I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Growing up with these phrases—"You should do this," "You can't do that"—she gradually developed a submissive personality and forgot what her true self was.

They live aimlessly, like puppets, performing a dull drama on the stage called life, where improvisation is not allowed.

The cage formed by kinship and cowardice—that is perhaps the unique tragedy of "Yuuki Asuna".

However, she now knows what it means to stand up for her own opinions and has learned to stand up and express her thoughts to her mother.

She found her way forward, like a swordsman grasping a sharp blade, where the tip pointed, and there was no longer any fear.

Yuu Tenkuji could clearly see the changes in Asuna Yuuki; in fact, it could be said that no one understood Asuna Yuuki better than him now.

"After all, this is the result I wanted..."

After a moment of reflection, he looked at the system panel and fell into deep thought: "However, it seems that the effort is still not enough. This little bit of courage is not enough to fulfill her 'wish'."

I don't know what level I need to reach. My current goal is just a guess by Tenkuji Yu. As long as it's not some exaggerated wish like actually marrying her or forming a happy family, everything is fine.

Thinking this, I swiped down on my phone and found that Asuna's message was not just that.

"However, Mom also set a few conditions... First, we shouldn't be too close; second, our grades can't drop; and third..."

She wants your information, including your school transcripts, talents, family background, etc.

"I'm so sorry! I've tried to persuade her, but Mom said that if you don't give it to me, she'll find out herself and it'll be the same. She also said that this is the biggest prerequisite for you to date me..."

"Let's talk about the rest over the phone! I'm going to study now. Just call me when you're done."

"As expected, this person's thinking hasn't changed. After learning about my information, their actions will change accordingly..."

Tenkuji Yuu wasn't surprised at all. He just gave a mocking smirk and then pressed the voice call button on LINE to call Yuuki Asuna.

The busy tone lasted only about a second before she answered it, seemingly having been glued to her phone the whole time.

"Yu-kun?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

"It's me, good evening."

"..."

After a subtle silence, Asuna giggled shyly, and her gentle, sweet voice rang out.

"Okay, good evening!"

For some inexplicable reason, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but laugh and spun around in his computer chair.

Why are you so happy?

Her lighthearted tone was almost dancing: "Of course I'm happy to hear your voice!"

"Huh? How could you say something like that? You're not Asuna, so who are you?"

"Excuse me, but these are my honest thoughts!" Asuna said in a questioning tone, a hint of dissatisfaction creeping in. "Yu-kun, are you saying you don't enjoy chatting with me?"

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. I'm just wondering, when did you become so frank?"

Holding the phone with one hand and silently typing on the keyboard with the other, Tenkuji Yu casually quipped:

"You were a bit arrogant not long ago, but now you almost have 'I like Yu-kun~' written all over your face. Of course I think you're a completely different person."

"You're the one who's completely different now! I really dislike you!" Asuna said irritably, but then suddenly remembered something and excitedly urged, "Yu-kun, Yu-kun, turn on your camera, let's have a video call!"

"Huh? Why?"

"No reason why! Okay, hurry up, I'll start now."

"alright."

Without any reason to refuse, Yuu Tenkuji placed his phone next to the computer screen and started a video call.

Soon, Asuna Yuuki's swaying figure appeared on the phone screen, while my own face was in the small split screen in the lower left corner, and I felt that I was even more handsome than before.

Ignoring the obvious, Yuu Tenkuji took a closer look at the background on the screen, witnessing for the first time the room of a girl other than her sister.

In that clean, tidy, and brightly lit bedroom, the chestnut-haired girl was adjusting the position of the camera with her hair disheveled. Her face, free of makeup, was fair and beautiful, and her long, curled eyelashes blinked occasionally. Her slightly parted mouth was as red and alluring as a cherry, and her soft, jade-like skin had no flaws even when she was very close to the camera.

She wore a thin, bright yellow nightgown, her arms were fair and slender with clearly defined curves, and her graceful figure, draped in simple home clothes, gave her a delicate and fragile appearance that made one want to hold her in their arms and cherish her.

Of course, this wasn't the first time he'd seen Asuna Yuuki in her pajamas.

However, games are ultimately different from reality. Looking at that pure, lovely, and unguarded appearance, even Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but feel his heart race and his mind wander. His gaze would always be "accidentally" drawn to the cleavage at her neckline.

His expression remained calm and composed, as if to say, "I've seen it all, and you think your looks can shake my resolve to cultivate myself."

"Why did you suddenly want to video call?"

Having finally adjusted the camera angle, Asuna Yuuki sat back in her chair, tidying her long hair which wasn't too messy, and said with a wry smile, "Don't you think this feels just like being in a game?"

"Even though we're far apart, we can see each other's expressions and make sure we're seen in each other's eyes... I really like this feeling."

"I see." After a slight pause, Tenkuji Yuu suddenly leaned closer to the camera and blinked hard. "Then look, can I see you in my eyes?"

"I'm serious... never mind." Asuna rolled her eyes at him helplessly as she took her hand off his hair. She was about to sigh when she couldn't help but smile.

"Unfortunately, I can't see yours—you can look at mine instead."

She leaned closer, blinked her bright eyes, and said with a smile, "How is it? Are you here?"

Tenkuji Yu studied the text for a long time, then sighed and shook his head.

