I have a life simulator.

"Why is that Hiyori's voice?"

"She and Hui are together now."

After hearing Kitagawa Ryo's hushed explanation, Horikita Suzune nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly took a step back and ran to the other side of the room. She also took out her phone, as if she was about to call someone.

"How's your day? Is your creative process going well?"

"On the contrary, although I haven't reached the level of squeezing out six words in seven hours, it's definitely not smooth sailing either. The result of communicating with the editor was similar; the editor almost said directly that I am worthy of being my father's biological daughter."

As a mystery novelist who can only be considered a third-rate writer at best, Shiina Katsumi's books are probably only read by Shiina Hiyori and Kitagawa Ryo, who was brought over by her. It can only be said that the editor's reply was quite tactful.

"It's okay, take your time. Instead of trying to write a long series right away, you can start by writing a few short essays."

"Can I go out in the cool evening?"

"...Isn't this topic a bit too abrupt? Weren't we talking about writing?"

"Because feeling is the same thing, gathering material, um, that's gathering material."

"So, are we going to the Metropolitan Police Department tonight?"

"Just a normal shopping trip."

"This is the first time I've heard of finding material for detective novels by going shopping."

"How could that be all? Many mystery novelists come up with a core plot and then fill it with all sorts of everyday life and educational tales that are actually unrelated to the main storyline, like bandaging a bandage to make up the word count. Many long novels are like this. For example, 'The Tokyo Zodiac Murders' has a lot of useless travelogues about Kyoto, and for example..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Of course I know. You're going shopping, right? I'll meet up with you guys later, okay?"

"No need to trouble Liang to come and meet us. We'll come and meet you in a bit. Liang, just send us your address. We'll call you when we're almost there. Bye-bye."

After saying that, Hiyori Shiina hung up the phone first. Ryo Kitagawa could only send the name and location of his hotel via text message. Then he looked up and saw that Suzune Horikita was still on the phone on the other end of the room.

Seemingly not wanting him to hear the conversation, the other person deliberately faced the curtains and turned their back to him, while also trying to cover their mouth with their hand to reduce the volume of their voice, acting all mysterious.

However, what Horikita Suzune didn't know was that Amasawa Ichika, who was on the phone with her, was already exchanging information with Kitagawa Ryo simultaneously on two separate threads.

"Got another one for you—"

Next came an emoji asking for praise.

Kitagawa Ryo simply typed a question mark at this.

"You're with Lingyin right now, aren't you? She's on the phone right now, isn't she? That's right, I'm the one talking to her on the phone."

"To put it simply, I made a bet with her about Ryo, and it seems that Rin is about to lose. We'll probably know the outcome tonight, which is why I said I'd help you get another one sorted out."

"...Putting aside what was settled, can you just arbitrarily use people as stakes without my knowledge?"

"There's no way around it, it wouldn't be interesting if Liang knew about this. But I'm sure this is what Liang wants, or rather, what he can't refuse. Anyway, consider it a surprise from me to you."

"Compared to this so-called surprise, I'm more curious about what you did during this special summer exam. You were so secretive, not even telling me."

"I'm just coasting along at Tianze's company. What else can I do? I didn't tell Liang beforehand mainly because compared to others, my destination doesn't seem special. I'll just wait for Old Deng to die and then I'll be rolling in gold coins."

Without any other implications, Amazuki Ichika, who was born through in-vitro fertilization, really didn't have any feelings for her biological father. However, her performance at last year's cultural festival had an effect. Now, out of respect for Kitagawa Ryo, people were willing to acknowledge her as their daughter again and stage a long-awaited reunion. Of course, Amazuki Ichika would seize the opportunity, but in the end, she would only give him gold coins and not give him Kitagawa's gold coins as he expected.

"I don't have the same ideals as Megumi, Honami, or Hiyori. Anyway, that's just my personality. In the end, Ryo just doesn't want to get rid of me."

Kitagawa Ryo could only say that he didn't believe a single word of the messages sent by Amazusa Ichika. After all, despite her seemingly nonchalant attitude, what she was actually doing was no different from what Karuizawa Megumi and the others were doing. They had all found their own niche early on and were just working hard towards that goal.

So where does Tianze Yixia fit in?

She is truly the one among Kitagawa Ryo's circle of girls who can talk to anyone and has a fairly close relationship with more than half of them. Amaze Ichika has always maintained a good sense of propriety in dealing with people and has always been intentionally maintaining and expanding her social circle.

