How can my simulation be a real love?

What does "'last time'" mean?

Shiina Tatsuki, the only one not in the know, was full of questions, but she couldn't figure out anything from the girls' faces. Just as she was feeling a bit strange, Shimokitazawa Tsuchiya, who had been keeping his head down, quietly leaned close to her ear.

ha? !

The black-haired ice beauty's cheeks resembled cherry blossoms brushed by a spring breeze. She looked at Goto Ichiri, who was blushing and looking down, with some disbelief. After all, this kind of thing wasn't exactly a secret among girlfriends, and as a girlfriend herself, Riki certainly had the right to know.

However, the shock to her was still a bit too great.

"..."

Kazami Naruto, who had originally intended to remain silent, twitched at the corner of his mouth. He noticed that Miss Riki was glaring at him with a look of shame and indignation. Her gaze was like a thorn in his back, as if she could clearly express even what he was thinking.

No, what am I supposed to do with pressure?

It's one thing to shift the blame onto him, but ending the band's career is definitely not his fault!

……

The winter snow at the end of the year, like the dust of time, slowly covered the edges of the world.

The winter sky has begun to darken, and snowflakes are falling continuously outside the window, covering the courtyard path. The quiet and peaceful world seems to be silent, with only a pure white scene before our eyes.

But inside the window, the scene was completely different.

"Ruomai, the left side needs to be a little higher."

When a stern yet calm voice suddenly came from behind, Yutenji Wakame almost dropped the ceramic reindeer in her hand. She turned around and saw a blue-haired, twin-tailed young lady standing behind her, staring ahead with a calm and serious gaze.

"You startled me! Can you please not speak suddenly behind my back!"

"...This is normal, isn't it? Everyone else is talking too."

Toyokawa Shoko gave her a strange look, then gently raised her head to indicate that she should look around. Chihaya Aine was chattering away while decorating the walls with the expressionless Hachiman Kairin, while Nagasaki Motoyo and Wakaba Mutsumi were busy in the kitchen.

The somewhat clumsy little penguin was sent out to fold origami with the cat, and the originally spacious living room suddenly felt a bit crowded with the Christmas tree in front of Yutenji Wakana.

"I'm talking about you calling me 'Ruomai'! Anyone would be startled to suddenly hear that kind of address!"

"...You've been calling me Shoko the same way, shouldn't we call each other by our names now?" Toyokawa Shoko crossed her arms over her chest, as if to express her dissatisfaction, and continued, "Besides, this kind of thing is really unimportant, isn't it? There's still a lot of preparation work to be done, and if we don't finish it soon, Ming will be back soon."

"Since you're in such a hurry, why doesn't Miss come and hang it herself?"

Yutenji Wakame's eye-rolling retort made Toyokawa Shoko blush. Holding various Christmas tree ornaments in her hands, her ears turned bright red with embarrassment. She could only gently rub the strand of light blue hair at her temple, and her tone became more timid than before.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it!"

"I wanted to help in the kitchen, but I was too clumsy and Su Shi and Xiao Mu kicked me out... Hai Ling and Aine are really good at things like wall decorations, I couldn't find anywhere to help..."

"I can't possibly go origami with Xiaodeng and Lenai, can I?"

Wouldn't that make her part of the 'pet' group?!

In summary.

That's why she had to run to the Christmas tree to help.

Since there was only one ladder, she couldn't help hang the ornaments. But even if Toyokawa Shoko just stood below, gently holding the ladder that Meow-meng-chi had already secured, and handed her small decorative ornaments in her spare time, it gave the impression that she was indeed helping.

"Ahem, so you understand now, right?"

After finishing her speech, Toyokawa Shoko continued to cross her arms, seemingly trying her best to maintain her almost non-existent dignity.

"I'm talking to you——"

Yutenji Wakame also saw through Toyokawa Shoko's 'useless' nature. He was usually all-powerful during the band's work hours, and could independently complete everything from arrangement plans to scripts. As the band leader, he did everything he could.

But when it comes to this kind of thing, her awkward situation as a rich heiress immediately comes to the fore.

Ding dong.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

"Coming~"

Toyokawa Shoko, who had been barely maintaining her 'dignity' with her arms crossed, twitched her ears and immediately broke into a gentle smile, as warm as spring flowers. This was completely different from the image of her that Miaomeng had of her. She quickly walked over in her fluffy octopus slippers.

So this guy can actually make that kind of expression?

