Takahashi Ryo knew two things for certain:
One, he was a genius.
Two, he was the luckiest bastard alive.
Most people played dating sims to escape reality. They stared at their screens, clicking through dialogue, imagining themselves in the shoes of the protagonist.
Ryo?
He became the protagonist.
Not in some metaphorical sense—his body literally entered the game world. The air, the buildings, the scent of sakura blossoms—everything was real. When a girl confessed her love, he felt her warmth. When he kissed them, he tasted their lips.
It was the ultimate cheat.
He had abused it shamelessly.
[My Sweet Angel Academy – Route: Nanami]
This time, he was in one of his favorite titles—My Sweet Angel Academy. A classic wholesome romance, with a small but dedicated fanbase that adored its pure-hearted heroines.
Nanami was one of them.
Pink twin-tails, big violet eyes, the bubbly little sister type. The kind of girl who called you "Onii-chan!" even when she wasn't related by blood—which made it fair game.
Today's event?
A date café outing.
"Geez, Onii-chan, you're walking too fast!" Nanami huffed, puffing her cheeks as she tugged on his sleeve. "Are you trying to ditch me?"
Ryo laughed, slowing his pace. "Nah. I was just excited to spend time on a date with my cute little sister."
Nanami flushed instantly. "D-Date?! W-We're just getting food!"
"Yeah. At a date café."
Her ears turned red. Too easy.
The world around them was vibrant. Cherry blossoms lined the streets, their petals drifting lazily in the breeze. Every background character—NPCs—moved with lifelike fluidity. The coding of the game adapted to his actions, creating a mirror reality of the original world.
And Ryo? He was its god.
They entered the café—a cozy place with soft lighting, warm wooden tables, and the scent of fresh coffee in the air. The waitress greeted them with a smile, leading them to a window seat.
Nanami kicked her legs under the table as she browsed the menu. "I want something sweet! Maybe pancakes? Or crepes? Or—"
Bzzt.
Ryo's phone vibrated.
A scripted text? Maybe one of the other love interests checking in? He casually pulled out his phone—
And froze.
[You have been invited to: The Observer's Circle.]
His grip tightened.
A cold sensation spread through his chest.
That message. That exact message.
He had seen it before.
A week ago. In another game.
He had ignored it back then. Probably some glitch, or maybe his subconscious affecting the game's systems. But now—here it was again.
Ryo hesitated, then tapped the notification.
Observer's Circle Chatroom
[SystemBug404]: Confirmed. He's disappearing.
[Unwritten]: Any way to stop it?
[VoidStar]: Doubt it. The process has already begun.
Lost_Traveler: H-Hey, guys? I just tried calling my sister. She didn't pick up. Thought maybe she was asleep but…
Lost_Traveler: She doesn't remember me.
[GodEater]: Tch. That's how it starts.
Lost_Traveler: No, no, listen—I have proof!
Lost_Traveler: I took pictures of my ID, my passport—hell, even my old family albums! But—
(Attached Images: [File Not Found] [File Not Found] [File Not Found])
[SystemBug404]: Corrupted. Expected.
Lost_Traveler: N-No! I saw them! The photos were fine a second ago! It was me, my mom, my dad—
Lost_Traveler: But my face was gone.
Lost_Traveler: It's like I was never in those pictures.
Lost_Traveler: What's happening to me?!
[Unwritten]: …You're being erased.
[VoidStar]: Happens sometimes. Some anomalies aren't stable. You were probably never meant to exist in the first place.
Lost_Traveler: Bullshit! I was born! I had a life!
[GodEater]: Not anymore.
Lost_Traveler: P-Please, there has to be a way to stop this. There has to be!
Lost_Traveler: Are you still there?
Lost_Traveler: I don't want to disappear.
Ryo stared at the screen, unblinking.
The messages were from hours ago.
Whoever "Lost_Traveler" was… he wasn't in the chat anymore.
Not kicked. Not banned. Just… gone.
A shiver ran down Ryo's spine.
"Onii-chan?"
Nanami's voice snapped him back.
She was staring at him, her big violet eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? You're making a scary face."
For a moment, Ryo considered telling her.
Then he laughed.
"What, this face?" He smirked. "It's my 'serious big brother' face."
Nanami pouted. "No, it was your 'spooked loser' face."
"Wow. Rude."
She giggled. "So? What were you looking at?"
Ryo glanced at his phone again.
The chat still sat open, waiting for a response.
He hesitated—just for a second—before typing something.
Nothing.
No response.
The others were probably offline. Or maybe they hadn't noticed him yet.
Either way… it didn't matter.
He locked his phone and shoved the entire thing to the back of his mind.
After all, this was probably just a coincidence.
Or maybe his subconscious was affecting the game's mechanics.
Yeah. That had to be it.
"Alright, Nanami. Let's order. You wanted something sweet, right?"
She beamed. "Yep! I'm getting extra whipped cream!"
Ryo grinned, pushing away the nagging feeling in his chest.
Because today, he was on a date.
And whatever was happening in that chat?
It wasn't his problem.
The café was quiet, save for the gentle murmur of other couples enjoying their time. The soft click of ceramic mugs against saucers, the hum of the coffee machine in the back, and the faint rustle of Nanami's hair as she shuffled through the menu all created a calming atmosphere.
Ryo glanced over at her, letting his gaze linger on her innocent excitement.
"You're really into whipped cream, huh?" he teased, leaning back in his chair.
Nanami blushed, tapping her fingers against her menu nervously. "W-Well, who isn't? It's sweet! And fluffy. It's like a cloud on your pancakes!"
"Fair enough. But isn't the pancake the star of the show?" he joked, raising an eyebrow.
