Chapter 9: Can Only Go Eat Soft Rice Now.

Pulling back the curtains, the bright morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting its warmth onto Minami Yuuki's light blue pajamas. The breeze blowing in through the window crack was refreshing, while the sunlight on his skin felt slightly warm.

He looked at the roof of the Asano family's house, the kind with tiles, which had become quite rare.

He wondered, where did Asano Nao's final death, her ultimate melancholy, truly stem from within her heart?

If he truly married Asano Nao, how could he avoid such an outcome?

Let's take a look at the summary first.

[Summary]

[Stages Experienced: Pursuit, Romance, Adversity]

[Score: 79]

[Comment: You and her lived an ordinary life, filled with laughter, tears, happiness, and regrets. The arrival of the child you both expected brought unexpected changes.]

[Settlement: You gained [1 skill point*]]

The adversity arose because of the child. Minami Yuuki sighed.

After the summary interface dissipated, new text appeared.

[You have completed a full romance]

[You can now use [Free Simulation] mode at any time]

[In the new simulation of [Asano Nao], you can select any point from the previous simulation life as the starting point, without starting from scratch.]

[You have 2 simulation attempts left. The simulator kindly reminds you that simulation attempts are restored weekly, or you can increase the number of attempts by receiving gifts containing the intentions of the simulation objects in reality.]

Minami Yuuki prepared to continue the simulation, but hesitated.

The speed of simulation recovery was too slow, and the other way to get attempts was to receive gifts in reality containing the intentions of the simulation objects.

Currently, there were four possible simulation objects. He needed to find a way to get these four people to give him very thoughtful gifts.

Without hesitation, he took out his phone, sliding his finger over the contacts list, and clicked on the number labeled "Beloved."

"Hello? Brother?"

His sister's voice sounded puzzled, like someone waking up from a deep dream, not fully connecting with reality yet.

Perhaps because Minami Yuuki rarely called her, it made her momentarily unsure if she was dreaming or awake. He hadn't been very attentive to this sister before.

"Fold a thousand paper cranes for me," Minami Yuuki said.

"Huh?"

"And then send them to me."

"Huh?"

"Make sure it's heartfelt."

"Why!" Minami Airi finally couldn't help but ask loudly, "And I'm still at school!"

"Please, I'll bring you a big gift when I come home during the holidays," Minami Yuuki pleaded, tempting her with both emotion and gain.

There was no choice, it was the requirement of the simulator. Among the four possible simulation objects, Asano Nao hadn't met in reality yet, Minami Ruri and Minami Kotori, his two cousins, weren't particularly close, so only his younger sister Minami Airi would listen to him.

To unlock simulation attempts by receiving gifts, he could only rely on Airi.

"I don't want to, why should I fold a thousand paper cranes for you? Do you only call me when you need something!" His sister grumbled.

"This is my lifelong request," Minami Yuuki said sincerely, of course, pretending.

"That sounds so serious! Well... I guess I could help you fold a few," Minami Airi's attitude quickly softened.

In her impression, her brother was a taciturn person who said whatever he needed to say. Hearing such a serious request from him, she was eighty percent convinced, twenty percent suspicious, and her whole body tensed up.

Unfortunately, her brother had become a smooth-talking, modern-day youth who was good at coaxing girls.

"Thanks a lot. Just fold a few in your spare time, send them to me tonight, and I'll cover the cost of folding and shipping," Minami Yuuki said, unsure if his gift-brushing behavior would succeed, but decided to give it a try.

"Let's make it clear, you're not planning to take the paper cranes I fold and give them to other girls, are you?" Minami Airi asked suspiciously.

"Of course not, I'll put them in a big transparent glass jar, place it on my bedside, and bow to it in gratitude every night before bed," Minami Yuuki said.

"...There's no need to make it so grand."

"Then I'll leave it to you. Love you."

Minami Yuuki hung up the phone, without considering the usual courtesy at the end, which brought a great shock to his pure and young sister.

