I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

After being lost in thought for a while, he seemed to snap out of his daze, and his previously blank expression gradually became complicated.

Looking down at the girl beside him, whose blush had mostly faded and who seemed calm and even slightly happy, Tenkuji Yu opened her mouth hesitantly, but her usually clever mind couldn't come up with a single word for the moment.

After an unknown amount of time, he tentatively asked:

"...Um, Yukino?"

"What's wrong, are you thirsty?"

Yukino raised her gaze, her eyes quickly locking onto the small stall ten meters away. She pursed her lips, which were dry from talking too much, smiled slightly, and said in a light voice:

"Let's go buy a drink over there! I'm a bit thirsty too. The food and drinks in the amusement park are a bit pricey, but at least they taste better than what you get at convenience stores. I suggest bringing your own water next time... I usually buy Pan Panda's special drinks here."

"No, that kind of thing is fine with anything. I just wanted to say..."

Tenkuji Yu gave a complicated smile, feeling somewhat at a loss for what to do for the first time as he leaned against the soft touch of the arm.

Is this really a good idea?

"What's wrong with that? Wasn't that your goal in the first place? You weren't like this before you entered the amusement park."

"It's not a good thing if someone truly likes me."

"Don't worry, I won't be like my sister or Xia Chuan, losing my mind and becoming extreme just because I like someone..."

She glanced at Tenkuji Yu, as if too lazy to pretend or put on a brave face anymore, and turned her head to reveal a serene smile.

Even if I do, I won't regret my current choice.

"Because saving you makes me feel incredibly satisfied."

She said this with a smile.

"..."

At that moment, Tenkuji Yu took a deep breath, a thousand words welling up in his throat, but he choked them back down.

Suddenly, he laughed.

Looking up at the sky, I let out a joyful laugh as the clouds and mist dispersed.

"Ha...you're such a weirdo."

Her beauty is pure, intelligent, and straightforward, without being annoying, which suits Yukino Yukinoshita perfectly.

From the past to the present, Yuu Tenkuji believes that this is the most endearing moment of her life... and perhaps it will always be like this in the future?

At least, that's how it is in my own eyes.

"Hmph, same to you."

Yukino shrugged indifferently, took his hand and walked towards the vendor. After buying two drinks, they walked briskly towards the amusement park decorated with bamboo groves.

"Oh right, I remember you once said, 'Your charm isn't so great that it would make me commit a crime, I wouldn't even touch you'?"

"Didn't you also say that only insects would like me? Tsk tsk, insects are the next best thing."

"Please don't include Yuihama in the insults, Tenkuji Mushi-kun."

They argued their way into the "Panda's Adventures" arcade, and then argued their way out of the cable car exit. The two went from holding hands to holding hands and walked into the Panda merchandise store.

The photo booth was right there. Before they went on a shopping spree and their hands were empty, Yukino dragged him along to take their first photo together.

Her enthusiastic expression, her childlike excited eyes, and her rosy, expectant blush were all signs of a side of Tenkuji Yuu that she had never seen before.

There were no overly intimate poses; the two simply leaned on each other, naturally and comfortably smiling at the camera.

After the photo shoot, it was time for the free coloring session. Ms. Yukinoshita, who had never had her headshot taken before, inevitably became flustered while operating the machine and needed his help to adjust things such as the background settings.

Holding the stylus, Yuu Tenkuji skillfully tapped the panel: "Is this bamboo forest background okay? Don't add anything else, I don't like overly flashy photos."

After quickly grasping the usage techniques, Yukino Yukinoshita pushed past him in front of the control screen and began rapidly tapping on it with a serious expression.

“I don’t like fancy things either, but Mr. Pan insists on adding one… no, ten would be better.”

"There are too many! Are you planning to cover my face with a panda?!"

"Oh my, that's a good idea~" She raised an eyebrow, pursed her lips, and smiled mischievously and cutely. "How about I just put a panda mosaic over your face? Don't let your face diminish Mr. Pan's cuteness."

With a forced smile, Tenkuji Yu said in a friendly tone, "My dear Yukino-san, have you heard of her?"

"When taking headshots, 70% of men will choose to kiss the woman next to them as a memento."

"Is that so? So what?" Yukino Yukinoshita turned her head away, completely ignoring his bluffing threat.

Then, very honestly, they removed the excess pandas, leaving only two to place on their shoulders.

"Thank me for considering things to this extent. It's because I'm as magnanimous as Mount Miyu, willing to forgive your arrogance and rudeness."

"Don't worry, I have no interest in forcibly kissing anyone," Yuu Tenkuji scoffed.

After all, it was always others who were forcibly kissing him.

After the edited headshots were printed, the two left the machine to share the photos, admired and discussed them for a while, before starting to browse the store.

Seeing Yukino Yukinoshita immediately put the photo into her bag, Yuu Tenkuji stopped pinching the corner of the photo and asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to stick it on the back of your phone? Most couples do that."

