I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Alright, we've covered the important business and rubbed our faces enough, it's time to settle some scores!"

His earlier vulnerability and unease seemed like a lie, and Natsukawa Masaki smiled happily at him.

Still savoring the softness of their bodies pressed together, Tenkuji Yu casually asked, "Settling accounts? Settling accounts for what?"

"Stop pretending, let me list your sins!"

Embodying the JoJo pose of Jonathan Joestar, Natsukawa Masuzu elegantly pulled a familiar black notebook from her pocket, flipped through it quickly, and began to read aloud with great expression.

"On September XXth, Ayou's farewell voice was too cold..."

On September XX, Ayou had a very good junior classmate...

On September XX, Ayou bullied me by massaging my shoulders, wanting to see me make a fool of myself...

On September XX, Ayou's handwork was excellent, it felt very comfortable, but I was very unhappy...

On September XX, Ayou force-fed him, her movements were very rough…

As the melodious voice faded, the twitching of Tenkuji Yu's cheeks gradually intensified.

After reading each item aloud, she took out a pen from under her skirt and began adding more content.

"On September XX, while I was being reprimanded by the teacher, Ayu was having lunch with the beautiful club president. He was greedily inhaling her fragrance while using her as a side dish..."

"OK OK!"

Tenkuuji Yu pressed one hand to her temple, while the other made a "don't do it yet" gesture, and said in a defeated and helpless tone:

"Just tell me what you want to do... How about burning that laptop as payment?"

"No way! Those are precious memories between us! I'd rather die than burn them!"

Hiding the notebook behind her back, Natsukawa Masaki playfully stuck out her tongue and revealed a victor's smile.

Yuu Tenkuji rolled her eyes: "What's so wonderful about it? It's just full of resentment."

"Even your resentment is shaped like love for you, don't you think that's romantic?" She laughed and made a vomiting gesture. "Such cheesy talk is disgusting~"

"Don't say it yourself..."

"As for what couples do when they're alone in an empty corridor... I don't need to tell you, do I, you sadistic Yu?"

Her pretty face flushed, and her soft, moist lips curved upwards as Natsukawa Masuzu took another step closer to him.

Unconsciously, Yuu Tenkuji leaned against the wall, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the slender, snow-white arm resting beside his head, a cool, summery fragrance wafting towards him.

"Could it be... the one I'm thinking of?"

"That's right, it's the one you're thinking of."

"So, which part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is this reference to?"

"It's the first one too, so get ready!"

His nose brushed against her ticklish silver hair.

In this autumn, Yuu Tenkuji tasted the flavors of summer.

Chapter Thirty-Four: On Peace of Mind

Some people kiss to release desire, while others kiss to prove their love.

Some people kiss simply to reassure themselves.

An Egyptian centenarian once said that everyone strives to overcome anxiety and fear in order to live with a clear conscience.

Whether it's striving for fame and fortune, dominating others, earning money, or finding love—including the touching of lips—it's all about finding excuses to make oneself feel secure.

I suppose Natsukawa Masuzu feels the same way?

It wasn't that she fell completely in love with him in such a short time; it was just that kissing brought her a sense of security, so she gradually got used to it and greedily took more, trying to calm herself down slowly in the process.

The more fear she feels, the more proactive she becomes, which is related to her outwardly strong but inwardly weak personality.

—For Yuu Tenkuji, kissing is an act of conveying emotions to each other.

They communicate their feelings through extremely close contact and understand each other's strength and vulnerability in the intertwining of their breaths.

Others might not have thought that much about it, but Yuu Tenkuji could sense how much unease was accumulating in the heart of the woman in front of him.

"Are you afraid of ending up with nothing, so you don't want anything that belongs to you to be taken away before you willingly let go?"

The thought popped into Tenkuji Yu's mind involuntarily.

Did other kids often have their toys taken away from her when she was little...?

△

After saying goodbye to Natsukawa Masuzu, he returned to the Service Club unharmed.

When Yuu Tenkuji met his own bento box again, it was naturally a "completely refreshed" experience.

The girl by the window slightly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping indifferently over his clean-cut and composed face before she looked away without interest.

She ate her bento slowly and deliberately, each opening and closing of her small mouth like a painting, sparkling in the most beautiful angle of the autumn light.

Tenkuji Yuu only glanced at it a few times before the perceptive girl caught her red-handed.

Is there a problem?

The moment their eyes met, Yukinoshita frowned slightly and asked a question silently.

