I, the spiritual mentor of beautiful girls from all over the world

Who exactly is this man beside me?

He knows his favorite black tea brand and his little-known taste preferences.

They can easily see through their own proud disguise, resolve crises they are helpless against with just a few words, and even... possess abilities that transcend common human sense.

He is like an all-knowing and all-powerful enigma.

And I am, step by step, actively approaching the center of this mystery.

"Gu..."

A faint sound, yet remarkably clear in the stillness of the night, rang out at an inopportune moment.

Yukino Yukinoshita's body froze instantly.

She was like a robot that had been paused, maintaining her walking posture without moving.

Oops……

She has only had a few sips of coffee since noon and hasn't eaten anything at all.

The sound... rang out...

A surge of heat rushed from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, instantly turning her already fair cheeks a light blush.

She tried to maintain a blank expression, staring straight ahead, attempting to pretend that nothing had happened.

But the hand that was gripping the handbag strap tightly unconsciously tightened its grip, and the knuckles turned white.

Lynn stopped and glanced at her.

Of course he heard it.

Seeing Yukino Yukinoshita's adorable appearance, which was pretending to be calm but was actually about to evaporate on the spot, Lynn almost burst out laughing.

But he didn't expose it.

Instead, he spoke naturally in his usual lazy, trouble-averse tone.

"I'm a little hungry. Let's go get something to eat nearby. There's still plenty of time before the last bus."

Yukino's tense body slowly relaxed.

She turned her head to look at Lynn's calm face, the streetlight casting a soft shadow on his face.

He...did it on purpose.

He defused her embarrassment in his own subtle and unobtrusive way.

A warm current flowed silently into my heart.

"……it is good."

……

The two arrived at a brightly lit family restaurant.

It was the same restaurant that Lynn had visited last time with Yui and Sora.

As soon as I entered, a familiar waitress came to greet me.

When she recognized the person as Lynn, her professional smile first blossomed into a warm one…

Immediately upon seeing Yukino Yukinoshita next to Lynn, his smile froze.

The waitress's brain went blank for three seconds.

She remembers this handsome guy!

Last time, he brought a lively girl with a bun hairstyle, as cheerful as a little sun, and a silver-haired girl, as delicate as a doll.

At that time, she thought that having two stunningly beautiful girls by her side was already the limit that ordinary people could imagine!

did not expect……

How long has it been!

He brought another one!

Or she is a completely different kind of beauty, like a flower on a high mountain or an ice queen!

This guy... is he a professional gamer?!

Is he the master of time management?!

The waitress's heart was instantly filled with turmoil.

A sense of mission, befitting a messenger of justice, welled up within me: I should go up and expose the true face of this scumbag who's juggling three, no, N relationships!

but……

Her gaze fell once again on Lynn's impeccable face.

But... he's so handsome...

Since he can have several girlfriends, does that mean I have a chance too?

Reason and emotion battled fiercely in her mind for half a second, but in the end, emotion prevailed overwhelmingly.

The expression on her face changed from shock to a complex look of gossip and anticipation. She silently led the two to a booth by the window.

When ordering, Lynn found that, as he had expected, Yukino Yukinoshita was not interested in the main course, but instead took a few more glances at the parfait and cream cake on the menu.

"Order whatever you want," Lynn said casually.

Yukino Yukinoshita blushed slightly and retorted softly, "I was just... researching its calorie composition."

In the end, she only ordered a vegetable salad and a cup of black tea, while Lynn ordered a hamburger steak set meal and two desserts.

After the food was served, a brief silence fell between the two.

In the end, it was Yukino Yukinoshita who broke the silence first.

She put down her fork and said softly, "Thank you, Ms. Lynn."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an unprecedented sincerity.

"If it weren't for you, I would probably still be struggling in the trap my sister set, and in the end... I would have no choice but to beg her for mercy in a sorry state."

This was the first time she had so proactively admitted her weakness and failure to Lynn.

Lynn cut off a piece of hamburger patty, put it in his mouth, and chewed it calmly.

