Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

72. Then, prepare to embrace a relaxed daily routine.

The lighting was dim, with spotlights flashing and shifting within the private room, creating an atmosphere that seemed particularly ambiguous.

But the air inside the private room felt suffocating, as if it had solidified.

Izumo Saki seemed to be caught up in great excitement; in the dim light, her face, slightly flushed, wore a somewhat unrestrained smile.

Yuko Asahi looked at Saki Izumo, her beautiful face bearing a smile, her eyes calm and seemingly devoid of any warmth.

breathe--

"Have I been dragged into some weird novel plot?"

Genji Aoyama took a deep breath.

That small, delicate foot continued to slide and wander along his thigh, but this ambiguous and erotic behavior brought him no pleasure whatsoever.

With the edge of the sofa on his left and Yuko Asahi on his right, Genji Aoyama, unable to react further, had nowhere to hide.

"I'm going to the restroom." He stood up.

"Thump!"

A dull thud was instantly drowned out by the music playing in the private room.

"I'm going too!" As soon as Genji Aoyama finished speaking, Saki Izumo stood up.

Genji Aoyama's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before sweeping over the others—

"Does anyone else want to go to the restroom together?"

"..." No one paid him any attention, and even the way they looked at him became strange.

"I just saw that everyone was a bit reserved, so I made a joke to lighten the mood."

Genji Aoyama smiled and looked away, then left his seat and walked out of the private room.

Leaving the unbearable air, he was instantly enveloped by the noise of the entire world.

It might even give him the illusion that he is in two different worlds.

How many times heavier are my steps now compared to when I got to the private room?

As Aoyama Genji calculated, he walked towards the restroom.

Just as he had imagined, Izumo Saki followed behind him, and even without turning around, he could feel her undisguised gaze.

Upon arriving at the public restroom, he took a deep breath in front of the mirror at the sink and then washed his face at the sensor faucet.

"Aoyama-kun~~"

The moment the sound was almost heard, he felt a soft touch on his body.

First, he felt a heavy warmth on his back, and then a pair of hands wrapped around his waist, holding him tightly.

"Saki".

Genji Aoyama looked at his reflection in the mirror—Saki Izumo's flushed face was resting on his shoulder.

"Saki can't hold back anymore!"

Saki Izumo's voice rang in his ear, her sweet breath carrying a burning heat. (I originally wrote a different version, but considering I couldn't get past Shin Tak, and that it didn't fit the protagonist's current state of mind, I abandoned it. I'll add it later when I have the chance to open a group chat.)

"I have something to say to Saki," Genji Aoyama's voice was unusually calm. "So, can you let go for now?"

The arms that were holding him seemed to stiffen for a moment, then the strength lessened, and both hands fell limply to their sides.

Aoyama Genji's gaze remained fixed on Izumo Saki's reflection in the mirror. His face still bore the blush that hadn't faded, but his barely suppressed excited smile gradually froze, and his expression began to become confused.

"Feel sorry."

Genji Aoyama turned around, creating a small distance between them. He bowed deeply and spoke again, "I'm very sorry, I kept my date with Asahi from Saki this afternoon."

Saki Izumo did not speak.

After she regained her standing posture, Genji Aoyama noticed that her expression had become even more confused, and her once bright eyes seemed to have lost their luster.

Sure enough, she still cares.

"Will doing this make things worse?" he asked himself.

Then he gave the answer:

Although he can't quite reach the point of being "indifferent," Genji Aoyama has already figured it out.

Just like the chaotic scene that unfolded from today's inexplicable encounter—he doesn't have the ability to control everyone, and it's difficult for him to satisfy everyone.

even.

Some things, if he does them or accepts them, will lead to worse results.

Instead of suffering from inner conflict, it's better to just accept it.

A sense of responsibility always tugged at his heartstrings, causing him to navigate between several troubled girls, including Yuko Asahi, Haruka Minatsuki, and Saki Izumo.

The series of events that occurred during this period, which seemed like a plot from a romantic comedy, actually drained his energy every time, and these events have brought him immense pain.

Now, he wants to live a little easier.

After saying that, Genji Aoyama left the restroom area and headed back towards the private room area.

The sounds returned to their usual cacophony; rhythms, vocals, and background music were clearly audible, as if bringing back the real-world feel.

He suddenly felt a sense of relief.

"Maybe this is the right way?"

As Aoyama Genji thought this, he pushed open the door to the private room.

