Yuu 281-285

Title: I Wouldn’t Push Anyone, Let Alone a Boat

Yuu hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly, “A girl—a transfer student who’s just arrived. She has a very strange personality and likes to be alone. I think, besides me, she doesn’t have any other friends who can take care of her.”

“...”

As those words left his mouth, a heavy, intense aura began to blanket the entire living room.

Her pale, cute face was shadowed, her bright glass-bead-like pupils turning dark like a deep, silent black hole. Sora stared straight at him, unblinking.

Yet, the next second, she returned to her usual self. Hugging her black rabbit plushie, she said, “A transfer student? You’re really popular.”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that.” Yuu laughed awkwardly, unable to act smug as he once did. “Well... I just want to visit her. I’ll try to come home as soon as possible.”

“No need to rush,” Her voice was toneless. Sora played with her plushie, not looking at him. “It’s only seven in the morning. If you prepare food first, coming back at eleven or midnight is fine too. I don’t mind.”

If Yuu truly took seriously the words of a pouting girl, it’d mean he never deserved having had two girlfriends who nearly reached marriage level.

“Calm down. No matter what happens there, I’ll come home to eat with you.” Walking past the dining table, Yuu reached out and ruffled her small head. “No one can steal your big brother—be it a demon king or even a summoning circle from another world. I promised that from the start.”

“If you really don’t want me to go, I’ll pretend I didn’t see this message and ignore whether she lives or dies.”

A brief silence followed, then Sora let out a heavy sigh, puffed her cheeks, and hugged her plushie tightly.

“...Yuu is so unfair!”

In that case, she had no choice but to let him go.

No matter how strong her jealousy, no matter how deep her affection—Sora didn’t want to trade Yuu’s tenderness toward her for her own selfishness.

The gentler Yuu was, the more she didn’t want to disappoint him; the more afraid she became that one day, his kindness would vanish because of her actions.

Simply put, since Yuu had spoiled his little sister this much, even a prideful Sora would feel guilty.

“Sorry. I’ll bring dessert back when I return.”

Yuu stood up and began clearing the plates and bowls from the table.

When Sora set down her rabbit to help, she asked casually, “Is this transfer student pretty?”

“It’s not about whether she’s pretty or not...”

“Hmm?”

“...She is pretty.”

Yuu never lied to Sora—that was a rule he set for himself.

Sora’s expression didn’t change, as if she’d already mentally prepared herself. “No wonder. If she weren’t pretty, you wouldn’t care enough to run off and take care of her, right?”

“What kind of person do you think your brother is? Am I someone like that?” Feeling his pride insulted, Yuu got slightly angry.

Sora ignored his feigned anger and continued questioning, “Based on your story, there’s no one at her house—maybe she lives alone? Yet she still called you over and asked you to take care of her without hesitation... Hehe.”

For some reason, the tiny girl chuckled coldly, her voice like clear ice.

Just like Yuigahama, when it came to matters involving boys and girls, these girls’ brains suddenly became sharper than Sherlock Holmes.

“True, just a simple guess.”

Yuu immediately gave up and confessed. “Yeah, that’s right. She really likes me. She probably called me hoping to flirt, right? I know—it’s all just tricks.”

“You know that, yet you’re still going?” Her gaze turned sharp. Sora stared at his profile and spoke slowly, “Even though I know Yuu isn’t that kind of person, could it be... you plan to take advantage of the situation?”

“I wouldn’t push anyone, let alone a boat—get it?”

Cutting her off, Yuu carried the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen. Since he felt absolutely no guilt, he stated it openly.

“You don’t need to worry too much. I’m just visiting. I have no intention of seizing the opportunity to enter the adult world... Even if I did, it’d only be after I have an official girlfriend.”

“...”

As if speechless, Sora fell silent.

She offered no further comments until Yuu returned to his room to get ready, put on his bag, and walked toward the door. She only silently watched his back.

“I’m leaving.”

Just before he closed the door, Yuu finally heard her soft voice.

“...So, Yuu, do you want to date this transfer student?”

“Who knows? Maybe, if she were more honest.”

His steps paused. Yuu turned around.

Seeing the silver-haired girl standing in the shadows by the entrance, as if afraid she’d be left alone in the house, trembling in solitude, he smiled brightly, like sunshine, and said, “But even if I dated her, if she didn’t allow me to come home to feed my little sister, I’d break up with her right away! That’s definite—no negotiation.”