Yutenji Wakame's lips twitched, and she could only turn her head and continue with her work.

Chapter 173 I Have to Leave Now [4k]

"Ming, welcome home~"

She stood in the entryway wearing a flawless white knee-length dress, her long, azure hair still tied in neat double ponytails. The young woman gently pressed her hands against her abdomen, maintaining the poise and beauty befitting a young lady from a wealthy family.

What appeared to be a bright and gentle smile to Kazami Mei was terrifying to his girlfriend, Riki. After all, she hadn't seen him with that expression in a long time, giving her a subtle feeling of being transported back to Crychic.

"...Hmph~ So Xiangzi can only see Ming after all?"

Yamada Ryo's nonchalant remark made Toyokawa Shoko's face stiffen. Realizing what was happening, she coughed to ease the awkwardness, and the next second, she gently lifted her skirt, responding softly with impeccably perfect manners—

"Of course not! I would love to welcome everyone!"

Can't tell at all.

Seeing her appearance so different from what she remembered, Shiina Tatsuki, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you really Shoko? The difference between you and the one before is too great!"

"...That's normal, isn't it? I'm not the same as before." A few blushes appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's delicate face. She coughed and continued, "The nonsensical me from before is gone! I'm completely normal now."

Such a fast cut.

Kazami Mei maintained a calm demeanor on the surface but kept complaining in his heart. He had previously thought that Shoko and Sose had completely opposite personalities and should have had a hard time getting along. Who knew that they were getting along so peacefully now.

Even the 'cutting' technique is exactly the same, as if they were taught by the same master.

"Welcome back."

"Chirp chirp~"

With a blank expression, Hachiman Kairin poked her head out from the living room. At the same time, a certain pink-haired girl simply dropped what she was doing and pounced into Kazami Naruto's arms with a joyful leap. The force of the impact, without any 'front armor' to cushion the fall, almost made him lose his balance.

"Welcome back~ The bathwater is already running, and Mumu and Su Shi are working hard on the cooking! Naruto, do you want to take a bath first~ or eat first... or perhaps—"

"Eat me first?"

"Wait, that's what I wanted to say!"

Toyokawa Shoko widened her beautiful eyes in a bit of panic, but Chihaya Aine just winked at her triumphantly and said with a very smug expression, "Of course, whoever is faster gets it~ You can't get anything by just watching from the sidelines."

"Aine-chan is so cunning! I want to try saying that too!"

"Kita-chan, aren't you from this batch that 'came back'?!"

"Ah—if that's the case, I'd like to try it too..."

The chattering of girls filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, the spacious entrance hall was packed with people. Just as Kazami Mei was getting a headache and preparing to satisfy them all, a few crisp claps suddenly broke the sweet silence.

Miss Su Shi, wearing an apron, leaned against the kitchen door. Her blue and white checkered apron was covered in flour, and her hair, which was hanging down, shone with a honey color in the backlight, as if she had just stepped out of an oil painting of English afternoon tea.

She stared at them expressionlessly, a hint of majesty creeping into her deep blue eyes.

"Alright, when are you guys going to stop playing?"

"Are there still other things to do besides the decorations? If this keeps up, we'll be late for the Christmas party tonight. I'm already overwhelmed just preparing food for a dozen people in the kitchen!"

Her calm and collected words were like a military order, instantly silencing the air in the room.

Kazami Mei looked in surprise at Nagasaki Motoyo. He hadn't expected her to have such great 'prestige'. Was it because her 'wifely power' was so strong that people couldn't help but trust her?

Thinking of this——

He subconsciously glanced at Miss Toyokawa, who was also stunned. However, she seemed to have noticed his gaze as well, and bit her lip slightly in embarrassment and indignation, as if she were about to say something like, "Why are you looking at me?"

I'm not watching anymore, I'm not watching anymore.

"sorry--"

The girls, realizing what had happened, immediately apologized to Su Shi. Miss Aine obediently ran back to continue decorating, while Ichiji Nijika quickly took off her snow boots and stuffed her soft, ice cream-like feet into her own special cotton slippers.

"Xiao Su Shi, wait a moment, I'll come help in the kitchen too!"

Ichiji Nijika's words were like a signal, causing Kita Ikuyo, who had just realized what was happening, to brighten up and say, "Then I'll help Aine with the setup! I'm actually quite good at this kind of work~"

"Why don't you go help out with the Christmas tree, little Pochi? As for Senior Ryo—"

"I'll be in charge of you."

