I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

He paused, as if swallowing back a name that almost slipped out, and with all his might, he kept his gaze fixed on her.

"One of them is dating."

"Or rather, to become one of your 'ideal boyfriends'."

Chapter 55 The Fourth Mission

Unexpected, yet perfectly logical.

The moment the last dish was plated, the long-absent system panel popped up, overwhelming Tenkuji Yu's view.

"System task update".

"Please select the target of the mission to be performed."

Time: Within five minutes.

Note: Choose one of the four girls—Kasugano Sora, Tachibana Kanade, Isshiki Iroha, and Yukino Yukinoshita—to undertake a mission and become her 'ideal boyfriend'.

If no selection is made within five minutes, the system will automatically select the above four people as the task execution targets and simultaneously start the final trial task.

Warning: The final trial mission will have irreversible effects on this world and all its creatures. Please choose carefully!

how to say.

Upon seeing these contents, Yuu Tenkuji had moved beyond shock and calmed down, even finding the leisure to make sarcastic remarks about them one by one.

"He disappeared for a few days without permission, and this is all he got?"

"Letting me choose my own mission targets is quite novel, but what's with the 'I want them all' option when I can't choose one from four? Are you trying to get me to build a harem or do you want to build one yourself? And what the hell is this final trial mission? If you're so capable, why don't you release Azdahah?"

If Tenkuji Yu had completely broken down, he might simply wait five minutes to see what this so-called final trial mission was all about.

As for how the world will change, does that have anything to do with him?

Anyway, things can't get any worse than he is now, so he might as well drag everyone down with him; that might make him feel a little better.

...Unfortunately, no matter how powerless she felt, Yuu Tenkuji would not choose such a self-destructive ending.

He had to protect his sister, and he also had to protect Yui Yuigahama, who was waiting for him to confess his feelings—the guy who promised to become a hero now had at least the confidence to not break down.

So, there's only one problem now, and it's very simple.

Of those three, who should be chosen as the subject of this mission to be the "ideal boyfriend" mentioned by the system?

He could do either of the two junior girls, but he couldn't figure out Tachibana Kanade's thoughts. In comparison, Iroha Isshiki was easier to deal with—he felt that she had a good impression of him. If he seriously tried to win her over, he might be able to complete the fourth mission in no time.

Even knowing he was a two-timing scumbag, Tenkuji Yu was confident that, just like the previous three times, he could make her...

"If you really hold onto this kind of thinking, perhaps there's no turning back?"

Calm as ice, he told himself, and rejected this "shortcut".

Tenkuji Yu is someone who tends to think too much and too far ahead. Because he thinks about what will happen ten times in the future as soon as he appears, he is always unable to take the first step decisively.

He would always stay put, racking his brains to find the best solution—until the most perfect and correct outcome appeared—afraid to make any choice that he would regret.

The conflict between reason and emotion is the culprit behind Tenkuji Yuu's inability to let go of this conflict.

Now, the system, in a show of kindness, has given him five minutes to think.

Consider who should be the fourth victim.

"Haha, is this what they call 'freedom'? How kind of you! How about being even kinder and giving me more time?"

Naturally, the system did not respond, as if it had returned to the initial mode with only basic functions, with only cold words flickering with a transparent glimmer in front of him.

The countdown begins in five minutes: four minutes and fifty-nine seconds, fifty-eight seconds...

As time passed, Yuu Tenkuji suddenly felt powerless and lost.

The system played a brilliant move. Of all times, it had to be now, at a time when he needs all his courage just to have a normal relationship, to make him make this choice.

What should I do……

Who should I choose...?

Should we just give up like this...?

Just find someone and tell them about the system, then they'll be stuck in an endless cycle of death and reincarnation, so they don't have to make any choices...

No, I'd rather just be a scumbag. What's wrong with toying with girls' feelings? Those player-type men haven't been punished, so why should I be so conflicted...?

Just pick one at random, put all the blame on the system, I did nothing wrong, I did absolutely nothing wrong...

A torrent of thoughts surged up, and although he was trying to comfort himself, they felt as if they were crushing him, piling up heavily in his mind.

The steaming dish in front of me suddenly became blurry.

—Just then, footsteps sounded behind me.

Tenkuji Yuu suddenly woke up, only then realizing that there was another person in the kitchen besides herself.

