How can my simulation be a real love?

A little excited.

To apologize, she bought the rather expensive chocolate snail bread, the price of which was even enough for two meals...

There's still some time before payday, and she's already struggling to make ends meet.

Novel Group 9⑧○⑨

To save on electricity bills, she doesn't even dare to turn on the lights. She has been eating natto rice and bean sprouts from the supermarket for a long time, and now the smell of it makes her want to vomit.

Even the dress she was wearing had been worn for a long time and had faded and turned white after being washed many times. Even the cosmetics she used to care for her skin were from a very cheap brand.

She was certainly under a lot of pressure.

However, she dared not accept too much help from Kazami Mei.

"Even if you, Toyokawa, don't go, I still have to go."

"I don't want to eat the roadside weeds."

Kazami Mei was well aware of how tightly Toyokawa Shoko was concealing herself.

It's as if indifference and rejection are like steel needles, using a seemingly sturdy shell to wrap their fragile hearts, possessing extremely high self-esteem while also being filled with awkward inferiority.

Afraid of being seen as vulnerable.

Kazami Mei only intended to help her a little in ways she could; going too far would only cause her to rebel against her pride.

"I understand. Please take me with you, Kazami-senpai."

In the end, she gave in to the pressures of life.

Toyokawa Shoko's strong sense of pride made it difficult for her to accept help from others, and she wanted to shoulder everything on her own.

However, Kazami Mei was just a senior employee who worked part-time, and even shared a common trait with her: "I can only survive by working part-time."

Shoko Toyokawa was most afraid of being looked at with pity and sympathy, as it would severely damage her self-esteem.

To that end, I completely cut off contact with other friends because I didn't want to be seen that way.

Kazami Mei wouldn't show that kind of look in her eyes.

Because he is now like Toyokawa Shoko, relying entirely on his own efforts to survive, he is, in a sense, the same type as Shoko now.

Perhaps only he could treat Xiangzi as an equal at this moment.

……

After get off work hours

Toyokawa Shoko, just like last time, was responsible for catching the discounted bento boxes that were thrown out, while Kazami Mei squeezed into the surging crowd alone and fought her way through the crowd with her hard skills.

To avoid buying expensive plastic bags at convenience stores, Toyokawa Shoko skillfully took out a prepared cloth bag from her bag.

She only breathed a sigh of relief after successfully packing both bento boxes into a cloth bag and finally finishing her dinner.

"I almost got elbowed by an old man when I was getting my second bento today. Luckily, I've been practicing dodging for two and a half years."

"Really? You're not hurt, are you?"

Toyokawa Shoko frowned her beautiful embroidered eyebrows; she didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her.

"Even if I were hit by a car now, I might not die, so you don't need to worry about me, Toyokawa."

“I’m not worried.”

Listening to his unreliable words, just like before, Toyokawa Shoko knew that he was not seriously injured. Now that the pressure was much less, Shoko even found the journey home much easier.

His relationship with Kazami Mei seems to be gradually becoming more familiar.

Compared to their previous silence throughout the journey, this time the two were able to exchange a few words.

"Toyokawa, you can't cook?"

“…That’s right.”

How come she knows how to cook?

Last year, she was the young lady of Moon Forest Academy, and the purpose of her slender fingers was to play beautiful musical instruments. Now, she has to do everything herself, and she even has to take care of a good-for-nothing father who is a burden on her.

"There's really nothing I can do against you."

Seeing Kazami Mei's subtle expression, Toyokawa Shoko blushed inexplicably, but also retorted with some annoyance: "I'm also learning how to cook... and besides, does Kazami-senpai only know how to cook?"

"I will."

"……joke?"

Toyokawa Shoko looked at Kazami Mei, whose expression remained unchanged, with some disbelief. With his unreliable demeanor, he didn't seem like someone who could cook at all.

"I'm not lying. This is the result of my hard work and diligent practice in order to survive."

This is a lie.

Even before, he had no cooking skills at all; his cooking skills were entirely stolen from Aine in the simulation.

"If you really don't believe me, I'll prepare a bento for you to try next time."

"Of course, there's a fee."

Seeing Kazami Mei's slightly smug expression, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but feel a little competitive.

She really wanted to see what kind of dishes Kazami Mei could make.

The two people walking side by side on the road did not notice a girl carrying a bag in both hands at the corner.

She was wearing the school uniform of 'Moon Forest' Academy, staring blankly at the two people gradually disappearing into the distance, her fingers gripping her bag unconsciously tightening slightly.

Chapter Seven: A Lifetime!

Chihaya Aine is very vain.

Of course, she herself does not admit this.

"Hmm... what should I do?"

Lying casually on the soft sofa in her luxurious apartment, Chihaya Aine, relaxed, had put on some sophisticated black-rimmed glasses, her fair little feet dangling in the air and swinging gently.

