I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

No matter how exaggerated she usually is, this guy will still pay some attention to his own temperament and maintain an elegant and dignified girlfriend image.

Now, she seems to have completely entered another world, ignoring everyone in this world except him, clinging to him wholeheartedly, as if afraid that if she let go, he would immediately run away.

...It really broke, didn't it? Did what I said yesterday really have that much of a impact on her?

As these thoughts flashed through my mind, my arm was brushed several times.

Tenkuji Yu's brow twitched slightly, as if she could no longer bear it, and she sighed silently.

"...It's so cold, could you loosen your grip a little? There are a lot of people watching."

Raising her eyes slightly, Natsukawa Masaki puffed out her cheeks and whispered plaintively against his chest, "Waaah, what if they find out we're close? I hate it!"

Look at this way of speaking, it's like he's regressed by at least ten years!

But wait, seven-year-old Natsukawa Masaki...

Tenkuji Yu shook his head, calming his wavering resolve.

"I just don't want you to be seen as a pitiful, beautiful girl with a leg problem who needs help to go to school."

"...That's true, I lost my composure."

As if imagining that scene, Natsukawa Masuri's expression gradually returned to calm, and a mature and wise light shone again in her eyes.

After letting out a long, regretful sigh, she slowly straightened up and released his arm.

They still held hands, as if grasping at the last straw on the water's surface, unwilling to let go.

"What's wrong with you today? Did your spoiled behavior suddenly flare up?" After thinking for a moment, Yuu Tenkuji still asked tentatively.

Natsukawa Masaki said nonchalantly, "No, it's just that I've finally reached the late stage of 'Rubbing and Touching.' Now is a critical moment. If I don't have a strong 'Rubbing Power' like this, all the 'Rubbing Power' I've accumulated in the past may be wasted, and I'll have to start all over again."

Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, you can talk even more nonsense than I can..."

Since she chose to avoid the topic, in order to avoid "worsening her condition," Yuu Tenkuji did not press her further. He calmly and naturally took her hand and led her into the station, where they boarded the train that had just arrived.

Along the way, Natsukawa Masaki would occasionally look up and glance at his profile.

She seemed lost in thought, her gaze shifting between conflicted and complex, yet the moment their eyes met, all her emotions vanished, and she effortlessly launched into a jumble of nonsensical, rambling topics, ensuring that "Natsukawa Masuzu" remained true to herself.

At the shoe cabinet, the two agreed to have lunch together, and then went their separate ways to different classrooms.

Chapter Ninety-Two: Rapunzel's Unyielding Dream

"That's settled then, see you at the usual place during lunch break."

"Ah."

It's quite unusual that he actually suggested a lunch date.

Even though I never mentioned it before, this guy just acted like it never happened...

Thinking this, Natsukawa Masuzu turned around and walked towards Class 2-J.

She certainly knew the reason for the change in attitude.

Because I started it myself.

Whether it's being more affectionate with him than usual, or being reserved and not saying what you want to say... he will only react appropriately if you do something for him first.

Since we started dating, that person has always been so passive.

Like the sky reflected in a pond, only by throwing in a pebble can you make it ripple.

The same thing happened during the autumn outing. If I hadn't deliberately disappeared, his attitude towards me wouldn't have changed. He would have just remained in the position of "client of the commission."

This is great, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, it's the perfect scenario I envisioned, so there's absolutely no reason to complain about it...

But for some reason, Natsukawa Masuzu couldn't be happy at all.

She has a great figure and a beautiful face. He has kissed her countless times and given her many opportunities to be alone with him and do whatever he wants.

There was never any yearning in that person's eyes; he always responded to her willfulness with a faint, helpless expression.

...Just like how I would leave him someday sooner or later.

Because I can't hold onto her, I don't take the initiative. I just try to please her according to her mood until our relationship returns to normal. It doesn't matter if we don't recognize each other when we meet again.

Natsukawa Masaki was terrified by this, even to the point of being filled with fear.

What if one day, when you're sinking deeper and deeper into this abyss, he suddenly chooses to let go, causing you to plummet into despair...

Will I end up like my mother, constantly hoping that person will turn back to me, only to be repeatedly disappointed and heartbroken, and silently shedding tears where my child can't see me?

"I don't want to!"

"As long as I refuse to fall in love, I won't end up in that miserable situation... Such things are not for me!"

