How can my simulation be a real love?

"Fine, fine, you're good-looking, so you're right."

"……snort."

Yamada Ryo muttered a soft hum, then turned his head away and remained silent.

A faint blush gradually appeared on her cheeks, and she lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

"By the way, what did you wish for?"

"Winning one trillion yen in the lottery."

Yamada Ryo suddenly dropped a sentence, seemingly to deliberately avoid the topic. Before Kazami Naruto could react, she grabbed his hand and headed towards the fortune-telling area, a behavior completely inconsistent with her usual calm and collected demeanor.

The tips of her fair ears, exposed to the air, were already as red as peach blossom branches.

Ryo-san, who kept saying Kita-san's acting was bad, has now shown herself to be quite clumsy herself.

……

"Huh?! You're back so soon?"

Sitting next to Ichika Niji, Kita Ikuyo was somewhat at a loss. Her astonished gaze swept over Yamada Ryo and Kazami Naru, especially around their collars and skirts, but she couldn't see anything messy about them.

Right?

More than an hour has passed, hasn't it?

It was only then that Miss Kita realized that Ryo-senpai hadn't even been holding Naruto's hand. Keep in mind that this was over an hour. Given Ryo-senpai's efficiency, he should at least have had rice and vegetables, if not already done.

At the very least, their lips should be swollen from kissing, right?

Something's not right, something's definitely not right!

"Um... Naruto, where did you guys go? I've been looking for you for ages, so I came to meet up with Nijika-senpai first."

This is a lie.

Since giving the two of them some time alone, Kita Ikuyo has deliberately run far away in the opposite direction from the shrine.

"We just visited all the shrines we wanted to see, and then Ryo and I strolled around the nearby streets for a bit. We didn't go anywhere else that was particularly special."

"Eh? Really?"

Kita Ikuyo's eyes, gleaming with suspicion, were full of doubt. Kazami Mei could naturally guess what his girlfriend was thinking, but the problem was that what he said was the truth. This time, he and Ryo-san were really just on a simple date.

Although the interaction between the two puzzled Ichiji Nijika, the angel who was always quick to read the room immediately understood and smoothed things over as fast as she could—

"Haha~ There really isn't much to do at the shrine."

"More importantly, our rehearsal is about to begin! Everyone, let's get ready to head back to the LiveHouse!"

"Ah, that's true..."

As she spoke, Ichika quickly gave Goto Ichiri a look. Pochi, realizing what was happening, mustered her courage and grabbed Kazami Naru's hand. Together with Kita Ikuyo, they temporarily diverted his attention, leaving only the expressionless Ryo standing there.

Ichi Nijika originally wanted to go up and ask about the situation, but Yamada Ryo just gave her a meaningful smile.

In her right hand, which was tucked into her trench coat pocket, she held only a fortune slip she had drawn.

On the pure white slip of paper, the words "top fortune" were written in black ink.

Chapter 130 Endingバンド【5k】

The next day.

The practice day passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was time for the third day's live performance.

Although they only had about a day to practice with all their might, the band no longer needed a lot of repetitive and tedious training. Their teamwork and skill level had reached a considerable level.

The current practice is, at best, just to solidify performance form.

"..."

Wearing a knitted sweater, Kazami Naru walked through the inner hall at a leisurely pace. This LiveHouse called 'Moriya' was indeed of a very high standard, with a considerable number of audience members no matter when you entered.

Promotional posters for 'Katsu Band' were plastered everywhere, both at the entrance and inside the hall. Many audience members who knew the band's name bought tickets to the live performance with great enthusiasm and walked towards the venue with anticipation on their faces.

Among them were small groups of high school girls, who were enthusiastically discussing a song by the band. Occasionally, a young junior high school girl, wearing black-rimmed glasses, would run past him with a nervous yet expectant expression.

They all share a common trait that is difficult for ordinary people to notice.

A glint flashed in Kazami's eyes, and he began to suppress the AK he was firing at.

No, I have to hold it in and not laugh!

