I have a life simulator.

Kitagawa Ryo responded naturally, using the surname of the detective who played the role of Sherlock Holmes in the book.

As he spoke, he changed his shoes, closed the door, and went downstairs with her. On the way, they naturally started talking about the stories in the book.

As a detective novel written in the early 1980s, the most talked-about core trick of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" is the piecing together of the victim's body. Many detective works in the future have borrowed this method, so much so that it doesn't seem very original today.

However, both Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori agreed that compared to this groundbreaking method of committing the crime, Shimada Shoji's narrative tricks were also quite brilliant, especially the motive revealed from the murderer's perspective at the beginning, which immediately diverted the attention of a considerable number of readers and led them into the author's trap.

Taking parts of the bodies of girls from different zodiac signs to create the perfect woman in his mind, Asod, Kitagawa Ryo himself admires Hiyori's psychological qualities as a fanatic of mystery novels, since these mystery novels are never short of elements of the bizarre and the terrifying.

Hotaru, peeking out from the dormitory window, watched Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori walk further and further away.

In a sense, her motives might be similar to those of the 'murderer' in this story.

She also wanted a perfect brother who could experience all the happiness in the world, and the brother she has now is the result of his repeated encounters and experiences with these girls.

Perhaps this is why she didn't create a dedicated simulation chapter for Hiyori Shiina.

What she wanted her brother to experience, what she wanted to collect from this girl, was actually this pure and innocent yet seemingly destined love—a love that, no matter how many times it starts, the two of them would enter the same world and become the same kind of inhabitants because of the same hobby and the same book.

"Meow--"

Chapter 268: I Want Your Blessing

At the end of summer vacation, Kitagawa Ryo led the drama club to obtain approval from the student council under the pretext of participating in a competition, and successfully left the school.

"Thank you for your hard work this time, Teacher Sima."

When Kitagawa Ryo was traveling to the competition venue after leaving school, he politely greeted the school teacher, Sima Kedian, who was in charge of leading and supervising the team. Since Sima Kedian was also the teacher who led the drama club team out of school last time, the two of them could be considered to be somewhat familiar with each other.

"……You're welcome."

Just like last time, the middle-aged male teacher still looked lifeless. After giving a simple answer, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair, seemingly unwilling to have any further interaction or communication with Kitagawa Ryo.

Kitagawa Ryo actually wanted to chat with this taciturn male teacher a bit more. After all, he had heard rumors at school that the teacher might become the homeroom teacher of a first-year class next year. Although considering Mr. Sima's personality and qualifications, Kitagawa Ryo estimated that Mr. Sima was most likely to be assigned to a C or D class, he himself couldn't guarantee which class Yuki would be assigned to next year according to the still mysterious class assignment rules of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School. She might just be thrown into Mr. Sima's hands.

However, since Sima Kedian had already shown this unwillingness to communicate, Kitagawa Ryo didn't want to try to be friendly with him. So he closed his eyes, lay back, and started to take a nap.

Unfortunately, the drama club members were separated by gender on this trip, and since everyone in the club except him was a girl, the only person on the bus was the taciturn teacher, Sima Kedian, which led to the awkward situation where he had no one to chat with.

Of course, from a deeper perspective, Kitagawa Ryo would actually prefer that Simak Denki take on this position. After all, firstly, although he always has a cold face, at least he won't cause trouble. Secondly, as in the current situation, having a male teacher lead the team will always create some room for maneuver for the girls.

If Kitagawa Ryo wasn't mistaken, while he was struggling to stay awake and glaring at Simak, the girl was probably already playing on her phone.

Indeed, every student, including him, had handed over their phones to Sima Kedian for safekeeping when leaving school. However, the rules did not prohibit them from bringing other students' phones. Hiding phones borrowed from close friends in personal items such as water bottles and lunch boxes was actually quite easy to evade the student council's inspection, especially since they had their own people there.

Of course, Kitagawa Ryo also considered other alternatives. As mentioned before, as long as one understands the various mechanisms of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School before enrollment and makes corresponding preparations in advance, the problem of information not being shared in a completely closed environment is actually easy to solve.

If nothing unexpected happens, Ichinose Honami's family, Katsuragi Kohei's sister, and Yuki should have already received news of their departure from school.

