Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 6 - Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1: The Seabreeze Confession
The Literature Club room of Tsuwabuki High School is located at the edge of the west building.

Yanami and I walked down the corridor leading to the club room while carrying shopping bags.

"Let's confirm this one more time. Today, we won't bring up anything about exams and will only talk about fun topics."

"Don't worry. You can trust my repertoire of entertaining talks."

Alright, I'm counting on you. Not that I trust you, though.

Arriving at the club room, we took a deep breath before opening the door.

"We're back..."

Only Komari was inside, standing on a chair, busy with decorations.

"Y-You two are late. Come and help out with the p-preparations."

"So, Tsukinoki-senpai hasn't arrived yet?"

Komari handed me a long decoration after getting off the chair unsteadily.

It's made from thin strips of origami paper, looped into circles and connected together.

Yanami peeked over from the side.

"This is like the decorations for birthday parties, right?"

"Y-Yeah, it c-creates a better atmosphere."

Komari answered with a timid smile, but I shook my head.

"Komari, it's good to cheer up Tsukinoki-senpai, but this is a bit too much."

"Right, we should've used black and white paper instead."

I don’t think that’s a good idea either.

“Ueh? B-But senpai’s about to…”

And then, lively footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Instinctively, we turned our gaze toward the door, and the footsteps stopped right outside our club room.

After a brief pause, the door swung open energetically.

"It's been a while! How's everyone doing?"

The one who appeared with a beaming smile was the former vice president of the Literature Club, Koto Tsukinoki.

Her familiar twin-tailed hair looked a bit thinner than the last time I saw her, and her double-lidded eyes, surrounded by long eyelashes, seemed more mature without the glasses.

"Did you switch to contact lenses?"

"Oh, you noticed?"

Tsukinoki-senpai grinned slyly.

A major character change just before graduation, quite fearless.

Tsukinoki-senpai stepped forward gracefully- and then crashed right into the table.

"...It hurts. I guess I can't see well without my glasses."

Tsukinoki-senpai fumbled for a chair and sat down, pulling out her glasses from her pocket and putting them on. Why did she even pretend not to need them?

"Thanks to both of you for the shopping. How much is it?"

Yanami quickly handed a taiyaki to her as Tsukinoki-senpai rummaged through her pockets.

"Tsukinoki-senpai! Life has its ups and downs, but please cheer up!"

"Hmm? I’m not sure what you mean, but thanks. Hold on, did someone take a bite out of this taiyaki already?”

Following Yanami's lead, I placed a mug of cola in front of senpai.

"It's no big deal, just a year. It's like returning from a duty. It adds to your experience."

Yanami nodded vigorously.

"That's right! My dad used to loaf around when he was young, but now he's doing quite alright! So, senpai, you'll be fine too!"

While nibbling on her taiyaki, Tsukinoki-senpai tilted her head in contemplation.

...Wait, this isn't the reaction I expected. Did we hit a nerve?

“I see. I think Komari said something comforting yet irresponsible like you two as well.”

Helplessly, I looked at Komari for help, yet she just shook her head.

“S-Senpai…passed the university e-entrance exam.”

“Eh?” (x2)

Stunned, Yanami and I looked at Tsukinoki-senpai, who proudly raised her mug.

"I, Koto Tsukinoki, have finally passed the university entrance exams."

Yanami cleared her throat after a moment of silence.

"...I believed in you from the start. Unlike Nukumizu-kun."

It was you who started saying she failed, alright?

Shit, I'm going to be the only bad guy at this rate.

"Senpai! Which university did you get into?"

"Huh, wait, which one was it again?"

As I desperately tried to change the subject, Tsukinoki-senpai tilted her head and started fiddling with her phone.

...Hold on. Is she really admitted? The tension in the club room was palpable.

"Ah, here it is. See, it says 'Accepted' on the login screen, right?"

We all leaned in to look at the smartphone screen she held out.

"...Ah, right, it's the Business Administration Department at Meiai Academy."

"Meiai? Wow, I'll be attending there from April on."

"Yes, please do. Since you didn't get into the others."

