I have a life simulator.

As delinquent youths with extensive experience in street brawls, they mostly rely on their fighting spirit and ruthlessness. However, the two on stage clearly have a methodical approach, and it's obvious that they're not just putting on a show. Their elbow strikes and kicks are fast and accurate. If any of them were to take a punch or two, they would probably be rolling on the ground in pain.

To ensure the students' safety, the person in charge of this project was a tall and strong physical education teacher from the school. But even he felt a chill run down his spine looking at the force and density of the punches thrown by the two students in front of him.

I originally thought that the best physical talents among the first-year students were Sudo and Kito from the basketball club, but I didn't expect that there were two such talents hidden away. I wonder if they have joined any sports clubs. I don't think I've ever seen them.

Just as the teacher in charge was planning how to recruit the two into the school's sports clubs to sweep first place in the competition, the situation on the field took a dramatic turn amidst the gasps of the audience.

As the two entered the fourth minute of their duel, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji finally felt an inevitable fatigue. Although he didn't know where Ryo Kitagawa had gotten all his information from, he could only make various impromptu changes in the battle in order to reduce the disadvantage.

But this is equivalent to suppressing one's best strength, forcing a right-handed person to write with their left hand.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji still remembers how, when he was just over eight years old, he easily knocked down more than ten trained adult men with a baton, using his size advantage to shatter all of their foot bones.

If the instructor from the white room hadn't arrived in time, he would have already smashed open one of their skulls by then.

But several years later, facing peers of the same age as himself, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji felt unprecedented pressure and revealed his vulnerability due to being coerced.

Kitagawa Ryo, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. He grabbed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's arm and twisted it without hesitation. At the same time, he pushed up with his knee, controlling Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and pressing him against the edge of the ring, slowly shoving his body toward the ground.

Then, Kitagawa Ryo finally pinned Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to the ground, using his full weight to suppress him.

"once."

He spoke softly, and after receiving confirmation from the teacher in charge, he voluntarily released his grip on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Because it is a solo team, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji still enjoys the advantages of team events, and needs to be knocked down four times in a row to be officially eliminated.

In fact, during his time in the White Room, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji often failed his first assignment, but then used his learning ability to quickly close the gap with the first place, until he surpassed him.

During the brief halftime break, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji drank water to regain his strength while recalling his past successes to calm his mind.

For example, he remembers that he initially lost to Shiro, who was in the same class, in judo events, and in swimming events...

The time for reminiscing was short, because the second round immediately began with the teacher's whistle.

Having successfully defended his title, Kitagawa Ryo faces Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who has a second life.

It was still a powerful and rapid jab, but this time it carried a special greeting from Kitagawa Ryo on the wind:

"When you contact those people behind you later, could you please pass on a message for me, just say—"

"On behalf of Yuki, I send my greetings to Ayanokoji Atsuomi and the White Room."

Chapter 202: Let's Go Together

snow.

I haven't heard that name in a long time; I just remember that the other person was the third to last eliminated from the fourth generation.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka narrowed his eyes, unconcealed about the malice towards the white room revealed in Kitagawa Ryo's words, and calmly tried to analyze it to obtain some useful information.

If he knows Xue, it means that the two had contact after Xue left the White Room. In that case, it makes sense that the other party would know some information about the White Room and even about him.

After all, the other party was also a test subject in the fourth phase, and the time he lived was not short, and he had also fought against him before.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't have much time to think, because just like in the first round, Kitagawa Ryo's offensive quickly came down like a storm, leaving Ayanokouji Kiyotaka no time to concentrate.

Dodging Kitagawa Ryo's powerful kick, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka suddenly realized that the range and force of the opponent's attack were somewhat smaller than in the first round.

However, this is not a sign of exhaustion. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, who had competed against Ryo Kitagawa in the open water swimming competition, knew very well that Kitagawa's stamina was even slightly better than his own. Since even he showed no signs of exhaustion, Kitagawa was even less likely to be.

He wanted to prolong each round to further deplete his stamina reserves.

The idea flashed into Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's mind instantly, and he was almost certain that this was Kitagawa Ryo's scheme.

Unlike Kitagawa Ryo's group, which consists of four people, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who operates alone, faces significant disadvantages when he is exhausted, whether moving through the mountains or participating in projects.

His physical strength is indeed extraordinary, but it is ultimately limited. If he gets entangled with Kitagawa Ryo for too long, it will indeed be a loss.

