I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Yui Yuigahama was taken aback. She looked away from his back, her vision blurred by tears, and turned to the driver who was walking towards her.

Only then did she snap out of her chaotic thoughts and realize just how much trouble her failure to properly leash her pet had caused others—even if no one was injured or killed, it wasn't something that could be resolved by simply crying while holding the pet.

So, because she was busy bowing and apologizing, and then cried again at home out of fear, Yui Yuigahama entered the classroom just as the school bell rang, looking haggard and gloomy.

△

"That guy, just like always..."

Zongwu High School, Class 2F.

Arriving at school as quickly as possible, Yuu Tenkuji pulled out a chair, sat down, and sighed as she leaned on the table.

His expression was no longer so serious, but rather carried a hint of helplessness and disappointment.

If the person involved in the incident were a complete stranger, and he saw her on the verge of tears, he might have offered a few words of comfort instead of rushing to escape.

But if the target is Yui Hihama...

Ever since graduating from junior high school and rejecting her confession, whenever Tenkuji Yu feels a tingling sensation starting from the soles of his feet whenever he sees her cry, he reflexively wants to run away.

Chapter Thirteen: Unfinished Love and Youth

Although he was low-key at school, he had been confessed to by many women since the beginning because of his handsome appearance.

The frequency is roughly one per semester, including students from my class and other classes. I can't remember most of the names of students like Yuu Tenkuji, but in the end, I always just refuse.

The most unique one is probably Yui Yuigahama, who attended the same junior high school as me.

In their third year of junior high, they were in the same class. He often went to the school library to study in order to get into Soubu High School. He happened to run into Yui Yuigahama, who was secretly going to the library to borrow romance novels. At first, they were just classmates who hadn't said much to each other. But after several chance encounters, Yui Yuigahama took the initiative to talk to him. After chatting for a few minutes, they became familiar with each other.

They initially had nothing in common, but when Yui learned he was applying to Soubu High School, she immediately exclaimed, "I'm also preparing for Soubu High School! What a coincidence that we have the same goal!"

Upon hearing this, Yuu Tenkuji remembered that she had looked at her with the same disbelief and pity she felt when she saw a snail trying to outrun a rabbit:

"Are you dreaming in broad daylight? No wonder your grades are at the bottom of the class."

Enraged, she hit him several times with a book.

Later, as if to prove to him that she wasn't just making empty promises, she canceled most of her plans to go out with friends and often went to the library with him to study as soon as school was over.

She would pester him with questions she didn't know, and wouldn't give up even when he impatiently rejected her. Knowing that he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, she would put on a show that said, "If you don't tell me, I'll helplessly cry in front of my textbook," which made him really want to avoid her at the time.

The reason she didn't actually do that was because, without realizing it, Tenkuji Yu had come to regard her as a partner who would work together with her, and also one of her few friends at school.

In addition, he also wanted to witness firsthand the inspiring story of a seemingly dim-witted girl's remarkable journey to a prestigious high school.

The result was obvious. With his... no, with the mutual help of the two, not only Tenkuji Yuu, but also Yuigahama Yui, who ranked in the lower middle of the class, successfully entered Soubu High School, which had the highest deviation score in the city.

The school was quite lively at the time. Not only did the teachers and elders change their opinion of her greatly, but they even praised her during the morning assembly. The students also spread the beautiful story of "the girl striving for excellence just to attend the same high school as the person she likes," and there were voices everywhere blessing the two of them.

So, as if it were natural, Yui Yuigahama casually said to him in that corner of the library she frequented:

"Since everyone's spreading that rumor anyway... why don't we actually try dating?"

She didn't say she liked him directly. But Yuu Tenkuji could tell that this was her timid, tentative confession, hiding her true feelings behind her back.

At that time, he was filled with a sense of responsibility for his younger sister, busy working part-time to support himself, and had no interest in dating whatsoever—he didn't think his feelings for her crossed the line of friendship.

After Yuuichi Tenkuji declined, she made up a casual excuse to brush him off, telling him not to pay attention to the rumors and that they should continue to be friends.

Even after entering high school, the gap between students should not widen, and even if they are placed in different classes, they should not become increasingly unfamiliar with each other.

Yuu Tenkuji remembered all those words clearly, but what she couldn't recall was what kind of expression she had when she said goodbye to her.

During their first spring at Zongwu High School, the two were not assigned to the same class and rarely met at school, remaining strangers for a year.

It wasn't until this spring, after they met again in Class 2-F, that she took the initiative to greet him as she had at the beginning, and tried to eliminate the awkwardness between them, once again becoming one of his few friends.

This is the story between him and Yui Yuigahama.

I don't know if it can be called a page of youth, but it is definitely etched in his heart, and he can recall it every time he sees Yuihama's face.

As for whether she still likes him as much as she used to, Yuu Tenkuji doesn't care, and it won't change his attitude towards Yui Yuigahama.

Besides, with his "boyfriend system," he can't date girls other than his target.

Otherwise, it would be too awful.

"Morning."

"morning."

"I haven't been to school for over a month, and the classroom smells so unfamiliar..."

"Huh? You got a haircut? Hahaha, are you planning to debut in the second semester? That's hilarious~"

As more and more people entered the classroom, the noisy atmosphere grew increasingly intense, to the point where it was hard to breathe.

As if they hadn't spoken to anyone during the summer vacation, the boys and girls tried their best to talk, either showing off the places they had been to during the summer vacation or casually showing their changes. Every time they spoke, they had to observe the expressions of others and read the air to respond accordingly.

This is also a chapter in their youth.

Therefore, from this perspective, Yuu Tenkuji doesn't think that youth is sin, youth is a lie, or anything like that.

