LRAB Page 29
Page 29
She simply waited quietly for the other person to leave, then continued walking towards the teaching building, as if nothing had happened.
“I see…” Yuto Itsuka thoughtfully withdrew his gaze.
He seemed to understand what "emotionless" meant.
He was somewhat absent-minded throughout the morning's classes, thinking about what he had witnessed earlier.
Based on the system's prompts, it's not hard to draw a conclusion—Sakurajima Mai is a patient with an affective disorder.
Unable to perceive their own emotions, and unable to perceive the emotions of others.
The emotions behind all other people's expressions, tones, and behaviors cannot be understood.
This is the object of his simulation.
'System, shouldn't you explain this to me?'
Is this something a normal person could handle? He's not some relationship expert or psychologist.
【…】
Forget it.
They come, the security.
Let's think of a way first. Since the system has made her the simulation subject for this time, she shouldn't be completely unconquerable.
If things really don't work out, he'll just quit the simulation and move on to the next one, which will be even sweeter.
Volume 1: Chapter 36: It's still better to use a veil after all.
During lunch break, most students went to the cafeteria or took out their own lunchboxes.
Yuto Itsuka bought a serving of yakisoba bread and, instead of returning to the classroom, went to the school library.
This is one of the few places in my past life's memories where I could observe Mai Sakurajima up close.
Sure enough, he saw the figure in a corner at the very back of the library.
Mai Sakurajima was sitting at a table by the window, quietly flipping through a thick hardcover book.
Sunlight streamed through the glass window, casting a soft outline around her, creating a scene as beautiful as an oil painting.
What can a person who has lost their emotions gain by reading books?
The answer is no.
Instead of immediately approaching her, Yuto Itsuka found a spot behind a bookshelf where he could observe her but wouldn't be easily spotted, and pretended to be looking for a book.
He saw several girls walk past her with books, smiling and greeting her: "Hello, Sakurajima-senpai."
Mai Sakurajima would respond politely with a smile.
Her smile is just one of her many masks.
Yuto Itsuka decided to verify whether his conjecture was correct. He randomly picked up a book from the bookshelf and walked towards Mai Sakurajima.
He deliberately walked to the bookshelf next to her, pretending to be looking for something seriously.
"Um... senior." He began, his voice clear and bright, with just the right amount of nervousness.
This is the "secret admirer" persona he designed for himself.
Mai Sakurajima looked up from her book and turned to him.
"Excuse me, do you know where Dazai Osamu's 'No Longer Human' is? I've looked all over but can't find it," Yuto Itsuka asked, a very common opening line for striking up a conversation in a library.
He stared into her eyes, carefully observing her emotional fluctuations.
Mai Sakurajima was also looking at him, neither annoyed by being disturbed nor curious about being spoken to by her junior.
A few seconds later, she said, "It's on the B-3 bookshelf in the literature section, third row."
"Oh, really? Thank you, senior." Itsuka Yuto said, feigning surprise.
"You're welcome."
This is really a headache.
……
……
The school bell rang, and the campus, which had been quiet all day, instantly came back to life.
The students walked out of the classroom in twos and threes, discussing where to go to sing karaoke or which newly opened dessert shop to visit.
Yuto Itsuka slowly packed his schoolbag, his gaze fixed on the window.
When that familiar figure walked out of the senior high school building alone with a bag on his back, he immediately followed.
He decided to proceed with the second step of the plan: tracking.
He wanted to see what this emotionless idol would be like when he was alone, away from the "stage" of school.
This behavior sounds a bit like a pervert.
But for the sake of the strategy and for the sake of the novel's material, a little sacrifice is necessary.
He convinced himself of this.
Maintaining a safe distance of about 10 to 20 meters, Yuto Itsuka followed Mai Sakurajima at a moderate distance.
His tracking skills weren't particularly sophisticated, but fortunately, Mai Sakurajima seemed completely oblivious to her surroundings and had no idea that a little tail had appeared behind her.
Her walking route was very fixed; unlike other girls, she didn't go shopping or sit in a coffee shop after school.
She simply walked quietly along the sidewalk toward the station.
On the way, some fans recognized her and excitedly wanted to ask for her autograph.
