I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately frowned and retorted with great dissatisfaction:

"So what if we're girls? Yuihama-san, your thinking is completely wrong. Even if you can't trust yourself, please trust my abilities—and the school's security. If they dare to do anything to us, they'll have to say goodbye to the rest of their lives. There's absolutely nothing to be afraid of."

Yui Yuigahama slumped weakly onto the table: "That's not the problem..."

Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but sigh, "Never mind, I'll do it myself."

Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita immediately directed her dissatisfaction at him.

"There's absolutely no need. The progress is going very smoothly, and there's no reason to replace any members... Just do your job and don't interfere."

Tenkuji Yu didn't give her a friendly look either, and retorted righteously.

"What you think is none of my business; I'm just looking out for the club... Unless you can guarantee that anything you say won't cause trouble for your 'comrades,' I'll let you continue in charge of this matter."

"..."

The girl bit her lip and fell silent.

As the main executor of the plan, Yuuki Yuukino cannot ignore his opinion, but she also cannot confidently and assuredly make any guarantees.

With self-awareness, pride, and an unwillingness to lie, she could only resort to a mocking smile in her final, desperate attempt to deceive him.

"Won't your willful and reckless plan cause trouble for me and Yuihama? What a hypocrite you are."

Amidst the two's cold, glaring stares, Yui Yuigahama once again gave a wry smile and, as usual, began to offer her advice:

"Um, you two, please don't fight..."

"There was no arguing, just a normal discussion!"

"Waaah, I don't care about you guys anymore..."

Gazing into those unwilling yet stubborn, pale blue eyes, Tenkuji Yu said this earnestly:

"Is the Yukino Yukinoshita I know the kind of person who would swallow her pride and do things she doesn't want to do? If so, then do whatever you want, and I'll be happy to come up with a plan that won't bother you."

"...Don't talk like you know me so well."

With a cold tone, Yukino Yukinoshita fell silent, leaving the decision to him.

In the end, Yuu Tenkuji did not change his approach and continued to ask the two to inform other clubs that their Service Club would be going around challenging other clubs that day.

As a result, after the news spread, Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama received a lot of strange looks, and the previously unknown Service Club gradually appeared in the mouths of the members of various clubs.

Naturally, most of these discussions were met with a lighthearted attitude of finding it amusing and waiting to see the show, without taking them seriously at all.

Yuu Tenkuji is essentially hidden behind the scenes; no one knows him except the members of the cooking club.

Yui Yuigahama was just a runner-up, and she looked rather silly, posing no threat whatsoever.

As for the highly renowned Yukino Yukinoshita, no matter how talented or academically gifted she is, it's impossible for her to defeat them one by one in so many fields—holding this confident belief, those clubs actually welcome their challenge.

This might be the only chance to defeat the "Ice Queen," so how could I possibly refuse?

Nevertheless, Yukino Yukinoshita did not expose Yuu Tenkuji. Instead, she silently took the blame and memorized the faces of those who had spoken arrogantly in front of her, preparing to enjoy their changing expressions later.

"But don't get me wrong, this isn't because I have complete confidence in you."

"If you succeed by sheer luck, I'll mock those arrogant and conceited guys. If you fail, I'll turn around and laugh at you loudly... Either way, it'll be my victory."

Yuu Tenkuji remembers that Yuki-onna was smiling very happily at the time, as if she was looking forward to his Waterloo.

She was just as wicked as her sister, but not as twisted, and had a mischievous, girlish charm—which made Yuu Tenkuji both amused and exasperated, and changed her opinion of her somewhat.

That's about it for the school matters; everything is being prepared in full swing.

Meanwhile, Yuuki Asuna and the other girl continued to meet and study together at the cram school, and then walk home after class.

The night is the perfect setting for a date, and they chat about all the things that have happened to them, intertwining their otherwise parallel lives even more closely.

According to Asuna Yuuki, Nobuyuki Sugo has recently stopped visiting her regularly, citing his focus on work as an excuse. He also gives perfunctory answers to Kyoko Yuuki's inquiries, appearing to be drifting further and further away from the Yuuki family.

In response, Kyoko Yuuki seemed to think that he had voluntarily given up his desire to go on a blind date, and seeing that the two of them had not only not declined but had also risen to the top of the cram school, the voices of opposition gradually disappeared.

Regarding Asuna's increasingly late-night return home, Kyoko Yuuki stopped nagging her about the time; at most, she would just...

"Stop kissing so passionately in front of your house! I don't want to hear gossip like, 'The Yuki family's daughter has no shame, kissing a man in public!'"

Asuna Yuuki also had something to say about this:

"Mingming was aware of whether anyone was around when she kissed him! As long as Mom doesn't hide in the room and peek, no one will know, okay!"

And so on. Recently, the focus of the mother and daughter's arguments has gradually shifted towards their emotional life and moral principles, rather than their heavy academic burden and future prospects...

Yuu Tenkuji didn't know whether this change was good or bad.