According to his pre-arranged plan, Honami Ichinose's mother and sister were already prepared as staff and volunteers for the drama competition, while Kohei Katsuragi's sister would be selected as a lucky audience member to make contact. As for Yuki...

Without even thinking, Kitagawa Ryo knew that the other party would do the same thing as last time: first, book a room in the hotel he had reserved in both their names, then check in early so that the two of them could easily meet in the room that night.

If we were to rank the three things Kitagawa Ryo needs to do after leaving school in terms of difficulty, the easiest would naturally be delivering a gift to Katsuragi Kohei's sister. It's so difficult that he doesn't even need to show up; he could just have a familiar staff member or actor deliver it on his behalf.

Of course, in order to fulfill Katsuragi Kohei's request more perfectly, Kitagawa Ryo, who shares the burning passion for his sister, is willing to personally deliver the gift to him, and also plans to explain the background and difficulties to Katsuragi Kohei.

The second most difficult thing was Ichinose Honami's matter.

Although this incident seems to be the initial reason for leaving school, it is essentially a matter for Ichinose Honami herself, and the pressure on Kitagawa Ryo is actually less.

Kitagawa Ryo knew very well that he could be Ichinose Honami's source of confidence, but he absolutely could not be her mouthpiece. Some words had to be spoken by Honami herself to have weight and value, and only then could they truly change the way the mother and daughter perceived and interacted with each other.

The reason why getting along with Xue is the most troublesome thing for him is actually quite simple: his relationship with the girls who left school with him this time is completely different from the last time he left school.

Even setting aside Karuizawa Megumi and Amasawa Ichika, whose chances of him being attacked at night during the competition have increased countless times because of their past physical relationship, Ichinose Honami, who has already made up her mind to make changes, is definitely an inescapable battleground.

After all, regardless of whether Ichinose Honami's negotiations succeed or fail, Kitagawa Ryo will definitely need to stay by Honami's side afterward, helping her through this crucial and important moment.

Thinking of this, Kitagawa Ryo also sighed with a hint of melancholy.

...Let's just take it one step at a time.

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

Although Kitagawa Ryo's drama club seemed rather immature and shabby compared to the established theater troupes in Tokyo, with him and Karuizawa Megumi leading the team, they still managed to finish the first day of the preliminary rounds quite smoothly, and their wonderful performance drew continuous applause and cheers from the audience.

Using this as an excuse, Kitagawa Ryo naturally held a fan meeting and autograph session. He casually pointed to Katsuragi Kohei's sister, presenting her with a gift—pretended to thank fans but actually personally chosen by Katsuragi Kohei—and offering her encouragement in a low, gentle voice:

"Katsura has always cared about you, but he had no other choice, so he asked me to deliver this birthday gift to you on his behalf. I wish you a happy birthday and hope that when Katsura graduates, he will see his younger sister in better health."

Having successfully completed the request given to him by Katsuragi Kohei, Kitagawa Ryo randomly selected a few lucky audience members, signed autographs, and gave them gifts before ending the small meet-and-greet. He then returned to the hotel with the rest of the drama club to begin intensive preparations and rehearsals for the semi-finals and finals the following day.

Meanwhile, Ichinose Honami and Kitagawa Ryo both went to the restroom one after the other.

When Kitagawa Ryo quietly found Honami, Honami had already met with his mother and sister without incident. However, the atmosphere was not as bad as he had imagined; it was still as harmonious and pleasant as ever.

"Don't worry about things at home, Fanbo. Now that you've entered such a good school as Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, you should focus on your studies. Don't relax just because you think this school has a 100% college entrance and employment rate after graduation."

"Mom knows you left school to participate in the competition because you missed me and Maki. Mom also missed Honbo. But doesn't your school not allow students to secretly see their parents? If you get punished, it will be a big problem. It could ruin your future and you won't be able to regret it later. So Honbo, listen to Mom and don't leave school to see Mom like you did today. Mom and Maki will be happy as long as we know that Honbo is doing well at school."

The first thing I heard was, as expected, Ichinose's mother's familiar, somewhat rambling tone. Maki, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, seemed embarrassed that her mother was saying these things to her sister at this time. She pouted and unconsciously looked around, but she caught sight of him.

