I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

The mother's voice carried a faint hint of laughter.

"Of course it's Tenkuuji Yu, whom you think about every day~"

"..."

She froze in place, as if petrified, her reflection in the mirror frozen in a strange pose.

The lady outside the door was very considerate and didn't urge her, but just waited silently for her to finish processing the news.

"Eh—!!!"

After being stunned for three seconds, Yui Yuigahama let out a panicked scream, jumped up, and paced around the room unconsciously.

"W-Why didn't Xiaoyou tell me she was coming?! This is so sudden!"

"Maybe I wanted to give you a surprise~" the mother said casually, as if she were watching a good show.

"I'm only shocked, not happy. I don't know how to face him..." Halfway through her troubles, Yui Yuigahama suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, "By the way, Mom, is anyone coming with him?"

"Hmm...it seems not." Mrs. Yuihama thought for a moment before answering, "He's the only one in front of the door. Unless he's hiding, there's no one else."

"Xiaoxue didn't come? That's good..." Yui Yuigahama breathed a deep breath to relieve her tension, feeling somewhat relieved.

Mrs. Yuihama seemed to be able to see her actions through the door, and casually asked, "So, Yui, what's your choice? Will you meet him and talk to him, or won't even let him in the door?"

"I……"

Joyful laughter rang out again.

"By the way, if I let him in and don't talk to him, then I won't be so polite! Oh dear, I've been wanting to have a cup of tea and chat with this handsome young man for a while now. Luckily, our sofa is big!"

"?! Mom, you can't do this! Xiaoyou is my classmate!"

"He could be my future son-in-law, so why can't we chat? Yui, what are you worried about? Have you thought of any weird scenarios? Tell Mom!"

"Ughhhhhh—!"

How can a mother be so annoying, teasing her daughter like this when she's suffering from unrequited love?

……

Rewind a little bit, and Yuuki Tenkuji and Yukino Yukinoshita arrive at the door of Yuihama's house.

These are very ordinary detached houses, perfectly integrated into the background of the residential area. There are probably millions of such homes and families throughout Japan.

"Yui probably didn't actually take sick leave because she was sick."

As he spoke, Tenkuji Yu gestured for her to loosen her grip on his sleeve and stop holding on so tightly.

A hint of regret flickered in her eyes. Yukino Yukinoshita casually released her grip and sighed softly, "I had a vague idea...you don't want to see us, do you?"

“Hmm, I guess our behavior after noon yesterday made her guess something.” Tenkuji Yu’s tone was slightly somber as she looked up and gazed at the second-floor window of the building. “Don’t let her usual silly appearance fool you; in some ways, she has a keen sense of smell like a dog… I don’t mean to insult her.”

"I know, but I still hope you can use a nicer word." Yukino Yukinoshita withdrew her finger from his side, her expression mirroring his serious one, as if facing a formidable enemy. "If we come to find her together, we'll probably be avoided, right?"

Even so, I still hope someone can face this together. And if I don't say it now, when will I ever tell her?

It was precisely because they were mentally prepared to be honest that the two of them came here side by side, so as not to let the problem drag on into a more difficult future.

"I'm afraid you'll have to go hide over there for a while." After thinking for a moment, Yuu Tenkuji said to Yukino Yukinoshita, "I've met her mother once. Even if Yui doesn't want to see me, I should be able to go in for tea and find out about her situation, which will make it easier to take action later."

"I see."

Have you met their parents yet?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Yukino Yukinoshita didn't dwell on it too much. She nodded decisively and walked towards the park next door.

"If possible, please bring Yuihama along. Otherwise, it would be very awkward if her mother heard us."

Yuu Tenkuji took a deep breath: "Okay, I'll try my best."

Yukino turned to look at him, her long hair flowing, her eyebrows slightly raised: "Why are you so insecure?"

"Lack of confidence? Not at all, you've misjudged me." Tenkuuji Yu shrugged, looking completely calm and confident. "Have I ever disappointed you?"

Yukino gazed at him, as if she had thought of something. Her eyes slowly narrowed into two crescent moons, and a bright, beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

"That's true."

She turned around, waved, and strolled leisurely, her slender and upright figure disappearing around the corner of the park.

I believe you, and I'll be waiting for you to bring Yui-hama-san to the park—that's what the figure seemed to be saying.

Yuya Tenkuji turned his gaze to the doorbell next to the "Yuigahama" sign, and the slight tension he felt vanished inexplicably.

Without much hesitation, he pressed the doorbell, stood straight in the twilight, and stared intently at the door in front of him.

"They're here..."

Not long after the doorbell rang, a young woman in an apron opened the door. She paused in surprise for a moment, then smiled warmly and said with a hint of meaning:

"Tenkuji-kun, are you here to visit Yui?"

Chapter 76 Modern married women really know how to have fun.

"Yes, I'm so sorry to bother you. How is Yui's health?"

Feeling that there was a lot of meaning behind the lady's smile, Yuu Tenkuji suppressed his doubts for the time being and nodded politely in response.

"You're too kind. The child will be very happy to know you're here."

As she spoke, Mrs. Yuihama looked him up and down, her gaze bold and rather aggressive.

