I have a life simulator.

"Arisu was probably referring to the last-minute substitution before the match."

Faced with Sakayanagi Arisu's question, Kitagawa Ryo nodded slightly and gave the answer easily.

This can be considered a time lag by the school. Since the prediction activity only appeared a few days after the sports festival rules were announced, many students who were attracted to it were more interested in discussing the rules of this activity than the rules of the sports festival. They easily overlooked the additional provision that this sports festival allowed substitutions before the game.

"If an athlete is unable to participate in the competition before it begins, the class can spend 100,000 personal points to choose to replace the athlete with a substitute. Otherwise, the event will be declared a loss on the spot."

Kitagawa Ryo recited this rule, one of the many rules of the sports festival, with ease.

"The meaning is simple: as long as the class contributes enough individual points, the entry form you ultimately submit to the school can instantly become a complete sham."

"But the truth is that most students have already poured all their personal points into the predictions a week before the sports festival, and only when they need to use them on the day of the sports festival do they suddenly realize that they are short of money."

Sakayanagi Arisu nodded in agreement upon hearing this:

"Yes, this is the time difference that the school deliberately designed. If the class leader realizes this in advance and prepares personal points for 'changing substitutes' in advance, then other students in the class will inevitably need to help, and then it will become a question of whether to trust oneself or the group."

To reiterate, most students have become accustomed to treating their personal points as money, as their private property, and spending them in this way. Even if the other party says something like "for the sake of the class's reputation," they will still feel a bit of moral blackmail. Even if they hand over some points, they will still feel a little resentful.

There were quite a few secret opponents of Nan Yunya in the second year, mainly because he was too ruthless in exploiting the students in classes B, C, and D. He would take 75% of their personal points every month and make these students monitor and report each other to see if they had any extra points obtained from other channels. Kitagawa Ryo was quite astonished when he first saw this.

The credibility of class leaders is actually limited. Although Kitagawa Ryo and Sakayanagi Arisu do not doubt that everyone would not object to them having the other students in Class B hand over all their personal points now, they know that this will definitely sow the seeds of future problems.

The infighting in Class C is similar, essentially because Ryuen Sho used up or even overdrawn all of his credit during the special exam on the deserted island. This included, but was not limited to, his strong instruction before the exam that all students who obtained the 'hitchhiking' card should bind it to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, and the fact that after the exam, none of the hitchhiking cards were collected without any explanation; his complete loss of contact midway through the deserted island, which caused chaos in Class C; and the five million that has suddenly become a hot topic these past few days.

Whether it was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's doing or not, Kitagawa Ryo has heard the rumor more than once in the past two days that "Ryuen Sho gained a lot of personal points by betraying the class's interests during the special exam on the deserted island, which is why he so readily gave up his leadership of the class." Everyone's stories are quite detailed, after all, the deserted island is only so big, and quite a few students saw Ryuen Sho bringing food, drinks and points to Katsuragi's group a few days ago.

With the added fuel of these rumors, the previously wavering opinion in Class C shifted directly to the side of punishing Ryuen. Even students like Daichi Ishizaki, who were originally close to Ryuen Sho, were also targeted. As a result, those who used to practice for the sports festival simply gave up. It could even be said that the entire class was filled with a vibrant and competitive atmosphere.

As it turns out, Hiyori Shiina really didn't care much about this aspect.

However, on the other hand, it was precisely because of the calm demeanor of this temporary class leader, who ate and drank as usual and occasionally went out on dates with him, that the atmosphere in Class C did not truly collapse completely. On the contrary, some students believed that this was the same situation as during the special exam on the deserted island, a scheme pre-arranged by Hiyori Shiina.

Look, wasn't it the same situation on the deserted island last time? Long Yuanxiang went missing and gave up, and the class was in a state of panic, as if everything was doomed.

Guess what happened in the end?

Hey, the class points have increased by fifty!

