I_LOVE_RICE+

V3 Chapter 12: Who is the woman this time?!

The next day at Haneoka, in the afternoon.

Even though the weather was sweltering, the classroom had already grown restless with the school day nearing its end. The teacher's writing on the board had become half-hearted, and the students weren't paying much attention.

Kazami Haru sat at his desk, calmly scrolling through the messages on his phone.

"Next month? So that's during summer break?"

They had already decided back at RiNG to hold a live show tog...

V3 Chapter 11: I’ve Always Thought of Taki As…

Shiina Taki's sudden apology genuinely caught Kazami Haru off guard.

He never imagined that someone as prideful and assertive as Taki would be so honest and straightforward in apologizing. Honestly, he'd always thought of her as a dependable bro through and through.

Thanks to the simulation, Haru was already familiar with her blunt and easily-provoked nature.

So being hit with something this sincere, he was left unsure how to react.

"…"

Seeing Haru's prolonged ...

V3 Chapter 10: Is This a Confession?

Turns out, the limit of a genius far surpasses what most people can imagine.

After just one night of work, Kazami Haru had managed to compose part of a melody using the lyrics written by Tomori. While it was only about half a song, it was still miles better than where he started at "just created a folder."

"You already finished half?"

Shiina Taki's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. Haru had said last week that he was starting work on the new song.

She honestly thou...

V3 Chapter 9: If You're Going to Confess…

Noon, Sunday — RiNG.

"So slow…!"

Shiina Taki stood with arms crossed, her deep violet eyes tinted with a trace of irritation and impatience.

She had taken a rare day off from work to come here early to RiNG's second floor, today's purpose being a band meeting, where Kazami Haru was supposed to bring his composition progress.

She was fully prepared.

But that wasn't her biggest concern today.

What bothered her most was…

Tomori Tak...

V3 Chapter 8: The Blond Girl is So Pitiful

"Huh?!"

Sitting alone in her room with pale lavender headphones on, Miss Taki's voice echoed with disbelief.

Maybe she had just gotten out of the bath. Her long, waist-length black hair still shimmered with a damp gloss. Her deep violet eyes shook violently from shock, and even her fingers gripping the phone trembled.

She reread the message on her phone several times, starting to doubt her own eyes.

"Tomori… is with that guy at this hour?!"

"This is ba...

V3 Chapter 7: What a Gorgeous Face

For once, Yamada Ryo's usual cool expression visibly cracked. A glint of surprise flickered in her pale golden eyes and Ikuyo Kita hadn't even recovered from Ryo's last comment when this new one hit.

Takamatsu?

Did she mean Takamatsu Tomori?

Tomori had visited STARRY once before, and everyone remembered her as a sweet girl with a somewhat heavy, dreamy vibe. Even back then, Ryo had picked up on a sense of threat from her.

It looked like that threat level neede...

V3 Chapter 6: Ryo, the You of Now

Yamada Ryo had heard before that Kazami Haru was in another band.

She also knew that Haru was secretly giving guitar lessons to another girl. But because she had never seen the girl in person, Ryo couldn't judge how much of a threat she posed.

Still, the fact that they were practicing at home already meant the risk level couldn't be anything less than a solid B-rank.

Letting a girl hang out alone with Haru at his house put Ryo, who lived far away in Shimokitazawa at...

V3 Chapter 5: Any Request?

As it turns out, guitarists really do have a natural talent for escape.

Ever since Bocchi-chan had fled from Anon's house yesterday, Kazami Haru had only received occasional replies to his messages. Even her "Guitar Hero" YouTube channel, which usually uploaded on a fixed schedule, hadn't posted anything all night.

Yeah, she was really scared.

Haru had explained everything to the two girls afterward, that what happened was just an accident caused by Bocchi tripping while hol...

V3 Chapter 4: Ikuyo Kita’s Grand Victory?

Anon walked out of the room with her hands behind her back, pacing calmly as she headed toward the living room. She began rummaging through the cabinet in a familiar manner, looking for the snacks and drinks she had already prepared.

Her relaxed movements seemed like she was waiting for something.

Sure enough, Kita, who had excused herself saying she needed the bathroom, was already by her side.

A trace of curiosity flickered in Kita's eyes, but the bright smile on her lovel...

V3 Chapter 3: Kita Ikuyo Is About to Crack

Now that you mention it… it really does sound like Ryo-senpai!

At that moment, Kita Ikuyo finally sensed something strange.

The song had struck her with an intense sense of déjà vu the moment she heard it.

That proud, fierce rhythm, it was just like Yamada Ryo on stage, completely immersed in her music. The lonely, self-assured beauty in the song mirrored her to a T.

Why would an "untitled" song feel so much like Ryo-senpai?

Confused, Kita began subtly watchi...

V3 Chapter 2: “Guitar? I Only Know a Little”

It was an old guitar. Visibly worn, its surface scratched and weathered by time.

