Love Comes After Simulation

At 7:30, Minami Yuuki sat on the Asano family’s sofa, watching Asano Nao prepare breakfast in the kitchen.

Among all the people Minami Yuuki had simulated so far, Asano Nao was the oldest—already in her early twenties. If she hadn’t dropped out of school, she’d likely be a university student by now. She was, without a doubt, the quintessential big sister figure.

Minami Yuuki’s gaze lingered on her voluptuous figure. Whether it was the alluring curves of her back when she leaned forward or the fleeting glimpses of her front when she turned to grab something, she exuded a seductive charm, reminiscent of the radiant sunshine of southern islands.

The ripe fruits nurtured by the sun’s abundant warmth would, just by their shape and color, make one’s mouth water, evoking the sweetness of their flesh beneath the skin.

“How old are you this year, sis?” Minami Yuuki propped his elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his hands.

In the kitchen, Asano Nao’s hand trembled slightly as she held a long pair of chopsticks. She shrank her neck, wondering if Minami Yuuki was teasing her about her age.

Her hesitant movements and the timid tone of her voice diluted the allure she carried.

“Twenty. I’ll be twenty-one in a few months,” she replied, turning her head cautiously to glance at the boy in the living room, hoping to decipher his reaction from his expression.

“Only twenty?” Minami Yuuki sounded surprised.

His astonishment caused Asano Nao’s worry to flip into self-doubt. She began to wonder if Minami Yuuki thought she was too young.

“I want to see what you looked like at sixteen or seventeen,” Minami Yuuki requested.

He thought of Ibuki Yuko—a girl a year older than him but looking almost the same age as his younger sister, Airi. He mused that perhaps, beyond sunlight exposure, a fruit’s ripeness also depended on its innate qualities. To test his theory, he wanted to see how Asano Nao looked in her younger days.

“Huh?” Asano Nao was perplexed by his thought process. Why was he suddenly curious about her youth? His request filled her with delight, though; in the romance manga she’d read, looking at old photos together was a recurring trope. But she could only turn him down since she didn’t have photos from back then.

“I didn’t take any photos back then,” she said with a hint of regret.

“Then… from even earlier? Ah, never mind,” Minami Yuuki said, realizing why Asano Nao lacked pictures.

If her parents were still around, how could she have no photos? He didn’t want to remind this stay-at-home big sister of past sorrows.

To divert her attention, he made a teasing remark: “Sis, for someone who’s a shut-in, you keep the house surprisingly tidy. I don’t feel like cleaning at all. I’d love to kidnap you and force you to clean my place.”

Asano Nao’s face flushed instantly, turning a deep red—like an apple basked in sunlight. Minami Yuuki couldn’t help comparing it to Nakajima Reina and Ibuki Yuko’s flushed faces, likening them to regular apples and unripe ones, respectively.

Faced with his teasing, this woman, who had secluded herself at home for years without ever stepping outside, gave a response that caught Minami Yuuki completely off guard.

“Sure,” Asano Nao replied as she slid the tamagoyaki from the pan onto a plate.

Her hand trembled so much that several pieces nearly missed the plate. Finally placing the last piece safely, she walked out holding the plate. She didn’t dare meet Minami Yuuki’s eyes, keeping her head down as she stammered:

“I’ll help you clean your apartment after breakfast.”

Minami Yuuki cursed himself for miscalculating. He had forgotten that the Asano Nao before him was no longer the pure big sister she once was but a lioness who, after tasting his delectable flesh in her dreams, was clumsily plotting to hunt him down.

However, with her abilities, she wouldn’t succeed unless he willingly let her catch him.

“Then I’ll be counting on you, sis,” Minami Yuuki replied, agreeing to her offer.

The apartment could indeed use some tidying up. Why refuse a free cleaning session?

Outside, the street was bustling. Office workers on shift or overtime couldn’t enjoy their weekends and hurried to their companies or shops early in the morning.

Minami Yuuki ate quickly, and Asano Nao, trying to keep up with him, sped up as well. By the time they finished eating, the streets outside were still lively.

“Let’s go, sis,” Minami Yuuki said with a smile.

If it were the old Asano Nao, she would’ve thought it was just a normal prompt. But now, having gained insight into the boy’s character through her dreams, she knew he was deliberately urging her at a time when there were lots of people outside.

This mischievous teasing made her feel both troubled and delighted.

She wasn’t a masochist, but this kind of teasing reminded her of the future she’d seen in her dreams. Back then, Minami Yuuki often pulled such stunts. The resemblance brought back the impression of love she had felt in the dream, filling her with joy.

She put on her sports jacket and followed Minami Yuuki to the entryway.

The door opened, and golden sunlight poured in like a golden tiger leaping toward her. She hastily took a step back, retreating into the shadows.

Even though she often went out in her dreams, in reality, she had never stepped outside before.

“What a dramatic retreat, sis. Are you a vampire? Will you turn to ash if the sunlight touches you?” Minami Yuuki teased.

Asano Nao ignored his words, encouraging herself by recalling the scenes of going out in her dreams. Slowly, she took a step forward, her toes moving out of the shadows and into the sunlight.

The warmth of the sunlight seeped through the thin fabric of her slippers, spreading comfort over the tops of her feet.

She could do it.

She smiled, lifted her head, and stepped forward with her other foot.

Now, her entire lower body was bathed in the warm sunlight.

Looking out the window, she noticed three children walking along the road. When people are young, curiosity about the world outweighs laziness, driving them to be energetic and eager to explore. Even on a holiday morning, they were out playing early.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The three kids were loudly discussing last night’s tokusatsu show, chattering, shouting, and jumping around with energy. To most people, this scene would appear peaceful and heartwarming. But in Asano Nao’s eyes, it quickly took on a different form.

