Am I being simulated by their love affair?

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"As a real adult, I can no longer just say things to make you happy like before."

"Does 'making me happy' mean losing to me in a game and then cheating?" Mochizuki Haruka's gaze held a hint of harshness typical of adults.

The aunt innocently turned her face to look out the window, pretending not to have heard the girl's words.

She looked at the pond on the lawn, where the stone tablet still stood, now naturally blended into the landscape of Wangyue's house.

"Auntie, I'm not being biased. Songzhi is practically my savior, so it's perfectly normal for me to speak up for him, isn't it?"

Mochizuki Haruka could only let out a dissatisfied snort.

"A cunning adult."

Because the young lady was not in a good mood today, there were several desserts on the Mochizuki family's dining table—all of which were specially made into the shape of cats by the maids.

After dinner, Mochizuki Haruka took a walk with her aunt on the lawn of the manor. The two walked around the pond. The girl looked at the tombstone that was stained with bird droppings and then looked up at the deep blue sky after sunset. Her mood improved a little.

"So what should I do now?" she asked her relationship coach again.

"On the offensive end, just ignore Tomatsu-kun's existence," Mochizuki said confidently. "Since Matsueda Jun said they are just a couple in name only, then don't worry about them so much and just focus on the offensive."

"In terms of defense, we need to keep a close eye on these two and prevent them from taking their act seriously."

"Make sure you prioritize your efforts! Take the initiative first. In the end, you have to rely on yourself when it comes to love. Trying to slow down others won't help!"

However, to the aunt's surprise, this time her niece did not nod obediently as before, but instead looked doubtful.

"Don't you believe me, Xiaoyao?"

"...I feel like my aunt isn't as reliable in love as I thought." The girl splashed water from the pool onto the stone tablet. "She said all those nice things before, but she still got snatched away by Tomatsu."

"Didn't you just leak the information to her yourself?!" The woman stamped her foot. "She's just reaping the benefits without lifting a finger, stealing the fruits of my victory!"

"When Songzhi and Xiaomoji broke up, wasn't my foresight a factor in that?"

"Besides, her rise to power was illegitimate, which poses a huge threat! I want you and Songzhi to have a healthy relationship..."

Amidst her aunt's rambling self-justifications, Mochizuki Haruka decided to trust her one more time.

Chapter 481 Prelude to Spring Break

On Thursday, March 19th, Jun Matsue sat in the school cafeteria, having lunch with three girls.

Tomatsu Yuka sat next to him, and opposite them were Miyamura Aya and Mochizuki Haruka. The four of them deliberately chose a less crowded corner, so they didn't attract too much attention.

"Spring break starts today! Time flies!"

Miyamura Aya picked up a piece of udon with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, a happy expression on her face—just like her brother, the girl was the kind of person who especially loved to eat.

Tomatsu Yuka, who was sitting across from her, smiled and said, "We were supposed to have our holiday on Friday, but since tomorrow is the spring equinox, we're starting early."

In Japan, the spring and autumn equinoxes are statutory holidays. In addition, there are holidays such as "Mountain Day," "Sea Day," and "Green Day," perhaps in the hope that people will have more opportunities to get closer to nature.

"Anyway, an early holiday is definitely a good thing." Jun Matsue took a big bite of pork chop. It was crisp and tender, and although it was a bit salty, it was just right with rice.

"It's definitely a good thing. At least after the holiday, I won't have to watch you two showing off your love in front of me."

Sitting opposite the boy, Mochizuki Haruka had a sullen face, and the reason was definitely not that the omelet rice in front of her wasn't delicious enough.

After the girl finished speaking, the atmosphere at the small dining table immediately turned cold.

Miyamura Aya looked embarrassed, Matsueda Jun buried his head in his food, only Tomatsu Yuka still had a smiling face.

The graduation ceremony was two weeks ago, and the romance between Jun Matsue and Yuka Tomatsu has been circulating in the school for two weeks, even among many teachers.

The girl next to Jun Matsueda put down her chopsticks. "Mochizuki-san, you wanted to come along, didn't you?"

“I don’t come here every day.” Mochizuki Haruka tossed her black hair behind her back.

"It's a holiday today, and Aya and Matsue are eating at the cafeteria, so I'd like to come along. Is that okay?"

Tomatsu Yuka looked at the remnants of omelet rice on the plate diagonally opposite her. "No problem, but if you have no appetite at all, aren't you just asking for trouble?"

"Haha..." Aya tried to smooth things over, "I was really surprised when I heard that Chun-ge was dating~"

Aya Miyamura only learned the truth when she called Jun Matsueda on the night of her graduation ceremony. There were too many people around at the school, so it wasn't convenient for her to ask.

