"Whoa! There are so many different flavors of instant noodles. I was wondering if I'd be able to get the brands I wanted since we can't order things online."
"This school is a lot more convenient than I expected."
At the convenience-food counter up ahead, two boys who seemed to be first-years were enthusiastically discussing the options as they piled all kinds of instant noodles into their shopping cart. It was already filled with snacks and drinks, but with a monthly allowance of 100,000 points, they seemed to have plenty of confidence in their purchases.
A red-haired boy was standing nearby, also picking out instant noodles. His hair was so noticeable that Kitagawa Ryo glanced over a few times. During the entrance ceremony earlier, Kitagawa had already memorized the faces of the students in Classes 1-B and 1-D around him. He didn't know the red-haired boy's name, but he seemed to be a new student in Class 1-D.
"If you're having trouble deciding, how about this five-blade razor? It should give you a nice, clean shave."
Hearing what sounded like a conversation about choosing a razor, Kitagawa found the figure's back vaguely familiar and quietly turned to the side.
"Shave what?"
It was a girl's voice—and a voice Kitagawa knew all too well.
"You know, your chin or your armpits... and down there—well, never mind."
The awkward attempt at dirty talk with a girl he'd just met made even Kitagawa feel embarrassed on behalf of the White Room's "Masterpiece." As expected, Horikita Suzune looked at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka as if he were garbage.
While pretending to continue picking out household supplies, Kitagawa wondered whether he should step into their conversation.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka—the so-called White Room's only successful product, the Masterpiece who had appeared in the third simulation. Kitagawa had only met