I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"What about my memories? Can you take my memories away too?"

The system paused for half a second before calmly replying, "The mission requires that the host's memories cannot be altered."

"Oh, I see."

The sound fell softly, without any inflection.

"Then, take away my feelings for 'Yukinoshita Haruno'."

The sky was gray, and a light, cold snow began to fall.

"If your goal isn't to turn me into a jerk, you should be able to do this little thing, right? Just like in the beginning, make me act not because I like someone, but because I want a reward."

As if a rational monster stood behind him, Tenkuji Yu remained unmoved, staring indifferently at the screen.

"Stripping away my romantic feelings for her will actually make it easier to achieve the later mission objectives... System, is that alright?"

"..."

It looked as if a large amount of calculations were being performed.

About ten seconds later, the system finally responded: "Confirmed."

"Does the host wish to sever romantic feelings for the target? Note that once severed, these feelings cannot be restored."

"Yes." With a relieved expression, Tenkuji Yuu revealed a faint smile. "I'm a selfish person. Mere love will only hinder my mission. Here, take it."

"Stripping confirmed. After returning to the real world, the host will no longer develop romantic feelings for the target."

"That's good."

Finally relieved, Yuu Tenkuji sat back down on the ground, smiling easily.

He looked up at the empty sky and whispered again:

"That's good……"

Even though I haven't lost it yet, my heart feels like it has a huge hole in it, with air leaking out everywhere.

This is probably what heartbreak feels like, right?

Perhaps even the feelings of attachment, reluctance, and sadness I have now will soon be taken away by that bastard system.

So, Yuu Tenkuji still wants to say something.

Facing myself, facing the system, facing this desolate world before me, I said with a smile—

"I once liked someone who was three years older than me and had a beautiful smile."

She has a nasty, twisted, and hypocritical personality, but beneath her layers of masks lies a fragile, romantic girl who would beg for a hero to save her.

I became her hero, so she liked me and was eager to make our relationship a fait accompli—her strong drive and calculating nature were both hateful and endearing.

If I could, I would like to say one more thing to her: "I will stand in front of you and become the hero you envision... I want to see your smile a little longer."

From now on, I will forget how I felt about liking her; but thankfully, I will never forget the smiles she gave me.

It is a precious thing that can be kept in one's heart forever, and will never change no matter spring, summer, autumn or winter.

"I used to like her. Her name was Yukinoshita Haruno, and she was a girl who loved to lie."

……

...

Ah, so, is a lie like sunshine or snow?

Well, whichever it is, it will eventually disappear...

Fortunately, he remembers, and he will always remember.

Therefore, the story of how he and she met is definitely not a lie.

"Recovery complete, world repair finished... Repair aborted."

"Host status detected: 'Injury Time'. Activate?"

"……Um?"

Yuu Tenkuji, who had been lying down and preparing for his final moment, was startled awake by the voice and blinked in surprise.

How long has it been? Why isn't it over yet?

Chapter 100 The Unqualified Hero

4 8 8 ⑦ 4 9 ⑦ 9 9

"Interruption time".

Yuu Tenkuji remembers that this was a mysterious state he received after returning from the resort. There was no explanation, and trying to use it would only result in the message "Currently unusable. Please wait for the right time," which left him completely baffled.

I had almost forgotten about it, but I didn't expect that the so-called opportunity was now?

"System, can you tell me now what exactly 'injury downtime' is?"

The system quickly answered his question: "'Injury Interruption Time' is a special state that can only be activated during a period that has 'ended but not yet ended'."

"After activation, the host will enter a non-existent timeline. The stronger the emotions the host holds toward the target, the more injury time will be added."

"The world correction will only be fully activated after the state ends, sending the host back to the real world."

"At that time, all traces left during the mission and the 'injury recovery period,' as well as the host's romantic feelings for the target, will be retrieved and erased according to the system's regulations."

"The host can understand this as a reward period for you to make up for the remaining regrets."

Upon hearing the system's words, Tenkuji Yu frowned, showing no sign of surprise.

"I've already made up my mind to leave without saying goodbye, so why would I keep this and make things worse for myself?"

"Injury time" sounds nice, but not every regret needs to be made up for, and not every separation should be goodbye.

Yuu decisively left Yukinoshita and started the next mission. It was because of this decision, and in order to prevent both of them from getting hurt more, that Yuu didn't drag the mission out until the deadline. Instead, he let her hold on to the hope that he would come back, and she had a smile on her face before her memory disappeared.

If he uses "injury time" at this moment, wouldn't it mean that his resolve just now was too weak?

If she were to meet Yukino Yukinoshita one more time and realize that he would eventually leave her, would she still be able to smile and say goodbye to him?

Tenkuji Yu didn't want to gamble, nor was he willing to gamble.

Hesitation only leads to more trouble—even if nothing changes after the "injury timeout" ends, for him who retains his memories, this reward is nothing more than a burden.

His and her story ended just now; there's no need to write an extra chapter.

"Besides, I'm not going to stop here."

Since it was agreed that he would sever his feelings for Haruno, even though the system hadn't forced it yet, Tenkuji Yu still managed to deceive himself with perfect acting skills, and said to the system without hesitation:

"Don't activate it. Just send me back to the real world!"

"Do you confirm that 'injury stoppage time' will not be activated?"

"Yes."

"The system has received a strong message from the target. Would you like to play it?"

"Yono?" Tenkuji Yu opened his mouth, a faint throbbing pain shooting through his heart, but he forced himself to ignore it, instead frowning and asking calmly, "What do you mean by 'strong will'?"

It seemed that this answer made the system accept his choice, and a buzzing noise suddenly came from the screen.

Then, that familiar, clear female voice sounded, low and sighing.

"Little Youyou, I want to talk to you one more time..."

"I don't want to leave you like this..."

"Leaving without saying goodbye is something I will never forgive..."

When will you come back...?

"..."

Each sentence felt like a thick layer of snow burying him, causing Tenkuji Yu's face to stiffen and cracks to appear in his otherwise calm expression.

It was as if even breathing was frozen. The will that I thought had become firm began to crack, and I even subconsciously took a step towards that place.

'I need to say goodbye to her properly...'

Such thoughts popped into my head uncontrollably.

"This is the last time I'll fulfill my responsibilities as a boyfriend, giving us both the most perfect ending... so that neither of us will have any regrets."

Yes, he wanted to roll around in bed with her.

I want to chat with her all night long, under the covers.

I want to tell her how much I like her, I want to tell her that I don't want to leave at all... I want to tell her that I hope we can be together forever.

I also wanted to hear her encourage me during our final farewell, to hear her say, "I will never forget you."

I'd love to see her declare confidently, "I'm Yukino Yukinoshita, how could I possibly forget my first love? You just wait!"

Then, I most want to lie in bed with her, saying goodbye with happy smiles and happy tears—

These regrets can be made up for during "injury time".

"Since that's the case, then..."

With difficulty, Yuu Tenkuji closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The next second, her resolute tone completely drowned out Yukinoshita Haruno's voice.

"...Do not start."

"Now, immediately, send me back to the real world and end all of this."

"..."

The system seemed to fall silent, and her voice vanished along with it.

After several seconds, the cold, electronic voice sounded again:

"Confirmed. Proceeding with the exit procedure."

The hard concrete floor suddenly shattered, and a huge stone door, similar to the Gate of Truth, emerged, standing solemnly and anciently before him, waiting for him to push it open.