Eternal Midsummer (4.5k) / One Half, the Other Half

After all, the two were linked together because of their smiles, and when she first met Kitagawa Ryo, the first expression she saw in his eyes was also a smile.

Kitagawa Ryo looked at Yuki standing there smiling at him, and he also remembered the Matoba when the two first met. At that time, the other was a small child, wearing a pure White Room sweater uniform and holding a standard pure white quilt, standing in front of his dormitory door.

Now, the white outfit has been replaced by a red one.

Originally meaningless and spontaneous smiles are now artificially imbued with meaning.

Both her appearance and her inner self have been completely transformed.

But I still feel that I haven't changed, that I'm still pure white.

After a few seconds of eye contact, they tacitly looked away from each other.

Kitagawa Ryo lowered his eyes again.

If you were to ask him to find a reason for the snow in a single sentence...

That is because the smiles she gave him—whether triumphant, caring, heartbroken, comforting, encouraging, or joyful—were as numerous and significant as the tears and blood she shed for him.

Emotions, too... share the same roots and origins.

Chapter 3: The Eternal Summer (4k5)

In this opening ceremony, which was undoubtedly quite boring and perfunctory for the upperclassmen, among the second-year students, besides Kitagawa Ryo and Ichinose Honami closely watching the First Year students, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was doing the same thing.

However, since he was currently in Class 2-D, which was quite far from the First Year, he couldn't see very carefully. But he still quickly confirmed that the four students he had chosen had indeed entered the four classes A, B, C, and D as he had hoped.

Ishigami Kyo from Class 1-A was less a supporter of him and more a follower of Ayanokoji Atsuomi's ideology.

Takahashi Osamu, a boy in Class 1-B, has a similar vibe to Ichinose Honami or Kushida Kikyo, and is quite adept at interpersonal communication.

Utsunomiya Riku in Class 1-C, Taciturn and his specific talents are not yet apparent, but Ayanokoji Kiyotaka feels that he might bring him unexpected surprises.

Finally, there's Hosen Kazuomi, who was assigned to Class 1-D. His massive size is noticeable even from a distance, making him an undisputed delinquent. He also seems to have a grudge against Ryuen Kakeru from the past, having publicly disrupted Ryuen Sho 'Matoba during last year's Cultural Festival. This is also the reason why Ayanokoji Kiyotaka chose him to join his team.

According to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's own assessment, at least three of these four individuals should be able to naturally become class Leader, not only because of their personal abilities, but also because they have a deeper understanding of the inner workings of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, making it easy for them to quickly gain leadership of the class after the start of the school year.

Of course, things aren't always certain, since Kitagawa Ryo also had students who chose his side.

However, the only one that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka can confirm at the moment is Yuki from Class 1-D, which is why he just determined that at least three out of the four would be Yuki. The extra variable is from Class 1-D.

As a fellow student in the White Room, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was well aware that the training intensity and curriculum they received as Fourth Generation were different from those of other test subjects, with a difficulty level many times higher.

That is why, even though Xue was the one who was eliminated halfway through, she was still, in a factual sense, the second-best among the Fourth Generation the White Room trainees, and even the top trainee of the Fifth Generation, Amasawa Ichika, was no match for her.

Of course, the above are just inferences made by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka based on her past performance. After all, since being expelled from the White Room, she has suffered almost irreversible and devastating damage to her heart. Even if she recovers now, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka cannot guarantee that she can still perform at some level of what she did back then.

Frankly speaking, even if all that remained were memories of his childhood training, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would not doubt that the seemingly tall Hosen Kazuomi would lose to Yuki in a fight. The White Room has always been second to none in terms of combat training, otherwise it wouldn't often be referred to as the White Room.

Although he had decided to step outside the chessboard and directly confront the real player behind the scenes, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was also aware that before everything was in place, he still needed to conscientiously play the part of someone seriously playing the game, making each move as reasonable and aesthetically pleasing as possible so that the audience wouldn't notice his underhanded tactics.

