Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 683 The Summer's End

When Jun Matsueda entered the Setagaya Library at four o'clock the next afternoon, there was still no one behind the counter.

"..." The boy walked behind the counter and put the backpack he was carrying on the counter.

According to the requirements of the staff, they should at least see the other person arrive at their post during the handover. Although everyone basically assumes that they should leave and go to get off work on time, Tomatsu Tomoka's departure was so decisive and without leaving a trace that he still felt a little strange.

It's as if they're deliberately avoiding themselves.

After all, even Kurusu and Mochizuki had already secretly "checked things out," so it would be even stranger if Tomatsu hadn't resorted to any underhanded tactics...

Taking out his workbook and the book he'd finished reading the night before, Jun Matsueda placed his backpack on an empty chair beside him. He opened the cabinet under the counter, where several overturned water glasses lay.

His matching ceramic mug and Tomatsu's mug stood out among the pile of mugs. The boy picked up his mug, then paused.

The tea bag that had been regularly placed under his cup for the past two days was gone today—replaced by a sticker.

Jun Matsue peeled off the sticker and looked at the delicate handwriting on the soft white rabbit's face.

"Good afternoon, Chun-kun. You must be tired working the night shift today too~"

It wasn't just a simple greeting; there was an upward arrow on the sticker. The boy looked up, and the counter was spotless. Apart from the things he brought, there was only a work log in the center.

Picking up his work log, Jun Matsue noticed a rabbit sticker underneath and blinked.

What is this supposed to be? A treasure hunt mini-game?

The reward should be the missing tea bag… The boy thought to himself as he sat down behind the counter and read the contents of the new sticker.

"Miss Chiyoko said that there aren't many visitors on the night shift, and you're always on duty alone—Tsun-kun has moved out of the apartment, so you're alone at home and alone at work. Doesn't he find life a bit boring?"

"That's why I wrote these sticky notes, hoping to bring you some fun—after all, Tsun-kun doesn't want to meet anyone, so this is the only way I can manage..."

At the end of the text is a new arrow pointing diagonally to the desktop computer fixed on the table, next to a small pink heart.

Jun Matsue smiled helplessly. Besides the girl's delicate and considerate thoughts, he also sensed Tomatsu Yuka's slight resentment.

The reader who was checking out the books walked toward the counter with the books in his hand. The boy put two stickers in his pocket and smiled gently.

"How can I help you?"

Once the counter was empty again, Jun Matsue listened to the sudden chirping of cicadas and reached behind the computer monitor to touch it.

Unsurprisingly, he found the third sticker, and he read it a few minutes faster than before.

"When I was registering the borrowing this morning, I suddenly realized that Jun-kun had borrowed a book yesterday."

"I couldn't find another copy of 'Foolish Love' in the library, so I found a blind spot in the security camera's view of the counter and secretly read it on my phone for a while."

"When I was watching, I thought of a certain annoying guy. I hope Tsunkun won't become her prisoner?"

This time, a small note has been added next to the arrow: "After reading, please paste it on the bottom edge of your computer screen."

Matsueda Jun followed the instructions, and the hollow arrow pointed to the open memo icon on the taskbar.

After clicking, a text box of moderate size appears on the interface of the library management system.

“I now know exactly what Jun-kun is thinking.”

"Like I said before, I won't oppose your decision. Tomatsu Tomohana will always be the one by your side."

"But I hope you can tell me as soon as you make a decision."

"The one thing I don't want to experience again is being kept in the dark by Tsun-kun..."

The mouse cursor stopped there, and the faint warmth in Jun Matsuoka's heart gradually faded, replaced by a sense of guilt.

Tomatsu was referring to his secret relationship with his senior—they had originally agreed that if he liked someone, he would tell her first.

Wiping away the girl's tears once more in his mind, the boy looked at the last line of text on his memo.

"The tea bag is in the pocket of Tsunku's uniform. Remember to add some ice when you brew it~"

He looked down; the staff member's apron pockets were deep and large, so even if something was inside, it wouldn't be easy to spot.

Reaching into his pocket, Jun Matsue pulled out a matcha-colored packaging bag with a last picture of a rabbit's head pasted on it.

"Put it in the thermos I left behind, half ice and half water, and it'll be ready to drink in two hours~"

The boy placed the "Temporarily leaving" sign on the table, then took his thermos and tea bags to the tea room.

