The pain in his chest was intense. Yuu unconsciously bit his lip, furrowing his brow as he looked up, facing a gray sky that seemed on the verge of rain.
Yet, the tears ultimately didn't fall from his face.
He held them back, because he had promised to be her hero—and a hero doesn't cry.
[Timeline has been collected.]
[Mission execution period: July 24 to August 25.]
[All interactions established with the target during this period will be reclaimed by the system. Residual effects will be rationally altered to ensure the outcomes remain unchanged, and no one will retain relevant memories, except the Host.]
[Upon completion of collection, the system will automatically return the Host to the real world.]
The image darkened and vanished, replaced by cold lines of text, read aloud by the system's emotionless voice.
"…"
After a brief silence, Yuu suddenly took a deep breath, then slowly lowered his head.
"System, I have some questions."
"Collection process temporarily paused. Please ask, Host," the system replied.
Yuu propped himself up on his knees, standing with a slight tremble.
His eyes were slightly red, but no tears welled up. His gaze, mixed with disappointment and resolve, sharpened as he stared intently at the screen before him.
"Even though I now have someone I like, do I still have to become the boyfriend of the next target after the mission starts?"
System: "Correct. The system's mission execution method is fundamentally like that, independent of the Host's personal will."
"If I have no intention of following your missions, what's the penalty?"
System: "Determined based on the Host's attitude and action plan. If the mission shows no progress for over ten days, time will rewind to before the mission started and will loop until completed."
"Lastly, how do I completely end these missions? Or in other words, how do I free myself from you?"
System: "Collect five Light Stones. The Host can make any wish."
Hearing this, Yuu couldn't hold back a cynical laugh.
"So, I have to be a boyfriend to four more people, be forgotten by four more people, before I can end this bizarre part-time job?"
"The rewards are great—but system, you really don't treat me like a human."
Though his experiences were extraordinary, when it came to relationships, Yuu was, at his core, just an ordinary single guy.
Never having dated, far from a scumbag, he deeply valued feelings and was a true advocate of pure love.
Someone like him wouldn't even visit nightlife districts.
Yet now, despite still liking Haruno and holding all their memories, he had to follow the system's orders, become a stranger to her starting now, flirt with other girls, and do things couples do.
Wasn't this the textbook definition of being forced into prostitution?
One after another, there'd be more to come. The more he liked someone, the greater the suffering that would follow.
But suffering wouldn't solve anything. To move forward, Yuu could only try to forget the pain, get used to the pain, until he became numb to feelings, turning into an emotionless mission-completing machine.
And by then, his heart might already be shattered.
"So, why did you choose me, someone completely unsuited to being a rental boyfriend?"
Yuu's voice was hoarse, his complaints weak and full of dissatisfaction.
"…"
The system didn't respond, remaining silent in this desolate world.
Yuu knew that no matter how much he cursed or lamented, it wouldn't help—the system gave him many abilities but not the power to resist it.
He closed his eyes slightly. Amid his heavy breathing, Yuu whispered, "After the collection is complete, will Haruno no longer remember me?"
System: "Correct. In the altered world, the target will lose all reason to know the Host, naturally becoming a stranger to the Host."
"It can't be restored?"
System: "It cannot be restored, except by using a Light Stone."
"Then what about my memories? Can my memories be taken too?"
The system paused for half a second, then answered calmly, "This task requires the Host's memories, so they cannot be altered."
"Ah, I see."
His voice drifted softly, without any rise or fall in tone.
"Then take away my feelings for Yukinoshita Haruno."
The gray sky faintly let fall small, cold snowflakes.
"If your goal isn't to turn me into a scumbag, this small thing should be doable. Just like in the beginning, let me act not because I like someone, but to gain rewards."
As if a rational monster stood behind him, Yuu stared at the screen with an indifferent expression, without a trace of fear.
"Letting go of my love for her would actually help me conquer the next mission target… System, can you do it?"
"…"
As if performing a massive calculation.
About ten seconds later, the system finally replied: "Confirmed."
"Does the Host wish to relinquish feelings of love for the target? Note: Once relinquished, they cannot be restored."
"Yes," Yuu gave a faint, relieved smile. "I'm a selfish person. Petty love will only hinder my missions—take it."
"Relinquishment confirmed. After the Host returns to the real world, they will no longer have feelings of love for the target."
"Good."
Finally feeling relieved, Yuu sat back on the ground, smiling casually.
He looked up at the empty sky, then whispered again:
"Good…"
Though he hadn't lost it yet, his heart felt like it had a gaping hole, with wind blowing through everywhere.
This, perhaps, was the feeling of heartbreak?
Maybe even the affectionate, regretful, and sorrowful thoughts he had now would soon be taken by that damn system.
So, Yuu still wanted to say it.
To himself, to the system, to the barren world before him, with a smile—
"I once loved someone. She was three years older than me, and her smile was beautiful."
"She had a bad, perverse, hypocritical personality, but behind her layers of masks, she was actually a fragile, romantic girl who would beg for a hero to save her."
"I became her hero, so she liked me and wanted to take our relationship more seriously—her strong, calculated acting was both infuriating and adorable."
If possible, Yuu wanted to tell her one more time: "I'll stand in front of you, be the hero that meets your standards… Your smile, I still want to see it longer."
"From now on, I'll forget my feelings for her; but thankfully, I can't forget the smiles she showed me."
That was something precious, forever kept in his heart, unchanging through spring, summer, fall, or winter.
"I loved her. Her name was Yukinoshita Haruno, a girl who loved to lie."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Come to think of it, is a lie sunlight or snow?
Whatever it is, it will eventually fade…
Fortunately, Yuu still remembered and would always remember.
If so, his meeting with Haruno was not a lie at all.
[Collection completed, world correction completed… Correction canceled.]
[Detected Host possesses status — Injury Time. Would you like to activate it?]
"…Hm?"
Yuu, who had been resigned and ready for the final moment, was startled half to death by the voice. He blinked in shock.
It's been this long—why hasn't it ended yet?