My Wives Of Simulation

Chapter 53: The Five Major Financial Groups, Suzuki Sonoko

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"Utaha, you don't really want to go with me, do you?"

It was only the beginning of the school day, but the pairing of Elric and Utaha had already attracted the attention of passersby.

After all, both of them had top-notch figures and striking looks, and with the well-known Kunugigaoka school uniform enhancing their presence, it was only natural for them to draw such gazes.

Although Elric didn't care about the attention from these people, Utaha, being a girl, naturally felt self-conscious.

"Stupid Elric, let's go."

Seeing the ambiguous and curious glances from the people around her and Elric, Utaha—who had just taken a major step forward in their relationship the previous night—found it unbearable.

Pulling on Elric's arm and starting to walk, she didn't seem to care about how her body pressed against his as they moved.

[Oh no, why has Elric become so... so proactive?]

[Calm down, Utaha, you're just Elric's follower now, and he is becoming something far greater—a new god.]

[Think carefully about your future. Don't forget the ability you possess as a recorder.]

In truth, after becoming Elric's Follower last night, Utaha had been far too excited to sleep. She had already decided that she would never marry anyone other than him in this lifetime.

When Elric casually mentioned that he would take her away this morning, Utaha—who was already feeling a little uneasy—suddenly thought of the words she had written the night before.

The blank pages of the recorder had the unique ability to increase the likelihood of achieving whatever the owner wrote down. Using this power, she had written only one sentence:

[I hope to become Elric's woman as soon as possible!]

Though she was nervous about the potential result of using her ability this way, Utaha couldn't help but anticipate a breakthrough in her relationship with Elric. If not for the wrong time and place during their becoming Followers last night, she would have been more than ready for Elric to take her straight to a hotel.

Love was like a tornado—it swept her off her feet so quickly she forgot what might follow.

"Utaha, what are you thinking about in your little head?"

"Don't laugh, don't talk, don't say anything—ahhh!!!"

Flustered, Utaha frantically covered Elric's mouth, her face burning with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.

"Ah… Elric, you…"

Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her palm. Startled, Utaha subconsciously let go of his mouth.

"I won't tease you anymore. Let's get to school."

Seeing that Utaha was on the verge of an outburst, Elric stopped teasing her. After all, he had spent years in Britain, and now, as the glorious king returning to his student life, he found the nostalgic innocence of these moments truly refreshing.

Taking Utaha's hand, he led her onto the train. He wasn't in a rush to "claim" his Follower so quickly. Building their bond and cultivating their feelings would take time.

Standing beside Elric, feeling the warmth of his palm, Utaha slowly began to calm down, her initial shyness dissipating.

Unlike before, when simply being near Elric caused her heart to race from the tension of secret love and youthful uncertainty, now her thoughts were clearer:

[Has Elric… grown taller?]

[His skin looks flawless, without any imperfections, and his demeanor seems more refined—almost gentlemanly.]

[His temperament has also changed. He feels calmer, more confident… and so incredibly safe.]

As a follower, being able to have zero-distance contact with her own god was such a happy thing for Utaha. Smelling the faint scent of Elric, she felt a sense of peace she had never experienced before.

[Those people in the group—whether they admire the Emperor of Eternal Night or the King of Glory—I'm different from them. I only need Elric... That's enough.]

Looking out at the familiar shops and quaint buildings passing by outside the window, Utaha and Elric soon arrived at the gates of Kunugigaoka.

"Elric, I'll go to class first, then. See you in the cafeteria at noon," she said.

Since they were not in the same class, Utaha waved goodbye and headed to her classroom, leaving Elric to his own.

"Hey, Elric—oh."

As Elric was about to enter his classroom, a vibrant female voice called out behind him.

"Elric, did you grow an eye in the back of your head today? You dodged so quickly!"

Turning around, Elric saw the girl who had spoken. She exuded a carefree energy, though her delicate features and short brown hair gave her an unconventional charm. Her green pupils added a layer of cuteness to her already unique appearance.

The girl, Suzuki Sonoko, glared at Elric with mock anger and tugged on her best friend Ran Mouri's arm.

"Look, Mouri! This Elric forgot about his two good buddies the moment he entered High School. He's definitely changed!"

Sonoko and Mouri were undoubtedly two heroines from the "Detective Conon world."

In Elric's world, there existed many types of dramas: some supernatural with fantastical powers, others grounded in the mundane.

For example, the realm of "Conan" included heroines like Mouri and Sonoko, known for their strength and individuality.

In this universe, Japan had five top chaebol families:

The Karasuma Group and Suzuki Group, both originating from "Conon."

The Kashiwazaki Group from I Have Few Friends.

The Shinomiya Group from Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.

And lastly, the legendary Daidouji Group from Cardcaptor Sakura, a name tied to the ever-memorable Tomoyo Daidouji, the childhood icon of so many.

If this world weren't dominated by female protagonists and had more male leads, Elric might have wondered if figures like Shinki Mikuni from Beyblade could have been involved.

After all, both Mikuni and Daidouji were among the first wealthy figures he learned about.

There was also Hijikata Rei, the "Devil Commander," a character with an exquisitely beautiful appearance who turned out to be a man. As a child, Elric had… well, cough, let's not go there.

Back to the point. Elric didn't know much about these groups but could surmise that some supernatural forces likely backed them.

He had been a Middle school classmate of Sonoko and Mouri. In his memory, Kudo Shinichi—the original male protagonist—was notably absent. Mouri and Sonoko had been inseparable childhood friends, never interacting with male youths.

If not for an accident two years ago, which led Elric to develop an extraordinary friendship with these two classmates, he doubted they would greet him so warmly now.

That accident happened during his sophomore year when he took Sora out to play.

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Original Note: Essentially, I want to avoid the original male protagonists who might cause controversy regarding the heroines, including but not limited to childhood Friends, brothers, or other male characters. Even if such characters exist, I'll modify the plot to prevent any meaningful interaction between the heroine and them. That's the basic idea.