Ryo Yamada's
parents
sought out Minami Shouji.
The meeting went
surprisingly well
.
At the dinner table, Minami—who was already
skilled in social situations
—showed
no signs of nervousness
.
With just a
few casual remarks
, he
lightened the atmosphere
, making what could have been a tense encounter feel comfortable.
And through this conversation—
He finally understood
what Ryo's parents wanted
.
"So, Uncle, Auntie... you're saying that you want me to get into the University of Tokyo before I seriously consider a future with Ryo?"
Taking a sip of water to clear his throat, Minami asked this question
calmly and seriously
.
"That's about right."
Ryo's
father
nodded.
Out of
respect
, he hadn't conducted an
in-depth investigation
into Minami's background.
But just by following
basic clues
—seeing the
tiny apartment he lived in
—it was easy to guess that Minami's
family wasn't wealthy
.
Looking at Minami, he continued:
"Minami-kun, I'm sure you're aware of our family's financial situation. We run a private hospital, and we're quite well-off."
His voice was
composed, educated, and refined
—not aggressive in any way.
"And, I'm sure you also know just how extravagant Ryo's spending habits can be."
Ryo's Lavish Spending
Minami understood this
very well
.
Ryo spent money
freely
.
She casually bought
400,000-yen guitars and basses
as if they were
nothing
.
Even in Tokyo, where the cost of living was high—this level of spending was
outrageous
.
For comparison, the
average monthly salary of an office worker in Tokyo
was only around
300,000 yen
.
And yet, that was
just part of Ryo's allowance
.
Through this, Minami
fully grasped
just how
deeply loved and spoiled
Ryo was by her parents.
She had grown up
completely free-spirited
—likely
because of this unconditional love
.
"As her parents, we only want our daughter to continue living happily, even after marriage."
Taking a sip of tea, Ryo's
father
locked eyes with Minami.
"And in that, financial stability plays a major role."
Wealth & Happiness
It was
true
.
For most
marriages
, happiness relied
heavily
on
financial stability
.
Without
financial security
, how could one
even begin
to discuss a fulfilling life?
Letting
Ryo
suffer
hardships
after marriage—
That was something her parents
absolutely could not accept
.
Assessing Minami's Future
By this point, Minami
fully understood
the
implied message
behind their words.
Though they hadn't
directly stated it
, their concern was clear—
Could Minami provide Ryo with a comfortable life?
Could he be
worthy
of their daughter?
Their Expectation: A Future in Tokyo University
Looking at Minami, they wondered—
Would he respond with
the usual youthful arrogance
?
Would he become
defensive
?
Would he
feel insulted
?
To their
surprise
, Minami
showed no signs of being offended
.
Instead—
He nodded
thoughtfully
, his expression calm.
"I understand where you're coming from, Uncle, Auntie."
An Unexpectedly Mature Response
This
unexpected level of understanding
caught Ryo's parents
off guard
.
Even Ryo's
mother
, feeling slightly guilty, spoke up:
"We know... that asking you to get into Tokyo University is a bit much."
"But for Ryo's future, we hope you can understand why we're making this request."
They had
always
treated their daughter
like a treasure
.
How could they
allow her
to
suffer hardships
with another man?
Even if this request
felt unreasonable
, they
had to say it
.
Because at the end of the day—
Getting into
Tokyo University (Todai)
meant securing
a future
.
It was Japan's
top university
, and those who graduated from it—
Had
endless opportunities
ahead of them.
"But Tokyo University... is not easy to get into."
It was
a battlefield
.
Hundreds of thousands of students competed for a
few limited spots
.
It was
the ultimate test
of Japan's academic elite.
Their demand was
truly harsh
.
But to them—
It was the
bare minimum requirement
for anyone
marrying their daughter
.
Would Minami Accept?
They turned their eyes toward him.
Would he hesitate?
Would he
refuse
?
Would he say it was
impossible
?
