Chapter 3
Even though Narumi pressed the T key countless times, the pop-up window didn't close. Apparently, whatever this thing was, it was serious.
[Excuse my bluntness, but why are you so resistant to my product? What's wrong with dating sims?]
"Excuse my bluntness, but what's wrong with me being single since birth and not liking dating games?"
[Oh, I see. Judging from your emotional reactions, you're embarrassed and angry.]
Who was going to smash this lousy system?
But were you really willing to give up the game? To give up the realism of living another life, to give up the possibility of the girlfriend who existed within that other possibility?
This was big news. Even someone like him could, apparently, have a girlfriend.
"Explain what you mean by 'even if.' I'm not that interested in dating—can you give me something genuinely tempting?"
If he could avoid the crises in the game and follow the rules, he would be able to obtain a portion of "his" abilities in the simulation based on his performance — that was the reward the system offered.
"That sounds interesting. Tell me more."
For example, the better his performance in the game and the more achievements he obtained, the likelier the rewards would also be beneficial in the real world.
"So the terms are linked to performance, which means the better the performance, the easier it is to get an SSR?"
Yes. The stat rewards were tied to your dungeon experience. Achieve excellent performance, and there were "hidden rewards" waiting.
Oh — so there was basically a hidden trophy for achieving one hundred percent completion.
"Although the more you talk, the more tempting it sounds, I still haven't agreed to accept your invitation."
However, it had to be said: the offer was very tempting.
[Your click on "Start Simulation" was not a decision I forced you to make. Therefore, this is not an invitation, merely a notification.]
"These days, even simulations are being sold under duress."
[And the attributes you just rolled are the base data for this simulation. Hmm, let me see… Oh dear, what bad luck.]
It was more than just bad luck; it was like starting the game with a completely rotten hand.
However, the system continued, it believed Narumi possessed a miraculous ability to turn danger into safety. Therefore — based on his recent requests and desires — it would proceed with his first simulation as scheduled. Best of luck.
"On time—at least agree on a time!"
When Narumi sat up with a start, there were no densely packed faces in front of him, no absurd system voices echoing in his ears.
In the dark, cramped student apartment, only the bright white light from the laptop beside the bed hurt his eyes. The screen held no simulated dialog box now — only the blank document he had left open, its glare oddly eerie.
"…Could it be a dream?"
He must have fallen asleep at some point and woken as if from a dream. The alarm clock on his bedside confirmed the hour: 2:30 a.m.
Being plagued by a lack of inspiration before sleep probably led to strange daydreams. Future simulations, future girlfriends, future crises — it all sounded complicated and, frankly, ridiculous.
Besides, he couldn't even imagine what kind of romantic opportunity someone practically immune to the opposite sex would encounter, unless that too was assigned to him by some cruel plot.
Narumi rubbed his eyes, tossed and turned, and finally drifted back to sleep with a shrug.
Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow; things always worked themselves out in the end.
The next morning, after his alarm and the usual washing routine, Narumi Toru felt no stronger sense of reality about the previous night's events. He made a simple breakfast, left home half an hour before class as usual, and tried to let familiarity settle him — but an uneasy feeling lingered. The "dream" from last night kept nudging at his intuition.
It was like a teacher saying a surprise test would come — but never announcing when — leaving students on edge, fearing the sudden attack that would catch them unprepared.
He spent what should have been a dull class hour feeling unsettled, and before he knew it, it was time for his appointment with Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Why are you so listless? Okay, Narumi. As we discussed yesterday, I'm taking you somewhere next, so cheer up."
Ms. Hiratsuka smiled mysteriously and led him out of the teachers' office with a gentle, semi-coercive tug. Narumi felt oddly close to her decisive manner. Was this the moment she would introduce him to a girlfriend?
"Are you going to introduce me to a girlfriend, sensei?" he asked.
"Huh? What are you thinking? There's no such thing as a free lunch. I can't even find a partner for myself — how could I have time to play matchmaker for you kids?"
"So the sensei never had a boyfriend before…?"
"The older single woman didn't offend any of you," she replied with a dry look that warned, say another word and I'll kill you. Still, she seemed used to such teasing. Narumi ignored her threat and fired off another casual shot.
"I'm just surprised someone as outstanding as my sensei is still single. Those guys have no taste!"
If his future girlfriend were Hiratsuka-sensei… that wouldn't be so bad, he thought, imagining the shortcuts that would save him twenty years of detours.
Hiratsuka blinked, paused a moment, then smiled like a teacher.
"Oh my, you've got a sweet tongue. If I were a few years younger — or you a few years older — I might have already fallen for you. What a pity. But Narumi, have you ever thought about joining any clubs?"