After learning the truth, the girl didn't have a particularly strong reaction. She simply expressed respect and support for the boy's decision—they were family, and they wouldn't be too concerned about who was right or wrong in matters of the heart.

However, her sister's support had no effect at the dinner table. Mochizuki Haruka still had a stern face, and Tomatsu Yuka was still smiling at her.

Jun Matsue swallowed the food in his mouth, looked up and took a sip of water. "Talking too much at the dinner table will really affect your appetite. It's better to focus on eating."

Tomatsu Yuka lowered her head and ate her pork cutlet rice, which was smaller than the one next to her, while Mochizuki Haruka turned her gaze to the side and sipped her sparkling water through a straw.

A few minutes later, the four of them walked out of the cafeteria. The weather was starting to warm up, and the cherry blossoms by the roadside were like the half-open eyes of a young girl who had just woken up. Perhaps they would be in full bloom in a few days.

Mochizuki Haruka glanced at Tomatsu Yuka beside her. On Tomatsu Yuka's other side were Matsueda Jun and Miyamura Aya, who were chatting, while she herself was walking on the very edge.

However, the girl was not dissatisfied with this position because she had something to say to the people around her.

“Actually, I admire you quite a bit.” Mochizuki Haruka looked at Tomatsu Yuka’s profile. “It’s been more than half a month, and you’re still very patient, behaving like a model girlfriend.”

The gentle-looking girl's eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if she hadn't heard what was being said, and she turned her head to look at the boys chatting on the other side.

Despite being called a model girlfriend, she's actually a fake girlfriend—as the most talked-about couple in Yuqiu High School right now, their relationship isn't as passionate as people imagine.

They just got closer to each other when walking in the hallway, ate together at the couples' table in the cafeteria, and brought each other water during PE class—that was all.

Holding hands and hugging may happen, but they are rarely seen in public. Public kissing at graduation ceremonies seems to have become a thing of the past.

"Because I want to respect Matsueda's thoughts." Tomatsu Yuka turned around and said to the girl next to her, "I will never do anything that he would mind or object to."

"And does Ms. Mochizuki really think that a relationship where people are all lovey-dovey and showing off their affection is the kind of relationship that will make others jealous?"

Her eyes, as she looked at Mochizuki Haruka, held a condescending smile.

Mochizuki Haruka fell silent, as cherry blossoms, about to bloom, swept past in her peripheral vision.

The girl knew very well that the despicable guy in front of her was right—although it wasn't passionate, the boy and girl's romance actually received more recognition from others. Even their homeroom teacher, Kominato Shoko, struck up a conversation with them after class and joked about some topics related to couples.

Because innocent and pure love is the most beautiful thing in people's eyes.

When the four of them entered the teaching building, Mochizuki Haruka pulled Miyamura Aya's arm and left first—although she was a little unhappy about Tomatsu Tomoka and Matsueda Jun staying together, she knew that they were just putting on an act at school, and the girl didn't want to stay by their side all the time, as if she really couldn't "read the air".

"Actually, I don't understand either." Jun Matsue felt the girl beside him take his hand. Tomatsu Yuka's movements were not firm, but gentle and soft, like a lotus root still attached to something.

"I thought we should have entered that passionate love state much earlier."

"What are the benefits of doing this?" the girl asked him with a smile.

"It hasn't been long since graduation, and we're already inseparable. What are we going to put on for our seniors now?"

Even pain can be a gentle, soothing ache, like a slow, gentle stream.

Tomatsu Tomoka is an absolute genius at manipulating people's hearts, and Matsueda Jun, with this thought in mind, walked into the classroom with the girl.

The two afternoon classes passed quickly. After the school bell rang, Mochizuki Haruka walked to the boys' seats.

"How is Songzhi spending her spring break this year? Is she still staying at her hometown?"

"Hometown" refers to the orphanage. There were still many people in the classroom, and the thoughtful girl did not want to reveal his privacy.

Jun Matsueda shook his head. "I'll take a look if it's on my way, but I won't stay there permanently."

"Then I'll continue living in the apartment?" Mochizuki Haruka stared into his eyes, her probing always direct.

"it is good."

"I'll head back now, remember to come back early." The girl nodded in satisfaction and left the classroom.

Since Jun Matsuoka allowed her to live next door, it means that his "relationship" was still one where he wasn't afraid of being spied on.

After assigning duties, the boy left the classroom alone—Tomoka Tomatsu was going to attend the brass band's gathering today. The end of the third semester marked a change in the club, and the girl was about to step down as president, bidding farewell to the brass band.

So Jun Matsuoka didn't head towards the school gate at this moment, but instead walked through the corridor and headed towards the newsroom on the first floor.

