I have a life simulator.

"This is no longer a crisis for me... Even if we survive this special exam, Class D is clearly going to rise. Perhaps our luck was already bad from the moment we saw that there was a student named Ayanokouji in the class."

"Why are you bringing up Ayanokouji again?"

Completely unable to keep up with Morishita Ai's rapid shifts in thinking, Sanada Yasushi scratched the back of his head in confusion, but still clapped his hands as the group leader to encourage her:

"The exams aren't over yet, everyone. Let's all work a little harder. The next question is an academic-type topic. I believe in us, as Class A students..."

"I really want to remind the group leader that the three A-class groups, including the field group, are still reeling from the disastrous defeat of Sakayanagi from D-class who single-handedly crushed them on this type of topic, and it hasn't even been three days since then."

"Perhaps Morishita should just go back to being the old Morishita—"

"Or you could learn from the students in the mountain village and just stay silent..."

-------------------------------------

After once again sweeping aside the stubborn Sanada Yasushi group in the science quiz competition, leaving them with only second place in the group, the tenth day of the special exam on the deserted island officially came to an end. Since the next round of questions wouldn't be updated until 2 PM, Kitagawa Ryo's group leisurely conserved their energy (for reasons given by Sakayanagi Arisu). They chatted and laughed as they strolled around for a while before heading to the area G9 that Shiina Hiyori had agreed upon beforehand.

The G9 area near the sea was quite crowded at this time. After all, Shiina Hiyori and Ibuki Mio's two teams were equipped with three groups from Class D for protection. Although a few of them were eliminated in the past two days due to score padding, there were still nearly twenty people, including the remaining students from Class C who came here.

When Kitagawa Ryo walked over, he also counted the remaining eight students from Class C, except for Ryuen Sho and Ishizaki Daichi, who were being investigated by the school and had left on his orders. The number of boys and girls was about equal. Although they all looked a bit listless, they all mustered up their spirits and came over to greet him when they saw him.

He actually got along quite well with the girls in Class C. Although everyone knew that Kitagawa Ryo always came to see Shiina Hiyori, it didn't stop the girls in Class C from getting a close look at the handsome guy who ranked first in the grade's poll. Besides, they could occasionally get a polite smile and some handmade snacks for free.

The boys' approach was even more straightforward. After all, the class leader, Ryuen Sho, and his second-in-command, Ishizaki Daichi, who now seemed to be almost recognizing Kitagawa Ryo as their leader, both showed great admiration and respect for him. Moreover, even disregarding the items that boosted initial favorability, Kitagawa Ryo hadn't charged a single penny when he took the initiative to rescue the students of Class C on the seventh day of the exam on the deserted island. This undoubtedly made it easy for him to win the favor of many students in Class C.

And to be honest, they are the ones who need something from others now.

Of course, Kitagawa Ryo didn't look down on these C-class students who looked somewhat down on their luck and clearly hadn't had a good time on the deserted island these past two days. He responded to them in the same simple and direct way:

"Let's eat first."

With the 20% discount card, Kitagawa Ryo could still afford the ingredients for a meal for seven or eight people. Seeing the D class students taking bag after bag of 'precious' ingredients from the teacher in charge of exchanging supplies as if it were commonplace, the C class students, who hadn't dared to spend a single point recklessly these past few days and had to find ways to cut costs instead of increasing their income, stared wide-eyed. After a meal that felt like revenge, they finally remembered their business and sent a representative to Kitagawa Ryo.

"Nishino-kun, are you full yet?"

Looking at the girl's face, Kitagawa Ryo easily remembered her name, Nishino Takeko. Her slightly downturned eyes made her look a bit fierce. In Kitagawa Ryo's memory, she was indeed a straightforward girl who didn't pay much attention to Ryuen Sho.

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality, Kitagawa-kun. In short, I am very grateful."

After giving Kitagawa Ryo a somewhat formal bow, Nishino Takeko sat down opposite Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori and began to speak very sincerely:

"Kitagawa-kun should have already heard about our current situation from Shiina-kun. Just like what you see now, the remaining C-class students here are basically all down to one person each, and the group is hovering near the bottom of the rankings. It's very difficult for us to participate in the project and get a score, but we feel unwilling to give up just like that."

