I have a life simulator.

After all, she had initially thought about whether she would have the chance to bathe with Kitagawa Ryo, but the single dormitories at Tokyo Advanced Educational High School were only so big, and the bathrooms were naturally the same. The shower area was basically only big enough for one person. If there were two people, let alone moving around, it would be difficult to even find a place to put your feet down.

Speaking of Tokyo Advanced Educational High School, this is the only thing that's not very friendly to couples. After all, there are no facilities on campus that allow students to stay out all night. Whether it's an internet cafe or a karaoke bar, staying overnight is not allowed. It's really not as luxurious as the suites I was able to enjoy on the cruise ship last year.

"Should Fanbo wash first, or should I wash first?"

"I'll go first, since I need to blow-dry my hair after showering."

After finding a fairly plausible reason, Ichinose Honami naturally gained the right to shower first. However, as for why she made this choice, besides drying her hair, there were naturally other considerations as well.

After all, the yukata was never her winning outfit.

While taking a shower in the cool air, I secretly changed into the new clothes first.

With this in mind, Ichinose Honami took her clean underwear and went into the bathroom first, leaving Kitagawa Ryo alone outside.

Although it wasn't the first time Kitagawa Ryo had encountered a girl showering less than five meters behind him, separated only by a door, he still tried to evoke his emotions, both physically and mentally.

This is both a sign of respect for Honami Ichinose and a reflection of his own true feelings.

Sakayanagi Shigemori's assessment of him was actually not wrong.

For Kitagawa Ryo, love truly has no right or wrong, nor does it have a first-come-first-served principle. This is not only a posture that needs to be put on the surface, but also a concept that he can never give up if he wants to realize that wish.

Even though girls often pay great attention to and care about the answers in this regard, such as the question Karuizawa Kei asked on the first day of the cruise ship, "Is this your first time?", no matter whose first time it is with, he must treat it as if it were each other's first time, and there must be absolutely no slackness. Today's Valentine's Day celebration is just like that.

For these girls who genuinely like him, this is indeed their first experience. The difference between "the only one" and "one of the many" will not change, but Kitagawa Ryo is also willing to give the latter the same unique experience as the former.

Rather, this is one of the most crucial reasons why he was able to smoothly transition this massive and ever-growing battlefield to the present.

There's no way around it; having chosen this inevitably difficult and greedy path, there's no turning back.

However, he did not regret it.

Kitagawa Ryo looked up at the bathroom door, quietly waiting for the heroine to reappear.

After all, liking and redemption are always mutual.

He wasn't saved by any single person.

In fact, Kitagawa Ryo never managed to complete the collection of all the CGs and endings in that life simulation game.

If we were to look for a reason...

He should give that answer.

Because I want to leave the best ending for the life I'm living now, this most real life that can't be relived.

Chapter 490: Come and Repent

After all, she had taken a proper shower just two hours earlier, and since she hadn't sweated much in the winter, Ichinose Honami finished showering and walked out of the bathroom faster than Kitagawa Ryo had expected, taking about twenty minutes.

The yukata she was wearing had been replaced with loungewear. Ichinose Honami, who had just come out of the bathroom, seemed to be radiating heat all over her body. Her fair skin was slightly flushed, and you could feel a distinct warmth emanating from her from a distance, proving that her body had been thoroughly warmed.

Although she has never taken great care of her hair since childhood, she still possesses an unparalleled charm. Her long, golden-pink hair cascades down her back like a waterfall, still retaining visible moisture, and has the brilliant colors of a rainbow after the rain.

Her clear blue eyes were also shimmering with water, and her moist lips gleamed with a glossy sheen, as clear as glaze.

To be honest, ever since I first saw Honami Ichinose's face in the second simulation of Karuizawa Kei, Kitagawa Ryo has become increasingly curious about what kind of expression this girl had in her past, which he could only glimpse through words and his imagination.

After all, judging from appearances alone, he found it hard to believe that such a girl would actually show that empty, desperate look in her eyes, because anyone's first impression of Ichinose Honami should be optimistic, gentle, and many other positive adjectives.

"Ryo, go take a shower... the water should still be warm."

"Wait a minute, our Dongyu student dormitory single rooms have always only had showers, right? This kind of line that's meant for a bathtub scene is a bit much."

"Indeed, but now that you mention it, I'm starting to miss my bathtub at home, especially in winter like this. I can't imagine how comfortable it would be to take a warm bath."

Honami Ichinose nodded in agreement, then naturally took another set of pajamas from the closet in the room:

"Look, I've already prepared all the clothes for you to dry."

"Thank you so much for being so thoughtful."

"No, actually I was thinking of going to the closet in advance to get your underwear and panties for you."