Sora blinked in confusion, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha...”

As if the dark clouds in the overcast sky slowly cleared, revealing a vast blue sky, her smile was pure and warm.

“Stupid Yuu, don’t compare me to a cat!”

“Meow~”

A real cat sat beside her feet, joining her in staring at the teenager standing by the door.

“I know—Yuu belongs to me. No one can take him away...” she murmured. Sora turned and casually waved her hand. “Remember, come home on time for lunch. If you’re too late, I’ll get mad.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

With a smile on his face, Yuu closed the front door, then quietly exhaled toward the street outside.

Unfortunately, he forgot that during the first mission, he’d proudly said, “Whenever you want to introduce your girlfriend to me, go ahead. Though I can’t promise that after meeting me, you two won’t break up.”

If he remembered that, maybe things would be easier now?

Though he could also be seen as a bastard who cycled through three girlfriends in less than two months...

No matter how the world changed, anyone else had to pass through his little sister first before becoming his girlfriend.

“After this mission ends and before the next one starts, I should properly discuss this issue with her. Otherwise, it’ll keep repeating...”

Putting this problem aside for now, Yuu walked toward the station while pulling out his phone.

Yuu: {I’ll make porridge for you. Do you have the ingredients at home?}
Masuzu: {I have lots of Weider-in jelly in muscat and peach flavor.}
Yuu: {Sorry, my cooking skills aren’t advanced enough to make porridge from nutritional jelly.}
Masuzu: {Then I leave it to you. I’m suffering terribly now—I need a hug. Hurry and warm me up.}
Yuu: {Hugs aren’t necessary.}
Masuzu: {That’s exactly the main point, you know? Oh, by the way, if you’re going to the supermarket, buy me a box of cherries too.}
Yuu: {This is the first time I’ve visited someone bringing cherries.}
Masuzu: {I don’t want to eat them—I just want to lick them out of boredom.}
Yuu: {Alright, as long as you’re happy.}

Putting his phone away, Yuu didn’t know whether to laugh or feel annoyed.

...Conversations with Masuzu could never be serious.

But they were quite fun.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Soon after, Yuu boarded the train and headed to the apartment where Masuzu lived.

On the way, he stopped by the supermarket to buy porridge ingredients. After that, he arrived beneath the luxurious apartment building. Instead of pressing the intercom, he directly called Masuzu.

“I’ve arrived. Open the door.”

“...”

No response came from the receiver, but shortly after, the automatic glass door slowly opened. He stepped inside.

-

Title: This Might Be a Sick Visit Episode

“This is a trial... ugh, cough cough!”

Outside a specific apartment unit in a luxurious high-rise, Yuu stood with a plastic shopping bag, staring ahead expressionlessly.

The silver-haired girl stood beside the door, striking a pose full of charm.

Despite her messy hair, occasional coughs muffled by her mask, and her petite frame looking fragile beneath her pajamas, she declared in a firm, solemn voice:

“I suppose this is a trial bestowed upon me by God—to overcome my immature past... ugh... Only by conquering that childish self can one truly grow!”

After finishing her monologue, she let out a proud sigh as if she’d just accomplished something extraordinary.

Of course, Yuu knew these were the famous lines delivered by Diavolo—the final boss of Part 5, leader of the Passion organization.

But that guy said it while stripping off his clothes. If Masuzu wanted to imitate him accurately, shouldn’t she have copied that part too?

...Naturally, Yuu would never actually say such a thing out loud.

“I don’t know any bosses who are sick like this.”

“That’s because your insight is shallow, Polnareff-yo.”

Masuzu leaned her head against the door, breathing weakly as though even sneering took too much effort. Only her eyes still sparkled brightly as they fixed on him.

Yuu, aka Polnareff, sighed and gave her a meaningful glance with his eyes. “Save the JOJO roleplay for later. Stop blocking the door—let me in.”

He glanced briefly at her body partially obstructing the doorway.

Under her thin pajamas, it seemed she wasn’t wearing any extra undergarments.

But since the heater was blasting, she wouldn’t be cold—and good air circulation was important...

As for the faintly visible contours and subtle protrusions, best to pretend they weren’t there.

Yuu had come to take care of someone, not to compromise his principles.

