I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Mana continued shouting, "You're speaking so loudly, anyone who's not deaf can hear you!!"

"Forget it, Ayou, let's just take this child back to my apartment. It'll be very convenient whether I need to silence him or hypnotize him then..."

boom!

Before he could finish speaking, Xia Chuanzhen slammed the car door shut, the sound of tires screeching against the ground filled the air, and the black sedan sped away.

Every move they made demonstrated their will to survive.

Watching the taillights of the departing car, Natsukawa Masuzu said regretfully, "She got away..."

Tenkuji Yu glanced at her sideways: "You've scared your little sister like this, you're such a good older sister."

"She was ruthless first, so don't blame me for being ruthless... Besides, you were the one who scared her first, okay? How dare you turn the tables on her, you're something else."

Natsukawa Masaki crossed her arms. The cautious and fearful look she had just had seemed like an illusion. Her calm and leisurely demeanor returned. Her slender shoulders relaxed, and her bright blue eyes met his.

"To be honest, I thought you were going to give her Stockholm syndrome on the spot."

"I'm just disciplining the unruly kids; I have no intention of doing anything extra."

"For example, taming her and secretly having a double-eat-with-sisters situation?"

"Not interested..."

"Then, through us, they secretly plunder the Natsukawa family's wealth, and finally establish a vast harem in Sweden?"

"I'm even less interested now..."

"Really? I'm quite interested."

"..." Yuu Tenkuji rolled his eyes, too lazy to talk to this shameless guy.

Natsukawa Masaki is best at fishing. If I'm right, I'll probably get a lecture about being a womanizer and a scumbag.

Yuuichi Tenkuji has always kept his distance from such false accusations.

Aren't you afraid?

She suddenly asked a question out of the blue.

"what?"

"The Xia Chuan family's retaliation. Even if that's not true, the bald guy will definitely report it."

"His name is Yasuoka... Is the Natsukawa family very strong?"

"Wow, that's impressive. They can even monitor my school life through the local councilor."

“I see…” Tenkuji Yu thought for a moment. The Yukinoshita family were local councilors and successful businessmen. She herself had once considered kidnapping their eldest daughter. Why should she be afraid of the Natsukawa family?

Although the two cannot be compared, with the system as his backing, he really has no need to fear any retaliation from the Natsukawa family or the Yukinoshita family.

"Let's wait until he comes for revenge." Tenkuji Yu shrugged, looking relaxed. "It doesn't matter what your family's situation is. I'm just doing what I want to do."

"Including helping my girlfriend discipline her disobedient younger sister, and..."

As he spoke, he gently patted Natsukawa Masaki's thin, frail back, smiling as he said, "I'll be there to support you, so you won't look so down and helpless... That's what a boyfriend should do."

As the glow of the setting sun faded, the streetlights came on, and the sky fell into a serene, pale gray.

Looking at his profile, Natsukawa Masaki felt as if she had found a ray of starlight in a dark, cloud-covered night sky, making it even brighter and more deeply felt.

The sound of my heart beating had never been so clear.

"...I'm not that kind of fragile woman when it comes to feeling depressed and helpless."

After a while, she lifted the silver hair on her shoulder and laughed as well.

"I forgot to say something harsh to that person before I left, to show him my resolve. What a blunder... Hey, you stand-in over there, stop time and go get them back."

Yuu Tenkuji nodded in satisfaction: "That's right, this arrogant, stubborn, and willful guy is the Natsukawa Masuzu I know."

"Hmph, a mere fake boyfriend dares to be so arrogant."

Natsukawa Masaki gave a disdainful sneer, then suddenly hugged him and buried her face in his chest.

And then it started rubbing against them.

"Hmm~"

As he rubbed against him, he even let out a comfortable panting sound, rolling his left cheek to his right cheek and then from his right cheek to his left cheek, as if he wanted to completely stain his chest with his own scent.

"Uh... really cold?"

Tenkuji Yu's expression was subtle, his hands on her shoulders, unsure whether to push her away or hug her.

Why has this person suddenly become so spoiled? It's so sudden!

"What's up?" she replied lazily.

Tenkuji Yu tentatively asked, "Is this something a fake girlfriend should do?"

“We’ve already kissed, why are you asking such a pointless question?” Natsukawa Masuzu sighed helplessly. “Well, in the end, it’s just a reference to JOJO.”

"Which part? Which volume?"

