Are You Confident in Your Skills?

Soon after, the luxurious black sedan pulled into the underground parking lot of the "Aomori Sports Center".

"An actual sports center… But why go all the way to the next town?" Yuu asked, puzzled, as he watched Haruno skillfully park the car.

"Aren't there a few in the city center? Why take such a detour?"

"For safety." Haruno replied casually, "Some of those sports centers have business ties with my family. It's easy to run into someone I know, and it'd be awkward if it got reported."

Yuu paused for a moment. "Your family's that strict?"

"Just during certain times." Haruno shrugged, not intending to elaborate. Once the car was parked, she unbuckled her seatbelt.

Yuu pretended he hadn't asked.

Big family matters had nothing to do with him—he was just an emotionless miner.

As for Haruno, she only wanted a playmate… or rather, a toy, to accompany her through this phase of "free love". Naturally, she'd try to keep this man from entering her real life.

A relationship built on lies had to stay distant from each other's truths—that was their mutual understanding.

If Yuu and Yukino didn't both attend Sobu High, Haruno probably wouldn't have brought up her sister on her own, right?

"Come on, get out. I need to change in the restroom first."

Opening the trunk, Haruno pulled out a duffel bag. After Yuu got out and closed the door, the car locked, and she turned and walked away briskly.

Yuu followed behind, and they took the elevator to the first floor, parting ways in front of the restrooms.

Washing his face to ensure he no longer looked sweaty and disheveled, Yuu exited the men's restroom, planning to wait for her in the rest area outside.

Another man sat on a long bench, likely waiting for his girlfriend, occasionally glancing toward the women's restroom. When he saw Yuu approaching, he smiled and nodded.

Yuu nodded back, sat down, and started scrolling through his phone. Neither had any intention of chatting.

Idly browsing photos of pretty girls on Twitter, Yuu experienced for the first time the feeling of a boyfriend [waiting for his girlfriend to use the restroom, change clothes, touch up makeup, and play on his phone, unsure how long he'd have to wait].

Maybe after getting used to it, he'd be like the guy next to him, ready for a "long war" and not anxious at all?

"Kept you waiting long~"

About ten minutes later, the beautiful black-haired woman emerged from the women's restroom.

Her soft, medium-length hair was tied into a single ponytail, and her snug white sportswear accentuated her stunning figure. Her flawless, milky skin glowed with a healthy pink flush.

Her smile was bright and genuine, like the morning sun breaking through the night, illuminating everywhere she passed.

"This outfit's much more comfortable. Suits make it hard to breathe~"

Haruno tugged at her collar, revealing her elegant, slender collarbone, both delicate and alluring.

Yuu stood, ignoring the envious glance from the man beside him, looked down at the duffel bag in her hand, then turned away as if nothing happened:

"Since you've changed, let's go."

"Okay, I'll lead the way~" Haruno flashed a sweet smile, approaching in her branded sneakers and casually handing the duffel bag to him.

Then, as if she'd done nothing, she walked ahead cheerfully, saying: "I thought you'd offer to carry it, but you pretended not to see… Yuu-chan, that could cost you points, you know?"

She proudly flaunted her unfair "Haruno Points" grading system, confidently threatening to deduct his score into the negatives.

"I just forgot, it wasn't on purpose."

Unable to dodge, Yuu reluctantly carried the slightly heavy bag, saying resignedly: "Even if it's fake, I'm still your boyfriend. I don't need to deliberately flirt just to hang out, right?"

"Huhu, who knows?"

Haruno half-turned, glancing back at a 45-degree angle, her lively eyes glinting mischievously as she grinned at him.

"Maybe you were thinking: 'Hmph, if I act clueless and dense, this pretty lady can't use me as a tool! Right, even as a rent-a-boyfriend, I firmly refuse to carry bags!' Then, secretly cursing my ingratitude, you grabbed my old clothes and followed me reluctantly."

Mimicking his voice in a rough tone, she seemed amused by her own poor impression, her eyes brimming with mocking delight.

Unable to find a counterargument, Yuu was speechless, only managing a strained sigh:

"…You look pretty good like this."

"Wow, thanks~" Winking, Haruno feigned surprise, then adopted a "senior" tone to lecture him.

"But you know, words like that are better said the moment you see someone—it feels more sincere!"

"…Got it, I'll remember the lesson."

Yuu sighed, feeling the duffel bag in his hand grow heavier.

"Pfft!"

Within a volume few could hear, Haruno's laughter was unrestrained.

"Hahahahaha! You look so reluctant, you really can't do this, Yuu-chan~"

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, host has received a reward: High Jump (Proficient Level) once.]

(…I think I'm doing just fine.)

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Yuu stored the duffel bag in a paid locker, then Haruno dragged him to the counter to handle procedures.

After buying daily passes for all the facilities in the building—paid for by Haruno—they began discussing which place to visit first.

Naturally, Yuu, as the companion, had no say. Haruno quickly and unilaterally decided the route, following the map to explore each floor.

The sports center had five floors, each with two or three different activities, like swimming, shooting, fencing, archery, martial arts, billiards, golf, and more. Almost every sport was available here—trying them all might take more than a day.

Realizing this, Haruno revised her plan, prioritizing the activities she was interested in, saving the rest for later if there was time.

"Hmm, no swimsuit for swimming, scratch that… No mood for fencing or martial arts, scratch those…"

Frowning slightly at the guidebook, Haruno thought for a moment, glancing at her daydreaming rent-a-boyfriend beside her, waiting for her decision. Suddenly, something clicked, her eyes sparkled, and she said with a smile:

"Yuu-chan, are you confident in your skills?"

"Huh?" Yuu snapped out of it, turning to look at her with a strange expression. "…What skills?"

Was it appropriate to ask him that in public?

"This! Don't get the wrong idea."

Haruno waved the guidebook introducing the building's facilities, one hand on her hip, accentuating her chest's curves, eyeing him up and down with interest.

"Though I don't train much, in most competitive sports here, aside from pro athletes, basically no one can beat me."

"Ahem, I see…"

Clearing his throat to dispel the awkward misunderstanding, Yuu nodded vaguely, wondering in his mind what her point was.

"So, you want to challenge me to a skill-off?"

"Smart!" Haruno clapped twice, her black ponytail swaying, her eyes brimming with a smile.

"Exactly! Playing together is more fun with some competition!"

"So, what do you say? Up for the 'Twelve Trials of the Great Hero'?"

Yuu was utterly confused: "Twelve Trials… of the Great Hero?"

Clearly, Haruno was spouting nonsense again.