I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"The literal meaning!" Kyoko Yuuki glanced at her condescendingly, her tone stern. "Asuna, although you are the daughter I have carefully nurtured, you are still a bit short of the standard to be worthy of a world-class pianist. You must work harder to build your own value so that you can stand tall and proud beside him in the future!"

As he spoke, his cold and stern voice seemed to gradually soften: "The most important thing is not who is superior or inferior between the man and woman, but that they can stand at the same level, face the rest of their lives side by side, and see the same scenery from the same perspective... Do you understand what I mean?"

"Well……"

Asuna pouted, unable to speak.

Recalling the radiant image of that person wielding notes and playing exquisite music on stage, she couldn't help but look down and examine herself, wondering if she was qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with such brilliance.

However, Yuuki Asuna quickly smiled confidently, her face showing no trace of gloom.

Even if she couldn't stand beside him, she could still stand behind him and support his back.

As long as two people like each other, no matter how many difficulties lie ahead, they should believe in themselves, believe in each other, and be brave enough to face them.

Then we will be invincible.

This was the most important thing he told her in the imaginary world.

"Furthermore, if you are really prepared to get married, I hope you can make him change."

Suddenly remembering something, Kyoko Yuuki frowned, her tone critical: "Whether it's youthful impetuosity or for the sake of the show, saying such arrogant things in front of so many people is just asking for trouble. It's so childish that it's unbearable to watch."

"A tall tree catches the wind; many geniuses die young. If you're too arrogant before you've accumulated enough capital and confidence, you'll easily end up fading into obscurity."

Asuna shook her head, her expression calm and without a trace of worry: "I believe in Yu-kun. He wouldn't make such a choice on a whim. He's more mature than we think. He doesn't need anyone to advise him, and he can take responsibility for his choices."

"You trust him that much?" Kyoko Yuuki frowned even more deeply.

Of course!

Asuna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, tilted her delicate chin slightly, and smiled proudly.

Those eyes, gazing into the distance, were as gentle as the autumn Milky Way reflected on the water.

"He is the hero who changed me. Even if he is not omnipotent, I believe that no matter how difficult the task is, he can do it."

"...Fine, whatever."

The way she wholeheartedly trusted someone and was proud of them made Kyoko Yuuki shake her head and stop talking.

A married daughter is truly like water spilled from a cup... she's already bent over before she's even married.

Talking along the way, the two quickly arrived at the cooking club classroom.

Because of Yuu Tenkuji's arrogant remarks during his award acceptance speech, a lot of people who wanted to watch the spectacle and make a fool of themselves had gathered here, making the not-so-wide aisle completely crowded.

Asuna Yuuki stood on tiptoe and looked towards the surging crowd, saying with distress, "What should we do? We can't get through like this..."

Should we call Yu-kun and tell him?

Just as she was thinking this, a strong, youthful voice suddenly rang out from the clubroom:

"I'm sorry, but because there are too many onlookers, we've decided to move the challenge to the outer courtyard!"

"Please disperse for a moment so we can move our equipment out. Otherwise, the cooking club and the service club's challenge activities won't be able to proceed!"

I need to take a break; I'll update more tomorrow.

This is the second time I've taken leave this month. I hope I can get my sleep schedule back to normal while I'm at it... but the chances are slim. Sad.

I'll try to write more tomorrow, since you all say I'm guaranteed at least 8,000 words and can reach 10,000. I'll try my best and see if I can finish writing the second volume directly.

Hopefully, some people will return in Volume 3, and I should consider making the synopsis a bit more outrageous.

Chapter 104 Cooking Competition Part 2 (Two-in-One)

"You want to cook in the courtyard?"

Yui Yuigahama looked surprised as she glanced at Yuu Tenkuji, who had finished discussing things with Department Head Yukima and was now rolling up his sleeves to start moving things.

"Yes. Although I expected a lot of people to gather, I didn't expect it to be this many."

Folding up a table and easily carrying it in his hand, he explained, "To avoid inconveniencing those who want to visit other clubs, Minister Xingzhen requested a space from the school so we could hold our cooking competition in the courtyard."

Glancing at the surging crowd outside, Yukino Yukinoshita crossed her arms and said, "The impact you've had is far greater than I expected."

"Isn't this exactly what we're after? The greater the influence, the higher the popularity, and the more votes we get."

"Winning both competitions... Hmm." After pursing her lips and pondering for a while, Miss Snow Woman smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, I quite like this style of doing everything perfectly."

After a moment of surprise, Tenkuji Yu bowed deeply to her and said, "I'm sorry, I can't accept your confession."

That cool and lovely face instantly darkened: "Who confessed to you? Please don't have such a disgusting misconception."

Beside her, Haruno nudged Yui Yuigahama's shoulder and lowered her voice with great interest: "Hey, have they always had this kind of feeling?"

"Uh...yeah, they start arguing after just a few words." Yui Yuigahama nodded with a wry smile, her tone somewhat complicated. "But despite the tense atmosphere, their relationship is better than you might think, isn't it? Like their bickering."

"Hmm, I see~" Yang Nai stroked his chin and looked at her thoughtfully.

At this moment, Yuu Tenkuji, displaying the demeanor of a department head, called out to the onlookers, "Stop watching from there and come help carry things! The seasonings and ingredients aren't heavy; each of you should take at least one item."

Before Yuihama could speak, Haruno stepped forward with a grin, feigning obedience: "Yes, Captain~"

"Sister, it's me, the minister!" Yukino protested, pursing her lips, her sharp gaze sweeping towards Tenkuji Yuu again.

