Classroom of the Elite, I Have a Life Simulator 41

"I've heard that girls who have been in love become prettier."

"...Emi, you aren't meeting Karuizawa today, are you?"

On the other side, Yuko, who was naturally timid, spent a long time reading the room before speaking up hesitantly.

"That's right. Besides, I haven't seen Kei in a long time, and I've really missed her."

Emi Eura smoothed back her hair:

"And I'm guessing she's wearing a white sleeveless dress today."

Yuko and Sayu exchanged glances, seemingly unable to believe Emi Eura's words. It was Emi Eura herself who had been the first in class to incite them to bully Karuizawa Kei, yet now she was acting like a best friend waiting for her dear companion. This contrast sent a chill down their spines, and they dared not speak further.

"Hmph."

Emi Eura estimated that the time was almost up. She leaned against the wall and glanced at the two of them dismissively:

"Pay attention later. It's best if you don't say anything."

Seeing the two nod in assurance, Emi Eura leaned quietly against the wall and continued to fiddle with her nails. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, looking no different from any ordinary woman out shopping.

Sure enough, only about two minutes later, the figure of Karuizawa Kei appeared in the trio's field of vision.

Emi Eura stretched and walked out. The intense sunlight passed through her body, casting a massive shadow on the wall like a bird of prey spreading its wings, ready to hunt.

"Kei, over here."

This massive bird of prey waved its wings.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I'm not late, am I?"

Just as Emi Eura had predicted, Karuizawa Kei was indeed wearing that white sleeveless dress today.

She trotted over to the three of them, subconsciously apologizing first.

Emi Eura looked down at Karuizawa Kei with a hint of pleasure. She could feel the anxiety and fear almost overflowing from the other girl; this emotion stimulated her twofold. She placed her hands on Karuizawa Kei's shoulders in an almost brazen manner and said to her:

"It's fine, we haven't been waiting long anyway."

"Kei, your outfit today is very pretty. But isn't white hard to keep clean? If you get splashed with water or get something else on it, it probably won't be easy to wash."

Immediately after, as if realizing she had said something wrong, she feigned an apology with a mysterious air:

"Kei, don't worry too much. Once everyone's emotions settle down after this, I'll talk to them."

Emi Eura took her hand and kindly led her toward the shopping mall:

"You must be tired from running over here. There's a very nice cafe on the basement floor of the mall; let's go get something to drink."

Karuizawa Kei naturally couldn't say anything, and the other two followed Emi Eura inside like marionettes.

"One iced Americano, three pearl mango lattes."

After walking into the cafe, Emi Eura took the liberty of ordering drinks for all four of them. Only after placing the order did she turn to Karuizawa Kei and say:

"The iced Americano here is definitely worth a try. Sayu, Yuko, and I had it last time, so we won't order it this time. Kei, you really should taste it."

Karuizawa Kei hurriedly agreed:

"Oh, oh, okay."

The four of them took their receipt and found a table in the cafe. The polished tabletop shone like a mirror, clearly reflecting the four people sitting around it. For Karuizawa Kei, the last time she had such an experience dated back at least two months, to the point where she felt a long-lost sense of novelty and awkwardness.

The cafe's preparation speed was faster than Karuizawa Kei had imagined. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, the waiter had already brought over the four drinks. The iced Americano, different from the other three, was quickly placed in front of Karuizawa Kei.

Dark brown liquid mixed with transparent ice cubes—Karuizawa Kei had never drunk an iced Americano before, or rather, she had always hated bitter things.

She hesitated to take a sip. Emi Eura, on the other side, had no intention of drinking her own beverage either. Only the other two drank cautiously, not even daring to make too much noise with their straws.

"This place isn't bad, right?"

Emi Eura cast her gaze toward Sayu and Yuko. With just that one sentence, the two nodded quickly, and the sound of their straws became louder, drinking one after another as if desperate to create a harmonious and lively atmosphere.

Seeing Emi Eura's gaze shift toward her, Karuizawa Kei hurriedly put her lips to the straw, intending to force herself to take a sip.

She gripped the cold glass, the chill and bitterness seemingly having already penetrated the thin walls of the cup and into her veins.

"Ah, Kei, you can't drink bitter things, can you?"

Emi Eura clapped her hands as if she had suddenly remembered something, causing Karuizawa Kei's movements to freeze instantly.

"Sorry, sorry."

