not be able to match its impact.

Most importantly, this painting only took a few hours from conception to completion.

"...I was just starting to wonder how many years you've actually practiced oil painting."

Mori Minami crossed her arms and made a strange comment.

Kazami Mei smiled slightly, then calmly put down her paintbrush and said slowly, "I plan to submit this painting to FIRST. I think it's the most suitable one right now."

When Kazami Mei went back to get his paintbrush, he already had an inspiration for the painting. The painting in front of him was completely different from the 'practice' works that he had casually submitted for exhibition before. It was a work that truly incorporated his emotions and will, and it possessed its own unique soul.

"Should we just take this one?"

The painting used for the "bet" was completed in just a few hours, which was quite unbelievable to Minami Mori.

However, from her perspective, there's not much she can say, since she doesn't really understand art.

However, Minami Mori had an acquaintance who was an expert in this field. She had specifically asked him about the quality of the painting "Summer Flowers," but all she learned from him was that the painting possessed monstrous painting skills, as if it were casually completed by an old man who had been painting for many years, as if he were playing with a child.

Kazami Mei was unaware of his mother-in-law's chaotic thoughts at the moment, and simply smiled and gently waved to the little wooden figure not far away.

"Mu, you can name this painting."

The expressionless doll girl opened her mouth, then obediently moved closer to Kazami Naruto.

The girl, whose face showed no emotion, stared blankly at the painting. Her gaze seemed to be unconsciously fixed on the cucumber in the picture, as if she wanted to imprint every detail of the painting into her mind. Her gaze lingered for a very long time.

She quickly looked up.

Those brilliant golden eyes gleamed with an unusual light as the green-haired girl looked at Kazami Mei beside her and murmured—

"...cucumber, 'The Cucumber Afternoon'."

"Mu?"

Minami stared strangely at her daughter, who had changed so much. She had given such a plain and unremarkable name to a painting of this caliber, which was in stark contrast to the painting's exaggerated impact.

To everyone's surprise, Kazami Mei blinked in surprise, then thoughtfully agreed, "I think this is quite good, let's just use this name."

It's actually called "The Cucumber Afternoon"?

Seeing that the two people in front of her seemed quite satisfied, Mori Minami didn't say anything more. She just stared at her 'future son-in-law' with a meaningful look, feeling a strange sense of emotion that she couldn't put into words.

If she had initially agreed to the bet simply because she was satisfied with the boy and moved by Mu's current growth—

But now it seems he really can do it.

"..."

Never mind, let Mu do whatever she wants.

In any case, no matter what the outcome of the bet is in fifteen days, the two of them will eventually get engaged and become a married couple.

Minami put these chaotic thoughts aside, and slowly crossed her arms to look ahead, her eyes filled with helplessness and melancholy as she gazed at the girl who had once shown no emotion and never smiled like that.

……

The conversation with the Ruoye family has come to a temporary end.

The bet between Kazami Mei and Mori Minami was set for the FIRST art exhibition in two weeks.

Regardless of who wins or loses the bet between the two, the final result is that he will get engaged to the well-behaved and adorable Xiaogua. This bombshell news is something that both Ruoye Mu and he have chosen to keep secret for the time being.

Fifteen days later, at the moment when the new artist 'Yuuka' truly made her mark—

However, this seemingly heavy pressure of the bet has little impact on Kazami Mei's daily life. As the "manager" who has stepped back from the band's activities, he still needs to be responsible for the band's affairs even when he doesn't participate in band practice.

For example, right now, he works as a foreign player for STARRY.

"Pochi, why are you suddenly spacing out?"

Kazami Mei's sudden interruption startled the pink-haired girl, who trembled. Before she could even think, she apologized, "I...I'm sorry! Did I mean I was spacing out for a long time? I guess it's because I had a little trouble sleeping last night, I feel like I didn't get much sleep at all..."

Insomnia?

This term was certainly not unfamiliar to Kazami Mei. He looked at Goto Ichiri, whose face was as white as snow and seemed devoid of any color, and couldn't help but frown and ask, "If the insomnia problem is serious, we can't just sit idly by. How far has it progressed recently?"

"No, no, no... it was just, just a little bit last night."

When asked this question suddenly, Goto Ichiri's expression froze. She turned her neck stiffly, as if all the joints in her body had been steeled, and she could still hear a series of 'crackling' sounds in her ears.

The girl's two small hands were waving frantically like hummingbird wings, and her hurried and embarrassed appearance was strangely funny.

This isn't just ordinary 'insomnia' for her.

Goto Ichiri couldn't sleep because she was overly worried about her current situation, which caused her excessive tension and anxiety!

Most importantly, the culprit that caused Goto Ichiri's anxiety was right in front of her.

"..."

Goto Ichiri couldn't help but raise her head and cautiously look at the handsome black-haired boy in front of her.

Ever since that dream she witnessed, she had been immersed in this self-satisfying fantasy, and so far she had not made any real progress in her relationship with Kazami Mei. When she finally came to her senses... she suddenly realized that her surroundings had undergone tremendous changes!

Kita-chan seems to be dating Naru-san.

Just thinking about it and realizing this left Ichiri Goto dumbfounded; the changes in reality at the speed of light were completely different from her "dream".

Panicked and anxious, she wanted to do something but had no idea how. Even during lunch break at school, she couldn't find a chance to talk to Kazami Ming. Then, inexplicably, she felt that the changes around him were getting bigger and bigger.

If this continues...

She, who was supposed to be a wife in the future, was about to be forgotten by her future husband!

Ignoring the girl's chaotic thoughts, Kazami Mei's gaze was fixed on her trembling eyelashes. With his keen observation skills, he could immediately detect the problem.

Pochi's condition is much worse than before, and it's probably not just a simple case of insomnia.

"Don't move yet."

The words spoken by Kazami Naru seemed to have a magical power, penetrating into the girl's ears. The already extremely nervous pink-clad girl immediately sat up straight.

She stood frozen in place like a robot, letting Kazami Naruto reach out and touch her forehead. With the other person's movement, a familiar floral fragrance spread from her fingertips, and this light and gentle scent made Pochi squint her eyes comfortably.

"...No fever."

Feeling the girl's cool and delicate face in his palm, Kazami Mei, who had been somewhat worried, breathed a sigh of relief.

If other people are feeling unwell, they will definitely take sick leave and stay home to rest.

If someone were a little more cunning, they might openly feign pitifulness and make him soften his heart so he would take care of them; while Pochi is the typical type who wouldn't dare trouble others even if he's sick or has a fever, and might even deliberately keep quiet about it.

"Well……"