I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

“This isn’t a world where you can get whatever you want, a world that’s so simple and gentle.” Tenkuji turned back, not even looking at her expression, and started walking again. “Whether you go too far in being twisted or too far in being right, you’ll encounter things that are beyond your control and end up hurting yourself.”

"Only by finding your own way of dealing with the world through constant injuries can you be considered a mature human being, Natsukawa-kun."

Watching him walk away, having uttered those words, I realized he was a figure who was gradually disappearing from sight.

Natsukawa Masaki stood there, slowly lowered her head, and remained silent for a long time.

"...Ha, stop with the nice talk."

It sounded as if it were bursting out from between his teeth, filled with contempt, self-mockery, and vulnerability.

"If there's a better way, tell me now! How about I rent you to be my boyfriend? Sorry, my allowance isn't enough for that."

"Unlike the 'mature you,' someone like me can only think of boring and despicable ideas like coercion and bribery."

"How ridiculous..."

The words were mixed with the rustling of leaves in the wind, and even they themselves could hardly hear them.

Not long after, Natsukawa Masaki took a deep breath, concealing the faint hint of sincerity in his expression, and his face returned to a calm one. He no longer intended to continue the argument.

So be it if I fail. I don't mind pestering him, but I don't want to waste time on meaningless things... I'd rather use that time to think about how to deal with the situation if word gets out that I asked Yuu Tenkuji to be my fake boyfriend.

Just as she was lost in thought, the sound, which she thought had faded away, suddenly rang out again from ahead.

"So you're still far from mature enough."

Surprised, I looked up and saw him staring at me from where the setting sun was casting its rays.

"Since things have come to this point, why not try to honestly ask someone for help? The risks of threatening others are far greater than the risks of asking for help, aren't they?"

"Seeking help?" Xia Chuanzhen's azure eyes were like icy pools. He sneered, sounding as if he had given up on himself. "That's exactly what I did in the first place. Have you forgotten how decisively you rejected me? Do you want me to count how many goldfish you have in your head?"

"With your tone and hypocritical attitude, anyone with a backbone wouldn't agree to this." Tenkuji Yu rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I'm not asking you to be a naive and innocent girl, nor do I expect you to be humble—just speaking properly shouldn't be difficult, right? Or are you just naturally crooked-eyed and crooked-mouthed, and I need to help you smooth things over?"

"Before you lecture others, I hope you can have some self-awareness." With a sneer, Natsukawa Masuzu lowered her eyes thoughtfully, her expression gradually becoming serious.

Suddenly, she clasped her hands together on her lower abdomen and bowed gently to Tenkuji Yu.

"I need a fake boyfriend to solve my problems. Please help me, Tenkuji-kun."

His silver hair fell down, obscuring his expression, and his tone was not very sincere, even lacking in inflection.

This was perhaps just an experiment for her; she wasn't very confident and didn't expect any good results.

But for Yuu Tenkuji, that was enough—even if it was just a lie, there were lies that could make people feel good.

"You should have said that earlier. I'm not some kind of devil."

Tenkuji Yu smiled, his profile bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight, no longer showing any coldness.

"It is only natural for us to lend a helping hand to classmates who are in trouble."

"Welcome to the Service Club, Natsukawa-san."

……

In a special building, in a classroom without a class sign.

"Xiaoyou is so slow...Xiaoxue, what do you think Xia Chuan wants to talk to him about?"

Sitting on the bench, Yui Yuigahama kept glancing at her phone and then at the door, her legs swinging involuntarily, looking restless.

The black-haired girl by the window turned the pages of her book without looking up, and said in a calm and indifferent tone, "If you care so much, why don't you just go after them and see?"

"No, no!" Yui Yuigahama hurriedly waved her hands, pursed her lips slightly, and lowered her voice, "That's their privacy, how can we go and eavesdrop! Besides, Yuu asked me to come to the club and wait for him..."

“I meant to chase after him and ask him directly, just ask what you care about, I didn’t ask you to eavesdrop…” Yukino Yukinoshita’s delicate cheek twitched slightly, she pinched her brow and sighed helplessly, “If you can’t do that, just listen to him and wait obediently, and when he comes, you can make him confess, right?”

“Confess and you'll be treated leniently…” Yui Yuigahama lowered her head, poking her index fingers together in a wronged tone. “I’m not anyone to Yu, there’s nothing I can do if he doesn’t want to talk…”

Chapter Ten: Master, is it alright to say this?

Yukino Yukinoshita's eyebrows twitched. No longer polite, she raised her cold gaze from her book and said, "Then shut up and stop disturbing my reading."

"Waaaaah, Xiaoxue is so heartless..."

Yui Yuigahama naturally understood that her appearance was very annoying, and she had thought about calming down like a mature adult and remaining unmoved.

But I still care!

The thought of how Natsukawa greeted him yesterday only intensified his premonition of the "confession incident." Even though he believed Natsukawa wouldn't accept her, he couldn't suppress his unease and fear.

This feeling seems even more painful than when I was rejected after confessing my feelings...

Yui Yuigahama paused for a moment, then shook her head.

No, it seems like being rejected after confessing is more painful. Back then, I hid under the covers and cried until my eyes were swollen and I couldn't open them. Compared to that, the fact that the person I liked was called away to confess to by a pretty girl in my grade was nothing!

“…How boring.” Looking at her ever-changing expression, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and seemingly lost in thought, Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head uninterestedly, looked away, and prepared to continue reading her book.

Just then, the door to the Service Department was opened.

"Awaited."

