Chapter 23 A Date Invitation
A Date Invitation
“Kanade, about what we were talking about earlier…”
“Earlier?”
Kanade, who was using my thigh as a pillow, lay on her back and stared at me with a puzzled expression.
Her large eyes locked onto mine, making my heart skip a beat. Every time her head moved, I felt a ticklish sensation, and I pretended to stay calm to endure it.
And… the position was dangerously close…
Given her tendency to stay close, this was probably her standard distance.
“You know, I asked if there was somewhere you wanted to go?”
“Oh, that! But it’s okay if it’s too much trouble. Ariga-cchi, you’re busy, and if you push yourself on your day off, you’ll collapse!”
“I really appreciate your understanding and thoughtfulness, but…”
On my days off.
Back then, it was normal for my ex-wife to say, “Take me somewhere.”
And it was always bad timing, like when I’d been working nonstop for two weeks and was completely exhausted…
Still, I thought communication in a marriage was important, so I never neglected it.
Looking back, it was always about her—I never did anything to care for myself.
That’s why Kanade’s thoughtfulness feels so touching it could bring me to tears, and I want to find a way to make her happy.
It would be easy to just take her at her word and rest… but…
“How about we go out next time? I’m not too tired, and work’s been going smoothly lately, so it’s gotten a bit easier.”
“Eh…?”
Her mouth hung open, and her eyes widened.
Then, as if she’d seen something unbelievable, she blinked repeatedly.
Ah, crap.
The way I asked makes it hard for her to refuse if she doesn’t want to go, doesn’t it…
Worried that I might be forcing her, I quickly added something to make it easier for her to decline.
“Well, if you don’t want to, that’s fine. You’ve got university assignments to deal with, right? And isn’t one of them handwritten only? If it’s tough, we don’t have to—”
“I’ll go.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll definitely go!!”
She suddenly sat up, her expression flustered, and began shaking me to emphasize how much she wanted to go.
“H-hey, stop shaking me!”
“Sorry, sorry~! I just got too excited about being asked on a date…”
Kanade let go of me and gave a wry smile. “Ahaha…”
Her face, however, was red and looked incredibly happy.
…I never thought she’d be this happy.
Completely unexpected.
“You were thinking something like, ‘I never thought she’d be this happy,’ right?”
“…Kanade, are you psychic or something?”
“Haha~, I get that a lot. People say I’m too perceptive.”
“They really say that to you…?”
“Yep~. Oh, Ariga-cchi, your face is red~!”
“Can’t help it…”
“Huh~?”
She teased me with a mischievous grin.
Even if I lied, she’d just make fun of me…
I sighed, trying to respond as nonchalantly as possible.
“…I didn’t expect you to be this happy, so it’s a little embarrassing. It’s just going out, after all…”
“But~! You’ve never agreed no matter how many times I’ve asked before! Of course I’m happy!”
“Well, when you’re married, even if you’re close, it’s not usual to go out with someone of the opposite se_x, right? Besides, when you invited me before, it was around graduation, and you were still underage.”
“So serious!!”
“That’s just how I am~.”
“Ugh, I love how serious you are, but… Ahh, it’s frustrating~!! But as long as we’re going together, all’s good!!”
“You’re going through some weird inner conflict, huh.”
“Fufu~. If it’s a date, I’m invincible right now!!”
For some reason, she flashed a toothy grin, striking a pose.
It was what you’d call a smug face, but instead of being annoying, it was oddly adorable.
That’s just part of her charm, I suppose.
But—
“A date, huh…”
“What~? Something bothering you~?”
“No, it’s just when I hear ‘date’ I start thinking, ‘how much will it cost?’ and my head gets filled with unpleasant calculations… High-end restaurants, accessories, bags, watches… splurging…”
“That’s so serious!”
“Even though I know Kanade isn’t like that, it’s hard to shake off ingrained habits and thoughts. It’s a bit depressing.”
Looking back now, I spent a ridiculous amount.
Giving gifts.
Planning surprises.
Entertaining her.
Making her happy.
—Devoting myself to her.
I thought that was what married life was about.
Damn, I was such an idiot.
If I had a time machine, I’d go back and smack some sense into myself, yelling, “Wake up, you!!”
But because of that time, I can appreciate things now, in a way.
“Alright! This time, let’s have a budget-friendly outing~!”
Kanade, who had been looking worried beside me, clapped her hands and spoke as if she’d had a sudden realization.
“Budget-friendly?”
“Yep! You asked earlier if there was somewhere I wanted to go, right~? So I’ve decided on a place!”
“Knowing you, even if you say ‘budget-friendly,’ it’s probably somewhere like a Japanese garden, or maybe a flower arrangement or tea ceremony experience, right?”
“That’s such a terrible stereotype! At least ask something that matches how I look, like ‘Do you go dancing at clubs?’—that’d be less offensive!”
“No, no, that’s a weird assumption too…”
Normally, neither would be particularly flattering, right?
It kind of implies she seems flashy or superficial.
But Kanade’s appearance contrasts with her personality.
She might look like she parties a lot, but she’s actually pretty serious.
“Just leave everything to me!”
“I don’t have to decide anything?”
“Nope! In fact, let me take the lead. I’ll escort you!”
“I’ll take you up on that…”
“Fufu~. Then I’m looking forward to it!”
Seeing Kanade’s sparkling eyes filled with excitement, I couldn’t help but feel happy myself.
By the way, after this, she kept repeatedly asking me, “You’re not lying, right?! You’ll really go on a date with me, right?!”