My Love Simulation with Them-Chapter 246: The Pinker the Hair, the Steadier the Knife

Minami couldn't care less about the 15,000–20,000 yen he spent—preserving his peace was far more important.

He didn't hesitate for even a second before walking away.

Meanwhile, back on the clinic bed, Matsuzaka Satou, still lost in the memory of the young man's smile, gazed up at the ceiling with her pink eyes.

After a while, she turned her head and asked curiously, "Excuse me, nurse?"

"Hm?" Nurse Uchida looked up from tidying a water cup.

"That man just now... what's his name?" Satou's voice was calm and emotionless, her expression tranquil.

Her composure surprised Nurse Uchida a bit. "Huh...? Wasn't he your boyfriend?"

"My... boyfriend?"

Normally, anyone would immediately deny such a misunderstanding.

But for some reason, when she heard Nurse Uchida say that—

Matsuzaka Satou felt something she had never experienced before.

Her heart surged.

She felt a bit embarrassed...

But at the same time, she was oddly pleased.

This feeling... was like eating konpeitō (traditional Japanese sugar candy).

So sweet...

So sweet...

Unbearably sweet...

Why did it feel so sweet?

Having never experienced joy or sorrow, Satou couldn't understand, and could only place a hand over her heart.

This was an emotion entirely new to her.

A kind of cloying, overwhelming happiness that made her want to drown in it.

Her chest brimmed with indescribable joy, causing her usually emotionless pink eyes to crinkle ever so slightly.

"Looks like you really didn't know Minami-kun, huh?" Nurse Uchida didn't notice Satou's strange expression and explained, "That young man's name is Minami. He was the one who found you passed out in the rain and brought you here."

Then she added apologetically, "Ah, I really messed up, mistaking your relationship with him. Sorry about that."

She recalled how adamantly Minami had denied being Satou's boyfriend, but she had assumed it was just a lover's quarrel.

Such situations weren't uncommon in private clinics like this.

Oftentimes, couples would show up when the boyfriend was tired of the girlfriend, or worse...

Some scummy guys even brought underage, pregnant girlfriends in for secret abortions.

Having seen so many shady cases, when Nurse Uchida saw Minami's handsome appearance and Satou's lovely face, she had jumped to conclusions.

She quickly apologized—not just to Minami, but also to Satou still receiving an IV drip.

But—

"Mistaken...?"

"Hm?" Nurse Uchida heard Satou's murmur and glanced over.

Satou sat up slowly, her pink eyes completely devoid of emotion.

She smiled.

It was a stunning smile—her brows arched, her lips curved sweetly, as elegant as a rare orchid in a secluded valley.

Yet for some reason...

Nurse Uchida suddenly shivered, a chill running down her spine.

A wave of fear crept over her heart.

Because she sensed it clearly, Satou's eyes, despite smiling, held no trace of emotion.

It was as if she were mimicking a smile, not because she was happy, but simply to imitate the expression.

"I-I'll go check if Dr. Oda has the IV ready."

Feeling unnerved, Nurse Uchida made an excuse and fled the room.

Now alone in the room, Satou didn't mind in the least.

She simply turned her head, gazing out the window.

Probably to keep the patients in good spirits, the window view from here allowed one to see large stretches of planted flowers and greenery.

But due to the freezing rain...

All of it was already devastated, and the bare, muddy ground was harsh on the eyes, completely devoid of anything worth appreciating.

Matsuzaka Satou naturally understood this.

She wasn't admiring the flowers outside.

Her heart had already flown away from the Oda Clinic...

Drawn toward that young man she had only met once.

"I want him..."

A blank sheet of paper, someone who had never once desired anything in her entire life.

Now, upon developing a strong obsession for something...

It meant that every inch of that blank sheet would be filled with only that one thing.

...

Returning to the 'STARRY' Live House, Minami first took a shower to wash away the chill and dampness.

He then let out a long sigh and stretched his legs into the brand-new kotatsu.

This thing had been purchased by the girls of Kessoku Band pooling their money together.

After all, winter had arrived, and the temperature had dropped significantly.

In Yamada-san's words—

"Without some kind of heating, fragile creatures like humans can't possibly survive this cold."

So the girls bought a large kotatsu big enough for eight people to sit around, along with a heating carpet underneath.

Minami had no objections.

Running the AC all winter would drive anyone crazy, making your brain buzz and feel heavy.

A kotatsu was far more comfortable and convenient.

With his feet nestled under the warm blanket and warmth gradually returning to his body...

Minami let out a relaxed breath and began reflecting on everything that happened today.

And as he thought...

That pink-haired girl naturally came to mind.

"Matsuzaka Satou, huh...?"

