I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Leaving aside the fact that his physical fitness has been accumulating and is almost at the level of a professional athlete.

Although no new permanent states appear, there are four one-time states:

"You must attack minions with Taunt first", "Signs", "Talkative", "Gender Switch".

Unlike the previous mission, Yuu Tenkuji was too lazy to sense anything and simply let the dog system explain these states.

If it can talk but can't whine and act cute, then it must be useful in some other way, right?

"The host can click to view the text description."

The system responded to his command with ruthless indifference.

Sky Temple chuckled: "My eyes are temporarily blind. I need the system to explain it to me before they can be restored."

"..."

For some reason, the system AI, which is supposed to be devoid of emotion, subtly conveyed a sense of speechlessness.

After that, Yuu Tenkuji also obtained detailed information about these states from the dog system that had given up resisting.

The first three are self-explanatory: first, to block bullets; second, to foreknowledge; and third, to communicate. The fourth one is rather perverse: being able to switch genders at will within a day, and seemingly having no problem with futa (a type of male sedition).

That's absolutely outrageous.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yuu Tenkuji kept the second one and threw the other three into the synthesis pool.

"Premonition" is different from the normal state. It cannot be used actively, but will be activated on its own at specific times, allowing the user to foresee danger and avoid it with a very high probability.

Only a fool would attempt to synthesize something so life-saving—even a single chance would be incredibly precious.

The permanent state obtained after synthesis surprised him somewhat.

"Spotlight (Permanent): Select an action, and all creatures that perceive this action will involuntarily focus their gaze on you and amplify the resulting sensation."

"Is this an evolved form of taunt...? Well, thankfully, it's controllable."

Tenkuji Yuu breathed a sigh of relief.

He couldn't stand the feeling of being the center of attention no matter what he did if he couldn't control it.

He had experienced a similar effect before—when he played a perfect lullaby in the underground station, almost everyone who heard the music gathered around him. Although most of them were enjoying the music with their eyes closed, it did attract the attention of everyone nearby.

Although I don't really like being watched, this situation might be helpful at times.

"As expected, I was European in my synthesized state..."

With a smug smile, Yuu Tenkuji focused his attention on the one-time use skill.

Since the start of the mission, he has accumulated a total of six one-time skills, which is more than his current status—unfortunately, they are all at the proficiency level.

Finding none that needed to be kept, he directly synthesized two permanent skills.

"Soccer (Proficient Level)" and "Basketball (Proficient Level)".

"Is this meant to make me a master ball player...?"

After muttering a speechless comment, Tenkuji Yu looked at all the skills on the panel.

Billiards, table tennis, tennis, baseball, soccer, basketball... If he could acquire four more ball sports skills, he could achieve the feat of being an "all-rounder in ten balls".

Is this damn system doing this on purpose?

A sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly remembered the "Six Trials" he had done with Yukino Yukinoshita at the sports center during summer vacation.

If the system hadn't given him each skill and status perfectly, allowing him to gradually rise to the same or even higher position as her, he wouldn't have been able to so easily change Yukino Yukinoshita's opinion of him, thus significantly shortening the distance between him and that twisted and troublesome person.

Upon further reflection, Yuu Tenkuji was astonished to discover that with these skills, the success rate of the "plan" he proposed in the Service Club would be greatly increased... no, it could even be said to be foolproof!

If the system really is behind this, could this "Autumn Club Performance" be related to Yuuki Asuna's "wish"?

"You damn system, you..."

He frowned in surprise and doubt. Before he could question the system, his phone suddenly chimed and the screen lit up.

It's a message from Koichiro Yuki.

Hao: "Just like you guessed, my mom caught Asuna playing games. Since the helmet was mine, I got a good scolding too..."

Hao Ge: "Sigh, anyway, I'm trying to take the blame myself. She's far away and can't do anything about it. The important thing is Asuna's side... Fortunately, my mom is a very rational person. She just speaks harshly and rudely, but she won't curse or hit people, so I don't have to worry too much about what will happen to Asuna."

Hao Ge: "But it's unlikely that she'll be able to play 'Swordsman Online' anymore. Remember to send her a message to comfort her around 10:30, so my mom doesn't find out."

Hao Ge: "Perfect! Since you can't meet online, why don't you just have a real-life get-together? Don't overthink it, it's perfectly normal for online friends to meet offline!"

Putting the system aside for the time being, Sky Temple Yuu thoughtfully stroked her chin as she looked at the messages.

"Can't we meet online anymore...?"

