[Vol. 2] Chapter 51: A Date… or Not?
The following week started with one of the things every student dreads most.
Exams.
Two full days of suffering, until finally…
"It's over!"
I set my pencil down on the desk like I had just survived a war; the teacher started collecting the exams while I stared at the paper with a mix of relief and dread.
"No point in worrying now, I just hope I passed..."
My expectations weren't high, but the fact that Yuuna had studied with me was actually pretty reassuring.
During exam days, classes and club activities were suspended, so I finally had some free time.
And I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
Sleep.
Go home, crash onto my bed, and maybe wake up tomorrow. That was my perfect plan, but just as I was about to leave the classroom...
"Shimizu-san."
I stopped.
It was Arima.
"Yes?"
He stepped a little closer.
"Do you have anything going on later?"
I blinked.
"Huh?"
"I want to tell you something."
"Something?"
"Yeah."
Arima seemed unusually serious.
Then he added:
"We could go get something to drink."
...
Wait.
Get something to drink?
Him and me?
My brain started making dangerous connections.
"What time?"
"At four."
"Ah... at that time I—"
Before I could answer, some classmates called him from the door.
"Arima! Let's go!"
"Coming!"
Arima turned back to me.
"Sorry. I'll see you at four in front of the metro station, then, Shimizu-san. Thanks."
He gave a small bow and walked off.
"Wait!"
But he was already gone.
I stood there staring at the door.
...
Had he just decided for me?
I hadn't even given him an answer.
Though...
There was something even more unsettling.
Why did he invite me, of all people?
When I got home, I made something simple to eat. While I cooked, my mind kept circling back to the same question.
"Did Arima-kun... ask me out on a date?"
I shook my head immediately.
"No."
No.
It couldn't be.
…
Although… he had asked if I had anything going on, and he wants to tell me something important enough that he didn't want to say it in public…
That sounded suspiciously like a date.
"No, no, no..."
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
"So does that mean... he likes me?"
Just imagining it gave me chills—not because Arima was a bad person, it was just...
No!
I didn't want to think about that!
Even so, my imagination wasted no time running wild.
A completely over-the-top scene played out in my head.
Arima standing in front of me.
A sunset.
The wind moving through our hair.
Him taking my hand.
"Shimizu-san..."
"What?"
"There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I..."
He dropped to his knees.
"I love you!"
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
I shook my head.
"No!"
"[Congratulations on getting your first date.]"
I froze.
"..."
"..."
"It's not a date."
"[Don't be embarrassed, it's perfectly normal to go on dates at your age.]"
"I'm telling you it's not a date."
"[You're a total success in love.]"
"...Can you please shut up?"
DING.
A floating window appeared in front of me.
[New mission available.]
"No."
[Objective: Get yourself ready for the date.]
"I TOLD YOU IT'S NOT A DATE!"
"[Even if it isn't, it's a good opportunity to practice.]"
"Practice what?"
"[Being a woman who goes on dates.]"
...
I could feel a vein throbbing in my forehead.
"If you had a physical body, I would have hit you by now."
[Mission requirements:]
[— Hair done.]
[— Appropriate outfit.]
[— Perfume.]
[— Overall appearance.]
When I opened the full list to see more details, there was a selection of items I needed to acquire.
"...Do I really need all this?"
[Every woman does.]
I sighed.
"Fine."
I guess it wouldn't be so bad.
After eating, I went to a nearby Donki—one of Japan's most famous discount department store chains.
The system's list was mostly hair-related things I needed.
A hair dryer.
A round brush.
A regular brush.
A flat iron.
Heat protectant spray.
And probably ten other things I didn't even know the purpose of.
I looked at the basket.
"Do I really have to use all of this? My hair looks fine naturally," I muttered, pulling a strand between my fingers.
It was soft.
Shiny.
Perfectly cared for without doing much at all.
…
An image immediately came to mind.
[Silky Hair Lv4]
Well...
Maybe not so naturally after all…
I paid and went home.
After showering, came the hard part.