His friend, and one of the characters in the mission options, Yukino Yukinoshita, was right behind him.

A vague thought suddenly surfaced from the depths of my mind.

As if grasping at a lifeline, Yuu Tenkuji tried hard to suppress his urge to overthink, gritted his teeth, turned around and called out to Yukino Yukinoshita, who was about to leave.

I want to ask you a question.

Her acting was flawless; the moment she turned around, all her hesitation was concealed.

However, judging from her helpless expression, perhaps this attempt to cover it up will only make her look more embarrassed?

do not care.

Yuu Tenkuji wanted to get the answer.

He wanted to gain courage.

He wanted to, like the system,... to shift the weight of the choice onto another person.

Let us continue to move forward in this way.

So, Tenkuji Yu spoke calmly to the aloof and dignified girl in front of him.

"I promised Yui..."

Sorry, Yukinoshita.

"I want to date one of you, Isshiki, or Tachibana... or rather, become one of your 'ideal boyfriends'."

I'm sorry, but this is the best course of action I could think of for myself in such a short time.

"Who do you think I should choose?"

Yukino Yukinoshita, I believe in you.

Even with such an absurd question, you can give me an answer, right?

……

Perhaps I was too surprised.

Confusion instead occupied Yukino Yukinoshita's mind, causing her to look at Yuuto Tenkuji with a puzzled expression. After frowning and pondering for a few seconds, she asked as if to confirm:

"You just said that while you've decided to date Yui-chan, you also want to be... my ideal boyfriend, Isshiki's boyfriend, or Tachibana's boyfriend?"

“Yes.” Yuu Tenkuji nodded.

"Are you kidding me?"

"You can tell, can't you?"

“Yes, I can tell. You’ve definitely lost your mind.” She said this with absolute certainty, her tone as sharp as ever.

"It's not broken, that's the question I wanted to ask you."

Tenkuji Yu looked at her expectantly.

Even though that cold, chilling gaze was terrifying and piercing, he still looked intently and seriously into her eyes.

"Yukinoshita, just give me an answer. If I had to choose one of three, which would cause the least damage?"

"..."

If she still had the wooden basin in her hand, she would definitely have dumped the basin and the food on his head—that's how stern and cold Yukino Yukinoshita's expression was at that moment.

Her small fist, with skin as clear as snow and veins faintly visible, was gently clenched at her side.

“Tenkuji-kun… no, Tenkuji Yu.”

She took a light breath, her small mouth slightly open, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Just as Tenkuji Yu was bracing himself for a severe scolding and ridicule.

The black-haired girl let out a long sigh, her sharp gaze softening with a hint of helplessness, as if looking at a disheveled child rolling around in the mud. She whispered to him:

"So, this is what you meant last time, the thing you were powerless to control?"

For a moment, it was as if something was stuck in his throat, and Tenkuji Yu was speechless.

Chapter Fifty-Six: I'll accept your request.

"As expected?"

Without needing his answer, just by looking at Yuuki Tenkuji's expression, Yukino Yukinoshita had already made up her mind.

Her black hair swayed slightly as she shook her head. She crossed her arms and sighed, as if she couldn't do anything about him: "To be honest, I really can't think of any reason that would force a man to 'cheate'. Especially when you openly say it like that, and even make a criminal threat in front of one of the victims... Can't you explain yourself?"

Yuu Tenkuji snapped out of her daze, still unsettled by the complex emotions swirling in her mind. She simply shrugged and replied, "You think I don't want to? It's good enough that you're stating your purpose directly. I have so many reasons to be here that I can't even begin to explain them."

Having grasped the scope of the system's prohibitions, all the things he confessed to Sora, Yui, and Yukinoshita were teetering on the edge of being subject to death rewind, and he could no longer reveal any more.

Even so, it's still better than saying nothing and showing a bitter and resentful expression, forcibly bearing everything, and leaving those who care about you completely confused.

At least that's what Yuu Tenkuji thinks.

Of course, being honest depends on the person... For example, Yuuki Yukinoshita and the others, as long as they don't ask him about his past, Yuuki Tenkuji won't bother to explain anything to them, even if one of them has regained her memories.

Things you've given up aren't so easy to get back.

"Purpose? Dilemma?"