Chapter 50: The Blackmailed Friend.

[Asano Nao felt both happiness and sorrow upon reuniting with you.]

[She worried that you might ask about her sudden departure, about Yumemi Miu's existence, about her experiences and emotions over the past few years, and pull her back to the past, back to talking about marriage and the future.]

[Her worries were completely unnecessary. You didn't ask her anything, nor did you bring up your present or future together. You only brought her to your house when needed or when Yumemi Miu requested it. You didn't let her live with you, nor did you cling to her.]

[At first, Asano Nao felt panicked. But after getting used to it, she thought this kind of life wasn't so bad. She felt relieved that you didn't have expectations of her. If you could marry another woman, she would feel even more at ease.]

"..."

So you are this kind of woman!

Minami Yuuki couldn't help but exclaim as he read this. He pushed aside the simulator panel and pinched his nose.

His previous playful speculation was correct; Asano Nao was not suited to be a wife but rather a lover.

A wife needs to bear the expectations of her husband and the burdens of the family, but Asano Nao neither wanted nor could bear these emotional pressures. In contrast, while a lover has no material guarantees, she bears much less emotionally.

In other words, Asano Nao is a woman who only wants to play and doesn't want to take responsibility!

Minami Yuuki thought back to before Asano Nao's sudden departure. That's right, her strange behavior occurred when their relationship was progressing to discussions of marriage!

Before enrolling in university, when Minami Yuuki said he wanted to introduce her to his parents and sister, her sudden refusal made no sense to him at the time.

But now, everything was clear!

To think that someone so simply dressed and extremely socially anxious is actually such a woman inside!

Minami Yuuki hugged himself. The spring bed was warm, but his heart was very cold.

For the first time, after coming to this unfamiliar world and having a older sister he liked brought him overlapping joys. So, he was supposed to have a dreamlike time.

Unexpectedly, that sister turned out to be such an irresponsible woman!

However, this might not be without a solution. After all, Asano Nao is not unwilling to take responsibility; she's just afraid of pressure.

Minami Yuuki rubbed his chin, thinking of many ways to deal with Asano Nao. He believed that these methods were also thought of by his simulated self.

He continued to look at the simulation panel.

[This situation continued until Yumemi Miu started school, and Asano Nao changed. She no longer hurried home; she would stay in the house, tidying up your room and helping with meals.]

[You felt gratified by this, but Yumemi Miu had some complaints. The girl was a bit unhappy about her mother taking over her chores, and the two started a silent rivalry.]

[You mediated between them, assigning household chores to Asano Nao and tasks at the small shop to Yumemi Miu. You taught Yumemi Miu how to stock and manage the shop, making her the shop's poster girl.]

[Asano Nao's situation gradually stabilized, and you thought it was time to manage your daughter's life properly, at least to help her find a friend her age.]

[Before you could take action, during one of her piano practices, Yumemi Miu happily told you she had successfully coerced a girl her age.]

The memory scene appeared.

In the white practice room, Yumemi Miu walked to the piano and sat on the bench.

The bench was a bit low for her, and she couldn't place her hands naturally on the keys.

"Uncle!" She turned to look at Minami Yuuki, patting the piano bench.

Minami Yuuki picked her up, sat on the bench, and then placed the girl on his lap.

"Didn't we buy you a high stool?" Minami Yuuki pinched her little face.

"No, it's more comfortable when you sit." Miu pushed away Minami Yuuki's hand. She straightened her back, lifting her white neck, and her small hands caressed the black and white keys.

A playful tune flowed from her fingers.

The girl lowered her eyes, her expression serious, with a faint smile hidden in her pursed lips. Her playing was elegant and pure, pleasing to the eye. Minami Yuuki hadn't heard the tune before, but judging by the speed and the span of the keys, it wasn't easy.

Minami Yuuki suddenly felt a bit worried. With his not-so-deep piano skills, could he really teach the girl properly?

"How's this?" The girl stopped playing and looked up at Minami Yuuki.

"Not bad. What piece is this?"

"I don't know either. I heard it in Rika's game."

"Rika?" Hearing an unfamiliar name, Minami Yuuki was surprised.

"Yoda Rika, she's a girl in my class," Yumemi Miu said casually, as she started playing another piece, one Minami Yuuki had taught her yesterday.

Before the girl finished playing, Minami Yuuki asked, "You actually have a friend your age?"

He had been thinking about how to get the girl a friend her age these past few days, and now she had found one on her own.

"I didn't really want to play with those childish girls, but it got a bit boring at school, so I pulled Rika to play with me." Yumemi Miu kept playing, multitasking effortlessly.

Minami Yuuki was even more surprised.

The girl who used to be so solitary that she had to make up imaginary friends had now found a real one so easily? Was it really as simple as she made it sound?

"How did you get her to play with you?" Minami Yuuki asked.

As Yumemi Miu played a soothing melody, Minami Yuuki imagined two lonely souls finding solace in each other, or perhaps a popular girl befriending an outsider.

The girl revealed the truth: "Rika's the one who took Grandma's snacks but didn't want to play with me. I asked Grandma to keep giving her snacks, and then used that to blackmail her. I told her if she didn't listen to me, I'd expose her as a snack thief!"

Minami Yuuki was stunned by the girl's maneuver. He had envisioned a heartfelt friendship story spanning over a hundred thousand words, but she told him she had coerced her friend?

You're just a grade-schooler, yet you're already doing things on the edge of morality and legality!

This is... this is...

"Wonderful!" Minami Yuuki put his hand on the girl's shoulder, feeling very proud. "As expected of my... girlfriend's daughter!"

Yumemi Miu's playing was interrupted by the hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and gave Minami Yuuki a triumphant smile. The two of them were thoroughly enjoying the moment.

"I think there might be a problem," Asano Nao, the listener, raised her hand.

"Don't listen to her. She doesn't have any friends," Minami Yuuki immediately invalidated her opinion.

Yumemi Miu nodded and made a face at her mother.

Asano Nao shrank into the corner, feeling like she was being emotionally abused by her family.

"But," Minami Yuuki looked at the girl, "you do know you can't rely solely on coercion, right?"

"I know," Yumemi Miu continued playing, "I've been paying attention to Rika's expressions. She seems pretty happy. Lately, she even comes to me on her own. These days, she even wants to hang out after school. I don't have time for that!"

Taking the opportunity to complain, Yumemi Miu said to Minami Yuuki, "When I turned her down, she looked so pitiful. It's really annoying. Should I just break up with her?"

Listening to his daughter's highly irresponsible statement, Minami Yuuki shook his head. "I often face the same situation. Talk to her openly about it. You can spend a bit of time with her after school. Anyway, you shouldn't just cut ties over a small inconvenience."

"Alright," Yumemi Miu agreed.