I stood at the spot we agreed to meet like a proper gentleman, setting my alarm just in case.
If she's late, I get a free treat. That's the deal.
To kill time, I pulled out my phone and opened Clash ofClans; after all, I was still way too early.
My troops ready? Good. My base? Upgraded. Raids? Crushed.
I trained my units the old way—gradually building up like the classic days back in my old world, as I made it that way, planning to update gradually.
Nostalgia hits different when you've lived through the original timeline.
After that, I booted up Subway Surfers, grinding away while bobbing my head to the background music.
At least I won't look nervous if I'm gaming.
When half an hour passed and there was still an hour to waste, I caught a figure approaching from the corner of my eye.
Koneko Toujou. In her usual school uniform.
Skirt swaying slightly in the breeze, white socks, neatly worn shoes, and that same blank cat-like expression that could mean anything from "I'm sleepy" to "I'll dropkick you if you touch my food."
Tch... Guess she got the same idea of coming way too early and let the other party pay.
Though now we both came way too early, we both gotta pay.
"Girl? Can't you dress a bit differently or casually?"
She glanced at me like I'd asked her to name all 118 elements in the periodic table.
"These are the only clothes I have," she replied, deadpan.
"And this isn't a real date. You said so."
I look at her, feeling pity for her that she is so poor that she can't get another dress for herself.
"Fine," I sighed.
"But if we're pretending to be a couple, at least look the part, you know?"
She tilted her head, genuinely confused. "…Why would we care about the act if it's not real?"
I replied in a deadpan manner, like I was telling her common sense.
"So the staff don't easily find we are not a couple, you idiot, we are literally doing it all for that, you know?"
I looked at the clock and noticed that even for the event to start, there is a lot of time to waste.
"Hey, Koneko, wanna roam around till the event?"
She looked around and, not wanting to stay standing there the whole time, she replied.
"Sure, where should we go?"
I replied casually.
"How about Mall? It's not far from here at all, and we can enjoy browsing through goods."
She casually accepted my idea.
"Ok."
We both then entered the Mall as the cool air hit us.
The mall was buzzing with life, with kids dragging parents into toy stores, couples holding hands, and teens crowding in front of claw machines.
Well, we just randomly decided to walk here and there, nothing really planned.
At a clothing store, she paused at a rack of cat-eared hoodies.
Of course she did.
She held up a white one and looked at me—not in a "Does this look good?" kind of way, but more like a "Can I kill you if you judge me for liking this?" kind of way.
She though... No matter what, she picked all that looked cute on her.... What the hell...
Anyway, then we decided to check on some stuffed toys, some cute teddy bears, cats, dogs, a lion, and such animals.
She held a fat, round cat plush with a small bell and nuzzled it softly; her eyes sparkled just a bit.
She didn't even realize she was smiling.
I did, though.
And it hit me.
She really looked cute when she wasn't acting all deadpan.
"Don't fall in love with the pretend girlfriend," I mumbled under my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I will just give it that she will probably look cute at everything.
By the time we got to the restaurant, it was nearly time. The staff were just flipping the sign for the Couples' 90% Discount Event.
We got a nice seat near the window.
The light poured in, making everything feel like a cozy slice-of-life scene straight out of an anime with the relaxing atmosphere inside.
Though the couples were being lovey-dovey here...
The menu had everything sweet imaginable: cakes, ice creams, chocolate fountains, pastries, you name it.
She ordered like she hadn't eaten in days.
Chocolate lava cake, strawberry mousse, matcha parfait, custard tarts, red bean dorayaki, and two milkshakes.
I ordered a small plate of tiramisu and a cold juice.
"…You're gonna eat all that?" I asked, staring at her tower of desserts.
She stared at me like I'd questioned her life choices. "Yes."
Halfway through eating, I noticed a dab of cream stuck to the corner of her lips.
"Koneko, stay put. There is cream on the side of your lips."
Before she could react, I leaned forward and wiped it off gently with my handkerchief.
Hmm? Is she red? Is it hot here?
Nah, who am I kidding? I am not that dense; she is blushing, I know for sure.
"Go easy, no one is going to kick us out anyway."
I said to her, so she stopped eating like the world was going to end.
After we were done eating, we went to pay, and just like we decided, we split the price.
"Let's hit the arcade," I said.
"Burn off all those calories you just ate."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're going to regret challenging me."
Probably not my great idea.
I got annihilated at everything.
Air hockey? Smashed.
Dance machine? I tripped.
Racing game? She lapped me. Twice.
Claw machine? I spent all my coins, got zero plushies. She got three. In one try.
The only time I won was at the fighting game.
And even that victory was questionable because…
"Hey, look, free cake behind you!" I said mid-match.
She turned instinctively.
I spammed the special move.
K.O.
"…Really?" she deadpanned.
Well, she is too stupid to fall for the oldest trick in the book.
"Look, if you fall for the cake trick, that's on you."
Soon enough, it was evening, and the sky was going to be dark soon.
So we decided to go home.
I offered, "Wanna walk home together?"
"…Fine. But just halfway," she muttered.
"Don't think you're my escort or anything."
Then I replied to her.
"Tch. You think I'd walk the whole way? I'm just making sure you don't get kidnapped in the first block."
"Otherwise, I will be the prime suspect as I was seen the last time with you."
She just sighed as we continued our walk.
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