I have a life simulator.

Therefore, Sima Kedian rushed forward, and just as he was about to sternly reprimand the other party for violating school rules, Kitagawa Ryo, who had already finished his phone call, raised the corners of his mouth in a provocative manner:

"I'll be back before the competition tomorrow!"

Before Sima Kedian could even react, Kitagawa Ryo strode off and sped out of the hotel, disappearing into the end of the street right before his eyes.

When the girls from the other car walked into the hotel lobby with their suitcases, all that could be seen was Sima Kedian standing there, questioning his existence.

"Hey, where did Ryo go?"

As the only girl in the room who didn't quite know Kitagawa Ryo's purpose for leaving school, and also the one who was most concerned about Kitagawa Ryo's whereabouts, Amaze Ichika subconsciously asked a question.

“He just escaped from here, I have to report this to the school immediately.”

Sima Kedian, who had just come to his senses, quickly took out his phone from his pocket. While composing an explanation text message for the school, he asked the girls in a threatening tone:

"Do you even know where Beichuan went? What he did is a serious violation of school rules. It's no exaggeration to say that if he doesn't return to the team, he could very well be expelled!"

"Teachers don't need to worry about being implicated in the incident. Liang has points that can protect him from being expelled once. Since he said he would come back before the competition, he definitely will."

After listening to Ichinose Honami's explanation, Simak Denichi stopped what he was doing, and managed to force a smile that was more like a grimace on his stiff and rigid face.

It must be said that this was indeed the most playful student he had ever seen since he began teaching at Tokyo Advanced Educational High School.

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Kitagawa Ryo was standing at the place he had arranged with Hotaru on the phone, waiting for his sister, who had basically recovered and had been transferred to Japan for observation and follow-up treatment.

A moment later, he felt a slight weight on his back and shoulders.

The other person didn't even call out to him at first. Instead, like an obedient cat, he pounced and curled up on the back of the person he trusted and relied on the most, constantly rubbing his cheek against his neck and ear.

Her breath drew closer, clearer and clearer, until her two hands, which were wrapped around his chest, closed together like jade bracelets reunited. Only then did Ying's voice, tinged with a playful hum, reach his ears:

"Hmm—did you miss me, brother?"

Chapter 376: Three Talents (4.5k)

Before Kitagawa Ryo could answer, Hotaru temporarily released her arms from his chest, placing one on each of his shoulders as a fulcrum. With remarkable agility, she moved from behind Kitagawa Ryo to his chest, her arms once again encircling the back of his neck. Standing on tiptoe, a mischievous smile played on her delicate face as she practically brought her face close to Kitagawa Ryo's nose, her bright, fluorescent eyes blinking restlessly.

"Hmm? Do you want to? Do you want to? If you don't answer soon, I'm going to answer first—"

"I think about this every day, this answer must be acceptable."

Startled by the sudden, intimate breath, Kitagawa Ryo reached out and brushed a few snowflakes from his sister's hair.

"How long have you been back?"

"It's been about a week. I thought I wouldn't be able to come back before the New Year, but I made it in time. Maybe it's because of my strong will? I've been thinking every day that I must get better quickly before my birthday so I can come back and see my brother."

Although he himself was the one who knew best that even the strongest and most unwavering will could not change the status quo at times, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but chuckle and echo Hotaru's words:

"If that's what Ying said, then it must be true."

To his surprise, Hotaru, who had released his neck and started hugging his arm instead, simply rolled her eyes.

"It seems my brother still treats me like a child, just like before. After midnight tonight, I'll be sixteen by the traditional Chinese age reckoning."

As she spoke, Hotaru nudged Kitagawa Ryo's side lightly with her elbow, clearly annoyed. Suddenly, she stepped forward and stood in front of him, placing her other free hand above her head. Then, maintaining this height, she slowly slid her hand down to Kitagawa Ryo's chest.

"Look, it's already this tall."

Reminded by his sister, Kitagawa Ryo was also somewhat dazed, because everything in front of him was indeed a scene he had never seen before, such as Hotaru standing in front of him with her cheeks puffed out in dissatisfaction, who had grown so tall and was preparing to celebrate her fifteenth birthday.

"...Although I really wanted my brother to confirm, staring at me like this— um."

Before Hotaru could finish speaking, Kitagawa Ryo had already gently pinched her cheeks, squeezing her little sister's face into a rather comical shape before releasing her hands with satisfaction.

"It has indeed gained weight, and it feels great to the touch."

"Of course, the doctors all say that I am now at a level where I can carry out normal study and life."

Although it was only for a moment, the warm touch on her face where she had been pinched was still clearly visible. Hotaru herself also felt her face getting hot for no reason. She waved her arm at Kitagawa Ryo as if to cover up. It was a pity that it was the middle of winter and she was wrapped up tightly from head to toe like a little penguin. Otherwise, she would have shown her brother that the rest of her body, except for her face, had long since moved beyond being skinny.