In other words, if I want to achieve my goal, I must start by getting in touch with the "young lady of the Yuuki family" who is playing in the artificial pool.

His temporary wife in the imaginary world was Asuna, a chestnut-haired rapier wielder with superb swordsmanship, a beautiful smile, and a body that smelled better than the entire garden after a bath, with whom he had shared a bed.

Perhaps I'll never have the chance to see her again...

Tenkuji Yu sighed softly, then shook her head, dismissing the faint regret and disappointment.

He hadn't yet figured out how to approach Asuna Yuuki, or what he should do after making contact.

However, Yuu Tenkuji already knows what he can do now.

He glanced at the time, racking his brains to think about each step he needed to take next, while typing a message into the chat box.

In short, we need more information—more information about Asuna Yuuki.

The cold light from the screen reflected on his face, and a helpless smile appeared on his lips as he couldn't help but sigh.

"My online boyfriend is now going to be my real-life boyfriend..."

Update later

I wrote several thousand words for this chapter but wasn't satisfied and deleted it. I always wanted to write something better, but after thinking about it all day, my head is getting more and more sore. I probably won't be able to update until midnight.

After all, this is a major turning point in this chapter, so I certainly wouldn't dare to publish it if I just wrote something casually. So, with a snap, very slowly, I started writing the second version.

I hope you guys will obediently wait for my updates and not force me to kneel down and beg you (lol).

Chapter Sixty: An Endless Accumulation of Feelings (Part Two)

10:30 on December 10nd.

You have two unread messages.

……

6:32 AM, September 11.

You have five unread messages.

Asuna Yuuki put her phone into her bag and walked out of the room.

She descended the spotless spiral staircase, pushed open the door, and entered the restaurant.

Good morning, Mom.

"Good morning, sit down and have some breakfast."

Holding a coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other, reading the news, Kyoko Yuuki said without looking up.

After hanging her schoolbag on the shelf next to her, Asuna Yuuki pulled out a chair and sat down, pressing down on her skirt.

What time did you go to sleep last night?

"10:30, Mom," she answered softly, picking up the cutlery in front of her.

Kyoko Yuuki's brow twitched, and she put down her coffee with slight displeasure, her sharp gaze fixed on Asuna: "Asuna, are you deliberately protesting to me in this tone?"

"You're overthinking it. Isn't this how we usually talk? I don't have anything to protest."

After giving a polite smile and replying in a distant tone, Asuna Yuuki lowered her head and quietly began to eat her breakfast.

Kyoko Yuuki pressed her temples, a few crow's feet appearing at the corners of her eyes. She shook her head in annoyance. "It seems you haven't realized your mistake... I didn't even hold it against you for lying to me last time when I asked if you were distracted. You're a sophomore in high school! There's only a little over a year left until your university entrance exams. Are you really going to waste all your previous efforts on a mere game? I'm doing this for your own good..."

Yuuki Asuna appeared to be listening attentively, but her mind was already blank, completely ignoring the nagging and lessons she had already heard the night before.

She neither retorted nor showed any indifference, but instead seemed resigned to her fate, preventing herself from having any extra thoughts.

That's the right thing to do.

If it's a doll, this is the most correct approach.

……

The father was away on business and had not yet returned, and the older brother was staying in the university dormitory. Apart from the housekeeper named Sada, only the mother and daughter were left at home.

Not long after, her mother prepared to drive her to school.

The school is in the suburbs, and it's quite a drive away. Usually, her mother would ask her to preview the day's lessons in the car, and she would be questioned if she took out her phone.

Asuna Yuuki simply turned off her phone, took out her workbook, and began to study diligently, letting the scenery outside the window pass by.

"I'll have Ms. Sada take you to your cram school after school."

Black Lily Girls' Academy.

After saying this, the mother drove away. Yuuki Asuna simply bowed her head to see her off before turning and stepping into the school gate.

"Greetings, Yuki-kun."

"Greetings, fellow student from Wannei."

"Wow, you look great today, Yuuki-kun."

"No, we're classmates after marriage..."

In this school for young ladies, etiquette classes carry a very high weight in the grade. Even in everyday conversations, the students are used to being affected and overly polite, and everyone takes it for granted.

Despite wearing a gentle and kind smile, Asuna Yuuki felt a deeper weariness and annoyance than ever before.

Involuntarily, a thought flashed through my mind:

'If I said to him, "Greetings, sir, you're online!" he'd probably be so startled he'd log off on the spot...'

Just thinking about the expression he would have made made Asuna Yuuki purse her lips, and the smile on her face seemed to become more natural.