She pressed her palms together, smiling at Karuizawa Kei with an expression that looked both sincere and guilty.

"How about you swap your iced Americano with mine, Kei?"

Emi Eura kindly pushed the drink in front of her toward the other girl.

"Oh, oh, okay. But is Emi used to drinking this?"

Karuizawa Kei was, of course, more than happy to do so. She agreed almost immediately, but soon felt something was wrong, squinting her eyes as she observed Emi Eura.

"I'm really not used to it. To be honest, I think it tastes terrible."

Emi Eura's expression changed as if she were a different person. She tapped the table with her long nails, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Karuizawa Kei.

Karuizawa Kei felt her entire body go cold. The iced Americano she had been about to push toward Emi Eura now felt like a frozen river swallowing her whole. She hurriedly stammered in reply:

"Right, I'd better drink it myself."

Karuizawa Kei quickly bit down on the straw and took two heavy gulps, as if desperate to prove that her previous gesture was just a show and that she absolutely had no intention of handing this over to Emi Eura.

"Actually, it's quite good."

Karuizawa Kei replied in this manner.

"Is that so? Then I'll give it a try too."

"...I've already drunk from it, so let's just forget it."

Emi Eura seemed dissatisfied with Karuizawa Kei's somewhat evasive behavior; she actively straightened her posture and leaned toward Karuizawa Kei, as if she intended to grab the iced Americano directly.

But just as her fingers made contact with the glass, which still held more than half of the drink, Emi Eura's hand inadvertently gave it a nudge, and the entire glass, along with the dark brown liquid, tipped backward toward Karuizawa Kei.

"Clatter."

That was the sound of the falling glass hitting the tabletop.

Transparent ice cubes rolled onto the floor with a clatter, and the coffee gushed out, staining the seat cushion brown.

Karuizawa Kei was pulled away by someone, and although the person who pulled her acted quickly enough, a few drops of coffee still splashed onto the hem of her white skirt.

Kitagawa Ryo stood in front of her.

The reflection of Emi Eura danced in his pitch-black pupils, his lips pressed into a rigid line, and then that line broke instantly as Kitagawa Ryo smiled at her, revealing his snow-white teeth.

His left hand was currently gripping Karuizawa Kei's arm tightly, while his right hand slowly rose, palm transformed into a blade.

Then, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

"You're dead."

Kitagawa Ryo declared this silently.

Chapter 9: Will Ryo Leave Again?

After moving away, Karuizawa Kei had lost contact with Kitagawa Ryo, a period that lasted for about half a year. The photo of Karuizawa Kei and Kitagawa Ryo together had been placed in a frame on the desk in her room; it was a picture from their elementary school graduation, both of them wearing black and white uniforms.

About two months ago, this photo was moved from the desk to the bedside table by Karuizawa Kei. During the worst of the school bullying, she would almost watch or even hold this photo as she drifted off to sleep. In the long nights, the Kitagawa Ryo in the photo became a solid sculpture, or perhaps a city wall; he stood guard there, silently protecting Karuizawa Kei day after day.

These past two months felt longer than any other period in Karuizawa Kei's life, to the point where, in the few seconds when the cold water from the bucket was poured over her head and the droplets rolled from her hair tips to her feet, she could instantly relive all the time spent in elementary school, as if the days half a year ago when Kitagawa Ryo was by her side were now like an old, overgrown path from a long time ago.

Karuizawa Kei felt as though she had once walked down this path holding Kitagawa Ryo's hand, but it had now been completely submerged. The moss of time had firmly filled every crack in her memories, separating them into one fragment after another.

Until now, when Kitagawa Ryo stood before Karuizawa Kei once again.

As always, and long time no see.

"Emi Eura, I remember you."

Kitagawa Ryo leaned down, his back and shadow obscuring Emi Eura's figure, and he lowered his voice:

"After I finish understanding what happened between you and Kei, I will come looking for you again."

The sound of the glass hitting the floor had already attracted the attention of many customers and waiters in the coffee shop. Even if Kitagawa Ryo was furious, he couldn't cause a scene in public; after all, to others who didn't know the inside story, this just looked like an accidental spill.

Kitagawa Ryo looked again at this girl who was exceptionally shocked by his arrival. Emi Eura's eyes were filled with disbelief; she had waited an entire semester before confirming that there was no one named "Kitagawa Ryo" by Karuizawa Kei's side. If he were truly still around, it would be impossible for him to remain indifferent while Karuizawa Kei suffered through about a month of school bullying.