Minami muttered the name he saw on her student ID.

Since she was a simulator-selected heroine, she was likely like Goto Hitori and the others—originating from some anime or show.

Besides, her name didn't sound like a common Japanese name, but had a distinctly anime-like feel.

Even though he didn't want to get involved with her...

In the end, he still helped her get to a clinic.

That counted as indirect contact...

Naturally, Minami wanted to search his memory for anything about Matsuzaka Satou.

Unfortunately—

"Nothing rings a bell."

Minami sighed.

After racking his brain, he came up empty.

He wasn't exactly a hardcore otaku.

His knowledge of anime was surface-level at best.

Only when there was a particularly popular seasonal show would he pull up an app and casually watch.

That included series like "Bocchi the Rock" and "Lycoris Recoil".

But obviously—

Matsuzaka Satou's name wasn't among the big-name series he knew.

So he had no idea which show she came from, or what kind of personality she had.

However—

"Just from the way she acted toward me, I can tell this girl's not right."

Minami stretched out his legs.

Even if he didn't know her origin, from her extreme attitude shift and first impression, he had a pretty good guess.

There was even a saying among anime fans:

"The pinker the hair, the fiercer the fight. The pinker the hair, the steadier the blade."

While it's not universally true...

This saying did reflect that some Japanese creators really love giving pink-haired girls that "innocent but deadly" vibe.

Even worse—

Which was what Minami feared most...

"A yandere-type simulation target, huh..."

Minami grabbed a mandarin orange.

Didn't peel it.

He had a headache.

Yep.

Yandere girls.

They were the type he feared most among all simulation targets.

By definition, they twist love into obsession, and at their worst, could become violent to those around them.

In the real world, these girls are rare.

But in anime...

"This world isn't just a simple reality."

Minami let out a sigh.

Just around him alone, there were already so many troublesome girls.

So running into a yandere-type simulation target wasn't all that surprising.

And as for this, Minami's chosen course of action was very simple—

"Yeah, better not get involved with her at all."

Peeling the mandarin orange, Minami popped a rather bland-tasting segment into his mouth while thinking.

Even though he'd already had some brief contact with Matsuzaka Satou...

From now on, cutting things off completely seemed like the best choice.

It was just a one-time encounter.

Even if she'd become bewitched by his smile, surely that was only temporary.

Her impression of him should fade over time.

And before that impression dissipated, the best thing to do was to avoid any further contact.

"Yep... That settles it."

With that thought, Minami stretched out a finger and opened his simulation interface.

He intended to remove Matsuzaka Satou from the list of simulation targets.

But then—

"Hmm?"

Just as he started to act, his eyes accidentally caught a number in the corner.

And in that instant, he let out a sound of pure surprise.

More accurately... he couldn't help but be surprised.

Under Minami's gaze...

A number: 1650 Heartthrob Points.

It flashed into view.

"Huh???"

Minami was genuinely stunned.

1650? Heartthrob Points?

Was this for real?!

Minami clearly remembered.

After parting ways with Shinjo Akane, his Heartthrob Points had been at 570.

And that was after saving Karasawa Yuka, plus introducing Minami Mirai to Shinjo Akane.

But now... this number?

A jump of nearly 1100?

That was an insane surge.

And the only person who could've caused that spike was—

"Matsuzaka Satou..."

Yes, only her.

After his call with Shinjo Akane ended...

The only new simulation target that appeared was Matsuzaka Satou.

But...

An increase of nearly 1100 Heartthrob Points?

From just one smile?

That's insane!

Minami didn't feel even a little joy from this spike.

On the contrary...

He felt a growing sense of dread.

1100 Heartthrob Points from a single smile?

That clearly meant Matsuzaka Satou had some seriously deep, terrifying issues.

Was she starved for affection since childhood or something?

Minami couldn't make sense of it.

He raised his hand and opened the Heartthrob Points Contributor Ranking.

First place was still Gotoh Hitori.

As someone he'd simulated early on, and with her shy, easily-flustered nature, she had become the most consistent Heartthrob Point provider.

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Second place was Shinjo Akane, who edged out Chisato Nishikigi thanks to recent events.

Then moving down—

Third place was no longer Yamada-san.

Nor the recently simulated Futaba Rio.

It was someone who shot out of nowhere—

The girl named Matsuzaka Satou — with 1080 Heartthrob Points, in third place.

Actually, Futaba Rio wasn't far behind at 1050.

But still—

Just looking at the number behind Matsuzaka Satou's name...

Minami had a bad feeling creeping in.

It really seemed like things were heading exactly in the direction he wanted to avoid.

That pink-haired girl...

She might really be the yandere simulation target Minami dreaded the most.