"Regarding Class C... even if Ryuen Sho wanted to use the substitution tactic on the day of the sports festival, I doubt many students in the class would listen to his instructions and obediently go on the field. Besides, he probably wouldn't do it himself, since that would be tantamount to revealing that he does indeed have a huge amount of points that he's keeping from the whole class."

"Well, so what we really need to pay attention to are Class A and Class D. Firstly, Class A has always been one of the top classes, so the students there must have accumulated a lot of personal points. Secondly, there's the issue we just mentioned."

At this point, Arisu Sakayanagi's expression also showed a hint of helplessness:

"If there really is a specific, real-time value for trust, then Class A is undoubtedly the highest among the four first-year classes. I have no doubt that they are capable of happily giving up all their personal points, judging from the situation on the deserted island."

"As for Class D, they probably don't have many personal points left. After all, they didn't get anything on the deserted island, and they spent quite a bit on the cruise ship. Moreover, the level of trust between classmates is worrying. Ayanokouji gave all the personal points she got from the third year to Ryuen. I feel like she might actually end up borrowing money from Nagumo to play around."

"Yes, Katsuragi wants to join the student council. After all, if he can join the student council in October, it will greatly boost the morale of the class."

After explaining these data points to Kitagawa Ryo, Sakayanagi Arisu herself pursed her lips and remarked:

"The more you study it, the more you realize that there are just too many variables in this sports festival. All the calculations and planning might end up being a battle of wits with thin air. Sometimes I just want to ignore everything and treat it as an ordinary sports festival."

"There's no other way, we have to prepare in advance. The competition form needs to be finalized in the next couple of days. I'd appreciate it if Arisu could take the time to arrange it carefully. There can't be any obvious loopholes on the surface. At least we need to convince Class D that we have indeed seen their competition form."

"I see."

"However, I actually agree with what Arisu just said. Maybe there are also sports festival strategies that don't involve participating in the prediction game at all, but just focus on participating in each game."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo shook his head:

"Not losing is winning, not making is losing, seeing others make money is more painful than losing money myself... But everyone's thoughts and desires are different. It is the intertwining of so many emotions that has made this sports festival what it is today."

"What about your own wish? About this sports festival."

Sakayanagi Arisu stopped and turned back with interest to ask:

"Well-"

Kitagawa Ryo deliberately drew out his words before smiling and giving his answer:

"I want to see Arisu run the whole course smoothly on the track of the playground. Although first place would be better, it's okay if she comes in last. After all, there are two more sports festivals to come. Take it slow."

"……Um."

Probably not expecting Kitagawa Ryo to say such a thing, Sakayanagi Arisu was stunned for a moment before she lowered her head and looked at her toes, giving a barely perceptible reply.

"Ryo should be picking me up at the finish line, right?"

"I wouldn't mind if Arisu ran right into my arms."

"you said."

"I said."

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

Inside Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's room.

"The entry forms for Class A are almost all filled out."

In front of Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, Masayoshi Hashimoto also put aside his usual frivolous demeanor and seriously pushed a handwritten chart in front of Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

"This is part of what I've compiled so far, and there shouldn't be any mistakes or omissions."

Katsuragi Kohei, who was also called over, was a little surprised and took the form first. He carefully looked at the items that were mostly filled in and the corresponding names, and it really didn't seem like a forgery.

"Hashimoto, no, where did you get this?"

"I got this from some idiot in Class A. Don't ask me for the details; I don't want to recall the disgusting things that happened."

Masayoshi Hashimoto rested his chin on his hand, looking quite tired as he spoke.

He was, after all, a handsome guy who was ranked among the top in his class and even his grade. His academic and athletic abilities were also among the best of his peers. However, because of a single instruction from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, he was forced to go against the aesthetic standards he had been raised with since childhood and start dating a random girl from Class A. This made even Hashimoto Masayoshi, who was usually good at pretending, almost unable to keep up.

