Moonstone's Notes: How it all began.

In 28 August 2014, I watched a news report from Deutsche Welle about this game. While I have heard of earlier news reports regarding this game, especially the infamous news report about someone marrying Anegasaki Nene (a character in the game Love Plus), I only took interest in it since I started learning Japanese and I already have a mothballed DS Lite (I currently use an NA edition 3DS XL) with a flashcart (that can only be used in the DS Lite).

The video from DW is below (18.7 MB): 

The translation of the transcript of the video is as below. Original transcript here: [pdf]

Note: From this point on all names will be referred to by Western order (Family name last). My comments will be in italic, while the narrator will be in standard font. Translation is by me, Moonstone. 

This is Saku Aruno from Osaka. The 21-year-old works in a supermarket and sings in a J-Pop band. And this is his girlfriend, Manaka, 16 years old. They are a couple in the dating simulator “Love Plus”. Saku plays the role of a student here. He got to know Manaka through the game.

Saku Aruno: In the game, I was a new transfer at the school and have decided to stop by the tennis club. There I saw Manaka for the first time. She was helping out at the tennis court, and there we started to talk. And thus our relationship began. Since then we have become closer to each other.

The first meet situation that best fits Saku’s description is the one that occurs during autumn. Therefore it can be concluded Saku started his game between September and November.

Saku Aruno spends around 3 hours every day with his virtual girlfriend. She is always there, as “Love Plus” is on the mobile Nintendo DS. Saku had a real relationship at around the same time, but only for a few months. Now he has completely devoted himself to Manaka.

Saku uses a special Love Plus Manaka edition 3DS LL (Japan edition) and plays the latest version, New Love Plus+ (3DS only). I have seen that 3DS LL sold here, but they can only be used with imported cartridges from Japan because of region locking (local cartridges are North American). 

Saku Aruno: 調子はどう？

How are you?

Manaka: うん。大丈夫だよ。お話ししよう？

I’m fine. Shall we talk?

Saku Aruno: 二人でなら。

Sure, it’s just the two of us.

Manaka: 今度のデート、どうするとか、決めたんだりする？アイスクリーム食べたいな。

About our next date, have you decided on what to do? I want to eat ice cream.

The manuscript has a slight error. The line asking about what they are doing for their date is asked by Manaka, not Saku. The subtitles provided by DW were slightly inaccurate as well, since Manaka never said anything regarding their date being in the evening.

Saku Aruno: 楽しいね。

That sounds fun.

The built-in speech recognition responds to key words. The software chooses an appropriate answer from a pool. Deep conversations they are not. Experts see this game as a milestone in the history of video games, among them anthropologist and web culture expert Masaki Ishitani.

Masaki Ishitani: In all games beforehand there has always been a separation between reality and fantasy, but when “Love Plus” is played, the border between reality and fantasy begins to blur. This has never occurred before in the world of video games.

Unlike other dating simulators like “Summer Sessions” and “My Candy Love”. While entertaining, they are less complex. A relationship – even at a rudimentary level – is difficult to simulate. “Love Plus” is more convincing at that. About 300,000 units have been sold. This dating simulator is primarily intended for male users. Three female characters are available as a partner. These are controlled by AI. The goal: to get a partner and keep the relationship going. There is no ending. It is possible to develop an emotional relationship – especially for particularly active users like Saku Aruno.

While intended for male users, it is not unheard of for girls to play that game as well. In fact, the voice actor for Manaka, Saori Hayami, later voice acted as a girl whose friend (Kirino Kousaka) became addicted to a dating simulator that handles suspiciously like Love Plus. And the character within the game is also voiced by Saori Hayami. How’s that for Actor Allusion?

Manaka: 顔が赤いの、あなとのせいです。好―き。

It’s your fault I’m blushing. Love you.

While the video shows Saku kissing the 3DS, in actual gameplay this is not recommended, as the pressure-sensitive touchpad is less sensitive to lips than a stylus or a thumb. Furthermore, precise positioning is required so as to land a kiss on the correct part of the character’s face. Tells you a lot about how even otherwise respectable news outlets can't resist the pull of sensationalism. 

I have only heard Manaka say this sentence when I get my character to kiss in the wrong part of Manaka’s face during my gameplay, and the sound effect given from Saku’s game signals that he did kiss the correct part of Manaka’s face (which is quite impressive considering the inherent inaccuracy of kissing a 4.18" screen). Maybe the voice flags have changed from the game that I am playing.

