[Toru seems to treat you like a curious little toy, always teasing you for fun while teaching you piano.]
…A teasing Kitahara-kun?
Kita felt her simulated self was far too gullible. Whatever Kitahara-kun said, she believed it. Every time she acted like an annoying little tagalong who couldn't be shaken off.
[Your bond deepened.]
"Huh? It deepened…?"
Growing closer by being teased, wasn't that what they called Stockholm syndrome?
So scary.
No, I need to stay away from Kitahara-kun.
Kita scrolled down.
[Time slowly passed. Soon the first semester's final exams ended, ushering in the long summer vacation.]
[The members of Kessoku Band all agreed that spending their youth holed up in a live house for endless practice was blasphemy.]
Blasphemy…
What a half-baked excuse.
Honestly, why was Kessoku Band in the simulator so lazy?
[Nijika suggested a trip to Enoshima, where the goddess Benzaiten, patron of musicians, resided. After finalizing the plan, she cautiously asked if you wanted to invite Toru.]
[Before summer break, during finals, Hitori had been so afraid of failing that she thickened her skin to ask Toru for help, and he ended up tutoring everyone.]
[After those review sessions, Toru's relationship with Kessoku Band had become quite good.]
A trip together?
If it's Kitahara-kun…
It should be fine, right?
[You didn't refuse. Nijika was very surprised; she thought you would say no.]
[Ryo even leaned in, touched your forehead, and after confirming you didn't have a fever, finally relaxed.]
[She really thought you had been possessed by aliens, and was about to put up a grave marker for you and offer incense. Nameste.]
…Did what I say sound that strange?
[Hitori's eyes went wide. She lowered her head and muttered softly, puzzled at when exactly you and Toru had gotten so close.]
It's not like we're that close.
Just friends. Friends, tomodachi.
"So it's true… Gotoh-san's crush is Kitahara-kun."
Detective Kita-chan had discovered the truth.
Maybe in the future, she could help Gotoh-san with a little push in real life.
[In July, summer vacation began, and you all set out for Enoshima.]
[On the train, you happened to sit beside Toru. Along the way, he would sometimes quiz you with piano-related theory questions.]
[It was then that the members of Kessoku Band learned the truth: Toru was your piano teacher.]
[Once revealed... ]
[Their gazes toward you changed. There was a subtle… jealousy?]
Don't misunderstand, really, we're just friends.
And also...
Ryo-senpai, why are you just watching?
Don't tell me… you've switched sides too?
Kita felt Kessoku Band was turning into Kitahara-kun's harem. It had only been a few months in the simulation, and already everyone was captivated.
She didn't even dare imagine what would happen after a few years.
[After getting off at Katase-Enoshima Station, you began your first summer trip. Sunshine, sandy beaches, boys in swim trunks, older girls in bikinis. All painted a bright summer picture. Toru casually snapped a photo with his phone and nodded in satisfaction.]
[You tiptoed to peek, and discovered that Toru's photography skills were as brilliant as his piano and violin. With just an ordinary phone camera, he captured a picture that looked more beautiful than one from a professional camera.]
So impressive…
If there's time, I should learn some photography tricks from Kitahara-kun.
For Kita, who loved posting to Instagram, photography was important, it was part of her social life.
[Afterward, you all ate sea-salt ice cream and octopus crackers, then made your way toward Enoshima Shrine, for coming to Enoshima without climbing the shrine steps would be a wasted trip.]
[Under the blazing sun, Toru seemed a little tired. Seeing this, the attentive Nijika suggested taking the escalator up the hill. Faced with this suggestion, your choice is: ]
[1. Just one word: climb.]
[2. Don't give up so easily. At least climb halfway, then take the escalator.]
[3. Too hot and exhausting. In this weather, you'll faint on the stairs.]
[4. Simulate yourself.]
Which one to pick…
Since we're here, at least half the climb, right?
"Kitahara-kun's a guy. If he says he's tired, he's definitely faking it."
What guy gets tired climbing such a short distance?
Hmph, good thing I'm sharp, or I'd be fooled again.
Option 2.
[You said that since you came to the shrine, you had to climb the steps, or the summer memories wouldn't be complete.]
[Nijika glanced at Toru with concern. Ryo gave him a sidelong look. Finally, when Toru nodded, everyone agreed to take the stairs.]
[Halfway up, the first to collapse was Hitori. Wearing her stuffy pink tracksuit in the middle of summer, it wasn't surprising she fell over.]
[Aside from her, even though Nijika was usually cheerful and full of energy, she wasn't strong physically. At the midway platform, she slumped on a bench, panting.]
[Beside Nijika, Ryo sat down clutching her knees, curling up into a ball. It looked as though one more step and she'd turn to ash under the sun.]
[Toru , who had looked the most tired before, was now the only one still matching your pace.]
Everyone's so weak.
Kita stared at the simulator screen, watching her senpai and classmates with terrible stamina.
"Kitahara-kun really was faking it…"
See, he's totally fine!
[Just as you began to question why Toru had pretended to be sick, he suddenly clutched his stomach, curled up, and sank to the ground.]
No way?
Heatstroke?
I have to save him!
[Realizing it might be heatstroke, you rushed forward. But Toru staggered back to his feet, explaining that the ice cream had been too cold, his stomach hurt, and his head felt a bit woozy.]
[Relieved, you watched him walk toward a restroom nearby.]
Kita finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
So he was just a little weak. He probably collapsed just to tease her, right?
What a bad guy.
[A few minutes later, he returned, looking much better. His face had been pale earlier, which had worried you, but now his cheeks were flushed again.]
Reading these lines, Kita suddenly had a bad feeling.
…This development.
Hmm. It must be my imagination.
Reality would never go down such a melodramatic route.
Right?