The sun slowly sank. The ashen sky gradually turned pitch black.
Masuzu propped her chin on her hand, watching the two of them talk seriously. She felt incredibly bored.
It was oddly dull.
There wasn't a trace of ambiguity like she had feared. They weren't even exchanging secret glances. They were simply discussing acting—one teaching earnestly, the other listening intently.
(Well then, it wouldn't have mattered if I hadn't come, right? Although… I wouldn't have known any of this if I hadn't shown up...)
She shifted her gaze from Yuu's lips to Chizuru's face.
Masuzu's expression grew slightly more serious. She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Chizuru from head to toe.
Her hairstyle wasn't overly complicated. Her clothes were soft, natural, and well-fitted. Her light makeup emphasized a composed aura, though only using the most basic touches.
Amid this blend of femininity and maturity, Chizuru added youthful, cute, and energetic accents with earrings and bracelets—keeping her look fresh rather than outdated.
This university-student fashion sense suited Masuzu's taste far better than the flashy adult styles she'd seen at social events.
Simple and understated, yet naturally highlighting her charm. Forget herself—she wished those wealthy women and debutantes who always overdressed could learn from her.
This is what adulthood looks like...
Lost in thought while silently mocking others, Masuzu completely forgot her gaze was still fixed on Chizuru's face.
Chizuru's previously indifferent expression finally began to shift. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and she occasionally glanced toward Masuzu with uncertain eyes.
"Just ignore her. She's abnormal about 70% of the time."
Yuu tapped his finger against the table. His lips barely moved, voice blending into an almost imperceptible whisper. Though Masuzu sat right beside him, the words didn't reach her ears.
Chizuru blinked. She looked back at him, her expression softening. "That's a bit harsh... Could it be you like her because she's abnormal?"
Though she spoke quietly too, she lacked Yuu's skill. Masuzu, sitting close by, didn't miss the sentence despite being lost in thought.
Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but Masuzu acted as if she heard nothing. She maintained her posture and expression, silently waiting for Yuu's response.
"Maybe. If she were too normal, I'd probably find it uncomfortable."
Yuu sighed resignedly. He didn't notice the unmistakable sparkle in the girl beside him. He continued delivering his flawless acting knowledge in his own words.
"Even though thinking from a character's perspective can bring them to life, it won't maximize their appeal... If you have extra energy, try thinking from the director's point of view, or the character creator's. Consider what you want to show the audience, and what emotions or atmosphere you want to use to influence them. All your prior preparation exists solely to captivate the audience."
"To highlight your performance, don't be afraid to go overboard... You can adjust later. Only once you've learned to grab the audience's attention extravagantly do you earn the right to consider which parts to hold back…"
Perhaps because of his innate desire to teach, or perhaps due to the young woman's attentive, shining eyes filled with determination,
Yuu taught with intense seriousness and detail. He might as well have poured out every piece of knowledge the system ever gave him, along with all his recent experiences, directly into Chizuru.
Of course, words had their limits. It was hard to say how much the other party could absorb and apply.
But that didn't stop Yuu from giving it all. He emptied his entire "Yuu-style Actor Self-Improvement Guide" into Chizuru.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the unbreakable atmosphere of deep discussion, two hours passed quickly.
Their coffee had been refilled twice before he concluded with mild satisfaction.
"This is my final advice, Mizuhara-san... If your goal is merely to pass auditions, and not to amaze everyone with your acting, then everyone at the audition becomes your rival. This competition may even extend beyond acting itself."
"But if your goal is to make everyone unable to look away from your performance—no matter the role, you want to shine brightest—then your only rival is yourself. Acting flaws are your flaws; there's no other factor to blame."
As if reading her mind, Yuu leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Isn't beating one person easier than beating dozens?"
"..."
Chizuru fell silent for a moment. She set down her notebook, tilted her head, and gave a wry smile. "I haven't even mentioned this part yet, and you already guessed it... True, you're also part of this industry, aren't you?"
"Just guessing. I used to read similar web novels often, so I understand... I'm just not interested in getting involved myself." Yuu picked up his coffee cup, realized it was empty, and placed it back on the table.
Chizuru quickly called the waiter to order again, but Yuu stopped her, requesting only warm water instead.
"Well, I won't ask for details. I hope what I said today helps you. I look forward to seeing you on the big screen soon."
"Thank you so much, Tenkuji-san." Chizuru nodded sincerely and solemnly. Her tone unconsciously became more respectful, as if addressing a mentor. "I'll work hard. Even if I don't pass the audition, I must leave the directors impressed by my acting!"
Yuu sipped his warm water, moistening his throat dry from talking so much. Then he said, "By the way, from what you mentioned earlier—you've quit the rent-a-girlfriend job?"
"Yes, my energy is limited." Chizuru sighed. She had no intention of hiding anything and answered honestly. "I have university, acting school, and daily worries about auditions... While the rent-a-girlfriend job let me practice acting while earning money, human stamina has its limits. I had to choose one path to focus on."
This young woman, full of dreams yet often facing failure, wore a cheerful, accepting smile in the face of reality. "If someday I fail an audition and run out of money, maybe I'll return and start from zero again?"
Facing this self-deprecating joke, Yuu merely shrugged and said casually, "Having that mindset—whether you succeed or not—is already a rare experience."
"...Though I'd prefer experience less and become an actress who makes my family proud sooner."
Lowering her head slightly, Chizuru spoke softly. Then, she smiled again as if nothing happened, her tone bright. "Anyway, thank you so much today, Tenkuji-san! Listening to you feels better than reading books for ten years—something like that?"
"Although I can't repay you with anything now, and you didn't accept any teaching fee from me, besides treating you to a meal, there's little else I can do... But if one day I truly get a chance to perform on stage, I hope you'll accept my first paycheck as honorarium."
