LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 306
“Fufu….”
[Hikari Kurokami (Shirazaki Shiro): 92
]
Hikari Kurokami, whose favorability towards me has already surpassed 92.
[If there is no opponent with a favorability of over 70 for more than ten days, the game will automatically end and you will return to reality!]
Thanks to that, the tenth rule has become more of a nuisance than a rule.
…No. If you were going to teach me the rules, shouldn’t you have told me that right after waking up yesterday morning?
Anyway, I’d forgive you if you reset the favorability now.
I thought to myself, but Hikari-senpai’s favorability remained unchanged.
“Anyway, I’ll prepare the meal…”
“Hey, H-Hikari-senpai!”
“Yes?”
“Umm… I think I have to go home early today…”
“Oh my… then there’s nothing we can do.”
At least, it’s a relief that we can communicate.
I had heard from Nekoto-chan before that there are dating sims where conversations don’t even happen when favorability rises…
“Well, just in case, please ride back with Yurie, Izumi-chan.”
“…Huh?”
I was planning to take the subway back…
“I’m just worried. Is this okay?”
“Ugh?!”
Saying that, Hikari-senpai smiled while stroking my thigh.
As if she wouldn’t let me go back unless I allowed this suggestion.
“Uh, okay…”
“Great! You’re such a nice little sister, Izumi-chan.”
Why do I have to face such a terrifying situation just to go home…?
★
“Be careful going in, Izumi-chan.”
“Yes. Shiro-onee-chan…”
After saying my last goodbye to Hikari-senpai, I boarded the limousine driven by Yurie-san…
“Oh, wait a minute.”
“…Yes?”
Peck.
“Huh…?”
In an instant, my thoughts stopped at the soft sensation on my cheek.
“Fufu… then, see you next time.”
“W-Wait, what was that just now?!”
“Hm? It’s common to kiss like this when parting in Western countries, you know?”
This is Japan, though?!
I wanted to protest, but I could only stand there speechless as I saw Hikari-senpai waving goodbye with a smile as if it were nothing.
[Hikari Kurokami (Shirazaki Shiro): 99]
And the senpai’s favorability… had risen to 99.
★
That number, could it be not favorability but lust?
…No, let’s not rush to conclusions.
[Suzuha Koga (Komachi Yuyika): 67]
Right now, Suzuha-chan’s favorability is already at 67, but didn’t something feel off yesterday?
Hikari-senpai is just a very passionate person when it comes to romance.
So, what should I do from here?
To end this game, I need an opponent with favorability over 70 for more than ten days, or I need to have a romantic partner.
However, since Hikari-senpai’s favorability has already far exceeded 70, that’s not an option.
So, I need to find a partner, which means I have to confess to one of the members…
No matter how I think about it, that’s just impossible.
Of course, all memories will disappear once the game ends, but right now, it’s my reality.
Most importantly, being a couple…
“Ugh…”
While I was worrying about that, ding-dong, the doorbell rang.
When I checked the intercom, Suzuha-chan was standing there.
“…Huh?”
I don’t think I got a message about Suzuha-chan coming today…?
“Hello…?”
[It’s me. I just happened to be passing by and thought I’d stop by for a bit.]
“Oh, okay. Come on in.”
With my reply, ding, the front door opened.
Suzuha-chan walked into the living room and handed me something.
“What is this…?”
“I met an old colleague at a café today, and they were selling these. Since I dropped by, I bought this as a gift. You like chocolate, right?”
“Oh, yes…”
What Suzuha-chan handed me was chocolate waffles.
Chocolate and waffles.
It’s definitely a combination that can’t taste bad.
I’ll have to eat it with milk after Suzuha-chan leaves.
“But when you say old colleagues…”
“Yeah. Friends I used to work with in the idol industry.”
Suzuha-chan said that and took out her phone to show me a picture.
In the center of the photo, Suzuha-chan had an annoyed expression, and on either side were two beautiful women smiling and hugging her.
Maybe because they were people she used to be an idol with?
They were both incredibly pretty.
But…
“…Suzuha-chan, you’re the cutest, hehe.”
“…What?”
[Suzuha Koga (Komachi Yuyika): 69]
Ah, right.
Now that I think about it, what was I doing when I hadn’t even decided what to do about this favorability?
I was thinking of keeping some distance…
“Um, um, um, there’s a question I want to ask you, Suzuha-chan…?”
Let’s change the subject first.
If I keep this conversation going, my favorability might increase further, and that would be a disaster.
“…Okay. What’s your question?”
Fortunately, Suzuha-chan went along with my change of topic, albeit with a skeptical expression.