Don’t look at things you shouldn’t.

“Eager to get inside already? Fine then, go ahead.”

With a hoarse chuckle, Masuzu stepped awkwardly aside, as if inviting him in.

Yet the moment she moved away from the door, her legs turned to jelly and she staggered sideways, nearly collapsing onto the floor.

The reason it was only “nearly” was because Yuu quickly reached out and caught her before she fell.

“Seriously, has your body gotten this bad?”

Supporting her felt like holding warm, soft clay. Yuu propped up her arm with his left hand, while the back of his right hand gently touched her forehead.

Though he couldn’t tell the exact temperature, her forehead burned alarmingly hot.

“Ahhaha, I accidentally overdid it...”

Masuzu went completely limp, leaning heavily against him. Behind her mask, she offered a wry smile. “I only meant to fake a mild flu, didn’t expect to end up as a seriously ill patient.”

“So this was actually your trick?”

Saying this, Yuu wrapped an arm around her light, feverish body and carried her toward the nearest sofa.

After carefully laying her down, he removed his jacket and covered her with it, then returned to the entrance to pick up the plastic bag he’d set down earlier. From inside, he pulled out a box of cold medicine.

“Have you taken any medicine yet? If not, take this. It’s pretty effective.”

“I don’t wanna~”

She lowered her mask and buried her face under the jacket, mumbling indistinctly while continuing to pant weakly in discomfort.

Just as Yuu turned to walk toward the kitchen, he suddenly stopped mid-step.

“If you refuse, I’ll go out and buy suppositories.”

He smiled, but his tone was so serious it was frightening.

“...”

The girl curled up on the sofa froze. Then, with great effort, she sat upright and reached shakily for the cold medicine on the table.

“Don’t get the wrong idea... It’s not that I’m afraid of suppositories. It’s just... I don’t have the strength left to open the door and help you climb upstairs.” Masuzu struggled to speak.

Perhaps due to the fever, her pale skin—from her neck up to her ears—was flushed red, making her look delicate and oddly alluring.

“The misunderstanding is way off base.” Muttering this, Yuu averted his gaze and walked into the kitchen. “I’ll get some water. Just rest.”

“Ah, the glasses are in...” Masuzu finally managed to croak out a delayed response.

But Yuu had already disappeared from the living room, taking even the supermarket plastic bag with him into the kitchen.

A short while later, Yuu emerged with a glass of water, sat down on the empty sofa beside her, and picked up the remote to turn up the heat.

Masuzu took the glass, eyeing him with slight confusion.

“...Why do I feel like you know my house better than I do?”

Yuu replied casually, “Don’t worry about small details. Take your medicine and get proper rest. I’ll make you some porridge... Oh, by the way, do you have a thermometer?”

“No. This is the first time I’ve had a fever since moving here.”

Yuu frowned slightly, speaking in a mildly scolding tone, like an older sibling lecturing a younger one: “Didn’t you ever think about what difficulties you might face living alone? No medicine, no thermometer—were you planning to just lie in bed and wait for the fever to break on its own? And there’s barely any food in the house—how do you expect to get proper nutrition?”

Her rosy cheeks puffed slightly as Masuzu muttered petulantly, “...You sound like a nagging housewife.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing~ I get it, I’ll remember to buy those things next time!”

Masuzu clearly used a lot of energy just to raise her voice. Her expression instantly grew weary again; she coughed twice painfully, nearly dropping the glass.

Yuu could say nothing more. He silently watched her swallow the pills with water, her movements weak and utterly unlike her usual self.

Her slender throat moved as she gulped, then she exhaled in relief, placed the glass on the table, and reached her hands toward him.

“Alright, carry me to bed.”

Yuu stood up, ignoring her clingy, pleading posture. “You’re staying here. You can go to bed after eating porridge.”

Masuzu’s brows furrowed slightly. “I’m cold.”

“The heater’s already on full blast, and you’ve got my jacket as a blanket. Where exactly are you cold?”

“My body was cold earlier—now it’s my heart.” Masuzu sighed, punctuated by another cough, her face drooping. “It seems... you don’t love me anymore. That’s fine. Just leave me to live and die alone in this house.”

“...She’s resorting to emotional manipulation now.”

Yuu rolled his eyes, too tired to waste words. Without hesitation, he scooped her up from the sofa. “Fine. Show me the way. Your room isn’t as easy to find as a glass.”