Saku Aruno: For me, the most important thing in a relationship is trust. And that is possible with Manaka. She will never betray me. That’s why I prefer her as a real partner.

In the background is a Manaka Nendoroid. Not important to the main discussion: just something I found interesting.

In Japan, bizarre trends are becoming more common. Nevertheless, “Love Plus” remains controversial. Studies show that interest among the Japanese in real relationships is sinking. The country has the lowest birthrate in the world. Experts, however, do not see a relationship between that and “Love Plus”.

From the 2013 CIA World Factbook, at 8.23 births per 1000 people, Japan has the 3^rd lowest birth rate in the world (not counting non-independent territories). Singapore has the 2^nd lowest, at 7.91 births per 1000 people (yay?), while Germany has the 5^th lowest at 8.37 births per 1000 people. Counting non-independent territories, 3 countries have lower birth rates than Singapore: Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Hong Kong, and Monaco.

Masaki Ishitani: It is possible to date girls through Love Plus. And some users may love the characters a little. In the end, however, they are not in love with the virtual partner, but rather they are engrossed with the game.

I agree with that. After some point it feels like playing a different kind of Tamagotchi game. I’m only continuing because I can use it to practice my Japanese and I want to advance my character to Rank 10.

Whether he is in love with Manaka or the game: Saku Aruno does not think too much about it. He doesn’t question his relationship and enjoys his time together.

At least he’s not marrying Manaka.

Saku Aruno: I don’t think too much about the future. Right now I am happy with Manaka. I hope that it will stay that way.

One never quite knows about love, whether in fantasy, or in real life.

SHIFT comments: Rather unsettling!

Yeah, I think so too.

30 January, Friday

They walk to school together, as is normal.

愛花：見つかりそうもないね。お昼寝スポット。

健二：だなぁ。わざわざ新聞部も記事にしなかったら、ここまで騒ぎにならなかっただろうに。

愛花：ふふ、割と話題になってたもんね？…でも残念。あなたと行きたかったな。

健二：そなに？

愛花：うん。だって校内で静かで、誰も来なくて、のんびり過ごせる場所なんて、そんなにはないでしょう？そんなところで、二人でころんってできたら、気持ちいいだろうなって。

健二：うん、確かにそうかもな…。

愛花：でも楽しかったからいいかな？ちょっぴりホームズ気分も味わえたし。お疲れさま、ワトソン君。これからも頼むよ。

健二：ああ、もちろんだよホームズ。

愛花：…ふふふ！

健二：ははは…。

It’s lunch break, and Manaka has brought him a lunch box. They eat at the courtyard.

愛花：今日のお弁当、どうだった？

健二：バッチリ。マナカちゃんの味付けは最高だよ。

愛花：味付けも、じゃなくて？

健二；そっか。失礼しました。

愛花：ふふ、よろしい。なんて。次は何を作ろうかな？リクエスト、ある？

They walk home together. They hold hands as they walk home together.

During the evening, Kenji goes to the electric town.

健二：さて、どこに行こう？

He evaluates his options:

1. 電気店に行こう。
2. アニメショップに行こう
3. メイド喫茶に行こう

He decides to go to the maid cafe.

健二：よし、メイド喫茶に行こう。

…

健二：癒されるな…。

Kenji returns home to sleep. He wonders if he would get chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

健二：そういえば、もうすぐバレンタインだな。チョコもらえるかな。

He imagines Manaka telling him as he drifts off to sleep:

手数があればいいってわけじゃないよ！

29 January, Thursday

Kenji’s luck is not looking good today.

持ち合わせ場所で迷う

Good thing he’s not meeting anyone today.

The two walk to school together.

愛花：ねぇ、わたし、おもったんだけど…。

健二：お！ホームズ？

愛花：ふふっ、静かに聞いてくれたまえよ、ワトソン君。あの記事は嘘で、本当は別の場所に人気のスポットがあって、そこを知られたくないから中庭って書いたみたい。

健二：そうなの？というの、良く調べられたね。

愛花：うん、演劇部の人に聞いたの。

健二：ああ、あそこで練習してるからか。冴えてるなー、マナカちゃん。

愛花：…ごめんなさい、ちょっと違う。『あめんぼあかいなあいうえお』の続きを聞きに行ったの。そのあと、たまたまお昼寝スポットの話になって。だから、偶然。

See Appendix of 16 December 2014 for more details on what poem Manaka was reciting.

