I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Natsukawa Masaki immediately relaxed.

"Underdeveloped figure..." Tachibana Kanade glanced at her ample chest, then looked down, his gaze naturally landing on her toes.

Although she was expressionless, Natsukawa Masuzu sensed that she seemed a little disappointed, and the light in her eyes had dimmed.

The torment of her conscience suddenly intensified. Xia Chuanzhen hardened her heart through deep breathing and decided to stop the preamble and finish the job quickly.

"That kind of creature is called a lolicon, and Ayu is one of them... So, you should be careful to keep your distance from him, lest he show his fangs to you one day."

Is it really okay to talk about your boyfriend like that? For some inexplicable reason, she regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

Tachibana Kanade lowered his eyes, seemingly pondering the truth of those words.

"Is this a joke?"

"...No, it's not."

Without changing his expression, Natsukawa Masaki pounded his chest with his fist to relieve the tightness in his chest.

"I understand. I will be careful."

Tachibana nodded, his expression remaining calm.

At this point, Yuu Tenkuji, having gotten to know the members of the Kendo Club and completed a friendly exchange, finally returned to the Service Club team.

"Things are almost done. We'll find some time to hold a meeting about the order of appearance and have a intensive training session before the competition so we can go straight to the national competition."

Looking up from the paperback she carried with her, Yukino Yukinoshita calmly gazed at him: "So, we're done here?"

“I could have come alone. It depends on whether you want to come with me. During the National Tournament, the Kendo Club will be staying in Kyoto for four days and three nights. As an outsider, I have special privileges and can bring a few friends to watch the games. We'll share the bus and book guesthouses for each other, but we'll still have to pay for our own accommodations.”

"Going to Kyoto..." Yukino Yukinoshita fell into thought, her beautifully shaped fingertips lightly tapping the spine of the book. "It's not that I'm not interested..."

"Hmm, I don't know if Mom will agree. I'll have to ask for leave from school for four days..." Yui Yuigahama seemed very tempted, but she couldn't agree immediately.

Tenkuuji Yu shrugged, saying nonchalantly, "Let me know if you want to go. As for Shinryu, you..."

"Do you even need to ask? I won't allow you to leave me for that long. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth." Natsukawa Masuzu hugged his arm and said with a smile.

Then she glanced at Tachibana Kanade, thinking that with her innocent and straightforward personality, she would stand up at this moment and ask Tenkuji Yu if she was a lolicon. She had already thought of a way to fool her.

As a result, the white-haired girl simply stayed where she was, quietly watching them talk, without interrupting or showing any intention to be wary of Tenkuji Yu.

Didn't you completely believe me? You don't seem like the kind of person who's simply naive.

For some reason, Natsukawa Masaki breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are you thinking about?" His deep, magnetic voice rang in my ears.

She was stunned for a moment, and before she could answer, she felt a light flick on her forehead.

"You must be thinking something bad, right? Are you secretly talking behind my back?"

Chapter 101 I still became the person I hated most.

Natsukawa Masaki looked up and met his deep, slightly smiling eyes again, a warm feeling spreading throughout her body.

Subconsciously, or rather, without ever intending to hide it from him, she confessed with a wry smile, "You found out... I was telling other people that you're a lolicon."

"To Li Hua?" I thought he would be angry, but he just raised an eyebrow and said helplessly, "Looks like you're in cahoots with Isshiki. You always make these kinds of jokes. Playing with other people's naivety is not a good thing."

"Yes, I'm already reflecting on it." She buried her face in his arm and rubbed it listlessly for a couple of moments.

Before the two could finish their whispered conversation, Yui Yuigahama, who was near the entrance of the kendo club, said, "If we've finished everything, shall we go back? We still have our schoolbags at the service club."

As soon as she finished speaking, she walked outside first, followed by Yukino Yukinoshita and Iroha Isshiki.

Tenkuji Yu and Natsukawa Masuzu exchanged a glance, said nothing, and were about to leave when they felt their clothes being tugged.

As they walked out of the kendo dojo together, Tachibana Kanade looked at Tenkuuji Yuu and, under Natsukawa Masuzu's inexplicably tense gaze, asked earnestly:

"Is your Mapo Tofu delicious?"

Tenkuuji Yu: "Huh?"

Natsukawa Masuzu: "Is that what you wanted to ask?!"

Without any hint of joking, Tachibana Kanade continued to say to Tenkuji Yu in a serious tone, "If it's delicious, I'd like to ask you to teach me how to make Mapo Tofu."

Tenkuuji Yu's expression was subtle: "...Uh, what if it doesn't taste good?"

As if she hadn't considered the question, she looked somewhat troubled. After thinking for a moment, she tentatively asked:

"Then, let's try to improve?"

"..."

After a long silence, two sighs, unsure how to respond, were heard simultaneously.

△

After school, Yuu Tenkuji walked home with Masuzu Natsukawa—or rather, escorted her home.

