The shop contained many items, practically all of which Haruki Kaito could use. So, for a moment, he was unsure which one to exchange.
One novel item after another scrolled before his eyes. Finally, Haruki's gaze settled on a slightly peculiar one.
Calling it an "item" wasn't entirely accurate, as it had no active effects. It could only reduce Moriyama Shiori's initial Yandere Value.
[Initial Yandere Value -1 / 10 Simulation Coins]
[Cooldown: None]
[Effect: Reduces Yandere Value]
[Description: Reduces the yandere's initial Yandere Value. The reduced initial value will be directly applied in both simulation and reality.]
Reducing the Yandere Value might not sound crucial at first, but Haruki's goal was precisely to bring Moriyama Shiori's Yandere Value to zero.
Furthermore, the description of Yandere Value stated: when the Yandere Value is below one hundred, Moriyama Shiori would not kill indiscriminately.
What did "not kill indiscriminately" mean? It meant Haruki's probability of triggering the "Axe Ending" would be greatly reduced.
In that case, why hesitate? Just buy it.
[Exchange successful! Initial Yandere Value -1]
[Current Initial Yandere Value: 119; Remaining Simulation Coins: 20]
[Exchange successful! Initial Yandere Value -1]
[Current Initial Yandere Value: 118; Remaining Simulation Coins: 10]
[Exchange successful! Initial Yandere Value -1]
[Current Initial Yandere Value: 117; Remaining Simulation Coins: 0]
Three simulations, three unnatural deaths, and the final harvest was only enough to reduce Moriyama Shiori's initial Yandere Value by three points.
Simulation coins—this was money earned with his very life.
"I must reduce the initial Yandere Value to below one hundred before the countdown ends," Haruki thought.
Haruki now had his first goal. Ten simulation coins to reduce one point of initial Yandere Value. Reducing another seventeen points would require one hundred and seventy simulation coins.
Based on the first three simulations, Haruki had already figured out the rules for simulation coins: for each day survived in the simulation world, he would earn one coin. One hundred and seventy coins meant surviving one hundred and seventy days in the simulation world.
Experiencing one hundred and seventy days in the simulation world translated to just a few seconds in reality at most. The first three simulations had also given Haruki a rough understanding of how the simulations worked.
To survive, he must obey the yandere. He couldn't do things that would anger her, nor could he defy her wishes. He had to become something that belonged only to her, not to be touched by anyone else.
This kind of morbid love was a basic attribute of yandere. It's just that Moriyama Shiori had reached a hopeless stage, making her kill without hesitation.
Haruki had seen some yandere characters in anime before. Aside from the female lead from a certain "Happy Life," few yanderes used an axe.
Moriyama Shiori was probably the yandere closest to that female lead that Haruki had encountered so far.
...
[Fourth simulation beginning... Good luck.]
[Day 1: You experience a familiar day. To ensure safety, you have no choice but to pretend to really like Moriyama Shiori.]
[Day 2: To understand Moriyama Shiori better, you propose going to her house to study together. Unexpectedly, you are refused.]
[Day 3: You propose visiting Moriyama Shiori's home again, but are once more refused. You sense clear anger from her.]
[Day 4: You tone it down a bit, deciding to proceed gradually instead of trying to rush things.]
[Day 5: You continue your disguise. Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up. Her Favorability towards you increases.]
[Day 6: You continue your disguise. Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 7: You continue your disguise. Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 8: You continue your disguise. Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 9: You continue your disguise. Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 10: Moriyama Shiori is confessed to by another boy in class. Witnessing this firsthand, your feelings are indescribably complex—unsure if you're happy or disappointed.]
[Moriyama Shiori publicly rejects the boy's confession. You sigh in relief but don't understand why you reacted this way.]
[Day 11: Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up. However, due to her striking looks, many boys in class are jealous of your relationship.]
[Day 12: Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 13: Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 14: Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 15: Your relationship with Moriyama Shiori gradually warms up.]
[Day 16: Moriyama Shiori confesses to you in public. To ensure your own safety, you choose to accept. Thus, you begin your first romantic relationship in this lifetime.]
[Day 17: During lunch, Moriyama Shiori calls you to a deserted alley. Knowing you can't avoid it, you go alone. Expecting the 'Axe Ending,' you are instead forcibly kissed by her. Thus, you lose the first kiss you never managed to give away in your previous life.]
[Day 18: ...]
...
[Day 32: Weekend. You go on a date with Moriyama Shiori. By the end of the day, your bond has strengthened considerably. You are also surprised by the progress made in this simulation.]
[Day 33: Monday. Moriyama Shiori is absent from school. But to avoid exposing your true intentions, you continue the pretense.]
[Day 34: Moriyama Shiori is absent from school.]
[Day 35: Moriyama Shiori is absent from school.]
[Day 36: Moriyama Shiori returns after three days. However, her mental state isn't good, and her body is covered in injuries.]
[As her boyfriend, you concernedly ask Moriyama Shiori what happened. But she doesn't answer, only smiles and says it's nothing.]
[Day 37: Moriyama Shiori's mental state remains poor. Even when you message her, you get no response.]
[Day 38: You trigger the 'Axe Ending.']
[You died.]
[Fourth Simulation Ended]
[Simulation Duration: Thirty-eight Days]
[Rewards Obtained: Simulation Coins X38]
[Summary: A warming relationship with the yandere is good, but when a girl says 'it's nothing,' there's often another layer of meaning. Also, please always pay attention to the yandere's SAN Value.]
The fourth simulation ended. Haruki Kaito survived thirty-eight days, breaking the record from the previous simulation.
It's just that the reason for his death was truly unexpected.
Because he failed to notice Moriyama Shiori's SAN Value hitting zero, she, having lost her rationality, killed Haruki without discussion.
However, this was also Haruki's own mistake. The description of SAN Value clearly stated never to let Moriyama Shiori's SAN Value reach zero.
Moreover, during the last two days, Moriyama Shiori's poor mental state should have been a clue that her SAN Value was dropping.