I have a life simulator.

In the CG of "The Guilty One", he seemed to see Ichinose Honami as a child, the eldest daughter of a single-parent family. Children from this background are mostly withdrawn and introverted, and rarely interact with others. He himself grew up like this, which is why he became fascinated with one simple "Life Restart Simulator" after another. Those rough texts were like islands that sheltered him to Ryo.

As the girl grew up, he watched Ichinose Honami walk alone, her figure shuttling between school and home.

She stole a hair clip for her sister, and then her mother forced her to kneel down and apologize in front of everyone in the store.

But the moment the other person knelt down, he seemed to see himself again. Fourteen-year-old Ryo, wearing cheap and ill-fitting clothes, walked through the city streets. He was first terrified, then resentful. Every step in society could be a trap. He was afraid and apprehensive, but he still gritted his teeth and walked forward step by step, trying to protect his family and relatives like Ichinose Honami.

Thinking about it this way, my deepest obsession with Honami Ichinose is simply that I hope she can live a better life.

The north wind howled outside the window, and the sky darkened, as if it were about to snow.

Pedestrians along the road quickened their pace, hurrying towards their homes. The rabbit handing out flyers finally found a chance to lean against the wall, catching its breath and resting for a while.

Ok?

I didn't see the rabbit when I came here. Was it just not there?

Because he had worked here in a rabbit costume in his previous life, Kitagawa Ryo was very perceptive and noticed that the person wearing the rabbit costume now was probably a child about his age.

"I'm going out to take a look."

Kitagawa Ryo stood up and left his seat. He knew very well that the leather hood was not as warm as it seemed. In fact, if he took off his cotton-padded coat and was only wearing a sweater and a light shirt inside, every gust of wind seemed to penetrate to his bones, chilling him to the bone.

I ordered a quick-made cocoa at the counter. Actually, it's not complicated at all; you just need to mix cocoa powder with water. The taste basically depends on the quality of the cocoa powder.

While waiting for his drink to be ready, Kitagawa Ryo leaned against the counter and peeked at the rabbit outside the door.

Because he was facing away from the store, the other person had not yet realized that Kitagawa Ryo had noticed him.

Ichinose Maki, on the other hand, seemed a little uneasy, pursing her lips as if observing Kitagawa Ryo's actions.

Holding the freshly made, still-steaming cocoa in her hand, Kitagawa Ryo opened the door to the coffee shop. Due to the significant temperature difference, it felt as if she had stepped directly from spring into winter.

The snow hadn't completely fallen yet, so there was no reason to give up the job. Besides, I was already very lucky to have found such a job.

I overheard my younger sister, Maki Ichinose, mentioning that the coffee shop at the street corner seemed to need a special employee.

Honami Ichinose was well aware of her family's current situation. Her mother had almost single-handedly taken care of her and her sister's studies and lives, so if she could share some of the burden with her mother, things would be much better for the family.

If it were the woman of the past, she probably wouldn't have dared to make such a decision.

Because her mother never allowed her to spend any energy on anything other than studying, she had already laid out what she considered a perfect path from school to society for her daughter. Ichinose Honami's current task should be to study hard, and she shouldn't have to worry about things at home.

but……

Honami Ichinose rubbed her arms, feeling the slight heat rising from them, and handed out flyers to passersby with as much energy as possible.

If things continue like that, I'll become a very twisted girl.

It's like putting shackles on yourself, building wall after wall around your true feelings, until you eventually lose the ability to love yourself.

too frightening.

Thinking about what her future would look like, Honami Ichinose shook her head with a hint of lingering fear.

She would never expect herself to be like that, nor would she expect a future like that.

Honami Ichinose gripped the flyer in her hand tightly and stomped her foot.

To value someone's feelings; to like someone's feelings.

A gentle feeling, a warm feeling, a joyful feeling.

A feeling of sadness, regret, and pain.

The feelings I had in the past still linger in my heart.

