Yamada Ryo had recently picked up a new hobby.
Reading.
Ryo had never been fond of books. Even when she did read in the past, it was limited to music related magazines. Anything else made her cough. She only liked things pure and undiluted.
Now, her hunting grounds had expanded.
Whether it was youth trauma literature, or romance brain comedies that no normal person could possibly write, she could get into all of it. She had even grown obsessed with several light novels that came with bonus illustrations when you bought toilet paper.
Spring break.
There was still nearly a week left before it ended.
It just so happened that the band was on break today, and their part time work at the live house had been suspended.
Ryo happened to be heading to Akihabara to attend a novel signing event. The author's pen name was—
Kirie.
Through careful investigation and piecing together subtle clues, Yamada Ryo had already locked down Sensei Kirie's real identity.
That was right, getting a signature was only part of the reason.
This trip was more about testing this simulator player who existed outside of Kessoku Band.
As the first woman to realize that the simulator was an online game, Ryo's version had always been ahead of everyone else in Kessoku Band. She had long suspected that there might be a few moles within their own band, but she chose to stay put and not interfere with their flirting with Toru.
Why?
Because this was an internal matter. They were all sisters who had shared the same hardships. At most, it was just a question of who ranked higher or lower.
Ryo's objective was very clear.
First, she had to make sure that no outsiders interfered.
At present, the band's greatest external enemy was Kagarino Kirie, the silver haired young lady who had suddenly appeared in the eighth simulation.
If she was allowed to steal the prize, the outcome would be impossible to predict.
[——]
Outside the largest bookstore in Akihabara.
A long line stretched far into the distance. Yamada Ryo stood out strikingly as a beautiful girl among a crowd of otaku. She glanced at the two female customers in front of and behind her, then looked again at the endless queue, and sighed inwardly at how popular Kagarino Kirie truly was. No wonder she could abduct Toru in the simulation.
She really understood men. Ryo admired her deeply.
Worthy of a bestselling light novel author, she had mastered the art of pandering to otaku.
It could only be said that otaku were like this. As long as the character designs looked good, they could keep reading no matter how trashy the plot was.
If, on top of that, the story was actually decent, the otaku would praise it to the skies.
"So boring, I'll search myself."
Yamada Ryo took out her phone, opened Twitter, and started searching her own name.
Ever since Kessoku Band gained tens of thousands of followers, there had been more chatter about them online.
However, this had little to do with them directly. Most of the attention came from Toru, the male actor who had not yet completely faded from the public eye.
Under the #KessokuBand# tag.
Several dozen new posts had been added today.
Original poster:
Toru baby what did you eat today?: I heard that Kitahara is acting as this band's manager lately. I really don't get what's so good about them. Other than their faces being decent, they don't have any strengths at all, right?
Replies:
Ten year Kitahara fan: Is Kitahara finally at the age where he can date? As a mom fan who's followed him since his child actor days, I'm so relieved~
Pure passerby Kessoku Band fan: To be fair, yeah, but all the Kessoku Band members are good looking, which is already impressive… except for the lead guitarist who keeps her head down and never dares to show her face.
Toru anti: It's blown up pretty badly. Even the high schools in our prefecture are spreading it. For context, I'm a second year in high school. I used to be a hardcore rock fan, but I barely listen to music now, maybe once a week at most…
"The Kessoku Band tag has been colonized by Toru kun's fans."
Yamada Ryo was genuinely speechless. Because of Toru, almost none of the fans who liked Kessoku Band did so out of genuine affection. They were all haters.
Ryo was honestly afraid that if this continued, one day she might get stabbed by one of Toru's obsessive fans. It was terrifying.
Halfway through her self search.
After waiting nearly half an hour, it was finally Yamada Ryo's turn to enter the bookstore.
At the very front of the long line sat a beautiful girl with long silver hair, wearing sunglasses and a black mask. Her delicate features were covered up tightly, with no intention of revealing them at all.
Sensei Kirie had always been very mysterious. If not for having encountered her in the simulation and by chance in private, Yamada Ryo would not have been able to confirm that the person in front of her was truly her.
Sitting beside her was Sensei Happoubi, the illustrator responsible for the light novel, who was much more open.
She had no intention of hiding herself.
Her jet black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall. Her classical beauty was so stunning it defied description. Dressed in a black kimono with an antique charm, her entire presence radiated the aura of a traditional Yamato nadeshiko, making it hard to look away.
…
"Renka, I'm exhausted."
"If you're tired, don't say anything. I'm tired too."
"Oh."
Miss Kirie loosened her aching fingers. Today's Renka was not very friendly at all, showing no consideration for someone who had been signing autographs since early morning.
And these were not just ordinary signatures.
For female fans, Kirie would also give an extra personalized signature, a to sign, allowing them to request specific blessings.
As for male fans?
Kirie had never treated them as human, and would always scold them with a cold voice.
