Noticing the gaze from outside the window, Kitagawa Ryo abandoned what he was about to say. Instead, he pulled out his phone and typed out a message to Chabashira Sae before casually turning around.
"If Class 1-A doesn't accept my terms within the hour, you might want to consider changing the nameplate at your door."
With that, Kitagawa slipped his phone back into his pocket and strolled out of Class 1-A as nonchalantly as he had come. The brief ten-minute confrontation had left the once-exuberant classroom blanketed in gloom. Gritting his teeth, Katsuragi Kouhei spoke:
"Chabashira-sensei, can I take a look at the terms he proposed?"
Beside him, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka calmly looked up. He instinctively placed himself in Kitagawa Ryo's position, trying to deduce the nature of the terms.
Class 1-A absolutely couldn't accept the expulsion of two students. Faced with such a high-handed opponent, how could they maximize their own benefit?
Class points were what every class valued the most, as they determined class rankings. Since only A-Class students received privileges upon graduation at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, each class naturally fought to increase their class points.
But the essence of class points wasn't about the class—it was about the points.
Aside from determining class rankings, class points also governed how many personal points each student received monthly. And personal points were the most important resource at this school.
A sharp light of realization flickered in Ayanokouji's golden eyes.
Personal points could be used to purchase anything—that was a known rule.
It implied that personal points were treated as an even more significant currency than conventional money at this school.
According to information from Nagumo Miyabi, very few lower-ranked classes in the school's history had ever successfully risen to the top. Even among the few who managed to reverse their fortunes, most were originally B-Class.
Besides the differences in overall student competency, the initial class rankings also subtly predetermined the outcomes. Ignoring the unusual circumstances of this year, in past years, Class 1-A typically led Class 1-D by nearly 900 class points by the end of the first month.
That meant Class A students, on average, received 3.6 million more personal points per month than Class D students.
And that was Class 1-A's greatest advantage.
If Kitagawa Ryo saw through this, just like Ayanokouji did, then he would likely propose a contract with Class 1-A—perhaps involving the transfer of a certain number of personal points to him each month.
And Ayanokouji was certain: if Kitagawa made such a proposal, Class 1-A would definitely accept.
After all, in their eyes, class points were a hundred times more valuable than personal points. This was partly because class points and personal points seemed to follow a one-way top-down exchange model, and partly because class points maintained their class ranking.
But that was Kitagawa Ryo's trap.
If Class 1-A had to transfer a massive amount of personal points every month, then class points would become meaningless. When future special exams required large sums of personal points, A-Class might end up poorer than even the lowest-ranked classes.
Furthermore...
Ayanokouji's thoughts turned deeper.
If you broke out of the narrow scope of the four classes, the entire first-year cohort was essentially locked in a mindless brawl, not even qualifying as a proper zero-sum game.
The school had set each class's starting class points at 1,000. That marked the cap for the first-year's class and personal points.
If Kitagawa were to crush Class 1-A this time, it might look like he was shaving off 450 class points from them—but in truth, he was lowering the entire grade's ceiling by 450 points.
Class 1-D already had zero class points. If Class A also dropped to zero, then the total class points for the year would fall from the initial 4,000 to a pitiful 500 or 600.
If no external factors intervened, such internal attrition might not seem that bad.
But Ayanokouji had a hunch about Kitagawa's strategy. He had also sensed something off during his dealings with Nagumo.
That was the possibility of a future inter-grade war.
When that day came, the gap in point caps across grades would be fully exposed.
Therefore...
Having reasoned through Kitagawa's motives, Ayanokouji stepped forward. Since most of the students were crowding around Katsuragi and Chabashira, he blended in without drawing attention.
Kitagawa was definitely proposing a contract involving personal points.
He was using the entire first-year to supply his class with resources.
Having confirmed his theory, Ayanokouji slipped deftly through the crowd and arrived beside Katsuragi.
Chabashira had already handed her phone to Katsuragi. She looked utterly dazed, barely able to stand as she leaned on the podium.
And Katsuragi, having read the message, looked just as bewildered. Rubbing the back of his shiny bald head, he flipped through the message multiple times. As more students crowded around, he raised his voice:
"Everyone return to your seats. I'll read out Kitagawa's terms and we can discuss them."
For the first time, a noticeable ripple passed through Ayanokouji's usually unreadable eyes. Having already glimpsed the message earlier, he thought:
"No way... That's what he proposed?"
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"So, what exactly did Ryo demand from Class 1-A?"
Karuizawa Kei asked with a hint of irritation. She had gone to the trouble of sneaking away from Class 1-B to eavesdrop, and she was doing quite well too—until Kitagawa snuck up behind her like a ghost and tapped her on the shoulder. If not for her years of theater training helping her manage her expressions and emotions, she probably would have screamed and alerted the entire year.
"What if I told you I magnanimously let Class A off without demanding anything? Would you believe me?"
"Sure I would."
Karuizawa grumbled as she playfully stomped on Kitagawa's shadow.
"Because if Class A fell, our Class B would automatically be promoted. And according to our agreement at the beginning of the year, you'd have to transfer to our class obediently."
"But whatever, I'm not that interested in such a gift-wrapped victory. Sooner or later, Class B will rise to A-Class on our own. You'd better start preparing the 20 million points for your transfer."
