I_LOVE_RICE+
patreon
Chapter 199: The Izakaya, the Senpai, and Her
🕑 Added 2025-03-15 12:10:35 +0000 UTC"..."
Minami stared at the screen.
His eyes locked onto one particular line—
[Everything seemed to be heading in a good direction.]
Seemed.
He wasn't surprised.
Not even a little.
After all, he knew—
Futaba Rio's deep-rooted insecurities had not been resolved.
And so, despite the apparent stability,
despite their deepening relationship,
there was still something... something that hadn't been addressed.
But since what was done was done,
there was no use dwelling on it.
All he could do now was keep reading.
The simulation continued.
[Everything seemed to be heading in a good direction.]
[Your decision was not wrong—being with her had indeed helped ease her obsessive need to feel "needed."]
[However, excessive indulgence has its consequences.]
[She needs you—physically and emotionally.]
[Your feelings for each other continue to intensify.]
[Your relationship progresses at an astonishing pace.]
[Her meticulous care and wholehearted devotion have made you more reliant on her.]
[Living with Futaba Rio is blissful.]
[The once-cold and intellectual girl is warm and affectionate— —but only towards you.]
[Her parents are constantly away for work.]
[Aside from the massive sum of money deposited into her account each month, she barely sees any trace of them.]
[Once upon a time, when the house fell silent at night, she felt unbearably lonely.]
[But now, with you there, every single day feels new and exciting.]
[The two of you continue living together, and the smile on her face only grows brighter.]
[She holds your hand tighter, refusing to let go.]
[She understands it now, she needs you.]
[Time passes, and you both advance from second-year to third-year.]
[One late night, after another deep exploration of the mysteries of human biology, she rests against your chest and quietly talks about the future.]
[She tells you that she once considered studying abroad in Germany.]
[Because over there, the academic environment is far more vibrant than in Japan.]
[But now, rather than studying in Germany, she would rather stay in Japan…to take care of you.]
Minami's mind sank into the simulation's memories.
A scene unfolded before his eyes—
It was nighttime.
Lying in bed with her, he found himself momentarily taken aback by the words from the girl nestled against him.
Futaba Rio had removed her glasses,
her golden eyes staring straight at him.
The room was pitch-dark.
The only source of light came from the dim moonlight streaming through the window.
And in that faint glow—her pale, flushed cheeks seemed almost luminous.
"Study abroad in Germany?"
Hearing her words,
watching the faint pink on her fair skin,
Minami couldn't help but be surprised.
"Mm."
She answered softly.
Her bare form curled up slightly, instinctively pressing closer to him.
"Did your parents contact you about it?"
Minami gently tucked her silvery-gray hair behind her ear.
"Mm."
Even in school, Futaba Rio always carried a detached, intellectual air.
But here—
At this very moment—
She looked relaxed, content, her face at peace.
Enjoying the feeling of his hands stroking her hair,
she murmured again,
"Germany's academic environment is far more developed than Japan's."
"My parents reached out to a prestigious university's research lab."
"They arranged for me to study there."
Minami lowered his head, his voice gentle.
"I see. So… what do you want to do?"
She smiled faintly and whispered—
"I turned it down."
And then, she wrapped her arms around him,
burying her face into his chest.
Her voice was soft, warm, affectionate—
"Rather than studying abroad in Germany…
I want to stay here with you."
"..."
Minami gazed at the girl in his arms—
She clung to him so tightly, unwilling to let go.
Even he, who was usually so quick-witted, found himself at a loss for words.
In the end,
he chose to respect her decision.
["I want to stay here with you."]
[When she said those words, her expression was sincere—she didn't need anyone else.]
[She only needed you.]
[In physics, she had her own theories, her own insights. But when it came to love, Futaba Rio was pure and innocent.]
[She abandoned her opportunity to study in Germany. All because she wanted to be by your side.]
[And so, you silently swore to yourself—that you would protect her.]
At this point,
Minami leaned back in his chair.
