I Want to Become the Sea

"I've got a great idea!"

"What idea?"

"Well, I also want to thank Ryo for the screening she mentioned earlier and for her motivation for dropping out of school. Actually, I had thought about creating a novel based on Ryo's experiences before, but I just couldn't figure out how to integrate those elements well into a mystery work."

"Is Hiyori going to incorporate elements of parallel worlds and starting over into her mystery novels? That would be considered part of the setting... could you elaborate?"

Hearing what Shiina Hiyori said, Kitagawa Ryo became interested as well, since he was, to some extent, a mystery novel enthusiast on par with her.

As mystery novels have evolved, incorporating numerous science fiction elements into the story is no longer uncommon. The "setting-based" mystery novel that Kitagawa Ryo just mentioned, also known as special setting mystery, is a prime example. This type of mystery work focuses on designing a novel worldview or a more specific science fiction setting, and then unfolding a self-consistent and logically coherent mystery story within this framework.

As for more specific parallel worlds, Keigo Higashino wrote a book called "Parallel World Love Story" back in the last century. Rather, it's more accurate to say that elements commonly found in science fiction, such as parallel worlds and time travel, have already appeared many times in setting-based mystery works.

"Hmm... To be more precise, I should be thinking of two ideas right now. One might focus more on the story of Liang's Life Restart and time-space rescue, while the other would delve deeper into the design of parallel worlds and the core trick. However, the subject matter is Liang, just with different focuses."

As Shiina Hiyori spoke, she also jotted down various random thoughts on the paper in front of her, tidied them up a bit, and then handed them to Kitagawa Ryo before continuing to explain:

"If I had to name the first one, I could call it <The Rescue of the Time Traveler> (a reference to mystery novelist Hōjō Kie's setting-based work <The Hourglass of Time Travelers>)."

"The story is roughly about a husband who wants to Salvation his wife, who suddenly falls seriously ill. Let's use 'Ryo' and 'me' to refer to him. In short, Ryo, who wants to Salvation me, gains the ability to travel through time with the help of a mysterious person. The person tells him that the origin of my illness is a tragedy that happened to the elders of my family decades ago, and that the younger generation of the family, including me, were cursed. So, Ryo's task is to become a famous detective, deduce the truth of what happened back then, stop the chain of tragedies that followed, and ultimately Salvation me."

"So what's the specific trick?"

"There's no rush. I've already written a whole bunch of random murder methods and locked-room designs. I'll find a few suitable ones to fit in later. After all, Liang should have realized that my idea is more focused on the story itself, pure romance."

Shiina Hiyori gave a sly smile, then resumed scribbling and drawing on the paper:

"In my idea, the assistant that Ryo meets after traveling back in time should be someone from my grandmother's generation, such as my grandmother's sister. Then, after Ryo changes the past timeline, I can also learn about parts of the future from her, ultimately achieving a fateful happy ending."

"Here, this is the last part of the story I've come up with."

"After resolving everything, Ryo returned to the real timeline and saw in my hand the wedding ring that my great-aunt had accidentally taken from you fifty years ago. It had been carefully preserved by my elders until today and then handed to me."

"Then, I would say to Ryo: 'My great-aunt has no children, so she dotes on me. When I was a child, every time I went to her house, she would talk to me about you. Even though I didn't know you or had never seen you before, she would still tell me over and over again that you were her savior, and that when I grew up, I would meet you, the one destined for me, who would risk her life to travel through time for me.'"

It must be said that Shiina Hiyori's writing is indeed quite good. Although Kitagawa Ryo felt that the other person seemed to be drawing material from his and Sakayanagi Arisu's experiences, he certainly wouldn't say that to her face, so he nodded in agreement.

"If the techniques and tricks are set up properly, it should be good enough as a writer's debut work."

"Yes, and then there's the second idea."

Shiina Hiyori hesitated for a moment, but her passion as a mystery novel enthusiast and creator overcame her embarrassment, and she quickly continued:

"If the previous idea was about storytelling, then everything in this idea serves the core trick and deduction, so the story might be a bit bizarre. Don't be angry, Liang."