Moreover, the clearer it became to understand the perilous nature of what he was about to do, the more Ayanokoji Kiyotaka cherished his time at ANHS University.

He turned his gaze away from the First Year in the distance and slowly scanned the entire Gymnasium, from the Chairman Sakayanagi, who was speaking on the stage, to the third-year students on his right, the students in his own class behind him, and the students in Class 2-C on his left. He memorized everything in the present moment and this temporarily peaceful time.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka heard that people have flashbacks of memories before they die.

I want more vivid and colorful memories.

Just like the first touch of blue he hesitated for a long time before applying in that sketchbook, it was a summer vacation with blue sky, sea, Uninhabited Island, and cruise ship.

He didn't like the thought of all he would see when he arrived at the White Room was pure white; after all, pure white is, in the end, nothing but colorless emptiness.

After the opening ceremony, students from all three grades were led back to their respective classrooms by their homeroom teachers. First Year students were given cell phones and given a brief explanation of Private Points, and then received their first 100,000 Private Points. Upper-year students received a more detailed explanation of the academic year's arrangements.

Just like what Hoshinomiya Chie said at this very moment.

"Well... first of all, congratulations on successfully advancing to the second year. Now you've all reached the stage where people will call you senpai, so I hope you'll all be more careful and thoughtful in your words and actions."

"And then comes the most important explanation of this academic year."

"According to the school, this year's Special Exam will significantly increase the proportion of cross-grade standardized tests. This means that you will need to cooperate or compete with First Year students and third-year students in many of these Special Exam."

Hoshinomiya Chie's words caused a slight stir in Class 2-A, but thanks to the class's consistently excellent discipline, it quickly subsided. However, judging from the looks in many students' eyes, they were not quite ready to accept the sudden announcement.

After all, in their first year, let alone large-scale Special Exam that cross grade levels, there were very few activities that cross grade levels. I can only recall the last event of the Sports Festival and the Cultural Festival, which is supposed to be competitive but doesn't really have any punishments.

Even in the Mixed Training Camp Special Exam at the beginning of this year, although students from different grades were indeed grouped into large groups, everyone's daily activities were still done with students in their own grade group.

But judging from Hoshinomiya Chie's words, it seems that closer cooperation or competition is on the horizon?

"Well, I should also give you a heads-up here: the first Special Exam of this academic year might be coming soon, so I hope everyone can be mentally prepared. If possible, try to build a good relationship with the new students first, because they will be your partners for the first Special Exam."

"Of course, this news needs to be kept secret from the new students until the specific exam details are released. However, I think they probably won't mind even if we tell them, since the new students probably don't even understand the concept of Special Exam."

After briefly outlining the preliminary arrangements for the academic year, Hoshinomiya Chie concluded with a word of encouragement:

"After a year of hard work, we've now reached Class A. I hope everyone can continue to maintain this level in the new school year and graduate as Class 3-A. Okay, that's all for today."

The students in Class 2-A gave them a very enthusiastic round of applause, probably unaware that their homeroom teacher Hoshinomiya Chie, wasn't actually that proud of them.

To reiterate, whether I'm in Class A or not is unimportant, but the fact that you're not in Class A is very important to me.

Thinking of this, Hoshinomiya Chie leisurely hummed a little tune as she left the classroom. The students of Class A, who had basically finished their tasks for the day, also began packing up their backpacks, which they didn't actually need, and called their friends to go shopping or go back to their dormitories.

"Honami, will you come with me to the Student Council to pick up the things we need for tomorrow's club recruitment?"

It was Karuizawa Kei who took the initiative to help Kitagawa Ryo get rid of Ichinose Honami. Although Kitagawa Ryo knew it was just an excuse to get rid of her, he still nodded in agreement. However, he was still quite worried and walked over to Kitagawa Ryo first, reaching out to straighten his tie and collar before leaving the classroom with Karuizawa Kei.