Doing my hair.
I barely knew how to comb it and put it in simple braids or bows, thanks to Reiko and Melisa teaching me, but I had absolutely no idea how to use a hair dryer.
"How does this even work?"
I turned it on.
"AH!"
The hot air hit me straight in the face.
"It's too strong!"
I turned down the power and then tried to use the brush. Five minutes later, I looked exactly the same.
I searched for a tutorial on my phone.
"Ah..."
I watched it carefully.
"So I have to do this..."
I tried to copy it.
My arm went one way, the dryer went another, and the brush ended up tangled in my hair.
"..."
"..."
"How do women do this every single day?"
After several attempts, I finally managed something decent. It wasn't perfect, but at least I didn't look like I had survived an explosion.
"…"
"I'll count this as a major victory…"
I put on the outfit I had picked out, added a little perfume, and did a spin in front of the mirror.
I was ready.
I smiled, and when I looked at the clock the smile disappeared.
"Crap!"
Ten minutes to 4:00 PM. I grabbed my purse and rushed out of the house.
If I still lived in Sumida-ku, it would have taken me up to 40 minutes to get there, but luckily my new place was close, so with a bit of hurrying I managed to arrive on time.
As I approached, I could see Arima was already there, waiting outside the station.
Huh?
What the heck?
To my surprise, he was wearing some kind of athletic set that looked like pajamas.
The moment he spotted me, he started waving his arm.
"Shimizu-san, over here!"
"H-Hi."
"Thanks for coming."
"No problem."
I smiled, hiding my discomfort, though apparently not well enough.
"Is something wrong?" Arima asked, looking a little puzzled.
"Hm? No, no, everything's fine," I said with a nervous laugh.
Actually I'm a little annoyed...
So this is how women feel?
I spent all that time getting ready and this idiot shows up in his pajamas?
"Well, let's go then."
That's why you don't have a girlfriend!
We walked to a nearby café and sat down across from each other at one of the first tables by the window.
The atmosphere was nice—it wasn't very crowded so it was quiet, and the tables were pretty big.
Arima picked up the menu.
"What do you want to order?"
"Anything is fine."
"Order whatever you want, I told you I'd treat you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Well, in that case…"
I'm going to take out my frustration by ordering the most expensive dessert on the menu. Or should I get two? No, better three... yeah, that'll teach him to respect a girl's time.
Mwahahaha.
"You're making a terrifying face, Shimizu-san…"
My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"T-Terrifying? I don't know what you're talking about," I said with a small laugh.
A waitress came over and took our orders, and after a few minutes she returned.
…
In the end I only got a vanilla milkshake.
I let out a sigh.
I don't have what it takes to be a villain…
"…"
"So? What was it you wanted to tell me?"
I had already mentally prepared myself to turn down a confession.
I can do this...
I just have to be direct, but also empathetic.
Arima stayed quiet for a moment, just looking at me.
Direct.
Empathetic.
Direct.
Empathetic.
Got it.
Arima finally spoke.
My body tensed up.
"Well, there's someone..."
Oh.
Here we go.
"..."
"I've been thinking about this for a while now."
I swallowed.
"I see."
"At first I thought it was just admiration."
"..."
"But lately I keep thinking about her more and more."
...
Oh God, here it comes.
I braced myself.
Took a deep breath.
"When she's around... I get nervous, and I have trouble acting normally."
Arima looked down.
"I..."
Then he looked up.
"I'm in love."
"Arima-kun, I'm flattered, but—"
"With Rika."
Silence.
...
"What?"
"What?"
Ground, swallow me whole…
"C-Could you say that last part again?"
"I'm in love with Rika."
"..."
AAAAHH.
I MISREAD THE WHOLE THING!!
I'm going to die of embarrassment…
"Shimizu-san, are you okay?" he asked, watching me struggle not to fall apart.
"Yes, I've never been better!"
"What were you just say—"
"AAAAHH that doesn't matter right now, what matters is talking about you and Rika! I'm so happy to hear that, I hope you two are really happy together hehe."
Arima didn't respond. He went quiet, eyes cast down.
"Arima-kun... have you... already told Rika how you feel?"
"...No, that's exactly why I asked to meet up."
And what do I have to do with your love life?
"I don't quite follow, could you be a little more specific?"
"I asked you to come because I need your help."
I almost choked on my milkshake.
"M-My help?! For what?"
"I want to get closer to her."
"..."
I stared at him.
"I still don't quite understand. Shouldn't you be saying that to Rika?"
Poor guy, all those electric shocks must have fried his brain.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because she barely pays attention to me."
"That..."
Is probably true.
"So you want me to be your Cupid and help you win her over."
"Yes."
I went quiet.
"I was joking! Why don't you ask Harada-kun or Kenji-kun for help?"
"I don't think they'd be much help with something like this."
"And if they can't help, what makes you think I can?!"
"Well, you're a woman."
"..."
"You can understand what another woman is thinking better than they can."
"I-I see, I guess that makes sense… but in that case, aren't Mei or Yuuna better options than me?"
"It would be really hard for me to talk about something like this with them, especially with Kanzaki-san. I couldn't handle her icy stare."
It amused me to picture that scene, because I think he was right.
"..."
Arima shrugged.
"For some reason it's just a lot easier to talk to you."
I looked at him.
"Arima-kun..."
Hearing that he genuinely trusted me had moved me enough to want to help, right up until he kept talking.
"It's just that it's like you're not really a woman."
"..."
An imaginary arrow pierced my chest.
"What?"
"I just feel comfortable talking to you."
"Right..."
"It's like you're a guy."
Another arrow, right next to the first one.
"..."
I took a deep breath.
"Please stop, that's enough..."
Maybe all those electric shocks actually gave him the ability to read minds?
"You're like a buddy."
"..."
"Talking to you reminds me of when I used to talk to my brother before he moved out."
"I-I see…"
"Maybe in a past life you were a man."
I couldn't hold back anymore and put both hands flat on the table.
"If you keep being this dense, you can forget about ever having a chance with Rika!"
"What?! Why?!"
"Forget it."
I crossed my arms.
I'm relieved he wasn't confessing to me, though now he's dragging me into a whole other problem.
I sighed.
"I'll be honest, I have zero experience in love."
Arima seemed surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So then..."
"But if talking to me helps, I can try."
After all, he at least paid for my milkshake, and it's obvious his chances are at 0% if nobody helps him.
"Thank you, Shimizu-san!"
"Don't mention it."
I took a sip of my milkshake, and he did the same with the one he had ordered for himself. We kept talking for a while, and then Arima asked the waitress for some desserts. Seen that way, it actually did look like a date.
I shook my head immediately.
It's not!
I just hope nobody from school sees us—this could easily be misunderstood.
…
Right after thinking that, as if the universe were punishing me for it…
"Aika-san?"
I heard a voice from behind me that left me frozen in place.
I recognized that tone.
No.
It couldn't be.
I slowly turned my head.
"..."
My eyes met Shin's.
My yakuza fiancé was standing behind me. At his side was the same long-haired bodyguard I had already seen a couple of times.
"Shin?!"
"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon. Must be my lucky day."
"What are you doing here?"
Shin held up a small bag.
"My mother wanted some sweets from this place."
"Ah..."
Sayuri-san.
Of course.
"I-I see."
I tried to smile.
But then Shin looked at Arima.
Then at our table.
Then at our drinks.
Then back at both of us, and a small silence settled in.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"..."
"Are you on a date?"
I felt my soul leave my body.
That's it.
I'm dead.
Dead for cheating.
And on top of that...
With Arima of all people!
If I was going to be judged for this, it could at least have been with someone more... Anyway. I looked up at the ceiling; it was clear the universe had punished me for not wanting anyone from school to see us.
Although don't you think that's a bit excessive?!
Shin kept looking at us, and just like that, my day of relaxation after exams turned into the complete opposite.