Despite juggling three different tasks at once, Yuu didn't feel overwhelmed in the slightest. Instead, there was a spontaneous beauty to his free yet orderly multitasking. Unfortunately, Yukino couldn't appreciate it at all. Far from showing any respect, anger flared within her.
"…You promised Hiratsuka-sensei you'd handle the club member issue yourself, so I won't interfere."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the air froze. Yukino closed her lunchbox expressionlessly, stood up coldly with her school bag, and looked down at Yuu, who'd stopped moving. Her clear, melodious voice pierced like a December breeze.
"And I suggest you go back and learn some basic table manners for dining with humans—your barbaric, rude behavior makes people lose their appetite, Tenkuji-kun."
"As for the fall exhibition, I'll wait for you at the Service Club after school to discuss it. See you."
With those cold words, she brushed back her waterfall-like long hair and left the Service Club like a flash. As the door closed, an autumn breeze slipped through the window, carrying lingering coolness and the faint fragrance of the girl.
Yuu stood silently by the door for a moment, then shifted his gaze, set down his chopsticks, and replied to the message he'd read half a minute ago.
Yuu: {No need to force it, I know your family's strict}
Asuna: {I'm happy you invited me, but…}
Yuu: {I was just inviting you along with Kou-nii. It's fine if you don't come, really, don't overthink it}
Asuna: {…}
Asuna: {Hehe, I don't want to see your annoying face in real life anyway}
After a few exchanges, she proactively ended the conversation, and no rewards popped up during the process. Placing the darkened phone screen on the table, Yuu started eating his now-cold lunch. Leaning back casually in the chair, he gazed at the vast, clear autumn sky outside the window, a pensive look in his eyes.
"Do I need to tweak how I deal with girls a bit, huh…"
Without some acting flair, maybe normal girls couldn't handle his blunt words and actions, right? Except for Haruno—she was anything but normal.
If so, for the sake of future goals, should he change himself…? While eating, Yuu couldn't help sinking into such thoughts.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time passed quickly. After school, Yuu went straight to the Service Club. In a brief five minutes, he and Yukino decided on the project for the Fall Club Exhibition. It should've been discussed earlier, but the two always veered off-topic when together, talking about things unrelated to the main issue.
However, calling it "decided" might not be accurate. After hearing his idea, Yukino froze, then looked at Yuu with a pitying gaze, as if he were spouting nonsense. After all, the plan was too weird, too excessive, too absurd—something clearly not thought through.
Thus, the club president promptly declared: the plan would be shelved for now, and Yuu was to take a cold shower to calm down. Once his brain functioned normally, they'd review and laugh at his past foolishness. Her dismissive reaction wasn't unexpected—after all, it was just a draft idea, and whether it would be executed or even feasible was still up in the air.
After discussing this, Yuu raised a question that left Yukino puzzled:
"Let's make a hypothetical scenario."
"Say your family's education is strict, planning your future from the start. This path could make you an elite in society, but it requires erasing your free will and not allowing other thoughts… Would you choose to rebel?"
Skipping explanations, Yukino answered:
"I wouldn't do something I don't want to, even if it's my parents' good intentions. If I can't be the person I want, what's the point of living?"
"…Of course, there are situations you can't refuse, so you can't jump to conclusions too quickly."
"If expressing your thoughts and communicating well doesn't work, then you can only prove you're capable of change, prove you're no longer a child needing others' help, able to stand on your own outside the greenhouse… Otherwise, resistance will only drag you into a worse situation."
Though answering Yuu's question, Yukino spoke as if talking about herself, her face gradually turning somber. As expected of Haruno's younger sister, she had her own flaws, weaknesses, and a complex, sentimental story.
…Wait!
Yuu suddenly realized something was off. Based on this pattern, could the system be so cruel as to make Yukino a target and have him become her boyfriend? As long as her memories didn't return, no one would know he'd gone after both sisters, so the target didn't really matter…
But his own feelings would be complicated. Like now, though he was looking at Yukino, his heart was thinking of Haruno. If they really became a couple in the future, wouldn't it be like seeing his sister-in-law while thinking of his wife, trying to… no, already being a jerk who went after both sisters? Many predecessors proved such people don't live long!
Since Yuu wouldn't get answers anyway, and the system would only respond with "a-ba-ba" meaning "memories won't return, host please stay calm," he temporarily sealed this terrifying theory deep in his consciousness to avoid affecting him now.
Overall, he got a solid answer from Yukino.
"Prove yourself, that you have the ability to choose your own path…"
Leaving the Service Club, on his way to Angel Cafe, Yuu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Could the same situation apply to Asuna? Was this truly tied to her heart's desire? And as an outsider, what could he do from the sidelines?
With these thoughts, after finishing his part-time job and preparing dinner, Yuu returned to his room. While studying as usual, he waited for Asuna to log in so they could pursue the Beloved Flower together.
—After completing the in-game mission, could he give her the courage to change her reality and break free from her cage? If so, as her online boyfriend, he could step back successfully, closing this chapter perfectly.
"Just… how long until that day comes…"
Thirty-three days? Or two months?
Yuu shook his head, put on the NERvGear, and lay back comfortably on his bed.
"Link Start!"
His voice was soft. From now on, as a husband, Yuu couldn't afford to overthink.
(Just think of Asuna as my wife)
And so, a moment later.
Crossing the boundary between virtual and real, the silver-white couple's ring gleamed on his ring finger.