He tossed his phone onto the bed and got back under the covers, ready to continue the simulation.

At that moment, his phone rang.

The number had no name attached, it was from an unknown caller.

Minami Yuuki pressed the answer button.

"Is this Minami Yuuki?" A middle-aged man's voice came through.

It was the homeroom teacher's voice. Minami Yuuki glanced at the time, it was almost eleven o'clock.

Morning classes were almost over, and his skipping class had been exposed.

He immediately switched to a weak mode: "Sorry, teacher, cough cough, I overslept, cough cough!"

"Are you okay? Are you sick?" the teacher asked.

"I'm feeling a bit dizzy and coughing, maybe I caught a cold."

"Then rest at home. I'll give you a day off, take care and stay warm. Are your parents with you?"

Minami Yuuki became alert, suddenly mentioning his parents was a signal. Was this homeroom teacher planning to inform his parents?

If he was really sick, it would be normal for the teacher to talk to his parents and express concern. But if he wasn't sick and the teacher talked to his parents, it would only take a few words to expose his lie.

Encountering such a responsible and clever homeroom teacher!

He immediately said, "I'm fine, teacher, I'm not that serious, I'll be at school soon."

"Alright."

The call ended, and Minami Yuuki kicked off the covers, reluctantly getting up.

Well, he had to go to school anyway.

While getting ready, he opened his attribute panel.

This time in the simulation, he gained a skill point, which, literally interpreted, could increase his skill level.

But... his skill column was completely empty.

He didn't know how the simulator counted skills, but he didn't have any at all.

Let's leave it for now.

After washing his face with a towel, he picked up his school uniform from the floor. The uniform was Western style, deep blue, with stains on it.

He frowned as he changed clothes, thankfully only the pants were dirty, the shirt was relatively clean.

His predecessor was too sloppy, too lazy. Although he had been lazy before, he had someone else to help him with his clothes and cleaning.

Dressed, it was already past eleven o'clock, he grabbed the leftover half piece of bread from the fridge, using it as lunch, and then grabbed his backpack and headed out.

Passing by the back of the Asano family's house, he turned his head and glanced at the window of Asano's study.

The window was pitch black, Asano Nao had turned the study into a darkroom, where she could see outside but no one could see her.

Withdrawing his gaze, Minami Yuuki felt a strange sensation. He and Asano Nao had not met in reality, but in the simulation, they already had a child together.

Should he try to approach Asano Nao?

Better go to school first.

At a quarter past eleven, he arrived at the classroom door, just halfway through the third period, and his arrival drew the attention of all the students.

The teacher didn't say much, just waved him in.

The day's classes were uneventful. During breaks, no one talked to Minami Yuuki; his predecessor's social skills were too poor, making him almost invisible in the class. Though he wasn't entirely invisible; his good looks attracted some silent attention from a few girls.

In the afternoon, around three o'clock, classes ended, and Minami Yuuki returned home, only to find a serious problem.

He had no money left for food.

His family sent living expenses at the beginning of each month, and now it was mid-month, with half of April already gone. His predecessor had spent all the money.

Minami Yuuki puzzledly scanned the room; the apartment was as empty as could be. Neither his phone nor his computer were new models. Where had the money gone?

He racked his brain, falling into silence.

You actually spent all your living expenses on tipping a female streamer!

And she wasn't even showing her face, just a virtual avatar on the live stream!

At least leave some money for bread! Even the NEET Asano Nao knew how to manage money!

No wonder this body looked so sickly when I first transmigrated; it was malnutrition!

What to do now? He couldn't afford to go hungry. Should he ask his parents for money? Or borrow from his sister?

He had just arrived in Misaki and was already in trouble. If his parents found out, they might make him move back home, and he didn't want to end his freedom so soon.

As for borrowing from his sister, besides the difficulty of broaching the subject, she doesn't even have a bank card. Would she have to put the money in an envelope and mail it to him?

After weighing his options, Minami Yuuki sighed.

Looks like I'll have to live off my wife.

He looked toward the Asano residence.