CHAPTER 201: V5 CHAPTER 29: CUTENESS IS JUSTICE

As the simulation screen finally faded out, Kazami Haru let out a long breath. The moment it ended, fragmented memories flooded his mind, tangled with a wave of emotions and along with them, the overwhelming fatigue from using VR simulation came rushing in.

This Bocchi route had been a bumpy one, but at least it reached a proper Happy End in the end.

"So it really is only the so-called ’pure love’ routes that can be completed smoothly. Even when I steered toward Sakiko, the simulation forced me onto a solo path. It even gave me a single route ending over allowing a poly one?"

Clearly, the simulator was to blame.

If he had been allowed to use VR simulation earlier, he might’ve been able to pursue a dual route with Kita and Anon. But instead, the system outright banned the option, forcing him into a rigid two-choice scenario.

It’s not like the simulator was wuthering waves. What, would they just reject cantarella’s offer, no way right?

"I originally planned to pursue one girl at a time, and then marry the one I liked most... but at this point, I can’t bear to part with any of them. I’ve been completely played."

In reality, Kazami Haru was no longer the same "eyes-only-for-you" protagonist from his simulations. After running through multiple routes, he had grown genuine feelings for all of them and they, in turn, all liked him back in the real world.

At this stage, trying to pick just one girl was impossible.

If he couldn’t let go of any of them, there was only one path left—

Polygamy. Full harem route.

The real issue was how to make it work. Theoretically speaking, he was into way too many girls. If he really wanted a "harem ending," he’d have to find a way to make it plausible.

He couldn’t exactly go full chadtarou, right?

Kazami sighed and rubbed his aching temples, pushing aside the whirl of thoughts in his head and turning back to the simulation results.

[Simulation Complete]

[Score: 90 — Perfect]

[Evaluation: "In the vast ocean of emotions, only her silhouette lingers; among all things, only she shines. The world may be colorful or mundane, but your gaze always finds its way back to her. From the moment you met to the day you fell in love, it felt fated. You both chose each other unwaveringly, through every twist and turn. Your love, pure and sincere, never wavered."]

[Lacking confidence to the extreme, she never saw her own worth. In her eyes, someone like you deserved someone more fitting. But you embraced every flaw and fear she had. Even as someone who always ran and hid, she was finally brought to her knees by your unwavering devotion.]

[To you, she shone brighter than anyone for dedicating her soul to music and dreams. But to her, you were the moonlight in the dark, choosing her over everything else. Maybe, just maybe, she had always been changing herself for you... until she became the only "Guitar Hero" worthy of standing by your side.]

[You have earned the Perfect score! Your reward: "Barista Lv. 2" upgraded to Lv. 3, and you may choose 5 out of the following 7 simulation rewards:]

[Guitar Hero Gotoh Hitori — Guitar Lv. 5]

(A level perfected by dedicating her life to the guitar—honed through talent, sweat, and obsession. She’s now a living legend, worthy of being called a true Guitar Goddess.)

[Song: "The Ever-Blooming Pure White Flower"]

(A song you composed for the Budokan concert. The lead guitar section requires master-level technique. It holds deep emotional and symbolic value.)

[Endurance Lv. 4 ➝ Lv. 5]

[Piggy Bank from Gotoh Hitori ]

(A heartfelt Christmas gift. Inside is the dowry her mother prepared for her future wedding. A deeply sentimental item overflowing with sincere love.)

[Light & Shadow Magician Kazami Nao — Photography Lv. 3]

(Even as a child, she displayed prodigious talent in photography—often outperforming seasoned professionals, especially skilled in manipulating light and shadow.)

[Jade Pendant from Kazami Nao]

(A handmade charm from your daughter, engraved with her name and a miniature photo. Highly sentimental.)

[Driver’s License Lv. 2]

(Allows you to drive large vehicles like transport trucks.)

"So I got 90, huh?"

Considering the simulation had already thrown him into a forced single route once, he technically failed twice before landing a happy ending. So scoring 90 wasn’t half-bad.

Still, Kazami’s focus had shifted entirely to the rewards.

And right there: Guitar Lv. 5.

The gold-tier ultimate skill from a legendary guitarist.

For a 90-point route to drop this kind of reward, it was almost too good. He couldn’t believe it.

This was the ultimate technique only Bocchi, after pouring her whole life into guitar, could achieve. This was his first time seeing a top-tier reward emerge from a route with his wife.

The rest of the options were also god-tier. Even upgrading Endurance to Lv. 5 was ridiculous.

