Am I being simulated by their love affair?

Page 469

The boy's dark trousers fluttered in the wind as he stepped onto the terrace in his white indoor shoes, followed by the screech of the sliding door being pulled shut.

The girl breathed a sigh of relief. She placed the book in her hand on her lap and watched the drizzle fall on the toes of her shoes with the transparent wind.

"..."

The inexplicable emotions that had just filled her chest seemed to have been taken away with the boy's departure. Now, Imokawa Natsumi had no heart to study, and Matsue's reply left her feeling empty.

"You said you wouldn't forget your friends even if you were in a relationship..."

Although Jun Matsue had not forgotten her, the girl was becoming increasingly concerned about the difference in treatment she received compared to her other girlfriends.

"What do you mean 'try your best'..."

What Songzhi just said to her didn't sound very convincing...

Natsumi Imokawa picked up the book from her lap and pressed it against her chest, as if that would make her empty chest feel a little better.

Is it only by becoming his girlfriend that he can be truly noticed by Matsueda?

Seemingly startled by her own sudden thought, the girl trembled and looked behind her in a flustered manner.

The boy was obviously not behind the door, so she breathed a sigh of relief and opened her "Collection of Film Theories" again.

"Let's just memorize it..."

Imokawa Natsumi knows what's most important right now, and she can't let her mind wander.

The girl held the thick book, searching for the page she had previously looked at.

However, the strange feel of the book cover in her hand made her stop quickly.

Natsumi Imokawa closed the book and looked at the dark-colored parts on the cover—some of which could be seen to be the outline of her hand.

"How did it get wet..." the girl murmured to herself.

Those were large raindrops that had gotten on her right hand when she was holding onto the railing.

Closing the balcony door and walking towards Class 3-6 at the other end of the corridor, Jun Matsueda's mood wasn't as relaxed as his face suggested.

The boy had noticed Natsumi Imokawa's disappointment, which is why he cautiously refrained from making any promises.

Was it because he had neglected Imagawa? Jun Matsueda frowned as he pondered.

Sakamuro did complain about how he doesn't hang out with boys much anymore.

but……

Recalling the innocent eyes of the girl on the terrace, filled with grievance and dissatisfaction, Jun Matsue had a bad feeling.

Is it because Imokawa doesn't have many friends, and I acted too reliable in front of her, making her feel dependent on me?

And then there was the time I helped her shoot her portfolio; it seems like they were in contact a bit too frequently…

The more the boy thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

Although she said she was going to the Imokawa family's studio, the girl lived there every day, so it was no different from her home.

Even though I haven't been in her bedroom, and have only been in the living room and recording studio, this distance still seems too close...

After reviewing the moments they spent alone together in his mind, Jun Matsueda's feelings became complicated and surprised.

From an outsider's perspective, his relationship with Imokawa does seem somewhat ambiguous.

Why didn't I realize this before?

Even now, reflecting on how he was gradually lulled into a false sense of security by Natsumi Imokawa's innocent appearance, he still can't find the answer.

"..." Looking at the classroom so close at hand, Jun Matsue sighed inwardly and hurriedly put aside his thoughts.

He pushed open the back door and gave the two girls in the back row his usual relaxed smile.

Now I can only hope that Imokawa's potential dependence won't turn into an attachment...

Chapter 724 October Overture

The last few days of September passed monotonously in the continuous drizzle left by the typhoon.

As October arrives, in addition to the temperatures fully transitioning to autumn, third-year students are also welcoming the Kawai Juku's nationwide standardized mock exam.

On Friday, October 3rd, Jun Matsue stood at the end of the corridor on the third floor of the activity building, listening to the melodious wind instruments drifting from the wind instrument room behind him.

The national mock exam just ended yesterday, and today after school, the entire brass band was already there, and a new round of practice began.

After all, the national competition is just around the corner, and they don't have much time to rest.

The boy closed his eyes and listened intently to the music behind him.