With the confirmation of her acceptance, Tsukinoki-senpai's celebration finally began.

Today was a free-for-all. Yanami opened bags of potato chips left and right without anyone getting upset.

"Hey, Yanami-san, did you eat all the white soy sauce-flavored chips already?"

"There's still one bag left- Oh wait, I ate it on the way back from the supermarket."

When did that happen? I didn't even get a single chip.

Yanami stacked three types of chips to eat at once and asked Tsukinoki-senpai.

"So, senpai, are you going to move out for college in April?"

"That's the plan. I have a meeting with a real estate agent tomorrow."

Tsukinoki-senpai said this with a somewhat lonely smile.

Meiai University in Nagoya and Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture are east and west of each other. Some people commute, but I'm sure she would skip classes. Definitely. Having a boyfriend nearby might help a bit, but-

"By the way, how's Tamaki-senpai doing with his exam prep?"

Shintaro Tamaki is the former club president and Tsukinoki-senpai's boyfriend.

His first choice is a national university in Nagoya, and he hasn't applied for any backups.

"His second-stage exams are tomorrow. He's in the final push right now."

She said casually, popping a chip into her mouth.

Despite her tone, there was a hint of worry in her eyes.

"T-Tamaki-senpai will be f-fine."

Komari muttered as if to herself, clutching her cup of oolong tea tightly.

"Right, Prez will do great."

Yanami interrupted and patted Komari’s head. I’m the prez now, by the way.

Tsukinoki-senpai chuckled and opened a big bag of chocolates.

"Looks like I made everyone worry. Well, let's eat all the snacks we bought!"

"C-Can we really eat that much-"

Before Komari could finish, her gaze followed Yanami pouring the rest of the potato chips into her mouth.

"Hmm? Komari-chan, do you want to try this, too? Wait, let me open another bag."

“Ueh!? N-No, I’m good-”

"Chips are best enjoyed with the throat. Here, tilt your head back and open up!"

Komari, unable to refuse, ended up gulping down the chips. It looked like a new form of torture.

Tsukinoki-senpai watched this scene with a gentle gaze while eating her mitarashi dango.

I placed a teacup in front of her.

"I've made some hot tea. I'll leave it here for you."

“Ara, how thoughtful."

“You’re the sponsor for today, after all. Please let us pamper you.”

Tsukinoki-senpai sipped the hot tea and gave me a sidelong glance.

"How about the new students' welcome event? Have you prepared anything?"

"I haven't really started yet. With you coming to the club room like this, it doesn't really feel like I'm about to become a second-year."

I answered honestly, and Tsukinoki-senpai laughed joyfully.

"Right, I also don't feel like I'm really graduating."

She twirled a dango skewer in her hand.

"It'll probably hit me the morning after the graduation ceremony. When I realize I don't have to go to high school anymore, that's when it'll sink in that it's time to move on to a new place."

...Graduation is just a week away.

What seemed far off is now just around the corner.

"But I might keep popping into the club room until the last minute. I'll have some free time before moving out and heading to my university.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

We sat in a comfortable silence as Yanami and Komari buzzed around noisily.

Just as we were savoring this quiet moment-

“Congrats, senpai!”

The door burst open, and Yakishio jumped in.

“Oh, you’re here too, Yakishio-chan. It’s been a while.”

"Yeah, it has. I was worried because Nukkun said you would definitely fail."

"Hoho, Nukumizu-kun said that?"

…Did I say that? I kind of feel like I did.

I quickly stood up to make more tea.

As I poured hot water into the teapot, Yakishio joined me with a taiyaki in her hand.

"Can you make one for me too?"

"Sure, but we also bought oolong tea and cola."

“Hmm, I don’t really want to lower my body temperature.”

Yakishio hesitated more than usual. That’s rare.

She’s glancing over at Yanami and the others as well.

“I’ll make the tea. You can sit down.”

“...Hey, are you free on Sunday?”

Yakishio said that out of the blue. Of course, I didn't have any plans.

"Well, I'm free, but why do you ask?"

As I responded curiously, Yakishio leaned in close to me.