In front of her was an expensive electric guitar, which was even a little out of tune, perhaps because it hadn't been used for a long time.

Used by a female high school student, 99% new!

"Now all the other girls in my class are always talking about bands, so I guess I have to form a band to keep up with the trend~ But who should I choose as band members?"

Chihaya Aine frowned thoughtfully, her right hand unconsciously playing with the cherry-pink hair at her temple, and the image of Kazami Mei came to mind.

She wasn't opposed to forming a band with boys, especially a handsome boy like Kazami Mei, whose appearance was pleasing to the eye. If she formed a band with him, she would instantly become the focus of attention in the class.

It can greatly satisfy Ai Yin's vanity!

Although Deng is a bit introverted and quirky, he is a very popular and adorable mascot in the class.

That would be the best if they didn't compete with me for the lead singer position!

"Never mind all that, let's just decide to invite the two of them to join!"

"Oh right, right! My classmate Zijiang recommended that I check out livehouses to see if they have any bands performing. I think the nearest one is called... R, R something?"

"Rider?"

Chihaya Aine casually opened her tablet and used the map to search for nearby LiveHouses.

The first thing that catches the eye is STARRY in the Shimokitazawa area. Although it's not far away, it's actually built underground.

Wow~ I feel like the atmosphere will be very depressing. She prefers bright and trendy places.

"Ah, this is the place!"

RING!

……

The next day—

"Oh my god! Please join me in a band!"

As soon as school was over, Chihaya Aine immediately launched her attack, grabbing Takamatsu Akari, who was about to go home, and Kazami Naru, who was going to work, and extending an invitation to them with a very sincere tone and blinking her eyes.

Kazami Mei wasn't surprised at all; in fact, it would have been strange if Aine hadn't taken the initiative to invite him.

Looking at her radiant expression, Kazami Mei glanced at Takamatsu Akari beside him, who looked apprehensive, and slowly said, "So, Chihaya-san, you're going to be in a band for life?"

I'm not the one who can save you.

"That's right! Oh no, no... so talking about a lifetime is a bit too far-fetched!"

She was initially intimidated by the word "lifetime," so why is she suddenly bringing it up again?

Does that mean that you can't play in a band forever?!

"Gu..."

Upon hearing this, Deng lowered his head slightly, looking somewhat disappointed.

Chihaya Aine couldn't possibly have missed the change in Kodama's expression, and a bead of sweat immediately rolled down her forehead.

Even so, Aine couldn't just give up on forming a band, so she hurriedly approached Takamatsu Akari and began to explain somewhat flusteredly.

"A lifetime is really long! Don't you guys find it strange? If we really want to be in a band for a lifetime, it means that you, Dengdeng, will have to stay with Kazami-kun for the rest of your life, right?"

"This is no joke!"

Chihaya Aine gently grasped Akari's shoulders with both hands, trying to convince her with her 'powerful' explanation.

"You want to... spend your whole life with Ming?"

"That's right, that's right! So it really is—"

"I want."

Chihaya Aine froze, staring wide-eyed at the spot with her beautiful light gray eyes, uttering a nonsensical sound: "Eh?"

"I want to spend my whole life with Ming."

At that moment, Kazami Mei also gasped sharply.

The moment Takamatsu looked up and met his gaze, the pitiful look in his eyes, like that of a small animal, made him momentarily lose his ability to think, as if he had been hit by a mental attack.

However, his strong sense of reason brought him back to his senses in the next moment.

That was close! I almost got seduced again.

If he hadn't been able to break free from the mind control, he might have confessed his feelings to Xiaodeng right then and there and agreed to spend his life with her on the spot.

"I thought so before, Dengdeng, your personality is a bit too naive!"

Chihaya Aine felt like her head was about to explode, and she grabbed Takamatsu Akari's shoulders and shook her back and forth.

Fortunately, Deng spoke very softly, and the three of them were at the very back; otherwise, if the other students who hadn't left yet had heard them...

This is really a big problem!

"Why? I want to..."

Before Takamatsu Akari could utter any more shocking words, Chihaya Aine quickly covered her mouth.

I said stop!

"Let's not talk about forever, let's at least hold an umbrella live show! Let's try our first live show and see how it goes!"

"Li...ve?"

Seeing a change in Takamatsu Akari's eyes, Chihaya Aine, realizing she had found an opportunity, immediately seized the moment and said, "That's right, that's right!"

"In short, let's form a band first, then hold a live performance and see how it goes before deciding on the next steps!"

"I...want to do a live performance, but—"

Lamp looked nervously at Kazami Naruto beside her, her expression turning somewhat sad.

She longed to stand on that dazzling stage again and to play music with everyone once more, but whenever she thought of Ming's figure collapsing in front of her in her 'dream,' she couldn't help but feel fear.

It's all my fault.

Because she always wanted to stand on the Budokan Live stage, Ming worked hard for her with all his might.