And so, Ichinose Honami and Karuizawa Kei both went to the Student Council. Horikita Suzune and Sakayanagi Arisu, who were already Student Council members, were also extremely busy with club recruitment for the start of the school year. Kitagawa Ryo, who was alone for the first time, was just about to get up and go check on the First Year when Amasawa Ichika Kitagawa Ryo in front of Class 2-A.

"I knew you'd come here."

"Of course, after all, it's the day Xue starts school."

"Don't they even call her Sister Xue anymore?"

"I feel like calling it that again sounds a bit sarcastic. Didn't we mess it up at the last Cultural Festival?"

"... I think that what made Ichika so angry at Ichika Cultural Festival wasn't just about how she addressed Yuki."

"Really? Anyway, she has a younger sister now, so she doesn't need me as a fake sister anymore. By the way, does Ryo need me? I'm really good at playing this kind of role, Honami and Yuki have certified it."

"I have a firefly too, okay?"

"Hotaru isn't Ryo's biological sister."

"I don't know why, but hearing this established fact again always makes my head start to hurt again."

After making this subtly sarcastic remark, Kitagawa Ryo looked at Amasawa Ichika and spoke again:

"Let me make this clear first, it would be best for Ichika to tone it down a bit, at least until I resolve the issue."

"Hmm... Haven't I always been a good girl and listened to Liang?"

"They're squeezing a bit too hard."

"Actually, this is their natural voice."

"... I've heard your voice at every age, okay?"

"Wow, that sounds really cool. If there was a girl standing next to you, she'd definitely think it's an unintentional show-off, right? Right?"

Although Amasawa Ichika remained as carefree and playful as ever, and did not directly agree to his request, Kitagawa Ryo was quite relieved. After all, the other party had clearly demonstrated his stance and thoughts during the End-of-Year Special Exam more than a week ago.

Not only will she not cause trouble, she will also help resolve the issues between Sakayanagi Arisu and Yuki, using her own example.

In this respect, Amasawa Ichika was indeed the most obedient and willing to listen to him, at least in the last simulation of this large ward.

"The First Year' meeting hasn't ended yet... I heard cheers, does that mean they've announced that 100,000 Private Points have been credited to their accounts?"

Looking at Amasawa Ichika, who was so lively and charming, with her delicate features displaying a wide range of expressions, Kitagawa Ryo thought of Hotaru again.

Perhaps it's because they have the same eye color. Maybe he had hoped that Hotaru would develop such a cheerful personality after recovering, instead of that gloomy feeling of forcing herself to be strong.

Actually, a few years ago, Hotaru was quite in line with Kitagawa Ryo's expectations. She was basically like Ichinose Honami's younger sister, Maki, a carefree little girl. However, ever since Hotaru returned from studying abroad for several years, he felt that there had been other changes in her mentality. Anyway, when he went back to celebrate Hotaru's birthday around Christmas last time, it made Kitagawa Ryo a little embarrassed.

Although it was a bit of a nightmare, it's fair to say that he's never raised a younger sister who grew up so smoothly.

"Actually, I met Xue outside of school last Christmas."

As his thoughts drifted back to the end of last year, Kitagawa Ryo naturally mentioned snow, taking it as a casual chat with Amasawa Ichika while waiting for the First Year meeting to end.

"I'd be surprised if you two hadn't met, since Ryo always seems to be meeting Yuki whenever he leaves school under the guise of being from the Drama Club."

"Well, before Xue enrolled in school, this was the only way we could meet, maybe with the Cultural Festival at most."

"Hey, can you stop sounding so guilty every time you bring up this kind of thing? That's why Ryo can't get along with Yuki normally, okay? You feel guilty, and she feels guilty too, so why don't you just bow and apologize to each other when you meet?"

Amasawa Ichika muttered this with a hint of dissatisfaction:

"Oh, by the way, apologize to me first. If you really want to count, I've been waiting for Liang longer than for Xue."

As soon as she finished speaking, she shook her head quickly again, her two ponytails swaying with the movement, the strands brushing against Kitagawa Ryo's nose and tickling him slightly.

