I have a life simulator.

"Then I won't worry about you anymore. I wish you a speedy recovery."

Since Sakayanagi Arisu wouldn't be participating in the special summer exams, Class C's chances had undoubtedly increased. Kitagawa Ryo was about to hang up the phone cleanly when the other party spoke up:

"Don't you still owe me two favors?"

"Isn't it one?"

Kitagawa Ryo was stunned for a moment:

"You're not including what happened at Kamuro last time, are you?"

"Of course, after all, Masumi Kamuro is one of my people now, so it's only natural that I would do her a favor if you asked her for help."

"If you say so, then so be it. We clearly said before that you would get 20% of the points from Class B."

"But I think it's more interesting to make Liang owe me a favor than to earn tens or hundreds of thousands of points a month."

"Yes, yes, after all, your Class A is so big and powerful, Arisu wouldn't care about these points."

Kitagawa Ryo had no choice, since it took a shock to trick Ichinose Honami into revealing her past. And this shock couldn't be someone from Class B or Class C. Class D couldn't think of a suitable candidate either. In the end, Sakayanagi Arisu offered Kamuro Masumi to put on a good show.

However, the price was that Kitagawa Ryo owed Sakayanagi Arisu a favor. Based on Kitagawa Ryo's understanding of Sakayanagi Arisu, she would probably use the favor when it was most needed. But judging from her tone now, it seems that she intends to use up the favor here.

"There's no need for extra favors. Liang just needs to always owe me a promise."

"...You haven't given up on that idea yet?"

"No, when Ryo is defeated by me and wants to drop out of school, I'll first use 20 million to save Ryo, and then spend another 20 million to transfer Ryo to Class A, how about that?"

"You're so boring."

Kitagawa Ryo stroked the head of the kitten in front of him and suddenly asked:

"By the way, you don't know that Ying is right next to me, do you?"

"Ok?"

For the first time, Sakayanagi Arisu felt a sense of surprise:

"That cat?"

"Yes, I remember that Arisu helped me take care of it one year."

"Yes, and I was the one who gave her the name Ying, right?"

"It's Hui who doesn't remember the past, not me."

"They're calling each other so affectionately, looks like their relationship has recovered well?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's tone suddenly turned cold:

"Now, bring your cat over here."

"...This is my first time entering a girl's room. Are there any things I should be aware of?"

"Do you not consider Shiina Hiyori, Karuizawa Megumi, and the others as girls?"

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to have recovered from her earlier mood and, as always, spoke in a half-joking, half-serious tone:

"Should I be a little proud?"

"You've done a really thorough investigation."

Kitagawa Ryo was right. Even during the first semester when the two barely interacted, they were still trying to find out about each other.

"There's one minute left before it gets cold. Do you want me to count down for you?"

"No need, I'm already in the elevator."

Kitagawa Ryo found a cardboard box and put the bewildered Hotaru inside. After opening the door and checking that no one was in the corridor, he quickly stepped into the elevator.

"You're really good at causing trouble. If someone sees Ying, it will be quite a problem."

"Mind your own business. If Liang dares to say another word today, I'll consider it as if you haven't repaid this favor."

"Alright, alright, my dear lady, can you behave yourself? You're sick and you still talk like that. If you weren't sick, you wouldn't be..."

Kitagawa Ryo walked out of the elevator toward Sakayanagi Arisu's room. Before he could finish speaking, he saw Sakayanagi Arisu leaning against his doorframe not far away, smiling at him.

"What if you're not sick?"

"Of course you're more beautiful when you're not sick!"

Kitagawa Ryo didn't want other students to see him entering Sakayanagi Arisu's room, so he gently pulled Sakayanagi Arisu's arm and dragged her back into the room.

Perhaps she wasn't feeling well, because Sakayanagi Arisu felt a bit lighter today. When Kitagawa Ryo grabbed her right arm, he didn't even use much force, and Sakayanagi Arisu easily fell into his arms.

"Hey, your action makes me wonder if there are any cameras or something installed in the room."

Kitagawa Ryo quickly placed the box on the shoe cabinet and reached out his other hand to help Sakayanagi Arisu stand up straight. Strangely enough, almost two years had passed, but the other person seemed to have not grown at all and was almost two heads shorter than him.

"..."

The two stared at each other awkwardly for a while. Kitagawa Ryo was certain that the other person was indeed unwell. Not only was her face abnormally pale, but even the hair around her ears seemed to have lost its luster. She looked extremely haggard. It was hard to imagine that Sakayanagi Arisu would take the initiative to call him and argue with him in this state.

Fortunately, Hotaru jumped out of the cardboard box, breaking the silence. As if it remembered Sakayanagi Arisu, it first shook its fur, then meowed and jumped into Sakayanagi Arisu's arms. Whether it was because of its strength or because Sakayanagi Arisu was really weak, Sakayanagi Arisu swayed and almost fell to the ground when Hotaru pounced on it. Kitagawa Ryo could only help support it again.