The faint scent of her citrus deodorant wafted through the air.

Our shoulders lightly bumped into each other.

Then, her whisper tickled my ear.

"-So, Nukkun, how about going on a date with me?"

*

After returning home and climbing the stairs, I found myself repeatedly mulling over Yakishio's words.

A date.

Though the definition varies, the fact that she explicitly asked confirms it's definitely a date.

I never thought such an event would happen in my high school life…

Trying to calm my fluttering heart, I opened the door to my room, where Kaju was holding a measuring tape.

“Kaju, you’re here?”

“Welcome back, onii-sama!”

She put down the measuring tape and came around to help me take off my jacket.

"You must be tired from today. We’re having onii-sama’s favorite buri daikon for dinner, you know?”

"Ohh, that sounds great."

“What were you measuring earlier?”

As Kaju hung the jacket and began to untie my necktie, I glanced at the measuring tape on my desk.

"Kaju was thinking of rearranging the room a bit."

Really? But this is my room.

"Uh, do we really need to rearrange? Is there a problem with how it is now?"

Kaju tilted her head adorably while holding the untied necktie.

"Yes, actually, Kaju was wondering if we could fit my bed in here."

“We aren’t doing that.”

“Then, are we finally getting a double bed!?”

“We aren’t.”

My my, Kaju is as whimsical as ever.

There was a bit of a squabble between Kaju and me on Valentine’s Day not long ago.

I felt uneasy because of the change in the relationship between us siblings.

I think we managed to understand each other a little better by addressing the words that were missing between us.

Since that day, the only thing that's been bothering me is Kaju's slightly closer proximity-

I wondered what to wear for the date as I peeked into the closet while Kaju was putting away the necktie.

"Where's that shirt I bought last year? The one with the newspaper print?"

"That shirt had moth holes, so I threw it away. They were on the letter parts.”

Eh, I see. I guess that happens.

"What about the shirt with the subtle dragon print?"

"The dragon has subtly flown away into the sky. This winter's winds were quite strong, after all."

Right, the winds are strong in Toyohashi. That leaves me with mostly plain clothes.

"...Isn't this too plain for the weekend?"

Kaju’s eyes gleamed as I muttered.

“Onii-sama, are you going somewhere?”

“Eh? No, it’s just…”

I mumbled something vague like "maybe" or "just a bit" while closing the closet.

Telling my little sister about a date feels embarrassingly like something a siscon would do.

*

On the actual day of the date, Sunday, the weather was unsettlingly clear.

With no wind, the late February sun surprisingly hints at the coming of spring.

I was standing in front of Takeshima Aquarium, just 12 minutes by high-speed rail
 
from Toyohashi.

-Why did Yakishio ask me out on a date?

I lost count of how many times I asked myself that question.

Typically, a date implies that both sides have some level of interest in each other.

But, in the broader sense, the term seems to be interpreted more loosely in society, just like the word “group date”.

Considering that, it's a stretch to think that someone as popular as Yakishio might like me.

"...Maybe she's just messing with me."

I said it out loud, trying to convince myself.

A secret visit to the aquarium, just the two of us-

Although the situation might suggest something more, I'm not naive enough to see this as a romantic flag.

It's just accompanying Yakishio for a change of pace. Yeah, that must be it.

Coming to that conclusion, I adjusted the collar of my jacket restlessly.

Today, I'm dressed in an outfit coordinated by Kaju.

It's a jacket borrowed from our father's wardrobe, paired with a light turtleneck. 

It's a bit mature for me but too youthful for Dad to wear. It looked pretty good when we got it, but now it’s just feeding the wardrobe.

It's been years since I last visited the aquarium, but its unchanged atmosphere brings a sense of relief.

The modest building, which seems to carry a long history, has been active since my grandparents' time.

Despite its appearance, the place is bustling with families.

The ground floor of the adjacent building was once a souvenir shop, but it’s closed now.

Wrapped in nostalgia and liveliness, I feel almost as if I've time-traveled. Then, a girl approached from the direction of the parking lot.

Her tanned, petite face framed by a short haircut is unmistakable. It’s Yakishio.