As for how he carried her—it was naturally the classic princess carry, easiest for lifting and setting down.

If anything, carrying this silver-haired girl, light as a feather, was effortless. With his current strength, he could probably carry Haruno just as easily, right?

“Through that door.”

-

Title: The Little Girl Who Fears Loneliness

Perhaps because she was sick, Masuzu didn’t care how skillfully Yuu carried her. Obediently, she adjusted her posture—holding onto his jacket with both hands, resting her head against his chest, and pointing toward her room.

“Walk slowly. This is the first time I’ve ever been carried princess-style. I want to savor this new sensation—for research purposes.”

After uttering that lighthearted line, she closed her eyes and slightly pursed her dry, pale lips.

She looked like she was resting—or perhaps listening to his heartbeat. Her face, usually so stubborn and confident, now appeared peaceful, and the discomfort she’d shown earlier had softened somewhat.

“It’s just a short walk. How slow do you want me to go?”

Yuu said it with a helpless tone, yet he unconsciously slowed his pace. He carried her all the way to her bedroom door.

The door wasn’t locked—just pushed open easily.

A girl’s room lay before them. After glancing around, Yuu’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

What met his gaze was an overwhelmingly white, almost barren room—far too empty for a teenage girl.

One bed, one desk and chair, one laptop, one wardrobe—that was all. The furnishings were so minimal they bordered on shocking.

It felt less like a bedroom and more like a temporary rest area; the bright white fluorescent light illuminated everything too quickly, lacking even the warmth of a cheap motel.

The only things giving the space any sense of home were the collection of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga, JUMP magazines, and various other JOJO-themed trinkets neatly arranged on a corner shelf.

“I once read in a book that a person’s room layout reflects their personality and psychological state. Seems it wasn’t lying after all…”

Yuu murmured quietly as he stepped inside. A fresh mint-like scent immediately wafted through the air, finally adding a touch of femininity to the atmosphere.

Masuzu herself always smelled just like this.

Without delay, Yuu gently laid her down on the bed. He pulled the blanket bunched up at the foot of the bed and covered her soft, fever-weakened body—now oddly more alluring in its vulnerability.

“Rest well. I’ll go cook.”

As Yuu turned to leave, the girl reached out from under the blanket and tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt.

“Now that I’m in bed… won’t you take advantage of this moment to fulfill our little agreement?”

Half her face was buried beneath the blanket. Only her damp, deep blue eyes blinked up at him, gazing straight into his.

“Ah, Yuu… I’m yours… If that’s what it takes for you to stay by my side, now would be the perfect time to claim me, you know?”

Though her voice was weak—soft, like someone drifting off to sleep—her sweet, flirtatious tone still carried a seductive charm capable of stirring a man’s most primal desires.

Yuu held her gaze, then paused in thought. He crouched down beside the bed, looking directly at her, and said, “You know what I’m going to say in a situation like this, right?”

“Am I supposed to guess?”

Masuzu fell silent for a moment, thinking hard. Hesitantly, she offered, “‘Rest well—once you’re better, I’ll mess you up properly’? Or… ‘To avoid spreading germs, shut that stinky mouth of yours. Otherwise, I’ll disinfect your whole body with my tongue’?”

“You’re in the ballpark, but I’m not that perverted.” Yuu reached out and lightly flicked her forehead. Rising back up on his knees, he gently pried her fingers loose from his shirt.

“Just because I said those things yesterday doesn’t mean I’m rushing to collect on our deal. Take it easy. Consider this my advance payment for taking care of you.”

“...Of course, I already knew that.” Suddenly, Masuzu smiled. The blanket rose in a soft curve over her body, and in a gentle tone she’d never use normally, she whispered, “The Yuu in my heart isn’t some lecher who’d take advantage of someone vulnerable.”

Yuu shrugged. “Good. Glad we’re on the same page. Tricks like that won’t work on me.”

“But I heard… the higher your body temperature, the more intense the sensations get…”

“Shut up. Don’t continue.”

“Alright~”

Seeing him struggle to keep a straight face, Masuzu giggled smugly from under the covers.

The usual Masuzu was back.

Whether to feel relieved or regretful, Yuu simply waved and headed toward the door. “I’ll make porridge. Rest well.”

