56: Eriri's Intelligence

That blonde idiot actually figured it out.

Given her usual style, she should have just gone home without any extra thoughts. Where did things go wrong?

After the initial panic, Utaha quickly calmed down. Looking at Eriri's furious face, ready to pounce and bite her, it was clear she wasn't completely unbothered.

However, people involved in literary creation are often quick-witted and scheming.

So, Utaha quickly set aside her distractions and calmly asked her a question.

"How did you figure it out?"

"A normal person wouldn't drink a cup of energizing coffee while saying they're about to go home and rest!"

"You clearly didn't plan to rest but were planning to do something else behind my back!"

"..."

Utaha was annoyed with herself for overlooking such an obvious clue.

"Is that the only reason?"

"Of course not. You should have seen your expression when you were in the café. It was overly gentle, and you even offered to pay. That's not your usual style. It seemed very suspicious!"

"..."

This was bad. How did Eriri's intelligence and observational skills suddenly improve so much?

Utaha found the situation a bit tricky.

Eriri noticed the change in her expression, crossed her arms, and snorted.

"The expression you're showing now is your real face, right? You're holding fruit from the supermarket, planning to visit him?"

"It's already past eight o'clock. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Utaha hadn't expected Eriri to be so difficult. If her true intentions were already uncovered, then the plan she had carefully prepared for today was a complete failure.

She couldn't be bothered to argue further, which would only be embarrassing and against her personal aesthetics.

"Do you want to eat?"

"Eat what? No way!"

"If not, then I'll leave."

Utaha didn't want to continue wasting time standing there talking with Eri. It was pointless, so she turned and started to leave without hesitation.

"Wait!"

Eriri ran in front of her. She stretched her arms outward to prevent Utaha's from leaving.

Utaha frowned slightly. 

"What do you want?"

"You can't go back." Eriri was serious. "You have to come with me. You're staying at my place tonight."

"Huh?" Utaha was amused. "Don't be presumptuous. Are you trying to imprison me and restrict my freedom?"

"I just don't want you sneaking off again without my knowledge."

"Nice idea, but I refuse. Why should I cooperate just to make you feel better?"

"Fine, then go back."

Eriri immediately backed off, surprisingly decisive.

Just like that? Was it all just talk?

Her actions made Utaha more suspicious.

But she didn't think too much and walked straight ahead.

Eriri watched her leave, smiling.

"Hope you sleep well tonight and have sweet dreams."

Utaha glanced back at her, then turned her head forward and walked away without looking back.

Eriri stood there without seeming to rush, knowing Utaha's character well.

The person in the apartment above was so important to her that she used lies to trick Eriri into leaving. This showed how much that person meant to her.

With such an important person right here, just like the feelings she had before, there was no way Utaha would just leave.

Staying here was the biggest threat. Eriri wasn't foolish and knew exactly what her actions meant.

In just a few minutes, Utaha, looking quite distressed, returned.

"Why didn't you leave?" She confronted Eriri.

"Even if I leave now, would you be reassured?" Eriri countered, stepping closer to close the distance, showing her determination clearly.

"Swimsuits, sailor suits, bunny girl costumes, work outfits—if you're serious, although a bit shy, I can try them all. If you still want to refuse my previous proposal, then it's up to you."

Utaha's expression was very conflicted at that moment.

She had known Eriri for many years, but this was the first time she saw such an incredulous, unfamiliar expression from her.

Was this really the same Eriri who used to whine and cry when unhappy, the one who seemed so childish and emotional?

Or was it someone who looked and acted almost the same but wasn't her?

The person she had known for so long seemed so out of character that it made Utaha question everything.

With a hand on her forehead, her head began to ache.

She realized the situation was becoming increasingly complicated.

It was like two armies facing each other. She had thought the opponent's forces were weak and that handling them would be easy. 

But in reality, they were all cunning and strong, making her face unexpected resistance.

It was... humiliating!

"Hah—ha—" Utaha took a deep breath, looking up at the apartment where the person lived.

"Just because of that man, you're willing to go this far?"

"That's none of your business."

"I was just expressing my astonishment. It's hard to believe."

"So, what's your answer?"

"... Come with me to my place first. I need to grab my notebook and a few changes of clothes."

Utaha eventually compromised and accepted Eri's proposal.

Continuing to argue would only waste energy and lead to no resolution, so a temporary truce was the best choice.

"It would have been better if you had agreed earlier." Eriri had a victorious smile on her face.

It wasn't easy, but thanks to her experiences in the dream, she had finally made some progress in reality.

"Let's hurry. My mom has already called several times, urging me to come home."

Eriri walked confidently ahead, her golden twin-tails shining even in the dark.

Utaha watched her back, a faint, subtle smile on her lips. She took out her phone from her pocket and quietly pressed the "stop recording" button.

Then, with a natural expression, she followed Eriri from behind.

The situation exceeded Chisato's expectations. He had trusted the simulation system's words and initially believed that simulations wouldn't affect reality.

So in the simulation, he used every trick to win Utaha over and even had a cute daughter with her.

Later, he had tricked and persuaded Eriri into accepting his advances seven times in one night, leaving her hoarse the next morning.

Who would have thought that Utaha and Eriri in the real world would be affected too!

Moreover, they had somehow found out about his actions in the simulation.

Most importantly, they were working together.

What does that mean? It means they formed a victim alliance!

When the perpetrator is found by the victims, what happens next?

In a better scenario, they call the police: "This person did it."

In a worse case, in a fit of rage, they could ambush him in a deserted alley, attacking with precision and brutality.

Though such thoughts might be exaggerated, they weren't entirely impossible.

Having had their purity taken, it wouldn't be surprising if they turned vengeful.

[Simulated life doesn't have any substantial impact on reality.]

The system suddenly popped up with this prompt as Chisato's mind was reeling.

He was immediately enraged.

Those two were tailing him, and the system said there would be no impact?

If the system had a physical form, he would have hit it over the head!

Perhaps sensing the host's resentment, the system quickly provided an explanation.

[To ensure a more realistic experience for the host in simulated life, the personalities and thoughts of the female leads are brought into the simulation, which may cause minor, inconsequential side effects.]

Side effects?

[They can partially acquire the experiences from the simulation through dreams.]

Dream... dreams...

Chisato's anger gradually subsided, and a glimmer of hope arose in his heart.

So... it's just dreams?

[Just dreams. Their bodies in reality remain unchanged. They are still innocent girls who have not experienced their first time or had children.]

[Just like you, who in the simulation had seven encounters in one night, but in reality, you're still an inexperienced virgin.]

"..."

He felt somewhat offended, but since the system was stating facts, he didn't know how to argue.

However, he did learn something important.

Dreams...

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