I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

One day you will realize that it is something so fragile that it breaks at the slightest touch, even more fragile than snow under the sun.

Perhaps I, who have survived to this day by relying on such a thing, am just as vulnerable?

...However, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Whoosh..."

The autumn rain occasionally drifts in with the wind, and the cool summer breeze feels more reassuring than staying under the eaves, as if an umbrella shelters the whole world.

After all, from this moment on, a shackle that transcends lies, a shackle that is more wretched, inferior, and hypocritical, has firmly bound herself and Tenkuji Yu.

She couldn't help but laugh, wanting to share her joy with people all over the world.

She needed him, and he needed her—yes, there is no love more steadfast than that.

The unease dissipated, the fear vanished, and an unprecedented sense of fulfillment filled my chest.

Now, perhaps Natsukawa Masaki understands the shape of happiness.

"I see... Ayou, you must be the 'Happy Little Jizo'?"

"Do I look small? Stop talking nonsense. Come on, everyone is waiting for you."

"Tsk, can't we just not go back? Let's elope like this. Let's escape to the ends of the earth and have kids every day to pass the time."

"You just don't want to get scolded, right? It's one thing to leave the group without permission, but you also deliberately don't answer the phone, making people worry... Everyone else is really angry, isn't they?"

"...Since you understand, then hurry up and help me think of a solution."

"Why not just apologize honestly?"

"If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for? Let me make it clear beforehand: if you cheat on me, don't even think about apologizing. I'll just cut your penis off."

"Second brother...please don't use such vulgar language, okay?"

"That's not important. What's important is that I don't want them to hate me."

"They're quite well-behaved at this time... Don't worry, I'm here."

"Ayu... Hmph, what a reliable man."

"Right? You just need to be a good boy and go on your way. Your boyfriend will figure out the solution."

"Don't use such disturbing language!"

The gloomy sky cleared up without us even noticing.

The clear sunlight slanted out from behind the dark clouds, kissing the raindrops on the umbrella surface, making them sparkle like jewels.

The air was fresh and invigorating. Fallen leaves and puddles formed a path after the rain, and two pairs of footprints splashed up small water droplets as they walked across it.

The two people under the umbrella seemed to be in another world, still holding the umbrella and their coats, holding each other's hands tightly.

With smiles on their faces, they walked side by side toward the brightening road ahead.

……

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: Finance (Expert Level)."

"Congratulations, host, you have received the reward: The Amazing Deal (Permanent Status)."

"Natsukawa Masuzu... The mission is not yet complete. Please continue your efforts, host."

……

When they returned to the arcade, the five girls were already waiting for them at the door, having been notified in advance, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Then comes the interrogation.

Is there a reason?

Yukino asked the question calmly, just like a teacher catching a student cheating. She wasn't angry, but her authority was chilling.

"whispering sound……"

Yumiko Miura stood beside her, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing Natsukawa Maru's pitiful appearance, soaked to the bone, her heart softened. The harsh words she had prepared couldn't be uttered, so she could only smack her lips to express her dissatisfaction, and then handed the situation over to the cold-blooded and ruthless Yukino Yukinoshita.

"Report, there's no reason!" At Tenkuji Yu's suggestion, Natsukawa Masuzu honestly lowered her head and sincerely admitted her mistake, "I had a fight with my boyfriend and ignored everyone's feelings by hiding away. I'm really sorry! Please forgive my immaturity!"

Yukino Yukinoshita fell silent, glanced at Yuu Tenkuji who was pretending to be nonchalant beside her, pressed her temples for a long time before letting out a sigh.

"...Alright, it's good that you know you were wrong. Just don't do it again next time. Even if you just want to be alone for a while, you should at least keep your phone accessible so as not to cause unnecessary trouble for others."

"Yes, you are right. I will remember your teachings and never forget them."

"..."

Seeing how humble she was, Yukino Yukinoshita was speechless for a moment, and felt embarrassed to continue lecturing, so she naturally turned her attention to Yuu Tenkuji.

Where did you find her?

"In the grove."

How did you end up chasing them there?

"We asked her all the way there, and luckily she has very distinctive features."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Natsukawa Masaki smiled and stomped hard on the back of his foot.

Tenkuji Yu's face twitched, turning blue, but he didn't speak or make a sound.

Seeing this, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but chuckle softly, then quickly covered the corners of her mouth with the back of her hand and said in a calm tone, "It is indeed a good method, better than wandering around the park like a headless fly."

She's not a lie detector, how could she possibly see through the lies that Tenkuji Yu is telling with all her might?

After Yukino Yukinoshita finished expressing her opinion, and then Putsu-chan came over to say a few words of comfort, Yui Yuigahama stepped forward and looked at the two of them still holding hands.

“…Natsukawa-kun, you really like Ayu.”

Natsukawa Masuzu's expression remained unchanged as she smiled and said, "Of course. It's the kind of liking that means preparing to spend your life with him and have children."

