Spring / Not Everyone Is Out on a Date
Even so, Kitagawa Ryo initially wanted to prove that he could run just as well, just like when he returned to Japan that time.
But the one who refused that time was Karuizawa Kei.
The distance between Tokyo and London was vast, a future that, at that time, only evoked unease and fear.
Even now, the distance between Tokyo and London remains unchanged; it's just that the future that once seemed like it would never come has truly arrived.
When you start to regret and blame your past self, it actually means that the future has become the present, but this cycle will never stop.
When Kitagawa Ryo saw Karuizawa Kei enter the hotel and start swiping her room card to enter her room, he also stopped and then turned and left without looking back.
The moment he turned around, Karuizawa Kei also collapsed onto the soft carpet in the hotel corridor as if she had lost all her strength.
Crystalline tears filled her pupils, then dripped down her cheeks in large drops.
Many years ago, outside a hotel room in Tokyo, a young girl once held the new dress he had given her and twirled in front of the hotel corridor's mirror-like walls, gesturing shyly as if she were a bride-to-be trying on a wedding dress.
Chapter 506: Spring
Just like last year when he thoroughly enjoyed the mysterious video materials provided by the anonymous Kanzaki in the private cinema on the cruise ship, Kitagawa Ryo also searched for a few keywords with great interest during the time he spent with Karuizawa Kei in the room waiting for midnight. He quickly found many fan-made works that netizens had created during this period.
When news first broke that the two would be enrolling in Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, a school with a fully enclosed management system, many fans had mixed feelings. On the one hand, they felt that such a so-called fully enclosed school was like a room where you couldn't leave without doing something, and they were quite looking forward to seeing what kind of exciting stories the two of them would have there.
On the other hand, most of their fans initially fell in love with their stage performances before being naturally drawn into the CP (couple pairing) fandom. If Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei really disappear from the public eye for three years, then who will fill in all the video editing material I'm missing... no, I mean the show effects, oops, the theatrical performances?
Fortunately for them, thanks to a whimsical idea from someone who simply wanted to create a club for slacking off outside of school, even after they entered Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, fans of the two were still able to keep up with their lives and get new material from time to time through some competitions.
Although outsiders have no idea how these micro-expression and subtle action experts use various blurry ancient or candid photos to exclaim that they've "shipped" the couple, CP fans are actually best at self-deception and satisfaction in various formal or informal Matoba, through the couple's interactions and occasional mentions in program interviews.
In this respect, Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei have been feeding them tons of material. Sometimes, they don't even need any misunderstanding-inducing editing; just posting the original footage is enough to generate a flood of comments like, "Just arrived, are the two in the video a couple?" and "Seriously, after watching K&K for so long, I feel like everyone's overhyping it, and some people are taking it too seriously. It's just a close friendship between two friends. There's no need for them to win against each other, and don't have too many fantasies or let things wander. Just enjoy watching them bicker and joke around. Their interactions are really captivating. I really envy their pure and beautiful friendship, so I'd be happy if they just kept going like this. Of course, it would be even better if they officially announced it tomorrow."
Of course, Karuizawa Kei herself expressed her opinion that it was "good-looking, I love watching it, and I want more of it."
"Oh right, I forgot to ask. Although Suzune is now the Student Council president, there shouldn't be any risk that the Drama Club will be disbanded, right?"
Having finished watching a compilation video created by a fan, Karuizawa Kei gently nudged Kitagawa Ryo's arm.
"Probably? Anyway, Suzune told me that she wouldn't be pushing forward with her plan that Student Council members could also serve in other clubs, since the resistance is too great."
"That's probably why the Drama Club is more likely to disband. After all, if Ryo joins the Student Council... you know what the Drama Club has been like these past month. Although it looks like they're missing one person, it's completely shut down."
Unlike the other girls in the Drama Club, Karuizawa Kei, as the vice-president, undoubtedly has a deeper affection for the Drama Club. After all, even though she initially got involved in this field to get closer to Kitagawa Ryo, over the years, this job has long become a part of her life.
