After such a long period of incubation, he already had a rough, traditional story in his mind. If it weren't too absurd for an elementary school student to engage in literary creation, he would already have wanted to submit it. Just wait two more years—junior high and high school would at least be within the understanding range of normal people.
Literature…?
Writers hold a special status in this country, stemming from its inherited national conditions. If he really…
Yukinoshita's mother's expression was somewhat peculiar. With Kiyono's extraordinary memory, he indeed had a good starting point—the ability to read extensively.
However, a large volume of reading doesn't necessarily translate into emotionally moving stories. She had read many books herself, and sometimes reading and writing were completely different matters—especially with those incisive classic works.
She was skeptical, only saying that he could try it as a side job after he got into the University of Tokyo in the future.
"I generally understand Kiyono's idea. Well, I think it's fine, but school isn't just about reading, you know. There's also friendship and social interaction—valuable treasures that books can't provide," Yukinoshita's mother said tactfully.
Their family didn't need someone who only had academic qualifications and only knew how to study by rote. How to convert this talent into various resources was the most important thing.
However, to have his own ideas at this age was already excellent. She admired Kiyono for daring to express himself.
"You have a point. I thought too simply. Then I'll go to school," Kiyono said with a polite smile. After all, the other party was now his semi-adoptive mother, so he had to show respect. Moreover, while she seemed to be asking, she had actually already made a decision.
That's fine too. He could still read and write at school; it wouldn't waste much time.
"At school, Kiyono, please take good care of Yukino," she said softly.
And so, he went to school.
He was even picked up and dropped off by a luxury car.
And he had Yukino, the second young lady, by his side.
Is this class leap a bit too fast? And speaking of elementary school… Yukino's aloof personality was also developed because of things that happened in elementary school, right?
Kiyono shook his head and stepped onto the elementary school campus.
Everywhere he looked were happy children like him, mischievous kids, and little girls taller than he was. It was as if even the sun and the art style had softened.
The boy, with one hand in his pocket, let out a soft huff. His imperial demeanor was simply impossible to hide. At this moment, he was like a king reborn, about to create a new era in this familiar territory!
Fifth-grader Kiyono, reporting for duty!
"So that's how it is. I hope we can all become good friends in the future." On the podium, Kiyono smiled.
The little girls clutched their chests, experiencing a flutter in their hearts for the first time in their lives.
Boys of the same age, however, instinctively sensed something was amiss, thanks to their newly awakened instincts.
But Kiyono clearly didn't care about elementary schoolers' thoughts. Following the gentle guidance of the female teacher, he walked toward his seat.
"…Is that him? Was there really such a person in my elementary school class?" The girl lightly flicked her shiny twin tails, a puzzled expression on her delicate little face.
Never mind, he's just an unimportant NPC passerby.
She is the protagonist with the authority of a monarch in this simulation! The world revolves around her alone!
That's right—this time, I, Sawamura Spencer Eriri, will definitely make up for all regrets and become the winner in life!
—
Kiyono's seat was arranged in the last row by the window. Along the way, little girls enthusiastically greeted him, and he smiled and waved back to each one.
But as he passed a certain spot, his gaze suddenly froze.
A brilliant golden hue appeared before him, as if he could smell the afternoon sun.
The girl, resting her chin on her hand, felt his gaze and slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
The moment he clearly saw the young girl's face, his smile froze as well.
She was a cute, doll-like loli—golden twin tails resting gently on her shoulders, tied with emerald-green ribbons that added a touch of sweetness. Her eyes were ocean-blue, her features exquisitely delicate, her skin fair, and her nose bridge high—the distinctive depth of a mixed-race child.
Perhaps because of her age, beneath her skirt she wasn't wearing the familiar black over-the-knee socks, but rather a pair of small white socks with lace trim.
There was also a small fang at the corner of her mouth.
As a master in the field of losing heroines, Kiyono recognized her true identity in an instant.
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri…"
If Yanami, Lemon, and Komari were legendary losing heroines, then the one before him was a battle-hardened queen who had emerged from countless losing heroines—the sole goddess of losing heroines, standing proudly at the apex of the pyramid!
At this moment, he seemed to hear the system's triumphant shout: "We will attack in NTR form!"
Kiyono's eye twitched. No, this won't do. A pure-love warrior must never be defeated by the same move twice. This time, I absolutely have to take control!
But then again, it was Eriri who treated him to eel rice last time. He still owed her that favor…
Kiyono slowly sat down in his seat, his expression deep, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
"It seems this guy recognized me…"
Eriri raised an eyebrow, recalling the boy's gaze just now.
His complex expression… he must be afraid that his past experience of being homeless will be revealed by me, right?
Putting herself in his shoes, she wouldn't want her tragic past exposed when she was just starting a new life.
Honestly, do I look like the type who would blab?
Sawamura Spencer Eriri turned her head and gave Kiyono a smile. "Big Sister will keep your secret safe, so you can enjoy your school life with peace of mind."
To be honest, seeing Kiyono appear here actually made her feel a little relieved and happy—it meant he had escaped that impoverished life. A little boy wandering the streets was simply too pitiful.
—If it were her true elementary-school self seeing this situation, she might have impulsively taken him home out of worry. But she was already a mature and stable high-school student; those beautiful pure thoughts and fantasies had withered and died. She would consider more things.