“Um, well…”
Since we’ve come this far, should I hide the content a little and ask about my current situation?
“Umm, Suzuha-chan, if you absolutely had to confess to someone for an unavoidable reason, what would you do?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I mean, being in a relationship means you should genuinely like each other, right? But if you had to confess to someone you didn’t feel that way about for unavoidable reasons, wouldn’t that be rude to the other person?”
“Is this about Izumi?”
Upon Suzuha-chan’s question, I quickly shook my head to deny it.
“It’s about the game! It’s, uh, a game story!”
“Really…?”
“Of course, I like that person… No, I mean, I like that character. But I don’t have feelings of wanting to be in a relationship. But if I had to confess for an unavoidable reason, what should I do…?”
“Hm. That’s a tough question.”
I nodded along with Suzuha-chan’s words.
I really have no idea what to do…
“Does the other person like you, Izumi, or… your game character?”
“Yes…”
“Then Izumi, do you? At least like that character, right?”
When Suzuha-chan asked that, I nodded again.
“Yes. I like them…”
And.
[Suzuha Koga (Komachi Yuyika): 72]
Suzuha-chan’s favorability increased.
★
“Is this about Izumi?”
“It’s about the game! It’s, uh, a game story!”
Does Izumi know?
That she can’t lie at all… that if she lies, it’ll all show on her face?
“Of course, I like that person… No, I mean, I like that character. But I don’t have feelings of wanting to be in a relationship. But if I had to confess for some unavoidable reason, what should I do…?”
“Hm. That’s a tough question.”
And about how the other person perceives when she speaks.
I wonder if Izumi realizes that herself?
Probably not at all.
Well, that’s part of what makes her cute.
Thinking that way, Suzuha continued talking.
“Does the other person like you, Izumi, or… your game character?”
“Yes…”
Looking at Izumi nodding without hesitation, Suzuha-chan felt a sudden stab in her heart.
Could it be that Izumi has figured out the feelings she’s been struggling with?
When Suzuha first felt that emotion, she thought it couldn’t be possible.
She had even misunderstood before, but after spending a long time together, she came to know it wasn’t that.
Izumi was just a precious friend and younger sister who made her want to support her because seeing her made her feel uneasy… she had definitely thought that way.
‘Maybe Izumi doesn’t like me?’
‘It’s not like that…’
‘Or?’
‘I like you…’
Since that conversation yesterday, a heat suddenly surged within Suzuha’s heart.
She found herself thinking of Izumi, missing her.
So she suddenly changed the meeting place to near Izumi’s house, and when she went to the café with her colleagues, she bought a dessert that Izumi would likely like.
And the simultaneous feeling Suzuha had was guilt.
I shouldn’t be thinking like this.
Izumi probably doesn’t have such thoughts about me at all.
It would make things uncomfortable between us.
So Suzuha thought quickly to sort this feeling out.
She had brought the chocolate waffles to give to Izumi today, to have a normal conversation and return to the way things were…
But.
‘…Suzuha-chan, you’re the cutest, hehe.’
‘…What?’
Hearing that phrase from Izumi didn’t take long before she realized how happy it made her, how her face was flushed with warmth.
But… it still wasn’t right.
Izumi was simply giving a compliment about her.
She vowed to herself to suppress this feeling and tried to remain calm.
‘Does the other person like you, Izumi, or… your game character?’
‘Yes…’
Just now in the conversation, Izumi had laughed shyly, looking a bit troubled.
Of course, it was easy to catch that Izumi was talking about someone else.
But even if Suzuha confessed, the result would likely be the same.
Izumi had repeatedly said she had no particular interest in dating before.
However.
“So, Izumi, what about you? At least you like that character, right?”
When that question came,
“Yes. I like them…”
Looking into her eyes, seeing Izumi blush and nod shyly made Suzuha’s heart boil with heat once again.
★
“…Huh?”
What is this situation?
[Suzuha Koga (Komachi Yuyika): 72]
For some reason, Suzuha-chan’s favorability skyrocketed.
It had crossed 70.
And now, I was currently pinned under Suzuha-chan on the sofa.
“Izumi…”
“…Yes?”
“Have you ever thought about how your words come across to the other person when you say that?”
“Um, um, um…”
I wanted to ask what that even meant.
But I couldn’t say anything in the face of Suzuha-chan’s cold gaze.
Both of my wrists were caught in Suzuha-chan’s grip, and I couldn’t move.
Clearly, I should be taller than her, but I couldn’t move at all.
“Haah…”
“Suzuha-chan…?”
I’m scared.
I don’t know this side of Suzuha-chan.
I’m scared…