"If some things aren't said seriously, they won't know how much we care about them."
As true as those words were, the gap between knowing and doing was always daunting, and the courage to speak them never came easily. As a result, opportunities to move forward slipped away, and confessions that should have been acknowledged were missed…
In many cases, hesitation is humanity's defense mechanism to protect itself, but ironically, most hesitations ultimately lead to regret, not the joy of having escaped unscathed.
Yuu believed that those who dared to face their desires and overcome hesitation were incredibly cool. That included himself and Asuna, who, after talking with her mother, successfully convinced her to take leave the following weekend to attend Sobu High School's Autumn Club Exhibition.
"Mom said she doesn't care about your background, as long as you can prove you're not inferior to others, she won't oppose our relationship anymore… Haa, that stubborn woman, she really won't listen to reason!" Asuna complained irritably during their bedtime phone call.
Yuu smiled, unsurprised. "Well, I didn't think a few grand words would make her willingly hand over the daughter she's raised for 17 years."
Asuna snorted, clearly disagreeing with the statement.
"If she was really that reluctant about me, she wouldn't have sent me on a blind date with Sugou-san! Besides, Grandpa and Grandma never set any conditions for Dad, so why does it have to be so complicated with her…"
Yuu shrugged, a faint memory flickering in his eyes. "Different people, different minds. Some mothers, for family considerations, would send their daughter abroad if her boyfriend refused to live in their house."
After a brief silence, Asuna, still unable to accept it, sighed.
"It's so strange… Isn't dating and marrying someone you love the most natural thing? She thinks that way herself, so why does she force her kids to measure their feelings with value?"
"That's the adult world—it's normal that we don't understand it."
Amidst steady breathing, the sound of Asuna lightly kicking her bed came through, her grumbling voice like that of a little girl.
"Whatever, I don't care. If Mom keeps acting like this next weekend… Hmph, I'll run away from home to teach her a lesson! Let her marry Sugou-san herself!"
Her clearly sulky words startled Yuu. "Run away from home? To where?"
"Where else? I don't have any close friends at school to stay with, so I can only come to you."
Saying it matter-of-factly, Asuna softened her tone, feigning sadness. "Is Yuu-kun planning to abandon me? We've already slept in the same bed in that world, but in the real world, I can't even sleep on your couch… So mean, sob."
Her teasing and playful tone was too obvious, and Yuu couldn't help but press his forehead. "No, that's not the issue…"
But Asuna, in high spirits, clearly wasn't listening to him.
"Oh, by the way, next time we have time, can I visit your house?"
"…Huh?"
"Honestly, more than an older brother, I'd love to have an older sister or younger sister—I'm a bit curious… E-Even though we're not officially dating yet! But you've already met my family, while I don't even know what your sister's like. It's not fair…"
Yuu: "…"
(Meeting family isn't like playing cards, where you take one and I take one—there's no such thing as unfairness here! Haruno was the same way last time, getting mad if she couldn't meet her… Why are girls so obsessed with this kind of thing?)
(So weird!)
"Did you know? My sister is super jealous. Getting to know her won't improve your relationship as sisters-in-law—it'll just make me, stuck in the middle, suffer."
"So, sorry, maybe next time."
Unfortunately, no matter how much he thought about it, Yuu didn't have the courage to say those words out loud.
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Friday, clear weather, the air feeling exceptionally fresh after the rain.
After replying to Asuna's cheerful morning message, Yuu put on his school uniform and went downstairs to prepare breakfast.
Soon, the aroma of toast and fried eggs filled the house, as if declaring that the morning had officially begun. He called out a few times in the living room, and Sora shuffled down, looking sleepy, to eat breakfast.
In a daze, Sora saw him off, then trudged back upstairs, likely to continue sleeping.
(This kid, she probably stayed up late gaming again—her steps looked a bit unsteady.)
Determined to scold her later when he got home, Yuu locked the door and headed to the station.
It wasn't too early, and the streets were already bustling with office workers and students, like the city's blood beginning to flow, carrying nutrients.
Under the clear blue sky, the trees lining the streets adorned Chiba's usual scenery, their green leaves reluctantly tinged with yellow, yet stubbornly refusing to fall.
Looking at the autumn sky, Yuu couldn't help but sigh.
"Autumn's here, and winter's not far off…"
"So before winter comes, I need to buy the fattest crabs to cook at home."
He wasn't a melancholic poet. Compared to writing, which he rarely used, Yuu had been honing his cooking skills, reaching the peak of Expert-Level Cooking, as if he could break through to Perfect Level any time.
Using the level system from a certain manga, when he got serious, he was currently a top-tier Lin-level chef, just one step from Dragon-level. To avoid shocking his sister, though, Yuu had never made dishes that glowed or caused hallucinations.
This was thanks to his Learning skill. Without it, with Yuu's natural talent, the system's rewards would only be well-preserved. Fully mastering and improving them without relying on rewards would still require a long journey. Now, with Learning officially at Expert Level, its effects sparked a bold idea in him… though he hadn't had the chance to try it yet.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Arriving at Sobu High, changing into indoor shoes, and entering Class 2-F, the classroom was lively that morning, with distinct chatter from various groups blending harmoniously.
"Morning."
"Morning, Yuu."
Shortly after setting down his bag, before he could chat with the ever-adorable Totsuka, Yuu was called to the staff room by Hiratsuka.
"Kid, you know why I called you here."
Perhaps because she'd recently read some weird manga, Hiratsuka deliberately raised her voice, glaring at him sideways with a fierce expression. A lollipop stick hung from her mouth, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and she wore a white lab coat. Despite her mature, slender figure, oddly, she exuded no allure.
Yuu nodded without changing his expression. "I know, it's about that issue, right?"
