I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Unaccustomed to this intimate posture, Natsukawa Masuzu quickly broke free after calming down, her eyes filled with wariness.

"I'm not interested in anything..."

“Yes, he really is a scoundrel.” Yukinoshita Haruno nodded in agreement, a pleasant smile spreading across her face. “You want to know about Tenkuji Yu, right?”

"!" As if her deepest secret had been exposed, Natsukawa Masuzu stared wide-eyed in astonishment, her fingers trembling slightly, speechless as she looked at the mature woman before her.

This extremely shaken appearance finally gave her a bit of normal human vitality, instead of a soulless doll.

"As expected!"

It was just a trivial guess, but coming from Yukino Yukinoshita, it sounded like a settled fact, weaving a net to catch its prey.

Lying isn't just about words, but also about attitude, confidence, and even actions and expressions—fortunately, she's always been lucky, and her lies are rarely detected.

“Little Zhenliang, I’ll tell you about ‘Tenkuji Yu’ and help you fend off your annoying parents… In return, you have to answer my questions.” Using a friendly and casual tone like a big sister next door, Yang Nao blinked cutely and giggled, “Is this a good deal? Two for one, to be precise, I’m still losing out.”

"..."

After a moment of silence, Natsukawa Masaki sighed as if giving up, and looked at the smooth marble floor, saying softly, "What do you want to know? Let me make this clear beforehand, I have absolutely no idea how your sister is doing at school, I haven't paid any attention to it at all."

Yang Nai shrugged: "Oh, that? I have informants at school keeping an eye on things for me, so I don't need to ask you specifically."

"……All right."

Natsukawa Masuzu thought to herself, the Yukinoshita family really does have personality problems—planting spies in high school to keep an eye on her younger sister, isn't that overprotective, no, stalking?

"Then I'll go first! Exclusive sharing: information about Yuu Tenkuji!"

With his fist loosely clenched and placed in front of his mouth like a microphone, Yukinoshita Haruno solemnly announced.

Natsukawa Masaki nodded, his eyes shining with anticipation, and unconsciously sat up straight.

He reached into his pocket, but didn't find the laptop, so he casually put it back on his lap.

Yukino Yukinoshita pondered, "First of all, well... let's not even mention his all-around abilities and exceptional intelligence. Let's get straight to the exciting stuff!"

"Exciting?"

Is it the size? Or the time?

Unfortunately, what she wanted to say was completely different from the thought that flashed through Natsukawa Masami's mind.

"That's right! Although it's not very credible, what that person said was so convincing that I had no choice but to believe the information..."

Yukino Yukino lowered her voice, as if she were about to tell a ghost story, and said in a chilling voice, "She was Tenkuji Yu's girlfriend a few months ago. It is said that the day after she broke up with him, she suddenly lost her memory and forgot everything about her relationship with him."

Amnesia?

Natsukawa Masuzu caught her breath, staring blankly at Yukinoshita Haruno, who was looking serious, as if trying to recall some hazy memories.

"That's right, it sounds like an urban legend, doesn't it? The problem is, when she regains her memories for some reason, she discovers that no one remembers the days she spent with him... The whole world becomes unreal!"

Lowering her voice, Yukino Yukinoshita spoke, her calm, icy eyes not missing a single change in her expression.

Once the bait is hooked and caught, it's time to begin the dissection.

The only piece of information I need to hand over is this one—and the information I obtain afterward will likely allow me to gain a deeper understanding of 'his secret'.

Whether this is a worthwhile deal or not depends on what answer Natsukawa Masuzu gives.

If my observations and feelings are correct...

A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth turned up, curving into a sickle-like arc.

'My dearest Youyou, even if you have your reasons, that's no excuse for you to be unfaithful...'

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Conversations at the Dining Table

Sky Temple House.

A table laden with a variety of delicious and visually appealing dishes, a family gathered happily around the table... wait, they're not a family.

Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama, Iroha Isshiki, and Kanade Tachibana sat on either side of the table, with bowls and chopsticks already prepared. Only Yuuma Tenkuji's family members had not yet come down.

"You guys eat first, I'll go upstairs and take a look."

After taking off her apron, Yuu Tenkuji prepared to go upstairs to ask Sora what her plans were.

Whether to have dinner with everyone downstairs or to prepare a set meal and send it up... Yuu Tenkuji couldn't figure out which one she preferred.

Although Kasugano Sora had peeked outside the door a few times while he was cooking in the morning, seemingly watching to see if he was being intimate with other girls.

But when Tenkuji Yu invited her into the living room to knead dough together, she ran back upstairs without saying a word, looking like she was very afraid of meeting so many outsiders.

"I should have asked Sora for her opinion before making lunch," Yuu Tenkuji thought to himself as he heard Yukino Yukinoshita's cool voice.

"Let's start eating after you come down. The host has to leave, how can the guests start eating first?"

As she said this, she glanced around at her surroundings.

Isshiki Iroha and Yui Yuigahama nodded in agreement, while Kanade Tachibana silently withdrew her little hand that had been reaching for the mapo tofu and sat calmly and obediently in her chair.

It suddenly felt like a kindergarten teacher directing children.

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Tenkuji Yu smiled at her and quickly walked out of the living room.

After he left, the atmosphere at the dining table fell into a moment of silence for some reason.

No one dared to make a move; only the fragrant dishes, with their wisps of white steam rising slowly, tempted everyone's appetite.

Isshiki swallowed hard, and to distract herself and ease the strangely heavy atmosphere, she smiled nonchalantly and said:

"Um, which of these dishes were made by you, senpai, and which were made by Yukinoshita-senpai? They all look so delicious!"

“I washed the dishes, and he cooked the food.” Seemingly unaware of the awkward atmosphere, Yukino Yukinoshita turned her gaze away from the bookshelf in the living room and answered naturally, “To be honest, he could have done it all by himself. My help was just icing on the cake.”

Iroha Isshiki quickly waved her hand: "No, no, no, it's more than just icing on the cake! Yukinoshita-senpai looks absolutely gorgeous in her apron and ponytail, she's the epitome of a virtuous wife. Senpai was definitely watching you while she cooked!"

Yukino Yukinoshita blinked, her face blushing silently as if she had thought of something. She lightly twirled the end of her ponytail with her fingers, her gaze shifting away guiltily.

"……Thank you for the compliment."

Yui Yuigahama looked at her expression with curiosity.

Kuroku Tenkuji Yuu blurted out, and Isshiki Iroha didn't think much of it. Taking advantage of his absence, she continued enthusiastically, "I know! Maybe that's why he let you help him in the kitchen! Yukinoshita-senpai, did senpai use cooking as an excuse to seduce you? If he did, we'll confront him together later!"

Anyway, the relationship between the three members of the Service Club has been repaired, and it's impossible for the senior to actually become a pervert—with this understanding, Isshiki Iroha makes jokes without any restraint, trying to liven up the atmosphere by using someone who is not there.

Unexpectedly, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly and said with some concern, "Let's forget about Tata. He didn't intentionally touch me; he just accidentally bumped into me a few times while cooking, and also when he was taking things from the cabinet, he came from behind..."

Yui Yuigahama: "?"

Isshiki Iroha: "!?"

Yukino Yukinoshita: "...No, never mind. Anyway, he didn't harass me under the guise of cooking, so I hope you don't misunderstand."

Stared at by the two with wide, astonished eyes, even though she tried her best to keep a straight face and pretend to be nonchalant, her beautifully shaped earlobes were still tinged with a bright, delicate blush, and her heart was pounding so hard it almost burst out of her chest.

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't know what was wrong with her. Ever since leaving the kitchen and facing Yui Yuigahama, her mind had been in such a mess that she couldn't sort out her thoughts. She would only realize what was wrong after she had spoken, and she couldn't be as calm and composed as usual.

