I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Renting a girlfriend's heart, not her body, is meant to bring emotional comfort rather than physical release.

She wanted to be like a band-aid that could protect wounds, to make them laugh enough during those few short hours, as they left behind the cruel and difficult reality.

Even if it's a lie, make it the most beautiful lie.

And what about him?

"We've arrived at Karuizawa Station," the driver said.

After paying a hefty fare, Yuu Tenkuji bought his ticket and boarded the Shinkansen train that was just pulling into the station.

The scenery outside the window flashed by again. He propped his head up with one hand and silently gazed at the distant sky, which seemed still and quiet, yet subtly changing.

Since I have nothing better to do, I'll ask again:

What were her feelings at the beginning, when she only intended to play the role of a boyfriend on the surface and treat Yukino Yukinoshita as a simple mineral vein to mine? And now, even if it is twisted and bizarre, she is willing to travel more than 100 kilometers to continue this rental relationship?

Clearly, there is only one answer—

Not only Yukino Yukinoshita, but he also got into character, completely immersed in this fake romance.

Professional actors can develop psychological problems from getting too immersed in their roles. For example, actors playing mentally ill people may become increasingly insane, actors playing serial killers may develop murderous impulses, and actors playing mentally ill serial killers need no further explanation... The better the acting skills, the more this is the case.

After all, becoming that character is the most perfect way to express "acting skills".

That's why these actors regularly see psychologists to force themselves out of character—using others to distinguish between acting and reality.

On a smaller scale, there are countless examples of male and female leads who fall in love with each other after filming wraps up.

Although he has perfect acting skills, he doesn't have a perfect psychologist, nor does anyone urge him to return to reality—that damn system is always silent, and he often forgets about it when he's on a date.

For Yuu Tenkuji, every flutter of excitement and every moment of joy during her relationship with Haruno Yukinoshita was a clear and undeniable reality.

He would feel smug at her unwilling expression, and silent at her gloomy look; he would feel happy at her smile, and helpless at her childish tantrums.

Even after returning home, Yukinoshita Haruno was still a part of his life.

Therefore, Chizuru Mizuhara's perception is wrong—he is definitely not a qualified rental boyfriend.

"Tokyo Station has arrived, Tokyo Station has arrived..."

The train's announcement suddenly came on, snapping him back to reality. Tenkuji Yu got up and left the Shinkansen.

During the change of vehicles, he subconsciously touched his lips, and the curve of his lips involuntarily turned upwards.

Before they parted ways, Yukinoshita Haruno said the following:

"Although our relationship remains the same, I won't kiss you casually anymore... If you want to kiss me, you have to take the initiative."

"What a cunning fellow," Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but remark.

Since she took the initiative to "renew the contract" this time, she felt she had the upper hand and began to make demands of him, acting as if she was ready to have him completely under her control.

The so-called love is that the one who gives in first loses—although Yuu Tenkuji doesn't think he really lost, he doesn't dislike Yukinoshita Haruno's little schemes, nor does he dislike this kind of love relationship where they are scheming against each other.

Or rather, I quite like it.

Like her, Tenkuji Yu also accidentally fell in love with her rented lover—that's all.

"I am back."

I got off the train and arrived home at 2 PM.

Qiong was playing on her computer in her room and didn't come out to greet her. The corridor was dimly lit, and the aroma of pizza filled the room.

Yuu Tenkuji first went upstairs to her room to put her things away, then took her clothes into the bathroom, ready to wash away the fatigue of the day.

"Refreshing" can make him free from the dust of the world, but the greatest significance of taking a bath or soaking in the tub lies in the reflection when he is alone, allowing himself to completely relax as if he were melting away with the hot water.

After quickly washing his hair and body, he lay back in the bathtub, watching the hot water slowly rise above his thighs, his thoughts rising with the rising steam.

"what……"

After staring blankly for a while, Yuu Tenkuji unconsciously let out a sigh.

When does a person realize that they have fallen in love with someone?

Some people get their test papers when the girl in front of them hands them the test paper, turns around, and smiles at them.

Some people are alone during group activities, and she suddenly comes over and enthusiastically talks in a language they don't understand, just to make herself seem less lonely.

And what he said...

It was probably this morning, while I was riding the Shinkansen and looking out the window, that I was filled with imagining what kind of smile she would have.

"I thought my adolescence was long over, but I didn't expect it to come so soon."

Tenkuji Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly, then turned off the hot water, letting himself sink into the water, the sound of the water churning filling his ears.

He only sat up abruptly when he couldn't hold his breath any longer, took a deep breath to calm himself down, and made his expression less affected and conflicted.