At this point, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji had essentially accepted his defeat to Ryo Kitagawa in the [free fighting (team)] category. He had not expected Kitagawa to be so familiar with his tactics and fighting style.

With their physical abilities nearly equal, and even with him slightly lagging behind, this small difference was almost fatal. If he could train with Kitagawa Ryo for a few days, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was confident that he could adapt to the other's style and tactics, but reality only gave him four chances.

After a lightning-fast thought, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji jumped off the ring and raised his hand to the teacher in charge, declaring:

"I concede defeat, including in the next two matches."

Facing the defeated Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Kitagawa Ryoya, knowing that verbal attacks would have no effect on someone like him, didn't bother to mock him. He simply quietly withdrew his fist and gestured with his chin towards Class C, who had advanced to the second round.

"Shall we also finish this quickly?"

"Ahem... We concede defeat too."

After witnessing Kitagawa Ryo and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's one-and-a-half-match duel, the three boys in Class C exchanged glances, waved their hands in defeat, and then began to boast about it one after another:

"As expected of a friend recognized by the leader of Longyuan, even in the entire first year, there should be no one who can match Kitagawa."

"First year? The whole school! Even the second and third year students would have to kowtow and pay homage on the spot."

"Such fast punches, such fast kicks, and such an enviable waist!"

Feeling that the other party had said something inappropriate, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but shake his head and smile. He then turned around and nimbly flipped off the stage, returning to his group members.

Are you injured anywhere?

"How does the coolness feel?"

Although they never doubted that Kitagawa Ryo would win, it was the first time that Ichinose Honami and the other two had seen Ayanokouji Kiyotaka at full strength. Horikita Suzune, in particular, who had a background in judo, could clearly sense the intensity and density of the fight between the two, and her pretty face turned slightly pale.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'm perfectly fine."

"The most important thing is that I got the chance to upgrade a regular card. I hope it will be randomly given to me."

Kitagawa Ryo casually tugged at his collar and hem, letting the girls see his shoulders and abdomen to indicate that he was alright, before finally turning on the wristwatch on his wrist.

The first prize from the 【Free Fighting (Team)】 category has been awarded. Besides the 2,500 that has already been deposited into the account, what several people are more concerned about is who will get this upgrade opportunity.

Because the project changed from individual participation to team participation, the original upgrade opportunity rewards were now randomly allocated.

Even with his eyes closed, Kitagawa Ryo knew this was yet another way the school was restricting him.

Sure enough, after the four of them checked their watches one by one, they discovered that the upgrade opportunity had been given to Ichinose Honami's [Supply] card.

Because she received an upgrade reward in the "Pictionary" project before, Ichinose Honami's supply card has now been upgraded to level three.

[Supplies: Cardholders receive a daily food and drinking water supply equivalent to one meal for four people (level 3)]

"It's doubled! At level two it was a meal for two, I thought level three would be a meal for three."

Honami Ichinose spoke with some surprise, but then quickly added regretfully:

"If only I could get a discount card for Liang, then I'd be at level twelve and could enjoy... um, a 20% discount?"

"Today is only the eighth day, there is still a chance."

Horikita Suzune offered a word of comfort.

"But that's on the condition that the school doesn't tamper with things."

Sakayanagi Arisu clearly shared the same view as Kitagawa Ryo. She also did not believe that the school would really sit idly by and let Kitagawa Ryo max out the discount card, as that would directly destroy the underlying design structure of the entire exam.

Unlike the other three who shifted the topic back to the discount card, Kitagawa Ryo suddenly became somewhat interested in Honami's supply card.

If it's level three, it's a serving for four people, then level four is a serving for eight people.

But they don't lack food right now, so compared to the discount card, the supply card still feels a bit useless.

While the four were discussing, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji on the stage easily defeated Class B's group in the loser's bracket. As the group that finished last in this project, they could only choose one member to be eliminated.

The end times for this round of projects were also quite similar, and soon after, I started receiving notifications from the school about students who had been eliminated.

Just as everyone's watches were clanging and vibrating incessantly, Kitagawa Ryo felt a stronger vibration on his wrist. He raised his right hand and saw that someone had called him.

It's by Daichi Ishizaki.

Kitagawa Ryo remembered that he had asked him to help look after Shiina Hiyori and Ibuki Mio's group who were participating in the "Newspaper Folding Rock-Paper-Scissors" project.

"Hello, this is Kitagawa, what's wrong?"

"It's me, Ishizaki. I've now completed the task you gave me, Kitagawa. It's a shame you didn't get to see the faces of those guys from Class A."

