I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Hiratsuka Shizuka casually crossed her legs and closed her eyes, preparing to pretend to sleep: "No need to thank me. After all, visiting someone in the hospital is too cliché. I, not to mention the readers, would be reluctant to accept this kind of fixed plot in a romantic comedy."

Yuu Tenkuji: "..."

In this world, there will always be people who say things that others can't understand.

Okay, let's just pretend we didn't hear that.

Too lazy to pay attention to the unruly teacher beside him, he looked at the raindrops slanting against the glass and calmed himself down to carefully feel his physical condition.

The advanced usage of "You're watching me" is the one with the most obvious and greatest side effects among the many states given by the system.

He didn't know if it was because of the special effects added by the system, but the level of physical exertion was so great that even he, who was in excellent physical condition, was finding it hard to withstand.

During the search for Natsukawa Masuzu, Tenkuji Yu used this ability on and off for about two minutes, finally having enough energy left to take Natsukawa Masuzu back without any problems. Even so, until he boarded the bus back, he had not recovered to 20 or 30 percent of his usual state. He was still controlled by the feeling of kidney deficiency from excessive indulgence. If he did not do his best to maintain his acting skills, Natsukawa Masuzu and the others would probably have noticed something was wrong.

Since acquiring the system, this is the first time that Yuu Tenkuji has found himself in such a predicament.

"System, aren't you going to come out and explain yourself?" he muttered to himself.

With that same gentle and ethereal tone, the system quickly responded: "Host, the activation mechanism for this state is 'the more the host misses the object of their affection, the more stamina the host will consume'... Taking photos alone consumes almost no energy, but if you use it continuously or present the object's current image in a live broadcast, the energy consumption will increase exponentially until the host faints."

Yuu Tenkuji frowned, thoughtfully stroking his chin: "So, if I use this ability on Sora..."

The system kindly reminds you: "When the target is Kasugano Sora, a shooting mode should be activated every minute to ensure that the host has normal mobility."

"Hey, this is way too much!" Tenkuuji Yu exclaimed, somewhat incredulous. "My little sister misses me this much? Even the no-cost shooting mode has its limitations, so the live stream mode is going to drain me dry in three seconds, isn't it?"

The dog system didn't answer, as if it were a matter of course and there was no need to explain it to him.

Tenkuji Yu scratched his brow: "Well, I'll just use it more carefully in the future... If there are any more side effects like this next time, I hope you can let me know in advance."

"Host suggestion received."

"So, what's next..."

My body had little strength, but my mind was racing faster than usual.

Putting this bizarre ability aside for the moment, Yuu Tenkuji pulled down the system panel to look at the latest status.

—"The Amazing Deal".

The system explains that by submitting a physical item to the system and consuming varying amounts of stamina, one can obtain a new item with the same concept but different quality.

Just like one of Doraemon's gadgets, you could trade a broken clock with the system and maybe get a time-stopping device—but the chances are extremely slim, and the physical effort required is beyond what Yuu Tenkuji can currently handle.

Assuming an average high school student's stamina is 10, after being enhanced by the system, it would probably be around 25; while the stamina required for the transaction time stopper... I don't know exactly how much, but it's at least 100 or more, right?

Moreover, the items are randomly generated, and the synthesis system for different skills and statuses is becoming more and more like a game system.

However, this matter cannot be rushed, and Yuu Tenkuji plans to try it before going to bed.

By then, your stamina will be fully restored, and even if you accidentally run out of energy again, you can just go to sleep. You can also take this opportunity to think carefully about what items you should use to "trade" with the system for the first time.

Then comes the new skill that comes with this status: "Finance"—as the name suggests, it's the skill to navigate the game in a capitalist society.

Tenkuji Yu was already studying this subject, and now the system has stuffed even richer and deeper knowledge into his mind, allowing him to quickly grasp it and gain profound insights. It has also greatly helped a certain plan that is still in the process of being developed.

"All in all, this autumn outing was quite fruitful."

Chapter Fifty-Eight: There are very few people like me who remain chaste.

After thinking about the reward, the image of a certain person resurfaced in Yuu Tenkuji's mind.

"Natsukawa is so cool..."

To be honest, when she agreed to the deal and hugged him, Yuu Tenkuji thought the mission was over and it was time to pause and settle the score.

But it wasn't that simple after all.

"To use your charm to fill the void in her heart" is not something that can be accomplished by simply going out in the rain to find someone and saying a few words.

Even though their relationship has changed, no longer relying on the lie of pretending to be lovers, but instead becoming a more solid and realistic "companionship transaction," Natsukawa Masuzu is still not satisfied, and there is still an emptiness in his heart that he has not yet understood.

There may still be a long road ahead, and it remains to be seen whether their relationship will take another turn.

Even so, Tenkuji Yu understands Natsukawa Masuzu better than before.

To understand what she is uneasy about, what she is afraid of, and what she is yearning for... through that 'live broadcast' where you can hear her inner voice.

"He's clearly someone who's afraid of being alone, but because of family factors, he's developed a distrust of 'love'... No, perhaps there are other factors involved."

Leaning against the car window, Tenkuji Yu rubbed his temples as if he had a headache, increasingly feeling like a psychotherapist.

"In short, for now, let's stay by her side and quietly wait for the right moment to step in and resolve this 'trouble'..."

Using Yang Nai as an analogy, it means waiting for her mother to appear, take her away from the constraints of being the "eldest daughter," and gain her freedom.

Using Asuna as an analogy, it's about letting her have a direct conversation with her mother, accomplish what she wants to do in the game, and gain courage.

In short—wait, and hold onto hope.

Although the system changed the mission details this time, judging from Yuu Tenkuji's observation, Masuzu Natsukawa's situation shouldn't be too special.