As I raised my hand to greet her, I was momentarily overwhelmed by her appearance.

Yakishio's outfit is a tight miniskirt paired with a fluffy, oversized-sleeved knit.

It’s simple, but it strikingly complements her style and draws attention.

...Was Yakishio always this beautiful?

She waved her hand gently after seeing my stunned look.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Nukkun. What's up? You seem frozen."

"Ah, no, please don’t worry about it.”

I replied and unintentionally slipped into formal mode. I knew she was cute, but this is a surprise...

"Uh, shall we go buy the entrance tickets?"

“Wait a minute, Nukkun.”

Yakishio gently wrapped her hand around my arm as I hurriedly headed toward the ticket booth.

She brushed her hair behind her ear, revealing a small, sparkling earring.

“Isn’t there something you should say first?”

...What could it be? I'm not late for our meeting, and I don't owe her money.

Could it be that typical conversation that comes with dates?

“...Ah, well, you look very stylish today.”

“Stylish?”

"And very good-looking, I think…"

After I finished speaking in a flustered manner, Yakishio flashed a bright smile, revealing her white teeth.

“Alright, I forgive you.”

I’ve been forgiven.

"Come on, we better hurry, or they'll be sold out."

"No, they won't be sold out- hey, don't pull me."

As an upbeat Yakishio cheerfully dragged me along, I wiped off the sweat on my forehead in secret with a handkerchief.

There's no doubt about it now. I was skeptical, almost 90% doubtful, but I completely misjudged the situation.

This isn't just for fun. It's an actual date.

*
The exhibition room of Takeshima Aquarium is only on the first floor. It’s not particularly large.

It's small enough to walk through in just a few minutes, but there's a reason it's a popular facility.

"Hey Nukkun, did you know horseshoe crabs don't taste very good?"

"Yeah, their blood is blue as well."

Exactly. This aquarium is known for its hand-written explanations by the staff, especially the highly-appreciated food reviews. Yanami could spend a whole day here.

Yakishio suddenly yelled in front of the next tank as we read the explanations and looked at the fish.

"Uwah, look at all these moray eels!"

Just as Yakishio described, about 10 moray eels are swimming around in a slightly larger tank.

According to the description, the tank hosts eight different species of moray eels.

Yakishio mumbled to herself in wonder while staring at the tank curiously.

"Do we really need this many types of eels? I can't tell them apart."

Who are you complaining to? God?

"We do need them. You know, it's about...biodiversity and stuff. Yeah, something like that…”

"Ah, biodiversity, right. I guess it can't be helped."

We continued our slightly below-average intellectual conversation before moving on. Next, a large shallow tank in the middle of the corridor caught our attention. It's about the size of three tatami mats and can be viewed from all angles, not just from the sides.

Yakishio rushed toward it with excitement, and I followed with a sense of resignation.

...I'm actually having a normal conversation here. Honestly, I'm still nervous about the word 'date', but Yakishio is being more herself than ever, so I have to be twice as normal.

Right, I'm not acting weird or anything, am I?

“Hey, Nukkun, come here!”

“Ah, yeah.”

As I stood next to Yakishio, peering into the tank, we saw layered coral resembling shelves with colorful tropical fish swimming around them.

Our conversation halted, and the gently swimming tropical fish captured our gaze.

-I’m reminded of last summer during this quiet moment.

That night at the shrine, surrounded by the scent of grass and earth, Yakishio was by my side, tears streaming down her face.

Now she's beside me, dressed up, her scent a mix of makeup and perfume.

When I glance over, Yakishio's brown eyes are looking right at me.

“What’s wrong?”

"Uh, no, what about you, Yakishio?"

Yakishio gave me a mature smile as I struggled for words.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is."

I lowered my gaze back to the tank to hide my embarrassment.

Our eyes met again in the reflection on the water, and we both broke into a smile.

Yakishio's earrings caught the light on the water's surface, sparkling and swaying.

The reflection danced in my eyes, making the bustling noise of the aquarium feel strangely distant.

I stood silently while watching the tropical fish and Yakishio’s reflection in the water.

