[You are ready for the life-saving surgery for the young girl, but three years is too short, and you can’t prepare for the operation step by step.]
[Faced with this predicant, you choose…]
[1. “Just throw the technology out there.”]
[2. “It’s decided—you’re the one, Ichinose!”]
[3. “Mako is also very cute.”]
[4. Free simulation.]
“…?”
Yuuki Minami’s attention imdiately fixated on option three. If it were Nao, Yuko, or Kazumi, it would make sense, but why did Mako’s na appear?
That’s my… well, not a biological relative, and we don’t have any real connection now.
As for the age difference… history is full of examples of older husbands with younger wives.
Yuuki Minami’s thoughts wandered for a mont before he pulled himself back. He was just thinking idly and had no such intentions.
He didn’t have a particular preference for categories, just preferences for certain girls. Whether it was a voluptuous mature woman or a youthful innocent girl, as long as they were beautiful and had a sound personality, he was willing to give it a shot.
At the sa ti, he was mindful of the situation and wouldn’t pursue girls who were obviously incompatible.
Mako, who was thirty years younger than him, was in that incompatible category.
An old husband dying early, leaving a young wife to live alone for thirty years—how cruel would that be if she grieved for him? And if she didn’t grieve, how cruel would that be as well?
Moreover, while small hills have their own charm and cuteness, the wealth hidden in a towering mountain is sothing no barren hill could ever match.
Discarding option three, Yuuki Minami looked at options one and two.
Option one suggested docunting the technology, uploading it online, and finding a way to attract attention from relevant institutions.
With such an openly available docunt, an artificial valve would likely be developed quickly, and many doctors would study the surgery.
However, this still wouldn’t be fast enough.
Neither the successful cultivation of the artificial valve nor its formal application would happen quickly enough—it might not keep up with Reina Nakajima’s declining health.
Even with the valve, a surgery of this complexity couldn’t be mastered by a single doctor in just a year or two. Beyond that, surgeries require patients and authorization, and gaining approval and patients for a new operation takes ti.
Option one felt like a gamble, entrusting everything to others and hoping they could race against ti while you could only pray for fate’s favor. But fate had never favored Reina Nakajima.
Yuuki Minami disliked such uncertainty.
He reached out and clicked on option two, seeking help from Shiori Ichinose.
[You decide to seek Shiori Ichinose’s help. The Ichinose family is a famous and wealthy family in Japan, central to the country’s political scene for nearly a century. While they have never held the position of Pri Minister, several Deputy Pri Ministers have co from the Ichinose family.]
[You find Shiori Ichinose and tell her that you are a ti traveler from seventy years in the future, having accidentally arrived in the past.]
[Shiori Ichinose doesn’t believe you but is amused to see what kind of ga you’re playing.]
The mory scene appears.
In a spacious activity room, Shiori Ichinose sat on a sofa by the window, arms crossed and one leg crossed over the other, waiting for Yuuki Minami to continue his explanation.
Yuuki Minami dragged a chair over and sat in front of Shiori Ichinose.
“There’s a small scar on the inside of your left thigh,” Yuuki Minami began with a bombshell statent.
Shiori Ichinose’s swinging foot stopped. She put her crossed leg down and looked more serious.
“How do you know that?”
Before Yuuki Minami could answer, she began coming up with explanations herself.
“Did you bribe one of the girls in class? No, they wouldn’t see it during P.E. class unless they were really up close.”
“Was it seen at a bathhouse? But I haven’t been to a bathhouse in over a decade.”
“Peeping? You shouldn’t have the ability to do that.”
Yuuki Minami watched the girl lost in thought. If it were an ordinary woman, she would either be stumbling over her own thoughts or naively waiting for his answer with a blank look.
He continued, “Ichinose possesses royal blood.”
“That’s sothing many people know.”
“Then, what about the position of Shokenji Monzeki?”
“…Only the old Monzeki should know about that.”
“And the scandal of Shuzan—covering it up must have been difficult, right?”
“…I’ve only heard bits about it myself.”
“…”
As Yuuki Minami revealed one secret after another, Shiori Ichinose’s previously relaxed deanor turned serious. She was astonished by how this young man before her could disclose so many hidden truths.
