I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Come on, don't let me down!

"Uh……"

Instead of feeling his heart race, Yuu Tenkuji felt a chill run down his spine as he was urged on in such a soft and gentle voice.

He felt as if he had become a monkey, and she was the trainer, waving her whip, giving commands, and eagerly anticipating his performance.

...The third thing Yukinoshita Haruno likes is teasing people and watching a good show.

If she weren't so pretty, probably not many people would like her personality.

However, after making a note of this, he also knew how to claim the reward.

"You said something like, 'After all, I'm here to find a boyfriend and enjoy the feeling of being in love while I still have time,' right?"

After pondering for a while, with a hint of helplessness, Yuu Tenkuji offered his analysis:

"The situations where someone is clearly superior in terms of material conditions, looks, and personality, yet still spends money to buy a fake boyfriend, are limited. Add to that keywords like 'not enough time' and 'wanting to enjoy life,' and I can boldly speculate:"

Firstly, you are terminally ill and don't have long to live, yet you want to experience a love affair without any ties, a love that blooms and fades like fireworks... To avoid leaving painful memories for those around you, you're willing to pay for a stranger as a "transaction partner" to fulfill your final wish.

"puff!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yukinoshita burst out laughing.

She covered her lips with her hand, her slender shoulders trembled slightly, her head drooped slightly, and soft sobs came from between her fingers.

"Waaah, this... if it were written into a novel, it would definitely be incredibly touching..."

She took a deep breath as if choking back tears, and then wiped her eyes insincerely, though the traces of pleasure were still there.

"Tenkuji-kun, would you like to write this story down? I can be your first reader."

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 500 yen."

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Short Story Writing (Proficient Level) once."

Tenkuji Yu's eye twitched.

Damn, this works?

If I were to tell the story in a longer way, could you teach me how to write a TV series script?

And the rewards for the Proficient level... sound like they're a tier below the Expert level. You were laughing so hard, but it turns out it's nothing special!

As Zhang Wuji's mother was right, the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to lie.

"Just say it's just a guess..."

With a long sigh, Yuu Tenkuji didn't bother to respond further and continued speaking:

"Secondly, your family has a very prestigious background; it's the kind of ancient family that forces its children to marry into other families."

"And you, a female college student who has never been in a relationship, are being pressured by your elders to get engaged to someone you don't like at all..."

"To avoid regrets, and to leave even the most false traces in your blank youth, you decide to go crazy just this once."

He hadn't finished speaking.

A loud "snap!" rang out in front of me.

With a crisp clasp of her hands, Yukinoshita Haruno looked at him with a gentle smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

"Okay, that's enough."

"..."

Shutting her mouth, Tenkuji Yu glanced at the pretty older sister at the order counter, feeling no joy whatsoever at all.

Let's make an assumption.

If you go to the order counter at this point and say to the server:

"Serving customers must be tiring, right? I understand how hard it is for you, and I know you want to rest as soon as possible. Because I can see through your fake smile."

How would she feel?

Is it indifference? Or the joy of being understood? Or the annoyance of being seen through?

The person sitting in front of her wasn't her, so of course Tenkuji Yu wouldn't know.

However, in contrast—

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 10000 yen."

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Lullaby (Perfect Level) once."

This is the truth about Yukinoshita.

The fourth point in the memo: Although she gets annoyed when people see through her, Yukino Yukinoshita actually prefers the feeling of being surprised.

Yuuki Tenkuji glanced away and turned his gaze to the system panel on the left.

They pulled off an unexpected monkey show, and the reward was unexpectedly high.

[Skilled], [Expert], [Perfect].

Is this the difference between the different levels of technical rewards given by the system?

I need to find an opportunity to test it out, otherwise even if I get the best reward, it won't feel real at all.

I also need to check if the money in the bank has increased... I really hope the system can add the 210,000 reward together. It's a legendary system god, is it necessary to deduct the salary of an ordinary high school student?

Thinking of this, Yuu Tenkuji was filled with resentment.