*

Yakishio began to mumble softly as I watched the capybaras over the glass.

“It reminds me of that night when we’re standing side by side like this. Remember when we went to Aoki Elementary together?"

“...last summer?”

Yakishio nodded slightly.

It was near the end of the summer break. Yakishio and I walked the night streets to meet Ayano for the last time.

It wa<s a final resolution to a broken love.

I still don't know the content of the conversation Yakishio had with Ayano that night, nor do I fully understand Yakishio's feelings.

But that memory from that time remains an important fragment in Yakishio's heart.

It still sparkles brightly, leaving no room for other romances to enter.

And then, Yakishio's gaze pulled me back from my sentimental thoughts.

“...Eh, what’s wrong?”

Yakishio looked at me silently, her gaze intense.

I tried to meet her eyes.

But she looked away at the next moment.

Eh, did I upset her somehow…?

As I was about to move on to the next tank, I felt her gaze on me again. When I looked at her, she quickly turned her face away, her lips suppressing a smile, her shoulders shaking slightly.

...She's teasing me. Okay, if that's how it is, I'll play along.

I pretended to walk away, then suddenly turned back to her.

"Hold on, that's cheating, isn't it?"

"There's no cheating in a match. Now we're even."

I answered calmly before moving forward.

"I'm still leading 2 to 1."

She protested and followed.

But this is part of my plan as well. I turned around without warning.

But Yakishio was faster. She circled to my side and poked my cheek.

"Gotcha, 3 to 1 now."

...She's messing with me. But what are the rules of this game, anyway?

"Hey, Nukkun, try to find me."

Looks like she's going to hide behind me this time.

As I turned around, she grabbed my shoulders and swiftly dodged around.

"There, 4 to 1!"

"Don't grab my shoulders."

...This is bad. I can feel the stares from people around us.

We must look like a silly couple to outsiders.

"Alright, I give up. Please forgive me.”

"Aw, giving up so soon?"

"We're bothering people. Come on, let's move on."

Yakishio stuck out her tongue playfully and then nudged me from behind, urging me to walk.

Good grief, Yakishio was really excited today.

I tried to keep a serious expression, but for some reason, my mouth kept curving into a smile.

"I didn't know..."

I muttered softly to myself.

Going on a date- is this much fun.

*

My first-ever date is going smoothly.

After coming out of the restroom and confirming Yakishio wasn't around, I placed a hand on my chest and took a deep breath.

Following our eye-catching mystery game, we started playing a game of cutting in front of each other to block the view- pure grade-school antics.

But with the premise of a date, these childish games transformed into the playful affection of a silly couple.

I really wanted to share this discovery with someone. Maybe I will include it in my next novel and ask Yanami and Komari for their opinion.

“...No, I need to calm down.”

Just to clarify, Yakishio and I are just friends, simply on a date.

For Yakishio, it’s nothing more than reveling in childhood glee.

A fleeting shadow caught my eyes as I reminded myself of this.

...That silhouette was familiar.

Specifically, it’s the little creature who either reads in the corner of the club room or throws a fit.

As I pondered and started to head in that direction-

“What’s wrong, Nukkun?”

Yakishio's voice halted my steps.

"Oh, I thought I saw something over there."

"Could it be those things?”

Yakishio surprisingly latched onto the idea, peering over my shoulder down the corridor.

"Some zoos have free-roaming geese and stuff, right? Maybe they let something loose here."

“We’re in an aquarium. It’ll dry up.”

"Just splash some water on it. Anyway, we should get going."

Oh, right, no time for that. The main event at the aquarium, the sea lion show, is about to start.

We passed through the automatic doors and emerged into the outdoor space.

The show's stage is about the size of two Literature Club rooms put together, with a pool about twice that size in front of it. In essence, it has a cozy atmosphere.

The seating area is tiered, with only five rows. Yakishio and I settled down on the third row.

Yakishio looked around nostalgically.

"It's been about five years since I last saw a show. Nothing's changed."

I wondered how many years it had been for me, too. As family outings became less frequent, I realized we each began spending our weekends separately.

