After the lunch break.
Inside Class 1-G's classroom.
Ikuyo Kita stared at the blackboard, a little absentminded.
So boring.
The truth was, Ikuyo Kita was not satisfied with her current life.
That rosy life of a "normie" was crammed with the same routines day after day...
Karaoke after school, shopping on weekends, posting photos on Instagram during holidays.
Aimless, complacent.
No goals to strive for.
Some people might say...
Isn't living in the moment just fine?
But Kita did not want that.
Ever since she had stumbled upon Ryo Yamada's street performance a few years ago, the thought had taken root in her heart: "I want to find a dream."
That was why, regardless of the consequences, she had joined the band Kessoku Band just out of admiration for Ryo-senpai, showing up with a multi-string bass in hand and declaring herself their guitarist, only to run away before a performance.
If one asked what it was about Ryo-senpai that had drawn Kita in...
It was surely Ryo-senpai's passion for music, and that carefree, unrestrained nature, elegant as the wind itself.
After all, the more someone lacks something, the more desperately they yearn for it.
To Kita, these days of rules and dull routine could end as soon as possible! She had endured enough!
Fortunately, she had met the members of Kessoku Band. Over the past month, she had been truly happy, as though the tin man without a soul had gained a beating heart, giving her the will to keep living.
But....
"What exactly is the relationship between Kitahara-san and Ryo-senpai?"
Ikuyo Kita could not help but ponder this question.
She had been hung up on it for several days.
Yet prying into someone else's feelings seemed strange.
She did not know how to bring it up, but her curiosity gnawed at her.
Was there no way to find out the truth without damaging their bond?
[You have loaded the Good Friend Simulator…]
[This simulator is dedicated to helping players find true friends. Would you like to bind?]
Hm?
What was that?
Good Friend Simulator?
Ikuyo Kita glanced around. She realized she must be hearing things.
[Just as high mountains and flowing water meet a kindred spirit, so too is friendship the treasure of human emotions. The Good Friend Simulator can help players find soulmates and live a perfect life.]
A perfect life, really?
Ikuyo Kita realized, just like a character in a TV drama, she had stumbled into something supernatural!
The Good Friend Simulator did sound kind of fun.
Bind it, then.
[…]
What's wrong?
[For most humans, when confronted with the unknown, they tend to weigh the pros and cons before making a calm decision.]
How troublesome.
If Ikuyo Kita really thought about consequences, would she have ditched Ryo Yamada back then?
[After the simulator begins, you may select one target as your friendship goal. Within the simulation, you can experience their strongest talent at its highest level, achieving harmony and sharing of passions.]
Wait, that is not what "achieving harmony" usually means, right?
[This simulator believes that the highest form of friendship is no different from marriage. Doesn't the phrase "mutual respect" sound just like how friends should be?]
Ikuyo Kita sensed something was off.
But she could not quite pinpoint what it was. This simulator seemed to be coaxing her into it…
[Ahem! After the simulation ends, you may inherit 70 percent of a friend's random skill proficiency and bring it back to reality.]
Only 70 percent? That's so little.
[…That's already a lot! If it's a divine-level skill, you'd still bring it back at a master level!]
Why not 100 percent then?
What a weak little simulator.
[Master, let me remind you... if you speak too bluntly, there's a high chance you'll end up alone for life.]
But I already have lots of friends.
[…That's only because you're cute! Otherwise you'd never get forgiven. Ugh, a bunch of shallow fools who only care about appearances!]
Pfft, Simulator-chan, you're really funny.
Just like Gotoh-san, you're fun.
[If only I had chosen someone else…]
What did you say?
[N-nothing. To have been bound with you, Master, the Good Friend Simulator is truly blessed (╥╯^╰╥).]
Ikuyo Kita's shoulders trembled as she tried not to laugh.
Quickly, she remembered class was still in session, so she forced herself to hold it in.
From then on, having a friend to chat with in her mind anytime made things feel less boring.
Still, what exactly was this simulation?
[It's similar to an online game. In the virtual world, you can foresee the future, or practice guitar until you reach professional level through your own efforts.]
Amazing.
The thought that she could soon catch up to the rest of the band filled Ikuyo Kita with joy.
A simulation sounded like nothing but benefits, with no downsides at all.
[…]
What's wrong now?
[N-nothing! You're right, Master, simulation only has benefits, because it's all virtual. It won't affect reality. You can waste time however you like, even crash a plane into the twin towers and recreate */11 with no problem!]
That's awesome!
I could try that out.
[…]
Just kidding.
Look how scared you got.
Ikuyo Kita noticed something: this simulator really liked using ellipses and question marks.
So, when does the simulation actually begin?
[Time not set…]
[Estimated first simulation will begin in one week.]
Perfect, just after midterms.
——
Time passed slowly. During the entire exam week, Kessoku Band was enveloped in the atmosphere of studying.
Hitori studied hard, performed beyond expectations… and just barely scraped past failing.
Ryo, relying on the cheating method of pre-recording answers on her freeloading simulator's panel, scored an average of 70.
Nijika, having studied diligently in a past simulation, relied on her own knowledge this time to earn high marks.
Kita, already the best student among the band, placed at an average level.
Late May, inside the Live House Starry, during a practice break.
Kita set down her guitar pick and asked, "It's almost June. Ryo-senpai, have you bought summer clothes yet? Want to go shopping together?"
"No."
Ryo preferred solitude. Going shopping with someone else would be painful for her. Besides, the clothes she bought were rarely in fashion.
Many of them could only be found in upscale secondhand shops. Ordinary brand stores simply did not interest her.
"What about you, Ijichi-senpai?"
"Sorry, Kita-chan~ I already bought my summer clothes last week."
Nijika answered apologetically.
Compared to Ryo's unique, individualistic taste in fashion, the little angel usually bought inexpensive, practical clothes.
For example, the brand she chose last time was WEGO, popular among high school girls for its wide variety of styles.
"That's a shame…"
Kita sighed, then quickly turned her gaze toward Hitori, eyes brimming with expectation.
"I… I can't."
Hitori shook her head furiously, resolute.
Kita pouted.
"Fine."
[Master, please note, the simulator has finished cooling down.]
Hmph.
If no one would play with her, then she would just go play with the simulator later and have fun.