It's alright, please continue.

Tenkuji Yu shook his head, indicating that she should ignore him.

"Just say what you need to say."

A clear, cool, and highly transparent voice rang out.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Yukino put down her chopsticks, which were covered in a thin layer of glistening liquid, and stared at him directly, her eyes demanding no evasion.

"His hesitant and timid manner is irritating... Is it about the commission?"

After hesitating for a moment, Yuu Tenkuji finally chose to answer honestly.

"No, I just think you look beautiful when you eat."

"..."

Seemingly struck by an invisible force, Yukino Yukinoshita sat quietly in her place, frozen in place for a moment.

Seeing this, Yuu Tenkuji added, "I'm telling the truth, I'm not just giving you a perfunctory answer."

"...I understand. Shut your mouth and eat your food."

Quickly recovering, she raised her hand to her temples and sighed as if she had a headache: "Let me make it clear beforehand that there's no benefit in flattering me. I've heard similar compliments since I was a child, especially from men, to the point of being disgusting... I think you should understand that."

"..."

The other end of the long table responded with silence.

The sounds of chopsticks being used and swallowing were barely audible, as if the person was carefully savoring a Western meal with a knife and fork. It was hard to imagine that a man could eat his bento so elegantly and quietly.

Why aren't you speaking?

After asking the question instinctively, she already knew what the other person's answer would be.

"You were the one who told me to shut up and eat first," he said, rolling his eyes, his voice slightly muffled as he chewed.

Yukinoshita couldn't help but sneer: "You do whatever I tell you to do? Oh my, when did Tenkuji-kun become so obedient? That's quite gratifying."

Yuu Tenkuji retorted casually, "From the moment you, as the club president, started thinking about me, a member, I stopped arguing with you—that's not called being obedient, that's called respect."

"Or do you still not understand the meaning of 'respect'? Do you need Teacher Youyou to explore (explain) the word 'respect' for you?"

He's always kind to those who are kind to him; that's how Yuu Tenkuji always is.

Although Yukino Yukinoshita has many problems, a difficult personality, and a flat chest, judging from her words and actions so far, she is undoubtedly a great person who can treat everyone equally and is very responsible.

At least when she can speak properly, there's no need to deliberately confront her.

It's not that I'm going to become Yukinoshita's dog from now on, it's just that I'll show her a little respect since she actually cares about me.

I'll still speak my mind about things I'm unhappy about, just like I am now.

"Respect...?"

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at him with surprise, as if she was looking at him with new respect.

Her long, lead-black hair swayed in the cool breeze blowing in from the window, and she slowly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a relieved smile.

"Congratulations on finally getting it, Tenkuji-kun... Doesn't it feel great to be back among the upright apes?"

Was I not even as good as a bipedal ape before?

After finishing most of his bento, he replied listlessly, "Yeah, it really made me feel incredibly high."

Yukino Yukinoshita also picked up her chopsticks, picked up a piece of rice, and slowly and elegantly put it into her mouth.

"Okay, you can look all you want today. Just don't let your gaze be too lewd and ruin my meal."

This time, it was Tenkuji Yu's turn to widen his eyes in surprise: "When did you become so generous?"

The black-haired beauty shrugged helplessly, seemingly mimicking his gesture on purpose.

"There's nothing I can do. I'm the department head, after all. To prevent members from harassing women under the guise of commissions, I have no choice but to sacrifice my beauty."

Whether it's due to her naiveté or simply not connecting the words to other things, Yukino Yukinoshita's tone when she said those words didn't give off any wrong impression; she remained as dignified and noble as a saint.

Yuu Tenkuji didn't want to make a lewd joke about her like this, but he just found it a little funny and said:

"So our club president is the same kind of person as the statue in the art room. Looks like I'll have to bring my sketchbook next time I join a club."

"..." Instantly suppressing her expression, Yukino Yukinoshita glared at him, her voice like thawed spring water, cold and crisp, "You'd better shut up and eat your bento."

Tenkuji Yu curled her lip: "Or should I just use you as a side dish?"

The girl in front of him probably didn't know that "side dish" had another meaning, otherwise she would probably have been embarrassed and angry on the spot—this shows just how filthy Natsukawa Masuzu's heart is.

Yukino Yukinoshita said impatiently, "I know I'm quite attractive, but please tone it down when we're alone together. It makes me feel threatened."

With a bang, very quickly, she slammed the anti-wolf alarm onto the table.

Yuuki Tenkuji didn't see it and continued eating.