This isn't a crow, but a divine bird...
Chisato's shock can't even be accurately described.
[Seeing Dark Wing's miserable state, your first reaction is panic. You think it might have been attacked by other birds, but after examining its wounds, you realize it's not the case.]
[The wounds on its wings are long and straight, as if made by a sharp object. There's even some glass debris in its feathers. You quickly grab a first-aid kit and tend to its injuries.]
[After treating Dark Wing and seeing it eat with its usual appetite, you turn your attention to the extra notebook on the bedside table.]
[The notebook's cover has indentations from Dark Wing's claws, and it's labeled "Notebook Story Ideas."]
[You open the notebook. Even though you were somewhat prepared, you're still stunned by the contents.]
[The notebook is filled with explicit, adult-themed short stories.]
[The characters, scenes, and dialogues are all extremely inappropriate, filled with themes like abuse, bullying, hypnosis, torture, harm, betrayal, and so on.]
[As a young person, you feel embarrassed but also oddly excited.]
[You recognize that the handwriting belongs to Eriri.]
[You never expected that the charming and friendly Eriri, who seemed like a princess at school, has a dark side as a fan of such grim and brutal stories.]
[She even recorded her adult-themed ideas in this notebook.]
[You reflect on how you've known Eriri for over a year and why you never discovered this hidden side of her.]
[Dark Wing, despite being injured, revealed Eriri's secret to you. Not wanting to let its efforts go to waste, you take a sick day to seriously consider what to do next…]
[1. Pretend you don't know anything, and let it pass calmly. There will be more opportunities in the future.]
[2. Eriri, who likes these kinds of humiliating stories, might be looking forward to such things happening to some extent.]
[3. If this news gets out, Eriri's perfect princess image at school will be ruined. She will definitely be upset, and if you're prepared in advance, you might have a chance to comfort her when that happens.]
Which option should he choose?
Chisato recalls the plot since the start of this simulation.
At this point, he is a second-year middle school student, friends with Tomoya Aki, and barely friends with Eriri.
It's clear that Eriri's relationship with him is much shallower compared to her bond with Tomoya Aki.
After all, one is someone he's known for just over a year, and the other is a childhood friend she's known forever. The weight of their relationships is obvious.
So the third option can be ruled out. Spreading the news that Eriri is into adult-themed drawing will have no benefits.
Even if things develop as he expects and Eriri feels distressed under everyone's scrutinizing gaze, there will likely be others comforting her.
Taking the risk of exposing himself might even end up helping Tomoya Aki.
He can't do something that benefits others while endangering himself, even if it's just a possibility.
That leaves the first and second choices.
Continue to endure. Use the notebook to blackmail Eriri.
This scenario feels familiar. In his first simulation with Kasumigaoka Utaha, he used a similar method to make her submit.
That time, the plot development was enjoyable but only temporary.
Past failures have taught Chisato that the joy of enduring is fleeting and won't last.
So, he chooses option one.
[You think you shouldn't be too hasty. A small notebook alone isn't enough to fully blackmail Eriri. Considering her background, you control your ambitions and decide to be patient.]
[15 years old: You graduated from middle school successfully. Since your school is a continuous system, you don't have to worry about separating from Eriri in high school.]
[16 years old: On the second day of school, after classes, Tomoya Aki excitedly approaches you and Eriri.]
[He excitedly presents a game development plan he worked on all night, wanting to create a dating game with the girl he saw on the cherry blossom slope as the main character!]
[As always, Eriri is prideful. After hearing Tomoya Aki, she dismisses his proposal, upset, without even looking at it.]
[You notice that this situation might change the stagnant relationship between you and Eriri, so you take an interest and decide to check it out.]
It's strange that this simulation hasn't switched to first-person view.
As he focuses, the scene shifts, and Chisato finds himself in a new, unfamiliar school setting.
The setting sun casts a warm light through the windows onto the corridor floor.
"Hmph! Suzumiya, don't pay any attention to this guy. He just comes up with ideas on a whim." "Thinking of cute girls and wanting to make a game—games aren't made by enthusiasm alone!"
Eriri, with her golden ponytail swaying as she turns away angrily, brushes her irritation against Chisato's side.
He doesn't show any panic or joy from physical contact with his crush. Instead, he smiles harmlessly, scratching his face casually.
"Sawamura, did your hair grow a bit longer?"
"Oh, sorry. Did it get in your eyes?"
"It's fine. It's not that serious."
"So it's all this guy's fault." Eriri glares at Tomoya Aki, her eyes filled with anger.
"I thought you called me out for something important, but it turns out you were just rambling about some nonsensical stuff.
"Do you think we're still elementary students who can just gather and play house anytime?"