I had expected Haruna to come dressed to the nines, but surprisingly, she was waiting for me in her usual school uniform. In a way, it was her most familiar and charming look, and I think I liked it a little more than if she had tried too hard to dress up.
Hmm... meanwhile, I was wearing a skirt under a long-sleeved red cardigan, with a scarf, and an ivory-colored beret perched on my head. I wondered if I was the only one who had put so much effort into dressing up...
"Ah, Mika-ssi! Fufu. I feel this every time I see you, Mika-ssi, but you seem to look good in everything."
Well, as long as Haruna liked it, that's all that mattered.
"Oh, I think the same goes for you, Haruna-chan. And in my eyes, that school uniform of yours is the prettiest of all."
"...Hah, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease a little. By the way, it seems you've arrived quite early...?"
"Ahaha... hearing that from someone who was already here waiting when I showed up 15 minutes early feels a little strange, you know?"
It was strange, but for some reason, the people around me were almost never late for our appointments. I was usually the one who arrived early, so I couldn't understand why the other person was always the one waiting. It was impossible not to feel a sense of wonder.
"I didn't want to make you wait in this cold weather, Mika-ssi. Oh, and I've prepared the perfect date course for today in advance. In that sense, may I ask you to be my escort for the day? Fufut."
"Hmph. I see no reason why not. Yes, you are a body that will soon become an idol for all of Kivotos, so I suppose I must serve you to the best of my ability!"
"An idol... Hmph, hmph. We-Well, first, I've booked tickets for a movie."
"A movie...? Hey, Haruna-chan? We have a musical this afternoon—"
"Th-This is of a completely different nature, you see. This is a gourmet comedy film about the events that unfold after a chef at a certain hotel restaurant receives a scathing review from a famous critic. Therefore, this can be considered an extension of my quest to explore the culinary arts."
"...Aha?"
That certainly sounded like a reason Haruna would give. There was no way the Demon of Gastronomy wouldn't incorporate food into a date itinerary in some form or another.
With that, I was about to take Haruna's hand and set off, but for some reason, she gently pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around me instead.
"Oh, Haruna-chan...?"
"Just, for a moment... could you stay like this? Fufu, this sweet cherry scent is cheating..."
H-hey, doing this in the middle of the street is a little embarrassing...
After being held like that for nearly three minutes, I was finally released. Haruna, with a flushed face, held out her hand to me.
"Well then, Mika-ssi. I'll be in your care today."
Haruna's bright smile flickered in a certain direction for a moment before returning to me.
I thought nothing of it and let it pass, and our date began in earnest.
Both of us knew all too well where its final destination lay.
***
The movie itself was quite entertaining. The main plot revolved around the protagonist, who gets fired from the hotel where he works after a conflict with a critic, and then starts a cross-country trip with his daughter in a food truck.
As it was a comedy, there were scenes that made me burst out laughing, and since the main theme running through the film was cooking, it was nice to see Haruna enjoying it so much.
On top of that, there was a decent twist at the end. As we left the theater after the movie, one thought occurred to me.
"Um... you know, in this movie, aren't you the one who's in the 'critic' role, Haruna-chan?"
"...I-I suppose so? I have been writing a column recently, after all. Fufu."
"Well, I don't know about the old Haruna-chan, but the current you seems to fit the bill. Yeah, I read the draft Noa-chan sent me, and your critiques of the restaurants that didn't meet your standards were no joke."
"Gh... W-Well, I don't go around blowing things up indiscriminately like before. Still, leaving critiques like this is the healthier direction you wanted, isn't it, Mika-ssi?"
"Yes, I think it's a good change. I like it! You still can't resist blowing things up sometimes... but that's not without its reasons either, so isn't it fine?"
"Fu-fufut. You finally understand, Mika-ssi."
Well, I think it's safe to say that I won in the end. Haruna, who had tried to be a bad influence on me after making me a member of the Gourmet Research Society, ended up changing for the better like this.
When I mentioned this to Haruna...
"Isn't it said that the one who loves more is the one who yields? I am proud. Although I must admit, my heart has been mortgaged to the ultimate delicacy I had been searching for."
"Wo—ow..."
Hmm. The way she puts it makes it sound like I'm the bad guy for taking advantage of Haruna's pure love. Whatever the process, the result is that Haruna has been rehabilitated, so it's a good thing, right...? This is a point that Fuuka would agree to with both hands and feet raised.
"Fufu, the next course is..."
By the way, that gaze I'd been feeling for a while now... if my guess was right, it had to be her.
After that, we walked along a snow-covered path for a while.
Then we bought some bungeoppang to share and went to see the scheduled musical. But to be honest, I missed about half of the musical's plot.
The atmosphere of the musical itself was so fluffy and romantic that a strange current flowed between us. How could I focus on the story when we were both sneaking glances at each other and just playing with each other's hands?
...Ah, I don't mean hand-play in any lewd sense. We were just innocently playing with each other's hands.
"Fu-fufu. How was the musical? I... thought it was a very fine comedy."
