My Romance Simulation with Them

Kita Ikuyo stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "After all, Nango-senpai might also need... a competitor or something?"

She thought for a long time but couldn't find a suitable way to express her thoughts, so she smiled and gestured:

"So you're saying that there's never any pressure, no competition, and someone just easily takes first place with their genius...it's so boring...or something like that?"

"That's not true at all, Kita-chan!"

"Hey?!"

Kita Ikuyo opened her mouth, somewhat taken aback, as she stared at Goto Ichiri, who had suddenly stood up and was speaking in an unusually loud voice.

This was the first time she had ever seen Goto Ichiri speak so loudly.

You should know that even when Goto Ichiri joins in their conversation, her voice is always very soft and faint, making it hard to hear.

Occasionally, when we bump into each other on the street and exchange greetings, she seems like a frightened hamster, her face showing fear.

Speaking so loudly and with such determination... even Kita Ikuyo, who had been with her for two or three months and was learning guitar from her, was seeing her for the first time.

Fortunately, after Goto Ichiri spoke, he seemed to notice the strange atmosphere around him.

Her pale, gloomy face instantly transformed into an alluring flush in everyone's eyes.

Then, with a snap, she sat back down, but still weakly and quietly continued to emphasize:

"Senior Nanxiang... that person... didn't have it easy. He didn't just rely on his talent to get first place in the grade. There must have been a lot of hard work behind him that ordinary people couldn't have done."

Yes.

Goto Ichiri knew about it.

Hidden beneath the talent he acquired while studying in Nanxiang was the effort and sweat that ordinary people could not sustain.

She knew it from her memory.

Nanxiang actually had a habit of studying every night.

Similarly, the other person is also doing the things that ordinary people do, such as previewing and reviewing, and their plans are much more complete and their efforts are much greater than others.

He actually works hard and never slacks off.

That's why Goto Ichiri stood up to refute Kita Ikuyo's words.

Because she always felt that those words seemed to negate Nango Toki's usual efforts.

"Ah...so that's how it is."

As a cheerful character with many friends, Kita Ikuyo naturally has high emotional intelligence; she immediately understood what Goto Ichiri was trying to express.

"Indeed, what I just said was quite inappropriate."

Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands together and said somewhat apologetically, "I'm sorry, Goto-san, it's wrong to make unfounded assumptions about others based solely on their glamorous side."

"Ah... um... no, no."

Seeing that Kita Ikuyo actually apologized to him in a very serious manner.

This left Goto Ichiri, who had been speaking loudly just moments before, somewhat bewildered.

Seeing Goto Ichiri's bewildered expression, Kita Ikuyo smiled gently.

She didn't want to embarrass Goto Ichiri any further; she simply coughed and steered the conversation back on track:

"Goto-san thinks Nango-senpai will be number one in the grade... right?"

"Ah...yes."

"Then let me talk about the candidates I think are the best."

Kita Ikuyo took out her phone, swiped the screen to show a photo to Goto Ichiri:

"Ta-da! It's Shinjo-senpai, who was second in the grade last time! Although there was a big gap between her and Nango-senpai last time, maybe she can close the gap this time."

"Shinjo...senpai?"

Aside from Nango Toki, Goto Ichiri basically didn't pay attention to the students' grades in their second year of high school.

She peeked over the shoulder a little.

Akane Shinjo...

I silently repeated the name in my mind.

Then she gently shook her head, her voice weak but almost stubborn as she said, "Shinjo-senpai... can't possibly beat Nango-senpai..."

"Huh...? Why did Goto-san say that?"

Kita Ikuyo didn't quite understand Goto Ichiri's theoretical basis: "I heard that Shinjo-senpai seems to be particularly well-prepared this time, and she might actually be able to surpass Nango-senpai."

"In short, it's impossible to surpass it."

Goto Ichiri shrank back, but still kept his head down, stubbornly speaking in a low voice.

"why?"

Kita Ikuyo tilted her head, looking confused.

"Because... it's because he's senior Nango. It's normal for him to get first place."

Goto Ichiri replied in an extremely unreasonable yet self-righteous tone.

"..." Ikuyo Kita.

Kita Ikuyo remained silent.

She squinted and stared at Goto Ichiri.

Goto Ichiri felt quite uncomfortable watching this.

After a long while...

Kita Ikuyo glanced at the crowd around her.

After confirming that he hadn't attracted anyone else, he lowered his voice and spoke with some disbelief:

"Goto-san, you don't actually like Nango-senpai, do you?"

Yes.

Although she found it incredible

But recalling Goto Ichiri's rebuttal earlier.

Then there's her current statement that "it's normal for him to get first place because he's senior Nanxiang," which is almost entirely based on her own subjective opinion and preferences.

Kita Ikuyo could only conclude that the other person liked Nango Toki.

Meanwhile, Goto Ichiri, who was on the other side, heard himself say those words.

That somber, delicate face instantly trembled. She spoke almost incoherently, her hands flailing haphazardly in front of her chest, as she began to say:

"He likes Nanxiang-senpai?! Who is that? I... I don't know anyone like that."

"..." Ikuyo Kita.

It's too obvious.

It's so obvious, Goto-san.

This is exactly the typical reaction of someone who's been told the truth.

Seeing Goto Ichiri's helpless expression.

For some reason, Kita Ikuyo felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest, making her feel much lighter.

Well...

She had actually been keeping an eye on Goto Ichiri all along.

I also know how hard the other person worked to practice guitar, gain recognition from others, and overcome their social anxiety.

But the other party's efforts always yielded little result.

This made Goto Ichiri, who had been practicing guitar by her side, feel genuinely sorry for her.

In her heart, she had long regarded the other person as one of her closest friends.

I have someone I like.

This must have been a big step forward for Goto Ichiri, right?

Such great progress has been made in relation to one's closest friends.

She could only find peace and reassurance.

so good.

Yili sauce.

All the hard work has paid off.

Seeing the blush appear on Goto Ichiri's gloomy face, Kita Ikuyo smiled and thought to herself.

Kita Ikudai gazed at him with a look that said, "My child has grown up."

Goto Ichiri gradually gave up resisting and helplessly lowered her hands.

"So, Goto-san really has fallen for Nango-senpai?"

"...Um."

If I really had to describe how Goto Ichiri feels right now...

So she only has two feelings.

I'm so shy... I feel like dying...

My crush on someone was discovered by my friend...

This is just too much...

"Ah...so touching." When the topic of youth came up, Kita Ikuyo's eyes immediately lit up like they were radiating light: "What is it about Nango-senpai that Goto-san likes?"

"Huh? Huh?"

The social butterfly Kita Ikuyo suddenly changed the subject, leaving Goto Ichiri a little lost for a moment.

"It really comes down to looks, doesn't it? I have to say, Senior Nango is really handsome. He has a kind of clean and refreshing look."