Time Left to Live

"No, I'm not interested. Goodbye."

Yukino issued a triple rejection.

"Oh."

Shuya obediently shut up.

He scratched his head. "I always felt like all the women in the world liked me, so why do you all reject me? Am I not handsome enough or not famous enough?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

Shizuka Hiratsuka said, "Then let me ask you, if a woman asked you for grass right now, how would you answer?"

"What? You want such a frivolous woman? Get the hell out of here!"

He didn't Shuya.

Shizuka Hiratsuka couldn't help but want to slap him. "So what exactly do you want?"

"Yeah... what exactly do I want...?"

Shuya began to ponder deeply.

He couldn't figure it out and scratched his head.

Then, an unconscious, refreshing smile appeared on his face, "I don't know either, but it seems I still have my limits. However, if you guys were to tempt me, I probably wouldn't be able to resist... well, except for Gorilla."

"Kid, you want to fight, huh?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka was displeased with the underpass.

The others gave awkward smiles; they were embarrassed by Shuya's words.

Tsuruko said, "Inoue- kun, what are your plans for the future? You... you wouldn't be planning to use the Quintuplets to save Rena's life, would you?"

Shuya shook his head. "No. I respect her choice."

Tsuruko asked again, "So you're not going to get involved in this anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Yukino said meaningfully, "That Fox God clearly hinted that he wants you to Encho Rena's life. Are you planning to listen to him?"

She glanced at Haruno, and the image reminded her of the Little Fox.

Shuya stared blankly out the window. "To be honest, my mind is completely blank right now. I have no idea what to do next, or what I want to do."

"Whatever. It doesn't matter anymore..."

He said, "I still have special feelings for Rena, but I don't know if it's a remnant of Charm Art. I no longer trust my own feelings."

What do you think I should do?

Shuya retorted with a question.

The group exchanged glances, and finally Tsuruko said, "We don't have the right to decide anything for you."

"Oh, it doesn't matter anyway, haha."

Shuya's smile was tinged with dejection.

His simplest feeling right now is that nothing else matters.

There is only emptiness in my heart.

With the pillar that had sustained him through countless struggles now gone, he felt nothing but emptiness.

Because of this emptiness in his heart and his distorted view of love, he casually flirted with Haruno and the others.

He just wanted someone to fill the void in his heart.

The others also vaguely noticed it.

Tsuruko smiled and said, "Although I like Inoue -kun very much, I'm sorry, but I cannot accept being a substitute for him."

She said earnestly, "If Inoue- kun truly wanted to pursue me, I would most likely say yes, but... as you are now, you don't possess the charm to make me fall in love with you."

"Hehe, it doesn't matter, do as you please."

Shuya leaned against the wall lazily.

"Sister..."

Motoko looked at him like this, then looked at Tsuruko.

Tsuruko smiled at her and shook her head, saying, "Don't worry, I believe Inoue -kun isn't the type to be so easily discouraged. It's just... no one can accept something like this all at once."

"So let's be patient with him until he pulls himself together. You agree, Haruno?"

Tsuruko blinked at the Haruno.

Haruno chuckled, "Yes, Miss Tsuruko is right."

She was somewhat embarrassed.

It seems she hadn't kept her affair with Shuya a secret from her.

Yukino said expressionlessly, "Sister, you... never mind, whatever makes you happy."

She also noticed a change in the atmosphere between Haruno and Shuya.

She initially wanted to try and persuade Haruno, but then she thought, "Perhaps Haruno isn't unwilling...?"

She knew that Haruno Shuya.

Therefore, Yukino couldn't bring herself to say anything to stop her.

"That concludes this matter. Thank you all for your help."

Shuya thanked them.

"Hmm, it's time to go back."

Although the result wasn't what I hoped for, I've at least fulfilled my promise to you.

"Then let's pack our things and leave."

There was no joy on anyone's face.

This can only be described as fulfilling the agreement, not as a perfect ending.

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed since Shuya and the others returned from the Small Island.

The matter has come to an end, but life must go on.

Shuya lived each day in a daze.

It's summer vacation now, so there's no need for him to stay home all the time.

After going out in the morning to fight with the Gorilla to vent his frustrations and to teach the Yukinoshita Sisters a lesson, he stayed home most of the time.

Section 201, page 185: Remaining Life

The Aoyama Sisters have returned to Kyoto.

Shuya has been depressed for so long that he's almost come to terms with it.

But he was still in a bad mood, so he went to his Little Senior Sister's house for comfort.

Because he was busy with the matter of the Fox God and Rena, Shuya hadn't seen his Little Senior Sister for a long time.

The previously mentioned project to restore the original piece hasn't even begun.

When he arrived at his Little Senior Sister's house, she was practicing the piano.

He greeted her, "It's been a long time, Little Senior Sister. How are you?"

"Thank you, I'm fine."

"... Are you here to discuss songs, Shuya?"

The Little Senior Sister had already noticed that Shuya was acting strangely, but she didn't say anything.

Her attitude remained as gentle as ever.

"I just wanted to see my Little Senior Sister, is that not allowed?"

Shuya's question has a slightly malicious intent.

"Sure."

His Little Senior Sister poured him a glass of water and gave him some snacks before he returned to his seat to practice.

She deliberately played some soothing music.

Shuya remained silent, staring blankly at his Little Senior Sister's profile.

No need to say anything.

He felt very comfortable just being with his Little Senior Sister.

After listening for a while Shuya got up to say goodbye, not wanting to disturb her practice.

The Little Senior Sister glanced at him worriedly a few times.

She hesitated for a moment, then made a phone call to someone else.

A little while later, Shuya received a text message from Mai- chan asking him to meet up.

In a secluded restaurant, Shuya and Mai sat facing each other.

After exchanging greetings, Shuya asked in surprise, "You actually had time to ask me out? And your mother even agreed?"

Mai said, "I pretended to be unwell and then sneaked out. My mom doesn't know I met with you."

"Oh. So what did you want to see me about?"

Mai- chan. "My Little Senior Sister said you're strange."

"And then she contacted you?"

Shuya suddenly realized.

"So? What happened to you? Did you get dumped by Rena and break up with her?"

Shuya always felt that Mai- chan's concern was tinged with malice.

Shuya smiled bitterly, "It's a shame that I lost my love."

"If you'd like, I can listen."

"It's not a matter of whether I want to or not. If you want to hear it, then I'll tell you."

Shuya recounted what had happened recently.

Before speaking, Mai- chan calmly took out some stomach medicine from her bag and swallowed it in one gulp.

She then calmly said, "After what happened, it's no wonder you look like this."

Am I obvious?

Shuya touched his face.

She nodded. "Very obvious."

Shuya thought for a moment, then said solemnly, "You really do like me, don't you? You care about me so much?"

Mai- chan. "???"

Shuya touched her small hand. "Thinking about it, we've known each other for five years now."

So?

Mai- chan didn't break free for the moment, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Shuya said solemnly, "So many years have passed, more than enough time for you to understand my charm and fall deeply in love with me, becoming my captive. Let me guess, what do you want to do now?"

He seemed to have everything under control.

Mai- chan shuddered and asked, "What do I want to do?"

Shuya smiled confidently, "Next, you're definitely planning to confess to me!"

"Puff!"

Mai- chan sprayed it in a very unladylike manner.