I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

With one hand in his pocket, Yuu Tenkuji strolled leisurely around, looked around, and then turned to walk towards the artificial lake not far away.

Even before you get close, the beautiful scenery of the lake and sky merging into one comes into view.

Ripples occasionally spread across the lake's surface, one circle after another, like dewdrops treading on ripples.

"I'll just take a picture and show it to Qiong... Anyway, she won't know why I went out."

Seeing such beautiful scenery, even someone who stays at home would feel the urge to go out and travel, right?

As Yuu Tenkuji was holding his phone, preparing to find a good spot to take some photos, his gaze fell upon a girl standing by the lake.

She was slender and dressed elegantly, and the wind accentuated the curves of her chest, revealing that she was quite well-endowed.

Her long, flaxen hair flowed behind her, glossy and smooth, reflecting the sunlight like silk.

She stood silently by the azure lake, seemingly deeply attracted, unwilling to leave.

Suddenly.

She took off her shoes, letting her fair and slender feet touch the ground.

With one hand supporting her wind-blown hair, the girl seemed to have made up her mind, and stepped into the icy lake water.

And step by step, they walked towards the center.

"..."

Touching his chin, Yuu Tenkuji fell into deep thought.

This artificial lake has no fences, no one to watch over it, and not even signs warning against entering the water; it's even freer than a school swimming pool.

So, there shouldn't be any danger in letting her continue like this, right?

Chapter Seventy-Four: Stand still!

In fact, people who really want to jump into a lake would never choose an artificial lake that is constantly being passed by and may even be very shallow.

The other person had no weights tied to their feet, and their clothes were thin, non-absorbent silk gauze. Unless they were completely unable to swim, it would be quite difficult for them to fall into the lake and die.

With little worry in his heart, Tenkuji strolled over leisurely, dismounted on the side of the lake, and observed the other person's movements with great interest.

The girl stopped when the water reached her knees and was about to touch her khaki skirt. She seemed to want to avoid getting the skirt wet and carefully took two steps back.

"If you don't want to get wet, why don't you just not go so deep? What a weirdo."

Tenkuji Yu couldn't understand the girl's thoughts.

However, humans are such complex creatures that they often don't even understand themselves, let alone understand each other—just like he could never understand what Yukinoshita was thinking. In the end, he could only give up on making such useless guesses.

He continued to gaze at the girl.

Like an audience member in the stands, watching the curtain slowly rise on the stage on the lake.

After checking her skirt, she began to check her waist-length hair. She quickly took out a hair tie, tied her beautiful flaxen hair into a long ponytail, flicked it gently, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

Just like a female knight preparing to mount her horse for battle—don't misunderstand, she's a female knight from the main story.

Thinking this, the next moment, she picked up her skirt and started kicking the water.

He kicked the water high with force, the splashes of water whitening the sunlight, sparkling and shimmering in the air.

The splashing sound was exceptionally clear on a quiet, sunny day.

Yuu Tenkuji: "..."

I thought she was planning something, but isn't she just playing in the water?

He remembered that the resort had a swimming pool, a high-end indoor pool with a half-glass roof, fully equipped, and even had three palm trees, making the promotional photos on the website look stunning.

Instead of going to the safer area, they actually made a special trip to play in the artificial lake. That's really...

Yu Tenkuji gave up on commenting.

After all, it's their freedom to choose where and how they want to play in the water. He's just a spectator and has no right to say anything about them.

Without intending to record the scene, Yuu watched as the girl, after kicking in the water, happily splashed around, humming a song and dancing a strange dance on the lake.

...And I must say, she's beautiful, has a great figure, and seems to have some dance background. Even if you don't understand what she's dancing, the sight is still pleasing to the eye.

Under a clear blue sky, she danced on the lake, and also in the eyes of Tenkuji Yuu.

The occasional glimpses of pure white beneath the skirt became the spotlight on the stage.

Although it was rude, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but take a few more glances before preparing to leave—after all, men are all big pigs, and they can't resist seeing fan service scenes.

It wasn't that I was trying to spy on her; I just saw her having so much fun as if no one else was around, and I didn't have the heart to disturb her... Tsk, no matter how I explain it, it feels a bit off.

Regardless of what others think, he probably felt this way now after passing by and enjoying a wonderful performance.

Standing up from the grass, Yuu Tenkuji patted his trousers and was about to turn and leave when...

"Ah...ah—!"