健二：ホームズ…。

愛花：えぇと…あっ、続きはね？『浮き藻に小エビも泳いでる』で、もともとは北原白秋の詩なんだって！ね、すごい情報でしょ？

健二：（へー…って素直に感心していいのか？この場合）

They hold hands and walk to school.

Later in the afternoon, in social studies class

担任：じゃあ次の問題は…。

健二：（う、目があった…）

担任：はい、やってくれる？

…

担任：はい、よくできました。

健二：（勉強しておいてよかった…）

愛花：すごい１わたしの自慢のカレシだもんね？ふふ♥

They hold hands and walk home together.

Kenji goes to the seaside shopping mall for the evening.

健二：（そうだ。マナカちゃんにプレゼントしようと思ってたんだ）

He evaluates his options:

1. ブティック
2. コスメショップ
3. アクセサリーショップ

He decides to go to the boutique.

店員：いらっしゃいませー。

健二：プレゼント、ここで買おうかな…。

More options here:

1. 小花のビキニ
2. フェミニントップス
3. チャイナ服（緑）
4. かめておく

The feminine top (option 2) looks good, so he chooses it.

健二：（よし、次に呼び出したときに渡そう）

店員：ありがとうございましたー。

Important notice!

彼女へのプレゼントを取得しました。

Kenji receives a message from Manaka.

愛花：オッス、おやすみ！なんて♪

健二：〈気持ちを込めて返信〉

愛花：うん、返事ありがとう。またメールするね

Kenji goes to sleep. He thinks to himself that he should hang in there for just a while longer for the weekend.

健二：もうすぐ週末だ。もうすこしがんばろう。

As he drifts off to sleep, he imagines Manaka telling him:

そうだ船に乗ろう。

And thus the ship sails…

Bon voyage…?

28 January, Wednesday

Today’s start message is Manaka in a bikini saying 毎日寒いね。風邪引かないでね？

And today in No Shit Daily. Maybe you wouldn’t be so cold if you were wearing something more than a bikini?

Anyway, back to the main point…

Kenji receives a text from Manaka.

愛花：あのね。体の調子、もうだいぶよくなったみたい。健二くんのおかげかな？ふふ、ありがとう♪

Incoming message!

彼女が風邪から快復しました。

As Kenji walks to school, Manaka meets him on the way to school.

愛花：健二くん。

健二：あっ…。マナカちゃん。もう治ったのか？

愛花：見ての通り。カレシのお見舞いのおかげ。

健二：やっぱり？

愛花：もう、調子にのって。

健二：はは。

愛花：ふふ、早くデートしようね、がまんしてたんだから。

It’s science class for the early afternoon. Manaka has made a lunch box for Kenji.

Ooooh shit. While closing the DS to think about how much sense it was for Manaka to make a lunch box for Kenji after just recovering from her sickness, the power cut. Now Manaka is going to scold me.

愛花：まさかセーブせずに電源切った？もっとちゃんとして！

ごめんなさい、愛花。

Incoming notice!

彼女の気分が、少し冷めてしまいました。

ごめんなさい、健二。

Manaka sends Kenji a message.

愛花：あのね。風邪治ったみたい、心配かけてごめんね。もうきっと大丈夫よ。

As Kenji walks to school, Manaka meets him on the way to school.

愛花：健二くん。

健二：あっ…。マナカちゃん。もう治ったのか？

愛花：見ての通り。カレシのお見舞いのおかげ。

健二：やっぱり？

愛花：もう、調子にのって。

健二：はは。

愛花：ふふ、早くデートしようね、がまんしてたんだから。

During lunch break…

健二：マナカちゃん…そういえば、あの孫はどうなった？

愛花：あ！そっか、ごめんね？まだいってなかったね。おばあさんが、すごく推してくれた理由もわかったよ？

健二：え？

愛花：わたしのこと、とっても慕ってくれて…手を離してくれないときは、どうしようかと思った。

健二：手を…。

愛花：ふふ、赤ちゃんだから、しかたないんだけど。

健二：へっ…赤ちゃん？

愛花：うん。孫が可愛いから、会いに来て欲しかったんだって。というわけで、解決したから。ごめんね。心配かけちゃって。

健二：（…ひょっとしてそのおばあさん、少しは本気だったんじゃ？）

The two walk home together.