"I'm hungry."

After regaining her composure, Sakayanagi Arisu returned to her usual calm and proud demeanor, and walked inside carrying the white cat:

"Go cook."

"There's nothing we can do about you."

Kitagawa Ryo shook his head. Anyway, it wasn't the first time he had cooked for a girl, so he was quite familiar with the process. The room layouts in the student dormitories were basically the same, so he easily found the location of the kitchen.

However, instead of going back to bed as Kitagawa Ryo had expected, Sakayanagi Arisu simply sat quietly on the sofa, holding her cat, her purple eyes blinking as she watched Kitagawa Ryo's busy figure.

She patted Hotaru's head, and the little guy obediently rubbed against Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers. During the year that Kitagawa Ryo was hiding from the limelight, Sakayanagi Arisu personally raised Hotaru for a year. And at that time, Kitagawa Ryo was just like now, acting only for Sakayanagi Arisu.

What annoyed Sakayanagi Arisu was that even Hotaru, whom she hadn't seen for two years, still longed to jump into her arms, but Kitagawa Ryo wasn't as nostalgic as his cat.

Just like his sharp and decisive style in chess, he relentlessly pressed forward while meticulously planning every move.

Extremely outstanding, extremely ruthless.

However, unlike Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who is completely emotionless in the White Room, Kitagawa Ryo is not an extremely cold person. In fact, he can be quite...

Sakayanagi Arisu scratched Hotaru's chin, watching the kitten squint its eyes comfortably.

Perhaps this is what she has always cared about.

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

Perhaps in Kitagawa Ryo's mind, a sick person must drink a bowl of hot soup, so after busying himself for a long time, what he finally brought to Sakayanagi Arisu was a pot of steaming fresh mushroom soup. Although it looked simple, it was quite rich in various side dishes. Because he was afraid that Sakayanagi Arisu would not have enough to eat, he specially made a small basket of shrimp dumplings, only three or four in total, which were crystal clear and very appealing.

Sakayanagi Arisu had fallen asleep on the sofa at some point, emitting steady breathing sounds.

It was an extremely peaceful expression, as reassuring as that of the most adorable angel.

It is the only moment when all the masks are removed.

No matter how much Sakayanagi Arisu acts like an omnipotent and deep-thinking being, the one lying asleep in front of Kitagawa Ryo is just a sixteen-year-old girl.

In the past, Kitagawa Ryo might have written "big idiot" on her face with a marker and taken a picture as a souvenir, but Kitagawa Ryo didn't have that thought now. He simply stood politely about fifty centimeters away from Sakayanagi Arisu and smiled as he woke her up.

"Get up, Arisu."

Her long eyelashes fluttered for a while before Sakayanagi Arisu rubbed her sleepy eyes and woke up. She didn't seem to care that she had fallen asleep in front of Kitagawa Ryo. She put on her slippers, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and when she sat down at the table to eat, her eyes had returned to a clear and bright state.

To Kitagawa Ryo's surprise, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't say a word throughout the entire lunch. She just savored the meal Kitagawa Ryo had prepared for her very attentively, without offering any comments. She simply ate all the food bite by bite and finally let out a satisfied sigh.

When Kitagawa Ryo finished clearing the table and washing the dishes, Sakayanagi Arisu had already gone back to bed. The white blankets covered her from neck to toe completely, leaving only her small face showing as she looked at Kitagawa Ryo with longing eyes.

"Eating and sleeping will make you fat."

Kitagawa Ryo gave a very serious warning, but then he thought again:

"But it's okay for Arisu to gain a little weight, since her body is too weak."

"……come over."

As if she hadn't heard Kitagawa Ryo's complaints, Sakayanagi Arisu stretched out a small hand from under the covers and waved it at him.

"Am I supposed to offer a bedtime story service?"

Kitagawa Ryo sighed and sat down on the edge of Sakayanagi Arisu's bed. He was just about to tuck Sakayanagi Arisu's outstretched left hand under the covers when, unexpectedly, the other woman grabbed his right hand instead.

However, seeing that Sakayanagi Arisu had her eyes closed and nothing had happened, Kitagawa Ryo could only let the other hold his hand. It seemed that Sakayanagi Arisu's palm was a little sweaty, and the palm was smooth and warmer than his own.

Sakayanagi Arisu did not choose the opportunity to gain tens of thousands of personal points per month, nor did she choose to take advantage of Kitagawa Ryo in a later class competition.

Kitagawa Ryo quietly looked at Sakayanagi Arisu's sleeping face.

