If there were one thing most capable of stopping Narumi from falling in love, it would probably be the inevitable trouble that comes hand in hand with formally entering an intimate relationship with someone else.
"After all, I'm not the kind of person who can casually trample on someone else's feelings once a relationship becomes official. If you start something, you have to see it through to the end and take responsibility for each other like a man."
But as an indispensable part of the romantic experience, those headache-inducing troubles were also what made him instinctively want to keep his distance.
Giving up a portion of the time that used to belong entirely to himself to share it with another person, adjusting to habits that might clash with his own, and dealing with big and small problems that weren't originally his to begin with… just thinking about it was exhausting.
So, in order to avoid the flower withering, Narumi Tōru chose not to plant it in the first place.
Of course, all of that reasoning was based on one premise: that he didn't like the flower all that much to begin with.
After all, when you truly and sincerely fall for someone, her flaws and shortcomings turn into freckles—endearing little imperfections—and even the trouble she brings becomes a sweet burden in your eyes.
Yes, that's what love is like.
It robs you of your ability to judge things objectively, even pushes you to abandon principles you once held dear. The scariest part is that it makes you swallow this deadly poison willingly, from start to finish.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: So yeah, that's why I'm saying—romance is a pain.]
Having finally seen off several troublesome girls one by one onto their respective trains home, the curly-haired boy at last returned to the safety of his personal nest, where he could leisurely enjoy his online life. His fingers moved, deftly operating the keyboard as he typed that line into the rr14 chat window.
Honestly, it wasn't just romance that was a pain—women themselves were a pain. No, more accurately, everyone except himself was a pain. That was the conclusion he'd reached after interacting with several girls over the past few days.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: If you really need to draw some emotional value from someone, love isn't even a mandatory option. High risk, low return—only an idiot would go for that.]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: You're right, but who asked you?]
That speech bubble floated over the beastman teammate on the computer screen, and Narumi could easily imagine the helpless expression on the guy's face on the other side.
They'd been teaming up for so long that chatting on and off like this had become routine. Suddenly starting a random topic was nothing unusual anymore, so both of them were already used to it.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: When you put it that way, the relationships that provide the most emotional value really are family and friendship… and if you want deeper empathy, keeping it within the same age group is probably best.]
The first person who flashed through Narumi's mind was the friend he acknowledged in his heart—Yamada Ryō. Even so, there were times when he honestly had no idea what that close friend of his was thinking.
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Speaking of people our age… there was someone I used to be pretty close with, a long time ago. But we don't really talk much anymore.]
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: You guys had a fight?]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Mm… you could say that. Anyway, things have gradually cooled off.]
As expected—while friendship might be far sturdier than romance, it still wasn't some unbreakable object that could never crack.
Compared to that, the relationship that inspired the most sense of security really was blood-bound family.
Even though not every blood relation brought with it a reliable bond, if you had to name the kind of people you could truly entrust your back to, family would definitely rank near the top.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: Sigh, I really wish I had a sibling… Are you an only child, childhood-friend bro?]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Yeah… but I really don't want any siblings. They'd just steal my parents' affection.]
Well, that answer was about what he'd expected.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: I want a cute little sister… an older sister who'd take care of me would be great too. Is it still in time for my parents to give birth to an older sister for me?]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Lying to your bros is one thing, but don't lie to yourself too.]
The beastman bro just tossed out that brief jab and didn't say anything more. It seemed he'd long since gotten used to Narumi's occasional lack of a filter.
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Instead of pinning your hopes on blood relatives, why not think about how to talk to a girl you like in real life, you shut-in. You don't date because you don't want to—right?]
That was a bit aggressive, wasn't it?
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: I really don't want to, though.]
Narumi sent that line with a blank expression. The screen on the other end fell silent for quite a while.
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Ha! Not even having someone you like—depending on how you look at it, that's even more tragic than unrequited love!]
Why did it feel like the guy had missed the mark and was now getting irritated about it?
Narumi clicked his tongue softly. Then, struck by a sudden idea, he moved his fingers and typed another line.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: By that logic, you must be doing better than me, right? When you work up the courage to confess, do you need me to cheer you on?]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Hahaha, sure, sure. If that ever happens, I'll message you first thing and have you beat the drums for me, okay?]
It really felt like someone had just set up a subtle flag to win an argument, but maybe it was better not to point it out.
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Anyway, how did things feel after all that? How's the novel coming along? I've got high expectations for you—you're supposed to be the next wave that smacks the old one onto the beach.]
You're the wave.
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: So far, everything's going smoothly. The first short story did really well in terms of traffic and exposure for a free forum novel. Feels like I can start preparing to submit it somewhere—how should I repay you, bro?]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: Yeah, you definitely owe me a proper thank-you. How about you treat me to milk tea for a whole week~]
[I Want to Eat Your Ahoge: Please let me pay for two cups a day.]
[Childhood-Friendhood Supreme Victory: No way. That'd be too much sugar, and then I'd have to spend time losing weight.]
This guy really was oddly sensitive about topics you wouldn't expect—like weight, or romantic prospects.
Stereotypes aside, it didn't quite match Narumi's image of a middle-aged, balding, shut-in otaku who'd care about things like that.
After finishing the day's usual rr14 session, Narumi took off his headset, opened his document, and placed both hands on the keyboard, beginning to search his mind for creative inspiration.
Just as he took a deep breath, ready to pour his thoughts into words at his fingertips, the moment he pressed the first key, a long-unheard voice echoed in his mind.
[Even during your downtime, you manage to plan your life well. That's a good thing.]
—It was the system's voice.