I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Yuu Tenkuji sat back in his chair, tossing a coin in his hand, and sighed, "Judging from your reaction just now, I thought there was a slight possibility... Well, at least it can be used to treat insomnia, so it's not completely useless."

"That's hard to say." Kasumigaoka Utaha ruthlessly crushed his wishful thinking. "Hypnosis only works on people with extremely simple personalities, or those who particularly trust the hypnotist, right? Do you know anyone like that who suffers from insomnia?"

“It’s not there now, but that might not be the case in the future,” Yuu Tenkuji retorted unwillingly, adding a small counterattack, “Your personality isn’t exactly innocent, so it’s still effective on you.”

"Isn't that obvious?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha got out of bed, her tone as if she was wondering how he could say something so foolish.

With each movement, a noticeable ripple appeared in front of the girl. As the curves became more uneven, they were then concealed by the smooth black hair she casually brushed aside, adding a touch of alluring beauty that was both subtle and captivating.

She turned and walked towards the door, her long skirt concealing her fair calves, her delicate pink toes touching the floor as she strode away without a backward glance.

"If I can't even trust you, then I have no one else in this world I can trust."

Before leaving, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned back, smiled softly, but her tone carried a profound meaning.

"Thank you for never betraying my trust."

Chapter 143 I also want to write like crazy!

The following day marked the sixth day of the first cycle.

As if nothing had happened the night before, the three of them sat around the table and ate breakfast peacefully.

Whether they had communicated beforehand or not, the two women naturally maintained the seating arrangement they had used at dinner the day before—Yuu Tenkuji and Utaha Kasumigaoka sat together, while the silver-haired girl watched silently from across the table.

However, such overly intimate behavior did not reappear. They simply maintained a normal distance, eating their meals and chatting about trivial matters.

Did you write it yesterday?

"I wrote more than 8,000 words. Anyway, I had plenty of inspiration. When I got tired, I just went to sleep."

"Although the cycle will start at midnight tomorrow, don't take advantage of the chance to start over and push yourself to the limit."

"Are you a mother hen? You worry about so much."

"I only said a couple of words to you and you call me your mother? I was just trying to do what's best for you..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted his rambling abruptly: "You guys have something to do today?"

“Oh right, I forgot to tell you yesterday.” Yuu Tenkuji put down her chopsticks and started talking about her plans. “Just like you said, I also want to do things that I wouldn’t normally do before the ‘end of the world’.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha asked curiously, "Are you going on a big shopping spree too? What are you buying? Models or electronics? You're not going to spend money on in-game purchases, are you?"

Yuu Tenkuji spread his hands: "None of those. I was planning to take you bungee jumping and skydiving today. If we had enough time, we could also go snorkeling and jet skiing. There's a ninja experience house nearby that looks pretty interesting... But you're going to stay home and write your novel, right? Then I can only take Itoko with me."

Itoko nodded, her expression and voice were calm, yet for some reason she gave off a smug feeling.

"Don't worry, leave it to me, Brother You. I'll enjoy it happily, including you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "..."

Seeing her face stiffen, her grip on the chopsticks tighten, and her lips twitch as if she wanted to say something, Tenkuji Yu couldn't suppress a smile. She cleared her throat and asked with concern, "What, do you want to go? If you do, I'll tell them to add one more person. It's no problem. You can't expect me to stay home with you while you write your novel, can you?"

Given the current situation, the two of them no longer need to act together, and Tenkuji Yu naturally wouldn't insist on following her around as a bodyguard.

Whether she wants to go out and play by herself or insist on staying home to write, that's Kasumigaoka Utaha's freedom—unless something particularly important comes up, Tenkuji Yu won't change her plans because of her.

That's what he said, but deep down, he still hoped that she could go out with him and experience those thrilling and exciting activities.

It's not that he dislikes being alone with Itoko, it's just that without Kasumigaoka Utaha by his side, there's definitely less fun—that's what Tenkuji Yu thinks.

"...Haa."

Kasumigaoka Utaha remained silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and then exhaled heavily. Her indescribable expression gradually returned to calm.

“To be honest, I really want to go with you.” Her voice was mature and steady, and her tone was calm as she said, “But I won’t go back on my decision, especially when it comes to writing.”

"Even if I have to be left alone in a strange and cold room by the only two people I can rely on in this world, even if I have to be so shocked by their happy and joyful dating photos that I feel like I'm bleeding inside, even if I have to eat cold leftovers at home while waiting for them to come back, even if I risk dying alone in front of the computer... no matter what, I don't plan to go out for the next two days. I want to spend all my time outside of eating, drinking, and using my grief and despair to write the most perfect work!"

The content sounded inspiring and resolute, but the expression and eyes told a completely different story.

The resentful voice seemed to darken the clear morning sky outside, and a chilling wind echoed throughout the living room, the feeling of a female ghost wailing lingering.

After saying that, Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up a fried sausage, stared at Tenkuji Yu with dark eyes, and slowly opened her mouth to take the sausage in.

Then, he took a big bite, chewing it fiercely as if he were eating the flesh of an enemy, with a feeling of indignation and resentment.

"You can go if you want, don't worry about me."

Yuu Tenkuji kindly brought her a glass of water: "Not being sarcastic?"

Mixed with sausage crumbs, she gulped it down: "Pfft—if it were sarcasm, would you stay home with me?"

"No." Yuu Tenkuji didn't like to comfort others with lies, so she simply said honestly, "I know you love writing, and I don't want to interfere with your decisions, so besides not sending you photos to bother you... the rest is just that I'll come back as soon as possible, right?"

Setting down her water glass, Kasumigaoka Utaha winked at him, her eyes brightening again.

