Haibara’s Teenage New Game+ - Volume 5 - Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1: What Are Couples Supposed to Do?

Autumn was reaching its peak in November, and the wind grew frigid. The advent of winter drew close.

Because a single long-sleeved shirt wasn’t enough for this weather, I also had on a cardigan. But today was especially chilly, so perhaps I should’ve worn an additional layer. Picking out clothes in this season was a struggle, since the temperature might turn hot or cold without warning. It’d probably get a little warmer around noon.

“Natsuki-kun!”

Hearing someone call my name from behind, I turned around. An incredibly beautiful girl entered my line of sight. Hoshimiva Hikari, dressed in casual clothes, gave me a small wave as she walked over.

“Sorry for the wait. I wasn’t sure what to wear,” she apologized. Hikari wore a black blouse and a long beige skirt.

That outfit looks really good on her. She kinda has a mature tribe, which is different from usual Oops, now isn't the time to stare admiringly! I need to reply. “No worries. I just got here too,” I said. In actuality, I’d been so excited that I had arrived at our meetup spot an hour ago, but I could keep that to myself.

“Really? That’s good.” Hikari massaged her chest in relief. Then, her expression turned abashed and she whispered, “Y-Yesterday... I was so excited yesterday that I had a hard time falling asleep... And I ended up oversleeping.”

I inadvertently chuckled at her grade school-level excuse, which caused her to pout.

“D-Don’t laugh!”

“Sorry, sorry. It was funny,” I said. I didn't get much sleep either. But I'm too embarrassed to admit it, so my lips are sealed “Anyway, let’s go inside.” I offered my hand to Hikari.

She blinked at me before timidly grasping it with her own. Nice! My plan to naturally hold hands from the get-go was a success! If I'd let my opportunity escape at the start of the date, I'd have felt like I missed my chance for the rest of the day. Hikari's hand's nice and warm..

“Natsuki-kun, I knew it. You’ve been waiting for a long time, haven’t you?” Hikari said.

“Wh-What makes you think that?” I asked with a start.

“Your hands are freezing,” she stated matter-of-factly.

R-Right, they are... Good point! So Hikari's hand wasn't warmer than normal Mine was just colder. “Sorry, I’ve actually been waiting for an hour,” I admitted. “I was too eager.”

“Why're you apologizing? I’m the one who should be sorry for making you wait so long.”

“No, don’t be! I heard that time spent waiting is also part of the date,” I said. Exactly right! Today's my momentous first date with my girlfriend, Hikari! I'm super nervous, but I want to have fun, and I want her to have fun too. Heck, I'm already having fun just because she's here with me.

“It’s pretty crowded,” she said.

We entered the shopping mall with our hands intertwined. It wasn’t crowded enough for us to get pushed around, but the place still bustled with people.

“It’s Saturday, after all,” I remarked.

Our innocuous itinerary for the day was to window-shop, have lunch, watch a movie, and then go home. Hikari and I had planned it out together yesterday. Since this was our first date as a couple, we didn’t want to do anything too wild, and there just happened to be a movie that Hikari wanted to watch. Plus, I needed to start picking out winter clothing. Miori had chosen almost all my presentable clothes, but I didn’t own any outfits appropriate for wintertime.

When I mentioned that, Hikari had said, “Then III pick them for you!'" Honestly, I had zero confidence in my fashion sense, so her offer was a big help. I’d wanted to ask Miori for her assistance again, but our partnership had already been dissolved. I’d legitimately been too reliant on Miori, and now that our alliance was through, I realized this fact all the more.

I was over the moon that I was dating Hikari. But I’d never dated anyone before, so I was full of uncertainty, which automatically led me to want to consult Miori for advice. But the person who had always been there to lend me a hand was gone now. It felt like I was walking alone in darkness.

"Then our alliance is over. Our partnership is now dissolved "

I suddenly recalled how Miori had sounded during our phone call. She was acting weird then. Did something bad happen on her end? That was the day she started dating Reita, so shouldn’t she have been happy?

“What’s wrong? Natsuki-kun, you’re zoning out.” Hikari’s face abruptly popped into the corner of my vision. Her expression was laden with concern.

I had sunk into the deep sea of my thoughts without realizing it. That was a bad habit of mine. Worrying about Miori wont fix anything Anyway, I'm gonna enjoy my date with Hikari today!“Sorry, it’s nothing. Uh, where should we go first?”

“Leave it to me! I have a few stores in mind with clothes that’ll look great on you!” Hikari beat her naturally large breasts. They jiggled slightly.

My gaze almost unwittingly fell to her chest, but I somehow managed to keep my eyes level. “Okay, that’d be great,” I replied as though nothing had happened.

She seemed like she was about to break into a skip as she led me around. “Isn’t holding hands in public kinda embarrassing?”

“Yeah,” I said. “It feels like people are looking at us. I spotted some kids from our school too.”

There were plenty of couples walking around holding hands, but if I wasn’t being overly self-conscious, it felt like we were drawing an awful lot of attention. Understandable, Hikari is just that cute!