He closed the bedroom door behind him. Inside, silence returned.

Was Masuzu regretting it?

Yes. Deeply.

She had forgotten one crucial fact—she’d always been physically weak since childhood. Just to satisfy her simple desire of having Yuu come and care for her all day, she had recklessly sacrificed her own health.

As a result, the mild flu she’d planned had spiraled into a severe illness that might shave years off her life. If suffering outweighed pleasure, it wasn’t worth it at all.

(But still… doesn’t this mean he’ll worry about me more now? Will he treat me more gently because I’m so seriously ill?)

A slightly sadistic thought surfaced in her mind, and Masuzu let out a bitter smile. She hadn’t expected herself to become this fragile.

It must be the flu’s fault!

There must be a virus that softens a person’s principles, delivering a double blow to both body and mind, making them more prone to doing foolish things!

Her entire body alternated between chills and heat, her throat burned painfully with every swallow, her head throbbed with feverish dizziness, and her limbs felt weak and lifeless. It was hard enough just to tease him—let alone continue her JOJO jokes! How dire this situation had become!

(But thank goodness… my boyfriend came to see me.)

“Hmph!”

Alone in her room, like a defeated animal curled in surrender, Masuzu hugged his jacket tightly and took a deep breath.

Then she exhaled slowly, her face flushed and filled with satisfaction.

Her long, pale white legs slipped out from under the blanket. She drew them together,夹 them tightly with her thighs along with the jacket, as if trying to generate warmth, and absentmindedly rubbed them together.

“Hehe… ghehehe… Got it! The freshest, warmest scent of Yuu—SUCCESS!”

Overcome with joy, her weakness seemed to vanish for a few seconds, and she nearly bit the jacket and screamed: Masuzu-chan wins big!

Sure, behaving like a shameless woman was a bit much.

But what could she do? Whose fault was it that she loved Yuu so much?

Yuu, who was willing to trade lives with her.
Yuu, who always turned gentleness into action.
Yuu, who always came searching for her no matter where she went…

Facing someone like that, being a little weak and clingy shouldn’t be a problem, right?

After all, they had already become one another’s in the middle of the rain.

So whether good or bad, Yuu would have to accept this version of Masuzu.

“...Ah… even though my body feels awful like this, why am I still this happy?”

Faintly, the clinking of dishes and bowls echoed from outside the room.

The loneliness that always hung over her apartment had somehow disappeared without her noticing. Masuzu could feel someone nearby, someone present beside her who hadn’t left.

Placing the back of her hand on her burning forehead, she stared blankly at the ceiling. After a while, a helpless, surrendering smile spread across her face.

“The answer is simple.”

“No matter what… I’m just a little girl who fears loneliness.”

-

Title: Even Eating a Bowl of Porridge Can Become an Entire Chapter

About half an hour later, Yuu returned to Masuzu’s room.

She seemed to have been resting with her eyes closed ever since he left. But when she heard the door open, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, then slowly lifted like butterfly wings.

“Thanks for your hard work. Do I get a kiss as a reward?”

“You want to give me your flu?” Yuu said, balancing a tray in one hand. He closed the door with his foot, hooked a chair from the desk with the other, and sat down beside her bed. “Can you sit up?”

“I can.” Wanting to act spoiled was one thing, but Masuzu’s pride wouldn’t allow her to appear completely helpless. “Lying down feels better, it’s just that my arms and legs don’t quite obey me.”

Yuu naturally understood what she meant and merely scoffed helplessly.

“I know. I’ll feed you.”

He glanced briefly and noticed his jacket had been tucked beneath the blanket—apparently now thoroughly infused with her scent.

No big deal. After all, there was the Renewal skill, practically a god-tier ability for affairs. Whether it was scent or lipstick marks, nothing would remain.

“This is the dream feeding scenario,” Masuzu said in a flat monotone as she leaned against the headboard, yet anticipation sparkled in her eyes. “Then I leave it to you. Aaa—”

Yuu picked up the spoon and lifted the lid off the ceramic pot. An oddly fragrant aroma instantly spread through the room.

Was it just her imagination or not? Masuzu could almost see golden light drifting from the pot, swirling like warm air currents.

(...Did he add special effects?)

“Your cooking skills are always ridiculously overpowered,” Masuzu commented casually, yet she couldn’t stop herself from swallowing hard. Her breath quickened slightly.