愛花：水取りの話をしたでしょう？やっぱり、純粋なテニス用語ってわけではないみたい。

健二：へぇ、そうなんだ。

愛花：ぬか漬けをするときや、あと厳密には違うけど風水でも水取りってするんだって。

健二：また、調べたなぁ。ありがとな、わざわざ。

愛花：ふふっ、どういたしまして。

健二：にてしも、水取りかー…なるべくならやりたくないよな？

愛花：ふふ。それも含めて、部活の楽しさなのかもしれないよ？

健二：まぁな？

愛花：でもやっぱりやりたくない？

健二：だよなー！

愛花：もう、どっち？ふふ！

Kenji then goes to the riverside restaurant for dinner.

健二：常連になったからか、良い席に通してもらえるようになったな。

Kenji returns home to sleep. He imagines Manaka telling him:

このつけ麺…あなたの面影があるね。

This tsukemen… seems to have your image.

Info piece: tsukemen （つけ麺） is a variant of ramen where the soup is separate from the noodles. The noodles are dipped into the soup before eating. 

Yer wot? 

27 January, Tuesday

Kenji’s luck today seems to be very good.

目上の人から褒められる。

During science class in the morning…

健二：実験、上手くいったな。なんか絶好調だ！

He then goes for sport lesson in the early afternoon.

健二：やった！クラスで一番の記録だ！絶好調だな！

This is the point where Manaka would congratulate him. If she wasn;t resting at home, that is.

After school, Kenji visits Manaka at home.

愛花：お見舞い来てくれるのはうれしいけど、うつっちゃわない？

健二：丈夫なんだよ、俺は。

愛花：じゃあ試にうつるようなこと、しよっか？

健二：…ダメ。治ってから。

愛花：ふふ、今ちょっと考えた。

During the morning, Kenji goes to sing karaoke.

Apparently it’s not weird at all if you go to a karaoke parlour alone in Japan. Can anyone else confirm?

健二：いつもより調子がよかった！やっぱサビの高い音がキレイに出ると気持ちいいな！

Kenji returns home to sleep.

健二：そろそろ調子出てきたかな。このまま一週間乗り切るか。

He imagines Manaka telling him:

「月が綺麗ですね」

26 January, Monday

My laptop is kill, so things were a bit delayed. It would take one to three weeks to get that laptop fixed, so for now I am using this really slow desktop to type all this out. It wouldn’t be slow if the motherboard was upgraded to optimise performance with the graphics card attached to it, but alas, all requests for replacement were denied. Since replacement laptops are not forthcoming as well, there is not much that can be done for now.

Incoming notice!

彼女から大事な電話が来ています。必ず取ってあげましょう。

Right… now Manaka has fallen sick. Then again people are falling sick left, right and centre even in meatspace.

During the morning Kenji goes for science class.

健二：クラスで他の誰も解けなかった問題、俺だけ正解だ！絶好調だ！

Your girlfriend would be congratulationg you right now. If she was there.

There seems to be an event in the early afternoon. Something about committee appraisal. Or whatever 評論コンクール is.

健二：前に出した評論コンクールの結果が出てるはずだな…。

…

健二：だめだ、名前が載ってない…。もっと頑張ったほうがいいかな…。

He visits Manaka during the late afternoon.

健二：（マナカちゃんの具合、どうかな…）

…

〈コッコッ〉

愛花：はーい！

健二；マナカちゃん。俺だけど。

愛花：うそ？ま、まだダメ…。いいよ、入って。

…

愛花；健二くん。

健二；ほら、お気持ちがねだろ？なんつって。

愛花：うん、待ってた。

健二：あれ、いつもより素直だな。

愛花：いつも素直だよ？

健二：はは、そうだな。喜んでくれたら、来た甲斐があった。

愛花：こういうの、ちょっとあこがれてたから。病気になると、カレシがお見舞いに来てくれるの。

健二：お見舞いする方は、できれば来ないで済む方がいいんだけどな。

They talk for a while.

健二：あんまり長くいたら、体に悪いよな。そろそろ帰るよ。

愛花：また、来てくれる？

健二：ああ、また来るよ。じゃあな。

Kenji walks out of Manaka’s house.

健二：（マナカちゃん、早くよくなるといいな）

He is no longer in the mood to go out. He stays home for the evening.

Actually, it’s because his wingman is completely tired from his first day at the research institute. He is unable to decide a location for Kenji to go to.

健二：音楽を聴くときに使うコンポ。元々はコンポーネントオーティオの略だから、単品の機器を組みあわせて使うものだったけど、今では最初から全部セットになってるよな。

Kenji goes to sleep.

健二：また一週間は長いな、がんばろ。

He imagines Manaka telling him:

グラッチエグラッチエ

25 January, Sunday

During the morning, Kenji goes for his tennis club.