The body had faded, the metal parts dulled and oxidized, the tuning knobs clearly replaced more than once, but even now, it held its tune. Despite its age, it was obvious the owner had treated it with deep care and affection.

This guitar was one of the "rewards" Kazami Haru had received from Chihaya Anon's simulation.

An irreplaceable token of love, strummed by her hands for decades. A vessel of...

Volume 3 Chapter 1: Chihaya Anon’s Joy

If I could marry Wakaba Mutsumi… maybe I wouldn't need to work at all?

Such was the passing thought in Kazami Haru's mind today.

Yesterday's date with the little wooden doll had been his first real one-on-one date with a girl in real life. Compared to the simulations of just text, vague feelings, and fragmented memories, this had been on an entirely different level.

From start to finish, Cucumber-san's cuteness soothed the wounds left on his heart by thos...

V2 Chapter 42: She Held His Hand

Who are they?

Shiina Taki stared at the two girls who had suddenly appeared in front of her, her face filled with confusion. Judging from their uniforms, they were from Haneoka High. Could they be friends from the same school as Tomori and that pink-haired girl?

Tch, this is annoying.

If she hadn't transferred to Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy and had instead stuck to her original plan of attending Haneoka, she would've been going to school with Tomori now.

They might've ...

V2 Chapter 41: Maybe It Was Just My Imagination

"No matter what… I can't just sit back and do nothing."

Chihaya Anon lightly twirled a lock of cherry-pink hair draped over her shoulder. When she saw Kazami Haru walking with that unfamiliar girl earlier, her heart had started pounding uncontrollably. A strange sense of loss and unease crept into her chest.

That girl hadn't appeared in any of her "dreams."

Could it be that the future she'd seen changed, because of the actions she took after gaining those memories?

A...

V2 Chapter 40: You Can’t Just Say That Out Loud!

(TL music Rec: An Eternity in a Moment — Carlotta Story Theme Music)

...

"Mutsumi… why is she with him?"

"What's their relationship?"

Shiina Taki, worried about being noticed, took a few cautious steps back. She genuinely hadn't known that Kazami Haru was in contact with Wakaba Mutsumi, a former bandmate of hers, after all.

But ever since CRYCHIC disbanded, they hadn't spoken again.

She never imagined the next time she'd see Mutsumi would be li...

V2 Chapter 39: Silent Love

Wakaba Mutsumi stood obediently at the school gate, still holding her bag. As she saw Togawa Sakiko walking briskly out of the school, she gave her a small nod. Instantly recognizing the gesture, she turned and followed after her, expressionless.

She had come all the way to Haneoka just to see Sakiko, because she had no other choice.

After sending Sakiko several messages without getting a reply, she could tell Sakiko was angry. Meanwhile, Soyo had been acting differently lately, p...

V2 Chapter 38: That Pink-Haired Brat Ruined Everything

Chihaya Anon hurried back to class and, the moment she stepped inside, her eyes shot straight toward the back by the windows, near the curtains. There he was—Kazami Haru, with his black hair and dark eyes, sitting in his usual spot, chatting casually with Takamatsu Tomori.

The sight made her heart skip.

Today felt nothing like yesterday.

The moment her eyes landed on Kazami Haru, the corners of her mouth curled upward on their own, and her heart began to beat just a bit fa...

V2 Chapter 37: You Even Thought of the Kid’s Name?

Before they knew it, evening had already arrived.

The Kessoku Band's meeting for the day had wrapped up. Assigning roles and choosing a band name were just the minor details, what really mattered now was preparing for their very first live show. Each member had to sell five concert tickets as part of their quota.

Since Kazami Haru planned to teach that troublesome pink-hair guitar on Friday, the promotional shoot for the band was scheduled for Saturday. Kita would also start joini...

V2 Chapter 36: Chihaya Anon? That Evil Pinkhead!

In Japanese, the words for "him" and "her" are pronounced very differently. Anyone would immediately hear the distinction. This was no slip of the tongue and Haru didn't really have male friends to speak of.

So "her" could only mean a girl.

Everyone's mind went straight to the same question: Who is her?

Even the gentle and pure-hearted Nijika couldn't help feeling a little curious. Gossip was a natural instinct, especially among girls.

But still, she wasn't th...

V2 Chapter 35: Thank You, Sakiko

So warm.

It was like being curled up in a fluffy winter blanket, comfortable and safe. Like sunlight on a chilly morning, warm but never blinding. A gentle heat that wrapped around her body, with the faint scent of flowers lingering in the air.

It felt like a dream—one where even someone like her, so shadowy and gloomy, stood in the middle of a brilliant sunflower field. Golden waves of blossoms glittering under the sun, rolling like glowing tides...

Gotoh Hitori had never...

V2 Chapter 34: The First Perfect Simulation

"..."