"Even if it's insignificant, it doesn't matter. I want these feelings to remain in your heart. I hope these feelings can become your will and your weapon."

"I hope you can trust your heart to make judgments. I hope you can care more about yourself. If a situation arises where you have to sacrifice yourself to save others, don't abandon yourself without hesitation. You are not an omnipotent angel, nor are you a prisoner born with original sin."

【cold……】

When I feel frustrated or can't persevere, I think of him. Just recalling the time I spent with him seems to give me the strength to try again.

According to my inquiries, the other person seems to be currently playing the lead role in a theater troupe, having just debuted as a child star.

One portion of the money I saved from this part-time job was for my next theater ticket.

In a few days, I will be able to see him again.

I want him to see a different side of me.

It started snowing, and the pink rabbit strolled through the light snow, reminiscing about the distant past as she continued her work.

She will still treat everyone with sincerity, but she will no longer want to be an omnipotent angel in the eyes of others;

She would still feel remorse for her mistakes, but she would no longer see herself as a prisoner born with original sin.

Honami Ichinose is currently just an ordinary girl who can cry and laugh, throw tantrums and comfort others.

Just like any ordinary girl, she has someone she likes.

In the cold air, a warm call came from behind her.

"It's very cold today, and you look like you're having a hard time."

"Would you like a free hot cocoa? It'll warm you up nicely."

Honami Ichinose stiffened; she recognized the voice.

Kitagawa Ryo looked at the cute little rabbit in front of him and couldn't help but touch its long ears.

"The kind that keeps you warm from your hair to your toes."

Chapter Four: I'm the one who will stay with Liang until the end.

A freshly made, still steaming cup of cocoa was handed to the rabbit's mouth. In this already chilly winter, just watching the white mist rising from the rim of the cup, one could almost imagine holding it in one's hands and feeling the comforting warmth emanating from the palm of one's hand.

"Goo."

However, Honami Ichinose did not take it immediately. She turned around somewhat hastily, as if she had not heard, or as if she was deliberately avoiding him, and walked to the other side to continue her work, seemingly wanting to get away from Ryo Kitagawa and the cup of cocoa in his hand.

As a temporary employee working here, Honami Ichinose knew exactly how much this cup of cocoa cost. She would subconsciously categorize it into other uses and then conclude that it was not worth it at all. Spending such a sum of money just to warm up was unnecessary for her.

What's more, it was handed over by Ryo himself.

Although he didn't seem to recognize himself at all, since he was completely wrapped in a rabbit costume.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot you're wearing a leather case and it's not easy to carry."

Kitagawa Ryo scratched his head, inserted the straw into the cup, and walked back to the other person's side:

"Actually, I just feel that it must be very hard for you to do this job in this kind of weather. I used to do this kind of outdoor flyer handing out in winter, and it was really cold."

"Because I have now gotten through the most difficult time, I also hope to help others."

Recalling her feelings at that time, Kitagawa Ryo tried to soften her voice as much as possible:

“I don’t know who you are, so don’t worry about any rumors or gossip.”

"It's just a cup of cocoa. If you feel like you're missing something, you can treat someone else to the same cup of cocoa when you're able to later."

The other person seemed to be moved by Kitagawa Ryo's words and moved closer. Kitagawa Ryo smiled and inserted the straw into the gap under the other person's hood and neck.

"Thank you."

Honami Ichinose replied in this way.

Miss Rabbit didn't want to take off her headgear, so she just tilted her head back slightly. She didn't seem to be afraid of the heat and took a big gulp. Her throat was trembling slightly, and if you were close enough, you could almost hear the gurgling sound of her swallowing.

Have you done this kind of work before?

Honami Ichinose looked at Ryo Kitagawa through the transparent plastic film that was specially made for his eyes, and looked into his eyes.

Just like in countless previous eye contact, his dark eyes were clear and bright, holding a gentle smile, as if one could see all that was beautiful in them.

