I Just Want A Single Ending!

Bonus chapters are like surprise blossoms—unexpected, yet full of joy! 🌱

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Soyo stared down at the pendant in her hand for a long time, but in the end, didn't say anything.

After all, this was a birthday gift from Saku, given with the best intentions.

Even if the meaning of the yellow iris didn't exactly match what she'd hoped for…

Well, she'd treasure it anyway.

"Thank you. I'm really happy to receive this from you."

Carefully closing the jewelry box, Soyo thanked him sincerely.

She'd thought about trying it on, but with the meaning behind that flower, she couldn't muster much excitement for it.

It almost felt like a curse, a reminder of what wasn't meant to be. Better to keep it safe and untarnished somewhere.

"No need to thank me."

Saku waved off her gratitude, removing the candles from the cake and handing her the knife with a grin. "Now, I'll leave the cake-cutting to you."

"Alright."

Taking the knife, Soyo carefully cut the first slice and offered it to Saku.

"Thanks."

Accepting the piece, Saku found himself pondering.

Usually, that first slice went to someone important. Did her giving it to him mean he was someone important to her? A close friend, perhaps?

Of course, there was another explanation: they were the only two people here, so the first slice logically had to go to him.

As he mused over this, Soyo cut herself a slice and took a small bite, savoring it.

Honestly, the cake didn't taste any different from what she'd get in a café or bakery.

But knowing that Saku had braved a typhoon to get it for her… it felt like the best cake she'd ever tasted.

Lifting her eyes to tell him so, Soyo noticed a smudge of whipped cream near the corner of his mouth.

Without a second thought, she stood up, intending to reach over and wipe it off.

And then, reality hit—her dining table was too wide to reach him from across it, even with her arm stretched out.

"..."

For the first time, she felt annoyed at her own table.

"Uh… did you need something?" Saku asked, watching her strange behavior.

"Nothing."

She shook her head, walking around the table to stand beside him.

"Uh, Soyo, what are you—"

Before he could finish, she'd gently wiped the cream from the corner of his mouth with her fingertip.

The casual intimacy of the gesture left him momentarily stunned.

"You had a little cream on your face." Soyo waved her finger in front of him, finally offering her explanation.

"You could've just told me—I'd have wiped it off myself."

Saku grabbed a napkin and wiped the cream from her finger, laughing awkwardly.

"Mm. I just wanted to say thank you for all the trouble you went through today," she explained. "It's… the least I can do."

"I see."

Outwardly, he responded with a nonchalant smile, but inwardly, Saku's mind was racing to analyze her gesture.

As an experienced galgame player, he'd seen countless scenes where the heroine wiped food from the protagonist's face. Almost every time, it meant the heroine had feelings for the protagonist.

So, did this mean Soyo liked him?

Wait, no—he couldn't jump to conclusions.

This was real life, not a galgame. The rules here weren't the same.

He'd played many dating sims, sure, but that didn't make him an expert on romance in reality.

He had zero real-life experience in this department.

So, if he tried to interpret this gesture through a realistic lens…

Well, it was still a pretty intimate gesture. But that alone didn't necessarily indicate romantic interest.

After all, he'd just chosen the "good friend" option earlier, reinforcing the idea that their relationship was strictly platonic… right?

Then again, that felt like a bit of a stretch.

Maybe it made more sense to see it as a sibling-like interaction?

Soyo, after all, was someone who clearly yearned for a close family bond, and she'd just thanked him moments before. So maybe, as an older sister figure, she felt compelled to help him in that moment?

It made perfect sense.

An affectionate older sister helping her "little brother" clean up. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

The more Saku thought about it, the more logical it seemed.

And besides, all she'd done was wipe it away with her finger. If she'd acted like heroines from his galgames, she would've either licked it off her finger or… even kissed it away.

He was totally overthinking this.

He had to trust the system's choices. The system had given him so many advantages, so it was clearly reliable.

After all, he'd never encountered a galgame where, having chosen the "reject" option, he still got pulled into the heroine's route.

This was definitely one of those times he needed to avoid reading too much into things.

Treat her like the sister-figure she wanted to be, and all would be well.

In his mind, Saku arrived at the perfect conclusion.

"…"

Glancing down at her now-clean fingertip, Soyo quietly moved her plate and utensils over to sit next to Saku.

"Uh, what's up?" he asked, puzzled. "Was there something wrong with that spot?"

They'd been sitting across from each other the whole evening. Why the sudden seat change?

"It's just more convenient over here," she replied, improvising. "There's hardly any room left over there."

"Got it."

Saku glanced over at her former spot and accepted her explanation.

It made sense—between the cake, dishes, gifts, and other items scattered across the table, her side was indeed getting crowded.

And with her things now moved to his side, this spot certainly did look more practical for her.

"I'll just stay here a bit."

Soyo tried to keep her tone casual, emphasizing her point.

Facing him from across the table let her watch his every expression, while sitting beside him meant they could have natural, easy contact.

She wanted both of those, but for now… being close was enough.

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T/N: He's actually right on the money!

Thank you so much for being here. This bonus chapter is like a little sprout—brought to life by all the warmth and encouragement you've given! WiseTL is so grateful to have such wonderful Readers who help these stories grow into something even more beautiful.

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This is my last message to you, but don't be sad—it's simply time for a new chapter to begin! Like the gentle winds that carry seeds to new places, I hope the stories we've shared together will continue to bloom in your heart.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey. May the path ahead be filled with light, laughter, and endless wonder. Until we meet again, take care!

-With love, always, Nahida 🌱"