I Told You This Isn't a Life Simulation Game! Section 14

"Oh? You didn't tell me about something like this in advance?"

"I was supposed to rest during the time ahead anyway."

"Haha... then I suppose I was meddling. Have fun, you two~ Come find me if you need any help~"

The other party quickly ended the call.

"...Sigh."

Sakura looked at the disconnected call, then blankly stared toward the other room for a while. In the end, all she could do was sigh.

Bzz, bzz—

A soft notification sounded from her terminal. It was the special alert Sakura had set for her younger sister. When she opened it, she found that Ling had indeed sent her a message.

■■ Month 3, 0:04

Ling: Sis, are you asleep?

Sakura: Not yet. I'm getting ready to sleep. Why are you still awake so late, Ling?

Ling: Hehe, because I miss you, Sis~

Sakura: Is that so? Don't worry, I'll be back in a few days.

Ling: Is your business trip with Brother Wang over?

Sakura: Mm.

Ling: So... how's it going? I noticed that you always went on business trips with Brother Wang. How come there hasn't been any progress between you two at all?

Ling: Did you use the method I gave you? The book said it was very effective! But you're so silly, Sis. You got even sillier after meeting Brother Wang. I don't even know if you used it properly.

Ling: But Sis is so pretty. Brother Wang must have been completely smitten already, right? He's just too shy to say it. All you need to do is give Brother Wang a little push, and he'll confess to you!

Ling: Though the book said girls become silly after falling in love. Will you turn stupid then, Sis? But don't worry. When that happens, Brother Wang and I can take care of you together!

Ling: ...Sis? Did you fall asleep?

In truth, Sakura's face was completely red at that moment. Whether it was from embarrassment or irritation at her own sister, she did not know.

■■ Month 3, 0:12

Sakura: Shut up! Go to sleep!

Sakura: And stop reading those weird books! I was so embarrassed back then that I nearly died!

Ling: Eh? You really did it, Sis? Then how did Brother Wang react? Did he agree?

Sakura: ...

Sakura: I told him you wanted to go to an amusement park with him. He agreed.

Ling: ...

Ling: Sis, you're such a coward... How lame.

Sakura: Go to sleep! Otherwise, when I get back, I'll sell all those weird books of yours!

After sending that message in embarrassment and annoyance, Sakura shut off her terminal, placed the long blade wrapped in cloth beneath her pillow, then lay on the bed and stared blankly at the pure white ceiling.

"An amusement park...?"

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her breathing and heartbeat gradually settle as she murmured to herself.

"Maybe... it's an opportunity..."

Gradually, she drifted into sleep.

...A call from somewhere unknown...

"Hello? Al, it's me. Blade still hasn't changed much today, but he's going out with Sheath during his rest time later."

"Mm, I heard about it from Sheath too. Let them go. It would be best if we helped them along the way and made sure they enjoyed themselves."

"Al, I don't really understand. Why did you place restrictions on Blade? Is he not loyal enough?"

"Of course he isn't. There's still something lingering in his heart. We need to find a way to erase it. At the very least, we need to replace it with one of our people, or someone we can control. Otherwise, a blade we cannot fully control is too dangerous—especially when that blade is exceptionally sharp... Haven't you noticed that although Blade has been taking increasing amounts of the drug, many of our related methods have had little effect on him?"

"So that's why you added Sheath... But can she really replace it?"

"Of course she can. Time washes away everything. Feelings born from long-term companionship will slowly settle as well. Add some carefully prepared circumstances and a little push, and eventually, the seeds of the feelings we desire will sprout—this outing between Blade and Sheath is the best proof."

"I see. I hope this method works... Oh, right, Al. There's been some progress on the matter you asked me to investigate. Something major did happen in North America. The incident that caused massive casualties was probably not the natural disaster Those Guys' old fraud politicians claimed it was, but some kind of more irrational danger."

"Not surprising. Those pompous bastards love lying to deceive their own people. I'm looking forward to the day they fool themselves too."

"Also, it seems they've formed a separate organization to deal with the kind of danger we discussed. Perhaps we should get involved too. I have a feeling that organization will become crucial in the future."