Constantly comforting herself with this phrase, Natsukawa Masuzu clearly understood that by being unable to let go willingly, she was already stepping into the worst abyss.

"It has nothing to do with being in a relationship; we're just doing what we want to do... If you can't believe in love, just believe in what you can believe in."

He said that yesterday.

As if he had completely seen through his own feelings, he offered corresponding comfort—even if he sometimes seemed heartless, he was still an overly gentle person.

Unfortunately, because my feelings were a lie, this answer was also a lie.

If we continue this line of reasoning, "I will stay by your side" is also a lie, and everything up to this point has been a lie.

Funny, right?

Despite having survived by lying, he feels despair and sorrow in this situation where he cannot see the truth, and is too afraid to make any changes to pursue what his heart truly desires.

Yes, there's nothing more ridiculous than this.

There's no girl more ridiculous than this, Natsukawa Masashige.

"...So, just pretend you don't know anything."

She stopped in her tracks, looked at the empty corridor with hardly anyone around, and sighed softly.

"As the old saying goes, fools are often blessed. Tuanzi-chan looks quite happy, so why should I be so smart?"

She smiled self-deprecatingly, then suddenly turned her head halfway to look behind her.

It wasn't that I felt sorry for the brief separation; I just wanted to know if he had gone upstairs.

...Then, our eyes met.

Several times, I happened to catch that overly gentle gaze.

Each time, she had to press her hand to her chest to keep her heart from melting.

Suppressing her burning chest, Natsukawa Masuzu deliberately asked, "Why aren't you going upstairs yet? Do you like my butt that much?"

Yuu Tenkuji replied helplessly, "Yeah, yeah, hurry up and get into the classroom, don't let me see anymore."

She asked again, "Why is your voice so gentle? Do I look like I need your comfort?"

He shook his head: "I wasn't trying to comfort you, I was just watching my girlfriend go upstairs."

"..."

Slightly silent, Natsukawa Masaki clutched the clothes at her chest and unconsciously bit her trembling lips.

I really want to go and hug him, so I can't.

I really want to tell him I like him, so I can't.

—Ah, why?

He's just as gentle as ever, so why do I feel like crying now?

"Pfft..."

Because I want to cry.

So, Natsukawa Masaki laughed.

"Ayu's sweet talk is the best in the world!"

I'll laugh when I'm about to cry, and cry when I want to laugh.

This is how I survive, and it will continue to be this way, right?

If you keep lying, it will all be deception.

What if I don't want to wake up?

So be Sleeping Beauty, and continue to embrace the happiness within your grasp until your Prince Charming wakes you up with a slap.

……

The classrooms in the international education program are no different from regular classrooms, except that students are more self-disciplined and less noisy.

Natsukawa Masaki put down her schoolbag. In the quiet classroom, there were already several students reading aloud.

Some glanced at her, while others remained engrossed in their books, none of them intending to greet her.

This is normal. After all, after this period of "manipulation," the boy has lost interest in her, and the girl has subtly excluded her from her circle of friends because of her appearance and aloof attitude.

Simply put, she ignores everyone, and everyone ignores her; they live in peace.

However, among them, there was one "kindred spirit" that Natsukawa Masuzu was willing to greet first.

Good morning, Yukinoshita.

The pale fingertips that were turning the pages paused for a moment, and the beautiful girl with long, straight black hair looked up and glanced at her indifferently.

Good morning, Natsukawa-kun.

After saying that, he coldly lowered his gaze, showing no intention of chatting with her whatsoever.

Natsukawa Masuzu didn't mind, because she usually treated others the same way, only her approach was more tactful and less likely to be disliked.

Ultimately, if it weren't for something she needed to ask her, Natsukawa Masuzu wouldn't have taken the initiative to talk to Yukino Yukinoshita—because of Tenkuji Yu, she wasn't interested in the entire Service Club.

Let's not even talk about Yui Yuigahama. She's my number one rival in love, always trying to steal other people's boyfriends. Sooner or later, I'll have to grab those lewd breasts of hers and use them as volleyballs.

As for Yukino Yukinoshita, although there was no ambiguous atmosphere between her and Yuu, her appearance and personality gave people a dangerous feeling, as if it would not be strange for her to date him at any time. How could he not be wary of her?

Not to mention, there's also her older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno...

That strange woman, I always feel she's inexplicably interested in Ayou, I have to be careful.