Yuu 271-275

Title: Magical Transaction

On the return bus ride.

“Yo, rarely see you like this.”

Raising one eyebrow, the iron-fisted teacher—still wearing her work uniform and white lab coat despite the field trip—sat beside him. With a lollipop in her mouth, she stared at him, slumped in his seat, in surprise.

“Was playing with the girls that exhausting? I thought you’d be more relaxed, given your athletic ability is so good.”

Yuu opened one eye, looking at her listlessly: “...Well, there was a slight unexpected issue.”

“As a teacher, I feel very uncomfortable hearing that...” Hiratsuka smacked her lips, pulled a piece of gum from her pocket, and handed it to him. “Want to chew it? Mint flavor—it’ll help you feel better.”

“I’m not carsick... But thanks for the kind gesture, sensei.” Yuu sighed, took the gum from her hand, and immediately popped it into his mouth.

As his teeth chewed, a cold sensation like a giant club striking his brain shot through his skull, as if his brain were stuffed with ice. Even breathing slowly sent a sting of menthol, like balm rubbed inside his nostrils.

Yet, he only slightly widened his eyes, paused for a few seconds, then continued chewing as if nothing happened. His slightly pale face didn’t change much.

“So it didn’t work.”

Hiratsuka snorted regretfully. This was demon-king-level mint gum—even she couldn’t help taking a sharp breath and shivering. Yet this guy, though clearly much weaker than usual, could easily endure the icy torment without showing the slightest sign of struggle.

A truly unpredictable monster student... Mature in character, skilled in arts and martial arts. Besides liking to cause trouble and disrespect teachers, he truly had no flaws.

Is popularity among girls included too?

Facing Hiratsuka’s inquisitive stare, Yuu wore a helpless expression. “Sensei, is this really how you treat a sick student? What if this gum makes my condition worse?”

“You don’t have a fever, just look a bit weak. No need to be treated like a child, right?”

Hiratsuka snorted, then suddenly raised her hand. Her soft yet slightly rough palm pressed against his forehead, then quickly pulled away. “Don’t be spoiled. Just eat all of this. Might help you recover energy faster.”

“Of course not possible.” Yuu pushed away the box of gum she offered, his face turning back to the window. “You’re not young anymore. Stop making childish jokes like this.”

“Don’t talk back—I’ll kill you!”

Hiratsuka tapped his forehead with the bottom of the box—not too hard, just a warning.

Hiratsuka leaned back in her seat, yawning lazily. “Ha... Then rest well. You look a bit wet from the rain—be careful not to catch a cold on the way back.”

“Alright, thank you for your concern, sensei.” Yuu was slightly surprised. Warmth flowed through his heart, and he smiled unconsciously.

Hiratsuka casually crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and prepared to nap. “You’re welcome. Besides, visiting the sick is too outdated. I don’t like clichéd romantic comedy plots either, let alone readers.”

Yuu: “...”

In this world, there were always people who said things others couldn’t understand.

Fine, pretend I didn’t hear it.

Too lazy to deal with the irresponsible delinquent teacher beside him, he stared at the slanting rain on the window glass and refocused his thoughts, carefully sensing his body’s condition.

The extended use of <You’re Watching Me> was the most obvious and severe side effect among all the statuses granted by the system.

Whether due to the system adding special effects, the physical exhaustion this time was so intense that even his exceptionally fit body couldn’t withstand it.

While searching for Masuzu, Yuu used this ability for about two minutes—opening and closing it—and finally had just enough energy to carry Masuzu back as if nothing happened. Even so, by the time he boarded the return bus, he hadn’t recovered to more than two or three percent of his normal state. He was still controlled by fatigue-induced weakness, and if he hadn’t maintained his act with all his strength, Masuzu and the others might have noticed something off.

Since obtaining the system, this was the first time Yuu had been in such a pitiful situation.

“System, won’t you come out and explain?” He murmured inwardly.

In the same soft, ethereal tone, the system quickly responded: “Host, the activation mechanism of this status is: the greater the target’s longing for the Host, the more energy the Host will consume... Normal photo mode consumes almost no energy, but continuous use or live broadcast mode, which displays the target’s current image, will exponentially increase consumption—until the Host faints.”

Yuu frowned, touching his chin in thought. “So, if I use this ability on Sora...”

The system gave a friendly warning: “When the target is Kasugano Sora, one minute of photo mode will guarantee the Host retains normal mobility.”

“Hey, isn’t that too much?!” Yuu was stunned, slightly disbelieving. “Is my sister missing me that intensely? Even the no-consumption photo mode has limits. Live broadcast mode might drain my energy in three seconds, right?”

The dog system didn’t respond, as if it were normal and didn’t need explanation.

Yuu scratched his forehead. “Well, I’ll use it carefully from now on... If there are side effects like this again, I hope you can warn me beforehand.”

