I have a life simulator.

Inside the camp, Horikita Manabu, who was helping to move supplies, kept a close eye on the situation.

From the snippets of conversation among nearby teachers, he was able to roughly deduce the general outline of the incident.

Although it was still unknown whether it was related to Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune, Horikita Manabu took the initiative to walk up and calmly asked a couple of questions.

The teachers were quite reassured about him, the third-year student council president whose performance was impeccable, and casually shared some of the current survey results.

After hearing this, Horikita Manabu immediately turned his gaze to the tent where Hashimoto Masayoshi was.

Although he didn't know much about Hashimoto Masayoshi's personality, he still noticed something unusual and made the same judgment as Kitagawa Ryo:

Masayoshi Hashimoto is the best way to break the deadlock.

Chapter 217: Believe First, Then Question

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji felt a long-lost melancholy.

After following Karuizawa Kei's group of three for almost the entire morning, listening to the trivial gossip of Class B and Class D and the star reviews of clothing stores in the Keyaki Shopping Center, he still couldn't find an opportunity to make a move.

Although the three of them had participated in a project once that morning, there was only one spot left for that project, so Kiyotaka Ayanokouji could only watch as the three of them won easily, and then patiently lay low.

Then, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka noticed that after receiving a communication from an unknown source, Karuizawa Megumi and the other two immediately quickened their pace, completely abandoning their previous leisurely and unhurried manner, and rushed directly towards a certain area on the map.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji naturally followed quickly, wondering if something urgent had happened given the three of them's hurried manner.

After traversing a forest and climbing a hillside, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's forehead was slightly damp with sweat under the midday sun. However, he was so focused on the three that he didn't even have time to wipe his sweat, trying to maintain a delicate distance that allowed him to keep track of them without being detected.

Then, after turning onto another side street, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji finally saw the true nature of what had attracted Megumi Karuizawa and her two companions.

To be precise, it was Kitagawa Ryo himself.

Under the somewhat speechless gaze of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the group of nine, including students from classes B, C, and D, began to cook with practiced ease.

As Kiyotaka Ayanokouji took out a tissue from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his forehead, he curled up in the dense foliage. Ryuen Sho's hiding in the tree gave him inspiration. After all, staying up there not only provided excellent concealment, but also offered a wide and unobstructed view from a high vantage point.

Moreover, if you climb high enough, a normal person passing by wouldn't even bother to look up at you.

It's very hot.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji sipped water to replenish his energy, watching indifferently as Ryo Kitagawa used his points to exchange for two full boxes of ice and ice cream at a nearby exchange point.

Then, as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka took out his rations and dried meat from his backpack to prepare for lunch, the enticing aroma of the food wafted over.

He took a bite of the jerky in his hand and continued to monitor the group's movements.

Although it looked a bit like they were using the aroma from over there to prepare their own lunch.

-------------------------------------

Just as Kitagawa Ryo and his group were enjoying their meal, elsewhere, a man with the same feelings as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was looking at his lunch with a melancholy expression.

"I want to protest!"

Long Yuanxiang raised his right hand and shouted loudly to the school staff who were bringing him food:

"A pork chop rice bowl would be fine too."

Upon hearing this, the school staff were also speechless.

"What's there to protest? There's no such thing as pork chop rice. This is what we usually eat."

If it were Ryuu Yuen-hsiang, who previously made a living by fishing, he would probably be quite satisfied with the assembly-line-style industrial boxed lunch provided by the school. However, having just enjoyed a good meal at Kitagawa Ryo's place that morning, Ryuu Yuen-hsiang now revealed a sense of melancholy, as if saying, "Having seen the ocean, one finds it hard to be satisfied with a river." After taking a bite with his chopsticks, he complained with a look of disgust:

"What? It seems like you guys are eating worse than the students."

The school staff member twitched his lips. If it were before, he probably would have argued loudly, but ever since Kitagawa Ryo held that big feast near the school camp, making countless teachers swallow their saliva with envy all night, they had to recognize a certain fact.

It seems their food isn't as good as some of the students'.

Who exactly is surviving on this deserted island and taking a special test?

However, their melancholy was brief. The school staff didn't forget their second task, and forgot about arguing with Long Yuanxiang about the food. They quickly said:

"After you finish eating, you need to meet with Hashimoto."