"As expected, it didn't disappoint me. A guy who listens attentively to a girl is a big plus."

The chill seemed to melt away with the warm sun, and Yukino looked him over with great interest, smiling easily and happily.

“However, you are wrong about one thing. I have not been forced into an engagement... it is just that my family has this intention.”

She paused, then added, "My fiancé is the young master of the chairman of a certain group. His looks and abilities are barely a match for mine, and he's also been very helpful to our family's... Yukinoshita family's business."

That's why I don't plan to resist, but only want to create a wave of no regrets at the end of my youth?

With a look of realization, Tenkuji Yu understood her thoughts.

To put it in a somewhat juvenile way, she didn't want to be a wronged princess accompanying her in her dowry, but rather a loyal knight who followed orders.

"Well, this is what adults are like..."

Resting her cheek on one hand and fiddling with the ends of her hair, Yukinoshita sighed softly.

"For the sake of everyone, we must make mature choices. And mature choices always require sacrificing something."

After he finished speaking, the air fell silent for a while.

Yukino gazed into the distance, seemingly lost in thought, her lips curving upwards but without a smile.

Yuu Tenkuji didn't speak, but silently poked at the water droplets on his cup.

After a while, she suddenly looked over again, and her previous melancholy seemed like a lie, as she smiled and curved her eyes.

"As my boyfriend, shouldn't you be comforting me right now? Or I'll lose points!"

Let them deduct it; as long as the system doesn't deduct from the reward, that's fine.

Thinking this to himself, Tenkuji Yu replied to her helplessly:

"Although I've never been in a relationship, I know when to speak and when to be a listener."

"Go ahead and complain, it doesn't matter how long you go on... Well, you paid for it, didn't you?"

This is probably the meaning of "renting a lover", right?

Some people spend money not to find love, but for a willing companionship.

—On her first day of forced work, Yuu Tenkuji grasped the essence of the profession and didn't know whether she should be happy about it.

"..."

Her frivolous smile vanished, and Yukinoshita stared at him silently for several seconds, her expression becoming so serious it was almost frightening.

But soon, she smiled and extended her fair hand to him:

"I take back what I just said. You're perfectly qualified, Tenkuji... no, how about I call you Yu-kun?"

Surprised by her visibly softened mask, Tenkuji Yuuya reached out his hand:

"I'm fine with either."

He only intended to give it a light squeeze and then let go, but Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly gripped it tightly.

Her palms were soft and warm, so warm that Yuuki Tenkuji felt uncomfortable and wanted to break free as soon as possible.

"Then I'll call you Little Brother You?"

"Never mind, let's go with Yu-kun... Um, is it okay to let go now?"

"No way! How can you call yourselves boyfriend and girlfriend if you don't even hold hands? For the sake of your professional ethics, you need to get used to it from now on."

As if brooking no argument, Yukino Haruno said this forcefully, her expression extremely serious, but her fingers were secretly scratching at his palm.

A chill instantly spread through her skin, and Tenkuji Yu instinctively used force to shake off her hand.

He rubbed his palms on his pants a couple of times, and seeing her reaction—which showed no surprise whatsoever and immediately burst into laughter—he knew he had been tricked.

"Tsk."

Yukinoshita Haruno is a wicked person who, once you see through her true nature, you'll want to keep your distance from her.

Yuu Tenkuji is not a simp; he is neither attracted to her beauty nor interested in her wealth.

If he really upset her, even if the system would punish him, he wouldn't continue to play along with this female hooligan...

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 2333 yen."

"Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: a slight increase in physical fitness (explosive power and endurance)."

"Come on, hold my hand for as long as you want."

Seeing Tenkuji Yu extend his hand again with a serious expression, Yukinoshita Haruno's smile froze.

Chapter Eight: This woman might be a masochist.

Having finished talking and almost completely eaten, Yukino Yukinoshita said, "Let's have our first date~", and eagerly pulled him out of the fast food restaurant.