Standing in front of Chuck, Kaede glanced at Shizuka. Years of friendship allowed them to understand each other without a word.
They both remembered. The island wasn't a dream.
They looked back at the younger version of Chuck. He was looking at them with a "Who are these girls?" expression. A wave of sadness hit them, but they pushed it down. Even if he didn't remember them yet, they wouldn't let him get hurt.
In the crowd, Haruka and Kana were speechless. They had only brought Kaede along to watch, and now she was the main character in a gang war?!
"What are they thinking?"
"Should we help?"
"I'm scared..."
"Actually... I don't think they need us."
"Huh?"
"It's Kaede. Look."
One by one, boys began stepping out from the crowd to stand opposite the thugs. One, two, three... dozens. Boys from Class B, Class A, underclassmen. They were all "simps" who had been given a smile or a kind word by Kaede in the past.
"You think you're tough, Tajima?"
"I'm not afraid of you!"
They shouted bravely, constantly glancing back at Kaede to see if she noticed their "masculinity." One simp is a joke; a hundred simps is a riot.
Chuck looked at the sea of boys surrounding him and struggled to keep his face straight. This is hilarious.
Tajima's eyes twitched. He just wanted to beat up a transfer student. How did the "Goddess of the School" get involved?
But it wasn't over. A heavy thud of running footsteps echoed from the distance.
"Don't you touch Shizuka!"
"We're here to help!"
Five tall, athletic guys from the boys' volleyball team charged through the crowd, joining the "Simp Army."
Kaede looked at Shizuka, who seemed genuinely confused by the male volleyball players. Kaede chuckled. Shizuka never realized her own charm, but she had her own secret fan club of athletes.
The "Kaede Simps" plus the "Shizuka Fans" created a wall of people that completely dwarfed the delinquents. Tajima was shaking. He didn't want to back down, but the numbers were suicide.
Just as the situation was about to turn into a full-scale riot...
TWEEEEEET—!!
A sharp whistle blew. The Dean, the homeroom teachers, and school security finally arrived. To them, a single student getting beaten was a "hush-hush" matter. A mass brawl at the front gates was a career-ending scandal.
"Break it up! Everyone disperse!"
"If you don't leave now, you're all getting suspended!"
The crowd, eager to watch but terrified of consequences, vanished like smoke. Tajima gave Chuck a "this isn't over" look and scurried away with his thugs.
The "Simp Army" breathed a sigh of relief. They turned around, hoping for a thank you, a hug, or even a date from their respective goddesses.
But the space behind them was empty.
They looked down the street. In the distance, they saw the transfer student being led away. Kaede and Shizuka were on either side of him, clinging tightly to his arms as they disappeared around a corner.
The boys stood there, looking at each other. They all saw the same thing in each other's eyes: a clown with a big red nose.
The Dean slammed the gates shut. "Everyone still here! Report to my office Monday morning!"
Strictly speaking, Shizuka and Kaede were dragging Chuck away. They were afraid he wouldn't show up to school tomorrow if they let him go.
Get him away from the gate first. That was their unspoken agreement.
"Uh... thanks for the help, but can you let me go?" Chuck asked, playing the role of the confused transfer student. "Who are you? Where are you taking me?"
The girls ignored him, walking in silence until they reached a very recognizable building.
『Love Hotel』
The neon pink sign made both girls' faces turn bright red. They looked at each other over Chuck's chest. Agreement reached.
"Are... are those three going to have sex?"
"I mean, they're going into that place. Definitely."
Haruka and Kana had followed them. They stared at the flashing pink neon.
"Wait... didn't they just meet today?"
"Is this that 'love at first sight' thing?"
"Wait, the real point is... they went in together. All three."
"...A threesome?"
"Must be a threesome."
"Our Shizuka is a grown woman now..." a deep voice spoke from behind them, making the girls jump. They turned to see a tall, short-haired woman in a tracksuit.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Sawano," the woman said with a knowing smile.
Haruka and Kana looked at each other. "Don't know her... Let's go, Kana. I don't want to hear Kaede's 'noises.' I'll have nightmares."
Haruka sighed as she walked away. "I underestimated Kaede... I thought she just collected simps but never played the game. She's way more hardcore than me. I need to step it up."
"So..."
Chuck sat on a heart-shaped bed covered in fake rose petals. Two high-school girls in uniforms sat on either side of him.
He felt a bizarre sense of guilt. Even though he was a "high schooler" now and it was a simulation, the feeling of being in a Love Hotel with two students was... a lot.
"Can someone explain what's going on?" Chuck asked quietly.
Kaede and Shizuka looked at each other and nodded. They stood up simultaneously.
"Wait here for a second... Chuck-kun."
Kaede and Shizuka walked into the bathroom and locked the door. Muffled whispering followed. Chuck waited, realizing the trial was nearing its climax.
Five minutes later, the door opened. The girls walked out, but they didn't sit back down. They stood in front of him, looking serious.
"This is going to sound strange, but..." Shizuka started, her face turning crimson.
Kaede finished the sentence. "Could you... be our boyfriend? Both of us?"
Chuck looked at them. His heart was singing, but his face showed a masterful mix of "shock," "hesitation," and "hidden eagerness." He played the part perfectly.
Finally, after a long "deliberation," he nodded.
The Chuck of seven years ago and the Chuck of today had very different personalities, but they shared one undeniable trait:
He was, and always would be, a man who lusted after beautiful women.
Giving that answer to two stunning schoolgirls was the only logical outcome. As joy filled their eyes... the world shattered.
[Congratulations! Your companions: Shizuka Yamama, Kaede Kono, have passed the Trial of the Other Shore!]
[Rewards: Flower of the Other Shore (Yellow) x2]
[Companion: Shizuka Yamama's Trust increased by 100! Current Trust: 200 (Unwavering Loyalty)]
[Companion: Kaede Kono's Trust increased by 100! Current Trust: 200 (Unwavering Loyalty)]
[Hidden Reward Triggered: Max Trust reached for both! Workbench Enhancements greatly increased!]
[Workbench Enhancement — Soft Exterior, Firm Interior ⭐ (Shizuka Yamama)]
Chuck's Bonus: Passive Skill — Soft Exterior, Firm Interior. Automatically triggers upon severe injury. Consumes massive stamina/energy to heal wounds within 3 seconds. Cooldown: 12 hours. (Note: Fatal injuries will not trigger this).
Shizuka's Bonus: Physical Stats increased by 20%.
[Workbench Enhancement — Firm Exterior, Soft Interior ⭐ (Kaede Kono)]
Chuck's Bonus: Passive Effect — Firm Exterior, Soft Interior. While not severely injured, all Physical Stats are increased by 20%. (Independent calculation).
Kaede's Bonus: Fishing Efficiency increased by 200%.