"Fine. I trust your judgment. Besides, after clearing out another batch of Those Guys this time, we can grow stronger again. It's about time we gained some influence... Heh, why not send Blade over directly? I imagine Those Guys have people in there too. Once Blade learns of their whereabouts, something interesting is bound to happen."

"Don't get too greedy, Al. Although the salami tactics are useful, Blade may already know about that island. It absolutely cannot be exposed to the outside world, and it isn't a place we can lay our hands on. Otherwise, we'll only face Those Guys' frenzied retaliation. We can't withstand that... At least, not yet."

"I will be careful. And if nothing else, you'll remind me, won't you?"

"I won't save you every time... Oh, right. There's one more thing."

"Hmm?"

"Dao needs two tickets to Eden's concert. Get them for him—they're for his date with Sheath. The show on the night of the fifteenth this month."

"Huh? Eden's concert? And on the fifteenth? It's already the second... no, the third! The tickets sold out ages ago—where am I supposed to get them?!"

"That's not my concern. You were the one who said you wanted them to live a little more comfortably."

"Don't you have one ticket yourself? Give him that one first, and I'll figure out how to get another."

"No. I want to go too."

"Fuck..."

Sweet Moments

Time was always like this, quietly slipping away when one wasn't paying attention. In the blink of an eye, the day of their outing had arrived.

"Big sis, are you really going out dressed like that?"

Ling looked at her sister, then planted her hands on her hips, seemingly dissatisfied.

"W-What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Hearing her younger sister say that, Sakura instinctively assumed there was something wrong with her outfit and hurriedly looked herself over.

She wore an off-white, off-the-shoulder dress. A pink waist ribbon was tied into a bow behind her back, gathering the slightly loose dress while accentuating the girl's slender waist. Considering where she was going, as well as her still somewhat bashful feelings, she had put on a pair of safety shorts underneath. She had also changed into sandals. Her sunhat and shoulder bag rested on the chair beside her, ready for her to take when she left.

The only issue was that the brown shoulder bag was stuffed full, as though it had been crammed with all sorts of things—and Ling remembered that, even under those circumstances, her sister had still forcibly stuffed a Candy box inside.

Sakura felt that this outfit was good enough. Although she normally spent some time on her clothes, she had never been as picky as she was today.

"No, big sis. Not at all~"

Ling shook her head and spoke in the tone of someone lecturing her.

"You haven't even put on makeup. They say women dress for the ones they love—how can you skip makeup for something as important as a first date? But you never like buying cosmetics, big sis. What a problem. Luckily, you have your little sister here... Ah, ow, ow, ow..."

"If you keep reading those weird books, I'm cutting your allowance!"

"I didn't read any weird books!"

Pushing away Sakura's hands, which were drilling into her head, Ling loudly retorted.

I learned all this online, so of course I didn't read any "weird books"!

"And big sis, you should buy some cosmetics too. It'd be nice to make yourself even prettier... Here."

Puffing out her cheeks as she complained a little, Ling took a small gift box from her bag. She opened it and handed it to her sister.

"Ling?"

"It's lip balm. You don't like wearing lipstick either, big sis, but you should at least have some lip balm, right? I got the cherry blossom flavor. I think you'll like it."

"...Thank you, Ling."

Sakura was slightly surprised, then happily accepted it and gently patted Ling on the head.

Then she asked a question that made Ling's entire body stiffen.

"How much did this lip balm cost?"

"Ah... ahaha... Well..."

Ling guiltily shifted her gaze away.

"And this lip balm seems to be a little... off."

"This... um..."

Ling felt the hand on her head gradually changing from a "pat" into a "grip," and it was getting tighter and tighter.

"Ling, this is actually lipstick, isn't it?"

Sakura said softly.

"I may not buy cosmetics often, but I can still tell lip balm from lipstick."

"..."

Ling fell silent.

"...Ling, I'm not blaming you. I just hope you won't spend too much money on things like dressing up."

Sakura patted Ling's head again and spoke gently.

"It's not that I'm forbidding you from buying these things. I just hope you'll know your limits. At the very least, don't obsess too much over expensive brands... Even though our family is much better off now, we should still be frugal."

"...Okay."

"Good girl. And... thank you very much, Ling."

Sakura said with a smile.

"I really like this gift."

Bzzzt—

The terminal chimed. Apparently, the person coming to pick them up had arrived.