Sora woke up in her brother's arms.
Warmth and happiness enveloped her, making her, who usually loved lazing in bed, even more reluctant to get up.
As she closed her eyes, tightly hugging the blanket wrapped around her body and taking several deep breaths, she heard someone stirring beside her. A few seconds later, the sound of a phone being unlocked followed.
After struggling for a while, Sora finally pulled the blanket down, brushing aside the messy long hair in front of her eyes, squinting her bright-colored pupils, and forming a smile with her thin, small lips.
"Morning, Yuu~"
Hearing the softness in her voice, she felt her cheeks heat up, her already hazy consciousness growing even blurrier.
This morning scene, reminiscent of a newlywed couple, which she had dreamed of for years, had finally come true… Hooray!
Though their positions were a bit off, and there was no ambiguous atmosphere filled with pink bubbles, it was still very warm, and for her, who was still just a sister for now, it was enough!
But after a moment, she didn't hear a response from her already-awake brother.
"Hmph…"
Yawning widely, Sora rubbed her eyes. As her vision and awareness cleared, she sat up slightly with her soft, pale body, looking at her brother's expression in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"…"
Yuu leaned against the headboard, staring at his phone like a statue, motionless, as if he'd even forgotten to breathe.
When Sora called his name again, Yuu slowly turned, offering a resigned smile: "Nothing, just got a message from a friend."
"What message?" Sora furrowed her brows, her gaze turning worried. "Is it bad news?"
"Not really? If it was truly bad, would I be smiling now?"
"Your face is smiling, but I feel like you're crying."
"…" Yuu paused briefly, then suddenly reached out to ruffle her hair, his extended arm blocking her view of his expression.
"Boys don't cry that easily. It's just a small issue, don't worry."
With that, he turned and got out of bed, slipping his phone into his pocket, and said casually: "Go wash your face and brush your teeth, then come down for breakfast. Don't fall back asleep."
"Okay~"
Replying with a long, lazy tone, Sora patted her hair, messed up by Yuu, puffing her cheeks slightly. Her reluctant gaze lingered on his back, her mood inexplicably turning uneasy.
The summer breeze blew in through the slightly open window, but it carried no hint of sunlight.
Instead, it felt like rain, pattering against her body, leaving gray traces of water.
But in the blink of an eye, it all became an illusion again. His back remained upright, and the pajamas he wore were clean, without a single stain.
Yuu's figure disappeared behind the door.
After a moment of thought, Sora sat on her brother's bed, turning to look out the window.
August 20, thick clouds blanketed the sky.
The sky was about to rain, forcing a sense of calm, its scenery heavy and slightly oppressive.
"A typhoon's coming, huh…" Sora muttered unconsciously.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After freshening up, Yuu prepared dinner for both of them, the portions the same as usual.
Though his appetite was low, he still finished his share, and after telling Sora to wash the dishes soon, he went upstairs, grabbed a chair, and headed to the balcony.
There was the outdoor AC unit, dark gray concrete flooring, silver-white railings, and bonsai he'd once left there, now almost all dead.
Setting down the chair, Yuu sat leaning against the railing, gazing at the city streets outside, and let out a slow sigh.
"Rain might fall before noon?" he said softly.
A typhoon was coming; the breeze wasn't exactly pleasant, but it lacked the usual heat and stuffiness.
It was bearable enough.
After getting used to the setting, Yuu took out his phone and reopened the notification sent by the agency.
The four bold words "Contract Terminated" stood out clearly. He browsed the main page of the "rental boyfriend" site and realized he was indeed a "free agent" now. If someone else liked him, they could book him directly.
However, his price had shifted from Beginner to General level, and the review section now had a single five-star review.
[Anonymous Customer 9527: Hired once, great experience, a handsome, caring guy who makes you fall for him unconsciously, highly recommended to book him fully.]
"That girl…"
The corners of his lips couldn't help but lift. Yuu shook his head gently, his mood finally improving a bit.
