Am I being simulated by their love affair?

"It must be related to Sister Yang!"

As the girl had expected, an awkward silence fell over the not-so-large dean's office.

"...Xiao Chun, are you saying you're dating three people at the same time?"

"Yes." Jun Matsue nodded, pursing his lips.

"Tomatsu and Mochizuki, whom I mentioned before, and Kurusu, who brought you a gift today."

“I know…” The silver-haired old man lowered his head and rubbed his temples, looking at the bright spot of light that his reading glasses focused on the document.

Compared to Xiaochun's relationship situation, simply organizing data and writing reports is such an easy task...

The dean was silent for a moment, then picked up an empty cup from the table and poured a glass of water for the boy.

She picked up her cup, took a sip of water, and then looked up to continue speaking.

"When you told me last time, didn't the two girls you were dating say they couldn't accept this situation?"

"How come the number of people has actually increased after half a year?"

The boy who had picked up the water glass paused for a moment.

"Because I've made up my mind to continue down this path."

Facing the dean who had watched him grow up, he straightened his back.

"They chose to tie their happiness to me, and after careful consideration, I realized that I couldn't abandon anyone. I could only try my best to help them achieve the happiness they desired."

"So it has to be this way?" the old man asked gently.

“Yes.” Jun Matsueda’s eyes brightened.

"They have lost the normal way to achieve happiness, and so have I."

"..." Hiroya Chiomi raised her head and let out a long sigh.

"That's the only way."

“…I feel like I need to apologize to Grandma.” The boy touched his cheek. “You certainly didn’t expect to raise me into this kind of child.”

"It's nothing," the old man waved his hand. "I always know whether you're a good child or not."

"What I'm afraid of is that you're too flamboyant in front of the world, which will only wear you down."

Jun Matsue blinked.

Grandma Dean has always been like this since he was a child; she doesn't treat him like a child—something she would never say to other children.

"I once said that you would eventually meet someone so dazzling that they would change you..."

The old man sighed, "Looking at it now, there seem to be a lot of people like that."

The boy could only give an awkward laugh.

“I don’t want to give you advice—you’re a thoughtful child, and you must have thought about this decision many times before making it.” Hiroya Chiomi stood up.

"Since we've chosen this path, let's try our best to be responsible to the end."

“That’s for sure.” Jun Matsue stood up and followed the old man toward the door.

"Also, if you have any stress or confusion, remember to tell me more often."

The boy supported her arm, saying, "That's why I came back and told you."

The dean rolled her eyes at him, "It's okay if you come back less often during holidays."

"What does this mean?" Jun Matsue opened the office door.

"You already have three girlfriends, your time must be very precious." The old man stepped out the door first, and the sound of the girls' footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

“From now on, they will be the ones to stay by your side instead of the welfare home, so of course you should spend more time with them.”

"..."

As if stung by the sunlight outside the corridor, the boy suddenly felt a burning sensation in his eyes.

He didn't say much, watching the girls run over from the corridor.

"Have you finished talking about Matsue?" Yosei Kurusu greeted the two of them, linking arms with Aya Miyamura.

"Why do you look so strange? And why is the headmistress here too?"

"I've come out to see Miss Kurusu," the old man replied with a smile.

"Thank you for the gift. The scarf is beautiful, and I love it."

"I'm glad Grandma likes it~" Miss Idol smiled like a flower - she hadn't been this happy when she appeared on Christmas programs before.

Hiroya Chieko let go of the hand the boy next to her was holding and pushed him forward.

"I'm leaving Xiaochun in your care."

"I still have some documents to process. If Miss Yao needs me later, please ask her to come directly to my office."

“No problem.” Jun Matsue turned to look at her.

"Please take a rest and don't overwork yourself."

The old man nodded, smiled, and walked back to his office.

The boy turned around, and the idol girl jumped straight into his arms like a happy, large dog.

"Are the pine branches empty now? I saw the kids downstairs drinking milk after exercising. Is there any for us?"

"I think so." Jun Matsue caught her and glanced at Aya Miyamura, who was standing next to him with a kind, aunt-like smile.

"Stop laughing, let's hurry downstairs, or there won't be any milk left for us."

"Good~"

At 4:30 p.m., Wang Yueyao walked out of the orphanage gate with her boyfriend's hand and stopped in front of their car.

"Did Songzhi tell Grandma Dean about our situation?"

Matsueda Jun squeezed her small hand. "How did you know?"

The girl pouted with a hint of pride, "Afterwards, I went to see the dean, and I felt that she looked at me with a particularly warm gaze."

The boy laughed and gently hugged her.

"This means they consider you family."