And then—a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
"Ah… so that's what happened."
Now, it all made sense.
He thought back to his first playthrough of the simulation.
Back then—
He and Futaba Rio had barely interacted.
They remained nothing more than acquaintances.
And in the end—
She left Japan and studied abroad in Germany.
At the time, he assumed she left because of her mental struggles.
But now—
That wasn't the case at all.
It turned out—
She had always planned to study in Germany.
But this time—
She had given up on that dream.
All because of him.
Minami tapped his fingers against the desk.
Then stood up, opened the fridge, and took out a bottle of barley tea.
The chilled tea slid down his throat, sending a refreshing coolness through him.
He needed to clear his head.
After a moment, he sat back down.
And his eyes returned to the screen.
[She gave up on studying abroad in Germany.]
[Time continued to move forward.]
[And now, rather than a distant dream, what stood before the both of you— was the reality of university entrance exams.]
[Your academic performance was, of course, unparalleled—even while living with Futaba Rio, you remained at the top.]
[As for Futaba Rio, being the science genius that she was, her grades were never in question—choosing a prestigious university was no problem at all.]
[You both breezed through the university entrance exams and were accepted into universities in Tokyo.]
[To accommodate her fragile emotions, you chose not to attend the University of Tokyo but instead enrolled in another elite university closer to hers.]
[Even in college, your life together remained much the same as it was in high school.]
[Your academic excellence continued to shine, earning you constant praise from your professors.]
[Futaba Rio, having decided not to further her studies in physics, took on a part-time job as a tutor at a high school prep academy while managing her coursework.]
[It was a job perfectly suited for her—an intelligent, glasses-wearing science girl. It also helped her step out of her shell and interact more with others, something you fully supported.]
[Even in university, your charm remained undiminished.]
[At various social gatherings with classmates, your striking looks continued to attract the attention of not only your peers but also upperclassmen.]
Minami felt as though he had lived through it all.
From taking exams alongside Futaba Rio to watching her grow—
A sense of quiet satisfaction filled his heart.
Scenes flashed before his eyes like a reel of memories,
Until finally—
The image settled on a familiar setting:
A cozy izakaya, where he sat drinking with a group of university classmates—some upperclassmen, some juniors.
(TL Note: An izakaya (居酒屋) (Japanese: [izakaja]) is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks)
"Ohh? Really? Minami-kun, you lived alone in Tokyo before?"
The voice belonged to Aoki Yuko(OC), a third-year senior.
She subtly scooted closer to Minami, complaining about the heat as she exposed her delicate collarbones, exuding the charm of a mature upperclassman.
"Yeah, I think it was during my second year of high school. I lived alone in a cheap rental apartment in Tokyo."
"That must have been tough, huh? Living alone like that."
Aoki Yuko reached out, as if intending to trace circles on Minami's chest with her finger—
But before she could, he dodged it with a smooth smile.
"It's all in the past."
Minami took a light sip of sake.
The alcohol didn't dull his senses; rather, it made him more alert.
He smiled and added—
"I have a girlfriend."
"Ehh? No way~ you're lying!"
Aoki Yuko let out a playful, teasing voice of disbelief.
Minami's arrival on campus had not gone unnoticed.
It wasn't just her—several other girls had already set their sights on him.
Handsome. Talented.
There was something undeniably refined about him, a charm that made him stand out.
Yet despite all this—
No one had ever heard of him being in a relationship.
"You're just saying that to avoid getting hit on, aren't you?"
Aoki Yuko smiled slyly, eyes glinting with amusement.
Poor guy, she thought.
Her gaze drifted—
Landing on the well-defined muscles beneath his shirt, toned from his morning runs.
She licked her lips, then leaned in suggestively.
"Come on, Minami-kun, don't lie~ It'd be such a waste if someone as good-looking as you didn't have a girlfriend."
"No, really—I do have one."
"Pfft, as if! I've never seen you with any girl before!"
Aoki Yuko pouted dramatically, her skepticism unwavering.