"It's alright."

"Then the protagonist will tentatively be Ryo. We haven't decided on a title yet, so how about we call it 'Which of Me in the Parallel Worlds is the Murderer?' (A reference to the mystery novelist Shirai Tomoyuki's setting-based mystery work, 'Elephant Head.')"

"The story is simple: Ryo suddenly obtains two bottles of medicine that can travel back a few hours in time. However, each time she uses it, her consciousness splits, creating two different parallel worlds. For example, if Ryo uses the medicine now, her consciousness will split into Ryo who has traveled back a few hours and Ryo who remains in the present moment. But you can meet and communicate with each other in your dreams at night."

"And these parallel worlds also share a common rule: a person who dies on one timeline will suddenly die in the same way on other timelines. For example, if someone on one timeline gets into a car accident and their head is crushed, then the same person on another timeline will also suddenly have their head explode and die."

"... The taste has suddenly become much stronger."

"This example wasn't given randomly; it involves the specific design of the trick. However, explaining it would be quite complicated, so let's talk about it with Ryo when I've written it out in detail. The core trick alone has several twists and turns, and... one of them was the inspiration Ryo just gave me."

"What inspiration?"

This time, Shiina Hiyori didn't directly answer Kitagawa Ryo's question. Instead, she walked behind him, hugged his neck, and whispered an example in Kitagawa Ryo's ear with a half-smile:

"If I were to use our own experience as an example, it would be that in his previous life, Ryo didn't choose to drop out of school, but instead indulged his desires more recklessly, or rather, self-destructively. At that time, he did to me and Megumi what he had only recently done to the two of us together—"

It wasn't until much later, in a television interview, that Shiina Hiyori brought up again the issue of her choice of debut work.

"Actually, whether from my current perspective or from back then, the second book is definitely superior to the first in terms of plot design. However, I ultimately chose the first book as my debut work because I felt that the story of the second book would have been well received no matter when it was released. But as a debut work for a new mystery writer, I wanted to use that story style to show readers my own creative philosophy."

"More specifically, it's probably because I personally encountered many elements such as parallel worlds and time travel at the time, so it was easy for me to think of some of them during the creative process."

"That is, protagonists with such abilities are actually very prone to becoming extreme. The line between good and evil is often blurred, especially when they know that what they do in other timelines is actually not observable by the person involved. So it wouldn't be particularly strange if they started indulging their desires the next second."

"However, because of the influence of a very important person in my life, I still believe that even under these circumstances, there will still be people who choose to walk alone on this long journey to fulfill their initial vision. That is the original intention behind my creation of the book 'Rescue of the Time Traveler' and my choice of it as my debut work."

P. S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: I highly recommend the two mystery novels mentioned in this chapter. Those who have read them will probably understand why I mentioned them here. Hōjō Kie and Shirai Tomoyuki are both mystery novelists that I admire.

PS3: The new book is no longer set in the Kitagawa Ryo universe, because the story is no longer set in Tokyo, but in a Chinese setting.

Chapter 5: I Want to Become the Sea

The girls' screening session was in full swing, while Kitagawa Ryo, having nothing else to do, called over a few girls who hadn't participated in the screening and started a screening activity on another level. In fact, they watched together the results of their month-long work on this Summer Special Exam, as well as a complete behind-the-scenes documentary, or vlog.

Aside from Shiina Hiyori and was currently engrossed in creating it in her dorm room, Karuizawa Kei, Asahina Nazuna, and Sakura Airi all agreed. The latter two were actually involved in the "Kitagawa Ryo Studio" Summer Special Exam filming project; one was a costume and prop designer, and the other was a guest Actor. So, it could be considered a team-building activity within the studio.

In fact, judging solely from the final results, Kitagawa Ryo has definitely completed all the tasks assigned by the school. After all, even without mentioning his existing fan base, his appearance on screen inevitably attracts attention. Objectively speaking, the short drama he filmed this time is definitely a work above average.

