I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Before Asuna could even feel the joy of victory, the oppressive gaze from the other side glared at her, causing her to avert her eyes and bite her lip slightly.

"...Okay, if you want to talk about feelings, of course no problem."

Her chest heaving, Kyoko Yuuki took a deep breath and then shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It's okay if you don't like Nobuyuki. As long as you can find someone worthy of you, as your mother, I certainly won't stand in your way of happiness. I'll even do everything I can to help you..."

"But do you have it?"

She frowned, staring intently at Asuna Yuuki, and said with a hint of disdain:

"You usually attend an all-girls school, and I've never heard of you being particularly close to anyone in cram schools—you've never even been in a relationship, yet you act all high and mighty talking to me about feelings? Asuna, have you been reading too many novels and comics? That's why you've become so childish."

Asuna Yuuki gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly on the dining table.

This time, she did not back down in the slightest, meeting her mother's intimidating gaze with a stern expression.

"Indeed, I've never been in a relationship, so it's okay to call me naive."

"But that doesn't mean I'll stay silent and listen to you to associate with people I don't like."

The unprecedentedly strong tone, the unwavering conviction, and the resolute gaze that brooked no argument caused Kyoko Yuuki's eyes to widen slightly, a sense of astonishment rising within her.

"Mom, I will not go on a blind date with Mr. Sugo. I will choose my own marriage partner in the future—this is the only thing I will never back down on!"

"..."

Her sharp, clear voice, like a silver blade, echoed in the quiet restaurant.

After a long while, she came to her senses and frowned deeply: "Asuna, do you have someone you like now?"

Taking a deep breath, Asuna Yuuki answered decisively, her gaze firm.

"That's right!"

The kind of person you wouldn't dislike even if you got married—this is something you can't say out loud, you can only say it secretly in your heart.

Before my heart could even race, my mother asked with a serious expression:

"Could it be that we met in that game?"

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly froze. Asuna Yuuki stood frozen in place, her pupils slightly contracted, her expression one of bewilderment at being caught off guard.

"My God, it's an online relationship..." Kyoko Yuuki sighed in disbelief, supporting her cheek with one hand as if trying to steady her dizzy head.

"Hey! Asuna, not only are you neglecting your studies by playing games, you're even getting involved in online dating, which is something only bad students do..."

Before she could finish speaking, Asuna Yuuki pushed the table and stood up.

"I'm full, I'm going upstairs now."

Kyoko Yuuki immediately slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her eyebrows raised in anger.

"Wait a minute, Asuna! Is this how I taught you manners!?"

Ignoring her mother's stern rebuke, Asuna Yuuki closed the restaurant door and ran upstairs.

……

7:42 on December 11nd.

You have eight unread messages.

Yu: "Just how much do you hate me that you had to rely on Brother Hao to relay a message to me...?"

You currently have no unread messages.

Asuna: "How can I gain the same courage as you?"

Yu: "It's very simple, just say one word."

Asuna: "What word?"

Yu: "Would you like to team up with me to complete this mission, Asuna?"

Asuna: "..."

Asuna: "Yes."

……

The moment the message appeared, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but smile and replied softly:

"receive."

Chapter Sixty-One: On This Day of Autumn Rain and Fog (Part Two)

Time seems to have reversed slightly.

September 11, Wednesday, morning.

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 1500 yen."

"He clearly saw the message, but why didn't he open it to check? What is this guy thinking?"

With a sigh, he put away his phone and jogged slowly along the cool street.

Along the riverbank and through the alleys, when no one is around, one bursts into full speed without risking injury; when someone is watching, one leisurely enjoys the cool breeze.

Even the most bustling city becomes as silent as ruins when the morning light awakens.

The clouds are thickening, autumn is intensifying, and a thin layer of white drifts through the clear air.

It's going to rain soon.

Thinking this way, by noon, the air was still thick and sticky, as if it were about to rain.

The once bustling campus scene has become much more chaotic, with people pulling on their collars and fanning themselves everywhere.

As the lunch break bell rang, Tenkuji took out his phone and sent another message to Yuuki Asuna.

Although he knew she was probably alright, her unresponsive and withdrawn attitude inevitably made him a little worried.

He was worried from a friend's perspective—after all, they had been a couple in the game for a while, and even if they hadn't actually done anything good, Asuna Yuuki still held some weight in his heart.

Perhaps only a system can completely erase feelings?

……

"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."

The sixth message is unread.

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 2000 yen."

……

"Yu, are you going to club activities again today?"

"Well, I need to talk to our minister about something. Let's have dinner together sometime."

Saying goodbye to Totsuka Saika, who looked somewhat regretful, Tenkuji Yu took his lunchbox and turned to walk out of the classroom.

Before leaving, Yui Yuigahama seemed to glance at him a few times. When he turned his gaze away as if he had noticed something, she was already chatting and laughing with her friends, her back to him.

Too lazy to think further, he simply walked out of Class F and headed towards the special building where the Service Department was located.

The voices gradually faded away, and it became so quiet that it felt like stepping into another world.

The second floor of the special building houses the Department of Service.

As the door opened, the girl inside the classroom greeted me with a sentence:

"Are you here?"

"Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"

Miss Snow Woman sighed softly, put down her chopsticks, and cast an unpleasant glance at him as he closed the door: "Excuse me, what I meant was—please don't come over during lunchtime and disturb my rare peaceful mealtime."

"Or is your goal simply to be alone with me and try to connect with me emotionally during the meal?"

At this point, she raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise, lightly rested her chin on the back of her hand, and smiled arrogantly and happily.

"There's no more clumsy way to pursue something than this; it certainly suits your despicable character."

Yuu Tenkuji rolled her eyes.

"Is he already in full narcissistic mode the moment we meet? Truly worthy of being our club president."

He sat down at one end of the long table and casually opened the bento box: "Think whatever you want, whatever makes you happy... So, could you make me a cup of black tea while you're at it?"

Her smile vanished instantly, and Yukino Yukinoshita frowned.

"Why?"

"I plan to take charge of this 'Club Showcase' and use my own abilities to promote our club's prestige."

"..."

After staring at him in surprise for a few seconds, the black-haired girl suddenly got up, walked to the kettle, skillfully brewed a cup of tea, and gently placed the paper cup next to his lunchbox.

Looking into his azure eyes, one sees a gentle and loving gaze, as warm as the sun.

"Tenkuji-kun, you're not really planning to carry out your stupid, reckless, and childish 'plan' at the exhibition, are you? That would make me think there's something wrong with your head."

"Do not worry."

Yuu Tenkuji picked up the teacup first, to prevent someone from taking it away in a fit of anger, before saying this:

"You may not believe you're a beautiful girl, but you have to believe in my abilities... What's truly frightening is my talent."

After the words were spoken, there was a few seconds of silence before the familiar cold air once again enveloped the entire classroom.

Giving him a look as if he were a maggot, Yukino Yukinoshita turned around and went back to her seat, picking up her chopsticks again.

"Let's get down to business. Talking to you only makes me feel bad."

"What a coincidence, I feel the same way."

……

Yuu Tenkuji didn't spend much effort persuading her.

Because no matter how much you talk, it's more convincing to take action than to do something.

Tomorrow after school, Yuuto Tenkuji will use facts to make Yukino Yukinoshita understand that he is not the kind of man who is only good at talking, but who dares to do what he says.