I have a life simulator.

"But eventually, one must separate from the family and live alone."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded and said:

"These three years are just a rehearsal for the future. After all, Fanbo can't stay with his sister and mother for the rest of his life."

"Yes, one day I will leave my original family and start my own."

Honami Ichinose's lips curled up, but then she felt that her words might have been a bit too blunt, so she quickly lowered her head and pretended to concentrate on eating.

"Hello, nobody's here, right?"

Turning his head, Kitagawa Ryo saw Karuizawa Megumi blinking her blue eyes, holding a plate and sitting down next to him.

Logically speaking, when two people are eating together, sitting face-to-face is the most comfortable option.

Not only can you easily observe the other person's expressions and movements, but sometimes the legs under the table will also touch each other unintentionally before quickly separating.

However, all of this is on the premise that no one is sitting next to the other person.

When Ichinose Honami looked at Karuizawa Megumi, who had squeezed in to sit next to Kitagawa Ryo, she felt a nameless fire inexplicably welling up from the bottom of her heart.

She can be gentle to anyone, but Karuizawa Megumi is the only exception.

For a long time after Ichinose Honami was reborn, she would have the same nightmare every night, tossing and turning, and then wake up in a cold sweat.

That was the scene of her knife piercing Kitagawa Ryo's chest.

Along with the fireworks bursting in the sky, what came into Ichinose Honami's view was the blood gushing from her childhood friend's chest, which then gradually stained her own hands.

Although I know it's unreasonable to blame one person, although I know it's something that can never happen again, a mere illusion of the past, and although I know Kitagawa Ryo is standing right here, talking to me.

However, Honami Ichinose still did not want to see Megumi Karuizawa.

She doesn't blame Karuizawa Kei, nor does she harbor any thoughts of revenge against her. Ichinose Honami knows, understands, and approves of this, and even applauds their wonderful performances on stage when she works at the theater troupe.

But I just can't accept it.

Perhaps it's because seeing the other person reminds me of that sick version of myself.

Even before they enrolled in school, they tacitly avoided each other. Ichinose Honami went to the Kitagawa house more often in the morning, while Karuizawa Megumi chose to go to the Kitagawa house in the evening.

However, this is the Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, a completely enclosed school.

The two finally had nowhere to avoid it.

"Isn't Karuizawa the class representative of Class B?"

Honami Ichinose asked a question casually, and her meaning was very clear.

"Ryo and I have been partners for a long time. It's just that we weren't assigned to the same class this time. Back in junior high, we weren't even in the same school, but we still ate together often."

Karuizawa Kei casually waved her hand and explained that she didn't actually know why Ichinose Honami always harbored inexplicable hostility towards her.

"Honan is planning to join the student council. Does Megumi have a club in mind?"

Feeling that he couldn't let the two of them continue talking, Kitagawa Ryo quickly changed the subject.

"Clubs? I even looked it up. Tokyo Advanced Nurturing Junior High School doesn't have a drama club. That's such a shame."

Karuizawa complained, spoon in her mouth.

"So just go and take a look around, and if you find someone you like, sign up."

"What about Liang?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Kitagawa Ryo shook his head. He had no intention of joining the student council. He planned to give the two spots he and Nagumo Masayuki had gotten to Ichinose Honami and Horikita Suzune. Both of them wanted to join the student council and did have the necessary abilities. Moreover, they were both students in Class D, so they should be able to play a significant role in the special exams in the future.

"How about Liang starts a new club with me?"

Karuizawa Megumi nudged Kitagawa Ryo's left arm with her elbow:

"Although the process is complicated, the student council is basically responsible for reviewing them."

She glanced at Honami Ichinose and clapped her hands in delight:

“Perfect timing! Ichinose-san is planning to join the student council.”

"If Karuizawa-san is going to start a new club with Ryo, then I might lose interest in the student council."

Honami Ichinose smiled:

"It seems that Horikita is also planning to join the student council. We can ask her for help together then."

In the student council's reception room, Horikita Suzune suddenly sneezed.

"It's still important to keep warm in spring."

Sitting opposite her, Horikita Manabu spoke with concern, as the two had been separated for over a year since their reunion at the cultural festival.

"understood."