But there was nothing he could do. He hadn't followed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's instructions when he framed Ryuen Sho during the special exam on the deserted island. So he had to try to make up for it in other ways. Hashimoto Masayoshi still hoped to get on the good side of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, or rather, the powerful force behind him, while protecting himself. After all, he couldn't stay in Tokyo Advanced Educational High School forever.

"In other words, it's a honey trap, or rather, a handsome guy trap... Anyway, thank you for your hard work, Hashimoto."

Compared to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who remained unmoved and calm, Katsuragi Kohei felt that this act of deceiving a girl's feelings was a bit excessive. However, the class had already reached this point after being stranded on the deserted island, and Hashimoto Masayoshi's actions were also for the sake of the class. Therefore, he finally bowed his head sincerely and thanked the other party.

"But is this entry form really okay? There's still quite a while before the submission deadline."

Of course, Katsuragi Kohei, who was always composed, still wanted to confirm the authenticity of the entry form, and after thinking about it, he asked the same question again.

"While we can submit the entry forms until the day before the sports festival, we definitely can't wait until then to officially confirm them. After all, we can't let the students find out which events they're going to participate in and in what order the day before the sports festival, can we?"

Faced with Katsuragi Kohei's second confirmation, Hashimoto Masayoshi clicked his tongue:

"As for its authenticity, there's no need to worry about that. After all, you know the atmosphere in Class A, Katsuragi. Although that girl is just a nobody in the class, she still knows the information she needs to know."

"Okay, if this Class A competition form is real, and we've already figured out some information about Class B through joint training and deduction, then we can say that only Class C remains unknown for the entire first year."

Katsuragi Kohei nodded, his tone becoming more enthusiastic.

"As for Class C."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had remained silent throughout the discussion, finally reacted, nodding to Katsuragi Yasuhira:

"Leave it to me."

Chapter 285: The Armchair Detective

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji stood at the entrance of the school library. Since entering the school, he had come here quite often, and the number of books he had borrowed was among the highest of all students. In this respect, he could be considered to have grown compared to when he first entered the school.

Humans are creatures that grow and develop, and they are also creatures that love to learn.

This is an instinct etched into our genes and blood since ancient times.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's offer to take charge of Class C from Katsuragi Kohei was essentially for the sake of learning.

It's like learning to ride a bicycle, learn to swim, learn to use chopsticks, or use a straw.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji wants to learn a course called love through Ryo Kitagawa.

Of course, this doesn't mean that he personally developed any special feelings for Kitagawa Ryo, it's just that he would be much more effective with this person.

Love is something that Kiyotaka Ayanokouji has never learned in his life so far, and it is something that the White Room has never taught him. In fact, after all the fourth generation members except him were eliminated, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji had not been in contact with the opposite sex for a long time.

However, it is undeniable that after witnessing the relationship and interactions between Amasawa Ichika and Kitagawa Ryo on the deserted island, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was indeed stimulated by his curiosity, and an unprecedented thirst for knowledge was aroused.

The fact that the object of the affections is Kitagawa Ryo also carries other important significance.

First, after observing for a semester, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji concluded that romance, or rather, relationships with girls, had already occupied a very important and inseparable place in Ryo Kitagawa's life, and that their relationship, or rather their fate, would inevitably be intertwined for the next two years.

If he wants to defeat Kitagawa Ryo in the future, he will definitely need to understand and make use of this information.

Next, we see Kitagawa Ryo's distinct personality in matters of love, completely different from that of other individuals.

Over the course of this semester, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji has encountered many promiscuous dating experts. Whether it's Aya Nagumo, who keeps changing girlfriends in her second year, or Masayoshi Hashimoto, a playboy who uses relationships as a means and a tool, they have all given him some food for thought.

However, they are completely different types from Kitagawa Ryo.

After all, if you use "Kitagawa Ryo's girlfriend" as the subject in the class now, people will immediately ask you which of his girlfriends you are referring to.

