My Romance Simulation with Them

Nango, who had been gazing at the neon lights in the park, was about to continue speaking.

But the next moment, his hand was grasped.

Nanxiang turned his head unconsciously.

Goto Ichiri was looking up at him.

Her eyes flashed with an inexplicable light, making Nanxiang Shi feel a little flustered.

He noticed Nanxiang's predicament.

She, who always kept her head down and was timid, secretly revealed a smile hidden under her overly long bangs.

“It’s not just Nijika-chan and the others, I’ve improved too, Toki.”

She asked Nanxiang softly, her fair and delicate hand still holding him.

"...Um."

Nanxiang turned his head, responded, and squeezed her hand tightly.

She in the park on an autumn day, under the neon lights.

It's so beautiful.

After that day, Goto Ichiri spent noticeably more time with you. The other members of the band obviously noticed this as well.

They requested a short leave of absence from you.

That day, Yamada Ryo, who doesn't usually drink much, had quite a bit to drink with Hiroi Kikuri at the izakaya.

That day, Ichiko Hoshika complained to you that her younger sister had been crying in her arms every day because she had watched a very moving movie.

That day, Kita Ikuyo updated her social media much more frequently, mostly posting photos of herself alone at couples' date spots.

When the holiday ended, they rejoined the band and, for some reason, practiced even more diligently than before.

[I don't know if it's just your imagination, but you always feel that sometimes they intentionally stay at your place for a long time before leaving.]

Life goes on, and with your daily management and operations, the influence of the independent band End of Bands grows day by day. Finally, several well-known Japanese record companies couldn't resist joining in.

They've offered you franchise agreements and guaranteed to allocate resources to you, among other attractive terms.

Among many lucrative contracts, you first secured your independence from the band and reached an agreement with a reputable record label.

Six months later, the band's album "Katsu Bando" was officially released. Thanks to the record company's and your six-month promotional campaign, the first edition was sold out in the blink of an eye!

[After the band ended their run, they truly broke out of Shimokitazawa and gained nationwide fame in Japan! They gained a large and loyal fanbase!]

[But all they remember are the members of the disbanded band; nobody knows you. Compared to their headlines in fashion and music magazines, all you get is a short, shabby footnote.]

You never thought about being remembered by others; simply standing behind the stage curtain, watching them enjoy the cheers of their fans, was enough to satisfy you.

Unlike you, who seemed indifferent, the usually kind-hearted Ichiji Nijika publicly expressed her dissatisfaction with the music magazine's editor-in-chief for the first time. Yamada Ryo, Goto Ichiri, and Kita Ikuyo also publicly stated that they would no longer accept any form of interview from the magazine.

The band's straightforward declaration and frank attitude did not diminish their fanbase; on the contrary, many found their willingness to speak openly to the media incredibly appealing.

The band's record sales hit a new record high at the end of the season.

[After realizing that the band End might be on the verge of becoming a new national phenomenon, major music media outlets began vying to uncover the story behind the band.]

The 'Starlight' performance hall, being where the band "Endless" started, garnered significant attention, attracting many well-known rock bands to perform there. Producers from numerous record companies also occasionally visited the 'Starlight' performance hall to scout for promising new bands.

Similarly, your achievements were gradually exposed by the media, and news began to circulate that you had once achieved the highest deviation score in the country.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

It was at this time that something undeniable happened within the band.

[Ichi Niji Natsumi confessed her feelings to you.]

Chapter Thirty-Eight. Regret?

[Ichi Niji Natsumi confessed her feelings to you.]

Nanxiang time: ?

Look at this line of text.

Let's take another look at the name 'Goto Ichiri' in the dating simulation section.

Nanxiang fell silent.

Ms. Ijichi, what are you doing?

I think I didn't make a mistake in my simulation, right? The person I'm simulating is definitely Goto Ichiri, right?

To be honest, in this playthrough, he protected the girls from the wind and rain for their dreams, which earned him a lot of their favor.

It wasn't surprising at all that Ichiji Nijika confessed to him.

