I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

She took a deep breath, her eyes no longer showing any hesitation or timidity, and said with a confident smile.

"Please give me a little more time—in order to prevent you from sneaking away, I will find all the memories I shared with you all even faster than my sister."

Yui Yuigahama extended her hand: "You made a date?"

Yukino Yukinoshita extended her hand: "Yes, it's a promise."

The two separated, then hooked their little fingers together again.

Carrying Kasugano Sora, who was exhausted from dancing in various poses, Tenkuji Yu walked over and greeted them: "Would you like to change dance partners?"

"Yes, yes, I want to dance with Yuu first!" Yui Yuigahama immediately let go of her pinky and ran excitedly towards Yuu Tenkuji.

Yukino Yukinoshita reacted quickly, grabbing Yu's collar and rushing to her side in three quick steps, coughing twice with her pretty face flushed.

"Excuse me, please let me go first... Yui, you made a few mistakes in the dance steps just now. I'll show you how to do it now, so you can remember them carefully."

"???" Yui Yuigahama stared incredulously at the woman blocking her way, as if she had witnessed Dio forcibly kissing JoJo.

"But Xiaoyou didn't plan to dance the traditional bonfire dance! She can dance however she wants, why does she have to imitate Xiaoxue?!"

"Who said he wasn't planning to jump?" Yukino Yukinoshita tilted her head in confusion at Yuu Tenkuji, blinking her dark blue eyes innocently. "What do you think, Tenkuji-kun?"

"Me? I said..."

Yui Yuigahama had no intention of letting him speak.

"First come, first served. Xiaoxue should be watching from the sidelines!"

She bypassed Yukino's defenses, rushed to Tenkuji Yu's side, grabbed his arm, and triumphantly struck a pose to assert her dominance.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she deliberately let his arm sink between two soft marshmallows, causing Yukino Yukinoshita's brows to twitch and a twitching smile to slowly spread across her face.

"Isn't it a bit unfair to just start a fight, Yui-kun?"

"What's wrong with boyfriends and girlfriends doing this?" Yui Yuigahama said matter-of-factly, pulling him back to the table and reaching out to press the replay button for the music.

With a snap, her arm was firmly gripped by Yukino Yukinoshita, preventing her from moving an inch.

"What a coincidence, I'm his girlfriend too."

A light, melodious voice rang out as Yukino Yukinoshita pushed Yui Yuigahama aside, pulled down her collar with one hand, and lightly pecked her lips.

"...I paid for the tickets first, so it's first come, first served. You can just wait over there."

"W-What!? Xiaoxue, you actually... I don't remember raising you to be like this!"

As if witnessing a kitten's super evolution into a catgirl who seduce its owner, Yui Yuigahama was stunned and petrified before turning on her with a look of grief and indignation.

Yukino, with her cheeks growing increasingly flushed, casually looked up at the ceiling while hugging his arm tightly.

Although it lacks depth, it is still very soft.

"I don't remember you teaching me anything... Maybe it's just a woman's instinct? Just like your unwillingness to accept defeat."

"Goo-woof..." Yui Yuigahama let out a low growl like a puppy, puffed out her cheeks, and suddenly stared at Yuu Tenkuji with tears in her eyes.

"Xiaoyou, I was the one who said it first, wasn't I!"

Yuu Tenkuji blinked innocently.

Yukino Yukinoshita also looked up at him. Her usual stern and calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a slightly uneasy and tender gaze lingering on his face.

"I've gone to such lengths, you won't let me leave, will you?"

Before Yuu could answer, Yui Yuigahama pressed against him again: "I can do a simple kiss too! Yuu, open your mouth!"

Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes widened, and she quickly raised her hand to block her attack: "It's too late, don't come any closer."

"I'm coming anyway!" Yui Yuigahama protested amidst the struggle, "Yuu, Yuki is trying to sow discord between us!"

Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze swept over him sharply: "Tenkuji-kun, you should know which side to stand on!"

"Of course it's on my side!"

No, it's on my side.

They tugged at each other's cheeks, then suddenly turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes filled with laughter, yet also with an unyielding accusation:

"Tenkuji-kun/Yu-chan—tell me quickly, which side do you choose!"

"Huh? This..."

Enjoying the softness of the two, even being pulled around felt so good that she didn't know how to describe it, and her gaze wandered around with some difficulty.

Yukino and Yui exchanged a glance, then simultaneously narrowed their eyes, exuding a dangerous aura of impending punishment for the scumbag.

Just before they could actually take action, someone suddenly patted them on the shoulder from behind.

Turning their heads, they saw a petite and adorable silver-haired girl staring at them intently. Her pale eyes were dark and emotionless, and a stiff, cold smile played on her lips.

"That goes without saying, of course you should choose my side."