She already had a close relationship with Sakayanagi Arisu and Yuki because of the last mock exam. After entering the university, she easily won over Ichinose Honami, who treated her like a younger sister, with her most skilled techniques. During the special exam on the deserted island, she volunteered to form a duo with Sakura Airi and took care of her all the way. In this way, she made a connection with Karuizawa Megumi, who was close to Airi. Then, she took the initiative to help Horikita Suzune in the student council election. And recently, she once again took the initiative to join the student council as an outside helper.

It can only be said that she is truly outstanding in terms of social skills. Moreover, for Kitagawa Ryo herself, she can be reliable when she needs to be and lively when she needs to be. She is definitely an indispensable member of this family in the future.

"No one can throw you away."

"Hmph, just because of what Liang said, I'll definitely give Liang a good surprise in the next couple of days—that's all for now."

After sending the message simultaneously with Kitagawa Ryo, Horikita Suzune's call was also disconnected almost at the same time. Horikita Suzune, whose expression seemed even more unnatural than when she first entered the room and understood Kitagawa Ryo's cryptic hint, lingered as she returned, coughing rather deliberately.

"Have you finished making the calls too, Liang?"

"Yeah, Megumi asked me to go shopping with Hiyori tonight. I'd like Suzune to come along too."

Somewhat to Kitagawa Ryo's surprise, after he mentioned Karuizawa Megumi and Shiina Hiyori's names, Horikita Suzune instinctively looked away, crossed her arms, and shook her head in refusal:

"I just made plans to meet with Ichika tonight."

"Then let's go together?"

"This also needs to be done together... no, no, cough cough, 'cool' means shopping, right?"

Watching Horikita Suzune suddenly lower her voice and start talking to herself, then immediately raise her head and become inexplicably awkward, Kitagawa Ryo also tilted his head:

"if not?"

"Hmm... I have some personal things to talk about tonight, so let's just forget it. Ryo can go by himself. Remember not to come back too late... no, right, what should I say again?"

"Be careful? Rinne and Ichika should also be careful."

"Indeed, be careful about dryness and wetness... oops, I mean safety."

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Chapter 75: Please Tell Me Everything

After temporarily separating from Horikita Suzune, who had been summoned by Amasawa Ichika for some unknown reason, Kitagawa Ryo also left the hotel where he was staying. This area is an uphill section leading from Shibuya Station's Hachiko Exit towards Meguro. In Japanese, the word 'saka' is used to describe a slope or ramp, so the official name of this area is Dogenzaka.

Sakashita is the final stop, Shibuya Station. Along the way, there are large Tokyu Group stores and facilities such as 109, various restaurants, mixed-use buildings, and cinemas. Dogenzaka Alley, leading to Bunkamura-dori, has hostess shops and restaurants. Further along, there are many music performance spaces such as live houses and love hotels. It can be said that in every aspect, it is clearly designed for young men and women. Basically, you can find all the entertainment facilities you can think of here, making it a very suitable place for shopping and dating.

Although it was only seven o'clock in the evening and night had just begun to fall, the various neon signs near the street had already started to flash. Everywhere, groups of stylish young men and women could be seen, which made Kitagawa Ryo, who was waiting for Karuizawa Megumi and Shiina Hiyori to arrive, take a few more glances out of boredom.

While the most striking impression of Shibuya-style makeup is probably the image of a dark-skinned gyaru (female stunner), this is actually an outdated style that was popular at the end of the last century and the beginning of this century. Shibuya today is more of a chaotic mix. You can easily spot young women with all sorts of makeup styles, such as landmine, forest, Lolita, and princess, whose ages are impossible to tell just by looking at them.

After all, no matter how things change, the Shibuya style still retains its almost obsessive pursuit of eye makeup. With four or five layers of mascara, thick and exaggerated false eyelashes (even the lower lashes are applied), paired with heavy eyeshadow that is deliberately extended to below the brow bone and lower eyeliner drawn with black eyeliner, combined with shiny lip makeup, it is not easy to tell whether the person wandering the streets of Shibuya at this time is an elementary school student, a junior high school student or a high school student.

That's why, after taking a quick look, Kitagawa Ryo lost interest in the matter and subtly moved further into the shadows. After all, considering his ultimate talent for being attracted to younger men, he was practically born to be approached in this place, since there were indeed a lot of high school, middle school, and even elementary school students on the streets of Shibuya.

After waiting anxiously for about twenty more minutes, Karuizawa Megumi and Shiina Hiyori finally sent a message that they were about to arrive. After replying that he was waiting downstairs at the hotel, Kitagawa Ryo saw the two of them walking towards him a short while later.

