I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

really.

The most important thing is not what Koichiro Yuuki is thinking, but what Haruno Yukinoshita is thinking.

"Can I refuse?"

Tenkuji Yu asked bluntly, his tone slightly somber, his expression clearly showing displeasure.

He had been helping Yukino Yukinoshita from beginning to end. Seeing how happily she chatted with Yuuki Koichiro along the way, he felt that he hadn't wasted his time and was somewhat gratified...

The results of it?

She turned around and betrayed herself; that's so inhumane.

"Of course you can. But for the last 'trial,' I have no choice but to declare you a failure."

Contrary to his expression, she said this with a cheerful air, her thin lips curving upwards, and her eyes sparkling with an unfathomable light.

Then, lower your voice:

"And as a rented boyfriend, if you encounter this kind of 'plot'... I don't need to tell you what to do, right?"

"I don't want to go with him, so I'm asking you, my boyfriend~"

The pleasant yet low-quality chuckles seemed to be accompanied by the scent of poppies.

A fire ignited within him, but he quickly calmed down and gave her a thoughtful look.

"……I see."

He suddenly smiled, but like her, there was no emotion in his eyes that could be called a smile.

"Although I don't know what your plans are, I'll play along with you until the end for the sake of that 30,000 yuan."

"My girlfriend."

They said it so intimately.

Yuu Tenkuji realized that he still couldn't like Yukinoshita.

Of course, even if he agrees to the other party's request, it doesn't mean he doesn't feel any resentment or displeasure at being forced into it.

At this time...

"Excuse me, can I make a phone call? You guys go ahead and play, I'll finish last."

“Sure.” Yuki Koichiro gave him a strange look, then secretly glanced at Yukinoshita Haruno, whose expression wasn’t very bright.

Finding nothing wrong, he had Yamada Daisuke put on boxing gloves, inserted coins, and started the game.

Tenkuji Yu walked to a distance where Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't hear him, turned his back, took out his phone, and made a call.

The busy tone lasted only two or three seconds before a slightly impatient and dissatisfied, cool voice came through the microphone:

"I'm playing games right now, so get to the point quickly."

"Sora, do you want a virtual reality headset?" Yuu Tenkuji smiled naturally.

"A virtual reality headset?" Kasugano Sora paused, then raised her voice, "You mean that headset that won't be officially released until the second half of the year, the one that will finally let us play holographic virtual reality games?!"

"Yes."

"That's the first civilian virtual reality device, which gamer wouldn't want it..." After saying this excitedly, Qiong seemed to realize something and hesitated.

"But You, what's wrong with you...?"

As if even the corners of her eyes were smiling, Tenkuji Yu said lightly:

"Don't worry about such trivial things. If I bring you a virtual reality headset home today, will there be any reward?"

"A prize, a reward?" There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if she were a little shy. Her soft and sweet voice scratched at my ear like a cat's paw.

"...How about a kiss? Hmm, that's about it."

Tenkuji Yuu immediately frowned.

"Oh? That's it? How about I let you do all the housework this week?"

"..."

Like the calm before a storm.

A dark, simmering anger was gathering, and even from a great distance, Tenkuji Yu could feel the chilling killing intent emanating from it.

He quickly brushed it off with laughter:

"Haha, I was just kidding. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll get to bring home the potato chips and the helmet. Just look forward to it."

"…Fine, I'm too lazy to get angry with you." Qiong snorted. "Someone like You will never get a girlfriend!"

“Well said, I think so too.” Tenkuji Yu nodded seriously.

Just as he was about to hang up, he heard Qiong speak again, seemingly casually:

"Yu, you're really not doing any dangerous work, are you?"

"Huh? Why are you asking that question again?"

"Isn't it because I was worried about you?"

"Yes, yes, don't worry, I'm not missing either of my kidneys, and I'm not missing any of my body parts."

Where's your butt?

"?"

"Cough cough cough... It's nothing, please go home soon!"

"Kasugano Sora—! You just wait, if you don't hand over your browsing history today, I'll—"

Beep, beep, beep—

Holding the phone that was now just a busy signal, Tenkuji Yu's chest heaved. After taking a deep breath, he faced the wall and sneered through gritted teeth.