"Ahaha, I don't know if I'd call it a fine comedy... but, yes. I'll agree that it was fun."
If by "comedy" she meant that she herself had fun, then I'd have to agree.
"Well then, shall we depart for our final course?"
Of course, she meant dinner. However, it still felt a bit early for a meal, so I was puzzled.
But the moment I confirmed that the place Haruna was leading me to was the Trinity-bound line at the train station, that question was naturally resolved.
If my guess was correct, Haruna's final destination for today was...
***
"We'll order one plate of the prosciutto e melone, and one of the amatriciana pasta. After a short interval, please bring out a single serving of bistecca alla Fiorentina, with a side of roasted potatoes as a contorno. For dolce, two slices of tiramisu, and two glasses of acqua gassata."
As I expected, the place Haruna had reserved was the very same Italian restaurant where we first met. I finally understood why she hadn't come dressed up, and I felt a twinge of regret, wishing she had given me a heads-up.
Haruna's order, which flowed like water, perfectly matched the menu of the meal we had shared on our first meeting.
The differences from back then were two... no, three things.
Back then, it was lunch, not dinner. Unlike now, when we both knew each other's feelings all too well, back then Haruna and I were complete strangers.
And...
"Hey, Haruna-chan. I've been wanting to ask for a while now, but that person sitting at the end table. That's Noa-chan, right?"
"...Mika-ssi, may I ask you for a favor?"
"I don't know what it is, but I knew it was Noa-chan."
At the movie theater, and at the musical, I had felt someone watching us from a distance. And I had indeed caught a glimpse of that distinctive white hair that I suspected belonged to Noa.
Recalling how flustered Haruna was when I arrived earlier than the appointed time, and how she had hugged me and spent time there... it meant this was something the two of them had agreed upon.
In any case, the presence of an uninvited guest was another difference from back then.
"Would you be so kind as to pretend you didn't see anything today?"
"Sure, if you explain the reason first."
"This is just because... Noa-ssi said she wanted to observe our date from a third party's perspective..."
"Right, and I'm curious as to why you'd hide that from me and allow it. I'm not trying to find fault, so don't worry."
"W-Well, you see..."
Haruna hesitated, scratching her cheek, before giving an answer I hadn't expected at all.
"Th-This is just a guess, but. I think... Noa-ssi likes you, Mika-ssi..."
"...?"
"W-Well, to be more precise, I think she likes... both of us?"
"Wo——ow...?"
My brain shut down after hearing something so shocking and unexpected. So, that Noa. For some reason, she has feelings for both me and Haruna?
...Gomen Yuuka. (TN: "Sorry, Yuuka." A popular meme in the *Blue Archive* community, often used when the Sensei gets into a romantic situation with another character.)
For some reason, I felt like I just had to say it.
***
I decided to put aside the problem that was difficult to conclude for now. If I, in a state of desperation, asked Nagisa, who had already allowed my relationship with Haruna, something like, 'Ah, Nagi-chan! Um... you remember Noa-chan from Millennium, right? It seems she likes both me and Haruna-chan. What should I do...?', then...
Hmm, I'd probably be murdered in a cruel and gruesome manner. The cause of death would be the shameful reason of suffocation by roll cake.
Haruna said she would unconditionally follow my decision, but she didn't seem to have any aversion to Noa's feelings. This meant, I suppose, that she placed that much importance on her relationship with me.
Hmm... I don't know. This really isn't a problem with an easy answer. It's more complicated because it's a different direction from the love triangle involving Ako and Hina.
So, maybe I should think about it slowly.
Putting aside the unanswerable question, the thought that a dinner date intended to reminisce like this was so very Haruna-like naturally came to mind.
From Haruna's perspective, this might just be the most romantic situation imaginable. If you think about it that way, it's close to the perfect end to a first date.
Maybe visiting this restaurant with Haruna on this day every year will become an annual event?
The menu was familiar, but the taste was a little different. If that was because our relationship had changed, it might mean Haruna's philosophy had rubbed off on me.
Haruna also looked much happier than the her I remembered from back then. It would be a lie to say I didn't miss the fresh innocence of those days when we would almost die of embarrassment just from feeding each other a bite... but that didn't mean I disliked our current situation at all.
After neatly finishing our dessert, Haruna and I went to the restroom to gargle for a moment. On the way, we passed the table where Noa had been sitting, and for some reason, it was empty. I guessed she had finished her meal and left first...
A moment later, I found out why. As I entered the restroom, my eyes met Noa's, who was washing her face with cold water at the sink.
"...Oh my. To run into you two in a place like this, what a coincidence♪"
"Noa-ssi... Hahh."
It was our dear Ushio Noa, unable to hide the tremor in her voice despite feigning composure. Seeing her, Haruna let out a small sigh.
Honestly, I think setting up shop in the same restaurant was a bit of a stretch...
"Hey, Noa-chan. What a coincidence, right?"
"Yes, of course...!"
Well, Haruna's guess is just a guess for now. Not a certainty. But watching Noa's gaze flit back and forth between the two of us, I can understand why Haruna came to that conclusion.
