I Want to Answer Everyone's Feelings

Kitagawa Ryo stared silently at Horikita Suzune, then sat up again as if nothing had happened.

"I'm fine."

Horikita Suzune froze instantly. She first subconsciously felt anger at being deceived, but then felt a sense of relief. The two emotions were mixed together, and she didn't even know whether she should be angry or not.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're planning to get into the Drama Club through logistics, right?"

Kitagawa Ryo stirred the food in the bento box with a spoon.

"I don't have any aversion to seafood, but that doesn't rule out the possibility that everyone else in the Drama Club does."

"By then, I will naturally investigate and find out the truth."

Horikita Suzune quickly retorted.

I don't believe it.

Kitagawa Ryo decisively rejected it:

"I don't deny your talent in cooking, but besides cooking, the logistics team is also responsible for the preparation and tailoring of costumes and props, the advance setup of the stage, and the coordination of lighting and background music. None of these tasks can be accomplished by one person alone."

"So how can I believe the promise of someone who doesn't have any friends at all?"

"I believe she can easily handle these tedious tasks, and I believe she can build good relationships with everyone on and off stage overnight."

Are you trying to say that these things don't really matter, and that you can prepare them all by yourself?

Kitagawa Ryo at Horikita Suzune, as if shattering the impeccable set of beliefs she had built up over the years.

"Your brother, Horikita Manabu, has joined the Student Council of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School."

"It's really strange. If someone can do everything, why would they join a club? Especially Student Council club, which is supposed to connect with the entire student body."

"I wonder what he thinks about his younger sister struggling to join a Drama Club."

"If you continue to be so stubborn, then there's no need for me to bring you to this year's Cultural Festival. After all, you seem to be of no use except to further disappoint your brother."

This seemed to be the first time he had spoken so harshly to Horikita Suzune. Ultimately, he had no right to interfere in other people's lives, but...

Kitagawa Ryo Horikita Suzune, who was hanging her head and clenching her fists tightly, with a complicated expression.

Just as an awkward silence fell between the two, the door was pushed open once again.

"Liang, have you had lunch yet? I brought you some."

Honami Ichinose, Ichinose Honami, entered through the door. As soon as she came in, she saw Horikita Suzune and Kitagawa Ryo facing each other without saying a word.

"Horikita is here too? Uh, what happened?"

Ichinose Honami tentatively asked, recalling that she had met Horikita Suzune once when school started and remembered her somewhat.

"There's nothing else, let's eat."

Kitagawa Ryo closed the lid on Horikita Suzune's bento box on the table, Ichinose Honami didn't ask any more questions, gently placing her own bento box in front of Kitagawa Ryo.

"Horikita, would you like to eat something together?"

Ichinose Honami didn't have much ill will towards Horikita Suzune herself; they were just not familiar with each other, so she was just being polite.

"I brought my own."

Horikita Suzune shook her head. She reopened the bento box that Kitagawa Ryo had returned, since Kitagawa Ryo had only eaten a few bites.

"Tom Yum? This dish is quite complicated to make, but it's also good for women as it nourishes the body, improves complexion, and soothes the stomach."

Ichinose Honami glanced at it curiously, but her hands didn't stop moving. In no time, several exquisite dishes were laid out on Kitagawa Ryo's table.

Because the two attend the same school, Ichinose Honami and Kitagawa Ryo sometimes share their lunchboxes. Kitagawa Ryo's decision to wait here alone instead of going to the cafeteria today was also due to a prior arrangement with Ichinose Honami.

"This mutton soup has been simmering for several hours. Because Ryo, Maki, and Mom have different tastes, we made a special special soup for you. After all, Ryo doesn't like cilantro."

Generally speaking, cilantro is needed to mask the muttony smell in mutton soup, but Ichinose Honami knows that Ryo never eats cilantro, so she always makes a point of telling the owner when she eats ramen.

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath. Cilantro is an essential ingredient in Tom Yum, and the bowl in front of her was garnished with quite a bit of chopped cilantro.

Ichinose Honami always acted like a very gentle older sister in front of Kitagawa Ryo. Unlike her usual energetic voice, her voice was now softer, like flowing water. Her beautiful face was filled with smiles, and her bright eyes were like stars, dazzling and captivating.

"Ichinose is the Student Council vice president, right?"

Horikita Suzune looked up and asked.

Ichinose Honami Kitagawa Ryo eat her cooking with a smile, nodded without looking away.

"Yes, is Horikita- san facing some difficulties? After all, she only transferred here this year. If there's anything inconvenient, she can always let the Student Council know."

"Does the Student Council... also handle this?"

"Yes, students can come to the Student Council for any problems they have."

Horikita Suzune nodded, silently eating her food bite by bite.

She had never interacted with anyone before, let alone joined clubs or Student Councils, but just now Kitagawa Ryo said that Horikita Manabu had joined the Student Council.

This fact continues to resonate deeply with Horikita Suzune.

So she didn't say another word until she finished her lunch, packed up her lunchbox, and left.

"I thought she would apply to join the Student Council."

"Huh? Why?"