Seeing Nishino Takeko's obvious expression of frustration before him, Kitagawa Ryo hesitated for a moment before giving his answer:

"If you're willing to believe me, maybe things will turn around in the last two days of the exam. Of course, I know that every point you have now is precious, and you can't possibly continue to exchange for supplies to survive on this deserted island for my vague promise."

In fact, Kitagawa Ryo himself was already a bit strapped for cash. After all, he was also aiming for the top three in his group. He could manage one meal, but it was unrealistic to expect him to help these six students from Class C while already taking on the logistics of the entire Class D.

"However, I can also introduce you to another client who should be happy to provide supplies for you all, as long as you are willing to help out in small ways."

"What kind of customer? What kind of help do they need?"

Upon hearing this, Takeko Nishino looked blank and subconsciously asked in return.

"The customer is Karuizawa from Class B."

Kitagawa Ryo answered her question with a smile, then added:

"As for what kind of help, we'll have to ask Ishizaki, the most experienced student in Class C, to explain in a bit."

-------------------------------------

Since the school's main camp, D9 area, had been designated as a restricted area in the first two rounds, although Amasawa Ichika, who came from the White Room, was able to take off her watch and sneak in late at night without being monitored or on duty, this was clearly an experience that Ishizaki Daichi could not replicate.

However, following the method taught to him by Kitagawa Ryo, he spent some points at the teacher exchanging supplies to obtain a high-powered electronic megaphone, and after finding a high slope that was closest to the school tents but not inside the restricted area, Ishizaki Daichi began to shout at the top of his lungs:

"Hiyori and the others are in the top three! Hiyori and the others are in the top three!"

Since it was lunchtime, most of the school's teachers and staff were eating lunch and chatting outside the tent. Ishizaki Daichi's disturbance easily attracted everyone's attention, and soon a staff member with a frown and a serious expression walked over.

"Hey student! What are you doing? This is seriously disrupting the rest of our school staff! Stop this immediately! If you continue, you'll be disciplined!"

"Sorry, sorry, I was just too excited because the students in my class got good grades. I'll be going right away."

Thinking that his dozen or so shouts should have reached Long Yuanxiang, who was only about 200 meters away in the school tent, Shi Qidai quickly grabbed his luggage and ran back to the safe zone without looking back. The teacher who came to warn him was a little confused, but couldn't find a reason to stop him. He could only stare blankly at the other's figure that quickly disappeared into the jungle, shake his head and go back to eat lunch.

In fact, the school administration is currently embroiled in another troublesome matter: the note found this morning in the tent of Masayoshi Hashimoto, who is recovering from his injuries, and the serious incident that has led to the suspected leak of exam questions to students by Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class A.

"I don't know anything. I found that note next to my pillow when I woke up in the morning."

No matter how many times he was questioned from any angle, Hashimoto Masayoshi always gave the school the same answer. Just like the role he played in the suspected assault incident with Ryuen Sho, he always tried his best to clear himself of all suspicion. After all, for someone whose name means justice but who has never thought of becoming a partner of justice, he will always only act for himself.

But this also put homeroom teacher Chabashira Sae in a rather awkward situation. She was almost restless, looking around in that narrow chair, but she couldn't hear a single lie from Hashimoto Masayoshi, such as, "I saw the general outline of the other person, but I'm sure it's not homeroom teacher Chabashira," which could clear her name even slightly.

Thus, this round of questioning remained deadlocked. Hashimoto Masayoshi feigned weakness and closed his eyes, showing no intention of responding to his homeroom teacher's gaze. He had always had a strong aversion to trusting others, so even if he dragged others down with him, he didn't care if he was hated by Katsuragi Kohei, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Chabashira Sae, or anyone else. He believed that everyone should look out for themselves.