But at least Asuna Yuuki said that she is very happy now—that's enough.

Chapter Ninety-Four: I Will Never Forget

September 19th, Friday evening.

The night was like thick ink spread across the sky. It had rained not long ago, and a cool breeze blew by, clear yet carrying a slightly damp feeling.

After escorting Asuna to the front door of the Yuuki family's residence, Yuu Tenkuji released her small hand.

"Message me when you get to Soubu High School. If I have time then, I'll come to visit you."

"Yes, I understand." Yuuki Asuna nodded and smiled, tucking a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, her eyes gentle and warm. "Father and brother said they want to see you, and they'll come over together as long as they're free that day."

Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly; this was the first time he had heard of this.

"Your father is one thing, but why is Hao getting involved... That guy used to go to any lengths to introduce you to me and try to match us up, but now he's acting like nothing happened?"

Asuna scratched her fair cheek and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Isn't that just his twisted sense of humor? Including that time he made me teach you a lesson in the game..."

Suddenly remembering something, she blinked and asked with great interest, "Before we met, did your brother tell you about me? How did he introduce me?"

After thinking it over, Yuu Tenkuji realized there was no need to lie and let Hao-ge suffer Asuna's iron fist—he wasn't that kind of person with a twisted sense of humor.

...The main problem is that even if I told Asuna, she might not believe me.

She is neither stupid nor lacking in self-awareness; if she doesn't try to fake it, it's easy to tell whether she's telling the truth or not.

Don't underestimate a girl in love.

Yuu Tenkuji then honestly replied, "Of course, I'll exaggerate her looks and personality to make her look good, after all, I'm trying to trick her..."

"So, did you fall for it?" she interrupted impatiently, her eyes sparkling like a child's.

“I fell for it, I fell for your trick.” He rolled his eyes, and Asuna chuckled with satisfaction. “And then there was the part about how you were overwhelmed by your mother and studies, and how your life would be in big trouble if a prince charming didn’t come to save you.”

"what……"

The chestnut-haired girl paused, her expression complex as she fell silent, then sighed, "Indeed... just as my brother said."

"If I hadn't entered that game, if I hadn't met Yu-kun, I might be forced by my mother to go on a blind date with Mr. Sugo. I would have been unwilling, but I wouldn't have had the courage to resist, and in the end..."

His voice suddenly became dry and hoarse, and he stopped abruptly as if he were nauseous.

With her fists clenched at her sides, Asuna bit her lip and shook her head vigorously, her chestnut hair swaying behind her.

She couldn't imagine, nor did she want to imagine, such an outcome—just the thought of her body being robbed of its warmth made her feel cold and tremble uncontrollably.

If we're going to accept this future, we might as well let her die.

Calming herself down, Asuna Yuuki took a deep breath and suddenly looked up.

With her loved one watching her from afar, a warm feeling of happiness and peace filled her heart once again, giving her the courage to face anything.

So she gave him a straightforward yet gentle smile: "I'm so glad I met you, Yu-kun."

"Thank goodness you saved my life, thank goodness you pulled me forward... Just like my brother said, you are my Prince Charming."

"...Hey, that's too much." Even with Tenkuji Yu's thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and looked away, scratching the hairs on the back of his neck.

"I just did what I wanted to do, there's no need to use such a formal statement..."

"What does it matter? It's just that important to me."

"Besides, Prince Charming is a perverted old man who kisses corpses. I hope you don't confuse me with him."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the tenderness in her eyes and the teasing smile froze on her face.

The atmosphere hadn't even shifted from heavy to warm before his words plunged it to freezing point.

Although she was already used to his mood-ruining behavior, Asuna Yuuki still touched her forehead and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"Yu-kun!"

Her tone was very stern, which reminded Tenkuji Yu of the feeling of being scolded by her mother in the past.

"Yes." He also composed himself and answered seriously.

Asuna glared at him fiercely, her eyebrows raised, and she spoke emphatically:

"I like even this about you! — I like it the most!"

"..."

Seeing Tenkuji Yu's astonished expression, she suddenly burst out laughing.

Then she tiptoed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him her soft lips.

It was neither intense nor provocative; she simply wanted to convey her boundless affection, which she felt could not express in words, into his heart.

A passionate and focused kiss.

Before long, strong, reliable arms wrapped around her, their breaths and warmth intertwining, as if to ignite the cool autumn night completely.

The shadows under the streetlights seem to merge into one.

……

Her face was flushed, she was panting, and her body felt weak as if it were melting. She leaned unsteadily against his chest.

This is a reaction that occurs no matter how many times it happens after a deep kiss.

Unfortunately, no matter how she attacked, the other party always responded calmly and easily, even pulling her into an even more tender abyss, gradually making her forget who she was and where she was, with only the embarrassing sound of water echoing in her mind.

Question: How should a girlfriend handle this complicated feeling about having a boyfriend who claims to have no dating experience but is more skilled at kissing than her?