After eating, we wander around the shopping mall. We don't have any specific goal in mind. We look at clothes again, browse through books, and glance into game shops. It's just a casual walk, really. I wonder... is this actually surprising? The time I spend with Miyanoshita is always enjoyable, with constant smiles. We may have gotten married in the game on a whim, but we wouldn't have done that if we weren't compatible. In the end, our compatibility must be pretty good. "Phew, today was such a lovely day♪" The date draws to a close as the sun starts to set. I'm a high school student. Miyanoshita is in elementary school. Setting me aside for a moment, Miyanoshita needs to get home before it gets dark. That's her curfew. I don't intend to belittle her feelings just because she's younger. Yet, as a grade schooler, it's crucial to properly maintain a schedule for returning home. "Shall we head to the hotel now?" "Yeah no!" "I wouldn't mind, you know? Ehehe♪" "Do elementary school students these days really understand that kind of thing?" Could this be seen as sexual harassment? "Yes, I think they do understand to a certain extent." "Is that so..." "They can easily look up such things on the internet. The internet has its pros and cons." "I'm not thankful for that, it kind of bothers me." "You're quite innocent, aren't you? But that innocence is very much like you, Yuuki-san." She smiles warmly. Watching Miyanoshita like this, a question suddenly pops into my head. "Miyanoshita, you generally don't get upset or question what I say, do you?" "Well, of course. It's because you're the person I like." "Does that matter?" "It does. Haven't you heard that love is blind? Because of my romantic feelings, I tend to let it slide even if Yuuki-san does something odd." Really? The power of love is something to be reckoned with. "By the way, it would be okay if you did something strange in bed." "I'm not going to do that."

"You're not curious?" "Not about the current Miyanoshita..." "Ufff... But, I won't give up. If you're not interested, then I'll just have to spark your interest, Yuuki-san. And that means, I'll make you into a lolicon!" "Stop it. I could really end up beeing looked after by the police." Could you not try to step outside what's ethically safe once in a while? "Anyways, about..." "Still have questions?" "I wonder if I should even be asking this... but why do you care about me so much?" "Are you asking if I like you?" I nodded to Miyanoshita's question. We are gaming friends, and though it's online, we got married in the game. It's still in the game, but we always play together, and I think we have a good relationship. But I can't quite grasp why that would turn into romantic love. Can real life and the internet really connect so easily? "If you want to know the reason, I can tell you. But just a heads up... it might be a bit of a gloomy story, okay?" "If you're okay with it, Miyanoshita, I'd like to hear it." "Understood. The truth is..." I swallowed audibly. "Well, there's no particularly complex situation. Teehee♪" "Look..." "To put it in old-fashioned terms, I'm a latchkey kid. But nowadays, that's pretty standard, isn't it? With both parents working, it's not uncommon. I come home to an empty house. Some of my friends are looked after in after-school care. I'm considered responsible, so I've been given a key." "Do you say that about yourself?" "Ehehe." Miyanoshita is puffing up her small, or rather, practically non-existent chest. Yet, there's a certain loneliness in her posture. Smiling all the while. Her eyebrows aren't furrowed, and she isn't looking down. But the usual twinkle is missing from her eyes. It's not like her. So, beyond words, I fully grasp the depth of Miyanoshita's feelings. "Being alone, in the end, is just so boring. No matter what I do, it feels somewhat hollow or bland... Just plain boring." "Yeah, I get it." "It'd be great if I could hang out with friends. But as a grade schooler, I can't stay out late. So, I inevitably spend my nights alone, watching TV, fiddling with my smartphone... Even though I have lots of things to do, I'm still alone. That solitude never fades." Imagining Miyanoshita by herself at home. It makes my heart ache a bit. "In the midst of that, I discovered FanNex. It's such a blast, I got completely addicted, playing every day... And then, I met Hiro. I met Yuuki-san."

"It's been about a year now, hasn't it?" "Yes. We clicked pretty quickly and began playing together often... So that's my reason." "Huh?" "The reason I fell in love. Yuuki-san... Hiro was always by my side. Even if I was being capricious, he might get angry, but he never left and we'd always make up. Whenever I wanted to play, he'd join in. That goes for the endgame content, too. It was tough and frustrating, taking nearly a month to complete, but if I wanted to go, he'd come along. You stuck with me, didn't you? Despite how long it took." "I was interested in that part too..." "That's not true. At least initially, you weren't interested, were you? It seemed like you'd rather mess with the clan house than tackle the endgame content, right?" You really do know me well. As expected of my partner. "Both my father and mother truly care for me. No matter how tired they are, they always make time to talk to me when I'm awake. But... it's still difficult for us to spend time together. I've always been on my own." "I see." "That's why I was drawn to you, Yuuki-san, because you're with me." Miyanoshita gently places her hand over her heart. While checking the emotions within, she carefully chooses her words. "I love that you're always there for me." "I love that you share laughter with me." "I love how naturally you come to my side when I feel lonely." "I love that you cheer me up when I'm feeling a bit down." "I love that you rush to my aid in times of trouble, like a prince from a story." "I love that you see me as a girl." "I love that you adjust your pace to mine when we walk together as if it's the most natural thing." "I love that you accept my whims with a smile." "I love that you always warm my heart." "I love your gentle, sweet voice that seems to melt away my worries." "Thinking of you, Yuuki-san, fills my heart with warmth." "I find myself always watching you, always wanting to hear your voice." "There isn't a day that goes by without thoughts of you. I'm constantly thinking about you." "Because of you, Yuuki-san, my heart has welcomed a warm spring." "On days when we can't meet due to tests, I feel incredibly lonely and sometimes can't help but shed a few tears." "When we stay out late at night, it's so much fun that I completely forget about any tiredness." "While at school, I catch myself fantasizing about what it would be like if Yuuki-san were seated next to me." "When we decided to meet up offline, the anticipation was overwhelming and my heart raced so much I thought it might burst." "Whenever I catch sight of those beautiful eyes, my mind goes blank and I find myself at a loss for words." "You always keep me on my toes, and trying to keep my cool around you is a constant struggle, you know?" Having shared all her feelings all at once... Finally Miyanoshita blushes and offers a gentle smile. "I, Miyanoshita Suzu, am in love with Naoto Yuuki."