Where does Ying live now?

“It’s the place we used to live in. Anyway, my brother hasn’t lived there for more than half a year. I can tidy it up a bit when I come back and it will be perfectly fine.”

"Have you made contact with the school yet?"

"Yes, it was my brother's family who helped. He's in the same school as Maki, and he'll officially start school after winter break."

At this point, Hotaru herself also felt some regret:

"If they had found my brother sooner, he wouldn't have had to work so hard. After all, for those people, even a tiny bit of money peeking through their fingers would have been enough to cover my medical expenses."

As if sensing the topic was becoming too somber, Hotaru quickly gave up on continuing, blinking her beautiful, light-colored eyes at Kitagawa Ryo:

"It's so unfair that my brother keeps asking me questions. Now it's my turn to ask questions."

"Alright—go ahead and ask."

"Well, first of all, how is your brother doing at that Tokyo Advanced Educational High School? It's a very famous school; I've even heard of it abroad."

Although Hotaru knew very well that this school was a boarding high school, she had no intention of asking Kitagawa Ryo why he was able to leave the school to find him at this time. After all, in her eyes, it was already commonplace for her brother to appear on her birthday on time, and it would be strange if he didn't.

"Dongyu High School, it's not bad, is it? So far, it's a very interesting school that's quite different from ordinary high schools. The past six months there have been unforgettable."

"Wow, if that's what you're saying, I'm thinking of applying myself."

After hearing Kitagawa Ryo's high praise, Hotaru's eyes sparkled with interest. But just as Kitagawa Ryo was about to ask his sister if she really intended to apply, she shook her head decisively.

"But I decided against it after all."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I'm two grades below my brother. By the time I enroll, he'll already be a senior in high school. That means even if I become a student there, I'll only be able to see and spend time with him for about a year. Then I'll have to stay there alone for the next two years. It's not worth it at all."

In response to Hotaru's remarks, Kitagawa Ryo instinctively retorted:

"As expected, you can't generalize when it comes to your sister's ideas. If Lingyin had thought the same way you did, she wouldn't have applied to Dongyu University in the first place."

"I think I heard a girl's name? Who is Rinne?"

Tilting her head slightly in confusion, Ying added, seemingly oblivious to the situation:

"I thought my brother was already with either Fanbo or Hui, isn't that right?"

Unable to think of a way to tell his sister that he had become a notorious scumbag in Dongyu, known for his "how many girlfriends" scandal, Kitagawa Ryo could only clear his throat somewhat awkwardly.

"This kind of thing..."

"Kids don't need to worry about these things too much—I can already tell what my brother is going to say. It was fine before, but now I can't be considered a kid anymore, right?"

Having completely anticipated Kitagawa Ryo's words, Hotaru also pulled down her right eyelid and made a disgusted face at her brother.

"But Maki did tell me that you and Honami-neechan went out of school once during summer vacation, so it seems that Honami-neechan was the one who ended up with you? It seems that's alright, she's quite nice to me."

Not knowing how to respond, Kitagawa Ryo continued walking in silence, even unconsciously quickening her pace. This confused Hotaru, who was already thinking about whether she could skip her name and call her "older sister" next time they met. She belatedly asked:

"Oh right, brother, you still haven't told me where we're going? I thought we were going home first, and I even prepared your bath water in advance... Is this route a bit off?"

"You'll know when you get there."

After a few more minutes of travel, Kitagawa Ryo brought Hotaru back to the hotel where he had just escaped. Hotaru waited at the door for a short while before seeing her brother talk to the hotel staff for a few minutes before coming out carrying a bulging backpack.

"Alright, we've got the stuff. Let's go home now. Ying should have some money on her, right? I don't have a single penny left."

Hotaru had initially wanted to ask what was in the big bag her brother was carrying, but upon hearing Kitagawa Ryo mention "going home," she instantly forgot all her questions and naturally took his hand.

"Well, let's go home."

So, under the somewhat bewildered gaze of the taxi driver, and after the younger sister paid a not-so-cheap fare, Kitagawa Ryo finally took Hotaru back to the house where the two of them used to live.

As the chandeliers in the living room and bedrooms lit up one by one, the once empty house was instantly filled with warm yellow light. Kitagawa Ryo and Hotaru, having changed their shoes, walked together to the kotatsu in the living room. When they came to their senses, their legs, which they had stretched out, were already haphazardly wrapped around each other's bodies, just like when they were children, intertwined with each other.

"Phew—I thought I'd never get to experience a kotatsu again this winter."

"Aren't there any at the school?"

"The dormitories are too small and unsafe, so the school didn't provide them."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo reached out and rummaged around in the large backpack that was lying nearby, pulling it towards himself. Under Hotaru's curious gaze, he unzipped it and quickly pulled out a beautifully wrapped gift box.

