My Simulation… Why Is It Turning into a Real Romance?!-Chapter 102: V2 - 40: You Can’t Just Say That Out Loud!

(TL music Rec: An Eternity in a Moment — Carlotta Story Theme Music)

...

"Mutsumi... why is she with him?"

"What's their relationship?"

Shiina Taki, worried about being noticed, took a few cautious steps back. She genuinely hadn't known that Kazami Haru was in contact with Wakaba Mutsumi, a former bandmate of hers, after all.

But ever since CRYCHIC disbanded, they hadn't spoken again.

She never imagined the next time she'd see Mutsumi would be like this—

"Wait... didn't he mention bringing a guitarist to join the band recently...?"

The realization hit Taki all at once. She had always been skeptical of Haru's skills and never expected much from whoever he'd bring in.

Who would've thought it'd be Mutsumi?

So that guitarist he mentioned... is actually Wakaba Mutsumi?

"Tch..."

Taki clicked her tongue in frustration.

She couldn't deny it, Mutsumi was absolutely qualified as a lead guitarist.

Even someone as strict and critical as Taki, both toward others and herself, had to admit that Mutsumi's guitar skills were top-tier. She was an incredibly dependable presence in any band.

Inside the café, Kazami Haru had no idea Taki had passed by.

His full attention remained on Wakaba Mutsumi.

Her previously gloomy demeanor had clearly improved. She was nibbling away at the cucumber cream cake in front of her, and seeing that eased Haru's worries a little.

Up close, she really was cute.

Her delicate face looked like it had been sculpted from porcelain, soft and doll-like. Her shimmering light green hair floated like silk, and as he leaned closer, a faint, elegant scent filled the air.

She seemed too perfect to be real, like a painting come to life. No matter the angle, she drew the eye.

Honestly, Wakaba Mutsumi's looks and aura were exactly Haru's type.

If it weren't for his current priority—the simulations—and his rule about not getting into real relationships, he might've already been considering marrying her.

Even if they couldn't date... maybe just touching a little wouldn't hurt?

She wouldn't get mad. She was a woodblock, after all.

"...?"

Just as he was entertaining this thought, Mutsumi slowly looked up from her cake. Sensitive to people's moods, she seemed to notice Haru staring at her.

She tilted her head slightly, like she was thinking about something.

Two seconds later, Mutsumi gently reached out and took his right hand.

"Haru... do you want to touch me?"

That line... could not have been more dangerously phrased.

Deadpan delivery, zero expression, her words hit like a bomb.

"W-What?! That's not what I meant at all!"

Caught completely off guard, Haru instinctively backed up a bit.

But then he remembered, Mutsumi was just a simple, innocent girl. Other than saying one lie her whole life—about not enjoying band activities—she'd never had real contact with boys. She probably didn't understand romantic implications at all.

Which meant... that strangely loaded line probably had no hidden meaning.

After all, what bad thoughts could a woodblock possibly have?

If Chihaya Anon had said it, Haru would've thought she was up to something extremely suspicious.

"...?"

Mutsumi tilted her head, confused by his reaction. After a short pause, she wordlessly guided his hand to her cheek.

Soft and smooth, Haru's fingers sank into her skin slightly, and he reflexively gave a gentle squeeze.

Her face had the perfect squish.

Divine texture.

He tried to keep his expression neutral, but Mutsumi caught the slight shift in his face.

Just as he was contemplating whether to move up and give her a pat on the head, a chill ran down his spine. Instinctively, he withdrew his hand and looked around suspiciously.

That stare just now...

"Sss..."

Outside the window, Shiina Taki quickly ducked down.

She hadn't expected Haru's sixth sense to be so sharp, if she'd been even a second slower, she might've been caught.

But she'd seen something shocking.

Mutsumi... had let him touch her face?!

Are they... dating?!

Taki's thoughts spun wildly. She covered her nose in a flustered panic and stepped aside again, heart racing.

"Haru?"

Seeing him suddenly pull back, Mutsumi's eyes held a faint trace of confusion.

