Yuu still could have avoided it.
But at that moment, he was distracted by a system notification, and he'd grown used to being kissed—so he didn't dodge Masuzu's half-hearted kiss, which barely left a trace.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host has received a reward: Man with BGM (Status)]
[Description: Under certain circumstances, the system will automatically play a fitting BGM for the host. This music can be heard by others, who will subconsciously overlook its irrationality.]
[Some BGMs may provide bonus effects to the host.]
While being kissed, Yuu was internally complaining.
(System... you're amazing.)
(You even give rewards inspired by jokes like this—will you play "Platinum Punishment" when I go to Egypt to fight DIO to seal victory?)
(But the problem is, if there's no enemy, what's the point of this other than making the scene even more ridiculous?!)
But quickly, Yuu realized what else this status could do when there was no enemy.
"Yuu..."
From the corner of his eye, Yuigahama's pupils shrank. She stared at him in disbelief.
Her left hand gripped her right hand in front of her chest, fingers trembling slightly—as if barely restraining the urge to scream on the spot.
[BGM: After All ~Tsuzuru Omoi~]
Though they stood in a quiet stairway corner, a beautiful piano melody suddenly played from nowhere, carrying sorrow and sighs—like watching the one you love walk away through snow. A woman's experienced voice echoed faintly.
"Chi o hanareteyuku, tori no mure
(Kawanan burung yang terbang meninggalkan tanah air,)
Hitori no kono kokoro wa, doko e yukeba ii?
(Ke mana hati yang kesepian ini harus pergi?)..."
Hearing the song, Yuu's expression instantly turned speechless.
(Damn it, why White Album 2 of all things...)
(If I get stabbed with a kitchen knife one day, will you also play "Kanashimi no Mukou e"?)
"Hhh..."
Unaware of Yuu's strange thoughts, Masuzu assumed the other party was stunned and didn't know how to react to her actions. She released her hands as if victorious and stepped back.
Her pale face was flushed red like she was drunk, her breath warm and rapid.
She pressed her lips together, moist from the kiss. Ignoring the stone-statue-still Yuigahama beside her, she continued gazing at Yuu with affection, speaking slowly.
"Have you ever kissed someone else before?"
"..."
Yuu snapped back to reality. His first reaction was to seriously consider the question.
According to his memories, he'd already given his first kiss during summer break to a college girl caught up in the moment.
But in reality, because the world's storyline had changed, the college girl's first kiss—and the first kiss of the Yuuki family's young lady—still existed. Therefore, his first kiss should still exist too.
That meant, although in his memories he was experienced—having battled college girls and noble daughters with his tongue—in truth, he was still a pure virgin who'd never kissed anyone or done anything.
...A complicated feeling.
Yuu suddenly remembered—he'd made a decision when kissing Asuna.
—If the third mission also had a kissing scene, he'd pretend to be a beginner, an innocent man.
Actually, it wasn't entirely pretending. In truth, he'd never taken anyone's first kiss, so of course, he'd never given his own first kiss either.
"Kissing—have you ever done it?"
Seeing him remain silent, Masuzu smiled and asked further.
As Yuu was about to answer, looking into Masuzu's eyes, his DNA suddenly trembled.
(Of course, she's doing this as a joke, right?)
"...Of course. Never."
Masuzu's eyes instantly sparkled.
"Then remember this well!"
"The one who took your first kiss wasn't Yuigahama Yui—but me, Natsukawa Masuzu!"
DUARR!
It was as if a dramatic background sound effect played. The silver-haired girl pointed at herself with her thumb, struck a wide-legged pose, and grinned with a proud expression.
Yuigahama shifted her shocked gaze from Yuu to her—hurting someone to the core like this, this girl is truly evil!?
Yuu stared at her with the look of this woman's brain is truly broken.
Though both of them gave her strange looks, Masuzu continued acting as she pleased. She smoothed her disheveled hair, her expression returning to calm—only the two red spots on her cheeks hadn't yet faded.
"So, what do you think?"
Life was tough. Yuu sighed.
"...Willingly giving up your first kiss just for a joke—you really are impressive."
"Of course. Only people in relationships think a first kiss is precious." Masuzu glanced at Yuigahama and shrugged indifferently. "For me, it's not even worth an iconic scene from JOJO. It's just a touch of mucous membranes."
"You say that, but did you even consider my opinion?"
Masuzu blinked, pretending to be confused.
"Ah, if you wanted to avoid it, you could've, right? I can't implant spores into your brain to control your actions..." She caressed her cheek with her palm, sighing resignedly. "I didn't expect you'd been eyeing my lips all along, you pervert."
Yuu felt a sharp gaze from the side.
"I was just thinking. Don't accuse people randomly."
"Well, never mind such a small thing for now..." Masuzu's expression suddenly turned serious, her gaze sharp. "You know what you need to do next, right?"
Yuu simply shook his head, rejecting her cue.
"Why not? Give me a reason." Masuzu stared at him with a cold tone and icy eyes, clenching her pale white fist.
Watching them take turns, Yuigahama no longer understood what was happening—she felt like she and they existed in different worlds, and she was merely an outsider.
What were they talking about? What was with that kiss...? All the confusion mixed together, making her brain feel overheated.
Noticing the shift in her expression sharply, Yuu couldn't help but press his brow with his finger.
"...There's no dirty water here to wash my lips. Fine, the joke ends here."
Masuzu's expression changed. She smiled brightly again.
"Yuu is truly kind... But thanks to you, my JOJO heart is already full. If it gets any fuller, my heart won't be able to contain it."
Until today only. Saying that, Masuzu placed one hand on her prominent chest and exhaled in satisfaction.
Unconcerned with his fake girlfriend, Yuu turned to his good friend.
"Don't think about it. She just wanted to imitate an iconic manga scene... To outsiders, kissing is like a greeting."
Masuzu interrupted: "Not true! That was a sincere kiss from me!"
"Do you even believe your own words?"
She elegantly smoothed her hair and lifted her gaze. "Of course not!"
Yuu didn't turn around, so he didn't see her face, flushed red, slowly returning to its pale, calm state.
He only explained seriously to Yuigahama, who was slowly beginning to understand the situation:
"I'll properly handle Masuzu's issue. Though I don't think there's a problem, if I truly encounter a difficulty I can't solve alone, I'll still discuss it with you, or with that Yukinoshita... After all, I accepted this mission as a club member."
"..."
Yuigahama stared into his eyes. Her heart, chaotic like a blanket just taken out from sun-drying, slowly grew calm and gentle.
Though she still slightly minded seeing Yuu forcibly kissed in front of her, she also understood—anything she said now would only sound like the whine of a defeated dog. It wouldn't change reality.
Should she immediately jump in and cover Masuzu's mouth?
Yuigahama was slightly tempted, but after all, she couldn't do something as bold as that foreign transfer student in front of others.
"Yeah, I believe you can do it, Yuu."
In the end, she could only reply with a bitter smile.
Yuu saw her looking downcast and couldn't help but touch the ponytail on her head, smiling:
"Stop making that face like someone who just got dumped. To me, you're just like Totsuka—the most important friend at this school."