Two girls who looked to be upperclassmen from our school saw us and let out shrill squeals. How am I supposed to react to that? I wondered. Hikari also appeared unsettled, forcing herself to smile.

“If you dislike it, do you wanna let go?” I asked.

“I don't dislike it. How could you say that? I’m gonna get mad!” she said sulkily with her cheeks puffing up.

Ugh. Too cute! To think such an adorable girl is my girlfriend I still cant believe it...

“I bet this’ll look good on you. Try it on!” She had picked out a navy blue Chester coat.

At her urging, I put it on. It was very warm; the fabric was soft and cozy. I looked at myself in a nearby full-length mirror. She's right. This does look pretty good on me... I think? It slims my figure, and I look sharp... At least, that's how it feels.

Hikari looked at me and let out an enigmatic cry. “Ohhh!”

“What do you think?” I asked.

“It... It looks good! Really, really great!” she said, wearing an excessively wide grin while nodding her head vigorously.

“Your compliment feels kinda half-hearted.”

“N-No! I mean it! You look really cool!”

It feels like Hikari's more frantic than usual today, or perhaps better put, she's more flustered. She normally comes off calmer... Wait, is she nervous? I've never seen this side of her before, but there's nothing to complain about, because she's cute.

She giggled. “My boyfriend is so cool,” she blissfully murmured to herself.

Um, I can hear you, you know? Unsure what to do, I laughed wryly.

Hikari looked at me with a start. “D-Did you hear that?!”

“Nope, didn’t hear a thing. What, did you say something?”

“O-Oh, really? That’s good...”

“Min-hmm. Thanks for the compliment.”

She stared at me blankly, and then her face flushed red right before my eyes. “You did hear!” She slapped my back.

I don’t believe violence is the answer.

We continued bantering like that while Hikari chose a number of winter outfits for me. My wallet was in a poor state after buying my guitar, so I kept my purchases limited to a long-sleeved shirt and the Chester coat I’d tried on. However, I wanted to buy the other clothes she’d recommended once I had cash to spare.

“We should eat lunch now,” I said.

“Good idea. What should we have?”

We walked around the mail’s food court as we deliberated.

“Hmm... Honestly, I’m good with anything,” I said, but then a thought suddenly occurred to me. I heard its bad to say, “I’m good with anything," during a date. Shouldn’t the man take initiative here? Its not a great look if I leave all the choices to her. So maybe I ought to narrow down our options first? But it might be too late now... In the end, I decided to leave it up to her and asked, “Hikari, what do you want to eat?” I'm sorry for being indecisive...

“Ummm...” She thought for a moment. “Oh, I know. How about hamburger steak?”

“Sounds good.” I nodded.

We entered a Western-style restaurant that offered hamburger steak. A server led us to our seats, and once we finished ordering our food, a period of silence followed. Wh-What should I say?

“Um, thanks for picking out clothes for me. It was really helpful,” I said.

“I-It wasn’t much!” Hikari stammered. “Really, it was fun! Ill do it as often as you want! Besides, it’s a feast for my eyes!”

Feast for your eyes? What does that mean? Simply too baffled, I missed my chance to ask her to elaborate.

“I... I can’t wait for the movie!” she continued.

“Y-Yeah!”

She was being just as awkward as me, her eyes darting around in their sockets. Silence fell upon us again. We’d been chatting just fine until now, but sitting face-to-face exacerbated the jitters. I kept sipping water to brush off the awkwardness and inevitably emptied my glass. But somehow, I managed to keep the conversation going until our food arrived.

“Cool, let’s dig in,” I said.

“It looks tasty. Bon appétit!” Eyes sparkling, Hikari began to stuff her cheeks with hamburger steak.

I, on the other hand, felt extremely relieved—because I didn’t need to talk while we were eating.

“Whew! I’m full. That was delicious,” Hikari eventually said.

“Yeah,” I responded, and then paused when I saw the time. “Ack! We need to get going!” Only ten minutes remained before the movie would start.

“You’re right! We took too long!”

There was no time for idle chatter after our meal. We hastily settled our bill and rushed to the movie theater. The two of us barely got to our seats before the movie started, but that meant we didn’t get to buy drinks. Popcorn or other snacks were unnecessary since we’d just eaten lunch, but I wanted a drink. Hikari didn’t say anything, but I suspected she was thinking the same. This had been a huge scheduling error.

I sighed quietly. I feel like things aren’t going as planned. I didn’t do enough prior research, and I lack dating experience. I wish I’d done a better job taking the lead..

The big screen was the only thing glowing in the dim lighting. Though the movie hadn’t started yet, previews for other films were now rolling. I glanced at Hikari, and our eyes happened to meet. Flustered, she whipped her gaze back towards the screen. It was dark, but I could make out a red hue dusting her cheeks.

Was she looking at me? While I vacillated between whether I should ask or not, the whispers surrounding us ceased. The theater went silent as the grave, and then the film began.