Just from the smell, her lost appetite—previously gone as if starved—now surged back like someone injected with stimulants, desperately urging her to drink the porridge and devour every drop.

“This is a healthy porridge I made using the ‘Rainbow Porridge’ method... It’s a shame there’s no place nearby to buy Chinese herbal medicine. Otherwise, I’d make you an authentic medicinal Chinese porridge,” Yuu said, sounding slightly regretful.

“Rainbow porridge?” Masuzu peered into the bowl. The porridge was pure white.

But where did that incredible aroma come from? Something so strong it made even someone who disliked eating like her salivate uncontrollably. Could plain-looking porridge really emit such a scent?

“It’s just an imitation. Let’s call this one… Chiffon Porridge, okay?” Yuu casually named his new creation as he scooped a spoonful.

As he brought it toward her mouth, he was met with a dissatisfied pout.

“First, why isn’t it called ‘Masuzu Porridge’? Are you interested in Yukinoshita Yukino now?”

“...How did she even get involved?” Yuu muttered dryly.

But Masuzu didn’t care about his displeasure at all. Suddenly, she leaned forward, locking eyes with him, her gaze burning red.

“Second, why didn’t you blow on it? Where’s the blowing? You want me to eat this hot porridge so I die, so you can go find Yukinoshita Yukino? Blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow…”

“Alright, alright! Stop blowing at me!”

The scent of toothpaste wafted toward him, forcing Yuu to turn his head—this girl, even with a high fever, still had the energy to brush her teeth and wash her face. Was this what a girl’s pride truly meant?

“I already cooled it with ice before bringing it here. It’s perfectly warm—not too hot—so no need to blow. By the way… turns out Yukinoshita lives upstairs?”

Masuzu froze. Slowly, she lowered her head. Her face disappeared into the shadow of her silver hair as she murmured in a terrifying tone, “That’s right… You’re sitting in my room, yet the only one on your mind is her.”

“A disloyal, unfaithful man like you must be punished by public rubbing to appease the people’s outrage…”

Yuu wasn’t sure if that was yandere talk or just the ranting of someone with serious mental issues.

“Open your mouth. Eat.”

Completely ignoring her drama, Yuu simply held the spoon forward.

“PUI!”

Despite repeatedly swallowing, Masuzu turned her face away and tightly pursed her lips, sulking like a child.

“...Oh?”

The spoon hovered midair. A vein throbbed faintly on Yuu’s forehead. Slowly, a polite smile appeared on his face.

“Other than my little sister, I’ve never tolerated anyone else’s selfishness. Masuzu, do you want to be the first exception?”

“This is a battle of pride—it has nothing to do with selfishness,” Masuzu replied coolly, keeping her face turned aside while suppressing sudden tremors inside.

Several seconds passed. Still no reply. Then, she felt the tray being set down on the bed.

(Did he put down the porridge and leave?)

This thought flashed through her mind, and Masuzu’s heart clenched with pain. Regret and disappointment flooded in.

Unable to resist, she turned to look. The next moment, her eyes widened in shock.

“Ngh!”

Her pink lips—no longer hidden behind a mask—were captured. Unconsciously, she let out a soft, breathy gasp.

Yuu had leaned half his body onto the bed. His hot, rough lips precisely claimed hers, forcefully stealing her breath.

The temperature reading on the AC hadn’t changed, but the room suddenly felt unbearably hot. Waves of heat surged between them, pulsing and colliding.

Masuzu thought Yuu was going to feed her mouth-to-mouth.

But unexpectedly, after forcibly kissing her for several seconds, Yuu calmly returned to his seat and casually scooped another spoonful from the bowl.

“Come on, time to eat your porridge.”

“...”

Seeing her flushed face, wide eyes staring at him in dazed confusion, Yuu realized something and chuckled softly. “Did you think I was going to feed you from my mouth? That’s way too unhygienic. Personally, I can’t stand that kind of game.”

Masuzu snapped back to reality. Instinctively, she covered her lips, then quickly lowered her hands. She sniffed dismissively. “I never said I wanted that. Anyway, why did you suddenly kiss me? Were you that eager to break me? Trying to reenact Avdol and Joseph’s intimate collision scene?”

Yuu said nothing. He just smiled at her, held the spoon forward again, and let it hang in the air.

