True Education: I Have a Life Simulator

Although a proper hiking path led to the mountain's summit, most tourists didn't bother taking it. Instead, they preferred the crisscrossing, winding trails through the forest beside it—paths trodden into existence by countless feet. These made one feel closer to nature, and since the park periodically cleared and maintained the area, there were no dangers from wild animals. If it weren't for the fact that Ichinose Honami was wearing a skirt today, the two of them might have taken those side trails too.

After hiking for half an hour along the designated path, they spotted a pavilion meant for visitors to rest. Inside stood a large vending machine filled with drinks and snacks, though prices were slightly higher than outside the park.

"Want to take a break?"

Kitagawa Ryo checked the time on his watch before leading Honami into the shade of the pavilion. The hot weather had kept most tourists from ascending all the way on foot—many took the cable car from mid-mountain instead—so the two had the place to themselves.

"Yeah."

Beads of sweat dotted Honami's forehead, and she panted lightly as she took a seat beside him. Instinctively, she reached for her phone to check her sister Maki's location.

"You seem a bit distracted today, Honami. Tired?"

Ryo lay back and stared up at the ceiling patterns, carved with what looked like four cuckoo birds.

"I'm fine."

A bit guilty, Honami put her phone away. Even though it was odd that Maki hadn't moved for nearly twenty minutes, she didn't want to call Karuizawa Kei while she was with her. Offering a vague excuse, she said, "Maybe it's just the heat."

She pulled out a handkerchief and offered one to Ryo while wiping her own forehead.

"Honami."

Every time he called her name, it sent a jolt through her—like her heart shot into the clouds before crashing back down.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Still, she forced herself to appear calm—like an actor struggling to deliver their lines after botching the scene.

"Last night I dreamed about us playing together when we were kids."

Ryo's smile made Honami feel strangely irritable. She was someone who looked forward to the future more than she cherished the past. Ryo, seventeen, still lingered in memories from when he was seven, while she had longed to become twenty ever since she was ten.

His childhood memories were filled with her. But hers included not only Ryo, but also her sister, her mother, and a faceless father—so blurry now she couldn't even recall his features. As a child, she often dreamt of a faceless monster beside her mother. It wasn't until later that she realized the monster was her father, someone she hadn't seen since she could remember.

The dreams had stopped after she turned twelve. She had finally expelled this non-existent man from her life—both from her reality and her dreams—and that brought a profound sense of relief.

"What were we doing in the dream?"

It was a pointless question, but she asked it anyway, lost in a spiral of emotions she struggled to contain.

"We were eating those soda-flavored popsicles that cost just sixty yen."

Ryo didn't seem to notice her unease. He smiled as he recalled the long-gone treats.

"Ah, those were delicious. Didn't they sometimes come with a prize stick?"

When Honami looked up again, her usual gentle expression had returned. She had made up her mind. Since she had come this far, she wouldn't leave herself any escape route.

But when she met Ryo's deep black eyes, it felt cruel. She was someone who always prioritized others' feelings over her own. If she were an actress, she'd probably feel embarrassed on behalf of the audience even before they could judge her.

"Yeah, let's have another."

Ryo sighed lightly.

"Too bad they don't sell them anymore. In a few years, kids might not even know they existed."

"As long as someone remembers them, it's fine, isn't it?"

Honami rested her chin on her hand like him and sighed.

"They were cheap too. If you won, it was like paying thirty yen."

"Back then, I didn't think about that. I just felt like I got a free one. Sometimes I wouldn't even redeem the prize—I wanted to keep the winning stick."

Honami chuckled.

"Weren't those sticks dirty?"

"No way. I'd wash them and keep them in my pocket. I'd even show them off to classmates. If someone dirtied or stole one, I'd complain to the teacher until I got it back."

"Boys are really something else."

She glanced at her phone.

"Did Maki message you? I haven't been able to reach her for an hour."

Ryo pulled out his own phone. He had kept it on silent all day to focus on their outing.

The first notification he saw was from Karuizawa Kei—location and a voice recording.

Sent three minutes ago.

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Karuizawa Kei was undeniably a stunning girl, well above the standard line of beauty. But sometimes, beauty could bring more trouble than blessings—like now.

According to Uehara Emika, Kei was nothing more than a weakling who wouldn't argue or resist, no matter how badly she was bullied. Whether it was being dragged into a bathroom and soaked and beaten, being forced to eat a spilled bento off the floor with her mouth, or having her skirt pulled down in public—Kei would endure it all obediently.

If Emika hadn't stabbed her in the stomach back then, maybe she could've played with this toy for another two years.

Uehara Emika, picking at her nails, thought with a trace of regret. They were the same type of girl, but unlike Karuizawa Kei, she was more socially adept. That's why, as soon as they entered junior high, she became the leader of the girls' clique and naturally isolated Kei before tormenting her.

