I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"I thought you would help me get it, but you pretended not to see it... Little Youyou, that will get you points deducted, you know?"

Then, she proudly boasted about the low-class scoring standard of "Yono Point," and even threatened him with a vow to deduct the score to a negative number.

"I just forgot, it wasn't intentional."

Having failed to fool her, Yuu Tenkuji could only lift her rather heavy duffel bag and say helplessly, "Even a fake boyfriend is still a boyfriend, so why would I deliberately tease you just to make things easier?"

"Hoo hoo, who knows?"

Yukino turned her head slightly, tilting it at a 45-degree angle backward. Her bright eyes narrowed with a cunning light as she smiled mischievously at him.

"You might have been thinking to yourself just now: 'Hmph, as long as I play dumb and act slow, that pretty woman won't be able to use me as a tool! That's right, even if it's a rented boyfriend, I absolutely refuse to carry her bags!'"

—Then, while silently cursing me for being ungrateful, she took my old clothes and resignedly followed behind me.

She imitated his voice in a rough voice, then laughed at her own clumsy performance, her eyes full of teasing amusement.

Unable to find a reason to defend himself, Tenkuji Yu was speechless and could only manage to utter a single sentence as if giving up the struggle:

"...You're quite pretty."

"Wow, thank you~" She blinked, a look of surprise on her face, and then lectured him in the manner of an older sister.

"However, it's best to say these things the moment you see the person; it will make them feel more sincere!"

"...That's right, I will keep your teachings in mind."

Tenkuji Yu sighed, feeling the bag in her hand grow even heavier.

With a soft chuckle, Yukinoshita's laughter was incredibly hearty, heard only by a few people.

"Hahahaha! Your expression is so unwilling! You really can't do this, little Youyou~"

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: one high jump (proficient level)."

...I think I'm pretty good at it.

△

After stuffing the luggage bag into the coin locker, Yukinoshita Haruno pulled him to the counter to complete the formalities.

After buying a one-day pass that included access to all the facilities in the museum—Yukino Yukinoshita paid for it—the two began discussing which place to visit first.

Of course, Yuu Tenkuji, who was just there to accompany her, didn't have the authority to make the decision. Yukino Yukinoshita quickly and decisively decided on the route, and decided to follow the map all the way up.

This sports center has five floors, with two or three different activities on each floor, including swimming, shooting, fencing, archery, combat sports, billiards, golf, and more. It has almost every kind of sport you could want, and if you wanted to try them all, a whole day might not be enough.

Knowing this, Yang Nai revised her plan, deciding to play the activities that interested her first, and deal with the rest when she had time.

"Um, I forgot my swimsuit, delete that... I'm not in the mood for swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, delete that..."

With her eyebrows slightly furrowed, Yukino Yukino stared at the guidebook, pondering for a long while. She glanced at her boyfriend, who was lost in thought and waiting for her to make a decision, then suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled and said to him:

"Little Youyou, are you confident in your skills?"

"Huh?" Tenkuuji Yu snapped out of his daze and turned to look at her with a strange expression. "...What kind of technique?"

Is it really appropriate to ask him this question in public?

"These things! Don't get the wrong idea."

She waved the guidebook introducing the various facilities in the museum, put one hand on her hip to accentuate her curves, and looked him up and down with great interest.

"Although I haven't practiced much, for most of the competitive sports here, apart from professional athletes, basically no one can beat me?"

"Ahem, I see..."

Putting aside the embarrassment of her misunderstanding, Tenkuji Yu nodded knowingly, pondering the purpose behind her words.

"So, you want to ask me if I want to have a match with you?"

"Clever!" Yukinoshita Haruno clapped her hands, her black hair in a single ponytail swaying, beaming with joy.

"Indeed, it's more fun to have a competition when two people are playing together!"

"How about it? Interested in participating in the 'Twelve Trials of a Great Hero'?"

Yuu Tenkuji was completely bewildered:

"The Great Hero's... Twelve Trials?"

Clearly, Ms. Yang is speaking inhuman language again.

Chapter Twenty-One: Yukino's Six Paths Trial

The Twelve Trials is a story from Greek mythology.

Hercules, the most famous hero in ancient Greek mythology and the son of Zeus and Alcmene, accomplished twelve tasks in his life that were considered "absolutely impossible." This feat is commonly known as the "Twelve Trials."

