I Really Don’t Want a Girlfriend Anymore

Their first stop wasn't the clothing store but the restroom. About ten minutes later, they met outside.

Exchanging understanding glances and nodding silently, neither mentioning the earlier "mishap," they casually entered the clothing store on the second floor, ready to claim their suit prize.

Haruno seemed very familiar with the place. After speaking to the cashier and showing a card, the cashier led them to a side room, where they began measuring Yuu's body and taking photos.

"Originally, you could only pick ready-made suits, but I'm a regular here, so they kindly offered to make it a custom order. It'll probably be sent to your house in a week?"

She shrugged: "Of course, since it's a prize, the custom order can only be tailored to your size and vibe, not your preferences."

"I don't mind…" Yuu looked at her, puzzled. "You're not getting one?"

"Of course not~" Winking playfully, Haruno said slowly, "I already have several custom suits at home, each worth ten times this prize."

"So I asked them to combine both prizes into one, so I don't have to take it home and clutter my wardrobe."

"That's so you." Yuu couldn't help but clap at her humble-brag tone. "Well, thanks in advance. Though I probably won't wear a suit until I'm an adult."

"Just in case." Haruno leaned closer, her upturned eyes sparkling.

"I'm really looking forward to how you'll look in a suit. And you can only wear it for me."

"Hey, that possessive?"

Yuu reached out and tapped her forehead, pushing her face back slightly. "You're not allowed to meddle in a rental boyfriend's personal life, or a paid boyfriend's for that matter—it's all on the website."

The person measuring him had stepped out, so he spoke freely about being a rental boyfriend.

"Eh~ You think we're still just an ordinary rental boyfriend-girlfriend after all this?" Haruno widened her eyes in mock shock, then slowly furrowed her brows, her body slumping as she let out two sad sniffles.

"Hic, hic, Yuu-chan's so mean~ After so roughly defiling my lips…"

"Do whatever you want."

Yuu looked unfazed—this woman loved teasing him like this.

"And I wasn't rough at all."

Like flipping a switch, Haruno nodded in agreement: "True, so gentle I want to do it again."

Yuu ignored her.

Hearing the staff call him, he turned toward the cashier.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to say:

"Since you said that, keep the suit for now. Give it to me when you want me to wear it."

Otherwise, a random suit showing up at home would be a hassle to explain to his sister—where it came from, why he bought it. If he didn't have to, Yuu really didn't want to lie to Sora.

Haruno nodded obediently.

"Mmh, then it's time for a Yuu-chan cosplay party!"

"Please don't make trouble."

"Hahaha~"

Standing casually in place, Haruno watched his retreating back, her expression slowly hardening, her eyes glinting with thought.

But gradually, for some reason, even she couldn't explain her reaction.

Like snow slowly touched by sunlight, Haruno smiled faintly but softly.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Leaving the mall, the sky looked ready to rain, the wind blowing fiercely, the air no longer cool but muggy.

They both looked up at the sky, then down at each other.

"We should still have time to get home."

Yuu subtly expressed his wish—hurry and take me home.

Haruno glanced at him amusedly: "What about my umbrella? How will you make up for it?"

Yuu looked at her in disbelief: "You really want to wait for the rain here?"

"What's wrong with that?" Haruno huffed, then suddenly looked up, the corners of her lips forming a mischievous, childlike smile.

"Did you know? Even though my name has '陽' (sun), I'm actually a rain woman, you know?"

A rain woman—someone who, whenever there's an important event or outing, always brings rain.

Of course, it's superstition, but Yuu wasn't tactless enough to call it out.

"So? You're going to shout 'Rain, come!' now?"

"That's too old-fashioned! At least I'd shout like this—" Haruno took a deep breath, pretending to close her eyes solemnly, smiling and whispering softly:

"Now, is it going to rain?"

Her hands clasped together!

One drop, two drops…

A sudden downpour fell, soaking the tips of their shoes under the canopy.

"…"

Unlike the noisy rain, the air between them was utterly silent.

Haruno, hands still clasped, slowly turned, her lips twitching, showing an awkward, dry smile.

"I-I was just talking nonsense… didn't expect it to actually happen."

Yuu smiled understandingly, seemingly with no intent to tease her.

Just as Haruno felt relieved, Yuu suddenly clasped his hands, closed his eyes solemnly, mimicked her pose, and bowed twice to her:

"Please bless me, Miss Rain, so my future dates go smoothly!"

Haruno: "…"

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The July afternoon storm pressed down on the city, as if its sound was the only one allowed between heaven and earth.

Under the canopy, Yuu opened his short, thick black folding umbrella.

Haruno naturally hugged him, skillfully slipping her arm around his side, half her body leaning against him, smiling cheerfully.

"Yuu-chan, want to hear a story about after the rain?"

Her hair curled slightly from the dampness, her eyes shining like a sunny day even in the rain.

But Yuu didn't hesitate: "No, let go of my arm first."

The sunny day slowly turned cloudy.

With a displeased look, Yuu freed his arm from her unauthorized hug, then wrapped it around her slender, soft shoulders, holding the umbrella with that hand.

"That position makes it impossible to walk, and you'll get wet."

"…True, Yuu-chan, you're bold pulling that move." Haruno muttered, then shifted from cloudy to sunny again, standing on her tiptoes, resting her head against his chin, giggling as she asked:

"Be honest, after we kissed, did you secretly start liking me?"

"Wow, that's the first time I've heard such a narcissistic statement."

Yuu's face twitched slightly, answering bluntly without a hint of shame: "I was moved, sure, but it was my first kiss too. Anyone would feel that way."

"So, you still don't like me, right?" Haruno looked at him, smiling, as if expecting a perfect answer.

Pausing for a moment, Yuu considered why she asked.

(Maybe she's worried that after the kiss, I'd mistakenly think I'm in love with her and is indirectly warning me. Our relationship won't change because of a kiss. I won't like you, and you can't like me either. Even if we're getting closer, we can only be an illusion, a lie that'll never become real.)

…That last part was an artistic flourish from his writing skill.

Understanding her intent, as a rental boyfriend, Yuu knew what to say:

"Yeah, not now, not later. Don't worry."

"Hm, good!"

Still like a sunny day.

Haruno smiled, satisfied, suddenly spreading her arms and hugging him tightly, so forcefully that Yuu felt a twinge of pain.

"You're at it again…"

"Don't move, this is a reward." Haruno whispered softly, undeniable.

Her head rested against his chest, letting warmth and softness seep through their thin clothes.

Yuu didn't understand. He could only stand like a statue, letting Haruno, who kept crossing boundaries, hold him tightly.

At that moment, the sounds around them vanished, even the system fell silent.

The rain fell at their feet, the whole city seeming to weep.

"Turns out, today really is a rainy day."