My Simulation… Why Is It Turning into a Real Romance?!-Chapter 384 - 175: Then just wait and see~

"Merry Christmas!"

Crystal-clear glasses clinked lightly in the air, the crisp sound mingling with the joyful cheers of the girls. The living room buzzed with chattering voices, the warm orange glow of the lights seemed to sweep away every trace of pressure and weariness.

"Let's go all out tonight!"

"Ohhhh!"

Kita Ikuyo flashed her radiant, sun-bright smile as she wrapped her arms around Chihaya Anon's pale neck, her flame-red skirt flaring like a blooming rose, creating a dazzling contrast against Anon's pure white dress.

Meanwhile, Taki's face was red as Umiri teased her with lewd questions, her mischievous smile hitting right on target. Even Bocchi, who usually froze stiff in any crowd, couldn't help but let a smile slip across her face.

A second later, she threw on her sunglasses and completely let loose.

"…I really didn't think it would end up being this many people."

Haru picked up his chopsticks and fed a bite to the white stray cat by his side. His wistful sigh reached the ears of the girl next to him. Sakiko, who had just been helping Tomori with food, turned with a helpless smile.

"That's true. Who could have guessed it would turn into this many?"

Fourteen girlfriends in total.

Even in the spacious Kazami family living room, things felt a little cramped. But that only made the atmosphere warmer and livelier, chasing away the emptiness that once lingered, making it feel like a true home.

"It might be noisy, but… I really like it this way."

Soyo's soft words drew Haru's and Sakiko's gazes. Their meaningful looks made her pretty face flush, and she turned her eyes aside, lips pursed in shy denial.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Was what I said… really so strange?"

"Not at all~ I just think Soyo has really changed."

Sakiko narrowed her gentle, moonlit eyes. Her teasing tone left Soyo blushing even more as she turned away. Normally the two would bicker, but this time neither of them chose to argue back.

Soyo only lifted a strand of her light brown hair, her eyes filled with determination as she answered.

"I've always been this way."

And she wasn't lying.

From the beginning, Soyo had longed for scenes like this. In past years, her huge apartment was filled only by herself and her mother on holidays. Sometimes, it was just her, waiting out the night alone.

But now...

Her gaze drifted to Wakaba Mutsumi, who had once seemed like the most "troublesome" cucumber fairy in her eyes. From the very start of the evening, Mutsumi had been quietly staring at the circle of girls around her. For once, the mask of calm on her face cracked.

Soyo smiled.

The cheer of the room seemed to reach straight into her heart. Mutsumi noticed her looking and lifted her golden eyes. Their gazes crossed in the air for a brief moment.

"Mutsumi, thank you."

"…Soyo?"

"If not for your effort, I probably wouldn't be seeing this scene right now."

Soyo's gratitude was sincere. If Mutsumi hadn't pulled her up when she was at her lowest, the future would have been uncertain, and perhaps none of this would have come to be.

She might never monopolize Haru's love, but she had gained something just as precious. Her family had grown, her once-empty heart now filled to the brim.

At the very least, she would never regret it.

"Mutsumi, I owe you thanks as well."

Sakiko, her twin tails swaying with a pure white bow tied to her chest, moved closer. Always so composed and elegant, she grasped Mutsumi's hand firmly, her serious tone carrying weight.

"There are so many things I want to say to you, and so many wrongs I need to apologize for… but I can't put them all into words right now. So I'll turn all of it into gratitude!"

Her eyes then flicked toward Uika across the room, gratitude so strong it could almost be touched.

Not just Mutsumi, but also Uika and Tomori. Without their sincerity, Sakiko's life might have fallen completely into chaos.

"No need to thank me…"

Mutsumi's cheeks flushed as she ducked her head. Being thanked by the two of them so suddenly left her flustered.

By the time she came back to herself, she could no longer hold onto her usual calm. Rising to her feet, she walked straight to Haru. Under Yahata Umiri's stunned gaze, she pressed her delicate face into his chest.

Her sudden "steal" made Soyo and Sakiko freeze in place, their smiles faltering. Seeing the look of affection on Haru's face, a faint bitterness stirred in both their hearts.

"Ara~ this won't do at all."

"Mutsumi!"

