I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"why?"

Escaping her dazed fantasy, the girl stared at his retreating figure in surprise.

"I'll play it for you again, this time it's a 'live version'."

Without giving a direct answer, Yuu Tenkuji placed his hands back on the piano keys and spoke before playing:

"You must have heard what I just said to the girl with the braided hair, right? Cooking is actually like playing the piano; whether you put in emotion and convey your feelings will greatly affect the experience of the diners and listeners..."

"If this piece of music is played for someone, it will have a different kind of beauty."

The moment the words fell, the clear sound of the zither rang out, and spring rain fell gently to the ground.

In a small café, Yuu Tenkuji closed her eyes, tenderly playing the piano keys while reminiscing about the past.

—For whom is it played?

Asuna Yuuki, and... Haruno Yukinoshita.

Yes, it's a melodious tune that evokes memories.

△

As the sun began to set, Yuu Tenkuji left "Angel Cafe".

At a street corner not far away, a girl with silver hair dyed golden was waiting for him.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: I'm Not Acting Anymore (Part Two)

I don't know if it's because autumn and sunset go together better, but the twilight light seemed to be so intense that it was about to engulf the whole world.

Crows hoarsely perched on telephone poles, while pedestrians strolled leisurely, seemingly waiting for night to fall.

"While I was waiting for you, I was approached three times by those 'love cult members,' it was disgusting." Natsukawa Masuzu sighed, brushing a strand of hair that was blowing in the wind behind her ear. "So, how are you going to make it up to me?"

"How's the cake?" Tenkuji Yu walked up to her and held up a small box.

Natsukawa Masaki frowned slightly, looking him up and down as if he were an idiot: "Didn't I tell you I don't like to eat? Including desserts."

I made it myself.

"...It shows you're sincere."

Natsukawa Masaki took the cake, turned her face away, avoiding looking at his eyes which held a hidden smile, and spoke in a flat tone.

"Let's go, take me home."

"Understood, Miss."

She paused, her attitude becoming slightly more serious: "Don't use that kind of term."

"It's so cool." Tenkuuji Yu looked at her round and beautiful back of the head, as if he could see right through her thoughts. "Didn't today's 'show' suit your taste?"

To put it in a low-EQ way, it's like asking, "What are you upset about right now?"

"Well, isn't that obvious?" Not at all surprised by his keen observation, Natsukawa Masaki spread his hands, sighed, and shook his head.

"Not only did the storyline of 'It's okay if my senior has a girlfriend, I can be his secret lover!' fail to materialize, but I also didn't get a chance to appear and say 'Stay away from my boyfriend, you bunch of little bitches!'—this is simply not the stage of destiny I wanted to see!"

As she passionately spouted nonsense, Tenkuji Yu behind her couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"If you really want that scene to happen, why have you been harassing me with messages all the time? It's like you're afraid I'll cheat on you on the spot."

"I'm trying to create tension for you so you won't do anything rash in the heat of the moment," Natsukawa Masuzu said matter-of-factly. "Seeing you laughing and joking around with those junior girls is really annoying. You're getting along really well, aren't you? Are you planning to add them to your harem under the guise of teaching cooking or piano? This kind of overly romantic, socially-minded scene is really nauseating. It wouldn't be my style not to interfere a bit."

She did this from the perspective of those who oppose romantic relationships! She proudly raised her head, concluding that her actions not long ago were just the beginning.

"Oh, is that so..."

It's hard to say at other times, but right now, Yuu Tenkuji could tell that eighty percent of it was a lie, used to cover up her true feelings.

He pursed his lips, not directly calling her out: "So, you're not satisfied with the results of this 'fan meeting'?"

"Before that, what would be considered satisfactory?" Natsukawa Masaki raised a finger, seemingly intending to launch into a long speech, but for some reason, he finally sighed softly, his voice lowering and his expression returning to calm.

"Never mind... I just wanted to ask one question."

"what?"

Do you have an ex-girlfriend?

"..."

On the slope, which was tinged red by the setting sun, Natsukawa Masuzu slowed down and turned her head to look at him as he walked to her side.

Like a simple curiosity, or perhaps harboring emotions so complex that even she herself couldn't understand them, she carefully scrutinized Tenkuji Yu's face, trying to find clues to the changes in his expression.

But not long after, under his calm and clear gaze, she involuntarily looked away, gently stroking the hair beside her ear, and gazing ahead as if nothing had happened.

"'If this piece of music is played for someone, it will have a special kind of beauty'... You said that yourself."

