I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

The cowardly hero wanted to become strong, and the strong girl gently pushed him from behind.

So he looked up and took a step.

"I believe in myself and that I will become stronger than ever before."

Holding the soft body in his arms tightly, Yuu Tenkuji made a vow to himself.

……

"Oh dear, I was wondering what Yui was up to so late at night~ Turns out she was busy getting intimate in an alley."

A gentle voice, full of deep emotion and interest, suddenly broke the silence between the two.

The two looked towards the alley entrance at the same time. There stood a young woman with orange hair, one hand supporting her young and delicate cheek, watching them embrace intimately with a smile.

"Excuse me, did I disturb you?"

Yui Yuigahama quickly pushed Yuu Tenkuji away, subconsciously wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Her small face turned bright red with panic, like an innocent girl who had been caught red-handed by her family for not locking the door while doing something.

"Mom, Mom, why are you here!?"

Chapter Fourteen: The only person who can manipulate my mind and body is Xiao Youyou!

"Sister, why are you here?"

As the elevator doors slid open, Yukino Yukinoshita's expression turned cold the moment she saw the figure, her face filled with resistance.

"Of course I came to visit you!"

Accustomed to her sister's attitude, Yukinoshita Haruno casually put away her phone.

Leaving the wall she was leaning against, she knocked on the dark door beside her, her tone accusingly saying, "How could you be so inconsiderate?"

"Hurry up and open the door, it's tiring to stand."

Taking it for granted that she would take the lead and ordering others around without any self-awareness—I'm very sorry, but the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family is such a terrible and willful person.

"...He brought it upon himself."

He took a deep breath and exhaled all his helpless feelings.

Yukino Yukinoshita decisively gave up resisting, expressionlessly took out her key, and without even glancing at the eerie smile on her face, opened the door and went inside.

The lights illuminated the room, which hadn't been ventilated for four days. The stuffy air made Yukino frown, and the dust in the corner of the shoe cabinet was also quite an eyesore.

Yes, just like that woman who walked in and started muttering to herself.

"Oh dear, I forgot you've been out playing for several days, there must be dust everywhere... Shall I wait until you've cleaned up before I come over?"

"You can leave now and never come back in."

Yukino maintained a cold demeanor, but a sense of doubt crept into her heart.

what happened?

I have a feeling that this guy is even more annoying than before... and there's a subtle difference in his tone of voice.

As for what the difference was, Yukino herself couldn't say. In the end, she didn't really know that person that well.

The older sister, who is always aloof and superior, never gives me a chance to get to know her.

Putting aside this inexplicable question for the moment, Yukino temporarily placed her luggage in the entryway, went to the living room to turn on the air purifier, and then opened all the doors and windows to let the cool afternoon air carry away the strange smells that had accumulated indoors.

...Unfortunately, we can only clean up after the uninvited guests have left.

Otherwise, Yukino Yukinoshita could already imagine herself working hard over there while someone else was leisurely lying on the sofa giving orders.

My mere obsession with cleanliness is nothing compared to this scene, which can only be described as mental torture.

"If you're worried about getting the sofa dirty, just clean it yourself. The rags and cleaning agents are all over there."

After pointing out a clear path to Yukino, who was standing in the center of the living room looking around, Yukino took her luggage and went back to her room.

Having just returned from Kyoto, she had a ton of things to do—change her clothes, unpack her luggage, put her dirty laundry in the washing machine, and have Yono bring home a souvenir for her father. Cleaning the room could wait.

Just as I closed the door, my sister's voice came through the door.

"Never mind, I feel like if I stay any longer you'll ask me to clean your house, so I'll just talk for a bit and then head back."

"It's a pity. I would be very grateful to have you help me."

As she said this, Yukino frowned, her fingers thoughtfully resting on her chin.

She went back so obediently, which is unlike her usual self... Sure enough, coming to visit me was just an excuse, she probably had ulterior motives.

What are you trying to say?

Not intending to speculate too much, Yukino Yukinoshita asked directly.

Outside the door, Yukinoshita leaned against the living room sofa, looking at the door she had locked as she closed it, her expression also thoughtful.

The cat-shaped sign has the cute name "Yukino" written on it... It seems that Yukino is still a child at heart. I bet she still has those cat-themed underwear she wore when she was little.

I'll just sneak into her closet next time.

Is Kyoto fun?

With her mind wandering to all sorts of random thoughts, Yukino Yukinoshita didn't forget her purpose in coming here specifically to find someone, and casually asked a question.

Yukino, inside the door, replied calmly, "There's nothing particularly interesting about it. The scenery was indeed beautiful, and the museum was very informative. Overall, it was a pretty good experience."

"Hmph~ That's quite a top student's answer." Yang Nai snorted through her nose, saying noncommittally, "What were the results of the kendo tournament? It's a pity that I didn't have something come up, I would have gone with you guys already."

"Skipping class and running off to Kyoto, watch out, your mother might ground you." The sound of changing clothes could be faintly heard. "As for the result, that Tenkuji-kun you're interested in shone brightly on the field. Winning the national championship is basically all thanks to him. Are you happy?"

