Do the people in Tokyo have nothing to do?
This thought appeared in Minami's mind but was quickly dismissed.
He felt he might have underestimated the value of having LV4 culinary skills.
LV4 in the system already represents the peak of professionalism. Additionally, the dishes he created could make people feel happiness.
Only with both of these factors combined does such a powerful effect occur.
Having realized this, Minami didn't linger on the matter any longer.
After all, based on the current developnts, his choices were likely not wrong.
The difficulties in 'Riko-Riko' were resolved, the orphanage regained funding, and everything seed to be going perfectly.
The issues that had troubled Chisato and her partner, Inoue Takina, had been completely solved.
Now, after solving this issue, the next problem arose, and it made Minami have to stay alert.
"Why did Chisato leave without saying goodbye before, and why does she still refuse to beco my girlfriend now?"
Minami tapped his head and refocused his thoughts.
In the previous cycle, Chisato's sudden departure left him concerned.
Similarly, this cycle, her hesitation to accept his confession attracted his attention.
From his observations, it seed that the relationship between him and Chisato had already surpassed that of just friends.
She would massage his shoulders when he was tired, secretly leave a cup of coffee on his desk when he stayed up late, and when he noticed her little actions, she would laugh behind the door.
Sotis, she would even sit on his lap as if claiming her territory, showing no sha in expressing her affection.
But whenever the topic of becoming a couple ca up in the simulation mories, she would hesitate and then change the subject with a cheerful smile.
Through two cycles of the simulation, Minami understood clearly.
Chisato was the type to express her feelings openly.
She didn't care about others' opinions, was cheerful, confident, and always lived joyfully.
Would soone like her intentionally hide her emotions?
Minami focused all his attention on the simulation.
Perhaps the next cycle would uncover the hidden answers.
[While managing the business at 'Riko-Riko,' you didn't forget to test Chisato's feelings through various indirect confessions.]
[However, to your disappointnt, she always hesitated in the face of your tests, eventually coming up with an excuse to avoid the topic.]
[Your relationship remained stuck in the space between friends, just like in the previous cycle.]
[If this continues, it might end up repeating the sa regrets from the past cycle.]
[The business at 'Riko-Riko' has gradually stabilized, and every day brings in a decent inco. With you in charge, both the orphanage and 'Riko-Riko's' revenue are no longer an issue.]
[Your handso appearance and culinary skills beyond your years have also attracted the attention of many won.]
[Wealthy won in Tokyo are not uncommon, and while the prices at 'Riko-Riko' are high, they are still affordable for them.]
[To get closer to you, these won often co early, order food, and sit while watching you work, sotis staying the entire day.]
[Although you ignore their frequent flirtations, a few bold won deliberately co during closing hours to hint at their interest.]
[Their hints are frequent and full of temptation. Any ordinary young man would have probably given in by now, but you're not like an ordinary Tokyo youth. You have your own goals.]
[However, it's ti to make a decision.]
[Option 1: Compared to Chisato, who hides her feelings, mature older won are more appealing! I should move on decisively!]
[Option 2: Stay true to yourself, reject all advances, and pursue Chisato without hesitation!]
[Option 3: Maybe I should change my approach, accept so ambiguity, and observe her reactions.]
[Option 4: Simulate it myself.]
The options appeared.
This ti, Minami didn't hesitate much.
Although he was fond of mature won, this didn't change the fact that Option 1 was a dead-end.
As for Option 2.
Chisato's feelings for him were already clear, but she had been avoiding him for so reason.
Even if he chose to stay true to his feelings and pursue her without wavering, the process would likely remain the sa, with little change.
Therefore, Option 3 seed like the best choice: "Maybe I should change my approach, accept so ambiguity, and observe her reactions."
Although Minami felt that deliberately testing soone's feelings wasn't ideal.
He knew that he couldn't keep hesitating.
If he kept procrastinating, the likely outco would still be regret.
He had to find out why Chisato was avoiding him.
Minami raised his hand and selected Option 3.
The simulation continued.
[The won who persistently flirt with you are rely looking for so fun and haven't invested any genuine emotions.]
[With your sharp observation, you quickly realized this and decided to use them to test Chisato's reactions.]
[You continue to focus on your work at 'Riko-Riko'.]
[But every ti one of them smiles and walks up to surprise you or shares a joke, you, who usually listens to her, refuse her with a smile for the first ti.]
[After work, you also spend less ti in 'Riko-Riko's' café, leaving imdiately after your shift, which leaves her, eager to see you, empty-handed.]
[This is completely different from before.]
[Every ti after work, you would spend so ti in 'Riko-Riko' chatting with her before leaving.]
[But recently, you always leave without saying a word.]
[She no longer shows the cheerful enthusiasm she once had when standing in the café. She begins to feel genuinely anxious.]
[Realizing that you've been ignoring her, she feels that sothing she holds dear is being taken away.]
[Thinking about what might happen, her breathing becos unstable.]
[Afterward, she starts looking for an opportunity to talk to you alone.]
[But her frantic attempts, coupled with your deliberate indifference, leave her at a loss.]
