"Here… is…"
As his consciousness returned, Yuu instinctively opened his eyes. His wary gaze swept around, but he froze.
This was clearly not reality, nor any place he recognized.
…Perhaps it wasn't even the world he knew.
"Another world?"
The unanswered question fell to the ground. He clenched his fist, confirming he wasn't dreaming, then looked up, observing his surroundings more carefully.
At first, he thought this world was empty.
But that was just an illusion caused by the desolate atmosphere enveloping him.
Gray ruins stretched before him like a chessboard. Strange particles like dust floated in the air. The sky was dark and lightless, its color deeper than an overcast day but far from the darkness of night.
Like a city rebuilt and then razed, stripped of anything that could move, it stood there hollow.
And Yuu stood alone in this silent, cold world, looking around.
"Like staring at snow too long causes snow blindness, staying here too long would definitely cause depression."
He immediately gave that assessment, breaking the oppressive, uncomfortable silence by muttering to himself.
Looking down at his clothes, Yuu sank into thought.
"My clothes haven't changed, but my bag and keys in my pocket are gone… Was my soul transported here? Or did it just remove unnecessary items, not wanting me to be naked…"
He mumbled softly, then tried calling, "System?"
The moment he spoke, the ground in front of him suddenly bulged.
Yuu instinctively stepped back. The next second, a large LCD screen burst through the concrete, bringing dust and falling bricks, then stood slightly tilted before him.
"What the heck…" His cheek twitched slightly, and before he could finish, a female electronic voice came from the screen:
"This is the System Space, detached from the timelines of all worlds. Only after completing a mission and entering the settlement phase can the Host enter this space in spiritual entity form."
Yuu was shocked from morning to night.
"Damn it, you dog system, you can talk too?!"
(And using Hatsune Miku's voice. Is it afraid I'd lose it and smash the screen, so it's using this to calm me down?)
Snowflakes flickered on the pitch-black screen. The cold yet melodious female electronic voice quickly responded: "First mission completed, system has gained voice function and basic response intelligence."
"So, you weren't pretending to be mute before?"
Yuu dropped his shocked expression. After pondering for a few seconds, he asked seriously: "In that case, can you turn into MIKU? I'm not used to talking to a screen."
The electronic female voice met his hopeful gaze: "Next feature will unlock after the next mission is completed. Please continue to work hard, Host."
"Damn, so that's the pattern." Yuu clicked his tongue, then sat on the ground, looking at the snowflake-filled screen, his fingers tapping the hard concrete floor.
"If you can answer, can you tell me where you came from, what your purpose is, and why you chose me?"
The three classic questions of a system host. Though he knew they were largely meaningless, he asked them as a formality.
"This data has been lost; the system cannot answer."
"Hm?" Yuu blinked in surprise, but before he could ask further, the snowflakes on the screen suddenly vanished, replaced by an image.
Him and Haruno, when they crossed paths at that street corner.
Yuu fell silent, his fist at his side unconsciously tightening.
"Mission settlement initiated."
The system announced on its own.
"Mission objective: Become Yukinoshita Haruno's rental boyfriend, fulfill her wish."
"Mission completed."
"Reward statistics: Money — 4,784,932 yen."
"Special — Level Up."
"Status — Muscle Control, Sharp Eyes, Fast Digestion, Eating King, Emotion Transmission, Enlightenment, Injury Time, Acceleration, Ghost Movement, High-Speed Resistance, Quick Recovery."
"Skills — Acting (Perfect Level)… Kissing Technique (Expert Level)… Learning (Proficient Level)…"
"Usage time: 33 days."
"Settlement completed."
"Congratulations, Host, you have received the reward: 'Yang Light Stone.'"
"Next target has not been selected; please wait patiently for instructions, Host."
The system's voice stopped here.
Then, the image on the screen began to play.
Scenes he shared with Haruno flashed before his eyes like a slideshow.
"…"
Got it, this means he's supposed to recall the beautiful days he's lived through, right?
Heh, this system is really kind.
The corner of his lips twitched. At that moment, Yuu felt a 1000% urge to smash the screen.
But watching those bright smiles one by one, his clenched fist gradually loosened, turning into an almost inaudible sigh.
Like an old man opening a photo album to reminisce about his youth, he sat cross-legged on the ground, letting the images flash by with his memories.
Starting from their first meeting.
—In front of the Hachiko statue in Shinjuku, their conversation at McDonald's getting to know each other, and her sulky expression when they parted.
Yuu smiled and said, "Really, who talks like that to someone they just met?"
—The second meeting, pleasant conversation in the car, six tests to deepen their bond.
Yuu was a bit resigned: "So back then, you already had hopes for me as a 'hero'?"
—The date at the mall, the first battle in their spicy journey, their first kiss on stage.
Yuu's smile slowly faded, sighing: "A really dramatic first kiss… Maybe you actually started liking me from then?"
—Sharing an umbrella in the rain, a spontaneous kiss at the vet clinic, and a promise to help her to the fullest.
Yuu scratched his cheek: "Back then, I already liked you, didn't I? I was just fooling myself with my acting."
—A pause in their spicy journey, a feeling stretching 131 kilometers because of one message.
Yuu lowered his head: "The reason was simple—I just didn't want you to feel lonely… Too bad you probably wouldn't think that."
—Confessing their feelings, selfishly extending the rental, and parting without farewell on that stormy morning.
Yuu sighed: "So in the end, did my perfect-level acting fool you? Or did you just not want to call me out anymore?"
—The reunion in front of the amusement park, a date full of sweetness and happiness, a radiant smile shining like a galaxy.
Yuu smiled contentedly: "What I wanted to see, and want to keep seeing, is the smile that comes from the depths of your heart."
—Running from reality, the roaring night breeze.
And her warm confession that entered his heart, enough to melt the accumulated snow.
"Haruno, I like you too… Thank you for giving me such happy memories."
Finally, Haruno waiting for his return at the inn appeared on the screen.
In the empty room alone, her bath towel loosely draped over her body. The girl leaned against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.
As if thinking of someone important, though her eyes showed anxiety, her smile remained bright and happy, like every sunny day when he was there.
Separated by a screen, as if separated by an entire world.
Yuu and Haruno locked eyes. His once calm and gentle expression began to crack, his voice hard to maintain.
After a moment, his cheek twitched stiffly.
Yuu slowly forced an awkward smile and said with a slight tremble:
"Sorry, I lied… Forgive me, Haruno."
But truly, thank goodness.
Though it sounds selfish, truly, thank goodness.
—Until the end, your face was still adorned with the smile I love.