I have a life simulator.

Kitagawa Ryo mouthed something to Sakayanagi Arisu:

"tasty."

Take a day off

The detailed translation of the 19th volume of the Classroom of the Real Age novel came out today, and I'm reading it now. It seems that a few new settings have been revealed, such as the Kanzaki Ryuji family having known the Sakayanagi Arisu family before, some other assistants in the White Room, and Nanase Tsubasa's identity, etc. However, it doesn't seem to have much impact on my book so far, but I still need to make some minor adjustments to the later outline, so I'm taking a day off.

Hopefully, the original setting won't backfire.

Wishing every reader good health, and remember to keep warm and avoid catching a cold during the autumn-winter transition.

Chapter 74: No Noise

[Four-leaf clover (green): You are a lucky person. In your daily life, you have a little more luck than the average person. For example, you might occasionally find small amounts of loose change or find something you lost elsewhere a little while later (of course, it's just a little bit of luck)]

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"Yes, if Ms. Sakayanagi wants to apply for temporary discharge, it would be best to do so in the next couple of days."

"Okay, it should be done by tomorrow, no problem."

"Yes, based on the current rate of symptom spread, we will probably need to use a ventilator for assisted breathing starting in the second half of this year, and it will be very difficult to apply for discharge at that time."

"It's been confirmed, and the patient has no objections."

"Goodbye."

Sakayanagi Arisu heard the hospital staff hang up the phone, but her right hand, holding the receiver, remained suspended by her ear, listening motionless to the endless busy tone. Each tone was as empty as a long-abandoned wasteland, and she stood alone in this wasteland, gazing desolately into the distance.

Even though it was already summer, Sakayanagi Arisu felt a chill creeping through her body, and she slowly placed the receiver on the landline, her fingertips brushing against the cool marble tabletop before letting out a deep breath.

When Sakayanagi Arisu arrived at the hospital today, she saw other people in Kitagawa Ryo's ward for the first time in a long time. So she stopped and didn't go over immediately. Instead, she leaned against the wall with the red rose painted on it and quietly listened to the sounds inside the ward.

The people who came were Kitagawa Ryo's parents. Although Sakayanagi Arisu had only seen them a few times in the past few years, she recognized them easily because no one else would come to visit a child who had never left the ward since he was seven years old.

But today, she heard other people's voices, with the sharp tone unique to children. Sakayanagi Arisu was in a daze for a moment before she remembered that this should be Kitagawa Ryo's younger brother, whom he had never met but who had indirectly buried him. He was born in the first year of Kitagawa Ryo's illness and should be three or four years old now.

"Brother, are you going to die?"

Coming to her senses, Sakayanagi Arisu heard a question coming from inside. The child, who had no idea what was going on, easily asked a line that made the atmosphere suddenly fall silent.

Soon a commotion broke out, and then Sakayanagi Arisu saw the door to the ward open, and a woman came out carrying a child. The child's mouth and eyes were turned down, as if he had suffered some great injustice. His eyes were filled with tears, and he was sniffling, as if snot could fall all over his face at any moment.

"aunt."

Since she had met him, Sakayanagi Arisu greeted him politely. Over the years, she had attended many gatherings with her father, and her manners were impeccable.

"It's that child from the Sakayanagi family."

The woman nodded, and as she took a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the snot from the child in her arms, she casually said:

"Over the years, Ryo has received a lot of care from your Sakayanagi family, and as her mother, I am very grateful."

Although she said that, the woman's eyes remained fixed on the child in her arms. She whispered something comforting in his ear, and soon he smiled again.

After waiting quietly for a while, the man inside came out. He was more friendly to Sakayanagi Arisu, but Sakayanagi Arisu didn't bother with small talk. After exchanging a few words, she walked into the ward.

The cane tapped on the ground with a soft thud. The man and woman watched in silence as Sakayanagi Arisu went inside and closed the door to the ward behind her.

