[Katsuya Akiya (MC) POV]
Blake stared at me, her amber eyes widening in genuine confusion. "Why would you offer that?"
I shrugged, letting my hands slip into my pockets. "Honestly? I haven't really been on a proper date either, and my calendar isn't exactly packed. Figured it'd be low stakes. Just two friends hanging out, grabbing food, and figuring out what a normal day off is supposed to look like. No pressure."
Blake looked down at her shoes, shifting her weight awkwardly. A rare touch of hesitation crept into her posture, her fingers tightening slightly against the spine of her book.
"I... I actually had a boyfriend once," she admitted quietly, her voice barely carrying over the distant sound of Ruby fussing over Yang.
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Did you two ever go on a date?"
"No." Blake shook her head, a faint tremor running through her shoulders. Her gaze stayed glued to the floor, her voice growing smaller and tighter. "Never. It wasn't... like that. Looking back on it, I was... groomed. He was older, and he made me believe everything we did was for a cause, but it was just control. Even now, whenever guys try to get close or touch me, I feel... uncomfortable. On edge. Like my skin is crawling, and I—"
Before she could finish, I reached out and gently closed my hand over hers.
Blake stiffened instantly, her breath catching in her throat. She looked down at our joined hands, then snapped her gaze up to my face, her eyes wide with sheer shock.
.
"Are you uncomfortable?" I asked softly.
Blake stood completely still. The panic that usually spiked whenever someone crossed that boundary didn't rise. Her hand rested in mine, warm and grounded, with none of the suffocating weight she'd braced herself for. A faint, flustered pink dusted her cheeks as she processed the absence of fear.
"N-no..." she whispered, clearly stunned by her own answer.
I smiled, letting go of her hand and taking a casual step back to give her space. "Good. Then you need this even more than I thought."
She blinked at me, her black bow twitching slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Bad habits and worse memories don't go away by letting them sit in the dark." I said, tilting my head toward the ceiling as I thought through our upcoming class schedules.
I tapped my chin, running through the week. "How about Sunday? No classes, no early training drills. Sunday could work."
Blake looked at her hand, curling her fingers slightly as if the phantom warmth of the touch still lingered, before looking back up at me with wide, hesitant eyes.
"S-sure..." she managed, her usual cool composure completely unraveling.
"Great. It's a plan," I said with an easy grin, offering her a two-finger salute. "See you in class tomorrow, Blake."
Leaving her standing by the edge of the sparring ring, I strolled across the gym floor, stepping right over Yang—who was still muttering incoherently into the padded mats while Ruby tried to pry her boots loose—and pushed through the double doors into the quiet evening hallway.
By the time I made it back to Team HRPN's dorm, the room was peaceful. Pyrrha and Nora were already tucked into their bunks, and Ren gave me a quiet, welcoming nod from his desk before turning off his reading lamp.
I grabbed a clean change of clothes, headed into the bathroom, and let the hot water wash away the sweat.
Stepping out in simple sweatpants, I climbed up to the top bunk, let my head sink into the pillow, and closed my eyes.
Within seconds, the world faded out, and I was asleep.
——
[Skipping To Sunday...]
The morning sunlight spilled quietly through the dorm window, painting the floorboards in warm gold. Ren and Nora were still fast asleep, and Pyrrha was already out on her customary early-morning run, giving me plenty of space to get ready without three different people hovering over my shoulder.
I stood in front of the small mirror, smoothing down a snug, long-sleeved white turtleneck that hugged my frame comfortably without feeling restrictive. I paired it with a clean, well-fitted pair of dark blue jeans and simple boots.
After checking my reflection and running a quick hand through my vivid green bangs, I grabbed my scroll, slipped my hands into my pockets, and headed out toward the airship platforms.
Waiting near the boarding gate stood Blake.
She had clearly put some thought into her outfit as well. Instead of her usual combat gear or school uniform, she wore a tailored dark purple jacket over a cream-colored blouse, fitted black trousers that accentuated her long legs, and ankle boots. Her hair fell neatly around her shoulders, the black 'bow' resting undisturbed on top of her head. She looked sleek, understated, and genuinely pretty.
When she spotted me approaching, her amber eyes flickered with a brief flash of surprise, followed by a faint, approving nod.
"You... look good." she said softly.
"Thanks. You look great yourself, Blake," I replied with a warm smile. "Ready to head out?"
"Ready."
We boarded the Bullhead alongside a handful of students taking weekend trips into the city. Finding a quiet pair of seats near the window, the flight back to Vale went by surprisingly fast. We spent the entire trip falling into an easy, comfortable rhythm, trading complaints and laughs about our first week of classes—from Professor Port's ridiculously exaggerated war stories to the sheer, caffeine-fueled whirlwind of Professor Oobleck's history lectures.
For someone who usually kept her nose buried in a book, Blake was remarkably sharp and fun to talk to once she let her guard down.
When the aircraft finally touched down at the central Vale terminal, the doors slid open to the bustling hum of the city streets. We stepped out onto the sunlit pavilion, the cool morning breeze carrying the faint scent of street food and blooming plaza gardens.
Blake slowed her pace slightly, glancing sideways at me with a sudden, hesitant dip in her expression.
"Is this really okay?" she asked quietly.
I blinked, tilting my head in confusion. "Why wouldn't it be?"
She shifted her weight, looking away toward the fountain in the center of the square. "Well... it's your first date, isn't it? Even if it's just practice, you're using your free weekend on me."
"It is my first date," I admitted with a light chuckle, stepping up beside her and offering a reassuring, gentle grin. "And that's why it's fine. It's going to be a good experience for both of us. We're just having a good time and figuring things out as we go."