“Host’s suggestion received.”

“Then next...”

His body lacked strength, but his mind worked faster than usual.

For now, setting aside this odd ability, Yuu pulled down the system panel and checked the latest status.

Magical Transaction.

The system explained that by handing over a specific physical object to the system and consuming unequal energy, the Host could obtain a new item with the same concept but different quality.

Like one of Doraemon’s tools, if he brought a broken watch to trade with the system, he might get a time-stopping device—but the probability was extremely low, and the energy required was beyond what Yuu could currently afford.

If a normal high school student’s energy was ten, after system enhancement, he was around level twenty-five. While the energy needed for a time-stopping device transaction... he didn’t know the exact amount, but at least over a hundred, right?

And the result was random, similar to synthesizing different skills and statuses. Increasingly resembling a game system’s style.

But this couldn’t be rushed. Yuu planned to try it before bed.

By then, his energy would be fully restored. Even if he accidentally drained it again, he could just sleep immediately. He could also use this time to carefully consider what item to use for his first “transaction” with the system.

Then, there was the new skill that came with this status: Finance—as the name suggested, it was a way to bet in capitalist society.

Yuu had already studied this. Now, the system had implanted richer, deeper knowledge into his brain, allowing him to quickly master and understand everything, greatly aiding a certain plan he was preparing.

“In short, this field trip could be said to be very beneficial.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After finishing thoughts about the rewards, a certain person reappeared in Yuu’s mind.

“Masuzu...”

Honestly, when she agreed to the transaction and hugged him, Yuu thought the mission was complete and it was time for closure.

But it wasn’t that simple.

“Show your charm and fill the emptiness in her heart”—wasn’t something that could be resolved by just finding her in the rain and saying a few words.

Though their relationship had changed, no longer based on the fake lover identity, but shifted to a stronger, more real “companionship transaction,” Masuzu still wasn’t satisfied. There was a void in her heart that Yuu hadn’t yet understood.

Perhaps there was still a long road ahead. Who knew their relationship might change again.

Even so, Yuu now understood Masuzu better.

He knew what made her anxious, what she feared, and what she longed for... through the “live broadcast” where he could hear her inner voice.

“She’s someone afraid of loneliness, but due to family issues, she doesn’t trust love... No, maybe there are other factors.”

Leaning against the bus window, Yuu massaged his temples as if he had a headache. He felt more and more like a psychotherapist.

“In short, for now, I’ll stay by her side and wait for the right moment to help her resolve her issues...”

Taking Haruno as an example, it was like waiting for her mother to appear, taking her away from the eldest daughter’s shackles, and gaining freedom.

Taking Asuna as an example, it was like helping her speak directly to her mother, completing what she wanted to do in the game, and gaining courage.

Conclusion—wait, and hope.

Though the system had changed this mission’s content, from Yuu’s observation, Masuzu’s situation shouldn’t be much different.

Perhaps not long from now, something important in her life would happen, and all he needed to do was help her be reborn, leave her past behind, and achieve spiritual enlightenment.

If everything went smoothly, the world’s timeline would then undergo adjustment.

Thinking of this, Yuu suddenly smiled and said inwardly: “System, this is your trick, right? I’ve seen it all—like underwear under a skirt when the wind blows hard. What do you think?”

“...”

Of course, to his bad joke, the system remained indifferent, not even bothering to respond.

Feeling useless, Yuu could do nothing. He pouted, then slowly relaxed, stopping thoughts of complicated, brain-draining matters.

The tour bus rocked gently, and overlapping snores echoed from exhausted students. They no longer had the energy they had in the morning. Accompanied by the soft, continuous sound of rain outside the windows, most of them, along with the air inside the bus, fell into deep sleep.

The rest were either playing on phones, reading books, gazing at scenery, or quietly chatting with the friend beside them...

“Attack from the Moon Demon! Everyone, wake up...”

“This isn’t Infinity Train—you read too much JUMP.” Rolling his eyes helplessly, Yuu pushed back the head leaning on his shoulder, without a shred of pity.

As a result, the young female teacher with a beautiful face and bold sleeping posture gently fell toward the aisle.

Then, propping her head with her elbow and arm, she continued mumbling with a foolish smile, in a pose similar to Mori Kogoro:

“Aniki won’t lose... Upper Moon Three, let’s duel. Look, my sacred fist...”

“Enough...” Yuu sighed.

He’d originally planned to nap briefly on the bus, but seeing Hiratsuka sleep in a messy position, constantly leaning on his shoulder...

If he accidentally fell asleep, soon enough, explosive rumors about him and the young female teacher would appear on the school forum, complete with convincing photos.

To prevent this, Yuu stayed awake the entire journey until the bus entered Sobu High’s gates. He pushed Hiratsuka’s head like a ball, firmly not giving her a chance to touch his shoulder.