He could only suppress the rising emotions in his heart for the time being, and deliberately put on a cold expression as he walked towards the backstage preparation room. However, before he even had time to open the door, he could already hear the sounds coming from inside the preparation room.

"...I saw the audience outside when I went to the restroom. I just roughly counted and there were so many people. This number is many times more than when I usually perform at STARRY."

"Anyway, I'll write a few more 'person' characters on my hand first!"

The words, rising in tone and tinged with sweetness, came from Kita-san, whose personality is the most cheerful and sunny.

"Hey—Little Bochi~ Your guitar should be almost tuned by now, right? You've tuned your second and third strings seven or eight times in just five minutes. If you keep doing this, the strings might break!"

Her energetic yet gentle sarcasm is unmistakably that of Ms. Nijika.

"There are so many people..."

The voice, like a squid tentacles deep-fried and coated with honey mustard, trembled in response, naturally coming from Miss Pochi.

Kazami Naruto, standing at the door of the preparation room, raised an eyebrow. He was still thinking about how to open the door when he suddenly felt someone pat his shoulder. As soon as he turned around, he felt a chill on his cheek.

With a blank expression, Miss Liang extended her fair index finger and mischievously poked his cheek.

"Are you there? Why aren't you coming in?"

Are you teaching me how to do things?

"I also want to ask you why you're still wandering around outside at this hour. There are less than fifteen minutes left before you go on stage, aren't there?" Kazami Mei casually complained, slowly pressing down the doorknob and fully opening the door to the backstage preparation room.

The scene inside the preparation room gradually came into his view.

The first thing Mr. Kazami saw when he opened the door was Ms. Nijika, who was standing with her hands on her hips and sighing softly. She wore an exquisite little hat with a side rim on her golden head and an idol performance outfit that was yellow and black all over.

Not only Ichi Nijika, but Kita Ikuyo, who was sitting on the sofa, was also wearing a black and red outfit. The pleats and lace trim on her skirt were more delicate and intricate, giving her a vibrant and energetic look.

As for Ms. Pochi, who was curled up in the corner of the sofa, hugging her guitar, her most adorable black and pink performance outfit caught the eye slightly, a style completely opposite to Ms. Ryo's cool blue and black dress behind Kazami Mei.

"hiss……"

Kazami Mei gasped, her dark pupils gradually hardening.

His serious reaction made the girls who had just finished the band subconsciously hold their breath and wait nervously for his next words, and Kazami Mei did not disappoint them.

After only two seconds of hesitation, he spoke earnestly—

"These costumes are really nice; you look even more beautiful in them than I expected."

"Hey~ Is that all there is to it?!"

Unable to resist making a complaint, Ichiji Nijika stepped forward in her little leather shoes, puffed out her cheeks, and couldn't help but punch his shoulder. Everyone had been so nervous because of him!

When Kazami Mei praised her for looking beautiful in her performance costume, Ijichi Nijika's eyes began to dart away unconsciously. She deliberately lowered her head to prevent her slightly flushed cheeks from being noticed.

"Of course, that's all. Is there anything else worth mentioning?"

Does he have to walk in with a frosty expression and suddenly say something like, "Stop acting cute"?

“We have experienced this kind of performance many times, and we are used to the stares of passersby when performing on the street. We were never afraid during the ‘Summer Festival’.”

"I just feel there's nothing to worry about."

Kazami Mei stood with one hand on his hip, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.

“That’s true, there were even more spectators at that ‘Summer Festival’ than here!?” Kita Ikuyo was instantly infected by his ‘confidence’, and suddenly stood up with her eyes shining as she clenched her little fists.

Goto Ichiri seemed to gradually come to her senses. She raised her azure eyes and secretly looked at the black-haired boy not far away. She thought her 'peeping' was very discreet, but she was immediately met with a look from Mr. Kazami, who turned his head.

"However, it's normal for you to be a little nervous."

"After all, this is the largest performance we've ever done since the band's debut. If you're still nervous, feel free to tell me. I'll do my best to help you with anything I can."

"No matter what, I will always be behind you."