Mochizuki Haruka didn't say anything, but simply wrapped her arms around her lover's neck and kissed him deeply, bathed in the golden sunlight of the setting sun.

"Did you have a pleasant afternoon with Wangyue?"

"It's quite relaxing..." the girl said vaguely.

Waking up, drinking sweet and warm milk, and sitting on the lawn watching Songzhi play the invincible goalkeeper in front of the children at the welfare home—this was an afternoon that made her quite satisfied.

"That's good." Jun Matsue kissed her cheek.

"Take care on the road, and message me when you arrive in Kamakura."

"Hmm." Mochizuki Haruka reluctantly released his embrace.

Before getting on the bus, the girl turned her head back as if she suddenly remembered something.

"What happened to Yamami Maki in the end?"

"I'll take my senior home tomorrow."

She nodded without saying much, then jogged a couple more steps back and hugged the boy's waist.

"You promised to come visit us before New Year's Eve?"

Jun Matsue lingered and gently touched her hair.

"To Kamakura?"

"Yes, the pine branches can be taken out anytime."

"Then I'll call you later."

It was like watching one of her dreams come true. The smile on Mochizuki Haruka's face as she left was as radiant as the sky in the boy's eyes.

Chapter 834 Sending the senior home... or so it seems.

On the second day, which was also his first day back at the orphanage, Jun Matsue only did three things in the morning.

Working, studying, and playing with the children.

Of course, Yosuke Kurusu doesn't count as a child, but that doesn't stop him from accompanying his idol to the nearby forest park to walk on fallen leaves, collect pine cones, and listen to the girl practicing her voice freely in the quiet forest.

After returning to the orphanage and having lunch, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Jun Matsue was half-closing his eyes and enjoying the sunshine on a recliner under the eaves when the rocking chair next to him suddenly started creaking.

"..." The boy turned his head to look at the girl who sat up and stretched on the rocking chair.

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"A short nap is enough..." Yosei rubbed his eyes. "Sleeping for too long will make you tired."

Jun Matsue sat up and looked around.

Before him lay a flat, withered lawn. Miyamura Aya sat on a recliner on his other side. The girl wore an eye mask and was wrapped in a blanket. Her mouth was slightly open, and she looked like she was sleeping soundly.

Behind them, in the activity room, were adults watching TV and chatting—it was lunchtime, the children had gone back to their rooms, and the staff of the welfare home were taking the opportunity to relax and rest in the activity room.

Stretching and yawning are contagious, so the boys followed suit, raising their arms and stretching them out forcefully.

"Is Kurusu leaving?"

"Hmm~" Kurusu Yosei stood up and stomped his foot.

"I should go back to my apartment to get myself ready and spend the New Year with my mom."

Jun Matsue smiled. "Shall I take you home?"

"Huh?" The girl blinked. "It takes half an hour to get back to the apartment by bus. Isn't that a bit of a hassle for Pine Branch?"

“What’s the trouble?” The boy took her hand. “We’re a couple.”

The idol smiled sweetly, "Even though we're a couple, we should still cherish our time together!"

"There's nothing much going on at the orphanage, and I was going out this afternoon anyway."

"Oh? What does Songzhi need to do?"

"...I don't think you'd want to hear it."

Yosei Kurusu raised an eyebrow. "Is it about other girls?"

The boy nodded.

"Then we won't listen~" The girl took his hand and walked towards the entrance of the orphanage.

"Let's go wait for the bus!"

More than half an hour later, the swaying bus came to a stop in front of the business supermarket next to the Mitakadai Apartment. The two people holding hands got off the bus, and Miss Idol stopped in her tracks.

"That's all you need to do downstairs." Yosei Kurusu let go of her boyfriend's hand and gave him a tight, firm hug.

When does Songzhi plan to go back to the apartment?

Jun Matsue inhaled the sun-kissed scent of her long pink hair. "Number two, I guess."

"So early?"

"After all, there's a common exam at the beginning of the year, and Grandma told me to focus on preparing for it."

"Then we'll see each other again soon~" The idol girl loosened her embrace, took two steps back, and waved energetically.

Call me if you miss me!

"Okay," the boy replied with a smile.

Watching Kurusu turn and disappear into the apartment building, Jun Matsueda sighed softly and took out his phone.

He just saw Moji send him a message on the bus up the mountain, but he hasn't had a chance to read it yet.

It's a photo of the living room of a rented apartment. The floor is bright, the furnishings are neat, and a pale yellow cockatiel is pecking at a small orange on the kotatsu table, creating a warm and cozy scene.

"The house is all tidied up; it's a way of welcoming the New Year early!"

The boy glanced at the time on his phone—he had arranged to meet the girl at 2:30, and there were still fifty minutes left.