In this world, few people guarded their purity as he did.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

This autumn rain was sometimes heavy, sometimes light, sometimes clear, sometimes drizzling—more unpredictable than occasional cloudy and sunny weather with sudden downpours in summer.

Arriving at Sobu High, second-year students poured out of the bus like bees leaving a hive, rubbing their eyes and yawning as they gathered in the hall.

After the principal said two cliché sentences and reminded them to go home safely, the field trip officially ended. Once dismissal was confirmed, previously lifeless faces lit up again. Like a damp wick reigniting, the large hall gradually grew noisy from inside to outside.

“Ahh, the rain’s annoying—I didn’t bring an umbrella... The forecast was completely inaccurate!”

“The rain isn’t that heavy now. Should we run home? Or wait until it stops and the sky clears, then leave?”

“I was planning to go karaoke after this, but all plans are ruined...”

Lively chatter, lingering excitement, and laziness about going home to sleep quickly filled every corner of the air here.

Amid the bustle, Yuu didn’t choose to leave immediately. Instead, he stopped and greeted the person who caught his attention:

“Totsuka, you remembered to bring your umbrella, right?”

“Hmm? Of course.”

The beautiful silver-haired man turned, his smile still bright, eyes sparkling, skin smooth and soft, even his eyelashes long like a girl’s.

“Just as Yuu said yesterday, the forecast was inaccurate. It really rained today... Lucky you reminded me, or I’d be soaked on the way home.”

He spoke in a clear, gentle voice, his sweet dimples showing, even his grateful gaze seeming misty.

“Yuu, thank you!”

“You’re welcome. That’s my job.” Yuu smiled. “You should trust me more than the weather forecast. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Suddenly remembering something, Totsuka asked confusedly: “By the way, it seems Yuigahama-san didn’t bring an umbrella. Didn’t Yuu remind her?”

Yuu shrugged. “I reminded her, but she forgot to bring it before leaving.”

Totsuka laughed awkwardly. “Ahahaha, that’s just like her...”

After chatting briefly, Yuu suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pants pocket.

After taking it out and checking, he said goodbye to Totsuka and walked to a corner of the hall.

There, besides Ordinary Girl, the others had already gathered. The temporary field trip group had reformed.

-

Title: What Kind of Battle Royale Is This?

“Ordinary Girl’s parents picked her up because there was some urgent matter, so we didn’t ask them for a ride… Now we’re discussing how the rest of us will get home.” After Yumiko finished explaining, her tone turned firm, as if she’d already made a decision. “Among us, only you and Yukinoshita brought umbrellas, so there are two options—either someone uses your umbrella to buy a new one at the convenience store, or the two of you help escort those without umbrellas home.”

“Ordering people around like that...” Yukino massaged her temples and sighed helplessly. “Fine. If even escorting Buddha to the West is possible, escorting a few fools shouldn’t be a problem. Consider it a good deed.”

“Your words are truly impolite. No matter how foolish Yui is, she at least ranked in the top fifty on the recent midterm exams!”

“I know. That’s precisely why I’m talking about you, Miura-san.”

“Heh, Yukinoshita the cat lover.”

“...”

The aura of ice and fire clashed violently.

As the two began arguing again over a trivial matter, on Yuu’s side, his best friend also faced off against his fake girlfriend, each holding their ground and refusing to back down.

“Yuu and I go home the same way. Sharing half your umbrella shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Yuigahama launched the first attack, while Masuzu faced her with a smile.

“Of course it’s a problem. We’re both women—I wouldn’t share half my underwear with you either, would I?”

“Ugh...” The opponent’s reasoning was so vulgar that Yuigahama instinctively stepped back. She stole a glance at Yuu, then puffed out her chest and said, dissatisfied:

“Underwear and umbrellas are different! Though I don’t know what happened when Natsukawa-san disappeared, Yuu isn’t yours alone. Please don’t selfishly monopolize him!”

Seeing the two mounds far larger than her own, Masuzu’s face stiffened slightly—clearly intimidated.

The next second, she pulled Yuu’s hand, and while releasing the abnormal state, said coldly: “Could he possibly be yours?”

“He’s not an object… No, I mean, Natsukawa-san, what you’re doing is unfair!” Yuigahama bit her lip, gathered courage, and also grabbed Yuu’s free hand, slightly pulling him toward her.

Surprised, Masuzu nearly let go. Her heart panicked, and she almost shouted the word “don’t.”

But her reaction was so fast that before the word escaped, she’d already covered her mouth and hugged Yuu’s arm tighter, pulling him back.

“Sorry, but the umbrella only fits two people, so I can’t help but monopolize him… As compensation, should we buy you an umbrella?”

She smiled falsely, her blue eyes burning with cold fire.

“Then I’ll wait until Natsukawa-san is escorted home, and only then will I share the same umbrella with Yuu… You can’t stop me either.”