Kazami Mei looked around, seemingly trying to observe the expressions of her girlfriends.

But Kita-san, who had just been swallowing the word "person" repeatedly, now had a bright, sunny smile on her face, and Pochi-san, who was holding a guitar, gently raised her head, her crystal-clear blue eyes sparkling with starlight.

Standing in front of Kazami Mei, Miss Nijika smiled with a beautiful curve to her lips. She gently placed her two small hands behind her back, and a gentle aura emanated from her beautiful eyes.

Actually, everyone was already relaxed.

From the moment Kazami Naru stepped into the 'preparation room', they naturally felt at ease, especially when they realized that Naru was trying to calm them down. This anxiety gradually disappeared from a corner of their hearts.

"I'm nervous and need help."

Suddenly, Yamada Ryo raised his right hand, instantly freezing the other three girls in place.

No, you're the least nervous one, aren't you?

From the very beginning, Miss Liang didn't show the slightest sign of nervousness. This carefree girl even had time to go out for a stroll. She didn't seem nervous at all!

It would be better to make Hongxia believe that Liang, that scoundrel, is telling the truth than to make her believe that the Holy Lord has obtained the twelve talismans and resurrected himself.

Kazami Mei was only slightly taken aback when she saw this, and then asked in a helpless tone, "So, Miss Ryo, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well, it's not a big deal."

The girl spoke casually, then reached out her slender, white fingers to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her left ear adorned with a punk-style earring. Her cool and elegant demeanor gradually softened with a touch of coquettish charm.

The blue-haired girl slowly walked towards him and quite naturally reached out to pinch his chin.

next moment--

"Eh?"

Kita Ikuyo stared blankly into her yellow-green eyes, standing stiffly in place like an old, dilapidated doll, her pupils gleaming with a faint light that seemed to reflect the scene she was seeing.

The first to react was Ichiji Nijika, who gaped in disbelief. Her face flushed red as she exclaimed, "Ryo?! What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

Her movements were so fast that no one had time to stop her!

The blue-haired girl, her lips meeting, narrowed her golden eyes slightly, a sly look appearing on her face. Then, she slowly distanced herself from Kazami Naruto in front of her, the moment they parted creating ripples in the air.

"Yes, I'm not nervous anymore."

"..."

Yamada Ryo's sudden attack caught Mr. Kazami off guard. Feeling the lingering warmth and fragrance on his lips, he subconsciously glanced at his three female friends beside him.

The only one who wasn't in a 'girlfriend' relationship with Liang actually started kissing three girls who were supposed to be 'girlfriends'?

This was a realm he could never reach, no matter how hard he tried.

"I... I suddenly feel very nervous too, and I might need Ming's help..."

"No, it's absolutely necessary!"

A strong sour smell permeated the air.

It felt as if someone had shoved a bottle full of vinegar hard into my face, then smashed an unripe citrus fruit with their fist to extract its juice and forced it into my mouth in the most forceful way.

"Anyway, I need it too!"

Kita Ikuyo's eyes trembled as she pursed her lips, and her words quickly shifted from hesitation to certainty.

"...I, I'm suddenly a little nervous too!"

Miss Kita, who took the lead, seemed to have successfully 'resonated' with some kind of 'resonance'. Miss Pochi, who had just been watching from the side, seemed to have made up her mind as well. She jumped off the sofa with her guitar in her arms and her cheeks flushed.

"Kita and Pochi?! You...you guys shouldn't be like that idiot Ryo!"

"Senior Hongxia, please come too! Otherwise, it will be unfair!"

Hey, is it really okay for you to say that in front of me?

You don’t even act anymore, right?

This was the first time Kazami Mei had felt 'at a loss', because he had just done this with Ryo-san, and naturally he couldn't refuse them as his girlfriends, otherwise it would seem like he was rejecting their feelings.

Kita Ikuyo and Goto Ichiri looked at each other, and then kissed Kazami Naru on the cheeks, one on each side. The completely different scents and slightly different textures came through the skin of their cheeks.

Great, that's a really exciting combo!

"Hongxia, it's your turn."