Not long after finishing breakfast, Oikawa's phone started vibrating nonstop.
The culprit was, of course, Iroha Isshiki.
[Isshiki]: Senpai, are you awake yet? Don't forget about our promise today. You'd better be on your best behavior so we can have the perfect date. And don't forget, I still have plenty of dirt on you.
[Isshiki]: Oh, and it's a little cold today. Wear something warm.
[Isshiki]: Senpai, have you left yet?
Oikawa rubbed his temples.
Still, remembering the incriminating evidence she had on him, he forced a smile and replied:
[Oikawa]: My beautiful and kind kohai, your dear senpai is just heading out now. I'm really looking forward to today.
A moment later, Iroha answered.
[Isshiki]: Senpai... I actually preferred the old you. You know, the annoying, impossible-to-handle version.
Oikawa's face darkened.
He didn't even bother replying.
What kind of kohai is this? She wasn't cute at all.
If he had to choose, he'd much rather have someone like Hina Ebina as his kohai.
_ _ _
After cleaning up, Oikawa left the apartment.
Walking through the streets of Chiba, he suddenly felt as if he'd returned from another world.
Tokyo wasn't far away at all. Yet Chiba somehow felt completely different.
There were plenty of pedestrians, but unlike Tokyo, most of them wore relaxed expressions, strolling leisurely without looking like they were racing against the clock.
Before he knew it, Oikawa had slowed his own pace as well.
Sometimes... When you slowed down, even the most ordinary scenery became something worth appreciating.
And just as Iroha had warned him, today was chilly. Fortunately, there wasn't much wind. The cool air brushing against his face was refreshing, almost like eating ice cream in the middle of winter.
Alongside the road, the park's cherry trees that had once been covered in pink blossoms now stood bare. Even so, Oikawa noticed a handful of tiny buds clinging stubbornly to the branches, already eager to welcome spring.
"It's been almost a year in this beautiful world."
The thought alone put him in an unusually good mood.
Though he probably would've been even happier if today's date wasn't with Iroha Isshiki.
...
The neighborhood near his apartment was still quiet. But the moment he reached Chiba Station, that peaceful atmosphere vanished.
It still wasn't nearly as crowded as Tokyo. Yet the noise alone was enough to give him a headache.
The last message Iroha had sent read: Senpai, I'll be there in five minutes. —Timestamp: 10:50 AM.
Current time: 11:20 AM.
Never trust a woman's sense of time.
It was every bit as reliable as the number she claimed when someone asked for her weight.
Fortunately, Oikawa wasn't in a hurry. He found a relatively quiet corner, took out his phone, and started writing.
The life of a light novel author was truly exhausting.
...Okay, not really. The real reason was that he'd already beaten Pokémon, and he hadn't found a new game to replace it yet.
"Senpai! Oikawa-senpai!"
Another ten minutes passed before he finally heard Iroha calling his name over the crowd.
Looking up, he saw her waving enthusiastically from a distance.
Oikawa raised an eyebrow. Today's Iroha was wearing a beige trench coat with what appeared to be a white scarf wrapped around her neck.
She paired it with a pleated skirt and black thigh-high stockings.
Normally that was Yukino's signature outfit. Apparently Iroha had shamelessly borrowed the style today.
That said, It suited her surprisingly well this time.
If she had just used a normal scarf instead of that weird thing that was supposed to be a scarf but somehow failed, it would have been even better.
"Senpai. Could you stop looking at me with those pervy eyes? I mean, you're a nice guy, and I've imagined you confessing to me a few times... But I'm really sorry. I just can't see myself dating a hopeless playboy like you. My apologies."
She finished with an exaggerated bow, handing Oikawa yet another metaphorical 'You're a great guy, but...' rejection card.
Thwack!
His answer was the same as always. A chop to the forehead.
"Oww! I told you not to hit my head anymore! What if I get dumber?" Puffing out her cheeks, Iroha glared at him in mock annoyance.
If anything, it only made her look even cuter.
"That's your punishment for being late. You told me five minutes. This isn't five minutes. This is half an hour." Oikawa said flatly.
Caught red-handed, Iroha instinctively looked away, her confidence visibly shrinking.
