My love game with them that will lead to certain death

"How can money be enough? Considering other people's needs and giving appropriate compensation is a sincere apology, right?"

The curly-haired boy raised his chin and looked down at Pochi who was avoiding his gaze, and finally raised the corner of his mouth in an intriguing arc.

"At least you have to do what I say, for that to be considered as adequate compensation, right?"

Of course, Pochi didn't owe him anything, and there was nothing for him to apologize for, but how could he let go of the opportunity to order someone around so easily?

"Let me see your sincerity, you voyeuristic pink caterpillar who likes to hide in the corner and observe others."

“Wow, you’re pushing it too far. You’re such a bad person.”

Ijichi Hongxia on the side looked at the frightened little Pochi with worry. She didn't know the relationship between the two and seemed to be hesitating whether to speak up to smooth things over for her. At the same time, she also hoped that this one-sided bullying could end soon.

"As long as you don't ask me to do anything illegal, then it's fine..."

Hey, you agreed too quickly! Pochi-chan, are you exploding with your M attribute? !

“Why, why do I feel like this is about to turn into a criminal case, Senpai…!”

Even the energetic Kita Ikuyo could see that this was an overwhelming bullying. She turned her gaze, which represented a plea for help, to Yamada Ryo, who was sitting next to her and calmly accepted all of Kita's food.

"Oh? No, no."

Unlike Kita Ikuyo who was in a panic and wanted to do something, Ms. Yamada Ryo just waved her hand nonchalantly without even stopping chewing her food.

"That's probably just a way of trying to get closer to others. Just like when we were little, when a jerk boy was curious about a girl, he would always use bullying to cover up his real intention of wanting to get along with her."

"Why use such an extreme method?!"

"Oh sorry, we weirdos always use unusual methods to show kindness."

Ms. Yamada Ryo smiled as if to say, "We're all weirdos, just let us be" - although there was no remorse in that expression, and it even seemed like she was proud of it instead of being ashamed.

What a weird senior, but he actually has a unique charm.

Miss Kita Ikuyo blushed as she looked at the handsome (disgusting) Ryo who was smiling, then turned to look at the satisfied Ming Hai, and for a moment she thought to herself "maybe these two people can get along well."

The two Ichichi sisters were the only ones present who sighed helplessly - as the only two reliable people in the room, they were also somewhat exhausted from dealing with such situations and taking care of problem children.

Especially after the curly-haired boy stood up, breaking the already not-so-harmonious atmosphere.

"Thank you for the treat, boss. I am very satisfied with the meal today."

He symbolically thanked Mr. Ijichi, and then turned his gaze to Goto Ichiri, who was sitting there anxiously waiting for him to speak.

"Pink Caterpillar, come to the venue three hours early tomorrow."

Then, he spoke in an unquestionable tone, like an order.

"I will never forgive you if you are late."

Trigger keyword "I'll never forgive you".

Feeling threatened, Pochi-chan stiffened her body and nodded like a machine that answered every question.

"Yes Yes…!"

"I still have to take care of it!"

Archangel Hongxia standing by had no way of concealing her worry on her face.

written request for leave

I've been busy in all aspects these days...! My work and rest schedule is also irregular. Anyway, I'll adjust myself first. I'm really sorry to everyone (????)? I'll resume updating the next day! (If I adjust myself tomorrow, I'll still update in the evening (.o︿o.)) I'll take a day off and resume!

Chapter 25: Comfortable Numbness

Goto Ichiri, who inexplicably entered the "future simulation", once wondered why he was so unlucky to encounter such a thing.

But after entering the simulation, she undeniably found some fragments of memory that made her exclaim, "So there was such an experience...that doesn't seem bad."

That was the boy from the neighboring house who was the first to break the wall and give her the possibility to explore the outside world during the more than ten years of dark life in which Goto Ichiri isolated herself and built a high and thick barrier between herself and her peers.

In reality, she had never met such an unreasonable peer in her childhood who always cared about her and took her to play, so this boy who appeared in the corner of her memory seemed particularly special.

The boy in her memory was cheerful and lively, and never disliked her for being clumsy and shy and unwilling to step out of her comfort zone.

He doesn't look like the same person as the curly-haired boy in front of him with a mocking look on his face.

"You want to play guitar so quietly? I can't hear you at all!"

