[Simulation ended] [Simulated ending: Hope That Never Left] [Simulation review: Although it didn't have much of an impact, everyone can accept it, can't they?] [Simulation rating: C] [Reward: 10 talent points]
Ichinose Honami checked her balance. She had twenty-five points now. With a soft sigh, she leaned against the headboard, her gaze unfocused as it settled on the translucent interface floating in the air.
A C rating seemed rather harsh for a simulation so full of twists and turns, one that had even changed countless people's fates.
The line in the review saying "Although it didn't have much of an impact" was like a thorn, digging into her proud yet frustrated heart.
It was true. Looking back on the simulation, she really hadn't played a decisive role.
She hadn't been able to stop Wu Qiao from dropping out, nor had she changed the school's oppressive course. Even the seemingly perfect redemption at the end had been a plan Wu Qiao carried out alone after leaving.
She had been like a passive spectator, watching the gears of fate grind on while all she could do was cry out faintly.
But... Ichinose Honami recalled the simulation's final moments: Wu Qiao standing at the podium, his gaze calm yet resolute, and the light rekindling in the eyes of those classmates below who had once seemed utterly lifeless.
"Everyone can accept it, can't they?" she softly repeated the latter half of the review, a look of relief slowly spreading across her lips.
Though the journey had been full of pain and sacrifice, and though she hadn't become the savior who turned everything around, in the end, everyone had found a way forward.
Wu Qiao had kept his promise to "protect" in his own way. And she had finally understood that true protection meant more than standing in front of someone. It meant believing firmly in each other no matter what happened, and facing the future together.
Twenty-five talent points. She still had a long way to go before reaching that seemingly unattainable 120. But Ichinose Honami wasn't in a hurry anymore.
She had found something more important than talent: the resolve to never give up hope, no matter how dark things became, and the courage to weather the storm alongside her friends.
The morning sun streamed through the leaves and spilled across the campus. Ichinose Honami got up early, washed, and left her dorm. The building was quiet; everyone else was still asleep.
Having just emerged from the simulation, Ichinose Honami felt a little dizzy from the long, heavy memories. She steadied herself against a tree by the path, then reminded herself silently: I still need to keep reality and the simulation separate.
The cafeteria wasn't open yet, so Ichinose Honami wandered along the campus paths, enjoying the rare quiet of the early morning.
But as she rounded a corner, two figures in the morning training group immediately caught her eye.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha was sparring with Wu Qiao—or, more accurately, Ayanokoji Kiyoha was teaching him combat techniques.
The sight was a little strange. In Ichinose Honami's memories, Wu Qiao had possessed enough strength to crush anything in his path. The terrifying image of him smashing a massive boulder with a single punch was still vivid in her mind.
Of course, she also knew that Ayanokoji Kiyoha was no weakling. The methods he had displayed in the latter part of the simulation had been just as chilling.
Although Ayanokoji Kiyoha's combat ability in the simulation had been second only to Wu Qiao's, he was still nowhere near Wu Qiao's monstrous strength—the kind that could literally tear down a building.
Yet now, the real Wu Qiao was awkwardly dodging attacks under Ayanokoji's instruction. Sweat ran down his cheeks, and his gaze was focused and serious. There was none of the "monster" about him.
Ichinose Honami stopped and quietly watched from behind a tree. A realization suddenly struck her: There really is something going on. Wu Qiao can't be that strong yet. Otherwise, Kito Hayato from Class A couldn't have injured him badly enough to land him in the infirmary.
That world-shattering strength from the simulation had perhaps been the "price" this cruel school had forced out of him through countless failures, pain, and despair. Looking at the boy still striving to learn how to grow stronger, Ichinose Honami felt a wave of aching sympathy and pity.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and walked toward them.
"Morning, Wu-kun, Ayanokoji!" Ichinose Honami greeted them with her signature radiant smile, her clear voice breaking the morning silence. "Training so early? You're full of energy!"
At the sound of her voice, the two stopped sparring and turned to look at her. Wu Qiao wiped away his sweat, looking surprised, while Ayanokoji Kiyoha kept his usual impassive expression, though a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
Wu Qiao stopped, still surprised, and grabbed a towel from nearby to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Ichinose? Why are you up so early?"
Ichinose Honami gave him a playful shrug, her signature radiant smile on her face. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk. What about you two? Starting training so early? How's it going?"
Ayanokoji Kiyoha relaxed his stance and gave a calm nod. His tone was even, but his assessment was fair. "He's picking things up quickly. His physique is even better than I expected."
It was true. During their brief sparring session and practice, Ayanokoji Kiyoha had noticed that Wu Qiao's physical abilities had improved noticeably. His explosive strength and reaction speed were both slightly better than when Ayanokoji had run into him on the field last time.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha's placid eyes narrowed slightly as he considered this. A significant improvement in such a short time can't come from morning exercises alone. Is he naturally gifted, or was he deliberately hiding his strength before? The latter is more likely.
Hearing Ayanokoji Kiyoha's praise, Wu Qiao scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He was about to brush it off modestly when he noticed Ichinose Honami looking at him.
Her gaze seemed to hold too many complicated emotions: concern, curiosity, and even a hint of... pity he couldn't understand.
"Um... Ichinose, why are you looking at me like that?" Wu Qiao shifted back half a step, feeling a little uneasy.
Ichinose Honami came back to herself and quickly hid her emotions, putting on her usual bright, energetic smile again. She hurried over to them. "It's nothing! I just think Wu-kun is really hardworking. Since you two are so motivated, I can't fall behind! How about I join your morning training from now on?"
Wu Qiao paused, then gave her a helpless but gentle smile. "Of course. But morning training is tough, so don't complain that you're tired."
"Don't worry, I've got plenty of determination!" Ichinose Honami clenched her little fist, her gaze resolute. ```