"If there were no system..."

Water droplets dripped from her hair. Sky Temple Yuu lowered her head, and after a long silence, spoke in a low, husky voice:

"Of course I can. I will stand in front of you and become the hero you envision... I want to see your smile a little longer."

The sound echoed from the bathroom, but no one heard it.

Once she hears this answer, according to the system, their relationship will come to an end, and her memories will be corrected.

Encounters brought about by the system will also be concluded by the system itself—yes, that makes perfect sense.

"That's totally reasonable, you son of a bitch."

Muttering curses under her breath, Tenkuji Yu got up and left the bathroom. Without using the status effect given by the system, she dried herself off and changed into new clothes.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he patted his cheeks and put on a helpless smile.

Back in his room, he took out his phone and sent a message to Yukinoshita Haruno:

"Honey, wanna go on a date tomorrow? My treat."

"Ugh, that's so cheesy! You're not my aloof and sadistic little Youyou, who are you?!"

"If you want to be a masochist, just say so now, and I'll buy the necessary equipment to satisfy you tomorrow."

"Little Yoyo is so H~"

With a satisfied smile on her face, Yuu Tenkuji put away her phone.

All he could do was try to delay the end date and continue his relationship with Yukinoshita Haruno as a rented lover.

Let it drag on as long as it can—if this lie can continue indefinitely, then it's no different from the truth, is it?

He wasn't interested in who the next target would be; he didn't care when the mission might be accidentally completed.

From this moment forward, Yuu Tenkuji only wants to give it her all, leaving no regrets—

Have a romance with Yukino Yukinoshita.

……

...

He suddenly remembered something, left the room, and knocked on Kasugano Sora's door.

"Qiong, are you free?"

Soon, her languid and clear voice came from inside the room: "You're free? What's up?"

"You said last time that you would definitely tell me the day your brother gets a girlfriend, right?"

"That's right..."

As if her delicate throat had been choked, the girl suddenly fell silent.

Immediately, a series of chaotic banging sounds erupted inside the room, and the door was flung open.

The white dress seemed to bloom like a lotus flower, and the petite girl with silver hair stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes:

"Yu, you wouldn't...?"

The brother and sister stood facing each other in front of the door.

Unconsciously, the corners of Tenkuji Yu's mouth slowly turned up, revealing a mischievous smile that resembled someone else's, a smile he used specifically to tease his younger sister.

"So, what do you think?"

Chapter 82 To be honest, my younger sister is much more important than my girlfriend.

However, in the end, the family meeting never took place.

He first used the excuse that "I just met a girl I get along with at my part-time job, and if things go wrong, we might develop into that kind of relationship" to appease Sora, who seemed to want to drag him into her room to do the deed. Then he turned around and sent a message to Yukino Yukinoshita, asking if he wanted to formally introduce her to his sister.

The two had discussed this matter before, and Yukinoshita Haruno's intentions were very clear. He thought she wouldn't refuse.

Unexpectedly, Yukinoshita Haru treated him in such a perfunctory manner:

"Let's talk about it later, I'm not ready yet~"

Yuu Tenkuji found it strange—this guy, who was angry and reckless last time because he didn't want to introduce her to Sora, is now saying he's not ready?

Besides, didn't we agree before that I would visit Xue Nong as a "part-time friend"?

Even though the relationship has progressed further since then, why is her attitude completely opposite... Could it be that she's shy?

How could that be...?

Although puzzled, Yukino Yukinoshita had no intention of explaining, and could only put aside his thoughts of "taking everything seriously from now on" for the time being.

Dinner time.

The bowls and chopsticks remained untouched on the table. Kasugano Sora ignored the aroma of the food and stared coldly at Tenkuji Yu, who had just taken his seat.

The gray-spotted kitten slowly walked to the food bowl, pushed the bowl forward a short distance, and then, as if eating popcorn while watching a movie, tilted its head back and ate its food while looking at the two people.

"Yu, I hope you can explain what we talked about this afternoon in more detail."

Her tone was very serious, as if she wouldn't eat unless you told her.

Yuu Tenkuji had expected this, but sighed helplessly: "There's not much to say, it's just that I accidentally fell for the boss while I was working... Keep your eyes off her, the boss is a rich and beautiful young woman, not much older than me."

Qiong lowered her head, clenched her small fists, and said in a sorrowful voice, "Yu, has our family's financial situation deteriorated to the point where you need someone to support you...?"

Tenkuji Yu almost fell face-first into the scrambled eggs with tomatoes.