"Sorry, sensei. I'm a loyal member of the Going-Home Club."
"Hey, aren't you going to step out of your comfort zone? Maybe it could change your future."
"I feel like there's something hidden in what you're saying, sensei. Do you teachers have performance indicators?"
"Don't be so suspicious, kid. But I genuinely suggest you consider it — new relationships, new encounters… it could lead to a new future, right?"
The future. Narumi let the word sit in his head as they walked through the somewhat deserted corridor after school. They stopped in front of a long-abandoned activity room.
"Teacher, you said that… um?"
Just as he looked up, his senses prickled. The once-quiet corridor filled with the sound of students laughing and playing; the air shifted, suddenly unfamiliar.
He blinked. Hiratsuka was gone.
A strange chill like a ghostly hand traced his spine; his vision blurred, then settled. He felt subtly different — as if his vantage point was raised, as though he'd become a little taller. The furnishings had changed too: the activity room door now bore a new name that suggested certain expectations — Service Club. The space was no longer the tired place he'd glimpsed before; it had been cleaned and arranged, showing signs of recent use.
[The first simulation has begun. Please find the best solution to overcome the crisis in this simulation. Good luck!]
Sure enough, the simulation had started.
"Difficulties…?"
Narumi, realizing he had somehow transformed into a different version of himself, stared blankly. A figure approached from behind and, very affectionately, placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Narumi, what are you doing standing there?"
A girl with fluffy, medium-length black hair smiled and winked. Her bright, charming expression and cheerful aura felt like a spring breeze. She poked his cheek with a finger, and that touch brought back memories he did not actually possess — but in the simulation they felt real.
The woman was Yukinoshita Haruno — his ex-girlfriend.
Her friendly smile hid a firmness that was hard to refuse.
"We agreed to go see Yukino together, right? She's not here right now."
Yukinoshita glanced at the empty clubroom, then slipped her arm through his and walked out of the building as if they had always been close. They headed straight for the parking lot.
Narumi hesitated, then climbed into the driver's seat. Whether it was the fact he couldn't actually drive without a license, or something else nagging at him, he felt uneasy.
"Are we going to…?" he began.
The emergence of memories took time; he had not yet fully synced with this future's recollections.
"Oh dear, you look like you haven't slept. I said we're going to see Yukino."
Yukinoshita slid into the passenger seat and buckled her belt. Before turning forward she added casually, "Where can a seriously ill person go? Even if she's unwilling, she can only obediently stay in the hospital."
"…Huh?"
This future had indeed brought massive changes to many lives.
As memories surfaced, Narumi gradually recalled the first half of this simulation life.
In this timeline, Toru Narumi was born into a typical East Asian family — a distant father whose whereabouts were unknown, and a mother who worked hard but was controlling. His middle-school years offered no spark; he scraped through with low grades and only crammed at the last minute, yet somehow entered Soubu High School.
Now, sitting beside him and directing the driver to the hospital, was the short- to medium-haired woman who had been his high-school girlfriend.
"Huh? What's wrong, Narumi? You've been staring at me."
Yukinoshita winked, mischief and warmth in her eyes.
"Oh dear, could it be you've fallen for your ex again?" she teased.
Indeed, in this simulation Narumi and Yukinoshita had dated in high school and broken up after graduation.
"That won't do," Haruno waved dismissively. "Although we broke up amicably, it's not realistic to rekindle our flame."
"And like before, my mother won't approve," she added.
"Haruno, your family is so troublesome. Even if I wanted to, I'd be discouraged."
Narumi seemed unconcerned, taking her rejection lightly. Their relationship, like many high-school couples, had been more curiosity than deep love: mutual attraction, a convenient companionship that fizzled when graduation and parental pressures intervened.
"Given the current situation, it's more reasonable to say you, Narumi, have always been unable to forget me," she said teasingly.
He rubbed his temples as memories from the simulation collected, then glanced at the smiling woman beside him.
"Why are you being so distant? Even if we broke up, we're still old friends. Besides, I'm planning to help you now."
Haruno smiled, warm and unchanged from their high-school days. "You've been submitting work since you entered university, right? I've seen your short stories online. But I haven't seen much lately…"
Narumi, who in this simulation had continued as a writer, admitted it had stalled. "It's been stuck for almost half a year with no royalties."
"It's easier to find a rich woman to marry than to get published," he muttered.
From inspiration to submission to publication, every step drained energy. Late nights, caffeine, brainstorming — the writer's life replayed vividly in his head.
—End of Chapter 3—