Unable to find an answer within the frawork of reality, she could only begin to consider the possibility of sothing beyond it—that the boy in front of her truly was from the future.
The identity of a ti traveler, in a way, wasn’t entirely wrong. After countless simulations of life, Yuuki Minami had indeed seen glimpses of the future.
The secrets he revealed ca from various sources: fragnts of mory awarded to him before, events from simulated scenarios involving Shiori Ichinose, and finally, so political knowledge he gained as a reward.
Experience is a summary of real-world phenona and cannot exist independent of reality. Because of this, Yuuki Minami had received future music pieces in musical experience rewards, surgical techniques and theories from dical experience, and, in the case of his limited political experience, so information about future events.
These pieces of information were his bargaining chips to negotiate with Shiori Ichinose.
“Are you really from the future?”
Shiori Ichinose now sat upright, her silky hair neatly cascading down her back. Sunlight stread through the window, casting a glow on her serious expression.
With her composure, such a repetitive and seemingly aningless question would ordinarily never leave her lips. But the matter was too shocking, too inconceivable.
“Is this not enough proof?” Yuuki Minami countered.
“That personal matter you told about last week—did you also learn that from the future?” Shiori Ichinose pressed further.
“Yes,” Yuuki Minami admitted.
“Why would the future you know such private things about ? I don’t believe I’d go around sharing my habits or the scar on my leg.”
“Because we’re quite close in the future.”
“Close enough for you to know about the scar on my leg?”
“Yes,” Yuuki Minami thought to himself. In that particular future, had Ibuki Yuko’s death not halted the worldline, it was possible he and Shiori Ichinose might have developed into a married couple.
Shiori Ichinose lowered her head, pondering what her relationship with Yuuki Minami could be in the future, what benefits a ti traveler could bring her, and how she should approach this mysterious boy from the future.
After a mont, she raised her head. “What do you want?”
She didn’t believe that Yuuki Minami had revealed his identity simply because of their supposed close relationship in the future. He must have sothing to gain and needed her help.
As for the type of help… Though she didn’t want to admit it, the only thing of value she currently possessed was the influence of the Ichinose family.
“I have a technology for artificial biological valves. It needs to be put into research imdiately and fully developed within two years,” Yuuki Minami stated.
“Anything else?”
“Once the valve has been successfully developed, I need you to use your connections to arrange for to perform surgery on soone.”
“Does this artificial valve technology require future instrunts? What level of researchers will be needed?”
“Existing instrunts are sufficient. The technology is advanced and straightforward. Any competent researcher can follow the steps to cultivate it.”
Shiori Ichinose felt more confident now. Yuuki Minami’s conditions weren’t difficult; with the resources she could mobilize, they could be perfectly fulfilled.
Through these two demands, she beca even more convinced of his claim to be a ti traveler.
If he wasn’t from the future, how would he have access to future technology? And if he wasn’t from the future, how could he confidently claim to perform surgery on soone with only the knowledge of a high school student?
She didn’t agree imdiately but instead asked for more information.
“Are you a doctor in the future?”
“A cardiothoracic surgeon.”
“How did you end up back in this ti?”
“An accident. It can’t be replicated. In fact, I’ve only retained part of my mories.”
Shiori Ichinose paused, then asked another critical question: “The person you’re risking so much to find and save—who is it?”
“Reina Nakajima, the daughter of Yohei Nakajima.”
Yohei Nakajima’s daughter? Shiori Ichinose’s mind flashed to the image of their horoom teacher. She grew even more perplexed.
“Why save her?” she pressed further.
Her mind entertained various possibilities: perhaps Reina Nakajima was the inventor of the ti machine, and Yuuki Minami had to save her to return to the future. Or perhaps the future was plagued by an AI crisis or World War, and Reina Nakajima was the scientist capable of resolving it.
“Because she’s my wife.”
“Tch!”
“…Did you just make a sound of disappointnt?”
“No.”
Shiori Ichinose composed herself, brushing aside her fantasies about brilliant scientists. The differences between individuals are limited, and the deeper one delves into science, the less likely it is for a single scientist to surpass a collective.
She replayed Yuuki Minami’s words in her mind and noticed another issue. Furrowing her brow, she asked, “You said you’re close to in the future?”