We've never had a reason to be all three in one place, so maybe it just took longer to notice. Or maybe I'm just dense.
To be honest, the latter seems like the more plausible hypothesis.
I stood next to Haruna and gargled. When I asked, Noa said she had come alone, so she had already finished her meal and paid.
But the moment the bill was mentioned, Haruna's expression changed. Excusing herself for a moment, she left. In her absence, Noa suddenly apologized.
"Um, Mika-ssi. If you were displeased by having your date interrupted, I'm sorry."
"Hm? Well, it wasn't really an interruption. I think we'd already seen all the important parts..."
To be frank, Haruna confessed to me almost half a year ago. I tried to reject her, but she wouldn't take no for an answer and pushed herself on me, and this situation is the result of me not being able to push her away in time.
My agreeing to this date in the first place was, in itself, an answer to Haruna's confession.
"By the way, why did Haruna-chan suddenly... Ah?"
Come to think of it, I did tell her at this restaurant a long time ago that if I had any complaints, she could pay. But until now, I had always been the one to pay.
And sure enough, when Noa and I went outside, Haruna, who had confidently paid the bill, greeted us.
"Fufu. You were a step too late this time."
"...Hmph. Our Haruna-chan, you've been itching to swipe your card all this time, haven't you?"
"It feels strange to be treated every time when it's not like I don't have money. In that sense, how about letting me have my turn sometimes?"
"Ahaha, I said it before... if you have any complaints, you're always welcome to pay, Haruna-chan☆"
"If I can, that is?"
"Yep, that's right!"
We shared a small laugh, recalling old memories. Seeing Noa smile as she watched us, I felt like... I could kind of understand why she came to have feelings for two people at once.
In short, she was cheering for my relationship with Haruna from the sidelines and fell for us without realizing it, right? My head's a bit of a mess. Seeing a case like this makes me wonder, 'Could Ako be...?' but I push the thought out of my mind.
She just hates Trinity, so that can't be it.
Hmm... probably.
"Since things have turned out this way... I think it would be best to wrap up today's schedule here. What do you think?"
"Yeah, that might be for the best... I think we've enjoyed ourselves enough."
When we stepped outside, it was already well past 8 o'clock. Considering the time it would take for Noa and Haruna to get back, it seemed best to send them off.
It was awkward to continue the schedule with Noa here anyway, and yet I felt bad just sending her back. Especially with the distance between Millennium and Trinity, it felt even more awkward to send her back alone. I figured Noa would probably end the day with Haruna in Gehenna.
Well, from now on, we could schedule dates whenever we wanted, so there was no need to be too disappointed.
"Or, we could stay the night—"
"Rejected. I'll see you both to the station, so let's head home for today."
"...Fufut. A shame."
Absolutely not, you brat. Staying out overnight on the first date? Do you want to see me get murdered by Nagisa with a roll cake? I just had it happen to me again today after a long time, and it brought back bad memories.
"It's alright, you don't have to see us off. If I send you home early, won't I look better in Nagisa-ssi's eyes? So, before we part, I'll give you the gift I promised."
Opening her handbag, Haruna took something out and held it in her hand. Then she strode up to me and whispered.
"Mika-ssi... may I convey my feelings to you once more?"
"...No, it's okay. Your feelings reached me a long time ago, Haruna-chan. Yes, I suppose now is the time for me to give you a proper answer."
*Click.*
I wrapped my arms around the neck of Haruna, who had stepped in front of me.
"You know, Haruna-chan. To tell you the truth... I think I might have fallen for you on the very day we first met."
I pushed up onto my toes. Only by standing on tiptoe could I barely reach Haruna's lips.
As if to make up for all the lost time, Haruna responded to my kiss with passion. For her, this must have been a moment she had been waiting for for a very long time.
*Click.*
Unlike with Nagisa, where I was always the one being led, this time I was able to lead Haruna to some extent.
But, is it just my imagination, or do I have a feeling that even this won't last very long...?
*Click.*
As we continued to kiss, I felt a strange, foreign sensation on my left wing for a moment.
And...
"Pah..."
Perhaps because the constant shutter sounds from the side had killed the mood, Haruna was the first to pull her lips away and turn her gaze to the side.
"Um, Noa-ssi...?"
"Oh my, I'm sorry if I was a bother♪ But once you see these pictures, I'm sure you'll both change your minds. Fufut."
...It's really, really a shame, but. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
I glanced at my wing and saw a new decoration there. It looked similar to the one on Haruna's wing.
Do these girls really love marking their territory on other people's bodies that much...?
"Mika-ssi."
"Hm?"
"It was as much as I expected... no, it would be more accurate to say it was beyond my expectations."
Haruna pressed her lips to the corner of my mouth and whispered softly.
"You really are... the ultimate delicacy."
"..."
"Thank you for the meal~♡"
As I thought, it's best to stay away from Gehenna. But by the time that thought occurs to you, it's already far too late. And I, who have already been bewitched by two of its demons, am the proof.
As an aside, all the photos Noa took were carefully preserved.
***