Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 502 Times have changed, and it's only worth twenty yen now.
"So, has Yuka ever thought about becoming an actress?"

"Huh?" Tomatsu Yuka, who was concentrating on writing, looked up at the boy next to her who had asked her the question.

"What does this mean? Is Tsunku planning to mentor me as a producer?"

The girl tilted her head, and the sunlight from the window lingered on her eyelashes, twinkling.

"Or is this an April Fool's joke?"

Today is April 1st, and there are still three days before the official start of school. The two are sitting in the study room of the Setagaya Ward Library, working on the past exam papers from various universities this year.

"It's April Fool's Day," Jun Matsue belatedly realized. "It's not a joke. Imokawa is making short films to enrich his filmography, and he's currently looking for actors."

"Imokawa-kun? The short film?" The girl moved a little closer to him. "Tsunku, can you tell me more about it?"

So the boy explained Natsumi Imokawa's plans for further education.

"So, Imokawa-san is planning to apply for the film department? That's amazing!" Tomatsu Yuka exclaimed in surprise as she picked up her phone from the table and checked.

"Is she planning to study photography or directing?"

Jun Matsueda looked down at the latest edition of "Questions about the Past of the University of Tokyo" on the table and pondered, "I guess I should be considered a director, or more broadly, I think it's called 'Film Studies'."

"I feel like it would suit Imokawa-kun perfectly," the girl said with a smile. "The videos she made for the brass band and the recruitment promotional video she was in charge of were both outstanding!"

“She’s definitely talented.” The boy nodded. “So, are you planning to become an actress?”

"Has Jun-kun already agreed?"

"Hmm." He twirled the pen in his hand.

"Did Mochizuki agree too?" Tomatsu Yuka asked curiously—the boy had mentioned that Imokawa Natsumi had invited more than just her.

".Um."

Jun Matsue told Haruka Mochizuki about this the night before last, when the girl was sitting in the living room of 506 watching a movie while holding a cat.

After listening to the boy's words, Mochizuki Haruka nodded without hesitation and pressed the pause button on the remote control.

"If I were to invest in Imokawa, could she write me a script that tortures Tomatsu to death?"

"Like letting her hear us making love from outside the wall?"

The boy glanced at the girl a couple more times, but didn't relay her question to Natsumi Imokawa.

Tomatsu Yuka quickly made her decision, "Since everyone is planning to participate, there's no reason for me to be absent."

Filming is a rather ambiguous thing, isn't it? She stared at the boy's right hand holding the pen. If she didn't agree, wouldn't she be giving the opportunity to Mochizuki Haruka for nothing?

And it wasn't just Mochizuki Haruka; the image of Imokawa Natsumi's innocent and carefree appearance also came to mind—such a contrasting face and figure would be incredibly alluring to any boy, right?

Although she didn't seem threatening, we couldn't let our guard down. A faint shadow fell over Tomatsu Yuka's eyes.

After all, the senior student back then was also someone who didn't inspire any suspicion.

"Then I'll tell Imokawa first."

Jun Matsueda took out his phone, and a minute later, Yuka Tomatsu's phone, which was on the table, lit up, displaying a message from Natsumi Imokawa—

"Thank you so much for your help, Tomatsu-kun! I'm very grateful!"

The girl smiled, pursed her lips, then put her phone in her pocket, stretched, and leaned on the boy's shoulder.

"I'm a little hungry, and I don't have the energy to study."

"Where did Jun-kun and his senior have lunch before?"

“Nanfeng Dining Hall is right behind the library.” Jun Matsuoka stood up.

The girl put her arm around his shoulder and they stood up together. The two walked out of the study room, leaving their exercise books and pencil cases on the table, where they continued to be exposed to the sun.

Walking along the tree-lined path, the girl beside him naturally took his hand. Matsueda Jun looked at the sign at the end that read "Nanfeng Diner," the orange lettering long since faded with time.

This was his second time visiting the Setagaya Ward Library with Tomatsu, the place where he and Yamami Maki had spent most of the year together. Come to think of it, it was here that Tomatsu discovered his affair with his senior.
Jun Matsue looked at the girl holding his hand. Tomatsu Tomoka had a relaxed and cheerful smile on her face. The dappled sunlight in the forest fell on her bangs, and there was no trace of the gloomy and sickly figure she had been a few months ago.