“Mm.” Yuuki Minami nodded.
“And yet you married Reina Nakajima?”
“Feelings are complicated.”
“What happens to in the future?”
“You beco the Monzeki at Shokenji Temple.”
“I see.” Shiori Ichinose sighed. She stood up. “I’ll help you.”
“Aren’t we going to discuss compensation first?” Yuuki Minami asked, surprised.
“That future technology you’re offering should be sufficient paynt.” Shiori Ichinose smiled. “Though I could extort more from you, my grandfather taught : when dealing with a cold, unfeeling organization, seize every benefit. But when dealing with soone warm and genuine, try to preserve the bond.”
Yuuki Minami pondered for a mont and found her words quite reasonable. An organization, composed of many individuals, inevitably operates based on cold internal rules, making appeals to emotion useless. But a single person, even in this modern world that dehumanizes individuals, still values emotional connections.
“I’ll tell you what I rember about the future,” Yuuki Minami said, happy to forge a friendship with Shiori Ichinose. “In the na of friendship.”
“Are you free tonight? Co over to my house. We’ll discuss the details.”
“Sure.”
—
[You revealed everything you knew about her. Shiori Ichinose was skeptical, but as you shared political secrets, she fully trusted you.]
[Faced with an unfamiliar person—a ti traveler with imnse value and uncertainty—Shiori Ichinose chose to wield the power of emotional bonds. She beca your friend.]
[She invited you to her estate, where you talked through the night. You told her about the challenges the Ichinose family would face, the shifts in global affairs, and the erging trends in advanced technology.]
[The turbulent future left her astonished. The unexpected war you predicted sent chills down her spine—not out of fear, but excitent. Through the information you provided, she glimpsed greater possibilities for herself.]
[To the person who opened up a broader future for her, she spared no generosity. She gave you a large sum of money, quietly upgraded Reina Nakajima’s dical clearance, and quickly began preparations for the biological laboratory required to develop the artificial valve technology.]
[Although the laboratory doesn’t require future technology, it does need the most advanced instrunts of the present, one of which is only available in Japan.]
[You’re not sure how she managed it, but two months later, you acquired the full ownership of a well-equipped research institute in Europe.]
[Her generosity surprises you. You didn’t expect her to give you the research institute. With this, the dical patents contained within the artificial valve technology, which could bring vast profits, are no longer associated with her.]
[Shiori Ichinose tells you that, compared to the future information she gained from you, the money is insignificant.]
[You’re stunned by Shiori Ichinose’s wealth. You thought Nao Asano was an extrely wealthy woman, but it turns out Shiori Ichinose is even more impressive.]
Looking at the simulation text, Yuuki Minami couldn’t help but click his tongue.
The knowledge contained in the artificial valve technology could raise the towering mountain of dical progress by another peak. It took Mako and her top-tier team their entire lives to research it, and yet Shiori Ichinose seed so indifferent about it.
She’s much wealthier than Nao Asano!
For a mont, Yuuki Minami felt a twinge of desire, but it only lasted a mont.
Once money reaches a certain amount, it’s just a number. There are only so many things a person can enjoy, and money cannot endlessly improve one’s standard of living. There’s always a limit.
But still, no one would refuse the increase of a financial number or willingly give up benefits they could have obtained.
He thought for a mont and found Shiori Ichinose’s actions strange. The technology was promised to her, so why was she refusing it now?
Unless… she had obtained sothing even more important.
Sothing that could make Shiori Ichinose happily give up financial gain…
— Power.
Money, after all, is just waste paper printed by power.
Is Shiori Ichinose planning to use those political details to gain power? Yuuki Minami speculated as he continued reading.
[She sends an assistant to help you manage the institute’s work. She’s worried you won’t be able to manage the researchers.]
[Her worry is unnecessary. You don’t need the assistant’s help. You manage the institute perfectly well on your own.]
[After learning of your managent abilities from the assistant, Shiori Ichinose extends an olive branch, inviting you to co work by her side.]
[In response to her invitation, you choose…]
[1. “Rich lady, I’m hungry, let’s eat!”]
[2. “I’ll always love Reina Nakajima!”]
[3. “Mako, my Mako!”]
[4. Free simulation]
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