All he could think about was him, himself, Yui-chan, and how the three of them should get along in the future.

"I'm not misunderstanding anything... although I'll probably have to question him properly afterward."

Muttering to herself, in order to prevent Yukino Yukinoshita from becoming more embarrassed, Yui Yuigahama decided to change the subject: "To be honest, didn't Yuu touch my hand several times when I was kneading the dough, Ayaha-chan?"

"Huh?" Caught off guard, Iroha Isshiki hurriedly tried to explain, her face flushing slightly. "Th-that was just normal business contact, it doesn't count! Yui-senpai, you're being too cunning!"

"Hehehe~" Yui Yuigahama chuckled mischievously, her crescent-shaped eyes narrowing. "Who told Aya-chan to say that Yu was a pervert who groped girls! If we're talking about groping, he's groped all three of us once, you know?"

"Yuigahama-san, please watch your words." Yukino Yukinoshita sighed and rubbed her forehead, but inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

As the topic shifted from Yuu to Tenkuji, the three of them chatted back and forth, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere in the living room. The girls' friendly interaction seemed to even mask the biting cold wind outside the window.

Although she was excluded from the conversation and had virtually no chance to interject, Tachibana Kanade didn't mind. She simply stared at the Mapo Tofu, whose steam was gradually fading, with her pale golden eyes, and silently prayed.

—Senior Yu, please come back soon.

Mapo tofu tastes best when it's served hot.

……

Not long after, Yuu Tenkuji entered the living room with a petite girl in a white dress and silver hair.

Her hands and feet were as slender and white as ivory chopsticks. Her youthful face was expressionless, and her eyes held a cold indifference that kept people at a distance. Yet, her fingers clung to the hem of his clothes in a coquettish manner, unwilling to let go.

"Hmm...I guess Isshiki is the only one here who hasn't seen Sora yet."

As they walked toward the dining table together, Yuu Tenkuji introduced her, "This is my younger sister, Kasugano Sora."

"Please give me your guidance," she said casually, without looking at them at all.

"Ah, nice to meet you..." Her cheerful and carefree expression vanished, and Iroha nodded nervously. Her polite smile faltered as her jaw dropped in surprise. "Wait, what I mean is... has Kanade met my sister-san too? When?!"

"When I go to the hospital for a follow-up appointment," Tachibana Kanade answered succinctly, sitting in his seat like a statue, yet radiating a restless sense of anticipation.

My eyes never left the dish of red and white.

"Kazunari, long time no see~" Yui Yuigahama waved with a smile, and Kasugano Sora, unusually, turned her gaze over and nodded gently.

Then, she looked at Yukinoshita, who seemed even more nervous than Iroha Isshiki, but was only trying to remain calm.

"Qiong, hello. About this morning..."

Before she could finish speaking, Kasugano Sora interrupted her coldly, "You mean that thing about wanting to 'hug my family'? Whatever, Yu agreed anyway, so go ahead and hug them if you want."

After the words were spoken, an awkward silence descended upon the dining table once again.

Yui Yuigahama and Iroha Isshiki looked back and forth at Yukino Yukinoshita and the Soraji siblings, so surprised that they didn't know what to say.

Yuu Tenkuji rolled his eyes helplessly, while Yukino Yukinoshita remained silent for a long time before her ears turned red and she was eager to explain again.

At that moment, as if struck by a thunderclap, a very distinct sound of intestinal peristalsis came from one corner of the dining table.

"Gurgle—~~"

"..."

Amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, Tachibana Kanade clutched her lower abdomen and lowered her head, her silver hair obscuring half of her face. The usually calm and serene girl rarely showed such a shy and embarrassed expression.

With a voice as light and soft as a feather, she explained in a soft voice:

"I'm sorry... This is the first time I've had Mapo Tofu in front of me and haven't used it. I don't intend to urge everyone to start eating, so please ignore me."