I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Grandma Said Another Thing

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Piano (Proficient Level)."

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Baseball (Proficient Level)."

After glancing at the system notification that popped up in the lower left corner, Yuu Tenkuji turned his gaze back to Asuna in front of him.

She was looking down, searching for pebbles to kick around on the road. Although it looked a bit childish, the reddened roots of her ears clearly showed that the girl was trying to distract herself.

On their way "home", the moonlight spread a silvery glow across the ground, and the white stone path seemed to stretch into the distance, leaving only the two of them in the whole world.

"It seems my earlier judgment was wrong. We don't have to hold hands all the way to the finish line. As long as we maintain an intimate posture when we enter the Civil Affairs Bureau, we can get through."

Not long after, he broke the subtle silence with his calm and gentle voice.

A gentle breeze ruffled her chestnut hair. Asuna paused slightly, then put her hands behind her back and spoke leisurely without turning her head:

"Yeah~ And it's good that we helped the people we met on the way, otherwise even if we arrived early, the system wouldn't have counted us as passing."

This is the biggest trap in this test.

Not only do you have to cross the finish line within the time limit, but you also have to lend a helping hand to those in need. So-called love is not just romantic love and affection, but also compassion and friendship. To obtain the "flower of true love", all of these are indispensable.

Anyway, that's what the task panel says, so even if you get scammed, there's nothing you can do to complain.

However, the difficulty is not too high. Even without Asuna's meddlesome personality or Yuu Tenkuji's cheat-like speed, as long as you know the content of the test in advance, passing the test is not a problem.

"Helping one person would fulfill the requirement, and we helped four people in total. The extra three will be counted towards the completion progress of the later stages..."

She stopped in her tracks, turned around, tucked a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear with one hand, and smiled happily at him.

"We don't even need fourteen days. We just need to complete six more trials to go back and save Granny Ma. That's wonderful!"

Yuu Tenkuji also laughed and said, "Yes, the sooner we finish this mission, the sooner we can explore other places and team up with other players, the more we can enjoy the true fun of the game."

Asuna was taken aback.

"Ah... um, I'm really looking forward to it."

Her tone was somewhat subtle, and she turned her gaze back.

With their slender fingers intertwined behind their backs, Asuna changed the subject and said, "Yu-kun, I want to thank you."

"Thank you for being born into this world?"

"No way! This is way too formal!"

Her strange mood was instantly dispelled by a feeling of both amusement and exasperation. A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips as she looked up at the clear moonlight and continued:

“I had already given up at that point, thinking that I had more important things to do, but because I was meddling too much, I caused you to fail the test. I should have done what you said and ignored ‘them,’ who were just pieced together with algorithms and data, and focused on the right choice in front of me…”

His voice grew lower and lower as he spoke, and feelings of self-blame, like distant clouds, shrouded his heart.

As if unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, Tenkuji Yu interrupted her: "Are you saying that if it weren't for me, this test would have failed because of you?"

"……Um."

She responded softly, as if sighing in self-pity.

Faced with the girl's dejected state, there was only one thing Yuu Tenkuji needed to do at that moment.

You're right.

He nodded and said matter-of-factly, "Although the test would have failed if I had only been focused on getting there since you helped people on the way, now that we've succeeded, we should talk about the success."

"We were able to catch up in the end thanks to my 'acceleration,' while you unknowingly increased the difficulty of the test, which is equivalent to dragging us down... Objectively speaking, this is the result of this test."

"..."

Asuna pursed her lips and fell silent, then looked at Yuu Tenkuji, who had walked up to her.

I felt a little upset, but more than that, I had a strange question about why he would say such a thing.

Although this person often speaks without thinking, deliberately using such a blaming tone... doesn't seem like something he would do.

There wasn't much time for doubt.

Bathed in the warm yellow light of the streetlights, Tenkuji Yu turned his head, met her gaze with a slight smile, and spoke softly:

"So, are you apologizing for doing something wrong, or for dragging me down with you?"

Her voice seemed to blend into the air, enveloping her along with the gentle night.

Asuna stopped in her tracks, staring in surprise at the person beside her.

The dark clouds just happened to disperse, and the pale moonlight shone down again, reflecting a star-like brilliance in his eyes.

"Grandma once said, 'It is because all the choices we made from the past to the present have been correct that we are able to stand here today and see this view.'"

Yuu Tenkuji scratched his disheveled hair and slowly started walking forward.

"As long as it's a choice you made and believe in, then no matter how many times you cry or grieve, no matter how many difficulties and dangers you overcome, everything you've experienced so far is the right thing to do without any regrets."

Because all of this journey has been my own, a unique life story.

Her attitude was incredibly casual, and her voice seemed to be like the evening breeze, lifting a girl's long hair and blowing through everything under the night sky.

"Don't you think it's cool to have this kind of confidence, Lord Rapier?"

The city was quiet under the starry night sky.

The girl followed beside him, taking each step and blinking as she watched.