"You're just trying to slack off, aren't you?!"

Kazami Mei looked at the increasingly busy living room with a smile on her face. She then held a black hair tie in her mouth and rolled up her sleeves, preparing to go to the kitchen to help. However, she was pushed out by Ms. Suze as soon as she entered.

“Nijika-chan will be coming to help, so we have enough staff in the kitchen for now…”

Nagasaki Motoyo reached out and pushed his back. Her unquestionable words made Kazami Naru feel a chill down his spine. But it was clear that this time, Ms. Motoyo's attitude was very firm, and she had no intention of giving him the chance to take action herself.

No, what happened?

It's one thing to not let him help with other things, but this time he won't even let the head chef into the kitchen?

"Don't misunderstand, there's just something else I need Ming's help with."

As she spoke, Nagasaki Motoyo exchanged a glance with Toyokawa Shoko, who was not far away. Toyokawa nodded slightly as if she had received a secret signal, and then slowly moved closer to Kazami Naru, raising her eyelids as calmly as possible.

"Su Shi is right, everyone hasn't been gathered together yet."

"Hmm? Hasn't Chuhua returned yet?"

Kazami Mei then realized that he couldn't see Mikasa Hatsuka anywhere around him. The moment he finished asking the question, the blue-haired girl standing in front of him suddenly looked up, but pretended to be nonchalant as she looked at him.

“Even on Christmas, Sumimi still needs to work. Hatsuka should still be at the company now, and it’s getting a bit late… I’m worried about her coming back alone.”

"—So, Ming will be in charge of picking her up."

His eyes darted away, and his tone was stiff.

Even Shiina Riki could see Toyokawa Shoko's current predicament. It was clearly the state that only someone who couldn't lie would show when pretending to lie. Not to mention Kazami Mei, who was her partner and spent every day with her.

"That's true. I'll go and bring her back now."

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Kazami Naru agree. Then she exchanged a glance with Nagasaki Motoyo beside her. They probably thought their 'scheme' was flawless, but little did they know that he had seen their exchange of glances.

However, he did not expose them.

However, Kazami Mei didn't expect that even Shoko and Suze could team up, not to mention that his other girlfriends were getting along better and better. Although he was happy to see this situation, his feelings were somewhat complicated.

His girlfriends were all aligned, which was tantamount to holding his life and death in their hands.

How could a Sigma man like him be manipulated by a woman?!

After that, we need to find a way to wipe them out completely, so they won't be so arrogant anymore!

……

The snowflakes, as light as goose feathers, twirled and danced in the air until they shone like a mirror under the bright moonlight. The Ikebukuro shopping street was still covered in frost at night, but there was no trace of the chill that matched it.

The warm, orange glow of the lights stretched his shadow long, and the passing crowds seemed to be moving in the opposite direction from him.

"—The snow has been getting heavier and heavier lately."

Kazami Mei held a light-colored white umbrella, which blended with the falling snowflakes. Her slender body was wrapped in a well-fitting black coat. Her pace quickened as she moved slowly through the crowd.

The hazy sky was covered with snowflakes carrying frost, and the silver-clad earth and thick snow could not slow his pace; on the contrary, his speed continued to increase.

The blonde girl in the distance didn't notice them. She slowly walked out of the agency's office, wearing a light brown baseball cap and looking up at the sky, seemingly at a loss. After thinking for less than half a second, she seemed to have made up her mind.

The next second, she took a step forward without hesitation.

however--

"Wait, wait a minute! Hatsuka-chan, you're moving way too fast!"

"Our work has just finished, and we should have some other work to do tonight, but I haven't even had a chance to talk to you before you're already rushing off!"

Mana Junda, who was also bundled up tightly, appeared behind her. Faced with her obstruction, Mitsumi Hatsuka seemed somewhat helpless, but she still slowly lowered the brim of her hat above her willow eyebrows and met her eyes with gentle gaze.

"I'm sorry, Mana-chan, I have something important to do today..."

The moment she finished speaking, Junda Mana helplessly put her hands on her hips.

"...As a popular idol of Sumimi, suddenly saying something like 'something important' on Christmas? If your fans found out, I dare say they'd definitely be furious?"

"Today is Christmas Eve, Chu Hua, do you already have someone to spend it with?"

Junda Mana's sarcastic remark only made Miss Hatsuka's smile a little awkward, but she still raised her slender, fair hands and gently clasped them together. Her face, which always maintained a gentle and calm demeanor, now had a hint of a smile.