Almost a year later, Kei Karuizawa has once again unlocked her classic summer style. Although this pure white sleeveless dress is more like a commemorative set for a major defeat than the three-piece set she wore to win the championship, it still carries many of her precious memories.

And who knows, it might even become the champion set tonight.

Today, Shiina Hiyori wore a light blue chiffon blouse and a white high-waisted skirt. However, although it was called a skirt, the hem was only slightly above the knee. She wore flat sandals. Unlike Karuizawa Megumi, who only had a small bag slung across her waist, she also carried a small suitcase with something inside that was unknown.

"Here he comes."

After simply raising his hand to greet the two, Kitagawa Ryo slowly emerged from the shadows:

"Where to? Up the slope or down?"

"Wait a minute, this must be the hotel where Liang is staying temporarily. It looks so-so."

Karuizawa Kei deftly bypassed Kitagawa Ryo, glancing around the inn a few times.

"I don't have that much budget. I might end up staying in capsule hotels or internet cafes in the future."

"There are advantages to having a large hotel, and there are advantages to having a small hotel."

Feeling something was off, Karuizawa Megumi, after confirming, pushed open the hotel door. After the receptionist's "Welcome!" greeting, she pulled Shiina Hiyori along and handed her identification.

"Get me a room for tonight."

The receptionist first gave Kitagawa Ryo, who had followed the two female guests in and clearly knew them, a strange look, then decisively chose to avoid trouble, making no mention of their male companion having checked into a room with another woman just an hour earlier, and continued to inquire in a businesslike manner:

"Any requirements for the room?"

"Hmm... two large beds, I guess."

"Okay, breakfast is served in the lobby every day. If you need any services, please call the landline by your bed. Here is your room key card, please keep it safe."

As the receptionist handed over the room key, Kitagawa Ryo took the opportunity to glance at it. It was alright; although it was on the same floor, at least it wasn't directly next to his and Horikita Suzune's room.

"The theater should have a private lounge for you, right?"

"Can't I give it to Hiyori?"

"Does Hiyori sleep in two double beds by herself?"

"I can come over and stay with Hiyori anytime, whether I have something to do or not."

Although Kitagawa Ryo really wanted to add that there was no need for two people to book a room with two double beds, he then remembered that he and Horikita Suzune had already done this before, so he wisely kept quiet.

It can only be said that things have developed to this point, and he has already sensed that unusual atmosphere.

Ryuen Shojin wasn't lying; this Tokyo Special Exam really was an upgraded version of the deserted island, and it was an ultra-long, deluxe, ultimate gold version with a cruise ship DLC.

However, this time he couldn't call on his good friends like Ken Sudo and Sho Ryuen for support. The former should be training hard in a sports club at some sports school right now, and the latter hadn't been found yet when he searched for keywords on short video and live streaming platforms, but he probably couldn't contact him for a while.

"Then I'll go put my luggage down first—"

Whether it was because the room key in her hand signaled the imminent occurrence of some predetermined fact, Shiina Hiyori seemed to relax a lot and went upstairs first to put down the suitcase she had brought, which probably contained some personal belongings.

Taking advantage of the moment when only he and Karuizawa Megumi were left in the hall, Kitagawa Ryo leaned over and asked in a low voice:

"What are you thinking, you idiot?"

However, Karuizawa Kei's reaction seemed even worse than his; she even moved closer, covering Kitagawa Ryo's mouth with her hand and muttering rapidly and incoherently:

"Ryo, shut up first. Actually, I'm quite confused right now, or rather, extremely confused, because it was Hiyori who first brought this up with me. After agreeing to her request, I've been wondering if I've really awakened some kind of special fetish. So, Ryo, who's getting the benefit but still acting innocent, it's best if you don't say anything for now."

To be honest, this was the first time Kitagawa Ryo had seen Karuizawa Megumi in this form, so he decisively chose to shut up. A short while later, Shiina Hiyori finally finished putting down her luggage and came down, and the three of them left the hotel again and set off.

Shibuya at night is undoubtedly more lively than during the day. Even as the night deepens, the flashing lights and neon signs are brighter than the daytime sunlight. The lively atmosphere and noisy voices are something you can't see on the campus of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School. It's a scene that has been missing for a long time.

However, the filter brought about by novelty was almost completely shattered in no time, because in bustling areas such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya where they were now, being approached on the street was indeed a common and troublesome occurrence.

What left Karuizawa Megumi and Shiina Hiyori speechless was that Kitagawa Ryo got more attention than they did combined. Anyone who didn't know better would think someone had mischievously stuck a "first order free" sign on his back. In the end, the two of them even physically restrained Kitagawa Ryo's arms, one on each side, and half-dragged him into a clothing and accessories shop on the street before they finally calmed down.