"Oh, so you want him to identify me?"

Despite his complaints, Long Yuanxiang didn't miss a single bite of his meal. It was much better than what he had eaten a few days ago, so he mumbled a reply with his mouth full of food.

"This is also to thoroughly investigate this matter."

"alright."

Long Yuanxiang nodded, his chopsticks moving rapidly. He finished the entire box of food in no time, wiped his mouth with a tissue, picked his teeth, and commented:

"It doesn't feel as good as..."

"Alright, alright, hurry up and come with me to see Hashimoto-kun."

The school staff, looking annoyed, quickly interrupted Long Yuanxiang's rant. They helped him up as if he were a VIP, pushed him out of the tent, and led him straight into another large tent not far away.

Masayoshi Hashimoto was lying on the bed inside. Although his head was wrapped in bandages, he looked to be in good spirits. He was leaning against the headboard, taking small sips of something from a bowl.

"Hey, he eats better than me."

"He's a patient... Stop joking around, this is a very serious occasion!"

"understood."

Long Yuanxiang shrugged, took two steps closer to the hospital bed, and curled his lip.

"Hey, Hashimoto, let's stop pretending."

"Whether I pushed you or not, everyone knows the truth. I just didn't expect Class A to be so ruthless. You're really going to use this kind of self-inflicted injury tactic. Aren't you worried about you breaking an arm or a leg?"

"Or do they wish you were completely disabled, to make things even bigger?"

Hashimoto Masayoshi put down the bowl in his hand, revealing a weak expression:

"Ah? What..."

While keeping an eye on Hashimoto Masayoshi, Class A's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, also stepped forward with a frown. As if afraid that the imposing Ryuen Sho would hit Hashimoto Masayoshi, who was already ill, again, she directly blocked the two of them, then slightly stepped aside and asked Hashimoto Masayoshi:

"How was it? Was it him? Did Long Yuanxiang push you off the cliff?"

"I...I can't remember..."

Hashimoto Masayoshi clutched the bandage on his forehead, feigning an effort to recall, but immediately shook his head in pain.

"It felt like someone pushed me, but it was from behind, and I didn't see their face at all."

Chabashira Sae smacked her lips upon hearing this:

"Why do you always describe things so vaguely?"

"Because I don't want to blame other classmates, after all, it's also possible that I slipped and had an accident."

Hashimoto Masayoshi has a righteous look on his face.

School staff continued to sigh.

Long Yuanxiang raised his eyebrows at this moment, he probably also figured out a bit of what was going on.

The other party didn't seem to want to kill him, but rather wanted to keep him here as long as possible.

However, Kitagawa Ryo should already know about this.

Long Yuanxiang's eyes flickered.

Perhaps the other party is already thinking about how to break this deadlock for him.

after all--

"After all, my cooperation agreement with Ryuen only aimed to bring Hiyori's group into the top three. As for Ryuen, all I can say is..."

Faced with Ishizaki Daichi's arrival, Kitagawa Ryo helplessly shrugged, then immediately patted him on the shoulder:

"Believe in Longyuan! He is the pride of Class C!"

Chapter 218: Those Stories

To be honest, before meeting Kitagawa Ryo, Ishizaki Daichi always had full confidence in Ryuen Sho, the leader of the class, and never doubted that he would lead Class C forward as the class leader until they reached Class A.

But all of that is now in the past.

Putting aside the inexplicable surge of affection he felt for Kitagawa Ryo, who was clearly in Class D, the fact that his boss, Ryuen Sho, showed such inexplicable apprehension and immense respect for the other was enough for Ishizaki Daichi to place Kitagawa Ryo at the very top of his heart.

What's more, his cooking is really delicious.

So, after Kitagawa Ryo gave him a pep talk about "believing in Ryuen, he is the pride of your Class C," Ishizaki Daichi could only tearfully forget about his leader Ryuen Sho, who was currently in trouble, and started to pick up his bowl and chopsticks.

I got another free meal, it was delicious.

After finishing three bowls, Ishizaki Daichi finally lifted his head from the food and vaguely noticed that Shiina Hiyori, sitting opposite him, was unusually looking at him with an unfriendly expression, chewing her hamburger patty quite vigorously, which made Ishizaki Daichi's heart tighten.