She puffed out her cheeks in defiance. "No way! Pancakes are good, but whipped cream makes them perfect!"
Ryo couldn't help but laugh, a small chuckle escaping him. It was cute how she could get so into things, so simple and pure. It was part of her charm—Nanami wasn't the kind of girl who tried too hard to impress. She just… was.
"Alright, alright," Ryo conceded, giving her a playful smile. "I'll let you have your whipped cream. Get as much as you want."
Nanami's face brightened, and she clapped her hands together. "Yay! Thank you, Onii-chan!"
Their food arrived soon after, the waitress placing the fluffy stack of pancakes topped with an absurd amount of whipped cream in front of Nanami. Ryo had opted for a simpler sandwich, but he couldn't help but steal glances at Nanami as she dug into her dish.
It was quiet for a while. The air between them was comfortable.
Ryo, ever the pervert, couldn't help but watch her as she daintily ate her pancakes, the way she licked her lips after each bite—god, she looked adorable.
But he wasn't just here to ogle her, was he?
"So, Nanami," Ryo began, trying to steer the conversation toward safer waters, "What's been going on with you? How's school?"
"Hmm? Oh! School's been fine! I got an A+ on my history test!" Nanami beamed, leaning forward across the table with a proud look. "It was all about ancient Japan, so I was super excited to study it."
"A+? Not bad. You're gonna beat me at this rate."
"Hah! I already beat you! Remember that time I helped you with your homework? You owe me for that one."
Ryo groaned, pretending to look defeated. "You're never going to let me live that down, huh?"
She giggled softly, her smile as bright as ever. "I'll remind you whenever you act all cool."
Ryo smirked. "Guess I'll just have to stay humble then."
They finished their meal at a comfortable pace, chatting about school, upcoming festivals, and the latest trends Nanami had been into lately. She had a way of making even the most mundane topics sound interesting—one moment she was ranting about a manga adaptation ruining the original story, the next she was debating whether cats or dogs made better pets.
Ryo just let her talk, throwing in teasing remarks here and there, enjoying the way her expressions changed with each topic.
By the time they left the café, the sun had started dipping lower in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the town. The air was crisp, the faint scent of sakura blossoms lingering in the breeze as they made their way toward the park.
Nanami stretched her arms above her head, letting out a content sigh. "That was so good! I don't think I can eat another bite."
"You say that now," Ryo said, hands in his pockets. "But if I bought you ice cream, you'd suddenly have room for dessert."
Nanami shot him a knowing grin. "Maaaybe… but you wouldn't do that, would you, Onii-chan?"
He gave her a sidelong glance. "Oh? And why wouldn't I?"
"Because," she said, looping her arm through his, pulling him closer as they walked. "You love me too much to spoil me like that."
Ryo chuckled, shaking his head. "That doesn't even make sense."
She stuck out her tongue. "It does in my head."
Their pace slowed as they entered the park, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet. The place wasn't too crowded, just a few couples strolling along the cherry blossom-lined paths, an old man feeding pigeons, and kids running around near the small playground.
It was the kind of atmosphere that made everything feel timeless, like a moment that could stretch on forever.
Nanami tugged at his sleeve, leading him toward a quiet bench beneath a large sakura tree. "Let's sit here for a bit."
Ryo followed without complaint, leaning back and watching the petals drift down lazily from the branches above.
Nanami sighed, swinging her legs slightly. "You know… I really like days like this."
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm." She turned to look at him, her dark eyes reflecting the warm light of the setting sun. "Just walking, talking, spending time together. It makes me feel…" She trailed off, as if trying to find the right words.
Ryo waited, not rushing her.
She smiled softly. "Happy, I guess."
Ryo felt a small tug in his chest at that. It wasn't a scripted line, wasn't part of some game-triggered dialogue. It was just her, speaking from the heart.
He glanced at her, taking in the way her hair caught the sunlight, the gentle curve of her lips as she gazed ahead.
"You're simple like that, huh?" he teased, nudging her arm lightly.
She pouted, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you don't need fancy dates or crazy adventures. Just being together is enough for you."
She blinked, then smiled, shifting a little closer to him on the bench. "Yeah… I think that's true."
They sat there for a while longer, watching the sky turn shades of pink and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Eventually, Nanami let out a small yawn, stretching her arms. "Mmm… it's getting late. Walk me home?"
Ryo stood, offering her a hand. "Of course."
She took it without hesitation, fingers warm and delicate against his.
The walk back was peaceful, the streets quieting as evening settled in. Neon signs flickered to life, the distant hum of a train passing by somewhere in the city. Nanami hummed softly, swinging their hands slightly as they walked—not enough to make it obvious, just enough that Ryo could feel the warmth of her presence.
Before long, they reached her house, a modest two-story home tucked in a quiet residential area. The porch light was already on, casting a soft glow over the entrance.
Nanami turned to him, her expression playful yet a little hesitant.
"This was fun," she said. "Thanks for taking me out, Onii-chan."
"Anytime," Ryo replied smoothly.
She hesitated for just a second, then stepped forward, pressing a quick kiss against his cheek.
Not hesitant. Not embarrassed. Just a simple, natural motion, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Ryo didn't flinch. He didn't freeze. This wasn't his first time.
He had long accepted that this world was real. That the warmth of her lips, the scent of her hair, the soft whisper of her breath against his skin—all of it was real.
Nanami pulled back, grinning. "Goodnight, Onii-chan."
And with that, she turned, heading inside, leaving Ryo standing there with a small, satisfied smirk.
He let out a quiet chuckle, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Goodnight, Nanami."
With that, he turned, walking off into the cool night air, ready for whatever came next.