"I just gave you a stage and enough props."

He swallowed his food, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then slowly opened his mouth.

"Your ability to stage a beautiful counterattack is your own doing, Yukinoshita."

Lynn paused for a moment, then continued.

"...You are much stronger than you realize."

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her head and stared intently at him.

He always gives the most accurate affirmation at the most appropriate time.

Unlike her mother, who demanded perfection, or her sister, who used a joking tone to mask her controlling nature.

His affirmation was pure and unconditional.

"But..." She wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

“Let’s eat,” Lynn pushed the strawberry parfait in front of her, “otherwise it will melt.”

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the exquisite dessert, then glanced at Lynn.

In the end, she didn't refuse anymore, picked up the small spoon, and ate in small bites.

The cool, sweet cream melts in your mouth, and the sweetness seems to spread all the way to your heart.

……

After finishing their meal, the two walked out of the restaurant. The night breeze was cool, dissipating the heat of the food and clearing their minds.

To get to Yukino's house from here, you need to take the tram.

On the train platform late at night, there were few people around, except for the vending machines quietly glowing in the corner.

The two stood side by side, neither speaking, only the distant announcement of the tram's impending arrival echoing across the empty platform.

Soon, the tram arrived.

The carriage was not crowded, with only a few passengers, each with their heads down, absorbed in their own world.

The two sat down side by side on the bench, about a fist's distance apart.

The tram swayed gently and rhythmically, and the city lights outside the window turned into streaks of light that sped past.

Yukino Yukinoshita turned her head away, pretending to look at the night view outside the window, but the dark car window was like a mirror, clearly reflecting the calm profile of the man beside her.

Just then, the tram passed an emergency signal and changed tracks. Without warning, the tram lurched violently, accompanied by a piercing metallic scraping sound.

Yukino Yukinoshita was gazing absently out the window when she suddenly lost her balance and fell uncontrollably to the side.

The anticipated collision with the cold seat did not occur.

She stumbled into a firm and warm embrace.

Lynn opened her eyes almost the instant the car started to shake.

He showed no panic whatsoever; he simply and naturally reached out his arm and steadily caught her as she was about to fall.

And so, Yukino Yukinoshita's cheek pressed firmly against his chest.

Her body instantly stiffened like a stone sculpture.

It was as if time was slowed down at this moment.

A richer, cleaner scent of soap, mixed with his unique aroma, instantly enveloped all her senses.

Through the thin fabric of his school uniform, she could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and the steady, powerful beat of his heart.

Thump, thump, thump...

Chapter 89: Goodnight, My Riddler

The almost inhumanly steady heartbeat reminded her of that physical education class earlier.

At that moment, an out-of-control soccer ball was hurtling towards her at a speed that could knock someone unconscious.

She didn't even have time to react and could only watch helplessly as danger approached.

At that critical moment, the owner of that embrace appeared in front of her with a speed that surpassed the limits of human dynamic vision, almost like teleportation, and pulled her into his arms.

That time, she did the same, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and feeling that absolute power that could withstand any impact.

He protected her safety, yet his heart didn't even race.

Yukino's mind went completely blank.

They should immediately stand up, apologize, and create distance.

Reason was screaming madly, urging her to take the most "correct" action.

But her body seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move at all.

The power that saved her from danger, and the comforting warmth, gave rise to an absurd thought she had never had before: a desire to indulge in it.

Reason told her she should run away, but deep within her soul, a voice greedily and humbly begged—

Just one more second.

For Yukino Yukinoshita, this short journey of just a few stops felt like an eternity.

For the first time, she realized that the roar of a tram could be so deafening, enough to drown out her own uncontrollable heartbeat.

As the announcement of the upcoming arrival time came on, Lynn spoke in a low voice, right above her head.

"Arrived."

He held her shoulders and helped her sit up straight again.

The whole process was as calm as if he had simply helped up a doll that had been accidentally knocked over.

"Are you alright?" he asked casually, looking at her.