Whether it's the uniform and emotionally rich melody of individual parts or the close and harmonious cooperation between the various parts, it's much better than it was a month ago.

He turned around and looked at the pure white figure standing next to the practice team in the classroom window, swaying slightly to the melody.

It seems Tomatsu has quite a talent for education...

As for why it is "also"—

Jun Matsue took out his phone and tapped on the pale yellow parrot avatar in the list.

The second semester at Ochanomizu University has been underway for five days, and judging from the frequency of messages from her senior, she has become noticeably busier.

However, Yamami Maki continued with her daily report. The boy swiped up and down the screen and found the class schedule that the girl had sent the day before yesterday.

"Man and Development", "Educational Practice Research I", "An Introduction to Educational Thought", "Special Seminar on Educational Anthropology"...

"No wonder it's pedagogy," he remarked, making no sense at all.

Jun Matsueda never expected that Maki Yami would ultimately choose education as her major.

However, judging from the course content that the girl occasionally shared with him, the senior was really interested in this major and adapted quite well—she had only been in university for less than half a year, and she was already able to find work in the teacher's projects.

The boy scrolled through the videos again and clicked on the video that Yamamoto had sent that morning. It was a video the girl had filmed while sitting by the window.

The senior student wasn't in the frame; only her delicate, fair index finger slowly glided across the pages of the book in front of the camera.

"How did humans become human?" she asked gently, reading the words that flowed from her fingertips. "This is what education studies."

"The goal of pedagogy is to become a comprehensive humanities science, approaching the process of human formation and development both theoretically and practically—the ultimate mystery of humanity..."

Even the sunlight streaming through the window seemed to slow down in the girl's soothing tone, and the boy silently watched the video again.

Education seemed to be more interesting than he had thought.

The school bell rang from the nearby teaching building, signaling the end of get out of class. Jun Matsueda put away his phone and looked towards the opposite corridor.

A group of tired figures emerged from the activity rooms on the third and fifth floors; they were third-year students who had just finished self-study.

The boy quickly found the swaying black hair he was waiting for in the crowd—Wang Yueyao walked expressionlessly along the edge of the crowd, and the students around her consciously kept a distance from her.

As the girl turned and walked into the stairwell, the melody that had been drifting from the music room stopped, followed by relaxed whispers from the girls, and conversations between the club president, the instructor, and Tomatsu Yuka.

Jun Matsue leaned against the corridor railing in front of him, watching the crowds of students leaving the school building after school. The tense expressions of the boys and girls melted away little by little in the dim, yellow sunlight—the autumn sun was setting earlier and earlier.

Just as the aloof, black-haired girl was about to pass by the activity building, the boy took out his phone and sent her a message.

She must have heard the notification; the petite girl downstairs paused, took her phone out of her pocket.

This time, Mochizuki Haruka didn't raise her head like before.

She simply stuffed her phone into her uniform bag, smoothed her bangs, and continued walking towards the school gate.

"..."

Jun Matsue leaned on the railing, watching the girl's graceful figure lengthen in the sunlight as she disappeared behind the school gate.

He wasn't surprised by the result, since Mochizuki's attitude hadn't changed much in the past few days—it remained cold and aloof, like a high wall made of fine snow.

The boy raised his hand, and the message "Look up" on his phone screen still showed as unread.

However, there is some good news—at least Mochizuki isn't really ignoring the news.

The door to the department behind him opened, and a quiet footstep approached, a soft, warm touch pressed against his back.

"What is Jun-kun doing?"

"Hmm...human observation?"

Tomatsu Yuka smiled, gently hugged the boy in front of her, rested her head on his shoulder, and looked down at the third-year students leaving school.

"Are they testing Mochizuki Haruka again?"

Jun Matsue nodded. "Still no reaction."

He wouldn't bring up his pursuit of other girls in front of Tomatsu, but if she asked, he wouldn't hide anything in his answer.