On the contrary, if he did so much for the girls, but they remained unmoved, that would be truly unscientific.

[Ichi Niji Natsumi confessed her feelings to you.]

This line of text seems to gloss over the entire process.

But this forced Nango to directly immerse himself in the depths of the simulated memories.

"I think I probably like A-Shi... no... maybe I like him a lot."

Standing in front of Nango Toki, Ijichi Nijika, having put down her drumsticks, gently wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke softly.

There was nothing abrupt about it.

There wasn't the slightest hint of awkwardness.

Ichi Nijika's confession was as natural as an understanding wife taking care of her husband who had just come in from outside after finishing work, and the two of them exchanging sweet words.

But her words caused Yamada Ryo to subconsciously remove his fingers from the bass strings, Kita Ikuyo's fingers to stop, and Goto Ichiri to secretly cast his gaze over from behind his bangs.

"..."

The sudden confession did not startle Nanxiang Shi.

He pondered for only a moment before he couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Ichi Nijika's confession was no joke, so his response naturally couldn't be casual either; he had to ask for the reason.

[But this reason might not be hard for Ijichi Nijika to find.]

She thought of how you had always helped them along the way. This had happened countless times before. During the band's periods of uncertainty, during their rise... you were always there, silently supporting them without asking for anything in return.

Even if you've never brought these things up with her, she still remembers them.

"I don't know when it happened, but I couldn't take my eyes off you anymore," she said softly, looking at you.

Yes.

Not just in the band's life now.

Even in her daily life, she longed to see a glimpse of Nanxiang.

She wants to see him when she's happy, she wants to see him when she's sad, and she wants to tell him about anything she wants to share as soon as possible.

Ichi Natsumi knew this feeling...

It's like when she was little, she had a possessiveness towards her older sister.

However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with liking someone to the point of wanting to possess them entirely.

Ichi Nijika's voice was as gentle and generous as ever, and she didn't seem embarrassed at all.

However, if we look at it from the perspective of the southern region...

The girl's body was visibly trembling slightly.

The way he pronounced words and spoke was also much more deliberate and forceful than usual.

He knew them too well, just as they knew him very well.

Nango didn't want to hurt Ichichi Nijika.

But in the end, Nango Toki still rejected her.

Perhaps, through repeated acts of care, he had gradually given his true heart to that timid, shy, introverted, and socially anxious girl who needed his care and love.

She didn't let you see her cry.

So all you saw was her shoulders shrugging as she turned around, wiping her face haphazardly with the back of her hand.

She ran out the door alone. Worried about her, Goto Ichiri and Kita Ikuyo followed her.

You both cherish each other, but how can you, who have always cared for her, bear to let her have a relationship that is destined to end without fruition?

You rejected Ichiji Nijika.

[Perhaps noticing that you were feeling a bit down, Yamada Ryo, who had been silent all along, suggested that you go to the rooftop for some fresh air.]

Tokyo is cold in winter. Yamada Ryo rubs his pale hands together beside you, his breath steaming in the cold air.

[You hesitated for a moment, then took off the scarf from your neck and carefully tied it around Yamada's smooth neck. You then tucked the excess scarf into her clothes, the thick scarf keeping her warm.]

She didn't say a word, but simply extended her red, frostbitten hand to you.

You hesitated for a moment, but gazing into her elegant, aloof eyes, you took her hand and offered her warmth.

She was quite satisfied with this.

[The two of you stand on the rooftop, looking down at the bustling traffic. Against this backdrop, Yamada Ryo asks you if the person you like is Goto Ichiri.]

[You affirmed Yamada Ryo's question; you never have to hide anything from her, who considers herself a maverick in the band.]

"Does he prefer solitude?"

Yamada Ryo, his upper body lounging lazily against the rooftop railing, swirled a half-full cup of hot drink in his hand and uttered a brief question.

"Ah."

There's nothing to hide from Yamada Ryo.

Although she doesn't speak, she sees things very clearly.

Looking into the distance, Nanxiang acknowledged it.

"is it?"