Am I being simulated by their love affair?

Page 613

After glancing at the graceful figure observing the breakfast options, he walked over to the senior student and gestured to the aunt wearing a mask.

"I'd like a large rice ball and miso soup, thank you, Auntie."

The girl glanced at him, then smiled and spoke.

"Then I'll have a small portion of rice balls and miso soup, thank you, Auntie~"

The two sat down at a long table in the corner of the cafeteria, each carrying a similar tray. Jun Matsue first took a sip of warm miso soup, his brows and eyes relaxing contentedly.

"You're up early, senior. Did you sleep well last night?"

Yamami Maki first stirred the miso soup in the bowl with a small spoon, then carefully picked up the rice ball next to her with her fingertips.

"It's pretty good. I rarely sleep on a hard bed, and I'm surprised that it feels quite reassuring."

There was no reply from across the table. She looked up and found the boy staring at her hand holding the rice ball.

"What's wrong?" The girl shook the rice ball. "Is it because the taste is different? Would you like to try some, Tsun-kun?"

Jun Matsueda shook his head. "I'm just a little surprised—I didn't know that my senior could also use her hands to hold rice balls."

When they were dating, they ate together many times, but they never ate rice balls, which is the simplest and most convenient food. So the guy only realized this now.

"..." Yami Maki smiled with her lips pursed. "What a strange question. Everyone eats rice balls by holding them in their hands, right?"

"I thought wealthy and noble families would have some more elegant ways of eating," the boy said, waving the chopsticks beside him.

"It's a pity that the person sitting in front of you now is a commoner named Yamami Maki." The girl said, picking up a rice ball, taking a bite, and blinking with surprise.

"The soy sauce and egg yolk smell so good." She swallowed the rice in her mouth and said, "And there's some stir-fried chicken bits, probably leftovers from making karaage chicken yesterday?"

Junya Matsueda took a big bite, chewed it with satisfaction, and swallowed it with the miso soup.

Yamami Maki watched him eat with a smile.

"These rice balls are more substantial than those from convenience stores; two small rice balls are enough for a satisfying breakfast."

The boy turned his head and glanced at the noisy cafeteria hall.

Although it's a holiday, the children are mostly up and happily enjoying their hot breakfast.

"Everyone is in their developmental stage, so large portions and enough to fill you up are definitely basic requirements."

The girl ate slowly, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Everyone gets up very early; it's a good habit."

“After all, the orphanage’s breakfast won’t wait for them,” Jun Matsue said calmly.

Yamami Maki's slightly puffed-up cheeks paused for a moment, then she covered her mouth and laughed.

"So that's how it is..."

"I'm planning to go out in a bit," the boy said, holding the soup bowl. "Senior, you need to go back to your apartment to get something, right? Do you want me to take you to the station?"

The girl blinked. "How do I deliver it?"

"bike."

"Ah," she hesitated, "carrying a passenger on a bicycle is punishable, isn't it?"

"Then wouldn't it be better if we just didn't get caught?"

"Mmm..." Yamami Maki chewed on the rice ball, making a soft, sweet sound as she chewed.

A few minutes later, watching the boy push a black bicycle out of the corner bike shed, the girl straightened her coat and followed him toward the gate of the orphanage.

"Is Caijiang still not up?" She turned around and glanced at the building behind her.

“Given her work schedule, she really deserves to sleep in and get some rest.” Jun Matsueda pushed his bicycle forward, the rolling chain making a sound like raindrops.

Of course, it's also possible that he deliberately got up late so as not to disturb his sister Moji's private time... the boy thought to himself.

As he walked out of the orphanage, Jun Matsue got into his car and turned back to look at the girl who was staring at him.

"Senior, just sit down."

“Okay…” Yami Maki pressed down on the hem of her trench coat behind her leg with one hand and leaned towards the back seat of the car.

Her careful movements made no sound; the boy only felt the car sink slightly.

"Are you seated?"

