Love Comes After Simulation

The practice room was next to Asano’s house, a white modern building.

During its construction, Minami Yuuki hesitated whether to give it a more antique look to match the Asano house’s style. He asked Miu, the girl who spent her childhood in the countryside, and without hesitation, she chose the modern style.

Entering the practice room, through the glass of the piano room, Minami Yuuki saw a girl practicing inside.

In the wooden room, a black piano stood in the center. The girl in a white dress looked calm, her lowered eyes gazing at the keys with a dreamy, thoughtful look. Her slender fingers danced under that gaze.

All the windows in the practice room were tightly closed, and the temperature was somewhat high. Miu’s long hair was loose, her shoes and socks off to the side, bare feet resting on the brown floor. The shadow of the piano cast a gray veil over her ankles.

Minami Yuuki pushed open the door and walked behind Miu to where there was a bench.

Someone was already sitting on the bench, Yoda Rika, Miu’s childhood friend and the first person coerced by Miu.

Yoda Rika had not appeared in the memory scene before. It was the first time Minami Yuuki had seen her face, and surprisingly, she looked very obedient—a child with shoulder-length hair, wearing narrow black-framed glasses, and a rather cute appearance.

Yoda Rika hurriedly stood up to greet Minami Yuuki. Minami Yuuki pointed to Miu, who was still playing the piano, shook his hand, and sat down with the girl.

The moment he saw the girl, her name came to his mind, in his memory, with simulated human memories.

His gaze was undisguised. Yoda Rika lowered her head to look at the tips of her slippers. Her two palms were on her knees, her elbows stretched straight, very nervous.

The piano stopped playing, and Miu pulled her fair leg out from under the piano, placing it on the piano stool, leaning sideways with her delicate cheeks on her bent knee, looking at Minami Yuuki.

“Dad finally decided to divorce Mom. Did you put your hand on Rika-chan?” Her face was not happy.

“Eh?” Yoda Rika raised her head.

“Maybe it’s not bad, and then let your mom stay as a maid.” Minami Yuuki agreed, staring even more blatantly at the girl.

Yoda Rika’s face immediately turned red, and she lowered her head again, unable to meet Minami Yuuki’s gaze.

My charm has not diminished even after twenty years!

Minami Yuuki was very satisfied.

However, looking at Yoda Rika’s reaction, it was just a little shy and a little moved, without that feeling of love. Is it really because I’m getting old?

Miu said that sentence just out of dissatisfaction with Minami Yuuki staring at Yoda Rika. After seeing Rika’s nervous appearance, her target also shifted.

She smiled mischievously, “If you marry my dad, Rika-chan can always be with me, eat together, sleep together, and live in the same house.”

Yoda Rika lifted her lowered head slightly and cautiously glanced at Miu and Minami Yuuki.

Apparently, the girl was very tempted by this proposal.

This surprised Minami Yuuki. Why are you so moved when it comes to being with my daughter!

What do you want to do with my daughter using your stepmother’s identity!

Immediately he thought of one thing. In the simulated text, it was mentioned that Yoda Rika confessed to Miu and was rejected.

Are you really in such a relationship!

This is too unhealthy!

Too contrary to worldly conventions!

Too—so comforting for an old father!

It’s great not to worry about my daughter being bullied by some scumbag!

“You can’t take shortcuts like this,” Minami Yuuki patted Yoda Rika on the shoulder, encouraging her, “If you like Miu, you have to rely on your own efforts!”

“Dad, what are you talking about!”

Shyness spread from Yoda Rika’s face to Miu’s cheeks.

Miu picked up the socks next to her and threw them at Minami Yuuki. The thin black socks failed to hit the target, unfolded in mid-air, and fell to the floor.

Is this a breakthrough?

Oh, my foolish daughter, you’re still too young!

Minami Yuuki put away the prepared more outrageous flirtation and changed the subject, “By the way, how did you reconcile with Miu after confessing before?”

Usually, after a confession fails and feelings are rejected, there should be some awkwardness for a while, right?

Minami Yuuki was very curious about this.

As soon as the words came out, he saw Yoda Rika’s body stiffen.

Miu hugged her knees, displaying a smug smile. “Yeah, how did we make up, again? I forgot by accident. Rika-chan, tell Daddy about it!”

Yoda Rika lifted her face, a tremor appearing on her cheeks. That past was a nightmare she couldn’t shake off.

She began, “The next day, Miu asked me to hang out and play as usual. I said I didn’t want to go and then…”

Her face drooped again, her voice trembling. “Then Miu said she recorded our conversation yesterday. If I didn’t listen to her, she would tell everyone about my confession to her, so that everyone would know that I am that kind of woman!”

“…”

Minami Yuuki rubbed the girl’s hair. “You’ve been through a lot.”

“Dad has no right to say that,” Miu pouted, displeased with Minami Yuuki’s praise for comforting Yoda Rika instead of her.

“Your mom and I truly love each other. As for you and Rika… I’m not getting involved.” Minami Yuuki walked over to Miu. “It’s piano time now, and you made three small mistakes just now!”

Miu put her feet down from the piano stool, showing no intention of getting up. Minami Yuuki sat beside her.

The dim sunlight filtered through the window in front, not too bright. A small pot of violets was placed on the window sill, blossoming towards the sky. Miu leaned forward, her bright face looking at Minami Yuuki’s fingertips.

The piano began to play.

…

The dim sunlight shone on the brown floor. The violets in the corner of the window frame were covered in the shadow of the wall. Yoda Rika stood up and took her leave. Only Minami Yuuki and Miu were left in the practice room.

Minami Yuuki stood up, placing socks and shoes in front of his daughter. “Put these on and let’s go.”

“Daddy, help me put them on.”

“I’ve already done more than enough by taking care of you. You still want me to help you? Put them on yourself!”

Her fair toes were covered by black socks. Miu murmured audibly to Minami Yuuki, “Back in the day, I used to help you put them on!”

“It’s a daughter’s duty to take care of her dad.”

“But you weren’t my dad back then!”

“That was an advance payment. It’s encouraged within the framework of capitalism!”

And besides, Minami Yuuki thought to himself, who says I wasn’t your dad back then? I was already your dad while you were still in Asano Nao’s belly!

He didn’t say this out loud. It wouldn’t be interesting to say it now. Miu would at most be surprised and complain a bit. It would be better to wait until the end of her life to say it, so Miu could feel a mix of sorrow and joy, unable to find anyone to complain to.

After putting on her socks and shoes, Miu muttered, “Why do we have to go home? Why not let Mom bring us food?”

“You don’t have to go home,” Minami Yuuki said.

“Huh?” Miu looked at him in confusion. Where else could she go if not home?

“Aunt Airi misses you both. Take Rikka with you to her place. She’ll take good care of you. Come back after school.”

“Oh?” Miu smirked mischievously. “I see. It’s not Aunt Airi who misses us, it’s Dad who misses Mom, right? Are you planning to give me another sister?”

“Adult matters are none of a child’s concern,” Minami Yuuki tapped her on the head. “Hurry up and get out of here with Rikka!”

“Yes, sir!” Miu ran out happily.

The girl’s movements were swift. Minami Yuuki walked home. Minami Nao was looking at her two daughters who ran out hand in hand and was at a loss.

“Don’t worry, they’ve gone to Airi’s place.”

Minami Yuuki took off his coat, and Minami Nao hurriedly took it and hung it in the closet.

She faintly sensed what might happen and dared not ask, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“I’ll cook.”

She wanted to escape, but Minami Yuuki grabbed her hand. “I’m not hungry yet. I heard that exercise is good for digestion. Let’s digest first.”

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