But beneath that confusion, there was a tinge of sadness. She'd felt a strange, comforting warmth when he touched her face and then it disappeared, just as quickly.

She wanted more of that warmth. More contact with him.

"Mutsumi, you need to keep some distance from guys in the future."

"What just happened, you can't do that with other people, okay?"

Haru's tone was serious, like he was giving an important life lesson.

Mutsumi simply nodded in agreement.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, she said softly, "Then I'll only do that... with you."

...Was that a confession?

If so, that was the best thing ever.

She was just too cute. Too sincere.

If she were already one of his simulation targets, Haru might've burned his one chance on a "pure love" route, hugging her tight and kissing her for three days straight.

Overwhelmed by emotion, he blurted out: "Mutsumi... was that a confession?"

"...Confession?"

"...N-Never mind, forget it."

Mutsumi fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. She didn't answer, but clearly took the word to heart.

Haru winced, realizing he'd just dropped a loaded word for no reason.

Better to change the topic. "You're free later, right?"

Mutsumi nodded. She didn't really have hobbies or activities.

Outside of growing cucumbers at school, she never chose to do anything. Her life was just a straight line between school and home, always following instructions.

That was the tragedy of a puppet.

A body wrapped in invisible strings, moved only by others.

But even a puppet can meet the magician who gives her a heart.

Just like Pinocchio moved by love, Mutsumi would someday find her own place in the world.

And the one she depended on... smiled and said—

"Then, wanna try being a 'rogue ninja' with me?"

"Rogue ninja?"

Haru's grin turned teasing, and Mutsumi looked puzzled.

"Basically, it means a ninja who breaks away from rules and restrictions, someone who does what they want, not what they're told. It's all about rebellion and freedom."

Like, say... avenging a brother or something.

"...Things I want to do."

"I... don't know."

Even when asked outright what she wanted to do, Wakaba Mutsumi couldn't think of anything.

"In that case, how about letting me decide for now?"

Kazami Haru's words broke through her thoughts.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting soft halos across the wooden tabletop. His deep black eyes shimmered faintly in the light—calm yet gentle, with a gaze that seemed to see right through her.

Mutsumi gently cradled the now-empty glass in her hands.

A few drops of mango juice clung to the sides, glowing amber in the sunlight.

Her gaze, completely drawn to him, drifted blankly and then she instinctively nodded.

Haru... reminded her of Sakiko.

But he wasn't Sakiko.

Sakiko was like the moon—soft, beautiful, and distant. Pure and romantic.

But Haru, while equally warm, burned far brighter. He felt more alive. Full of Hope.

Like the sun.

Wakaba Mutsumi wasn't good at putting feelings into words. But she did know what she wanted most right now.

Right now, she just wanted... to stay with Haru.

...

"...Crap. They're coming out."

Shiina Taki, still hiding outside, stiffened when she saw the two leaving their table together. She didn't even know why she'd hidden in the first place, but her reflexes made her retreat into the alley nearby.

Watching Haru and Mutsumi chatting and smiling, she hesitated.

Haru was part of her new band, and Mutsumi had once been part of her old one.

Whatever was going on between them... it didn't really concern her. Technically, she was just a former bandmate. At most, you could say they were friends. She had no real reason to follow them.

"...But what about Tomori?"

Taki suddenly thought of the always-nervous Tomori, and her tight expression finally softened.

Like it or not, Haru was the reason they'd started forming a new band again and no matter how much she wanted to deny it, Taki knew just how strongly Tomori depended on him. She could even sense... maybe Tomori liked him?

No way. Tomori didn't even understand love.

At most, she was just attached. Right? There's no way it was love. Absolutely not!

"Rikki?"

She thought she heard Tomori's voice... Maybe she was just imagining it because she'd been thinking about her?

Taki shook her head. She hadn't slept properly in days, always worrying about band stuff. Now she was hearing things? Definitely time to rest.

"...Rikki?"

There it was again.

She turned, suspicious and found Takamatsu Tomori standing there with a deeply worried look on her face.