"Why do I have to pay for my own transfer...?"
Knowing she was joking, Kitagawa asked in a teasing tone.
"At that point, our Class B will officially be Class A. The Class A!"
"The one with a nearly 100% graduation and employment rate, the class where dreams come true!"
Her own words made her chuckle. Her honey-blonde hair swayed with her laughter. The end-of-May weather had grown warm, so she took off her jacket and tied it casually around her waist, instantly boosting her gyaru energy.
Stretching lazily, Karuizawa looked down at her outfit and muttered:
"This feels kind of student-y."
"Well, we are high schoolers."
It had been a while since Kitagawa last saw Karuizawa dressed like this. But as she said, tying a jacket around the waist was something students often did. Over the past few years, he had mostly seen her in formalwear or performance costumes. This outfit reminded him of their first meeting during the simulation.
Back then, Karuizawa's persona had been a constructed facade. The carefree vibe she had now was completely different.
Leaning against the railing of the corridor, Karuizawa gazed down at the greenery in the courtyard. The midday breeze made the jacket tied at her waist flutter in the wind. Her slightly bent posture accentuated her perfect waist and hip curve. She turned her head and gently tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling:
"I'm really looking forward to the special exam this summer."
Her smile was like a rose on the verge of blooming.
But not the kind of rose that bloomed solely for the Little Prince and withered just as easily—beautiful because it was the only one.
She was a red rose that grew from the soil, braving the wind and rain, and still stood confidently before you—
A true red rose.
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Karuizawa Kei truly enjoyed the atmosphere of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. Maybe it was because she had memories of having experienced it once before, but she looked forward to the island trip, the cruise, and even the sports festival that would come later.
Kitagawa Ryo understood exactly what she was thinking. In a way, they were the same type of person—hoping to make up for past regrets and to focus more positively on the future.
That thought also brought back memories of Kitagawa's past actions in the simulation. Back then, he had led Class C to essentially have a vacation on the uninhabited island—relaxing and having fun for two days—before using his meticulous planning to seize ultimate victory. Even by today's standards, that was still one of his proudest achievements.
The final outcome had been Class C as the sole winner, with all other classes suffering defeat.
He vaguely remembered that he had even angered the already-ill Suzune so badly that she collapsed again.
Feeling a touch of nostalgia, Kitagawa flipped through the pages of his simulated memories: riding a tandem parasail with Shiina Hiyori over the sea, borrowing a hammock from Ichinose Honami's camp, secretly meeting Karuizawa Kei at night to stargaze beneath the trees...
Even after many years, those pearl-like memories would remain some of the most precious in Kitagawa Ryo's life.
But there would always be someone absent.
He sank his consciousness inward.
Once again, Kitagawa found himself submerged in that chaotic sea, staring at the glowing interface before him.
[Life Restart Simulator]
[Each simulation randomly draws five talents. Talent levels range from White, Green, Blue, Purple, to Gold. After each simulation ends, the player may choose one talent to solidify and carry over to the next simulation.]
[Chapter: Sakayanagi Arisu's Spring Wish]
It had been a long time since Kitagawa had visited this place, ever since completing the simulation for Horikita Suzune two years ago. The talent he had chosen to solidify back then had completely disrupted his life, and he had no way of predicting what changes the next simulation might bring.
Only in recent days had he finally received a new piece of information from the system.
[Sakayanagi Arisu's emotional state has shifted. Her life trajectory has diverged.]
[It is recommended that the player complete Chapter 4 as soon as possible.]
Kitagawa remembered very clearly—the simulation for Horikita Suzune had also been triggered by a similar message. Back then, Suzune had already begun to feel change due to his appearance, prompting the reopening of her simulation.
Fortunately, Kitagawa's deep understanding of Suzune had allowed him to complete that simulation in a single attempt.
But now...
He turned his gaze toward the only remaining main story chapter:
Sakayanagi Arisu's Spring Wish.
Thinking about it carefully, Sakayanagi Arisu was the most mysterious and unique among the four main heroines. Even though he had encountered her in two simulations, Kitagawa couldn't confidently claim to understand her.
With Ichinose Honami, Karuizawa Kei, and Horikita Suzune, there had always been a critical turning point in their development—be it a person or an event.
But in both of Kitagawa's simulations involving Arisu, he had never found such a turning point.
Every time he encountered her, she was already that proud, sharp-tongued genius.
Kitagawa had never once seen Sakayanagi Arisu's childhood in any simulation.
Nor had he in real life.
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"Given Sakayanagi-san's health condition, the school recommends that you do not participate in this summer's special exam."
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her room, staring at the agreement on her desk. She was no stranger to such wording. Tapping the tip of her pen against the table, she knew that just like countless times before, all she had to do was sign her name at the bottom.
"Considering Miss Arisu's medical condition, the hospital strongly advises against any high-intensity outdoor activities. All regular rehabilitation training should be conducted under supervision."
The surname "Sakayanagi" was already written.
The girl calmly added her given name:
Arisu.
The same pronunciation as the Alice who followed the rabbit into the underground world.
[The first simulation of this chapter will now begin.]
[Randomly drawing talents...]
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