Like a little girl left alone at home, she gently bit her lip, tilted her head slightly, and asked in a soft, expectant voice, feigning cuteness:

"Is it a deal?"

"It's settled."

"Come back soon?"

"Come back soon." Before she could say anything more, Tenkuji Yu picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and silenced her slightly parted lips with a kiss. "Instead of wasting time talking nonsense here, why don't you go back to your room and start writing... Writing the book is the most important thing for you right now, isn't it?"

"Sigh, what a heartless man." After biting into the tamagoyaki and swallowing it a few times, Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed aggrievedly, "I'm such a delicate and beautiful girl. I'm already being kind enough by not having you stay with me all the time. Now you're making it so hard to even offer comfort and a promise. Be careful I don't run off with another man."

Withdrawing her hand, Tenkuji Yu put some food into her bowl and said casually, "Stop talking, you're not that kind of person."

"Oh? So what role am I?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow slightly, stopped eating, and just stared at him while resting her chin on her hand.

Without stopping her chopsticks, Yuu Tenkuji ate while answering according to her thoughts: "In my eyes, Kasumigaoka Utaha will persevere for herself, regardless of whether she has anyone by her side."

"You flatter me," she chuckled self-deprecatingly, then looked away, looking bored, and muttered to herself, "I'm not that strong-willed, otherwise I wouldn't have almost wavered and wanted to go out with you guys, much less..."

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid; only a silent sigh melted into the shadows between the strands of hair.

Glancing at her, Tenkuji Yu emptied her food, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and stood up.

"Anyway, to me, a truly strong person is someone who, even if they have been vulnerable, hurt, or given up, can still piece themselves back together and keep moving forward—aren't you that kind of person?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised her eyes and watched his retreating figure as he walked towards the kitchen.

"You talk as if you know me very well, but we've only known each other for a short time, haven't we? Not counting the memories."

That's right.

"Then why did you give such a long, self-righteous evaluation?"

"Likewise, I hope you remember what you said last night."

Yuu Tenkuji waved his hand, not turning his head, and said casually, "No matter what type of character she is, Kasumigaoka Utaha will not give up easily. I think I'm right about that?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated, then said, "That's true..."

"In that case, wait until you admit defeat on something before you accuse me of talking nonsense."

After putting the bowls and chopsticks in the sink, Yuu Tenkuji walked out of the kitchen, preparing to go upstairs to pack the things she needed to take with her when she went out.

"I'll listen to your complaints then."

Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression softened involuntarily, and she asked with a teasing smile, "Are you encouraging me to focus on writing, or are you planning to take advantage of my moment of distress to win me over?"

"If you say so, then so be it. What can I say, I'm just too nice!"

"How shameless."

Despite saying this, Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, as if she had completely let go of some concerns, and her shoulders relaxed, her eyes becoming even brighter.

He went upstairs, leaving only himself and the silver-haired girl in the living room.

"Are you looking forward to it?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked Itoko as she straightened her chopsticks again and stuffed the half-cold tamagoyaki into her mouth.

The cute girl with short hair and clear eyes nodded and said calmly, "I've been looking forward to it since yesterday. According to human etiquette, I will bring back a souvenir."

"There's no need. It's something that will disappear soon anyway."

“That’s not what you said to the host yesterday.”

She only addresses Yu as "Yu-nii" in front of Yu.

"I have double standards. But double standards are a human right, and a beautiful girl's right too."

After quickly finishing the rest of her meal, Kasumigaoka Utaha wiped her mouth, stood up, and patted Itoko's head.

"Then I'll go into seclusion. You enjoy these two days of 'date'." She paused, then sighed with a hint of regret. "Although I wanted to remind you not to do anything too outrageous, even if you pounced on that iron lump naked, you wouldn't win, right? Rather, I'd like to cheer you on. I hope you don't end up like me, with your blood pressure spike halfway through and being completely crushed by him."

"Rest assured, I am different from you and will not do anything to bother the host." Itoko looked at her calmly. "From the very reason for our existence, it is destined that our way of getting along with the host will be different."

“That’s true. I don’t live for him. I have other things that are more important to me.” Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head slightly, her lost gaze seeming to be looking at a room on the second floor. “A little bit of affection won’t make me forget what I should be doing.”

Itoko blinked, a hint of curiosity flickering in her usually calm eyes: "Kasumigaoka Utaha, you wouldn't have already...?"

"You should go wash the dishes too."

Before she could finish speaking, Kasumigaoka Utaha took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen, then walked upstairs briskly: "I won't help with housework for the next couple of days. Just leave me something to heat up or instant noodles for lunch. I don't want to work on an empty stomach."

"Kasumigaoka Utaha, I hope you don't misunderstand, only the host can command me..."

"The result is the same anyway, so be careful I don't go tell your host that you're abusing me!"

"...Okay. By the way, is there any food you dislike?"

"Tell you so I'll make you cook for me? I'm not that stupid. A plate of fried rice with eggs is enough."

"Tsk."

"Very good, being able to smack your lips means you've taken another step closer to being human!"

Breakfast ended with Kasumigaoka Utaha's cheerful laughter.

Not long after, Yuu Tenkuji led the silver-haired girl out. The house became completely quiet, except for the continuous, crisp sound of keyboards being clicked from the room on the second floor.

……

Whether it's bungee jumping or skydiving, these are things that Yuu Tenkuji has never tried before.

So, taking advantage of this rare opportunity to let go of everything and have fun, he spent all his money on forcing someone to arrange an extreme sports program for him, and to go crazy with his little burden.

Before the end of the world, some people will choose to indulge in debauchery, some will choose to stay with their families, and some will fall into utter despair, either ending their own lives or venting their emotions through crime.