Minami's Answer
Under their gaze—
Minami
fell silent
.
Did He Just... Hesitate?
Seeing this, Ryo's
parents felt disappointed
.
Their
first impression
of Minami had been
positive
.
They had
never seen their daughter interested in someone before
.
And if Minami had shown
a clear, determined attitude
, they would have even
offered financial support
.
They were
about to speak again
When suddenly—
"Uncle, Auntie."
"I believe that simply getting into Tokyo University is not enough to guarantee Ryo's future."
His
calm
,
serious
voice
cut through the air
.
"When I graduate next year, I will enter the Faculty of Medicine at Tokyo University."
In a
small, quiet restaurant.
Minami's
unwavering statement.
Ryo's
parents, completely stunned.
He Raised the Difficulty Level Himself?!
They
hadn't expected this.
Not only had Minami
not backed down
He had
raised the bar
even higher.
If Tokyo University was
already a battlefield
Then entering
Todai's Faculty of Medicine
was
like stepping onto another planet
.
It was
one of the hardest
academic programs in the country.
(There's a saying in Japan—"Half the nation's geniuses gather in Tokyo, and half of those are in medicine.")
(This alone proves the difficulty of getting into Todai's Faculty of Medicine.)
Hearing Minami's
bold declaration
, Ryo's father was silent for a moment.
Then, impressed by his
confidence
, he finally spoke.
"If that's your decision... then I'll support you financially."
A Pivotal Choice
At this moment, the simulation presented a
crucial choice.
[Faced with Ryo's father's offer of financial support, you decide—]
1. Politely decline to show independence. This may increase their favorability toward you.
2. Accept their help. Even though you are confident in your abilities, financial support will make things easier.
3. Great! I was just wondering how to renovate our future love nest! Accept everything!
4. Direct Simulation.
Minami Stares at Option 3 in Disbelief
"Excuse me?!"
"Am I really just planning to fully settle into Ryo's lap of luxury?!"
"Even thinking about renovating a 'love nest' at this stage?!"
The simulated version of himself...
Was
weak
.
Utterly weak.
Minami scoffed at his
own simulated self
, then turned to
Option 1 and Option 2.
Choosing Wisely
Option
1
would allow him to
prove his independence
and
earn more trust
.
And realistically, he was
more than capable
of getting into Tokyo University's
Faculty of Medicine
without financial support.
However—
Option 2: Thinking Ahead
After multiple simulations, Minami
understood something important
.
Life wasn't just
about academics
.
One's
physical and mental well-being
also played a huge role.
If he threw himself
entirely into studying
, he might
neglect his health
.
If he
fell sick
or
burned out
, that would
only harm him in the long run
.
With
long-term planning in mind
, Minami
chose Option 2.
[Facing the financial support from Yamada's parents, you did not refuse it impulsively, as a young person might, but instead, you expressed a willingness to accept their assistance.]
[For you, the chances of entering the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine were already ninety percent, and accepting this financial aid would increase that probability from ninety to one hundred percent.]
[Although such a decisive acceptance might make Yamada's parents concerned about your motivations for being with Yamada Ryo, for you and Ryo, only a guarantee of one hundred percent is truly real. Anything less than that is false.]
[Sure enough, your decisive attitude in accepting the support made Yamada's parents worry about your intentions in dating Yamada Ryo, but you didn't mind. After receiving their first financial aid, you threw yourself wholeheartedly into your studies.]
[To maintain a good study state, you first used the funds from Yamada's parents to purchase abundant ingredients, ensuring that you met your nutritional needs during the intense study periods. You also moved into a quieter apartment to improve your current poor study environment.]
[Yamada Ryo was somewhat surprised by your sudden wealth, but under your clever explanations, she temporarily set aside her doubts.]
[In your spare time, she still clung to you. Her grades had greatly improved, but she still needed to put in more effort to be admitted to the University of Tokyo.]