"...Shouldn't you be seated securely now?" The girl, sitting sideways, gripped the edge of the seat with one hand, her voice hesitant.

Following their old habit from when they were dating, she would put her arms around Tsun-kun's waist—although their relationship has started to improve, they are clearly not that intimate yet.

As Jun Matsueda stepped on the pedal, the bicycle inevitably wobbled as it started to move.

The girl in the back seat let out a small gasp, her free right hand swaying slightly before naturally resting on the waist of the person in front of her.

The boy paused for a moment while stepping on the pedal.

The old-fashioned yet neat black bicycle glided along a stretch of road in the quiet alley in the morning.

As the asphalt road outside the intersection drew near, Jun Matsueda gripped the handlebars and turned left, heading towards the Mitakadai Apartments.

To distract himself from the small hand resting on his waist, he turned to look at the girl in the back seat.

"The ride will be a bit bumpy, so please be careful, senior."

"Okay, okay!" Yamami Maki tightened her grip on the boy's waist a little more.

After a brief reminder, Jun Matsue looked at the intersection ahead and continued pedaling—soon he passed a buffer zone on the road, and his hand on the waist trembled along with the bike.

"What a blunder..." The boy blinked, trying to dodge the gust of east wind.

It would take at least forty minutes to get to Kugayama Station by bus. He was just thinking of giving his senior a ride to the station on the way, without considering the possibility of physical contact along the way.

Anyway, it was just a hand through the clothes... Jun Matsue rode his bike and glanced down.

The hand resting on his waist was fair and smooth, with slightly red fingertips, and it slipped into the pocket of his cotton-padded coat.

"Um, my hands feel a bit cold from the wind..." the girl in the back seat added an unnecessary explanation.

The boy didn't answer her, he just silently pressed the pedal.

Ride faster...

Twenty minutes later, Jun Matsue got off his bicycle ahead of time and pushed it toward Kugayama Station.

—The area near the station is a major traffic artery, so traffic police are bound to be present, and he certainly doesn't want to be fined three thousand yen.

Yamami Maki stood aside and waited until the boy parked his car before she followed him into the station.

"..." Looking at the bangs of the person next to her that were blown into a mess by the wind, the girl quietly pinched her right hand that was placed at her side.

This hand had been kept in Tsunkun's pocket the whole way, and it had become exceptionally warm.

Noticing her gaze, Jun Matsue broke the somewhat inappropriate silence between the two of them in the crowd entering the station.

"What did your family say, senior? Has your father still not sent a message?"

"Ah." Yamami Maki blinked hurriedly, composed herself, and took out her phone.

"I haven't really checked the news much since I woke up this morning..."

"No news." The girl quickly shook her head and put away her phone.

"Given my father's temperament, perhaps he really won't react until the New Year."

“Tsun-kun was right before.” She smiled nonchalantly at the boy. “He’s just acting like a child sulking with me right now.”

Jun Matsue nodded; his senior's current attitude reassured him.

"Let's leave his business for now." He walked towards the platform passage.

“I might not be able to go back to the orphanage for lunch, so when my senior comes back, she will probably have to take the bus by herself. It will be more convenient to take the bus directly to Mitaka Station and then take a bus to the orphanage.”

"Okay~" Yamami Maki silently noted down the boy's instructions, without asking him why he didn't come back for lunch.

The two walked onto the platform, just as the Inokashira Line train heading towards Shibuya pulled into the station. Jun Matsueda quickened his pace toward the train, glancing back at the girl who had fallen behind him.

"Just in case, please let me know when you get to the apartment and back to the orphanage."

“…Okay~” Yamami Maki’s smile was bright and gentle, and she waved her right hand in front of her chest.

"Don't worry, Jun-kun, I won't run away~"

The boy glanced at her helplessly, then his figure disappeared into the car with the crowd.

The carriage was crowded with passengers. As the train started moving, the matcha-colored trench coat on the platform disappeared out of the window like a willow tree swaying in the wind. Jun Matsue found a corner to stand in and took out his phone from his pocket.