This is a way of getting along that the two have built on tacit understanding, and so far, the situation is relatively stable.

"After all, she's so narrow-minded~" Tomatsu Yuka said sarcastically, rubbing her body against the boy.

"Not everyone can be as tolerant of Tsunkun as I am~"

Jun Matsueda turned around and nuzzled her cheek affectionately. "Is the brass band practice over?"

"No." The girl glanced back at the clubroom, where the solemn trumpet leading the lesson's melody rang out again.

"Previously, it would have ended at this point."

"But the performance is tomorrow, and the national competition is on the 19th—there aren't many days left to practice, so they want to practice until the school closes at six today."

"You're working very hard," the boy praised.

"I hope their efforts will pay off." Tomatsu Yuka smiled and took his hand.

"So let's go first~"

Accompanied by lively music, the young couple, hand in hand, walked through the dimly lit corridor. Inside, the people holding golden instruments all turned their gazes away, watching the two, their profiles also bathed in golden light, pass by the classroom window and disappear into the distance, their hearts filled with tender affection.

A few minutes later, Jun Matsue pushed his bicycle out of the school gate, accompanied by a girl carrying a bag in both hands and walking lightly.

He stopped at the crossroads in front of the school gate, turned his head to face the long slope.

Tomatsu Yuka looked at him as if they were telepathically connected. She raised her right hand and waved it, tucking half of her palm cutely into her coat sleeve.

"Then...see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow." The boy nodded. "Remember to text me when you get home."

"Okay~" The girl's smile was sweet and charming as she turned and walked towards the station.

Matsueda Jun did not immediately get on his bicycle, but instead watched the graceful figure walk away in the sunset.

However, Tomatsu Yuka stopped after walking only a few steps. She turned around, cupped her hands to her mouth, and called out.

"The brass band performance is tomorrow at 2 PM, remember to remind Yamami-senpai not to be late~"

"..." The boy waved his hand, indicating that he would remind him.

The girl smiled playfully, turned around and continued forward. Only when her figure was obscured by the buildings in the distance did Jun Matsue get on his bicycle and ride into the other side of the intersection.

Dinner for 507 today was prepared by Yosuke Kurusu, and Idol-sama bought several plump and delicious crabs.

The eight-legged crustacean struggled symbolically for a few moments, before being transformed into crispy, golden-brown fried crab legs and fragrant crab risotto by the girl, who licked her lips and made a swift, decisive cut.

After enjoying the delicious autumn treats with the girl, Jun Matsue went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. He first tidied up the kitchen waste and tied up the plastic bag that had been used to process the crabs, which had a strong fishy smell.

As the tap was turned on, Yosuke Kurusu strolled leisurely into the living room. The girl rubbed her stomach through her T-shirt, looking satisfied and content.

"You've eaten too much, Pine Branch!" She walked over to the boy and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Let's go for a walk after you've finished washing the dishes!"

“No problem.” Jun Matsue shrugged, and the girl’s small hand fell to the ground.

"Why does it seem like Kurusu has a lot of free time today?" He continued washing the dishes, glancing at the person next to him. "You even have time to make such a complicated crab dish."

"I guess so~" Miss Idol put the washed dishes into the cupboard for him.

"Today, 'Chirp, Diversity' entered the top ten of the Oricon weekly chart, and it also made it into the top twenty on TikTok—a lot of girls are remaking my MV!"

The boy looked up and calculated the time. "It's only been less than two weeks, right?"

"Isn't that amazing!" Yosuke Kurusu nodded.

"Given such commendable results, the team at the agency took a half-day off. Sister Ju and the others are probably having a big meal right now."

Jun Matsueda brushed away the foam from the last plate. "Shouldn't she have brought you two bottles of wine, as is her custom?"

"How did Songzhi know?" The girl blinked in surprise. "She's still thinking about what kind of wine to send this time. She should receive it in a couple of days!"