The single-use skills had dwindled to fewer than three, and there were no particularly useful statuses or skills, so Yuu skipped over them.
His current permanent statuses were: Muscle Control, Sharp Eyes, Fast Digestion, King of Food, Emotional Transmission, Flash of Insight, and Injury Time.
Later acquired were Acceleration and Ghostly Footwork.
Acceleration had previously been a single-use skill, and now he'd mastered it permanently, so its effects needed no explanation. Ghostly Footwork was also straightforward—whether in games or the real world, as long as he wanted to dodge, there wasn't much that could hit him.
Next were the skills. To avoid being long-winded, the author won't list them in detail, only mentioning a few newly added or evolved ones—
Massage, High Jump, Writing, and Kissing Technique had all Proficient from Expert to Perfect level, and Yuu also gained Equestrianism (Expert Level) and Swimming (Expert Level).
"Speaking of which, there are a lot of redundant skills… Equestrianism came from combining single-use ones too."
His fingers tapped the desk as Yuu sank into thought.
Over these two weeks, although he gained something every time he went on a date with Haruno, the cash rewards had drastically decreased, the frequency of skills and statuses clearly dropped, and he often received skills he already had—
True, Yuu now had four Expert-level skills, but let alone upgrading Expert to Perfect, even the Learning (Expert Level) skill, which was close to completion, hadn't appeared.
It felt like Lady Luck had opened the door for her unlucky child, and the unlucky child had already arrived home.
But Yuu didn't want to dwell on how bad his luck was; he was more concerned about Haruno's attitude.
"The reward level is tied to Haruno's mood. The more satisfied she is, the better the rewards…"
For example, the day he went to the estate to meet her, hundreds of thousands of yen were deposited into his account. But during these two weeks of dates, despite him taking the initiative to kiss her and doing everything a boyfriend should, the money he earned didn't even reach a hundred thousand yen.
The rewards had plummeted—Yuu didn't care about the money itself; he cared about what it meant.
"So, Haruno doesn't actually enjoy dating me? No way… Her acting can't fool me; she's clearly always happy and enjoying every moment…"
His fingers tapped the desk faster and harder, nearly denting the wooden surface.
Frowning, Yuu considered many possibilities, but dismissed them one by one. After thinking for a long time, he remained confused, unable to find the right answer.
"Haaa…"
He let out a heavy sigh, staring at his phone's dark screen, and finally shook his head: "During the amusement park date, if there's still no change, I'll ask if I did something wrong."
A couple's relationship is a process of mutual change and growth for each other. If there's a problem, don't hide it in your heart, or sooner or later, you'll part ways due to an inability to understand each other.
In theory, Yuu considered himself fairly skilled in romance.
After checking the system panel, the computer had booted up. He opened the browser, playing a video he'd cached yesterday.
Then, with a strange smile, he took out something he'd secretly bought today from the drawer and stretched his fingers as if warming up.
"Hmph hmph hmph… As a boyfriend, when doing this, you do need to think of your girlfriend to finish quickly."
Soon, a girl's melodious voice came from the video.
Yuu released the mouse, the cold electronic light illuminating the sly smile on his face.
Swallowing hard, he slowly reached both hands downward…
And picked up a transparent elastic thread, following the video's instructions, awkwardly stringing plastic crystal beads one by one.
"Before the amusement park, I might finish making it…"
This time, Yuu wanted to give Haruno a handmade bracelet.
Though cheap and simple, he wanted this gift to mean more to her than the comb from before.
—Whatever Haruno was thinking.
As long as he could make her smile happily and brightly again, everything he did would have meaning.
With that thought, Yuu unconsciously smiled, his bead-stringing technique growing more proficient.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Around eleven-something, Yuu put away the unfinished bracelet, planning to finish it tomorrow.
After a light pre-bed stretch and drinking warm milk, he prepared to sleep like a baby, leaving no fatigue or stress for tomorrow.
But just as he lay in bed and turned off the light, a knock came at the door.
"Sora?"
Yuu frowned in confusion, calling out: "It's this late—what's up?"
CREAK…
Hearing his voice, Sora opened the door—he usually didn't lock his bedroom door.
Unless Sora's behavior that day suggested a nighttime "attack," or if he planned private activities, locking the door would signal distrust toward Sora, and he wouldn't overlook such a small detail.
"Yuu…"
The silver-haired girl spoke softly, standing alone at the door.
Her frail, delicate body was shrouded in shadow, her expression unclear.
Startled, Yuu sat up from bed: "What's wrong? Why didn't you turn on the hallway light?"