Pouting, her brown eyes sparkled with defiant light.

Her eyebrows twitched. Masuzu’s voice turned icy: “You’re the one who said you didn’t want to be a love rival, didn’t want to start a war, yet you changed your mind so quickly, Dango-chan.”

This time, Yuigahama didn’t back down either. Instead, she spoke firmly and directly: “You’re the one who said you hated it, said you’d never do it, yet now you look as if you like Yuu more than I do. Who changed their mind first?”

“...”

Masuzu fell silent for a moment, realizing that attacking from this angle was highly disadvantageous. So she shifted her gaze, deciding to temporarily change the topic: “Regardless of content, by status, as a girlfriend, it’s natural for me to ask you to keep your distance from my boyfriend. But now you want to interfere with our private time together—have you never been kicked by Johnny’s horse?”

Yuigahama stepped forward: “Two years as friends versus less than twenty days as a girlfriend—who’s interfering with whom?”

Masuzu sneered: “Being just friends after two years—that’s truly pathetic.”

“If not having a relationship means you can’t even stay friends, that’s truly pathetic.”

“Tch—“

The argument grew hotter. Even without spectators, Yuu could no longer stay silent.

When had that silly Dango girl become such a bold Dango? She wasn’t just daring to argue with anyone—she was no longer hiding her good intentions. Several straight punches were thrown straight to his face.

Conversely, Masuzu seemed to weaken. Maybe she didn’t want to reveal the lie-turned-transaction? Her expression looked annoyed, and she frequently signaled him to come help.

...Clearly, who would win and who would lose was obvious.

“I’m talking to both of you.”

Yuu pulled his arm free from the tug-of-war. Yuigahama wasn’t holding too tightly and immediately let go when she realized Yuu wanted to withdraw.

Masuzu, on the other hand, gripped it like a steel clamp. If he forcibly pulled his arm away, it would only rub against her cleavage. So wisely, Yuu chose to give in and continued:

“After you’re done arguing, would you listen to my suggestion? I guarantee everyone will be satisfied. If not, you can divide me up—no problem.”

“What suggestion?” Both girls stared at him, speaking in unison.

Trapped in the shuraba between his best friend and fake girlfriend, Yuu showed not a trace of caution or fear. He simply spoke confidently and calmly:

“I brought an extra raincoat.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“I still need to go to the store today. Be careful on your way home.”

At the intersection, Yuu waved to the two girls sharing an umbrella, seemingly getting along well. Without caring about their expressions at that moment, he turned straightforwardly and stepped into the misty rain curtain.

The bright yellow lightweight raincoat made him look like a beam of light piercing through the city’s gray, cold scenery.

He could feel his phone vibrating continuously in his pocket. Probably aggressive, annoying messages from someone. Yuu ignored them for now, quickly arriving in front of Angel Cafe’s door.

*TING DONG—*

“Welcome... Ah, Senpai! You’re back from the field trip?”

Seeing him, the cute junior instantly shed her lazy, listless aura. Her eyes sparkled as she jumped and pulled him into the shop, then enthusiastically helped hang his raincoat on the rack beside hers.

“Hurry, hurry, Senpai, please sit! I was almost dying of boredom with no customers—quickly tell me all the fun things from the field trip! You came on purpose to relieve my boredom, right?”

Yuu pushed her head, which was nearly touching him, and said coldly and mercilessly: “No. I only came to borrow a spare umbrella from the manager. After borrowing it, I’ll leave immediately. Where’s the manager? Why did he disappear again?”

“Hmmph...”

Iroha puffed her soft cheeks. Her short brown hair swayed on her shoulders. From below, she stared at him with sharp yet watery eyes.

“Do you really think I’ll tell you the manager’s whereabouts with that kind of attitude? That’s completely impossible!”

-

Title: Iroha-chan’s Great Victory!

“If you don’t want to say, fine. I’ll just send a LINE message.”

Without softening at all, Yuu walked straight to the staff break room and took the spare umbrella.

Iroha followed him in and out like a pesky little hamster. She just hadn’t yet physically blocked his path—Yuu suspected she refrained because she knew he had a girlfriend as beautiful as that, so she held back a little.

“Senpai, I’ll tell you where the manager is, but you’ll keep me company and chat for a bit, right? As you can see, I’m almost dying of boredom—“

“If you’re bored, then clean something. I still need to go home and cook.”

“I already cleaned! Look, the table’s shining. That just proves how bored I am—so bored I cleaned this thoroughly...”

(...How dare she say that.)

Yuu turned around, looking at the small girl swaying her body with a pair of beautifully blank eyes, then pointing at the cashier’s table: “Then, deepen your skills in coffee and pastry-making. At least help lighten the manager’s workload.”