"W-Well... Girls need time to get ready before going out. Honestly, Senpai, you're such a typical clueless guy... Even if your adorable kohai showed up late, shouldn't you have said something like... 'It's okay. I just got here myself. You look beautiful today, Iroha.'
"And don't forget. Today you're my date. You promised me here!"
The instant Iroha casually pulled out her phone, Oikawa's righteous indignation evaporated.
Replacing it was the brightest smile imaginable.
"My lovely kohai really does look beautiful today. If it's a date with you, I'd happily wait half an hour. I'd even wait an entire day."
The sheer hypocrisy of his own words made Oikawa feel a little sick.
"Hehe. Then this kind-hearted kohai will forgive her rude senpai." Beaming, Iroha naturally walked over and slipped her arm through his. "So, Senpai? Where are we going first? You promised you'd plan our entire date."
Oikawa blinked.
'When had I ever promised something like that?'
Besides, wasn't he supposed to be the one being confessed to? Shouldn't the person who asked someone out be the one planning the date?
"Senpai... You didn't actually come unprepared, did you?" Iroha stared at him, her expression slowly turning desperate, as if she was about to cry.
Oikawa let out a long sigh. Life was really hard.
"Of course I prepared." He turned to Iroha with a confident smile. "I've had today's itinerary planned for ages. I guarantee I won't disappoint you, Isshiki."
"I knew you wouldn't let me down, Senpai!" Still clinging happily to his arm, Iroha smiled so brightly that she almost looked genuinely delighted. "Then let's go."
"So where's the first stop?" she asked curiously, eagerly awaiting the opening act of the date she'd spent so much effort orchestrating.
"It's a secret. But I promise you won't be disappointed."
...
The two left the station together.
Walking side by side with their arms linked, they looked every bit like a real couple.
"Senpai, are you cold? It feels much colder out here than inside the station. Do you want my scarf?" She started unwrapping it from around her neck, but Oikawa immediately stopped her.
"Let's not. I don't think I'm worthy of that scarf." Oikawa said, looking away.
"Hmph! You really have no taste. It's Chanel, you know. It's very expensive." Iroha puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Oikawa gave her a helpless glance.
Sometimes, the most expensive option wasn't the best one. The one that suited you was.
Unfortunately, Iroha didn't seem to share that opinion.
..
Leaving Chiba Station behind, Oikawa led her into the bustling shopping district nearby.
It wasn't far from his apartment. He came here occasionally to shop, and besides the large department stores, there were countless restaurants, cafés, arcades, and entertainment venues.
Every weekend, it became a paradise for students. And one of the city's most popular dating spots.
The crowds were thick enough that Iroha instinctively tightened her grip around Oikawa's arm, afraid they'd get separated.
If it had been Kawasaki or Yui... Oikawa probably would've enjoyed it.
Unfortunately... It was Iroha, an A-cup girl.
"Senpai. You seem awfully familiar with this place. Haven't you brought Kawasaki-senpai or Yui-senpai here plenty of times?" Leaning closer, she whispered teasingly into his ear.
Oikawa answered with a weary expression. "This is actually my first time bringing a girl here."
"Oh, you don't sound happy about it at all. This is... my first date too, you know." A hint of bashfulness appeared on Iroha's face.
Or at least, that's what she wanted him to believe. Oikawa wasn't buying it for a second.
"It's fine. This isn't a real date. We're just pretending." Oikawa said calmly, "So don't worry. Your first date isn't really being wasted on a scumbag like me."
Iroha froze for a second.
Then she shot him a sharp glare. "Oh, right. Because the only girls you go on real dates with are Kawasaki-senpai and Yui-senpai."
"Oh... And Yukino-senpai too. I bet you wouldn't even care about her cup size."
"Am I right... Sen. Pai?"
For the first time, Oikawa found Iroha a little terrifying.
He cleared his throat and hurriedly changed course, "Isshiki... Sometimes you really don't need to worry so much about... certain measurements. Everyone has their own preferences. Who knows? Maybe Hayama likes girls exactly the way you are."
"Heh." Without another word, Iroha let go of his arm and stomped ahead, clearly annoyed.
Oikawa watched her in confusion. He genuinely had no idea why she'd gotten angry.
In any case, he soon brought her to the first stop on their date. An escape room.
