I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

--boom!

……

That person... is my ex-girlfriend.

--boom!

……

"Yukinoshita, your sister, is...my...ex-girlfriend..."

--boom!

……

"I...once..."

--boom!

△

The cold wind blew incessantly outside the window, and dark clouds obscured the warm winter sun.

The silence in the Service Club continued to spread; no one spoke after the girls had asked their questions.

"What's wrong, Xiaoyou? Didn't you sleep well?"

Seeing him sitting blankly in the chair, not answering for a long time, Yui Yuigahama spoke first, unable to help but ask with concern.

"Like this..."

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned as she scrutinized his expression. Her first reaction wasn't to suspect that he was guilty and didn't dare to answer, but rather to recall the vulnerable look he had shown her in the corridor.

The scene from that day flashed through my mind, and unconsciously, my voice softened, as if I didn't want to disturb a sleeping cat, and my eyes also became gentle.

She asked softly, "Are you thinking about the past again?"

As she asked the question, the light in those dark eyes gradually returned, and the numbness disappeared from the depths of their pupils.

As if she had just returned from another world, Tenkuji Yu blinked, looked at the two people's concerned eyes, stared blankly for a moment, twitched the corners of her mouth twice, and then slowly revealed a smile.

"It's nothing, don't worry... As for your questions, I actually don't know how to answer them, I'm sorry."

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

He seemed somewhat relieved, yet also somewhat helpless.

Although they were still puzzled, seeing that Tenkuji Yu was sweating and unwilling to talk about it, the two tacitly suppressed their curiosity and instead worried about his health.

"If you're not feeling well, just say so. We can go straight to the infirmary, and you can use your afternoon classes to rest!"

"Have some tea and rest for a while. Everyone has times when they feel unwell."

As if completely unconcerned about the reason for his sudden daze, Yui Yuigahama took out a handkerchief and gently wiped his sweat, while Yukino Yukinoshita took out a disposable paper cup from the cabinet, shared some of the black tea in the kettle with him, and turned up the heating in the service club.

Meanwhile, Yuu Tenkuji sat in a chair, her eyes slightly closed as if resting, quietly enjoying their service.

The rapid heartbeat was gradually calming down, and the blurred consciousness was slowly returning to clarity, constantly replaying what had just happened.

—In this world, probably only I know.

During that seemingly absent-minded period, he had already told those two things—

"Yukinoshita Haru is my ex-girlfriend."

The moment those words left his mouth, Yuu's heart pounded in his chest like an apple in a strong man's hand.

Before my vision could even blur, I came to my senses and found myself back in the moment before I could even answer.

As always, the system gave him a second chance.

Logically speaking, having learned so many lessons, Yuu Tenkuji should have given up honestly at this point and reluctantly found another reason to deal with them.

However, after hesitating for less than half a second, looking into the eyes of the two, Yuu Tenkuji chose to open his mouth again.

Where did that drive come from? He himself didn't know.

Just like a hot-blooded teenager in his chuunibyou phase, he suddenly decided to ignore everything and grit his teeth to fight the system to the death, never giving up easily.

So the second time, he racked his brains and used other methods.

So the third time, after much deliberation, he used another language.

The fourth time, the fifth time...

The tenth time, the eleventh time...

The hundredth time, the hundred and first time...

Finally, they even used sign language, Morse code, unknown totem languages, Martian language, Elvish language—any means that they could understand—just to tell them the truth.

It is also to prove time and time again that I am not inferior to the dog system that only hides in the soul but always ruthlessly attacks other people's hearts.

Today, Yuu Tenkuji resolutely chose death.

Until his consciousness could no longer withstand it and he almost lost consciousness.

The number of times his heart was crushed and time was reversed—

In total, 131 times.

Without exception, the moment they learned of this fact, the system would use the most drastic method to correct this timeline back.

Yuu Tenkuji can still feel the lingering phantom pain in his chest, as if his heart had been crushed, like a warning left to seal his mouth, and it seems it will last for quite some time before it fades away.