[Finally, one day after work, frustrated by her repeated failures, she makes a decision—she's going to follow you.]
"Are you doing this too?"
In the mory, a scene of the golden-haired girl following him appeared, making Minami speechless.
Should he say she's just like the kind of woman he admires?
Chisato, with this sudden idea, was exactly like him.
Minami continued, speechless, as he read further.
[Her tailing skills were clearly better than yours. She didn't need formal training and could easily blend into the crowd, quietly following your steps with an innocent deanor.]
[While following you, she discovered that you were chatting with a mature-looking office lady after work.]
[It seed that you were having a pleasant conversation, and the woman even gave you a gift.]
[Could it be that you prefer older won? At this mont, she couldn't help but wonder.]
[After watching you leave with the office lady, she imdiately followed you.]
[However, when you reached a quiet alley, you suddenly stopped and turned around, pulling her out effortlessly.]
[This sudden turn of events left her in shock, full of confusion.]
[She thought she was hiding perfectly, but you found her so easily. She couldn't understand how you did it.]
[She didn't know that in order to 'accidentally et her,' you had practiced tailing this much—she was just playing in the wrong league.]
[By now, it was 7:30 PM. Caught by you, she seed like a little rabbit caught in a trap.]
Minami imrsed himself fully in the simulation.
In the simulation, the blurry mory beca clear under the alley's streetlights.
Under the light, the golden-haired girl looked panicked as she gazed at Minami.
"How did you know?"
Her voice mixed with frustration and disbelief — clearly, she had hidden it so perfectly.
But it seed that the person in front of her, Minami, had no intention of answering her question.
He rely glanced at her and asked:
"Why are you following ?"
"Well..."
Her eyes mischievously shifted, and just as she was about to say, "I don't even know where you live," Minami coldly interrupted: "I've told you my exact address before on LINE. Don't try to fool ."
"Uh... I guess I accidentally ran here while jogging at night..."
"This place is more than 20 kiloters away from the café."
"I..."
Chisato laughed awkwardly a couple of tis, trying to find more excuses.
Then—
"Chisato, I can let the fact that you've been following slide, but before that, I hope you'll consider the ti."
Minami spoke up, interrupting her attempt at a flimsy excuse.
"Did you not think about it? It's already so late, and here you are, such a cute girl, wandering around. This is really dangerous."
"Hey... sorry... Hehehe... Was I really that cute in your eyes, Minami-kun?"
"..." Minami.
Looking at the blonde girl, still wearing a 'praise more' expression even after being scolded, Minami felt speechless.
"Are you really reflecting on yourself?"
He directly asked.
"Mm! I'm reflecting! I'll try to make myself less cute from now on!"
Chisato clenched her tiny fist and answered Minami's question seriously.
This woman...
Minami was at a loss for words. He shook his head. "So, why were you following ?"
"Well..."
"No more excuses. Unless you want to ignore you for a month."
Before Chisato could co up with another excuse, Minami suddenly spoke again.
"Eh——?! Why are you being so cruel? A month without talking to , that's too harsh, right?"
Startled by the unexpected harsh condition, Chisato widened her cute eyes and opened her mouth in shock.
Then, despite her hesitation, she still explained the reason for following him.
"Just because I ignored you at work, you were so upset that you chose to follow ?"
"Mm."
The usually lively and mischievous girl hesitated for a mont, then couldn't help but glance at the person she cared about. She saw Minami's expression, which made her feel a bit rebellious. She puffed her cheeks and muttered softly:
"Well, because recently, Minami doesn't talk to , doesn't reply to my ssages, and doesn't chat with on LINE — seriously, a world where I can't chat with Minami is better off destroyed."
"And then, you found a pretty older sister outside..."
The last part, she said it in a very quiet voice.
But even so, Minami, with his excellent hearing, still caught it.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Hmph."
Chisato tilted her head.
"Are you still mad?"
Minami, both angry and amused, reached out and pinched her face, straightened it, then pressed his forehead against hers, looking directly at her panicked expression. "Who was the one always coming up with excuses to reject ?"
"I-I was just..."
When it ca to this topic, Chisato imdiately beca flustered. Her face flushed red, and her pink lips parted.
This sudden panic was simply too cute.
Without hesitation, Minami kissed her.
"Mm—"
The drawn-out sound showed the girl's shock.
After a long while, he pulled away.
"Minami, you... you really dared to do that."
She covered her soft lips, looking flustered.
"If you didn't want it, you could have pushed away."
"I wasn't... I wasn't saying that."
Her usual cheerful and lively deanor was now replaced with a flustered tone.
"So you're willing then?"
Minami grabbed her hand and asked in return.
"I... uh..."
"Quick, say you're willing."
"Is it really necessary to push this hard?"
Her voice was weak, quite unlike her usual self.
But when she looked into Minami's clear, pure eyes, all her previous hesitations lted away in that instant.
But if it were just like this... wouldn't that an she was giving in?
At this thought, courage inexplicably rose in her.
She took the initiative to wrap her arms around Minami's neck, tiptoed, and kissed him passionately.
"Mm—?"
This ti, it was Minami who was a little surprised.
[You beca the first person she was willing to love actively.]
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