Long Yuanxiang, who was also here undergoing investigation by the school, had also received a note explaining the plan left by Tianze Yixia, who had sneaked into the headquarters last night. However, he leisurely waited all morning, and at this point, when it would be more appropriate to ask questions now, he called in the staff at the door and casually asked:

"Where is Hashimoto? He died from his injuries last night? Well, he deserved it, who told him to frame me?"

"...Hashimoto is currently recovering from his injuries. Please continue to wait until the matter is thoroughly investigated."

"What the hell are you waiting for? I've been wasting so much time here, and the school still hasn't found out a single thing. In this situation, they should just let me out to retake the exam. Otherwise, how will they handle Class C's defeat this time? Will they blame it on the school?"

"Damn it, I haven't slept well for two nights just thinking about what those idiots in Class C are like now."

Showing no fear that the other party was a school official, Long Yuanxiang took two steps forward, spitting as he spoke, trying to give as many hints as possible.

At first, the teacher in charge was somewhat helpless in dealing with Long Yuanxiang's foul language and complaints, but after being talked to for a while, she also became a little impatient and casually replied:

"You said you didn't sleep well for two nights. Okay, then let me ask you, did you see or hear anything unusual last night?"

Long Yuanxiang grinned and lied without hesitation:

"Of course I heard it. What, are there thieves in the camp? The sneaky noises are keeping me awake."

After deliberately giving a rather vague embellishment, Long Yuanxiang kept a close eye on the other person's expression and eyes, ready to change his words at any time.

"Is that so...then come here for a moment."

After listening to Ryuen Sho's speech, and thinking about the incident that had now reached a stalemate, the teacher gritted her teeth and, with a "nothing to lose" mentality, grabbed Ryuen Sho's arm and led him out of the tent. After whispering a few words to the other staff members, she took him to the tent where they were already in a state of panic, where they were questioning Hashimoto Masayoshi, Chabashira Sae, and other possible eyewitnesses.

In that instant, Long Yuanxiang keenly heard a familiar voice from not far away screaming something in a heart-wrenching way. He silently memorized the words and walked into the tent with a blank expression.

This was the secret code between him and Kitagawa Ryo.

It was that promise they made on that stormy night: if he helped her, he would help her in return.

Ryuen Sho looked up at Hashimoto Masayoshi, who was squinting and pretending to be a weak patient, and gave a disdainful sneer.

The reason why Class A's attempt to frame him failed was essentially due to Hashimoto Masayoshi's excessive self-preservation. How could they possibly succeed if they had to choose someone like him?

He's not a pushover like the other guy.

"Ah, I remember now, it seems like last night when I couldn't sleep, I secretly opened the door a crack..."

Long Yuanxiang leaned back in his chair, ran his right hand through his disheveled hair, and gave the current stalemate another push in another direction without any hesitation.

"I did see this teacher named Chaba acting suspiciously."

Seeing that Chabashira Sae's expression suddenly changed and she was about to stand up and refute him, Ryuen Sho leisurely closed his eyes.

Actually, even without this kind of coded message like "I've already reached an agreement, please fulfill yours," he might still cooperate in this way.

Compared to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had also signed a contract with him, he was indeed strangely trusting this guy named Kitagawa Ryo.

Chapter 224: The Literary Girl Has Her Own Guide to Winning Her Over (5k)

After dealing with and resolving the numerous issues left over from Class C, Kitagawa Ryo was finally able to relax and chat with Shiina Hiyori for a while about other topics, even though it seemed like a long time had passed but in reality it probably hadn't exceeded forty-eight hours.

At this moment, Sakayanagi Arisu pulled Matsushita Chiaki from her class into the grove for a private talk, while Ichinose Honami was chatting with the girls in Class C. Horikita Suzune initially sat next to Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori, but as Shiina Hiyori, a hardcore mystery novel enthusiast, and Kitagawa Ryo, whose golden talent of 'extensive knowledge' was amplified, became more and more enthusiastic in their conversation, throwing out all sorts of incredibly obscure names of people and books, as well as many completely incomprehensible references, she, who had only read a few classic extracurricular works such as "And Then There Were None" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," felt a bit out of place and had no choice but to give up on joining in early on. She just rested her chin on her hand and watched the two of them chatting and laughing about related topics.