“The manager isn’t here, and I’m not allowed to touch his precious coffee equipment. What if I get scolded later?” Seeing Yuu finally willing to look at her, Iroha immediately stood straight, puffed out her small chest, and said confidently, “As for cakes, would you eat them if I made some? If no one eats them, wouldn’t that just be a waste?”

Yuu glanced outside the shop. The rain was getting heavier. “Can’t you eat them yourself or give them to the manager?”

Iroha widened her eyes in disbelief. “How could I do something so suicidal and murderous!”

Yuu tilted his gaze. “But killing me is fine?”

“Senpai’s different~ I’m sure you’re the type who can eat the worst cooking and loudly declare it delicious, then stand tall. You’re so reliable!”

Iroha smiled sweetly, her lively eyes sparkling with clever mischief, and her short hair swayed gently like ripples on a summer pond.

She tilted her head, gazing up at his face from below. From her dewy eyes to the curve of her upper body, she always tried to maximize her charm—unconsciously triggering the desire to protect her.

“So, Senpai, these are the biscuits I secretly made in the kitchen. Try them, okay?”

As she said this, Iroha pulled out a small bag of biscuits from her uniform pocket. The biscuits looked ordinary—only the packaging was cute.

“Ah, so this was what you were waiting for.” Yuu took it, examined it briefly. “If I say I’ll tell you stories from the field trip, you’ll serve this bag of biscuits as a snack and naturally let me eat them, right?”

“Yes, Senpai is indeed clever!”

Deliberately using honorifics like a maid from ancient times, Iroha answered loudly, then winked and stared at him.

Yuu didn’t make her wait too long. He took a piece of biscuit from the bag and put it in his mouth. After chewing, he nodded slowly.

“You followed the recipe, didn’t you? The taste is too stiff, not smooth. It’s edible, but it wouldn’t sell.”

“Such a harsh evaluation.” Her small shoulders slumped. Iroha pouted dejectedly, muttering, “Really can’t do it, huh… Even though I copied every step from the video, somehow there’s always one step wrong. No matter what I do, I can’t make delicious biscuits...”

Yuu took another piece, chewing while thinking: “It’s because you’re not used to it yet. Have the manager guide you beside you, make a few more batches, and it should be sellable… Recipe choice is also very important. Biscuits without a distinctive feature won’t be popular.”

“That’s not important. Besides, the biscuits I make won’t be sold—they’re just for...” Iroha shifted her gaze, her cheeks slightly reddening, and her voice grew quieter.

Yuu didn’t miss that reaction. He smiled warmly and kindly.

“If it’s a hobby, no need to rush. Take it slow—someday, you’ll surely get good at it!” He quickly finished the remaining biscuits, returned the empty bag, and encouraged her like an older brother, “If you’re making them to give to someone else, as long as you’re cute and the taste isn’t too bad, they can be more valuable than biscuits worth tens of thousands… What you made now is already good enough.”

“That’s too realistic!” She grumbled while putting away the empty bag. Iroha suddenly froze. Her cute, pretty face showed a slight enlightenment.

“Oh, wait—according to Senpai… Because I’m cute, does that mean this biscuit bag is very valuable to you?”

“I’ll crown that as this year’s best conclusion.” Yuu brushed the remaining crumbs from his hands. He didn’t deny or confirm it, only said casually, “Anyway, your cooking is decent—not at the level of the worst food. All you need is experience through trial and error.”

“So, Senpai agrees to help me taste future biscuits?” Without hesitation, Iroha raised both hands and cheered loudly, “Yatta! Iroha-chan’s great victory!”

“You’ve got so many tricks...”

Yuu stared at her speechless, but didn’t refuse as he expected: “Fine. Make the biscuits and send them, or give them to me when I come to the shop. I can give you some advice on sweets.”

“Eh?” Iroha was surprised. Her small mouth slightly opened, and she suddenly became nervous. “R-really? Won’t Senpai’s girlfriend mind?”

“If you’re that scared, why did you just shout ‘great victory’...” Yuu rolled his eyes and said casually, “It’s no different from coworkers at a restaurant tasting each other’s food. What’s the problem? Besides, for me, whether I eat or not depends entirely on whether you’re willing to give them.”

“Wow, being able to eat homemade biscuits from a junior without feeling guilty… Truly Senpai…” Iroha murmured while sighing. Her expression was unsure whether to feel relieved or regretful, and finally she sighed in resignation, “Well, an answer like that is very much Senpai’s style… Then, I humbly ask for your help, Senpai! Whenever I make biscuits, I’ll share them with you.”

Yuu nodded, crossing his arms and looking at her: “But as a chef, I’ll seriously evaluate the food I taste… If next time it tastes the same, I hope you’re ready for criticism.”

“Hih, that sounds so scary...”

Her small body trembled slightly. Iroha quickly warned him: “Listen well—my cooking skills really aren’t good. Senpai, please remember I’m a beginner. Don’t be too harsh!”

Yuu smiled brightly. “Don’t worry, I’m a very kind person.”