Perhaps love truly is a panacea for humanity. Feeling the unstoppable happiness emanating from her, the boy's heart softened a little.

"Yuhua seems pretty happy lately?" he asked.

"Hmm~" The girl nodded her chin. "Nothing bad has happened lately, the weather is getting warmer, and school is about to start—isn't it normal to be happy?"

"really."

“And I even saw my dad!” Tomatsu Yuka looked up at the boy, her smile becoming even brighter.

Father Jun Matsue paused in his steps. It was the first time he had heard this title from the girl's mouth—whether at parent-teacher meetings or in everyday conversations, she was always referred to as her mother.

The girl quickly noticed his change. "Well, my family's story is a long one, and it's not exactly a happy topic. I'll tell you about it another time."

The boy nodded without saying a word, and the two walked into the old-fashioned shop, where the creaking sliding doors made a grotesque sound.

Tomatsu Tomoka chose somen noodles for lunch. As she ordered, Matsueda Jun subtly recalled another girl who had once sat here.

My senior also liked somen noodles back then, so it seems there's a reason why Tomatsu and she became good friends.

After taking the usual photos and finishing lunch, the girl carefully selected some from her phone and uploaded them to her social media feed.

"How about we take a walk around the neighborhood to digest our food first, and then go back to the library to study? What do you think, Jun-kun?"

"Good suggestion."

Stepping out of the store, Tomomatsu Yuka checked her phone. "The nearby Shoin Shrine seems to be very effective for praying for academic success. Let's go check it out!"

The two left the alley, passed a FamilyMart convenience store, and headed towards the main road in front of the Shōin Shrine. There was a subway station nearby, and the streets became more crowded.

The midday sun was quite dazzling. The boy's Adam's apple bobbed, and his mouth felt a little dry. He looked at the shops along the roadside.

"Are you a little thirsty too, Jun-kun?" The girl's ability to read people's expressions was still impressive. "Would you like something to drink?"

Jun Matsue nodded. "There's a nice coffee shop up ahead. Let's go buy a coffee."

Upon entering the coffee shop, they found a rather long queue at the counter, so the two sat down by the window to wait.

"There are so many people." Tomatsu Yuka smiled with annoyance. "I should have gone back to the library and come out after lunchtime."

"It's probably because the school season is about to start, so there are quite a few people coming to pay their respects." The boy looked out the floor-to-ceiling window, where the passersby all had youthful faces, their smiles full of anticipation for the future.

A few minutes later, the girl who had been watching the bar stood up. "There aren't many people here. I'll go order first. Tsun-kun, would you like an iced latte or a hot latte today?"

Jun Matsue didn't have the habit of enjoying being served by others. "I'll go with you."

Tomatsu Yuka smiled sweetly at him, and the two stood at the end of the line. Matsueda Jun stood behind the girl, looking up at the menu on the bar.

This was the place where Yami Maki used to buy coffee for the two of them; he remembered that it seemed to be owned by her classmate's family.

Tomatsu Yuka knew nothing of these things, and Matsueda Jun felt there was no need to tell her, just as he hadn't mentioned to his senior that she also liked somen noodles at lunchtime—after the girl took him back to the old haunts, these memories were no longer so special, and rather than becoming meaningless topics of conversation, it was better to let them lie quietly in the corner of his memory.

As Jun Matsueda turned his gaze away from the menu, the door to the café behind him opened, a wind chime rang out, and a group of vibrant young women entered the shop.

"There are more people at Matsuin Shrine than I expected!"

"Since school has started, everyone probably wants to come and offer their prayers, right?"

"It seems like there are more locals here. If it weren't for Moki's suggestion, I wouldn't have known about this place at all!"

The girl in the crowd didn't speak, but just smiled softly and subtly.

The laughter carried a touch of springtime gentleness, which sounded so familiar to Jun Matsuoka, so he didn't turn around, but instead looked up at the menu again.

The iced latte they used to drink together has now gone up by 20 yen.

(End of this chapter)