Just thinking about Taki's fearsome glare and her lightning-fast, decisive actions made Kazami Haru instinctively choose the first option.
Letting things unfold naturally might seem like the calmer, safer route, but that only bought time before the real issue showed up.
Rather than wait for trouble, Haru figured it'd be easier to confront it head-on.
[You decide that staying silent won't solve anything, and resolve to ask Tomori directly about what's on her mind.]
[So the next day, during lunch, you decisively bring up the issue with Tomori Takamatsu. Your sudden seriousness makes her visibly flinch, and she's silent for a long moment.]
[Finally, after what seems like forever, Tomori quietly speaks—]
"Then... would you be willing to stay with me forever?"
[3. Ask her what she means by that]
[4. Virtual reality: experience it yourself]
Wait a minute, wasn't that basically a confession?
Was his charm really that effective?
Even the constantly confused Tomori, who didn't really understand what "it's natural or common sense" meant, was secretly in love with him?
Haru liked to think he was attractive, sure, but this had to be a misunderstanding.
Timid, self-doubting Tomori. Even if she really had feelings beyond friendship, she would never be so bold. Not her. She wouldn't say something so directly.
Especially since her sense of romance was so different from most people's. It was unclear if she even understood what "love" truly meant.
Still, Haru was caught off guard by the sudden "confession" and found himself momentarily speechless. As he hovered over the "Say yes" option—
[Special choice not selected in time; simulation proceeding automatically.]
Wait, the simulator ate his choice?
[Your hesitation seems to have struck a nerve. Tomori's eyes fill with unshed tears as she runs from the astronomy club room. You fail to catch up in time.]
[The next day, she's clearly avoiding you.]
[Since then, you haven't been able to open her heart again.]
[Meanwhile, you grow closer to a junior coworker during your part-time job. The two of you often shop for discounted bento boxes together after work.]
[Sensitive and intuitive, she discovers your shared passion for piano and begins talking to you about her dreams in music.]
.... What just happened?
Haru stared silently at the simulator's text. Before he could recover from the shock, the scenario had already veered wildly off course.
This "junior coworker" must be Togawa Sakiko.
Sure, he did work part-time with her, but she was proud and aloof, not the type to suddenly grow close, let alone this quickly. Was the route seriously getting rerouted to Sakiko?
Was she about to confess to him next?
[One evening, walking home together after work, you confess to Togawa Sakiko.]
[You become her boyfriend.]
[Your relationship blooms as you both commit to building a better life. In love, she shows you her most innocent and tender side, her pure affection and kindness sweep you off your feet.]
[Though part of you still regrets the past decision, you've chosen to walk forward, hand in hand with her.]
[Review: What began as a fateful connection was derailed by hesitation. Though your life seems on track, you'll carry a lingering regret that refuses to fade.]
[You received a 'Poor' rating. Reward: Skill Barista Lv 1 upgraded to Lv 2.]
The abrupt and unexpected end of the simulation truly shook Haru a little.
Wait, what about Tomori?
How could such an important girl just vanish like that, and without even giving him an option to chase after her?
Also, since when did choices have time limits? Now if he hesitated on a "special" option, the simulator just moved forward on its own? What was this, The Witcher 3?
He had never seen that happen before. He was totally unprepared.
"Come to think of it, Tomori wouldn't change that drastically over just one question. There has to be something else."
Even someone as withdrawn as her would still hold hope and longing. She wouldn't shut herself off completely.
She wouldn't reject someone she treasured over a single moment, especially not a friend.
Even when Sakiko disbanded the band without a word of explanation, Tomori had never blamed her. Her kind heart always believed the fault lay with herself.
If it wasn't something inside Tomori, then it must be something outside.
[Simulation starting. Attempt #2.]
[Would you like to continue from the last progress point?]
[You choose to approach Tomori again. Thanks to your efforts, you become close friends. This time, you notice her sadness likely isn't rooted in herself, though she's still deeply affected by it.]
[Faced with Tomori's dejection, you decide—]
1. You can't stand by. You resolve to find the root of her sadness.
2. You need to give her time to sort things out herself.
3. Love is too much of a hassle. Go talk to that flashy redhead in class instead.
4. Virtual reality: experience it yourself.
Did he even need to think about this?