True Education: I Have a Life Simulator

"Kei?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Kitagawa Ryo spotted a figure so familiar that for a moment, he thought it was a hallucination.

That sleeveless white dress—he recognized it instantly. It was one of the gifts he'd given to Karuizawa Kei last summer, something he had personally overseen being handmade by a master tailor. Even now, the memory of Kei spinning in front of him while holding the hem of that dress appeared frequently in his dreams.

Kei didn't seem to hear him call. She was on the phone with someone, walking briskly toward a bus that had just stopped a short distance away.

Without thinking, Ryo chased after her. But he was a few seconds too late. The bus doors closed in front of him, and with a puff of exhaust, it pulled away.

Just as he was about to click his tongue in frustration, he noticed that Izaki had somehow already flagged down a taxi. Ryo quickly pulled open the back door and jumped in.

"Driver, please follow that bus up ahead."

As he buckled his seatbelt, Ryo pointed to the bus about fifty meters ahead.

"Alrighty. Buckle up."

The driver didn't ask much—he simply nodded and started following. Though, due to city speed limits, the taxi moved a bit slower than Ryo would have liked.

Thankfully, buses had to make frequent stops. Ryo estimated they could catch up within a stop or two.

"Did you guys leave something important on that bus?" the driver asked curiously, weaving between pedestrians.

"...Yeah."

Ryo hesitated, unsure how to explain.

"He left something very precious," Izaki chimed in helpfully, winking exaggeratedly at Ryo. "Something really valuable to our young master. If someone else were to touch it... tsk."

Before he could continue, Ryo shoved his elbow into Izaki's arm in protest.

The driver laughed good-naturedly. As luck would have it, the bus ahead stopped at a shopping mall. The taxi caught up, and the driver pulled over.

Ryo had Izaki handle the fare while he jumped out of the car. The mall was crowded—people everywhere. He stood on tiptoes to scan the crowd for Kei.

"Excuse me—coming through. Sorry—please move."

He finally spotted Kei walking into the mall, accompanied by three other girls. He pushed through the crowd, trying to keep his eyes on her, but by the time he reached the entrance, he had already lost track of her again.

Izaki, having paid the fare, soon joined him. He studied the floor directory posted near the entrance. The first floor was general goods. The second had luxury stores—watches, accessories. The third: small restaurants. The fourth: a cinema.

Going down, B2 was parking. B1 had a collection of snack stalls, milk tea shops, and cafes.

It was around 2 p.m.

After analyzing the options, Izaki walked toward the escalator railing and looked down toward B1. Sure enough, the area was packed with middle and high school students.

"Young master, let's check B1."

Ryo immediately nodded, understanding Izaki's thought, and headed down the escalator.

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Meanwhile, Uehara Emika was fiddling with her slightly grown-out nails. At school, such grooming was strictly prohibited, but it was summer break, and she had let them grow. Now her sharp nails were about four to five centimeters long.

"Did you get your nails done, Emika?"

Her friends Koyuki and Yuko caught on quickly.

"Yep, got them done yesterday. How do they look?"

Uehara Emika proudly showed off her hands. Each nail was painted a different color with detailed designs. The girls immediately complimented her.

"So pretty!" "Totally suits you, Emika."

Since Karuizawa Kei's fall from grace, Uehara Emika had naturally become the new center of the girls' social circle. Compared to Kei's timid, easily swayed nature, Emika was far more assertive—even outside school, Koyuki and Yuko didn't dare offend her.

"Are we waiting for someone today? Emika's boyfriend?"

Koyuki joked playfully.

"As if," Emika shot her a look. "Heard you broke up with your boyfriend from the next class, though."

"Got bored after a while. I dumped him, so it's whatever."

Koyuki shrugged. "They say girls become prettier after a breakup."

"...Wait, Emika, are we meeting Karuizawa today?"

Yuko, who was naturally timid, finally voiced her suspicion.

"Yup. It's been a while—I kinda missed Kei," Emika said, brushing her hair back.

"And I bet she's wearing a sleeveless white dress today."

Koyuki and Yuko exchanged uneasy glances. They couldn't believe Emika's words. After all, she had been the ringleader in bullying Kei. Now she was acting like a concerned friend?

"Hmm."

Emika leaned against the wall, her shadow cast large by the afternoon sun. It looked like wings—predatory and poised to strike.

"Kei, over here."

The shadow spread its wings.

"Ah, sorry, I'm not late, am I?"

Just as Emika predicted, Karuizawa Kei arrived in the white dress. She jogged over and apologized.

Emika looked down at Kei, savoring her unease. She laid a hand on Kei's shoulder and said:

"No worries. We haven't waited long."

"You look great in that dress. Though white stains easily, doesn't it? A spill would be a pain to clean."

She then feigned concern:

"But don't worry—I'll try to talk to the others once everyone calms down."

Emika took Kei's hand and led her inside.

"Tired from running? There's a nice café on B1. Let's grab a drink."

Kei didn't object. Koyuki and Yuko followed like puppets.

"Iced Americano and a triple Mango Pearl Latte."

Emika took the liberty of ordering for everyone. She then turned to Kei.

"The Americano here's great. Koyuki, Yuko, and I tried it last time. You should too."

"Oh, okay," Kei replied nervously.

They sat around a polished table. Kei hadn't had this kind of gathering in months. It felt awkward but strangely refreshing.

Drinks arrived quickly. The dark, icy Americano was placed before Kei.

She stared at it. She'd never drunk one before—she hated bitter things.

She hesitated. Emika watched silently. Only the other two girls quietly sipped their drinks.

"This place is nice, huh?"

Emika's gaze shifted from Koyuki and Yuko to Kei. The moment Kei felt her attention, she quickly brought the straw to her lips.

She gripped the cold glass. The chill seemed to seep into her bones.

"Ah, that's right—Kei doesn't like bitter stuff, does she?"

Emika clapped as if remembering.

"Oops, sorry."

She apologized with a smile.

"How about we swap? You can have mine."

She slid her drink toward Kei.

"Oh, are you sure? But can you handle this one?"

Kei gratefully accepted but felt something was off.

"Honestly, I think it's awful."

Emika's tone shifted. She tapped the table with her long nails and raised an eyebrow.

Kei froze. The iced Americano felt like a frozen river about to swallow her. She quickly pulled it back.

"I-it's fine. I'll drink it myself."

She took two large gulps, as if to prove her loyalty.

"It's... actually pretty good," she said weakly.

"Is it? I might try it, too."

"...I already drank from it. You shouldn't."

Seemingly displeased, Emika reached toward the drink.

Her hand bumped it.

Clatter.

The glass tipped. Coffee spilled. Ice clinked across the floor.

Kei was pulled away just in time, but her dress still caught a few drops.

Kitagawa Ryo stood in front of her.

His dark eyes locked on Uehara Emika. His lips curled into a sharp line—then cracked into a bright smile.

His left hand clutched Kei's arm.

His right hand rose—fingers folded into a blade.

He made a slicing motion across his throat.

"You're done for."

Kitagawa Ryo silently mouthed the words.