Nighttime. City neon lights shimmered beneath the stars and moon.
After cleaning up dinner, Yuu returned to his room and found a vague message from someone.
Masuzu: {New boyfriend rule—starting now, your eyes can only look at me.}
It was like an absolute declaration—short, yet carrying an unchallengeable command.
Yuu's cheek twitched slightly. He sent a single symbol.
Yuu: {?}
The girl seemed to be waiting in front of her screen. She read the message within seconds and replied immediately.
Masuzu: {Second, you can only be gentle with me. No flirting with other girls.}
"...Great. Her brain must be broken."
Yuu: {You're too possessive.}
Masuzu: {Got a problem? Isn't that normal dating behavior?}
Yuu: {Even so...}
Masuzu: {Or are you planning to cheat on me and do embarrassing things with Dango-chan and other juniors besides me?}
Yuu: {I've never done embarrassing things with you... Whatever, just do whatever makes you happy.}
Yuu decided to give up. This person was too selfish to listen. It was pointless to say more.
Anyway, he didn't plan to cheat on anyone, so it was easier to just agree to appease her.
Masuzu: {Good. If you break it, I'll ORA until you die? That's perfectly normal in the world of lovers...}
Masuzu: {Puff... The world of lovers, hahaha...}
The message sent, as if Yuu could see her laughing joyfully in front of her phone.
Yuu was speechless.
Masuzu made her own joke and laughed at it herself. This person was truly extraordinary.
Putting down his phone and ending the brief conversation, Yuu resignedly stared at the JOJO volume ten book on his shelf.
Judging from this, Masuzu seemed to be slowly opening her heart to him, just like Haruno at the beginning—though she wouldn't admit it, her attitude had changed, and the system's rewards were becoming increasingly advanced.
Besides money and physical skills, Expert-Level Disguise and the Intimidation status—true to their names, the first was a skill similar to Acting, the second a passive skill like a Killing Aura—both were far better rewards than manga books. A fake boyfriend relationship like before would never have earned these.
The distance between their hearts was closing. And the clue for this mission—show your charm, fill the emptiness in her heart—seemed to mean that as long as she fell in love with him and felt satisfied with love, the mission would end.
If so, wouldn't the third mission be completed smoothly before long?
But...
"When she starts liking me, can I also start liking her?"
Yuu couldn't help but think about this question.
Somewhere along the way, he'd grown used to his ability to attract attention. He only doubted whether he could fall in love with someone else—he never doubted his charm or social skills.
If he seriously wanted to pursue a woman, he could easily win her over, whether she was a young girl or an adult woman—that was roughly his level of confidence.
The problem was whether he wanted to reciprocate.
If Yuu still had the same mindset as before the first mission ended, he wouldn't need to trouble himself over this. He'd just be an emotionless mission-completion machine.
But after completing the second mission, Yuu had resolved—he wanted a relationship that would let him say goodbye with satisfaction. He wanted to enjoy the process of achieving his goal, and remember every precious moment.
For someone who had already completed two missions, there was only one kind of heroism in this world: after clearly seeing life, still loving life.
After clearly seeing fate, still loving the process of meeting, knowing, and loving others—moving forward to the next stage with hope.
This was the third ending Yuu was trying to achieve.
That's why, before the mission ended, he wanted to be able to fall in love with Masuzu.
Just like before, after the mission ended, he would let the system take that feeling, and step into the fourth ending.
"...Well, there shouldn't be any problem."
Various expressions of the silver-haired girl he'd seen today flashed through his mind. Yuu couldn't help but smile, his murmur slightly self-mocking.
"After all, I'm just a pure-hearted boy who easily falls for girls."
Otherwise, how could he have fallen for two people within fifty days?
Especially, if he didn't have financial issues and wasn't disturbed by the system, he'd probably already have fallen for Yuigahama...
Yuu shook his head, stopping his wandering thoughts.
"Just like before, let everything flow naturally."
No need to overthink. Just do what needs to be done.
Speaking of which...
"Family problems again... Yare yare da ze."
The unbeatable background music appeared at the perfect moment, but Yuu immediately turned it off.
Remembering Natsukawa Mana and the man they mentioned, Yuu couldn't help but sigh, feeling weary.
"If I'm not careful, will I have to go to Sweden to pick up Masuzu?"
That distance wasn't the same as from Tokyo to Karuizawa, or from school to a cram class.
