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Chapter 36: Everything Is Moving Toward the Better
🕑 Added 2025-10-02 12:36:47 +0000 UTC[After the honeymoon, you returned to your everyday life.]
[With university graduation approaching, the time had come to submit your thesis and prepare for defense. Because the band had consumed so much of your energy, you had scraped by in your classes with barely passing grades. Fortunately, your school wasn't a prestigious one, and management was fairly lax.]
[Ryo Yamada was also troubled by her graduation thesis lately. She kept complaining to you, asking why she had ever chosen to attend Tokyo University.]
[Miss Ryo said the decision she regretted most in her life was getting into a top school.]
Mou~ isn't that line begging for a smack?
Nijika had thought that after all these years in the simulation, Ryo Yamada might have grown a little, but it turned out her shamelessness and narcissism were carved deep into her soul.
[Ikuyo Kita had been uploading makeup videos on YouTube recently, steadily gaining followers.]
[Hitori Gotoh still holed up at home, her life unchanged. Perhaps compared to the rose-colored life of social butterflies and the dazzling stage, she was more comfortable in her damp little corner.]
Everyone in Kessoku Band seemed to be doing pretty well.
Except for Bocchi… wasn't she regressing further into the past?
Nijika had felt guilty about the band's disbandment before, but now her heart felt a little lighter.
[In December, on Christmas Eve, you and Toru went to Disneyland.]
[There was a winter-exclusive parade, and you wandered around happily until late at night. Worried for your safety, Toru escorted you back to the live house in Shimokitazawa. Just before parting, the two of you embraced. Leaning close to your ear, he asked if you wanted to spend the night at his place. You answered...]
Eh, eh, eh, isn't that way too sudden?
Out of nowhere, inviting a girl home…
Oh, right, we're married. That's fine then.
[1. Say yes.]
[2. Refuse.]
[3. Simulate personally.]
Nijika hesitated. For something like this, she decided she should simulate it herself.
Choice 3.
◇
Christmas Eve
The cold streets of Shimokitazawa glowed warm beneath strings of lights wrapped around the roadside trees.
"So cold."
Just stepping into the simulated world, Nijika instinctively shivered, then immediately sought shelter.
Phew, found it.
She slipped quickly into Toru's arms. During the honeymoon they had already gotten used to hugging. Nijika no longer felt shy about such little things. Even kissing, she had grown far more practiced.
Mm… already left Miss Ryo far behind.
Watching her tremble, Toru chuckled softly, holding her close. "This warmer?"
Spoiled little Nijika was really too adorable.
"Much better." Nijika adjusted to the winter air but had no intention of leaving his embrace.
His arms felt so comfortable.
She wanted to feel his warmth forever, to live the rest of her life in his gentleness.
After holding her for several minutes, Toru patted her back gently, reminding, "Alright, time to head home."
So, nothing tonight.
But he wasn't discouraged. In the previous simulation, Ryo had refused him dozens of times, not even giving him the taste of candy.
This time was already much better.
Compared to that shameless Ryo, Nijika was unbearably cute.
"How are you getting back?"
At her question, Toru pulled out a car key. With a click, the rear door of a nearby sports car swung open.
Over the years, through composing and writing music in the simulation, Toru had earned quite a lot.
What was that saying again? Even a fine gem, buried deep, cannot be hidden forever.
Even as an ordinary man, Toru would only ever be the most outstanding among the ordinary.
And besides...
Ordinary did not mean poor.
Toru could say with confidence that even now, though he was just one speck among the vast crowd, just a drop in history's ocean, he was still ordinary, still simple.
"I forgot, you're richer than me."
Reluctantly, Nijika slipped out of his arms.
"Once we're married, everything is shared property."
"Hehe, guess I'm the one profiting then."
Her sweet smile was unbearably cute.
How could Toru possibly resist? He bent down and kissed her tender lips.
"Mmm…"
At first Nijika instinctively struggled, but only for a few seconds. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him back.
The sweetness they had never known during their college years of dating was now overflowing in just a month of marriage.
At that moment, a sound interrupted.
Inside the live house, Seika stirred from her nap and opened the venue doors, looking toward the entrance.
There she saw her younger sister kissing her brother-in-law. For this thirty-five-year-old single woman with no boyfriend, the scene struck like a heavy blow.
"Take your kissing somewhere else!!"
Seika slammed the door shut with a bang.
"Big sis…" Nijika called anxiously, only to hear the lock click.
It was over.
How was she supposed to get home now?
Their family lived above the live house. With the door shut, she had no way in.
"Oho, you're done for," Toru said gleefully.
Nijika shot him a glare.
Well, there was no choice left. She'd have to stay at his place tonight.
Hopefully nothing weird would happen.
…
…
◇
[Congratulations. You and your husband shared a beautiful night. Happiness Points +150,000pt.]
Reading the simulator's message, Nijika covered her flushed face. Memories of that wild night filled her with complicated emotions.
Girls were too weak. Physically they lost half the battle right away. Add to that Nijika's soft heart, and there was no resisting Toru's sweet words.
Half pushing, half yielding, she gave in before she knew it.
Fortunately, Toru had been gentle. He hadn't hurt her, and her first experience was… not bad.
But the thought of having to endure pain each time in future simulations made Nijika uneasy.
[After Christmas, you climbed another step on a woman's ladder. Charm +5.]
[Worth mentioning: because there was no Christmas party this year, Ryo Yamada spent a lonely night at home. Ikuyo Kita was out with her trendy friends, Hitori Gotoh celebrated with her family, and you and Toru were in bed together…]
Skip, skip!
[The new year soon arrived. Toru suggested buying a home of your own, and you agreed.]
[In the spring of the following year, after officially graduating, the two of you moved into your new home.]
[Aside from occasionally falling ill because of your frail health, everything seemed to be moving toward the better.]
——
