I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Before her leg could fully extend, Tenkuji Yu had already sprang up from the spot, letting out a long series of screams. She tumbled once in the air and twice on the ground, her body covered in grass clippings as she knelt on the ground, panting heavily in pain.

"???"

Chizuru Ichinose stood there dumbfounded, blinking her eyes in confusion.

She clearly didn't kick anything! How did she even flip it?!

"Ah...it's you, you won."

After catching her breath, Yuu Tenkuji managed a weak smile, her tone gentle:

"In that kick of yours, I felt your love for him... more dazzling and beautiful than the Star River."

Ichinose Chizuru: "..."

"I wish you... happiness."

His voice was so faint as to be almost imperceptible; he seemed to have been swallowed up by the belated darkness, and he lowered his head helplessly, remaining silent.

Several seconds passed.

Tenkuji Yu looked up with a helpless expression and gazed at Ichinose Chizuru, who was still standing there dumbfounded.

"Ichinose-san, look at that scene of turning away! How else can it end?"

"...Huh? Oh, I...I understand!"

Coming to her senses in a panic, Ichinose Chizuru quickly turned around, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the scene of him 'dying' again.

Struggling to suppress the inexplicable smile that rose within her, Chizuru Ichinose adjusted her expression, which carried a hint of sadness, a touch of loneliness, and a sense of relief. She tossed her braided hair behind her back, turned her back to Yuu Tenkuji, and strode away with a dashing air.

Goodbye, my friend.

The image freezes.

"Okay, card!"

With a subtle expression, Morikawa Kohei announced the end.

Chapter Forty-Four: The Temptation of Going Home

The filming was finished, but there was an eerie silence on set.

Yu Tenkuji, bearing the strange looks from the entire production crew as if they'd seen someone shout "Henshin!" on the street and it actually turned into a Kamen Rider, walked up to the camera assistant.

"Thanks a lot."

Naturally, Yuu Tenkuji took the barbecue and his belongings from his hands, turned around, bowed to the production crew, and revealed a bright, sunny smile.

"Thank you all for your hard work!"

"Thank you for your hard work..."

As if suddenly entering the process of ending the shoot, everyone responded in unison in a daze, and then reflexively began to pack up their equipment.

Only Ichinose Chizuru reacted at this moment, her eyes suddenly widening, and she subconsciously took a step forward towards him, opening her mouth to say something.

Tenkuji Yu was faster than her.

"It was a pleasure to meet you all. Hope to see you again someday!"

After saying that, he turned and ran without any hesitation.

Morikawa Kohei woke up with a start, quickly dropped what he was holding, and, with the gait of a middle-aged man, waved vigorously at his retreating figure:

"Tenkuji-san, please wait a moment—"

As if oblivious, Yuu Tenkuji ran lightly along the riverbank in the still of the night, as if longing for the young corporate slave in his wife's arms.

"You haven't received your payment for this shoot yet!"

"..."

He stopped, as if about to turn around.

But after hesitating for a few seconds, Yuu Tenkuji slowly raised his thumb.

Then, with his head down, he strode off even faster.

The shadow stretched long behind me until it disappeared from sight.

"Tenkuji-san..."

Morikawa Kohei slowly stopped, gazing at Tenkuji Yu as the night gradually swallowed up, his face showing regret for missing out on the treasure.

Also, I don't know if it's just my imagination.

He always felt that the figure that refused the reward was full of tragedy, entanglement and sorrow, and every step he took was a test and torment of his own soul.

Morikawa Kohei shook his head, finding it amusing.

how can that be possible?

A young person with such impeccable acting skills, even if I haven't seen them in the entertainment industry, should be able to shine brightly somewhere with their own abilities, and should never be troubled by money.

Those powerful individuals who treat money like dirt usually act on impulse and, wanting to avoid trouble, quickly disappear afterward, their backs seemingly saying, "Don't look for me, I was just a passerby."

Morikawa Kohei turned around and walked back to the production crew. While privately instructing his assistant to check if Tenkuji Yu was a rising star in some national-level theater troupe, he spoke to Ichinose Chizuru, who had just received her meager payment from the finance department:

"Ms. Ichinose, thank you for your hard work! You acted very well just now!"

"Thank you for your praise, I just did my best..." Ichinose Chizuru quickly bowed and thanked her, then paused and said with a wry smile.

