The kiss felt slow, but it was actually brief. After all, Masuzu couldn't hold her breath for long.
"You need to practice your kissing technique more. Even if you can't breathe while kissing, at least learn how to sneak a breath."
Yuu let her go, a smile in his eyes.
"Do you think I'm learning to swim?" Masuzu glared at him. Her flushed, shy face was as beautiful as a flower. "Just you wait. I've prepared a box of cherries. I'll show you the tongue technique I learned from Kakyoin!"
After saying that, her already flushed, fair face turned even redder. She could even feel the heat radiating from it.
"Making a girl say something like that. You really are trash, Yuu."
"It's called teasing, not being trash." Yuu grinned. He pulled her back into his arms, gazing at the star-filled night sky.
Masuzu obediently leaned against his chest, savoring the feeling of being surrounded by his heartbeat and breath.
"Masuzu, how does it feel to start believing in love?" Yuu suddenly teased.
"What I believe in isn't that, but you." Masuzu said proudly. "Love without you has no value to believe in at all!"
"So stubborn…" Yuu smiled wryly. "Fine. You don't have to believe in it at first. As long as I feel happy, it doesn't matter if it's love or not."
(But thinking about it, since this task began, it's been fifty days.)
(Seventeen years of loneliness, and fifty days of love… Is that why she keeps saying she wants to practice her tongue with cherries?)
(Even fate is playing a joke on her.)
"I think so too." Masuzu responded to his earlier words. Her head rubbed against his clothes on his chest, letting out a soft, childish whine. "So, Yuu, if you leave me, I'll go back to being the old me who hates love, you know~"
"Wouldn't that be a waste?"
"Not just hating love, but hating people and life too."
"That's too heavy!"
"Hating smiles, hating happiness, and most of all, hating myself… Hating the me who loves you, hating the me who can't keep deceiving myself."
Yuu sighed in resignation. "This is such a precious moment. Don't say things that ruin the mood."
"I just want you to know how important you are to me." Her voice came from his chest. Masuzu laughed proudly twice, like a mischievous demoness whose plan had succeeded. "I'm exploiting your guilt, putting shackles on you that you'll never escape~ How's that? This is Masuzu-san's tactic!"
Beautiful and bold, cunning and lively. Whether genuine or not, Masuzu as a girlfriend never changed.
Yuu couldn't help but laugh.
"That's terrifying. You really don't want me to leave you?"
"The moment you think about it, I'll die, spiritually." Masuzu suddenly stopped smiling, speaking seriously. "Masuzu is a troublesome and stubborn woman. Are you sure you want to date her? You can still back out now."
"Idiot, it's too late…" Yuu sighed silently. He placed his hand over her eyes, leaning close to her ear. In a soft voice, he said, "I'm sure. I won't leave you."
"Hehehe, good~"
Her serious expression crumbled instantly. Masuzu grinned foolishly, letting him hold her.
"Yuu?"
"I'm here."
"I just remembered, didn't you also have something you wanted to tell me?"
"That… I've already said most of it." Yuu lowered his head, checking his watch. 11:55 p.m. Almost midnight. "The rest, let me think about how to say it to you."
"Hm? You have things you can't say either?"
Masuzu looked up in confusion, but her chest and chin blocked her view, so she couldn't see his expression.
"Don't tell me you're cheating with Dango-chan?"
"Don't be ridiculous. She's my best friend." Yuu gently tapped her head.
"She's my best friend now too… Hmm, I need to change this habit. It's not good to joke about friends."
After muttering thoughtfully, Masuzu suddenly pulled two tickets from her pocket, quietly placing them in his palm.
"What's this?" Yuu looked at the writing. They were couple's tickets to an amusement park. The address was in West Tokyo, quite far from Chiba. "Amagi Brilliant Park… Isn't that the amusement park that's been trending lately?"
"You remember when you came to my place last time? I wanted to give you these tickets then, but I couldn't say it."
Masuzu lowered her head, sighing. Only her ears, peeking through her silver hair, turned red. "What could I do? It's my first time asking someone out. I was scared you'd reject me with something like, We're not a real couple, why go there…"
"Only you would say that."