Yuu Tenkuji, carrying his schoolbag, closed the door with a relaxed air and walked to his usual seat.

Yukino Yukinoshita closed her book, her bright eyes looking at him, her tone subtly amused: "Were you called away to confess?"

Just as she was about to say something, upon hearing this, Yui looked over in shock: "Yuki is so direct!"

The black-haired girl shrugged, looking nonchalant: "Isn't this a common occurrence? I don't think there's any need to be superstitious about it."

Yui Yuigahama pouted and said, "Then it's only popular people like you..."

“There’s nothing wrong with saying it.” Yuu Tenkuji glanced at her, pondering whether to explain a few words first or get straight to the point, before turning to Yukino Yukinoshita and saying, “Speaking of which, rumors about us are everywhere, and you still have the leisure to gossip about me? That’s quite surprising.”

"A scandal?" Yukino Yukinoshita paused, her cherry lips slightly parted, and asked in a daze, "What scandal?"

"...It seems you didn't notice at all."

Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but laugh. It's rare to see Yukinoshita so adorable; she's much cuter than usual.

Then, he casually pushed away Yui Yuigahama's head, who had suddenly leaned in and was sniffing his scent like a puppy, and said something casually:

"Stop smelling it, it's definitely her scent."

Although Natsukawa Masuri wasn't wearing perfume, whether it was natural or from using high-end shower gel, her scent lingered on his clothes the moment she came close.

As if she had caught her husband cheating, Yui Yuigahama stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her cheeks gradually losing color.

"So, so, Xiaoyou has feelings for Xia Chuan-kun..."

"She did something to me! But I'm still innocent, don't misunderstand." After correcting him, Yuu Tenkuji decided to get straight to the point, "Let me introduce you to someone, who should be the first customer of the Service Club this week."

"customer?"

Snapping out of her reverie about the gossip, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, her mind racing, and she quickly pieced together the gist of what had happened.

"You mean, Natsukawa Masuzu had a problem and wanted to ask our Service Club for help, which is why she called you out of your class to 'confess'?"

“Though not quite there, it’s not far off.” Tenkuji Yu casually quoted an ancient Chinese phrase, earning a chuckled roll of his eyes from her.

"Huh? So that means..." Yui Yuigahama blinked, her face brightening again, "I really misunderstood?"

"Not really..."

"What on earth is going on?! I have absolutely no idea! Ahhh~" Yui Yuigahama clutched her head, kneaded her dumpling, and let out a wail of lamentation as if her IQ was too low.

"Yuhihama-san, be quiet."

After being glared at with a frown, Yui Yuigahama immediately shut her mouth, obediently shrugging her shoulders, her gaze constantly shifting between Yuuto Tenkuji and Yukino Yukinoshita.

Yukino Yukinoshita withdrew her gaze and looked at Yuu Tenkuji, her eyes slightly displeased: "Why didn't she come to find me, her classmate and president of the Service Club, but instead went to Class F to find you?"

Yuuki Tenkuji replied matter-of-factly, "Because I'm much more reliable than you."

"..." A murderous glint flashed in his cold eyes, and the book in his hand seemed ready to spring into action.

Yuu Tenkuji waved his hand: "Just kidding, ask her for the reason yourself."

He looked toward the doorway.

"You can come in now."

The door to the Service Department opened again, and a stunningly beautiful silver-haired girl walked in gracefully. Upon entering, she first gave an elegant bow and spoke softly.

"Hello everyone in the Service Department, I apologize for bothering you in your busy schedules."

"I am Natsukawa Masaki. I just transferred here from Sweden this summer. I am just an insignificant transfer student, so please be merciful."

Yukino Yukinoshita: "Have mercy?"

Yui Yuigahama: "Why does she seem so different from Natsukawa-san just now..."

Ignoring their reactions, Natsukawa Masuzu looked at Tenkuji Yuu, her eyes moist, her lips pouting pitifully, and she said in a mournful voice:

"Master, is it alright to say it this way? Or will you only be satisfied if I kneel down and lick their shoes like before?"

Yuu Tenkuji: "..."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."

Yui Yuigahama: "..."

An awkward silence, like an early winter, hung heavy in the air of the Service Department.

Facing the two women's gazes, which seemed to regard him as scum, Tenkuji Yu took a deep breath, stood up, and smiled kindly.

"Natsukawa-kun, let's go outside and talk."

Natsukawa Masuzu retreated to a corner of the classroom, crossed her arms over her chest, and firmly refused: "I can tell you have ill intentions towards me—so, I refuse!"

"Tenkuji-kun, sit down." By the window, Yukino Yukinoshita tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke coldly, "Natsukawa-kun, if we're here to discuss serious matters, it's very impolite to make jokes like this as soon as you walk in. I have the right to ask you to leave and refuse this request."

"I'm so sorry, Yukinoshita-kun." Natsukawa Masuzu nodded, said nothing more, and sat down in a chair opposite the long table.

He glanced at Yui Yuigahama, gave her a cryptic smile, then looked at Yuu Tenkuji with a serious expression.

"Are you sure you really want me to tell them that?"

“The Service Department is more trustworthy than I am, so there’s no need to worry about this getting out.”

“I don’t care about that… never mind.” Natsukawa Masuzu sighed. “As long as you agree, the rest is up to you.”

Yukino Yukinoshita crossed her arms and looked at the two of them with dissatisfaction: "Can you stop playing games? If you have something to ask the Service Club, please tell me, the club president, instead of those low-level members who are nowhere to be seen every few days."