After a while, Hyuga Kiyonari finally figured out how the system worked.
First was its core function: he could write a script and then assign actors to play in it.
When reality unfolded in line with the plot of the script, he would earn corresponding "correction points." The more detailed the script and the more completely it was acted out, the more points he'd gain. Those correction points could then be used to fix any bugs in the script.
But the bugs in a script weren't something you wanted as few of as possible—they were actually crucial.
For example, if the script defined Hyuga Kiyonari's true identity as "Otsutsuki Kiyonari," but in reality he was just an ordinary Hyuga branch member, then a bug would appear.
At that point, by spending points to fix the bug, he could change the real Hyuga Kiyonari into Otsutsuki Kiyonari, allowing the script to proceed smoothly.
However, the scale of the correction was directly proportional to the points consumed.
In other words, the crazier the script, the more points it would cost to correct it. If he had unlimited points, Hyuga Kiyonari could quite literally make his wishes come true.
Which raised a question: how was he supposed to convince Hyuga Hinata—the main family's young lady—to act in his script?
Kiyonari pinched his chin and thought for a long time before suddenly asking, "As the director, I have the responsibility and obligation to coach actors whose acting is lacking. So… can I send part of the script, or things like character blurbs, to the actors?"
[Yes.]
"Reality is full of variables, and I need to adjust my coaching plan at any time based on the actors' performances. So… can the content I've already sent be modified in real time?"
[Yes.]
"Then I know what to do." A sharp light flashed in Kiyonari's eyes, and he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling up.
The script—no, more accurately, Hyuga Hinata's Life Simulator—
Start!
Over on the other side, in a side room of the Hyuga clan head's residence.
Hinata held the red bean cake in both hands, nibbling it in small bites. The sweet, sticky filling melted on her tongue, making her narrow her eyes in bliss. Only after she'd picked up and eaten the very last crumb with her fingertips did she lift the black notebook and open it.
"Hyuga… Kiyonari…"
She softly read the messy signature on the title page. Suddenly, the ink began to fade as if someone had washed it with clear water, and two lines of text appeared out of nowhere on the now-blank page.
[Life Simulator]
[Start Simulation]
"Eh? What's this?"
She timidly stretched out a finger. The moment she touched the words, the notebook flipped to the first page on its own, despite there being no breeze.
Right after that, a line of small text appeared out of thin air, just like before.
[I am Hyuga Hinata. The current time is Year 54 of Konoha.]
?
A huge question mark popped up in Hinata's little head. "Year 54 of Konoha… isn't that next year?"
And today was December 27th. To be more exact, four days from now would be Year 54 of Konoha.
[Father said that Kumogakure and Konoha have agreed to a ceasefire, and that the delegation from the Cloud will arrive in the village soon. The war is going to end. Father is very happy.]
[I'm very happy too, because it snowed a lot today. I want to go out and see, but I haven't finished the homework Father assigned.]
[Next, I have two options.]
[1. I choose to secretly sneak out and play.]
[2. I choose to stay and finish my homework.]
The text stopped there.
Hinata could tell this seemed to be some kind of game.
Just like the ninja games the children in the village liked to play—"If I were such-and-such ninja, and I received some mission, what would I do next…" More or less something like that.
So now she was supposed to make a choice?
"Snow…" Hinata murmured, then said, "I choose the first one."
But even after she'd made her choice, the notebook still didn't react.
Hinata suddenly remembered a small detail. She quickly stretched out her finger and gently tapped the first option.
The text on the notebook immediately began to move again.
[Because the homework Father assigned was just too much, I decided to sneak out and play.]
[When the maids weren't looking, I climbed up the tree by the courtyard wall and slipped over it. Outside, the snow was piled high. Everyone was building snowmen and having snowball fights.]
[I wanted to play with them too, so I mustered my courage, walked over, and asked if I could join.]
[But as soon as they saw my eyes, they started shouting that I was a "Byakugan freak" and began pelting me with snowballs.]
[Next, I have two options.]
[1. I choose to fight back and knock them all to the ground.]
[2. I choose to swallow my anger and run away from them.]
"Ah!" Hinata let out a soft cry, her expression turning flustered. "How could this happen?"
Without any hesitation, Hinata immediately chose the second option.
[Because Father said I must never attack the other children in the village, I choose to run away.]
[But they have no intention of letting me go. They pick up more snowballs and chase me. It's like I've joined their snowball fight, except… something feels wrong.]
[Panicking, I run into a dead end. With nowhere to escape, I can only squeeze my eyes shut. Suddenly, a stone flies in and smacks one of the boys on the head.]
["Hey, what do you think you're doing!"]
["Ugh, another Byakugan freak, and he even dared to throw a rock at me!"]
[I hear the noise gradually fade. When I finally work up the courage to open my eyes, a boy about my age is standing in front of me.]
[He chased those kids away, built a snowman with me, took me out for ramen, and then walked me home.]
[At the very end, I ask him his name. He answers, "Hyuga Kiyonari."]
Hinata suddenly snapped the notebook shut and hugged it tight against her chest, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "It's him again… Honestly, I don't even know you yet."
She quietly opened the notebook just a crack and peeked at the final line of text. After the boy's name, another small line had appeared.
[Simulation terminated. Entering cooldown. Next simulation time… tomorrow afternoon?]
"Hinata-sama! Hinata-sama! Where are you?" The maid's voice suddenly rang out from the corridor.
Startled, Hinata immediately shoved the notebook inside her kimono, tightened her sash to hold it in place, then hurriedly called back.
"I'm here!"
Footsteps sounded outside the paper door, growing closer and closer, while the notebook hidden beneath the fabric grew hotter and hotter, like she was carrying a piece of red-hot coal.
Swish!
The paper door slid open. Seeing Hinata safe and sound, the maid let out a small breath of relief. Only then did her gaze sweep across the room and fall on the scattered opened gift boxes.
"Hinata-sama, what are you doing in here?"
"Um… nothing."
The maid smiled gently. "Milady, the clan head is looking for you. Please come quickly."
"I'll go right now!"
Hinata nodded her small head hard, then broke into a little run toward the main hall.
Watching the young lady's retreating back, the maid couldn't help feeling—it might have been her imagination, but Hinata seemed a little nervous.
Just then, the maid noticed a scrap of oiled paper hastily shoved aside on the tatami. She picked it up and caught the sweet scent of red bean.
"So she was sneaking snacks."