"Forget it, I've already forgiven Liang, so there's no need for an apology. What good does it do to keep thinking about this kind of thing except to make yourself sad and make others sad with you?"

Will Ichika be sad?

"Wow, Liang, don't think that just because I'm super normal and cheerful right now, it means I'm immune to sadness and hurt. Besides, I'll really cry right here and now, and nothing I do can comfort me."

Amused by Amasawa Ichika's somewhat exaggerated performance, Kitagawa Ryo temporarily put aside the slightly heavy memories that had flooded his mind with the arrival of snow, reached out and touched her little head, casually untying her braids:

"It's crooked, let me tie it back up for you. Sit a little closer."

"OK."

Countless times, Kitagawa Ryo began braiding the other person's hair.

"Ryo definitely didn't know this from the beginning. I bet she learned it because of Hotaru."

"Um."

"When Liang first started braiding my hair, was she also thinking of her younger sister?"

"It can't be said that there's absolutely none."

"And now?"

"There's only Ichika left."

Kitagawa Ryo could see the smile on her slightly upturned face; it was his answer to her, but it was also her answer to herself.

He suddenly felt an urge to whisper something in her ear, so Kitagawa Ryo brushed aside the red hair fluttering by the girl's ear, brought his lips to hers, and recited the poem that first came to mind.

In the White Room, he had talked with Yuki about names countless times, telling her that snow was a white substance that felt cold to the touch. But Kitagawa Ryo also had things he wanted to say to Ichika about this, things that were his blessings and love for her.

And so, here he is today, presenting her with this eternally classic sonnet from his favorite Shakespeare collection:

"May I compare you to a summer day?"

"Although you are more adorable and gentler than summer."

Every kind of beauty will be ravaged by time.

"But only your long summer is eternal and never fades."

Chapter Four: Half, the Other Half

Perhaps because the homeroom teachers of each second-year class mentioned cooperation with the First Year students, as time went on, quite a few second-year students came to the First Year floor to inquire about the situation. However, most of them just glanced at the First Year classes and left after finding that they were still having class meetings. They did not wait there like Kitagawa Ryo and Amasawa Ichika.

Actually, it makes sense when you think about it. After all, even if you really wanted to build a good relationship beforehand, coming here to block the entrance on the first day of school would give people the feeling of being overly solicitous. Besides, everyone here has been a student on the first day of school and knows very well that the freshmen who have just received their 100,000 Private Points should be thinking about eating, drinking, having fun, and spending it all.

Besides, even if you really want to connect, tomorrow's club recruitment event is undoubtedly a better option; there's really no need to rush over here today.

"We should be able to finish before noon, since we all need to eat eventually."

After glancing at the time on his phone, Kitagawa Ryo turned his gaze back to Class 1-D:

"That big guy from Class D, Hosen Kazuomi, should be one of the people Ayanokoji chose. He looks pretty good in a fight, and he also has a grudge against Ryuen. He seems like a good fit in every way."

"Yeah, and I also feel Ayanokoji will let Hosen follow the same path as Ryuen, turning Class 1-D back into what used to be Class 2-C."

Amasawa Ichika nodded in agreement, but immediately smirked with schadenfreude.

"However, with Xue around, this matter is most likely to fall through."

As students who had all undergone training in the White Room, Amasawa Ichika was undoubtedly well aware of the value of that facility in terms of physical fitness. Even as Fifth Generation, she had several ways to easily defeat Takarazumi, who looked even bigger and more menacing than Ryuen Kakeru, not to mention Hosen, who ranked second among the Fourth Generation.

"They even used the word 'high probability'?"

"Because it's unclear whether Sister Xue has regained her past self. After all, in this timeline, she doesn't have the body she's trained since childhood, but rather a mess from being eliminated from the White Room and then bedridden for psychological treatment."

"Of course, with Arisu as a precedent, I feel that almost a year is enough, after all, the foundation is still there."

As she spoke, Amasawa Ichika playfully wagged her finger again: