I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

If... there are no ifs, this is his reality.

At least that's how it is when facing those two people.

"Because I don't like it, I feel sympathy and responsibility."

Standing outside the Service Department, I looked at the warm lights shining inside.

With her head slightly lowered, Tenkuji Yuu gradually bound her chaotic thoughts into a single thread, tightened it, and returned to calm.

"Because I like it, I want to cherish it until the very end."

Giving up is something I've long since been unable to do.

He smiled, opened the classroom door, and waved to his favorite girlfriend and sister.

"How is it? Have they all been delivered?"

Yukino Yukinoshita neatly arranged the fragrant takeout on the table, turned around and smiled gently at him: "It's all here, just waiting for you and Yui."

Tenkuji Yu closed the door, tilted his head, loosened his tie, and looked like a husband who had just arrived home and had become disheveled.

Yukino rolled her eyes helplessly, then pursed her lips and smiled slightly before continuing to fiddle with the tableware with a cheerful expression.

In the old seat of Tenkuji Yu, Kasugano Sora dangled her little feet, eating potato chips that Yukino Yukinoshita had bought for her, her gaze casually drifting outside.

"It's so noisy outside, are they celebrating something?"

"It's a bonfire dance party."

Kasugano Sora was clearly taken aback: "A bonfire party? I saw the fire in the courtyard and thought it was a festival where couples were thrown into the fire and burned to death, a special sacrifice to an evil god."

Listening to this standard hate-for-normie rhetoric, Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but chuckle and ruffle her hair: "What, want to go take a look? You probably haven't seen what the after-festival and bonfire party look like in person, have you?"

"Very lively?" Qiong tilted her chin up and shook her head, like a little white cat rubbing against his palm.

Yukino Yukinoshita quietly shifted her gaze, seemingly both envious and eager to try—Yuu Tenkuji was certain that the object of her envy was not her own younger sister.

"Yes, it's very lively."

“Then I won’t go.” Kasugano Sora answered decisively. “It’s fine to watch it in the anime, but please spare me the experience of actually doing it. I can’t dance either.”

"The point of a bonfire party is never dancing... but whatever, as long as you're happy."

Yuuki Tenkuji pulled out another chair and sat down, asking Yukino Yukinoshita, "What about you? Want to go dance?"

Yukino shook her head: "I don't like crowded places either. If it weren't for you guys, I would have gone back by now."

The people in charge of the after-festival and the people in charge of the cultural festival are not the same group of people. Since she, as the committee chairperson, has already completed her task perfectly, there is naturally nothing for her to worry about afterward. Whether she wants to go home to rest or stay at school is up to her.

During the first-year cultural festival, Yukino Yukinoshita was the first person to leave school after helping the class finish up.

"There are many ways to leave a lasting memory; you don't have to follow the mainstream and go to crowded places to cause trouble. Right?"

She gave a bright smile, but what she said was unexpectedly gloomy.

"In the end, it's one thing to get touched by so many ulterior motives while dancing folk dances, but to stand there and be invited to dance by guys you don't know or have never met before, whether you refuse or not, you'll be ostracized by even more girls—what's the point of having a bonfire party? I wanted to reject it at the meeting. This stupid activity that produces so much garbage and air pollution for the momentary pleasure of a few people should have been removed from Soubu High School's tradition long ago."

"Ah, okay, okay, I got it." Tenkuji Yu quickly stopped her resentful rambling. "So, the conclusion is, you really hate bonfire parties?"

Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, pursed her lips, and turned her face away: "Well, you could say that."

"What if I invite you to dance?"

She paused, then turned her gaze back with a hint of helplessness: "...Idiot, then that just means we have to consider a different story, don't we?"

indeed.

With Yuu Tenkuji around, there's no more harassment from boys or hostility from girls; you can enjoy the flickering flames and the festival-like atmosphere without worry.

Most importantly, every minute she spends with her boyfriend is an incredibly precious treasure to her, so how could she possibly dislike it?

“I thought so too.” Tenkuji Yu smiled, not really intending to take her down to dance.

After all, their relationship couldn't be made public, so they had to be careful even when holding hands, let alone dancing.

While waiting for Yui Yuigahama to arrive, the three of them set up the small club party venue and started chatting casually to pass the time.

"By the way, Tenkuji-kun, about Yuuki-kun..."

Yukino suddenly brought up the matter and looked at him with a slightly complicated expression.

After seeing off Mrs. Yuihama who had finished asking her questions and left, the group strolled around the cultural festival a few more times. Only after Yukino and Sora had had their fill of fun did they set off to find Asuna Yuuki, who was resting due to dizziness.

When everyone arrived at the infirmary, they learned from the school nurse that she had left without saying goodbye—all that remained was the message, "I'm feeling much better. Thank you all for taking care of me. I'll definitely repay you properly when I come to Soubu High School next time." There were no notification messages sent on LINE.

To be honest, what she did was rather impolite, considering it was something that had been arranged beforehand, and that everyone had gone to the trouble of making this trip for her...

However, apart from Kasugano Sora, none of the other three actually intended to blame her.

Let her go, we'll meet again eventually. If she wants to chat, I can just send her a message... But more important than that is what Yuu Tenkuji wants to say at the club meeting.

"You've probably all guessed by now, but let's talk about the details after dinner. I'm not here, so I don't know how much I can say." Seeing her somewhat uncertain expression, Tenkuji Yu leaned closer, cupped her small, soft face in his hands, and gazed at her earnestly and gently.

