I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Even if you're having a great time chatting with me, you still need to be more mindful of your surroundings when you're out and about. You silly, top student."

"Yu...kun?" She looked rather adorable in her surprise.

"Don't you recognize me? I didn't adjust my avatar's appearance at all." After a helpless sigh, Yuu Tenkuji smiled at her and said, "It's been a long time, Asuna."

"..."

Although the name and the character's name are pronounced the same, Asuna Yuuki can understand that he is calling her own name, not "Asuna".

With her mouth slightly open, Yuuki Asuna stood there for a few seconds before suddenly raising her small hand and pressing that cool, soft touch against his cheek.

"Is this the temperature in reality...?"

This time, it was Tenkuji Yu's turn to be surprised: "Asuna?"

Ignoring her, she meticulously stroked the shape of her face with her fingers, seemingly lost in thought, muttering to herself.

Tenkuji Yu didn't move, but at close range, he watched as a faint blush, unique to young girls, appeared on her delicate, jade-like face.

His gaze was drawn to the edges of her fair, pinkish-white ears. The fine, adorable downy hairs did not escape his sharp eyes, and he could even faintly hear her breathing, a warm breath that could dispel the chill.

Looking closely at this young woman, one is suddenly struck by the feeling of admiring a work of art; one's heartbeat slows down, as if afraid of disturbing her beauty.

Unlike the fictional game, the real-life Asuna Yuuki is graceful and radiant, captivating all who see her.

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Gymnastics (Proficient Level)."

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

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Sewing (Master Level)."

The jarring system notification snapped Sky Temple Yuu out of her reverie.

"what……"

The girl in front of him suddenly came to her senses, and with a soft cry of surprise, she lowered her hand.

Her slender, pale fingers curled up shyly, and Yuuki Asuna hurriedly looked away, tucking her long hair behind her ear, seemingly unable to meet his gaze.

Why are you here?

As she asked this question to cover up her embarrassment, she also noticed him getting soaked while holding an umbrella for her. She quickly raised her umbrella and took a step back, saying, "Sorry, I didn't notice..."

"Do you want to hear why I'm here, what happened, or how?" Shrugging indifferently, Tenkuji Yu put the umbrella back over her head and took the handkerchief she offered, wiping the little raindrops off her face.

"Can't you tell me everything?"

"Yes, but there will be a price to pay."

Asuna Yuuki looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Tenkuji Yu put away his umbrella, snuggled up to her, and their shoulders touched: "You hold the umbrella for me, and I'll tell you a story."

"...Pfft." Asuna couldn't help but laugh, gently covering her mouth and giving him a reproachful look. "You're really something, shouldn't it be the other way around?"

"That's why I mentioned the price," Yuu Tenkuji said with a roguish grin. "I've never had a girl hold an umbrella for me, so you're the one who came out ahead."

"Yes, yes~ I really hit the jackpot~" With her eyes half-closed and seemingly helpless, Asuna Yuuki raised her hand and tilted the umbrella towards him.

The rain quickly soaked her other shoulder, but she didn't feel the slightest bit cold. Her whole body felt warm and cozy, and she didn't care about getting wet at all.

As much as Yuuki Tenkuji does, he would never joke about her health.

So I had her take a different umbrella.

"My umbrella is bigger, you can use mine."

"..."

Asuna Yuuki stared at his profile, lost in thought.

This person's personality remains unchanged, both in reality and in the game.

If I had been treated like that a few days ago, I would definitely have cursed inwardly: What an annoying guy!

But right now, my heart is filled with the feeling that "he's actually quite cute like this~".

Hmm, are girls really such fickle creatures?

"...Okay, got it."

With a helpless sigh, Asuna Yuuki took the umbrella that could easily fit two people and handed him her own umbrella.

After doing all this, he suddenly put his hand on his shoulder and gently embraced her.

The burning heat seeped through the clothes and instantly traveled from the shoulder to the face.

"Yu-Yu-kun?!"

Her eyes widened in astonishment, and she froze on the spot, unable to move. It was the first time in real life that a boy had touched her like this, and her body felt like a brand-new machine that needed more time to adjust to the temperature.

Nevertheless, Asuna was unwilling to create distance for the time being, and simply tried to relax her tense body.

They've even slept in the same bed in the virtual world, so a mere shoulder is nothing, a mere shoulder... Ugh, damn it, why is he so calm!