Ishizaki Daichi's familiar voice came from the other end of the communication line, mixed with undisguised laughter:

"I thought they were just a bunch of good students who only knew how to study, but wow, one likes this and another dislikes that, and then they all have to put on a show. Now they're all doomed."

"After all, they are all sixteen or seventeen-year-old high school students."

Kitagawa Ryoya chuckled in response. He now roughly understood Kushida Kikyo's usefulness. This time, with just some relatively minor information, the morale of the three groups in Class A was thrown into chaos. If she were to expose those deeper secrets, the entire class would probably fall into disarray in an instant.

"Alright, alright, you didn't call just to talk about this, did you? Every call is worth 100 points."

"Oh yes, yes, there is something."

Ishizaki Daichi slapped his thigh, seemingly moving closer on purpose, and said in a low voice:

"Shiina asked me to tell Kitagawa that the first prize their group won in the 'paper stacking rock-paper-scissors' game—the upgrade opportunity inside—is in her hands, and she said she wants to transfer it to you."

There is another village in the dark.

Unexpectedly, while they failed to obtain the opportunity to upgrade a common card from the first-place reward, Shiina Hiyori, who possessed the special card [Double Blade], managed to do so.

"Where are you now? I'll be right there."

Kitagawa Ryo glanced at the time in the upper right corner of his watch. Considering the time allotted for the group's large-scale project assignments, there probably wouldn't be another round of assignments today.

After obtaining the specific location from Ishizaki Daichi, Kitagawa Ryo also waved his watch at the other three members of the group:

"It's Ishizaki's phone. He said there's been a good deal in Hiyori's area. I'll go over and receive it, so I can have a 20% discount card tonight..."

Kitagawa Ryo hadn't finished speaking.

As if anticipating his next move, the three of them simultaneously reached out and grabbed his arms, saying in unison with remarkable tacit agreement:

"go together."

Chapter 203: A Lie That Belongs to You

"Speaking of which, Shiina, how far have things progressed between you and Kitagawa? Are you officially dating? Who confessed first?"

"Hey, you've been asking me this incessantly the whole way. You're a grown man buzzing around like a fly. I'm getting annoyed."

Ibuki Mio clicked her tongue heavily, her expression turning unfriendly as she looked at Ishizaki Daichi, who was standing beside her, bombarding Shiina Hiyori with questions.

Having finished their "paper-folding rock-paper-scissors" game, the three were heading towards the meeting place with Kitagawa Ryo. Perhaps because simply traveling was too boring, the naturally talkative Ishizaki Daichi couldn't stop talking.

"Tch, what do you know, Ibuki?"

Ishizaki Daichi raised his head and snorted dismissively, shaking his finger in a smug, "You wouldn't understand" manner.

"To put it simply, I'm working for the benefit of the boys in our class; to put it more broadly, I'm thinking about the interests of our Class C."

"...What nonsense are you spouting?"

"That's utter nonsense."

Faced with Ibuki Mio's questioning, Ishizaki Daichi solemnly counted on his fingers as he explained to her:

"Look, because Kitagawa Ryo keeps coming to our class, even though he mostly looks for Shiina, his attitude towards the girls in our class is impeccable. He even gives them small gifts now and then, so he's incredibly popular among the girls."

"It's not just Class C, it's the same in other classes. The value of being the most handsome guy in the grade is undeniable. So, as long as there's no news of Kitagawa explicitly dating anyone, the girls will still have some unrealistic fantasies."

Daichi Ishizaki was clearly deeply distressed by this phenomenon:

"The men suffer greatly from this."

"That's why I said that if Kitagawa and Shiina were to date, it would be a blessing for the boys in our class."

"As for speaking on a larger scale—"

Ishizaki Daichi drawled out his words, letting out a slightly sly, mischievous laugh:

"This gives us a chance to bring Kitagawa directly into our Class C."

As if to bolster his persuasiveness, Daichi Ishizaki puffed out his chest again:

"The boss of Longyuan also mentioned this matter."

"What do you think, Shiina?"

Faced with Ishizaki Daichi once again throwing the question at her, Shiina Hiyori remained quite calm. While carefully navigating the path, mindful of the roadside branches and weeds, she simply replied:

Whether Liang comes to Class C or not depends on his own wishes.

Ever since she confessed her feelings to Kitagawa Ryo on that stormy night, and reached a consensus with her equally close friend Karuizawa Megumi, Shiina Hiyori has set her sights on the rest of her life beyond school, after graduation and into adulthood.