Chapter 2: Hyuga Hinata's Life Simulator
After spending some time experimenting, Hyuga Kiyonari finally understood how the system worked.
The core function was straightforward: he could write scripts and assign actors to perform them.
When reality developed according to the script's plot, he would earn corresponding correction points. The more detailed the script, the more points he'd receive upon successful execution. These correction points could then be used to fix bugs that appeared in the script.
But bugs in the script weren't necessarily a bad thing—in fact, they were crucial.
For example, if a script established that Hyuga Kiyonari's true identity was actually Otsutsuki Kiyonari, but in reality he was just an ordinary Hyuga branch family member, that created a bug.
By spending points to repair that bug, he could modify reality itself—transforming the real Hyuga Kiyonari into Otsutsuki Kiyonari, allowing the script to proceed smoothly.
However, the correction magnitude was directly proportional to point consumption.
The more outrageous the script, the more points required for correction. With unlimited points, Kiyonari could theoretically make any wish come true.
Which brought him to the obvious problem: how exactly was he supposed to convince Hyuga Hinata, the main family's eldest daughter, to participate in his scripts?
Kiyonari pinched his chin, deep in thought. Suddenly, he asked, "As the director, I have a responsibility to guide actors with insufficient skills. So... can I send partial scripts or character samples to the actors?"
[Affirmative.]
"Reality is full of variables. I need to adjust my guidance based on actor performance in real-time. So... can content that's already been sent be modified on the fly?"
[Affirmative.]
"Then I know exactly what to do." A gleam flashed in Kiyonari's eyes as his lips curved into an involuntary smile.
A script? No—what he needed was something more specific.
Hyuga Hinata's Life Simulator.
Activate.
On the other side of the compound, in the side room of the clan head's residence...
Hyuga Hinata held the red bean cake in both hands, nibbling at it in small bites. The sweet, sticky filling melted on her tongue, making her eyes close in satisfaction. After picking up even the last crumbs with her fingertips, she finally picked up the black notebook and opened it.
"Hyuga... Kiyonari..."
She read the messy signature on the inside cover in a soft voice. Suddenly, the ink began to fade as if washed away by water, and two new lines appeared on the blank page.
[Life Simulator]
[Begin Simulation]
"Huh? What's this?"
She timidly extended her index finger. The moment she touched the text, the entire notebook flipped open to the first page without any breeze.
Immediately after, a line of small text appeared out of nowhere, just like before.
[I am Hyuga Hinata. The current time is Konoha Year 54.]
?
A large question mark appeared over Hinata's small head. "Konoha Year 54... but that's next year, isn't it?"
And today was December 27th. To be more precise, Konoha Year 54 would begin in just four days.
[According to Father, the Cloud Village and Leaf Village have reached a ceasefire. Their delegation will arrive in Konoha soon. The war is ending. Father seems very happy.]
[I'm happy too, because it snowed so much today. I want to go outside and see it, but I haven't finished the training exercises Father assigned me.]
[I have two options.]
[1. I choose to sneak out and play.]
[2. I choose to stay and complete my exercises.]
The text stopped there.
Hinata realized this seemed to be some kind of game.
Like the ninja games the village children played—if I were a certain ninja, and I received this mission, what would I do next? Something along those lines, probably.
So it wanted her to make a choice?
"Snow..." Hinata murmured, then answered, "I choose the first one."
But even after she'd made her choice, the notebook showed no response.
Suddenly remembering a small detail, Hinata extended her index finger and gently tapped the first option.
The text in the notebook immediately began moving again.
[Father's training is too overwhelming. I decide to sneak out and play.]
[When the attendants aren't looking, I quietly climb the tree at the edge of the courtyard and slip over the wall. Outside, thick snow has piled up everywhere. Everyone is building snowmen and having snowball fights.]
[I want to play with them too. I work up my courage and walk over, asking if I can join.]
[But the moment they see my eyes, they start yelling that I'm a white-eyed monster and throw snowballs at me.]
[I have two options.]
[1. I choose to fight back and knock them down.]
[2. I choose to endure it and run away from them.]
"Ah!" Hinata let out a small gasp, her expression turning flustered. "Why would this happen?"
Without hesitation, she immediately selected the second option.
[Father told me never to attack fellow villagers, so I choose to run away.]
[But they don't intend to let me go. They pick up more snowballs and chase after me. It feels like I've joined their snowball fight after all, but... something seems wrong.]
[In my panic, I run into a dead-end alley with nowhere to escape, so I can only close my eyes. Suddenly, a rock flies through the air and hits one of the boys in the head.]
["Hey, what do you think you're doing!"]
["Ah, another white-eyed freak, and he's throwing rocks at me!"]
[I hear the commotion gradually fade away. I gather my courage and open my eyes to find a boy about my age standing in front of me.]
[He chased those people away, helped me build a snowman, took me to eat ramen, and walked me home.]
[At the very end, I ask his name. He answers: "Hyuga Kiyonari."]
Hinata suddenly snapped the notebook shut, hugging it tightly against her chest. Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible. "Him again... Honestly, I don't even know you yet."
She cracked the notebook open just a sliver, peeking at the last line of text. Right after the name, another line of small text had appeared.
"Simulation suspended, entering cooldown. Next simulation available... tomorrow afternoon?"
"Lady Hinata! Lady Hinata! Where are you?" A maid's voice suddenly echoed from the corridor.
Startled, Hinata immediately stuffed the notebook inside her kimono, then tightened her obi to hold it in place before finally calling out in a flustered voice.
"I'm here!"
Footsteps approached from beyond the paper door. As the sounds grew closer, the notebook hidden beneath her clothing grew hotter and hotter, like she was carrying a burning coal against her chest.
Swoosh!
The paper door slid open. The maid relaxed slightly upon seeing Hinata safe and sound, then swept her gaze across the room, noticing several opened gift boxes.
"Lady Hinata, what are you doing in here?"
"Um... nothing."
The maid showed a gentle smile. "Lady Hinata, the clan head is looking for you. Please come quickly."
"I'll go right away!"
Hinata's small head bobbed emphatically, then she broke into a light jog toward the main hall.
Watching the young miss's retreating figure, the maid couldn't shake the feeling—perhaps it was just her imagination—that Lady Hinata seemed somewhat nervous.
Just then, the maid noticed a piece of oil paper hastily hidden on the tatami mat. When she picked it up, she could still smell the sweet fragrance of red beans.
"So she was sneaking sweets after all."