True Education: I Have a Life Simulator

The fitting room was a confined space. Many found comfort in such tight quarters where every corner was visible, as it brought them a strange sense of safety. But for Karuizawa Kei, the concept of safety was completely alien to these closed-in, narrow spaces. To her, they spoke more of "danger" and "no way out."

Just thinking about it made her breathing erratic, but she quickly reminded herself that Kitagawa Ryo was just outside the door. That fact wrapped around her like a blanket, calming her enough to go through with what she had to do.

She took off her clothes and slowly changed into the carefully selected jet-black dress. At that moment, the chime of a nearby clock rang out, marking the hour. Kei's breath quickened again, her exhale fogging up the upper portion of the half-body mirror before her.

It was 11:00 a.m.

Kei deliberately slowed her movements as she tried on the dress. Ryo had told her earlier in the day that he had something to take care of around noon—specifically, he had to meet someone, a request from his parents.

Kei had caught on to this detail instantly. During their morning shopping, they had found nothing. No matter how Ryo praised an outfit, she would always use the excuse that maybe there was something more suitable, forcing the process to start over again. She had already repeated that cycle countless times since the previous night.

She reached out and wiped a clean line through the fogged-up mirror, revealing her pale neck. Her eyes slowly rose, reflecting a body that had yet to fully develop and bore the marks of past trauma.

Her arms were thin and fragile, her small hands untouched by strength training. Her chest, though softly curved, remained modest, and every part of her body—waist, stomach, legs—was delicate. She could see her toes without effort. As Ryo once said, she had an air of weakness that evoked a desire to dominate.

What embarrassed Kei most were the bruises and tiny scars still lingering on her chest, abdomen, shoulders, and back. They screamed of her past.

She lifted her bangs. On the right side of her scalp, a scabbed-over wound stood out. It was a six- to seven-centimeter scar whose origin she no longer remembered—only that she had been grateful it could be hidden.

Now, however, Kei looked at it directly in the mirror, her fingers brushing the wound. Though it no longer hurt, it reminded her of events that had once felt real but now seemed like frozen nightmares.

She changed slowly into the black dress. Kei usually wore soft blues or whites, or the standard school uniform. Trying on something different made her feel like a Cinderella under magic.

Even Ryo and the shop staff had to admit: this dress suited her. She stared at herself in the large mirror, briefly stunned.

"Let's get this one," Ryo said with rare certainty.

"I didn't expect dark tones to suit you so well."

Although she agreed, the timing of his comment left her feeling unsettled. It felt like Ryo was trying to wrap things up and go meet someone else.

Panic rose in Kei. The black color of the dress seemed like a bottomless abyss pulling her down. She grabbed Ryo's sleeve.

"I don't think it fits that well. Maybe we should check another store?" she said casually, fiddling with the dress hem as if counting the stitches.

"But I really think it suits you," Ryo said, although he stole glances at the wall clock, stirring Kei's anxiety.

She quickly returned to the fitting room and took off the dress even faster than before. She handed it back to a clerk, eager to remove it from her sight.

Still, Ryo's voice followed her.

"I really think it looks great on you. We could still buy it and look at other stores later..."

He took the dress from the clerk and seemed to be waiting for Kei to nod.

"You still have six days before you leave," she said, stressing the number.

Kei wanted to monopolize his time. She wanted to remember every minute, like stockpiling memories before winter hibernation. She knew his departure couldn't be changed.

In her eyes, Ryo was a kite—still held in her hand, but soon to fly. When he flew away, only a thin thread would remain between them, easily broken.

"But I have to meet a friend's little sister around noon," Ryo said, troubled. "I didn't expect the shopping to take so long. I've already arranged to meet her around 11 or 12 noon. It's a bit late now, but it should be done soon. I'll be back this afternoon."

Kei didn't even hear the rest. The word "her" in his sentence had already triggered her. Her whole body tensed.

"Ryo, are you lying? Who are you going to meet?"

Her tone was practically interrogating. In the past, when bullied, Karuizawa Kei would instinctively resort to patience and flattery in the face of fear. But when facing Kitagawa Ryo, she would inexplicably become more assertive, only to be quickly overcome by the weakness brought on by panic.

"If you don't want to say, that's okay..."

Just like now, Kei suddenly shrank back, tugging on his shirt and asking.

"It's just a friend's sister. He asked me to meet her."

She nodded, and Ryo sighed in relief. But then Kei smiled.

"If she's just a friend's sister, then why can't you cancel for me?"

The moment she said it, she regretted it.

Ryo was stunned, unable to respond. Kei could feel her eyes swelling with tears.

"I already promised. I can't back out," he muttered, scratching his head.

He handed the dress to the clerk and bought it anyway.

Outside, he added, "I've finished investigating the bullying. If you want, I can bring all of them and their parents to apologize today. You can do whatever you want—as long as it's not too extreme."

Ryo had used his family's connections to pressure the bullies' parents. Most of them had troubled home lives. These kids were frustrated with their families but lacked the courage to fight back—so they bullied others.

He forced their parents to see the truth and destroyed the support they hid behind. It was a ruthless move, but effective.

Only one was different: Uehara Emika. She seemed devoid of emotion, driven purely by jealousy and spite.

"Forget the others. I just want to see Emika alone. I have something to ask her," Kei said.

"No. I don't trust her."

"Then come with me."

She was determined. She didn't care about Emika—she just wanted Ryo by her side.

Ryo sighed. He finally relented, unaware of how his choice would shift the future.

"Alright. Let's meet Horikita Suzune first. Then we'll go see Uehara Emika together."