Even if you don't know much about mythology, many people have heard this name in a certain pay-to-win game, and Tenkuji Yu is one of them.

So what puzzled him wasn't "what are the Twelve Trials," but rather "why a competition could be related to the Twelve Trials."

Yukino Yukinoshita doesn't seem like a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) sufferer... Or is chuunibyou a national characteristic of the Japanese?

"Let's put it this way."

Seeing his expression, which seemed to question her intelligence, Yukinoshita Haruno wasn't angry. Instead, she wiggled her right index finger and said:

"Next, each experience activity is a trial—if you can get a better score than me, or even beat me, it means you have passed the trial."

"If we can pass all twelve... well, that seems a bit too difficult, and there's not enough time."

His index finger suddenly paused, then swiftly pointed straight at him.

Yukino tilted her head, raised her eyebrows, and revealed a confident smile.

"If you can beat me six times over anything in this arena that can be used in a competition, then I'll acknowledge you as a great hero who has passed the trial!"

"..."

The scene fell silent for a moment.

—How embarrassing. I'm not a child anymore. Who would want that kind of title?

Just as Tenkuji Yu was thinking this and preparing to refuse, Yukinoshita Haruno added:

"Here's another gift that perfectly matches a hero!"

"Of course, if I've already said all this and you still intend to refuse..."

Her fingers transformed into a palm, and she patted his shoulder with a very friendly smile.

“I’m going to file a complaint with your firm, saying that you took the money but didn’t do the job, and you cheated us innocent and lovely consumers.”

Yuu Tenkuji: "..."

Stop lying, you don't have an ounce of innocence or cuteness about you!

While internally complaining, Tenkuji Yuu was not afraid of Yukinoshita Haruno's threat.

Although the rented lovers are all managed by the website's agencies, they not only have to follow the agencies' reasonable business arrangements, but also have to hand over half of their monthly revenue—

But that has nothing to do with Yuuki Tenkuji.

The firm's part is handled by the system. Not to mention handing over that 210,000 that he never received, even if that damn firm actually called to scold him and tell him how to please the client, he would choose to hang up the phone directly.

He's just doing system tasks, not actually making money for others; if you complain, just complain, as long as it doesn't interfere with his mining.

Of course, because he wanted to get a reward from Yukinoshita Haruno, and to prevent her from getting bored and leaving the meeting, Tenkuji Yu agreed to the "Yukinoshita Haruno's Six Paths Trial".

Before that, he still needs to make some preparations.

"You seem very confident?"

With her arms crossed, Tenkuji Yu looked displeased, as if she had been provoked by her nonchalant attitude.

Do I really look that weak?

"Weak? No, no!" She quickly waved her hand.

"Didn't I just say? I've practiced most of the sports here, and I've never lost to anyone my age, let alone..."

After a pause, Yukinoshita Haruno looked him up and down, gestured with her thumb and forefinger to indicate a length, and pursed her lips to suppress a laugh.

"You're a little brother now."

"..."

Damn! (Chinese-Japanese bilingual)

Alright, no need to act this time—on Tenkuji Yu's slightly twitching cheeks was a completely displeased expression that said, "You just wait, I'll show you how small I really am."

As a man, how could I remain unmoved when someone speaks ill of me to my face?

—Whether I can win or not, I have to fight for myself!

"Okay, I'll decide what we compete in, okay?"

He took the guidebook from Yang Nai's hand, his gaze sweeping over the names of the various facilities, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Sure!

Unaware of any change in his expression, Yukinoshita stretched her fingers and smiled nonchalantly.

"Choose what you're good at, that'll be more fun!"

Even though she brought it up first, she didn't treat it like a competition at all, but rather like a simple game of cat and mouse, with a relaxed and casual attitude.

I don't know if he was too confident in himself, or if he simply didn't take this Japanese high school student seriously.

To this, Yuu Tenkuji can only say—

Even in a cat-and-mouse game, there are exceptions like "Tom and Jerry".

"It's decided."

After returning the guidebook to her, Yuu Tenkuji glanced at the skill list that only she could see, her tone carrying a strangely confident smile.

"Let's start by comparing this."

△

Ten-meter air gun firing range.

"Are you sure you want to have a shooting contest with me?"