"It's all in the past, don't worry about it too much."

"...How could I not care?"

"There's no one else here, I promise."

"That's not what I meant... Never mind." With her eyes slightly closed, Yukino sighed softly, pulled her hand away from his, and turned it around to hold his hand tightly.

The warmth of their skin flowed through their hearts like a warm spring.

“Whether you say it or not, some things will not change,” she said softly.

Tenkuji Yu said in a serious tone, "I only told you because I like you. You shouldn't hide this kind of thing from the person you like, otherwise you'll regret not telling them sooner if you argue about them someday."

“You weren’t this magnanimous at first.” Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her beautiful lips, released his hand, and looked helpless. “Let Yuihama decide. I don’t want to say anything. If she gets angry, you’ll be responsible for comforting her.”

"Of course, watch me." Before she could finish her sentence, Kasugano Sora expressionlessly pushed the two of them away from each other, then hopped onto Tenkuji Yu's lap, her pale eyes staring straight at the black-haired girl in front of her.

"Hmph... You're being so intimate in front of me, you're really getting more and more arrogant."

"Th-that..." Yukino seemed to realize something only then, her face flushing red as she awkwardly touched her long hair. "I didn't mean to ignore you, Sora, it just happened by accident..."

Kasugano Sora suddenly exclaimed in a monotone voice, "Ah, I feel like something poked me! Is it my phone?"

Yukino immediately put away all her expressions and glared at Tenkuji Yu with a cold look.

His cheek twitched, and he quickly picked Kasugano Sora up and stood up from the chair with an air of righteous indignation, trying to prove his innocence.

"Do you think I'm some kind of wild beast who can just play the piano anywhere? Look for yourself, I don't even have a phone in my pocket!"

Sitting directly in front of him, Yukino stared wide-eyed at his uniform trousers for a few seconds before turning her gaze away, her face flushed. She gritted her teeth, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, and said, "I-I saw it! I know it's flat, but please don't do that to a girl! You lewd guy!"

"Where is it vulgar? It's not like we're at close range..."

Once again, the conversation was only halfway through.

"Yah hello! Sorry to keep you all waiting~"

Yui Yuigahama, full of energy, pushed open the door and walked in with a big smile. Just as she was about to greet the three people at the long table, she saw her younger sister sitting innocently to one side, while her boyfriend stood in front of his girlfriend, whose face was flushed, looking like a scoundrel about to pull down his pants at any moment—a scene that made her mind go blank for a moment.

"..."

After a few seconds of stunned silence, she blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things, hadn't opened the wrong classroom door, and hadn't suddenly stepped into a strange timeline.

Then, Yui Yuigahama took a deep breath, her smile suddenly became even brighter, and she exuded a gentle and radiant aura.

"Xiao~Yu~"

Sensing the immense killing intent emanating from him, Tenkuji slowly retreated while maintaining his original posture: "Although this line is extremely cliché, please allow me to explain."

"Xiao~Yu~"

As if she hadn't heard anything, she maintained her melodious and cheerful tone, swaying with light and cute steps, turning her heavy schoolbag into a whirlwind, and moving step by step towards the direction of Tenkuji Yu.

"Wait for me! Why are you running away?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't run if someone was charging at you with a backpack in their hand?!"

"Hey~ Xiaoyou's so smart, that's definitely true—then you better stop right there! Pervert! Sex fiend! Rape offender! Teddy dog! Accept your punishment!"

"So it's a misunderstanding! I just wanted to prove my innocence..."

"If you're so capable, then prove your innocence to Hiratsuka-sensei in the same way!"

"...I'm sorry, that's really difficult."

"Then stop right there right now!"

The disturbance in the Service Department lasted for more than ten minutes before gradually returning to peace.

Their special after-night festival officially begins at this time.

Chapter 170 Bonfire Dance

A lively sound came from outside the window.

There were the unique melodies of folk dances, as well as the joyful laughter of people. The aroma of charcoal grilling from the bonfire seemed to drift through the cool evening breeze into the heated interior of the service department.

The lights dispelled the chill of the night, and gentle classical music flowed from the wireless speaker in the corner.

It was like a family dinner; the four members of the service department sat around a long table, eating takeout and chatting casually about trivial matters.

In this warm atmosphere, everyone unconsciously relaxed their bodies and minds, naturally smiling at each other, without even noticing that the night was getting deeper.

Only after the dishes were scattered and the noise outside the window had subsided did they begin to clean up the empty bowls and utensils, pack up all the trash and put it outside, and restore the service department to its spotless state.

Once everything was almost finished, everyone looked at each other, and an inexplicable silence fell over the room.

"...Alright, let's begin the club meeting."

Without much hesitation, Yuu Tenkuji stood up, breaking the semi-frozen atmosphere, and walked to the whiteboard in front of his two girlfriends and one sister, turning around to face them.

"There are two points to discuss today: Kasumigaoka-senpai and Yuuki Asuna... Does anyone have any objections?"

No matter how upright your pen-holding posture is, the sound of a whiteboard marker writing is still so jarring that it makes you want to frown.

Tenkuji Yu quickly wrote down two names on the whiteboard, confirming the serious expressions of the two girls as they suppressed their smiles and furrowed their brows.

Of course, no one would have any objections.

After all, the so-called club meeting was actually just a time for Yuu Tenkuji to confess, and he was the only one who would have any opinions.

Even if they didn't want to listen, as long as it was related to him and could help them understand him better, the two girls present were willing to listen attentively.