"Sorry, I only saw the camera lens of the iPhone 12."

"I see."

Asuna Yuuki tilted her head, pouted as if she had just realized something, and muttered to herself, "So that means my heart is so full of you that there's no room left for my eyes."

"..."

Seeing that Tenkuji Yu suddenly fell silent, seemingly unsure of how to respond, Yuuki Asuna stood there, her face contorted in a frown, holding back for several seconds before finally giving in.

"Pfft... I didn't expect Yu-kun to be so bad at dealing with cheesy pickup lines... His shy expression is so cute..."

As if she had heard something amusing, she breathed softly, her ears burning red, and chuckled softly as she leaned on the table, her crescent moons almost squinting into straight lines.

With a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, Tenkuji Yu tapped the table in an annoyed tone: "Hey you over there, which eye of yours saw that I'm not good at dealing with people or that I'm shy?"

"Hmm, no, there really isn't any~"

Unfortunately, the girl opposite him had no intention of listening to his explanation at all. Instead, she raised her head and looked at him with loving and gentle eyes, full of tolerance.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Yuu Tenkuji decisively changed the subject.

"Enough with the small talk, let's get back to business."

"it is good--"

Chapter Seventy: A Pleasant (?) Mother-Daughter Conversation (Part Two)

The real business, of course, is how to eliminate Kyoko Yuuki, this major threat, so that the ending can smoothly conclude with the plan of "the two of them dying happily".

Of course, no matter how outspoken Yuu Tenkuji was, he wouldn't say something like, "Your mother is a major threat to us, and we must deal with her as soon as possible," in front of Asuna.

He gave this reply, which was solely in response to Kyoko Yuuki's request:

"There's no problem with being first or second. A purely platonic relationship and mutual encouragement in our studies are good things for us."

"As for the third point, you can tell her this..."

As Tenkuji Yu recounted the story, Yuuki Asuna, after her initial surprise, gradually pursed her lips, her expression becoming serious and earnest.

After he finished speaking, she sighed softly: "Is the reason you're so much more mature than others your age because of all these things that happened...?"

"That's not entirely true. How can a younger sister feel at ease if the older brother isn't a bit mature?"

After telling her about her experience of losing both parents and raising her younger sister alone, Tenkuji Yu shrugged indifferently as if she were talking about someone else's story: "You don't need to pity me. I think I'm doing quite well. Someone once said that we should leave our sadness in the past and focus on the present."

"Yes, I will only respect you, not pity you." Asuna Yuuki nodded vigorously, her gentle and bright eyes fixed on him, a slight smile on her lips. "In fact, I feel a little fortunate!"

"Thank goodness?" Yuu Tenkuji's eyes widened in astonishment.

Hearing about someone else's orphanage and actually feeling a sense of surprise... Even if you don't like receiving sympathetic glances from her, there's no need to gloat, is there?!

I never expected Asuna to be like this...

"Wait, don't misunderstand!"

Seeing his increasingly strange expression, Asuna Yuuki was stunned for a moment before hurriedly pushing back her chair and standing up. She frantically explained in front of the screen, "I... I mean, I'm just surprised and delighted that you're so kind and reliable! I absolutely didn't have any gloating thoughts at all!"

Her confession was too loud. If Yuu Tenkuji hadn't lowered the volume beforehand, Kasugano Sora from the next room would have heard it and started another family meeting with her.

"I know, I know... Calm down. The girl I like isn't this kind of dark-hearted girl, Asuna."

Following her example, Yuu Tenkuji naturally said the word "like," offering a slightly helpless consolation.

"Really? Really, really?"

Leaning down at the camera, Asuna Yuuki puffed out her rosy cheeks and stared at him earnestly and with a look of grievance: "Yu-kun, it didn't matter who misunderstood me before, but now, the only person I don't want to be misunderstood is you."

"That's why I'm not so easily misunderstood..."

Speechless, Yuu Tenkuji pressed his temples and unleashed his ultimate move. His expression suddenly turned affectionate as he moved closer to her figure on the screen, gazing intently back at her.

Then, in a magnetic voice:

"Asuna, it didn't matter who questioned me before, but now... the only person I don't want to be questioned is you."

Like a heater calling to the body in winter, like a blanket enticing consciousness in the early morning—a short sentence with such powerful impact.

The same sentence structure, but the reactions it elicited were completely different.

"Ah, yes, I understand... Thank you, Yu-kun."

After responding in a gentle and soft tone, the chestnut-haired girl, like a kitten that had suddenly quieted down, obediently sat back down in her chair.

She didn't look at the screen, but casually glanced away, her hands fidgeting nervously under the table, her shoulders slightly hunched.

She was all shy and hesitant, like a little girl holding back her urge to pee but afraid to go to the toilet—the difference being that her pretty face was so adorably red and charmingly shy.

"You're welcome. I'm glad you understand."

Satisfied with her reaction, Tenkuji Yu leaned back in her chair and said slowly, "Although our relationship in real life is still a bit ambiguous, we're at least married in the game, so giving you a little fanservice is nothing."

Hearing his condescending tone, Yuuki Asuna couldn't help but roll her eyes. She wanted to say something, but then suddenly chuckled.

"Then I'll gratefully accept this fanservice!"

She stretched out her slender, fair finger and poked his face on the screen, then sighed in a helpless yet amused tone.