True Education: I Have a Life Simulator

Karuizawa Kei began paying more attention to her appearance. Even though she was only thirteen, her knowledge of cosmetics had previously been limited to the bottles and jars on her mother's vanity. She had used basic items like sunscreen before, but now, being regarded as the center of her class's female circle, she had to learn and adapt to the fashion and beauty knowledge that came with the role.

"Karuizawa-san, do you want to go to Ginza this weekend? The mall there just stocked up on this season's trendiest hair ties and clips."

Such invitations were common during breaks. Kei would respond awkwardly, only vaguely understanding the expensive-sounding brands filled with English or Latin letters.

"Karuizawa-san, your skin is amazing. What brand of skincare products do you use?"

Questions like these were easier to handle, and Kei could usually smile and say she didn't use many products. But just as she was about to reply, someone would add:

"I use this one brand. It's alright, but the cost-performance isn't great. I go through a bottle in less than two weeks."

Suddenly, Kei couldn't bring herself to give her original answer. It would sound like she was mocking the other girl for using expensive products that didn't work as well. So instead, she nervously recalled a name from a TV commercial and, mispronouncing it slightly, offered that up.

Despite her uncertainty, her answer was met with wide-eyed admiration. In that moment, the other girl probably saw Kei as a genuine rich girl, someone who always had luxurious cosmetics lined up on her vanity, a princess in her palace.

"Don't you think our school uniforms are really outdated?"

One day during a casual chat, Uehara Emika brought up this topic.

"I used to think our elementary school uniforms were boring, but compared to these, they were practically haute couture," she said, pointing to the blue ribbon on her chest.

"We're not little kids anymore, and yet we can't even choose our own clothes."

Kei recalled something Kitagawa Ryo once told her: everyone faces three fundamental conflicts in life. One was the contradiction between individual uniqueness and the need to conform to society. Maybe, for these blooming girls, being forced to wear identical uniforms stifled their desire to express beauty.

The conversation turned into a collective rant against the uniforms. Eventually, it came to Kei to wrap things up, and she awkwardly offered:

"Totally... I kind of don't like them either. But maybe sometimes uniforms are nice? Still, everyone wants to look cute. That's only natural, right?"

When it was time for their first outing together, Kei was consumed with anxiety. She tore through her wardrobe, laying out shirts, skirts, sweatpants, even underwear. Though her family wasn't rich, they could afford seasonal outfits, and Kitagawa Ryo had gifted her a few pieces in the past.

Wearing the right outfit and makeup for the occasion became a major concern—something she never had to worry about before. Ryo had never commented on her clothes. He was always cool and distant. At first, she asked him if she looked good, and he would politely say yes. Over time, she stopped caring as much.

Now, staring at two outfits—a white shirt with blue slacks and a blue sleeveless top with black jeans—she hesitated. Remembering their recent conversations, she suddenly pulled out a light blue dress Ryo had given her as a birthday gift.

She had only worn it once, on her birthday. Other than her parents, only Ryo had seen it. She once vowed never to wear it again until he returned, so she could wear it to greet him at the airport, holding the hem of the dress adorned with lace and patterns, and say:

"This is the second time I've worn this dress. The first time was for you. The second time is because of you."

But life moved faster than the stories she read. Kei knew this dress was her best chance at maintaining the image she had built. It was the only one that matched the illusion of "Karuizawa Kei."

Dressed in the light blue gown, she admired herself in the mirror. Biting her lip, she gently lifted the hem and gave a small curtsy. In that moment, she truly felt like a princess waiting for her prince to offer a gloved hand at the ball.

The next morning, she woke up twenty minutes early, opened her mother's makeup drawer, and began her first-ever full makeover. She nervously picked a lipstick, not knowing the exact shade but recognizing it as a vibrant red—a color that demanded attention, like the crimson crown on a white crane's head.

Looking pale from a bad night's sleep, she dabbed the red lipstick onto her lips. Against her fair skin, the color bloomed like a red plum in snow. She added a light layer of foundation, then carefully applied eyeshadow and shaped her eyebrows.