"Exactly, that issue."
The martial artist teacher, who seemed more like a health clinic nurse than a Japanese literature teacher, crossed her legs, leaned back in her chair, pulled the lollipop stick from her mouth, and sighed with mock seriousness.
"Next week's the deadline of doom. I'm not trying to pressure you, but I need to know your progress."
Yuu gave her a look. "Relax, everything's going smoothly."
Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow. "Then give me a name, so I can see how smooth it is."
"Yukino Shizuka…"
"Enough. The moment you said that name, I knew there's been no progress at all." Hiratsuka pressed her forehead as if nursing a headache, then clenched her fair fist, eyeing him thoughtfully.
"Tenkuji, sometimes the term 'deadline of doom' isn't just a figure of speech."
"Sensei, you're mistaken." Taking half a step back, Yuu said seriously, "You're the one who asked me to do this—how can you threaten me? As a teacher, you shouldn't lack professional ethics."
"Calm down, I'm not planning to do anything to you." Sneering, Hiratsuka lowered her fist with a bored expression, getting back to the point. "I just wanted to tell you, if you don't have a candidate yet, I've got someone willing to join the club."
"Willing to join?" Yuu blinked in surprise. "Does this person know what our club does?"
Hiratsuka scratched her hair, her eyes looking at him oddly for some reason.
"Well, more or less."
"Something even I don't fully know, and this person does… Tsk tsk."
Though the cause and effect weren't clear, at least one issue was resolved. Yuu smiled and nodded. "As expected, it's more reliable when the club advisor recruits new members."
"No, I didn't recruit her."
With half-closed eyes, Hiratsuka sighed for some reason, biting down on her lollipop stick.
"Yesterday after school, she came to ask me about something else, and we happened to talk about the Service Club. She said as long as the club could help her, joining or whatever wasn't an issue… She's a good kid, obedient, and cooperative."
Yuu looked at her, puzzled. "That's a good thing, so why do you seem unhappy?"
"Unhappy? Of course not!"
Slowly widening her eyes, Hiratsuka glared at him with murderous intent, clenching her fists until they creaked, her tone filled with anger like a bleeding crow.
"I thought this student wanted to discuss life direction issues with me, but after a few words, I was suddenly stuffed with dog food until I was full—and the worst part is, it tasted like the bittersweetness of youth. How do you think I feel? Do you know how many years I've been single?!"
Yuu answered instinctively, "29 years and 12 months?"
*SWOOSH!*
A faint whoosh of air being sliced sounded, a sharp, cold punch grazing the side of his face, causing a slight stinging pain. Before the young man's eyes, the soul gem of this aging single woman darkened, and a terrifying creature called a witch was about to be born.
A powerful energy wave, like Gouki's, hit his face, and a deep murderous intent began to envelop the staff room. For the sake of his life, Yuu stepped back, keeping his distance from the teacher on the verge of turning dark, and comforted her softly.
"You're single because you're waiting for someone better—your perseverance is admirable, a beacon for all singles… So, what's this person's request? Will she come to the Service Club after school?"
"Tsk…"
His blatant, awkward topic shift and insincere flattery left Hiratsuka unable to vent her anger or find a proper reason to attack. After glancing at Yuu's weakness, the single female teacher finally swallowed her frustration, reluctantly lowering her fist. "She should. I just told her where the Service Club is—the rest is up to you guys."
Yuu pressed his forehead, speechless. "Sensei, you're such a hands-off boss."
"Brat, what do you know? This is called trusting your abilities, giving you maximum freedom… Since I've made a promise, don't let me down."
Without a hint of shame, Hiratsuka turned to her desk, casually waving Yuu off, signaling he could leave.
Yuu sighed, turning to go, but suddenly remembered something and asked, "Who's the person asking for help? A girl from our class?"
Hiratsuka smirked, a bit gleeful.
"You'll find out. Make sure to welcome her properly with Yukinoshita… And also, go explode, you damn riajuu!"
"So weird…"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Back in class.
Though Yuu knew Hiratsuka's targeting likely had to do with his willingness to join the club, he still couldn't be sure who the other party was.
It couldn't be helped—after all, Yuu had striking looks and a gentle demeanor. Besides Yuigahama Yui, several girls at Sobu High had given him love letters. Any of them could have approached Hiratsuka for his sake… Even the transfer student, Natsukawa Masuzu, might have acted because of the issue with him not wearing her clothes.
Overthinking was pointless, so Yuu decided to set it aside, waiting for answers after school.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the four morning classes that followed, Yuu read through four tutoring handouts, mastering all the problems within and even applying their concepts to other questions. His learning ability and problem-solving techniques improved rapidly.
Then, today, he didn't go to the Service Club but had lunch with Totsuka. The two chatted casually about grades, clubs, fitness, and various tough-guy topics. Amidst the crisp, melodious laughter of the handsome boy, lunchtime passed quickly.
Seeing Yuigahama eating with her friends, Yuu didn't invite her, unsure when she'd come talk to him. The online girlfriend issue, he figured, she still hadn't fully processed.
The end-of-school bell rang, and after the teacher left, the classroom grew noisy again.
"I've got club activities today, so I'll head out first."
"Mm, be careful on your way~"
After saying goodbye to Totsuka, Yuu grabbed his bag, preparing to head to the special building where the Service Club was. But before leaving the classroom, he felt someone watching him and turned to look back.
It wasn't a mistake, nor was it avoidance. In the corner of the classroom, Yuigahama was staring at him, her expression a bit complex—but clearly, she was smiling.
Though he didn't know what was up with her, Yuu felt oddly relieved. He nodded silently to her in greeting, then turned and walked into the hallway.
The autumn atmosphere swept through the corridor.
Today, the Service Club would welcome its first guest since he joined.