"By the way, I remember Hiyori's father was also a professional novelist, right?"

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo suddenly remembered some family-related information that Shiina Hiyori had told him before he enrolled in school, and asked a question with great interest.

"Well, although Dad tried writing mystery novels in his early years, he has now completely switched to writing other genres, but it seems that they are not selling well."

Hiyori Shiina nodded in acknowledgment. Her father, Katsumi Shiina, a professional novelist, simply reversed his real name and used the strange-sounding pen name 'Katsumi Shiina', which led to her being instantly recognized by Ryo Kitagawa when she casually recommended him to him in her early years.

"Actually, I think Hiyori's father's books are quite well written. Aren't there many fans online who have given them positive reviews? Hiyori probably thinks so too, otherwise she wouldn't have recommended them to me in the first place."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo also briefly recalled the works about Shiina Katsumi that he had read before. Although the author seems to still be releasing new books every three years, the two short mystery novels he wrote in his early years left the deepest impression on him.

When Kitagawa Ryo first heard that Hiyori's father was a professional novelist, he thought it was quite natural. After all, if it weren't for such a family tradition, it would be difficult to raise a daughter like Hiyori, who is a serious mystery novel enthusiast and a literary girl.

Just as the two seemed to be getting a little more 'human' from their conversation, Horikita Suzune was about to ask Hiyori's father what books he had written so she could buy them when she got back to school, when she heard Kitagawa Ryo utter two rather unfamiliar names and book titles:

"If I had to describe it, the reading experience I had with Hiyori's father's books was probably similar to that of Fergus Hume's 'The Secret of the Two-Wheeled Carriage'."

What Hume... what secret?

Horikita Suzune, who thought she was already among the students with a relatively large reading volume among her peers, once again fell into a state of self-doubt, feeling as if she were actually a cultural desert.

"The Secret of the Two-Wheeled Carriage?"

Shiina Hiyori paused for a moment, but seemed to immediately understand Kitagawa Ryo's meaning. A gentle smile bloomed on her pure and pretty face, as if she was recalling their initial evaluation of the novel at a book club meeting a few years ago:

"Although this bestselling detective novel of the late 19th century completely lost out to the Sherlock Holmes series in terms of physical book sales, and Agatha Christie also mentioned that it was her enlightenment work in detective novels, it is rather mediocre from today's perspective. Neither the plot, the motives, nor the most important twists and mysteries are amazing."

"As for the writing style... if you have high emotional intelligence, you can describe it as having a British flavor, after all, the author himself was born in Britain and later lived in the British colony of Australia for a long time to write. If you have low emotional intelligence, it's too long-winded, a bit like forcing a short story into a long novel."

"Most importantly, the core tricks and dramatic conflicts involved in the cases in the book do not conform to the third of the twenty rules of detective novels at all."

Kitagawa Ryo still remembers how, not long after she started reading mystery novels, she was just an elementary school student, and how she, a girl who was quite enthusiastic about these twenty rules, recited one of them as if it were gospel:

"The third rule of detectives: Do not add romance to the story. This will only allow irrational emotions to interfere with purely rational reasoning. What we need to do is bring the murderer to the court of justice, not send a couple in love to the altar of marriage."

But the secret of the two-wheeled carriage is all about the love story of a man and a woman, and the core trick is designed based on this. And the most fun part is at the end of the story, when they really "send a couple in love to the altar of marriage", which is incredibly sweet.

The reason Kitagawa Ryo used this old-fashioned mystery novel to describe Shiina Katsumi's work is because Hiyori's father, who was essentially an unknown writer, depicted various beautiful emotions between people, especially love, in both his early detective novels and other types of novels in recent years.

Incidentally, this father started writing about fifteen or sixteen years ago, roughly around the time Hiyori was born.

...Wait, if we think about it from this perspective, perhaps this is the real reason why the couple was willing to send their daughter to Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, a school with a completely closed management system?