"I always felt that playing tricks on that child was an unforgivable thing."

With a hint of disbelief, Natsukawa Masaki exclaimed.

Holding hands and occasionally touching shoulders, even though the temperature at the end of October had dropped to the point where it would feel cold without a coat, Natsukawa Masaki didn't feel the slightest bit cold.

Is it because my physical condition has improved without me even realizing it, or is it because he's by my side?

She's too lazy to even think about that now; all she cares about is enjoying herself—as long as she's happy.

Yuu Tenkuji thought for a moment, then said noncommittally, "It's not that exaggerated, is it? But I can understand why she's called an 'angel' and is loved by most of the first-year students."

Natsukawa Masuzu said softly, "Perhaps the more filthy a person's heart is, the deeper this feeling will be."

Tenkuji Yu glanced at her, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke with some hesitation.

"I wanted to say something to comfort you, but then I realized... I just couldn't bring myself to tell that kind of obvious lie."

Natsukawa Masaki's eyebrows twitched twice.

"Then don't say anything, just comfort me with your body!"

She puffed out her cheeks cutely and bumped his shoulder with her shoulder in a pout.

He spoke these words rather loudly, causing passersby to look at him with strange expressions.

However, neither of them cared, and they still only had eyes for each other.

On the way to the station, there is a lively square near the shopping street, which is a favorite dating spot for many couples, especially after school. You can see student couples wandering around and playing around in the vicinity, ignoring the rules of their teachers.

As an apology for saying the wrong thing, Yuu Tenkuji bought a cherry-flavored crepe from a street vendor, and the two shared it—she ate a few bites, and he finished the rest.

"It's just cherry jam. I thought I'd be showing you my Rero skills."

Natsukawa Masaki took a bite of the warm, crispy pastry with regret. The sweet taste made her squint her eyes and nod approvingly: "But it's quite delicious."

"It's good that it's delicious. Next time I'll buy two flavors to switch between." Yuu Tenkuji didn't mind getting dirty and took another bite from the spot where she had already eaten.

Blinking her bright, azure eyes, Natsukawa Masaki laughed cheerfully: "Hmph~ So you've come up with such a standard way for couples to flirt, which means you really want to show off your affection to me in public? You're something else, Yu."

"What's so strange about that? Aren't all the couples around us doing the same thing?"

Tenkuji Yu rolled her eyes, unable to understand her overreacting attitude.

Hearing him say that, Natsukawa Masaki finally turned his gaze away and took in the others around him.

Looking around, there were indeed quite a few couples sharing crepes in the square, taking bites from each other, and some of the bolder ones even kissed, then blushed and quickly ran away from the mocking gazes of others.

Reflexively, Natsukawa Masaki felt nauseous, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

She now desperately wanted to rush over to them, make faces at them, and use all sorts of sarcastic remarks to humiliate these despicable love enthusiasts, thereby gaining a sense of victory.

The existence of Natsukawa Masuzu is so disgusted with everything related to love—heterosexuality should all be out of sight, and if you want to play lovey-dovey games, just do it in your own bed. Why bother coming out to pollute other people's eyes?

...That was originally what I thought.

She slowly lowered her head and saw the hand she was holding tightly, unwilling to let go.

Then I saw him holding the cherry-flavored crepe that the two of them had shared in his other hand.

Undoubtedly, in the eyes of outsiders, they are no different from other couples, showing their affection in public.

As if in a dream, Natsukawa Masaki murmured involuntarily:

"Have I actually become the kind of person I hate the most...?"

But why do I feel so good about it when it happens to me, and want it to continue forever?

The question flashed through his mind, and Natsukawa Masaki forced himself to stop thinking about it.

Because the moment she arrives at the answer is the moment when the pillar she has trusted and relied on since the past completely collapses.

—Please, a little longer.

If only she had a few more months, or even a year...

By then, perhaps even someone who is beyond saving will be able to emerge from the abyss of hatred and believe in things that seem beautiful.

I held the warmth in my hands tightly.

Like a dreamy little girl, Natsukawa Masuzu looked forward to it.

……

After dropping his girlfriend off at home, Yuu Tenkuji returned to his own home before the sun had completely set.

He had barely stepped inside, before he'd even taken off his shoes, when his sister blocked his way in the entryway. Watching her cross her arms over her not-so-ample chest, she coldly spoke:

"Be lenient with confession, strict with resistance!"

Chapter 102 System, Stop Blaming the World!

The thing I need to be honest about is that I have a girlfriend.

Knowing that Sora had seen him and Natsukawa Masuzu going to school together from upstairs, Tenkuji Yu realized that it was time for another family meeting.

Is this my bad luck?

He didn't think so. If real misfortune were to befall him, it would be much worse than it was now.

For example, in the morning, Natsukawa Masuzu knocked directly on his door, and he and Sora came face to face, starting a love triangle between my girlfriend and my sister...