Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 692 Compensation, Ex-Boyfriend and Splitting the Bill

"But I think it's not too late to try again to make you like me."

After the girl finished speaking, the small two-person booth fell silent.

The slanting sunlight bathed most of the intersection outside the window, casting a dim yellow hue that spread across the zebra crossing, traffic lights, and the surfaces of the surrounding buildings.

It was as if the noise of the city intersection and the natural hustle and bustle of summer had been drowned out, leaving only the lingering warmth of the sun, rising and licking the back of the hand of the person by the window.

Jun Matsue looked up at the glowing chandelier on the ceiling.

He had heard countless confessions of love before, but when faced with his senior's heartfelt words, he still didn't know how to respond.

Should we rekindle our initial resentment and mock her sudden realization, or should we express our sighs about the passage of time and the changes in circumstances?

We can't exactly encourage her to bravely pursue love, can we?
"..." It wasn't until the light dazzled his eyes that Jun Matsueda lowered his head and looked at the girl sitting opposite him.

"I'm not the type to dwell on regrets, and I rarely reminisce about the past or want to relive past loves—"

The boy initially thought it was impossible, but it seems someone has already done it.

He once had feelings for Tomomichi Tomatsu, which, while not quite romantic love, were close.

His feelings for Mochizuki Haruka evolved from initial gratitude and friendliness to disdain and annoyance, and finally to an inability to imagine life without her. If Matsueda Jun had told these things two years ago, he certainly wouldn't have believed him.

So Jun Matsuoka's lips froze for a moment, then changed again.

“I don’t expect this to happen.”

"It's just a waste of time for my senior to focus on me."

“It’s okay to waste time!” Yamami Maki, sitting opposite, breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been observing the boy's expression the whole time—what girls fear most is seeing disgust, annoyance, or "troublesome" emotions.

If someone wants to keep their distance from you, it will be difficult to even get closer to you, let alone pursue or be together.

Even if it's just wishful thinking on my part, that's fine too!

Even after the boy withdrew his hand, Yamami Maki maintained her forward-leaning posture with her arm outstretched, showing no sign of backing down.

"I don't want to end up like Yamami Maki in the simulation, drifting further and further away from Tsunku, only able to watch from the sidelines as your life becomes a complete mess..."

Yamami Maki gazed at the pupils in front of her, which were tinged with the color of the setting sun.

"I want to stay by your side and be the greatest guarantee of your happiness."

It's okay if the guy rejects her—even if she inevitably feels disappointed, she can just pick herself up and start again.

The only thing the girl can't stand right now is that she's standing still on the path of life.

After all, she had been wandering on this path to freedom and happiness for a very, very long time.

Matsueda Jun looked at the square table in front of him. His senior's hands, clasped together, were tightly clenched and trembled slightly with the fluctuations of her emotions.

He gently pushed the girl's fist back.

“If my senior wants to ‘atone’ or ‘make amends’ or something like that, I don’t need it.”

"I said this when we last met: there's no point in dwelling on the past, and I have no regrets."

“I know.” Yamami Maki nodded.

"I'm not trying to win back my past relationship, I just want to strive for a fresh start." Accompanying Jun Matsueda in making a decision in reality, the girl no longer yearns for a perfect world for two.

Having witnessed various scenarios in the simulations, Yamami Maki understood the abnormal romantic feelings of the girls. Only her own "ordinary" love, which they looked down upon, could truly guarantee Tsunkun's happiness.

So even if they can't become lovers, she will try her best to get closer to Matsueda Jun—unless she sees it with her own eyes, Yamami Maki will never feel at ease about the boy's future.

"And Matsueda-kun is wrong about one thing," the girl smiled. "I already had something to make it up to you—"

"I owed you two favors back then, and I still haven't paid back one of them."

Jun Matsue paused, watching her lower her head, put the straw in her mouth, and sip the milkshake in front of her, which was coated with a golden layer.

He once played the timpani for the band, and later tutored his senior in a biology competition. Feeling indebted, the girl couldn't find a way to express her gratitude, so she resorted to doing favors to make up for it.

Later, a favor was repaid by providing a practice room for the No. 2 band, which gradually warmed their relationship. However, the favor was never repaid by the time they broke up, and the matter was eventually left unresolved.

If Yamami Maki hadn't brought it up today, he might have truly forgotten these things buried deep in his memory.

In that sense, Jun Matsueda even owes the girl some compensation—

Tomatsu Yuka lied about the note at the sports meet, which made the senior who actually drew "the person she likes" feel wronged and demand compensation from him.

"I'm too happy now, so I'll leave this opportunity to make amends to my future self." That's what Yamami Maki said back then.

The boy watched the afterglow slowly spread across the table between them.

These memories, which had never even begun, were completely sealed away along with their abruptly ended romance.

“I have no obligation or intention to interfere with you,” Jun Matsue said once again.

"My life is busy enough right now. No matter what your intentions are or what you want to do, it's just an unnecessary disturbance to me. All I'll get in return is rejection."

“It’s okay, I can wait.” Yamami Maki put down the milkshake, her smile becoming even gentler.

"I know that Matsueda has a lot of problems to solve right now, so I won't cause you any trouble."

"..." Matsueda Jun looked at her serene, spring-like eyes and was speechless.

The senior student's appearance was truly flawless. Like the wind that blows across a passerby's face when cherry blossoms first bloom, gentle yet undeniably captivating.

However, the boy thought to himself, "She probably doesn't have that much time and energy to devote to herself."

After all, Ochanomizu and Haneoka High School are quite far apart, and even if the Yamami family doesn't value her, she's reached the age where she needs to get involved in family affairs.

Jun Matsue finished the last sip of his milkshake and wiped his lips with a tissue.

"up to you."

Ten minutes later, the two paid at the counter of the coffee shop, and the clerk standing behind the computer smiled at them.

"Are you two a couple?"

"If you often come to Shibuya for dates, you might consider getting a membership card so both of you can enjoy discounts?"

"Thank you." Before Matsueda Jun could deny it, Yamami Maki spoke up with a smile.

He is my ex-boyfriend.

After paying their bills under the surprised gaze of the shop assistant, the two, no longer a couple, walked out of the coffee shop together.

(End of this chapter)