With a chuckle, her voice turned icy cold: "You two... how dare you grope You like this in front of me? Do you never intend to set foot in my house again?"

Both of them broke out in a cold sweat and stammered at the same time, "No, it's not like that... let us explain first..."

"There's no explanation needed. Get off Yu right now, immediately!!"

The unusual building, so quiet it felt like another world, was suddenly filled with a tremendous shout that seemed to awaken the entire night.

What followed was a chaotic commotion.

In conclusion, the Service Department's first bonfire party...

It was quite lively, wasn't it?

Chapter 172 Then I'll Leave?

Does having the character "夏" in one's surname mean that one is incompatible with winter?

For some reason, Natsukawa Masuzu suddenly thought of this question.

"I'm a vibrant 'summer girl,' so it's only natural that I'm out of place in the winter~"

Even as I mocked myself like this, I didn't feel any relief at all. Instead, I felt even more empty and lonely, as if the vines had lost their support and were scattered messily on the ground.

Because she didn't want to see people who knew her, after the opening ceremony, Natsukawa Masuzu left Class J early on the grounds of being sick and wandered around like a naughty child.

She had considered going straight home, but after approaching the school gate several times, she ended up wandering around the campus like a pitiful, bound spirit, avoiding everyone's gaze and praying that someone would come looking for her.

Although, that's basically an impossible thing.

"What an idiot..."

I've lost count of how many times I've cursed myself like this.

She drifted from morning till night, from the teaching building to the grove of trees, and finally settled in a well-hidden little pavilion, hugging her knees and watching the sky gradually darken.

It's not that I don't like being alone, but when I'm thinking about someone else, that kind of solitude turns into loneliness.

Loneliness is like air lacking oxygen, suffocating to the point of being unbearable, making even taking a small breath a painful experience.

"...Someone like me shouldn't ask for too much."

A sigh of resignation fell softly into the cold wind.

The silver-haired girl buried her face in her knees, slowly tightened her arms, and her slender shoulders trembled gently for a long, long time.

Suddenly, as if she had made up her mind, she wiped her eyes, got up, and walked out of the pavilion.

Since he's already disliked, he won't forget what he said just because the world changes. There are so many girls who can bring him happiness, and his existence isn't even worth the bonito flakes on a takoyaki ball.

Why not just do it this way and temporarily stop seeing him, thinking about him, missing him, and caring about him? Wait a few days and see if he cares about you.

If you don't care, then go along with his wishes and get far away from him immediately.

Whether it's transferring schools or returning to Norway...

Once I'm gone, once I've completely said goodbye to the past and achieved true 'freedom'...

He'll be happy then, right?

"This is the development that Ayu secretly hoped for... I know."

Besides, I will only keep causing him trouble and resentment.

Squeezing her cheek muscles, Natsukawa Masaki smiled with a sense of relief, and hummed softly at the dark night sky where raindrops were falling on the grass even though it wasn't raining.

She left the tangled forest path and subconsciously turned her feet, heading towards the service department on the second floor where the lights were on.

I don’t know when it happened, but my body is much stronger than before. Even after being outside in the cold wind all day, I don’t feel any discomfort. Even in complete darkness without streetlights, I can see the stone path under my feet and avoid falling headfirst into the bushes.

Despite not being good at sports and being a sickly girl, she has recently found physical education classes much easier than usual. When she gets serious, she can easily break her previous records, and the difference is quite obvious.

Because the change was so inexplicable, Natsukawa Masuzu didn't think much of it and automatically attributed the cause to Tenkuji Yu—probably something he did to her during their relationship that caused her physical abilities to improve.

As for the specific method, Natsukawa Masaki didn't care.

Anyway, it's been confirmed that the proof of chastity is still there. It's not the kind of setting where intimate communication can make you stronger together, so it doesn't matter.

...If that's the case, then we have to make him take responsibility no matter what.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't really have the leverage to pester you like this."

Standing at the foot of the special building, she stopped and looked up at the warm lights that were only on the second floor, and couldn't help but smile.

At this time, he must have been having a great time with his two girlfriends and sister, right?

Perhaps they were having dinner in the clubroom, or perhaps they were playing the game console their younger sister had brought...

The Service Club is also a place for them to belong, just like the warm and welcoming Tenkuji house they once visited. As long as they are there, they will no longer feel lonely.

Therefore, I shouldn't have set foot in that place.

Have a great time!

As Natsukawa Masaki spoke softly, she exhaled a puff of slightly trembling white smoke and slowly turned around.

...After a whole day of cultural festival, they must all have many wonderful memories, right?

So it's still the same; I have nothing.

She left the special building, still holding onto a last glimmer of hope that he, upstairs, could see her lonely figure receding into the distance and then invite her up to warm herself together.

In that case, perhaps I could simply shake off the anxiety and depression of the whole day and continue to shamelessly stay by his side.