I Really Don’t Want a Girlfriend Anymore

At the corner of Sanshichome, Odama-cho, stood a veterinary hospital named Aomori.

The rain was loud, and the mirror at the T-junction reflected their silhouettes before blurring under the downpour.

"This is it?"

Following Haruno's directions, Yuu arrived at the animal hospital, rubbing his slightly sensitive nose after getting wet.

Closing the umbrella outside the door, they walked to the front desk. After Haruno said a few words, someone led them to the animal care area in the back.

"A few days ago, I found a gray tabby kitten on the street. Since I couldn't do much, I brought it here for vaccinations, nutrition, and so on."

Taking the meowing kitten from the attendant, Haruno held it to her chest, gesturing for Yuu to reach out and pet it.

Yuu leaned down, looking into the kitten's lively, wide eyes; it meowed cheerfully.

A sudden image flashed in his mind, and he turned to ask Haruno:

"This kitten, was it in a cardboard box under a streetlamp, with a flyer as a roof?"

"Exactly…" Haruno glanced at him, quickly realizing, and smiled with interest. "I was wondering who was kind enough to do that. Turns out it was Yuu-chan."

"Exaggerating. Not as kind as you, who picked it up and took care of it."

Yuu petted the kitten's head, carefully avoiding Haruno's full chest.

"Didn't expect to meet like this…" he couldn't help but mutter.

Just like the two of them.

Strangers who once crossed paths at that corner, now rental lovers "battling" with their lips.

Fate wasn't just a sleeping slave but a series of astonishing encounters.

"I didn't plan to keep it. My family probably wouldn't let me either."

Haruno shrugged, handing the kitten to Yuu to hold.

Yuu deftly caught it, lowering his head as if to "sniff" it—but common sense stopped him. Under others' gazes, he casually scratched behind the kitten's ears and chin.

Honestly, the kitten's contented purring could melt even the thickest snow.

In short, it was very soothing.

"So, what's your plan?"

"My sister loves cats. I thought about using this kitten to tease her… Her fault for renting an apartment that doesn't allow pets."

This time, Haruno reached out to pet the kitten. Her long, fair fingers occasionally brushed or poked Yuu's chest, and when he gave her an annoyed look, she returned to petting the kitten.

"But lately, I've been too busy. It's too pitiful to leave it here, so I wanted to ask if you'd adopt it. I can help get the supplies you need."

After thinking it over, feeling it'd be better to discuss with Sora directly, Yuu said: "I'll go home and ask my sister, then give you an answer."

"If it doesn't work, no need to force it. I have plenty of friends; it won't be hard to find a suitable owner."

Haruno took the kitten back, suddenly looking up at Yuu with a sly smile:

"So, the question is!"

"Huh?" Yuu gave a disgusted look, like what crazy idea do you have now?

Holding the kitten up to her face, letting its innocent, clear eyes stare at Yuu, Haruno spoke as if voicing it:

"Please, what's this kitten's name?"

"One, Yukinon."

"Two, Yunyun."

"Three, Haihai."

"If you answer correctly, I'll call you Yuu-kun. If you're wrong, you call me Haruno—go ahead, answer!"

"…" Yuu paused, looking at the kitten with a strange expression, deciding to be blunt.

"You just want me to call your name, don't you?"

He'd seen this plot in many works—usually a tsundere character's signature move.

So, when did Haruno, this cunning, cheerful woman, turn tsundere?

"Haiz, you're so unromantic!" Haruno peeked from behind the kitten, pouting in mock despair. "You were so cooperative at the mall. Why so much fuss over a name now?"

"As expected, you're just after my body—"

Before Haruno could finish her last sentence, Yuu firmly cut in: "I choose two, Yunyun."

Haruno immediately grinned: "Wrong~ The correct answer is Yukinon! Isn't that name super cute?"

"Pretty cute…"

"You said my name's cute, so you're after Yukino, right?"

"…Enough, is this even reasonable?"

Seeing his exhausted expression, unwilling to even complain, Haruno couldn't resist rubbing her face against Yukinon, humming happily.

"Meow—"

The kitten, clueless, meowed cheerfully along.

Since Yuu hadn't decided, they left Yukinon there for now. Holding the umbrella and walking side by side, they returned to the parking lot under the mall.

After a hectic day, Haruno's stamina seemed drained. In the car, she was quiet, her lips faintly smiling, focused on driving, uninterested in chatting.

Yuu was happy to relax. After closing his eyes for a brief rest, they soon arrived at their usual pickup and drop-off spot.

He took out his umbrella, glancing at the rainy mist outside, deciding not to visit the yakitori stall today—it might not be open, and if he got wet for a few seconds in front of the house, Sora would still kick him to the bathroom to shower.

"Then I'm off, Haruno."

Yuu, as if thinking of something, answered casually while leaning on the steering wheel:

"Hm, see you~"

Yuu opened the car door, reaching for the umbrella's handle to open it.

Suddenly, a tug on his arm pulled him back unprepared. In his wide, shocked eyes, Haruno's beautiful face drew closer.

Finally, no distance remained.

Her long lashes trembled slightly, her wet pupils gazing at him, as if drunk or fully aware; her hot breath brushed his face, her lips swiftly finding their place, silencing the sound Yuu hadn't yet made.

"Mmm… Huu…"

Teeth grazed, tongues briefly touched, but it wasn't the right moment, and they quickly withdrew.

About ten seconds passed before Haruno let go. After a soft gasp, her fingers gently brushed her reddened lips, her cheeks flushed, and she smiled with closed lips.

"Uh-oh, kinda addictive~"

"…"

As if unsure how to react, Yuu's brows furrowed slightly, looking at her with a complex expression.

Under his gaze, Haruno tilted her head oddly, smiling as if she knew everything: "What? If you don't like it, just say so. I'll take any criticism."

Her eyes were gentle, but her smile held a fragile, illusory quality.

The second time, she took the initiative, almost forcefully, a kiss between two people in a rental relationship.

As Haruno said, by all accounts, Yuu had the right to criticize her and refuse to continue the rental contract.

She might be waiting for that here.

Waiting for him to lose patience, stop her increasingly deviant behavior, and reset their drifting relationship to zero.

Haruno knew continuing this was dangerous.

But she didn't want to hit the brakes herself, relying instead on calculated provocations like this question, leaving the choice to Yuu.

WHOSH!

The car was quieter than the rainy night.

Yuu didn't speak, his face expressionless, showing no emotion.

After staring at her silently for a moment, he only shook his head, opened the umbrella, and stepped out, leaving two sentences:

"Drive safe."

"And, the rental period only has three days left. If you want to extend, remember to renew."

The rental boyfriend closed the car door.

Haruno leaned helplessly against the seat, looking up, letting out a tired sigh.

"Ugh… doing this, so immature."

Truly like a sulky child.

This was foolish behavior the usual Haruno would never do.

—So when Yuu left, the lie ended; snow covered everything again, and it all returned to normal.

Rubbing her cheeks, Haruno steeled herself, smiling in the empty car, stretching widely.

"Mmm~ Today was truly unforgettable—"

Her phone suddenly rang. Haruno stopped sighing, picking it up.

"Hello, it's me."

"Next week? Okay, I understand, I'll come…"

"Building rapport…" Haruno unconsciously stared at the small, not-so-great panda plushie on the dashboard.

Twirling her hair, she smiled flatly: "I understand, we'll talk later."

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, host has received reward: Acting (Perfect Level)]

Yuu's steps paused, glancing at the pouring rain beyond his umbrella.

Suddenly, he closed it and vanished into the curtain of rain.