A few minutes later, he returned to the counter, placed the white thermos containing iced tea in front of him, and stared at it blankly.

Even if someone moves out of the apartment and goes to work alone, it's impossible to completely sever ties with the girls and remain unaffected by them.

However, Jun Matsuoka was already mentally prepared—the scales in his heart had already tipped, and there was no need to hesitate or delay any longer.

The boy took out his phone and searched for various events, big and small, in Tokyo over the past few days.

As the temperature outside the window gradually cooled and the night sky turned a deep purple, he opened the chat list and found the gentle and innocent rabbit avatar.

"Is Yuhua free the night after tomorrow?"

"Of course there is~" the girl replied quickly, showing no trace of the complex emotions written in her computer memo.

"Does Jun-kun have any plans?"

"Let's go release floating lanterns into the Sumida River."

Jun Matsue stared at the chat box on the screen for a moment, then a short voice message popped up.

"Good~"

He put down his phone, opened the tightly sealed thermos, and the rich fragrance of jasmine filled the air, making him feel refreshed and relaxed.

The ice had almost melted, and the sweet tea flowed over his lips and teeth. The rich aroma washed away his thoughts, and Jun Matsuoka turned to look out the window.

The night sky stretched towards the distant buildings, the twilight deepening slightly. An airplane swept across the city, its steel form invisible, only its navigation lights flashing, slowly piercing the dark curtain of the sky.

It was time to make a decision, he thought.

August 16th marked the sixth day since Jun Matsue moved out of the Mitakadai housing complex.

At 4:30 p.m., when the boy walked out of Ueno subway station, the girl in the white dress was already waiting at the exit, waving to him with a smile.

Tomatsu Yuka stood under the shade of a tree by the roadside, watching the outstanding boy walk towards her.

"Tsun-kun, long time no see~"

"Long time no see." Jun Matsue stopped and looked at the girl's pure and innocent eyes.

“I thought I would arrive a little earlier than you.” “I had lunch at my grandfather’s house, which is closer to here.” Tomatsu Yuka smiled.

"It's the Obon festival." The two walked towards Ueno Park, which wasn't far away. "Is it convenient for you to come out with me?"

"What's inconvenient about it?" the girl asked matter-of-factly. "We don't usually have much contact with my maternal grandfather's family."

"And when I told my grandma about my date today, she immediately urged me to leave excitedly."

The boy smiled.

“I didn’t expect Jun-kun to come looking for me so soon.” Tomatsu Yuka turned her head to look at him.

"Have you made up your mind?"

“…Not yet.” Jun Matsueda looked up at the sky.

Tokyo is experiencing partly cloudy skies today. The distant sky is shrouded in clouds, while the nearby sky is a clean, light blue. Cumulus clouds, a unique feature of summer, drift lazily by. Although it's not yet as cool as autumn, the heat is not noticeable either, making it a pleasant day for going out.

"However, a decision will be made before tomorrow."

"Is that so?" The girl tilted her head and tentatively took his hand. "So, am I cheating now?"

The boy shook his head. "This is also to make the scales in my heart tip completely."

"..." Tomatsu Yuka looked into his eyes, "This makes me a little nervous."

Jun Matsue smiled and squeezed her hand. "The lantern festival doesn't start until tonight. Let's wander around Ueno for now."

She had been hoping to find out the answer sooner... The girl pouted, unwilling to give up.

She quickly composed herself, her brown pupils transforming back into a harmless, gentle expression.

"So where should we go first? Shinobazu Pond? Hakama-no-bi Plaza? Shopping street? Ueno's summer festival has so many events."

The boy thought for a moment, then said, "Let's go to Shinobazu Pond first."

"Let's go see the lotus flowers while it's still early."

No matter when you come, Ueno Park always seems to be crowded with people. The young boys and girls found a small path to avoid the dense crowds and head to the pond.

"The last time I came to Ueno was when I was seeing the cherry blossoms." Holding her sweetheart's arm, Tomatsu Yuka's face showed a look of reminiscence.

"Summer is almost over in the blink of an eye, time flies so fast."

Matsueda Jun looked at the crowd that was faintly visible on the other side of the tree-lined path. "It's the last year. The remaining days will pass by faster and faster."

He did not agree with the girl's words—in the boy's view, too many things had happened in the past few months, so many that it was almost too long and overwhelming.