Just a second before the other person was about to shout, Kitagawa Ryo immediately made a shushing gesture to her, and then beckoned her over to his side, giving Ichinose Honami, who had been keeping her head down and not responding much, and her mother a space and opportunity to have a conversation.

"I'm going to use the restroom over there."

Using the same convenient excuse, Ichinose Maki scurried over to Kitagawa Ryo, who was hiding behind the corner. Her face initially showed surprise and excitement, but it quickly turned into worry. She and Kitagawa Ryo peeked out, casting concerned glances in Ichinose Honami's direction.

"You haven't changed at all, Mom."

After her sister left, Honami Ichinose finally raised her head. Although she was still smiling, her face seemed a little pale.

Kitagawa Ryo watched as her hand, hanging by her side, first unfolded its fingers one by one, then clenched into a fist, then relaxed, and finally clenched into a fist again.

"I know that what Mom said to me was right, and the life path she set for me was also right. Everything you did was for the sake of me and Maki. It wasn't just self-pity. Both Maki and I are truly grateful for everything you've done for us."

As if expelling something heavy, Honami Ichinose spoke slowly.

"But I also hope to face life and my life in my own way and with my own ideas... But every time I think about this, I have the thought of 'Is this the right thing to do?'"

This was the first time the mother had ever seen her daughter, Fanbo, like this. She stood there speechless, as if she were facing a stranger and didn't know what to do.

“I’ve wanted to say these things to you for a very, very, very long time, and I’ve wanted to make more changes, but you’re my mom… You’ve never been bad to me, and that alone is enough, enough to make me unable to say it, because it’s like denying everything about you, your life.”

Honami Ichinose lowered her head, looking dejected, and muttered softly, repeating the same sentence:

"Because you're my mom, it always happens the same every time... There's nothing I can do, right?"

"It's still my problem—maybe."

At this point, Honami Ichinose couldn't help but recall the incredibly abstract spider she had drawn for the word "mother" in a "Pictionary" game on the deserted island, as well as the diary entry she had written about her mother as a child:

"Sometimes I feel that my mother is like a spider. She is smart, patient and skillful like a spider. She is always working hard. In winter, she knits beautiful and comfortable sweaters for my sister and me."

"Spider eggs are very fragile. I think that spiders grow into such fierce and frightening creatures in order to protect their offspring."

"At the same time, like a spider, my mother would arrange everything for me in an orderly manner... it was as if she had laid invisible threads in every corner of my life."

Even in the grand scheme of things, Ichinose Honami is perhaps the most useless reborn person. Apart from the hairpin that wasn't stolen this time, it's as if nothing has changed. She's still trapped in the spider's web.

Over the past decade or so, these almost ingrained thoughts of self-destruction have swung through her mind countless times.

...But even so, I would still want to do it again.

Trying again means there's still a chance, but stagnation will definitely lead to failure again.

Memories of Kitagawa Ryo on the deserted island and the cruise ship flooded Ichinose Honami's mind at this moment, and her beautiful and light figure seemed to suddenly become steady, and she once again felt the solidity of being grounded.

"But I still hope that Mom can give me some time, just these three years of high school, okay? Just like you said, I could have stayed in this boarding school forever and never contacted you again, but I still came out and said these things to you because I just want to get a definite answer from Mom, that is, I'll say yes."

Personal independence, intellectual independence, and most importantly, economic independence.

Kitagawa Ryo brought her the first two things, but the latter was the confidence she gained from the Tokyo Advanced Educational High School's individual points system.

Honami Ichinose tells her mother the fact that she has grown up:

"The gifts for Mom and Maki are all things I earned this semester... I can do it, I really can."

"Didn't Mom say she always believed I was a better daughter than you? Then please believe in me, believe in this better daughter."

After such a persuasive and reasoned speech, Ichinose's mother, though not immediately understanding every word her daughter said, was naturally drawn into her rhythm and, for the first time, began to waver. Her lips moved slightly, and she asked in her daughter's direction, her voice trembling:

"Does Fanbo hate his mother?"

"favourite."

Honami Ichinose looked into her mother's eyes. She had always felt that such feelings of pity shouldn't exist between a daughter and her mother, but now she was indeed answering with a tone imbued with those feelings:

"It's because I like it that I'm telling my mom these things."

Finally, she said this:

"I will be happy, Mom."

