Just Know a Little

Yuu noticed something interesting.

The system seemed to be targeting Haruno—or, more precisely, the "trials" she suddenly initiated today—deliberately granting rewards.

For example, after winning the shooting competition, the system gave him the Billiards (Expert Level) skill.

Shortly after, Haruno pointed to the billiards area, saying confidently:

"Next, let's compete in that!"

"…"

(Is this what they call falling into your own trap, or is it all just fate?)

Yuu didn't understand, and he was searching for answers.

Their footsteps moved one in front of the other, the once-relaxed atmosphere turning serious at some point, as if they were entering a battlefield.

They didn't talk much or glance at each other's expressions, both silently pondering things related to the next "trial."

Haruno was thinking about how to win this match perfectly.

Yuu was wondering if the system was helping him cheat like this.

First shooting, now billiards… Could it be that every time he beat Haruno, he'd gain a permanent skill for the next match?

If he didn't defeat Haruno six times here, the mission wouldn't be complete, so the system was providing this much help?

It was like playing a game where each event grants a key item to pass the level.

(Better not go down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole…)

Yuu decided to shift his mindset.

If nothing unexpected happened, with the terrifying effect of expert-level skills, he could at least gain six free skills and completely extinguish Haruno's arrogance, so she'd stop looking at him with that mocking gaze.

(Should I be happy now? Hooray, today's my lucky day—six straight wins, ready for a promotion! —Is that it?)

"…Huu."

His thumb gently pressed his brow, Yuu closed the system panel expressionlessly, staring at Haruno's back.

Her soft black ponytail swayed lightly like tassels at the end of July, fluttering in the breeze by a pond.

He could almost see the smile on the side of her face.

They didn't have much goodwill toward each other, purely bound by the system through the "rent-a-boyfriend" arrangement. Destined to part ways, they had no intention of getting to know each other deeply—every action was just calculation and exploitation.

If that was the case, then what he had to do was simple.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

"I'm actually pretty confident in billiards."

Haruno smiled at him while rubbing chalk on the tip of her cue.

"But thinking about your monstrous performance earlier, I'm a bit scared…"

She winked at him, saying with a sweet smile: "So, this time, let Onee-san win a little, okay? If I win this round, I'll let you win the next one!"

"I'm your rent-a-boyfriend, not your little brother…" Yuu finally couldn't hold back from interrupting. "Besides, isn't this the 'trial' you set for me? Why are you asking me to let you win?"

"A grown man shouldn't care about little details like that~ You won't be popular with women otherwise." Haruno patted his shoulder, walked behind the cue ball, and began explaining the rules.

"Let's play the simplest billiards game: one cue ball, fifteen colored balls. If you pocket a ball, you keep shooting. Whoever pockets the most balls by the end wins."

Yuu listened and immediately understood. Haruno wanted to clear all the balls in one turn, not giving him a chance to shoot?

Seeing his expression, Haruno nodded, flashing a sly smile:

"Exactly, as you're thinking! Beating you with the simplest method will show Onee-san's greatness~"

"…Fine, let's just start."

Though momentarily speechless, Yuu said nothing more, waving his hand to let her take the first shot.

Humming a tune he'd heard before, Haruno held the cue with her right hand, slowly bending forward.

Her left foot stepped toward eleven o'clock, her right foot back half a step, legs naturally apart, her posture relaxed yet stable.

From Yuu's angle, he could clearly see her perfect curves from her back, waist, hips, and thighs.

Even a high-end luxury car didn't have lines as beautiful as her posture.

Then her upper body.

Her white arm bent at ninety degrees, her wrist casually gripping the cue, her thumb and index finger wrapping downward around it; the cue rested under the center of her chin, the cue ball, chin, and grip forming a straight line. From her standard, skilled stance and grip, like with shooting, Haruno was quite proficient in billiards.

On the table, fifteen differently colored balls were neatly arranged in a pyramid, the cue ball aimed at the frontmost ball.

The cue lined up with the cue ball.

Yuu looked around, then suddenly moved, standing across the table, directly in front of Haruno.

Blocking the sneaky glances from the neighboring table.

Yuu could hear an annoyed click of the tongue but ignored it, crossing his arms and watching Haruno, whose eyes were fixed solely on the sixteen balls.

From this angle, Yuu could see the white northern ball, encased in a black sports bra, peeking from the collar of her sportswear.

Yuu only glanced, then shifted his gaze from the collar, watching her steadily and powerfully push the cue.

*PONG!*

With a sharp sound, the cue ball struck the fifteen colored balls, exploding across the table like fireworks, clashing against each other before slowly stopping due to friction.

First shot: balls number five and nine went in, leaving thirteen on the table.

"Lucky~"

Haruno turned and smiled proudly to the side, only then noticing Yuu had changed positions. After glancing around in confusion, her eyes quickly showed understanding.

"Kyaa~ Yuu-chan's such a gentleman."

Casually praising him, she held the cue nearly as tall as herself, bending forward without hesitation, and skillfully executed a stop shot, the cue ball darting to pocket the third ball.

Then the fourth, the fifth…

She moved around the table, casually and effortlessly pocketing her chosen balls without missing once.

Only three more balls, and Haruno would win.

"Hmph~"

She didn't think [setting tough rules, seizing the first shot, and winning with her own skill] was underhanded.

After all, Yuu had agreed to the rules and first shot—she hadn't even needed to steal it, wasting several excuses she'd prepared… Besides, not everyone who played billiards could pocket balls one by one, or even two at a time, accurately.

A simple yet undeniable winning technique—this was Haruno's way of turning the tables.

*KRAK!*

The sixth ball went in. Her eyes swept over the nine remaining balls, their order and shots naturally forming in her mind. No difficulty at all—a guaranteed win.

"Alright, almost done!" As she spoke, the seventh ball went in smoothly. "Well, since I used a little trick, I don't feel any sense of accomplishment…"

Haruno gave a wry, self-deprecating smile, but her body didn't hesitate, moving to the spot for the eighth ball.

"Yuu-chan, will you think I'm childish?"

"No problem. Normal people naturally want to win." Showing no tension about losing this round, Yuu coldly observed as Haruno adjusted her cue, her beautiful body striking another alluring pose, and answered casually:

"Though it's indeed a bit childish, I can understand your feeling of getting crushed in the last match and wanting to get even in the next one, no matter what it takes."

"Thanks a lot, then!"

The corner of her eye twitched, and Haruno hissed softly with a hint of irritation.

Like a bullet firing from a muzzle, she pushed the cue, striking the cue ball.

But the moment the cue's tip hit the ball, her expression changed drastically.

(Damn it.)

"I forgot to chalk it—this shot's off…"

Chalking meant applying chalk powder to the cue's tip to increase friction with the cue ball.

She'd been too focused on the previous shots, and this eighth shot was disrupted by Yuu, causing her to forget the routine of chalking the cue after each shot.

Due to this slight difference in friction, the cue ball, meant to directly push the number one ball into the pocket, veered slightly off angle, only making the number one ball hit the table's edge near the pocket, slowly stopping, halting her streak of pocketing balls.

Haruno stared silently at the two stopped balls. After a few seconds of silence, her lips pursed in frustration, clutching her head in regret.

"Ah~~~ Damn it~~~ So close!!"

Ignoring the odd looks from those around, Haruno shouted twice in a voice not too loud but distorted with frustration, before slowly calming down.

Her ample chest rose and fell. She suddenly looked up, staring at Yuu expressionlessly.

"Don't worry, I won't say I want a redo."

"…I didn't say anything."

"I just have one question." Haruno raised a finger, her tone deadly serious. "Yuu, can you play billiards?"

Yuu paused for a few seconds.

Then, he raised his hand, making a gesture with his thumb and index finger about four or five centimeters apart, smiling humbly.

"I just know a little."