The movie Hikari had wanted to watch was about a girl who’d lost her family in an accident, and the love that girl’s childhood friend had for her. She went on a journey in search of a place to die, and the boy accompanied her.

The film unfolded slowly and deliberately, with the characters’ anguish conveyed only through the actors’ expressions. It was the kind of tale that quietly stirred my heart.

I glanced to the side once more. Hikari sat straight up, her gaze glued to the screen. She looked deeply moved, and tears welled up in the corner of her eye.

Unlike her, I couldn’t focus on the movie. The male lead aspired to become a doctor, and he seemed overly perfect—he felt far too removed from someone like me. I couldn’t empathize with a person who succeeded in everything from the very beginning. Consequently, though my eyes watched the movie play out, my mind wandered.

Is this okay? The question popped into my mind again. Is this date the right move for a couple? I don’t know. This is my second chance at life, but I can't change the fact that I'm still a virgin. I could've done better. Planning out the date, chatting... Today was full of screwups. Hikari took the lead when we were window-shopping too.

All I did was rely on her. I’m pathetic! Come to think of it, this plan was pretty much an exact copy of our double date with Reita and Miori Should I have come up with something more couple-esque? Was that what I should’ve done? I don’t know. It’s our first date, so I do think it’s good to play it safe. In the first place, what even is a couple-esque date?

What are couples supposed to do?

My mind spun round and round over a question I had no answer for.

It had only been three days since I’d started dating Hikari, and it felt like I was going through a series of unprecedented experiences. I wasn’t a person who could just do things well from the outset, so I was constantly plagued with unease.

I want to be with Hikari I want to make her happy. I really do, but that all means nothing if it stays a mere feeling. Isn’t there anyone who could teach me about romance? While I brooded over such things, the movie plunged into its finale, and the tempestuous plot twist sucked me in. I want to become like this cool protagonist.

***

“That was really good! I bawled my eyes out,” Hikari said with gusto as she wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

“I didn’t expect a happy ending after all that,” I said.

“Right? I thought for sure there was no path to salvation.”

That was a good movie!As a happy ending supremacist, I’m extremely satisfied.

We left the shopping mall and walked to the station. It wasn’t even 6 p.m. yet, but the sky was already dyed scarlet. The days were gradually shortening.

Suddenly, our hands brushed against one another’s, and then Hikari’s fingers grabbed mine. Sensing her intention, I clasped her hand. It was a little chilly outside, so she felt very warm.

After a beat, I asked, “Did you have fun today?”

She nodded, wearing a big smile. “Of course I did! What about you?”

“Yeah, just being with you makes me happy,” I told her sincerely.

Her cheeks flushed red.

Sh-Shit...! That just slipped out I’ve been distracted, so I just... Extremely embarrassed, I felt my cheeks heat up, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Hikari’s face. A dull thump struck my arm. She’s got a tendency to resort to violence. I know it’s to hide her embarrassment, though.

“That goes for me too,” she whispered into my ear, catching me off guard. “Dummy.”

Her soft, sweet voice has too much destructive power!Is she trying to kill me? Hikari’s been relatively sharp-tongued recently Shes probably showing me her true self It makes me happy that she doesn't hold back around me, but sometimes she's too honest, which is bad for my heart... Just like now.

Everyone around us could see that we were both bright red. I didn’t need to look to know When an elderly couple passed by, they smiled warmly at us and murmured, “Oh my!”

We're acting like a pair of stupid lovebirds! I hate couples who flirt in public, yet here I am doing exactly that! I want us to be a calm, intimate couple like that elderly couple.

“S-Say, Natsuki-kun... I was acting weird today, wasn’t I?”

“N-No... I don’t think you were. You were c-cute as always,” I fumbled out. Hey! Don't stutter there!I sound like a creep! Wait, I'm always creepy, you say? Oh, right.

“I... I was nervous... Extremely... I hid it, though...”

Uh, you weren't hiding it at all, but if I point that out, you'll probably get upset. I guess I'm in no position to do so either... My heart is racing even now, and I can't stop thinking about how we're holding hands

“I feel the same,” I admitted. That was the only reply I could muster. We were each other’s first boyfriend and girlfriend. We were both trying to figure out how to behave.

I'm probably supposed to take the lead during moments like this since I'm the guy...but it's taking all I've got to figure out what's proper behavior. I'm so pathetic it makes me want to sigh. I want to be invincible.

We both fell silent.

Huh? Our conversation cut off... What do I do? C’mon, don't I have anything to talk about? We continued walking as I tried to figure out what to say. All the while, our hands stayed intertwined.

The next tiling I knew, we’d reached the station’s ticket gate. Hikari and I took different trains home, so we would part ways here. At least, we should’ve. She came to a stop and didn’t let go of my hand.

“Hikari?” I questioned.

“Just... Just a little longer,” she said.

I cocked my head to the side, unsure what she meant by that.

Seconds passed, and then she finally nodded. “Okay. Charging completed.”

“Charging?”

“If I don’t store up enough Natsuki-kun energy, I’ll get lonely,” she said, giggling shyly. She was too adorable.