This simulation had been more "blessed" than any he’d done before.

"The choices are so good I could pick them with my eyes closed."

Kazami Haru lifted his calm black eyes and carefully examined the simulation rewards in front of him.

Aside from the seventh option: Driver’s License, which he could safely ignore, the remaining six were top-tier, no-regrets choices. Especially the first and third: Lv.5 skills that were absolutely essential.

The gifts and skills from his daughter were one-of-a-kind rewards, exclusive to this simulation route. There was no way he’d pass them up. The only real debate lay between Bocchi’s gift and the song.

"The Ever-Blooming Pure White Flower" was a track worthy of Budokan, a cornerstone for Kessoku Band’s future. Even if Kazami himself had composed it, replicating its emotional weight would be difficult.

After a brief moment of serious thought, he selected:

1, 2, 3, 5, 6

"That should do it."

Murmuring nonchalantly, he closed the simulation interface. But then, an odd feeling crept through his entire body.

Maybe it was from the prolonged focus and mental strain of VR simulation. Usually, he’d be physically and emotionally wiped after a session but today, he didn’t feel tired at all.

In fact, Kazami Haru felt so energized, he had the urge to go for a run.

Was that the Endurance skill kicking in?

"If this thing’s that strong... should I try flying a helicopter next time?"

He laughed at his own joke and turned off the interface. Even though his body felt fine, his mind was still a little overworked. He was dead set on resting for the day, no matter what came up.

Bzzz...

Uh-oh. Why is my Demon Hunter badge vibrating?

Kazami narrowed his eyes and sat up slowly, checking his buzzing phone. If it was anything that required him to leave the house, he was ready to ignore it.

[Lil’ Penguin: Haru, are you free right now?]

"...Suddenly, I’m wide awake."

...

Gotoh Hitori stared blankly at her bowl of rice, lost in thought. Her crystal-blue eyes were dazed and full of disbelief. Cold sweat slid down her pale cheeks, and her delicate body began to tremble.

As she fidgeted awkwardly, her flushed face burned red like a drop of blood. The strange behavior made her parents exchange confused glances.

Sure, their daughter acted weird all the time but she’d been perfectly normal that morning.

How could a simple nap change her so much?

Gotoh Michiyo cast a worried glance at her husband, a silent plea that they should probably call a priest. Gotoh Naoki immediately understood the look.

"...I’m full."

Hitori set down her barely-touched bowl and bolted for her room. In one fluid motion, she dove into her closet, her sanctuary and curled up inside, trying desperately to calm herself.

Her face was flushed like a fire. She curled up like a startled rabbit, trembling... and her gaze kept drifting toward the other side of the closet, replaying a memory.

The memory of sharing this space with Kazami Haru.

And just like that, her whole body gave out.

Bocchi_Can’t_Stand_Up.JPG

"Uuu... what the heck is happening..."

This wasn’t random. It all started when she took a nap after pulling an all-nighter editing videos. She hadn’t expected to have that kind of dream. Even now, the afterglow of that "wonderful dream" lingered.

It was a strange, vivid dream like a glimpse into the future.

"I... actually married Haru...?"

And not just that, they did all kinds of things. Because she was so flexible, Haru didn’t hold back. Later on, she even started taking the initiative more than him like some desperate, insatiable girl...

Just remembering it made her legs feel weak.

"Uuu..."

Suddenly, she felt a warm trickle on her lip, nosebleed.

Her brain short-circuited as she stared blankly at the closet ceiling.

She was dying. Literally and figuratively.

"My life... is already perfect."

Wrapped in the bliss of her dream, Bocchi felt herself floating like a feather. Her hands came together peacefully as if in prayer, her soul melting away into the air like glowing dust.

"Gweh?!"

In that moment of near-death tranquility, she caught a glimpse of that familiar field of sunflowers, the warm light of spring washing over her. She basked in the happiness... until a parasol suddenly smacked her on the head.

Snapping back to reality, Bocchi quickly stuffed tissues up her nose. Her racing heart filled her eyes with panic, she had nearly vanished from the world from being too happy!

Thankfully, that jolt brought her back.

Still, something about that dream felt off

.

It was too vivid... too real...

"Something still doesn’t feel quite right..."

Was the version of me in that dream really that amazing?

Back then, Bocchi was a whirlwind. Fists flying, kicking down everyone around Kazami Haru, easily taking down those despicable women by his side!