He couldn't leave his little sister at home and go overseas to find another woman—no matter who he might fall for in the future, Sora would always be his most important support. She was his foundation.
So, he had to prevent it before it happened.
"The system's power should be used like this."
He turned on his laptop. The screen reflected his wicked smile.
His fingers rapidly tapped the keyboard. Messy windows popped up, overlapping each other. Scrambled codes appeared, along with several secret transactions unknown to anyone.
With the wealth provided by the system and Expert-Level Network Technology, if Yuu took things seriously, there was almost nothing he couldn't do through the vast, versatile network.
For example, obtaining internal data on the Natsukawa and Yukinoshita families, and planning solutions—the latter to prevent the fourth and fifth missions related to the second Yukinoshita sister, so he prepared in advance.
For example, discovering high-risk, high-reward investment methods, writing scripts to quickly grow capital through short-term trading, establishing a network technology company, competing with others for projects from large corporations, and building connections.
Things like these—Yuu quietly worked hard for his future.
Though it would take a lot of time, he never wanted to experience stories like "you two aren't equal, you have better options" which could only be resolved by searching for his wife from afar.
The crisp sound of keyboard tapping suddenly stopped. It seemed he'd hit a problem. Yuu spoke with a serious face:
"System, has my physical enhancement reached the hair follicles too? If the price of strength is going bald, I'd rather live as a NEET for the rest of my life!"
System: "..."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The next morning, Monday.
Autumn rain blanketed Sobu High like mist. Late September was about to enter October, the weather cooling, cool dew occasionally dripping from yellowing leaves.
During homeroom, Class 2-F's homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka, stood in front of the podium. On the blackboard behind her, two large words were written:
Autumn Picnic
"Ehem! I'm sure you all know—after midterm exams and before the school festival, we get a chance to go on a trip."
"Ooh—!"
Cheers immediately erupted. Hiratsuka couldn't suppress her warm smile.
"Unfortunately, we'll be camping at the nearest resort, not Hokkaido with its beautiful maple leaves."
"Oh..."
The visible disappointment made Hiratsuka's smile grow even wider.
"But luckily, the free time during this picnic is very generous. You can play from morning to night, no need to listen to boring tour guide explanations. You can freely walk in nature, do whatever you want!"
"Ooh—!"
Everyone beneath the podium grew excited again. Several couples exchanged loving glances. Hiratsuka nodded in satisfaction, announcing happily:
"And the best part is—this picnic won't let you choose your own teams. Teams will be determined by lottery, and you must continuously report member counts so no one gets separated!"
"...Hah???!!!"
The entire class fell silent for a moment, then cries of disbelief and lamentations filled the room.
"That's too weird!"
"No freedom in the picnic!"
"Even if we have to listen to a guide, let us choose our own teams!"
"Right, right! What's the point of being on a team with strangers?!"
Facing the noisy protests below, Hiratsuka wasn't panicked at all. She crossed her arms and spoke casually: "Hey hey hey~ You're all classmates. Where are these strangers? With the school festival coming up, you should use this chance to build class unity."
"What unity, gu—"
A boy with double drill blonde hair stood up to argue, but immediately sat back down after Hiratsuka gave him a sharp glare. He couldn't say anything, looking sad like an emperor penguin whose head had been hit.
Hiratsuka sneered, sweeping her gaze across the class. Her aura was fierce like a lion, staring at the restless students with bloodthirsty hunger.
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking..."
"You want to date your friends and partners, using the school's given time to 'understand nature' by making out in the forest, right?"
"That's fine. As long as you can prove your bond is strong enough to overcome luck, I won't say much. I won't be jealous. I'll even give my most sincere blessing!"
The soft voice, filled with resentment and sorrow, silenced all students. They dared not speak, afraid of being dragged forward and punished.
After saying that, Hiratsuka glanced at Yuu, who was lazily propping his cheek, seemingly uninterested in the picnic. She dropped her sad expression and sighed.
"Though our school doesn't ban dating, for the school's reputation, please act like students when you're out there. Don't do reckless things that make society complain—especially not in front of middle-aged single women. Beyond that, I won't interfere too much. Don't worry."
Relieved sighs echoed here and there. Under Hiratsuka's rough yet gentle tyranny, the students gave up fighting for their rights and returned to anticipating the picnic excitement.
Meanwhile, Yuu's eyebrows slightly lifted. He sat up a little straighter, staring at the female teacher on the podium.