First, she found the sunlight blinding. Then, dizziness set in, and the scene before her began to distort. The chatter turned into beastly roars, their jumping movements became like claws and fangs, and the children’s appearances warped, with malice seeming to lurk in their eyes.

A cyclist sped past, and a businessman in a suit walked by with a tense face. A housewife with sagging cheeks carried shopping bags, scanning the surroundings as if searching for prey.

Terrified by the sight, Asano Nao stepped back. Her fragile confidence and resolve crumbled instantly. Panicking, she turned to retreat into the hallway.

Just then, a pale hand reached out from the golden sunlight, grabbing her wrist.

A surge of mental reinforcement flowed through her arm, climbing over the hill of her elbow, racing up to her shoulder, and entering her mind through her ears, bolstering her willpower.

“What’s wrong, sis?” Minami Yuuki asked.

The warmth and strength of his hand, combined with the care and clarity in his voice, dispelled the illusions born from the dazzling sunlight. The world returned to normal.

“Backing out now isn’t an option. Even if I have to tie you up, I’ll drag you to my place,” Minami Yuuki said as he let go of her wrist and took her slightly cool hand.

He thought to himself that even in the simulated future, Asano Nao hadn’t fully overcome her fear of the outside world, so it was no surprise she couldn’t handle it now.

This shut-in big sister really was a fool, trying something without knowing whether she was capable.

The first attempt was always crucial. If her first experience left a negative imprint, any future attempts would trigger the same fear, wearing down her willpower and affecting her state of mind. It would take a lot of effort, repeated successes, and the joy of those successes to erase that fear.

All of this applied to Asano Nao stepping outside.

To prevent her from leaving a shadow on this experience, Minami Yuuki had no choice but to step in and help her.

“Come on, let’s go,” he said, pulling Asano Nao forward.

The force pulling on her arm was irresistible. Asano Nao stumbled forward, losing her balance as she was dragged out of the doorway and into the sunlight.

Minami Yuuki gave the door a light kick, closing off her escape route, and led her onto the street.

Asano Nao’s body tensed. She kept her head down, unable to muster the courage to glance at the passersby, her gaze fixed on the tips of her shoes. She gripped Minami Yuuki’s arm with her other hand as well. The posture was awkward and uncomfortable, but as they walked, it was as if they were two mismatched machine parts that quickly adapted and meshed together.

Minami Yuuki’s entire right arm was now pressed against Asano Nao’s chest.

Her thin sports jacket couldn’t hide the softness of her body. The sensation was overwhelming for Minami Yuuki, testing his self-control. If he could go further, he might give in to his desires recklessly. If he could pull away, he would escape to calm the turmoil in his heart.

But he was stuck in an in-between state—unable to act, unable to retreat.

He glanced at the back of Asano Nao’s bowed head and silently made a mental note to settle this score with her someday.

Inside the apartment building lobby, there were even more people. Asano Nao clung to him even tighter. It wasn’t until they got into the elevator that she loosened her grip slightly. At this time of day, most residents were using the elevator to go down, while they were heading up.

Once they reached his apartment and the door closed behind them, shutting out the outside world and its overwhelming sunlight, Asano Nao finally relaxed.

Realizing how close she had been to Minami Yuuki, she quickly released him and stood against the wall, looking like a guilty child awaiting punishment.

“The cleaning supplies are in the bathroom. You can start now, sis,” Minami Yuuki said, opening the bathroom door and leaning casually against the wall.

He looked into her eyes, his smile carrying a hint of menace. “If you don’t do a good job cleaning, I’ll call the police and tell them you threatened me to bring you here—and that you couldn’t keep your hands off me on the way.”

“I didn’t!” Asano Nao blushed furiously, defending herself in a small voice.

“There are security cameras in the building, you know. Downstairs, you were practically smothering me in your chest.”

Asano Nao was at a loss for words, her face so red it seemed like it might start bleeding.

She grabbed the cleaning tools and channeled her embarrassment into energy, throwing herself into her cleaning tasks.

Starting with the bathroom, she worked diligently as Minami Yuuki watched. Her earnestness reminded him of Mako preparing his bath water in the past (simulation), and he suddenly felt nostalgic.

So, he casually said, “Once the bathroom’s clean, draw me a bath. I feel like soaking for a bit.”

“Okay,” Asano Nao replied quietly.

Satisfied, Minami Yuuki left her to it and went to his bedroom to work on his homework. School was starting tomorrow, after all.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the doorbell suddenly rang. The electronic chime was installed on the wall by his bedroom door. Minami Yuuki pressed the button to silence it, then opened his bedroom door.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom—Asano Nao was still cleaning. She probably hadn’t heard the doorbell because of the water. Otherwise, she would’ve panicked and hidden in the bedroom.

Who could it be at the door?

Standing at the entrance, Minami Yuuki opened the door.

Ibuki Yuko’s figure appeared on the other side, holding a lunchbox in her hands. She stepped forward into the entryway, about to speak.

“Yuki, the bathwater is ready,” Asano Nao called out, opening the bathroom door and poking her head out.

She quickly noticed Minami Yuki wasn’t alone. Her eyes fell on the unfamiliar girl standing at the doorway.

In the narrow, dimly lit hallway, Asano Nao stood in the shadows, while Ibuki Yuko stood outside in the bright sunlight. Light and dark drew a clear boundary at Minami Yuuki’s feet as the two women stared at each other.

We are currently recruiting. CN/KR/JP Translators/MTLers are welcome!

Discord Server: .gg/HGaByvmVuw