Saturday morning arrived with a lazy breeze drifting through Arthur's window. For the first time all week, he didn't wake up to the suffocating silence of his apartment or the chaotic teasing of the system. Instead, he yawned and stretched, letting the peaceful weekend air settle over him.
"Mm… maybe today," he mumbled. "Maybe I… actually do something fun."
He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. A shopping day sounded nice. A park sounded fun. Something—anything—to remind him he was still a normal teenager, not just a walking embarrassment with a sarcastic AI roommate in his head.
But the moment he thought about inviting someone…
His brain froze. His stomach twisted.
His soul left his body.
Haruka?
He imagined her bright smile, her teasing tone, her tiny bit of jealousy from yesterday. But asking her felt like stepping into a lion's den naked. He'd combust. Instantly. No body left for the funeral.
Miyu?
Absolutely not. She probably still remembered the cringe letter. She probably burned it. Or framed it. Or hid it in shame.
Just before he sank too deep into self-pity, the system blinked into existence like a smug lightbulb:
Arthur groaned. "Here we go…"
The system window expanded:
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Ask… not go with?"
A loophole.
A glitch.
A miracle.
He didn't have to go, he just had to ask.
But if he asked Miyu… she wouldn't answer, right? That was safe. He'd get the mission clear and she'd stay silent.
Perfect plan.
Flawless plan.
The universe could not possibly—
He typed with trembling fingers:
"Hey Miyu… are u free today? I was thinking to go to Akarigawa Park… if u want, u can come too."
His heart slammed against his ribs.
He hovered over the Send button.
His thumb shook.
His entire soul shook.
"Okay… okay… just press it…"
He pressed.
Message sent.
Mission technically completed.
He sat still, staring at his screen like it was a bomb.
Arthur muttered, "She won't answer. She won't. She's Miyu. She's busy. She's got a life. She's—"
Ping.
Arthur froze.
His brain shut down.
His breathing stopped.
He looked at the screen.
Miyu: "Sure. I'll be at Akarigawa Park at 10:00am."
He screamed.
A completely unmanly, squeaky scream of pure teenage happiness.
"WHAT?! SHE— SHE SAID YES?! SHE'S COMING?! SHE— MIYU— PARK— TOGETHER— OH MY—"
Arthur collapsed on his bed, hands covering his face.
A real girl.
A real date—not a date but still kind of a date.
Together.
At a park.
Walks.
Benches.
Talking.
Eye contact.
He almost passed out.
---
The clock ticked fast. Too fast.
Nine-thirty.
Arthur ripped through his closet like a man possessed.
He finally settled on:
A clean white shirt—not formal, but soft and simple.
A light gray cardigan, slightly oversized, making him look even more huggable (not that he knew).
Black slim-fit pants.
White sneakers that actually matched for once.
And his blond hair slightly messy but in a cute, effortless way.
He stared at the mirror.
"…I look like a side character who wants to be a main character," he whispered.
Arthur grabbed his phone and dashed out of the apartment, heart pounding like a drum in his chest.
---
Akarigawa Park was unusually bright for the weekend. The fountain shimmered in the center, mist catching the sunlight. Benches lined the path, and cherry trees swayed gently above.
Arthur sat on the bench near the fountain and waited.
And waited.
And almost fainted.
Then—
Footsteps.
Soft, light.
He turned his head.
And there she was.
Miyu.
A white summer dress that brushed her knees when she walked.
A simple straw hat tilted slightly on her head.
Her hair tied loosely with a pale ribbon.
She looked… soft. Calming. Almost unreal.
Arthur's breath hitched.
He stood up too fast, stumbled a little, then froze like an NPC whose coding crashed.
Miyu stopped in front of him, cheeks faintly pink.
"Hi, Arthur… sorry if I made you wait."
Arthur shook his head too hard. "N-no! I mean yes! I mean— no, I didn't wait long! I… I— you look— uh— great— I mean fine— I mean normal— I mean—"
She smiled gently.
"It's okay. Let's just… enjoy the day, alright?"
His heart almost fell out of his chest.