In the morning, they looked through the photo album.
After that, they resolved the issue with the lyrics.
Just like that.
Toru completed his work as a manager.
Nijika obtained a definite clue and confirmed in her heart that Toru did indeed possess a simulator.
Bocchi-chan saw the two of them exchanging affectionate looks.
A world where only she was hurt, completed.
At noon.
The two girls personally prepared lunch.
Whether it was Hitori or Nijika, both of their cooking skills were slightly better than Toru's.
Toru had never seriously studied cooking.
Back when he was a single father, he had taken care of little Shio for a period of time, but his cooking was only reasonably tasty, far from matching the proficiency of the two girls in front of him.
Nijika had taken care of her sister since childhood, so her cooking skills went without saying.
Hitori had gained skills from the simulator rewards. She could convey her feelings through cooking, even reaching a master level.
In the afternoon.
Because she needed to return to help at the shop in Shimokitazawa, Nijika took her leave first, leaving Hitori alone with Toru.
She noticed that Bocchi-chan seemed to have something to say to Toru, so she deliberately left without asking him to go along.
"Bocchi-chan, do your best."
Before parting, Nijika softly encouraged Bocchi-chan.
In Nijika's understanding.
Hitori currently had the slowest progress in love. She clearly liked Toru, yet did not dare to take the initiative at all.
What Nijika did not know was that Bocchi-chan was actually the strongest at sneaking ahead, specializing in catching people off guard.
If explained using a JoJo Stand panel, Bocchi-chan had power and speed both at A, but her growth potential was the worst E rank. She matured three times a year, but each time only grew a tiny bit.
Before Hitori could figure out what was going on, Nijika had already disappeared from her sight.
What exactly did Nijika-chan mean?
Could it be that she guessed I was going to give chocolate?
Bocchi-chan felt dizzy, closed the door, and squatted in the entryway.
Her current condition was as follows.
I do not know who I am.
I do not know where I am.
But I know I am about to start a massacre.
Coming back to her senses, Bocchi-chan took out a richly milky chocolate from inside the chest of her tracksuit.
Cream and milk had been specially added. Hitori had tasted it herself, and there was no problem with the flavor.
The only problem now was.
"How do I give it to him?"
Valentine's Day had already passed. If she gave her true-feelings chocolate now, would she be treated like an idiot?
Just as Hitori was spinning in place until stars appeared in her vision.
Toru came down the stairs and noticed her.
"Hitori, what are you doing?"
Bocchi-chan jolted.
"N-nothing."
To hide the chocolate, she grabbed it with one hand and casually placed it behind her back.
"Are you hiding something?"
Toru took two steps forward.
Hitori took two steps back.
One advancing, one retreating. Soon, Bocchi-chan was forced near the front door with nowhere left to go.
"I'm not hiding anything."
"I saw it."
He actually did not.
"Kitahara-kun, there really isn't anything."
Hitori's eyes welled up with tears. She trembled slightly, like a female knight captured by goblins.
As if she would be subjected to cruel treatment the very next second.
"Hitori, do you know the story of 'there are no three hundred taels buried here'? Once upon a time…"
Toru pressed her against the door and looked into her mist-filled eyes, suddenly unable to continue speaking.
The unique fragrance of a young girl entered his nose, stirring wave after wave of desire.
This girl was too cute.
He kind of wanted to bully her.
"Are you really not going to say it?"
Toru pinched her cheek, applying slight pressure.
Bocchi-chan's soft, moist cheek quickly showed a reddish mark.
Ugh, it hurts.
"I won't say it."
Toru released her cheek, and the red mark quickly faded.
He lowered his head slightly.
"You've been staring at my lips all day. Do you want to kiss me?"
"N-no, that's not it."
Hitori stood restlessly.
"Hitori, do you know?"
"…?"
Bocchi-chan tightened her grip on the chocolate.
"If you keep waiting for the person you like to make the first move, love will quietly slip away."
One-sided effort would not last.
Love was the same.
Hitori's long-standing inferiority and loneliness had shaped her current awkward personality.
