How can my simulation be a real love?

This seemingly ordinary act of picking up shoes was actually a move that Wakaba Mutsu had used on her before. Now that Toyokawa Shoko had stolen it and was using it on someone else, it was unexpectedly satisfying.

The two girls entered the living room with their own thoughts in mind, and at that moment, Kazami Mei had already brewed tea and brought it out.

Noticing the deliberate distance between the two, Kazami Naruto's gaze sharpened. He had just placed the tea and snacks on the coffee table when Nagasaki Motoyo casually inquired—

"I noticed that the computer in Ming's room seems to be still on. Were you perhaps preparing a song for the school festival performance just now?"

Kazami Mei didn't hesitate much when asked about this topic, and simply nodded slightly before replying, "That's right, since the school festival isn't far away, I thought that finishing as soon as possible would give you more time to practice."

Composing?

Upon hearing this keyword, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes lit up slightly. She and Naruto worked together quite well on composing, so she chuckled softly as she held her teacup and began to speak—

"Ming, if it's about composing..."

"That's it~"

Before Toyokawa Shoko could even finish her sentence, Nagasaki Motoyo, who was standing next to her, interrupted her with a laugh.

A faint glint appeared in Miss Su Shi's eyes. She immediately revealed a sweet and elegant smile, clasped her hands together, and then took the initiative to get up and go to Feng Jianming's side, pressing him down on the sofa.

Her slender fingertips gently massaged his stiff shoulders, her words carrying a tenderness that drew one in completely—

"I came here today to make sure Ming is resting properly. If he's in a state of constant mental tension while working, his body will definitely not be able to take it, right? It's not lunchtime yet, and although I don't know anything about composing... I can help in other ways though."

"Ming, why don't you get some rest today? You can leave everything at home to me."

Kazami Mei had just been pinned down on the sofa when she began to passively enjoy Suze's massage. Suze, who was used to taking care of her mother, was an expert in how to care for people and give massages.

Her gentle massage of his temples immediately relaxed him.

Oh no, she truly lives up to her reputation as Miss Su Shi.

Feeling himself gradually falling into her rhythm, Kazami Naruto's eyes widened. As he regained the initiative, he immediately said, "But I still have to prepare food and clean up later, so I'll get some rest afterward."

"No, okay~"

Miss Su Shi smiled and declined.

"I'll let Ming show off his skills when it's time to eat, but he needs to rest well first~ Otherwise, Xiaodeng will definitely be upset if she finds out, okay?"

"Just leave the cleaning and stuff to me. After all, Ming has always helped me, who was so willful before, but I've never had a chance to repay him..."

With things having gone this far, even Kazami Mei couldn't find a reason to refuse her.

Kazami Naruto, who couldn't help but inwardly complain that he was actually having a hard time dealing with Ms. Suze, let out a long sigh and said softly, "...In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Suze."

"Please leave it to me."

Toyokawa Shoko stared wide-eyed at Nagasaki Motoyo not far away. Her gentle gaze was completely fixed on Kazami Mei, as if nothing else in the world could catch her eye.

This pure emotion and love seemed to overflow at this moment.

"Oh? This is a perfect opportunity... how about trying some aromatherapy?"

As she spoke, Nagasaki Motoyo 'suddenly realized' and took out a bottle of exquisite aromatherapy from the gift bag she had brought. After opening it, a musky scent wafted out.

At the same time, she skillfully took out a small bottle of essential oil, a hint of excitement in her eyes, and said with a smile, "Maybe I can take off Ming's shirt a little? Massaging with this essential oil is very helpful for improving blood circulation~"

Take off, take off your clothes?!

Shoko Toyokawa, who had been being led by the nose, stared intently at the brown-haired girl, finding it hard to believe that the girl would say such a thing.

Didn't she hear that even a drop or two of essential oil in aromatherapy can be effective? Why take off her clothes before giving her a massage? Nagasaki Motoyo must have some ulterior motives!

If she hadn't happened to be here for a free meal today, this shameless woman would probably have gotten away with it!

"Come here for a moment."

Sensing this, Toyokawa Shoko coldly stepped forward and grabbed Nagasaki Motoyo's hand. She led her to Kazami Naru's bedroom and carefully closed the door.

After confirming that only the two of them were in the room, Toyokawa Shoko finally lost her patience, furrowing her brows and speaking directly—

"shameless!"