"Something I care about?" Yukinoshita Haruno raised an eyebrow, asking casually, "So, I really care about him?"

"you forgot?"

Yukino was so surprised that she raised her voice.

"He followed her everywhere during the autumn performance, and he wouldn't leave her alone whenever he was with Yui-chan. During the autumn outing, he even hid behind a lamppost to spy on them playing at the amusement park... Sister, you're not trying to deny your dark past, are you? I thought you were all so upright and honest..."

"Oh dear, what embarrassing history?"

Before she could finish her words, which sounded more like a scathing jab than a sigh, Yukinoshita Haruno smiled and said kindly and gently, "Yukino, can you come out and explain what I've done that could be called a 'dark history'?"

"..."

Outside, the winter sun shone brightly, but inside, it seemed as if a layer of darkness prevented the sunlight from penetrating.

Even though there was a door between them, an inexplicable chill still crept onto Yukino's delicate skin, uncontrollably raising goosebumps.

"...I'm just stating the facts. Your actions are no different from those of a stalker. I really hope you can have some self-awareness and stop making such a fool of yourself."

Despite saying it with such disdain, the door never opened, as if it would remain locked until the person outside left.

—A coward who only talks the talk but never dares to defy his older sister!

Yang Nai pouted and snorted, not intending to argue with her silly younger sister. She dragged out her words in a spoiled manner, "I forgot~ I said I forgot, and I meant I forgot. I'm not some perverted stalker~"

However, this way, the memory matches perfectly.

Her eyes never lost their composure, and while her tone was flippant, Yukinoshita Haruno's mind was racing, comparing the gathered information with her own situation.

First of all, only she has memories of "dating".

The others, including Yukino Yukinoshita who had forgotten Yuu Tenkuji, all had stories of how the two met again after becoming strangers, and how she inexplicably became obsessed with him.

To put it more concretely, it's like the story from the summer vacation period was torn out, and the pages that follow are based on the premise that "Yukinoshita Haruno didn't rent a boyfriend, so naturally she wouldn't have met Tenkuji Yuu."

However, since they are from the same book, even if the premise is changed, the two are still closely related in many ways and even influence each other.

For example, her changes, her nostalgia, her loneliness—for example, her stalking behavior, because they are undeniable facts, serve as the best evidence for the view that "the lost memories are not false."

The two routes from July to August, and from August to the present, are all based on real events.

As for the memory aspect, it's more like overwriting than erasing, and the method is so crude that problems can be identified upon closer inspection.

However, influenced by some mysterious force, she used to subconsciously ignore the doubts and accept the seemingly reasonable developments along with others.

If the comb hadn't suddenly broken, the two would probably have drifted further and further apart, until...

Perhaps he has completely lost interest in her, or perhaps he has found a new girlfriend and is keeping his distance from her completely.

As a result, the solution to the puzzle became clearer and clearer in my mind.

"I see..."

Yukino Yukino gently tapped her knee, her gaze quietly fixed on the floor. The shadows in the room made the color in her dark eyes appear even deeper and darker.

In other words, in order to separate himself from Xiaoyouyou, the "God" went to great lengths and reorganized the entire world, right?

Regardless of how heartbroken her little Youyou would be, and regardless of how she was practically a walking corpse for a while after forgetting about Youyou...

"Heh, they really dare to do that."

His fists clenched tightly, and his teeth gritted so hard they made a grinding sound.

It had been a long time since Yukinoshita Haruno had felt this kind of anger that was about to burn out her rationality.

It might be the first time in my life.

Even if the target is a god capable of changing the world, this despicable being that arbitrarily steals the happiness of others—Yukinoshita Haruno wants to bring a horse and kick it to death, to tell it—

Who do you think you are? The only person who can manipulate my mind and body is Xiao Youyou!

Chapter Fifteen: Your adorably naughty girlfriend is coming to see you!

"elder sister?"

After a long silence, Yukino tentatively spoke from inside the room, but the door still showed no sign of opening.

"Sorry, sorry, I was a little distracted~" Yang Nai quickly regained her composure, blinking. Her cold gaze hadn't faded, but her tone had warmed up. "Where were we? I'm concerned about Xiao Youyou."

"Is it a dark history... Little Yuuyu?" Her tone wavered, and Yukino seemed to be pursing her lips, trying hard not to laugh out loud. "What a tacky nickname..."

"I quite like it, is it funny?"

Looking at the door, Yang Nai propped her cheek up with one hand and asked with interest.

"It's not a matter of whether it's funny or not..." Seemingly sensing the gaze through the door, Yukino coughed twice, quickly regaining her composure, "Why did you suddenly give him a nickname? Your relationship isn't that close, is it?"

“Just because we didn’t get along in the past doesn’t mean we don’t get along now.” Yukino Yukinoshita got up from the sofa she was leaning against, stretched, and her fitted sweater accentuated her amazing curves.