Even though he considered himself thin-skinned, Tenkuji Yu was starting to feel a little uncomfortable under her gaze. However, he wasn't used to showing weakness in front of others—especially his girlfriend's parents—so he straightened his chest and looked back at her openly and honestly.

Her unmade-up face bore a resemblance to Yui, but her temperament was more mature and gentle. Her skin was so smooth and firm that she didn't look like a woman in her thirties at all, and her figure had a beautiful curve that even an apron couldn't hide.

Rather than being called a wife, she was more like Yui Yuigahama's slightly older sister; neither her appearance nor her demeanor showed much of the ravages of time.

'...You've taken such good care of yourself.'

Tenkuji Yu had only this thought: he preferred the silly but straightforward girl and had absolutely no interest in married women.

Meanwhile, seemingly having observed enough, Mrs. Yuihama stroked her cheek, a childlike, mischievous smile playing on her full, soft lips, and continued to look at him slowly, saying:

"As for Yui's body... you could say it's good, or you could say it's bad."

“Is that so…” Tenkuji Yu’s eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this.

What kind of standard, nonsensical answer is this? Is he deliberately making fun of himself?

—Obviously, yes.

Although this was the first time she had faced this type of "mother-in-law test," the battle-hardened Yuu Tenkuji had already sensed the danger and knew that if she didn't answer properly, she would probably have to spend a lot of time in front of Mrs. Yui before she could go in to see Yui.

His mind raced, and with a smile, he calmly responded: "In that case, I can cook her my specialty medicinal porridge. It can treat illnesses and soothe the stomach, which is perfect for Yui right now."

Then he stared straight at the other person, his eyes serious, and his tone gradually became sincere and solemn.

"Mrs. Yuihama, may I come in? It will only be for a moment, and it won't delay your dinner!"

"..."

Mrs. Yui blinked slightly, looking a little surprised, as she paused for a moment, her teasing expression faltering.

Yuu Tenkuji naturally understood that it was indeed somewhat impolite to try to go inside after only a few words—but it also perfectly demonstrated his eagerness to see Yui Yuigahama.

In front of their parents, no matter how much a child says, nothing is more important than a strong statement of opinion; this is a lesson he has learned from past experiences.

"Let me see your daughter"—simply look at the other person with this kind of gaze, and you can move the conversation to the next stage, regardless of whether they agree or not.

Sure enough, after meeting his sincere and eager gaze for a few seconds, Mrs. Yui sighed softly for no apparent reason and took a step back as if persuaded.

"I was hoping to have a proper chat with you, but I didn't expect you to be in such a hurry to see Yui..."

But as she talked, she inexplicably became resentful again, occasionally stealing glances at him with a wronged look in her eyes.

"As expected, an old woman like me has lost all my charm, and even hot-blooded young men won't bother to give me a second glance? Waaah~"

Madam, you are so lively...

Yuu Tenkuji didn't voice his complaint or try to flatter the other person with sweet words; he simply laughed awkwardly twice as a response.

Yukinoshita was still waiting in the park; he didn't want to waste too much breath on this married woman.

After realizing that Yuu Tenkuji wasn't responding, Mrs. Yuihama, feeling bored, also stopped talking and moved aside.

Then, before he could go in, a woman in her early thirties smiled and closed the door, giving him the cold shoulder without warning.

"I'll go upstairs and ask Yui if she wants to see you. You just wait here, young man."

"..."

Yuu Tenkuji stared at the door in front of him, his mouth slightly agape, his face filled with a bewildered surprise. He could almost hear someone humming a song and going upstairs from behind the door.

Madam, you could have said that from the beginning, why did you have to write so many words to me?

What did I do to offend you that you have to tease me like this?

These questions remained unanswered. Tenkuji silently rubbed his forehead, striking the same pose as Yukino Yukinoshita.

"These married women nowadays really know how to have fun..."

Fortunately, she didn't have to go up and ask for too long.

After waiting for less than five minutes, Mrs. Yuihama reopened the door, but she was no longer as kind and friendly as before.

Instead, he pretended to be serious, tightened his face, coughed twice like a politician preparing to speak, and then stood tall and spoke solemnly in front of him:

"Young man, Yui said she doesn't want to see your handsome... cough cough, hateful face for the time being, and she wants you to go back immediately."

Ignoring everything else, Tenkuji Yu asked directly, "Is she alright? She shouldn't be really sick, right?"

Mrs. Yuihama gave him a satisfied look, her expression saying, "You're a smart guy, you didn't disappoint your mother-in-law."

But her words were still merciless: "Since you guessed she was faking illness to take the day off, you should also know why she doesn't want to see you... Please leave. Yui has been studying at home all day and is already very tired!"

"Just a few words are enough, even if we're separated by a door... Wait, what did you just say?"

As if hearing Caterpie evolve into Rayquaza in the official game, Yuu Tenkuji looked incredulous and couldn't help but ask, "You mean, after she took a day off, she studied all day?!"

"Yeah, why would I lie to you?" Mrs. Yui put her hands on her hips and pouted like a little girl. "My poor Yui works so hard, I don't know who she's doing it for... I won't say more, I hope you can have some self-awareness and stop bothering her!"

"..."

Tenkuji Yu fell into another kind of silence.