Ever since they met, it had always been Toru accommodating her.
Hitori knew this.
If things continued like this, Toru's patience would eventually run out.
When that happened, it would surely lead to the ending from the first simulation, where Toru abandoned her.
"If you like someone, you should say it out loud, right?"
Toru could not let go of Hitori.
Hitori was his first love and held an unshakable position in his heart.
Besides that, he had always felt guilty about abandoning his girlfriend and leaving in the simulation.
He could have changed her, but he did not try and chose to give up.
That was why Toru took the initiative to get close to Hitori, trying to shape her into someone he liked.
"Hitori, do you like me?"
Toru's voice was gentle.
But his gaze carried a trace of aggression.
Hitori had never seen him like this before.
For a moment, she did not dare to speak.
Did not dare to answer.
But escape had long since become impossible.
After losing all paths of retreat, the timid girl seemed to have only one answer left.
Take the initiative and respond to his feelings.
Inhale.
Exhale.
She tried to steady her emotions.
Hitori gathered her courage.
She looked straight into his eyes, extremely serious.
"I like you, Kitahara-kun.
I like you more than anyone in the world.
I have liked you for a long time.
Please go out with me."
————
The confession ended.
The scene fell silent for a few seconds.
At that moment, Hitori felt as if she had used up all her strength. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto Toru's shoulder. The heart-shaped chocolate fell from her hand to the ground, but she no longer had the strength to pick it up.
That was great.
She finally said it.
"…"
Just as Toru was about to give his answer, he realized that Hitori had lost consciousness.
Ah.
It seemed he had gone too far.
————
A few hours later.
The winter dusk sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell on Hitori's fair cheeks.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Staring at the familiar ceiling.
Why did I suddenly pass out? What just happened?
Oh right, I think I confessed to Kitahara-kun.
His answer.
What was his answer?
Crap, I cannot remember.
"You're awake?"
Toru's gentle voice sounded. Only then did Hitori realize that the back of her head was resting on something soft.
Could it be a lap pillow?
The sudden happiness made Bocchi-chan short of breath, and she even felt like she might faint a second time.
"Hitori, about that confession just now."
Toru lowered his head and pinched her soft cheek.
"Do you want to hear my answer?"
…Do I want to hear it?
No, how could I give up at a time like this?
Hitori nodded. She wanted to hear it.
"I like you too, Hitori."
Toru brushed aside her bangs and looked into her captivating eyes.
"K-Kitahara-kun… the answer, the answer?"
Was that all?
Bocchi-chan looked at him with grievance. This was not the answer she wanted.
She was happy, but what about going out together?
"I like you, Hitori."
"No, no, that's not it. Th-then… you are not going out with me?"
"If you want to go out with me, please say it to me out loud, [Kitahara-kun, please go out with me]. This is a required process."
Toru wanted to tease her a little.
But he did not expect Hitori to burst into tears the very next second.
Her confession, which had taken all her courage, was rejected.
Uwah…
Her whole life was over.
Now it was Toru's turn to panic.
"Do not cry, Hitori…"
He hurriedly said.
"I did want to tease you at first, but you worked so hard to confess after that. How could I possibly reject you?"
"I accept."
"R-really?"
Bocchi-chan stopped sobbing and tightly grabbed the corner of Toru's clothes, afraid he might go back on his word.
"Yes, let's go out."
"Then what about Nijika-chan and the others?"
Hitori suddenly worried about her close friends. She had not planned to confess, but under Toru's stimulation, it slipped out.
"Shall we keep it from them for now?"
Toru prepared to replicate what he did in the simulation.
Go out with one first, then marry five later. Could that really work?
"…"
At this critical moment, Hitori suddenly felt guilty about sneaking ahead. She had broken the unspoken understanding and monopolized Toru by herself. The more she thought about it, the more regret she felt.
Recalling so many simulations from before.
All the partners who did not go out with Toru remained single until death.
One person's happiness in exchange for the happiness of the other three.
Was that really okay?
"Kitahara-kun…"
"Yes?"
"Can you go out with all four of us together?"
"Huh?"
————