Yet according to statistics from certain magazines.
The more discriminatory Sensei Kirie's attitude became, the more excited the male fans were…
Sigh, what a bunch of irredeemable perverts.
"About what you mentioned last time, is there any follow up news?"
"No. Not a single movement. It's like a light novel that's about to end, where the author can't write an ending and just forcibly cuts my role."
Miss Kirie replied irritably.
Because of this, she had been lacking inspiration lately.
What kind of monster simulator was this?
It might as well be called an idle simulator…
"If this really were a novel, with a tsundere character like you who's too afraid to approach the male lead, I'd cut your role too," Renka said calmly.
"Who are you calling tsundere?"
"Kirie, you still haven't recognized your character positioning…"
As Renka spoke, she lifted her head and glanced at Yamada Ryo, who was about to step forward for her autograph.
She lowered her voice and reminded her, "Be careful, your love rival is here."
"What love rival… eh, it really is a love rival."
Kagarino Kirie opened her soft pink lips in surprise, revealing a cute little fang.
Isn't that Yamada Ryo? It's only been a few weeks. Why did she suddenly come here?
Just a defeated subordinate, yet she dares to deliver herself right to my door. I'll let you experience the power of me, Kagarino Kirie.
As Miss Kirie was busy thinking about how to deal with her enemy, she quickly heard Ryo's very first sentence—
"Sensei Kirie, I'm your fan. Please give me your contact information."
"Ah, oh… hm?"
Kirie held the pen and almost finished writing before she reacted. Wait, what did she just say?
Aren't we love rivals?
You came all this way just to ask for my contact information?
"What's wrong?"
"N no, nothing."
Kagarino Kirie finished writing it out. "Since you're so cute, I'll give you my email address."
Two birds with one stone.
She gained a channel to probe her rival's information, and also increased her chances to get closer to Kitahara kun.
An overwhelming victory.
--
[T/L Note: Chapter 246 was deleted from all site copies and original. So, I'll mix it up to 245-246, so there's no confusion.]
--
Minato Ward, Tokyo.
On the living room sofa.
While watching TV, Toru suddenly felt a chill run through him.
So startled that he hurriedly shifted into a more comfortable position.
These days, Toru had finally started taking things a bit easier.
He kept thinking.
The simulated girls leaking faint memories into reality.
Club management kept rolling along without major disasters.
Just... a normal day .
He leaned back, remote in hand, ready to call it a night.
Break time. Finally.
Then the chill hit again
....Nobody's coming with a knife, right?
The thought flashed, ridiculous and vivid.
He almost laughed at himself.
It's this sim's fault if it was.
Stupid system.
But deep down, he was thankful.
The simulator had given him so many memories from good ones that made his chest ache, bad ones that taught him what regret really tasted like.
Without it, he'd still be that clueless guy fumbling through life.
He just wished...the simulator had warned him about the girls' side.
That they might remember too.
In the end, it's the life of a harem king.
For a pure-hearted warrior like him, it would bring shame if his fellow brothers ever found out.
Harem king... yeah right.
More like harem hostage.
While Toru was lost in that self-deprecating spiral, soft footsteps approached from behind.
Arms wrapped around his shoulders.
Warm. Familiar. Strawberry-scented.
Nijika pressed her cheek to his back, hugging him tightly from behind.
Toru startled, his heart skipped a beat.
Even for a guy whose stats were somehow above human standards after all those sim runs, the angel Nijika was always the same sweetheart from his past memories.
Clouded minds really do mask your surroundings.
She snuggled in a little longer, content just to hold him, before speaking up in that gentle, angelic voice.
"Toru-kun... what were you thinking about?"
Toru swallowed hard from the sudden contact but he wouldn't show it. His hometown had many jade beauties that could make any celebrity from TV blush.
Toru composed himself.
"Nothing, did you meet with Hitori?"
Toru knew that Nijika would've connected the dots. Better to be upfront and honest.
"Yes, and? Did you want to hear about it?"
She loosened her hug just enough to peek around his shoulder, then gave a tiny signal toward the shadowed corner of the hallway.
Toru caught the movement from the corner of his eye. Pink hair, fidgeting hands, tomato-red face, but he pretended not to notice.
He knew.
Carefully planned surprises like these shouldn't be ruined, especially if they were for him.
Let her come when she's ready.
Toru turned his head slightly, meeting Nijika's eyes with a calm, almost lazy smile.
"...Tell me later. Right now, I'm just happy you're home."
Nijika's smile widened—sweet, but with that faint edge of mischief that always made his stomach flip.
She leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Then... let's make tonight even happier.
"From the hallway shadow, Bocchi finally took one hesitant step forward.
Then another.
Her breathing was audible now. However it was shaky, nervous, but determined.
Toru kept his gaze on Nijika, playing dumb to the last second.
But inside, his pulse was already racing.
The real surprise was about to pounce.