Perhaps feeling that his parents' attention had left him again, the child started crying in dissatisfaction, venting his emotions at the top of his lungs.

This now has a bit of the atmosphere outside the intensive care unit of a hospital.

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Sakayanagi Arisu planned a "long trip" for Kitagawa Ryo. Although it was called a long trip, it was just having his father drive the two of them to the seaside. However, for Kitagawa Ryo, who had been in this hospital room for almost five years, this definitely counted as a long trip.

“If I don’t agree, I’m pretty sure Arisu will take you there by changing trains several times.”

As Chairman Sakayanagi drove, he said that considering Kitagawa Ryo's health condition, they deliberately chose to go to the beach at sunrise, when there are the fewest tourists.

Although they had considered booking an entire beach in advance, both Sakayanagi Arisu and Kitagawa Ryo believed that people themselves are part of the landscape, and that an empty beach would be meaningless.

Kitagawa Ryo made faces, his movements looking somewhat comical.

The speech synthesizer next to him then spoke for him:

“I’m not surprised at all that Arisu did this.”

He wore a pair of large, exaggerated glasses. The device had an infrared emitter and detector on the upper right. As long as he moved his eyes, the infrared detector would select basic letters from the screen, then select words from the lower half of the screen to confirm, and finally "speak" through a speech synthesizer.

Stephen Hawking used this technology in the later stages of his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. Kitagawa Ryo's talents of "actor" and "con artist" gave him a strong ability to subtly control his facial muscles. Although his typing speed was somewhat slow, he could still manage to communicate in real time.

"After all, I sometimes want to go to the beach. I went there many times when I was a child, but my dad won't let me go anymore when I grew up."

Sitting next to Kitagawa Ryo, Sakayanagi Arisu propped her chin on her hand and said that the two people in the car were the people she trusted most in the world, so her tone was quite casual and relaxed.

"I know my dad is worried about this and that, but I just want to lean against the railing and look at the sea from afar, and listen to the sound of the waves."

After hearing her daughter's words, Chairman Sakayanagi remained silent for a moment before offering a somewhat helpless apology:

"...It's because Dad is too busy."

"Arisu wasn't saying..."

"Whether you're busy or not is a question."

Kitagawa Ryo paused for a moment, then continued:

Alice just wanted to have a solo summer adventure.

Although it was a mechanically synthesized electronic voice, Arisu Sakayanagi always felt that she could hear a hint of mischievous laughter in it.

Chairman Sakayanagi saw Arisu Sakayanagi's expression of being caught off guard in the rearview mirror and couldn't help but burst into laughter, saying:

"What? So Arisu can have such childish thoughts sometimes."

"..."

Sakayanagi Arisu glanced at the living creature inside the car, then without any mercy picked up Hotaru, who was dozing at her feet, and vented her anger by pulling Hotaru's head repeatedly.

The car quickly arrived at its destination. Although it was early morning and the sun had just risen, there were already a few tourists scattered on the beach. Sakayanagi Arisu and her father got out of the car first. Her father took out the wheelchair that had been prepared in advance from the trunk, while Sakayanagi Arisu took out the hat she had brought with her. Instead of putting it on herself, she put it directly on Kitagawa Ryo's head.

Sakayanagi Arisu watched as her father carefully lifted Kitagawa Ryo into her wheelchair. She wanted to help, but knew she would only cause trouble. Although her heart condition had stabilized as if she were asleep, she was still a frail little girl.

When the sea breeze blew by, Sakayanagi Arisu realized how frail her body was. However, having spent so much time with Kitagawa Ryo, she had almost forgotten that she was also a sickly person.

Sakayanagi Arisu saw her reflection through the car window. Her thin, pale lips only showed a fleeting hue when she bit down hard, before being diluted again by her snow-white skin.

She reached out to grasp the handle on the back of Kitagawa Ryo's wheelchair, but it wasn't high enough, so Sakayanagi Arisu had to withdraw her hand. Her slender, fair fingers reminded her of the white part of scallions she chopped when cooking.

