Love Comes After Simulation

[You are ready for the life-saving surgery for the young girl, but three years is too short, and you can’t prepare for the operation step by step.]

[Faced with this predicament, you choose…]

[1. “Just throw the technology out there.”]

[2. “It’s decided—you’re the one, Ichinose!”]

[3. “Mako is also very cute.”]

[4. Free simulation.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“…?”

Yuuki Minami’s attention immediately fixated on option three. If it were Nao, Yuko, or Kazumi, it would make sense, but why did Mako’s name appear?

That’s my… well, not a biological relative, and we don’t have any real connection now.

Yuuki Minami’s thoughts wandered for a moment before he pulled himself back. He was just thinking idly and had no such intentions.

He didn’t have a particular preference for categories, just preferences for certain girls. Whether it was a voluptuous mature woman or a youthful innocent girl, as long as they were beautiful and had a sound personality, he was willing to give it a shot.

At the same time, he was mindful of the situation and wouldn’t pursue girls who were obviously incompatible.

Mako, who was thirty years younger than him, was in that incompatible category.

An old husband dying early, leaving a young wife to live alone for thirty years—how cruel would that be if she grieved for him? And if she didn’t grieve, how cruel would that be as well?

Moreover, while small hills have their own charm and cuteness, the wealth hidden in a towering mountain is something no barren hill could ever match.

Discarding option three, Yuuki Minami looked at options one and two.

Option one suggested documenting the technology, uploading it online, and finding a way to attract attention from relevant institutions.

With such an openly available document, an artificial valve would likely be developed quickly, and many doctors would study the surgery.

However, this still wouldn’t be fast enough.

Neither the successful cultivation of the artificial valve nor its formal application would happen quickly enough—it might not keep up with Reina Nakajima’s declining health.

Even with the valve, a surgery of this complexity couldn’t be mastered by a single doctor in just a year or two. Beyond that, surgeries require patients and authorization, and gaining approval and patients for a new operation takes time.

Option one felt like a gamble, entrusting everything to others and hoping they could race against time while you could only pray for fate’s favor. But fate had never favored Reina Nakajima.

Yuuki Minami disliked such uncertainty.

He reached out and clicked on option two, seeking help from Shiori Ichinose.

[You decide to seek Shiori Ichinose’s help. The Ichinose family is a famous and wealthy family in Japan, central to the country’s political scene for nearly a century. While they have never held the position of Prime Minister, several Deputy Prime Ministers have come from the Ichinose family.]

[You find Shiori Ichinose and tell her that you are a time traveler from seventy years in the future, having accidentally arrived in the past.]

[Shiori Ichinose doesn’t believe you but is amused to see what kind of game you’re playing.]

The memory scene appears.

In a spacious activity room, Shiori Ichinose sat on a sofa by the window, arms crossed and one leg crossed over the other, waiting for Yuuki Minami to continue his explanation.

Yuuki Minami dragged a chair over and sat in front of Shiori Ichinose.

“There’s a small scar on the inside of your left thigh,” Yuuki Minami began with a bombshell statement.

Shiori Ichinose’s swinging foot stopped. She put her crossed leg down and looked more serious.

“How do you know that?”

Before Yuuki Minami could answer, she began coming up with explanations herself.

“Did you bribe one of the girls in class? No, they wouldn’t see it during P.E. class unless they were really up close.”

“Was it seen at a bathhouse? But I haven’t been to a bathhouse in over a decade.”

“Peeping? You shouldn’t have the ability to do that.”

Yuuki Minami watched the girl lost in thought. If it were an ordinary woman, she would either be stumbling over her own thoughts or naively waiting for his answer with a blank look.

He continued, “Ichinose possesses royal blood.”

“That’s something many people know.”

“Then, what about the position of Shokenji Monzeki?”

“…Only the old Monzeki should know about that.”

“And the scandal of Shuzan—covering it up must have been difficult, right?”

“…I’ve only heard bits about it myself.”

“…”

As Yuuki Minami revealed one secret after another, Shiori Ichinose’s previously relaxed demeanor turned serious. She was astonished by how this young man before her could disclose so many hidden truths.

