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Chapter 104: "Chisato & Takina"
🕑 Added 2025-02-09 06:02:16 +0000 UTC[This time—there would be no regrets.]
Upon seeing this line, in reality, Shouji Minami still felt a tinge of unease.
After all, in the previous timeline's tragic ending, nobody had survived—and Takina Inoue's severe pregnancy reaction was what had ultimately ended her life.
Even though he had made thorough preparations in this timeline, human physiology…
Not even doctors could predict everything with certainty.
Tensing up, he continued reading.
[As expected, Takina Shouji's pregnancy symptoms were severe—just as you had anticipated.]
[The intense strain made her suffer immensely, and you found yourself breaking into a nervous sweat.]
[But this time, the outcome was completely different from the regret-filled dream.]
[Thanks to your meticulous care and Chisato Shouji's unwavering presence at her side, Takina Shouji—both physically and mentally stabilized—managed to endure this grueling period.]
"That's it."
In reality, Minami let out a deep breath.
Even though it was just a simulation, this proved that Takina Inoue's pregnancy struggles could be overcome.
However—
"Judging by the simulator's description, both my care and Chisato's companionship were crucial factors..."
Finally, Minami understood.
In the previous timeline, Chisato Nishikigi had died due to her congenital heart disease.
Even though Minami had taken great care of Takina Inoue, he had ultimately failed to save her life.
If he thought about it that way…
It was no wonder why the route required both Chisato and Takina to be together.
Had he chosen to abandon Takina Inoue, Chisato Nishikigi would have likely fallen into deep guilt and sorrow.
Had Chisato's companionship been missing, Takina Inoue would have inevitably succumbed to her pregnancy complications.
Like a symbiotic relationship, true happiness could only be achieved if both Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue were together.
The simulation continued—
[After enduring days of struggle, Takina Shouji finally gave birth—to a baby girl.]
[You and Takina Shouji named her "Shouji Harutoki."]
[Your lives were no longer as simple as before.]
[Sitting in the garden you purchased with your manuscript royalties, watching the flowers bloom and wither before your eyes...]
[Seeing Shouji Nashiro and Shouji Harutoki grow up day by day, you couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of emotion.]
[It was as if your own life was continuing in another form.]
[At moments like these, Shouji Chisato and Shouji Takina would always sit beside you, softly reminiscing about the time they first met you—whispering words of love that only the three of you could understand.]
Memories surged within the simulation.
Flowers bloomed and fell in the garden.
Sitting on the bench with them, just a single glance was enough to see the fulfillment in each other's eyes.
"I used to like you, Minami-kun," she said suddenly, gazing at their two daughters, who were playing and laughing in the yard.
"And now?"
"Now..."
She paused for a moment before breaking into a playful laugh.
"Now... I think I like you even more."
Her voice was both calm and mischievous, carrying far through the quiet garden.
That voice made the black-haired woman beside her let out a gentle chuckle.
He turned to look at the black-haired one.
She was just as reserved as always, saying nothing, merely reaching out her hand to quietly hold his.
He simply smiled, lifting his hand to gently caress her delicate, orchid-like face.
Perhaps the clouds had stolen the sake he left on the rooftop—
Her cheeks turned as red as the evening sky.
[You gazed at each other, and in that moment, time seemed to lose its meaning.]
[You sat there in silence, as old memories drifted through your minds.]
[What is happiness?]
[Perhaps, simply exchanging a glance was already enough—that was happiness.]
[Time continued to move forward.]
[You gradually aged, while your daughters continued to grow.]
[Shouji Harutoki, though she bore a striking resemblance to Shouji Takina in appearance, inherited none of her mother's composed and gentle personality.]
[She was lively and energetic—so much so that Shouji Takina often found her a headache to deal with.]
[Yet, despite frequently getting scolded, Shouji Harutoki always readily admitted her mistakes—only to repeat them without hesitation the next time.]
[Likewise, she inherited Chisato's extraordinary athletic ability.]
[At school, her cheerful personality, exceptional physical abilities, and beauty that rivaled her mother's youthful elegance made her immensely popular.]
[Not only did she receive love letters from boys, but even a number of girls sent them as well.]
[However, despite her outstanding physical prowess, her academic performance was utterly mediocre—she didn't inherit even a fraction of your intelligence.]
