I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Having seen through all this, the black-haired girl took a deep breath and then slowly sighed.

She withdrew her gaze, picked up her chopsticks with her slender fingers, and continued eating with a dignified, elegant, and composed demeanor.

"Whether it is or not has nothing to do with you, just look forward to tomorrow—and remember every minute and second of the present."

"If you can't remember, it's a waste of your time to ask again."

Yukino Yukinoshita said the same words to herself.

Therefore, she will remember this feeling of anticipation for tomorrow more deeply than anyone else.

—Absolutely, I must change the ending he envisions.

"you……"

Xia Chuanzhen stared at her blankly for a long time, then suddenly took a big gulp of jelly as if to vent her anger, successfully choking herself.

"Pfft, cough cough cough... Tsk, you wretched guy! I actually saw the golden spirit and the brilliance of the JO family in you, I must have been blind for a moment... Besides, if I had known so many things in advance, I could definitely do better than you now..."

Hearing that unwilling mutter, Yukino Yukinoshita raised her eyes and gave her a rare, genuine smile.

"There aren't that many 'ifs' in the world. As it turns out, I'm doing much better than you now, Natsukawa-kun."

Wiping her damp lips, Natsukawa Masaki raised an eyebrow with a sneer: "You? I can already picture you lying in bed crying and gagging after you wake up."

Yukino Yukinoshita covered her mouth in surprise: "Oh my, you've had such a miserable experience? I'm so sorry..."

"Onorei Yukinoshita! Once I remember everything, I'll keep reciting our intimate moments in your ear!"

"Natsukawa-kun is such a kid. It seems I was too harsh on you before..."

"Haha, I hope you won't be so harsh on yourself about your figure."

"...This is the second time. A third time is too much."

"You think I'm afraid? Come on then, if you dare!"

"..."

As an observer, Yuuki Asuna hadn't even taken her third bite of food when the two people in front of her started arguing and mocking each other again.

She couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

Although I still couldn't quite understand what they were arguing about, I could guess from their expressions that it must be something very boring and meaningless.

Moreover, despite the seemingly heated argument, they acted as if they had no real intention of getting angry...

Is it because they can't stand each other, or is it a case of a unique kind of affection?

After thinking about it for a while, Asuna Yuuki quickly gave up and continued to be a well-behaved bystander, doing nothing but eating.

Only occasionally would a very strange thought pop into her mind, without any basis—

'Perhaps I should join them?'

……

After a lunch break, the graduation ceremony began and ended around 2 p.m.

After waving goodbye to Totsuka Ayaka, they also made a promise to play tennis at the municipal tennis courts one day during the winter break. Seeing that Yui Yuigahama still had a lot to say to Miura Yumiko and the others, Tenkuji Yu picked up his schoolbag and headed to the Service Club first.

However, he had only been at the special building for a short time when he received a notification message from Ms. Yukinoshita.

"Let's meet at the station instead, and go buy groceries together."

Chapter 177 If I Call You "Wife," Would You Dare to Answer?

As she left the school, Yuu Tenkuji was still thinking, why not just meet at the school gate since it's closer?

Later, when he saw Yukino Yukinoshita waiting alone at the station, he realized that if Yui Yuigahama wasn't there, the two of them leaving the school gate side by side would definitely attract a lot of gossip.

Meeting at the train station also carries risks, but there's a saying that "a minor hermit hides in the forest, a major hermit hides in the city." As long as they can blend into the crowd, the probability of them being noticed will be greatly reduced, and they won't have to worry about being stared at or gossiped about. It's much easier to get along with them than on campus.

...Actually, as long as we don't do anything too intimate and keep a distance, it doesn't matter if we meet at the school gate.

After all, the film has been made and the explanation has been given. Those who care know that he has a good relationship with Yukino Yukinoshita and is her friend's boyfriend. The only people still gossiping are the busybodies who love to have more gossip. And the comments they make can't be called rumors; they're just idle chatter, and there's no need to pay any attention to them.