He held the other's hand like that until Sakayanagi Arisu fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Hiyori Shiina's Little Game

One day in June, the hands of the clock on the wall slowly moved to nearly six o'clock. In this not-so-spacious, even somewhat cramped, kitchen, Kitagawa Ryo carefully observed the changing situation with the cautiousness of someone facing a special exam.

"Hiyori, be careful."

I wonder if saying completely meaningless things will sound sarcastic or sarcastic.

While harboring such worries, Kitagawa Ryo spoke to Shiina Hiyori, who was standing next to him.

Because the kitchen was really small, and Kitagawa Ryo wanted to avoid any possible problems, he inevitably moved closer, to a distance where they could almost hear each other breathing, their shoulders touching.

Kitagawa Ryo had originally planned to cook some rice balls himself for lunch today. He doesn't really like sushi. Although the two foods look similar, if Kitagawa Ryo were to define it, he would probably prefer the way rice balls are eaten with fillings inside the rice, rather than the way sushi has the fillings on top.

Of course, it's pointless to discuss these issues now.

If Kitagawa Ryo had known in advance that Shiina Hiyori would suddenly volunteer to cook, he would definitely have prepared all the ingredients beforehand.

Shiina Hiyori's declaration to cook was made thirty minutes ago. For Kitagawa Ryo, the sensation this declaration caused in this small room was probably no less than the Blueberry Pie War back then. Thinking about it this way, Kitagawa Ryo's room actually witnessed two major events in the first semester.

However, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't refuse, since he had promised Shiina Hiyori that once her cooking skills improved, he would have her cook a meal for him. Although Shiina Hiyori performed quite well and her pink apron was very cute, Kitagawa Ryo still watched her actions with some trepidation when the girl held a sharp kitchen knife in her hand.

After washing and sorting all the vegetables, Kitagawa Ryo felt quite reassured about this step.

When it came to the second dish, Kitagawa Ryo thought for a moment and squatted in the kitchen like a supervisor, his nervous appearance making Shiina Hiyori somewhat at a loss.

"don’t worry."

Shiina Hiyori shook her head. For convenience, she also followed Horikita Suzune's example and tied her long hair into a single ponytail at the back of her head with a hair tie, which swayed back and forth, adding a touch of dynamic beauty to the girl.

Kitagawa Ryo's memory of his first time in the kitchen as a girl who couldn't cook dates back almost three years, but at that time, the person standing next to him was Karuizawa Megumi.

Unpleasant memories flooded Kitagawa Ryo's mind, making him watch Shiina Hiyori's performance with even more tension. He almost pressed his eyes against the girl's slender white fingers. As the cleaver fell one blow after another, Kitagawa Ryo's mind seemed to be on a rollercoaster, going up and down.

As their line of sight shortened, when Shiina Hiyori finished cutting a carrot and turned to look at Kitagawa Ryo, she vaguely saw something through the gap in his collar.

"Be careful when slicing."

Kitagawa Ryo hadn't noticed Shiina Hiyori's gaze yet, and was only giving this quiet reminder.

"...Is this so?"

"Hmm, Hiyori's knife skills are better than I expected!"

Watching Shiina Hiyori's hands steadily wield the knife without the accident he had feared, Kitagawa Ryo's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and he breathed a long-awaited sigh of relief.

"All done cutting."

Shiina Hiyori's childlike attempt to take credit brought a natural smile to Kitagawa Ryo's face.

I'm sure I'll witness more of Hiyori's growth in the future.

Kitagawa Ryo had this premonition, and he nodded in response to Shiina Hiyori:

"Okay, I'll take care of the rest of the ingredients for you."

To be honest, Kitagawa Ryo didn't dare let Shiina Hiyori actually cook and season the food, given her inability to distinguish between salt and sugar... It would be better to let her handle the initial cutting and final shaping processes.

Kitagawa Ryo was undoubtedly much more efficient than Shiina Hiyori. He found a corner to work on and had Hiyori assist him, while Kitagawa Ryo worked at full speed to finish processing all the ingredients. Then, with great emotional intelligence, he handed the kitchen back to Shiina Hiyori.

Watching Shiina Hiyori diligently shaping the rice balls, Kitagawa Ryo inexplicably recalled himself playing with modeling clay as a child. However, compared to himself, who had absolutely no artistic talent, Shiina Hiyori seemed much more skillful in this regard, even going so far as to create some strange and unusual shapes.

"How's the saltiness?"

Shiina Hiyori brought out the plate and placed it on the table with great pomp. There was a grain of rice stuck to her lips, as if she had just tasted it. Now, Shiina Hiyori was holding a small piece and offering it to Kitagawa Ryo's lips.

Although Kitagawa Ryo really wanted to complain that he had prepared most of the seasoning for the ingredients, even the rice, he still obediently took the small piece with his hand, put it in his mouth, and chewed it:

"Just right."