Love Comes After Simulation

Minami Yuuki wasn’t sure how long he had been simulating, but it had definitely been a significant amount of time. He couldn’t keep lying on Asano Nao’s lap any longer.

Pretending to wake up, he sat up and stretched.

During simulations, he liked to move around and change positions frequently, but having to feign sleep and stay still for so long had been uncomfortable for him.

Though Nao’s lap pillow was soft and fragrant, his freedom was far more important.

Getting up from the sofa, he waved at Asano Nao.

“I’ll head back now. Thanks for hosting me today, Nao-nee.”

“Mm,” Asano Nao murmured, watching the boy hastily leave. She placed her hands on her thighs, where the sensation of his hair lingered.

On his way back to his apartment, Minami Yuuki’s thoughts turned to the simulation, specifically about Ibuki Yuko. He had thought his guerilla tactics had worked; he and Nakajima Reina had successfully shaken off his pesky little sister-in-law. But as it turned out, Ibuki Yuko had found them and had even hidden nearby to spy on them.

As he passed through dimly lit streets and entered the apartment building lobby, Minami Yuuki stepped into the cramped elevator. Watching the silver doors close slowly and listening to the elevator’s mechanical hum, a sense of unease crept over him.

Could guerilla tactics really work? Could he truly shake off Ibuki Yuko? No—forget about eluding her after stepping out; figuring out how to avoid her just to leave the apartment was already a massive challenge. The doll-like girl wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice. Next time, she would definitely be even more vigilant.

The elevator stopped, and with a heavy heart, he walked through the hallway to his door. Distracted, it took him two tries to insert the key into the lock.

As he stepped into the entranceway, he tossed his keys onto the console table by the door and reached back to push it closed.

Just as the door was about to click shut, a hand gripped the edge of the doorframe.

Even for someone as bold as Minami Yuuki, encountering such a situation late at night startled him.

Fortunately, the hand’s owner wasn’t a gory monster or a murderous criminal from a horror film. Instead, it was someone both unexpected yet entirely unsurprising.

The door was pushed open, and the figure of Ibuki Yuko appeared.

“Does Senpai need something?” Minami Yuuki quipped. “The way you’re showing up feels like you’re here to settle a score with me.”

“May I come in?” Ibuki Yuko asked, stepping into the entranceway as she spoke.

The tiny space couldn’t accommodate both of them, so Minami Yuuki quickly removed his shoes and stepped into the hallway.

Dressed in a blue dress, Ibuki Yuko lifted one foot back, using her finger to hook off her small leather shoe as her ponytail swayed behind her.

Her petite feet, clad in black stockings, slipped out of the shoe’s confines and landed softly on the floor.

“What brings you here, Senpai?” Minami Yuuki asked again. Internally, he groaned. It was bad enough that he had to stress over her schemes in the simulation, but now he had to worry about her advances in real life too.

“I forgot my keys and can’t get into my apartment,” Ibuki Yuko said, standing at the edge of the entranceway. Her posture was upright, her hands clasped together in front of her, pressing down on the hem of her dress.

She looked up at him with slightly misty eyes, her teeth lightly biting her lip. “Until Mom comes back, can I stay here?”

Even though Minami Yuuki knew she was acting, his heart still skipped a beat.

Should he let her stay? Being alone at night with a girl could be risky. He prided himself on his self-control, but no matter how disciplined a man was, he was still a man with worldly desires.

Should he turn her away? If he refused, the girl would likely choose to leave rather than ruin her image in front of him.

But there was a crucial problem.

What if she really had forgotten her keys? If she had thrown them aside for the sake of a convincing act, rejecting her would mean leaving her out in the night—too dangerous.

And even if she had her keys but still chose to wander the streets after his refusal, all for the sake of maintaining her act, it wouldn’t sit right with him.

“Doesn’t the building manager have a spare key?” Minami Yuuki asked.

“My family recently changed the lock. The manager doesn’t have a backup,” Ibuki Yuko replied.

Minami Yuuki sighed inwardly and said, “Come in. I’m really tired and need to sleep. Make yourself at home.”

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Ibuki Yuko took two quick steps forward, moving to Minami Yuuki’s side. Her steps were light as she reached out and pushed open the door to his bedroom.

Minami Yuuki turned on the desk lamp, illuminating a corner of the room.

He lay down on the bed.

“Aren’t you going to shower? Don’t mind me,” Ibuki Yuko asked.

How could I not mind you? You’re definitely planning to do something while I’m in the shower!

“Let me take a nap first. Wake me up when you’re leaving, Senpai,” Minami Yuuki said, closing his eyes.

Ignoring the real-life Ibuki Yuko, he turned his focus to the simulated version of her, wondering what her next move would be.

—

[The hungover Nakajima Yohei wakes up, recalling his drinking contest with you, and laments his poor judgment. He knows his alcohol tolerance is low, but he didn’t expect to lose to a teenager.]

[Honoka, tending to him, listens to his story and reassures him that even a small tolerance is charming.]

[Nakajima Yohei ends up late for work. That evening, he reflects on his conversation with you and asks his stepdaughter why she got involved in your and Nakajima Reina’s affairs.]

[Her answer shocks him. He never imagined that both of his daughters would fall for the same man.]

[He feels conflicted. As their father, who should he support?]

[Ibuki Yuko notices his dilemma and assures him that she has already given up.]

[Last night, Ibuki Yuko found you in the park. She watched your kiss and confession with Nakajima Reina from start to finish. Convinced she had no chance of winning, she decided that continuing to pursue you would only make you dislike her, jeopardizing her Plan B.]

Seeing that Ibuki Yuko had chosen to give up, Minami Yuuki felt a wave of relief. But when he saw mention of Plan B, his heart sank again.

What is this Plan B? What kind of operation is this, and what’s the goal? He quickly reviewed the available intel and speculated—if he were Ibuki Yuko, then…

Could it be…

He continued reading the simulation text.

[After finishing her conversation with Nakajima Yohei, Ibuki Yuko heads to the hospital and sits by Nakajima Reina’s bedside.]

[Nakajima Reina has decided to continue her relationship with you. Seeing her sister, Reina feels uneasy for the first time, experiencing what it means to have a romantic rival.]

[Ibuki Yuko makes a deal with Nakajima Reina. For the next three years, she promises not to interfere in her sister’s relationship. She even offers to assist Reina and, in return, asks for Reina’s help in ensuring she can appear by your side, whispering in your ear and preparing for three years later.]

So it was this kind of plan. Minami Yuuki glanced at Ibuki Yuko, who was seated at his desk, and felt a twinge of melancholy.

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