He was already used to this kind of "regular program" during the start of the school year. As long as the ridiculous hype didn't spread here, he couldn't care less whether it was evil or a lie.

With some time to spare before the court assembly, Yuu Tenkuji took out a novel, intending to use it to pass the time.

The book is called "Love Metronome," the romance novel that Yukinoshita Haruno mocked—because it left an impression on his memory, he bought a copy when he passed by a bookstore not long ago, and also bought the newly released second volume at the same time.

The cover of the second volume not only features a brief introduction to the book, but also a very eye-catching title:

[A masterpiece by a high school girl author! A sweet yet poignant coming-of-age story, a brand new chapter that will bring tears to your eyes and move countless readers!]

"Do 'high school girl writers' really exist in real life? I wonder where these girls come from."

After clicking his tongue in amazement a few times, Yuu Tenkuji opened the first volume, glanced at the first sentence of the first chapter, and couldn't help but gasp, his face showing utter shock.

"This, this is..."

Without even a subject or salutation, it begins with a pretentious exclamation, like a large footnote proclaiming "A Sickly Poem on Arsenic" (无病焚吟). (Typo to avoid censorship)

Tenkuji Yu closed the book, took a deep breath, silently increasing his poison resistance, and remarked:

"No wonder Haruno used that tone to mock... It really is something a high school student wrote."

He actually preferred the beginning of Snow Country to this type of novel: "After passing through the long tunnel that leads to the county, you enter Snow Country."

Norwegian Wood is also excellent: "I was thirty-seven years old and sitting in a seat in the cabin of a Boeing 747." It immediately draws the reader into the author's story through the description of the scene.

However, the second chapter of "Norwegian Wood" was a bit dry to read, and it contained a lot of personal commentary. He had to put in a lot of effort to get into it again—but there was nothing he could do about it.

A work written for oneself, without including some personal opinions, is not a novel, but an academic paper.

Place "Love Metronome" on the table and press the cover down with your palm.

Yuu Tenkuji glanced at the old clock above the blackboard, the thought flashing through her mind, "If he doesn't come in ten more minutes, Yuihama will be late." She quickly withdrew her hand and gaze, and opened her book again.

Before I could look any further, a soft, melodious voice rang out in front of me.

Good morning, Yu.

Startled, Yuu Tenkuji raised his head and looked at the boy in front of him, whose skin was as white as snow, slender and delicate, and who was as cute as a snow elf.

Good morning, Totsuka.

One of his few friends, Totsuka Saika, was smiling sweetly at him—don't ask why a boy's smile is described as sweet.

It's just a subjective expression. Just like some people think coffee milk tastes good, while others think it tastes like expired milk tea, it doesn't actually change the fact that it's still coffee milk.

Her slender, pale fingers were tucked inside her sports jacket, only half of them peeking out. Totsuka Ayaka gently pressed down on his desk, her light tone tinged with nostalgia:

"Long time no see! How was your summer vacation?"

"Not bad, how about you?"

Responding with the phrase "Nice to meet you, and you?", Yuu Tenkuji simply put away her book, propped her head up with one hand, and met his gaze.

Chapter Fourteen: Can Their Youthful Romance Be Rekindled?

Looking up at him, the silver-haired handsome boy narrowed his eyes into two crescent moons, then suddenly puffed out his chest and said with a smug and happy expression;

"Thanks to playing tennis all summer, I've grown taller!"

Seemingly to increase credibility, he even stood on tiptoe and gestured with his palm above his head.

That action is very similar to that of a child trying to gain the approval of their elders.

"Look, it's probably two or three centimeters long!"

After glancing at him for a few moments, Tenkuji Yuichi said bluntly, "Sorry, I can't tell at all."

"what……"

As if dealt a heavy blow, his expression instantly darkened, and his excitement was gradually replaced by a helpless bitter smile.

With her delicate eyebrows drooping, more refined than a girl's, Totsuka Ayaka sighed softly, "Was it just my imagination? After all, how could someone like me grow taller by playing tennis..."

"But he's more masculine than before. It's probably because his skin is a bit tanned; he has that sunny, handsome vibe."

"Really? That's great!"

As Yuu Tenkuji finished speaking, Totsuka perked up again, clenching his fist excitedly, his whole face practically glowing: "Of all the people I know, only Yuu would say that to me. This must be a change that only close friends can see!"

"Well, you can think that way if you want."

Tenkuji Yu chuckled and shrugged, not wanting to dampen his cheerful mood.

Totsuka Saika is similar to himself, having very few friends of the same gender—no wonder, since he's cuter than most girls, has a delicate and melodious voice and feminine mannerisms, most boys would subconsciously keep their distance from him, lest they accidentally become gay one day.

She treats boys and girls equally, only caring about the shut-in girl. She won't be fooled by her delicate appearance and fragile demeanor, nor will she deliberately reject those who show her kindness.

So, during a PE class in their first year of high school, the two got to know each other through a brief team-up, and their relationship gradually improved. Totsuka Saika even took it upon herself to consider them "best friends," and they have remained friendly ever since.

It's truly pure friendship.

Yuu Tenkuji admired his gentle yet strong personality, as well as his hair color, which was similar to her sister's—but she never mistook him for a woman.

Totsuka Saika also dislikes being treated as a girl, and has a passionate and determined side; so even if the female fans in the class secretly spread rumors about a CP, Tenkuji Yu never wavered in his opinion of Totsuka's gender, and would even take the initiative to correct the other's overly feminine side.

For example, his bad habit of grabbing his clothes and waving his sleeves when he was happy has now been completely corrected—real men are all about arm in arm, you fuck me and I fuck you, you are my father and I am your son, who would do such a delicate thing?

Putting all that aside...