"I see... How cunning." She muttered to herself, but her face didn't show any surprise. Instead, she had a sense of helplessness, as if she had known things would turn out this way.

"There's no way around it, Xiaoyou is just that popular—not just Xia Chuan, but half the girls he knows like him, I'm not surprised at all."

Natsukawa Masaki's brow twitched, and her tone finally softened: "Yuigahama-san, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"It's nothing, I just hope that Natsukawa-san can treat Yuuka a little better." Yuigahama Yui looked at her, her eyes firm and bright as if she had made a decision. "If you continue to run away and act like this, as Yuuka's friend, I won't stand idly by like this anymore!"

"...I know without you telling me."

Unconsciously, Natsukawa Masuzu tightened her grip on Tenkuji Yu's hand, showing no room for a victor's smile.

The minor incident involving the deserter finally subsided. Although it was calm outside and there was still about an hour before the meeting, at Miura Yumiko's suggestion, everyone went back to the arcade to take all sorts of photo booth pictures.

There are group photos of six people, as well as group photos of the girls; there are photos of Yuihama, Yukinoshita and his service club, and photos of Natsukawa Masuzu and his lover.

The last one was pasted in the same spot on their phone cases.

"Tch, that's something only people in love would do." Natsukawa Masuzu looked at the intimate photo of their cheeks pressed together with a smile, as if she would never get tired of looking at it.

"Stop looking, it's time to go to the assembly point."

Tenkuji Yu extended his hand to her, and she grasped it familiarly, their fingers intertwining, and then asked:

"Ayu, do you know what would happen if I kissed you in front of all the students?"

"The school version of the fire broke out, and then your father came and dragged you home." Yuu Tenkuji came to these two answers after only two seconds of thinking.

Natsukawa Masaki nodded: "That's right. So, if that kind of thing really happened, what would you do?"

Yuu Tenkuji shrugged indifferently.

"Whatever you want to do, I'll see to the end... That's our 'deal'."

"Excellent, perfect answer!"

She hugged his arm appreciatively, pressing her two full breasts together tightly.

As her cheek brushed against his, Natsukawa Masuzu whispered:

"But I can't bear to part with it."

Chapter 57 "The Miraculous Deal"

On the bus back.

"Oh, it's rare to see you like this."

Raising one eyebrow, the Iron Fist teacher, still dressed in her professional uniform and white coat even on an autumn outing, sat down next to him, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, and looked at him with surprise as he slumped in the chair.

"Is going out with girls this tiring? I thought you'd have more free time, given your athletic ability."

Tenkuji Yu opened one eye and looked at her weakly: "...Well, something unexpected happened."

"As a teacher, I feel very uneasy when I hear that..." Smacking her lips, Hiratsuka Shizuka took out a piece of chewing gum from her pocket and handed it to him, "Want to chew some? It's minty, it'll make you feel a little better."

"I'm not carsick... but thank you for your kindness anyway." Tenkuji Yu sighed, took the chewing gum from her hand, and popped it into her mouth.

The moment I bit down, the cool sensation was like a giant stick piercing my forehead, as if a block of ice had been stuffed into my brain. Even with the slightest breath, I could feel the stinging sensation of medicated oil applied to my nostrils.

He merely widened his eyes slightly, paused for a few seconds, and then continued chewing as if nothing had happened, his slightly pale complexion remaining largely unchanged.

"It didn't work."

Hiratsuka Shizuka scoffed regretfully. That was a Demon King-level mint chewing gum that even she couldn't help but gasp and tremble with. And this guy, who looked much weaker than usual, was still able to withstand the ravages of the cool storm with ease, without showing the slightest sign of strain.

He really is an unpredictable monster student... He's mature, good at both academics and martial arts, and apart from being prone to causing trouble and disrespecting teachers, there's really nothing wrong with him.

Does being popular with girls count?

Meeting Hiratsuka Shizuka's scrutinizing gaze, Tenkuji Yu put on a helpless expression: "Teacher, is this how you take care of a sick student? What if this piece of chewing gum makes things worse?"

"You don't have a fever, you just look a little weak. There's no need to treat you like a child."

Hiratsuka Shizuka pouted, then suddenly raised her hand, her soft yet slightly rough palm covering his forehead before quickly lowering it: "Stop being so cute, just eat all of this. Maybe it'll help you recover your energy faster."

"You'd be crazy to say that." Yuu Tenkuji pushed away the box of chewing gum she was offered and turned his face back to the window. "You're not a kid anymore, so please stop playing these childish pranks."

"Stop talking nonsense, or I'll kill you!"

I tapped him on the forehead with the bottom of the box, not hard, just as a warning.

Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned back in her chair and yawned lazily: "Ha... well, you should get some rest. You look a bit soaked from the rain, be careful not to catch a cold when you get back."

"I understand, thank you for your concern, teacher." Tenkuji Yu was slightly surprised, but a warm feeling flowed through her heart, and she unconsciously smiled.