"Right, Minami-senpai? Wouldn't Aoki-senpai make a great girlfriend? She's super pretty, isn't she?"
The juniors chimed in, egging things on.
"I'm telling you, I really do have a girlfriend."
Minami remained composed amid the chaos, his tone unshaken.
He checked his watch, then casually added—
"She should be here to pick me up soon."
"Still keeping up the act, huh?"
Aoki Yuko giggled, amused.
Handsome men were the most charming when they were being stubbornly coy.
Just as she was about to tease him further
—SLIDE.mp3
The shoji door of the private izakaya room was suddenly pushed open.
The abrupt noise caught everyone's attention.
They instinctively turned to look—
And then—
They saw her.
A girl so stunning she looked as if she had stepped straight out of a novel or a TV drama.
Soft, wavy silver-gray hair, delicate and beautiful features, a petite figure—
And a chest that—despite her size— pushed against the fabric of her coat.
Intelligent, composed, and unmistakably elegant,
Her golden eyes glistened behind the lenses of her glasses.
She had just come in from the cold.
Half of her face was tucked into her scarf,
Adding to her quiet, refined beauty.
She exhaled softly, a small puff of condensation escaping her lips.
Then, her gaze swept over the room.
The other university students exchanged confused glances.
Why was a girl like this standing at their door?
And then—
"Rio."
Minami stood up.
"Minami."
The glasses-wearing beauty, whom Minami had just called "Rio,"
gently nodded at him.
And on that usually cold, indifferent face—
A soft smile appeared.
A smile so warm, so tender—
That it sent an unsettling shiver down Aoki Yuko's spine.
"Minami… who is she…?"
The previously loud and confident Aoki Yuko suddenly found her voice weak, hesitant.
That composed, graceful aura.
That near-perfect beauty.
She felt completely outclassed.
Minami, still holding Futaba Rio's hand, turned to the others with a relaxed smile.
"Oh, this is my girlfriend—Futaba Rio."
A pause.
Then, with the same cool, quiet grace—
Futaba Rio gently asked—
"I've already paid the bill... I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"
The entire room fell dead silent.
Not a single person dared to speak.
Minami merely chuckled.
"Not at all. Actually, we were just talking about you, Rio."
He glanced at his watch again.
"Anyway, it's about time to go."
Turning to Aoki Yuko, he gave a small nod.
"Sorry, Aoki-senpai. My girlfriend's here, so I'll be heading out.
Oh, and no need to worry about the check—Rio already covered it."
With that, he bid farewell, took Futaba Rio's hand—
And left the izakaya together.
The room remained frozen.
The realization sank in.
Aoki Yuko sat there, face flushed red, speechless.
The other students didn't dare to breathe too loudly.
Then, suddenly—
"MY FIRST LOVE—!!! DAMN IT! BARTENDER! TWO MORE BOTTLES OF SAKE!!!"
Aoki Yuko slammed the table, yelling into the night.
...
Leaving the izakaya,
Minami and Futaba Rio walked side by side, heading home.
At that moment—
Rio seemed a bit restless.
Just ahead of them, a couple walked closely together.
Perhaps due to the cold night air, they clung tightly to each other—
The girl, in particular, had tilted her head onto her boyfriend's shoulder.
Rio watched them quietly.
Her fair cheeks flushed slightly.
Then, ever so gently—
She tugged at her boyfriend's sleeve.
"Hm?"
Minami turned his head, curious.
And that's when he saw it—
Rio had wrapped both arms around his,
resting her head against his shoulder.
Minami raised a brow at her sudden action.
But in the next moment, he noticed the couple ahead.
He couldn't help but chuckle softly.
No matter how old she was—
No matter how mature her mind had grown—
When it came to love...
She was still so adorably clumsy.
Minami didn't say anything.
He simply let her lean against him as they walked forward.
Beneath the glow of neon lights,
Tokyo's streets stretched long into the distance—
And no matter how far that road went,
He would walk it with her.