Just as Kitagawa Ryo felt he had inadvertently discovered some strange truth, he looked up and saw Horikita Suzune looking completely bewildered. After shaking his head with a forced smile, he took the initiative to give Suzune a brief summary of the story he had just told her, "The Secret of the Two-Wheeled Carriage," and concluded with a single sentence:

"Simply put, it's the story of a man who, because he loves the other person, would rather bear the suspicion of murder than give his alibi, and a woman who keeps investigating so that the man she loves can be proven innocent, eventually uncovering her own hidden past. Of course, in the end, the lovers get together in a happy ending."

Seeing that Horikita Suzune still seemed a little dazed, Kitagawa Ryo was originally planning to cosplay as the past Shiina Hiyori and then give her a detailed introduction to this famous mystery novel. However, Hiyori, who had just stood up, grabbed his arm and pointed to a secluded beach not far away:

"Liang, come with me for a moment. I have something very important to tell you."

"Hmm, if Lingyin is interested, I'll take you to the library to borrow this book when we get back to school—"

Watching Kitagawa Ryo being pulled further and further away, her voice becoming increasingly faint, Horikita Suzune shook her head with amusement. Thanks to the simulation process of achieving a perfect ending in one playthrough, she was always the one among them who was least likely to overthink or feel inexplicably threatened.

However, reading more books is indeed a good idea... after all, this way, in addition to cooking, you can have another topic to talk about with each other.

Horikita Suzune sat there with her knees drawn up to her chest, casually smoothing her hair, which was being blown about by the sea breeze, and carefully tucking it behind her ears, thinking about it leisurely and easily.

Meanwhile, Kitagawa Ryo was being dragged by Shiina Hiyori, whose strength was below average even for a girl, to a rocky cliff near the beach. Soon, he saw the girl, who had been walking straight ahead with her back to him, stop and turn around, solemnly announcing to him:

"I don't really care about those twenty rules anymore, especially the third one!"

"After all, we don't live in some detective novel world, and there's no way a murder case would happen that would make me and Ryo conduct research on blood-written words, right?"

Kitagawa Ryo looked at the shining golden talent 'Super Detective' in his talent bar and felt that Shiina Hiyori's statement was quite correct.

"So—I take back my previous assessment of 'The Secret of the Two-Wheeled Chariot,' it might actually be very well written?"

At this point, Hiyori Shiina's face unconsciously flushed a rosy hue, and she continued somewhat hesitantly:

"Love might just be that kind of thing, capable of making people do all sorts of completely illogical things, things they themselves don't even understand..."

"Indeed."

Seeing the literature-loving girl suddenly become shy in front of him, Kitagawa Ryo simply continued along with her train of thought:

"Moreover, the love story in 'The Secret of the Two-Wheeled Carriage' is actually quite well written. I remember the last chapter was titled 'Love Endures in Memory'."

With his two shining golden talents of "extensive knowledge" and "photographic memory", Kitagawa Ryo easily recalled the last paragraph of the original work, and suddenly realized, somewhat dazed, that the ending scene also took place at the seaside.

"Ryo, you still remember it so clearly?"

Unlike Kitagawa Ryo, who had essentially gained an unfair advantage, Shiina Hiyori only remembered the general plot of the mystery novel she had read a few years ago; the specific details had become hazy in her mind.

"Ah."

For some reason, I recalled my first encounter with Hiyori Shiina on the first day of this special exam on the deserted island. It was during a task called "Impromptu Poetry Recitation" that Ryo Kitagawa recited the last paragraph of the novel in a low voice with great emotion.

She looked up at him with loving eyes: "With you by my side, I have no fear. Our hearts have been tested in the crucible of suffering, and our love has been purified."

“We have no control over anything in this world,” he sighed. “But after all the sadness and grief, let us hope that the future will be peaceful.”

The next sentence should be, "A seagull with white wings suddenly took flight from the deep red water and circled above their heads." But just as Kitagawa Ryo opened his mouth, a flock of white seagulls actually fluttered past in front of him and Shiina Hiyori, almost making him wonder if he had developed some kind of talent like "animal companion."