Seeing her adorable behavior, Yuu couldn't help but laugh. He tucked the tickets into his pocket, storing them carefully.
"Alright. If you still remember this, we'll go to the amusement park together."
"You think I'd forget so easily? Don't get cocky just because you're ranked first."
Her fingers pinched his firm thigh. Masuzu said irritably, "As long as I study seriously, getting first place in school is easy… No. Let's both take first and second. That way, even if we show off our affection at school, no teacher will dare interfere!"
The topic shifted rapidly. Her beautiful, sapphire-like eyes sparkled as if she were planning how to make every teacher and student at school realize how deep their love was.
"Come on. Hiratsuka-sensei might just punch my face with her lemon fist."
Yuu shook his head. He glanced at his watch—11:59 p.m.
Even if he could hold out until 6 a.m., what was the point with only six hours left?
It was enough to take her back to her room to sleep, but not enough to say goodbye to this world—to the beautiful world where he and this girl loved each other.
After tonight, he'd enter a world where he and this girl were strangers. Maybe he'd forget the regret and loss he felt now, like the two times before.
"Masuzu, listen to me."
Yuu didn't think further. He just hugged her again, not letting her see his expression.
Masuzu wasn't suspicious. She only thought Yuu wanted to be affectionate again. She obediently pressed herself against him, letting their body heat clash and rise under November's cold breeze.
The next moment…
"[If you live alone, you need to learn to cook. At least don't just live off jelly—it's unhealthy.]"
Yuu's voice was clear and gentle, as if it wanted to echo in her heart. It carried a strange power that halted Masuzu's thoughts.
Word Bullet—that's what Yuu called it.
"…"
Masuzu froze for a moment. She instinctively tried to look up.
"Why…"
But her movement was gently restrained without pain. She felt stiffness and numbness in certain acupuncture points, leaving her powerless to resist.
"I'm sorry. This is the last time, Masuzu."
Undeniable words came from Yuu's mouth.
"[Listen to me until I'm done.]"
As if her vocal cords were choked, Masuzu could only listen to the gentle yet cruel voice piercing her heart, word by word.
"[Always be confident and proud. Being troublesome is part of your charm. Find friends who suit you.]"
"[There are also family members who care about you. Get to know them well. Don't be bound by awkward personalities.]"
"[It's okay not to believe in love, but please believe in your own heart. Don't take the long, winding path anymore.]"
"[Also, girls should be cautious. Besides remembering to wear safety shorts, don't let guys who aren't your real boyfriend into your home.]"
"[Don't look for fake boyfriends anymore. In this world, there's no one as gentle as me, who's always too soft to take your virginity.]"
Yuu spoke slowly, like the clock's hands moving toward midnight.
He knew how panicked Masuzu was right now. He also knew her heart, which should have been happy, was now filled with anxiety.
Her struggles in his arms grew stronger. He could faintly hear her whimpering breaths, but they were all suppressed in his cold embrace.
Even so, in this final minute, Yuu chose to hurt her.
Just this once. Never again.
He continued:
"[May you one day become strong enough to not need anyone's protection and no longer cry.]"
"[May you learn gentleness and smile at everyone.]"
"[May you see all gains and losses lightly and not overthink them.]"
"[May you learn to be brave and no longer be afraid.]"
"[May you eventually soar high and no longer worry.]"
"[May the rest of your life be peaceful and happy, even if…]"
(…you're alone.)
Yuu smiled and shook his head. He didn't want Masuzu to be lonely.
That kind of feeling, even he couldn't bear it. How could fragile Masuzu find peace and happiness in it?
Yuu took a deep breath and looked up at the moonlit night sky.
The moonlight didn't shine on him, didn't reflect in his eyes. Only the dark sky filled his slightly blurred vision, creating a momentary double image.
Yuu gritted his teeth. His cheeks trembled.
"This is the third time. Why can't I get used to it… This final part, I can't be weak!"
Yuu told himself.
(In front of someone important, even if it's just pretending, I'll be their hero.)
(The most perfect, mature hero, who can even fool himself.)
—Clear Mind Like a Mirror Technique.
His boiling emotions receded like the tide.
A smile returned to the corner of his lips. Yuu lowered his head and released her body.
As her strength returned, Masuzu pushed him away forcefully. Her red eyes looked up in disbelief. Her bloodied lips parted.
"Yuu—"
"[I'm not here.]"
Before her voice fully faded, Yuu showed the brightest, gentlest smile. He looked into her eyes and said softly:
"[So, you have to take good care of yourself.]"
November 11th, 11:59:59 p.m.
As the hour and minute hands aligned, Cinderella would shed her glass slipper, and the magic of happiness would vanish.
His gaze calmed. Yuu thought to himself.
(System, settle the task.)
The next moment.
Masuzu and her tears froze in a gray-tinted world. The night seemed to fall from above, enveloping him completely.
The edges of his vision were quickly consumed by darkness. Yuu only closed his eyes, unwilling to see the vanishing world or the expression on her face, so close, that made his chest ache.
…And so, everything would end.
Before his consciousness blurred, Yuu murmured unconsciously:
"I'm glad I could love you. Thank you for these beautiful memories."
(She can't hear it, can she?)
(Oh well, it's fine.)
(Because this final minute, after all, can't be considered a beautiful memory.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
With his eyes closed, Yuu didn't notice that in this utterly silent world, only one object flew out from his yukata.
The dark green talisman floated in the air. As if an invisible flame burned beneath it, it slowly turned black from the bottom, crumbling into charred fragments that scattered. Finally, those fragments vanished into boundless nothingness.
Only the bright red character for "Misfortune" continued to emit a dazzling red glow until the end. It illuminated Yuu's sleeping face and Masuzu's empty eyes.
Perhaps it lasted only a second, or maybe longer.
As time began to shift, the Talisman of Misfortune completely vanished from this world, as if it had never existed.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"…A familiar sky."
Slowly opening his eyes, Yuu lay on the cold ground. He sighed weakly.
How many times had he come to this world?
Since it was an unimportant question, he was too lazy to count. He only knew he was very familiar with this place, yet there were differences he hadn't noticed last time.
He looked up, gazing at the two suns. Their light was bright, but he felt no pain.
In this empty world, there were things called Light Orbs.
They dispelled the silence of the gray sky, spreading warm light and rain over the cold, desolate ruins. Compared to before, this place was indeed much livelier.
The Sun Light Orb, a gift from Yukinoshita Haruno, filled the world with beautiful sunlight.
The Rain Light Orb, Yuuki Asuna's feelings, filled the world with gentle rain.
"Do I have to keep coming back here…"
The thought suddenly crossed his mind. He even found it amusing.
He wasn't their child. Things like Dragon Balls could just be left here. If he returned, he'd have to give up one of his single-use abilities—such a loss.
Thinking this, Yuu felt inexplicably happy.
It was like coming home after working hard out there for a long time, with someone waiting at the door. Seeing them, his tired, heavy face would slowly break into a smile.
After all, this was proof he'd once worked hard.
"…But that's just my imagination."
Though light and rain mingled, and warm drizzle fell, Yuu felt the two light orbs above were competing. As if they wanted to split the entire sky in two, it made him shiver twice.
(Competing for what? You're both my rewards. You should live harmoniously and work together to create a beautiful scene for this barren world!)
(This isn't about stealing a man!)
He pulled his gaze back with a strange expression. He lowered his head and saw a screen not far away.
"…"
After a moment of shock, his relaxed expression vanished completely. He said nothing, only quietly hugging his left leg, pressing his forehead to his knee.
He let his shoulders slump. The light and rain couldn't reach his face, hidden in the shadows.
[Task settlement initiated.]
Ignoring Yuu's evasive posture, the system's soft yet cold mechanical voice sounded, as if it had been waiting for the right moment.
[Task Objective: Become Natsukawa Masuzu's pretend boyfriend. Show your charm and fill the emptiness in her heart.]
[Task completed.]
[Reward Statistics: Money—7,114,514 Yen.]
[Status—Immunity to Baldness, Vampire Slayer, JoJo Knowledge King, Magic Transaction, Clear Mind Like a Mirror.]
[Skills—Cooking (Perfect Level)… Finance (Expert Level)… Herbal Medicine (Expert Level)…]