Kei Karuizawa: Protection

This sentence is outdated.

"I didn't expect Suzune to have such a subtle 'tsukkomi' (straight man) role."

"..."

After a brief silence, Horikita Suzune tentatively raised her right hand, then lowered it; she raised her left hand, then lowered it again.

As expected, the foolish bipedal humans could not learn to walk on all fours.

Hotaru yawned, resting her head on Kitagawa Ryo's shoulder.

"You need to move all four limbs, hands and feet. Suzune should imagine herself as a cat now."

"I might need it someday when I switch bodies with a cat."

Is this some kind of setting from a romance light novel?

While suppressing her embarrassment, Horikita Suzune began to try her best to imitate Hotaru's movements.

"Be more flexible, your body is too stiff."

Instead of making sarcastic remarks, you should demonstrate it yourself.

"OK."

To Horikita Suzune's surprise, Kitagawa Ryo actually rolled onto the carpet without any hesitation. In the next instant, he stretched out his limbs as nimbly as a real cat, his lazy expression and highly flexible movements exuding a mysterious, feline charm.

They completely forgot that Kitagawa Ryo is a genius in the theater world.

Horikita Suzune: orz.

"If the movements are difficult to practice, try looking at your eyes first."

Kitagawa Ryo stood up and carried Hotaru to Horikita Suzune.

"I've heard that many anime artists reference cats when drawing them, emphasizing the eyes and minimizing the nose and mouth."

The fluorescent blue pupils and the purplish-red pupils shone brightly as Horikita Suzune gazed into Hotaru's eyes.

Whether it was her imagination or not, she even felt that she saw a human-like smile.

Afterwards, Horikita Suzune continued to practice thoughtfully for another half hour until she could barely get used to the way of moving on all fours, and then she excitedly called Kitagawa Ryo over.

"I suddenly noticed a problem while flipping through the original work just now."

However, Kitagawa Ryo gave Horikita Suzune an awkward yet polite smile:

"The female protagonist of <The Cat> is an elderly cat who returns to her tribe from the outside world, so there are basically no scenes in the whole show where she needs to be on all fours."

"..."

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Hotaru bristled and darted off Kitagawa Ryo's shoulder to the other bookshelf.

"Cold."

Horikita Suzune's smile carried a dangerous, wildcat-like quality.

"Which do you prefer: experiencing pain and regret, or experiencing despair and regret?"

As a musical, the story structure of "Cats" is not complicated. It mainly tells the story of a cat clan called Jellicle Cats, who hold an annual ball where each cat can show off its abilities. Finally, the most respected leader of the clan chooses one cat to ascend to heaven.

Grizabella was a charming cat who left her pack. In her old age, she tried to return to the pack, but was not accepted by them. Finally, she won their approval by singing a song called "Memory" and was chosen to enter heaven.

Because it was originally adapted from a poem written for children, the whole series has a children's fairy tale feel, and the ending is a common happy ending.

"So that's roughly it. The Drama Club's final review a few days ago mainly focused on selecting personnel based on this script."

Kitagawa Ryo and Ichinose Honami walked along the tree-lined path at school, casually chatting about recent events during their lunch break.

"So Horikita ultimately passed the final review, right?"

"Well, she was a specially recruited Actor for this script, and her performance during the final review was acceptable."

Kitagawa Ryo took a bite of the pineapple bun in his hand. He didn't really like the combination of fried noodles and bread, which was a double dose of carbohydrates. When he occasionally ate fast food from a convenience store, he would usually choose this kind of sweet bread.

"Her voice is still quite good."

Ichinose Honami tilted her head in confusion and asked curiously:

"How is this musical different from the plays Liang performed before?"

"Perhaps it's because musicals require singing more often."

After giving a rather rough explanation, Kitagawa Ryo added:

"Especially <Cats>, which is basically composed of dozens of musical pieces and dances."

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard Honami sing before."

"Because I don't usually go to karaoke with friends, I don't really know how well I sing."

"Let's go together after school today."

"Just the two of us?"

"Certainly."

"Then there's no problem."

Ichinose Honami clapped her hands happily; she enjoyed spending time alone with Kitagawa Ryo much more than karaoke.

Anything done by two people together, whether it's singing or anything else, is something to look forward to.

Because this is the process of building memories between two people.

"<Memory>, recollection?"

Ichinose Honami looked at the next song on the karaoke machine, turned around, and asked:

"Is it the famous song from 'Cats' that Ryo mentioned?"

"Hmm, Honami can give it a try too. The lyrics aren't difficult; you can sing along."

Kitagawa Ryo clapped the microphone in his hand. The karaoke room was flashing with colorful lights, and junk food, represented by French fries, was placed on the table. Amidst the bizarre colors, he brought the microphone to his mouth.

[Memory, Turn your face to the moonlight

Memories, turn your face toward the moonlight

Let your memory lead you. Open up enter in

Let memories guide you, open up, and then enter there.