"Yes, I was also wearing this mascot costume and handing out flyers outside, just like you, but the snow was much heavier back then."

Kitagawa Ryo answered, holding the cup. The thought of the other person biting the straw in the cup gave him a strange feeling of being fed.

It's like feeding a cute little rabbit a carrot.

Today's snow was indeed not particularly heavy, unlike the heavy snowfall I remember that day. There were only a few snowflakes, drifting in the wind like sand, lingering on the noses of passersby.

"So, did someone offer you a free cup of cocoa back then?"

"No."

Slightly taken aback by the girl's unexpected question, Kitagawa Ryo shook his head and answered honestly.

Actually, to be honest, he was asked by customers to play the messenger of Santa Claus who came all the way from the snow, but in the end he only got a cold cup of cocoa mixed with snow.

"Ah."

Seemingly unsurprised by his answer, Honami Ichinose nodded gently. She pushed aside the half-full cup of cocoa, quietly leaned close to Ryo Kitagawa's ear, and whispered in a voice even gentler and sweeter than when she was handing out flyers:

"Hey... It's getting cold, want some hot cocoa?"

Coupled with this sweet temptation, even the unchanging smile on the rabbit costume seemed a bit more endearing.

"Eh?"

"Didn't you just say you were giving me the whole glass? It's reasonable for me to give you back my half glass, isn't it?"

The rabbit, who had suddenly become cunning, hopped and skipped away in no time.

"Just think of it as if someone offered you half a cup of cocoa like this when you were handing out flyers before, how about that?"

"If we huddle together and share warmth, both of us will get warmer."

Looking at the half-full cup of cocoa in his hand, with the straw slightly damp, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Although he didn't know who it was, the other person's sensitive nature, to the point that they were even cautious about showing kindness, did make him feel somewhat close to them.

Moreover, the other person always gave him a sense of familiarity.

Kitagawa Ryo walked back into the store while thinking. He didn't really intend to drink the remaining half. He just gave the cashier a few instructions, left the cocoa there, and returned to his seat with the lingering warmth in his hands.

"Where did my brother go? He's been gone for so long."

My younger sister, lounging lazily on the table with her head resting on her arm and only her fluorescent eyes showing, was grumbling softly.

On the other side, Ichinose Maki also nervously turned her gaze to Kitagawa Ryo.

Although Hotaru didn't pay much attention, she had been following Kitagawa Ryo's actions closely and saw what he said to her sister.

Ichinose Maki doesn't fail to understand her sister's part-time job, nor does she think it's anything shameful.

but……

Her hands, hidden under the table, were clenched together, and her palms were covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Ichinose Maki genuinely didn't want her friends to know about this, and that's a thought that shouldn't be blamed.

Noticing Ichinose Maki's unusual behavior, Kitagawa Ryo didn't immediately ask what was wrong, but instead casually answered his sister's question:

"I just gave that little bunny outside who was handing out flyers a cup of cocoa."

"Oh, the bunny sister is so cute, and she's a very nice person."

"Many people in the class have been talking about it these past few days, and it seems that the store's popularity has suddenly increased because of this person."

Ying nodded in agreement:

"So, did Sister Rabbit accept it?"

Looking at her younger sister, who had suddenly sat up straight because of this topic, Kitagawa Ryo wiped Hotaru's mouth with a tissue from the table while complaining:

"So you were lying down just now because you were secretly eating dessert, right?"

"Hmm, shouldn't I have wiped it clean?"

"Maki? Maki? Didn't you say you couldn't tell?"

With a look of horror, Hotaru quickly turned to the side and asked her friend.

"Uh, that."

Ichinose Maki timidly raised her hand:

"It's possible that your brother is just trying to trick you, right?"

"Brother, that's so mean!"

Seeing Hotaru's pitiful, tearful expression in an instant, Kitagawa Ryo began to wonder if his sister was born with a talent for acting.