"Even after saying that, why didn't she keep booking… Such a big liar."
After a moment's thought, he tried messaging Haruno through the website, only to be told "this account has been deactivated."
He switched to calling her number, but the busy tone quickly changed to: "The number you have dialed is currently inactive, please try again later…"
Opening LINE, he tried sending her a few unpopular stickers in a row, all showing "the other party already has this sticker, unable to send"—a way to test if he'd been blocked.
Clearly, if he couldn't send them, it meant she'd blocked him.
Thus, all of Yuu's ways to contact Haruno were useless, and he didn't know where she lived… He couldn't possibly search for her across this huge city.
So, should he give up?
"…"
His gaze lingered on the last line of their chat history. After a long while, Yuu let out a soft sigh.
An unexpected calm.
"The system did give me hints; I just never dared to face them… I always thought it would happen soon, but I didn't expect it to be today."
But it was fine.
If it was about mental preparation, he'd been doing that since the day he combed Haruno's hair.
There was nothing to grieve over, just a slight reluctance… Reluctance that his first love, which had just begun, now had to end.
Something that had to be let go eventually, lasting nearly a month was already great.
Consoling himself, Yuu set his phone aside.
He looked up, gazing at the gloomy, heavy sky despite it being morning, and for some reason, a line from the Manyoshu came to mind:
"Faint thunder, clouded skies, yet I hope a storm comes, so you'll stay. Faint thunder, clouded skies, if you're willing to stay, even without rain, I'll remain here."
Reciting it softly, Yuu pressed his lips together, the corners lifting.
"Though there's no thunder now, the storm… might be near."
What Haruno wanted to do, Yuu could now guess, and he also knew what he had to do.
But…
"Does it really have to end?"
"Can't the lie continue?"
"You always said you were a pitiful girl living in lies, but the deadline hasn't come, yet you're the one rushing to let go of the lie!"
There was no one in front of him; Yuu kept questioning the air, as if venting the dissatisfaction in his heart, though his perfect acting couldn't hide the turmoil in his expression.
But soon, he calmed himself, rubbing his cheeks and steadying his slightly hurried breathing.
Though only he knew, he didn't want to show a pitiful expression like someone just dumped, whining and causing a scene.
—That day, he and Yukinoshita had made a promise.
To continue the rental boyfriend contract until he graduated high school.
He could help cover the costs during that time, and the day before graduation, he'd agree to be her boyfriend, officially starting a relationship with Haruno.
This was Yuu's final delay.
He knew he might not be able to delay that long, but he still had to try… Who knew if the system might actually let him delay for a year or two?
What if, while they remained in a fake relationship, the mission's goal wouldn't be completed?
Yuu didn't want Haruno to forget him, nor did he want to deliberately distance himself from the person he loved, acting cold toward her.
In the end, this was the only way he could use.
Someone sinking in mud, though others might see it as futile struggling, would still move their hands and feet, trying to survive.
He silently gazed at the sky before him, lost in thought for a long time.
"But in the end, I still have to move forward!"
Suddenly, casting aside his earlier lethargy, Yuu stood, flashing a bright smile and clenching his fists to cheer himself on.
No matter how gloomy the weather outside, it had nothing to do with him, who had made his decision and would face everything.
And from now on, he wouldn't pity himself!
What's called a golden spirit—isn't it the courage to accept harsh reality with an open heart when faced with cruel truths and forced to make choices, and the bravery to fight on without giving up?
"Right, I'm a man with a golden spirit too!... Damn, I think Kou-nii's rubbing off on me."
Yuu couldn't hold back a bitter smile. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, his eyes lighting up.
A perfect plan quickly formed. Without hesitation, while carrying the chair back inside, he picked up his phone again and called that man.
As for Yukinoshita Haruno? Forget her for now.
Because now, it was Yuuki Kouichirou's turn!