My Romance Simulation with Them

['A lifetime filled with regrets' guitar:]

This is her guitar, brimming with the dreams of her youth. Giving up on one's dreams undoubtedly means regret. Even if one picks them up again later, it's hard to let go of the lingering sorrow. The bassist leans against the natural wood guitar. When the music begins, it can represent a dream that never came to fruition, or the regret of a lifelong unrequited love...

So, should you blindly follow the path others have laid out for you, or is it better to choose an ideal you truly love, even if it's difficult to achieve in reality? But life never offers second chances; whether it's you or her, your life will ultimately be filled with regrets.

[By pouring your emotions into the guitar and playing with complete focus, you can evoke the deepest sorrow and regret hidden in the hearts of others.]

"Ok?"

Nanxiang looked at the notes below with some confusion.

This line of text is somewhat abstract.

According to Nango Toki's understanding, it's about pouring emotion into the performance, so that the sound of the guitar can resonate with the saddest and most regretful emotions in others' hearts.

but...

"Is it really that strange?"

Nanxiang opened the guitar case and looked at the natural wood guitar lying quietly inside.

This guitar is exactly the same as the one he gave to Goto Ichiri in my memory.

But apart from that, no matter how you look at it, it seems to be just an ordinary guitar, and it doesn't have the same effect as NetEase Cloud Music.

With that in mind, Nanxiang Shi decided to give it a try.

With his right hand gripping the pick and his left hand pressing down on the guitar strings, Nango recalled the regretful ending he had just experienced with Goto Ichiri in the simulation, and then thought of Yamada-san, who was still waiting for him with a lifelong regret.

Once he felt he was in the right mood, he gently swept the guitar strings with the pick.

The crisp, piercing sound of "boom boom boom" came through, but Nanxiang Shi didn't care. After all, without speakers or other output devices connected, it was normal for the sound of playing the bare guitar to be a bit dry and harsh.

He continued to push the strings and strike the strings.

Since Nanxiang himself was only at LV2 level, this rough assessment only suggests that his playing was mediocre, or even somewhat unpleasant to listen to.

Nanxiang put down the plectrum and sighed inwardly.

This level of skill, let alone resonating with others, even he himself finds it somewhat distasteful.

He instinctively wanted to put down the guitar, but soon he froze.

The somewhat crisp and piercing sound of the guitar seemed to continue, still echoing in his mind.

The crisp, clear sounds were like tiny sighs, evoking a bitter feeling in one's heart.

Sadness, melancholy, and regret were stirred by the sound of the guitar.

At the same time, those things and people filled with regret and sorrow from my memory surged into my mind with an irresistible force in the next moment.

The beauty has faded.

All that remains is inner silence and an unforgettable sense of loneliness.

As Nanxiang listened, tears welled up in her eyes.

He thought of the stray dog ​​that his aunt's friend's second uncle had adopted, which died that winter.

It shouldn't have died like that.

Life slipped away so easily, he really—

Wait a minute?!

Nango shook his head, waking from his sadness, and looked in astonishment at the 'Regret' guitar he was holding in his arms.

What kind of weird NetEase Cloud Music guitar is this?

Chapter Twenty-Four. Desertion in the Face of Battle - Goto Ichiri

After an hour of repeated testing.

Nanxiang time helped him figure out how to use the 'Full of Regret' guitar.

First, you must prepare yourself emotionally, and second, you must concentrate fully on the performance.

Both are indispensable.

If you're just using this guitar for practicing chords, fingerings, and hand positions, there's absolutely no problem with it.

Although it's a bit strange, it's not entirely without merit.

Nanxiang put the guitar, which he called "Life's Regret," aside and pondered what he should do next.

I'm not in the mood for simulations right now.

The memory from earlier was still churning in his mind, making it difficult for him to let go.

So what are the remaining options...?

"I guess I should stick to studying."

She hadn't started dating yet, but studying was more important, so Nanxiang took out the textbook next to her.

In the simulation, I really didn't study much, and in the end, I only got into the University of Tokyo, which was a miserable outcome. I didn't even get into the medical school of the University of Tokyo.

To be honest, Nango was very dissatisfied with this.

Since that's the case, let him fill in the missing parts in reality.