A girl who loves listening to stories is waiting for him there.

Chapter 482 New Stage

When Jun Matsueda entered the newsroom, the room was still quiet. The girl sitting at the head of the conference table looked up at him with surprise.

"Matsue!" Natsumi Imokawa put down her notebook and waved to him.

The room was still quite chilly, but the girl seemed oblivious. Her coat was on a chair, and she was only wearing a sailor uniform and a cardigan, the neckline of which was pushed up to create a particularly full curve.

"Hasn't the others arrived yet?"

The boy sat down on the chair next to the girl, and she naturally picked up her coat from the back of the chair and put it on the other side.

“No.” Natsumi Imokawa shook her head. “I told the club members that the meeting would start fifteen minutes later—that way I could prepare my speech more.”

She picked up the notebook on the table and turned to the page full of revisions, which Matsueda Jun had helped polish.

The girl stared at the laptop, her left hand on her chest, her chest heaving more than usual, indicating that she was somewhat nervous.

"Didn't you practice several times in the past few days? You spoke without any problems during the department meeting before, so there's nothing to worry about," the boy tried to reassure her.

“…It has a different meaning.” Natsumi Imokawa held up her notebook, casting a small shadow on the desktop in front of her.

"Today is my last speech as the Minister of Information. If this were a movie, it would be the climax of the film, or a memorable ending. Of course, I have to treat it with care."

Jun Matsuoka was taken aback. In his mind, the journalism club wasn't that important; it was just a piece of the puzzle in campus life. He chose the journalism club simply because he thought it was convenient and valuable.

However, in Natsumi Imokawa's eyes, the newspaper club was of much greater importance, as it was the place she had found for her hobbies and ideals in high school.

The boy nodded. "That makes sense."

“Then let’s practice some more.” He got up from his seat and walked to the other end of the long table to sit down.

"Imokawa, just pretend we're having a meeting and say it to me first."

"Yes!" The girl nodded vigorously, pulled out a chair and stood up—she always felt that speaking while standing showed respect.

"Ahem." Natsumi Imokawa cleared her throat.

"Thank you all for attending today's final meeting of the Journalism Department this semester..." The girl's clear voice rang out in the room, her words exceptionally distinct.

Pine's gaze swept across the long table, observing Imokawa Natsumi standing at the other end—her lips, neither thin nor thick, were full in shape, and when she wasn't speaking, they would pout slightly, perfectly matching her slightly fleshy cheeks. The girl's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, giving her an earnest yet clumsy appearance.

This appearance naturally evokes a sense of pity in people, so Natsumi Imokawa doesn't have much of an air of authority, but whenever she speaks at a regular meeting, the members always have a focused expression on their faces.

"...It's been a pleasure to spend so much time with everyone in the news department. I hope to see you all active in the future."

"Thank you!"

The girl bowed deeply, and after two seconds she straightened up, looking nervously at the boy sitting opposite her.

"What do you think of Songzhi?"

"That's good." Jun Matsue clapped his hands. "Just be careful not to bow too deeply when you give your formal speech later."

"Why?" The girl tilted her head.

"Because it will expose my underwear." The boy tugged at the collar of his school uniform.

Natsumi Imokawa lowered her head and looked at her collar. The two layers of fabric were stretched taut by her full breasts, and there was no sign of her exposing herself.

So she bent down deeply again, and the boy's eyes were once again filled with the deep cleavage of the young woman and a large expanse of dazzling white skin.

"That's enough." Jun Matsue hurriedly stopped her. "I would never lie to you about something like this."

Judging by looks alone, Natsumi Imokawa is the naturally cute type, but after seeing her figure, the contrast becomes very alluring.

"..." The girl sat back down, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Because I have to wear three layers of clothing in winter, I removed the chest cover from my sailor uniform, otherwise it would be too stuffy."

Jun Matsue nodded. "You should sit down and talk later."

"Ah."

A few minutes later, the door to the newsroom opened, and the members walked in one after another. Imokawa Natsumi was sitting in her seat, lost in thought, when she saw the boy sitting next to her stand up and greet them.

At this point, the girl stopped being nervous and began to think about other things—

When I bowed before, my chest didn't look bad, right?

It wasn't until Matsueda Jun sat back down that he noticed the girl's absent-mindedness and gently called out to her.

"Imokawa? Is there going to be a meeting?"

"Ah, okay!" Natsumi Imokawa subconsciously tried to stand up, but the boy next to her immediately pulled her sleeve and made her sit down, which brought her back to her senses.

"Thank you all for attending this semester's final meeting of the Journalism Department..." She picked up her notebook and began to read aloud as before.