"Imitative behavior."

"After all, some people keep deceiving themselves with the excuse that 'this is the kind of sister her brother wants.' Whether it's appearance, personality, or grades, everything is for her brother, and she imitates him to gain his approval."

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Kitagawa Ryo stretched and said with half-closed eyes:

"So it's quite surprising that Suzune doesn't seem to be giving up halfway."

"Don't know."

Ichinose Honami was quite pleased to see that Kitagawa Ryo had finished all the food she had brought; a faint sense of satisfaction and accomplishment made her eyes light up.

"I'll head back now."

The lunch break was short, so Ichinose Honami quickly got up and left after finishing tidying up.

"Take care, and don't bother seeing me off."

Kitagawa Ryo leaned back in his recliner and casually waved his hand.

"You're so lazy!"

After snorting, Ichinose Honami added:

"Don't lie down after you've eaten."

"You can't lie down after you're full, you can't sit down after you're full, you can't stand up after you're full, you can't run after you're full, basically you can't do anything after you're full."

Kitagawa Ryo casually grabbed a book and covered his face:

"Then I'll just go to sleep."

"Just don't oversleep."

Ichinose Honami shook her head helplessly, gently closed the door, and tried not to make a sound to disturb Kitagawa Ryo.

Just a few steps from the school building, she saw Horikita Suzune huddled alone in a corner, looking pitiful.

"Horikita?"

Slightly taken aback, Ichinose Honami, she was the Student Council vice president, and she had heard some rumors these days that Horikita Suzune was being isolated in class. She was worried that the other girl might be being bullied at school, which was why she asked her during lunch earlier.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Horikita Suzune looked up and saw Ichinose Honami's kind gaze.

"... I'd like to ask a few questions, is that alright?"

"If I can answer that, of course I can."

Ichinose Honami also squatted down next to Horikita Suzune.

"Are there any dietary restrictions or preferences that we should be aware of regarding Minister Kitagawa's tastes?"

Horikita Suzune rubbed her eyes and turned her face away as she asked.

This was the first time she had ever proactively inquired about someone else's eating habits.

"Hmm... I guess I don't really like spicy food, prefer sweet and sour flavors, and I can accept scallions but don't like cilantro."

Although Ichinose Honami didn't understand why the other person asked this, she still answered honestly:

"I don't eat garlic, but minced garlic is okay; if it's noodles, I prefer them a bit firm..."

She rattled off a whole host of names as if they were her own treasures, which surprised even Horikita Suzune.

It's unbelievable that there are girls who meticulously record other people's eating habits.

"But why is Horikita asking this?"

After explaining what she knew, Ichinose Honami asked curiously.

"Because I want to get into the Drama Club through a position in logistics or something similar..."

After a moment of silence, Horikita Suzune answered truthfully.

"Logistics? I've done that before, and it was logistics for Theater Troupe."

Ichinose Honami suddenly remembered the logistical tasks she had done, which Kitagawa Ryo had recommended her for.

"Actually, the food itself is only a small part, but a high level of skill is always the best."

"Actually, the more troublesome part is preparing all kinds of props and costumes. We have to communicate with the theater manager and Actor many times to make them meet their requirements and stage style."

Ichinose Honami shared her insights and experiences without reservation.

"So Liang also said that the success of a play is not only due to the Actor, but everyone, including the logistical staff, deserves praise as well."

"After all, even in a one-man show that requires no supporting actors, the Actor can't go on stage naked in the dark, can he?"

"Um."

Horikita Suzune nodded slowly. At the edge of her vision, a large, serene golden sun was rising slowly to its highest point among the city's skyscrapers.

"Thank you so much."

[Horikita Suzune's state of mind changes, and her life trajectory shifts.]

[Unlock conditions have been met.]

Kitagawa Ryo, who was reclining on the chair, suddenly opened his eyes.

What is it?

For the first time, the [Life Restart Simulator], which had been completely silent since its rebirth, started to react.

On the blue main page, the gray and locked [Chapter: Horikita Suzune's Midwinter Phantom Dream] has been turned into a selectable bright color.

"A simulator?"

After a brief moment of panic, Kitagawa Ryo quickly calmed himself down and used a small knife he found in the drawer to cut his palm.

His biggest fear is that he's still in a so-called simulation, and that everything he's experiencing is fake...

The pain felt incredibly real; Kitagawa Ryo clenched his fist, and blood dripped onto the table.

[Through brief textual descriptions, simulate possible future developments.]

However, Kitagawa Ryo still did not make any rash moves.

Chapter 18: I Want to Respond to Everyone's Feelings

"Minister Kitagawa, it's almost time for the meeting."

Kushida Kikyo gently knocked on the door of the club president's office as she spoke, but there was no response from inside. She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door with the key she had with her.

Kitagawa Ryo, who had been staying here during lunch break, was nowhere to be seen. Kushida Kikyo walked into the house with some confusion. The room was not large, and there was no place for anyone to hide.

"Did you go to the restroom?"

Kushida Kikyo muttered to herself as she dialed Kitagawa Ryo's number.

The number you dialed is currently switched off...