"Suzune probably won't let me join the Student Council for the time being, but she really needs to recruit some trustworthy people during next year's recruitment, otherwise she'll easily be sidelined. Just in terms of the quality of the vice presidents, Arisu and Ayanokoji are much better than Nagumo and Kiriyama from the previous year."
"I think Ryo should trust Suzune too, after all, she's no less capable than Horikita-senpai, right?"
Although it sounded like she was praising Horikita Suzune, Karuizawa Kei's tone was almost overflowing with the implication that he shouldn't join the Student Council to help others, which surprised Kitagawa Ryo himself.
To be honest, just like his answer to Horikita Suzune before, his attitude towards drama was completely unable to meet the expectations of those industry professionals and audiences who were eager to bestow various titles upon him. The same was true for the Drama Club; it was originally created simply because Kitagawa Ryo wanted to find an excuse to leave school and slack off.
"I need the Drama Club."
He heard Karuizawa Kei say this to him.
"Actually, I could tell a long time ago that Liang didn't particularly like performing and the stage. What's more, there was that kind of family-finding story that you only see in TV dramas later on, so she definitely won't be involved in the theater industry anymore."
"But I still hope to continue working on this path."
"However, I'm not a one-in-a-million genius like Ryo, so if I want to maintain my level or even improve during the three-year gap in my high school career, both practice and necessary competitions are indispensable."
After explaining her reasons and thoughts for wanting to keep the Drama Club in one breath, Karuizawa Kei hugged her knees and slowly leaned into Kitagawa Ryo's arms, reaching out to poke his cheek with her finger.
"Of course, I also hope to perform on the same stage with Ryo a few more times."
Perhaps because she had spent a rather distressing and even struggling period in the previous two simulations, from the very beginning after her rebirth, Karuizawa Kei has always had a general plan for every step of her life, and then slowly refines it to achieve her initial goal.
She would no longer pursue fleeting pleasure and possession, because those are things that are tasted and then lost through her fingers. What Karuizawa Kei wanted from beginning to end was a more stable and lasting connection.
In this respect, she does share some similarities or even convergence with Sakayanagi Arisu's ideas.
Just as Sakayanagi Arisu always pretended to be confused and said that in all aspects, especially in terms of background and family background, only he was the most suitable for Kitagawa Ryo, Karuizawa Kei also realized this early on.
To be fair, she had experience with this in simulations, except that her opponent back then was Horikita Suzune, and the two of them actually held the real bargaining chip of a Marriage Contract.
Without a doubt, compared to Horikita Suzune or Sakayanagi Arisu, Karuizawa Kei's family background can only be described as ordinary, only slightly better than that of Ichinose Honami, a single mother raising two children.
If you can't compete with your parents' connections, then all you can rely on is yourself, right?
If it weren't for that melodramatic soap opera plot about a chaebol searching for their relatives, Karuizawa Kei probably wouldn't have been so determined to continue down the path of acting and try to see it through to the end. She might have even felt at some point that since Kitagawa Ryo wasn't acting anymore, there was no need for her to act anymore either.
But reality doesn't offer "what ifs".
Even breaking the axle of the wedding car of someone you love requires resources and confidence. The distant future may be just around the corner, and these are lessons learned by Karuizawa Kei at the most painful cost.
That's precisely why she won't give up on the Drama Club.
This is her future, and more importantly, it's a guarantee that she and Kitagawa Ryo can be together for a long time.
Karuizawa Kei herself knew she was a greedy person. After all, if she really wanted to pursue knowledge and training in this area, she shouldn't have enrolled in Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School in the first place. Instead, she should have gone to a more specialized school for further study. However, she couldn't resist the time she spent apart from Kitagawa Ryo.
"I understand what Hui means."
After thinking for a moment, Kitagawa Ryo let out a long sigh, placed his hand on Karuizawa Kei's head, and gently stroked her smooth, honey-colored hair, letting the strands of hair brush past his fingertips.
Of all the girls he was close to, Karuizawa Kei was probably the first to so seriously set her sights on such a distant future. After all, even Sakura Airi also seemed to have achieved some success in her career, mostly held an attitude that was neither serious nor strictly planned. Whether it was her debut or graduation, the former was something he had personally guided her into, while the latter was entirely her own idea. This idol career seemed more like a kind of fun between the two of them.