Yuuki Tenkuji doesn't remember any face-rubbing scenes in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

"..."

rub.

"...Aren't you going to answer?"

Natsukawa Masuzu snorted, "Not only did you ignore my JoJo's Bizarre Adventure reference, but you also forgot I said 'Do it more real than it's real'—truly befitting the ruthless and arrogant Tenkuuji-kun."

"Xia Chuan-kun, isn't your assessment of me a bit biased?"

As a result, before Tenkuji Yu could forcefully push her back to the apartment door, Natsukawa Masu clung to his chest like a piece of chewing gum, then rubbed against him.

The number of times she rubbed her face against mine is countless, as if she wanted to release all the pent-up affection she had accumulated over the years. It was incredibly annoying, yet I couldn't bring myself to pull her away, so I could only helplessly let her do as she pleased.

However, I don't dislike it.

Only now did Yuu Tenkuji realize that she actually quite enjoyed the feeling of being trusted and relied upon.

It was as if it proved that I was qualified to live in this world, and that I didn't have to worry about disappearing at any time and no one would care.

Even if you don't have to become a hero, as long as you are willing to lend a helping hand to others and support them, sooner or later, someone will also support you.

Just like him and Qiong, they both came this way.

Just like his previous two missions, he went through the same process.

"You're so cold, you haven't fallen for me yet, have you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you really enjoy insulting me with the ideas of people who are into relationships? You sadistic Yu."

"Never mind, forget I asked."

Yuu Tenkuji decisively gave up, but Masuzu Natsukawa had no intention of ending the conversation.

Didn't we say that a long time ago?

She smiled just as she had before, her tone indifferent and devoid of any seriousness.

"I love you, Ayu."

But beneath those shimmering silver strands, her ears and cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, as vibrant as the fading glow of the sunset.

Like a pure silver lily blooming to illuminate the night.

Tenkuji Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled admiringly and sighed.

"I should say, she really is a fake girlfriend."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Master of Disguise."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Martial Arts Skill (Master)."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Deterrence (Status)."

……

Inside a luxury black sedan.

"That guy, the intelligence clearly said he was an ordinary person with no background, who supported himself and his sister by working part-time... Even if he was good at sports and strong, how could he be so intimidating... It was even more terrifying than when Dad was angry."

Biting her thumbnail, Mana Natsukawa muttered irritably, using a leg shake to cover up her still-slight trembling.

Angang, who was driving, paused for a moment before slowly speaking: "Miss, if I may presume to say something, I hope you will try to avoid confronting him directly... It's not just about strength; my intuition tells me that that high school student seems to be hiding a lot more."

"He had the strength to crush my hand bones, but he just didn't... If I really wanted to teach him a lesson, I'd need at least three people of my skill level, armed with batons or stun guns, to have any chance of winning."

"You think so highly of him?" Natsukawa Mana couldn't help but click her tongue in surprise.

Angang nodded, said nothing more, and continued driving quietly.

The meaning of this attitude is quite clear: even if it might be considered too conservative, they don't want her to provoke someone who clearly has a deeper background; it's simply not worth it.

The blonde girl rubbed her hair and cried out in frustration, "Damn it! Why is there such a monster around Ryo?! Doesn't this make it even harder for her to go home?"

The girl, who only wanted her sister to come home, could only helplessly slump her shoulders, stare blankly out the window, and sigh.

"If I can't handle it, forget it... Anyway, Liang will be very happy over there, right? After all, her boyfriend is so amazing, and he's like a knight willing to stand up for her..."

Muttering to herself, Natsukawa Mana felt a strange sense of envy.

—I envy that guy, being able to be so close and intimate with his sister, and being relied upon by her.

"...Hmph, it's a pity her personality is too annoying, she'll be dumped sooner or later!"

While cursing the other person indignantly, Natsukawa Mana unconsciously touched her face, as if she could still recall the feeling of being pinched and tugged twice by those warm fingers.

Like a real older brother, even with a fierce look in his eyes and a ruthless attitude, he exudes a mature charm that makes people willing to bow down and let him protect and tease them. His smile brings a strong sense of security.

If such a person becomes your brother-in-law, will he protect you the way he protected his sister...?

"Hmph, I don't need it."

Muttering something under her breath, Mana Natsukawa couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth, happily appreciating the passing scenery outside the window.

As for apologizing for what happened today, let's talk about that next time we meet...

I just need an excuse to see my sister. I hope my annoying brother-in-law won't be there.

△