69: How Did She Know?

"Um... Turn off the light first."

"Sure."

He turned off the light and closed the curtains. The room was now completely dark.

He heard rustling sounds from the bed.

"All done..."

Eriri weakly spoke.

"Alright, then I'll..."

Chisato fumbled in the darkness, first finding Eriri's ankle. He clearly felt her body tremble intensely when he touched her.

He tried to calm himself and began administering the medicine.

However, in the darkness, Eriri suddenly pulled away, and it seemed like she was really crying.

"No... not there..."

Chisato's mind went blank for a moment, and after two seconds, he realized what she meant.

He apologized repeatedly, adjusted his mood, and tried again in the dark.

This time, he was sure he was in the right place and was about to administer the medicine when Eriri stopped him again.

"...I don't feel as bad as before."

"You can't give up now."

"No, really, you can come feel my forehead; the fever seems to have gone down."

"Is that so?"

Chisato touched her forehead and found it cooler than before.

"So, no need for the medicine now?"

"Yes... I think so."

He felt a bit of disappointment, but also relief.

"I'll turn on the light then."

"Wait."

In the dark, Eriri suddenly pulled him close, causing him to topple onto her.

"Eri..."

"Maybe it's because I sweated a lot."

"What?"

"Because of the sweat... I feel much better."

"Really?"

"Yes... I can feel my body... so..."

"So?"

"You don't need to give me the medicine. Instead, can you help me sweat a bit more?"

"...How?"

"Just hold me and cover us with the blanket."

"..."

Chisato didn't respond because Eriri was already holding him and pulling the blanket over them.

Was she really sick?

Can someone with a cold have this much strength?

Chisato was puzzled.

In the small apartment.

Chisato slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and wise.

Despite knowing he had been schemed against, he couldn't feel angry.

[The next morning, you informed Eriri, who was cuddling happily in your arms, about what you had noticed.]

[Eriri's eyes widened, and she stiffened.]

[She had planned this carefully, thinking through every detail. She believed she had covered all her tracks but didn't realize she had made a fatal mistake.]

[She should not have handed over her handbag for convenience during the day.]

[That brief period exposed the most critical evidence of her "crime."]

[Her plan was to use the fake fever to fast-forward their relationship, aiming for intimacy to naturally progress to a relationship.] 

[However, you saw through her scheme, making her anxious that you might think she was manipulative and untrustworthy.]

[Seeing Eriri silent, you touched her smooth hair and slowly said…]

[1. "Do you like babies, Eri?"]

[2. "Should we announce our relationship on social media?"]

[3. "Let's all get along well with Utaha from now on."]

Chisato considered the options and decided...

To end things swiftly and clearly. 

He didn't want to engage in further manipulations. He wanted to ensure that despite the same names and appearances, the person she was dealing with now was not the same as before.

He chose the third option.

It was time to end everything, and let them transition from love to disillusionment and clarity.

[Eriri enjoyed your touch and relished being in your arms.] 

[She saw your softened gaze and felt her previous worries fade. She thought you accepted her completely, even knowing her elaborate plan.]

[Believing this, she carefully looked at you, wrapped her arms around your neck, and after confirming your acceptance, she kissed you.] 

[Seeing your response, she was thrilled and became more active and passionate in her kisses.]

[Her eyes sparkled as she breathed rapidly, saying she liked you and wanted to be with you always.]

[You responded that you liked her too, found her cooking delicious, and that her cunning behavior was cute. You suggested that the three of you, including Utaha, should get along well.]

[Eriri was overjoyed by your initial words but was crushed by the latter part, feeling as if she had fallen from a great height.]

[She experienced the complete emotional range from great joy to deep despair.]

[Her reaction was as expected. You took her to the bathroom for a bath. During this time, she didn't say a word or react to your provocations, though her body still responded adorably.]

[After the bath, Eriri, with a flushed face but visibly upset, left your apartment.]

[You followed her at a distance until you saw her enter her home before leaving.]

[In the following week, Eriri, like Utaha, didn't contact you and avoided you at school.]

[You understood this was a normal reaction and were confident that they would reassess their perception of you and stop stalking.]

Chisato felt relieved but also a bit regretful. He hoped that, with their memories intact, they would no longer be affected by the fictional lives and return to their normal lives.

Unfortunately, the evaluation for this simulation is unlikely to be very high; perhaps he'll only get a small reward.

[One month has passed. Various girls often come around you, but you show no interest in them and always use a cold attitude to make them back off.]

[Two months have gone by, and the semester has ended. They still have the same attitude as before, and even with your patience, you can't help but feel some anxiety.]

[On the first day of the long vacation, the situation changed.]

[Utaha proactively visited in the morning.] 

[You thought she had finally come to her senses and welcomed her warmly, but she left by noon, and despite your attempts to persuade her, she was unmoved.]

[After Utaha left, you sat on the couch, thinking.]

[You had just been playing poker, and during the game, she had even removed her jacket and stockings. The mood seemed right, so why did she leave?]

[Half an hour later, the doorbell rang again. You thought Utaha had returned and quickly went to open the door, but it was actually Eriri.]

[You realized suddenly that you had never brought Utaha home or told her where you lived, so how did she find out your address?]

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