"We're a couple now." Shirakawa Natsu smiled, picking up a dessert from the table and taking a bite.
The sweet taste exploded in his mouth. Sweets were rare in the hospital, but because it was a date with Hashimoto, the flavor felt ten times richer than memory.
"Yes." Hashimoto Arina smiled and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the cream from the corner of his mouth. Then, with a playful smirk, she snatched the piece of cake from his hand and popped it into her mouth in one bite, chewing twice and swallowing it all at once.
It was hard to believe such a tiny mouth could handle so much. Girls were surprisingly adaptable.
Arina covered her face in happiness after eating the sweet, drank a gulp of cold water, and hooked her arm through his. "Let's go! Today, we're visiting Akihabara."
Hand in hand, they happily maneuvered around the barriers on the street and stepped into a building adorned with enormous gaming figures. The noise from inside already reached them outside.
"Video games—have you ever played this, Natsu?" Arina pulled him toward a battle machine. "I've missed this so much."
On the screen, a handsome young man with short white hair stood with open hands, a circle tattoo etched across his chest—The King of Fighters, a nostalgic memory of a generation.
"I've played it before," Shirakawa Natsu said. "Are you good at it, Sister Youcai?"
"Hee hee," Arina laughed. "When I was young, there was a game store next to the hospital. My father was often stuck at surgery late, so he'd leave me with the shop owner's uncle." Rolling up her sleeves, she smiled. "Let's have a showdown."
"Let me help you with the controls." Natsu rubbed the back of his head. "I want to play, but I'm not good with electronics. It's embarrassing."
Yet his eyes betrayed curiosity, glancing longingly at the screen.
Seeing his hesitation, Arina took his hand. "It's okay. If you can win a game, I'll agree to any condition you want."
"Really… really?" A cunning light flashed in Natsu's eyes.
The favorability points on the yellow-haired app could be extracted twice during strategy, but the second extraction required the score to stay at 100. This was his chance to work a small miracle. He had spent countless hours in arcades, studying every character's skills and moves, and had become the strongest on that street. Now, he would show Hashimoto what ruthless skill looked like.
The battle quickly drew a crowd, with exclamations ringing out.
"Oh my god, is this the legendary Ten Cuts? Amazing!"
The word "KO" flashed on the screen, and the victorious character struck a provocative pose beyond the edge of the screen. Natsu covered his face with his hands, doubting his life choices—what had gone wrong? This was supposed to be a straightforward routine victory against the pure Arina Hashimoto.
"Hee hee, Sister, I once won second place in Tokyo's first-level competition," Arina said, patting him on the head with a smug smile.
"Then how could I possibly win?" Natsu groaned, helpless, and she helped pull him from his seat. Together, they moved on to the claw machine and the gashapon machine, laughing and playing until the sun began to set.
"I'm so happy~" Arina's steps were brisk, her arms holding his as she tilted her head back. "It's been so long since I felt this relaxed."
"If you like it, we can come here often," Natsu said, holding her small hand with the back of his palm. Arina didn't resist; her hand fit perfectly in his, almost as if he were holding her whole self in one hand.
"A firework would be perfect right now," he murmured, glancing at the night sky dotted with stars. With different perspectives, the stars looked entirely new, beautifully shaped tonight.
Arina followed his gaze. Then, suddenly, her head rested on his shoulder.
"I sometimes think…," she murmured softly, a smile on her lips, "if we'd met as ordinary classmates, would you still like me? If we were dating, would we go to class together, leave school together, study together, and support each other to get into the school we want?"
Shirakawa Natsu tilted his head, gently touching her hair. "You don't need to think about that. No matter when or how we meet, I will always be drawn to Sister Youcai."
His eyes flicked subtly toward her chest, but his attraction referred purely to her character. It had nothing to do with her figure.
"Yeah." Arina closed her eyes, leaning quietly against his shoulder.
Returning to the hospital by tram, Arina escorted him to a corner near the hospital gate. They dared not go further—if anyone discovered the attending doctor dating a patient, gossip would be inevitable. A week ago, a hospital had been punished for just that, leaving everyone tense.
In the corner, backlit, they stood comfortably hidden.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Natsu said with a smile. "Just drop me off here; I can make my way from here."
Arina hesitated, then asked softly, "Do you want to hug me?"
Natsu froze for a moment, then grinned. "Of course."
She opened her arms, and they embraced. Normally a tall, powerful figure, she felt unexpectedly thin in his arms—just an ordinary girl after all. They lingered, but Natsu reluctantly let go, his heart wishing to hold her a little longer. Her chest pressed lightly against him; he could hardly bear it.
When they parted, he noticed the circles of redness in her eyes, tears shimmering.
"Sister Cai?" he asked, puzzled.
"It's okay," she hurriedly turned her head, covering her eyes with her sleeve. "I just thought about the manuscript you drew for me."
"This was my first truly relaxed date… I feel so happy."
"Thank you for giving me such memories. I think I can sleep peacefully tonight."
"Sister Youcai," Natsu reached out to hold her arms, but she smiled, brushing away tears. "Go rest well tonight~"
"Okay." He withdrew his hand, knowing there was no need to linger.
"See you tomorrow, Sister Youcai."
He walked toward the hospital, glancing back to see Arina step out from the shadows, most of her body still cloaked in darkness. Secretly, he waved, unsure if she saw.
Back in his ward, his body felt lighter than usual, filled with the warmth of joy. His arm still smelled faintly of Arina's fragrance, and closing his eyes, he realized how sweet being in love could feel.
"APP!" Shirakawa Natsu's eyes shot open. The arcade battle had ended, but Arina's care and the relaxed atmosphere lingered in his mind. He almost forgot his work.
Grabbing his phone, he saw the 3D dynamic version of Hashimoto Arina on the screen, her chest rising gently with each movement. The favorability column had risen from ninety-six to almost full:
Favorability: 99
"Ah!!" Natsu felt his blood surge, nearly tossing the phone.
"Calm down, calm down!" he whispered to himself, trying to steady his racing heart. They were only a little away from true success. With courage, a whole new world could open—but he lacked the key, the precise method.
"Just a little further… calm down… you can do it," he coached himself. Gradually, his heartbeat steadied.
That night, he slept soundly, Arina lying beside him—not just her arm this time.
The next morning, she visited the ward as usual. The soft, girlish side she had shown yesterday seemed hidden. Arina Hashimoto returned to her sunny, strong, hopeful self.
"Is this the legendary change-of-outfit effect?" Shirakawa Natsu glanced at her white coat and the flesh-colored stockings under her short skirt. He preferred black, but perhaps such a wish could only be realized when the relationship was even closer.
After she left, he continued drawing the next chapter of Death, the part that would bring the comic to its climax. Full of hope, his speed increased.
In the afternoon, Mi Zhikui came to collect his manuscript. They didn't mention yesterday's date, sharing an unspoken understanding.
Shirakawa Natsu noticed her leather jacket was zipped, highlighting the natural curve of her figure—not exaggerated, just strength and grace.
"Are you continuing the serialization of Death?" Mi Zhikui asked, meeting his gaze. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"It's nothing." Natsu shook his head, recalling the dream from last night.
A serious thought lingered: is it because she's mature or because I'm young that we can… like this?