Status Window Chapter 19 : Lumel's Bento (2)

19. Lumel's Bento (2)

I look at the choices in front of me and think. The fact that these choices appeared means there's a possibility that something will change depending on what I pick.

First, let's consider "Eat it and say it's delicious." If I say that, she'll surely be happy. It's the first bento she's ever made being praised; no one wouldn't be happy about that.

Next, the case where I choose "Say it honestly." She might be shocked to learn that eggshells got in. However, it's also a chance for her to realize her mistake.

In this case, I need to consider which one Lumel desires. Does she just want to be praised? Or does she want to improve? Lumel's feelings are important.

Lumel is proud of her family's shop. She believes the food made there can make people happy.

She said she wants to inherit that shop in the future and make all kinds of people smile. That's why Lumel is facing cooking seriously.

There are no other children who think this seriously from such a young age. She's properly thinking about the future and trying to make the efforts she can make now.

To respond to such earnest feelings, just praising her isn't enough. Telling her the truth, letting her know her failures, and helping her improve little by little is better for Lumel.

I selected "Say it honestly."

"Lumel... there's an eggshell in this."

"Eh!? I-is that so!?"

"Yeah, it went crunch."

When I told her honestly, Lumel looked surprised. But immediately, she looked dejected.

"You see... when I was cracking the egg, it got all crushed, and a lot of shell got in. I thought I removed it carefully, but it looks like some remained."

"I see, cracking eggs is difficult. Plus, there are lots of small fragments, so it's easy to miss them."

"I asked how to crack eggs many times, but I couldn't do it properly. Thinking about too many things confused me, and I ended up using too much force."

Saying that, Lumel laughed weakly. Apparently, she didn't think she could do it well herself either. It seems she was making the bento without confidence.

But I think that's fine.

"Geez, Lumel, you take everything way too seriously! One or two failures are perfectly normal!"

"B-but... I have to do it properly..."

"Just because you try to do it properly doesn't mean you can do it properly. By repeating it many times, you improve and become able to do it properly. You fail because you don't have the experience of doing it properly yet, Lumel."

Because Lumel is a diligent person, she thinks she has to do everything properly. Thanks to that, she can do anything and is kind to everyone. But no one is perfect.

"I think you don't have to be afraid of failure. If you keep repeating failures, someday you'll be able to do it properly. You don't have to be perfect from the start."

Lumel has a perfectionist temperament. Studies, relationships, the future—she tries to do everything perfectly. But even a person like that can't do everything perfectly.

People like that are terribly afraid of failure. That's why I'll teach her that failure isn't scary. Creating an escape route so she can step out of her hard shell even a little.

"It's okay, Lumel is properly advancing on the path to success. So, let's fail a lot."

When I said that with a smile, Lumel opened her eyes wide as if surprised.

"I'm advancing on the path to success? Not the path of failure..."

"Of course! They say failure is the mother of success, after all. Five failures will eventually become one success!"

"...That's weird. To succeed by piling up failures."

"It's true! If you stack them up one by one, you'll succeed!"

It seems she thought that if she failed, she would just keep failing forever. When I conveyed that wasn't the case, Lumel's expression softened.

"Being told that by Rio, I've started to feel like failure isn't such a bad thing. I thought failure was bad... thanks to Rio, I feel lighter now. Thank you."

Lumel said that with a beaming smile. Then, piron, the notification sound rang. Now, looking at this will reveal the result of the choice.

Opening the Window and checking the item—

[Lumel Eliamir: Affection +3]

That's the one that goes up like crazy?!

No, well, since a choice appeared, I thought something would happen but... Since when was I playing a dating simulation game?

I answered gleefully when the choice appeared, but does this mean it was an event to conquer Lumel? Was Lumel a capture target?

...Fuffuffu, interesting. The capital's most beautiful girl, Lumel, is a capture target. Then that means those kinds of developments are waiting for me from now on!

Whew! To think I can experience a dating sim in real life, how fun is that! I'm looking forward to what kind of events will occur!

...Wait a minute. Then doesn't that mean there are other capture targets too? Wh-where?! Where are they, the capture targets!

Surely, capture targets should have their Affection go up. But the only one whose Affection is rising right now is practically Lumel. Does that mean there are none close by?

Kuh... New encounters, I have to raise flags! Are there any flags standing right now... Ah!

The vocational experience is coming up soon! There should be new encounters there! Fuffuffu, then maybe there will be an encounter with a capture target there.

Just you wait, my dating simulation game!