Chapter 162: A Date of “Perfect” Disasters
-6 January 2027-
I woke up to the first ring of my alarm, the sound cutting through the quiet of winter like a little bell of excitement.
Today wasn’t just any day—it was a full-day date with Keiko. Just the two of us. No Rin barging in, no friends suddenly joining halfway. It felt like it had been forever since we had one of these.
I practically jumped out of bed, took a shower, and put on the clothes I’d carefully prepared yesterday. Then, just to show off, I decided to cook breakfast. Eggs, toast, and soup—I wanted to start the day strong, like some romantic drama lead.
“You’re up already?” Keiko’s sleepy voice called out as she peeked into the kitchen, still in her pajamas, hair slightly messy.
I smiled at her while stirring eggs. “I was refreshed after yesterday’s full-day rest.”
She gave me that little smile that always made me want to melt right there. “Need help?” she asked, stepping closer.
I shook my head quickly. “No, no. You’ll be my princess today. Just sit down.”
She slapped my arm, blushing. “Stop it. You’re cringey.”
I laughed. “Careful! What if I had a knife in my hand while you’re slapping me?”
Keiko chuckled, rolling her eyes as if saying ‘you’re hopeless.’
“I’ll shower first,” she said, disappearing again, leaving me grinning like an idiot in the kitchen.
---
By 10 a.m., we were both ready. Coats, boots, gloves—the full winter getup.
“So,” Keiko asked, adjusting her scarf, “where are we going first?”
“It’s a secret,” I told her smugly.
She groaned. “Okay, Mr. Secret… let’s go then.”
As she bent down to fix her boots, I couldn’t resist—I tugged her hand suddenly, making her stumble forward right into my arms.
“Ehhh?!” She squealed, landing perfectly against me.
I grinned. “Gotcha.”
Her face turned red as she muttered, “Stop acting like a teenager, geez.”
I leaned closer. “Well, maybe you wouldn’t pass as one, but I still could.”
That earned me a solid punch on the shoulder. “Idiot.”
I was laughing too much to even feel the pain.
---
“An ice skating rink?” Keiko’s voice trembled as she stared at the sign.
“Yep,” I said, puffing out my chest. “It’s winter-perfect, and we’ve never tried it. So… today’s the day.”
Keiko looked at me as if I’d just announced we were going skydiving without parachutes. “I didn’t sign up for breaking my arms and legs.”
I chuckled, trying to look confident. “Relax. I’ll take care of you.”
Fast forward ten minutes—and I was already flat on the ice with a nosebleed.
Keiko gasped, rushing over. “Are you okay?!” Her worried voice quickly turned into laughter. “See? Didn’t I warn you?”
I held a tissue to my nose but still grinned. “I… totally did that on purpose.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Purpose?”
“Yeah.” I gave her my best cool-guy face, though it was ruined by the tissue sticking out of my nose. “I fell first so you wouldn’t have to. That way you won’t get hurt.”
Keiko grabbed the towel from the staff and threw it at my face. “You’re hopeless.”
Then she turned around and started skating away, leaving me wobbling after her like some dying penguin.
“Hey, wait! Don’t abandon me on this frozen battlefield!” I called after her.
In the end, we both gave up after just fifteen minutes. Defeated, humiliated, and with my pride shattered, I trudged out of the rink holding my nose.
Keiko sighed. “So, Mr. Secret, what’s next? Please tell me it doesn’t involve hospital visits.”
I tried to recover my dignity. “Next is… lunch! Though technically, we’re early. Ice skating was supposed to last longer.”
Keiko smirked. “Well, yeah. Because SOMEONE thought he was Yuzuru Hanyu but turned out to be a crashing chicken.”
I groaned. “That’s cruel. Accurate, but cruel.”
She laughed, eyes sparkling.
---
We ended up at a cozy little restaurant. I had reserved seats by the window so we could watch the snowy streets. The plan was smooth. Perfect. Foolproof.
Until Keiko nearly choked laughing at me.
Because apparently, when I act confidently tried to order in French (the restaurant had a fancy French name), I accidentally said something closer to, “Please give me your le nez du jour (today's nose.).”
The waiter blinked at me. Keiko was doubled over, smacking the table, tears in her eyes.
The waiter coughed politely. “I believe you wanted le menu du jour (today's menu), miss. Not le nez du jour (today's nose.)”
“Today's… nose?!” Keiko wheezed.
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. “That’s… that’s obviously not what I said.”
Keiko was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe. “Pfft—HAHAHA!”
I sank into my chair. Perfect. The date is ruined. She’s going to remember this forever.
Wiping her tears from laughing, Keiko leaned forward and teased, “You probably said ‘nose’ because you’re still traumatized from your nosebleed earlier, right?”
I groaned and covered my face. “Don’t make it worse…”
But then… Keiko reached across the table, still giggling, and said softly, “You’re ridiculous… but that’s why I like you.”
I blinked. For a second, the whole world paused. My heart nearly burst out of my chest.
But before I could say something cool back, the waiter came back, carrying the menus with a polite smile, and placed them neatly in front of us.
Then Keiko added, “Now let's order, Mr. Nose.”
…And my dignity was gone again.