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then narrowed her eyes into beautiful crescent moons, and smiled at him with a sense of relief, saying:

"He really is handsome! That's the kind of person he is."

"Thank you for the compliment." Yuu Tenkuji nodded shamelessly in response.

Asuna was taken aback for a moment, then blushed with a mixture of anger and amusement: "You, you narcissistic guy! I didn't... never mind, hmph!"

She gave a soft snort of dissatisfaction, turned her head away from him, but her fingers naturally hooked around his little finger.

Just like when entering through the crystal door, Yuu Tenkuji turned around and grasped the whole small hand, holding it firmly in her palm.

Asuna smiled, no longer hiding her lighthearted and joyful expression.

She looked up at the sky, and even as dark clouds drifted by, casting a shadow, she couldn't help but sigh softly:

"The starry sky is so beautiful."

△

When they got home, to their surprise, the mailbox contained the second volume of test information, as well as an egg.

"The Test Scroll of the Kingdom of Love (5/10)"

"Mission: Conception and Love"

"Note: Hatching the egg will allow you to pass the test."

Chapter Fifty-Eight Thump, thump, thud

For reasons that everyone who knows, knows.

At this moment, Yuu Tenkuji is in the master bedroom of the house located at No. 20, Lane 5, Ai no Daichi, which was originally forbidden to be entered by the girl.

The master bedroom was more spacious than the guest room, and its decorations were richer and more cozy—it not only had a small sofa and a low coffee table for relaxing and making tea, but also a double bed. Apart from the bedside table being carved into a heart shape in a very tacky way, the room's decor was quite in line with his aesthetic.

Of course, the issue now isn't whether the room looks good or not, but rather the girl who walked in carrying a tea tray in one hand and closing the door behind her with the other.

"We're a married couple, but we sleep in separate rooms. If the people at the Civil Affairs Bureau see us, even with rings to cover our identities, they'll probably kick us out..."

As she spoke with feigned composure, she put down the tea tray and turned to walk towards the ensuite bathroom in the bedroom.

"I'm going to change my clothes. If you have any casual clothes, you can change into them too."

Looking at her slender and graceful back, even though she was still wearing her gear, the curves of her pert and full hips were still captivating.

—It looks nice, I've touched it.

Although it was unintentional.

"I only have the initial outfit after I take off my equipment."

"That's fine too." She paused, then muttered, barely suppressing her embarrassment, "It's better than wearing my clothes to bed. Who knows how much dust and dirt are on them..."

Yuu Tenkuji was speechless: "If you care so much, why don't you just take a bath in the virtual world?"

"Is it okay?" She suddenly turned her head, revealing a slightly surprised smile. "I've wanted to try taking a bath here for a long time, but I always give up because I'm in a hurry to log off... I happen to have a lot of game time left today, so since you've said so, please wait for me to come out after my bath!"

"Hey, wait..."

Before he could finish speaking, she closed the bathroom door, interrupting him.

Yuu Tenkuji sat on the sofa, silently watching the bathroom from which the faint sound of water could be heard. He tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and then sighed heavily.

"Even married couples often sleep in separate rooms... And what's the point of taking a shower in the virtual world? Can't you take a shower when you log off later?"

After venting his pent-up frustrations to himself, Yuu Tenkuji shook his head, picked up the teapot on the table, and brewed himself a cup of tea.

The tea is flower tea, the flower is called pink flower, but the brewed tea is a clear light brown color.

Tenkuji Yu took a few sips to moisten his somewhat dry throat and tongue, suppressing his wandering thoughts, and brought up his inventory.

The eggs in the mailbox have very simple instructions—in short, if they stay in bed for an hour, the eggs will automatically hatch, thus completing the task.

Of course, that's what it says on the surface, but whether it actually hides a trap like the last test, nobody knows.

I originally thought it would be one task per day, but it turns out that a second task will be sent after completing the first one... In that case, the fourteen-day period is too lenient.

The game successfully drew Yu's attention, and he sipped his tea while lost in thought on the sofa.

About half an hour later, Asuna emerged from the steamy bathroom.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~"

Yuu Tenkuji, holding a teacup, turned to look.

Her skin, flushed from the hot water, was as white as a peeled egg, reflecting the dim light in the room. Her slightly damp long hair cascaded down her back, and her every move exuded a delicate and elegant aura. Yet, her slightly shy expression made her seem like an ordinary little girl, easily winning the hearts of ordinary men.

She wore a casual long dress, revealing only her delicate, slender ankles and round, pearl-like toes. Stepping onto the wooden floor, she seemed like a goddess descending to earth, and she shrank back shyly when stared at.

Beneath her long eyelashes, her eyes, like pools of autumn water reflecting the full moon, darted around shyly; her lips, as delicate and luscious as roses, gradually parted, revealing a few pearly teeth. Occasionally she bit her lip, and sometimes she would give a relaxed, feigned smile, her desire to appear calm was extremely obvious.