Yuu replied casually, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Teaching someone turns out to be pretty interesting. The reward isn't that important to me."
Chizuru narrowed her eyes and chuckled like a cat. "Then from now on, I'll work hard not to disappoint my teacher's teachings?"
"No thanks, obaa-san. I'm only seventeen—that's way too heavy." Yuu pretended to recoil in disgust.
Chizuru's forehead twitched. She slapped the table and glared at him, exuding a senior aura. "Who's 'obaasan'!? I'm only twenty! Call me 0nee-san. Or Onee-chan, if you prefer!"
Yuu clicked his tongue shamelessly. "Sorry, I don't have a hobby for roleplay like that."
"It's the truth!"
"The smarter one is the older one. I'm not asking you to call me Onii-chan, am I?"
"That's you who sounds like you're roleplaying!"
Teasing each other, their intimate conversation lasting over two hours had indeed brought them closer.
Compared to their date at the shopping mall, their interaction now felt more natural and relaxed. They spoke like ordinary people without pretense—no hidden agendas or excessive fakery. Despite the age gap, they felt comfortable, as if chatting with a friend.
Noticing the darkening sky, Yuu prepared to say goodbye and walk Masuzu home.
"This is just a small token of gratitude, nothing much." After paying, Chizuru handed each of them a small cake. With slight emotion, she said, "The cakes here are quite good, though I don't know why business is worse than the café next door. But I prefer the taste here... Their blended coffee is the best I've ever had."
"Is that so? The owner would surely be happy to hear that."
Yuu didn't say much. He waved in front of the café, watching the slim, beautiful figure—back straight, carrying an indomitable dream—fade into the bustling city under the night.
Then, he turned and extended his hand to Masuzu, who throughout had behaved exactly like a docile ornamental plant, speaking little.
"Let's go home."
"Home?" As if still dazed, Masuzu paused briefly, then looked at him as if waking from a dream. "Ah, you're going to walk me home, right?"
"If you don't want me to, I can save my energy." Yuu didn't care. He immediately grabbed her cold hand from her side and started walking toward the station. "But unfortunately, I promised you I'd cook porridge for three days, and I usually never take back my promises."
"So now, we'll go to the supermarket first to buy ingredients, then to your apartment to cook porridge, and only then will I go home."
Pulled along by him, her skirt swayed under the streetlights as she stumbled after him with a slightly vacant expression.
"I thought you were just joking…"
"Guess you don't know me well enough."
Masuzu blinked, then teased, "Really? Wasn't your line about liking my abnormality also not a joke?"
Yuu didn't turn. His eyes remained fixed ahead, like gray clouds drifting slowly across the sky. He answered in a calm, emotionless tone, "Yeah, but I don't only like that part."
"..."
Words that meant nothing to him—mere analysis of his feelings—had a massive impact on the girl behind.
Her legs moved robotically. Masuzu stared blankly at the boy's back in front of her. It was as if the city's entire bustle faded away. The warmth in her palm seeped deeper into her heart, and the slow echo of her heartbeat resonated in her ears.
After a while, she murmured softly, "…So unfair. He attacks me at a moment like this."
"I don't feel like I'm attacking anyone."
"Don't you realize how much emotional leverage your words carry with a girl?"
"Ah, maybe. After all, I am fairly popular."
"You damn Yuu, bastard Yuu! Mizuhara-san is your next target, isn't she?"
"Here we go again? Natsukawa-san's jealousy meeting?"
"It's not jealousy! Stupid Yuu, if you want to call someone Onee-san, I'll happily play along with whatever roleplay you want—just as long as it's in the bedroom!"
"That's exactly the kind of line you should save for the bedroom! Can't you see the weird looks pedestrians are giving us?"
"Bad… Really bad… My body's feeling strange too…"
"Hm? Is the Black Dragon Flame awakening?"
"No—the Onee-san side is about to rise... From now on, call me Masuzu Onee-san. Or 'lowly female dog,' I don't mind."
"The difference is way too extreme! M"
"Moments like these—teasing each other, hand in hand, dodging strangers' odd stares—seem destined to stretch endlessly, like an infinite road fading into the distance."
"Stop narrating out loud!"
Her silver hair fluttered. Masuzu suddenly quickened her steps, jumped onto his back, and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Yuu reacted quickly, balancing himself while holding her thighs. Then, helplessly, he said, "Hey, what are you doing in public?"
"Hug~ Hugging you~~ Hugging you as punishment—!!"
"...Second phase, Beka the Wire?"
"Tch, you know it?" Masuzu's voice, previously cheerful like bird wings, suddenly turned annoyed. "You're annoying because your brain's too smart."
"To be honest, your brain's the weird one for remembering villain dialogue like that."
Yuu tilted his head, trying to see her face, but it was blocked by her chest deliberately pushed forward—making him crash right into it.
"Rather than look at my face, just look at my chest." Masuzu declared seriously, as if quoting a famous line.
Yuu rolled his eyes. He didn't respond, simply carried her and strolled calmly amid the strange stares of passersby.
A few moments later, the arms around his neck felt warm and gentle. Masuzu hugged him carefully.
"By the way, Masuzu."
"...Hm?" Masuzu answered in a soft, lazy voice.
"If I'm carrying you like this, aren't you worried your skirt might ride up?" Though Yuu had tried his best to cover it with both hands.
Masuzu shook her head. A ticklish sensation brushed the side of his neck.
"Don't worry. I don't want anyone but you seeing it—and you're not even interested anyway. Lately, I've started wearing safety shorts."
"...I see."
His faintly smiling breath settled upon two sets of footprints, creating a ring of light with soft gradients.