Suzuki and Shibuya, who were singing, immediately shut their mouths, and the rating numbers on the screen also stopped.

"really."

Genji Aoyama laughed. "I knew it. Everyone at the karaoke bar except me is a beautiful girl. It seems like there's only one person who's superfluous."

"Where's Saki?"

"Just to clarify, I've never been to the women's restroom," Aoyama Genji said with a smile as he walked back to his seat.

"puff--"

Someone burst out laughing, and the slightly awkward atmosphere instantly eased.

"...The manager has a serious sense of humor."

"Waaah, the score's gone down! We could have gotten a really high score! Rena, let's keep going!"

The empty accompaniment was filled with vocals, and the score numbers started jumping again. Genji Aoyama picked up the drink on the table and took a big gulp.

He felt great as the cool liquid went down his stomach.

Beside him, he could occasionally feel Yuko Asahi's furtive glances, but Genji Aoyama didn't turn his head.

In the blink of an eye, the song was about to end, with only the gentle accompaniment of the final notes lingering.

Genji Aoyama looked at Yuko Asahi, who was standing next to him, and Yuko Asahi became even more nervous because of his direct gaze.

His previously tense shoulders shrugged, and his head drooped slightly.

"I have a suggestion," said Genji Aoyama.

Yuko Asahi did not respond, but simply tilted her head slightly.

"Never mind," Genji Aoyama thought for a moment and felt that some things were better left unsaid in public. He lowered his voice and said, "Come find me tonight. We'll talk alone as we agreed."

"..."

Yuko Asahi nodded, but in the dim light, Genji Aoyama couldn't see her expression.

That's fine.

Genji Aoyama said those words clearly.

Then, he looked away from the screen, which ended with a scoring system—like a medical report, quantifying the performance across various dimensions.

Just as he focused his attention on the screen, the door to the private room opened and then closed again.

"Hello, hello! I'm back!"

Saki Izumo greeted everyone with a smile, her energy, enthusiasm, and infectious charm just like when we first met.

All eyes were on Izumo Saki, whose smile remained unchanged, as if she didn't care at all.

Her gaze first swept over the rating section of the screen: "Wow... 77 points is too low! Are you guys really in a band? I'll take your place!"

"Saki, Saki, are you... alright?" Suzuki asked cautiously.

"Um?"

Izumo Saki tilted her head and smiled, saying, "It's okay~"

Seeing that she seemed to be alright, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Izumo Saki naturally returned to her seat and took the microphone from Suzuki next to her—the next song was exactly the one she had requested earlier.

"I will rigorously evaluate the new lead singer's abilities," Takahashi said with a smile.

"Watch me!"

Saki Izumo had a bright smile and looked full of energy. She even stood up, holding a microphone in one hand and waving the other to the intro of the song.

Then, her soaring and lively voice intertwined with the accompaniment, and she was completely immersed in it.

After finishing the song, Saki Izumo seemed a little unsatisfied.

In the next song, she also invited the shy Sugiura to sing a duet. At first, Sugiura shook his head and refused, but under Izumo Saki's enthusiastic invitation, he still took the microphone.

At first, one voice was enthusiastic, while the other was reserved, creating a very discordant sound.

As they sang more than halfway through, Sugiura seemed to be influenced by Saki Izumo and gradually got into the zone.

Everything was just like a normal karaoke event, with the band members showing off their singing voices as if in a carnival.

This continued for the rest of the time, and even Genji Aoyama sang a few songs at everyone's request.

The effect was unexpectedly good; at least the score was very high after the performance, and the enthusiasm of the audience when they applauded was clearly visible.

Inside the private room, the previous awkward atmosphere seemed to have been completely dispelled.

Time passed quietly, and the walkie-talkie in the private room reminded everyone that "it's almost time," marking the end of the three-hour [karaoke package] in a joyful atmosphere.

Outside of the main episode, everyone seemed to be happily saying goodbye.

A black MPV was parked on the street outside the entrance. Before the band members got into the car, Izumo Saki smiled and greeted Aoyama Genji: "See you tomorrow~"

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

He responded with a smile.

Regardless, campus life must go on.

After parting ways, Genji Aoyama and Yuko Asahi set off together for the train station.

As the tram was about to arrive at the station, a pop-up window appeared in the system.

[Izumo Saki's revision progress changed]

Please check your progress and claim your reward in time.