"...I feel like when I get back, I need to immediately check my closet to make sure nothing is missing."

After chatting casually with Ichinose Honami for a while, feeling relaxed and cheerful, Kitagawa Ryo took the pajamas offered to him and prepared to go into the bathroom to take a shower.

However, as if suddenly remembering something, Kitagawa Ryo stopped before opening the bathroom door and gestured with his left hand to Ichinose Honami:

"It's definitely better to take this off first. It's best not to wear rings while showering, not only because they might get washed off your hand and fall into the drain, but also because many shampoos and shower gels contain ingredients that can damage the ring."

"Well, then Ryo should take it off for now. After all, it's a gift from Hiyori to Ryo, so it should be taken good care of."

Honami Ichinose took the ring from Kitagawa Ryo and handed it to her, then urged him on by the back and led him into the bathroom.

"Wash it thoroughly."

"Know it."

After confirming that the sound of the shower water had resumed, Honami Ichinose sat back down on the sofa, her gaze unconsciously falling on the ring lying in her palm.

In a moment, she suddenly understood Sakayanagi Arisu's feelings over a long period of time.

Of course, knowing something doesn't mean understanding it.

Regardless of the circumstances, Ichinose Honami would not accept the other party's approach of ultimately shifting all the pressure back onto Kitagawa Ryo, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

However, it must be said that Sakayanagi Arisu's personality has an extreme aspect, which is something she knew a long time ago. If you think about it carefully, one of the reasons why she is still so nostalgic about her second life is that dream and reality overlapped, and in the blink of an eye, she didn't know where she was or whether what she saw and heard was real. Moreover, that time was basically trouble caused by Sakayanagi Arisu alone.

Even if Ichinose Honami were to admit that she did indeed yearn for such a token that symbolized so much in the eyes of the public, she would only try to obtain it through a gentler means.

In this respect, Honami Ichinose is now more like a perfectionist than before, but this so-called 'perfectionism' only applies to her relationship with Ryo Kitagawa.

She hopes that all the memories they have now, all the time they've spent together, are the most beautiful of all.

This requires a variety of planning methods.

Honami Ichinose likes the word "planning".

She felt that this was one of the words that couples should use most frequently.

Planning does not mean being rigid and boring.

After all, the so-called surprise is nothing more than a plan that one person keeps from another.

Just like the Valentine's Day celebration that Kitagawa Ryo threw for her today.

...Just like the clothes she's about to change into for Kitagawa Ryo.

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

"This time, the smell should be completely gone."

Kitagawa Ryo checked one last time, just to make sure the perfume scent Karuizawa Megumi had mischievously left on him had completely dissipated, before nodding, wiping the fogged bathroom mirror, fixing his hair in front of the mirror, and finally picking up his change of clothes to leave the bathroom.

Speaking of which, compared to his first time with Karuizawa Megumi and Amasawa Ichika, the atmosphere and clothing of the two of them today are simply too normal, or rather, too ordinary. After all, the former directly attacked him with a bunny girl outfit, and the latter demonstrated what it means to put on a condom with his mouth without any instruction. However, perhaps high school romance should actually be like his and Honami's...

Until he pushed the bathroom door open again, Kitagawa Ryo's mind was still filled with these simple and honest thoughts.

But clearly, Honami Ichinose doesn't think so.

"So why is it a nun's habit?"

"Hmm, maybe it's because the Vatican is now keeping up with the times and even launching anime-style mascots?"

"……It really is."

In short, after subconsciously making sarcastic remarks, Kitagawa Ryo looked again at Ichinose Honami, who had changed her clothes again while he was taking a shower.

It turns out that even the most austere clothes will only make a girl with a great figure look innocent and alluring. Actually, the reverse is also true, but I felt that continuing to talk about it would hurt Arisu's feelings, so I decided to leave it at that.

"Actually, I just think this outfit suits me quite well."

As Ichinose Honami spoke, she lightly patted her thigh, causing the nun's veil to sway gently with her movements.

"Does Ryo want to come here and repent?"

"So we've already reached the role-playing part that I wasn't aware of?"

"There's nothing I can do about it. When Liang wrote me my birthday greeting, he was all about being a prisoner of original sin and a holy angel."

"Then I'll lie down."

"This way, please—"

Since the magnanimous nun had already shown him tolerance, Kitagawa Ryo naturally responded to the divine decree without hesitation. He rolled over and put his head on the pillow. When he opened his eyes again, his vision was completely filled with the cross-shaped chest ornament that was raised high. He immediately felt a sense of satisfaction and awe, as if he had arrived in a heavenly kingdom on earth.

