13. First Date


Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu


"Well, senpai. What should we do from now?"

　Touka asked me as we walked in front of the station.
　She calmed down and returned to her usual mood.

"... How about watching a movie?"

"A movie? It's not bad, but it's normal."

"Is normal not okay?"

　I asked,

"Well, that's fine. It's safe, right?"

　Touka replied while cowering her shoulders.
　I was a little annoyed.

　We lined up and headed to the cinema in the downtown area.

"Now, it's all well and good to watch a movie, but is there anything interesting on right now?"

　Then, looking at the poster in front of the movie theater showing the movie, Touka continued.

"... Ara, senpai? Did you really want to come and watch this romantic movie called "love letter" with me? Oh my god, you really are hitting on me whenever I'm not paying attention--"

　She smirked and pointing at the poster which featured a handsome actor and a young actress.

"I thought Touka would prefer this one."

　It's a movie about a tough guy who travels with a beautiful woman in a post-apocalyptic world and kicks the crap out of the hyaha guys.
　It was quite a long hit and has been in theaters since last winter.

"Maybe Touka has already seen it."

"No, wait a minute, senpai? Why did you capture such a pretty girl like this and think she would like such a violent movie?"

"Of course not. Because I thought her personality was rather violent."

"It pisses me off..."

　Although she looked dissatisfied with the situation,

"... Sure, I saw it on a TV commercial and thought it looked interesting, but."

　And so she continued.
　Because of that, we ended up watching a movie with constant blood splatter and screams.

☆

　I watched the movie that was being shown and thought that it was still very powerful and the action was cool, just as it had been highly rated.
　When I looked next to me, Touka had a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face.

☆

"It was fun"

"Yes, I'm glad I don't watch romantic movies with senpai."

　Hmm, Touka affirmed, though she turned away.
　We talked about our impressions of the movie over drinks at a fast-food restaurant.

"So, what do we do next??"

"Well, please continue escorting me."

　Touka said, her lips pursed in dissatisfaction.

"... Like a game center?"

"Game center ... that means! Could it be that we're about to see senpai mugged?"

"You can't see it. I won't."

　I let out a sigh, then answer.

"Yes, I know."

　Aha ♡ A pretty smile appeared on Touka's face, not even a hint of guilt.

" But I can see...... the four-straight combo of the coin, table pan, ashtray sonic, and real fight, right?"

　I think I've ever seen such an exemplary move in the early days of the original "Yu ☆ ○ ☆ Oh".

"Seriously, what do you think I am?"

　Touka stared at me with dull eyes, and I responded with a sigh.

☆

　Then, we moved to a nearby game center.

　After looking at all the machines in the store,

"It seems that there are no people who would be a match for senpai."

　She said with a smug look on her face and raised her breast.

"I don't understand what you mean"

　Having said that, the fact that she plays with the real fight stuff so much is probably to show that "I don't care about the fight we had earlier."

　For some reason, she has high communication competence, and can take care of herself if she wants to.
　It was a nice gesture, although I would have liked her to be more careful in her daily life.

"Well then, let's play something against me!"

　I nodded to that word.

"Let's play this racing game!"

　I started the game in versus mode with Touka.
　She was familiar with the controls themselves, but still not as good as me, who had played this title several times.
　I beat Touka with a considerable time difference.

"Gununu... Next is this fighting game!"

　A table with a famous title was available, so we sat down there.
　Touka manipulated her character with surprising dexterity, but I won against Touka without losing any HP.

　Of course, I didn't do any coin fights, table fights, ashtray sonic fights, or real fights, but Touka looked at me quite sharply.

"... This time is this, air hockey. I will never lose."

　Now we moved to the front of the air field hockey.
　After inserting the coins, we faced each other.

　She was pretty good. But my athleticism and dynamic vision are quite good, if I do say so myself.
　Touka couldn't get any points from me at all.

　She was half-crying when he saw the final score of 11-0 displayed.

"……gross"

　After the match was over, Touka, who was half-crying, muttered.

"Normally, when you come to a place like this with your girlfriend, you go a little easy on her!? Did you enjoy bullying the weak, senpai!?"

　Touka said and gave me a disdainful look.

"It was fun"

"Mukii!!"

　Touka grits her teeth in frustration.
　Is it because she hates to lose? She's so frustrated that it's a little distracting.

　Seeing this, I realized.

"Ah, sorry. That's not what I meant. It's just that it's the first time I've ever been to a game center with someone, so it's been fun."

　I used to go to the game center to see if I could make friends with someone, but they were always scared of me and ran away, so I never had any success.

"So, I'm sorry. I'm just enjoying myself."

　At my words, Touka gave me a puzzled look.

"If you say that, I won't be able to say that you're gross... Senpai's an idiot."

"Sorry"

"... No more games. Next time, let's go to that thing together."

　And then she pointed at me,

"Purikura*? Touka and me? Are you insane?"
(*photo booth that prints out cards and stickers of the resulting photograph, which are then traded among friends)

"I knew you would hate it, but I didn't think you would question my sanity! ... Isn't it good? I can stick it on my smartphone case and appeal to my classmates ♡"

"I see, that's how it works."

　I'm convinced.
　I think it might be a great way to avoid men.

"Okay, let's take a picture"

"Let's go there!"

I entered the section with the "No Men Allowed" sign and walked into the purikura cabinet that Touka had chosen.

　When you insert a coin, you will hear playful voice guidance saying "Please select a mode".

"I'll set it up over here."

　Touka proceeded with the settings quickly.

"Let's decide the pose ♪"

　After hearing the voice,

"Now, senpai! Let's pose like a couple! Of course, body touch is prohibited ♡"

"I don't understand... I'll leave it to you."

"Fufu, leave it to me!"

　I followed Touka's confident instructions,

SNAP!

　The picture is taken.

　I followed Touka's rather strict instructions several times.
　After the shooting was over, I was released.

"Leave the graffiti to me!"

"Please"

　Touka nodded vigorously at my words and began to draw on the side of the cabinet.
　Next to her, I peeked at her hand.

"... Somehow, my face is weird, isn't it?"

"Well, I thought that if I used this big-eyed correction, I might be able to make senpai's face a little less scary..."

"It's a failure"

"Yes, to be honest, this looks like some kind of monster."

　Haa, Touka muttered after letting out a deep sigh.
　Hey, say it in a more obtuse way.

"... Is it like this?"

　Touka said as she finished her work and looked at the printed stickers.

"Yes, then get your phone out, senpai."

"My smartphone? Okay, but ..."

　I did as I was told and took it out,

"Yes, you can't take it off, Se~npai ♡"

　Touka put a sticker on the back of my phone without my permission, and even told me not to take it off.

　When I looked at the back of my phone, I saw a beautiful girl and some kind of monster, both of which had been corrected for white noise.

　…… Without even looking closely, the real Touka is prettier than the one in the purikura.
　In other words, I'm not as scared of the real thing either.
　That should be it....... I want to believe that.

"... I'll be careful"

　Touka smiled in satisfaction at my answer.

The date at the game center was quite fun. Now that I'm hungry, let's eat and go home."

"Yes. I had fun too."

　Touka smiled with satisfaction, and I replied with an awkward smile.

　Although there was a slight accident when we met up, I think it went well for a first date.

　I was relieved to hear that.

<< Previous Next >>