Chapter 27: Any Request Will Do.

In the Simulation, the situation was steadily improving, and Minami Yuuki's worries began to subside.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Asano Nao in reality. The otaku girl had reached her limit and was bent over, tracing the wallpaper patterns along the wall as she made her way to the stairs, heading back to her bedroom. Every couple of steps, she would turn her head and steal a glance at Minami Yuuki.

He couldn't let her leave like this.

Minami Yuuki turned over, his T-shirt lifting slightly to reveal a small patch of skin on his waist.

Asano Nao turned back around and quietly sat down again.

Minami Yuuki shook his head inwardly. He was making a great sacrifice for this otaku girl.

[Shortly after you started school, an editor from Dengeki Bunko contacted you. You invited the editor to Asano's house for a discussion, and the editor chose a weekend.]

[You informed Asano Nao about the editor's visit. The otaku sister was reluctant to face a stranger, so you offered a deal: if Asano Nao met with the editor, you would grant her one wish.]

[Asano Nao gritted her teeth and agreed.]

[When Chitose Kazumi heard the news, she wanted to come as well, but you refused. Asano Nao's anxiety was proportional to the number of people around her, and Chitose Kazumi's presence would only hinder.]

[The editor from the publishing house was a kind-looking, unkempt woman in her thirties, which is why you specifically chose her.]

[With you by her side, Asano Nao successfully completed the meeting. She signed the publishing contract and would soon earn her first income.]

[Asano Nao did not use her wish; she wanted to save it. You told her the wish was valid for a lifetime.]

[Half a year later, "Can a Hikikomori Also Have a Love Life?" was finally formatted and printed, illustrated by a moderately well-known artist.]

[It wasn't the smash hit she had hoped for, nor the disaster she feared. The novel performed reasonably well, and the editor urged Asano Nao to write the next volume.]

[You, Asano Nao, and Chitose Kazumi celebrated together at Asano's house.]

[From the start of the creation process to the final publication, you had celebrated with Asano Nao many times. Each time, you saw her smile, and today was no exception. When you called out to cheer, Asano Nao also gave a small cheer.]

[You suddenly began to doubt something. Was it the smooth progress of the light novel that made Asano Nao smile, or was it because—you were happy?]

[You felt there might be something wrong with your plan.]

[Helping Asano Nao gain social identity, recognition, and a means of earning money—did this really help her mentally?]

[Asano Nao seemed too dependent on you.]

[Amidst your worries, the party ended.]

[In the bathroom, you took a shower while Asano Nao sat on the living room sofa, outlining the plot for the next volume in her notebook. Every now and then, she would look up at the bathroom door, then back at her notebook.]

[You walked out of the bathroom and discussed the plot of the next volume with Asano Nao. She intended to write about the time you had spent together over the past year.]

[Looking at Asano Nao, who could now talk to you freely, you were unsure whether your worries were an illusion.]

[It was late at night. You took Asano Nao out for a walk. She was reluctant, but you held her hand and wrapped your arm around her waist, sweet-talking her about how much you wanted to walk with her under the moonlight. Asano Nao agreed.]

[The street illuminated by streetlights was empty, with only the moonlight and the sound of the wind. Asano Nao clung to your body, gripping your shirt tightly and burying her face in your chest.]

[You supported her as you walked across the street to a nearby park. The park lights were broken, and the area around the sandbox was dim. You and she sat on a bench.]

[The darkness made Asano Nao feel at ease. She looked up, gazing at the park she used to frequent as a child.]

[The moon was covered by clouds. At this moment, the park belonged only to you two. You led Asano Nao to the swings and pushed her gently. Her soft laughter could not dispel the gloom in your heart.]

Reading the simulation text, Minami Yuuki's heart, which had just calmed, was now on edge again.

Had something gone wrong? Was there a wrong choice somewhere? Why did things seem ominous again?

However, a difficult process does not necessarily mean the outcome will be a failure. He decided to keep reading.

[You buried your worries and observed Asano Nao more closely.]

[You remembered something. Due to your interests, you often talked to Asano Nao about music. She always remembered what you said, and you once thought Asano Nao was also interested in music.]

[Now you were unsure. You messaged Chitose Kazumi, asking her to probe Asano Nao. As you suspected, Asano Nao was completely unwilling to discuss music with Chitose Kazumi.]

[Chitose Kazumi also told you that Asano Nao rarely played games with her anymore. Their conversations were either about you or the light novel.]

[To this, Chitose Kazumi saw nothing strange. She thought it was normal to frequently talk about one's lover and that not playing games as much was also normal with age.]

[You, however, felt uneasy. You disagreed with Chitose Kazumi's view on gaming. For a casual player, increasing offline social demands with age could replace gaming, but for a hardcore gamer like Asano Nao, she shouldn't have given up gaming so quickly.]

[You checked Asano Nao's recent book purchases, and they were all romance-related, extending from light novels and manga to literary novels. You also checked the game discs, finding only a few, which were games you occasionally played.]

[You had to suspect that you were on the same path as in the previous simulation. Asano Nao had friends, a means of making a living, but she talked to her friends about you, and her livelihood was to make you happy.]

[You hadn't brought anything new to Asano Nao's life; you had only made her abandon much.]

[This realization panicked and depressed you. You were good at hiding your feelings, but Asano Nao quickly sensed your mood. On the sofa, Asano Nao kissed you, rested her head on your lap, and let you stroke her hair. Her comfort made you doubt yourself even more.]

[You didn't share your concerns with Asano Nao, as it would make her anxious. You lied, saying you were feeling a bit down because you realized how far you were from Miasaki Art University. Did Asano Nao believe you? You were unsure.]

[You found that as your relationship grew closer, there was a light in the eyes of this once easily understood otaku girl that you no longer comprehended.]

[Facing this situation, you chose…]

[1. "She loves me, and I love her. Isn't that enough?"]

[2. "Maybe we should spend some time apart."]

[3. "I might be at my wit's end; it's time to leave it to fate."]

[4. Free Simulation]