I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Yu, I'm sorry, something came up at home today, so I'm afraid I won't be able to study with you all..."

"It's alright, home is more important... If you need anything, my notes are always ready for you."

One person was absent before the study session even began.

After exchanging a few words with Totsuka Ayaka in a gentle voice, Tenkuji Yu put down his phone, looked at the somewhat nervous yet expectant girl with the bun hairstyle in front of him, and fell into a moment of contemplation.

——Okay, make your choice.

The solution is to confess and seek leniency, call your girlfriend over to clear your name, and accept the risk of potentially causing a dramatic situation.

Still resisting strictness, I spent the whole day alone with Yui Yuigahama in a family restaurant studying.

Chapter 36 Study Session with Yui Yuigahama (Part 1)

"Alright, I don't need to worry about Totsuka's grades, so I can focus on you."

Finally, considering the purpose of his visit, Yuu Tenkuji decided not to inform his girlfriend and instead study with Yui Hama.

Even if it's discovered later, it doesn't matter. The goal has already been achieved, and it doesn't matter how much Natsukawa Masuzu complains—Tenkuji Yu is prepared to help her friend improve her declining grades.

Besides, he wasn't so unlucky as to run into Natsukawa Masuzu here and be misunderstood by her as secretly dating Yuihama, was he?

There aren't that many dramatic stories in the world; this isn't a light novel.

"So, it's just me and Yuu?" Yui Yuigahama asked tentatively. After he nodded, she clenched her fist and cheered softly, "Yay!"

Tenkuuji Yu stared at her: "Something's happened at the Totsuka family's place, why are you so happy?"

"Ah... well..." The girl with the bun quickly pulled her fist behind her back, her gaze shifting guiltily, her face flushed. "I was just reminiscing about the past. After all, you see, we haven't studied together in a long time... Hehehe, and I just got a little excited by accident."

"Let me make this clear beforehand: because I don't need to review at all, I can spend most of my time guiding your studies..." Tenkuji Yu pushed up his non-existent glasses, his expression serious, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "In other words, the strictness of teaching you will be more than ten times that of middle school... Be prepared, you idiot."

"Oh, how scary!" Yui Yuigahama shrugged, but a silly, happy smile spread across her face as she looked up at him, her tone light and cheerful.

"Bring it on! No matter how intense the instruction, I'll take it!"

“Very good. I hope you don’t forget your determination at this moment.” Yuu Tenkuji nodded and turned to walk into the family restaurant.

The seating was about 70% full, which was quite generous. The two were quickly led to a corner seat by a short but broad-minded waitress. They ordered a fried food set meal and unlimited drinks, and planned to have a proper meal like pasta at noon.

Watching the girl, who looked like an elementary school student or at most a middle school student, hop away like a hamster with her long ponytail swinging, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but exchange a glance with Yui Yuigahama, their expressions both indescribably strange.

"...Do they even employ child labor here?"

“It’s not just that, Yui, look.” Yui pointed to another waiter walking among the other tables and leaned her head closer, her hair smelling fresh. “That waiter has a samurai sword hanging from his waist…it looks like a real sword.”

"How could someone be walking around with a real knife on the street? It must be some kind of cosplay," Yuu Tenkuji guessed.

Just then, a dull thud was heard coming from the direction of the kitchen.

Turning my head, I saw a figure arc through the air, spinning as it flew behind the counter, the wall seemingly shaking from the impact.

Not long after, the hamster-themed waiter who had greeted them hurriedly dragged the person from the backstage into the staff break room, and faint sounds of apologies and lectures could be heard.

Yuu Tenkuji and Yui Yuigahama stared at each other again.

Most of the customers in the restaurant did not show any surprise; in fact, they felt reassured, thinking, "It's just as lively as ever today."

"...Is this what the comments are saying, that it's a dangerous, addictive feeling?"

With her bright, puppy-like eyes surveying her surroundings, Yui Yuigahama sighed softly.

"Who knows. Never mind them, let's start studying." Yuu shrugged, drawing her attention away from the unimportant matter, and took out her study materials from her bag.

Yui Yuigahama quickly composed herself, took out her stationery and notebook from her bag, straightened the position of her bun hairstyle, and prepared to give it her all.

It's a rare opportunity to rekindle our past relationship... no, it's more like getting back together... no, anyway, it's about reliving the time we spent studying side by side!

Even though he had already reached a level that she could only look up to, Yui Yuigahama's mission never changed—to strive not to disappoint him and to make him take her seriously.

"Let's start with Chinese. Your Chinese characters have always been weak since then. I've given you a short quiz to assess your level..."

Halfway through the conversation, Yuu Tenkuji noticed the beige notebook on the table and froze.

"...You still kept the graduation gift I gave you?"

"Of course! And I've been using it properly!" She flipped to the inside pages, three-quarters of which were filled with notes, her tone tinged with pride. "See? I'm very diligent, aren't I?"

Tenkuji Yu glanced at her sideways.

"You haven't even finished one notebook in two years? You're telling me you're serious?"

"..."

Yui Yuigahama's expression froze on her face. She then pouted, put her notebook aside, puffed out her cheeks, and flipped through her textbook as if she didn't want to talk.

Tenkuji Yu smiled and said, "Let me put it another way... I'm so happy to see how much you cherish this notebook, even though you've been using it for two years."

I was originally going to have a few seconds of awkwardness, but after he said that, all sorts of joy welled up in my heart again, like tasting the sweetest honey in spring, or sucking on a strawberry popsicle in summer.

Unable to suppress her laughter, Yui Yuigahama also burst out laughing along with him.

"Xiao You has always been good at making girls happy. I still remember all her famous quotes, like..."