He falls in love with Tomatsu, becomes an actor for Imokawa, a bodyguard for Kurusu, and falls in love with Mochizuki...

A failed breakup, a fallen idol career, the reappearance of the system, and various emotional pressures, both direct and indirect, faced by the girls.

From spring to summer, in less than half a year, Jun Matsuoka's vision for the future had been completely overturned.

"The faster time flies, the more we need to appreciate it," Tomatsu Yuka said with a smile. "We can't let it slip away!"

The boy tightened his grip on their clasped hands in response. They reached the end of the tree-lined path; although they hadn't yet seen any lotus flowers, the dense sound of wind chimes already reached their ears.

Strolling along the pond, the first thing that catches the eye is the open, clear sky, followed by the various stalls set up on the ground. This is the antique market by Shinobazu Pond, which has been running day and night for a month now. Although they are all small items such as calligraphy, paintings, porcelain, and ornaments, which would not normally stand out in a shop, people's restlessness and laziness under the scorching sun are perfectly suited to be vented on these insignificant objects.

Without lingering over the dazzling array of goods, Jun Matsue put his arm around the girl beside him and led her through the crowd toward the covered bridge over the pond not far away.

The flow of people paused and divided here, crisscrossing like a school of fish. Tomatsu Yuka nestled in the boy's arms, watching his arms press against the shoulders and backs of those around them, creating a small space just for the two of them, and then resolutely moved forward.

A sense of security welled up within her, and the girl affectionately nuzzled her beloved's cheek, her soft brown eyes as sweet and sticky as honey.

Leaving the crowd, vast expanses of green appeared before them. The pond was covered with emerald green lotus leaves, swaying in the breeze under the clear sky, and partially concealing the scattered pale pink lotus blossoms.

Matsue Jun released the girl from his arms and looked at the corridor that parted the lotus pond in front of him.

Transparent wind chimes hang from the top of the covered bridge, their sky-blue paper fluttering, their clear sounds creating a tangible breeze that rushes towards them.

“Wow…” Tomatsu Tomoka opened her lips, her eyes somewhat dazed, “It’s much prettier than Shinobazu Pond in spring.”

"Don't just stare," the boy said with a smile, taking her hand in his.

The two stepped onto the covered bridge, and the sound of bells, like a sudden rain in the forest, drowned out the noise of the crowd in the distance.

The covered bridge was not long, forming only a small loop around the pond. They soon reached the platform that turned back in the middle.

There were no wind chimes or rooftop shelter in this section, and the young boys and girls all looked up at the blue waves of the sky overhead.

Lotus leaves and wind chimes surround the edge of the field of vision, setting off the boundless blue—as if even the soul becomes light and airy, turning into a cloud and floating into the sky.

The girl's voice rang in Jun Matsueda's ears.

"Standing beside Chunjun, watching Xia Tian end like this, I feel extremely happy right now."

"That's good." The boy continued to gaze at the sky.

The reason he asked Tomatsu out today was to ease the girl's unforgettable pain.

The girl may not remember, but on this day last year, August 16th, was the day that Jun Matsue and Maki Yamami watched the Gozan no Okuribi (Five Mountains Fireworks) in Kyoto.

The photo of the two kissing that Mochizuki Haruka showed Tomatsu Yuka was taken during the Gozan no Okuribi festival.

Jun Matsue only learned about this recently; it was Tomatsu Yuka from the simulation who told her senior, and then the senior told him.

The boy lowered his head and looked at the pure and content girl beside him.

Mochizuki is cruel and cunning, Tomatsu is cunning and cruel... He could only think this helplessly in his heart.

Those painful and ugly memories are hard to erase. All Jun Matsueda can do is leave behind enough beautiful new memories with the girl and try his best to cover them up.

This was true for the girls, and it was also true for him. The boy leaned on the railing, looking at the lotus leaves so close to his eyes.

Only in this way can one gradually become concerned about the past, and become greedy enough to try to hold everything in one's hands.

So today's date with Tomatsu Tomoka is also to add another weight to the scales of my love, so that the girl beside me can be on par with Mochizuki Haruka.

Now that he's like this, he should be able to make up his mind, right? Jun Matsue turned his head to look at their hands, which had somehow become clasped together again.

However, there was one last thing he needed to do before making a decision.

He broke up with Tomatsu Yuka.

(End of this chapter)