With her long honey-blonde hair brushed and each strand positioned perfectly, her bangs fluffy and ideal, Kei stood in front of the mirror and gave herself a pep talk.

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Karuizawa Kei's lies were easy to see through. Uehara Emika had noticed Kei's odd behavior during many class breaks. The "Karuizawa Kei" crafted through stories and bravado seemed more like a frightened girl building walls around herself. Emika watched with curiosity, wondering how long the illusion would last.

What held her back from exposing Kei was one thing: Kitagawa Ryo. As a fellow alumna from the same elementary school, Emika had heard the stories and even caught glimpses of him. Among all the boys, he had stood out like a crane in a flock of chickens. That impression lingered.

Kei always spoke about Ryo with an odd mix of carelessness and confidence, and Emika didn't want to end up like the boys who once got beaten up by him in front of the whole school.

"Hey, Kei! You're here early."

Snapped out of her thoughts, Emika watched the girls greet Kei enthusiastically. She tucked her musings away and followed the group.

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"No way, weren't you here earlier than me, Yuu-chan?"

With her usual natural smile, Karuizawa Kei responded. As always, she instantly became the center of attention among the girls, but today was different. The dreamy light-blue dress she wore even outshone her vivid lipstick, boldly catching everyone's eye the moment they arrived.

"Waaah... Kei, that dress is absolutely gorgeous."

"Seriously, just standing there in the sunlight, it's like you're glowing."

"Look at the hemline detail... it must be hand-sewn."

Seven or eight girls immediately swarmed around Karuizawa, showering her with compliments as if they were limitless.

One girl, with a touch of envy and pout in her voice, added:

"No wonder Kei said the school uniform wasn't that bad. I get it now—when everyone wears the same thing it hides everything, but in normal clothes? She's absolutely dazzling."

Another girl chimed in:

"You look just like a princess. It's so pretty!"

Karuizawa finally let out a small breath of relief and quickly responded to their praise with thanks:

"You all look really cute too. Yuu-chan's dress is really pretty, isn't it?"

Redirecting the attention to Yuu-chan's rather short skirt, Kei calmly brushed back her wind-blown hair.

"Whoa, I didn't even notice before. Yuu-chan, your skirt is super short!"

Uehara Emika leaned in, grinning playfully as she gestured toward the skirt that barely reached two centimeters above the knees:

"Are you at least wearing safety shorts under that?"

Having crafted a bold and somewhat boyish persona over the past half-month, Emika's move didn't come off as rude. Yuu-chan mockingly shoved her shoulder in reply:

"Of course I am!"

Then, as if casually letting it slip, she added:

"It's mostly because Tomoda-kun likes it when I wear this one."

The moment the topic turned to romance, every girl perked up.

"Wait, Yuu-chan, are you really dating Tomoda-kun?"

"Hehe, I confessed first. Just pulled him aside and bam—success."

She flashed a peace sign and whispered conspiratorially:

"Turns out, even if a guy looks all aloof, just hold his hand while wearing a slightly shorter skirt, and his whole face turns beet red. That's why dressing up matters."

"But won't your legs freeze in that? Even though it's spring, it still gets pretty cold sometimes."

One girl voiced concern.

"It's fine! If it gets too cold, well… that's the price of beauty!"

Yuu-chan gave a dramatic shrug and turned to Karuizawa:

"Kei looks super cute today too. If Kitagawa-kun were here, he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off you."

With the conversation circling back to this familiar topic, Kei could only respond:

"Well, this dress was a birthday gift from Ryo. It makes sense that it looks nice."

"Gah! Blinded again by Kei and Kitagawa-kun's romance!"

The girls giggled and joked as they headed off toward the mall.

Just then, a sudden gust of cold wind swept by. Even in late April, spring could still be biting. Yuu-chan let out a big sneeze, prompting everyone to laugh and tease, "That's the price of beauty!"

Karuizawa, walking in the center of the group, recalled what Kitagawa Ryo had told her on March 8th when he gave her the dress:

"I had it tailored with extra length and thickness—covers your knees just right."

"Spring can still get cold. Don't catch a chill if you're alone."