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Chapter 215. Your Physical Strength Improved Thanks to Their Initiative
🕑 Added 2025-03-22 16:23:41 +0000 UTCTaking the canned coffee she handed him.
Where their hands touched, there was some warmth.
But because of the spring weather, it still felt a little cool overall.
"You didn't go to Germany?"
Minami stood still, watching her lazily leaning on the railing, shaking the can in her hand, and asked.
"Nope."
Hearing his words, the girl shook her white lab coat, turned her calm face toward him, and blinked.
Click.
She popped the can and took a sip.
Minami leaned closer and looked in the direction Futaba Rio had just been gazing.
Other than the blooming, colorful hydrangeas and the ivy climbing the walls, there wasn't much to see.
The two of them just leaned on the railing together.
"Weren't you going to chase your dream?"
He took another sip of the coffee, not even sure what kind it was—pretty bitter.
Minami put the can down, deciding not to drink anymore.
"No one said I had to go to Germany to follow my dream."
She turned her head.
For the first time, her usually emotionless face showed a sly smile as she looked at Minami.
"There are plenty of great physics departments in Tokyo that are just as good as the ones in Germany."
"..." Minami.
Just as she said.
There were lots of excellent universities in Tokyo.
For example, the University of Tokyo had top-tier science research across many fields.
Particle physics, astrophysics, and nuclear physics were especially strong.
She really didn't need to go to Germany.
But—
Even though that was true...
Her father had already paved the way for her over there.
If she went, she could skip entrance exams and university applications, and start right away as an assistant in a lab.
That would save her a huge amount of time and effort.
Minami ran his fingers over the coffee can, lowered his gaze, and stared at the bright colors of the hydrangeas below.
"You really made your decision?"
Hearing him, she paused, then smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
She put down her can, leaned fully over the railing, and said, "Achieving my dream without you guys doesn't mean much. I want to be with all of you."
In the spring sunlight—
Leaning over the railing, she was even more beautiful than the cherry blossoms.
Truly moving.
[She didn't go to Germany.]
[Just like you encouraged her—to follow her dream and her heart—she made the choice she thought was best.]
[Without you all by her side, chasing her dream alone wouldn't mean anything.]
[That day.]
[The girl who always showed no tricks in love, gave her first sly smile.]
[That night, after staying with her for hours, you stood up to walk her home.]
[But she hugged you tight and wouldn't let go.]
"I don't want to go home tonight, Minami."
Futaba Rio softly called his name with deep affection.
Minami instantly understood what she meant.
He didn't insist on walking her back to her empty home.
He quietly closed the door of his small apartment.
[You became physically intimate.]
[She always let you take the lead in love, but that night, she was the one who took initiative.]
[You knew that choosing not to go to Germany meant she now had to face huge pressure—from both her studies and her parents—to get into a top university.]
[That night was the most indulgent she had ever been.]
[The next morning, she was too exhausted to get out of bed, so you brought her breakfast and fed her bit by bit.]
[It was a sharp contrast to the wildness of the night before.]
[Waking up, she was especially gentle, clinging to you much more than usual.]
[You fulfilled her every wish.]
[After that, she gathered her strength and threw herself fully into studying.]
[Unlike you, who had no weak subjects—]
[She was brilliant at science but only slightly above average in other areas.]
[To meet the score needed for the University of Tokyo, she had to work even harder.]
[Meanwhile, knowing she hadn't gone to Germany, Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue were finally able to relax.]
[When they learned she was aiming for the University of Tokyo, they made all kinds of energy-boosting food, drinks, and snacks to help her.]
[This led to her sometimes having too much energy—and she'd release it with you.]
[You were both happy and in pain because of this.]
[Because it wasn't just Futaba Rio—]
[Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue noticed Futaba Rio becoming more mature, no longer just a shy girl.]
[Wanting to be treated equally—]
[Almost at the same time, they also became physically close with you.]
[Based on that principle, that you are not allowed to be partial. ]
[Almost without distinction, both of them also had their turn with you after that.]
[Your bond with all of them grew stronger.]
[This should've been a good thing.]
[But now, on top of your studies, you had to deal with three different kinds of attention.]
"You're really calling that just 'attention'?"
Minami shook his head at the text.
He could feel the simulated memories clearly.
Among the three girls—
Takina Inoue and Futaba Rio were especially intense, always seeking him out.
On the other hand, the one who talked big—Chisato Nishikigi—was now the one taking care of him most.
"My stress is through the roof—I have to take college exams too, right? Aren't they worried I'll fail?"
Minami sighed and kept reading.
[Balancing studies and their attention—]
[An average guy would've collapsed, with his grades crashing.]
[But you're different.]
[Thanks to your disciplined lifestyle and regular exercise, you have plenty of energy.]
[Plus, your high-level cooking skills help keep your body in great shape. Being close with them actually made you healthier.]
[Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue, and Futaba Rio's physical strength slightly dropped.]
[Your grades and physical strength slightly improved.]
"...Huh?"
Minami had already started to feel phantom back pain just from reading this.
Yet somehow, the simulated him was managing everything fine.
More than that—
"My fitness actually improved? And my grades too?"
What kind of demon girls were they?
Stealing energy or something?
Minami rubbed his temples.
This simulator had gone completely off the rails.
Could he really handle all that?
