Female protagonists from various anime/manga crossovers? They'll all regret it for the rest of

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"Oh? Are you sure, Sawamura-kun? This isn't like drawing a watermelon on a canvas." Kasumigaoka Utaha sat up as well, not forgetting to tease her.

"Hmph, it's still better than some scheming women who only know how to talk!" Eriri retorted without backing down, snatching the wooden stick from Yuto's hand, weighing it in her hand, and looking eager to try it out.

Yuto Itsuki took out a plastic stool and placed it on the ground, arranging the watermelons on it. Then he took out a strip of black cloth.

"The rules are simple: blindfold yourself, spin around three times, and then follow your teammates' instructions. Whoever breaks the watermelon first wins."

"I'll go first!" Eriri volunteered.

Yuto Itsuka stepped forward, carefully blindfolded her to make sure she couldn't see anything, then held her shoulders and spun her around three times.

After he let go, Eriri was clearly a little dizzy and swayed before she could stand up, but she still held the wooden stick tightly in her hands.

"Okay, let's start!"

"To the left! Yes, a little more to the left!" Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately began to give instructions.

"No, Eriri, it's on the right!" Yuto Itsuka tried to correct.

Eriri hesitated for a moment, but her tsundere instincts ultimately prevailed over her trust in her childhood friend. "I don't believe you! Yuto has been targeting me all along when we were playing volleyball!"

She resolutely obeyed Kasumigaoka Utaha's command and carefully moved to the left.

"Yes, yes, that's it! Take three steps forward, then slam it down hard!" Kasumigaoka Utaha coaxed.

Eriri took a deep breath and gathered all her strength into her arms.

Concentrate and reach the top!

"Ha!" With a delicate shout, the wooden stick was raised high and then swung down sharply.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the wooden stick struck a trash can with perfect accuracy.

The trash can tipped over, scattering empty beverage bottles and packaging bags all over the floor.

The sudden commotion drew curious glances from tourists on the surrounding beach.

Yuto Itsuka and Megumi Kato simultaneously reached out and covered their faces, giving each other an expression that said, "I don't know her."

Eriri pulled off her blindfold and saw the horrific scene before her, along with the trash scattered all over the ground. Her face turned bright red.

She slowly turned her head and squeezed out a few words, one by one, through gritted teeth: "Kasumi! Oka! Uta! Hana!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha was already laughing so hard she was shaking, her body bent over and over, completely losing her composure. "Oh dear, sorry, sorry, I think I looked in the wrong direction. But Sawamura-kun looks petite, but she's actually quite strong."

Eriri was so angry that she wanted to hit her on the head with a wooden stick, but fortunately, Yuto Itsuka stopped her with quick reflexes.

"Alright, alright, next one, next one."

He cleaned up the mess and handed the wooden stick to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

“My turn.” Shiyu took the stick and gave Itsuka Yuto a flirtatious wink. “Junior, help me blindfold myself.”

Yuto Itsuka stepped forward to cover her up and spun her around three times.

Kasumigaoka Utaha staggered forward, deliberately veering towards Itsuka Yuuto's direction.

"Junior, am I on the right track?" She reached out her hand, groping haphazardly in the air.

Yuto Itsuka quickly grabbed her wrist and guided her back in the right direction, "Senior, the watermelon is over there."

"Oh my, junior's hands are so warm." Kasumigaoka Utaha took the opportunity to hold his hand and refused to let go.

"Hey! That's a foul!" Eriri protested.

Shi Yu reluctantly let go and swung the stick based on her instincts.

The stick grazed the edge of the watermelon.

"Oh dear, so close," she said regretfully as she removed the black cloth.

"Next up is Kato-kun."

Kato Megumi was blindfolded and spun around three times before standing steadily in place.

"Itsuka-kun, please give me instructions."

"Go straight for five steps, then move slightly to the left," Yuto Itsuka instructed.

Following his instructions, Kato Megumi walked forward step by step, then stopped at the exact spot and swung the stick without hesitation.

"Snapped!"

The watermelon split open with a snap, and red juice gushed out.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Eriri exclaimed.

"Kato-senpai, did you peek? -/Ying (seven) VI doubt sanII Egu Kuwa" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked suspiciously.

"No." Kato Megumi removed the black cloth, a faint smile on her face.

Since the watermelon had already been broken, there was no need for Yuto Itsuka to participate. The four of them sat together and ate the watermelon.

Chilled watermelon in summer is delicious, everyone who has tried it says it's great.

"Ah, summer is definitely the time to eat watermelon." Eriri squinted her eyes contentedly.

"Junior, ah—" Kasumigaoka Utaha scooped out a big spoonful of watermelon and held it to Itsuka Yuto's mouth.

Yuto instinctively tried to open his mouth, but then saw Eriri giving him a death stare. He quickly waved his hand and said, "I can do it myself."

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't mind and ate the watermelon herself.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, a cool sea breeze blows in.

The four of them ate watermelon and chatted, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

“It’s almost time. Let’s pack up and get ready to go back for dinner,” Yuto Itsuka suggested.

"Yeah, we've been playing all afternoon, we're covered in sand and sweat, let's go to the shower later and wash up," Kato Megumi chimed in.

The four of them began to pack up their belongings and clean up the trash.

Just as they were about to leave, Yuto Itsuka noticed a large crowd gathered on the beach not far away, seemingly watching something.

"What are they doing by the side? It's so lively." Eriri curiously stood on tiptoe to look.

"It looks like... they're filming?" Kasumigaoka Utaha squinted.

"Shall we go take a look?" Kato Megumi asked.

"Okay, let's go take a look." Itsuka Yuto brushed the sand off his clothes and walked towards the direction where the crowd was gathering.

