My Romance Simulation with Them

【...】

The song ended.

The entire room fell silent.

The entire room was so quiet that only her weak breathing could be heard through the microphone.

next moment--

Thunderous applause!

Chapter 41. What is loneliness?

The rapid guitar solo, like a sudden downpour in a clear summer sky, strikes the heart of everyone.

Goto Ichiri's weak singing voice is no match for Kita Ikuyo, who has performed as the lead singer on stage many times.

But offstage, no one could ignore the heart-wrenching emotion in his voice.

And from this song...

Nango Toki, who knew them best, heard Goto Ichiri's inner struggle, regret, and accusation.

"I don't want to let my timidity hold me back anymore..."

"I've had enough of being single..."

Can you hear me...?

"I don't want to live under a gloomy sky anymore. I want to talk to others. I don't want to pretend to enjoy being alone anymore!"

"Can you hear me?!"

Through her voice, so thin it was almost imperceptible.

"Can you see it?!"

It seems I really saw it when I was in Nanxiang.

During recess, she saw other classmates chatting, but could only sit at her desk in a daze.

She sat alone on a swing in the park.

She was curled up alone in the closet at night, scrolling through her phone screen with her fingers.

As the band finished playing, she turned around and watched them leave.

She only dared to reach out and wave goodbye gently when they turned their backs.

She has spent her whole life trying to overcome her social anxiety.

"Is social anxiety fun?! Is it fun to watch me embarrass myself because of my social anxiety?!"

She roared in frustration.

I saw it when I was in Nanxiang.

Sweat dripped from the edges of her fair cheeks as she played.

Scattered on the stage.

Like sparkling stars.

really beautiful.

As the entire piece came to a close.

The entire room fell silent.

A monologue that belongs only to her.

Her songs are unique to her.

It's all about emotion, no technique involved.

But that's precisely why it's so gripping.

The applause started with one person, then it came from two.

Then, as if infected by the applause, the entire venue was filled with thunderous applause!

[You were already in tears as you gazed at her.]

[You've been paying attention to her all along, but you've never considered that she's actually been struggling with social anxiety, agonizing over it, and even complaining about it.]

You once asked her what loneliness was. She thought about it for a long time, and this was her answer.

I took a shower and changed into new clothes, but I don't know where to go or who to talk to.

Perhaps this is loneliness.

[You, sitting in the audience, look up and can't help but wonder, what would have happened if she hadn't joined the End Band?]

She didn't join a band. After graduating high school, she hastily took a job through her parents' introduction. The harsh realities of society gradually eroded her spirit, so she cut her hair short, changed into clothes suitable for going out, stopped updating her Guitar Hero account, and her guitar, lying in a corner covered in dust, lived the same life every day, afraid to look others in the eye, timid and withdrawn.

The band's performance ended abruptly, just as the atmosphere had reached its peak thanks to Ichiri Goto.

However, those present did not feel regret.

The following day, the song "I Don't Want to Die Alone" was named one of the ten most worthwhile rock songs to listen to this century by the renowned Japanese music magazine "Rock in Japan."

[Major record companies sent out various lucrative contracts.]

But you no longer have time for such things.

The day after the performance, Goto Ichiri confessed his feelings to you.

Even when she was with you, her voice remained weak and feeble.

[Only then did you realize that "I Don't Want to Die Lonely" was a piece created by the entire band working together painstakingly.]

This is her monologue to you.

[But this surprises you even more. You're not a blockhead, nor are you a light novel protagonist with low emotional intelligence. You naturally know that it wasn't just Goto Ichiri; perhaps Yamada Ryo, Ijichi Nijika, and Kita Ikuyo all had feelings for you... and perhaps they still do now.]

[Regarding your surprise, Yamada Ryo remained aloof and elegant, while Ichiji Nijika and Kita Ikuyo flashed playful and adorable smiles.]

They know you like her, so how could they bear to force you to stay by their side?

"It's time to let you go. Thank you for everything." They seem to have let go of the past, and that's what they're telling you.

You looked at them, said nothing more, and turned to accept Goto Ichiri's confession.

That day, Yamada Ryo lay in bed for a long, long time, unable to fall asleep. Your photo on her phone brightened her eyes.

That day, Ijichi Nigatsu buried her head in Ijichi Seika's arms and cried for a very long time.

That day, Kita Ikuyo chatted with her friends until very late.

You and Ichiri Goto are officially dating.

[Her personality has improved; she can now look people in the eye directly, and her speech is no longer as hesitant as before.]

Your family was overjoyed to learn that your girlfriend was Goto Ichiri. Her well-behaved and sensible nature quickly won over your parents and sister.

[Even after the band ended, their activities continued. After performing at the Budokan, they became a national rock band with countless fans.]

At a press conference, Goto Ichiri announced her relationship with you and the fact that you were already engaged.

Under the spotlight, she holds your hand, adorned with your engagement ring, and smiles with happiness for the first time.

Riding the wave of this buzz, reporters also made sure to ask Yamada Ryo and other former band members about their favorite people.

They merely exchanged a glance, then smiled faintly, shook their heads, and said nothing more.

Their reluctance to disclose information attracted the attention of many reporters, and paparazzi began to conduct covert investigations into the band.

[But their investigation stalled from the very beginning. You were the only man the band members interacted with on weekdays, and there were few records of you chatting with other men. They couldn't even dig up any gossip.]

[So, after a month of intensive investigation, the paparazzi reluctantly abandoned their investigation into the band's downfall.]

[The band members' crushes gradually became urban legends discussed by others.]

During this period, riding the wave of popularity of "I Don't Want to Die Lonely," the number of End Band's fans exploded.

You've become a national sensation!

Countless people express their love for you; your concert tickets are extremely difficult to obtain; and your albums sell out as soon as they are released.

[It was precisely at the peak of their career that a significant event occurred within the band as they came to an end.]

You married Ichiri Goto.

Chapter 42. The Dream of Happiness Will Continue

"We've finally gotten back to the path of marriage."

In reality, Nango Toki finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Whether it's Goto Ichiri's monologue during her performance or her confession to herself.

He saw it all.

After going through so many ups and downs, they finally reached the point of getting married.

What will be different this time?

He immersed his consciousness into the deepest part of the simulation.

It wasn't much different from the previous two wedding banquets.

In Nanxiang, the wedding invitations were still limited to close friends.

At the wedding banquet, she, with her fair face and light makeup, felt embarrassed, but this time was different from the previous two.

She wasn't intimidated.

She has been trying her best to overcome it and encouraging herself.

This time, not only did Nanxiang Shi entertain the guests, but Nanxiang Yili also stepped forward to help take care of them.

The wife's beauty and thoughtfulness amazed the guests.

[That night, the band members, along with you and Nanxiang Yili, drank together.]