"…"
Sora didn't speak further, instead dragging something in her hand, stepping forward slowly.
After entering his room, she closed the door.
Then, faint but slightly hurried breathing sounded in the quiet room.
No stars or moon shone; the surroundings were pitch black, with only the vague silhouette of the slender girl visible, stepping closer to the bedside step by step.
She dragged something, hesitating, moving very slowly.
The atmosphere felt too much like a horror movie, so Yuu grabbed his phone, turned on the flashlight, and shone it at her.
"Kya! Too bright!"
Sora quickly raised the black bunny in her hands, covering her eyes.
"Meow~ (So bright!)" Yukinon, who had quietly followed, meowed, its pupils glinting brightly in the dim darkness.
Seeing Sora's discomfort, Yuu quickly turned off the flashlight and switched on the desk lamp.
The dim yellow light illuminated the corner of the bed and the sweet girl with the gray-spotted kitten already standing before him.
"What's this? A horror game?" Yuu looked at his sister resignedly.
After asking, he noticed Sora wasn't wearing one of the dozen white dresses in her closet, which she used for both sleep and going out.
Instead, she wore thin silver pajamas that alluringly highlighted her still-developing curves.
Like a silver cocoon shaped into a girl's silhouette, perfectly blending with her soft silver-white hair, she was like the most beautiful painting in the night.
"It's not a horror game…" Sora paused for a moment, then, with slightly flushed cheeks, said firmly: "Yuu, tonight, I want to sleep with you!"
As if undeniable, her pale arms tightly hugged the bunny plushie, making the gray-spotted kitten beside her step back twice.
Seeing Sora's determined, ready-to-go expression, Yuu could somewhat guess she'd say that.
As they grew older, he'd always been careful to keep his distance from his sister… After all, when the thought we're not blood siblings crossed his mind, a siscon could easily make mistakes.
Though he wouldn't act proactively, when pushed, he might not be able to firmly refuse—but if they were both adults, there'd be no issue at all.
What could he do? He was already prepared to support Sora for life.
As long as neither had a partner and marriage was legally allowed, there was nothing wrong with siblings living together.
Yuu had once thought that way, but now, things had slightly changed.
"Come here." Yuu shifted half the bed, saying with a mix of resignation and gentleness, "But I have to say first, I'm really not ignoring you because of her."
"You think that helps? I think so! I feel you are ignoring me for another woman, making me lonely!"
Sora snorted, her mouth still stirring trouble, but her hands and feet quickly crawled onto his bed, tucking herself into the blanket, suppressing her excitement while clenching her small fists.
Yuu didn't notice her reaction, only waiting until Sora settled into the blanket. Then, when she wasn't paying attention, he got off the bed and wrapped her into a long ehomaki roll with the blanket.
Sora froze for a moment, then suddenly struggled: "Yuu! What are you doing! Let me go!"
Lying beside her again, Yuu patted her head, pulling his hand away just as she tried to bite it, then smiled casually: "No way~ Your pajamas tonight are too pretty; I can't sleep unless you're wrapped in the blanket."
"Eh? Really pretty? I spent so long picking it out as… Wait, who's talking about this with you?!"
Briefly delighted, Sora started thrashing and jumping again, not forgetting to try escaping the blanket.
But each time, Yuu watched her with his sharp eyes, then casually tucked her back in.
"I came to sleep! Not to be wrapped into a blanket ehomaki!"
"Right, I've prepared the blanket for you, so sleep soundly… Yukinon, keep an eye on her. If she moves at night, wake me up."
"Meow~ (Yes, Master!)"
"Stupid brother! Idiot brother! Lousy brother! I hate you!"
"I love you so much, Sora."
"Awuw…"
"So sleep well. Tomorrow at six, I need to say good morning to my girlfriend."
"You, you, you… You jerk—!"
Yuu completely ignored Sora's anger, lying outside the blanket, stroking her head, and closing his eyes.
He didn't know when his silly sister would calm down, nor if she'd attack him in the night if she woke up.
He only thought about the amusement park date with Haruno, where he'd give her the bracelet.
And what kind of expression would Haruno show?
"…"
With a smile at the corner of his lips, Yuu slowly drifted off.
Thus, that night's dreams were filled with the beautiful scenes he looked forward to.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Late at night, in utter silence.
The phone screen suddenly lit up, displaying a brief email notification.
{To the rental boyfriend, Mr. Tenkuji:}
{Your client has terminated the indefinite rental contract as of 3:00 AM on August 20. The final payment has been verified and cleared, with a five-star rating. Please review it yourself…}