Unable to find an answer within the framework of reality, she could only begin to consider the possibility of something beyond it—that the boy in front of her truly was from the future.

The identity of a time traveler, in a way, wasn’t entirely wrong. After countless simulations of life, Yuuki Minami had indeed seen glimpses of the future.

The secrets he revealed came from various sources: fragments of memory awarded to him before, events from simulated scenarios involving Shiori Ichinose, and finally, some political knowledge he gained as a reward.

Experience is a summary of real-world phenomena and cannot exist independent of reality. Because of this, Yuuki Minami had received future music pieces in musical experience rewards, surgical techniques and theories from medical experience, and, in the case of his limited political experience, some information about future events.

These pieces of information were his bargaining chips to negotiate with Shiori Ichinose.

“Are you really from the future?”

Shiori Ichinose now sat upright, her silky hair neatly cascading down her back. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on her serious expression.

With her composure, such a repetitive and seemingly meaningless question would ordinarily never leave her lips. But the matter was too shocking, too inconceivable.

“Is this not enough proof?” Yuuki Minami countered.

“That personal matter you told me about last week—did you also learn that from the future?” Shiori Ichinose pressed further.

“Yes,” Yuuki Minami admitted.

“Why would the future you know such private things about me? I don’t believe I’d go around sharing my habits or the scar on my leg.”

“Because we’re quite close in the future.”

“Close enough for you to know about the scar on my leg?”

“Yes,” Yuuki Minami thought to himself. In that particular future, had Ibuki Yuko’s death not halted the worldline, it was possible he and Shiori Ichinose might have developed into a married couple.

Shiori Ichinose lowered her head, pondering what her relationship with Yuuki Minami could be in the future, what benefits a time traveler could bring her, and how she should approach this mysterious boy from the future.

After a moment, she raised her head. “What do you want?”

She didn’t believe that Yuuki Minami had revealed his identity simply because of their supposed close relationship in the future. He must have something to gain and needed her help.

As for the type of help… Though she didn’t want to admit it, the only thing of value she currently possessed was the influence of the Ichinose family.

“I have a technology for artificial biological valves. It needs to be put into research immediately and fully developed within two years,” Yuuki Minami stated.

“Anything else?”

“Once the valve has been successfully developed, I need you to use your connections to arrange for me to perform surgery on someone.”

“Does this artificial valve technology require future instruments? What level of researchers will be needed?”

“Existing instruments are sufficient. The technology is advanced and straightforward. Any competent researcher can follow the steps to cultivate it.”

Shiori Ichinose felt more confident now. Yuuki Minami’s conditions weren’t difficult; with the resources she could mobilize, they could be perfectly fulfilled.

Through these two demands, she became even more convinced of his claim to be a time traveler.

If he wasn’t from the future, how would he have access to future technology? And if he wasn’t from the future, how could he confidently claim to perform surgery on someone with only the knowledge of a high school student?

She didn’t agree immediately but instead asked for more information.

“Are you a doctor in the future?”

“A cardiothoracic surgeon.”

“How did you end up back in this time?”

“An accident. It can’t be replicated. In fact, I’ve only retained part of my memories.”

Shiori Ichinose paused, then asked another critical question: “The person you’re risking so much to find me and save—who is it?”

“Reina Nakajima, the daughter of Yohei Nakajima.”

Yohei Nakajima’s daughter? Shiori Ichinose’s mind flashed to the image of their homeroom teacher. She grew even more perplexed.

“Why save her?” she pressed further.

Her mind entertained various possibilities: perhaps Reina Nakajima was the inventor of the time machine, and Yuuki Minami had to save her to return to the future. Or perhaps the future was plagued by an AI crisis or World War, and Reina Nakajima was the scientist capable of resolving it.

“Because she’s my wife.”

“Tch!”

“…Did you just make a sound of disappointment?”

“No.”

Shiori Ichinose composed herself, brushing aside her fantasies about brilliant scientists. The differences between individuals are limited, and the deeper one delves into science, the less likely it is for a single scientist to surpass a collective.

She replayed Yuuki Minami’s words in her mind and noticed another issue. Furrowing her brow, she asked, “You said you’re close to me in the future?”

