My Simulation… Why Is It Turning into a Real Romance?!

Though the process was a little rocky, MyGO's band practice finally got off the ground.

The downside of going a while without proper training was painfully clear: their ensemble work was a mess.

The rhythm guitarist couldn't keep up with the drummer. The lead guitarist played way faster than the beat. The bassist didn't realize her amp wasn't even plugged in until the very end. And the vocalist's voice got quieter the longer she sang…

As the keyboardist, Kazami Haru was finding it increasingly hard to keep a straight face.

At this rate, when they performed live this month, they might need the bassist to bust out a street dance routine just to save the show.

Shiina Taki's grip on her drumsticks tightened, her sharp violet eyes sweeping coldly across everyone's faces. But when she saw Haru standing nearby, she swallowed back what she was about to say.

Instead, she did her best to keep her tone calm.

"Let's start over."

The girls around her, all feeling the rising pressure, said nothing. They simply braced themselves and restarted practice.

But as soon as the intro began, Anon Chihaya flubbed her chord. A harsh electric guitar noise exploded from her amp with a loud buzz, so abrupt it made Taki's breathing hitch. Her brows knotted as she shot a glare in Anon's direction.

"Guitar, You messed it up again!"

"S-sorry…"

Anon guiltily clenched her pick in her hand. Her fluttering silver-gray eyes snuck a glance toward Haru.

She had definitely been slacking off in practice lately. Too many things had been happening, things that made her spiral into daydreams.

Plus, the whole band felt like "everyone's the enemy" now. And outside, there was that sneaky fox Kita Ikuyo constantly trying to poach Haru away. Feeling under siege from all sides, Anon-sama hadn't really studied the new songs properly.

Honestly, she was already doing her best just to play a full song from start to finish.

But it was totally Haru's fault!

If he had just confessed already and made things official between them, she could've thrown herself into guitar practice wholeheartedly!

Stupid two-timing playboy, letting himself get seduced by Rikki like it was nothing!

"And you, stray cat! Stop going off and playing whatever you want!"

Taki's eyes, gleaming with sharpness, darted around like a predator.

"Haru."

Raana seemed completely unfazed by Taki's scolding. She casually set her guitar down and skipped over to Haru's side. Her lips curled into a smile only after he handed her a matcha candy.

"Okay, okay, let's not make Taki mad, alright?"

Haru glanced at the stiff expression on Taki's face. He figured he'd treat her to coffee later and smooth things over.

After all, Raana had made a habit of trotting over to him after every melody she played, demanding matcha candy and head pats as a reward. It didn't look like training at all to Taki.

Every time she saw it, Taki looked ready to combust.

Right now, she was practically unleashing all the bottled-up frustration she'd been holding back. This was already the third day of serious practice and they still hadn't managed to get through a proper chorus together once!

They had three new songs, and they hadn't even nailed the first one yet!

In her growing agitation, she turned toward Takamatsu Tomori, and her tone softened just a bit:

"Tomori, you need to raise your voice. That volume won't work on stage."

"Taki-chan, don't be like that~ Everyone's doing their best, right?" Nagasaki Soyo offered with a smile, trying to ease the tension.

But instead of calming Taki down, it made her voice even stiffer.

"You've also been making a lot of rookie mistakes lately. Are you really practicing the sheet music I gave you?"

"Eh? I've been practicing, I swear~"

Soyo replied sweetly, her face gentle as ever, but her words made Taki's mouth twitch.

Taki had always suspected that Soyo didn't take the band seriously and now, it felt like she wasn't even trying to keep up with their progress. Worse, she had a knack for raising Taki's blood pressure.

At this rate, Taki was about to go all-in with a twenty-times…no, fifty-times Kaio-ken.

She felt like ascending into the sky as Aizen Sosuke.

Because honestly, it was insane—the song everyone played best together so far…

Was Haruhikage?

"Taki, what about me?"

Standing at the keyboard, Haru raised a hand and pointed at himself. He was the only one who hadn't been called out. It felt a little awkward.

He almost wondered if Taki had a secret crush on him and was letting him off easy.

Taki: ?

Is this guy asking to get chewed out?

Taki's expression stiffened. She replied coldly, "You need to practice properly, too."

That was the best she could muster.

After all, Haru's keyboard skills were objectively solid.

Granted, he had to be in the right condition to play at full capacity, but his musical knowledge and control were more than enough for this level of training. Taki really couldn't find any faults.

