[You brought Miri back home and announced your relationship to the Isshiki family.]
[The Isshiki couple looked at you with a mix of surprise and suspicion, but you smiled naturally as you held Miri's hand, looking at her with affection. Miri, in turn, gazed at you with overflowing love.]
[From a distance, Iroha watched you both being so close and loving, with a hint of relief on her face.]
[For many years, your unreserved affection for her had made her feel overwhelmed and unable to accept it.]
[She never could bring herself to see you as a romantic partner; to her, you had always been her brother.]
[Recently, she even considered choosing a university far from home after graduating high school, hoping that time and distance might restore your relationship to a normal state.]
[Now, she didn't have to do that. The reality that had come was a source of joy for her.]
[Over the next period, your visits home became more frequent, always accompanied by Miri.]
[She was polite and tactful, and her demeanor was graceful. Additionally, the fact that she was also an orphan made the kind-hearted Isshiki family both like and pity her.]
[By the time you were in your second year of college, you and Miri had been dating for over a year.]
[You often kept her overnight in your room.]
[Her clothes started to appear in your wardrobe, and the Isshiki couple had subtly started to treat her as part of the family.]
[Iroha had lowered her guard and resumed being close to you, even calling Miri "sister-in-law" without hesitation.]
[In your third year, you and Miri had a simple engagement ceremony.]
[Apart from the two of you, only the Isshiki family attended.]
[The Isshiki couple watched you with teary eyes, while Iroha playfully encouraged you to kiss Miri in front of them, which you both did.]
[This warm moment was captured on Iroha's phone.]
[That same year, there was news that you weren't sure whether to consider good or bad.]
[Your stepmother, who had been in a vegetative state for many years due to a car accident and had her legs amputated, had regained consciousness.]
[Upon hearing the news, you didn't inform anyone and went straight to the hospital alone. The doctor, waiting outside the ward, gave you a detailed update on her condition.]
[It turned out that although your malicious stepmother had awakened, her condition was far from promising.]
[After lying in bed for years, her muscles had atrophied, and the damage to her brain tissue had severely affected her motor nerves and language system.]
[She was very weak and would remain bedridden for a long time, unable to undergo rehabilitation training.]
[The doctor used many technical terms, which you distilled into a general outline.]
[In summary, she had regained consciousness but couldn't get out of bed, and even moving her fingers was difficult.]
[Her ability to speak was also impaired, and she couldn't articulate a coherent sentence.]
[Standing by the bed of your childhood tormentor, you saw her emaciated, unrecognizable face with no emotional response, even feeling a bit of amusement.]
[This was her just punishment for her past actions.]
[But you also felt a bit of melancholy because her awakening meant that you would have to find time to visit her occasionally.]
[After all, in the Isshiki family's view, you were a considerate and filial child, and maintaining this positive image was crucial for your future plans.]
[You didn't want this good impression to be tainted.]
[You looked at the dark, vacant eyes of your malicious stepmother and decided…]
[1. Forget it. Let her remain in her current state until she passes away.]
[2. Even in her current state, there might be some value in exploiting her if handled correctly.]
[3. Treat her well, hire the best caregivers and nutritionists, and hope for her speedy recovery.]
Chisato discarded the third option first.
"Hope she recovers? What's the point? If she recovers, will she reclaim what's hers?"
The woman who had taken you from the orphanage with such base intentions, only to exploit you as free labor, deserved this.
As Chisato saw it, she had brought this upon herself.
He then focused on the remaining two options.
To be honest, when the options last appeared, he thought the simulation was about to end, but a casual choice unexpectedly opened up new possibilities.
This was a genuine surprise.
He chose to continue trusting the version of himself in the simulation, who despite some character changes, seemed unexpectedly compelling and reliable.
[You formulated a plan.]
[If successful, it would not only eliminate the risk of your stepmother reclaiming her assets but also significantly aid your long-standing goal of winning Iroha.]
[Although the plan was somewhat unscrupulous, you quickly rationalized it: doing unscrupulous things to unscrupulous people, much like using violence to stop violence, was perfectly reasonable.]
[You sat by your stepmother's bedside and gently held her hand.]
[Your action caught her attention, and she looked at you.]
[You introduced yourself and softly recounted what had happened during her years of unconsciousness.]
[Upon hearing that her husband had long since passed away and that she had been bedridden with amputated legs, her dim eyes flashed with extreme panic.]
[Her mouth opened slightly but only emitted incomprehensible sounds.]
[You slightly increased your grip, looking gently at her pained expression.]
[You reassured her not to worry. Although the doctor said the treatment process would be painful, you would spare no effort to continue it.]
[You sincerely told her that despite the inhumane abuse she inflicted on you as a child, she was still family, and you would take good care of her until the end.]
[Your words had the opposite effect. Rather than reassuring her, they made her even more fearful.]
[You said no more, slowly releasing her hand and telling her that you would come to "visit" her every day.]
[With that, you left the ward.]
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