Classroom of the Elite, I Have a Life Simulator

"Did you forget anything?"

"Mm, I have everything."

After confirming that nothing had been left behind, the two walked side by side back toward the hotel.

"This should be the first time in years that we've come out to a hot spring together."

Kitagawa Ryo walked along the path blooming with hibiscus flowers, speaking with a touch of sentimentality as Sakayanagi Arisu walked beside him.

"Mm, the first time."

Sakayanagi Arisu replied, walking right at Kitagawa Ryo's side.

Naturally, and with such absolute certainty, as if things had never been any other way.

Even though it was the first time.

"The play we saw this afternoon was quite interesting, too."

Sakayanagi Arisu was referring to the Shakespearean masterpiece, Oedipus Rex, which they had enjoyed together at the theater that afternoon.

"What do you think the riddle of the Sphinx really meant?"

She tilted her head, her silver-white hair fluttering and swaying in the breeze.

"Are you talking about the riddle where it walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and one in the evening?"

Kitagawa Ryo slowed his pace, the gentle evening breeze carrying a sense of leisure as it brushed against them.

"Mm. In the play, the answer Oedipus gives is 'man'."

"The Sphinx is a monster—a creature with the body of a lion and the face of a woman. It represents fear and temptation."

"But once King Oedipus solved the riddle, it fell off a cliff and died. For a monster that had devoured countless people, it died surprisingly easily."

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed very interested in this topic.

"I think the meaning it intends to convey is that 'as long as a person can recognize themselves, they can overcome temptation and fear'."

Kitagawa Ryo offered his own perspective:

"Ancient Greek dramas often highlight the glory and greatness of humanity, praising human courage and will."

"But in the end, King Oedipus still met the same fate as the oracle predicted. He couldn't change a thing. It's as if from the moment he was born, no matter how he struggled, he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, falling into ultimate tragedy."

Sakayanagi Arisu sharply refuted Kitagawa Ryo's statement:

"Even if a person can recognize everything about themselves, it is nothing more than a futile struggle. That is why King Oedipus eventually gouged out his own eyes and chose self-imposed exile."

"Sometimes, not seeing the truth and failing to recognize the reality of one's situation might actually be happiness."

The corners of her mouth curled into an arc. Seeing the puzzled look on Kitagawa Ryo as he gazed at her, Sakayanagi Arisu smoothed out her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind. She took two steps forward, then stopped, turning gracefully to face Kitagawa Ryo, her body leaning slightly forward:

"Right, Brother?"

Kitagawa Ryo's breath hitched slightly, and he scratched his cheek in embarrassment:

"Didn't we agree not to use that title anymore?"

"You're lying."

Sakayanagi Arisu stepped closer to Kitagawa Ryo. Despite being a head shorter, her presence subtly took the upper hand.

Her violet, jewel-like pupils held a trace of a smile as her right hand slipped through the gap in Kitagawa Ryo's shirt, resting against his chest over his heart.

"Your heartbeat has clearly quickened."

"If Arisu thinks the increased heart rate is due to lying rather than your actions, then that's being too subjective."

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed dissatisfied with Kitagawa Ryo's answer; she pressed her hand firmly, pushing Kitagawa Ryo back two steps.

"You're already making that face, yet you still want to keep brushing me off? If you intend to keep up the pretense, you should start by convincing yourself first."

Sakayanagi Arisu's hand stroked Kitagawa Ryo's messy black hair. She stood on her tiptoes, shifting her body weight forward, and used the momentum to press Kitagawa Ryo against the railing by the path. Their posture was somewhat intimate, though fortunately, no other tourists were on the path at the moment.

"In that case, you don't need to say anything. If you want to move, then speak clearly—don't move."

Kitagawa Ryo had just tried to break free from this passive and awkward position, but he was immediately pinned back into place by Sakayanagi Arisu's words.

"Is that so..."

It was more than just a quickened heartbeat; it was thumping at maximum frequency. Kitagawa Ryo felt as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

"You want me to call you Brother."

Only now did Kitagawa Ryo sluggishly realize the strange obsession Sakayanagi Arisu held for him. On one hand, she was his sister—docile and sickly like a pet—and on the other, she was a... deity? One who recklessly controlled his thoughts and actions?

Kitagawa Ryo arbitrarily defined her as such.

The fate of King Oedipus was an inescapable tragedy ordained by the gods; Kitagawa Ryo's fate was ordained by Sakayanagi Arisu, and he had no way to leave.

"Mm, I want Arisu to stay by my side forever."

Kitagawa Ryo only needed to look at Sakayanagi Arisu; he was easily captured by her pupils and her smile.

"Brother, I am right here."

"Mm."

"So you don't need to go anywhere."

"Mm, I won't go anywhere. I will always be with Arisu."

Kitagawa Ryo told himself over and over again the fact that he was currently immersed in happiness.

"To think that Brother could actually fulfill my wish and completely crush that Ayanokoji from the White Room."

Sakayanagi Arisu placed her hand on Kitagawa Ryo's head:

"Here is your reward, first is—"

She deliberately drew out her voice, like a preschool teacher coaxing a small child.