Thanks to his vast life experience and numerous talents, Kitagawa Ryo is undoubtedly an outstanding creator. So even though this shoot was hampered by a limited budget, unprofessional Actor, few locations, and tight schedule, the final result was still quite good.

Since the subject matter is short dramas, issues such as budget, location, and time can be overcome to some extent. Although the Actor are not professional, with him and Sakura Airi on board, there shouldn't be any problem in attracting viewers. In the end, there is never a shortage of fans in this world who don't care about the plot or the production, but only care about whether a face appears on screen and how well the filming is.

Of course, for the people involved, it's a different story altogether.

"... Why didn't it feel this strange when we were filming on location?"

"It's probably due to the post-production editing and processing; these human-like 'thump-thump-thump' sound effects can get a bit uncomfortable after a while."

Faced with Sakura Airi's unbearable expression, Kitagawa Ryo calmly stroked his chin and continued to stare at his short drama debut, offering his evaluation:

"After all, it's a short drama, so it needs to get the audience emotionally engaged in a very short time. Airi knows exactly how long it took me to write these idiotic lines."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo nodded again and praised the other person:

"Of course, there's also a lot of courage, or rather, a strong sense of conviction, Airi being able to recite these lines."

I completely agree with that.

Karuizawa Kei, standing next to her, nodded in agreement. She had spent most of the past month in the Theater Troupe, being served by dozens of theater masters from all over the world. When she saw the lines on screen that were so straightforward that they were almost beyond words, she couldn't quite imagine herself saying those lines with exaggerated expressions.

"Should this be considered a dark chapter in my professional career?"

"Well, it's a little embarrassing to say, but considering that the film crew I worked on for the first half of summer vacation hasn't released the finished product yet, this film I shot can actually be considered my debut Actor in a strict sense."

Sakura Airi didn't seem to care much about this so-called "dark history," and said in a rather relaxed tone:

"If Liang hadn't stopped me from doing this, I would have already added this to my list of representative works on my personal profile page."

"Cough... I feel this is a bit beneath me."

As a multi-talented artist who has been a well-known Actor in The Sims and has directed and starred in many award-winning works, Kitagawa Ryo has a relatively clear understanding of what he has been working on this summer.

"I could put that on my resume later."

Compared to Actor who are quite concerned about acting skills and lines, Asahina Nazuna pays more attention to costumes, makeup, and props. This experience was indeed a very valuable one for her. After all, there are probably very few high school students at her age who can actually get in touch with this kind of work. So even though it was just a whim of Kitagawa Ryo, Asahina Nazuna still gained a lot.

At least among the girls sitting in this room, no one should be able to grasp Kitagawa Ryo's body dimensions down to the decimal point better than her.

"It seems like my senior is really planning to pursue this career."

"Yeah, the store where I did my internship had a really good impression of me. They even asked if I wanted to intern there again after graduation. Actually, if I think about it, I only have about six months left."

Hearing Asahina Nazuna admit it so readily, Kitagawa Ryo was a little dazed. After all, he had initially thought that Ichinose Honami who would develop in this direction. Honami had actually worked in his and Karuizawa Kei's Theater Troupe for several years, doing costume, props, and logistics work for a long time. But now that he thought about it, it was just Honami's unconscious act of self-deception. Now that he understood, he had taken action and immediately switched careers to study finance at a bank.

"Actually, the potential in this industry is quite high, but I won't think that much about it from the beginning. It's most realistic to make the most of this time before graduation to learn as much as possible. The store manager sent me a lot of materials before I left."

As the conversation smoothly drifted to the recently concluded Summer Special Exam, Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei took the opportunity to briefly discuss what they had learned from the Special Exam and their hopes for the future.

"I might still need to go to a specialized acting school for further studies after graduation. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, there's a reason why so many idol predecessors who switched to Actor all disappeared without a trace. Relying solely on past popularity is never enough. Besides, I've already been an idol for over a year. By the time I graduate from ANHS, three years will have passed since my idol career. In the end, I'll still have to rely on my acting skills."