Horikita Suzune nodded; she had just finished listening to Horikita Manabu's complete report on the current state of the student council.

"So, is your brother worried that Nagumo will still use his power to recruit new members privately this year?"

"Yes, although I myself am planning to give up this recruitment, Nan Yun will definitely not let go of this opportunity to expand his power."

"Don't worry, I'll also participate in the student council recruitment."

"Yes, I believe Lingyin."

Horikita Manabu nodded gently. After two years apart, he was keenly aware of his sister's growth, including the bento box she had brought him, which he was currently eating.

"Lingyin actually noticed that I don't eat cilantro."

Horikita Suzune blushed slightly as she accepted her brother's praise.

After all, she was too embarrassed to say that it was because her brother was eating it, and that it was actually meant for Kitagawa Ryo.

However, Honami Ichinose was even faster than her.

Horikita Suzune bit the tip of her chopsticks, looking somewhat sullen.

Chapter 43: The First Move

"There are more people from Class D than I expected."

After the afternoon classes ended, Kitagawa Ryo walked with the students of Class D toward the First Gymnasium. To Kitagawa Ryo's surprise, nearly 30 out of the 40 students in Class D had chosen to attend the club information session.

However, after hearing the boys' conversation about joining the swimming club to see the girls' swimsuits, Kitagawa Ryo could only sigh helplessly. He could only say that he couldn't have too high expectations for the students in Class D. Most of the boys' minds were basically empty except for all sorts of lewd thoughts.

The atmosphere at the First Stadium was even more enthusiastic than the students in Class D had imagined. Roughly estimated, there were at least a hundred students gathered there, with upperclassmen forming large and small circles to give the freshmen a brief introduction to the clubs.

In keeping with the reputation of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, the school’s clubs are also quite outstanding. Upon entry, you can receive a booklet that is distributed to introduce the clubs. Just by flipping through it, you can see a large number of awards, which are mostly at the prefectural or even national level.

Moreover, they seem to have a lot of money, and even have high-end facilities such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

On the high platform in the center of the gymnasium stood a purple-haired girl with a bun hairstyle. She was Akane Tachibana from Class 3-A, but now she was appearing as the student council secretary. She checked the time, turned on the microphone, and said:

"Dear first-year students, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Next, the club representatives will begin the introductory meeting. I am Ju, the secretary of the student council, and I will be hosting this meeting. Please take care of me."

After a brief opening speech, Akane Tachibana stepped off the stage, and then the club representatives lined up in the gymnasium.

The representatives from various clubs were all different, ranging from strong-looking senior students in judo uniforms to senior students in beautiful kimonos. Their presentations were also quite simple, generally following the same formula as the speeches given by the school board members at the opening ceremony: looking back on the past, boasting about the present, and looking forward to the future.

"My name is Hashigaki, and I'm the captain of the archery club. I think many students' impression of archery is that it's old-fashioned and simple. But it's a very interesting sport and well worth learning. We welcome beginners, so please be sure to join our club."

When it was the turn of the archery club seniors to introduce themselves, Kitagawa Ryo noticed that the boy standing next to her seemed quite interested; it was Miyake Akito, who was in the same class as her.

Kitagawa Ryo had some impression of him. In Karuizawa Kei's second mock exam, Class 1-C and Class 1-D competed in the sports festival. Miyake Akito represented Class D in the archery event and won a point.

It can be said that even among the entire first-year students, their archery skills are among the best.

However, he seemed a bit reserved, and when Kitagawa Ryo looked over, he simply nodded slightly in response.

Although the two are classmates, it is only the second day of school, and they are only nodding acquaintances with most of the other students.

Turning his gaze away from Akito Miyake, Ryo Kitagawa refocused his attention on the next man to come up on stage.

Horikita Manabu.

The man, who had effortlessly overwhelmed all the freshmen with his calm demeanor and extraordinary presence, bringing the noisy gymnasium back to silence, finally spoke slowly:

"I am Horikita Manabu, the student council president."

"The student council will be recruiting candidates from first-year students this year, coinciding with the graduation of upperclassmen. No special qualifications are required for candidates, but if you are considering running for the student council, please avoid joining other clubs. Those who wish to participate in both the student council and other clubs will generally not be considered."