Whether it was the sultry and formidable Ryo-senpai, the sunshine-bright and dazzlingly beautiful Kita-chan, or even that graceful and elegant, stunningly beautiful blue-haired girl, they all fell before the might of the Guitar Hero!

She was like a goddess descending from the heavens!

"Was that... a prophetic dream? Or maybe..."

Her thoughts tangled in chaos, Bocchi curled up, her face burning with a feverish heat. Her wide eyes shimmered with confusion, and even the tips of her ears peeking from under her soft, sakura-pink hair were tinged a bashful wine red.

"I want to see Haru..."

Before she realized it, she had already opened her phone and pulled up Kazami Haru’s Line chat, but even with her finger hovering over the keyboard, she couldn’t bring herself to type a single word. All she could do was shakily turn off the screen again.

The truth was, she had secretly liked Kazami Haru for a long time.

But her deep-seated insecurity and timidity had kept her silent all this time. There were so many people around him who were smarter, prettier, more confident. Gotoh Hitori had always believed someone like her, a cowardly little wild snake, never stood a chance.

But he had never once looked down on her gloomy nature. Instead, with heartfelt sincerity, he had expressed his feelings to her.

"But... if I’m the only one who ends up happy..."

Bocchi, lost in the sweetness of happiness, furrowed her brows as her thoughts drifted to the others from the band.

Their feelings had been just as genuine, no less passionate than hers. In Bocchi’s eyes, every one of them was better than her in some way. She had simply been the one Haru favored. But in the end, she was the only one who found happiness...

Gotoh Hitori slowly lowered her head. Suddenly, she could understand what Takamatsu Tomori had been thinking.

...

Kazami Haru had been invited out by the Little Penguin.

Naturally, their meeting spot was the same as before, the Evening Primrose Planetarium. But the simulation had ended, and the real-world evening had quietly set in. By the time Kazami Haru arrived at Evening Primrose, night had already fallen.

Perhaps to match the atmosphere of the star-filled dome inside, the surrounding plaza was bathed in warm orange lights, and the central fountain sparkled with dazzling brilliance under the glow.

"Was it... a bother for me to invite you out like this, all of a sudden?"

Takamatsu Tomori, dressed in a gray-white jacket and a black-gray skirt, looked slightly nervous as she sat beside him. Leaning gently against the bench, she looked even more delicate than usual. Her fine hair shimmered faintly under the starlight.

Maybe it was the mix of hesitation and anxiety on her face, it made her so unbearably adorable that Kazami Haru found it hard to look away.

If anyone else had asked him that question, he would’ve definitely said it was a bother.

But cuteness is justice.

If anyone dared say Tomori was a bother, he might just have to unleash an earth-shattering roar.

"I don’t think so. If you really want to thank me, how about letting me pinch your cheek?"

"Huh? That’s all it takes...?"

Tomori blinked in surprise for a second, then instinctively nodded. She even leaned in slightly, tilting her head toward him with an expression so innocent and open it caught Kazami Haru off guard, he couldn’t help leaning back a bit.

You shouldn’t agree to things so easily... what if I asked for something more?

"Well then, I won’t hold back."

Having already made up his mind not to keep any more distance between them, Kazami Haru took a quiet breath and gently reached out to pinch Tomori’s soft, pale cheek. Her skin, smooth as jelly, felt almost dangerously pleasant.

But after a brief squeeze, he let go. Any longer and he feared he might do something more than just pinch her cheek.

Tomori, the Little Penguin, looked up at him with soft eyes. Sitting right next to him, she leaned in ever so slightly, as if seeking warmth and safety in that fleeting moment of peace.

She hadn’t invited him out just to stargaze.

With Bocchi’s help, she had managed to sort out many of her tangled feelings. But she also knew, what she wanted was selfish. If she truly wanted everyone to stay together, the only solution was for Haru to date everyone equally...

But was that really fair to him?

Even Takamatsu Tomori knew how childish and unreasonable her thoughts were. Still, no matter what, she didn’t want to let go of someone so dear.

Even if their futures were shrouded in fog, Takamatsu Tomori didn’t want to stop moving forward.

"...Haru!"

The gray-haired girl suddenly spoke, slowly rising from her seat. At some point, her small hand had reached out and clutched the edge of his sleeve. Even through the fabric, Kazami Haru could feel the faint tremble of her fingers, a tremble that spoke of her overflowing emotions.

She quietly leaned against his side, those nervous amber eyes staring straight ahead.

"Do you... have someone you like?"