As the group walked into the crowd, they saw professional lights and reflectors set up on the beach, with a group of staff members busily running around.

"It looks like they're filming something?" Kato Megumi said.

"Could it be a celebrity?" Eriri was a little excited. Although she didn't follow celebrities, she was still curious about meeting one in real life.

"Why don't we go in and see for ourselves?" Kasumigaoka Utaha grabbed Itsuka Yuto's arm and squeezed into the crowd.

The group squeezed to the front of the crowd, where their view suddenly became clear.

A cordon was set up on the beach, inside which was a professional filming location, where staff were busy moving around.

The camera track was laid on the hill, the microphone was held high, and several people in production crew vests were adjusting the reflectors.

In the focus of the camera, a girl in a light blue dress is standing sideways in the sea, letting the waves lap against her long legs.

Her profile was perfect, with a high nose bridge, slightly pursed pink lips, long black hair reaching her waist, blowing in the sea breeze, fair skin, and a graceful and slender figure. Even in a simple summer outfit, she exuded a sense of sophistication.

"So beautiful..." Eriri couldn't help but exclaim. This was the perfect figure she had always dreamed of.

"Indeed, as expected of a celebrity, her figure is much better than someone else's." Kasumigaoka Utaha rarely agreed with Eriri, but she didn't forget to take a jab at her as well.

"You!" Eriri was about to retort, but she was so engrossed in the filming in front of her that she temporarily forgot about arguing.

"She looks like...Sakurajima Mai?" Kato Megumi recognized the star girl in the photoshoot.

"Sakurajima Mai? That famous actress?" Eriri exclaimed in surprise. "What's she doing here?"

"They must be filming a summer drama," Kasumigaoka Utaha guessed. "I didn't expect to meet her in person here. She's even prettier in person than on TV."

The three girls were all excitedly discussing Mai Sakurajima, but Yuto Itsuka was stunned the moment he saw the girl, as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He was all too familiar with that figure.

Mai Sakurajima.

Not long ago, he had just ended his simulated relationship with her. In that simulation, he had indeed invested some of his feelings and accompanied her through the emotional rebirth from nothing to something.

A confession by the sea, a night at the hotel, a sweet trip to Kamakura, the little moments of living together, the last supper, and that farewell letter...

It ended with his death.

The entire simulation left a deep impression on him; it was also his first time dating, his first date, and his first sexual experience.

At the same time, after the simulation ended, his mood was not much better than that of Mai Sakurajima in the simulation.

However, there were still people and things that bound him to him in reality, which forced him to put this experience aside for the time being.

Now, the being named "Sakurajima Mai" has appeared before him once again, and this time she is so real in the real world.

He was unsure what to do.

A moment later, Yuto Itsuka subconsciously used [Acting Skill A]. This skill not only allows him to perfectly portray a character, but also enables him to perceive other people's emotions and pretenses.

He can tell at a glance whether someone is putting on an act or not.

However, the smile on Mai Sakurajima's face as she spoke with the photographer was one he had never seen before.

Her emotions were genuine, her smile was heartfelt, and her interactions with the staff around her were very natural.

Her every move exudes the vitality of her age, and the professionalism and aura she radiates are somewhat similar to Mai's rediscovery of emotions in the latter half of the simulation, but not entirely the same.

She is not Mai Sakurajima, who suffers from an emotional disorder, is unable to perceive emotions, and can only disguise herself through imitation.

She wasn't the Mai Sakurajima who would stay in the apartment, learn to cook his favorite dishes, just to bring a smile to his face.

She wasn't the Mai Sakurajima who would softly call his name by the sea.

She is Mai Sakurajima, yet she is not Mai Sakurajima.

Yuto Itsuka's heart sank little by little.

Reason told him that the simulation and reality were two completely different parallel worlds. The Mai Sakurajima in the simulation was just a system that specially generated for him, while the one in front of him was the real person who existed in reality.

However, on an emotional level, he recalled the scene when he met Shoko at Fuji-Q Highland. Shoko still had a vague memory of the simulated world, which remained in her mind in the form of a dream.

When Shoko met him, she had a strong reaction and immediately recognized him.

So, will Mai Sakurajima in front of us also...?

Just then, as if sensing his overly focused and complex gaze, Mai Sakurajima, who was adjusting her posture, suddenly turned her gaze and met Yuto Itsuka's eyes.

His heart skipped a beat.

However, Mai Sakurajima's eyes only showed a hint of confusion, as if she thought he looked somewhat familiar, but then she resumed her professional smile, nodded politely to him, and continued to immerse herself in the filming.

Not her.

Yuto Itsuki closed his eyes, and the last bit of hope in his heart vanished.

Shoko's situation was just an accident; the real Mai Sakurajima did not inherit any memories from the simulated world.

That's fine... too.

Yuto Itsuka said to himself.

Let him forget that heavy, sorrowful past and the helpless ending on his own.

She should be like she is now, standing under the spotlight, enjoying flowers and applause, a dazzling superstar.

"Itsuka-san?"

Kato Megumi's voice rang in my ears.

Yuto Itsuka snapped out of his daze, turned his head, and met Megumi Kato's clear eyes. He forced a smile and said naturally, "Ah, I think... Mai Sakurajima looks much better in person than on TV. I was a little stunned. Sorry."

His voice was very calm, and there was nothing unusual about it.

"Really? I think Kasumigaoka-senpai is better," Kato Megumi said calmly.

"Oh, thank you for the compliment, Kato-senpai," Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a smile, but her gaze seemed to drift casually over Itsuka Yuto's face.

"Let's go, there's nothing to see here." Itsuka Yuto turned around and left the crowd first.