Chapter 16: After Confession Comes Ambush.

[Behind the teaching building is an empty space, rarely frequented by people. The sky is gloomy, and the concrete ground is murky. Distantly, the noise of the sports clubs echoes from the playground.]

[You look at the girl in front of you, named Chitose Kazumi, with short hair and a petite stature. She doesn't stand out much in class and is rather shy. You have a hunch about what she wants to say.]

[As expected, she expresses her feelings for you, hoping to start a relationship with you.]

Looking at the simulator panel, Minami Yuuki strokes his chin.

In the previous simulated lives, did this event not occur? Or perhaps it was deemed unimportant and skipped over?

[Faced with her confession, you choose...]

[1. "I like you too."]

[2. "Sorry, I prefer someone with broader horizons."]

[3. "You are...?"]

[4. Free simulation]

Which one to choose?

Minami Yuuki picks up his phone and scrolls through the class group chat, quickly finding a photo with Chitose Kazumi.

The girl looks a bit plain, but her appearance is not bad, she could be considered cute.

She doesn't stand out much in class, mainly due to her somewhat introverted nature. Contrary to her slightly plain appearance, she has a good figure, with the uniform emphasizing her chest, putting her a notch above her classmates.

Her grades are excellent, ranking in the top ten of the year on the entrance exams.

Putting down his phone, Minami Yuuki looks at the options again.

This is an easy question, of course, choose option two!

[You tell Chitose Kazumi that you already have feelings for someone else and wish her luck in finding her own love. She politely thanks you and leaves feeling dejected.]

[On the way home, you get ambushed.]

[The attacker is wearing the same uniform as you, a delinquent with dyed yellow hair. He punches you, and you kick him twice. He hits your waist while you hit his groin. He limps away awkwardly.]

Well, just got confessed to and then ambushed. Is this yellow-haired guy Chitose Kazumi's pursuer?

Good thing I learned some self-defense techniques in my past life; those kicks must've hurt him for a while.

Minami Yuuki ponders whether to use one of his simulated life opportunities to systematically practice combat skills.

In civilized times, combat skills are generally only used in arenas, with a low return on investment, but Minami Yuuki has the capital to squander with simulated life opportunities.

He wonders what path his simulated self will choose this time.

He continues reading the simulation.

[You clutch your waist, arriving at the Asano residence. Asano Nao nervously asks what happened, and you tell her about the incident with the yellow-haired guy and the confession before school ended, deliberately not mentioning whether you accepted it or not.]

[Asano Nao wants to ask more, but she's afraid of revealing her feelings, even though her feelings are already obvious. She sulks.]

[You tell Asano Nao that the ending of the story is in the premium section, and a kiss is needed to unlock it. Asano Nao runs off, uncertain whether this is a joke or genuine.]

[However, she already guessed the outcome of the confession, which puts her at ease.]

[You lie on the couch, pretending to be unable to move, letting Asano Nao apply the antiseptic for you. Asano Nao excitedly does it.]

[You thought Chitose Kazumi was just a passing episode, but her failed confession actually gave her courage, and with her deliberate contact, you became friends.]

[Chitose Kazumi is an honest girl, and you intend to use her. Alone, it's difficult to change Asano Nao's personality; you want Chitose Kazumi to help you.]

[Your relationship with Chitose Kazumi deepens.]

This seems a bit ominous.

In the simulated life, his actions were justified, wanting Asano Nao to return to a normal life, and relying solely on himself is not enough. He needs to make Asano Nao friends with more people.

But, the phrase "Your relationship with Chitose Kazumi deepens" revealed by the simulator seems to imply something deeper.

He continues reading.

[Your relationship with Asano Nao is steadily developing. As long as you don't give her too much attention, Asano Nao can stay by your side without running away. You plan to wait until Asano Nao completely gets used to you before arranging for Chitose Kazumi to meet her.]

[During this period of stability, you start contemplating your life path.]

[You've set your sights on the most beautiful girl in class, the former crush, Ichinose Shiori.]

Wait, why are you contemplating your life path and then fixating on Ichinose Shiori?

Minami Yuuki couldn't understand, even though Ichinose Shiori is really beautiful, especially those legs.

[You're not the predecessor, and you're no longer an outsider in class. You've gathered information about Ichinose Shiori from various sources.]

[Ichinose Shiori, 164cm, 45kg, 79/56/82.]

"???"

Isn't it normal to inquire about hobbies and family background? Why are you asking for these kinds of measurements?

Minami Yuuki doubts his mental state in the simulated life.

He looks down and realizes he misunderstood himself.

[Ichinose Shiori is very mysterious, known by many at school but has very few real friends, making it impossible to gather much information. She's a member of the Homecoming Club, goes straight home after school, making it difficult to investigate her hobbies. The above body data's origins are unclear, just a snippet of gossip.]

[Furthermore, there are two rumors about Ichinose Shiori. One claims someone saw her getting out of a luxury car, and the other is about the principal bowing to her.]

[You give up on Ichinose Shiori and turn your attention to the school's wind ensemble. The wind ensemble is a large club with nearly a hundred members, including many attractive girls. Perhaps, among them, there might be a suitable simulated target.]

[You've decided on your lifelong goal—musical instruments.]

Minami Yuuki nods. Indeed, it's me. Even in simulated life, I don't forget to simulate the things that can assist my real self.

The wind ensemble mostly doesn't recruit beginners, so the simulated self can't join.

But once he becomes proficient, Minami Yuuki can extract his musical abilities and become experienced enough to join the wind ensemble.

But, are there really suitable simulated targets in the wind ensemble?

Minami Yuuki takes out his notebook, logs into the school forum, finds last year's wind ensemble performance videos, where there are some cute girls, but the most beautiful one among them is still a tier below Asano Nao and his three sisters.

Joining the wind ensemble might not be necessary, but music has wide applications, so it's not a wasted effort.

[You borrow some money from Asano Nao and enroll in a music cram school that accepts beginners.]

In Japan, a cram school is a supplementary education institution.

[After attending a few music classes, it's already May, and your parents send you some living expenses. You order pizza and invite Asano Nao.]

[At the dining table, Asano Nao sits nervously.]