[You weren't too concerned about this.]
[After all, studying was merely one pathway to a bright future. If she wasn't inclined toward academics, she could always carve a path in athletics.]
[In contrast...]
[Shouji Nashiro, the daughter of Chisato Shouji , was nothing like her cheerful, carefree mother.]
[She was calm and composed, always immersed in books, showing little interest in physical activities but displaying undeniable genius in academics.]
[Likewise, the golden-haired girl was cold and indifferent toward others.]
[Even when dealing with her ever-playful and unserious mother, she remained distant and aloof.]
[The only exception was when she interacted with you—her father.
[During those moments, she would drop her icy facade and secretly, almost sulkily, snuggle up to you.]
[Whenever this happened, Chisato would always grin mischievously, call you away, and throw Nashiro a playful, teasing glance.]
[This irked Nashiro greatly.]
[Two daughters, completely opposite in nature, made Chisato Shouji and Takina Shouji wonder if they had somehow taken home the wrong babies at birth.]
[But what frustrated them even more...]
[Was that despite how unruly and challenging their daughters could be with them, they were completely obedient when it came to you.]
[Anything you asked of them, they would follow willingly.]
[Chisato and Takina could only sigh in exasperation.]
[Even in middle age, it seemed your charm over women hadn't diminished in the slightest.]
[They both began to keep a much closer eye on you.]
[Unaware of your wives' growing wariness, you continued your peaceful routine—spending time with your daughters, teasing your wives, and dedicating yourself to literary creation in your study.]
[The mind cannot remain in the same state as it was in youth.]
[At the age of 34, your writing skills had reached an entirely new level.]
[With years of experience living alongside Chisato and Takina, your understanding of life had deepened.]
[Your literary refinement had advanced even further.]
[Over the years, you had produced countless novels that astonished the literary world.]
[If 'Chisato Takina' had once been considered a rising literary genius among the younger generation...]
[Then today, 'Chisato Takina' was undoubtedly a master who held a defining place in the literary world.]
[As for the controversy from over a decade ago—it had long since faded from people's memories.]
[Though occasional rumors still surfaced, they no longer had any real impact.]
[A renowned literary journal reviewed your work, stating: "Master Shouji's writing, though simple and unadorned, carries a purity that deeply moves the heart, making it impossible to forget."]
[The following year, your essay My New Life was included in school textbooks, becoming a required reading piece for junior high students.]
[Despite your ever-growing wealth, you yourself never changed.]
[You still took the time to host gatherings, inviting your old friends from Riko-Riko to reunite over drinks.]
[Mizuki Nakahara had long since quit drinking, admitting that excessive alcohol consumption had indeed been harmful to her body.]
[Kurumi, once a petite girl, had now grown into a graceful young woman—finally of age to drink.]
[Mika, now over sixty, remained in remarkably good health.]
[During these gatherings, you all reminisced joyfully, enjoying the warm and comforting atmosphere.]
[Time continued to flow.]
[You kept writing, while Shouji Chisato and Shouji Takina remained by your side, as carefree as ever.]
[Under your watchful eyes, Shouji Harutoki was scouted by a prestigious sports university to become a professional athlete.]
[Meanwhile, Shouji Nashiro, inheriting your literary talent, was admitted to the University of Tokyo's Department of Literature with outstanding grades—she seemed determined to follow in your footsteps.]
[Regarding their choices, you, Chisato, and Takina refrained from interference.]
[Just as you had once treated them, you believed that a child's future should be theirs to choose.]
[Undoubtedly, Shouji Harutoki and Shouji Nashiro were truly your daughters.]
[Within just one year of university, both had achieved remarkable success in their respective fields, earning the envy of their peers.]
[Harutoki broke national records in athletics with overwhelming dominance.]
[Nashiro, still only a freshman, had already begun serializing her first novel.]
[They both quickly became known as "prodigies."]
[Time moved forward once again.]
[With your daughters now fully independent, no longer requiring your guidance, you and your wives found joy in their accomplishments.]
[You continued cherishing the time spent with your beloved Chisato and Takina, as the river of happiness continued to flow between you.]
[After graduating, Shouji Nashiro pursued her literary ambitions, striving to step out from under your shadow—after all, being the daughter of a literary giant came with immense pressure.]