Wearing Haneoka's gray uniform, she clearly wasn't a hallucination. And judging by her shadow, definitely not an illusion.

Taki's violet eyes went wide. "Tomori?! What are you doing here?"

"I just happened to be passing by... but then I saw you standing alone with this super weird look on your face, so I got worried and came over."

"Are you feeling okay? Should I take you to the hospital?"

Tomori's concerned tone made Taki panic slightly. Her normally sharp and confident eyes darted away, unable to explain why she was really there.

It wasn't that she was feeling unwell, just... shaken.

And how was she supposed to explain? "Oh, I was spying on Haru's private life"?

"Hey, I'm here too! Don't ignore me, Rikki!"

From behind Tomori popped a bright-haired pink girl—Chihaya Anon—cheeks puffed in mild annoyance at being overlooked.

But even she had to admit, this was the first time seeing Taki like this. It made her curious.

She'd seen Taki looking across the street just a moment ago. What was over there?

"Why are you even standing here, Rikki? Were you looking at something? Let me see—"

Anon squinted, struggling to see without her signature black-rimmed glasses. Her brows furrowed as she narrowed her eyes in classic nearsighted fashion, her whole face scrunching up.

Still, she couldn't make anything out clearly.

But then Takamatsu Tomori followed her gaze, and her expression froze.

Sensitive to shifts in mood, Anon turned to her. "What's wrong, Tomori? What did you see—"

"...Haru."

Tomori's quiet murmur made Anon blink in surprise.

Then she turned her own head, following Tomori's line of sight, and sure enough, she spotted a familiar black-haired figure in the distance.

Her gray eyes lit up—

But just as she was about to call out to him, she noticed the girl standing beside him. A beautiful one with long green hair.

"...Huh?"

Anon's brain glitched.

Her mouth fell slightly open, the sharp little fang peeking out, and the hand she'd raised to wave at him froze mid-air. The cheerful greeting she was about to shout was yanked back, stuck in her throat like a fishhook.

Who the heck is that girl?!

Who is she?!

Why was Haru with her?

He'd turned down Anon's invite earlier, saying he had something important to do. Was this the important thing, a date with that girl?

Is he cheating?! Wait, no. Calm down.

They weren't dating yet. So it technically wasn't cheating—

But no, she couldn't calm down!

"Rikki! What the heck is going on?!"

"...Why are you asking me?"

Taki's voice softened slightly, a rare sight for Anon. But even then, she didn't tell them about what she'd seen inside.

She had no idea how Tomori or Takamatsu would react if they knew about the hand-on-the-face moment. Probably better to keep that to herself for now.

Takamatsu Tomori, meanwhile, looked down anxiously at her skirt hem, fidgeting.

She knew the green-haired girl.

It was Mutsumi, her old bandmate from CRYCHIC. Someone she'd been very close to.

She never imagined seeing those two together.

Her heart twisted, unsure of what to feel.

Unlike the timid Tomori, Chihaya Anon was all action. When something didn't sit right, she acted.

Clenching her fists, she stepped forward.

"I don't care anymore. I'm going to ask him right now!"

"Hey—!"

Taki quickly grabbed the pink-haired girl to stop her.

"Have you even thought this through? What if they are in a... special relationship? What if they're talking about something important? You showing up out of nowhere might just ruin everything."

"...I..."

Beads of sweat appeared on Anon's forehead. Taki had a point.

If Haru really was talking seriously with that girl, and she barged in as just a friend, she'd only get in the way.

And worse—he might hate her for it.

That... that's something I absolutely can't allow!

But watching Haru get that close to some girl she didn't know, it was eating her alive! As his future wife (in her own head), she couldn't just sit back and let it happen!

What if he gets stolen by some bad woman?!

"Th-Then what do we do?!"

"Uwaaah!"

Anon was panicking now. Her brain was scrambled.

Sure, she was usually quick-witted in social situations, but when it came to emotional stuff, she was all instinct. She just couldn't handle moments like this.

"A-Anon, calm down. Just breathe—"

"Tomori is the one who needs to calm down, right?!"