I don’t exactly feel sad about it, but looking back, it seems a bit too early for such a change.

"The last time I was here was when my little sister started elementary school. You tend not to come to places like this without younger siblings."

"Maybe. I have a little sister in 6th grade, too."

Wait, this girl’s an older sister?

The thought of the Asagumo and Yakishio sister duo play flashed through my mind, and it definitely wasn't my fault.

“...She's really well-behaved. Nukkun, you don't think I'm her opposite, do you?"

“How did you know?”

Yakishio glared at me and pulled my ear after I answered honestly. Ouch.

While enduring this unreasonable violence, the audience around us began to grow.

Just as the standing room started to fill up, a woman and a sea lion casually appeared on the stage.

The show started after she signaled the sea lion.

The woman tossed rings, which the sea lion skillfully caught on its neck.

"Look, Nukkun! Isn't that sea lion amazing?"

Yakishio pointed excitedly.

Good grief, even at 16, Yakishio still has a childlike side.

Indeed, the woman's ring-throwing skills were impressive, and the bond between her and the sea lion was undeniable.

...I hadn't noticed as a child, but this is quite a high-level performance.

The show wasn't flashy, but when the final jump into the pool succeeded, I found myself clapping naturally.

"Did you see that last jump? We just had to see the sea lion show coming here!"

“Ah, yeah, you’re right…”

I expected Yakishio to be just as excited, but instead, she hesitated, her right hand mid-air, fidgeting.

"What's wrong, Yakishio? Did you catch a bug or something?"

“Uh, well…”

The show ended, and the audience started returning inside.

Suddenly, Yakishio sprang to her feet.

"Nukkun, I need to make a phone call. I'll be right back!"

“Eh? Sure, take your time.”

"I'll be quick!"

As she pulled out her phone and headed back into the building, I was left sitting alone in the now-empty stands. What was that about?

Then, I noticed a small folded piece of paper where Yakishio had been sitting.

Maybe it’s a note containing the bus schedule?

I saw cute, round handwriting inside after picking it up nonchalantly.

[STEP 1 - Handholding]

Initiating handholding is a no-go! Subtly hint so the guy makes the first move!

...What is this? Seriously, what on Earth is this? First of all, why does Yakishio have this?

There seem to be more steps, but I decided it’s better not to look.

"But haven't I held hands with her before...?"

Then what was the purpose of this note? Confused, I stood up.

The sudden phone call, the mysterious note- it felt like the start of a shocking twist in a manga I had recently read.

Something caught my eye at the edge of my vision as these thoughts swirled in my mind.

There seems to be someone behind the stands, about shoulder height to me, with small, tied-up hair peeking in and out of view.

…It has to be that girl.

I crept over to the back of the stands to confirm the identity of this mysterious figure.

She was about my shoulder height, with messy hair tied up on one side. She was turned away from me.

I was about to call out when I stopped after noticing her attire.

She wore a flashy yellow hoodie with shorts, a green backpack adorned with jingling badges and accessories, and matching green sneakers.

The hairstyle and silhouette are unmistakably Komari's, but what is up with this outfit?

Peeking from behind, I saw Komari (presumably) watching a video of the sea lion show on her phone.

“I-I captured it well…”

"Komari, what's with that outfit?"

“Una!?”

Startled, Komari leaped back, clutching her smartphone, her mouth opening and closing in shock.

Her unfamiliar attire and more suspicious behavior than usual made me wonder, don’t tell me-

"Is this supposed to be a disguise?"

Komari shook her head vigorously.

“I-I-I’m not Komari!”

As if that could be true.

I haven’t told anyone about the date. From what I have seen in the club room, Yakishio hasn’t shared it with the other Literature Club members either. Yet here is Komari. This means…

"Komari, who told you about this? Is anyone else here besides you?"

“U-Uh, a-aside from m-m-me…”

“Who. Else. Is. There?”

As I pressed her for answers, Komari looked up at me resentfully-  her eyes brimming with tears.

"Hey! I'm not blaming you, okay? Uh, you want gum? The kind you can make bubbles with."

Komari accepted the gum and put it in her mouth before muttering quietly.