"Right now, the most important thing is the simulator."
Eriri skillfully twirled a pencil with her fingers. In her opinion, this was a world meticulously crafted for her.
Her confidence was well-founded.
The simulation had specifically brought her back to elementary school, and the most regrettable event in her life happened in elementary school—she was targeted by classmates for her otaku interests and forced to break off her friendship with her childhood friend. The simulation's starting point was right after the breakup.
Isn't this specifically giving me a chance to redo and fix things? As long as I make up with Aki Tomoya, our relationship can continue, and then it will naturally lead to a confession and us getting together…
The true name of the system should be Childhood Friend Simulator!
Eriri happily lowered her head, writing and drawing on a blank workbook.
The school bell rang. Kiyono reined in his thoughts, ignoring the teacher's meaningless instruction. He took out the popular-literature paperbacks he'd prepared in his backpack and read them intently, as if he could hear the sound of experience +1, +1 in his ears.
Class, recess, class, recess…
In the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime.
Kiyono let out a soft breath, put down the second book, rubbed his eyes, and prepared to eat.
But just then, he found his desk surrounded by little girls.
"Kiyono's eyelashes are so long! Are you mixed-race? Have you been in any movies?"
Chalk dust danced in the sunlight as the girls formed a cherry-blossom shape, squeezing him in the middle.
"Kiyono, Mom taught me palmistry yesterday. Let me read your palm! I can definitely predict your love fortune!"
"Kiyono, do you want to eat with us?"
—This scene might be heaven for certain perverts with special fetishes, but Kiyono clearly didn't want to waste too much time socializing with elementary schoolers, so he gently refused as much as possible.
"Sorry, I already have plans for lunch."
"Oh? With whom?"
"Yukino," Kiyono said casually.
But the moment that name appeared, the air suddenly became extremely quiet, and the expressions on his classmates' faces shifted—disgust, envy, jealousy, awe…
Kiyono looked up, keenly noticing this. After a brief thought, he secretly sighed. As expected.
Yukino was excellent in studies, cute in appearance, and seemed to be able to do everything perfectly. The only thing that could be considered a shortcoming was her overly cold and direct personality—so cold it was difficult for people to approach her.
Of course, in Kiyono's eyes, this certainly couldn't be considered a flaw—or rather, he thought Yukinoshita Yukino had no flaws at all.
But elementary schoolers wouldn't think so much. Their kindness and malice were straightforward and pure. They only saw Yukino's excellence and her solitary nature. Her excellence made them jealous, while her solitude made them bully her.
He didn't know much about Yukino's past, but now he was seeing it firsthand.
"Kiyono, don't eat with that person. Not only is she aloof, she's also a violent maniac!" a girl wearing a bow tie said, her face full of anxiety.
"That's right, I saw her hit another boy last time…"
Meanwhile, at a seat by the window, the loli Yukino picked up her bento box, her expression still indifferent, without a ripple, as if nothing could catch her attention.
"He deserved to be beaten."
An unexpected, mocking voice silenced the classroom again. Yukino's eyes moved, and her gaze subtly shifted over.
Kiyono stood up, his smile fading, his face expressionless. At this moment, the young man carried a mysterious authority. He scanned the room, and as his gaze swept, a heavy pressure radiated from him, causing others to tremble and lower their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
"I am Yukino's… younger brother."
He had originally intended to say older brother, but considering their noticeable height difference, he blandly corrected himself.
"So don't let me hear such things again in the future."
With those words, Kiyono walked over to Yukino's side, his expression softening considerably—he knew these few words alone certainly couldn't stop such bullying; this was merely a declaration of his stance.
"You'll be ostracized with me, you know."
The black-haired loli glanced at him, her voice calm—but if one listened carefully, a hint of a smile could be heard within it.
"Miss Yukino is definitely first. Let's go eat."
"Mhm."
It wasn't until the two of them left the classroom that the atmosphere slowly returned to normal. Meanwhile, on the other side, the blonde girl watched Kiyono's disappearing back, a ripple stirring in her eyes.
—I didn't expect him to be so brave.
Eriri unconsciously recalled a similar scene she had encountered in the past.
Under a quiet tree, the two sat on chairs and opened identical bento boxes.
Kiyono picked up a fried shrimp with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and asked curiously while eating, "Miss Yukino hits people?"
The Yukino in his impression, though cold and sharp-tongued, would never truly harm others; her gentleness was hidden beneath a glacier.
"It was just that the boy went too far. To make him stop, I could only choose the simplest method."
Yukino's tone was calm. Like Kiyono, she didn't care about the surrounding elementary schoolers at all. She would only act to teach them a lesson when they provoked her, and this made her reputation even more formidable.
"Next time, let me handle such matters," Kiyono volunteered.
"Oh my, you'd hit girls too? Your gentle image that you've maintained all this time would be ruined, you know."
Yukino paused slightly; her pretty face turned toward him. Her childlike features were disarmingly cute, and her jewel-bright eyes shimmered with clear light.
"Fighting evil with evil—that's what a pure-love warrior should do!"
"They're just a bunch of kids. They can only confirm their sense of existence through such means. Anyone who provokes me out of jealousy, I will crush them head-on."
The girl curled her lips; a sneering smile played on them.
She crushed them… but that kind of collective exclusion still existed, right?
Kiyono pondered.