Chapter 25
Moonlit Date (Part 2)
“…So that’s why—please go on a practice date with me today!”
Tsukiyo made her request in a strong, determined voice.
All I could do was nod in response.
I mean, it’s not like I had to be the one helping her… but she said I was her only male friend, so… I don’t really get what she’s thinking.
“I’m not really going to be of much help, you know. I’ve never been on a date before.”
“Then you can practice with me too, Taiyō-san. That way it’s a win–win relationship, right?”
“Eh!? Ah… well, I guess so.”
Honestly, I’m kinda aware of Tsukiyo in that way, but what she said isn’t wrong.
I’m not planning on dating anyone right now, but if I go through university and into adulthood thinking like that, it’s probably not great.
I do want to get married someday, and I do want kids.
So, in that sense… “practice” might actually be a good idea.
Yeah—if it’s just practice.
“Today is the first session!”
“I see… wait, there’s a second and third session!?”
Tsukiyo laughed playfully with a mischievous grin.
Man, she’s really dragging me into this.
“Well, when it comes to dates… the obvious choice is a movie!”
“Oh! Yeah, that’s definitely date-like.”
There’s a shopping mall with a movie theater about ten minutes away on foot.
Alright, let’s start walking.
Then, suddenly, something soft wrapped around my left arm.
“T–Tsukiyo-san?”
“It’s a date, so of course we should link arms.”
My left arm was taken hostage by Tsukiyo’s soft arms.
Uh… this is kind of embarrassing. If someone we know saw us, that’d be bad…
Still, she’s pretty bold about it. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t see me that way?
I glance at her face from the side.
“What’s wrong, Taiyō-san? Are you embarrassed?”
“W–well, I don’t have experience, so yeah. More importantly, are you okay?”
“W–what do you mean?”
“Your face is as red as a tomato…”
“I–I’m fine!”
“It’s the middle of summer! Let’s stop, you’ll pass out!”
Her face was completely red—like it was about to erupt.
It’d be fine in winter, but in this heat, she might actually collapse.
I gently pulled my arm free, and Tsukiyo seemed to calm down a little.
“If it’s embarrassing, you don’t have to do it.”
“It’s practice!”
She’s definitely the one without composure here.
Oh, looks like we’ve arrived at the theater.
Let’s see, at this time they’re showing… a romance film, a foreign sci-fi, a spy thriller, and a kids’ animal movie.
“What do you want to watch, Tsukiyo?”
“What are you saying… we have two free tickets for the animal movie, so the choice is obvious.”
“O–oh, right.”
Tsukiyo pulled two tickets out of her bag and handed them to the attendant.
She looked so proud, like she was saying, See? I’m perfectly prepared.
She’s really got a good head for saving money.
Never thought I’d end up watching an animal movie on a date, though.
We stepped into the theater, and soon the movie began.
The film itself was… not bad, not great either—just a cute animated story about animals.
Kind of like what I used to watch as a kid.
Tsukiyo was watching intently… should I try holding her hand?
Nah, no way.
After two hours, we left the theater while sharing our impressions of the movie.
It was just past noon.
“Should we get lunch?”
“Yes, let’s.”
We went into a burger chain right next to the theater.
Funny enough, it’s the same place where I’d randomly bumped into Tsukiyo the other day.
We put our stuff down to reserve seats. It’s lunchtime, so it’s pretty crowded.
It’s not good for both of us to leave the table.
“You go first, I’ll watch the bags.”
“Thank you!”
Tsukiyo went to order first, and when she came back, I got up to order.
She’d bought a burger set and a potato pie.
Alright, what should I get…
I came back with a King Burger set and a box of chicken nuggets.
As Tsukiyo unwrapped her burger, she looked up at me.
“Taiyō-san, you’re eating two King Burgers? Guys really are different, huh?”
“Eh? One of them’s for you. As thanks for the free movie tickets.”
I placed one of the burgers on her tray.
Tsukiyo glanced between her own burger and the King Burger I’d given her.
“That tiny burger isn’t enough for you, right?”
Realizing what I meant, Tsukiyo’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
“Y–you think I’m some kind of big eater, don’t you!?”
“Not exactly, but it wouldn’t be enough, right?”
After all, last time I saw her eating alone, she had a King Burger, the biggest size fries, and a coffee float.
And though I didn’t mention it then, she’d also had a box of chicken nuggets—already eaten and tossed in the trash. Yeah, I saw it.
“If you try to hold back and your stomach growls, that’d be even more embarrassing. Think of this as more practice.”
“My opinion of you just dropped a little, Taiyō-san.”
She glared at me sharply… but honestly, she’s too cute for it to be scary.
Still, she finished off the King Burger with surprising speed.
Guess she is a big eater—but I’m not dumb enough to say that out loud.
I noticed she’d ordered a potato pie, so I got myself a coffee float.
It reminded me of the time we’d shared food here before.
I scooped a bit of ice cream from the top of my drink with the straw.
“Let’s try a dating basic.”
“A basic?”
I held out the straw with the ice cream on it toward her.
“Want to try this?”
“Wha—! But, um, that’s already been—”
Her face flushed crimson as she stammered.
“It’s a new straw, don’t worry.”
“～～～～～～！”
She let out an inarticulate squeak as I gently nudged it closer.
Tsukiyo raised her small face, and just as her lips closed around the straw, I pulled it back a little.
Heh, this is kind of fun.
She frowned slightly and let out another wordless sound.
Alright, maybe that’s enough teasing.
“Sorry, I’ll do it properly next time.”
“…Being played like that is the disgrace of a lifetime.”
“‘Of a lifetime’ sounds a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