Blake looked up at me, the tension leaving her shoulders, and offered a small smile. "Okay."
"Follow me," I said, taking the lead and guiding her toward the main shopping avenue.
I took three confident strides down the brick-paved walkway before my brain abruptly slammed the emergency brakes.
My entire train of thought completely derailed.
'Wait a minute.'
In my old life, planning a date was straightforward: the guy picks a nice restaurant, carries the bags, pays the bill, acts confident, and shows the girl a fun time.But this wasn't Japan, and it definitely wasn't America.
And this remnant was an inverted society.
My eyes widened in silent, mounting horror as a cold sweat broke out along the back of my neck.
'What the hell do guys in this world actually like on dates?!'
I spotted a quiet, aesthetic little café tucked beneath an ivy-covered awning and gestured toward the door. "Coffee first. My treat."
We grabbed a small corner booth by the window, ordering a pair of warm lattes and a slice of layered berry tart to share. Sitting across from her, I watched how she still held her shoulders with that guarded, rigid posture—the lingering reflex of someone whose boundaries had been weaponized against her for years.
To break that reflex, she needed exposure to harmless, playful affection on terms that didn't demand anything in return.
I picked up my mug, pushed my chair back, and slid right into the seat directly beside her.
Blake's breath hitched, her amber eyes widening in immediate surprise as our shoulders lightly brushed. "Katsuya? What are you..."
"Just thought it was too drafty on that side," I grinned, resting my chin on one propped hand and leaning in just an inch closer. I let my voice drop into a smooth, teasing murmur. "Besides, it's a date, isn't it? You look way too pretty today for me to sit a whole table away."
A vivid wave of crimson bloomed across her pale cheeks. Her black bow gave an involuntary, frantic twitch as she looked down into her coffee, suddenly struggling to find words. Seeing a guy boldly take the initiative and flirt so directly had completely scrambled her circuits.
"Y-You're being ridiculous," she whispered, though she didn't pull away.
"Maybe a little," I chuckled. I picked up the small dessert fork, sliced off a bite-sized piece of the berry tart, and held it up toward her lips. "Say ahh."
Blake froze, her face glowing bright red. "Katsuya, people are looking—"
"Come on. Just a bite" I said with a warm, encouraging smile.
She hesitated for a couple of seconds, her eyes darting between my face and the fork, before finally leaning in and taking the sweet bite.
A soft, flustered hum escaped her as she chewed, looking intensely embarrassed yet genuinely happy.
After finishing at the café, we strolled down the avenue and ducked into a theater to catch a random romance film. Sharing a massive tub of buttery popcorn between us, our fingers brushed more than once as we reached for handfuls in the dim light. At first, Blake would instinctively flinch, but by the middle of the movie, she had stopped pulling back entirely—even resting her hand lightly against mine in the carton.
Once the film let out, we wandered through the open-air artisan markets. At a small jewelry stall, a set of handmade braided cord bracelets caught my eye. One featured an engraved silver sun, while the other carried a polished dark crescent moon. Hidden inside the clasps were tiny, surprisingly strong magnets.
I bought the pair on the spot, tying the moon bracelet onto Blake's wrist before slipping the sun onto my own.
"Look at that," I laughed, bringing our wrists near each other.
Click.
The magnets snapped together with a satisfying little tap. Blake stared down at the small metal charms locking our wrists in place, her lips curving into a soft smile.
"Thats really nice..." she murmured gently.
As we made our way back toward the transit station in the late afternoon sun, I naturally reached down and took her hand. The magnets clicked together again, our fingers intertwining smoothly.
Blake didn't flinch. She squeezed my hand back, looking down at our joined palms as a quiet, reflective warmth settled over her face.
"Katsuya... thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a depth of relief that went far beyond an ordinary hangout. "Today was... really wonderful. I haven't felt this relaxed around someone in a very long time."
"I'm glad," I said, offering her an easy smile. "That was the whole point."
Blake slowed her steps, turning to face me. A deep, nervous blush painted her cheeks as she gathered her courage, her eyes shining with vulnerability.
"I was thinking..." she stammered slightly, biting her lower lip. "Even though this was just practice... would you maybe want to... start actually—"
BZZZ. BZZZ. BZZZ.
Her scroll violently vibrated against her hip, shattering the moment like glass.
Blake jumped, nearly dropping her bag. Pulling the device from her pocket, her expression instantly darkened the moment her eyes registered the caller ID. Her eyebrows knitted together, a sharp, anxious tension flooding straight back into her frame.
She tapped the screen, listened for a brief, tense few seconds without speaking, and hung up.
"I'm sorry," Blake said hastily, her voice tight with urgency as she pulled her hand from mine and stepped back. "Something came up. Something I have to take care of in the city right now."
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Do you need any help?"
"No! I mean... no, it's personal," she insisted, offering an apologetic, strained bow. "I'll take a later transport back to Beacon tonight. Thank you again for today, Katsuya. Truly."
Before I could say another word, she turned and sprinted down an adjacent alleyway, disappearing into the crowded streets of Vale.
I stood alone on the pavement for a moment, watching the corner where she had vanished. Then, looking down at the sun bracelet on my wrist, a broad, satisfied grin spread across my face.
I puffed my chest out proudly, planting my hands on my hips.
'Nailed it.'
For a first date, I had completely knocked it out of the park. Smooth café banter, movie snacks, matching magnetic jewelry, and zero panic attacks. I was a natural.
...Though as I turned on my heel and began the walk toward the airship docks, a sudden thought crossed my mind, making me tilt my head in mild confusion.
'Wait. What was she about to ask before that call cut her off?'