"It's a really nice song—I think it's called 'Spring Rain,' right?"

"So, for whom is it played?"

Her voice was quiet and soft, as if to show that she was just asking casually, and her profile was bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Yuu Tenkuji thought for a moment and replied, "Isn't that a matter of personal privacy? If we're just pretending to be a couple... is it really necessary to know this much?"

After he finished speaking, it was his turn to observe the changes in Natsukawa Masaki's expression.

"..."

After a long silence, Natsukawa Masaki stopped and turned around halfway.

"Don't answer questions with questions! Did your school teach you to answer questions with questions?!"

Even when using her favorite JOJO references, her tone lacked her usual excitement and joy. Instead, she seemed troubled by something, revealing a faint sense of helplessness.

Her silver hair danced in the wind, and her smile held a hint of loneliness.

"That's true. Everyone has things they don't want to be touched upon. That's why people can't trust each other, whether they're lovers or spouses."

"Sigh, I should probably restrain my curiosity a bit... Let's just pretend I didn't ask, it's really none of my business anyway~"

As the fake girlfriend said this, she shrugged with relief and started walking again.

Perhaps even she herself didn't know why she wanted to know that answer, or why she felt a sense of unease and anxiety when she heard him play that emotional piece.

Perhaps, as he said, his possessiveness is too strong?

Even if it's just a fake, I don't want it to be stolen...

"If you want to know, I'll tell you."

His voice came from the side, and I immediately felt a warmth in my palm.

Coming to her senses, Natsukawa Masuzu looked down at the hand that was being held, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him with a half-smile: "If we're just pretending to be a couple, there's no need to reveal personal privacy?"

"I didn't say I didn't want to talk about it."

Despite being mocked with the exact same words, Tenkuji Yu remained unperturbed and looked relaxed.

"I just wanted to know how much you care about me... But it seems like you like me more and more now?"

"Ha! How is that possible?"

With a disdainful sneer, Natsukawa Masuzu said in an extremely firm tone and with extreme resentment, "Didn't I tell you? There's absolutely no way that kind of vulgar and disgusting plot would happen to me, something only a romantic would do!"

She glanced sideways, suppressing her excitement, and suddenly smiled gently: "Ah You, you should be careful not to take this for granted and actually fall in love with me?"

"If that kind of thing really happens, I'll have no choice but to break up with you and find someone else who's willing to pretend to be my boyfriend."

Tenkuji Yu turned his gaze away from her and looked at the clear, rippling sky between the buildings.

"……Yeah."

The tactile sensation in one's hand is so real, yet some people insist that it is a fabricated illusion, doing their utmost to deny and despise it.

What happened in the past that made Natsukawa Masuzu so averse to anything related to love?

Everyone has a side they don't want to be touched upon.

Even he has a past he doesn't want to be talked about.

So, perhaps half of a "girlfriend" is made up of "this kind of thing"?

Such a cool summer river is even more profound and complex than the gradually darkening sky, and it will disappear in an instant.

"Okay, in order to prevent that kind of thing from happening, I'll try my best to be a fake."

Hearing his reply, Natsukawa Masuzu continued to smile, only her eyes changed slightly: "Don't you want to see me possessed by other men? Hmph, you're just as bad at that. You're such a popular guy, you can just wave your hand and women will throw themselves at you."

"Aren't you the same? There are plenty of men who want to be your subjects, but you insist on clinging to me and becoming more and more persistent."

"Heh, I'm really sorry about that." Natsukawa Masuzu's smile was icy.

Sensing her attempt to pull her hand back, Yuu Tenkuji tightened his grip, holding on even more firmly, while also pondering the situation.

—As a 'boyfriend,' what are the things he can do?

To wait patiently? Or to relentlessly pursue?

neither.

It is about taking that step to change the ongoing lies and the reality they live in, until they see a happy ending for the two of them.

Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but laugh with a sigh.

So-called love is probably just a process of putting in effort and care for these things, right?

So he once traveled 133 kilometers to embrace her.

So he crossed the line between virtual and reality to help her.

The music used to be melodious, but now, the setting sun casts silvery rays, gently embracing itself in the evening breeze.

Suddenly, Yuu Tenkuji spoke up:

"I said, it's really cold."

"What's wrong? Are you holding me so tightly because you want to take me to a hotel to rest?"

He held on too tightly, so Natsukawa Masaki had no choice but to give up struggling and glared at his profile with annoyance.

Seriously, how can you laugh so happily?