“Mm.” Yuuki Minami nodded.

“And yet you married Reina Nakajima?”

“Feelings are complicated.”

“What happens to me in the future?”

“You become the Monzeki at Shokenji Temple.”

“I see.” Shiori Ichinose sighed. She stood up. “I’ll help you.”

“Aren’t we going to discuss compensation first?” Yuuki Minami asked, surprised.

“That future technology you’re offering should be sufficient payment.” Shiori Ichinose smiled. “Though I could extort more from you, my grandfather taught me: when dealing with a cold, unfeeling organization, seize every benefit. But when dealing with someone warm and genuine, try to preserve the bond.”

Yuuki Minami pondered for a moment and found her words quite reasonable. An organization, composed of many individuals, inevitably operates based on cold internal rules, making appeals to emotion useless. But a single person, even in this modern world that dehumanizes individuals, still values emotional connections.

“I’ll tell you what I remember about the future,” Yuuki Minami said, happy to forge a friendship with Shiori Ichinose. “In the name of friendship.”

“Are you free tonight? Come over to my house. We’ll discuss the details.”

“Sure.”

—

[You revealed everything you knew about her. Shiori Ichinose was skeptical, but as you shared political secrets, she fully trusted you.]

[Faced with an unfamiliar person—a time traveler with immense value and uncertainty—Shiori Ichinose chose to wield the power of emotional bonds. She became your friend.]

[She invited you to her estate, where you talked through the night. You told her about the challenges the Ichinose family would face, the shifts in global affairs, and the emerging trends in advanced technology.]

[The turbulent future left her astonished. The unexpected war you predicted sent chills down her spine—not out of fear, but excitement. Through the information you provided, she glimpsed greater possibilities for herself.]

[To the person who opened up a broader future for her, she spared no generosity. She gave you a large sum of money, quietly upgraded Reina Nakajima’s medical clearance, and quickly began preparations for the biological laboratory required to develop the artificial valve technology.]

[Although the laboratory doesn’t require future technology, it does need the most advanced instruments of the present, one of which is only available in Japan.]

[You’re not sure how she managed it, but two months later, you acquired the full ownership of a well-equipped research institute in Europe.]

[Her generosity surprises you. You didn’t expect her to give you the research institute. With this, the medical patents contained within the artificial valve technology, which could bring vast profits, are no longer associated with her.]

[Shiori Ichinose tells you that, compared to the future information she gained from you, the money is insignificant.]

[You’re stunned by Shiori Ichinose’s wealth. You thought Nao Asano was an extremely wealthy woman, but it turns out Shiori Ichinose is even more impressive.]

Looking at the simulation text, Yuuki Minami couldn’t help but click his tongue.

The knowledge contained in the artificial valve technology could raise the towering mountain of medical progress by another peak. It took Mako and her top-tier team their entire lives to research it, and yet Shiori Ichinose seemed so indifferent about it.

She’s much wealthier than Nao Asano!

For a moment, Yuuki Minami felt a twinge of desire, but it only lasted a moment.

Once money reaches a certain amount, it’s just a number. There are only so many things a person can enjoy, and money cannot endlessly improve one’s standard of living. There’s always a limit.

But still, no one would refuse the increase of a financial number or willingly give up benefits they could have obtained.

He thought for a moment and found Shiori Ichinose’s actions strange. The technology was promised to her, so why was she refusing it now?

Unless… she had obtained something even more important.

Something that could make Shiori Ichinose happily give up financial gain…

— Power.

Money, after all, is just waste paper printed by power.

Is Shiori Ichinose planning to use those political details to gain power? Yuuki Minami speculated as he continued reading.

[She sends an assistant to help you manage the institute’s work. She’s worried you won’t be able to manage the researchers.]

[Her worry is unnecessary. You don’t need the assistant’s help. You manage the institute perfectly well on your own.]

[After learning of your management abilities from the assistant, Shiori Ichinose extends an olive branch, inviting you to come work by her side.]

[In response to her invitation, you choose…]

[1. “Rich lady, I’m hungry, let’s eat!”]

[2. “I’ll always love Reina Nakajima!”]

[3. “Mako, my Mako!”]

[4. Free simulation]

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