However, since Yukino had taken the initiative to consider everything, Yuu had nothing to complain about. In fact, he even felt a little indebted to her... He just regretted that he and Yukino were too eye-catching, almost like so-called school stars, unlike some ordinary manga male protagonists who could flirt with many girls and be intimate everywhere without anyone caring.

Most importantly, the students at Zongwu High School are too idle. Every day, some people treat the campus forum as a casual chat area on a social networking site, engaging in lively discussions.

With a silent sigh, Tenkuji put on a smile and walked towards the black-haired girl below the bus stop sign.

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting."

She stood there with her posture upright, her small face hidden by a scarf, looking quiet and lovely. Her dark blue eyes seemed indifferent, yet she gazed intently and expectantly at the crowd. Her lead-pink black hair lay smoothly on her slender back, and she was as beautiful as the most precious crystal sculpture in the Louvre.

Hearing the voice, the girl's eyes darted around and finally caught sight of him.

So the ice melted quietly into warm water, and the thin, soft lips naturally curved upwards, like a cat gradually relaxing its arched back, its tail unconsciously sweeping the ground.

"It hasn't been long, I just arrived myself."

She smiled and said that her voice was not cold and sharp as it usually is, but rather warm and gentle.

"Are the lines so standard?" Tenkuji Yuu smiled and asked with a smile, squinting her eyes with satisfaction and resisting the urge to gently pat her head.

"Standard?" Yukino tilted her head slightly, somewhat confused about what he was talking about.

As Tenkuji Yu passed by her, she turned around without giving any indication, and the two of them walked side by side toward the station in a natural manner.

"What I mean is, when a boy and girl go on a date, shouldn't it be the guy who says this line to the girl who's late?"

"Hmm, perhaps that's how it is..." She pondered for a moment, then pinched her chin, before suddenly raising a mischievous smile and looking at him with bright eyes.

"But you were the one who said the heroine's lines first, weren't you, Tenkuji-kun? Although you can't be considered late, I sincerely suggest that you say your lines again, and say them more completely."

"Huh? You think I'd listen to your advice and say something like—" Yuu Tenkuji paused slightly, then twisted her body and said in a coquettish tone, using Yukino Yukinoshita's voice, "'I'm sorry, darling, I kept you waiting~ I accidentally delayed you a little~'—that kind of thing?"

He sneered and changed his perfectly imitated female voice back to normal: "Don't be naive. We men would never do something so undignified!"

"Your dignity is as worthless as a piece of konpeito (Japanese candy) that has fallen to the ground..."

Her face was as pale as if she were nauseous. Yukino Yukinoshita frowned, covered her mouth with her hand, and glared at him coldly: "Also, you are not allowed to use my voice to speak in the future... To be honest, this has gone beyond disgust and reached the point of horror."

"If you don't like it, I won't do it again." Seemingly finding her expression amusing, Tenkuji Yu promised with a smile.

"Really..." She sighed softly, speechless, but she could tell that he wasn't just making excuses for her, so Yukino Yukinoshita didn't pursue the matter any further and her expression softened.

The two stood on the platform, gazing at the still empty railway tracks.

"Where's Yui? Isn't she planning to come along?"

"Well, let's go to the supermarket near the apartment to buy some supplies. We shouldn't run into any students from our school there... unless we're unlucky and happen to bump into Natsukawa."

"If that really happens, I don't think it's a matter of luck..."

The tram arrived, lifting the girl's silky hair, its fresh scent mingled with a subtle richness, its natural purity mixed with the allure of a newly opened rose.

Tenkuji Yu deliberately lagged behind by two steps, and for the first time, she felt that breathing was such a wonderful thing.

"What's wrong?"

"I like your taste." Yuu Tenkuji had long since given up on lying to Yukino Yukinoshita.

“…Pervert.” She awkwardly smoothed her hair and gestured with her eyes for him to take the spot by the front door, while she stood opposite him at a distance where he wouldn’t be able to smell her. “You can get aroused in public, Tenkuji-kun. You’ve really opened my eyes.”