Chairman Sakayanagi firmly gripped the wheelchair, and Arisu Sakayanagi could only follow beside him. Even in the summer, Kitagawa Ryo was wearing long sleeves, the long sleeves extending down to cover his two hands resting on the wheelchair.

Although Arisu Sakayanagi said she only wanted to look at and listen to the sea from the railing, since her reliable father was with her, she went straight to the beach, which she hadn't visited in a long time, and walked towards the side closer to the sea.

That was a spot very close to the sea; the waves had already submerged her ankles, engulfing both her calves in the sea's embrace.

Perhaps it was the first time she had experienced such a wonderful sensation, but Sakayanagi Arisu was thrown off balance by a small, incredibly calm wave and landed hard on her bottom in the soft sand.

This sudden turn of events startled her father, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw that Sakayanagi Arisu, who was sitting there, showed no signs of panic and even had a smile on her face.

"Be careful, Arisu!"

"I know!"

Sakayanagi Arisu responded while stretching her hand into the seawater, having a great time as if she wanted to enjoy Kitagawa Ryo's share as well.

However, Sakayanagi Arisu soon felt slightly dizzy. The rising sun began to radiate its intense heat relentlessly in the early morning, and the long-awaited direct sunlight caused Sakayanagi Arisu's body to quickly send out warning signals of discomfort.

Chairman Sakayanagi stepped forward and put the large white sun hat on Sakayanagi Arisu's head. The moment she felt the shadow, Sakayanagi Arisu immediately turned around and looked over. An umbrella was quietly fixed in place on the wheelchair, and Kitagawa Ryo's lower face was visible under the umbrella, looking over with a smile on his face.

Hotaru didn't like the salty seawater; it was a real nuisance to get it on her. So she simply curled up in the shade of the parasol and lay on Kitagawa Ryo's lap.

"call."

With a long sigh, Sakayanagi Arisu wiped her hands with the handkerchief her father handed her, pressed the brim of her sun hat, and ran back to Kitagawa Ryo's side.

Too lazy to ask what had happened in the ward yesterday, she simply placed her hand on Kitagawa Ryo's cheek, like a child who had received a favorite candy, feeling a slight saltiness and coolness:

"really interesting."

“You can tell that Arisu is very excited.”

Kitagawa Ryo's voice came through, and he too turned his gaze to the golden sea under the sunlight:

"very beautiful."

Wave after wave crashed against the shore like a heartbeat, splashing up white spray before receding. This cyclical process seemed to possess a touch of magic. Sakayanagi Arisu gazed at the waves alongside Kitagawa Ryo. She glanced at his profile and suddenly felt her own heartbeat becoming clearer, thumping in her chest like the sound of the waves.

It was only now that Sakayanagi Arisu finally understood the description of heartbeats in the book she read in her childhood. The onomatopoeia "dong dong" was never simply a description of sound; it described a dynamic, like the repeated striking of a bell.

dong dong.

One hand unconsciously rested on Kitagawa Ryo's shoulder, while the other pressed against her chest. Sakayanagi Arisu closed her eyes, and a gust of sea breeze lifted the white sun hat she was wearing. Chairman Sakayanagi noticed the hat flying away and quickly ran forward to retrieve it.

This was a gift he gave to his daughter years ago, and Sakayanagi Arisu always valued it highly. He would feel bad even if it got dirty, let alone lost it.

The hat spun and was carried by the sea breeze towards the sea. Just as Chairman Sakayanagi was about to catch up, the wind suddenly changed direction, and the hat was magically blown back to its original place, landing gently in the arms of Kitagawa Ryo, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and landing right on the bewildered Hotaru.

dong dong.

"You're lucky; it would have been troublesome if you had fallen into the sea."

Kitagawa Ryo's感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion) came from the voice synthesizer.

Chairman Sakayanagi, who had run back again, nodded in surprise.

