Hokkaido.
Inside the Sapporo International Ski Resort.
Returning to this familiar place, Toru felt a strange, dreamlike sense of déjà vu.
And the fact that Ryo had taken the initiative to invite him here made it feel even more unreal.
Was this some kind of sci-fi movie? Inception? Triangle?
…
After changing into their ski gear, the two of them rode the slow-rising cable car together.
Ryo was filled with emotion.
Last time, she had been too focused on her own interests, ignoring Toru's feelings, and that had led to tragedy.
So this time, Ryo wanted to make up for her regrets. She would start from the confession, then walk beside him, step by step, for the rest of his life.
Turning her head slightly to study Toru's profile, she lowered her gaze.
'But what's the point of doing all this?'
At the key moment, she faltered again.
Because...
If everything in this simulation was fake, then what was the meaning of everything she did?
Loving for a lifetime, growing old together... then what?
Even if she erased her regrets, what difference would it make?
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
Ryo came back to her senses.
Her heart beat faster. Seeing Toru with other girls made her uncomfortable. That had to be love.
Besides...
Was the simulation truly just an illusion?
She wasn't so sure.
"It's fine if you can't ski," said Toru. "I can teach you."
He thought that was what she was worried about.
The way she tried to act tough was adorable.
As expected of my wife… or at least one of them.
"Okay. I'll be counting on you."
The cable car moved slowly. Bored, Ryo swung her legs, her skis rocking lightly, her movements cute and unguarded.
A few minutes later, they disembarked.
"Give me your hand," he said. "Let's try gliding a bit."
Come to think of it, Ryo had learned skiing from him in a previous simulation. But now, she had already forgotten everything.
She was the kind of genius who could only focus on one thread at a time, terrible at remembering anything extra.
"Alright."
"Wait a second, your goggles are crooked."
Toru bent down to adjust them for her, their posture close, intimate.
Ryo gazed at his face, so near she could feel his breath. She blushed but didn't pull away.
That made him smile.
The story was the same, but the details were different.
This time, Ryo didn't resist his closeness.
Maybe, in this simulation, she wasn't the cold, untouchable beauty anymore.
If that was the case… could he maybe think about some not-so-child-friendly things?
"Let's start."
Toru held her hand as they practiced nearby, explaining as they moved. "When you ski, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, legs relaxed, knees bent slightly forward, kneecaps right above your toes…"
After ten minutes, Ryo's stance became far more stable. She easily maneuvered around a few obstacles before sliding back to him.
"How was that?"
"You learn fast."
Single-track geniuses really were terrifying.
She reminded Toru of his daughter, Kitahara Yui.
Yui might have been a bit scatterbrained, but her learning ability was extraordinary. By the age of twenty-seven, her guitar skills had reached the level of a master, world-renowned. Before Toru's death, she had even stepped into what could only be called the divine realm.
If this simulation ever gave her a child, would they inherit a talent like that?
…
During the day, once Ryo grew bored of the beginner slopes, Toru took her to the intermediate course.
The slope was much steeper.
She struggled a bit, so Toru stayed close, carefully guiding her so his future wife wouldn't get hurt.
They skied until dusk before returning to their rented cabin.
Inside the warm wooden lodge, Ryo stretched her hands toward the heater, feeling its cozy warmth.
Toru was preparing a hotpot.
There was a portable gas stove, some washed ingredients—beef, eggs, vegetables, and the essential tofu products.
Halfway through, Toru noticed Ryo taking out her phone and Bluetooth earphones.
When she hit play, the blue-haired beauty stared into the distance, her expression absent, lost in thought.
At that moment, it felt as if an invisible wall separated them—a vacuum between two worlds, where no sound could cross.
When she realized he was watching her, Ryo blinked, then held out one of the earphones.
"Wanna listen?"
"Sure. Thanks. Cooking's kind of boring alone."
Not long after, dinner was ready.
Night fell. The soft orange glow of the heater flickered across their young faces.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Tasty," said Ryo, abandoning any pretense of ladylike manners as she shoveled food into her mouth.
The fried tofu had soaked up the broth—it was delicious.
The vegetables were fresh, the beef rich, the lamb not gamey at all.
The ingredients were so fresh they didn't even need dipping sauce. The natural flavors were perfect on their own.
"As long as you like it."
Toru handed her a few tissues. "Slow down. There's plenty more."
"Okay."
A few minutes later, Ryo patted her slightly rounded belly.
Who would've thought it'd get this big so fast?
So young, and already "pregnant" at sixteen, what would she do now? Well, guess she'd have to marry the man responsible.
Nearby, Toru cleaned the dishes and asked cautiously,
"Ryo-chan, are you sure it's fine for us to share a room tonight? There are still some empty cabins nearby, I could rent another."
He sat beside her. She was wrapped in a small blanket, dozing.
Her soft voice answered, "It's fine."
"Really?"
He repeated, "You sure? I mean, a guy and a girl under the same roof... it could be dangerous, you know? What if the guy turns into a big bad wolf and wants to eat Little Red Riding Hood? Out there it's all snow and ice. She wouldn't even have a chance to run. She'd just have to be eaten."
Ryo thought for a moment.
"If the big bad wolf is you, then it's fine."
"Why?"
"Because…"
A short silence.
Then she said, "Because I like you."
"…What?"
Toru froze for a few seconds.
"Didn't catch that? I can say it again. I like you. I've liked you for a long time."
"That's not it... I heard you…"
Even with all his past relationships, Toru had never encountered such a straightforward confession. "It's just… that was sudden. I wasn't prepared for it."
"Give me a moment to think of how to reply."
A few seconds later, under her clear gaze—eyes like a summer stream, he said quietly:
"Sorry, I can't think of any romantic lines right now."
His voice softened. "But I'll love you for the rest of my life. Is that simple promise enough?"
"It is."
Ryo's voice was gentle. "That's enough."
Three lifetimes and ten thousand vows were too far away.
All she wanted was one life, one pair of hearts.
——
Night.
In the cabin's bedroom, only the faint glow of the heater lit the room.
"Ryo-chan, are you cold?"
On the bed, Toru looked up at the ceiling.
"A little…"
Ryo turned her face toward him.
"If someone held me, I might not feel cold."
"Then I'll try."
Toru turned over, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close, gently stroking her back.
They'd only been together a short while, yet she was already so sweet and clingy.
The simulated Ryo-chan was adorable.
Less mischief, more affection.
'So warm…'
Ryo hugged him back, feeling the warmth of the person she loved.
The cold around them seemed to melt away.
This time, she thought, this simulation would surely be a happy one.
——