Before Soyo could lunge to "capture" the sneaky girl, Ryo suddenly appeared, a piece of chocolate between her lips. Without warning, she cupped Haru's face and pressed the sweet onto him.

In an instant, every gaze in the room fixed on them.

"This one's from Ikuyo. Not bad, right?"

Ryo's teasing words rang in Haru's ears, making his face stiffen. His instincts screamed with alarm.

"Ryo-senpai, that's cheating!"

Ikuyo was the first to break, launching her attack without hesitation. That was the signal. Chaos erupted at once as everyone began clamoring and play-fighting, even the Christmas cake was turned into a weapon.

In moments, the living room had devolved into full-blown disorder.

Only Tomori sat frozen, looking blankly at the skirmish for Haru's affection. She had no idea what to do, until someone suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Tomori! We're charging in too!"

"Even Nyamu's already in the fight, how could us 'early ones' just sit back?!"

Anon's eyes gleamed with mischief, like a child who thrived on chaos. Holding up a turkey leg like Joan of Arc waving her banner, she dragged Tomori into the fray, plunging the party into even greater mayhem.

Tomori blinked, then looked down at the pudding in her hand.

Her lips curved unconsciously into a small smile. She stood and hurried after Anon.

...

The playful chaos of the Christmas party finally came to an end.

Because things had gone on far later than expected, Haru couldn't possibly let the girls go home that night. So he simply decided everyone would stay over, and of course, no one had any objections.

Haru no longer lived in that tiny bachelor apartment from before. His villa had more than enough rooms, and since Mutsumi had already taken care of tidying them all up, it was easy enough for two girls per room, and everyone would fit comfortably.

"Well then, good night everyone~"

The band members had already changed into fresh, pretty pajamas. A sleepover was too rare of a chance to just waste by going to bed early, so naturally, they pulled the pink-haired grump into a proper girls-only pajama party.

Anon, who loved liveliness, happily agreed. But the more the merrier, and she wanted extra numbers. With expectant eyes, her pale gray irises shining like starlight, she looked at her teammates.

"Tomori's bunking with Mutsumi, so what about you, Rikki? Soyorin? Want to come chat with us?"

Caught off guard, Taki only exchanged a glance with Soyo. There was no way she could agree at a time like this. Crossing her arms with forced composure, cheeks tinged pink, she answered quietly.

"No need. I'll just… go to bed."

"Hmph~ go to bed, is it?"

Soyo cast her a long, knowing glance, the kind that seemed to see straight through her. Taki immediately felt restless under the look, though she was too flustered to respond, lips pressed tight as she turned away.

Everyone knew she was a habitual night owl. The idea of her going to sleep this early was laughable.

But Soyo didn't call her out.

"I don't do late nights. You girls have fun without me."

With that, Soyo padded off in her slippers into the next room. Sakiko, glancing at Uika as if she wanted to say something but losing her nerve, trailed after her with a flushed face.

Anon tilted her head in suspicion.

Something was off. Something was very off.

But when she saw Taki and the others already disappearing into their rooms, she couldn't pin down what it was. After a moment's thought, she shrugged it off and followed Ikuyo into the innermost room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~ Rikki and the others went to bed, so it's just us tonight for the girls' chat!"

"As if they're actually going to sleep." Nyamu rolled her eyes, voice dripping with certainty. "It's Christmas! If they really went to bed properly, I'd eat my guitar."

"B-but… isn't everyone staying at Haru's tonight?"

Bocchi looked up in surprise. Her timid expression made Nyamu twitch her mouth, but before she could explain, Ryo spoke flatly first.

"Exactly. Which is why none of them will follow the rules."

"Eh? But… then someone's definitely going to hear something!"

Nijika's face turned bright red as she muttered the words, and Anon immediately nodded along like a pecking chick. It was obvious, they all knew what that meant.

Especially those who had stayed at Haru's before.

"Hmm? And why would you know people can hear, Nijika-senpai?"

Ikuyo's sharp ears caught the slip instantly. The angel of Shimokitazawa froze stiff, every gaze landing on her at once. Her little face turned blazing hot, like a furnace, and she had no idea how to answer.

Of course she knew.

The last time she'd secretly stayed over, she had been bullied so much she couldn't hold back her voice. The next morning, Umiri from the next room had teased her about it, and she had nearly wanted to disappear into the floor.