But come to think of it, why did she hate Kei so much back then?

Uehara Emika stared maliciously at Karuizawa Kei, whose lips were tightly pressed together. Her sky-blue eyes met Emika's with no fear, even glaring back fiercely.

Tch.

At that moment, Uehara Emika finally understood—the reason she bullied Kei was simple: jealousy and pure malice.

She just wanted to see that annoying face trampled beneath her feet.

"Didn't you hear what Ken just said?"

Emika continued pressing, ready to pounce the moment Kei gave in, planning to ruthlessly push her back into the dirt.

"Or do you want me to do it again, right here...?"

Ken stepped in to stop Emika's threats, smiling as he addressed the girls.

"It's not like we can't negotiate. If you don't want to pay or lick shoes, how about having a drink with us when we go down the mountain later?"

The delinquents behind him burst into rowdy laughter. Uehara Emika looked displeased but, knowing she couldn't afford to offend Ken, kept her snake-like gaze fixed on Karuizawa Kei.

"My boyfriend's coming soon. He just went to get water."

Karuizawa Kei took a step back, as if someone really were standing before her.

"Boyfriend? Then we really should run."

Uehara Emika seemed to find new momentum and turned to Ken with a mocking tone.

"After all, nearly half the boys in our class have confessed to this Kei girl."

Her exaggerated gestures and tone incited more laughter from the group, even Ken joined in.

"That's kinda scary. These middle schoolers these days sure play wild."

"Hey Kei, if you really have a boyfriend, how does he feel about that scar on your body when you're doing it with him?"

Uehara Emika wouldn't let go.

"Do you giggle and tell him it's from a C-section or something?"

Filthy words poured in like a flood. Karuizawa Kei simply let Ichinose Maki behind her cover her ears and took a deep breath, still maintaining a calm facade.

"Ken, just slap a slut like her and she'll behave. I've seen it plenty—act all proper now, cry harder than anyone later."

Uehara Emika noticed Kei's trembling fingers. She knew Kei wasn't nearly as strong as she seemed, just putting on a show for the little kid behind her.

Seeing Ken gesture toward her, Uehara Emika leaned toward Karuizawa Kei and whispered in her ear:

"Kei? Tired of pretending? No matter how you fake it, you're still scared, right?"

"What are you afraid of? Afraid of me? You are afraid of me, aren't you."

She licked her lips, tongue blood-red.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you're still intact. Looks like the girls who came after me weren't as ruthless."

She raised her hand high.

"Let me help refresh your memory."

"Oh, forgot to mention—I've been diagnosed with something after that incident. Don't know what, but apparently hitting people's not that illegal for me."

A man's voice suddenly cut through the air—so abrupt it felt like it froze Emika's raised hand in mid-air.

"Uehara Emika."

"Age 16, resident of Toshima, Tokyo. Father: Uehara Tadashi, former worker at Chiba Heavy Industries, now unemployed. Mother: Uehara Yuko, housewife. Household debt totals 31 million yen. Expelled in first year of junior high from Shuetsu Middle School for intentional assault."

The man's voice paused. In the background were audible panting and the thud-thud-thud of rapid footsteps.

"If I'm correct, I ask that you cease all actions that may harm Kei."

The voice in the wind was sharp and dangerous—an unspoken threat.

Only now did Uehara Emika realize the voice came from Karuizawa Kei's phone on speaker. The ease with which she was threatened made her angry. She stepped forward, but another message came through:

"If you hurt her, I swear, I don't care what diagnosis lets you dodge the law—"

"You'll pay for it."

"Also, I'm almost there."

"Kei, turn off the speaker."

"O-okay."

Hearing Kitagawa Ryo's words, Karuizawa Kei quickly switched off the speaker and held the phone to her ear.

"Like this? Is this okay?"

"Not sure. Just stall for now."

His breath came short.

"I'll be there in three minutes. Just hold on."

"Believe—"

"I believe in you."

"Okay."

Karuizawa Kei heard him sigh, then hang up.

Kitagawa Ryo confirmed the location again and picked up speed as he sprinted through the forest. His earpiece buzzed with an old man's deep voice:

"Five minutes."

Honestly, running in the woods wasn't ideal, but on the hiking trail, a staff member might've stopped him.

Dodging a rock, Ryo steadied his breath. After receiving Kei's distress call, he'd been running for about seven or eight minutes. The remaining distance was roughly 600 meters.

On a track, he could run 600 meters in under three minutes, but given the terrain and fatigue, three minutes was his absolute limit.

Kitagawa Ryo didn't make promises lightly—but this time, he had.

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"Not going up anymore?"

"We still have time."

