My Wives Of Simulation

Chapter 63: Yuki Suou; I've Lived At Elric's House Before

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After realizing that surpassing Elric, was impossible, Suzune's perspective began to shift. She no longer thought about defeating him but instead focused on catching up.

Yet, even with this change in mindset, she couldn't ignore the gap between them. If her performance represented the upper limit of what was achievable, Elric's was beyond that—an unattainable benchmark. No matter how well she did, Elric always seemed to achieve more.

Finally, after another exam where she fell short, Suzune couldn't hold back any longer. Determined to understand, she sought out Elric privately to ask him how he managed to be so outstanding.

"Exam scores? … Maybe it's just a difference in approach," Elric responded casually.

"If you're focused on how to solve the question to get the marks, Horikita, then I'm thinking about how to secure marks even if I don't solve that specific question," he explained. "It's probably just a test-taking skill."

From Elric's perspective, while he had the memories and intellect of two lifetimes, he didn't think of himself as someone who could surpass every student in Japan. He wasn't Light Yagami with a supernatural edge to dominate every exam.

But he did approach things with the mindset of an adult.

For instance, when faced with questions that seemed intentionally beyond the scope of the syllabus, Elric didn't just attempt to answer them blindly. Instead, he considered the examiners' intentions. Was the question designed to highlight rare talent, or was it just there to test critical thinking?

Unlike most students, who would either try their best or leave the question blank, Elric would analyze the examiner's potential expectations and write something—anything—that might score partial credit.

This mindset, honed by the rigorous testing environment, gave him a significant edge in Japan's system. Of course, it wasn't just strategy; consistent effort played an essential role in his success.

"Test-taking skills?"

Suzune didn't fully grasp his explanation but decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was already late in their third year of junior high, and before long, they faced their graduation exams.

Despite her best efforts, she still couldn't surpass him.

When Suzune graduated and returned to the top of her class in her new school, it felt hollow. She couldn't shake the feeling that her rightful place wasn't truly first—there should always be one name above hers.

Elric had become her unreachable standard and, to her surprise, her obsession.

When she learned from Yuki that Elric was going to enroll in Toyogasaki Academy, the most prestigious aristocratic school in the country, Suzune didn't hesitate. She set her sights on the same school, determined to prove herself in the only arena that mattered.

When the entrance exam results came out, and she saw Elric's name at the top of the list again, Suzune didn't feel the discouragement she had come to expect. Instead, she felt an odd sense of excitement—an exhilaration she hadn't experienced in years.

For the first time, she realized that pursuing a goal gave her otherwise monotonous life meaning.

But admitting this wasn't easy for someone like Suzune. Wrapped in her cold and solitary demeanor, she could never openly acknowledge that she now had someone to chase.

Of course, she had only one explanation for Kaguya regarding her connection with Elric.

"Elric and I are not familiar with each other. We're just competitors," Suzune stated, her voice steady and face impassive.

"Elric-kun? Oh, I'm quite familiar with him," Yuki interjected suddenly, gently tapping her chin with her index finger and adopting a playful, almost provocative expression. "I've been to his house."

[This is bad.]

Seeing Yuki's teasing demeanor, Chika instantly sensed trouble brewing. She knew Kaguya's personality all too well, and this kind of casual provocation would undoubtedly trigger a reaction.

Kaguya was not the type to tolerate being challenged, especially not with such a confident attitude.

Sure enough, after seeing Yuki's provocation, Kaguya's anger visibly flared.

"Familiar? A junior high school girl visiting someone else's house doesn't exactly qualify as a close relationship," Kaguya sneered, though she couldn't help but recall that she herself had never been to Elric's house.

"Oh? And what's wrong with me visiting my good friend's house?" Yuki replied with a calm but pointed tone, her expression sharp. "Why do you care so much about my relationship with Elric? Could it be…?"

Yuki left her sentence hanging, her smile subtly mocking, as if daring Kaguya to take the bait.

The tension between the two continued to escalate, their words sharpening like swords about to clash. Just when it seemed the situation was about to explode…

"Since you're all gathered here, why not head inside already?"

A gentle yet firm voice interrupted their brewing conflict.

"One by one, don't you know how many people stop and stare when beautiful girls like you gather together?"

"What a troublesome group of little ones," the voice teased as a figure stepped out at the end of the corridor.

Compared to the younger students, this girl exuded maturity and grace. Her delicate features, confident stride, and air of authority immediately set her apart. It was Yukinoshita Haruno, the student council president of Toyogasaki Academy.

"Hello, Yukinoshita-senpai," Kaguya and Yuki greeted her in unison, nodding respectfully.

Though they didn't exchange any more words, their exchanged glances conveyed the same thought: This girl is definitely another rival.

"Alright then," Haruno said, opening the student council meeting room door. "I'll call for you later. Go ahead and settle inside."

Haruno had noticed the palpable tension between Kaguya and Yuki but simply chalked it up to competition between two proud and exceptional individuals. With a gesture, she ushered them inside, deciding to wait for the rest of the members who had yet to arrive.

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Meanwhile, across school…

Having received the notice about the student council meeting, Elric felt obligated to attend. After all, Yukinoshita Haruno had always been kind to him, and the two had built a friendly rapport.

"Guess I better show up," Elric muttered to himself.

After informing Sonoko and Mouri that he'd be heading to the meeting, he made his way toward the student council room.

"Now that I think about it, most of the first-year council members were my classmates at some point. No one should be a stranger," Elric mused as he pulled out his phone to check the student council group chat.

The familiar names popped up one after another—Yuki Suou and Suzune Horikita from junior high, and Kaguya Shinomiya, Yukino Yukinoshita, Chika Fujiwara, and Ai Hayasaka from high school.

As he walked, memories of his interactions with each of them resurfaced. Elric couldn't help but chuckle, especially at the thought of Yuki staying overnight at his house during junior high. Even now, he couldn't quite figure out what excuse she had given her family to make that happen.

"Seems like forever ago…" Elric murmured, reflecting on how his time abroad in Britain had made the ordinary chaos of school life feel so distant.

Just as he was reminiscing, his heightened senses—refined to near superhuman levels—picked up movement ahead.

As a "beast" of his stage, with physical attributes reaching S-class, Elric's strength was on par with demolishing a city single-handedly. This power granted him an acute awareness of his surroundings.

He "saw" through the wall ahead, sensing a girl sprinting toward him in a hurry. Judging by her speed and trajectory, they were bound to collide at the corner.

Anticipating the impact, Elric slowed his pace. As expected, a golden figure darted around the corner, her balance faltering.

In one swift motion, Elric caught the girl before she could fall, steadying her with ease.

"Be careful," he said calmly, preparing to continue on his way.

However, he was stopped by the girl's surprised exclamation.

"You… Are you Elric-kun?"

Looking up at him with wide, astonished eyes, the girl—Kashiwazaki Sena—called out his name.

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Note: I'm not sure if you noticed, but I made a mistake. I thought they were in high school, but it seems they are in University now. I will correct this from now on.