(Is she giving me a hint?)
Hiratsuka didn't look at him again. She pulled a lottery tube from beneath and slammed it loudly onto the podium.
"Alright! Student number one, come forward and draw your lot. After drawing, write your group code on the board. Hurry!"
On the teacher's command, everyone stepped forward one by one to draw lots.
As numbers on the board increased, the room grew noisier and more chaotic. Occasional cheers and complaints echoed, along with unmistakable groans.
The rule was one group of three. For Yuu, the best group would be with Totsuka and Yuigahama.
Unfortunately, their bond apparently couldn't overcome the sleeping slave of fate. Totsuka quickly got a group missing only one member, giving him a bitterly disappointed smile.
Yuu got Group F, which was still empty. He waited for his other team members to write their student numbers on the board.
The final result—
"This is good or bad..."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The remaining homeroom time was for group members to communicate.
Yuu looked at the two girls in front of him, unconsciously rubbing his brow, his expression slightly odd.
He missed Totsuka, but didn't miss Yuigahama, his best friend.
The girl with dango-style hair looked extremely happy, as if she'd drawn the most ideal lot. Her face was filled with joy and hope.
As for the other group member...
He first examined her from head to toe with a testing gaze, then pursed his lips and said disinterestedly: "Nice to meet you~" before returning to her seat to chat with her friends.
Yuigahama didn't go with her. She smiled brightly, clenching her small fists in front of her chest, faintly resembling invisible tails creating a whirlwind behind her.
"I can't believe I'm in the same group as Yuu and Yumiko! This might be my luckiest moment this year!"
Right.
Group F for this picnic consisted of himself, Yuigahama Yui, and Yuigahama's friend nicknamed the "Fire Queen" of Class F—Miura Yumiko.
For some reason, Yuu didn't feel joyful at all, so he also didn't place any hopes on this picnic.
"Well, I don't know her well. Shouldn't be a problem..."
After long thought, he stayed relaxed and talked about the picnic with Yuigahama.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Masuzu: {I can feel it—you're sniffing Dango-chan's scent, aren't you?!}
Yuu: {...Are you the female version of DIO, a perverted girl?}
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Lunch break.
Unexpectedly, Masuzu didn't invite him to eat lunch together.
When Yuu went to Class J, the Class J students said Masuzu had left class earlier and no one knew where she went.
In that case, Yuu went straight to the Service Club, enjoying the long-missed lunchtime surrounded by the scent of girls and calming tea.
"I've already called the police."
The clear, transparent girl's voice came before he even entered.
Yuu's steps paused slightly. Then he closed the door and walked to his usual seat.
"I just walked in carrying my lunch and you called the police? If I brought a rope, would you bite your tongue off and die on the spot?"
"Go ahead." The girl near the window closed her book and stood, walking to the cabinet with the hot water kettle and tea set. "I won't be scared anymore by Tenkuji's verbal threats that are only good at talking... So save your bad actions. They'll only make you look cheaper."
The swan-like neck of the slender girl lifted proudly.
Meanwhile, Yuu adopted a mocking tone, speaking sarcastically: "Is that so? You look cuter when you won't back down, Madam President."
Yukino made a cup of tea for herself, not bothering to look at Yuu. She said calmly, "Of course I'm cute. I don't need you to tell me that."
"Hmph..."
Yuu couldn't suppress his smile, watching the calm world outside the window with falling autumn rain.
Yukino's lips, pressed against the rim of her cup, also lifted slightly—though barely noticeable.
They didn't look at each other, only a newly found agreement floating between them, carried on the shared aroma of tea.
But not even a few seconds passed...
"Excuse me, I've lost a Sea King. Can the Service Club help me find him?"
"A Sea King?"
Yukino set down her teacup, sneering as she glanced at Yuu, whose face looked speechless.
Without saying anything more to him, she said calmly toward the door: "The door isn't locked. Come in... Your lost item is here, Natsukawa-san."
Masuzu opened the classroom door, flicking her shimmering silver hair and giving her a faint smile.
"Yuu isn't an item, Yukinoshita-san."
Yukino nodded in strong agreement: "He's indeed not an item."
"Oh, our heroes share the same opinion."
The two gem-like beautiful girls smiled at each other, finally finding agreement on one issue.
The only one hurt was Yuu, sitting at the end of the table. He picked up his chopsticks and silently opened his lunchbox.