[She relied on you greatly, trusted you completely, and at this point, she no longer cared about the once ethereal dream of the University of Tokyo. She believed that you might be the most important thing in her life, aside from music.]
[Afterward, to maintain your study routine, you bought some fitness equipment, and in your free time, you didn't forget to strengthen your body.]
[Your physical health, studies, and mental state all improved.]
"What a comprehensive improvement!"
Minami was very satisfied.
[Yamada's parents spared no effort in supporting you, but your lavish spending once again caught Yamada Ryo's attention.]
[When she saw that you had bought more fitness equipment, she finally concluded one thing: You were probably being kept by some unknown woman.]
"???" Minami thought.
Miss Yamada, you...
[She was well aware of your family background, as your girlfriend. This was also the main reason she had never pressured you for money.]
[And your appearance, among boys of the same age, was definitely top-tier. Even she admired your face, and considering that you had been approached by older women asking for your contact details before, she was well aware of your charm with women.]
[She increasingly felt you must be supported by some woman.]
[Engrossed in studying and improving your body, you didn't notice the change in Yamada Ryo's attitude, because for you now, besides taking care of her studies, the important goal was to get into the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine.]
[Yamada Ryo knew that you were focusing on your studies, but this gave her an opportunity. She began observing your every move.]
[Soon she discovered that every beginning of the month, you would go alone to a restaurant located closer to the center, which raised her suspicions even more.]
[This restaurant, her parents had taken her to before. The place was small, but the price was extremely high for its kaiseki cuisine.]
[Your meager living expenses certainly wouldn't cover the cost of dining there, and she became more and more convinced that there was a woman behind you.]
[But she remained calm and elegant, not taking rash action. Instead, she continued gathering evidence and clues.]
In her mind, images of Yamada Ryo secretly trailing and taking photos began flashing back.
Minami sighed.
As expected of Yamada Ryo.
Her ability to act was truly strong, she had already started tracking him.
[Finally, when she thought the time was right, she confronted you with a series of questions, listing various suspicions about your recent behavior.]
[You were surprised by her proactive approach, as you knew she had never been one to willingly get involved in troublesome matters.]
[When you couldn't easily brush off her questions, you had no choice but to explain everything that had happened.]
"Confess, Minami."
She placed the evidence photos she had collected over the past month on the table and looked seriously at her boyfriend.
Although she hadn't caught the woman red-handed, with so much evidence, she believed her boyfriend had no more room for excuses.
"Confess, who is that woman?"
Yamada Ryo's calm, elegant face turned toward Minami. "Admit it now and stop seeing her, and I might forgive you."
Across from her, Minami was somewhat helpless.
Though his recent focus had been entirely on studying, the main reason was still that her investigative abilities were simply too strong.
He hadn't noticed at all.
He shook his head.
At this point, there was no point in lying anymore.
He confessed everything to Yamada Ryo.
"My parents...?"
She was taken aback as she held her face in her hands, under Minami's gaze.
This result was completely unexpected.
She opened her mouth and then pulled out her phone.
Then—
"You guys are really the ones who are causing the trouble? You're making him get into the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine to continue dating me?"
"You're forcing him. I need to talk to you both properly."
"..."
For someone who usually didn't care about much, it was the first time Yamada Ryo expressed complaints and opinions toward her parents.
But after her conversation with them, she turned back to face Minami, her amber eyes looking at him.
"Minami."
She spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Are you really sure about this?"
Her voice, asking the question.
"Yes."
Minami nodded in response.
They stared at each other.
After a moment of silence...
"I believe in you."
She said.
"Okay."
Minami nodded back, then smiled: "Although, even if something unexpected happens and I don't get in, I won't break up with Ryo. Even if I change my mind, I wouldn't want to."
"..."
Yamada Ryo tilted her head. Out of his view, her cold expression turned slightly red.
Then—
"Cunning."
She stretched out her hand and tapped Minami's chest.
Minami squinted his eyes.
It didn't hurt.
It was a little itchy.