I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

But her mother's words last night shattered that smile like a thunderbolt:

"Unless you get into your dream university, you're forbidden from playing these weird games! ...What's with that look? I'm telling you to focus on your studies for your own good. Do you really want to ruin your future by indulging in frivolous games?!"

'My grades haven't dropped at all, so who's wasting their time on frivolous pursuits...'

"Also, you didn't meet any strange men on there, did you? You should know that online scams are rampant lately, especially targeting minors addicted to online games..."

"Playing for two hours a day isn't considered addictive, and besides, he's the only one in the entire game who has the chance to lie to me... Who could be fooled by him?"

She slowly closed her eyes, letting her consciousness sink into the unfathomable darkness, as if something heavy was pressing down on her chest.

—Whether then or now, one's true thoughts cannot be spoken aloud.

If you can't express it, why think about it so much?

"Yuki-kun, is something wrong?"

The voice beside her brought her back to her senses. Asuna Yuuki blinked and continued to smile.

"It's nothing, I'm just worried about the exam during morning self-study."

……

During lunch break, I was called to the homeroom teacher's office, and the whole class started talking about it.

With a bad feeling, Asuna Yuuki took a deep breath and followed her homeroom teacher.

“Yuki-kun, your mother called me this morning… She said you’ve been a bit distracted with your studies lately and asked me to keep an eye on your performance in class.”

Looking at her homeroom teacher's somewhat subtle expression, she froze on the spot, her hands gradually clenching into fists at her sides, her body reacting automatically:

"I'm so sorry! I will pay more attention in class than before, please don't worry!"

She bowed almost ninety degrees, her head lowered, her long hair hanging down, not letting anyone see her expression.

"Don't worry about it too much, I didn't mean to blame you. Yuuki-kun, we teachers all know how attentive you are in class..."

As for what the homeroom teacher said earnestly afterward, Asuna Yuuki didn't listen at all.

She simply went to the restroom on her way back to the classroom and locked herself in a stall.

He took the phone out of his pocket, pressed and held the power button, and the screen lit up quickly.

You have six unread messages.

I opened the chat app, but I didn't have the courage to open those six unread messages.

She simply bit her lip silently, staring at the latest message appearing below the chat bar, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly, her eyes sparkling.

Yu: "Are you alright, Asuna? Even if we can't meet in the game, we're still online friends in real life. If you want to vent or complain, remember to reply to my message."

really?

Hmph~ That's a long story, don't fall asleep halfway through!

My mother really cares about me, but she will never try to understand what I really want.

Although I don't know myself, I've lived for seventeen years and have always been chasing something unseen, always moving towards an unclear goal—unconsciously deciding to go to a prestigious school, unconsciously wanting to get into a good university, unconsciously having to find a job.

Because my mother said so, I did it, and before I knew it, it had become a habit.

But in that world, I became different.

I took up arms with my own will, found my direction with my own ideas, and fought in my own way...

And, based on my feelings, I held your hand.

I don't know if those choices were right or wrong, but there's no doubt that I gained many feelings and experiences in that world that I don't have in reality.

So, do you know, Yu-kun?

There's so much I haven't told you. If I could have stayed that night...

"Feel sorry……"

"I'm sorry..."

Even so, all the words I wanted to say still couldn't be conveyed.

Pressing her phone tightly against her forehead, Asuna curled up as if she were shivering, and sobbed alone in a small, weak voice.

"I am not Asuna..."

"I'm just a coward who's afraid to face reality..."

If she replies to the message, she can no longer act as "Asuna" and naturally walk alongside him.

At some point, this had become something very important to her.

This is something that Asuna Yuuki cannot and should not do at this moment.

The restroom was so quiet that only one's own voice could be heard.

On the ring finger of the left hand, the whiteness was so striking it felt empty.

……

The sky was gray, threatening rain but not quite, and the air was thick and uncomfortable.

Feeling empty after a day of classes, Asuna Yuuki said goodbye to her classmates and got into the black sedan driven by the housekeeper Sada.

The street was very quiet, or perhaps it was because she didn't want to hear too much noise.

"Miss, Madam said that she will arrange a blind date for you in a few days."