"No matter what, you don't need to take Ming's clothes off, do you?"

But Su Shi seemed to have anticipated her reaction; she merely tilted her head with a smile, then deliberately responded in a soft, gentle tone—

"This is just a very 'ordinary' aromatherapy massage. I only asked Ming to take off his clothes because I was worried that he might accidentally get them wet. Besides, I just wanted Ming to relax and get some rest..."

"Ke Xiangzi, you wouldn't... be thinking about something else, would you?"

The girl's fearless and direct answer left Toyokawa Shoko speechless.

"I……!"

Her gaze seemed somewhat unfocused; after all, she really didn't know much about 'aromatherapy'.

Perhaps it was because Su Shi had just interrupted her and taken the initiative from Ming that Toyokawa Shoko, who had been somewhat relaxed, began to get anxious. That's why she immediately stood up to stop her after realizing the problem.

In reality, Suze didn't reveal anything at the moment; it seemed she was merely helping Naruto relax through massage.

“Ming usually has to take charge of the training and work of two bands. During this cultural festival, he has to rush to arrange music for everyone. That’s why I came to his house to help with housework.”

"But in the end, Xiangzi, you... didn't you even consider whether Ming was getting enough rest?"

Nagasaki Motoyo's casually uttered words, with a slight furrow of her brow, made Toyokawa Shoko, who was already flustered, turn pale.

She suddenly realized that Ming was simultaneously in charge of arranging music for three bands. Even when she was handling band projects on her own, he would casually come over and help her with some of the work.

Kazami Mei was indeed under a lot of pressure, which made Toyokawa Shoko, who was focused on the band and hadn't noticed him, feel indescribable guilt and self-blame.

The girl's change naturally made Nagasaki Motoyo vaguely sense something was wrong. She narrowed her deep blue eyes, and the gentle smile that had just appeared on her face when she was talking to Kazami Mei was gone.

A completely different, calm voice, like a gentle spring flowing into one's ear, slowly came from the girl's mouth: "Xiangzi, so that's how it is..."

"Actually, you're the kind of person who only thinks about yourself."

7

Chapter Seven: There's no way to escape.

"...!"

Shoko Toyokawa, who was already agitated, had her pupils shrink the moment she heard those words. She clenched her small fists and gritted her teeth, but she couldn't come up with any 'rebuttal'.

From Nagasaki Motoyo's perspective, her self-deprecating remarks were almost entirely without issue.

Regret and guilt flowed out of the 'hole' in her chest like a dark tide, leaving Toyokawa Shoko standing there with her head down like a wooden statue.

Seeing her like this, Nagasaki Motoyo just sighed slightly, then smiled gently again. Just as she was about to say something, a clear doorbell rang out from the apartment door.

The two, whose thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell, were both slightly stunned. This sudden situation made Toyokawa Shoko, who was already on the verge of collapse, relax.

She raised her stubborn amber eyes again to look at Nagasaki Motoyo, and then spoke in a slightly trembling voice: "...I'll go open the door."

After saying that, Toyokawa Shoko turned around, opened the wooden door to her bedroom, and walked quickly toward the doorway.

With each step she took forward, she felt an increasing heaviness in her heart, making her even more exhausted. Nagasaki Motoyo's unreserved sarcasm had made her 'strong' defenses as fragile as glass.

Perhaps Motoyo Nagasaki is right.

Have I really considered Ming's feelings?

Click.

Shoko Toyokawa opened the apartment's iron door with a gloomy expression. Who on earth would come to Naruto's apartment at this time without even saying hello? In her opinion, it was probably just that eccentric and shameless Ms. Ryo Yamada.

If she saw that weirdo coming over to ruin the atmosphere, she would actually feel much more relaxed...

"..."

But the moment the door opened, the blue-haired girl's eyes widened as if she had seen something unbelievable.

A young girl with long, flowing, golden hair stood timidly at the door, wearing a baseball cap and a flawless, beautiful smile on her face.

But this perfect smile belonging to the 'idol' shattered instantly upon seeing Toyokawa Shoko's childhood friend, just like a porcelain cup that had been smashed to the ground.

"Chuhua?"

……

Perhaps it was because of the words spoken by a certain doll girl that day that made Mikasa unable to see her true feelings now.

Hatsuka, who initially just wanted to have a casual chat, learned from Wakaba Mutsu that Kazami Mei was indeed a "scumbag" who was dating several different girls at the same time.