Iroha immediately stepped back three steps. “There’s no smile in your eyes! Your eyes aren’t saying that at all! Scary, scary—cruel Senpai is terrifying!”

After the commotion, Yuu prepared to leave Angel Cafe.

-

Title: What If My Sister Is Broken? Help, It’s an Emergency

Actually, Yuu didn’t need to go through the trouble of borrowing an umbrella if he didn’t mind walking while wearing a raincoat. In fact, if no one saw him, getting completely soaked on the way home wouldn’t be a problem either.

After borrowing the umbrella and folding his raincoat, Yuu pushed open the shop door.

Though Iroha also complained about wanting to go home and rest, she had to stay until her shift ended or the manager returned. She could only watch Yuu walk into the rain with his umbrella.

“Senpai, good luck with your relationship! Don’t flirt around anymore!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m a loyal person, you know?”

“Hehe, I get it~ You’re not cheating, but the girls just cling to you on their own, right?~ All guys say that.”

“I’m not that kind of guy. And to be honest, I’ve never pursued any girl. I’ve rejected every confession I’ve ever received in the past.”

“Eh? Senpai’s love story?” Like a cat spotting a dog’s tail, Iroha’s eyes instantly sparkled with excitement. “I’m so curious! Next time you come, please tell me while making tea—I’ll snack while listening!”

“Dream on. How dare a junior like you act so boldly?”

Yuu flicked her forehead, then turned away.

Raindrops continuously tapped against the umbrella. The streets were veiled in mist, and slanted light reflections created mirage-like illusions.

As he stepped out from under the awning and his foot touched a puddle, he heard her voice again:

“Oh, Senpai, I have a friend...”

He turned back, confused: “Friend?”

“...Never mind, forget it!”

Iroha shook her head and smiled, raising a fist toward him: “Next time we meet, my biscuits will definitely be tastier than today’s! Be ready to praise my progress!”

“Hmm, confidence is good. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Then, be careful on your way home?”

“You too. Be careful when you go home. Don’t forget to say hi to the manager for me.”

“Okay—i!”

With a high-pitched voice, the sweet brown-haired junior turned around, her skirt fluttering. The exposed thighs remained pale and slender.

Yuu suddenly remembered—he hadn’t asked why Iroha started making biscuits.

But… well, the reason didn’t matter. Anyway, it wasn’t his business.

He dismissed the question and continued walking home, holding the umbrella.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

When he pulled it out, there was a message from his girlfriend, Masuzu.

Masuzu: {My cheating radar is beeping. My body itches and I want to bite someone. Any idea why?}
Yuu: {Maybe it’s broken. You should bring it over and have it fixed.}
Masuzu: {Fixed in your room? If that’s what you call a transaction, I’m mentally prepared.}
Yuu: {No. It’d probably end in one of two ways.}
Masuzu: {?}
Yuu: {Either one of us will leave that room forever.}
Masuzu: {??? How dramatic do you want to get?!}

The perverted silver-haired girl clearly misunderstood.

Yuu didn’t bother explaining. He casually replied, put the phone away, and kept walking.

Those words weren’t just empty threats to Masuzu—well, at least half of them weren’t.

Back during the first mission, Yuu had told Sora he had a girlfriend, and she’d responded in a way he could accept.

But for some reason, as time entered the third mission, Yuu grew increasingly reluctant to tell her about his outside adventures—even indirectly, he couldn’t bring himself to.

Instinct. He always trusted his instincts, carefully navigating everything.

And his instinct told him that, no matter what, everything would reset to zero once the mission ended. So it was better to hide all of this until he had a girlfriend who wouldn’t disappear—then slowly tell her. That was the best choice for both himself and Sora.

What else could he do? His little sister was possessive. Since she was more important to him than his own life, of course he had to protect her feelings, no matter how difficult it was.

Fortunately, the shuraba fire involving his girlfriend wouldn’t reach his home… right?

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

That night, in a luxurious apartment.

A slender arm pressed against the wall.

The door had just closed, but Yukino was already cornered at the entrance by her older sister in a kabe-don pose.

“...Are you sick?”

Yukino, who had let the wolf into the house, wore a blank expression.

She had already decided in her heart that if this girl ever wanted to enter her home again, she wouldn’t allow it unless she knelt for half an hour.

“Maybe. But it’s an illness that can’t be detected.”

Haruno smiled charmingly, lifting her little sister’s pale, delicate chin, ignoring her cold gaze, and speaking softly:

“Yukinon, I’ve come to make a transaction with you.”

“...Transaction?”

“Exactly. If you help me, I’ll leave immediately and won’t bother you for a while.”

“Hah, I never thought the day would come when you’d ask for my help.”

Her annoyed expression quickly shifted. Yukino showed a sneer, but in her eyes, a hint of happiness appeared—her pride had been satisfied.