"This is a birthday gift from Fanbo to you. She can't meet with you as freely as I can, so she asked me to give it to you on her behalf."

"Oh, could it be that this time it's a genuine gift from my older sister?"

Before Hotaru could finish speaking, Kitagawa Ryo silently pulled out another gift from his backpack:

"And then, this is what Megumi gave to Hotaru."

Seemingly finding this inefficiency too slow, Kitagawa Ryo simply turned his backpack inside out, dumping out even more gift bags and boxes in various packaging, piling them all on the kotatsu table and pushing them towards Hotaru. Then, he picked them out one by one, introducing them as he went:

"This is Airi's, this is Arisu's, and this one is Suzune's..."

Faced with this rather surreal scene before her, Ying covered her forehead with mixed feelings, wondering if the world had undergone some incredible changes during the years she had been abroad, leaving her somewhat out of touch with the times.

"Why does the name sound like a girl's?"

"Because they really are."

"...You're invincible, bro."

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Before coming here, Kitagawa Ryo had made all sorts of plans in his mind or on paper, such as where to take Hotaru to eat and where to play, and what kind of tone to use to say what kind of birthday wishes to Hotaru at exactly 12:00:00. But when the moment actually came, he was now idly taking a bath in the bathtub at home.

Hotaru didn't seem to have any intention of going out. The two of them spent their usual afternoon and evening as usual. Hotaru, who had already taken a shower, was now in the living room humming a song while drying her hair and watching TV. Even in the bathroom, you could hear faint noises.

Boys do indeed take significantly less time to shower than girls. Feeling that it was almost time, Kitagawa Ryo quickly got out of the bathtub, dried himself with a towel from the shelf, changed into his pajamas, and left the bathroom. As a result, his sister's hair was still not completely dried.

"Hmm? Does brother need it?"

Noticing that Kitagawa Ryo's gaze seemed to be fixed on the hair dryer in her hand, Hotaru temporarily turned off the hair dryer and made a little less noise before taking the initiative to ask.

"It's alright, Ying, you can keep using it. I'll dry it with a towel, it'll be dry in a bit."

Grabbing another clean towel, Kitagawa Ryo sat down next to his sister, quite relaxed, rubbing his hair dry while glancing at the TV screen. Before he could even finish a few words, Hotaru, also in her pajamas, had already snuggled up to him on the sofa, the hairdryer whirring away, leaving Kitagawa Ryo's half-dry hair smeared all over his face.

"Why don't we just play them together?"

With a mix of amusement and exasperation, Kitagawa Ryo accepted his sister's suggestion. He watched as Hotaru, who had just repeatedly emphasized that she was no longer a child, seemed to have found a fun new toy. She was holding a hairdryer and moving it around in front of him for a while, then taking it back to blow on him, looking like she was having a great time.

"Alright, my hair is almost dry here. Hotaru, you should focus on your own hair."

"Oh, it's so convenient for guys."

"It has nothing to do with whether you're a boy or a girl, it only has to do with the length of your hair. I know a guy whose hair grows all the way to his shoulders."

"Hmm, I can't imagine it."

After a few more casual words, Hotaru, seemingly unable to contain herself, suddenly remembered something and shoved the hair dryer she was holding into Kitagawa Ryo's arms:

"I just dried my brother's hair, so now he should dry mine too, just like before—"

"Okay, sit here... Stop, stop, don't lean back. Your hair isn't dry yet, and I just changed my clothes."

After spreading his legs to allow Hotaru to sit comfortably on the empty space in the middle of the sofa, Kitagawa Ryo turned the hairdryer back on.

Soon, his outstretched right hand, accompanied by the warm breeze, caressed her and slipped into the girl's silky hair.

"I miss those days so much."

Hotaru sat there, tilting her little face back slightly like a cat, looking quite content.

But with her movement, the subtle perspective created by the height difference and posture made Kitagawa Ryo somewhat concerned and shift his gaze away.

Winter is such a season.

When you're outside, you really can't tell at all.

He suddenly vaguely recalled the simulator story he had told Ying countless times: Ying could only ever have three initial talents.

As if by telepathy, before Kitagawa Ryo's thought had even formed for a minute, Hotaru, who was still restlessly swinging her legs back and forth, suddenly slowed down and took the initiative to ask Kitagawa Ryo:

"Brother, do you still remember the stories you used to tell me? The ones you would tell me every night when we first started living together, the stories about simulators."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Does my brother still remember what those three talents I always draw... or rather, what my brother always draws for me?"

It was the same self-questioning and self-answering routine again; before Kitagawa Ryo could even speak, Hotaru had already given the answer to the question.

"Firstly, it allows me to stay by my brother's side and ensure his good health."

"Secondly, as long as my brother is my brother, my family can be happy."

"Three? Hmm, I suddenly can't remember. Well then, I'll reluctantly let my brother answer for me."