If anything, he was just bad for her mental health!

…

Practice wrapped up quicker than expected that day.

Because while Taki was still scolding everyone, the ever-free-spirited cat had already vanished. With no way to track down the stray, and no energy left, Taki gave up and dismissed the group with a tired, "Practice properly at home."

She said she'd go revise their training schedule and left in a hurry. Soyo claimed she had something to do and bowed out early. That just left Tomori standing there with a hint of sadness in her expression, clearly at a loss.

"Haru… I feel so stressed…"

Anon puffed out her cheeks and leaned close to him, grumbling with a slight pout.

"I-I'll try harder to sing next time," Tomori added, clutching the mic, a trace of panic in her voice.

"It's fine. Don't pressure yourselves too much, either of you."

Haru reached out instinctively to pat Tomori's head but paused, he seemed to think of something and unwillingly wanted retract his hand.

Then again, knowing how sensitive Tomori was, he eventually followed through, gently patting her head to comfort her.

"Taki just wants the best for the band. Let's all practice hard when we get home."

"…"

Tomori, always attuned to the tiniest things, seemed to notice the hesitation in Haru's movement just now. Even as he patted her head, she pressed a hand gently to her chest, brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Soon after, Haru said goodbye to the two girls and left RiNG empty-handed.

Practice might be over, but he still had things to do.

Even during summer break, work was part of life.

With all the extra expenses that came with the season, even as a temporary band member with Yahata Umiri wasn't enough. And in this heat, hot enough to fry meat on the pavement, there weren't exactly many ways to make money.

Aside from diving into host club work, the only option left was clinging to Sensei Sakiko for survival.

Just as Haru Kazami was about to head to his usual part-time job at the café Rabbit House, a silver-haired maid with a cool demeanor wordlessly handed him a flyer on the street.

He took it reflexively, not really thinking and then a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"A fireworks festival?"

It was scheduled for next month in the Shimokitazawa area. If they lit fireworks there, it might actually blow up the place.

Not particularly interested, Haru just gave the flyer a glance and stuffed it into his pocket. He didn't notice the blonde girl wearing a baseball cap stepping out of the Evening Primrose planetarium at that exact moment.

Her eyes immediately locked onto him.

Haru Kazami?

A flicker of intrigue flashed through Uika Misumi's eyes, and from that moment, she couldn't look away.

With his black hair and eyes, Haru's presence was so striking that he stood out even among the bustling crowd.

Having once again bumped into him on the street, Uika glanced around him—there was no one else. That in itself puzzled the blonde girl.

"Weird…"

He was alone today? No girls around him?

Not that Uika wanted to judge based on appearances.

But every time she'd seen Haru, he was always surrounded by different girls. She'd even spotted him hand-in-hand with a girl sporting a fiery red side ponytail. The two were so close, they clearly weren't just friends.

She really wanted to ask Shiina Taki, their classmate, what the deal was—but since it was summer break, she hadn't had the chance to meet up.

"As expected… I really can't let it go."

Her finely arched brows twitched upward into a faint, elegant curve. A trace of melancholy flickered in her soft purple eyes, and she brushed a golden strand of hair behind her ear, letting out a quiet breath.

What she felt toward Haru Kazami had nothing to do with herself—it was entirely because of her friend, Sakiko Togawa.

Uika still couldn't forget the smile Sakiko wore that day when she stood beside him—so bright, so gentle. The warmth in her eyes was something Uika had never seen before. That was why she had become so concerned about Haru.

After a brief hesitation, she chose to follow him.

She trailed him quietly, watching as he entered a small, tucked-away traditional café.

"A café?"

Uika's expression filled with confusion. Why was Haru going to a café?

Was he… meeting someone here?

That thought instantly conjured an image of Sakiko in her mind. If it was her—someone who smiled so tenderly—then going out with Haru for a casual date wouldn't be strange at all.

"Uika?"

A familiar gentle voice came from behind her. Still wearing her cap, Uika instinctively turned—and was greeted by the sight of a blue-haired girl in a lace-trimmed dress, carrying a shoulder bag and looking surprised.

Well then.

She'd just been mentally speculating, and reality had decided to crash into her face.

Uika's exquisitely beautiful expression twitched faintly. Her heart swirled with complex, conflicting feelings—but her face maintained the practiced smile of a professional idol as she greeted her childhood friend:

"Sakiko. It really has been a while."

"I know, right? I didn't think we'd run into each other like this… But, what are you doing here?"

