Saturday arrived.
Hina jumped out of bed at 8 a.m., almost like she was late for something important. Still a little disoriented, she rushed to the bathroom, taking off her clothes along the way. Warm water from the shower fell over her shoulders as she tried to steady her breathing.
Her heart was racing.
"Calm down… calm down…"
But it didn't help.
When she returned to her room, still drying her hair, she stopped in front of her wardrobe.
There it was.
The outfit she had been looking at for weeks.
She took a deep breath… and put it on.
A light white blouse with delicate sleeves and a soft flow that subtly complemented her figure. A high-waisted beige skirt that moved gently with her steps—elegant and feminine. Over it, a thin pink cardigan that added a warm, sweet touch.
She put on her tights, her flats… grabbed her small shoulder bag.
And then—
Contact lenses.
Her glasses stayed on the table.
She stepped closer to the mirror.
Silence.
"…Is that really me?"
Her hair was more styled than usual, the ends softly shaped. Her face looked more open… more visible.
She looked away, embarrassed.
In the kitchen, the smell of coffee still lingered.
Her mother, Emi, looked up—
And froze.
"…Hina?"
"G-good morning…"
"…Are you going out?"
"Ah… yeah. But I'll be back this afternoon, okay, Mom?"
She sat down, trying to act normal.
Haru appeared, still half-asleep.
"Dad already left for work."
"Then how about helping me at home today?" Emi said.
"But I was going to—"
"Your sister is going out. It might be something important."
Haru looked at Hina—
And his eyes widened.
"Wait… four-eyes is going out?"
"Haru!"
He got smacked instantly.
"Respect your sister!"
"I can hear you, you know?!" Hina shot back, crossing her arms.
"Ow…"
He looked again.
"…Dressed like that… you don't even look like my sister."
"Shut up, Haru!"
"It's already 9:30… I'm heading out, okay, Mom…"
She paused.
"…Mom?"
Emi was staring, mouth slightly open, analyzing every detail.
"…Are you really going out with your friends?"
"O-of course, Mom…"
Haru whistled.
"I don't know about that…"
"…Are you sure it's not a date?" Emi asked with a teasing smile.
"NO! I'm just going to Akihabara with the girls!"
Emi giggled, covering her mouth.
"Alright… take care, okay? Hehe."
"MOM!"
Unable to take it anymore, Hina rushed out.
The morning air was cool as she walked quickly to the station.
She stopped at the platform.
Waiting.
That's when she noticed—
"Wow… she's cute."
"I've never seen her around here…"
Her face flushed instantly.
She adjusted her hair nervously.
"A-am I overdoing it…? I don't usually dress like this…"
The train arrived.
She sat down.
A boy reading a book glanced up—blushed—and quickly looked away.
"Am I okay? Why is everyone looking at me…?"
She fiddled with her phone, trying to distract herself.
When she finally arrived at JR Akihabara Station – Electric Town Exit, everything changed.
The shops.
The voices.
People talking about anime.
A smile naturally formed on her lips.
"Finally…"
She took a few steps, taking it all in.
And then—
She saw him.
Yamada.
Simple clothes, but carefully chosen. A neutral shirt, slightly fitted, dark pants, clean sneakers. His hair was styled more neatly than usual, showing more of his face.
He looked nervous.
Hina approached.
"Y-Yamada-kun?"
He looked around—until he saw her.
And froze.
Stared.
For too long.
"H-hey… Yamada-kun… do I look weird?"
"…beautiful."
Silence.
"H-huh?"
"H-Hina… I didn't recognize you!"
He scratched his head nervously, laughing.
She pulled a strand of hair.
"I-I don't look strange?"
"Of course not! You look really good, seriously!"
"Y-you also look… n-nice… stylish…"
"Thanks…"
A small pause.
"Shall we?"
"…yeah."
They walked through Akihabara.
Hina's eyes sparkled.
"There! Let's go to Radio Kaikan!"
She walked slightly ahead.
Yamada noticed other guys staring.
"Is she single?"
"She's really cute…"
He quickly sped up and walked beside her.
"S-so… shall we go in?"
Inside, they visited store after store.
Figures lined in massive displays. Classic characters and new releases.
Hina moved from one showcase to another like she was entering a different world.
"Look at this!"
"Oh my—"
"Did you see this, Yamada-kun?!"
They went into card shops, electronics stores, rare anime item shops.
She picked things up, compared prices, smiled to herself.
Yamada just watched.
Smiling.
At one store, she held a keychain for a few seconds.
Then put it back.
They kept going.
Until they finally left.
"Wow… that was amazing! Did you see how many— …What is it?"
Yamada was looking at her.
Soft smile.
"I like seeing you like this."
Silence.
"…What?"
