Chapter 2

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: Memory (1)

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Fortunately, I didn't end up diving headfirst into the stream out of sheer embarrassment from my raging erection.

Though on the inside I was an adult man, the outside... Thinking about it, this kid just looks like an adult guy at a glance.

Anyway, I'm the kind of man who doesn't let a golden opportunity slip away.

"Miyuki, this has been happening since last time. What's going on?"

In response to my question, Souta's mother—no, that felt awkward, so let's call her Miyuki. Anyway, Miyuki looked flustered for a moment before her cheeks flushed slightly and she said,

"I-it's just a physiological reaction... It'll probably calm down soon..."

I nodded at her words.

"Got it!"

As I nodded with a bright, innocent smile at Miyuki's explanation, she turned to Souta beside her and said,

"Souta, let's head home now."

At Miyuki's words, Souta, true to his age, made it blatantly obvious that he didn't want to go home yet and wanted to play more.

"Aww, can't I play a little longer with Takuya?"

"No. Takuya needs to go home too. His mom will be worried."

"Really?"

At Miyuki's words, Souta looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked just that. I subtly checked Miyuki's expression behind him too.

'She seems to be hoping I'll say yes.'

Normally, I'd want to side with Miyuki and say yes.

The problem was...

'Where the hell does Takuya live?'

I couldn't remember where my house was.

This was an NTR game where you played from the victim's perspective, so the villain's detailed home address never came up.

So here I was, in the absurd situation of not knowing where I lived.

That meant, for now, I had no choice but to rely on Souta.

'Can't be helped.'

I'd have to side with Souta this time.

Still, I didn't want to tank Miyuki's favorability too much, so I'd have to word it carefully.

"Aw, I can play a bit longer, right?"

Souta's face lit up at my response, while Miyuki's darkened just a touch.

Probably because it wasn't the answer she wanted.

But you have to hear people out to the end.

"It's getting late, though. I'll just play a little near my house and head in."

By saying I'd play near home so I could get back early even if it was late, I reassured Miyuki.

Thankfully, she seemed satisfied with that, nodding as she said,

"Fine, but just a little while, okay?"

"Really?! Yay!"

Watching Souta jump for joy like he was about to burst, Miyuki gave a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠helpless smile before approaching me.

"Hee hee. Take good care of our Souta."

"Yes, ma'am!"

With that, Miyuki gently stroked my head.

The issue was, in the process, as she bent down in her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠loose clothes...

'Plain underwear... Whoa, just like in the game, it's pink?'

Miyuki's underwear and breasts were fully exposed.

Thanks to that, the lower half I'd barely calmed down started swelling up again.

Fortunately, by the time my lower half was fully at attention, Miyuki had already said her goodbyes and headed home.

*Jiggle*♥ *Jiggle*♥ *Jiggle*♥

For the record, it wasn't exactly a secret that I couldn't tear my eyes away from Miyuki's swaying hips as she walked home.

'How can even her backside look that damn sexy?'

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Feeling a bit of sympathy for Takuya's heart-pounding emotions inside me, I calmed my own racing heartbeat that had been going wild since earlier.

And for good reason.

'This really is inside a Tsukuru eroge...'

I'd thought this was reality, but honestly, I still hadn't fully grasped it.

No, it would be weirder to immediately accept and believe that this was the world of the Tsukuru h-game I'd been playing.

But seeing Miyuki made it hit home crystal clear that this was inside the game.

No way a body optimized for pregnancy like that exists in real life, right?

Thanks to that, my heart raced with the realization that this was real—and the anticipation that I could embrace a woman like her.

Of course, that thrill was short-lived.

"Takuya! Let's play in the empty lot in front of your house!"

I looked at the little boy in front of me, Souta.

The Souta I saw looked like any innocent kid his age.

'Yeah. What did this kid ever do wrong?'

I couldn't bring myself to do something as cruel as stealing his parents from a sweet kid like this.

No matter how strong my desires were, this was basic human decency.

'Even for a guy like me.'

So, as I restrained my lust for Miyuki and pondered ways to live a peaceful life instead, that's when it happened.

-Ding.

A suspicious sound rang out, and at the same time, Souta—who'd been walking beside me—suddenly froze.

"Souta? Hey, what's up? You're not moving—wait a sec..."

No, it wasn't just Souta.

The clouds, the crows flying in the sky, even the blazing sunset—nothing was moving.

In that utterly unreal sight, I instinctively realized what was happening.

The world had stopped.

Everything except me.

'What the hell is this...'

As I panicked at the sudden situation,

A translucent window appeared before me.

And this screen was speaking to me.

It was telling me to fuck her.

Seeing that bullshit screen, I couldn't help but curse.

"What the actual fuck..."

Here I was, trying to live like a decent human, and it throws this choice at me.

Was this an illusion too? I turned my head, but the screen followed me—it wasn't a dream.

God really was a dick.

Some time had passed since the choices appeared before me.

In that time, I'd thought things through and settled on my answer.

'Well, I picked it in like five seconds.'

Truth be told, agonizing over the choices hadn't taken long.

Obviously, I went with 1: Steal Miyuki.

What, after saying I wouldn't steal her just moments ago? Yeah, the reason tied into option 2.

Specifically, that bit about a villain from another series intervening.

That phrase bugged me.

It probably referred to the NTR Men from the Ero Villain series.

For reference, the NTR Men in Ero Villain were all textbook cases.

'Hypnosis app pig, gold sun, PE teacher, perverted kids, tentacles, and so on.'

Hmm. Yeah, packed with the classics.

In other words, whether I stole Miyuki or not, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her and Souta's lives wouldn't change much.

So wouldn't it be better if I took her and steered things toward a better ending than the original?

That was my line of thinking.

'Cowardly? Sure, but whatever.'

What can you do? Humans are like that.

No way was I picking the ??? at the end—not knowing what it meant made it a bad bet.

Choosing uncertainty in a situation like this was for idiots.

That wrapped up the choice dilemma quick, but a new problem cropped up.

The words "First Choice."

That was the issue.

'"First" means there'll be second and third choices ahead.'

Call it a hunch, but even after this pick, I had a feeling I'd face tons more choices.

I clutched my head thinking it over, but the conclusion was the same.

'Yeah. Worrying now just multiplies the problems. I'll figure it out later.'

Delegate to future me.

No helping it.

I had way too little info.

Having convinced myself, I nodded and reached out to touch the translucent screen before me.

Squeeze.

The translucent screen had no real tactile feel, but it gave under pressure, so it was definitely something physical.

Musing on the sensation, I tapped the first choice.

The "First Choice" screen vanished, and new ones appeared.

After checking each line on the screen, all I could mutter was,

"This really an eroge?"

Anyone who's played even a little eroge would recognize that screen—I let out a hollow chuckle.

Don't make it look so much like an eroge in a place like this.

As I chuckled dryly, I spotted one screen glowing unusually bright in the corner of the translucent display.

Looking closer, it was labeled "Reward."

I tapped the screen to check the exact reward details.

And once I saw it, I cheered inwardly.

I had no choice but to.

It was exactly what I needed most right now.

Grinning ear to ear at the reward "Takuya's Memories," I tapped Receive below it.

"G-gahhh!!!"

Excruciating pain hit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, and I blacked out.