And so, Masuzu knew—if she kept being stubborn, she might receive treatment far worse than a forced kiss.

...Though she was slightly curious—no, actually very curious—about what exactly that “worse treatment” might be, to prevent things from escalating further, she obediently lowered her head. She tucked her hair behind her ear and slowly parted her soft, beautiful lips.

“Aam.”

Like a little animal drinking water, she sucked up the white porridge with clumsy, messy motions.

Her silver hair swayed slightly. After cleaning the last grains clinging to the spoon and swallowing them, Masuzu finally opened her rosy lips. She pulled the spoon out, looked up at him with misty, glistening eyes. Her face flushed as she took a few shaky breaths.

Clear droplets clung to the spoon and the corner of her lips. Her pale red lips looked like the sweetest candy.

Even with Yuu’s iron self-control, he barely resisted the urge to set down the ceramic pot and leave his mark right there.

“So... delicious.”

Truly, it was just a satisfied expression after enjoying tasty food. Nothing inappropriate here!

“Of course my cooking is delicious. Can you finish the rest yourself?”

“Hmm…” Masuzu frowned, hesitating briefly. Then, she reached out and took the ceramic pot from his hand.

Being fed spoon by spoon wasn’t just torturous—it risked spilling porridge onto the bed and around her mouth, which would need cleaning again.

It was a little disappointing, yes… but whose fault was it that his porridge tasted this good?

“Enjoy your meal…”

Muttering softly, Masuzu—with graceful yet swift movements—finished every last drop of porridge in the bowl.

-

Title: The Shortest Shortcut Is the Longest Detour

“Sluuurp, aam aam…”

After letting out a satisfied sigh, “What should we do now?”

Lazily leaning against the headboard, her lower body still under the blanket, the pale-faced Masuzu tilted her head and gazed at him with a soft smile on her lips.

“What can a teenage boy and girl possibly do alone in a bedroom… I don’t think I need to spell it out for you, right?”

(...If only she’d stayed silent, the sight before me would’ve been as beautiful as autumn leaves.)

Yuu regretted that thought.

“Do you want a battle that brings smiles? Now, get some good sleep! If you get hungry, just reheat the porridge and eat. You’ll definitely be better by tomorrow.”

He had already washed the dishes he used and left a day’s worth of Chiffon Porridge in the fridge. He’d done everything he could.

There was no point staying any longer. What mattered now was going home to play games with his little sister.

“Leaving your sick girlfriend all alone in a quiet house, yet leaving behind warm, heart-and-belly-soothing porridge… I can’t decide whether to call you thoughtful or cruel.”

Masuzu glared at him with deep resentment as Yuu put on his bag and prepared to leave. She let out a heavy sigh.

Even so, when she recalled the taste of that porridge—despite her stomach already feeling slightly full—she couldn’t help but lick her lips, as if still unsatisfied.

It had looked like nothing more than pure white, snow-like porridge. Yet inside, it contained seven or eight carefully selected, nutritionally balanced ingredients. Their complex flavors blended perfectly in a waltz of broth and rice. When that warm snowball melted into her stomach, it felt as though frozen earth had suddenly thawed, and spring burst forth in vibrant colors across every corner of her senses.

With cooking skills like these, countless girls would surely fall for him.

Winning the stomach means winning the heart—it applies to both men and women.

“If you can give me a reason to stay, I wouldn’t mind intruding on your rest.”

Yuu didn’t seem in a hurry. He crossed his arms, leaned against the doorframe, and watched her sink into thought.

After a pause, Masuzu ventured, “Giving you a chance to do something to me?”

“Great. Then I’m off.”

“Wait!” Masuzu quickly called out as he turned to leave. Her flawless white forehead glistened faintly with sweat, and her expression grew serious. “That was just a joke. This is my real answer… As long as you stay here, you’re free to enjoy all the bonuses a beautiful, sick girl has to offer!”

Yuu rolled his eyes. “I’ve already enjoyed enough.”

“What?”

He didn’t say anything—just pointed toward his own chest.

Masuzu looked down and realized that the top two buttons of her pajama top had somehow come undone without her noticing, revealing her collarbone and the unbound cleavage beneath.

If she leaned forward even slightly, everything would be exposed.

Her eyes widened, pupils shrinking. For several seconds, she froze like a statue on the bed. Then, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she yanked her collar shut and dove under the blanket in panic.

