Chapter 48: Truth and Falsehood (Part 2)

Faced with Seto Saori's questioning, Higashiyama Rine only showed a disgusted expression, no longer pretending to be obedient like usual. It seemed she had no intention of pretending anymore.

"Why? Because it's annoying, it's really annoying," Higashiyama Rine said loudly.

...

Seto Saori was stunned by this strange answer.

But Higashiyama Rine's words didn't stop there.

"Even though I live in such pain, you look so free. Honestly, it's really annoying. If you need money, why not do whatever it takes? Isn't that how society works? Instead, you work diligently and earn money, which is really annoying. If there's money that can be taken without being blamed, shouldn't you just take it? If pretending to be obedient can lead to good results, shouldn't you just go along with others? Only by catering to others' preferences can you fit into the collective. Isn't that natural? I was born into this kind of family, and I've been educated like this since I was young."

As if criticizing something, Higashiyama Rine shouted with a tone of hatred.

Modern society values efficiency. If there's a shortcut, why not take it? Even in exams, if you can get good grades without being caught, why not cheat? If everyone else is cheating, why not cheat too? "Because everyone else is doing it" is a good enough reason to deceive oneself, right? If everyone else is cheating, then it's not a big deal if you cheat too. Moreover, it's unfair to not cheat when everyone else is. Besides, there's no reason to insist on meaningless principles. Isn't that foolish?"

The heartfelt outcry didn't stop.

"If you can achieve your goals without being criticized, why not do it? That's how society works. Everyone takes shortcuts, does whatever it takes for themselves and their goals. Morality and principles are just empty words. People always say one thing and do another, using the lame excuse of 'everyone else is doing it' to comfort and deceive themselves. I've always been like this too. As long as I pretend to be obedient, I'll be welcomed and have many conveniences. Even when lying, others will believe without hesitation. If there's such a convenient method, why not use it? Isn't that natural? But you... even if misunderstood by others, you don't care at all. You always stick to your principles, unaffected by society. You always stay true to yourself. Honestly, it's quite annoying in my eyes."

...

Faced with a series of questions, Seto Saori wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

For Seto Saori, she simply stayed true to herself and didn't interfere with others. In other words, she didn't specifically target Higashiyama Rine. In Seto Saori's eyes, Higashiyama Rine was just a classmate, not important at all. She never paid much attention to her.

Yes, Higashiyama Rine was just an ordinary classmate to Seto Saori, not important at all. She didn't have the energy to criticize her. Seto Saori didn't know anything about Higashiyama Rine, so she probably thought she had no right to judge her.

But the truth had nothing to do with Seto Saori's intentions. Even if Seto Saori didn't deliberately target Higashiyama Rine, her unconscious actions, her insistence on principles, must have deeply hurt Higashiyama Rine. From Higashiyama Rine's perspective, perhaps Seto Saori's existence itself was annoying, but at the same time, she was also an existence that Higashiyama Rine longed for.

But Ryuto couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He stepped forward and said slowly,

"You're right, reality is indeed rotten. In the world of games, if you're happy, everyone will be happy. But in this world, everyone is playing their own game! Everyone sabotages each other, and the winner gets happiness. To achieve happiness, you have to sacrifice others. When the outcome is uncertain, no one will choose the obviously more difficult path. But when the outcome is clear and there's a shortcut, everyone will choose it. Although there's some truth to it, I just want to say... don't underestimate gamers! I'm not interested in taking shortcuts. I want to know how to overcome difficult paths because I know that some things don't have shortcuts. As I said before, reality is indeed a garbage game, without rules, irrational. But..."

Ryuto paused for a moment.

"Those who want to cheat because the game is too difficult will not have a good ending."

"......"

Dongshan Rinyin did not argue, but stood there with wide eyes, as if forgetting everything.

After a moment, as if understanding something, she slowly said with a smile.

"If only I had met you earlier..."

"?"

Ryuto couldn't help but wonder, although he didn't understand, he knew that it was a genuine smile, one that came from the heart without any falsehood.

"Well then, let's go. The meeting is about to start, and if we don't go now, we'll be late. Isn't the purpose to clarify the facts?"

Dongshan Rinyin, who seemed like a different person, urged proactively.

"Seto, that thing is okay, right?"

Facing Ryuto's incomprehensible words, Seto Shiwo just nodded silently.