Uh—
Wait.
Minami rubbed his chin.
Maybe he could.
Just like the simulation said—
He trained daily, his fitness level was at 8—way above the average guy.
Add in LV4 cooking and the "Shouji Hitori (Happiness)"—His body management was solid.
"Tch..."
Minami glanced back at the simulator.
Weird.
Really weird.
All his perfect pretty boy self-discipline was being used... for this?
Well—Not the worst thing.
"Still, if it messes with Futaba Rio's study prep, that's no good."
He muttered to himself.
After clearing his mind—He looked back at the simulator text.
[You noticed Futaba Rio's declining stamina and quickly figured out the reason.]
[To help her focus, you made a deal—no more sneaking around. You'd control yourself too.]
[With your firm rules, Futaba Rio returned to her normal schedule, and her health recovered.]
[Spending lots of time studying with you, her natural smarts helped her learn quickly.]
[Her study skills improved.]
[Her grades went up.]
[And like her, you stayed focused on your goals.]
[During all this, Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue quietly supported you both.]
[With their help, the long, tough study period finally passed.]
[You got first place nationwide on the entrance exams, and ranked top in your school entering the University of Tokyo.]
[Futaba Rio followed right after you, getting into the same school and majoring in her beloved field of physics.]
[All your hard work paid off. Your goals became real.]
[That night, Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue, and everyone at LycoReco celebrated with you well into the night.]
Minami closed his eyes.
Memories rose in his mind like a rising tide.
The place was likely a typical izakaya, one of those easy-to-find pubs around town.
The members of LycoReco were gathered, raising glasses and laughing.
With Minami's quick wit and lively jokes, the whole celebration was full of energy.
Mizuki Nakahara had her first drink in a whole year.
And this time, she got completely drunk.
Even though Kurumi and the others looked at her with disgust—
No one stopped her.
After all...
"It's finally over."
Breathing out a puff of white mist, Futaba Rio stood beside Minami, having stepped out of the private room for some fresh air. She gently blew warm air into her hands.
February's weather was freezing.
The night sky looked like someone had scrubbed it clean, and the Milky Way could be clearly seen flowing overhead.
She would never forget everything they had gone through while preparing for exams in their final year.
There were moments that were extremely tough.
And there were moments filled with happiness and warmth...
Suddenly, high school life had ended.
Like a storm coming to a sudden stop.
It left her feeling a little lost.
"Yeah. It's over."
Unlike Futaba Rio, Minami didn't get sentimental or look back on third-year memories.
He simply lifted his head, exhaled more white breath, and said, "Now it's time to think about the future."
"The future, huh..."
Leaning beside Minami, the glasses-wearing, golden-eyed girl looked up at the Milky Way in the night sky along with him, her thoughts elsewhere.
After staring at it for a while—
"So cold."
Futaba Rio suddenly shivered.
Tokyo's February wind wasn't gentle at all. In fact, it had a sharp bite to it.
Just then—
"Here, have a drink. Got it from Mizuki-san. It'll warm you up."
A cup was suddenly handed over from the side.
At some point, Takina Inoue had slipped in behind them without them noticing.
"Huh...? But we're only eighteen... we're not legal to drink yet..."
In Japan, eighteen is considered adult age, but the legal drinking age is still twenty.
"Ah, no one's going to care."
Chisato Nishikigi, who had also somehow appeared beside them, had already taken a sip from her own tiny cup.
Under the izakaya's dim lighting, her small cheeks were tinted with a charming red glow. And she was right.
At eighteen, as long as they didn't drink too much, no one would really complain.
"It's fine, just a little, just a little."
Letting out a cute hiccup, Chisato laughed and handed over the cup.
"...Well... okay."
Not refusing anymore, Futaba Rio gently took the cup and sipped.
The clear alcohol warmed her throat, sending heat through her body.
A slight blush rose on her cheeks. Then she handed the unfinished sake to Minami.
"Minami, have a sip too."
"Sure."
Minami smiled, ready to drink it in one go—
When he noticed white crystals falling and melting into the cup.
"It's snowing."
Instinctively, Minami looked up.
Above the izakaya lights, the night sky was pure and clean.
Tonight's sky was especially clear, with shining stars scattered across the dark canvas.
It was rare to see such a beautiful, deep sky in Tokyo.
The stars flowed like a river.
"It is snowing! Quick, quick, get your phones! Let's take a photo!"
As if responding to Minami's voice—
The sliding door behind them burst open.
Mizuki Nakahara, completely drunk, called out with a slurred but excited voice.
Her loud shouting made everyone laugh.
Under her command—
Minami and Futaba Rio stood in the center.
Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue stood on either side.
The shortest, Kurumi, stood in front.
Behind them stood the oldest two—Mika the café manager and Mizuki herself.
Everyone gathered together.
There was warmth.
Futaba Rio felt that warmth wrap around her.
She turned her face.
Beside her was Minami.
Next to him—Chisato Nishikigi... Takina Inoue.
Her parents had always been away. She'd always been alone.
She had never felt this kind of warmth before...
She looked up at the sky.
Even though it was snowing—
For some reason, the cold she felt earlier...
Seemed to have completely vanished.
With the call, "Ready—say cheese!"
The flash lit up.
Snowflakes sparkled silver in the light.
In the photo—
Her smile bloomed like a flower.