Why are my emotions more intense than last time, even though it's a familiar conversation?

...I think this must be related to that guy who schemed against me.

Tenkuji slowly turned around, his heart churning with turmoil, but his expression quickly returned to blankness as he coldly looked at the person in the arcade.

In the lower left corner of the screen, a row of skill rewards on the system panel is faintly glowing.

For Yukino Yukinoshita's sake, Tenkuji Yu couldn't muster any enthusiasm, and no matter how he helped her, he felt unwilling.

But when it comes to things related to Kasugano Sora, regardless of their importance, Tenkuji Yu has always been—

Full power, all out.

This is what a proper sister-complex should be like.

"That's right, it's all for Qiong."

"Absolutely not, I'm so upset right now that I just want to vent."

With a barely perceptible smile, Yuu Tenkuji put her phone in her pocket and slowly walked back.

Perfect timing, he had something he wanted to try.

Chapter Thirty-Five: I'm a man who lives for my sister.

I've gotten used to the noise in the video game arcade.

Tenkuji Yu walked back to the university students and watched as the first half-blond-haired man, Mr. Yamada Daisuke, enthusiastically put on boxing gloves, revealing his bronze, fairly strong right arm, and stared intently at the sandbag bouncing up in front of him.

Each game has three chances to strike, and they choose the one with the highest score to strike.

Therefore, in order to perform at their best, they should not be too serious in the first two rounds, but wait until they get used to the feel and way of exerting force before trying to unleash their full potential in the final wave.

That's exactly what Daisuke Yamada did. He threw two punches in a very professional manner, although his posture was crooked and looked like a small-time thug fighting, but his score was still pretty good.

788 and 801 points.

"Ah~ still so far from a 985 university..." He scratched his half-blond blond hair, then revealed a slightly fierce smile, "In that case, I'll have to be super serious with that last punch!"

"Drink!"

The fist slammed out with lightning speed, and with a heavy impact, the sandbag crashed back onto the machine.

891 points.

The people behind him applauded, and Yamada Daisuke chuckled a little embarrassedly, then took off his boxing gloves and handed them to Yuki Koichiro.

"Sigh, I'm not in good shape today, I guess I won't be able to beat Koichiro... It's up to you now! You've studied martial arts, it would be too embarrassing to lose to me."

"Don't worry, since you've said that, I definitely won't lose." Yuki Koichiro smiled as he took the boxing gloves, put them on skillfully, and tested his fists.

"You really dare to say that." Yamada Daisuke patted him on the shoulder, turned to look at Tenkuji Yu, and laughed heartily, "So? Tenkuji, are you confident?"

"I'll do my best," Yuu Tenkuji replied calmly.

Knowing that this was his persona, Yamada Daisuke didn't mind the coldness. He shrugged and then looked at Yuki Koichiro, who was jumping a couple of steps in place and assuming a standard boxing stance, along with the others.

While the others weren't paying attention, Yukinoshita quietly walked up to Yuu Tenkuji and pressed her soft shoulder against him.

A whispered message, carried on the fragrant breeze, sounded in my ear:

"All-around amazing Youyou, do you know boxing too?"

"No, so I'm learning." As she answered, Yuu Tenkuji kept a close eye on Koichiro Yuuki's upper body, observing the ready posture of his waist, shoulders, and arms.

"Studying?" Yukinoshita Haruno tilted her head, puzzled.

"Yes, it's all thanks to you."

A strange glint flashed in his eyes. The moment Yuuki Koichiro threw his first punch, Tenkuji Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, as if time had slowed down, allowing him to see the punch's less than one-second-long process clearly.

"Ora!"

boom!

902 points.

Ignoring Yukino's chatter beside him, Yuu Tenkuji nodded thoughtfully, the scene from earlier replaying in his mind.

He definitely looks like he's trained. Just by looking at him, his strength is more concentrated than that of some high-ranking official, and his stance is steady and powerful...

So, what was that "Ora" sound all about?