"Sorry…"

"Louder—I can't hear you!"

“S-Sorry…!”

In the center of the huge stage venue, the pink-haired girl lowered her head and responded to the boy's ridicule in a low voice, occasionally observing the other person's expression changes through the gap in her bangs that were about to cover her eyes.

"This is the song we agreed to perform together when we were little... You sound so nervous when playing it, it seems like you haven't memorized it at all."

The young man sneered, his originally handsome face filled with mockery.

"Who is this arrogant guy now?!"

Although she totally couldn't understand why Ming Hai was so mean to her, Pochi-chan, who would never get into a conflict with others, didn't dare to even breathe a sound.

"Shouldn't a reunion after a long separation be enough to make people cry and forget their past grudges? Isn't that how all hot-blooded boys' comics for boys unfold...!"

"Who do you want to hear this little sound? Even the band members on stage may not be able to hear it, right?"

It was completely different from the expected reaction - the curly-haired boy just looked at Pochi, who was holding the guitar and lowering his brows, with a playful laugh.

"Since you were able to forget our agreement and form a band with others, I thought you could at least overcome your social phobia. I didn't expect that this is all."

“What on earth has happened in the past few years to turn the gentle and cheerful Narumi-kun into such a vengeful and sadistic person!!”

But even so, Pochi-chan didn't dare to refute it out loud and could only question it quietly in her heart.

Of course, what she didn't know was that the real thought deep in the heart of the fierce Ming Hai Toru was actually -

"It's really hard to play a tsundere character whose thoughts and actions are completely opposite to each other. Sure enough, there is a reason why you retired from the game."

Ming Hai Tetsu has to admit that his role-playing career has not been smooth sailing.

Although the down-and-out novelist "Murakami Toru" he simulated for the first time behaved strangely and had changeable thoughts, he did not think that he was that difficult to understand. After all, as long as he could understand his logic, he could follow the clues to find out his style of behavior, and finally put it into action - the role-playing was completed.

The down-and-out novelist "Murakami Toru" has an eccentric way of thinking and does things based on his own preferences without considering the consequences, which actually has some overlap with his own, so Minghai doesn't feel any sense of incongruity at all.

But this third-rate bassist "Numumi Toru" is not only emotionally rich and sensitive, but also a little too hypocritical.

Sometimes I really can't understand you, the tsundere type who would ridicule and suppress the people you care about. Is it really so difficult to say what you think?

However, in order to achieve a high synchronization rate with such an awkward and hypocritical guy, Ming Hai still came up with corresponding measures.

That is to give up emotional resonance and just start performing.

Anyway, they are all the kind of people who think "she is so cute" but blurt out "you ugly girl". Whether they are mean, sensitive, hypocritical tsundere or arrogant villain who sneers at others with real feelings - they can all be performed for you.

"Oh, by the way, I also watched your performance yesterday. Although there were a lot of mistakes, the main reason was still your fault, Caterpillar."

The boy approached the pink-haired girl, whose forehead was oozing with beads of sweat, and whispered in her ear with a deliberately mocking tone.

"I don't dare to perform in front of the audience so I put myself in a cardboard box. Now I really doubt whether you can "compensate" me well."

Well, actually Ming Hai himself felt that it was a bit dangerous and a bit weird to say that - from a relatively objective third party's perspective, there was really nothing that Pochi needed to compensate him for, and it was understandable that the childhood promise was fragile and insignificant.

"If Naru-Narukai-kun tells you... I'll do my best!"

But even though this was the case, the pink caterpillar still agreed with a blushing face. Even though she was a little timid and ashamed, she still gritted her teeth and took on the responsibility.

If he is a kind-hearted person, he will definitely not bully such an honest and cute child. Even if the "Toru Narumi" in the future has a bit of a double-faced personality, he will definitely be soft-hearted towards Pochi-chan.

But unfortunately, Ming Hai, who participated in this role-playing game, was not a kind-hearted person.

"Since you and I now have our own bands, the previous agreement to form a band together is no longer valid. So, let's make a new agreement."

Ming Hai picked up the bass placed beside him, and then looked at Pochi-chan who was holding the guitar tightly in both hands and waiting for his fate.

"When we reach a bigger and better stage, we will perform together again - this is our new promise."

Miss Goto Ichiri, who was always timid and whose first reaction when encountering difficult interpersonal relationships was to escape, was slightly startled, and her originally dull eyes became more shiny.