If you find there The meaning of what happiness is

If you found the meaning of happiness there

Then a new life will begin

So, a happy life is about to begin.

This was the first time Ichinose Honami had heard Kitagawa Ryo Singing. At first, she gently shook the maracas in her hand to accompany the music, but she was quickly and completely captivated by the other's gentle voice. Ichinose Honami simply closed her eyes and quietly listened to Kitagawa Ryo's singing.

During the song's interlude, Kitagawa Ryo took something out of his pocket, walked over to Ichinose Honami, and gently pinned it to the girl's head.

The movements were as gentle as a lover's caress, yet also as heavy as if infused with all the memories.

He touched her soft, flowing hair.

Ichinose Honami has never worn any hair accessories.

Hair ties, headbands, hair clips, headbands.

She was the first girl Kitagawa Ryo met in this "Life Restart Simulator".

Unlike Karuizawa Kei and others who came later, Ichinose Honami was an image sketched out from words. Kitagawa Ryo collected fragments about this girl little by little in her three simulations before piecing her together into a complete human form and bringing her Resurrection with his fingertips.

They are all overestimating themselves by trying to protect their entire family and loved ones on their own.

"Cold?"

Ichinose Honami opened her eyes in confusion, and then saw her reflection in the brightly lit, reflective walls of the private room.

The peach-pink hair clip is engraved with an exquisitely crafted mythical bird with outstretched wings, its tail feathers trailing waves of gradually changing crimson flames.

"It's Honami's turn to sing."

Kitagawa Ryo Ichinose Honami his brightest smile as he gently shook the maracas in his hand.

"This is my first time singing, so don't laugh at me if I don't sing well."

Ichinose Honami stuck out her tongue.

"Absolutely not, don't worry. Besides, Honami might even have a talent for this."

[Memory All alone in the moonlight. I can smile at the old days.

Memories, alone under the moonlight, I can face the past with a smile.

Ichinose Honami has a very outgoing personality. Although it was her first time singing, she didn't show any stage fright whatsoever.

Kitagawa Ryo smiled as he looked at Ichinose Honami Singing. Although it was a noisy karaoke room, he felt an immense sense of peace and tranquility welling up from the depths of his heart.

In the musical, the song "Memory" touched the hearts of all the cats, successfully helping the female protagonist become the only chosen cat and ascend to heaven.

Therefore, this is not a lamenting tune of self-pity, but a piece that, after recognizing all the suffering, still decides to take steps toward tomorrow.

Just like the phoenix engraved on the hair clip he gave to Ichinose Honami.

"If you touch me. You'll understand what happiness is.

(If you touch me, you will understand what happiness is.)

"Look, a new day has begun."

Ichinose Honami's shadow was stretched very long under the lighting. She held the microphone with both hands, closed her eyes, and sang the last line. Then she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Kitagawa Ryo.

The girl's azure eyes seemed to sparkle like stars.

[Newborn]

Chapter 31: Karuizawa Kei - Guardian

Seven-year-old Karuizawa Kei is lying on the ground, seemingly intently observing ants moving house.

She used the branch in her hand to turn over the thick layer of fallen leaves under the tree, then brushed away the layers of dirt on top, and sure enough, there was a small wallet underneath.

It should contain 53,800 yen.

This was her father's secret stash of money hidden in their courtyard; theoretically, it should have been discovered by her mother, who was tidying up the yard, a month later.

Karuizawa Kei sighed and buried her wallet even deeper. It took her more than a month to slowly accept the fact that she had been reborn with her memories intact.

After confirming the authenticity of several events from her memory, Karuizawa Kei began to think while haphazardly drawing shapes on the ground with a twig.

Perhaps due to too many regrets left over from her past life, Karuizawa Kei is now filled with more excitement and agitation.

There are roughly two problems that need to be solved:

First, I will experience severe bullying at school in the future, which will shape my extremely distorted personality.

II. Where is Liang now?

Karuizawa Kei was certain that this was not the timeline of the first memory, because she had never met Kitagawa Ryo, nor was she his childhood friend.

If this is the timeline of the second memory, then I should be in the same junior high school as Ryo.

But I'm only in elementary school now.

Although, so far, the flapping of Karuizawa Kei's wings doesn't seem to have changed anything, including the fact that her father's secret stash of money is still hidden here.

But she still couldn't wait to confirm it, to confirm Kitagawa Ryo's existence.

Karuizawa Kei wrote his name on the ground with a twig.

Or perhaps, she just wanted to see him one more time.

Karuizawa Kei knew which elementary school Kitagawa Ryo attended, and in order to go to that school from her memory, she even skipped the last class of the afternoon.

She waited at the school gate in advance. For safety reasons, Karuizawa Kei stayed close to the guard at the school gate, looking like a little girl waiting for her older brother or sister to get out of school.

But it never came.