Generally speaking, the best place for a date was somewhere you already knew well. It made moving between locations much easier.
And for a first date, nearly eighty percent of people picked the usual routine: Dinner. A movie. Coffee.
Ten years ago, that might have been perfectly fine. Nowadays? It was painfully unoriginal.
Especially for a first date, where both people tended to be overly cautious and awkward. An escape room solved that problem perfectly.
Once the game started, the awkwardness disappeared almost immediately.
The two players naturally worked together, solving puzzles and trying to escape. Along the way... a little physical contact was practically inevitable.
And since Iroha was a girl, she'd have even more chances to get close to Hayama.
'Perfect.'
Oikawa couldn't help admiring his own brilliance.
Next time, he definitely had to bring Yui here too.
And not just for any escape room. He'd pick the scariest one they had.
"So this is the first stop you planned for our date, Senpai?" Iroha asked curiously
"That's right. I guarantee you won't be disappointed." Without explaining any further, Oikawa simply grabbed Iroha's hand and led her inside.
They picked a roleplay-themed escape room, paid the 6,500-yen admission fee, and began their adventure.
Truthfully, a horror-themed room would've been even better for a date. Nothing brought people together faster than getting scared.
But considering Iroha was the one doing the confessing, and she was also hopelessly timid, Oikawa decided against it.
"Senpai, do you come here a lot?" Iroha asked, looking around curiously.
"Not really," Oikawa replied with a small shrug. "I just like mystery novels and detective stories. I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, so I've tried escape rooms a few times."
The first room resembled an old-fashioned study. The moment they stepped inside, Oikawa immediately started searching for clues.
Iroha, however, didn't seem interested in solving puzzles at all. Instead, she hovered beside him the entire time, asking random questions and chatting nonstop.
Finally, Oikawa rubbed his forehead. "Could you at least help look for clues? When you come back here with Hayama someday, you'll have the upper hand."
"But you're already here, Senpai. Hehe." Grinning sweetly, she wrapped both hands around his arm and leaned against him. "Senpai. How about yakiniku after this? I've really been craving it."
Oikawa sighed.
Sometimes, a person's face really determined everything.
If someone else had clung to his arm and talked to him like this, he probably wouldn't have tolerated it for even a second.
But when it was an adorable kohai—Even if she was completely flat—He couldn't really stay angry.
Besides, this adorable kohai also possessed enough blackmail material to ruin his life on her phone.
_ _ _
By the end of the escape room, Oikawa felt thoroughly defeated.
From beginning to end, he'd been the only one actually solving puzzles. Not only that, he'd had to endure Iroha chatting nonstop while explaining every lock and every clue she needed to open it.
Honestly, he would've been better off hiring a locksmith to accompany them. At least then the last hour wouldn't have gone to waste.
"Senpai! Before lunch, let's go play table tennis! I heard Hayama-senpai likes it. I'm terrible, though. Will you practice with me?" As they left the escape room, Iroha suddenly stepped closer, looking up at him with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes while speaking in an almost spoiled tone.
Only then did Oikawa realize she'd gone all out preparing for today.
She wore a pleasant perfume, subtle but captivating. There was also a thin layer of lip gloss on her lips, making them shimmer invitingly in the light.
"I think you just want an excuse to beat me." Without thinking, Oikawa took a small step backward. He wasn't entirely sure why he'd done it.
"What? No way. I really am awful at table tennis!" Iroha immediately closed the distance again.
Putting on her cutest expression, she asked softly, "Please?"
"I give up. Just stop getting so close. Your perfume keeps making me want to sneeze." After taking a moment to compose himself, Oikawa pressed a finger against her forehead and gently pushed her back a step.
"Tch. This was supposed to be a man-killer perfume," she sneered, clearly disappointed.
"Come on. Let's go play table tennis." Rolling his eyes, Oikawa headed toward the nearby sports center.
Behind him, Iroha clasped her hands behind her back, smiling to herself.
She happily followed after him.
Truthfully, Iroha really was cute.
She had the polished charm of an idol, the kind of face almost anyone would find attractive.
Sure, her personality could be a little troublesome. But even blackmailing Oikawa hadn't made him genuinely dislike her.
She was a pretty good friend. Assuming she stopped dragging him into all her ridiculous schemes.
.
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