Perhaps soon, something significant will happen to her, and what I should do is help her "be reborn," say goodbye to her past self, and achieve spiritual growth.

If all goes well, the next step will be the redesign of the world line.

Thinking of this, Tenkuji Yu suddenly smiled and said in her heart, "System, is this your trick? I've seen everything like panties under a skirt on a windy day. What do you think about that?"

"..."

Naturally, the system never cared about his rude teasing and didn't even bother to respond.

Having made a fool of himself, Yuu Tenkuji had no other choice. He pursed his lips and gradually relaxed, no longer thinking about those complicated and mind-bending things.

The tour bus swayed quietly, and the snoring of students, exhausted from playing, rose and fell. The students had long lost their morning excitement, and most of them, along with the air inside the bus, drifted into a peaceful sleep to the gentle, continuous sound of rain outside the window.

The rest were either playing on their phones, reading, admiring the scenery, or whispering to their friends next to them...

"It's Lower Moon One attacking! Everyone, get up..."

"This isn't the Mugen Train, you've been watching too much JUMP." Rolling her eyes helplessly, Tenkuji Yu pushed the head that had landed on her shoulder back, showing no mercy whatsoever.

So the beautiful young female teacher, with a carefree sleeping posture, softly fell towards the corridor.

Then, with her elbows and forearms supporting her head, she continued to giggle and talk in her sleep, striking a pose that seemed to resemble the one Kogoro Mouri had struck:

"Big Brother didn't lose... Upper Moon Three, come out and fight me one-on-one, watch my Iron Fist Judgment..."

“That’s enough…” sighed Tenkuji Yu.

He had originally planned to take a nap in the car, but when he saw Hiratsuka-sensei sleeping so soundly and leaning against his shoulder...

If I accidentally fall asleep, it probably won't be long before rumors of a romantic affair between him and a young female teacher appear on the school's online forum, complete with suggestive photos.

To prevent this from happening, Yuu Tenkuji remained conscious until the bus entered the gates of Sobu High School, pushing Shizuka Hiratsuka's head like a ball and determined not to let her have any chance to touch his shoulder.

There are very few people in the world as chaste as him.

……

This autumn rain was sometimes heavy and sometimes light, with occasional sunshine and drizzle, making it even more unpredictable than the cloudy, sunny, and intermittently rainy weather of summer.

Back at Soubu High School, the second-year students poured out of the bus like bees leaving their nest, rubbing their eyes and yawning as they gathered in the auditorium.

After the academic director finished uttering a few meaningless words and reminded everyone to go home safely after school, the autumn outing officially came to an end. The moment it was confirmed that everyone could disperse, their listless faces lit up again, like wet fuses being lit once more, and the auditorium began to buzz with noise and commotion from the inside out.

"Ugh, rain is so annoying, I didn't bring an umbrella... The weather forecast is so inaccurate!"

"The rain isn't heavy right now. Should we run back? Or should we wait until the rain stops and the sky clears before we move?"

"I was planning to go to karaoke afterwards, but all those plans are ruined..."

The constant chatter, the lingering restlessness, and the lazy desire to go home and sleep soon filled every corner of the air.

Surrounded by the scene, Yuu Tenkuji didn't choose to leave quickly. Instead, he stopped and spoke to the figure he was interested in:

"Totsuka, you remembered to bring an umbrella, right?"

"Hmm? Of course."

The silver-haired handsome boy turned around, his smile still bright and cheerful, his eyes piercing, his skin smooth and soft, and even his eyelashes as long as a girl's.

"Just like You said yesterday, the weather forecast was wrong. It really rained today... Luckily you reminded me, otherwise I would have been soaked to the bone on the way back."

He spoke in a clear and gentle voice, his dimples sweet, and even his grateful eyes seemed to be misty with a layer of water vapor.

"Yu, thank you!"

"You're welcome, it's what I should do." Tenkuji Yu smiled. "But you have to trust me more than the weather forecast, otherwise it's no use saying it."

Suddenly remembering something, Totsuka asked in confusion, "By the way, it seems like Yui-hama-san didn't bring an umbrella. Didn't Yu remind her?"

Tenkuji Yu shrugged: "Yes, she just forgot to bring it before she left."

Totsuka Ayaka laughed awkwardly, "Ahaha, that really does have her style..."

After exchanging a few words, Yuu Tenkuji suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

He took it out and glanced at it, then said goodbye to Totsuka and walked toward a corner of the auditorium.

There, everyone except for the ordinary sauce was present, and the temporary team for the autumn outing was formed again.

Chapter 59 What Kind of Shura Field Is This? (5/14)

“Putong’s parents picked her up, they seemed to have something urgent to attend to, so we didn’t ask them for a ride… Now we’re discussing how the others should get back.” After explaining, Miura Yumiko’s tone was firm, as if she had made a decision. “Only you and Yukinoshita among us have umbrellas, so there are two options—someone can use your umbrellas to go to the convenience store to buy new ones, or you can help take those who didn’t bring umbrellas back.”

"How can they order people around so casually..." Yukino Yukinoshita pressed her temples and sighed helplessly, "Oh well, if you can help someone to the end, helping a few idiots shouldn't be a big deal. Just consider it doing a good deed."

"That's really rude of you. No matter how stupid Yui is, she still managed to get into the top fifty in the midterms!"

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

"Heh, a cat lover."

"..."

The auras of ice and fire collided violently.

While the two of them started arguing again over trivial matters, Yu's best friend was also locked in a fierce battle of wills with his girlfriend, each sticking to their own position and refusing to give in.

"Xiaoyou and I walked home together, so it shouldn't be a problem for her to share her umbrella with me, right?"

Yui Yuigahama launched the first attack, while Masuzu Natsukawa responded with a smile.