She cleared her throat, mimicking his expression at the time, and spoke in a affected, sentimental tone: "'Do you want to live an ordinary life in the crowd, without any pursuit, just to be a background figure... or do you want to tell others that you were once more dazzling than anyone else, even if you can only shine for a second and will eventually fall to the cold ground?' — Like this.

After saying that, she suppressed a laugh and looked at the boy's expression, but did not get the reaction she expected.

"As long as you read more books, even you can spout a few inspirational quotes, which has absolutely nothing to do with whether you're a girl or not."

Tenkuji Yu casually waved his hand, showing no shame whatsoever even after his embarrassing past was brought up—this was child's play compared to the system's methods, and couldn't break through his defenses at all.

He tapped the small scroll on the table, adopted a teacher's posture, and his tone became stern: "It's because you've memorized those boring things that your head can't hold any other academic knowledge..."

“It’s not boring at all,” Yui Yuigahama interrupted him, her tone surprisingly firm.

"……what?"

Yui Yuigahama stared intently at Yuu Tenkuji, her soft yet steely gaze revealing the girl's unwavering resolve.

"From that moment on, everything you gave me is my most precious treasure, my most dazzling star... Even Xiaoyou is not allowed to say it's boring!"

He turned to the first page of the beige notebook, and a sentence in the corner caught his eye.

"Some people bear heavy burdens for thirty years, while others are trapped in a cage; some wander alone in the darkness for a very long time."

Fortunately, there are always stars to pave the way, so even through thorny thickets, the journey was not in vain.

Even though two years have passed, and even though the timeline has changed... the traces left behind since then remain unchanged.

From that time on, the girl's feelings never changed.

"..."

Tenkuji Yu fell into a brief silence.

He raised his gaze and looked into Yui Yuigahama's clear and bright eyes;

Looking at her face, which has matured considerably but still retains a childlike cuteness;

Looking at the chubby girl who wouldn't have her love taken away by the system and remained unchanged, I couldn't help but feel confused.

"Uh... I didn't mean to blame you, don't make such a serious face..."

Snapping out of her reverie at her cautious voice, Tenkuji Yu temporarily set aside her other thoughts and smiled helplessly at her:

"I'm here to teach you, not to listen to your confession, you idiot Yui."

Yui Yuigahama blushed and quickly waved her hands, "I didn't confess! It sounds like it, but it's not like that at all. I won't give you a second chance to reject me... Wait, did you just call me an idiot?"

Suddenly realizing what she had done, she glared at him angrily.

However, Yuu Tenkuji had already lowered her head and begun preparing for today's study session.

Chapter 37 Study Session with Yui Yuigahama (Part 2)

For those who are not good at studying, the vast sea of ​​questions is like a time machine, which can infinitely slow down the flow of time, causing them to suffer in agony for a longer period of time.

For those who excel at learning, knowledge is like an inexhaustible source, like a sponge swimming in living water, allowing them to enjoy the pleasure of personal growth at any time.

Two hours later, Yui Yuigahama lay slumped on the table, her eyes vacant, her expression blank and empty, as if she had been completely ruined.

"I can't go on... I can't do it anymore..."

"Is this not enough? Yui, you still have a long way to go." Gently patting the investment textbook in her hand on her head, Tenkuji Yu took a sip of cantaloupe soda and ordered emotionlessly, "I'll give you some time to rest. Do another test before lunch, and let's check your results while they're still fresh in your mind."

Yui Yuigahama let out a dying scream: "Yu, you devil..."

"What kind of kind devil are you?"

A sudden inspiration struck him, and he grinned, mimicking a high priest of sin from a witch cult, his smile both friendly and devoid of emotion.

"Oh?"

"You worked so hard to get into Zongwu High School, you worked so hard to get into your second year, and you even asked me to help you with the midterms, but now you look so listless, like you're ready to give up at any moment..."

He praised her wholeheartedly, as if he were a passerby facing an unsung hero who had sacrificed his life, feeling deep respect for him even though they were complete strangers.

Then, with a mocking laugh, he dismissed her efforts of the past two hours.

"You're so lazy."

"Alas--"

The sticky voice, as if chewing on finger bones, made the girl with the bun hair shudder. It felt like ice water had been poured from her head to her toes, or like slimy worms had crawled from her feet to her forehead. She subconsciously straightened her back and vigorously rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.

"How disgusting, so disgusting!"

Her thoughts blurted out, and Yui Yuigahama frowned, feeling both wronged and still shaken, glaring angrily at Yuu Tenkuji: "Also, I didn't say I was going to give up, I just wanted to complain a bit—even if you're trying to 'cheer me up,' don't use that deliberately weird tone!"

"Really? I think it's quite unique, and I especially like the voice actor who said that line." Yuu Tenkuji regained his composure, leaned back in his chair, and laughed heartily. "Speaking of which, I once ran into a variety show crew on the street who invited me to participate in the program. Although I didn't end up on TV, I got a business card from the director, and it seemed like I could go for an audition anytime."

"Huh? Really?" Yui Hama immediately became interested, her eyes shining as she leaned closer to his face, saying childishly, "Tell me! Tell me the details! I want to see the director's business card too!"

Yuu Tenkuji gazed into the distance and sighed softly, "I lost the business card, but I remember the whole process very clearly... Thinking back, it was a fiery evening..."

"then?"

"It actually happened during the summer vacation."

Just as Yuu Tenkuji was preparing to weave his first performance of perfect acting into a thrilling and exciting story to satisfy Yui Yuigahama's longing gaze.

A pleasant voice, tinged with surprise, suddenly rang out from behind: