It was indeed fast. After Masuzu led Yuu out of the school building, she turned left and right with ease, smoothly arriving at a quiet, secluded spot near a small grove—successfully ditching all the onlookers eager to witness the drama.
Yuu stared at her with a skeptical look.
"Transfer student?"
"I only know this route. I've been here nearly a month."
Without a trace of guilt, Masuzu casually turned around and faced him.
"Tenkuji-kun, this should be our first real conversation, right?"
Yuu replied flatly, "If we don't count the two times we passed each other in the hallway and in front of the special building yesterday, then yes—this is our first."
"Your memory is impressive." Masuzu smoothed her long silver hair, smiling brightly and slightly shyly, showing off her girl-next-door charm. "I like that about you, Tenkuji-kun."
The moment those words finished, the wind rustling through the trees suddenly stilled. Silence blanketed the two teenagers standing face to face.
"...So, did you really come here to confess to me?"
Yuu spoke first, showing no surprise.
"Yes. I suppose you've already guessed that, just like everyone else." With a cheerful smile, Masuzu smoothly delivered her lines. "I like you. Be my boyfriend."
"Reasons?"
"Someone doesn't need a reason to like another person... Hmm, but I guess you wouldn't believe me if I said that." She placed a finger on her soft, moist lips, tilted her head slightly, and pouted as if deep in thought. "Where should I even begin~?"
"Every time I greeted you, every time you saw my panty, and when you played the piano on stage... Ah, there are so many reasons I like you~."
She turned away bashfully, gazing up at the sky filled with white clouds, letting out a soft huff. "Is that enough? Oh my, making a girl say things like this… Turns out Tenkuji-kun is that cruel!"
"I don't know about cruel or not, but I clearly didn't see your panty at the time."
Ignoring her over-the-top act, Yuu refused to admit to something he hadn't done.
Masuzu turned back in mock shock. "Oh? So now you're saying I'm some perverted woman who doesn't wear panty under her skirt?"
Yuu frowned slightly. "...I didn't say that. Maybe I just happened to see it by accident."
Masuzu crossed her arms in front of her chest, denying it without hesitation.
"The wind blew it up that high—how could you not have seen it? And back then, I even asked you to keep it a secret. No matter how you look at it, the odds that I wasn't wearing any are way higher!"
"..."
Is this girl insane?
Yuu pinched the bridge of his nose, too tired to argue further. "Fine. So were you really a perverted girl not wearing any panty?"
The corner of her lips curled into a victorious smirk, then she shook her head. "No. I was wearing panty that time—but you didn't see it. I'm just protesting the principle of the matter. I hope you don't misunderstand."
Yuu said expressionlessly, "I don't care whether you wear panty or not. I hope you don't misunderstand either."
"Really?"
Suddenly, Masuzu lifted her skirt, revealing the smooth, firm upper part of her thigh.
"There's no one around anyway… Would you like to… reenact that scene?"
As she said this, she winked at him, her moist eyes brimming with temptation and seduction.
Unfortunately, the man standing before her, despite still being a virgin, had far more experience in such matters than she did.
"If I had the time, I wouldn't mind." Yuu said, no longer playing along. "Unfortunately, I have club activities. If you have business, just say it directly. Stop beating around the bush."
The calm wind resumed its passage through the leaves. Amid the dancing shadows, the girl's lips slowly curled upward.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Her tone still sounded pitiful, but Masuzu's expression shifted—her smile turned cold and sinister.
Yuu stared straight at her, completely unfazed by her sudden shift in demeanor, as if she'd just dropped her mask. He spoke calmly.
"What's your goal in deliberately creating rumors about us in public and confessing to me without a shred of sincerity?"
"If this is just a joke, I have no intention of wasting more time with you."
Masuzu covered her mouth with her hand, giggling softly.
"Scary~ You're the one who caused a sensation at the club fair and stood up to the Snow Princess. Yet when facing a beautiful girl like me, you feel no love at all and act so unfriendly..."
Her voice suddenly dropped lower. She brushed her shoulder-length hair aside, her smile turning slightly self-mocking.
"You knew all my lies from the beginning, didn't you?"
"Even without watching your terrible acting, anyone with half a brain could tell you had ulterior motives."
"So… was it fun watching me act like a clown?"
Yuu couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're the one who came looking for me. Instead of thanking me for not exposing your lies in front of everyone, you're blaming me?"
That really was no different from a clown.
"You're right. That was rude of me."
Surprisingly, Masuzu placed both hands in front of her chest and bowed honestly, admitting her mistake. "Thank you for your gentle protection, Tenkuji-kun. I sincerely apologize."
Then, sincerity and sarcasm blended seamlessly in her voice.
"I shouldn't have doubted that you were secretly mocking me, thinking I was a slut, a cheap woman, a naive girl chasing men, or even the queen of Shinjuku's nightlife counting her conquests."
The moment those words ended.
Something far more unsettling than the usual Masuzu seen at school slowly seeped out from her.
Yuu's lips didn't move, but his eyebrows twitched twice.
"No, I didn't think you were that bad... By the way, was that last one a real thing?"
"So you actually said it? Tch. You're such a petty man."
Straightening up quickly, Masuzu sneered arrogantly.
Yuu pretended to turn away. "...If you don't get to the point soon, I'm leaving."
"Don't be in such a rush. Aren't you the type who enjoys the foreplay?" She casually delivered the vulgar joke, ignoring Yuu's disgusted expression, and gazed up at the clear, bright evening sky.
"This story is long—"
"Then shorten it."
"I was talking, can you shut up for a second?" Masuzu glared at him. After Yuu shrugged indifferently, she continued. "I'm very popular, Tenkuji-kun surely understands?"
"Since school started about twenty days ago, I've received a total of thirty-six confessions—invitations, ambushes, love letters slipped into my bag… I've experienced every possible way someone can confess."
"That must be exhausting." Yuu commented emotionlessly.
"Exactly." Masuzu sighed resignedly, her expression calm, confident but not overly narcissistic. "Though to outsiders this seems like a luxurious problem, for someone living it, being too popular isn't a good thing."
"After your experience this morning and just now, I'm sure Tenkuji-kun understands exactly what I mean."
Seeing Yuu nod, Masuzu smiled in satisfaction, twirling her long silver hair around her finger.
"Talking to an intelligent person is easy. So I'll get straight to the point."
"I don't want to be trapped anymore in this tragic life of being chased by countless suitors and constantly receiving confessions. What I need is a fake boyfriend—one who won't take this fake relationship seriously, someone who can help me live a peaceful, respectful daily life at school."
"After long observation and evaluation, Tenkuji-kun… you're my best candidate. There's no one else but you."
Masuzu's tone turned sincere again, like a carnivorous flower releasing sweet fragrance, luring a hungry insect into its trap.
"So, I formally submit my request to you once more—"
As she spoke, the elf-like girl stepped closer. Her deep blue eyes, now dangerously close, locked onto his. Her lips slowly exhaled a soft, tempting breath.
"Please… be my shield… no, be my boyfriend!"
Yuu: "..."
Is this girl actually serious in asking for help?
Before he could say anything, the system panel, as if perfectly timed, suddenly appeared.
「Explanation: Mission has begun.」
「Become Natsukawa Masuzu's fake boyfriend, showcase your charm, and fill the emptiness in her heart! Rewards will be given based on the host's performance.」
「Mission end time: Unknown.」