After finishing lunch and spending an hour preparing the ingredients for the evening and setting all the spices on the kitchen counter.
Yuu prepared to visit his girlfriends.
Because some things were better said in person, and to easily provide comfort through physical contact when emotions ran high, he didn't use the most time- and energy-efficient video call. Instead, he called first, then arranged a meeting.
On a winter afternoon, the sky was clear, and the snow had melted under the sun. Trains had also long since resumed operation.
Although it wasn't yet a night full of bright lights and colors, the streets were already bustling.
After all, most schools officially announced the start of winter break today, and this was Christmas Day, a day when many men and women danced with joy. Everywhere, young couples were seen holding hands, strolling, and displaying affection fitting the atmosphere, forcing other single pedestrians to avoid them and send distorted envious glances behind their backs.
Perhaps only shop owners holding Christmas promotions would welcome couples who were already intimate this early in the afternoon.
Yuu walked past the crowd of couples like an oddity, appearing relaxed and unconcerned by the ubiquitous high-level hormonal congregation.
In fact, to be honest, they were the ones who should be envious of him.
He had enjoyed three one-on-one romantic relationships, and had openly dated two beautiful girls at the same time, and now he was going to expand his business, re-gathering his ex-girlfriends to date—
In terms of romantic experience, perhaps no one in this city could surpass him.
Though this was absolutely nothing to boast about... If he could, Yuu wished his romantic journey could be simpler.
Unfortunately, he couldn't go back and repeat it now.
Yuu dared to guarantee that if it weren't for the system forcing him to provoke girls, following the normal stages of introduction and getting to know each other, he definitely wouldn't be flirtatious, but rather loyal to the girl he liked most first.
Yes, he was fundamentally a faithful good guy!
Walking while unashamedly boasting to himself all the way, at 2:50 PM, Yuu arrived punctually at the Star**k coffee shop located two hundred meters from Chiba Station towards the shopping street.
As soon as he sat down, he saw a beautiful girl step into the coffee shop, looking left and right for something.
Yuu raised his hand high: "Yuuki-san, over here."
Immediately noticing his presence, Asuna hurried over, an apologetic expression appearing on her beautiful, lightly made-up face.
"Sorry, I'm a little late."
Her princess braids were neatly arranged by the side of her head, her long chestnut hair fluttering behind her, as if absorbing all the light in the coffee shop, emitting a soft and beautiful glow.
Even thick winter clothes couldn't conceal her perfect figure, with proportional curves. Beneath a calf-length white fur skirt, tight white stockings encased her small ankles, which, along with simply patterned sneakers, formed the unique style of a girl who was cute yet didn't lose her maturity.
With light footsteps, a rich and fresh fragrant aroma swept across half the coffee shop, attracting all the gazes of the men she passed.
Then, the chestnut-haired girl with a gentle and elegant aura smoothed her skirt, and sat gracefully in front of the handsome young man.
Thus, sighs of disappointment fell, and disappointed gazes were immediately withdrawn.
"You're already very punctual, only about fifteen seconds late compared to me."
Yuu smiled gently. He hadn't gained satisfaction from others' envious reactions for a long time, so of course he didn't care at all.
"But are girls nowadays used to arriving ten minutes early for appointments? If so, it seems next time I'll have to come twenty minutes early."
And then keep competing, to the point where everyone has to arrive at the meeting place at dawn with sleeping bags... Is this the demon of courtesy?
"Only I personally have the habit of arriving early, not all girls are like that."
Asuna smiled politely, brushing her bangs with a finger, her long and curved eyelashes trembling slightly, as if secretly observing him under the guise of tidying her hair.
"Hearing Tenkuji-kun's tone, when you met Yuigahama-san... did she also arrive ten minutes early?"
Yuu shook his head, saying with a slightly wry smile: "No, she's the one who's more often late... Although, since we started dating until now, we haven't had a serious date."
"Eh? Really?!"
Asuna was surprised, her eyes widening, then she quickly calmed her slightly exaggerated expression. She cleared her throat in an attempt to cover up, then suggested with a serious expression: "Tenkuji-kun as her boyfriend, that's not good! You should be understanding towards your shy girlfriend, take her out often, even if it's just a walk in the park or a nearby tourist spot, otherwise, feelings can slowly cool down."
"I know, it's just that too many things have held me back, so there's no time to take her out." Not talking much about this, Yuu pushed the menu on the table towards her. His attitude, just like Asuna's, maintained a distance like ordinary friends.
"Order whatever you want, it's my treat today."
"Hehe, then I won't be shy~" Generously accepting the menu, Asuna pretended to seriously examine it up and down, looking like she would order many things to extort him, but in the end, she only ordered a limited edition apple-flavored Caramel Latte, 693 yen including tax.
Yuu, of course, ordered black coffee as usual. After ordering two slices of light cheesecake, he shifted his gaze to the chestnut-haired girl in front of him, suddenly asking bluntly:
"Did you encounter any strange people when you went out?"
"Strange people?" Asuna tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a bit of confusion, "Before going out, I greeted my older brother who had just returned from the dorm after gaming all night and was about to sleep, and then... hmm, only him. What about him?"
Yuu's eye twitched slightly.
(Good job, so Nii-san is in the 'strange people' category in your eyes?)
(The strangest thing is, I feel this is perfectly reasonable and I can't argue with it at all...)
He glanced at the seat diagonally behind them, let out a faint sigh, and said with a bit of helplessness: "It's nothing... I hope he can sleep soundly, so there won't be a day where he stays up so late he can't see the sun tomorrow."
Knowing that Yuu's relationship with her brother was probably closer than hers, and the two were more like close friends who liked to tease than senior-junior, Asuna didn't mind the seemingly cursed remark, instead nodding in agreement.
"I've advised him many times, but not only does he not listen, he even asks me to keep it a secret from Mom..."
She sighed with a worried expression, propping her cheek: "Hah, next time I'll just let Mom pretend to go out, and then wait at home until Nii-san, who stays up gaming, comes home."
"Ahem ahem, that would certainly be a great surprise."
Yuu coughed awkwardly, precisely at the same time as a coughing sound came from nowhere, as if choking on saliva.
Because all her attention was on Yuu, Asuna didn't notice anything strange. Her clear and bright brown eyes were full of doubt, reflecting Yuu's face.
"Tenkuji-kun, why did you suddenly ask that?"
"Of course I'm worried if such a beautiful friend is being followed by suspicious people... Anyway, it's good that there isn't. I believe you'll also pay attention to your own safety."
Yuu shrugged, casually shifting the conversation back to the right track: "I asked you out this time, mainly because I have a few questions I want to ask you directly... This is a bit sudden, I hope it's not bothering you."
"Don't worry~ After supplementary classes this morning, I actually wanted to invite a friend out for some fresh air!"
Asuna said with a bright smile. But then she suddenly remembered something, and frowned slightly with a hint of worry.
"But not bringing Yuigahama-san, is that really okay?"
"Even though you said you told her, but meeting someone of the opposite sex on Christmas Day, I'm worried that even if she doesn't say it, in her heart she'll feel uneasy... Don't underestimate a girl's sensitive feelings."
She looked at Yuu, saying with a very serious expression:
"Girlfriends, once their boyfriends aren't by their side, they'll easily overthink things, becoming anxious and suspicious!"