健二：今日は調子がいいな。このまま頑張るぞ！

愛花：ほら、ファイト！

Seeing there’s no-one around, Kenji takes the opportunity to kiss Manaka.

愛花：ん？どうかしたの？

健二：なぁ…なんか、二人っきりっぽいな？

愛花：そう？だから？

健二：…ダメ？

愛花：もう…わがまま！誰が来るまでよ？いい？

They kiss. After kissing, they hear footsteps.

愛花：ほら、誰か来たから！

健二：もうちょっと！

愛花：離れなさい！

Kenji goes to the aquarium in the early afternoon. He meets Manaka while there.

健二：やっぱり癒されるな、水族館は！ちょっと薄暗い感じもまた良いんだよな。

He then goes to the sports centre. Manaka catches up with him.

Dayum. Is Manaka stalking him or something? Not that I see any problem with that.

愛花：あっ。

健二：あれ？マナカちゃん？

愛花：こんにちは。これからジム？

健二：うん、まあ…マナカちゃんは？

愛花：わたしはもう帰るところなんだけど。あなたが来るなら、もう少し居れば良かったな。

健二：そっか。俺も、もう少し早く来ればよかった。

愛花：ふふ！おあいこだね？あっ。かわいいトレーナーさんがいるけど、あんまり見ちゃダメよ？

チッ。 Kenji is a highly-disciplined man.

健二：はーい。

愛花：よろしい。なんて。

He proceeds to the sport centre.

健二：さて、何をしよう？

Kenji evaluates his options:

1. スケートをしよう
2. スカッシュをしよう
3. ジムに行こう

Since it’s winter, he goes to the ice skating rink.

健二：よし、スケートをしよう。

…

健二：ふぅ、良い汗かいたな…。今日は上手く滑れた気がする。

T-40 minutes to the date. Not going out for a while, so it is fine.

It’s time for the date.

Can mom stop watching conspiracy theory videos?

Kenji goes to the small park early. Manaka is not there yet.

健二：マナカちゃんは、まだ来てないみたいだな。

Manaka arrives shortly.

愛花：今日は寒いね。こんな日に待たせて怒ってる？

健二：待ってないって。時間ぴったりだから。

愛花：髪型かえちゃった。どう？

That looks way too wild. Nope.

健二：そうだな…。よくないかも。

愛花：えっ、うそ。ダメか…。

:(

Her current attire makes her look like a florist.

愛花：あなたが一番気に入りそうな服って、どんなのかなっていろいろ考えて…。なんのコメントなしか…。

They kiss at the small park.

愛花：幸せ…感じてるよ。

Manaka is feeling thirsty, so they go to the fast food restaurant.

健二：（マナカちゃんのこと、そろそろ別の呼び方してみるかな…？）

Kenji evaluates his options:

1. マナカさん
2. マナマナ　(Please don’t: it's ridiculous and it’ll kill my left pinkie)
3. 高嶺くん
4. マナ姫
5. やっぱり、このまま

Never mind.

Kenji chooses the 5^th option.

They set off for their date at the cinema.

愛花：ね、見た？今、羊を連れてる人がいた。

健二：羊？散歩？

What's this? Nichijou?

Pic related. 

愛花：うん。お洋服着てたから、飼われてるんだよね？きっと。

健二：羊に洋服って…まさかウールじゃないよな。

愛花：だとしたら、可哀想だね。仲間のものなのに…。

They hold hands and kiss as they walk to the cinema.

愛花：ね、今日は何観よっか？もう決めた？

健二：そうだな。

Kenji evaluates his options:

1. ネバー・タフ・ガイ　(The Rambo ripoff)
2. ダーク・ヘルメット　(The cheap Star Wars ripoff)

How about watching some action?

Kenji chooses the first movie.

愛花：あ、楽しそう。じゃあ、行こ？

…

愛花：楽しかったね！

健二：ああ。すごかったなー、あの主役のアクション！

愛花：うん、びっくりしちゃった。あれだけ体を動かせれば、楽しいだろうね？

健二：マナカちゃんだったら、イケそうだけどな？ボディコントロールは得意そうだし。

愛花：ふふ。それはあなたもでしょう？

健二：まあな。

愛花：ね、二人でアクションスター目指しちゃう？

健二：それもいいかもな？果ては夫婦アクションスターとして名を馳せる！みたいな。

愛花：〈Ｏ.Ｏ〉…。

健二：ん？

愛花：あなたって…ううん、いい。

健二：（…？）

They kiss outside the cinemas.