When it comes to acting, Karuizawa Kei was quite eager to speak, and immediately said to Sakura Airi:

"Actually, if Airi wants to practice her basic skills, she can come to our Theater Troupe. Don't bother with things like how theatrical performance is different from film and television. In terms of basic skills alone, we teach a more solid foundation here."

"We'll see. I might go see her if I have the chance. After all, Hui's presence is too likely to undermine other people's confidence, just like Ryo did back then. So I'll go ask you for advice after my acting skills have improved."

"... Did I really have such a strong presence?"

Sakura Airi rolled her eyes at Karuizawa Kei's unawareness of her own folly.

"Of course, if in the past someone could still argue that Hui's awards were basically won along with Liang's, then there's no such excuse anymore. In terms of drama alone, since Liang has basically retired in the last two years, aren't you the recognized number one Actor in your age group by the industry and the media? Anyone would feel pressured in front of you, right?"

"That seems to be true."

Karuizawa Kei spoke uncertainly, but her gaze began to subtly drift towards Kitagawa Ryo, clearly wanting this industry-recognized genius Actor to personally praise her.

"Hui is indeed both talented and hardworking, and I think that's a fair assessment. If she can continue down this path, she'll definitely achieve more than me."

Kitagawa Ryo didn't miss this information either, and readily gave his affirmation with a smile. Mainly, if Karuizawa Kei hadn't taken the initiative to explain to him on her birthday this year, he really wouldn't have known that for a long time after her rebirth, she only regarded her achievements as a legacy of her rebirth, rather than her own talent and hard work. And for Megumi, who had such a slightly self-deprecating mentality, he definitely needed to become an All-Affirmation Bot.

"... And who knows, maybe in a few decades public opinion will shift to the point where no one would know Kitagawa Ryo Karuizawa Kei Megumi."

"No problem at all."

As the group chatted, the short drama they were filming was almost finished. What followed was a few behind-the-scenes clips that Kitagawa Ryo had the cameraman record during filming, or you could say behind-the-scenes footage. However, because the editing work was indeed time-sensitive and demanding, the Special Exam were over before these clips were even finished. It wasn't until the last two days that the footage was officially completed and sent to Kitagawa Ryo's account, which led to today's screening.

Because Horikita Suzune appeared in the behind-the-scenes footage, Asahina Nazuna, munching on snacks, asked curiously:

"Come to think of it, Suzune only came to the filming location twice?"

She and Horikita Suzune were in the same group during the Mixed Training Camp Special Exam earlier this year, so they have a pretty good relationship.

"Yes, although the studio was initially set up by me and Suzune, she later went solo. Mainly because I was busy with things at the advertising company during that time, Suzune also started trying to create some content on her own, and the results were quite good."

"I remember Suzune became a cooking blogger. I even saw a short video of her in it. Here, this one."

As she spoke, Karuizawa Kei took out her phone and pulled up a saved video clip. Sakura Airi and Asahina Nazuna next to her also leaned over to watch it, while Kitagawa Ryo, having already seen it beforehand, didn't join in the fun.

He was also aware of Horikita Suzune's choice in this Special Exam. After all, she had talked to him before she left. Last year at the Cultural Festival, many people in the industry had acknowledged her culinary skills. Developing in this direction wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He just hoped that her parents wouldn't mind him leading their academically excellent daughter into this "pitfall." However, Horikita Manabu would probably wholeheartedly support her, since he always approved of Suzune's own choices.

Looking back, among the high-achieving girls around him, it seems that only Ichinose Honami is truly following the most stable and conventional path. The others, let alone finding a respectable job in the eyes of their parents, don't even want to pursue further education at university.

Amasawa Ichika is already prepared to return to his family's company and rake in the gold coins after graduation. Horikita Suzune seems to be planning to pursue cooking to the end, whether she becomes a food blogger, a baking master, or some other kind of housewife. But that's unlikely to change anytime soon. Even Sakayanagi Arisu isn't entirely following the established path. Maybe in a few years he'll witness the youngest Chairman in the history of ANHS taking office.