Asuna Yuuki gazed out the window for a long time before replying in a low, calm voice.

"who is it?"

“Your father’s adopted son, Mr. Sugo.”

"...Mr. Sugo?"

She murmured to herself, closing her eyes and trying to recall what the other person looked like.

However, as soon as the vision darkened, the image of Yuu Tenkuji and his frivolous smile naturally appeared in her mind.

"Asuna, you're my wife. Who would let you go on blind dates with other men?"

...If only Yu-kun could say that.

Tell her I don't want to go!

With obvious disgust and resistance, Asuna Yuuki's tone was unusually strong.

Miss Sada looked troubled: "Well, wouldn't it be better if you just told Madam directly..."

“…Yes, that’s true. I’m sorry, Ms. Sada.” Asuna sighed, leaned her head back against the car window, and stared blankly into the distance.

"I got a little excited by accident, please don't mind it."

"of course not."

Arriving at a cram school that had produced many Tokyo University students, had an excellent reputation, and was extremely expensive, Asuna watched the black sedan leave. As she turned and walked into the cram school, she unconsciously took out her phone.

You have seven unread messages.

Yu: "At least let me know you're safe, okay? Otherwise, I'll assume you were playing a game when a wild boar knocked you away, and I'll call the police right away, okay?"

"What, what an idiot! He's actually planning to call the police?! What is he thinking?!"

Without a shred of doubt in his declaration, Asuna panicked, her already pale face flushing with anxiety.

She bit her lip slightly, her finger hovering over the friends list for several seconds before finally giving up on opening the chat and choosing to call her brother, asking him to quickly explain a few words to Yuu Tenkuji.

For example, I might say I can't reply to messages right now, or that my phone is having some problems, or whatever. I'll just make up some excuse to put this idiot at ease!

"Honestly, even when I was still Asuna, you never came to me this proactively..."

She put away her phone and couldn't help but complain like this.

On her fair and rosy face, she wore the happiest and most relaxed smile of the day.

……

After finishing her tutoring session, Asuna returned home.

The night was much darker than usual, perhaps because it was about to rain.

"Sit down and have dinner."

Her tone remained as cold and indifferent as ever, as if the person in front of her was not her daughter, but an ordinary student who had made a mistake.

"Yes."

Asuna Yuuki pulled out a chair and sat down calmly in front of Kyoko Yuuki.

I don't know why, but my mother rarely turns on the lights when she eats, and sometimes she even uses candles for lighting at dinner.

Honestly, is it really necessary to be so energy-conscious?

The atmosphere was so heavy during the meal, who could possibly eat their fill...

"Asuna, about the arranged marriage."

Kyoko Yuuki suddenly spoke, startling Asuna Yuuki, who was inwardly criticizing her, for a moment. Asuna then put down the cutlery she had almost dropped and slowly began to speak:

“Mother, Mr. Sugo is like an older brother to me, and I will not marry him.”

Without much of their own will, they simply conveyed the words as if stating a fact.

"Feelings can be cultivated, but the important thing is whether I'm worthy of you." Kyoko Yuuki remained unmoved, taking a small sip of water from her glass, the deep, short wrinkles at the corners of her mouth twitching slightly.

"Marriage is also a qualification. If you can't have a satisfactory marriage materially, you'll only regret it... From this point of view, Shenzhi is a perfect fit for you. He became the director of the R&D department of your father's company at a young age. He has both talent and qualifications. Starting his own business in the future will not be a problem at all. Marrying him will be a guarantee for your life."

Asuna Yuuki opened her mouth, her face gradually showing disbelief.

“Listen carefully, Asuna. Your father and mother both hope that your life will be happy and smooth. With your talent, as long as you keep working hard, you will definitely accumulate great qualifications and live in high society... If you don’t choose a man who is worthy of you, you will inevitably be dragged down by him in the future and live a miserable and unhappy life.”

That overly matter-of-fact tone caused a certain emotion to ferment and swell in Asuna Yuuki's heart, reaching a breaking point from which she had to express it.

She finally mustered her courage and earnestly met her mother's gaze.

"Mom, so you're saying you didn't marry Dad because you liked him, but just because you were attracted to his background?"

"..."

Speechless, Kyoko Yuuki fell silent.