"A-ah, sorry! I just meant… it's nice seeing you like this…"
"D-don't say things like that so suddenly…"
"Sorry…"
He scratched his neck.
Then noticed her looking at restaurants.
Checked his phone.
11:55.
"Wow… I'm starving. Want to eat, Hin—"
"Yes."
She answered instantly.
He laughed.
"Hehe… alright."
They went to Go! Go! Curry Akihabara.
The rich smell of curry filled the air.
They ordered generous plates—rice, thick curry, crispy cutlet.
First bite—
"This is so good…"
"Seriously!"
Rich, warm, slightly spicy.
They ate happily.
Laughing.
Talking.
Time slipped away.
Later—
"I feel better now…"
"Me too…"
They walked out.
"Anywhere else you want to go?"
"Maybe… but I've always wanted to visit Kanda Myojin Shrine."
"Oh… that's different."
She looked at him.
In a way that took his breath away.
"W-will you come with me?"
He looked away—then back.
"…The plan was shopping… but I want to go. With you."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
They bought ice cream.
Sat on the steps.
"I thought we'd have tons of shopping bags by now," he said.
"Why?"
"I imagined you buying everything."
"I wanted to…"
"Then why didn't you?"
"…Because I wanted to walk with you."
Silence.
"A-and I'm not rich either, hehe."
A frisbee suddenly flew toward them.
"Watch out!"
Yamada stepped in front of her.
A girl with a dog came running.
"Sorry!"
"It's okay…"
"Ah… sorry, Hina… I just saw something flying and—"
He froze.
She was looking at him.
Blushing.
"Th-thank you…"
"I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
She covered her mouth.
Later—
"One more place… A Happy Pancake!"
"Don't know it."
"It's near Ginza!"
"…We've got the whole afternoon."
"The afternoon…"
"Ah! I mean, if you don't want—"
"It's fine."
She cut him off.
"You talk fast sometimes."
"I just didn't want to seem like I was forcing you…"
She looked at him.
"Forget what I said before, okay?"
Silence.
"I didn't mean it… let's just enjoy today."
Later—
She sat on a bench.
"Ah… I wasn't ready to walk this much…"
"I'll get you some water."
"Here—money—"
"No need."
He left.
Thinking—
"This has to be a dream…"
When he came back—
He saw it.
A tall, handsome guy talking to her.
"…Who is that…?"
He hid behind a tree.
Two girls walked by.
"That guy is gorgeous…"
"They look good together…"
Yamada looked away.
Hina was smiling.
"So you're a model?"
"I am. Kurosaki Satou."
"I'm Takase Hina."
"Waiting for someone?"
"Yes…"
"Your boyfriend?"
"N-no!"
"He must be good-looking to be with you."
"D-don't say that…"
"I could introduce you to an agency."
"Really?"
"…But who's that guy?"
Yamada approached.
"Ah, Yamada-kun!"
"So, you're the boyfriend, huh?" Satou said.
Silence.
"S-stop that…"
"You should be the embarrassed one, Hina."
"…Me?"
"Well, I've got to go."
He handed her a card.
"Stop by sometime."
He left.
Hina turned to Yamada with a small smile.
"He's nice… a bit eccentric though."
"…yeah."
Yamada handed her the water.
"Got tired of waiting."
"…waiting?"
He turned away.
"He suits you better than me, right?"
"W-what?!"
"…forget it."
He walked.
Silence.
Then—
"Yamada-kun."
She stepped in front of him.
Tore the card.
Threw it away.
"He doesn't suit me."
He froze.
"A-are you sure?"
"I am."
She intertwined her fingers, looking at him.
"…Riku-kun…"
"Y-yes?!"
"Do you… want to hold hands?"
His heart exploded.
"Y-yes."
They held hands.
Walked.
Blushing.
Sweaty palms.
They arrived at A Happy Pancake.
Fluffy pancakes, tall and soft, topped with fruit and cream.
"This is amazing…"
"I've never had anything like this…"
They ate slowly.
Laughing.
Enjoying.
5 PM.
"That was incredible…"
"Yeah…"
Back at the station.
"Thank you for today."
"I really enjoyed it too."
"See you…"
"See you…"
She turned.
"Let's go again?"
She stopped.
Smiled naturally.
"…yes."
"Next time… I want to tell you something."
"What?"
"You'll have to wait."
"That's not fair…"
"Hehe…"
"…Alright."
"See you."
She left.
He stayed.
Hand on his chest.
"…What was that…?"
From afar—
Satou watched.
"That guy… no chance."
Hina got home.
Went to her room.
Closed the door.
Stared at the wall.
Smiling.
Like an idiot.
She looked at her Prince John figure.
Turned it to face the wall.
"…S-sorry, Prince John…"