After breakfast.
Little angel Nijika flopped onto her bedroom bed, ready to play the simulator.
Today was Starry's day off, so she didn't need to help at the venue.
Seika-nee-san would also take this day to rest and unwind.
Work was important, but letting it harm one's health would be missing the point entirely.
[You have activated the Mom Simulator.]
[For this simulation, the support card you selected is: Kitahara Shio's Longing (Talent +1)]
Seeing her daughter's name in the support card slot, Nijika felt her resolve harden.
This time, she would win.
Begin the simulation.
[At age 5, you lived in Setagaya, Tokyo with your family, spending your days in ordinary, peaceful happiness.]
[Your sister Seika recently formed a band, becoming a bit distant from you, which left the young you upset.]
[In your eyes, the band had stolen your sister away.]
[You silently vowed that as long as you lived, you would never have anything to do with a band.]
[You wanted to become a civil servant and live a quiet, beautiful life.]
"Wait, 5 years old?"
Nijika covered her face with both hands, stunned.
This time, the simulation had gone back to when their mother was still alive, before the accident.
Which meant…
[Would you like to enter Full Immersion Mode?]
Nijika steadied her trembling heart.
Enter.
◇
Winter.
Snow drifted gently in the night sky.
A lovely time, close to Christmas.
But the Ijichi household had fallen into a pointless argument over something trivial.
Freshly entered into the simulation, Nijika looked at her mother and sister.
Listening to their conversation:
"I don't want to go to college. Debuting as a rock singer in high school has way more potential than a degree."
Her sister in high school.
She missed her so much.
Little angel Nijika held a stuffed bear, her bright eyes fixed on her sister, who looked more than ten years younger.
"Seika, Mama isn't scolding you. It's just that you need to consider the possibility of failure…"
Mama.
Nijika looked toward that familiar figure speaking to her sister, lowered her head a little, and wiped her stinging eyes.
No, she couldn't cry.
"Forget it, talking to you goes nowhere. I made plans to go to a concert with my friends tonight. I'm leaving."
Seika said this, slung on her guitar bag, and opened the door.
Their mother hurried to grab a coat and run after her, but her eldest daughter had already vanished, leaving her looking disappointed.
Ever since Seika entered her rebellious phase, she no longer listened.
"Nijika, what's wrong?"
Their mother knelt down, gently wiping the corners of her younger daughter's reddened eyes.
"Um, nothing."
Little angel Nijika buried herself in her mother's arms.
"Why are you acting spoiled all of a sudden?"
"Mama, I missed you so much."
Even if it was fake, it didn't matter.
Let this moment linger a little longer.
————
[You found an excuse and stormed out of the house.]
Seika's mood in the simulation wasn't good.
Her simulated self had shown their mother a harsh attitude and run away from home, planning not to return that night.
[In this simulation, your personality cannot be easily altered.]
Meaning…
I can't interfere with how the story unfolds?
[When encountering special events, you may make choices.]
Seika had hoped to take full command in this game.
Instead, the simulator told her:
You may watch, but you may not interfere.
If she couldn't stop the tragedy…
Then what was the point of letting her simulate at all?
Did the simulator really think she wanted to raise some young boy?
She wanted to fix her regrets.
Did it understand what those regrets even were?
She wanted to save her mother.
Toru? What did he have to do with anything?
Even if he died, it had nothing to do with her.
[Please control your emotions. Do not be overly pessimistic.]
Seika took a deep breath.
She continued reading.
[Life at home made you irritated with everything.]
[To the 17 year old you... ]
[Only when practicing with your bandmates in the live house could you feel the slightest sense of ease.]
[At this moment, wandering freely after running away, you had no idea—]
[That your little sister Nijika was crying very hard after you left.]
Sorry, Nijika.
I'm so sorry.
In her heart, Seika apologized again and again.
But her simulated self showed no signs of remorse.
[You thought that since your family didn't support your dream, you would simply abandon them.]
[The world was big. Surely it had a place for you.]
[Night.]
[Walking along a cold street.]
[You decide—]
[1. It's cold. Stay at your best friend's place for a few days to avoid more nagging from your mom.]
[2. Spend the night at an internet café. You still have some money.]
[3. Wander around.]
"No option to go home?"
Seika stared at the three choices, growing more irritated by the second.
Her teenage self had been a pure, rebellious brat.
Completely ignorant of how precious family was.
Forget it.
Choose 3.
She hoped that after walking in the cold, she'd cool down and return home to apologize to her mother and Nijika.
[Snow drifts through the winter night.]
[The cold wind brushes your cheeks as you walk down the street.]
[Outside a convenience store.]
[Feeling a little thirsty, you decide to buy a drink.]
[At the entrance, you see a little boy. His face is dirty, as though he has been wandering for a long time.]
[You buy a bottle of juice.]
[After coming out, you find the little boy still sitting motionless beside the trash bin.]
[You decide—]
[1. A stranger's life or death has nothing to do with me.]
[2. Buy him a can of hot red bean soup and quietly leave.]
[3. You just fought with your mother and are in a bad mood. Kick him hard a few times and help him reincarnate early.]
Seika looked at the three options.
How was she supposed to pick?
After thinking it over.
Only the second was acceptable.
Choose 2.
[You did not vent your bad mood on an innocent child.]
[You bought a warm can of red bean soup from the vending machine and walked over to the little boy, reaching out to offer it.]
[The boy looked up and glanced at you curiously.]
[He accepted the red bean soup and said thank you.]
[A few seconds later.]
[Just as you were about to leave, the boy stood up and followed you.]
[You tried speeding up to shake him off, but it didn't work. With no choice, you prepared to explain.]
["Big sister is running away from home and can't take care of you."]
[The boy didn't speak. He only reached out, trying to tug your clothes.]
[His hands were dirty, and you stepped back a little with mild disgust.]
[The boy pursed his lips. "Nee-san, I'm sorry."]
[Then he quickly found a corner and crouched down.]
[The temperature tonight was below zero.]
[You were certain that if you abandoned him, this child wouldn't live to see the morning sun.]