As the simulation came to its serene conclusion, Kazami Haru returned to reality, pulling himself from the immersive experience.

This simulation had gone on for quite a while. With so many vivid memory fragments flooding into his mind, it felt like he'd truly lived another life through a first-person lens.

Even now, after snapping out of it, he had complicated feelings toward his simulated wife, Chihaya Anon.

Haa...

Taking a deep breath, Ha...

V2 Chapter 33: A Spring Day with Cherry Blossoms in Bloom

(Music Rec: Kibou Refrain, One Room Ending 3)

...

"I'm Anon's boyfriend."

"B-boyfriend?!"

The two trendy gyaru girls were completely stunned. They genuinely hadn't expected Chihaya Anon to suddenly show up with such a handsome boyfriend, and not even a hint of it beforehand.

All that remained in their eyes was pure, unfiltered shock and it wasn't just them. Even Chihaya Anon was staring at him in a daze.

Every loving gesture from the past, now, just before ...

V2 Chapter 32: This Is a Trial

[The band now acknowledges your skill as a composer. Taki's opinion of you has shifted, though her attitude remains cold. Perhaps it's because she's seen Tomori looking at you with disheartened eyes.]

[Tomori's quiet sadness hasn't drawn much attention from you, but from Taki's point of view, your growing closeness with Anon has made her increasingly irritated and conflicted, though she still says nothing.]

[With your songs finally in progress, the band is starting to fall into pl...

V2 Chapter 31: Taki-ni Bro Definitely Has a Crush on Me

[Sakiko didn't want to be indebted to you. The next day, she gave you a plain, homemade bento as thanks. The ingredients weren't expensive, but for someone living frugally, it was clearly the best she could manage.]

[You notice several flesh-colored bandages on her fingers during work. It becomes clear she hurt herself trying to cook for you. Her sincere effort leaves you completely unable to refuse.]

[Gratefully, you eat every bite of the bento. When you look up, you see her smil...

V2 Chapter 30: Easy to Win Over Woman

W-What now?!

Even Sakiko Togawa couldn't keep her usual cool in this situation. Her calm amber eyes flickered with panic as she stared at the utensils like they'd betrayed her.

This was an indirect kiss!

She'd gone to all-girls schools her whole life and never really interacted with boys.

She hadn't even had her first kiss or even held a guy's hand!

And now… this?

She skipped every stage in between!

Of course she froze! 2025-05-11 03:49:11 +0000 UTC View Post

V2 Chapter 29: I Just Wanted to See That Face

The warm, golden lighting of the ramen shop gave Raana's silver-white hair a soft, almost fluffy glow. Her mismatched cat-like eyes twinkled slightly, and that cottony-soft voice felt like a paw gently scratching at his chest.

"..."

Haru's hands froze. He looked up, expression a little off, at the stray cat across from him.

No doubt, those words hit him harder than he expected.

He had… a bit of a weakness for cute, petite girls and Raana, with her innocent and straig...

V2 Chapter 28: Oops, Let This Pinkhead See Through Me

[Simulation count +1 acquired]

Though he hadn't done a simulation with Anon yet, that didn't stop Haru from quietly "mining" her.

For some reason, being close while teaching music gave him a bonus simulation count, twice in a row.

With the previous rewards, he now had three simulation attempts total!

Not quite enough to serve as "revival tokens," but more than enough for a proper simulation, such as a single route dedicated to...

V2 Chapter 27: Are You a Saiyan?

Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot...! (Baka, Baka, Baka, Baka...!)

He played the keyboard way too well! And he had the nerve to tell her he was just a beginner?

If he's a beginner, then what does that make me, someone who can't even read sheet music?! Just a total, hopeless idiot!

Chihaya Anon tightened her grip on the black guitar bag slung over her shoulder, quickening her pace again. Her long, vivid cherry blossom-pink hair fluttered behind her as she stormed off.

Her lips...

V2 Chapter 26: This Woman Is Not Easy to Mess With

(TL Note: We're going back to 2.5k per chap since Anon, the author's favorite waifu has her character development arc.)

Current Schedule: 2chaps/Day

...

Shiina Taki's sharp light-purple eyes glared at Kazami Haru like an eagle targeting its prey. Being sensitive to gazes, Haru immediately noticed and could even guess what she was thinking.

"Why is Taki looking at me like a disapproving father? As if I'd steal Tomori away? If anything, it's the little p...

V2 Chapter 25: I'll Be the One to Protect Tomori!

"Ah! Speak of the devil, he's finally here!"

Chihaya Anon was the first to notice him and eagerly waved toward the staircase.

Before anyone else could react, Nagasaki Soyo shot up from her seat. Under Shiina Taki's confused gaze, she rushed over to the white railing on the second floor. Without even confirming who it was, the words she'd been dying to say began spilling out of her—

"Sak—Eh?"

The person climbing the stairs wasn't the one she'd expected.

It was...