Without a doubt, the course "How to date one woman" is no match for Professor Kitagawa's personal demonstration of "How to date multiple women at the same time," much like the difference between a linear equation and calculus.

As for the last point, it's because the other person's romantic partners also included the test subjects of the White Room.

As the greatest masterpiece of his life, which has been spent in a white room since birth, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji knows everything about it better than anyone. Even disregarding the constant and high-pressure learning requirements, the experimental subjects only have a few tens of minutes each day to talk to each other freely during meals and evenings to discuss the day's learning results.

Simply put, it's a place where even the expression of laughter seems unique, let alone the development and budding of romantic feelings, which are a thousand times more difficult than actually laughing.

If he had never met Amazawa Ichika, who belonged to the fifth generation, and was unaware of her training program, then he did have an impression of Yuki, another girl whom Kitagawa Ryo had mentioned to him many times before.

He didn't think Kitagawa Ryo would lie to him about this matter. After all, the other party had confidently stated that Yuki would enroll as a first-year student next year. If it were a fabricated lie, there would be no need to say such a thing.

All these factors combined were enough for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to solemnly regard Kitagawa Ryo as that encyclopedia of love.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji quietly entered the library and, as he wished, caught a glimpse of Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori in the reading area.

People can feel joy in learning, whether it's reading, exercising, or playing games.

You will feel joy if you personally experience progress.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was well aware that he knew nothing about love, let alone relationships between men and women, and the feelings of shame or pleasure that such relationships brought about.

Therefore, he wanted to seek the answers to the questions one by one.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji gently ran his fingertips along the spines of the various books neatly arranged on the bookshelf, occasionally picking one up and flipping through its description.

Just like our current actions, this is simply a learning process.

After acquiring knowledge, one will grow and move forward.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji silently glanced at the gap between the bookshelves, as if he were looking at a textbook called Ryo Kitagawa.

There will always be a day when a book is finished reading, and for a book, once it has been read, its duty is probably over.

However, at this moment, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji had a subtle feeling that he could never turn to the last page and finish reading the book.

This was clearly an irrational judgment, yet it was so clear in that instant.

So, he temporarily set aside this perplexing question, took a step forward towards Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori, and then spoke softly, breaking the quiet and peaceful atmosphere:

"I heard that you're transferring to Class A, Kitagawa. Congratulations."

After saying that, without waiting for the two to react, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka turned around and left the library in one swift motion, squinting at the sun high in the sky.

In that case, Class C was naturally dragged into this mess as well.

However, this was just a way of fulfilling a promise to Katsuragi Kohei.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji put his hands in his pockets and glanced inside the library from the front. There was another person there who was observing the two people's words and actions in his place.

This is the most crucial data.

How would Hiyori Shiina react to this, and what attitude would she display?

What will Kitagawa Ryo feel, and what actions will he take in response?

For Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, this is a great opportunity to read these books.

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

Watching Ayanokouji Kiyotaka appear before him like a self-destructing bomb, utter such a sentence, and then disappear in a flash, Kitagawa Ryo twitched the corners of his mouth, feeling rather speechless, as if to say, "How come this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes is starting to use this trick too?"

"Was that Ayanokouji from Class D just now? He just said... Ryo is transferring to Class A?"

At the other end of the desk, Shiina Hiyori muttered a few words with a puzzled expression, then subconsciously frowned her handsome eyebrows, seemingly mindful of the 'Keep Quiet' sign posted on the nearby wall. She pursed her lips and quickly stuffed the mystery novel she was holding into her bag.

"Liang, let's go outside and talk."

"……it is good."

Following the other person's actions, Kitagawa Ryo also tidied his own bag. Then, Shiina Hiyori, who seemed a bit impatient, grabbed his hand and half-dragged him out of the library. The series of actions made the librarian at the counter in front of him shake his head with a slight smile, and he secretly sighed that this was probably what youth was like.