Thinking about it carefully, if we only consider it from the perspective of mammals, this person is the best choice. After all, compared to Fanbo, they all seem to be eliminated in the cruel natural environment.

Perhaps because he was still thinking about Sakayanagi Arisu and the Tokyo Tower that night, such a strange thought unconsciously came to Kitagawa Ryo's mind.

"Hmm... So, Ryo, is there anything you want to say to me now?"

"Does suddenly wanting to call Fanbo some unpleasant nicknames count?"

"Let's forget about the younger generation."

"That must be my older sister."

"I always felt that Liang should be a bit older than me, after all, she must have experienced more things, but it seems like there's no problem if Liang is willing."

Perhaps because she has a younger sister, Honami Ichinose accepted this setting with astonishing speed.

"Actually, I've always felt that I should have an older sister."

"Is this some new way to start a conversation? Like, 'I've seen this girl before'?"

"I don't know, I just have this feeling sometimes, probably because I've been Hotaru's older brother for so long."

"It's possible. Actually, I've thought about how nice it would be if there were older peers in my family. Essentially, it's because I've been relied on by others for so long that I want to rely on others. It's quite normal for Ryo to have this kind of illusion, after all, your situation and Hotaru's situation are a bit more special than ours."

"Too."

With Ichinose Honami's gentle and persuasive explanation, Kitagawa Ryo, whose mind was gradually going blank, was too lazy to think any further. He simply adjusted his position on the other's lap and wrapped his arms around her:

"I think Fanbo right now is exactly the kind of older sister I want."

"Although it may not be appropriate to bring this up now, if I were in the position of a younger brother or sister, I wouldn't actually dislike an older sister who is willing to pay for my whims."

"Of course, it's better not to do those things, just like Hobo is now."

Perhaps it was a natural connection to something from her past, but Kitagawa Ryo lay on Ichinose Honami's lap and, as if speaking to a nun from the Vatican, recounted an incident that had happened between him and Hotaru in the past.

"Fanbo, do you still remember our reunion in this life? It was also in winter, and you were standing outside the dessert shop wearing a rabbit costume to attract customers. I went up to you and asked, 'Would you like a hot cocoa?'"

"Yeah, remember."

Even now, Honami Ichinose isn't sure if she genuinely liked hot cocoa or if she developed a special fondness for it simply because of that comment and certain moments from the past. But in any case, she still feels that what she drank that day was the sweetest and most intoxicating drink in the world.

“I also told Fanbo at the time, because I had done similar work before, so I knew very well how painful it was. Now, what I want to tell Fanbo is what happened back then.”

(For details, please see Chapter 2 of The Abyss of the Young Man: The Theft and Hot Cocoa)

Although he had long possessed the talent of photographic memory, Kitagawa Ryo's speech was actually quite disorganized, fragmented, and intricate, yet also very subtle, gentle, and light, perhaps due to his mood.

Ichinose Honami listened quietly to all the past events. In fact, Kitagawa Ryo faced almost the same predicament as her, and the risk of theft was even lower for him.

Thinking about this, Honami Ichinose herself felt somewhat complicated, because no matter how she tried to justify the theft, it was ultimately a decision she made alone.

"Perhaps that's why Ryo is the Ryo I can truly like."

Ultimately, this was the only answer Ichinose Honami could come up with.

As she spoke, she suddenly felt exceptionally at ease.

After all, falling in love and spending the rest of your life with a time traveler who doesn't even know how many lives they've lived is quite a challenging thing. Not only do you have to constantly face the vast amount of memories about the other person that you don't know about, but you also have to worry about whether the person they are showing you now is their true self or just another mask for playing games.

But the more I learned about her past from other people, including Kitagawa Ryo herself, the less Ichinose Honami felt about such worries.

Even though Kitagawa Ryo encountered various setbacks and difficulties in each story, the underlying nature of his character remained unchanged, just like the ones she loved.

That's enough, really. After all, we are different this year than we were last year, and so are the people we've fallen for.

The change that preserves the essence of one's soul is called growth.

If we, who are constantly growing, can continue to love another person who has grown as well, that is probably one of the luckiest things in the world.

"Actually, I think Fanbo is the same way, so I never think that Fanbo is the most unsuccessful reborn person, because you and Hui are not the same. Everyone has their own path and their own growth. Fanbo is just a little later, but that is only relatively late."

"So, even though I already said it tonight with fireworks, I still feel the need to repeat it again."

"Fanbo is a very nice girl, and I'm so glad to have met you."

"I have never regretted falling in love with you in the past."

The line between liking and loving is exceptionally clear when it is distinct, and exceptionally blurred when it is blurred, but Kitagawa Ryo believes that even with the strictest classification, the feelings between him and Ichinose Honami have long since crossed the threshold of liking.