After the staff took away the group of delinquents—who had been "accidentally" beaten black and blue—Kitagawa Ryo sat on the stone steps and smiled at Ichinose Honami as she arrived. Unlike the twisted expression he wore earlier, this was a smile he only ever showed when looking at her.

"Didn't expect something like this to happen."

Honami smoothed her skirt and sat down beside him. Ichinose Maki and Karuizawa Kei, as the "accidental" witnesses, were now giving routine statements. Since the delinquents were too scared to say anything, the girls were free to make up whatever version of events they liked.

"Is your family in this kind of business?"

Ryo scratched his head and quickly denied it.

"We're in legit business. It's just that we happened to be working on a project near the summit. They're building a huge observation deck here. You'll be able to see the Tokyo fireworks from up here when it's done."

"I want to take Maki home. She was probably scared out of her mind today."

Maki, looking a bit worn out, cut in. She glanced at the summit, which wasn't too far now, and forced a smile.

"Let's go next time."

"Sorry."

Sensing her low spirits, Ryo refrained from saying more.

"It's fine. Besides, Kei must've been shaken up too. You should thank her for me, Ryo."

"You could thank her yourself, couldn't you?"

Honami watched the setting sun dip behind the mountain, glancing at her shadow and replying softly:

"She's your girlfriend, isn't she?"

Ryo stared at Honami as if seeing her for the first time, then chuckled lightly.

"What's this? Sounds like we played our roles a little too well, even fooled you."

"Yeah, well, that means Kei's friends won't suspect anything either."

"I've been thinking about when I should bring it up with her…"

"Maki's done."

Honami suddenly stood up, even she could hear the pleading note in her voice.

"I'll head down with her."

"Okay, sure."

Ryo suddenly felt like he'd heard himself say those words to Honami before. But he couldn't recall when.

He silently watched as Honami and Maki walked down the mountain. Maki seemed to glance back at him a couple of times, so he raised a hand and smiled.

Right now, Kitagawa Ryo felt like he was floating on the surface of a vast sea—like a fragile, drifting lily pad. In that desolate ocean, memories stood like reefs. Every time he collided with one, it hurt.

If memories between two people lose one side, all that's left for the other is a black hole of time. Every treasured word or moment becomes nothing but a fossil in the sands—worthless if no one else remembers.

"Kitagawa-senpai."

He didn't know how long had passed before the voice of a girl behind him snapped him out of his daze. The sky had dimmed—it was nearly six o'clock.

"Sorry about today."

Ryo looked at the girl standing before him. Her honey-colored hair fluttered like a fairy's.

"I didn't expect those people to show up."

"It's really okay."

Karuizawa Kei quickly waved her hands, nervously fidgeting with her hair.

"You only asked me to help and not reject Maki's invitation. We were just supposed to have fun today. No one could've predicted this."

"You knew, didn't you?"

Ryo gave a wry smile, catching a falling leaf in his hand.

"Yeah. I came today to support your confession plan."

Kei nodded and held up three fingers.

"Actually, you set everything up from the start. The so-called random bus route was fake. You'd already researched the bus schedule and stop sequence. As for the park, all you had to do was suggest getting off right before we arrived."

"I'm not sure what you planned exactly, but I bet your first attempt was going to be at the temple with Honami. Based on what I saw at noon, it probably had something to do with those romantic fortunes. That 'unbreakable bond' thing was too suspicious."

"And the summit… that must've been the final confession spot. I didn't make it up there, so I can't be sure."

Kei smiled apologetically and pointed at herself.

"My role was probably to break up with you there, right?"

"In the end, I guess I messed up my role as your chosen actor. I was supposed to just be a bystander."

"You didn't mess up."

Ryo suddenly smiled—but it wasn't a happy smile.

"Honami's acting was the worst. So bad I couldn't keep up. Couldn't pick up her cues, couldn't read her expressions, couldn't even deliver my lines."

"Senpai…"

Kei looked at him, worried.

"I'm fine."

Ryo pulled a beautifully wrapped box from his pocket.

"Here. Take it. Consider it the audience's praise for your performance."

"Perfume?"

Kei gently accepted the box, running her fingers over the elegant engraving.

"Isn't rose scent a bit too mature?"

"If you don't want it, I'll toss it."

Hearing him grumble, Kei quickly stuffed it into her bag. Her sky-blue eyes curved like crescent moons.

"No way. This is the first gift you've given me, isn't it?"

"I told you—it's just a thank-you for helping out and a little compensation for being harassed."

Ryo stood up and walked downhill beside her.

"Kei."

She heard him call her name and turned back.

"Thank you, really."

"Was that line acting too?"

"Of course not."

"Heh. I believe you, senpai."

[CG scene: The Actor – Complete.]