"Maybe you should wear a mask next time, since it might be too cold?"

At school, she didn't feel anything special, but now, standing on the streets of Tokyo with its surge in people, Shiina Hiyori felt that Kitagawa Ryo's charm was almost as overwhelming as that of a super idol recording a variety show. In fact, at first, it was just two girls who were close to each other who took the initiative to ask for each other's contact information, but who knew that it would cause a chain reaction and become uncontrollable.

“They’re right here. I’ll buy them now and wear them. If you ask me, I’ll say I have hay fever.”

Karuizawa Kei acted even faster, immediately buying two masks for Kitagawa Ryo on the spot. Only then did she feel that the surroundings were much quieter, and at least she could shop in peace without being disturbed.

Unlike in Dongyu, where they had hundreds of thousands or even millions of personal points to spend, the three of them were currently in a rather tight financial situation. In particular, Shiina Hiyori, whose progress was basically zero, was completely broke, and Karuizawa Megumi had even paid for their travel expenses and the room fee.

Although Kitagawa Ryo did have several thousand yen in his hand that Horikita Suzune had given him before he left, he felt it was a bit too much to use this money, which was considered their shared property, to buy things for other girls. So after buying masks to cover their faces, the three of them entered a mode of just browsing without buying anything, which in a sense was a return to the most original fun of shopping.

It must be said that the pricing of various goods inside Tokyo Advanced Educational High School is basically the same as outside, and some items are even cheaper. However, since it is much easier to obtain personal points than for high school students of the same age outside, this can lead to problems with people's consumption habits.

While waiting for Karuizawa Megumi and Shiina Hiyori tonight, Kitagawa Ryo also took a few moments to look at the school forum. He was able to easily find discussions about prices, and they were collective feelings from first-year to third-year students.

The first-year students had just entered the school and immediately received hundreds of thousands of personal points. Just when they were feeling great, they suddenly found themselves back to being penniless and having to work for themselves. The contrast between the two was quite significant.

The third-year students, on the other hand, had become accustomed to receiving personal points from the school each month to make ends meet. Having been enrolled for over two years, they were no longer sensitive to external prices. When they habitually went to buy things like coffee, they would suddenly realize, "Wow, it's so expensive!" and then habitually open the school forum to post complaints.

Second graders are still working.

It can only be said that Kitagawa Ryo's influence on all classes in the entire grade is indeed substantial. Most students chose to seriously enter corporate internships during this special exam, trying to gain the rewards they would reap in the future.

"Speaking of which, I made a phone call home today, but I used my editor's phone. He pretended to be talking to my father about the manuscript, then pretended to say that there was a new author who needed some guidance, and finally he got to talk to my dad and mom."

While not every student at Dongyu wanted to take advantage of this special summer exam to meet and talk to their family, Shiina Hiyori was one of those who did. After all, she had a good relationship with her family, and more importantly, she really wanted to hear firsthand how her parents found the ring in her room.

"Here——"

As she spoke, Shiina Hiyori extended her left hand to Kitagawa Ryo. Under the light of the street lamp, her fair palm and wrist shone with a crystal-clear luster, revealing the ring on her middle finger.

"Both Dad and Mom said that it was suddenly found in a drawer in my room. Although it is interesting to keep guessing about this mystery, a detective novel should at the end have the author revealing the answer to the reader."

Perhaps thinking of something, Shiina Hiyori hesitated for a moment, but then mustered up great courage and asked him the question in its entirety:

"For me, if my story with Ryo is a series, then tonight is the final chapter of the first part, so... I want to know the things about myself and Ryo that I don't know, from this ring to that memory and to things deeper inside."

In fact, when it comes to the pursuit of the truth, Hiyori Shiina is even better than Megumi Karuizawa. After all, the most important thing for a detective is to uncover the secrets behind all mysteries, especially when the truth itself is closely related to her.

"I want to hear Liang tell me everything."

For some reason, Hiyori Shiina suddenly felt a little uneasy, much like her younger self when, after being confronted with a declaration of war from mystery novelists, she hesitantly turned to the last few pages, clinging to her own reasoning, to confront the truth.

Was she worried that it was too heavy and not romantic enough, or was it simply because of the fact that the other person had kept hidden until now?

Taking a few deep breaths, Shiina Hiyori looked up at Kitagawa Ryo and uttered the last half of her sentence:

"...just before I gave myself completely to you."

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