Fortunately, the others didn't press.

Ryo, her expression unchanging, brushed a strand of indigo hair behind her ear, exposing the pale curve of it under the warm lamplight. Her pale golden eyes swept across the circle of faces.

"So then… what's the plan for tonight?"

"Ahaha~ Ryo-senpai, what do you mean by that? We're supposed to be having a chat, aren't we?"

"Ikuyo, you know that's not what I meant."

The air in the room suddenly grew heavy with suggestion. The red-haired girl's cheeks flushed, and she glanced sideways at Anon beside her. She lowered her usually lively voice until it was barely above a whisper.

"Ryo-senpai, are you… serious with that question?"

"Of course I'm serious. What do you girls think Christmas is?"

"Isn't Christmas supposed to be a holy day celebrating the birth of Jesus?!"

Nijika's retort did nothing to erase the sly curve from Ryo's lips. She narrowed her eyes with a look that said "you're still too green," then raised her fist with uncharacteristic solemnity.

"That's right~ It is the day of Christ's birth. In theory, we're supposed to be reverent and grateful, putting aside impure thoughts to honor the day.

"But in reality..."

"Statistics show that the number of people who get aroused on Christmas skyrockets compared to usual. There's even something called the Golden Six Hours of S*x. It's a day completely ruled by lust!"

"Wait! Are you seriously saying words like that out loud?!" Anon stared in shock. She had always known Ryo was no ordinary woman, but she hadn't expected her to go this far.

"Ryo-senpai, if you keep talking like this it's going to get dangerous!"

Ikuyo slapped her hands over her burning red face, though her yellow-green eyes still peeked out between her fingers. Ryo only rolled her eyes, clearly too bored to waste energy teasing her further.

Because really, Ikuyo was always the one to act the most embarrassed, yet the quickest to move when things turned physical.

What a shameless girl.

"All that nonsense aside, it really comes down to one thing."

"...You all want to be with Haru tonight, don't you?"

Ryo's words struck like an arrow to the heart. Every girl froze, speechless. Even Nijika, usually the one who could rein Ryo in, could only blush and lower her head, letting silence serve as her answer.

Clearly, Ryo had hit the mark.

If it weren't for the sheer number of girlfriends in the house making it impossible to sneak away without shame, and the tangled feelings of embarrassment and courtesy holding them back, they would all want nothing more than to spend Christmas with Haru.

As lovers, how could they not?

"Ryo-senpai, I understand you!"

Nyamu suddenly spoke up, her golden eyes unwavering.

"Ohhh! So someone else gets it too?"

Ryo's satisfied grin spread as she bumped fists with her. The sudden alliance made the others restless, and Bocchi waved her hands in a fluster. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"B-but, today… isn't today supposed to be Taki-san's important moment? If we act on our own, won't we just interrupt her?"

"Eh? Taki?"

Anon turned in surprise. She hadn't expected to hear that name in the middle of such a conversation, and her confusion immediately drew everyone else's eyes.

"You didn't know, Anon-chan?"

Ikuyo blinked.

"When Taki came to help at Starry today, it was obvious. I think Soyo and the others are helping her out~ After all, everyone knows Taki's the type who never takes the initiative, right?"

"She's been with Haru since way back, but even now she hasn't taken that final step."

Sweat gathered on Anon's forehead as she frowned in thought. "So… that's what it was? I did feel like something was off back then!"

"No, wait! If it's Taki's turn, then we can't sneak off, can we?"

Ryo only gave a cold snort, her eyes sharp with mockery. "Do you really think Taki's the only one tonight? I'd bet Sakiko is probably setting things up for Uika too."

"In other words, at least two of them are making a move tonight."

Two of them?!

"Eh?"

Nyamu's eyes went wide. She had never imagined a simple Christmas would turn into something so explosive, especially with her caught in the middle as a participant.

This world of Ave Mujica was already falling apart!

"M-maybe not, right?"

"If you don't believe me, then just wait and see~"

Ryo raised her index finger, her smile cold yet enticing, voice dropping into a low whisper.

The already dimly lit room grew heavier still. Almost everyone grew restless, their quickened breaths and faint gulps audible in the silence, as if an epic battle was about to begin.