Manaka still has some time. She wants to be with Kenji for a while longer.

By the way, the theatre production at the event hall looks interesting. How about going there?

健二：じゃあ、どこか寄っていく？

愛花：そうしよう！ね、どこに行く？

健二：じゃあ…。どこか他の場所へ行こう。

愛花：うん、行こうか？

健二：よし、行こう！

They walk from the train station to the event hall.

愛花：わぁ…ステキなお家…。

健二；ホントだ。おとぎ話に出てきそうな。

愛花：うん。いつか、あんなおうちに住みたいな…。

健二：ふぅん…誰と？

Getting carried away, aren’t you, Kenji?

愛花：…もう、その顔。わかってて言ってる。イジワル。

They hold hands and kiss as they walk to the event hall.

健二：さ、着いたよ。

愛花：うん、着いたね？

Today’s production is 神様が街にやってきた.

愛花：ミュージカルって、不思議…。

健二：突然、歌い出すとことかな。特に、第二幕上がったあと、すぐの。

愛花：そう！くるってこっちを向いた瞬間、すごい笑顔で…。

健二：希望に満ちた笑顔で歌われると、勝手にこっとまで笑うよな、顔。

愛花：うん。周りの人も、みんな笑ってた。でも、あなたの笑顔がいちばんステキだったよ？お目目バッチリで。

健二：見てたのか…。

愛花：ふふ！照れてるの？カワイイんだから♥

健二：（あーっ、恥ずかしいぞ！）

They kiss outside the event hall.

愛花：今日も楽しかった。ね、お腹空いちゃったね？

健二：じゃあ、食事して帰ろうか？

They go to the restaurant for their dinner.

This, dear friends, is why I don’t have a girlfriend. I’ll get bankrupt very easily.

愛花：到着。ふふ、なに食べよっか？

…

愛花：健二くん。一つだけ、聞いていい？

健二：うん、いいけど？

愛花：ね、一人のときってどういう場所に行ってるの？

I highly suspect this is so that she can “coincidentally” meet you when you go out, Kenji.

健二：そうだなぁ…。流行のところ、かな。

愛花：ふぅん…ね、リサーチしてくれてるの？

健二：まあね。

愛花：ふふ、次のデート、期待しちゃおうかな？そっか、流行のところ、かぁ…。

…

愛花：今日は、また素敵な思い出が増えちゃった。これもカノジョの特権だよね。もう少し、いいかな…。

They walk from the station back to Manaka’s house.

愛花：ああいうアパートのお部屋の広さって、どれくらいかな？

I’d say from 60 sq ft for three-room flats to over 110 sq ft for five-roomers in Singapore. Definitely smaller than your house, Manaka. That’s probably over 1000 sq ft.

健二：いいとこ四畳半ってとこじゃないか？あそこまで古いと、もっと狭いかもな。

So the Japanese measure their houses by the tatami mat.

By the way, 4½ tatami mats is 80 sq ft.

That would make it between the size of a three-roomer and a four-roomer here.

愛花：二人で住むには、さすがに手狭だよね？

Well, a cut of surroundings to 10% of the original area would definitely make an impact.

健二：うん、まあ…え？

愛花：ふふっ、独り言！

They hold hands and kiss along the way, as is expected.

They arrive at Manaka’s house.

愛花：また、すぐ会えるよね？じゃあね？

健二：ああ、またな。

Manaka walks back to her house, but doubles back.

健二：どうした？

愛花：忘れ物、してない？

She wants a goodbye kiss from Kenji.

健二：なぁ…。

Kenji is happy to oblige.

愛花：これからも、たくさんしようね？

It’s more like 14 goodbye kisses, rather than a goodbye kiss.

健二：忘れ物はもうない？

愛花：うん。ちゃんと届いたみたい…好きよ。

Incoming message!

彼女との親密度が上がりました。基礎彼氏力の上限と行動ポイントの上限が上がりました。

Kenji’s relationship level has now been promoted to 熟練のふたり: Experienced Couple

Awesome. Now I’m promoted to Rank 6: Principal Wingman.

Manaka sends Kenji a message.

愛花：あのね。そろそろまた髪の色変えてみようと思うんだけど、どうかな？

健二：今のままがいいよ

愛花：そっか、じゃあこのままにする。気に入ってくれてるんだね。

Kenji returns home to sleep. It was a fun date with Manaka, he thinks.

As he drifts off to sleep, he imagines Manaka telling him:

でも、なんて言わないで。