Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

In today's training, Genji Aoyama increased the intensity of his workout.

After running five kilometers, there were still not many people on the street, so he simply jogged back to his apartment and did squats and push-ups at home.

He continued until he was covered in sweat and his muscles ached before he stopped.

Looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he suddenly had an idea.

So I took off my shirt and took a picture in front of the mirror.

Although Genji Aoyama is a bit thin, he's not skin and bones. Plus, with his broad shoulders and slim waist, the photos actually turn out alright.

[Aoyama: Image]

Please.

Saki-senpai.

Use it as a side dish for spellcasting.

Let's see if we can get anything out of ten tries.

While Aoyama Genji was out jogging, Izumo Saki was arrested again.

Izumo Saki had just finished showering and came out of the bathroom when she saw the message from Aoyama Genji, and her pupils immediately dilated.

[Saki: No! No! I have to go to training later!]

Saki Izumo felt she was really done for, especially after being hit by the heat just now, her head was spinning.

However, she had already clicked the save button.

[Qingshan: Now you know how damaging those things you posted were?]

[Saki: I just took a shower and I'm not dressed yet, do you want to see, Aoyama-kun?]

[Qingshan: My phone's dead, I have to talk to you later]

Upon seeing the message, Izumo Saki couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.

She glanced at the picture sent by Genji Aoyama again, bit her lower lip, and showed a conflicted and patient expression on her face.

One last time!

She went back into the bathroom.

◇

"Looks like it was posted at the wrong time."

Genji Aoyama shook his head and prepared to take a bath.

I had just taken off my clothes and turned on the shower when a pop-up window appeared in the system.

[Izumo Saki has checked in 10 times and can claim her reward]

"..."

At 7:43 AM on April 20th, Izumo Saki suspected that her host's photography skills were flawed: she couldn't capture the key points. She gained the skill "Proficient Photography".

This mine is being mined way too fast.

Hmm... I just checked in yesterday, and I've already accumulated ten times today.

Although the skills are not very useful, it's always good to have more skills.

"How many times will it take until the next accumulation?"

Genji Aoyama kept thinking about this question while taking a bath.

**********

Following the address given by Mami Ohara, Genji Aoyama arrived at Suda-cho in Kanda.

After walking through the narrow streets, he arrived at the entrance of the Dashan Bow and Arrow Shop.

It is said to be an old shop with a long history. There is a noren hanging at the entrance, and you can smell the unique aroma of bamboo and pine resin even before you enter.

Genji Aoyama stepped inside. The breeze stirred by the noren curtain tinkled the wind chimes, producing a pleasant sound. The lighting inside was slightly dim, and the first thing that caught the eye was the array of Japanese bows of varying lengths hanging on the walls.

Perhaps we arrived too early; there were no customers in the store yet.

"Welcome, customer. Would you like something?" The shop assistant with a high ponytail greeted him warmly.

Genji Aoyama nodded slightly and said, "My friend isn't here yet, may I take a look first?"

"Of course, no problem, please go ahead, sir," the high-ponytail shop assistant blushed slightly after seeing Aoyama Genji's face clearly. "I haven't seen your face before, would you like me to introduce you?"

Genji Aoyama glanced at the female clerk's name tag and then nodded.

"Then it will be hard work."

Genji Aoyama really didn't know much about this, nor was he interested in it, and he hadn't even looked into it privately.

He has no intention of studying it in depth or participating in major competitions. For him, archery is just an occasional pastime to pass the time.

It also helps to improve concentration and maintain a calm mindset.

"Is the customer a beginner?" the female shop assistant asked.

"Yes, I need to buy two sets of tools today. Please tell me about them."

"Two sets?"

The female shop assistant was puzzled.

"I'm also buying one for a friend," Aoyama Genji explained.

"But..." the saleswoman hesitated, "Shouldn't this be done by the person in person? At least the bow and gloves need to be tried on."

"Then let's try mine first."

Genji Aoyama didn't continue the conversation and turned to look at the Japanese bow hanging on the wall.

After providing his height and wingspan, the female shop assistant took down a 70-inch Japanese bow and handed it to Genji Aoyama while explaining the details.

According to the female shop assistant, carbon fiber is a material suitable for beginners.

Genji Aoyama tried to grip it, but the fit between his palm and the handle wasn't very good, so he explained the situation and handed the bow back to the female shop assistant.

"Also, I'd like to ask," he said, looking at the slightly flushed female shop assistant, "Do you know Mami Kohara?"

When he first saw the name on the name tag, Genji Aoyama wanted to ask.

"Huh?" A look of confusion crossed the female shop assistant's face. "Does the customer know my sister?"

Genji Aoyama smiled to himself, thinking to himself, "Just as I thought."

The name tag reads "Ohara Yoshimi," and she looks older than Ohara Mami. Like attracts like; the two sisters together form the perfect pair of Yoshimi and Mami.

"Little... Mami-senpai is my department head."

"I see," Yoshimi Ohara laughed as well. "Should I call Mami over?"

"Judging by the time, Mami-senpai should be arriving soon." Genji Aoyama took out his phone and checked the time.

"Huh!? Are you and my sister dating?"

Yoshimi Ohara was shocked.