She calmly raised an eyebrow. “Fine. I’ll graciously listen to your request. But remember, whether I help or not depends on my mood—“

Before Yukino could finish, Haruno rapidly said:

“All I need is for you to tell me everything Tenkuji Yuu did with his girlfriend during the field trip—did they kiss or not! If you have photos, even better. Describe every scene in as much detail as possible so I can vividly imagine it.”

“...?”

The world froze.

Haruno frowned.

“Didn’t hear me? Then I’ll repeat. Tell me all these scenes and that (omitting the explanation above)!... Tch, if Mom hadn’t intercepted me, I wouldn’t have to do this extra work.”

“...”

Yukino stood frozen. She blinked twice in confusion.

Extreme shock could indeed make even a normally calm and rational person momentarily blank.

Looking at her sister in front of her—whose expression was serious and utterly unjoking—at this moment, it was as if she could hear her worldview beginning to crumble...

“Oh, don’t ask why, because I won’t tell you. You just need to give me the answer.”

“I don’t want to ask either!” Coming to her senses, Yukino gritted her teeth, filled with disappointed, cold anger. “So this mental illness won’t spread, can you please leave my house as soon as possible? I never thought you’d be so perverted. Have you been skipping school to become a stalker?!”

Being countered like that, Haruno immediately pretended to cry. “Hic hic~ How cruel of Yukinon to say that to her older sister? I’m sad, so sad! My heart has a hole—Yukinon’s secret about wetting the bed at age five will come out!”

“...”

Taking a deep breath, Yukino covered her face with one hand.

Without even looking in a mirror, she knew her expression must be severely distorted now.

If she was guilty, let the law punish her—not let her sister, whom she both respected and hated, become corrupted like this.

Why had it come to this… perhaps there was no need to ask anymore.

The culprit was very clear, it was just hard to believe—hard to believe that this man’s charm was so immense, like a contagious virus specifically affecting one’s mental state.

“...Next time, I’ll spray alcohol on his face.”

Under her sister’s relentless pressure, Yukino lifted her hollow gaze, silently making that decision in her heart.

-

Title: Haruno’s Suffering

About half an hour later.

After being mercilessly driven out by her younger sister, Haruno didn’t have time to complain. She immediately returned home at full speed.

The moment she entered, she rushed straight upstairs. She moved so quickly that her mother Saori could barely keep up.

“Haruno, did you go see Yukino again?”

“Yes. I’m just a sister who cares about her little sister.”

Giving her mother a casual answer, Haruno quickly shut and locked the door behind her, tossing her bag and jacket onto the bed.

Then, she sat down in front of her dressing table and began to calm her restless heart.

“Hahh…”

She exhaled all the air from her lungs. After her chest felt tight and burning, she slowly inhaled cold air into her body.

Looking at her serious expression in the mirror, Haruno nodded slightly, as if confirming something. Then, she pulled a comb from the pocket on her chest.

A simple, cheap springtime painting—

Yet, this comb had gradually become her talisman. She felt uneasy without carrying it, and had grown accustomed to pulling it out to fiddle with. She could even stare at it and smile for ten minutes without realizing it.

Even so, ever since the day she woke up in the hotel, Haruno had never used it to comb her hair.

In fact, combing her hair with it made her feel overwhelmingly sad—she wouldn’t do it unless she wanted to torture herself.

“This really is like a cursed comb...” She murmured unconsciously, stroking the painting on the comb with her finger.

Even Haruno, who was rational and realistic, had to admit that perhaps there were things and objects beyond understanding, things that defied logic.

And right now, she herself was experiencing this strangeness.

Like stepping out of a false world and touching the reality hidden behind the fog, this unfamiliar feeling didn’t frighten her. Instead, a strange sense of anticipation and excitement filled her heart, pushing her to act and no longer live without purpose.

“Alright, let’s begin...”

In the room, alone with pale lamplight, the night felt dead, as if swallowed by deep darkness.

Her heartbeat remained fast, but her breathing gradually stabilized, and her fingers didn’t tremble at all.

Haruno slowly raised the comb, its teeth sliding into her highlighted black hair, gently combing from the top of her head.

At the same time, she calmly closed her eyes and began imagining the various scenes her sister had described to her.

“Carrying her up the mountain, chatting and being affectionate all the way...”

“Even while eating, they were intimate—so clingy even while walking...”

“Holding hands on the way back in the rain, pressing cheeks together in sticker photos...”

In truth, since she wasn’t particularly interested in the two of them, Yukino’s descriptions were very simple, basically just mentioned in a few words.

Haruno had to add her own imaginative seasoning, picturing romantic scenes... like kissing in the rain, or doing things that shouldn’t be seen by others inside a photobooth.

Then, accompanied by these fantasies, she slowly combed her hair with the wooden comb.

Once, twice...

“Ugh.”

