My Romance Simulation with Them

She's spending more time with you now.

"......" Nanxiang time.

Ms. Yamada, you...

Nanxiang rubbed his temples; he was at a loss for words.

Ms. Yamada, you really are...

He shook his head and continued reading.

You've let go of everything about Akane Shinjo and returned to a normal life.

It was at this moment that a black-haired girl appeared.

She took the initiative to contact you and wanted to talk to you.

[You know the other person, their name is Rikka Takarada, and they seem to be part of Akane Shinjo's large group of 'friends,' if that person also has friends—]

Ocha High School is unusually quiet after school.

Aside from the shouts of "Go! Go! Go! We'll be number one in the nation next year!" from the sports team, there were no other sounds.

Nango Toki shifted his gaze from the sports club members who were full of youthful energy and passion, and turned to Takarada Rikka.

This is another beautiful girl.

Her shoulder-length black hair cascaded down like exquisite black silk, and her clear, bright blue eyes looked exceptionally pure.

But none of this concerns him.

More than anything else, he was puzzled as to why Rikka Takarada had come to him.

The two had only met once before, because of Akane Shinjo.

There shouldn't be any other intersections.

Thinking of Akane Shinjo, Toki Nanago's eyebrows twitched, and he turned his head: "What is it, Takarada-kun?"

His words were calm, yet carried a hint of unfamiliarity.

"Nanxiang, why did you stop?"

Rikka Takarada, bathed in the setting sun, spoke with a calm tone, but the content of her words was somewhat radical.

"Continue? Continue what?"

"Continue your relationship with Shinjo! Aren't you two in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship?"

Rikka Takarada tilted her head back and asked a question, but to Toki Nanago's ears, this question evoked some indescribable feelings.

"Perhaps that's really how Baoduo sees it."

Nango Toki gave Takarada Rikka a deep look, then shook his head:

"It's not that I don't want to continue. You can probably tell, right? Shinjo isn't actually interested in anyone, including me."

"She never revealed her true feelings to anyone, including you and me."

Yes.

Akane Shinjo never revealed her true feelings to him.

All she was interested in was his writing skills; everything else was meaningless.

Rikka Takarada fell silent.

She probably knew that what Nanxiang said was true.

"The outward sunshine and positivity are just things on the surface of Shinjo-kun. There are deeper things... I have wanted to understand them and have worked hard for them, but Shinjo-kun has never given me the chance."

Nanxiang rested her chin on her hand and sighed softly.

That's right.

He had once decided to work hard for Akane Shinjo.

They have paid a heavy price for this.

I tried everything to make her happy and gain her trust, but nothing worked.

Nanxiang paused for a moment, then continued, "Otherwise, why didn't her, her official girlfriend, take the initiative to contact me? Instead, it was you, her friend, who begged me to continue my relationship with her?"

Of course—if one-sided love counts as a relationship.

After saying this, Nango picked up the student shoulder bag from the table and prepared to leave.

Just then, Rikka Takarada's voice came from behind:

“Nanxiang classmate.”

"Ok?"

"Do you really think...you haven't touched Shinjo-san's heart...even just once?"

What does that mean?

Nanxiang turned his head around unconsciously.

Then I saw Rikka Takarada's expression as she stood in the classroom under the setting sun.

She looked very sad in the setting sun.

That was also the last time I saw her during my time at Ocha High School, when I was in Nango.

After graduating from Ocha High School and successfully entering the University of Tokyo, you gradually grow closer to Yamada Ryo.

When she met Rikka Takarada again, she brought news of Akane Shinjo's passing.

Chapters 1-3. The One Who's Always Pretending (4000 words!)

Rikka Takarada...?

Looking at the name, Nanxiang Shi in real life was slightly stunned.

Because the other party is also one of the female protagonists in "SSSS.GRIDMAN".

It seems she has a pretty good relationship with Akane Shinjo.

As for the other detailed settings, Nango was a bit unclear about them.

He continued looking down.

When I met Rikka Takarada again, her shoulder-length black hair had grown long.

[Yamada Ryo sensed something was off and quickly sat down on the other side, put on his headphones, and drank his coffee. But every now and then, his expressionless face would glance in your direction.]

[You were mostly surprised by Rikka Takarada's sudden arrival, but upon hearing the news of Akane Shinjo's passing, your surprise turned to shock.]

Because you never imagined that the girl who had completely immersed herself in a facade would leave so soon.

You soothe Rikka, whose eyes are red, and invite her to sit down.

[Under your composed approach, Rikka Takarada regained her usual languid and calm demeanor, and through her narration, you gradually learned the whole story.]

During the simulation, scene memories begin to flash back.

It was probably in the coffee shop, the warm and cozy atmosphere that made Rikka Takarada, who had just attended a funeral, relax.

Looking at Nango in front of her, she began to recount in a low voice what had happened between her and Shinjo Akane after graduating from Ocha High School.

It turns out that long ago, Rikka Takarada and Akane Shinjo were neighbors.

It was during that time that she met Akane Shinjo, and they often went to school together and became friends.

This is different from the kind of 'friendship' that Shinjo Akane formed.

Rikka Takarada is probably the only person Akane Shinjo is willing to open her heart to.

Nanxiang simply listened without saying a word.

At this moment, a silent listener would be better able to take care of Rikka Takarada's feelings than a talkative one.

After clarifying her past relationship with Akane Shinjo, she naturally brought up the matter of Ocha High School.

"I suppose you know Nanxiang, right? When Qian was a student, she would always ask you questions about writing."

Rikka Takarada looked at the tea set on the table, as if trying to see Akane Shinjo's shadow in it.

But she had undoubtedly failed, so she looked up and spoke.

"...I have had such an experience."

When Nanxiang was called out, he nodded in agreement.

The daily writing consultation session is a rare opportunity for Akane Shinjo to reveal a part of her true self.

Her obsession with writing surprised Nanxiang Shidu somewhat.

After all, Akane Shinjo has always acted as if she doesn't care about anything.

If you don't care, you naturally won't have any expectations.

But when it comes to writing, she has never relaxed or ignored it.

"The reason why she cares so much about writing is because it is a dream that Qian has always pursued."

When Rikka Takarada looked up at Nango, she sighed softly, "Nango probably knows that Akane has an extraordinary passion for tokusatsu dramas, right?"

"That's clear."

Nanxiang nodded.

Unlike most girls, Akane Shinjo's love for tokusatsu dramas is truly beyond imagination.

Akane Shinjo knows so much about the Ultraman series, down to which episode features which monster.

Thinking of this, Nanxiang turned his head:

"Sorry, it's cold."

"Ok?"

Yamada Ryo took off his headphones and blinked his amber eyes at him strangely.

"It's nothing, I was just talking to myself."