Only then did Ishizaki Daichi realize he seemed to have stumbled into some bizarre dinner party with one man and eight women. He stood up with a clear conscience, and, shaking out Ryuen Sho, who had been holding back his thoughts but was now stuffed with food, solemnly declared:

"The thought of Longyuan's leader being framed and still under investigation makes me lose my appetite. I have to go to the school's headquarters to check on him. I can't let him stay there alone; he's too vulnerable to being taken advantage of."

The girls quite happily ignored the clean bowls and plates in front of Ishizaki Daichi, showing no intention of stopping him. They all expressed that they could understand his feelings, and that Ishizaki Daichi should just stay with Ryuen Sho and contact him by phone if anything came up.

After Ishizaki Daichi fled the scene in a somewhat flustered manner, Kitagawa Ryo undoubtedly fell into the hell of being fed food.

Although meals are usually served individually here, the situation is special since the group is currently on a deserted island. Therefore, Kitagawa Ryo always prepares a large portion for everyone to take what they need, and no one is too particular about it.

But as one of them, still engrossed in his rapidly improving culinary skills, was unexpectedly thrust into a fierce competition by the imaginary Horikita, whom Ryo greatly admired, who, in a fit of rudeness, offered Ryo her own homemade dish under the pretext of seeking guidance.

In the anime Clannad that Kitagawa Ryo once watched, the protagonist Okazaki also encountered the predicament of receiving several loving bento boxes but not being able to finish them all by himself.

After that, Okazaki realized that he should not be indecisive and should face his feelings directly, and ultimately chose Nagisa Furukawa.

So why didn't Hotaru watch it back then?

But since things had come to this, Kitagawa Ryo could only accept everyone's good wishes and prepare to treat himself to a nice meal.

However, Honami Ichinose, who was sitting next to him, suddenly spoke up to help him out:

"If you do too much at once, it will cause Liang a lot of trouble. Let's just let him go for now."

"Yes, my bowl was full before I even touched my chopsticks."

Kitagawa Ryo helplessly raised the small bowl in his hand, which was already overflowing.

"Please spare me for now."

Karuizawa Megumi's azure eyes lingered on the two of them for a while with interest, and she already had some guesses in her mind. It seemed that during the time she was acting alone, Honami and Ryo's relationship had made good progress.

Since she and Hiyori Shiina had their secrets revealed to each other last time, Karuizawa Megumi has become quite indifferent. After all, she's the one who fell for this kind of person.

It was quite rare to see Kitagawa Ryo in such a helpless and embarrassed state, and Karuizawa Megumi found it rather novel, so she couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Amazusa Ichika sat next to Sakura Airi, seemingly just like Ishizaki Daichi who had left earlier. Her mind was solely focused on the food in front of her, and her cheeks were bulging as she ate. She looked as cute as a little hamster, as if she was about to choke at any moment. Sakura Airi kept pouring her water and reminding her to eat slowly.

But at the very beginning of the meal, her two feet under the table were already restlessly reaching towards Kitagawa Ryo sitting opposite her. Unfortunately, before she could do anything, Kitagawa Ryo's legs locked her firmly on the spot, and she couldn't move an inch.

In this strange atmosphere, another person who felt out of place, Ibuki Mio, also stood up quite decisively:

"I've finished eating. I'll go for a walk over there to digest my food."

Before leaving, she gave Shiina Hiyori a cryptic look.

"It seems quite lively."

Sakayanagi Arisu chewed slowly and deliberately, and suddenly uttered this remark.

"...That should be all, right? 侓"

Horikita Suzune, who was standing next to her, watched with satisfaction as Kitagawa Ryo ate her dish before suddenly uttering this seemingly random remark.

She originally thought that all she needed to learn was how to cook meals for two or three people.

"One, two, three... plus Liang, there are eight people now."

"We're still one short."

Sakayanagi Arisu put down her chopsticks, turned her head to glance at Horikita Suzune, and said with a light laugh:

"The coldness is even more excessive than you imagine."

"Anything else? That's really going too far."

Horikita Suzune let out a long, heavy sigh:

"It's so outrageous that I'm not even surprised at all. Is this happening at our school?"