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10: Confession in the Snow
🕑 Added 2025-09-23 01:02:00 +0000 UTCNight
[Your skills have improved. Bass performance LV.4 → Bass performance LV.5]
Finally! Finally!
Toru was thrilled! He had finally reached max level!
At this stage, normal skill progression would no longer advance as it all depended on his own exploration now.
Fortunately, reaching a professional level could be achieved with enough time.
But reaching the master level? That depended entirely on understanding, something far more mysterious.
Inside the simulator, the storyline was about to enter the high school phase.
Over the past two years, Hitori Gotoh and he had remained friends, just like Ryo.
However, something was a little strange...both girls' affection levels had reached 80, with Hitori Gotoh being the most surprising at 88 points.
If Toru wanted to, he could date either of them.
However, since he had already decided to love only one person in this life, he wouldn't betray that.
Before time-traveling, when he played romance games, he didn't really like taking the harem route.
Besides, the simulator allowed for multiple playthroughs, there was no need to be greedy. He could just fall in love with one girl at a time.
One girl per playthrough and over multiple rounds, the experience wouldn't be any worse than a harem. It might even be better!
Toru clicked on Ryo's bonds panel.
Time to choose a location for the confession.
[Winter Camp: A cozy cabin at a ski resort. Location: Hokkaido.][Christmas: Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck. Location: Tokyo.]
[Tokyo Disneyland: Special Winter Parade. Location: Chiba.]
[Note: The confession must be fully simulated. Text-mode cannot be used.]
Toru hesitated for a moment.
This was the first time he had taken the initiative to confess.
The simulator's current timeline was winter of his senior year in high school, just a few months before graduation.
So, all the available locations were themed around the season.
After thinking it over...
He decided on winter camping.
That location had fewer people, so the confession wouldn't be as nerve-wracking.
As for Tokyo Skytree on Christmas or Disneyland in winter, he didn't even consider them! Those places would be packed.
Confessing there would be a near-impossible mission!
Done!
Let's start the simulation!
———
[Sending invitation...]
Toru watched the message appear in the simulator, feeling a bit nervous.
Did he forget to consider his waifu's feelings before confessing?
What if she rejected him?!
[Ryo has accepted your invitation.]
Excellent!
———
In a small villa in Setagaya, Tokyo…
Ryo was lying in the bathtub when she received a notification from the simulator.
[Toru has invited you on a trip to Hokkaido. Do you accept?]
Tch. What an easy man to handle.
Ryo checked his affection level.
Wait. 87 points?
That's way too high.
She knew the simulator could exaggerate, but even after two years, seeing the affection level that high was surprising.
His favorability points had also reached 360,000.
Aside from affection bonuses, there were also achievement rewards:
First Date, First hand-holding, First hug…
Yet, even after two years, they still hadn't kissed.
"Bass performance LV.5??"
Ryo patted her cheek.
Her Pokémon-raising plan seemed to be complete.
As long as Toru had a professional-level bass, she could spend her favorability points to acquire LV.5 skills!
In reality, her own bass level was only LV.4, and leveling up was extremely difficult.
To be bold...if Toru could advance to master level, grandmaster level, or even Divine-tier…
Ryo could instantly skyrocket!
In reality, this was a vampire simulator, what a powerful system!
"This time, he's probably going to confess, right?"
Of course, Ryo wouldn't refuse.
But she wouldn't take it too seriously either.
To her, Toru was just a tool to acquire skills.
A character from a virtual world.
A digital pet she could use.
Could someone really fall in love with an avatar?
Of course not.
Those guys online who scream "WIFE!" don't actually love their waifus forever.
When they find someone new they like better, they just switch to a new "wife."
So, it's perfectly normal for me not to take Toru's feelings seriously, right? ...
———
[Preparing to enter full simulation mode.]
Ryo's consciousness slowly drifted away from reality.
———
Hokkaido
Sapporo Ski Resort
Toru and Ryo were in their ski gear, sitting on the ascending ski lift.
"Ryo, thanks for the past two years." Toru turned to look at her.
"No need to thank me, really."
Ryo knew what he meant, it was about the two days per week she spent teaching him bass.
But honestly?
It was all just a simulation.
She never had to actually teach him anything.
As for Kessoku Band inside the simulator?
Ryo didn't really care.
Everything was fake.
She had always understood the difference, she never lost sight of reality.
This ski resort, the man sitting beside her, his affection for her...all of it was nothing more than an illusion generated by the simulator.
"My bass skills improved so fast thanks to you, Ryo. Of course, I have to thank you."
Toru smiled at her.
Ryo didn't react.
She was like a block of ice that couldn't melt.
Everything was profit-driven.
Since she had decided to be completely pragmatic, Ryo wouldn't get emotionally involved.
"Oh."
"…Well, thanks." Toru felt a bit disappointed.
He knew Ryo wasn't much of a talker, but…
After more than two years together, she was still the same?
Was he just her wallet?
After spending so much time together, after hundreds of interactions and thousands of insults exchanged...had they not gotten any closer?
Toru felt a small sting in his heart.
But maybe… Ryo didn't know that every time he asked her for bass lessons, he used Auto Simulator Mode to master bass-playing effortlessly.
———
A few minutes later.
They got off the ski lift.
"Ryo, do you know how to ski? I can teach you—"
"Not really."
Ryo didn't pretend to be skilled.
"Then let's start with the basics, okay? Your ski goggles are a little crooked."
Toru slid over and adjusted her goggles for her, his movements friendly.
Ryo saw his handsome face up close and took a slight step back.
Too close.
Toru: "..."
He didn't think much of it and just smiled.
———
Half an hour later
"Ryo, you're learning fast." Toru clapped.
She really was quick.
For a beginner, she was surprisingly good.
As expected of my wife.
———
Suddenly, Toru realized she was sliding more and more off course.
"Ryo, stop! Quick!"
"…How do I stop?"
Ryo stared at the obstacle drawing closer and closer…
It looked like they were about to crash.
Oh well, it's just a simulation anyway. In reality she wouldn't actually get hurt.
"Ryooo!"
But Kitahara Toru quickly shifted his posture and sped downward.
A few seconds later...
With a loud "thud!" the two of them tumbled together to the edge of the snowy slope.
Ryo slowly opened her eyes. She felt the arms wrapped tightly around her, refusing to let go, and when her cheek pressed against his chest, the clearly audible beat of his heart.
A faint blush spread across her usually expressionless face.
"Ryo, are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?"
Toru hurriedly loosened his hold, his voice filled with concern.
"…No."
Yamada Ryo couldn't understand why her heartbeat had sped up so much.
It was obviously just a false world in a simulation, and all of his feelings toward her were fake.
Then why?
So strange.
