I Really Don’t Want a Girlfriend Anymore

After briefly studying the two statuses, Yuu set them aside.

Single-use statuses would eventually need to be combined into permanent ones; otherwise, they'd be too wasteful—similar to the concept of single pulls versus ten-pull gachas. Ten pulls guarantee something, while single pulls depend on luck.

Next were the skills.

Unlike statuses, he received quite a few skills.

Five single-use skills and three permanent ones—including Kissing Skill (Advanced Level) and Acting (Perfect Level).

And one more: Driving Skill (Expert Level).

Yuu stared at this skill, pausing for a moment.

"Driving skill… is that for the internet or the real world?"

Don't misunderstand—by "internet," he meant racing games.

Since his computer was already on, he immediately searched for a racing game to test it, concluding—

"From now on, I'm also the racing god of Akina?"

Sora, your brother will… drive an AE86 up the mountain to buy tofu from the Fujiwara family!

Sadly, Yuu had no driver's license or car, and his sister didn't like going out, so being able to drive was essentially useless.

No way he'd actually drive for Haruno, right?

"Good thing single-use skills can be combined." Yuu glanced at the five single-use skills, picked three advanced-level ones he rarely used, and tossed them into the system for fusion.

[Would you like to combine the single-use skills?]

Before pressing confirm, he grabbed some clothes and rushed downstairs to shower, then went to their parents' room to light incense, bowing twice solemnly—usually, only he bowed; Sora didn't dare look at their parents' photos and hadn't entered that room in years.

After lighting the incense and showering, Yuu returned to his room, sat on the bed drying his hair, and responded to the system that had been waiting for half an hour.

"Confirm fusion."

[…Fusion complete]

[Congratulations, host has received skill: Animal Language (Advanced Level)]

"…Damn it."

Tossing the towel, Yuu flopped onto the bed, his eyes blank as if shattered.

This skill… useful, sure, but not exciting at all!

Not as practical as writing, only good for communicating with the new family member arriving soon.

Yuu sighed, closed his eyes, and muttered:

"Next time, before opening the fusion page, I should shower first…"

It was all about superstition.

Readjusting his mood, Yuu got up and returned to the computer, searching for articles on cat care essentials and sending them to Sora.

Next, he watched a few episodes of Snow Country, then did some exercise.

Without using muscle control to push himself, he did ten more push-ups than yesterday—a definite improvement.

As a student, he also had summer break homework to finish. He wrote a few pages, but when a message came in, he set down his pen to chat.

Past 10 p.m., good students would usually be asleep by now.

Yuu couldn't help but smile, a bit exasperated.

Today's chat log was filled with Kouichirou's complaints about life.

If Yuu hadn't hinted at wanting to sleep, they might've talked until midnight without repeating topics.

Poor guy, already in college but with no friends to vent to. No wonder Yuu became his emotional dumpster.

Yuu: {Good night, Yuuki-san}

Kouichirou: {Oh, Tenkuji, just call me by my name, no need for formalities. How about I call you Yuu?}

Kouichirou didn't want a junior; he just wanted a younger friend to talk to as equals.

Yuu raised an eyebrow, replying quickly:

Yuu: {Sorry we're not that close yet no formalities is fine but I think Kouichirou sounds too chuuni to avoid misunderstandings so no}

The unpunctuated message gave Kouichirou a headache.

Yuu: {Kidding about that… Call me Yuu if you want, then I'll call you Kou-nii}

Kouichirou: {…Whatever, call me anything. I'm offline}

His tone carried the sadness of a rejected love confession.

Though they hadn't met since that day, Yuu and Kouichirou's relationship had grown closer. They chatted about anime or vented about life, messaging more frequently than with Haruno.

Truly, guys were more comfortable hanging out with guys.

Yuu set down his phone, about to turn off the light to sleep, when an email popped up.

Opening it, the sender was the rental boyfriend agency.

Regarding a request to extend the rental period.

"Oh, it's here?"

Yuu wasn't surprised.

He needed Haruno's rewards, and Haruno needed him to keep up the lie.

From her behavior, one week was clearly not enough—Haruno was only a second-year college student, with two years until graduation, in no rush to get engaged.

Plenty of time to enjoy so-called "free love."

As for what emotional changes might happen during that time… that wasn't Yuu's concern.

He was just a rental boyfriend willing to work hard.

Just a rental boyfriend who'd leave her side once Haruno was satisfied.

"This should be an easy agree… Let's see, switch to a different rental package? Unlimited time… Doesn't this mean free money every day?!"

Reading the agency's explanation, Yuu couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Good grief, this was like a cow sitting on a power line—utterly shocking and full of surprises!

Thirty thousand yen a day, after the agency's cut, even when Haruno was busy, Yuu could lie at home teasing his sister and net fifteen thousand yen daily. Ten days would be 150,000 yen, a month 450,000 yen!

Is this what having a sugar mama feels like? Love it.

But remembering all this money would eventually go to the system, Yuu calmed down. After thinking, he messaged Haruno.

Yuu: {No matter how rich you are, no need to spend like this. The regular hourly package is enough. Besides, I won't take dating requests from anyone but you}

Because the system dictated so.

If the rental boyfriend identity wasn't so hard to cancel, and if Haruno didn't need a legitimate reason to meet him, Yuu might not charge her at all, offering free service for friendship—saying that felt like being a "call girl."

Shortly after sending the message, Haruno replied.

Haruno: {Hush money?}

Pfft!

Yuu couldn't hold back a laugh. He understood both meanings of "hush money" but wasn't mad.

They both knew this rental relationship was starting to stray, mixing lies and truth.

Continuing meant they were ready to stray, even if it meant slowly walking toward an abyss.

As for what Haruno was thinking, Yuu couldn't be sure.

But for himself—as long as the system existed, even that abyss would be a lie.

All he had to do was be Haruno's good boyfriend until then, while being careful not to fall for her.

Yuu hadn't replied about the hush money when another message came.

Haruno: {Good night, Yuu-chan, sweet dreams~}

This time, Haruno took the initiative.

The corners of his lips curved unconsciously. Yuu quickly replied, set down his phone, and flopped onto the bed.

Before the light went out, he said—

Yuu: {Good night, Haruno, sweet dreams}

The long night, the sound of rain fading.

Dark clouds slowly parted, the clear night sky blanketing sweet dreams, as if whispering softly:

So happy to have a summer like this.