It's 8:30 in the morning, and there are still forty minutes until his agreed meeting time with the girl.

Tomatsu should have finished washing up and was getting ready to go out by now... The boy clicked on the gentle and innocent rabbit avatar in his chat list.

As if in response to his thoughts, a message popped up in the chat box, a selfie of Tomatsu Yuka in front of the mirror at the sink.

"I woke up a little late today, I need to hurry up and wash up..."

In the photo, she wears a spaghetti strap nightgown that barely covers her thighs. The very pale pink satin fabric highlights the fair and rosy complexion of her skin, emphasizing her innocent charm while also showcasing her alluring figure...

Matsueda Jun cautiously raised his head—only a few junior high school girls sitting in their seats were watching him, so the boy opened the chat box and continued chatting with peace of mind.

"Take your time, I just left the orphanage myself."

—To avoid making the girl anxious, he didn't mind telling a white lie.

Ten minutes later, the boy sat down in a coffee shop near Hamadayama Station—he had met Tomatsu there many times before, and the waitress kindly led him to a seat by the window.

"Thank you." Jun Matsueda ordered a hot latte and watched the clerk pick up the menu and walk away.

He unbuttoned his black cotton-padded coat, took out a gold saxophone necklace from the inner pocket of his chest, and carefully fastened it around his neck.

Tomatsu would be a little happier to see him wearing a necklace... The boy looked up at the cafe's door, imagining the scene when his girlfriend walked in.

Just two minutes later, Tomatsu Yuka came into his view—the girl was walking somewhat hurriedly, and her eyes showed a hint of surprise as she looked at him.

She walked briskly to the window, smiling as she greeted the gentle, clear morning sunlight.

"How come Chun-jun arrived before me?"

"Actually, I was already on the Inokashira line when I messaged you before," Matsueda Jun smiled apologetically. "I just didn't want you to worry."

He watched as the girl took off her blue-gray thermal cloak and sat down beside him, revealing a pure white off-the-shoulder sweater—the one he had seen and used before.

"Besides, I used to always make Yuka wait for me—it feels good to wait for Yuka instead."

"Is that so?" Tomatsu Yuka smiled at him. "Then I still prefer to wait for Jun-kun myself."

As she spoke, she brushed a few strands of black hair behind her ear and then pursed her pink lips while looking into the boy's eyes.

"Because that way I can show you my most perfect side~"

"But Yuka is also very charming when she's imperfect."

The girl squinted her eyes slightly, raised her chin, and smiled like a young white fox that had successfully hunted its prey.

Tomatsu Tomoka took a hot latte from the table and ordered a butter croissant for breakfast. She took a bite of the crisp and light croissant, savoring it while glancing at her boyfriend beside her.

Jun Matsue admired his girlfriend's sweet eating posture and met her gaze.

"what happened?"

The girl smiled and shook her head, the white rose hair clip in her hair trembling gently in the sunlight.

Seeing you in person puts my mind at ease.

"Today, Jun-kun doesn't have that feeling of satisfaction after eating and drinking his fill."

The boy blinked. The last time Tomatsu said this, it had been shortly after he won the Idol Girl award.

"So, my senior and I really didn't..." Jun Matsue picked up the coffee and brought it to the girl's lips.

"They're all in the welfare home, what could possibly happen?"

Tomatsu Yuka lowered her head and sipped her hot latte, but then looked up at him with her pure and innocent eyes.

"So you mean it's okay outside the welfare home?"

"How could that be..." The boy glanced at her helplessly—Tomatsu's devilish side seemed to be about to resurface.

"Bringing my senior back to the orphanage this time was unexpected."

"What happened so suddenly?" That's what the girl was waiting for.

Jun Matsue brought the coffee cup to his face and took a sip, following the glaze she had left on the rim.

"It all started a while ago when my senior's older sister came to see me..."