Emi Eura subconsciously placed her left hand on her shoulder bag, even feeling a bit relieved that Kitagawa Ryo had appeared before she took action. If he had been an hour or two later, and she had gone through with her plan to...

After saying this, Kitagawa Ryo pulled the still dazed Kei straight out of the shop, leaving behind three bewildered girls.

The moment they stepped out of the coffee shop, Kitagawa Ryo felt Karuizawa Kei wrap her arms around him.

When she looked up, Kitagawa Ryo saw droplets of water gathering in Karuizawa Kei's azure pupils. Like a devout believer seeing their lord, Karuizawa Kei buried her face in Kitagawa Ryo's chest and began to sob softly.

Kitagawa Ryo had seen Karuizawa Kei cry when she was six or seven years old; she was a child who shed tears very easily back then, even if it was just getting sand in her shoes and fearing her mother's scolding, she would subconsciously pout and cry.

When people are happy, they only need to smile, controlling the muscles at the corners of their mouths to turn upward—it is an act that requires no effort at all, and many people have even developed the habit of wearing a smile. But no one keeps tears hanging at the corners of their eyes forever, because crying takes a thousand times more effort than smiling.

So Kitagawa Ryo could only hold Karuizawa Kei tightly in his arms. For the first time, he felt that Kei was still a child, and even her sobbing on his shoulder carried a hint of childishness. But it was precisely this childishness that made Kitagawa Ryo feel both heartache and sorrow, so he could only maintain this posture.

In this moment, Kitagawa Ryo seemed to no longer be just a childhood friend of the same age as Karuizawa Kei; his status had been elevated. Realizing this, Kitagawa Ryo quickly took a tissue from his pocket and used his hand to support Karuizawa Kei's face, wiping away her tears.

[It's okay, it's okay, I'm back.]

He almost subconsciously intended to use that tone for coaxing a child again, but Kitagawa Ryo held back in the end. He led Karuizawa Kei to sit on a nearby bench. There were two pairs of high school couples nearby, but they seemed used to such scenes; after just a glance, they continued their own affectionate, lingering gazes.

"Can you tell me about what happened to Kei?"

Kitagawa Ryo waited a while longer, only asking once Kei's emotions had completely settled.

"...Ryo shouldn't ask such questions right off the bat."

Karuizawa Kei, who had barely stopped her tears but still had red eyes, sniffled. Her right hand was still gripping Kitagawa Ryo's left hand tightly.

"Ryo should have said 'I'm back' first, and then I would say 'Welcome back'."

"Is Kei someone who values a sense of ritual so much?"

Kitagawa Ryo reached out to tidy her messy hair. Just as he finished and prepared to pull his hand back, Karuizawa Kei's left hand pressed his hand down:

"Keep petting."

Karuizawa Kei leaned her body completely against Kitagawa Ryo's shoulder, resting her head on his chest:

"I'll tell you when you can stop."

Kitagawa Ryo did not remember Karuizawa Kei having such a clingy personality before; he simply assumed it was because they hadn't seen each other for half a year, so he helplessly continued to stroke her hair, as if he were petting a docile, large dog.

"Ryo."

"Hmm."

"You can't just say 'hmm,' you have to say 'I'm here.'"

"I'm here."

"Ryo."

"I'm here."

"That's good."

Karuizawa Kei closed her eyes, curling into a tiny ball like an infant; she hid in Kitagawa Ryo's arms, unwilling to move or leave.

"Ryo, I want to grow up quickly and become an adult. I don't want to stay in school anymore."

She was speaking like a child, lost in a daydream.

Kitagawa Ryo had already guessed that Karuizawa Kei had likely suffered from school bullying again over the past six months, just as she had in the past; he pursed his lips as he listened to her words.

"School is so annoying, and interpersonal relationships are annoying too. I just don't want to be bullied, but whether I want it or not, I end up being bullied anyway."

"If you hadn't come back, Ryo, I probably would have been bullied for another two years. What would have happened once I graduated and went to high school?"

"I don't know. I'm so scared; I don't dare to think about it."

Karuizawa Kei's gaze grew unfocused, as if she were recalling some unpleasant memories; she swayed slightly as she looked directly at Kitagawa Ryo, then hugged him once more.

"I'm sorry."

She whispered into Kitagawa Ryo's ear, and then, Karuizawa Kei planted a light kiss on his neck.