True Education: I Have a Life Simulator

[Player has entered Branch 2.]

[CG Triggered: Masterpiece]

[Masterpiece: Try again, and again, and again! Until I defeat you.]

[Would you like to view this CG? (It may help you in the following stages of the game.)]

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"...If I said I didn't remember anything, would you believe me, Sakayanagi?"

Kitagawa Ryo cast a glance toward Ichinose Honami, who was still groggy, lost in the remnants of the dream. Unlike him, she lacked experience in navigating dream realms. Several bizarre memories had been crammed into her mind all at once, and it would clearly take time for her to digest them.

"Ara, should I be grateful that even in a state of amnesia, Ryo still remembers my name? That deserves praise."

Sakayanagi Arisu crossed her legs where she sat. With Ryo finally awake, her interest had surged again, her deep violet eyes glimmering with barely contained amusement—and control.

"Over the past two years, I found myself missing those days when Ryo was still around."

"You truly surprised me back then. Had things continued on that path, you might have become the 'Greatest Masterpiece' of the White Room."

She covered her mouth as she laughed, every movement radiating the maturity she had acquired in the past two years. Ryo could clearly feel the change in her demeanor.

"But if you'd become the 'Greatest Masterpiece,' wouldn't that be a complete failure of the White Room's ideology?"

"In reality, I was nothing but a false genius, not even as capable as the systematically trained ones. You must see that now. I lost to you, zero to seven, remember?"

Ryo straightened his body as if shifting into a more comfortable position—but it was really a calculated move to edge closer to Honami and the door.

"...You're being naughty."

Sakayanagi gently tapped his restless leg with her cane, then brushed his bangs with a sweet smile.

"Your little sister is right here, so why look at anyone else?"

"Hey now, that roleplay ended two years ago."

Ryo tried to swat her hand away, only to find her words still strangely compelling. Memories of the time he spent pleasing her on that white feather-like bed started resurfacing.

"...How could this happen."

He clenched his teeth.

"Seems like the influence of those suggestions still hasn't worn off, even after two years."

"Well, it's only natural. You spent nearly four out of your six years of memory acting under those commands."

Sakayanagi spread her arms wide. Though small in stature, the gesture was clearly deliberate—meant to resemble a child's longing embrace.

"Onii-chan... come back to me."

Her invitation was sweetly laced with dangerous affection.

"I'll train you to be my greatest rival."

"Then, let's compete again."

...

"Please wait."

The voice interrupting Sakayanagi came from Ichinose Honami, now fully awake. Though still a bit unsteady and clutching her head, she walked directly toward them and stood firmly between Ryo and Sakayanagi.

"Whatever happened between you two in the past, I wasn't there. But now, I am."

She opened her arms in a protective stance, shielding Ryo.

"If Ryo doesn't want to go with you, I won't let you take him."

Honami's emotions surged as if the feelings from the dream had solidified into the honest confession named "love."

"Oh?"

Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes and slowly withdrew her embrace. Despite being shorter, her presence still managed to press down on Honami.

"Really? But to Ryo, you're just a vaguely familiar stranger. He has no memories of you."

She signaled the bodyguards, who dragged in a sizable suitcase from outside the room. Opening it, Sakayanagi revealed a mountain of letters neatly packed inside.

"You aren't even his girlfriend. Those four years of correspondence? All fake."

A gust of wind blew the window open, scattering letters across the room.

"You can't even tell, can you?"

Sakayanagi picked up one letter and read:

"I read Ryo's reply over and over. Just like he said, even if we're far apart and can only write letters, I feel so much warmth and joy when I read them."

"What's real, and what's a manufactured illusion?"

Her eyes turned razor-sharp.

"Or maybe, everything's a lie?"

"Enough."

Kitagawa Ryo's cold stare met Sakayanagi's. It was the first time he had ever looked at her with such dark, heavy emotion.

He reached out and held Honami's hand, offering her a gentle smile.

Then he turned to Sakayanagi and bowed slightly.

"I'm sorry."

He walked over and returned her cane.

"Honami."

With their hands intertwined, they stepped not toward the door but toward the window.

"If you believe in me..."

He smiled at her.

"Then jump with me!"

Without hesitation, Honami mirrored him. Their bodies leaned out the window, drawing gasps and screams from those on the street.

"And with that... Sakayanagi Arisu's dream ends."

Kitagawa Ryo and Ichinose Honami leapt together from the tall building, the wind roaring in their ears.

"This dream, built by me for you, the one you defeated two years ago..."

"Let's go back to the beginning."

As the wind howled past, Ryo adjusted his posture, cradling Honami in his arms.

"To our true story... the one between me and Ichinose Honami."