"Let's leave it for now, I'm a little... embarrassed." She covered her mouth with her small hand, her face slightly red, and said softly as if she were muttering, "It's not a big deal if my sister finds out... but if my mother finds out, it will only bring more trouble."

"That's true."

Yuu Tenkuji didn't care too much. He always stuck a close-up photo of himself and his girlfriend on the back of his phone case to prove his devotion.

Although this phone case has actually been used to display headshots of three girls with him... this is the fourth one.

"Using all sorts of seemingly unintentional little gestures to win a girl's heart..." Seeing his unwavering actions, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Being your girlfriend must be tough. You have to think every day about whether other girls will be captured by you like this."

“I’m upright and honest.” Tenkuji Yu rolled his eyes. “That’s called being a considerate and warm-hearted man. Don’t make me sound like a central air conditioner.”

"Playing both sides and still claiming you're not a 'central air conditioner'? You're shameless." Yukino Yukinoshita rolled her eyes and sneered.

"I didn't ask because I didn't want to embarrass you... Tenkuji-kun, you're quite skilled at taking selfies. Have you come here with Yui-chan a few times? Why didn't I see your selfies on your phone?"

"I haven't taken any photos with Yui yet," Yuu Tenkuji calmly retorted. "We took photos together during the autumn outing, have you forgotten?"

"Autumn outing?" Yukino Yukinoshita tilted her head in confusion, frowning as she searched her memory. "Although we were indeed in two groups together... I don't recall us taking any photo booth pictures."

“…Ah, that makes sense.” Tenkuji Yu suddenly realized, and pouted helplessly.

After all, the past is gone, and the events related to Natsukawa Masuzu have all changed or been eliminated to some extent.

In the modified timeline, the group of six did not go to the game center to take their headshots.

……

Disneyland, in a corner.

In the outdoor seating area of ​​the café, a silver-haired girl held a high-powered telescope and silently repeated the mouth movements of Tenkuji Yu through the reflection in the sidewalk mirror.

"Headshot...Autumn outing..."

These words sound familiar. Do they have anything to do with me?

I did participate in the autumn outing, but nothing memorable happened...

Continuing to stare at the scene, Natsukawa Masaki was lost in thought, feeling as if something was being drawn to the surface from the deepest recesses of her mind.

Chapter 124 Sisters' War (16)

The amusement park is huge, with countless rides and attractions.

Even though she had visited Tenkuji Yu once before, and Yukino Yukinoshita ...

Is it because those amusement facilities, whether old-fashioned or novel, bring them joy?

Or was it the thrill of the haunted house and the tension of the escape room that made them forget the passage of time?

Perhaps it is, or perhaps neither is.

Both of them knew perfectly well that the important thing was not the location, but the number of people.

Humans are social animals. Except for a few individuals, the number of people around them and how familiar they are with them will affect the disguise they make and the changes in their mood.

No matter how many smiles are blooming around you, if you dislike them, you will naturally feel disgusted by them and wish you could get away from that joyful atmosphere as soon as possible; but conversely, even if you are in a torrential downpour, as long as you have someone you like by your side, your mood will involuntarily become happy, and you will pray that time can slow down.

Humans are contradictory creatures—able to uphold correct beliefs while being easily influenced by others' emotions.

Whether it's Yuuki Tenkuji or Yukino Yukinoshita, they can't escape this kind of summary.

"I'm going to buy drinks, you wait here for me."

"Ah."

In the afternoon, the two had already finished the drinks they bought in the morning, and after another round of fun, they naturally felt thirsty.

After responding softly, Yukino Yukinoshita, sitting on the bench, unconsciously swung her legs as she watched his back as he walked towards the vendors.

She looked away before he turned around, gazing at the thickly clouded sky with a relaxed smile on her lips, her cheeks still warm, seemingly oblivious to the gradually cooling evening breeze.

Even she herself hadn't expected that going to an amusement park with a man could make her so happy.

The feeling was completely different when I came with my family and when I came alone. It was as if every ride had a new way to play, and every landscape had a new interpretation.

Just like how a light makes your mouth naturally turn up when you meet his eyes—not to mention being bored, even browsing Pan Panda's shop until you're completely satisfied wouldn't be as pleasant as this feeling.

Whether it was the Service Department or the amusement park, he was always by my side.

Having come this far, Yukino Yukinoshita had no reason to continue denying it—she wouldn't twist the emotions that welled up from the bottom of her heart for any ridiculous reason or awkwardness.

Time doesn't matter, place doesn't matter.

There are people who are called that.

He's not overly respectful; he agrees with what's right and criticizes what's wrong, and his feigned anger is quite endearing.

He wasn't lewd or vulgar; he always openly admired his legs and made fewer and fewer jokes about his chest.

He's not taciturn; he can engage with any topic and come up with amusing and sometimes exasperating responses.

He wasn't cunning, because he knew his lies would be exposed, so he abandoned all pretense in front of him.

Dating someone like him, whether at an amusement park or a library, would surely be a memorable experience, right?

"Is this... what it feels like to like someone?"

I reached out and touched his chest, and heard a steady yet warm heartbeat.