"And no matter how good he is, he can't compare to that person, right? I always feel like I've been led around by him from beginning to end."

"That's how acting works. The strong are like giant waves, while the weak can only be swallowed up or pushed and pulled onto the shore."

Morikawa Kohei smiled and waved his hand, offering a few casual words of comfort before continuing:

"I'm sorry, but considering the overall effect, this segment might not be able to be included in the program. I will try my best to get it in the meeting, but I hope you can be prepared."

"I understand." Hiding the disappointment in her eyes, Ichinose Chizuru nodded.

She wanted to ask Morikawa Kohei if she could show this clip to other producers to increase her chances of entering the entertainment industry; but when she thought that with that person's masterpiece preceding her, any highlights she might have would be completely overshadowed by him, she sighed helplessly and gave up all hope.

After composing herself and saying goodbye to the crew, Chizuru Ichinose embarked on her journey home alone.

As she gazed at the thin night sky where stars were appearing on the horizon, her thoughts began to stir, and she kept recalling the scenes from the play she had just witnessed, and the gentle smile the boy had given her.

If that wasn't acting...

My heart suddenly started racing.

Chizuru Ichinose crossed her arms, her face slightly pale, and she shivered twice as if she were cold.

"Thank goodness it was just acting, otherwise it would have been terrifying..."

She had never seen a suitor this obsessively.

I've never experienced this in my daily life, and I've certainly never experienced it in my experience of renting a girlfriend!

△

Sky Temple House.

"You stink! Weren't you going to record a show? How come you smell so bad?! Go take a shower!"

"No, wait, didn't you love it when your brother hugged you the most when you were little? Come on, let me hug you~"

"No~ Don't~ Come~ Over~!"

Despite her sister's firm refusal, Tenkuji Yu cheerfully went upstairs to get her clothes and then went into the bathroom to take a shower.

He glanced at Qiong, who was eating roasted vegetables and unpacking potato chips in the living room, and had tossed the plush toy she had exchanged for with her extra receipts onto the sofa. He then quietly closed the bathroom door and made sure it was locked.

—A thief within the family must be guarded against.

In less than ten minutes, after quickly rinsing off all the smells from her body, Yuu Tenkuji came out, dried her hair, and blew it a couple of times before heading to the kitchen to prepare a meal, regardless of whether it was completely dry.

He glanced at "Cooking (Master Level)" in the skill list, and a Nike-like smile slowly curved his lips.

The ingredients are neatly arranged on the table, the fire is lit, and a culinary performance is about to begin.

"Yu, where's the helmet you promised?"

Sora called from outside, and Yuu Tenkuji answered while cracking eggs:

"It will be shipped in two or three days. It includes a game, but it's not in open beta yet!"

"Okay—"

About forty minutes later.

"Yu—is it ready yet? I'm starving..."

"In the living room," Qiong called out weakly.

After confirming the time, Yuu Tenkuji opened the oven, and a rich aroma immediately wafted out, quickly filling the entire kitchen and spreading towards the living room.

"Okay, come and get the bowls and chopsticks."

Upon hearing him shout that, Qiong immediately jumped off the chair, let the black rabbit sit obediently on it, and then walked into the kitchen with her clean, white little feet.

The closer she got to the kitchen, the more excited she became with her sniffing, and she couldn't help but swallow.

"Yu, what's for dinner today? It smells so good!"

"I met a master chef while working, and asked him to teach me how to cook a few dishes."

Having ruthlessly kicked the "System Master" out of his sight, Tenkuji Yu smiled and said to Kasugano Sora:

"Your brother's cooking skills are improving rapidly, you'll be in for a treat from now on."

Qiong looked completely unconcerned, her silver hair fluttering gently as she walked around him to get the bowl and chopsticks: "As long as it's edible, I won't fuss over such things."

"So heartless? This is a dish I made with my heart."

She tilted her delicate chin up, delivering a monotone, emotionless reply: "Yes, yes, Yu is the best~"

"What about Onii-chan?"

"Onii-chan is starving!"

With a loud snort, Qiong, holding the bowl and chopsticks firmly, nudged his back with her head and pushed him out of the kitchen in dissatisfaction.

"I've had enough of this nonsense, let's go out and eat!"