"Head pats and nuzzling."

Kitagawa Ryo said the answer before Sakayanagi Arisu could, soaking in her embrace, drowning drunkenly in the warmth.

"There's the scent of so many other people."

Sakayanagi Arisu rubbed her nose against his:

"Only my scent is enough."

"And then—"

"A hug."

Kitagawa Ryo reached out to wrap his arms around her slender shoulders, with a force that almost tried to knead himself into her body, like a child clutching a long-desired toy.

He felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if he were offering himself as a sacrifice to a deity.

In the six years that Kitagawa Ryo could remember, Sakayanagi Arisu had occupied every single minute and second; in every meticulously planned future, her figure was there. The Fate of Kitagawa Ryo and Sakayanagi Arisu had long been intertwined, like a barb embedded deep in his heart.

"What is the last one?"

Sweet words still lingered in Kitagawa Ryo's ears:

"It's a kiss."

His lips pressed against Sakayanagi Arisu's, and then he kissed her.

On the last day of the vacation, Kitagawa Ryo and Sakayanagi Arisu climbed the seaside lighthouse together. The white-haired girl set her cane aside and leaned her body against the railing like a statue, gazing intently at the entire sea and the harbor.

"As long as the distance is far enough, even two parallel lines that never intersect look like they overlap to the naked eye."

Kitagawa Ryo looked at the horizon where the sea met the sky and said this.

"But in reality, no matter how far they extend, the distance between them never shortens."

He frowned as he looked at the deep blue sea, the strings of his memory suddenly plucked slightly.

"Is something wrong?"

Sakayanagi Arisu turned her head to gaze at Kitagawa Ryo. Her deep purple pupils were a color Kitagawa Ryo had grown accustomed to over the years, but now, there seemed to be a slight sense of dissonance.

"It's nothing."

Kitagawa Ryo suppressed the anomaly in his heart, because Sakayanagi Arisu's left hand had already grasped his right hand.

A small hand that could easily slide into his palm; it seemed that if he applied even a little force, it would break, melting and disappearing like freshly fallen snow.

"There won't be a worst-case scenario anymore, right, Arisu?"

"...Mm."

She held Kitagawa Ryo's left pinky finger and gently scratched his palm.

"In another month, Ryo will be entering Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School with me, right?"

"Chairman Sakayanagi has already spoken to me about this."

"Mm."

Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly revealed a cunning smile:

"I heard it's a completely closed management system, for a full three years."

She took a step back and spread her arms, like a bird about to take flight—as if wanting to convey something:

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Ryo."

Irrelevant people do not exist here. A world that unfolds after completely eliminating someone's existence is the happy ending for everyone.

Sakayanagi Arisu confirmed this to herself.

Karuizawa Kei's Autumn Lie

Chapter One: Karuizawa Kei's Autumn Lie

[Congratulations to the player for achieving the achievement "Single-minded", the final score for this chapter has increased by ten points]

[Single-minded: In one simulation, remain single-minded toward the main heroine throughout the entire process]

[Congratulations to the player for achieving the achievement "Masterpiece", obtained one permanent talent slot]

[Masterpiece: Defeat the plot-critical character Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in a single simulation.]

[Permanent Talent Slot: Player's initial talent slots increased by one; seven initial talents can currently be drawn.]

[Congratulations to the player for achieving the "Double Girlfriends" achievement. This achievement is now unlocked; no further rewards will be issued.]

[Double Girlfriends: Obtain the affection of two plot-critical female characters in a single simulation.]

[Congratulations to the player for achieving the "Salvation" achievement. Ichinose Honami's initial affection level has increased.]

[Salvation: Clear the first chapter "Ichinose Honami's Summer Time Rendering" with the hidden "Salvation" ending.]

[Congratulations to the player for achieving the "Ten Years of Pooper Scooper" achievement. The 'Pooper Scooper' talent quality has been upgraded to purple and is automatically retained as a solidified talent.]

[Grand Pooper Scooper (Purple): You possess an obedient, clever, and human-like pet cat, though lately, you feel its gaze upon you is a bit strange. (However, it is still just a cat; perhaps you could call it 'Hotaru'?)]

[Congratulations to the player for clearing the first chapter. Drawing rewards corresponding to the player's score tier.]

[Congratulations to the player for obtaining the reward item: Ichinose Honami's Self.]

[Ichinose Honami's Self: Before the start of each simulation, randomly upgrade the quality of three items (Gold-tier talents cannot be upgraded further; includes initial and solidified talents).]

["I do not wish for Ryo to walk ahead of me one day, nor do I wish for Ryo to follow behind me one day. What I hope for is that we can walk side by side."]

[Current Highest Score: 100 points.]

[There are two simulation attempts remaining for the first chapter. Since the player's final score for this simulation is 100 points, the remaining two simulations will be completed by default at the 100-point score tier and rewards will be issued. If this reward is reserved until all chapters are cleared, the mystery prize will be doubled.]

[Player chooses not to claim this reward for now.]

[Player achieved a perfect clear in this simulation; all talents are retained.]

[All talents have been solidified.]