After a moment, a weak voice emerged from beneath the covers.

“...Did you see it?”

The mix of embarrassment and anger in her tone surprised Yuu, raising an eyebrow. He asked curiously, “What? Embarrassed? Just a second ago, you said I could do whatever I wanted and offered ‘bonuses,’ so why get flustered over a little peek?”

“...”

Masuzu seemed to be clenching her teeth in frustration. The blanket quivered slightly beneath her.

Seeing this, Yuu’s smile widened. He spoke cheerfully, “How strange. Who was it again that once paraded down the hallway without panties and begged me not to tell anyone? Was it this same little girl now hiding under the blanket out of shyness? Or…”

Masuzu slammed her hand on the bed, cutting him off.

“That was obviously a joke! And that day, I was wearing underwear, so I wasn’t naked!”

Her head popped out from under the blanket, face blazing red. She glared at him furiously. “You’re destroying a girl’s dignity! Ah Yuu, you idiot, stupid donkey, brainless thug, street punk, thirty-year-old virgin!”

“Virgin and perawan mean the same thing!”

“Don’t interrupt! I’m angry now—I need some rubbing to calm down!”

“Well then, you clearly aren’t that angry…”

Masuzu’s expression was dead serious. Her eyes turned icy, and she snapped sharply:

“If you can’t do that, then at least stay and keep me company until I fall asleep!”

“...”

After those words were spoken with visible effort, Yuu finally understood—and couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“When you asked me to be your shield earlier… All you needed to do was say it honestly. Instead, you took the longest possible detour.”

Her fierce, cold demeanor vanished instantly. It was as if Masuzu had spent all her strength. She gently leaned back against the pillow and chuckled proudly.

“Thank you for the compliment. The shortest shortcut is the longest detour—that’s one of JOJO’s core philosophies. You could even call it a golden spirit, you know? Not bad, right?”

“I never said it was bad.”

Yuu closed the bedroom door, returned to sit beside her bed, and set his bag on the floor.

“But for me, all you need to say is ‘Stay with me.’ If there’s nothing urgent pulling me home, I’ll stay and keep you company.”

Yuu smiled casually. “You haven’t forgotten our promise yesterday, have you?”

“Of course not. This is our agreement,” Masuzu murmured softly.

She lowered her gaze, looking at his large hand resting on his knee. Slowly, she slipped her index finger out from under the blanket and hooked it gently around his.

That rough, warm sensation was like tying a rope to a drifting strand of seaweed—always offering immense comfort.

“You give me what I need, and I give myself to you… This bond is stronger than what people call love. It’s simply mutual necessity.”

“Any complaints?” Yuu asked.

“How could I?”

Smirking at herself, Masuzu lifted her eyes. Her blue gaze was calm, and reflected within its depths was his own image.

“I’m just a troublesome woman who can’t speak honestly—always taking the long way around.”

“I can’t trust others because I lie, so I assume others lie too… Living in such falsehood, I’ve lost faith. Every moment, I doubt, deny, and belittle.”

Like a child abandoned at a station, unable to go home, she smiled—helplessly, all alone.

“It’s rare for me to have a bond I can truly rely on. How could I possibly complain?”

“…True enough.”

Yuu tightened his grip slightly. Not too hard—just gently enclosing hers.

Closing her eyes, Masuzu leaned her cheek against his palm, as if ready to fall into peaceful sleep.

The surroundings fell utterly silent, as though even the flutter of bird wings could be heard. Warmth flowed between their hearts like a gentle stream.

…Rub.

…Rub rub.

…Rub rub rub.

“Hey, Masuzu.”

Yuu spoke flatly.

“Yes? Yuu.”

Masuzu didn’t open her eyes, replying as if delirious.

Yuu sounded like he was barely restraining himself. His voice was low. “The mood was perfect. Why are you ruining it with rubbing?”

Masuzu’s tone was flat but serious. “You misunderstood. I was just adjusting the position of my cheek. I wasn’t rubbing.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“I see. I thought… if you’d been honest, I might’ve let you rub longer…”

“I’m sorry. I lied. I couldn’t help it—I just really felt like rubbing. The mountain is right there, so I have to rub, rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub—”

Yuu: “….”

(My girlfriend’s brain is a little broken. Is it still too late to swap her out?)