NOVEL NEXT Chapter 329
Before we begin.
This episode continues from the later choice section of If Side Story – The Protagonist Became a Yuri Dating Sim in Another World (5).
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[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru): 6
]
Natsune’s affection level was clearly rising slower compared to the other members.
And thanks to that, I was able to feel the most comfortable lately.
“Phew… finally done.”
“Good job.”
“Ah, Izumi. Want to grab a bite once the recording is over?”
“Um… I think I might take a bit longer?”
“That’s fine, that’s fine. I’ll wait at the cafe in front for a bit.”
Natsune’s sudden suggestion for a meal.
I didn’t have any other plans, so time wasn’t an issue, but for some reason, this affection level made me anxious and reluctant.
So what should I do…
[I’ll decline, just in case, using the evening broadcast as an excuse.]
[Well, this should be okay, right? It’s been a while since I’ve met Natsune too.]
★
…Hmm. But who knows.
At any moment, the affection level could suddenly shoot up, right?
So this time, I’ll decline.
Giving up dinner time with Natsune might tear my heart into pieces, but… it can’t be helped.
I’ll just satisfy myself with cursing the [Game Master] inside.
“I’m sorry. I have to do a broadcast this evening…”
“Ah, you might be right about the timing being tricky considering the broadcast. We haven’t finished recording yet either.”
“Yeah…”
“I wanted to talk to Izumi today, but it’s too bad.”
“Ah, if that’s the case…”
“No, no. It’s not a big deal. Let’s set another time to talk later.”
“…Okay.”
[Game Master]… I really want to curse you sincerely.
★
It was a spacious room.
The floor was covered with tatami mats that gave off a strong traditional vibe, decorated with exquisite yet not cluttered ornaments all around.
Those ornaments were worth the kind of price that an average adult would never earn in a lifetime, and this room was filled with them as if it was the most natural thing.
And in the most honorable seat of the room sat a girl.
Her long black hair had a slight bluish tint and shimmered with shine.
Her gentle eyes with reddish-brown irises contained kindness, but the corners of her mouth, which had a stiff expression, emitted a cold atmosphere.
She wore a neat red kimono.
While the kimono naturally concealed her figure to some extent, her feminine charm was not hidden by that much.
The girl sat cross-legged on the cushion, appearing completely at ease in the tranquil atmosphere.
She was elegant and sophisticated.
A girl like a painting, exuding the charm of the moon in the night sky.
The term Yamato Nadeshiko was undoubtedly referring to her.
And on either side of her stood a man and woman as if vowing to protect her at all costs.
Standing on the right was a remarkably burly man.
Dressed in a black suit that matched his black hair.
But what stood out even more was the long scar at the corner of his eye.
On the left stood a tall woman.
With her black hair tied into a ponytail and donning a black suit.
The muscles visible beyond the suit indicated she was not a regular woman.
In front of the burly man were other men, and in front of the tall woman were other women, seated face to face in the center…
It felt like a palace where one would meet a queen.
“Huh…”
And then the girl sitting in the most honorable seat let out a quiet sigh.
Yet no one in the room spoke.
In this place, speaking was taboo unless the girl permitted it.
Of course, the naturally kind girl had expressed that such pressure burdened her, but it was a tradition that had been carried on since the Edo period and must not be broken.
“Then shall we slowly begin our discussion?”
“Yes!”
And upon her words, everyone in the room responded vigorously.
“I know… I was raised in a good environment. But I believe I’ve lived modestly as much as I could.”
It wasn’t a lie.
If she wished for it, even the best chefs in Japan, if not the world, would have to come to her immediately.
If she wished for it, even a head of state would have to make time for her, forcibly if need be.
She had the money and power to do so.
Although it wasn’t known to the public, she belonged to one of Japan’s highest-ranking wealthy families.
And she was the sole daughter of that family.
But just as she had said, she had lived as humbly as possible.
The money and power she had were for everyone, as she learned from her parents and older brother since childhood.
She had never broken that teaching.
Even with that wealth and power, she was always kind to her servants and refrained from extravagance.
Whenever she spent money, it was always for those around her.
That’s why everyone in the room followed and revered a girl much younger than themselves.
Her character was so extraordinary that many servants followed her when she became independent.
But she had made a resolve.
Just once. Just this once, she would use that money and power for herself.
“My parents and older brother always told me since childhood: Money and power are not ours. They should be used for everyone. I’ve always lived by that teaching in my own way… but do you all know what my parents and brother taught me further?”
No one spoke in response to the girl’s question.
Not because they didn’t know…
But because they did know and chose not to respond.
No. Rather, they couldn’t respond precisely because they did know.
“If something truly desirable comes into possession, use everything you can to obtain it. That is the identity of our family.”
Everyone nodded at the muttering of the girl… Shiro.
If her colleagues could hear those words, they would likely be shocked, except for one.
Shiro’s atmosphere was different from usual to the point where such words were uttered.
“I have never been greedy before. I was born into a prosperous family, made friends who shine like the sun, with precious companions and juniors. Because of that, I was in a world of happiness where I didn’t even need to be greedy.”
But then Shiro continued speaking.
“Recently… for the first time in my life, I have felt greed. I want to possess someone for whom I would be willing to give up everything… someone I want to cherish for life. Feeling greed is a fascinating sensation. Hehe…”
Shiro said that and then covered her mouth with her hand, chuckling.
She was smiling brightly, evidently joyful simply imagining that child.
“So can I… start to act?”