"First, this way we can compress our size and avoid getting wet in the rain as much as possible." Smelling her fresh and elegant hair fragrance, Tenkuji Yu explained in a serious tone, "Second, if you're holding an umbrella, I can't hold your hand. If I want to hold your hand, I have to take the umbrella from your hand."

"Didn't I say I'd hold your hand next time we meet? But things don't allow that now, so I'll just have to use my shoulder instead."

Leaning against his chest, Asuna Yuuki remembered that she had indeed said something that sounded like a confession: "I hope you can hold my hand when we meet again."

But now, he couldn't feel ashamed because of his sophistry-like explanation, and his feelings were a bit mixed.

Tenkuji Yu's willingness to keep his promise pleased her; his skillful handling of a girl he had just met angered her; his complete lack of resistance towards her saddened her; even after leaving the virtual world, his attitude towards her remained unchanged, and she even felt a sense of progress, which delighted her.

Her thoughts suddenly became complicated, so now, the question that Yuuki Asuna most wanted to ask was:

"Yu-kun, in reality, what exactly is our relationship...?"

In a purely online relationship, how could you possibly put your arm around someone of the opposite sex's shoulder when you meet in person?

If that's the case, then this person definitely has the nature of a scumbag, and we can't afford not to keep a close eye on him!

"Our relationship..."

The pattering rain fell outside the umbrella, turning into ripples at my feet.

As he led her forward, Tenkuji Yu said something as if he were shirking responsibility.

"Frankly, you should answer this question yourself."

"What do you mean?"

Asuna Yuuki looked up, puzzled.

Sky Temple gazed ahead, her voice clear and gentle in the rain: "Why do you want me to hold your hand? What are your own feelings? What do you want me to be to you? Our relationship depends on the answers to these questions."

He lowered his head and smiled as he met her eyes.

"As for me, I'm just here to get back my online game wife."

“I’m a bit stubborn, and even when I’m acting, I have to go all the way. So before that ring disappears, I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and bring you back to ‘that world’.”

His tone seemed casual, but his eyes were incredibly serious. He stared into her eyes, as if trying to see through any change in her expression: "What you think is your business, but I won't lie to myself—that's why I came to find you today, and why I'll start bothering you from now on."

"If you dislike something, just say so, and I'll give up on it decisively."

As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of rain seemed to suddenly become noisy and chaotic.

As if finding it hard to accept, Asuna Yuuki subconsciously bit her lip, lowered her head, and remained silent.

In other words, he didn't pursue me in real life because he liked me, but because he wanted to "finish what he started"?

So the reason for wanting to team up with her to overcome the current predicament was simply for the sake of the game's quests...

No, that's not right! It has nothing to do with these things!

Asuna Yuuki shook her head, her eyes gradually hardening from confusion and unease to determination.

Just like he said, the answer he wanted to confirm could only be found within himself.

Why do I want him to hold my hand?

—Because during the time she was Asuna, she fell in love with that imaginary world, and she also fell in love with him.

How do I feel right now?

—I want to gain the courage to change from him, and I also want to cross the line between virtual and reality to be with him in a real way, from the very beginning... no, from zero.

What do you want him to become for you?

Husband and wife? Lovers?

Regardless of the nature of the relationship, attempting to draw conclusions now always evokes a sense of uncertainty and illusion, like a bubble that could burst at the slightest breath.

It's too short. She hasn't known him for very long, and even if she does like him, she can't honestly tell him.

—Even so.

Asuna Yuuki also wanted to convey to Yuu Tenkuji the warm feelings welling up in her heart.

The rain stopped intermittently.

She stopped, looked up, and her clear, bright eyes met his without flinching.

"If I had to choose between disliking or not disliking, I would choose not to dislike."

"If it comes to whether to give up or not, I hope you won't give up."

As she spoke, Asuna Yuuki suddenly laughed, her expression seemingly sparkling, radiating an overly confident coolness.

"Yu-kun, this is my own choice, and I will never regret it!"

"I want to be with you, to learn more about you, to complete all the missions in the game with you, and to see all the scenery in that world with you!"

"I want to go back to that little house with you, and openly call myself your 'wife'."

Two blushes touched her fair cheeks as she leaned her head against his shoulder, her voice soft and gentle, and she said with a smile:

"Can we be together as my 'online boyfriend'?"

There was absolutely no need for Yuu Tenkuji to hesitate about this question.

"Right on my mind."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Internet Technology (Expert Level)."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Mind Skill (Limited) (Status)."