The pain made him involuntarily groan in his heart.

'Damn it...that's really ruthless...'

this is the truth.

His struggles were futile; his attempts to change things were like an ant trying to shake a tree.

If there hadn't been a second chance, a guy like him who foolishly rebelled against the system would have been dead in front of his girlfriends long ago, and wouldn't have had the energy to feel pain.

No matter how many times he tries, the system won't let him say things he shouldn't.

Yuu Tenkuji understood this principle.

……even so.

At least, things won't be like they were before.

With his head bowed, he couldn't help but grin and chuckle with exhilaration.

In the past, he had lost to the cruel reality presented by the system, and dejectedly knelt down, but changed his choices with a mature attitude.

Now, holding a cup of hot black tea in her hand, with cold sweat wiped from her forehead by a handkerchief, Tenkuji Yu has decided from this moment on to change the system with her own choices.

The first step is to die 131 times to show it, and break the record it set in the past.

The reason they stop dying at this number is not because they've given up, disappointed, or desperate, and certainly not because they're afraid their heart will burst and eventually break down—

It's just a tactical avoidance.

I can't think of a way to deal with it now, but that doesn't mean I should give up on the omnipotent dog system.

Whether it's simple resentment or impotent rage, it's all the same.

Yuu Tenkuji just wanted to tell himself:

"From now on, no matter what happens, you must never forget to stand up straight and give the middle finger to the dog system that's torturing you."

After all, there are still people who are "declaring war" on their families for their own sake.

There are people supporting me behind the scenes, people who have liked me from the past to the present.

For the sake of these people, we must never forget the struggle.

Yuuki Tenkuji should have realized this much earlier.

In front of them—he can lose, but he must never admit defeat.

'Hmph... Hmph hahaha...'

He chuckled silently to himself, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Yui Yuigahama and Yukino Yukinoshita, who were still concerned about him.

His smile had long since returned to its natural and cheerful form, and he said with a pleasant expression:

"I told you it's nothing, stop looking at me like that. Be careful, or I might start liking you guys more and more."

"..."

As soon as he uttered those skillful sweet words, the girls were all stunned, as if their hearts had been successfully shaken by him.

The next moment, some snorted, and others burst into laughter.

The two girls turned their gazes away, equally adept at ignoring Tenkuji Yuna's feigned affectionate look.

"Worrying about someone like you is a waste of energy. Hurry up and eat."

"Well, that's just how Xiaoyou is~"

As they said this, the atmosphere in the Service Club returned to calm, and the girls' expressions gradually relaxed.

Yui Yuigahama suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, that last time doesn't count. Xiaoyou still owes us a formal confession!"

Yukino Yukinoshita paused as she picked up the bento box, frowned, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

"I don't need that kind of thing."

Yui Yuigahama, however, was unusually firm: "No! This is an essential step, Yuki, don't be shy~"

"What's this 'must-do' process... I'm not shy. She's just my girlfriend in name only. It would be strange if I confessed."

With a helpless sigh, Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Yuu Tenkuji and said calmly, "You think so too, right? Yuihama and I are different. My goal is just to make you my 'ideal boyfriend,' not to make you my real lover."

"Xiao You!"

Yui Yuigahama cast an expectant glance at him, repeatedly gesturing with her eyes, only to find that Yuuki Yuuki nodded in agreement, showing no intention of standing on the same side as him.

"Yes, just as Yukinoshita said. Our interactions are purposeful, so there's really no need for all that fancy stuff."

Yuya Tenkuji looked at Yukino Yukinoshita, spread his hands helplessly, and smiled, saying, "Whether it's confessing or kissing, those are rights that only Yui, as the official girlfriend, has, and have nothing to do with Yukino right now. As for what an ideal boyfriend should do, that's another issue for discussion."

"Hmm—!" Yui Yuigahama narrowed her eyes, staring at Yuu Tenkuji with some anger, as if blaming him for saying such a thing.