Chapter 36 The Date Starts at Home?

The Date Starts at Home?

A subtle tension hung in the air.

And a lingering awkwardness from the other day.

—That’s pretty much how I was feeling right now.

But today’s finally the day I’m going out with Kanade.

Unable to decline her invitation, I decided to shift my mindset and repay her for everything she’s done for me. Yet, the uneasiness only kept piling up.

For starters, what kind of date does she even like?

She told me, “Leave it to me,” but leaving everything to her feels embarrassing as a man.

I thought it would be nice if I could manage to escort her, at least a little.

But none of my plans were coming together.

What does she want?

What kind of gift would make her happy?

I haven’t even made dinner reservations…

I tried brainstorming ways to prepare, but with Kanade always nearby, she’d catch on immediately.

Because, you see, s-u-r-p-r-i-s-e-s are the cornerstone of a great date.

So, I figured I’d just wing it on the day of, maybe right before meeting her…

“Ariga-cchi~! Are you ready yet?”

“Well, just about.”

“Haha! What kind of answer is that? Your hair looks great, though!”

Kanade slapped my back cheerfully, laughing so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.

For some reason, my reaction had struck her as hilarious.

…Honestly, I have no idea what’s so funny.

But more importantly—her outfit today…

My eyes were naturally drawn to Kanade’s casual clothes.

A dress paired with an oversized jacket.

Boots neatly placed by the entrance completed the look.

It’s what you’d call “gal” style, right?

She did say she liked this kind of look… but isn’t that dress a bit much?

Maybe it’s supposed to be oversized, but the hemline barely covered her knees.

Her legs—already stunning—were on full display. Guys wouldn’t be able to take their eyes off her.

Even though I’ve built some resistance from spending so much time with her, I still found myself glancing her way repeatedly.

Every time she moved, her dress swayed, her sweet fragrance filled the air, and it felt like she was teasing me, saying, “Why aren’t you looking?”

Trying to distract myself, I fiddled with my hair in front of the mirror.

Desperately, I tried to calm my pounding heart.

“Ariga-cchi~! What do you think of my outfit today? I think it’s totally your style!”

“…Uh…”

Oblivious to my struggle, Kanade casually fished for compliments.

When I stayed silent, she poked my cheek, begging for attention.

“C’mon! Say something~!”

Still, I kept quiet and focused on getting ready.

“…If it doesn’t look good, I’ll go change.”

Her sulky tone made my ears perk up.

Glancing in the mirror, I saw her turning to leave.

Oh no—

I spun around and grabbed her shoulders.

“It looks amazing. I was just too embarrassed to say it.”

“…”

“I mean… I’m not great at giving compliments like that, okay?”

“Hehe, I see~. That’s a relief.”

Kanade finally looked at me, her cheeks flushing as she smiled shyly.

Then she moved closer, leaning against me like a playful cat.

…Does she realize how devastatingly cute she is?

“By the way, why did we decide to meet at home for our date?”

Trying to distract myself, I asked her.

She tilted her head slightly, as if the question puzzled her.

…Was that such a strange thing to ask?

Normally, dates start with meeting “in front of the station” or “picking her up by car.”

Even in fiction, couples often go out of their way to meet somewhere, even if they live together, to make it feel more special.

A date may seem like an everyday activity, but it’s also a kind of event that carries a special meaning.

Simply calling an outing a “date” makes you aware of its significance.

So then… why?

Why didn’t Kanade suggest meeting at the station?

Maybe she thought her outfit would attract too much attention?

No, that doesn’t sound like her. She’d probably handle it effortlessly and even enjoy flustering me with her look.

Could it be…?

Was she worried I’d be too tired to wake up on time because of work? Yeah, that’s probably it.

“You’re thinking something rude, aren’t you?”

“Haha… No, not at all.”

“…”

“Sorry.”

“You’re a terrible liar, you know?”

She saw right through me, and I let out a sigh.

She’s always been sharp like this.

Nothing gets past her…

“Anyway, Ariga-cchi. I had a good reason for meeting at home today.”

“A good reason? I can’t imagine what it might be.”

“Haha, maybe so~.”

Kanade chuckled softly and picked up her bag.

So, it’s finally happening…

That indescribable pre-date nervousness filled the air.

I steeled myself…

This is my first date since my ex-wife. As a grown man, I need to step up and be the best escort I can be!

With a deep breath,

I pointed toward the entrance, phone in hand.

“Alright! Let’s rent a car—something fancy, like a Benz—ouch?!”

“Okay, okay, Ariga-cchi, stop right there!”

She flicked my forehead lightly, making me yelp in surprise.

Kanade let out a long, exasperated sigh.

“Haaa, I had a feeling this would happen.”

“What kind of feeling?”

“First, we’re going to fix your skewed idea of what a date is. Listen up, Ariga-cchi! Today’s date is going to be a ‘relaxed, low-cost date’!”

Her declaration left me tilting my head in confusion.