As for what I plan to do after school tomorrow

"Let's return Goto Ichiri's guitar first."

Holding his pen, Nanxiang Shi was reviewing the overly simple lessons while pondering what he should do next.

Multitasking is not difficult for him.

Nothing more was said that night.

The following day, in the afternoon, after school.

The band members stood at the entrance of Yucha High School after the band finished their performance.

"So this is Ocha High School... It looks really special—"

Ichi Nijika peered inside curiously and noticed that most of the students wearing Ocha High School uniforms who walked out of the school gate were holding simple English word sticky notes in their hands, memorizing them as they walked.

The sounds of arts and sports clubs practicing could be heard from inside the campus.

"As expected of a prestigious high school..."

Standing at the school gate, Ichiji Nijika sighed.

Her pale yellow side ponytail swayed slightly with her movements.

"That's not true, Ijichi-senpai is exaggerating."

Kita Ikuyo, who had come with them and was also a student at Ocha High School, said somewhat embarrassedly, "Ocha is actually just an ordinary high school."

"The top three high schools in terms of Tokyo University admission rate are not ordinary high schools, Kita-chan."

Ichiji Nijika raised a finger and said with a hint of envy:

"Not only does it boast comprehensive teaching resources and a strong faculty, but it also excels in developing students' interests and talents, rivaling other arts and sports schools. Coupled with its abundant club activities and free-flowing school festival events, Ocha High School is currently ranked number one among Tokyo's most sought-after junior high schools..."

"Even if they want to praise my alma mater to curry favor with me, it won't work."

Yamada Ryo, who was standing next to her with his arms crossed, had no expression on his face. He reached out and flicked his short blue hair, showing a bit of a heroic and dashing look, while giving Ijichi Nijika a disdainful look: "Out-of-school student."

"Wake up, it's chilly. You and I go to the same school."

"That was Yamada Ryo from a second ago. Now I am Yamada Ryo from Ocha High School."

With a beauty mark at the corner of her eye, Yamada Ryo spoke with an air of self-righteousness: "If you're willing to kneel down and lend me money for food, I'll still be Yamada Ryo in the same school as you."

"This person is talking nonsense again..."

Ichi Nijika's lips twitched.

But she already knew what kind of person her bassist was, so she didn't argue with her anymore and instead looked at Kita Ikuyo beside her.

"Although I came here because I was worried about Xiao Gudu... but what kind of learning monster is Nango, who can still hold the top spot in the grade in a school full of learning monsters?"

Yes.

Getting into one of the top three high schools in Tokyo with the highest college entrance rates is already a remarkable achievement, but to maintain the top spot in the grade with an absolute and unshakeable advantage at this school is even more impressive.

What kind of person was he when he was in Nanxiang?

A strange sense of pressure arose in Ichiji Nijika's heart.

"I think he's a typical male protagonist from an isekai novel who travels to modern Japan, merges with a soul, and gains cheat-like abilities."

Yamada Ryo tilted his head and gave his guess, his tone particularly serious.

Ichi Nijika stared silently at her bassist with her deep red eyes.

It's clear that the other party is really trying hard to spout nonsense.

"Well... I don't know much about Nanxiang-senpai, but I've seen him quite a few times when I was helping the teachers deliver textbooks and materials to the second-year office."

Kita Ikuyo didn't respond to her favorite Yamada Ryo's words for the time being.

"Huh...? Does Kita-chan know Nango Toki?"

"No... we didn't know each other at first, but how should I put it... Senior Nango, perhaps there really is such a thing as 'charisma'."

Kita Ikuyo held up her finger and gave an example:

Even in a crowd, you can spot his 'aura' at a glance.

"Is it really that exaggerated? How could there possibly be such a person?"

Ichi Nijika felt that Kita Ikuyo had probably exaggerated Nango Toki's portrayal.

After all, they were in the same school, and with others constantly 'deifying' Nanago Toki, Kita Ikuyo developed a cognitive bias.

"I do think there are such people."

After a moment of silence, Yamada Ryo finally spoke up.

"Huh? What's the basis for calling it 'cool'?"

Ichi Nijika wanted to hear Yamada Ryo's opinion.