"I'm a club instructor, and I still get bossed around by that guy." Hiratsuka Shizuka scratched her head and sighed helplessly. She picked up a plastic bag that looked rather heavy, and when she picked it up, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise. "Wow, what's this? It's really heavy."

"Leftover rice, today's ingredients."

Do we really need that many?

"Since this is a rare opportunity, let's just have a public tasting session."

After saying that, Yuu Tenkuji used his other hand to lift the second table and said to Yui Yuigahama, who was hesitating about what to help carry, "Yuigahama, go ahead and clear the way. Let those who want to watch wait in the courtyard. Don't block the corridor."

"Ah, yes!"

Yui Yuigahama immediately bowed, then wagged her tail and rushed towards the door, mustering her courage to call out, "B-Everyone, those who want to watch the cooking competition, please gather in the courtyard first—"

The culinary research team and the service club members immediately set off.

"So obedient~" Yang walked to Tenkuji Yu's side and inexplicably sighed, her smile full of meaning.

Tenkuji Yu gave her a strange look, thought for a moment, and then suddenly spoke.

"Miss Yang Nai, why don't you take a couple of steps forward and see?"

"Huh? Is that so?" With something still in her hand, Yang Nai looked at him in confusion after taking two steps.

Without answering, Tenkuji Yu walked past her, muttering nonchalantly:

"So obedient!"

Yukinoshita Yono: "..."

She stood there with a strange look in her eyes, watching the back of the boy who carried two tables with ease, and her lips twitched slightly as if she didn't know whether to smile or not.

Good grief, they actually retaliated in kind—did they know what she wanted to say before doing this?

Despite it being their first meeting, her handling of him was so practiced, and the instant familiarity she exuded was keenly noticed by Yukinoshita Haruno.

"How interesting..." The scene before leaving the Service Club flashed through her mind, and a pleasant smile appeared on her soft lips. "I don't think I've been this interested in puzzle games since I graduated from elementary school, have I?"

With a chuckle, Yukino followed him and walked towards the outside of the cooking clubroom.

△

As noon approached, the gray sky seemed to brighten, and it didn't look like it would rain anytime soon.

This is also the source of the confidence that the Culinary Research Institute and the Service Club dared to hold this culinary duel in the open courtyard.

There were no judges or hosts, and the setup wasn't very formal. There were just two long tables facing each other, each with a portable gas stove, ingredients, pots and pans, and so on.

The third long table is where the food is placed after it's cooked; the disposable dishes and chopsticks are neatly arranged, and the trash can is right next to it. Beyond this open space is a large crowd of onlookers.

With everything prepared, Yuu Tenkuji approached Minister Yukima.

"The topic is fried rice. There are no time or ingredient limits. Just make the same amount."

After all, it's a gentleman's competition, so there's no need to set too many rules. After the dishes are finished, everyone knows who won and who lost.

"Alright, I won't lose to you this time!"

With the white towel tied around his head, Minister Yukima returned to his makeshift kitchen with renewed fighting spirit.

Neither of them needed assistants; the culinary club members were maintaining order and explaining the situation to the audience, while the service club...

"We'll just watch from the sidelines if you don't need any help."

Having witnessed his culinary skills, which were practically drugging, Yukino Yukinoshita wisely refrained from interfering, even though she was quite confident in her own cooking abilities.

Although it was a challenge activity for the Service Club, under his insistence, she, the club president, and Yui Yuigahama were just pure supporting characters. Originally, she was a little unwilling, but now, Yukinoshita was actually looking forward to seeing how far he could go.

"Of course, you just stay here and wait to eat."

After washing her long, slender, fair fingers, Yuu smiled at them. Just as she was about to turn around and take the ingredients out of the packaging, she suddenly saw something in the crowd.

He dried his hands, took out his phone, and made a call.

"Yeah, I see you... Do you want to come over? My friends and teachers are here... Sure, your mom's in the way, I'm telling the truth... Alright, find a good spot to keep watch, and when it's ready I'll bring you a bowl so you can see my cooking skills!"

After laughing and finishing speaking, as he put his phone back in his pocket, he noticed that all the women around him were looking at him, and he tilted his head in confusion:

"what happened?"

"that……"

Yui Yuigahama hesitated, but Yukino Yukinoshita didn't seem to care as much and asked with a slightly teasing expression:

"Are you talking to your girlfriend on the phone? You sound so intimate!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka examined her fist, her expression solemn and deep: "Whoever feeds me dog food, I'll kill them... That's right, I'll use this 'Killing Normies Fist'."

"You guys are so nosy." Yuu Tenkuji rolled her eyes and casually explained, "Let's just say that's how it is. She brought her mother to see me, and it's not convenient for her to introduce her to you right now."

"Don't worry, I have absolutely no interest in your private life, so there's no need for an introduction." With a slight lift of her delicate chin, Yukino Yukinoshita gestured towards the kitchen counter opposite her, which was already being lit. "You should hurry up and start too, you're already behind."

"Don't worry, it'll be ready soon." After glancing around, Tenkuji Yuu looked at the Chinese wok and long-handled ladle on the stove and twisted his wrist.

Unsurprisingly, Yui Yuigahama's expression wasn't very pleasant, while Yukino Yukinoshita seemed quite interested in his private life—in any case, Yuu Tenkuji didn't care about their reactions.

Anyway, after the mission is over, no one will remember that they ever had a girlfriend; even if you introduce Asuna to them today, they might become strangers again the next day.