Mai Sakurajima stopped in her tracks, a professional smile on her face, and politely declined the offer.
"Sorry, this is my private time."
Her response was very appropriate, and there were no mistakes in her actions or expressions.
But watching this scene from behind a nearby telephone pole, Itsuka Yuto became even more certain of his judgment.
He felt she was "performing".
Upon arriving at the station, Mai Sakurajima, like any other student, queued up to wait for the train.
She stood at the end of the line, head down, lost in thought.
Yuto Itsuki mingled in the crowd and boarded the same tram as her.
The carriage was crowded, and he was pushed to a spot not far from her. He could clearly see her being pushed and shoved by the crowd, her body swaying involuntarily, but her face remained expressionless.
I wasn't annoyed by the crowd, nor did I resist contact with strangers.
After the train had traveled three stops, Mai Sakurajima got off.
Yuto Itsuka quickly followed him down.
This appears to be a residential area, with detached houses lining both sides of the street and few pedestrians around.
Mai Sakurajima stopped in front of a family-run restaurant.
Is she going to eat here?
Yuto Itsuka was somewhat surprised; he thought she would go straight home.
He watched as Mai Sakurajima pushed open the door and went inside, hesitated for a moment, and then followed her in.
To avoid being discovered, he deliberately chose a booth that was far away from her but still allowed him to observe her through the glass partition.
He casually ordered a coffee and then focused his attention on the figure not far away.
Mai Sakurajima chose a two-seater by the window.
She took off her coat and draped it neatly over the chair next to her, then took the menu from the waiter.
She ordered a simple creamy pasta dish and a glass of iced water.
While waiting for her food, she sat there quietly, and at that moment, Yuto Itsuka saw that all the professional expressions on her face disappeared.
It was as if a heavy mask had been removed, revealing the empty face beneath.
There was no joy, no sorrow, no expectation, not even the blankness of emptiness.
It means "nothing".
Yuto Itsuka felt he was right; she really had been "performing" all along.
At school, Mai Sakurajima always tries her best to act like a normal person when she's around others.
She used her superb acting skills to imitate the emotional expressions she had learned.
Smiling, nodding, refusing, thanking... these are just actions that actors are required to perform in the script.
Only in such a solitary and absolutely safe environment will she stop performing and return to her most authentic self.
'This is already a bit scary...' Yuto Itsuka picked up his coffee and took a sip, feeling a bit uneasy.
It's like a fake person infiltrating human society, lacking human emotions but pretending to be a normal human being.
Shake head and sigh.
The previous plans may have to be completely overturned.
He wanted to make a girl who was "empty" of everything fall in love with him and agree to date him.
This isn't just about navigating a game; this is about creating a miracle.
Medical miracle.
Yuto Itsuka doesn't think he can do it.
He even suspected that even if he followed her, kidnapped her, imprisoned her in a basement, and subjected her to various forms of cult activities, she probably wouldn't react in any particular way.
This time, we might really have to consider prematurely shutting down the simulation.
……
[P.S.: The update on Sunday, which is the day after tomorrow, will be at midnight.]
[Secondly, two extra chapters will be added and released together with Sunday's update.]
[Again, I'm considering opening a bounty next Wednesday or Thursday (there will be more people writing daily updates, so I'll secretly open one before they're around, and I can also add fewer updates)]
Finally, thank you all for your votes, comments, comments, hate messages, and donations. Your support is my biggest motivation to update (bows)
Volume 1: Chapter 37: Violating Ancestral Laws—The Simp Offensive Begins!
Back in the rented room in the simulated world, Yuto Itsuka threw himself onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
“Conventional ways of contact won’t leave any trace in her mind at all,” he muttered to himself.
Whether it's striking up a conversation, confessing your feelings face-to-face, or any other method, none of these are advisable.
"So what do I do?"
Using highly stimulating methods?
But what kind of stimulation is considered intense?
监？
Yuto Itsuka shuddered and banished these dangerous thoughts from his mind.
He's here to simulate dating, not to simulate crime.
Moreover, he didn't think this method would be effective.
"call--"
"This won't work, that won't work... Forget it, let's stick to the original plan for now, and if all else fails, we'll think of another way."
Giving up now would be premature given the difficulty of this challenge.
……