“It has nothing to do with the place or location, it only has to do with the people.” After correcting her seriously, Yuuki Tenkuji added, “Also, the appreciation of beauty is not limited to the eyes. Even a macho man has the right to smell a rose. You’re being too attached to appearances, Yukinoshita.”

There weren't many people in the afternoon. After a few passengers boarded, the gas valve hissed and the tram slowly closed its doors.

In the slightly noisy environment, Yukino Yukinoshita raised the corners of her mouth and gave him a knowing smile, saying proudly and confidently, "All this talk is just to hide the fact that you're attracted to me, isn't it? If we weren't on the train, you'd want to hug someone as perfect as me right now, wouldn't you?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Tenkuji Yu's eyes widened immediately, like a child misunderstood by their parents, and she hurriedly explained, "I wasn't hiding anything, I really have feelings for you! If you don't believe me, listen to my heartbeat. I've always been one to admit my feelings..."

"Okay, okay, I got it! Can't you give a normal answer?!"

Seeing that he was about to reach out and hug her, Yukino quickly pushed away his chest, her expression inexplicably evasive.

After he stepped back to the car door, she glared reproachfully at his seemingly innocent face, biting her soft lips slightly, her milky-white skin flushed with shyness.

"Please consider the context when you do things. Do you really want all our efforts for the cultural festival to go to waste?"

The image of Yui Yuigahama flashed through her mind. She tried hard not to care about the stares that might be directed at her, and deliberately showed an angry and distant indifference.

"Of course not. If I weren't confident that I wouldn't be discovered, do you think I would be so reckless?"

Tenkuji Yu said earnestly, while gesturing for her to look at the situation inside the carriage.

In a situation where "walls have no ears" is even more convenient and useful than expected, no one even glances at them. Even the students in the seats directly opposite them, who are also wearing Soubu High School uniforms, ignore them completely.

"What's going on..."

With a quick glance around, Yukino Yukinoshita noticed something was amiss. Just as a question arose in her mind, she quickly realized what was wrong.

—All the strange events are related to him, and this time is probably no exception.

She knew that before explaining anything related to the uncommon knowledge to them, he had to go through countless painful trials to know what he could and could not say.

So before he could explain, Yukino Yukinoshita stared at him intently for a moment before sighing as if giving up, "Anyway, don't do that outside. When we get back to the apartment... a hug is okay."

"Understood, Miss Yukino." His gentle gaze lasted less than three seconds before he grinned again. "Wait, this isn't fair! You usually kiss me whenever you want, but with me, I can only hug you?"

Yukino Yukinoshita cast a cold glance at him, then gave an awkward snort and turned to look at the scenery rushing past the car window.

"Idiot, you can't even understand humble words and polite phrases. I really don't know how you got first place in the grade."

The sarcastic tone landed on the ground, yet it concealed a hint of a girl's unspoken shyness.

The two could always instantly understand the meaning behind each other's words, even at this moment.

"Yukino..."

Staring blankly at the faint pink earlobe peeking through her hair, Tenkuji Yu subconsciously held his breath, feeling as if he had been suddenly struck hard in the chest.

Then the heart causes the blood vessels to dilate, and the blood begins to flow faster, rushing and surging through the body.

'Oh no, is this what it feels like to be a lamb entering a tiger's den...'

He secretly shook his head, using his "clear and still mind" to instantly suppress the intense impulse surging in his chest, thus preventing him from taking advantage of the fact that "walls have no ears" to forcefully hug the slender and lovely shy girl on the tram and vent his affection without regard for her feelings.

Knowing full well that he shouldn't have those kinds of fantasies about the pure and dignified girl in his heart, he also had to consider Yui Yuigahama, who probably wouldn't arrive until before the party started that night...

But Tenkuji Yu still couldn't help but look forward to the time he would spend alone with her in the apartment.