There's no way around it; this is an advantage that reborn individuals can't match. Compared to Ichinose Honami, who spent a long time patching things up and only dared to work on the tiny details of her life, Karuizawa Kei is undoubtedly much bolder.
"I support Hui one hundred percent, and I'm willing to do anything for her that I can."
Frankly speaking, if Hotaru were to say that she could transfer her talent to someone else, Kitagawa Ryo would probably give away his golden talent, known as "Thespian," to Karuizawa Kei without hesitation.
If Karuizawa Kei wanted to greedily grasp both career and love, then he would undoubtedly be even more greedy, since he wanted to have everything he could not handle with either hand, yet he insisted on having it all without missing a single one.
"The Drama Club will not disband. If Hui wants more practice and competitions, I will help her make it happen, including things after graduation."
If the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic theme in the world, then the process of a person fulfilling their wishes is the most dazzling theme.
Kitagawa Ryo made that promise to Karuizawa Kei.
Before he knew it, the clock had struck twelve. At this moment, on the other person's birthday, he chose to temporarily revise his birthday wishes.
Actually, this was originally his wish to give to Karuizawa Kei at his wedding with Horikita Suzune.
"Because you have to be a flower to feel that spring has left you."
"If you are spring, you will never leave, and there will always be flowers."
"So, Hui, go and become spring. Spring's end will not be autumn. Spring has no end; spring is forever a spring with flowers in full bloom."
Ying, who was listening from the VIP viewing area, half-opened her sleepy eyes and tilted her head in confusion.
Wait a minute, in the settings of her four chapters, the one corresponding to spring seems to be someone else.
I've almost lost count of how many days I've stood up Alice from her morning workout. In fact, it seems like we haven't really gone out together since Valentine's Day.
First it was Ichinose Honami, then she had to team up with Horikita Suzune for the Student Council election, and now it's Karuizawa Kei...
Kitagawa Ryo woke up groggily from his sleep. When he looked up, he saw the familiar ceiling again. Compared to Ichinose Honami and Horikita Suzune, who were particularly concerned about whether his room was theirs or their own, Karuizawa Kei was more comfortable in Dormitory 408. So the two of them had just slept there last night.
"I woke up so early..."
Whether it was because Kitagawa Ryo's movement of getting up affected the other's tightly pressed body parts, or simply because he wasn't sleepy, Karuizawa Kei quickly stretched out her two fair arms from under the covers, yawning and slowly straightening up. She saved herself the trouble of having to think of anything else when she saw the white arms, and just got straight to the point.
"Don't get cold, make sure your clothes are warm."
"Oh, it does seem a bit chilly today, according to the weather forecast."
"So it's good to cover up more."
"Sigh, when will summer come again? I want to wear that white sleeveless dress."
"That one is really nice."
"Liang is just praising herself. You were the one who picked it out for me in the first place."
"That's clearly a compliment to both of us; clothes only look good on the right person."
They chatted casually about these mundane topics, and quickly got dressed. Unfortunately, the size of the bathroom and sink didn't allow them to brush their teeth and wash their face together in front of the mirror like a silly couple, so they had to do it one by one in order.
"Oh, right, Liang, could you please bring me my bag? My toiletries and cosmetics are all in there."
"Good."
Unlike Kitagawa Ryo, who is known for her speed and efficiency, Karuizawa Kei's grooming time was undoubtedly much longer. However, during this waiting time, Kitagawa Ryo herself was not idle. She used the ingredients she could find in the kitchen refrigerator to start preparing breakfast for the two of them.
Karuizawa Kei pursed her lips in front of the mirror, and her reflection in the mirror simultaneously revealed a bright, spring-like smile.
It's her birthday today, and she's spending time with the person she likes.
The early spring sunshine was just right, and the breeze was gentle.