Suddenly, her heart felt like it was being pulled.

The scene flashing in her mind was of that boy carrying a girl and walking leisurely down the street. They spoke intimately, whispering into each other’s ears.

The girl’s face was blurry, but for a moment, her silver hair turned into slightly wavy shoulder-length black hair. The mountain path transformed into a city street, the sunny day into night. Everything softly and gently wrapped around the two of them.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t her standing there.

This wasn’t a memory—just an illusion.

Haruno took a deep breath. The comb, which had paused mid-way, resumed downward, passing the ends of her hair, then returned to the top of her head.

“He’s just a boy I’ve only met a few times. There’s no way I could like him...”

With this premise, the comb smoothed her hair once more. In her mind, she imagined another scene.

—At lunch, did he help her eat food she couldn’t finish?

—While shopping for clothes, did he deliberately ask about her body measurements?

—When passionately kissing, did he secretly slip his tongue into her mouth?

The comb slipped from her head, bringing with it the despair of never experiencing that tenderness again.

Fragmented scenes flashed through her mind, accompanied by sorrow that such tenderness wasn’t hers.

Why?

Why was he so far from her—so distant that she couldn’t reach him no matter how far she stretched her hand?

“Ugh...” Haruno trembled unconsciously. Her hair-combing motion slowed like a broken machine.

—Pain.

More painful than imagined, a pain she’d never felt since birth.

Two different kinds of pain overlapped—like a dull, rusted knife slicing into her heart, one cut, two cuts, cutting deep...

She gasped several times. Her lips turned pale from biting, her face bloodless.

Though her eyes were closed, Haruno knew how pitiful and distorted the expression reflected in the mirror must be right now.

Like a fish separated from water, like a bird that lost its nest.

“Hah… If anyone saw me like this, it’d be troublesome.”

She sneered, her voice hoarse and fragile.

Losing face didn’t matter. She only feared people might mistake her for performing some strange ritual.

These things often appeared in urban legends, didn’t they?

If you comb your hair in front of a mirror at midnight, you can see the face of your destined soulmate in the future—she remembered the legend like that.

Haruno didn’t believe in superstitions and naturally scoffed at such things… Yet now, she was in such agony just from imagination and combing her hair, nearly in tears. This was even stranger than any urban legend.

“If I had to call it, this is the power of love, isn’t it?”

She sneered, not stopping her movements, continuing to torture herself, wanting to understand this pain more deeply.

(I heard there’s an amusement park in Kiyomizu Scenic Area)

Then, would they have fun at the amusement park, try the roller coaster, pirate ship, and Ferris wheel, and at the most romantic moment, make eternal promises to each other...

*CRACK!*

Unconsciously, the wooden comb slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.

Haruno slowly opened her eyes. In the blurry world, she saw her reflection in the mirror, two streams of tears running down her cheeks. She looked like a pitiful girl who had lost her lover—confused and helpless.

“...Can anyone tell me why this is happening?”

She smiled, somewhat desperate and bitter.

With a red nose, she sniffled, wiped her tears, and picked up the comb. Then, exhausted, she lowered her head onto the cold dressing table.

Her cheek rolled against the surface, and Haruno punched the table several times with her fist, lamenting like a dying person.

“Aaaa—I really don’t want to do this again—!”

She wasn’t a masochist. Physical pain she could endure, but mental pain was truly unbearable!

And even though she’d already felt this pain, she still didn’t understand why she cared so much about that man—so much that she could even say she liked him.

Everything related to him was so strange.

“...I’ve decided!”

With her face hidden in her arm, Haruno said to herself in a slightly childish voice: “I’ll completely stop this double suicide attack of combing and imagining!”

“If I want answers, I have to approach him directly and communicate deeply with him. I’ll surely get more information... Yes, no need to go to such extremes.”

Something must’ve been wrong with her brain a few days ago, making her think of such twisted self-torture methods like “destroy to rebuild” and “use pain to understand truth.”

“From now on, just act normal. I shouldn’t get used to torturing myself, right...”

Haruno sighed softly and lifted her gaze.

With her head resting on her arm, she reached out again. Her reddened fingertips touched the wooden comb on the dressing table, and the confusion in her eyes still hadn’t cleared.

“Tenkuji Yuu… Yuu-chan.”

Even that nickname felt sweet and bitter.

“What have you done to me without my knowledge?”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

That same night, in a different luxurious apartment.

“I give you half my life, and you give me half of yours, that’s how it is...”

Lying on the bed like an X, Masuzu stared at the ceiling, murmuring with a serious expression:

“This is equal exchange, not love… This is equal exchange, ours alone, never betraying each other...”

She suddenly giggled, grabbing a pillow and pressing it over her foolish smile, which had lost all elegance. She squeezed the blanket between her thighs and rolled around several times.

“Ghehe, ghehehehe~ Saikō ni hai da yo~”