"So... I want your blessing."

Chapter 269: The Past Four Seasons

Even from a distance, Kitagawa Ryo could clearly see Ichinose Honami's struggles, including her trembling shoulders and clenched and unclenched fists, all filled with pity.

Even so, he knew he couldn't show his face right now.

In this conversation between mother and daughter, Honami Ichinose must convince her mother that she was not instigated by anyone or any external force. She must let her mother know that these are all her own true thoughts that she has been suppressing in her heart. If Ryo Kitagawa were to suddenly intervene at this time, it would actually have the opposite effect.

Just like the classic saying "led astray by bad kids," for parents like Honami Ichinose's mother, the first thought after noticing the drastic change in their children must be to find a plausible, or rather, self-comforting, excuse.

They are willing to believe that their children have been playing too wildly during the long holidays, that they have been led astray by bad friends, or that they have fallen in love with some boy, but they find it very difficult to accept these heartfelt and genuine thoughts of their children.

So Kitagawa Ryo remained standing there, silently waiting for the other's reply along with Ichinose Honami.

Fanbo should be more intelligent and quick-witted.

Whether during the special exams on the deserted island or in the past first semester, Kitagawa Ryo often had such thoughts, and sometimes it was as if one could hear the lament of her buried talent.

Sakayanagi Arisu was willing to express these feelings, and Kitagawa Ryo also arranged for her to take the lead during the final project, giving her the best stage to perform.

But Honami Ichinose doesn't speak.

Her fatal weakness was her overly fragile heart.

Whether it's Suzune Horikita, who has overcome her confusion and found her goals in every direction, or Megumi Karuizawa, who has already made plans for her future and is now carefree and enjoying her school life, neither of them will stop moving forward.

No matter how much you struggle and suffer, being stuck in the same place is always a painful thing, especially for someone who has been reborn.

'There's no need to try anymore,' 'Don't force yourself,' 'The fact is I'm right here with you now.' Perhaps these gentle words can free her from these psychological burdens.

However, at the same time, Ichinose Honami will completely lose her foothold and the opportunity to transform.

Having gone through numerous simulations, Kitagawa Ryo had created Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Megumi in several different timelines. But this time, reality would not repeat itself, so Kitagawa Ryo continued to wait, waiting for Ichinose Honami to figure everything out on her own.

Of course, Kitagawa Ryo would not allow Ichinose Honami to bear the pressure alone, because he had experienced the consequences of such an event before. After all, the broken Honami had done something that resulted in a bad ending with a single stab.

Kitagawa Ryo has always been clear about one thing.

He can be Fanbo's source of confidence, but he cannot be Fanbo's mouthpiece.

But the reverse is also true.

He can't be Fanbo's mouthpiece, but he can be Fanbo's source of confidence.

So, after this almost heavy conversation ended with Ichinose's mother nodding somewhat numbly, as if she hadn't fully recovered, Kitagawa Ryo first patted Maki's head to signal her to comfort her mother, and then immediately followed Ichinose Honami from the other side.

The other party's final destination was the rooftop of the hotel. As if knowing that he was following behind, Kitagawa Ryo could even feel Honami deliberately slowing down his pace.

"How did you feel after telling me?"

And so, the two arrived at the rooftop one after the other. Kitagawa Ryo took two steps forward and stood next to Ichinose Honami, who was leaning on the railing and gazing at the neon-lit night view. Feeling the evening breeze, he took the initiative to ask her a question.

"...If Liang asks me this now, I actually don't know either."

Feeling a lingering sense of confusion, Honami Ichinose whispered a reply before turning her head toward Ryo Kitagawa:

"Liang was there just now, wasn't he?"

"Yes, I've listened to almost the whole thing."

Honami Ichinose's eyes were unusually red, and there were still some tear stains on her face. Perhaps this was why she had chosen to climb the stairs to the rooftop earlier.

"Although it's still a mess, at least I got it out."

She muttered this to herself.

"I think so too. For Fanbo, this is a very remarkable thing."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded in agreement. Ichinose Honami's ability to regulate her emotions was even better than he had imagined, though perhaps this was partly due to the affirmation and blessings she had received from her mother.

"While it's true, as Ryo said, that this is indeed a very significant matter 'for me,' I also acknowledge that—"