“But the prerequisite is that you are not allowed to seal yourself in a mango carton anymore.”

But after hearing the additional conditions, it turned back into a timid pink caterpillar.

"Well, well... I can promise you the rest, but hiding in the cardboard box won't affect my voice and performance... I promise!"

"Isn't it me who is asking for compensation? Why is the caterpillar talking to himself? Are you bargaining with me?"

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry…!”

Ah, what on earth is this indescribable strange pleasure that persecuting Pochi-chan brings?

Ijichi Kouka, who had been watching the two's every move from the bottom of the stage, was quite worried. Yamada Ryo, who had accompanied her to check on Pochi and Narumi, had an indifferent look on his face, saying "It doesn't matter, I'll start the show", and was drinking iced Americano leisurely.

"Hey, hey, that guy seems to have a really bad personality...! If Pochi-chan is bullied, we should do something, right, Ryo?"

"Hmm - is that so? I thought it was just to help Pochi overcome his social phobia. Although the way it was expressed is hard to accept, um, it's super weird."

"Liang, you... why do you always stick your elbows outward?"

"Hmm~ What's going on? Although this may sound a bit absolute..."

Miss Yamada Ryo rolled her eyes indifferently, and finally her gaze stopped on the back of the boy who was persecuting Pochi on the stage.

“But I just know he’s not that kind of person.”

Chapter 26 Not the Heroine

Yamada Ryo——A high school girl who doesn't like to interact with people, has a jumping mind and a weird and unpredictable style. Although she seems to have no interest in anything, she actually has a rock brain.

Ms. Yamada Ryo is actually a little dissatisfied with this evaluation.

"Isn't that a bit too general an introduction to me?"

What she meant was that she was completely unable to highlight her charm.

Okay, let’s put it another way – Ryo Yamada is a weirdo.

"Hey."

If she was told this, she would actually break her calm expression and squint her eyes slightly like a cat, revealing an expression of enjoyment.

Yes, the word "weird" is actually a compliment to her, and it is also a very accurate description of her in the eyes of outsiders.

Because of this, when Yamada Ryo suddenly found herself in a "parallel world" one day, her first reaction was not panic or embarrassment, but -

"Wow, that's really interesting."

The story begins one day when she arrived at the livehouse venue early as usual and was chatting with a curly-haired boy on her way back from slacking off.

She had been walking behind the curly-haired boy, and at a certain moment, it was as if she was suddenly disconnected from the world. Her eyes went dark, and then her vision refocused - she was in the waiting room below the performance stage in the venue.

Rehearsing intensively around him are his good friend Ijichi Nijinka, Kita Ikuyo who had run away before but has now returned for some reason, and the pink-haired girl who is looking down and very shy - she seems to be a member of the band called by Nijinka.

But it was as if a piece of his memory had been cut off from Yamada Ryo, and he had no idea what was going on.

After being puzzled for a while, she remembered a curly-haired friend who spent all her leisure time on the Internet, and then she suddenly realized.

"Just like those weird game settings that Xiao Hai mentioned, maybe I have traveled to a parallel world...?"

If it happened to anyone else, they would panic and not know what to do, but when it happened to Yamada Ryo, it would be like this—

"How interesting! Will I be involved in a love battle with two sisters in the next second?"

Yamada Ryo was eager to try it out, and even had a vague desire to give it a try.

But unfortunately, the dramatic plot she had imagined did not unfold, and even her original interpersonal relationships had some subtle changes.

For example, the curly-haired boy Ming Hai Toru, who used to chat and tease each other regularly, did not become friends with me. He did not even appear beside me in this "parallel world" -

Instead, he appeared as Goto Ichiri's former childhood friend and the bassist of a high school band that they now perform with in a livehouse.

"Has the otaku addicted to online games transformed into a rock band guy?"

Miss Yamada Ryo, who was watching Ming Hai's performance in the audience, blinked in confusion. Although she had thought about tricking him into playing the bass and earning a "small" amount of teaching fees from him, she felt a little dazed when she actually saw him playing the bass under the attention of the public.

It feels like your otaku friend who only knows how to yell "OM my wife" and is addicted to games all day long suddenly acquires a skill in playing string instruments and impresses everyone around him.

"Ah, but this bass isn't that great."