Kazami Haru spoke without a hint of hesitation, delivering a clear confession that stunned every girl trying to dodge the topic.
Kita Ikuyo's hands trembled as she held her knife and fork, her eyes dim and lifeless.
She sat frozen like a dried-up statue, brain utterly unable to process what just happened.
Nijika had half-expected it, but not this direct. The shock made her jaw drop, her wide crimson eyes visibly trembling.
Yet beneath it all, a faint look of relief flickered in her gaze.
As for Bocchi, she sensed the change in mood and had already curled up under the table pretending to be invisible.
The little pink tsuchinoko huddled and trembled, like she was hiding from a fierce hawk circling above.
Only Yamada Ryo showed no sign of being shaken by Kazami Haru's bold declaration.
The cool, blue-haired girl rested her chin on her hand, her pale neck tinged with a soft pink. She tilted her head slightly, gazing directly at him with those same calm eyes.
Only now, in those brilliant golden irises, there seemed to be the faintest glimmer of light.
"I like you too, Haru."
[Your honest confession is immediately met with Yamada Ryo's response. From that moment on, everyone in the band—Ijichi Seika from the livehouse included, knows about your relationship. And maybe... they truly bless it.]
[Kita Ikuyo and Ijichi Nijika are left heartbroken.]
[You and Yamada Ryo become a couple.]
Only after seeing those clear words in the simulator did Kazami Haru finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
He raised his hand to rub his temples, letting the surge of new memories settle in.
This memory was different. Deep and vivid, etched into his mind like ancient carvings on stone.
Especially the moment when Yamada Ryo stared into his face with those golden eyes and gave her quiet, steady reply.
He could almost feel the tremble of emotion in her heart.
Truth be told, Kazami Haru had been a little nervous.
But the sincere, decisive move had paid off, he'd successfully started a relationship with his romance target.
Turns out, when Ryo stayed silent earlier, she wasn't brushing things off.
Someone like Miss Ryo, with her proud, aloof nature, wouldn't avoid something , she was just waiting for him to take the first step.
If he'd chosen to stall instead... things might have turned out very differently.
[You and Miss Ryo are now dating, but despite the new relationship, not much changes between you. She still invites you out to eat now and then, and sometimes borrows money when her spending goes overboard.]
[The only real difference is that the once-solitary Yamada Ryo now always takes you along.]
[Your girlfriend's attitude toward you hasn't changed, but you notice she smiles more. Your relationship seems to be growing warmer by the day.]
[Still, you're a little troubled by her cool, aloof personality, it makes it hard to grow even closer, but you've gotten used to it, and you're not in a rush. You decide to let things unfold naturally.]
[That is... until a week into your relationship.]
In the small, clean, tidy apartment, Kazami Haru and Ryo sat together on a tiny sofa, watching TV.
It was meant for one person, but now it held two. Neither of them felt cramped.
Because of his slight neat freak tendencies, Haru kept the apartment spotless.
But today was different. Thanks to Ryo's visit, the little coffee table was cluttered with secondhand records and clothes they'd bought shopping.
Little trinkets and accessories were strewn everywhere, giving the place a new, lived-in feel.
The TV was showing a random variety show. Just an ordinary, cozy moment between a couple.
Expressionless as always, Yamada Ryo sat in his lap watching TV, occasionally opening her mouth silently to signal that she wanted to be fed.
Haru, used to this, pulled a plain potato chip from the bag and gently popped it into her mouth for her to nibble on.
Though her face showed no emotion, she kept subtly nuzzling his chin now and then.
After a long silence, Ryo slowly looked up and gently pinched the tip of his nose.
"Haru, you're so lame."
"...What did I even do?"
Being teased out of nowhere by his own girlfriend, Haru rolled his eyes in mild exasperation.
Ryo lifted her chin with that unreadable gaze, impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Kazami Haru, rarely seeing her so forward, hesitated for a second and leaned in closer.
Before he could react, Ryo suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, locking eyes with fearless intensity.
In that moment, their shadows melted into each other.
Ryo stared at his face with those still, golden irises, then gave him a mischievous little grin.
"From now on, all the money you make belongs to me."
[Just one week into your relationship, and Yamada Ryo has completely claimed you.]
[You admit you underestimated Yamada-san's initiative. You thought someone as aloof and proud as her would let the relationship develop naturally, so when you made no moves, the no-longer-patient Yamada-san decided to strike hard instead.]
[She may have backed off afterward, but at the start... she was a war goddess.]
[As your relationship warmed, Ryo began spending nearly all her time with you. Even Kessoku Band's rehearsals were kept to the bare minimum due to senior year studies. You weren't sure if this change was good or bad.]
[That is, until one day, you noticed Ijichi Nijika spacing out during practice. So you decided—]
[1. Let it go—for now, you're Yamada Ryo's boyfriend.]
[2. You can't ignore it. You should check on Nijika.]
[3. Kita Ikuyo seems even more complicated. Maybe she's the one who needs attention.]
[4. Virtual reality simulation—run it.]