[You begin to think seriously about having a child.]
[In truth, all these years, you and Toru have never crossed that line.]
[As a student, you never had the chance.]
[After graduation, you were even busier with work.]
[Only after becoming his lover do you start thinking about the matters between a man and a woman, but you have never found the right moment.]
[Recently, Kitahara Suzune has reached an age where she begins sleeping in her own room, separate from her parents.]
[Normally, children this old no longer sleep with their parents.]
[If Toru were not so softhearted, always giving in to his daughter's clinginess, she probably would have stopped pestering him years ago.]
[On the other hand.]
[Ryo has a strong sense of possession. If Toru had not wanted a child, she would never have given birth to Kitahara Suzune.]
[Now that she sleeps alone, little Suzune often runs into your room at night, saying she is afraid of the dark and wants to stay with you.]
[One night, she whispers to you that when she grows up, she will kick her mother out of the house and marry her father.]
What?
Kita rubs her eyes. She is sure of it. This daddy's little sweetheart is determined to become her father's romantic rival.
Still, children say all sorts of things.
In a few years, once she reaches adolescence and rebellion hits, she will probably give up on that dream on her own.
[You do not take the child's words seriously.]
[That spring, Ryo claims she is in a bad mood and prepares to travel abroad, dragging Nijika with her.]
What does that mean?
Ryo-senpai…
[As the legal wife, Ryo understands your hardships.]
[If she does not leave, Toru will never touch you.]
"This man is too locked in,"
Kita mutters in frustration.
Toru has married two women, yet insists on a pure romance route. Pure? What pure?
Does he not want to enjoy nights filled with passion with two women?
…Wait.
Could it be that Kitahara-kun has issues?
[…]
[Toru has exceptional stamina. Every night, you can hear faint sounds through the wall from Ryo, soft and unending. The shortest time still lasts an hour, and it is often Ryo who asks to stop, unable to handle it as she leans on the wall, begging him to let her rest.]
Kita stares at the simulation scenes showing Ryo and Toru together. Her cheeks turn scarlet.
She covers her face and presses the skip button.
Skip skip.
Do not show this to a innocent maiden in her teens.
We are a wholesome simulator. No funny business allowed.
[After Ryo leaves, you find your chance.]
[Toru is taking seven full days off.]
[But with little Suzune constantly interrupting, you still have no opportunity.]
[That night, taking advantage of her mother's absence, Suzune once again runs to her father's bed. She drags you along, insisting all three sleep together.]
[As the night deepens.]
[When Suzune finally falls asleep.]
[You decide: ]
[1. Do not wake the child. Just sleep peacefully.]
[2. Give Toru a kiss, then hold him as you sleep.]
Wait, that is strange.
Isn't this supposed to avoid anything indecent?
[3. Simulate personally.]
Personally simulate?
Does that mean…
Kita glances at the simulation image of the mature, steady, handsome man.
This feels wrong.
Maybe…
…Observe first?
◇
Night.
Inside the master bedroom of the Kitahara home.
Toru looks at his sleeping daughter and gently pulls the blanket over her.
Finally asleep.
In past simulations, aside from Kitahara Shio, children were rarely this attached to their father.
Not to the point of never letting go.
Until now.
Toru finally understands what true father dependence means.
Kitahara Suzune is the perfect example. The moment she is separated from her father, she cries loud enough to shake the house. Toru has to sneak out each morning to go to work, skipping breakfast so she will not catch him by the pant leg and refuse to let him leave.
Sigh.
What primary school child still sleeps with her father?
Last year.
Suzune even cried to bathe with him. Her explanation was: We used to bathe together as a family of three. I do not want to bathe alone with Mom. Daddy save me. If not, Mommy will eat me.
She has fully made her mother a romantic rival.
What will happen when she grows up?
Toru hopes she reaches adolescence soon, meets her soulmate, and stops mixing up love and family.
"Toru-kun, what are you thinking about?"
Kita looks at his slightly matured face. After absorbing the memories of her simulated self, she falls easily into the role.
"I'm wondering when this little one will grow up and stop clinging to me."
Toru glances at his lover.
Although called a lover, he has always placed you at the same level as his wife.
"These years, you have worked hard. Thank you for helping take care of the child."
"Why are you suddenly saying that? It's nothing to me."
"Sorry. I owe you a lot."
Toru knows how you have felt about him for more than a decade.
"…"
Kita stays silent for a moment.
After a pause, Toru smiles. "Our wedding anniversary is coming up. What do you want?"
Kita's pretty face turns red.
"Give me a baby… is that okay?"
…
…
◇
[You spend a beautiful night together.]
[The next morning, Kitahara Suzune leans close to your ear and asks when the sister she ordered will be delivered.]
[Your face burns so much you cannot say a word.]
[Everything that happened last night turns out to be because this little girl was helping you.]
[Just thinking she might have listened through the wall the entire time makes your face burn.]
"Aaaaaa—!"
Kita covers her face with a cry.
A primary schooler heard her being intimate with her husband.
This is social death.
[In truth.]
[Kitahara Suzune slept soundly last night. Her mother once told her that if a man and a woman sleep together, a baby will appear, but she does not know the process.]
Thank goodness.
Kita exhales in relief.
Anyone who has gone to school knows you do not get credit for giving only the answer without the steps.
[A week later, Ryo returns from her trip.]
[Life returns to normal.]
[Over the next few days.]
[Kitahara Suzune keeps pestering her mother, saying she wants a little sister.]
[Ryo refuses to have a second child. With Suzune making a fuss every day, the responsibility naturally falls to you.]
[Sometimes when Ryo is exhausted, she calls you to take over and suffer in her place.]
[When you are overworked, she helps you as well, giving you a break.]
They are going all in.
Kita has not recovered from the embarrassment earlier.
And now the simulator tells her....
She and Ryo have started a cheerful relay race, passing the baton every night.
[Your friendship with Ryo deepens.]
This way of deepening.
It is far too improper.
————