A panicked scream rang out. The girl had finished twirling around the lake with her dance steps, but before she could even stand still, she suddenly staggered and staggered back several steps.

She reacted extremely quickly, managing to stand firm for a moment, but then seemed to trip over something, frantically waving her hands and about to fall into the lake.

Without thinking much, Yuu Tenkuji instinctively combined the two skills and shouted out—

△

Asuna Yuuki often wonders what she is striving for.

Walking on the path laid out by my mother, I devoted all my time to tedious studying, with only her daily instructions and commands in my ears.

He had no friends to go out with, no hobbies to have deep conversations with—even his only asset, his studies, was taken for granted and never praised or comforted.

Perhaps because I have some rare free time, ideas that I never had before are now springing up like mushrooms after rain.

Walking alone on a road where no light can be seen...

She was tired of this kind of life.

A weary and gloomy mood enveloped her. Asuna Yuuki gazed at the clear, tranquil lake before her and suddenly murmured to herself:

"It would be so comfortable to sleep at the bottom of the lake..."

There's no need to force things anymore, no need to keep striving in a meaningless life.

The lake water was icy cold, but it couldn't be colder than the look in my mother's eyes when she discovered I hadn't gotten a perfect score. Just sleep there, and all my worries will disappear.

Therefore, Asuna Yuuki made a decision.

She took off her shoes, as if to throw away all the remaining worries, and resolutely walked towards the center of the lake.

The icy lake water washed over my toes, slowly rising as if to freeze my blood.

Asuna Yuuki took a deep breath and stopped when the water reached the back of her knees.

"Is this enough?"

Don't get me wrong, she didn't intend to jump into the lake to commit suicide.

She's only seventeen years old this year, she hasn't even been in love, hasn't experienced a free life, and hasn't been able to leisurely tell stories with her daughter and pets by the fire. How could Asuna Yuuki die like this?

No matter how tired she is, she must live on strongly, because one day, even she will definitely find her own happiness!

"When was the last time you played in the water... kindergarten? elementary school?" Yuuki Asuna pondered, her finger resting on her chin.

Looking back, it was all a time when I was overwhelmed by books and assignments, with no joy or rest whatsoever.

Even if you hope your daughter will become a phoenix, isn't this educational style a bit too strict...? Thinking of this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but smile bitterly.

She secretly made up her mind that she would never let her daughter suffer the same treatment in the future!

If I don't dare to protest to my mother, then I can only tell this feeling to the next generation.

Back to topic.

"Mom and the others probably haven't finished talking yet, right? They won't find out about this place. Before they call me back... just for a little while, that's all!"

Looking around nervously to make sure no one was nearby, Asuna Yuuki lifted her skirt, tied her hair up, and tentatively kicked up some water.

"Hey!"

That was a childish action that would definitely get you a severe scolding if your mother saw it.

Water splashes in front of you; it's an ordinary sight, yet it gives you a sparkling feeling.

A cool breeze swept over me, and the icy water seemed to have warmed up a bit. An inexplicable joy welled up from the bottom of my heart, and the thrill of breaking the rules added two blushes to my cheeks.

"Hey!"

An involuntary smile appeared on her lips as Yuuki Asuna kicked the water up again, this time with a bit more force.

Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot...

Her skirt inevitably got wet, but she was completely oblivious, continuing to mischievously disturb the tranquil artificial lake like a child.

When she got tired of kicking the water, she started stretching and dancing a dance that she didn't even know the name of.

"La la la la~ Cheruluru~ Cherulipap~"

Humming an off-key tune, she waved her hands and twisted her waist freely on the water, letting her long ponytail swing through the air like a contrail extending into the distant sky.

Yuuki Asuna closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, enjoying the pleasure of the moment.

Now, she is not Yuuki, but simply Asuna—just herself, having let go of all her burdens, and dancing freely in the icy lake.

Tired from spinning around, she decided to stop and rest for a while.

Just as I was about to stand firm, I felt myself stepping on pebbles, and my foot slipped.

"Huh?"

He blinked his big eyes blankly, and the scenery in front of him began to recede.

After only a moment of hesitation, Asuna Yuuki's eyes narrowed and she reacted quickly.

One foot reflexively stepped back, barely stabilizing the tilting body.

Before she could even catch her breath, her previous movement caused her other foot to veer outwards, tripping over something and disrupting her still unstable balance.

"ah--!"

She instinctively screamed, frantically waving her hands in the air, her body continuing to tilt uncontrollably.