“If the young lady wishes for it, anything!!!”
Everyone replied vigorously to Shiro’s question.
“Even if it might be a crime?”
“If the young lady wishes for it, it will never be a crime!!!”
It was quite a dangerous statement, but no one stopped Shiro.
Such was Shiro’s absolute position in this place.
“Alright. Then let’s take it step by step. First, Yurie?”
“Yes.”
“Please contact my mother first. After all, I want to secure permission whenever possible. You should get permission easily since you know my mother.”
“Understood.”
Yurie nodded at Shiro’s words and left the room.
“Yuto, you will act with me. And the rest of you… prepare so that when that child comes, everything will be as comfortable as possible.”
“Understood!”
With those final words, everyone except Shiro and Yuto left the room.
The silence following their departure was hard to believe given how many people had been there just moments ago.
In that silence, it was not Shiro who spoke, but Yuto.
“Will you be okay?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What if this causes a rift between the two of you…?”
“There’s no way that would happen, you know?”
There was certainty in Shiro’s words.
The belief that their bond would never end.
“Then shall we slowly get up?”
“Understood.”
Shiro said that and quietly stood up.
Behind her was a black katana, dark as obsidian, decorated with her family name inscribed above it.
[Shirazaki]
She was Shiro Shirazaki, the sole daughter of the Shirazaki family, a wealthy clan that had continued since the Edo period, and currently active as a VTuber under the alias ‘Hikari Kurokami’ in the Star’s Flow company.
★
It had been three months since I got immersed in this mysterious game.
[Nekoto Suzuha (Komachi Yuyika): 156]
[Hikari Kurokami (Shirazaki Shiro): 143]
[Kaguya Aoba (Fujiwara Azusa): 138]
[Hatakawa Kaede (Shiina Momiji): 137]
[Aki Nekoto (Higawara Luka): 131]
[Utsumi Ayaka (Utaka Ren): 129]
[Yuzuki Rinze (Tsurumi Mai): 122]
[Akabane Yukari (Akasaki Sakura): 103]
…
[Amatsuka Hina (Hinatsuru Mikoto): 71]
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru): 6]
What should I say now…
I feel like I’ve reached a state of half enlightenment.
Well, doesn’t it all turn out fine in the end? Something like that.
Since that day, I haven’t been able to meet Natsune even once because our schedules didn’t match up, and thus I couldn’t hear what she wanted to talk about.
I even wanted to hear it through DM, but the reply was that it wasn’t important, so it was okay not to worry…
Yeah. And as a result, my motivation is gradually fading away.
No matter how hard I try now, it will all disappear once I return to reality eventually.
It’s as if I can’t even see a goal…
I would have rather not known that I got immersed in this game at all.
“Sigh… ”
Thinking like that, as I rolled around in bed, ding-dong, the doorbell rang.
“Ughhh… ”
It was annoying, but I got up lazily and headed to the intercom, and what I saw was…
[Mina?]
It was Senior Kurokami.
…Hmm.
To be honest, at some point, the affection levels of the other members started rising rapidly except for Natsune, and I was making various excuses to avoid meeting anyone…
“Just a second…”
Technically, since Senior Kurokami didn’t have an appointment, I could come up with an excuse to send her away, but then again, it wouldn’t be polite to send someone who came all the way to my house just away.
Thinking like that, I quietly opened the front door.
[Kurokami Hikari (Shirazaki Shiro): 143]
“It’s been a while, Izumi.”
“Ah, yes… Please come in.”
“Oh, no. I just happened to be near a store today. I stopped by to give you this gift I picked up from there…”
As she spoke, the senior handed me a box of colorful macarons.
…They look delicious.
“Thank you… I’ll enjoy them…”
“Want to try one now? I’d love to hear your thoughts on them in person…”
“Ah, okay.”
At Senior Kurokami’s words, I opened the box and took out a pink macaron from the left corner.
As soon as I bit into it, the outer layer crumbled, spreading a refreshingly fragrant aroma and a sweet cream flavor in my mouth.
“Wow…”
The macarons she gifted were so delicious that I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.
I wanted to eat them all right away.
“Seriously, it’s really delicious, Senior…”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Where did you buy… Huh?”
Suddenly, my head started to spin.
It hadn’t even been three hours since I got up, but my eyelids felt heavy.
“Eh?”
Gradually, strength drained from my body, and I finally collapsed on the floor.
“Ugh. Ugh… Ah…”
“Sweet dreams, Izumi.”
And the last thing I saw before closing my eyes was…
[Kurokami Hikari (Shirazaki Shiro): 200]
“Hehe…”
The smiling face of Senior Kurokami with her affection level surpassing 200.
★
“Huh…?”
When I regained consciousness, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
A bed. A computer. A microphone. Headphones, etc.
All the items were mine, but everything else was completely new to me.
The floor was strangely tatami, and there were decorations I had never seen before all around.
Did I get kidnapped…?
Thinking back to the last person I remembered seeing, Senior Kurokami…
Did I make some sort of mistake?
What do I do? What do I really do?! Am I going to die?!
As I dove deeper into those thoughts, creak, the door opened.
And entering the room was…
“Yurie…?”
It was Yurie, the once-dependable bodyguard.
★
It had been six months since Izumi was submerged in the enigmatic game.
And it had been three months since she was… kidnapped by Hikari?
Now Izumi is…
“Yurie, could you bring me the macarons…?”
“Understood.”
She had completely transformed into a pro recluse NEET.