"I feel like Suzune is pretty Aloof when she makes these cooking tutorial videos."

"I just didn't know what expression to use in front of the camera, so I went back to my old poker face. But I guess it's my own style, since it's just a cooking tutorial video. By the way, all the desserts I made in the video were taken back to the hotel by Suzune and I ate them."

Just like what Amasawa Ichika Horikita Suzune two days ago, in Suzune's simulation, many of Kitagawa Ryo's actions did indeed have that kind of deliberate, wicked humor. Rather, if you look closely, you'll find that he was actually using unrelated pretexts to train Suzune in a bunch of housekeeping skills, and in the end, he really did cultivate a perfect homebody like Suzune.

If Honami has to manage part of his finances for the rest of his life, then Suzune will probably have to take care of his stomach. However, she didn't win over his stomach first and then his heart; rather, she won his heart first and then started to consider his stomach. In a sense, they arrived at the same goal through different paths.

Since the person in question wasn't there, the group made a few casual jokes about Horikita Suzune's appearance, and then focused on their own scenes, reviewing the two weeks of filming they had spent recently from the cameraman's perspective.

The subtlety of time lies in the fact that it does not only flow away, but also recedes, just as the waves of a rising tide always recede.

During a break in filming, Kitagawa Ryo suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the edge of the frame, almost fleetingly, which looked somewhat like Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

The other person seemed to have come to his place sometime in the past month, but did not communicate with him. They only glanced at him from a distance. If the photographer hadn't captured that moment, even Kitagawa Ryo himself wouldn't have noticed.

Then, he couldn't help but think again of the sketchbook the other person had left with him.

There are actually very few drawings on it, and the very first page is a vast expanse of blue. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said that it was the first doodle he made about the sea after the Uninhabited Island Special Exam last year.

Before officially handing the sketchbook to Kitagawa Ryo, and unsure if he could get it back from him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka jotted down a few lines of poetry he had copied down next to this page:

I don't know what freedom is.

Freedom may be what I don't want—the sea.

I want to become the sea.

P. S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: That concludes the epilogue. The details of the celebration will be covered in the individual side stories of some of the participating characters, as writing them all together would easily lead to a disjointed and disjointed narrative. So, see you all in your individual side stories.

Personal Side Story: Karuizawa Kei: I'm a Perfect Match for You

The Royal Albert Hall in London was packed to capacity. Dazzling crystal chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow throughout the hall, while warm hues danced and swayed among the champagne glasses. This was the venue for this year's Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony.

As one of the highest honors in the United Kingdom theater, the Olivier Awards are among the top two in international prestige and status, on par with the Tony Awards in the United States. They primarily aim to recognize outstanding works and performances in London theaters, covering multiple fields such as drama, musicals, dance, and opera.

United Kingdom's expertise and emphasis on drama need no further explanation. Therefore, although the Olivier Awards are only awarded to productions in West End and some London theaters, as a selection of the old England Union Jack, it is still a highly coveted honor that theater Actor from all over the world want to win.

However, it is precisely because of the rigorous, even somewhat regionally discriminatory, judging atmosphere that, in the more than half a century since the award was established, Actor from Asia have had very few successes in this award, let alone winning one; even being nominated is extremely rare.

"Actually, I think if Liang had come to London to develop her career earlier, she should have won this award much sooner."

"I don't even know when I last acted in a drama, and now it's Hye Jae-suk who's being nominated, so I'm not nervous at all?"

In a corner of the crowded seating area, Kitagawa Ryo reached out and grasped Karuizawa Kei's right hand, which was resting on the armrest of her chair.

"My palms were sweating."

"There's nothing I can do... I know that being nervous now won't change the results when they're announced later, but after all, it's impossible for me to say that I didn't have any interest in the Olivier Awards when I chose to come to London to develop my career two years ago."