My Romance Simulation with Them

If we're talking about the person who took the initiative to end the band's performance at the cultural festival, it was Kita Ikuyo.

Then there would be no doubt about Ijichi Hoshika.

But the object of his affections turned out to be Goto Ichiri...

This makes one sigh with admiration.

You have to understand that when Goto Ichiri first came to 'Starry Night', he couldn't even do something as simple as standing at the front desk and serving drinks to customers properly.

"I...I...I just wanted to try it."

Goto Ichiri lowered her head and spoke softly—she was too embarrassed to tell Iji Tomoka that she had only made the proposal to please a certain man.

"Really? That's good."

Using a chokehold, Hiroi Kikuri, who kept muttering "have a drink with me," was captured by the neck. Ichika glanced at Goto Ichiri.

In fact, even if Goto Ichiri didn't say it, she could probably guess why Goto Ichiri could have such a change in such a short time.

It's highly likely that—

"Southern countryside time?"

Ms. PA's surprised voice came from behind the bar.

It instantly attracted the attention of Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri next to her.

"Huh? What happened to Nanxiang? PA?"

Subconsciously releasing her grip on Hiroi Kikuri's neck, Ichi Seika asked a question.

"Ah...no. He just left this next to the bar."

After tidying up the manuscript paper with both hands, Ms. PA tilted her head and muttered the title on it.

"Is 'Her Hidden in a Sea of ​​Azaleas'—Nanxiang Shi... a novel?"

"Ah... um... our school just announced a call for submissions for the school magazine 'Ocha' today... Ah Shi... Nango-senpai, you must be preparing for that, right?"

Compared to someone like Ms. PA who was not a student, Goto Ichiri immediately thought of the notice posted at Ocha High School that she had seen that morning.

She extended her hand, her face flushed as she answered.

"Oh...? Is that senior Nango... a boy?"

Keenly noticing the blush creeping up Goto Ichiri's cheeks, the naturally easygoing and carefree Hiroi Kikuri immediately became interested and asked with a smile, her eyes narrowed.

"Uh...that..."

Goto Ichiri opened his mouth.

"Speaking of which, what did he write? I'm a little curious. I think it's okay if I take a look, right?"

"Stop it, you idiot."

Seeing Hiroi Kikuri curiously take Nango Toki's manuscript from PA-san's hand and open it, Iji Toki Hoshika walked over without hesitation to stop her.

However, this time, Ijichi Hoshika didn't have a chance to make a move.

They were completely stunned.

Because she clearly saw it.

Hiroi Kikuri's expression shifted from casual to serious as she casually glanced at the manuscript, and then...

Tears welling in her eyes?

no...

Looking at Hiroi Kikuri, whose nose was twitching and snot was running down her face, Ijichi Nijika, Ms. PA, and Goto Ichiri all opened their mouths, unsure of what to say.

An article written by a high school student.

Do you, a twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old adult, really need to make that kind of face?

Chapter 113. Goto Ichiri's Turn! (8000 words!)

Looking at the manuscript of the novel "Her Hidden in a Sea of ​​Azaleas" in front of me.

Just moments ago, Hiroi Kikuri had been nonchalant and carefree, but her initial laughter gradually turned into silence.

The story begins with an extremely calm monologue from the male protagonist.

The person I love has disappeared.

I will be alone forever.

This is a simple, even somewhat plain, text.

It was as if someone was whispering in her ear in a calm voice.

But I don't know why.

It was precisely this overly calm tone and simple words that gradually calmed her heart, which was filled with alcohol.

The story begins from the male protagonist's perspective and narration.

The male protagonist, A, is a naturally aloof person who has been somewhat insensitive to the emotions of others since birth.

This emotional insensitivity.

As a result, he never made any friends growing up.

Although I live in the city, I am all alone.

Of all the lights in the city, not a single one was ever left on for him.

The writing remains calm and almost plain, but Nango Toki uses extremely delicate expressive techniques to vividly portray the protagonist's feelings and image.

The text from the time of Nanxiang.

It seemed to possess some kind of magic.

Kikuri Hiroi even felt as if the male protagonist was alive right in front of her.

Similarly, Hiroi Kikuri, who started as a nemesis in high school and is determined to change herself, also feels a strange sense of empathy for the male protagonist in the story.

She remained silent and continued flipping through the pages.

During a break from work, the male protagonist travels alone to a distant place.

This is a journey without an end.

When the bus stopped at a station surrounded by a sea of ​​rhododendrons, he was so captivated by the beautiful blooming flowers that he got off the bus.

On that plain where azaleas bloom in abundance, he met a quirky and always enthusiastic girl named Komako.

The male protagonist in the story is attracted by Komako's passion and beauty.

Hiroi Kikuri's feelings also fluctuated along with those of the male protagonist in the story.

The beautiful and passionate Komako was just as described in the text—'The azaleas made the blush on her face even more vibrant, and even her fingertips seemed incredibly lovely to me.'

I met with Komako.

A brief conversation.

This country girl longs for the city.

The male protagonist who was attracted to her...

The characters of these two people seem to exist in the writing of Nango Toki, whom Hiroi Kikuri never met.

It's as if there really is such a sea of ​​azaleas in this world, and Komako exists there.

Hiroi Kikuri, who had been squinting, had unconsciously opened her eyes.

Even the fair hand holding the manuscript couldn't help but flip it back.

Meeting Komako brought her joy.

The separation from Komako saddened her.

Kikuri Hiroi felt as if she were the protagonist of the story.

That protagonist, born dull-witted and utterly uninterested in the emotions of others...

In her eyes, two-dimensional written expression gradually becomes three-dimensional.

It was as if she wasn't in the 'Starry Night' performance hall, but in the protagonist's empty, lifeless home in the story.

Yes.

Hiroi Kikuri raised her head.

She returned home.

No family members offered their greetings.

No LINE messages from my bandmates.

There was no hot food.

All that remained was an empty room and a weary self.

'I want to go back and find Komako.'

A strong thought drove Hiroi Kikuri.

She wanted to see that beautiful and warm-hearted person, to meet her, and to talk to her.

but...

What exactly is the meaning behind these feelings in my heart?

This up-and-down, somewhat restless emotion?

Hiroi Kikuri didn't understand, and could only wander aimlessly, alone, and dejectedly down the street, watching the people come and go before her—

Amidst the comings and goings of people, she alone seemed like a ghost.

It wasn't until she inadvertently shared these feelings with an old man that she realized what was going on.

The old man's words made her suddenly realize the truth.

"This is love! You've clearly fallen deeply in love with that girl!"