"...A-Anyway, I'm not Komari, t-to begin with."

No, you are Komari. But this time, I felt I might have been in the wrong.

"Uh, sorry. I shouldn't have spoken like that. And about your outfit..."

I looked down again at Komari's flashy yet cute attire.

"Yeah, it looks cute and suits you well."

“Cough!”

What happened, Komari? Did she choke on her gum?

"Are you okay? They say it's good to hit between the shoulder blades when that happens."

After a fit of coughing, Komari glared at me and snapped,

“G-Go die!”

She then ran off. I didn't quite understand, but she seemed fine.

But why was Komari here? Was she really following us...?

Then, Yakishio replaced Komari.

“Yakishio, I just saw Komari and-”

A wheat-colored bullet dashed past me before I could finish.

Yakishio leaped onto the stands and started searching around where we had been sitting.

“Eh, what are you doing?”

As I approached and asked, Yakishio looked up with a panicked expression.

"Nukkun! Did you see a small piece of paper here?"

So that note is hers. I silently handed her the paper.

"You found it! Good, I was worried about someone seeing it-”

Yakishio's smile faltered as she tilted her head.

"...Did you read it?"

“A little bit.”

Yakishio's expression turned serious, and she grabbed my jacket collar.

"It's not like that! I didn't want it, but my mom gave it to me! That's all, okay?"

"I didn't read the content! Just breathe and let go of my collar. Inhale, exhale."

"Yeah, inhale, exhale."

Yakishio calmed down and let go.

"So, what's that note about?"

"It's like...dating tips or something. I told my mom I was going on a date, and she got excited and even lent me clothes."

Wait, that miniskirt is Yakishio's mom's?

For no particular reason, I felt a flutter of excitement. No particular reason at all.

"But you've gone out with Ayano before-”

I stopped mid-sentence, swallowing my words.

Yakishio forcefully tapped my chest as if knocking on a door.

"You don't have to worry about it. Going out with Mitsuki is different from a date, right? It's like, a date is a date only if it's declared as one."

I agreed. Unlike a certain glutton I knew, Yakishio made a good point.

She turned around and started walking back to the building while humming a tune.

Following her through the automatic doors, Yakishio waved her hands at me from the entrance of a room just inside.

“Hey, come here.”

“Hmm, what’s in here?”

I obediently entered the room, which was dimmer than the others. A hexagonal tank lit up at the far end as jellyfish floated gracefully inside. Yakishio and I stood side by side in silence, watching them.

The jellyfish weren't illuminated with trendy, vibrant lights but by a simple white light. The jellyfish drifted gently.

Time passed without the need for words. Feeling somewhat uneasy standing here, I spoke up.

"...Feels like a real date."

Yakishio pinched my elbow after hearing that.

"It has been a real date from the start. Aren’t you a bit rude, Nukkun?”

Well, yes, but. Yakishio glared at me with her lips pursed.

"You were into it earlier, even using feints and all."

Is she talking about us being like a silly couple- no, grade school students messing around earlier?

“That’s just because I can’t beat you in reflexes.”

"Hmph. So you don't like making eye contact with me?"

"No, it's not like that..."

Yakishio looked me straight in the eyes as I tried to explain.

"Okay, start. You lose if you look away."

Eh? What kind of challenge was that? Yakishio's serious face was very close to mine.

“Wait, I-”

"No talking either, okay?"

In a dim corner of the aquarium, with the softly glowing jellyfish as our backdrop, Yakishio's petite face was right in front of me.

Her long eyelashes fluttered with every blink.

Her tanned yet delicate skin was flawless.

Her lips, slightly thin, carried a modest smile. My reflection stared back from her deep brown eyes.

The sweet scent of her perfume made my head tingle with a light numbness.

...I was definitely reaching my limit. Just as I was about to concede-

"...Okay, it's a draw."

Yakishio backed away a little shyly while looking down.

"Uh? Ah, right, a draw..."

I repeated, my mind still hazy.

"Come on, Nukkun, let's go to the next thing!"

I hurried after Yakishio as she briskly walked away-