His tone was gentle, yet it created a tense atmosphere that seemed to pierce the skin, making people gradually feel that he had the entire atmosphere of the stadium under his control.

"New students who wish to join the student council, please proceed directly to the top floor of the student council building for an interview after today's club information session."

After delivering his speech smoothly, he stepped off the stage and walked out of the stadium.

"Thank you for your hard work. This concludes the briefing. We will now begin accepting applications for membership. Also, since applications will be accepted until the end of April, students who wish to apply afterward should bring their application forms directly to the club they wish to join."

Thanks to the composed host, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, and things returned to their initial lively state.

After the senior students finished their presentations, they went to a designated area on the right side of the gymnasium, where tables and chairs had been set up in advance. After the presentations, the clubs would hold their membership applications there.

"The student council feels really special."

A student who also noticed the difference remarked, and another senior student standing nearby nodded in agreement, explaining in a friendly manner:

"The student council is the hardest club to get into; they only recruit two or three people a year."

"So junior, you should consider our baseball club. Our goal this year is to make it to Koshien!"

"Eh?"

Looking at the freshmen who were being pulled apart, Kitagawa Ryo chuckled. Apart from the student council, none of the people who remained here, from the teachers who were acting as supervisors to the club representatives, showed any annoyance towards the noisy first-year students. Their attitudes were quite friendly.

"It's just because the number of new members recruited each year will affect the club's funding for the following year."

Horikita Suzune had somehow walked up to Kitagawa Ryo's side. She glanced at the lively club recruitment event and began to explain.

"Did Suzune just come back from the student council?"

"Yes, I went to see my brother."

Horikita Suzune rubbed her temples, a headache creeping over her as she recalled what her brother had told her about the student council's inner workings at noon.

"Does Liang have any intention of joining the student council?"

"That's too much trouble. Lingyin can go in by herself."

Kitagawa Ryo put his arms behind his head and strolled leisurely toward the club recruitment area.

"Is Liang going to join another club?"

Horikita Suzune quickly followed, quite curious about what kind of club Kitagawa Ryo was going to join.

"Lingyin, you should go to the student council to prepare for your interview first. I saw quite a few people from Class A go there in the short time I was here. The student council only recruits two or three new students a year."

"Of course, Suzune can also talk about her 'Student Council President Brother' during the interview."

"If there are many people, there's no need to rush the interview. I'll just see what kind of club Liang wants to join."

"...Then you can come along."

Kitagawa Ryo walked to the baseball club's recruitment booth. Perhaps to attract new students, the sports clubs' reception staff were mostly girls, and the baseball club was no exception. Sitting there was a second-year student, who was filling out a form with her head down.

"Hello, senior sister."

The second-year student looked up and, upon seeing Kitagawa Ryo's smile, her mind went completely blank in amazement.

The golden talent [Unparalleled in the World] almost brought Kitagawa Ryo's personal charm to its highest point. Even girls like Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Megumi, who spent a lot of time with Kitagawa Ryo, would occasionally be moved by some of his unintentional actions, let alone the senior who was facing Kitagawa Ryo face to face for the first time.

Actually, when Kitagawa Ryo was still young in the theater troupe and hadn't fully matured, he had already attracted a group of "mommy fans" who had no interest in theater and were only attracted by his looks. These fans were definitely the most willing to spend money. Back then, Kitagawa Ryo also sold autographed shirts to make money, which is why Sakayanagi Arisu said before that he and Sakura Airi did similar things.

Pulling her jumbled thoughts back to reality, Kitagawa Ryo gently tapped the table with her fingers, and her senior snapped out of her reverie.

"Hey junior, are you here to join the baseball club? Have you had any experience with this before... No, no, no problem if you don't have any. Our club welcomes beginners the most, and I'll personally teach you step by step!"

Seeing the senior student's sudden surge in enthusiasm, almost to the point of practically begging him to sign his name on the club application form, Kitagawa Ryo simply shook his head:

"I just want to ask what steps are involved in creating my own club?"

"Please let me join!"

"No, no, no, it's just an idea right now..."

Before Kitagawa Ryo could finish speaking, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but grab his sleeve and pull him back to where they started.

"If Liang wants to ask these questions, why don't you just come to me directly?"