Before Aoyama Genji could speak, a cheerful voice came from outside the noren: "No."

Mami Ohara has arrived.

"Sister, give up already—" Ohara Mami came to their side, smiling at her sister, "This guy has a girlfriend... Huh? Where's Asahi-chan? Why is only Aoyama-kun here?"

"Mami, you should show some respect to your older sister in front of the guests! Oh, sorry, another guest has arrived."

As Mami Ohara entered, other guests followed, and Yoshimi Ohara naturally went to greet them.

"She's not coming today, so I asked Mami-senpai to help her pick out some equipment," said Genji Aoyama.

"Something's up?"

Ohara Mami stared wide-eyed at Aoyama Genji, but after a long while she couldn't figure it out: "Did you and Asahi-chan have a fight?"

Aoyama Genji didn't know how to explain it either. After thinking for a moment, he said hesitantly, "...I guess you could call it a cold war?"

"Mou—" Mami Ohara seemed to be in despair as she drew out the last syllable, "That's why dating is such a hassle. If you break up or have a fight, one of you or both of you will quit the club. The archery club is completely innocent!"

"Then I'll leave the department?"

"No need," Mami Ohara smiled awkwardly. "It was just a rant, Aoyama-kun, don't mind it. Um... I'll try my best to make you two make up! Oh, and remember to buy me coffee."

"If you can manage that, then one cup a day is no problem at all," Aoyama Genji said with a smile.

"Okay, let's say that."

Mami Ohara clenched her fist and pounded it into the palm of her other hand. Her eyes were exceptionally determined as she focused on getting that one cup of coffee every day.

Under the guidance of Mami Ohara, Genji Aoyama selected a set of beginner-level equipment.

"I'll leave the Asahi stuff to you, Senior Kohara."

"If it doesn't suit you, that's not Jinmei's fault~"

During previous daily training sessions of the archery club, Mami Ohara lent her equipment to Yuko Asahi. Apart from the slightly weaker bow strength, it worked fine in other aspects.

The two are about the same height.

However, it's best to discuss this beforehand, as a complete set of equipment is not cheap for college students.

"no problem."

Aoyama Genji certainly didn't care about such a small amount of money; for him, the debt of gratitude owed to Asahi Yuko was inexhaustible.

If it's not suitable, just change it.

"Hey, Aoyama-kun," Mami Ohara said, while selecting equipment for Yuuko Asahi according to her own requirements, "could you find out a little something about what happened between you and Asahi-chan?"

High school students, especially girls, are still interested in dating even though they say it's the most troublesome thing.

"Hmm...it's a little hard to explain." Genji Aoyama thought for a moment and realized he didn't know how to put it.

"Never mind, I won't ask you anymore."

Ohara Mami's face seemed to say, "Handsome guys are the best at lying": "I'll ask Asahi-chan tomorrow."

"Senior Kohara, I have a request." Genji Aoyama said with a serious expression.

"Wow—why are you suddenly so serious?"

Ohara Mami was startled, but then remembered that she was her senior, so she put on her senior's airs again: "Um, Aoyama-kun, please go ahead."

"Please take good care of Asahi, and let me know immediately if anything happens to her," said Genji Aoyama.

"Isn't this what I should be doing as a minister?"

Mami Ohara looked at Genji Aoyama with a puzzled expression, then asked, "And why do you sound like you're about to quit the club?"

"Not really, it's just that I probably won't be going to the archery club much these days."

"I see, it seems the problem is quite serious."

Mami Ohara nodded, then patted her flat chest earnestly, her eyes seemingly sparkling with fire.

"The two of you, one of you gets restless when you can't see the other, and the other cares for you silently from behind."

Therefore, I, Mami, will be in charge of protecting Aoyama-kun and Asahi-chan's romance!

"Thank you so much, Kohara-senpai, you're such a kind person." This was Genji Aoyama's heartfelt praise.

"This is the second time."

"What?"

"You bastard, this is the second time you've given me the 'friend zone' card like this!" Mami Ohara glared angrily at Genji Aoyama.

After selecting the equipment, Genji Aoyama thought for a moment and decided to send it to Yuko Asahi.

I opened LINE and ignored all of Saki Izumo's unread messages.

[Yuko: Lastly, I want to say, I'm sorry, Aoyama-kun, and... thank you.]

This message was received just before he sent it, when he tried to click on Yuko Asahi's profile picture.

There were four unread messages, but he could only see the last one before he opened it.

◇

Yuko Asahi fell into deep thought—

Question:

Why do people who used to like her want to distance themselves but don't want to give up, while at the same time not using PUA tactics to ask her to do anything excessive?

If that person's intelligence is not the problem, then who is the one with the problem?

Yuko Asahi knew she had a problem.

But what's the problem?

Why are we only realizing the problem now?

She couldn't figure it out.

[What's the psychology behind feeling cared for and liked, yet only wanting to escape?]

After thinking it over, she typed out the following message on her phone's keyboard with her fingertips and sent it to the AI ​​software.

AI responded quickly.

This psychological phenomenon is often referred to as "avoidant attachment" or "fear of intimacy." It doesn't mean you're cold or indifferent; rather, it means you're trying to maintain a sense of security by "running away."

So I continued to inquire about information related to [avoidant attachment]...