Chapter 77: First Date

First Date

Summer break was slowly coming to an end.

Kiriha and I continued working in the now neatly organized library.

From the looks of it, our progress was going well. If we kept this up, we might not need to do a “purification ritual” during the last week of summer break.

Motivated by that thought alone, I kept my hands moving efficiently.

“Ah, my pen…”

Kiriha glanced around, searching for something.

I pulled a pen from my pocket and handed it to her.

“Here.”

“…!”

Kiriha stared at the pen.

After a moment, she took it hesitantly, pursing her lips as she muttered—

“…Thanks.”

“…! O-Oh.”

I never expected Kiriha to actually say thank you, so I was caught off guard.

Lately, Kiriha had lost that strange awkwardness she used to have.

Though, on the other hand, she’d been glaring at me more often and calling me annoying at least 20% more than before.

Still, she was thanking me now, and I felt like her attitude toward me had softened—if only a little.

Which, honestly, just made her all the more confusing.

I mean, it’s not like I did anything.

Somehow, without realizing it, she had become a little less stiff… and a little bit kinder.

…I don’t get it at all.

I guess the day I understand a girl’s heart will never come. That vague thought crossed my mind.

A few days passed.

One late-summer morning, as the break neared its end—

I found myself locked in battle with my own reflection.

“…So, getting a good night’s sleep won’t do anything to fix this villainous face, huh?”

As always, my face looked like the kind that could make even crying children wail harder.

“…! Onii-chan, why are you just standing there, staring at yourself in the mirror? That’s seriously gross. Maybe stop?”

“Oh, Sayu. You’re up early today. Well, it’s almost noon, though.”

“…!! N-No reason! I just happened to wake up early! It’s not like I was curious because you were running around getting ready or anything!”

“Thanks for explaining everything without me even asking.”

“Nyaah!? I-I wasn’t explaining anything!”

Sayu folded her arms, puffing out her cheeks as she turned away in a huff.

My little sister was, as ever, a textbook tsundere.

…Though her tsun side was pretty weak.

“More importantly, Sayu. What do you think of my outfit?”

“Outfit? Hmm…”

Sayu’s gaze traced me from head to toe.

“Indigo blue wide-leg denim, a clean and simple collared shirt… Wait. Onii-chan, are you going on a date or something?”

“…Whether this qualifies as a date depends entirely on one’s level of self-esteem.”

“…Eh? W-Wha—!? A date!? Onii-chan!?”

Sayu’s voice shot up in shock.

I glanced at my phone. It was almost time to head out.

“Sorry, Sayu. Gotta go.”

“W-Wait a sec, Onii-chan! You can’t go!”

I stepped toward the entrance and slipped on my shoes.

“There’s no way this is a real date! I mean, we’re talking about you! It’s gotta be some kind of scam! A honey trap or something! Girls are scary and cunning, you know! Any girl inviting you out is definitely just after your money! She’s gotta be a gold-digging fox!”

“…I see. So I’m so utterly undesirable that I can’t even go on a proper date, huh? Well, I do have a villainous face, after all…”

I deliberately slumped my shoulders in exaggerated disappointment.

Sayu immediately flinched. “Nyaah!?”

“T-That’s not what I meant! I just… I just don’t want you to go on a date…!”

She gasped, suddenly realizing what she had just said.

“H-Hmph! Whatever! Do what you want!”

“Alright then, I’m off.”

“Nyaah!?!?”

Ignoring Sayu’s flustered cries, I opened the front door and stepped outside.

“Onii-chan!? Onii-chaaan!!”

—Today was the day I was going to the aquarium with Akari.

With my tsundere little sister seeing me off in her own way, I headed toward our meeting place.

Irara Akari’s Perspective

Slipping on my shoes at the entrance, I checked my hair, makeup, and outfit one last time in the mirror.

“You’re fine, Akari! No need to worry—you look absolutely adorable!”

“Y-You think so…?”

Mom said that, but what really mattered was what Arata-kun thought.

I had put more effort into my appearance than ever before, and I didn’t think I looked bad…

But I couldn’t help feeling a little anxious. And nervous, too…

“Oh! By the way! Did you put it on?”

“Huh? Put what on?”

“Obviously—your winning underwear!”

“Wha—!? M-Mom, what are you even saying!?”

“Black is nice, but red or pink is bolder! Guys totally eat that up—!”

“What are you even talking about!? A-And today isn’t that kind of day!!”

“Eeeh?”

Seriously, what was she even saying right before I was about to leave?

“Ah! I need to hurry!”

“Have fun~!”

“Yeah! I’m off!”

Waved off by my mom, I dashed out of the house.

—Today was the day I was going to the aquarium with Arata-kun.

The sky was dazzlingly clear, almost absurdly so, and the warm breeze felt nice.

“Ehehe…!”

A little giggle escaped before I even realized it.

What should I do with Arata-kun today?

We’d have fun together, laugh together… and maybe—

Just maybe—I’d get him to see me in a different light.

“Alright! Let’s do this!”

Clenching my fists in excitement, I practically skipped my way toward the station.

Nakano Yuya’s Perspective

“…It’s so hot.”

Even though it was still morning, the heat was unbearable.

I could’ve just stayed in an air-conditioned room, but somehow, that felt suffocating in its own way…

“Why won’t you see me, Manami-chan…?”

Summer break was almost over.

And yet, I hadn’t seen Manami-chan even once.

“This can’t be real… She’s my girlfriend… So why…?”

My chest ached, and I felt like I was about to cry.

Just then, a girl with an overwhelming presence walked toward me from up ahead.

“…! Is that… Akari?”

It was definitely Akari, but something about her seemed different today.

Her hair and makeup were more polished than usual, and she was wearing clothes I’d never seen before—probably something new.

Akari was already leagues ahead in terms of beauty, but right now, that radiance was intensified several times over.

She looked like she could stand next to any celebrity on TV and not lose in comparison—this was what it meant to truly shine.

“…She’s beautiful.”

But with the way she was dressed… it almost looked like… she was heading out on a date.

“…No way. No, no, that can’t be…”

If Akari was going on a date, there was only one possible guy she’d be with—Kyogoku.

After all, Akari barely had any male friends.

But there was no way she’d be going on a date with Kyogoku.

No way… Right?

…Right?

Akari kept walking—straight toward me.

…Alright. I’ll just ask her directly.

She may have cut ties with me, but I have to know!

“Aka—… huh?”

Akari walked right past me.

Without even a glance.

She didn’t look at me, didn’t acknowledge me—like I wasn’t even there.

My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground.

“…Huh?”

My mind went blank.

…This has to be a joke.

Did she… not even see me!?!