Maybe it was the surprise of meeting an old friend, but Sakiko's face softened with genuine happiness. At the same time, she couldn't help but notice something odd about Uika's behavior just moments ago.

She'd caught a glimpse of Uika wearing a cap and peeking secretly into Rabbit House.

This was a top-tier idol—why was she sneaking around like some second-rate paparazzo?

What was she looking at?

"Ah, well…"

Faced with the question, Uika hesitated internally.

She couldn't just say she was stalking Haru. First, she needed to feel out Sakiko's thoughts and attitude—diving in headfirst might lead to an awkward outcome.

After thinking it through briefly, she decided to deflect.

"I just came from the planetarium. I happened to spot this café while wandering around and thought maybe I'd grab a cup of coffee…"

Seriously?

Sakiko was startled by the response. Tokyo really was small. Her childhood friend had just casually wandered right to the place she worked.

Luckily, Sakiko usually worked in the kitchen, and today she could rely on Haru through "eye-signals" to help cover for her.

Otherwise, her part-time job might've been exposed.

The current Sakiko Togawa was worlds apart from who she used to be.

No matter what, she didn't want anyone to find out about her situation. It was the only way she could protect what was left of her fragile pride.

To Sakiko, the only person who truly understood her and treated her as an equal, was Haru Kazami. Only with him could she soothe the emotional fatigue and negative pressure constantly weighing her down.

He was the lifeline keeping her from being swept away by the mental tsunami of stress.

"Uika, it really has been so long."

"Would you like to grab coffee together? Catch up a little?"

Huh?

Uika blinked, stunned by Sakiko's offer. She hadn't expected Sakiko to say something like that.

Wasn't she supposed to be meeting Haru at this café?

Why invite her?

"I'd love to."

Even though she was totally confused, Uika nodded with a smile. Inside, though, she was carefully piecing together the situation.

Could it be that Haru and Sakiko just happened to come to the same café?

No, that would be too much of a coincidence.

Gripping her shoulder bag a bit tighter, Uika's pale, delicate fingers turned slightly white from the pressure. Her thoughts still in disarray, she followed Sakiko inside—only to come face-to-face with Haru Kazami.

"Welcome."

Uika: ?

Haru's hair was still as black as ever, but now his longer back strands were tied into a neat, short ponytail. His casual clothes had been replaced by a sharp black butler uniform, complete with pristine white silk gloves.

"…"

Seeing both girls walk in at once, Haru immediately understood the situation.

Sumimi idol Uika Misumi, whom he'd run into before, had just walked into the café with Sakiko Togawa.

And knowing how prideful Sakiko was, she definitely wouldn't want any familiar faces seeing her at her part-time job, much less bringing someone in herself.

It must've been a coincidence. Sakiko had probably run into Uika near Rabbit House while on her way to work, and this had snowballed into the current situation.

"…"

Sakiko, now inside, wore her usual sweet smile—but her warm, amber eyes were practically screaming at Haru, hoping he'd pick up on the signal.

Fortunately, the moment she walked in, Haru had caught on. He subtly gave her a reassuring look in return.

Uika, of course, had no idea the two had just exchanged that much information in a single second.

"I really didn't expect you to be working here, Haru-kun."

That one simple line stunned both Haru and Sakiko.

Haru was surprised Uika even knew his name. They'd only briefly met at the planetarium, and he'd never formally introduced himself. Yet here she was, recognizing him instantly.

If he didn't know she was a famous idol, he might have suspected she was some kind of stalker fangirl.

"Uika, you know Haru?"

Sakiko blinked, also caught off guard. Things were clearly veering off her planned trajectory.

"We just happened to meet at the planetarium once. Then I heard from Shiina-san in our class that she's in a band with him."

Uika didn't mention anything about Takamatsu Tomori, she still wasn't sure what Sakiko's feelings were. But the way Sakiko called him "Haru" in such a formal tone suggested they weren't dating yet.

"Thanks again for finding my lost item last time. As a little thank-you, I'll sneak you a treat when you order later."

Haru smiled.

"Oh my, thank you very much."

Uika's radiant face curved into a lovely smile, her violet eyes glancing discreetly at Sakiko to gauge her reaction.

So Haru worked here after all. That explained why Sakiko brought her to this café, it wasn't a rendezvous between the two of them.

But… something still felt off.

The relationship probably wasn't that simple either.

All the more reason to take this opportunity to do a little more digging.

- - -

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