Most importantly, even in this situation, the taciturn doll girl still firmly loves him, and she doesn't even care if Kazami Mei likes Shoko.

Even if I become the 'third party', does it not matter?

Does it matter if I can be with him?

"Then what should I do about my feelings for him...?"

Sanjiao Chuhua tilted her head slightly and looked at the familiar supermarket. Unconsciously, she had walked to the shelf where she had met him again. Several bottles of 'Creamy Puff Flavored Oolong Tea' were also scattered on the shelf.

The drink didn't taste good at all, but she still reached out her hand uncontrollably.

The girl holding the bottle of oolong tea frowned, unable to put it back no matter what she tried.

She can't let it go.

To be honest, when she heard from Wakaba Mutsumi that Kazami Mei liked 'everyone', Mikami Hatsuka's heart trembled uncontrollably. Even though she didn't understand the feelings of 'love' very well, she could immediately sense it.

At that moment, she felt a faint joy.

She hated herself for having these feelings.

"There's no point in always running away if you have to face these feelings..."

As if simply to find a suitable reason for herself, Mitsuka Hatsuka, who had just picked up the oolong tea, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Every time she closes her eyes, she recalls the words spoken by Wakaba Mutsu. If she doesn't personally confirm the true nature of her 'love' for Kazami Mei, she may never be able to let go, no matter how much time passes.

Even if it's eventually confirmed that she likes Kazami Mei, Mikasa Hatsuka is still thinking about giving up her feelings for the sake of friendship.

Having made up her mind, Misaka Hatsuka had somehow returned to the familiar apartment door. She took deep breaths to calm her agitated and nervous emotions, and mustered all her courage to reach out and gently press the doorbell.

Hearing the sound of slippers hitting the floor, she felt a pang in her heart.

"call……"

Misaka Chuka took one last deep breath, and a natural and beautiful smile gradually bloomed on her face.

Click.

But the instant the iron gate opened, that familiar and incomparably beautiful pale blue figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

Hatsuka Mikasa, who never expected to meet Toyokawa Shoko herself here, had her mind go completely blank as if it had crashed. Holding two bottles of cream puff oolong tea, she stood there completely stunned.

"...Chuhua?"

Shoko Toyokawa, whose thoughts were already in disarray, looked ahead in disbelief. The other person's elegant and mysterious purple eyes, like those of a butterfly, met hers, and both seemed to see astonishment and shock in each other's eyes.

Especially when Mitsuka, who was carrying a drink, subconsciously pulled down her baseball cap and tried to cover her face, this meaningless act of concealment was as ridiculous as burying one's head in the sand in front of Toyokawa Shoko.

"Chuhua, why did you come here?"

Shoko Toyokawa furrowed her brows and widened her eyes as she spoke. Faced with her 'questioning,' Hatsuka Mikazuki couldn't even utter a single word.

She suddenly recalled that she had "accidentally" seen him with Kazami Naruto. Sure enough, that "accident" was not her imagination, but that she, her childhood friend, had actually had a close relationship with Naruto.

However, for some reason, the other party deliberately concealed their contact with him.

Suddenly feeling dizzy and lightheaded, Toyokawa Shoko almost lost her balance. She had just been shattered by Nagasaki Motoyo's sarcastic remark, and now she was suddenly betrayed by her childhood friend...

For some reason, she had no strength left, and didn't even know how to start questioning the other person.

She never imagined she could become so weak.

"Xiao Xiang..."

At this moment, Miss Chuhua might also be trying to salvage their relationship, but Toyokawa Shoko, standing in front of her, simply frowned and quietly watched her, which made Chuhua gradually realize—

At this moment, Xiangzi was probably not listening to anything at all, and the words she was about to say could only be swallowed back down.

"Xiangzi, who's here?"

Nagasaki Motoyo slowly followed Toyokawa Shoko out of the bedroom. Her azure eyes paused for two seconds when she saw Mitsuka Mitsuka across from her, before she gazed meaningfully at the other's perfect and magnificent face.

Despite having various thoughts in her mind, the girl still walked towards us with a smile on her face.

"Eh? Could it be Miss Hatsuka from Sumimi? Since you're knocking on the door at this hour... it seems you should know Naruto, right?"

A glint of light flickered in Nagasaki Motoyo's eyes, and beneath her seemingly smiling face, alarm bells were ringing.