But Sakayanagi Arisu seemed completely oblivious to all of this. She could only feel her heart pounding violently, as if some words were stuck in her throat, unable to be swallowed or spit out, just lingering there.

"I feel my heart beating really fast."

It sounded like a sweet nothing from a couple, but when it came from Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Sakayanagi, the chairwoman, stepped forward and asked her daughter seriously about her feelings. Kitagawa Ryo also asked with some concern:

"Arisu?"

"No, nothing's wrong."

Sakayanagi Arisu took a deep breath, a blush spreading across her fair face. She shook her head at her father, saying that she knew her own physical condition best and had always been a well-behaved child who never tried to be strong, so Chairman Sakayanagi was relieved.

Then, Sakayanagi Arisu turned her gaze to Kitagawa Ryo and couldn't help but chuckle.

This is certainly not a symptom of illness, because what is driving the heart to beat is simply an emotion.

Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't hear a single [noise].

Chapter 75: Love and Being Loved

The talent [Insomnia Patient (Green)] has been drawn.

[Insomnia sufferer (green): You often have trouble sleeping at night, but in exchange, your thinking ability is slightly enhanced at night (one duck, two ducks...)]

[Ichinose Honami's Self: Before each simulation begins, randomly upgrades three of her qualities (gold talents cannot be upgraded further, including initial and fixed talents)]

The talent [Insomniac (Green)] has been upgraded to the talent [Night Owl (Blue)].

[Night Owl (Blue): You often have trouble falling asleep at night, but in exchange, your thinking ability slightly increases at night (Three Ducks, Four Ducks...)]

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A day spent watching the sea passed exceptionally quickly. It felt like the rising sun was still right in front of us, but in the blink of an eye, it had already disappeared to the other side of the sky. As planned, Sakayanagi Arisu and Kitagawa Ryo and their group intended to stay overnight at the hotel they had booked nearby and drive back to the hospital the next morning.

Because he needed to take care of two children, Chairman Sakayanagi simply booked a large room. After Sakayanagi Arisu finished washing up, he led Kitagawa Ryo into the spacious and amazing bathroom.

The steaming heat made the white wall and floor tiles a little slippery. The soft yellow lighting, combined with the hotel's own fragrance, created a warm and cozy atmosphere. Before picking up Kitagawa Ryo, Chairman Sakayanagi had consulted the nurses who were taking care of Kitagawa Ryo about some basic patient care knowledge. Although Kitagawa Ryo would only be outside for one night, he had made various emergency preparations.

To Kitagawa Ryo's surprise, Sakayanagi's movements were quite skillful, giving him the feeling that the other party had taken care of someone before, or had done some nursing work.

However, since the electronic device used for speaking couldn't be brought into the bathroom, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't ask the question on his own initiative. Instead, Chairman Sakayanagi spoke first:

"The person who has been sending me emails for the past two years is Kitagawa, right?"

"I'm sorry, but I went through your bookshelf while you were asleep in your hospital room. I took very thorough notes... If Arisu finds out, she'll probably regret it for a while."

Kitagawa Ryoya understood what Chairman Sakayanagi was referring to. Over the past two years, he had been sending his research on congenital heart disease to Chairman Sakayanagi one after another. This was partly because he had no other access to such information, and partly because he only had sufficient confidence in Sakayanagi Arisu's specific condition.

Including the last simulation, he has probably spent nearly twenty years on it. This is the first time Kitagawa Ryo has put so much effort into completing something. Fortunately, with the support of the various talents he has drawn this time, he has finally found a clear path.

Seeing Kitagawa Ryo nod weakly, Chairman Sakayanagi couldn't help but reach out and wrap his arms around his thin body, pressing his head against Kitagawa Ryo's ear and whispering repeatedly:

"Good boy...good boy."

Although Chairman Sakayanagi only had a superficial understanding of medicine, regardless of whether the data and treatment plans given to him by Kitagawa Ryo were effective, the sentiment alone was enough to move him deeply.