[Conversely, Shouji Harutoki had a much more carefree mindset.]
[After university, instead of embarking on a professional sports career as everyone expected, she developed a passion for FPS (first-person shooter) games.]
[With her extraordinary reflexes and years of athletic training sharpening her senses, she quickly rose to become a top-tier national gaming streamer, amassing over a million subscribers on YouTube.]
[You and your wives observed all this with pride and joy.]
[Gradually, they stepped into the public eye, while you and your wives retreated into the background.]
[Time is impartial—it does not slow down for anyone.]
[As the years passed, you and your wives aged.]
[Yet, even as time took its toll, you continued to sit in your garden, watching the flowers bloom and wither, whispering words of love only the three of you could understand.]
[The passage of time did not bring regret—if anything, it made you cherish the small moments of happiness even more.]
[You kept writing, but compared to your younger days, you no longer cared for fame or recognition.]
[Piles of manuscripts accumulated, each one capable of shaking Japan's literary world if published, yet you never sent a single one to a publisher.]
[For you, these works were merely a way to pass the time with your wives—a private treasure trove of words shared only among the three of you.]
[You remained as humorous as ever, always bringing smiles to their faces.]
[However, no one can escape the passage of time.]
[As Shouji Chisato aged, her once-healthy body gradually weakened.]
[When her time finally came, you, Shouji Takina, and your two daughters were by her side.]
[Even in her final moments, she still wore a smile—just as she had in her youth, full of boundless energy.]
[You and Takina felt no regrets, for life and death are beyond human control.]
[As long as Chisato left this world feeling happiness, that was enough.]
[Life carried on.]
[Two years later, time finally caught up with Shouji Takina as well, her once-strong body now frail and weary.]
[You held her hand tightly, exchanging a smile.]
[The warmth of your touch made both of you fearless in the face of death—just as Chisato had been.]
[After Takina's passing, you laid her to rest beside Chisato, silently awaiting the day when your own time would come.]
[Yet, you did not feel sadness, nor did you succumb to despair.]
[The love and warmth you had shared with them continued to give you strength, encouraging you to keep moving forward.]
[You resumed your writing.]
[Through your reflections on life and death, you finally grasped the true essence of literature.]
[You poured all your remaining days into one final masterpiece.]
[As you wrote, your remaining life force slowly faded away.]
[Yet, you paid it no mind—for with every word you penned, you could feel the heartbeat of your story.]
[You wished to leave behind a trace of your love, of your existence in this world.]
[And so, you wrote until the very end.]
[On the day your life finally reached its conclusion, you lay upon your bed, your two daughters clutching your hands tightly.]
[In the fading light of consciousness, you seemed to see the younger versions of Chisato and Takina smiling at you.]
[It felt as though the love and happiness you had shared with them would carry on forever.]
[Overwhelmed by the profound beauty of this final moment, you closed your eyes, embracing the stillness of eternity.]
[In a hazy vision of white light, you found yourself once again in Riko-Riko café, where your two beloved wives awaited you.]
[You stepped inside, and they greeted you with warm smiles.]
[Time itself seemed to freeze in that moment—]
[After your passing, Shouji Nashiro and Shouji Harutoki carefully sorted through the manuscripts you had left behind.]
[Among them, they discovered a treasure trove of unpublished works.]
[Your words, simple yet profound, carried an indescribable beauty when read closely.]
[And hidden among these manuscripts, they found the only full-length novel you had meticulously written in proper manuscript format—Chisato & Takina.]
[This was the novel that held all your thoughts, the culmination of your life's work.]
[Within its pages, you poured every ounce of literary skill you had mastered, using the purest words to recount your journey with them—the story of your love and shared life.]
[Its captivating content and unparalleled writing style made it an instant sensation upon release.]
[Beyond that, the novel's influence spread far beyond Japan—within the same month of publication, international publishers quickly translated it to meet soaring demand.]
[The following year, Chisato & Takina was hailed by world-class literary institutions as a "must-read novel of the 21st century."]
[Your unparalleled literary achievements cemented your legacy as a master who reshaped the landscape of Japanese literature.]
[That same year, your novel Chisato & Takina won the Nobel Prize in Literature—shocking the entire world.]
[Your name, along with theirs, was forever etched into the annals of world literary history.]
[—Simulation Ends—]