Chapter 507: Not Everyone is Dating
As it turns out, not every student is so carefree as to take their time during this final preparation period before the End-of-Year Special Exam. Even on weekends, First Year students in each class are still enthusiastically discussing the project application in their respective discussion groups.
Class 1-C was no exception.
Although the students in the class were somewhat puzzled by the fact that Class 1-D, the weakest class in the grade, had chosen them as their opponent, they did not underestimate them. They continued to discuss the project in an orderly manner, based on the strengths and weaknesses of both classes.
If we were to discuss the most obvious difference Class 1-C and Class D in the first year, it would naturally be their respective academic levels.
After all, if we only consider overall ability, the students of Class C, who were originally Class A, are all top students in terms of academics, except for a few. Unless they encounter someone like Sakayanagi Arisu during the Uninhabited Island Special Exam, they should have no problem, let alone the fact that their opponent is Class D.
It's no exaggeration to say that the number of students in Class D who are academically competent is barely more than one hand, and even then, they are only at a passable level. They are no match for the top students in Class C who consistently achieve B+ grades or higher.
This is precisely why, in the initially selected projects, Written Exam related to academic ability undoubtedly occupied the majority of the positions, and they basically all had the following style:
Modern Literature Exam: Requires four participants, time limit is fifty minutes.
Rules: Answer questions within the scope of the year's learning, and compare the total score.
Commander: Can answer one question on behalf of the user.
Social Studies Exam: Requires 5 participants, 50 minutes.
Rules: Answer questions within the scope of geography, history, and civics studies for the year, and compare the total score.
Commander: Can answer one question on behalf of the user.
Mathematics exam: Seven students required, 50 minutes.
Rules: Answer questions within the scope of the year's learning, and compare the total score.
Commander: Can answer one question on behalf of the user.
English Exam: 8 people required, 50 minutes.
Rules: Answer questions within the scope of the year's learning, and compare the total score.
Commander: Can answer one question on behalf of the user.
Speed Mental Arithmetic: Requires two participants and takes thirty minutes.
Rules: The class will compete in mental arithmetic using abacus to test accuracy and speed. The class with the most students in this category wins.
Commander: Allows you to change the answer to any question.
To maximize their advantage, Class 1-C even chose to base all Written Exam items on a total score comparison, and resolutely avoided small-scale competitions such as one-on-one or two-on-two matches, all to ensure a safe outcome.
If there weren't so many serious subjects, and if they were given a general knowledge subject, they might be afraid of getting stuck with an uncommon question bank. I bet the students in Class C would actually set all ten submissions as Written Exam.
There's no way around it; if we lose even one point from these sure-fire points, it would be a disservice to everyone's nearly ten years of hard work and study. We'll also crush those delinquents in Class D.
Of course, the students in Class C were not all test-takers. They quickly thought of other areas besides academics, such as the arts and crafts that the delinquents in Class D would definitely be clueless about. Arts and crafts such as piano, Go, and chess were quickly arranged for them. As long as they avoided the Tea Ceremony, which was Shiina Hiyori's specialty in Class D, these arts and crafts were undoubtedly a comprehensive advantage for Class C.
The last two items were added due to the school's rules, in order to include team events that everyone could participate in. Some students suggested adding a written team Written Exam, but considering that the events might be rejected by the school due to similarity, the school ultimately chose sports events that did not have the previous ones: multi-person jump rope and Group Dodgeball.
Group jump rope: Requires 20 people, time 30 minutes.
Rules: The class that jumps more times in two challenges wins.
Commander: Allows you to change the order of your opponents once.
Group Dodgeball: Requires 18 players, 10-minute time limit, best-of-two rounds.
Rules: Similar to the standard dodgeball rules. In the event of a one-win-one situation, a sudden-death game will be played (Note: In overtime, the first player to be eliminated wins the game).
Commander: Allows an eliminated player to return to the field at any time.
Since Class C also has no shortage of athletic talents, most students are quite satisfied with these two arrangements, especially the latter, Group Dodgeball. Many students in Class C are hoping to take this opportunity to wash away the shame of being single-handedly defeated by Amasawa Ichika on the Uninhabited Island years ago.
You can't beat them, but you can beat me?