Episode 37: The First Date and the Stalkers

Sunday.

Right now, I’m waiting for Sara-senpai in front of the station.

By the way, there’s still over thirty minutes left until the meeting time.

I know they say the guy should be the one waiting first, but…

If Sara-senpai were waiting here alone, pick-up artists would definitely swarm her.

That’s why I can’t let Senpai be the one waiting……

!!??…………………Cu… Cu…

「Good morning, Takanashi-san. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting?」

「……………」

「? Is something wrong?」

A cute shirt with white frills and a ribbon at the chest… a flowy navy skirt that falls below the knee, and white knee-highs… This is what people call a「virgin-killing outfit.」

And that slightly embarrassed expression…

She’s too cute!! I’m going to die!! How can she be this cute!? Sara-senpai is so cuuuute……?? Wait, Senpai’s face is getting redder and redder?

「Um… I am very happy to hear it, but if you… well, if you keep shouting ‘cute’ over and over like that, I… I’ll get quite embarrassed…」

Ah, I said that out loud.

Ugh… pff… hold it in, hold it in… If I laugh now, they’ll notice me!!

I really did coordinate the perfect outfit!

It seems like Kazunari-kun thinks of Sara as「cute」more than just a「beauty,」so even if people call it calculated, this was the right choice; Sara’s looks plus a cute outfit (lol).

His internal voice is leaking out because it was such a huge hit… I can’t laugh!!

Huff, puff… man, that was entertaining right from the start.

Now, how should I follow them…

To be honest, if I just sneak around after them, I might look suspicious and get reported to the police…

…Oh? Is that…

Looks like I made it in time.

But was Kazunari always that kind of character?

What kind of rom-com is this…

Well, speaking of characters, that woman’s image is pretty different too.

She seemed a bit sharp when I saw her the other day…

Looking at her again, she’s actually quite cute.

Normally I’d say Kazunari doesn’t stand a chance, but from what I’ve heard, it’s actually…

No, even that outfit is clearly meant for Kazunari no matter how you look at it, so maybe there’s a chance?

The problem is… how to follow them…

…Hm? Is that…?

「Ahem, sorry, Sara-senpai. I made a scene.」

「No, well, since Takanashi-san was the one praising me, I am actually very happy? Even if it was a little embarrassing…」

I really did let it all out, didn’t I…

I mean, being this cute is against the rules.

「…Once again, good morning. I made a lot of noise, but that outfit really suits you… I mean, you’re really cute!」

I said it! Or rather, I really wanted to say it!

Good job, me.

「Thank you. Well, I’ve never worn clothes like this before, so I was a bit anxious…」

That makes sense. Given Sara-senpai’s serious personality, I can’t imagine her choosing such a targeted outfit on her own…

「Ah, really? Honestly, I’d want to see it every day.」

「Fufu… I’m happy you’d go that far. In that case, should I wear these kinds of clothes whenever I go out with Takanashi-san from now on?」

From now on… that means she’ll keep going out with me like this.

I’ll follow her anywhere she wants to go.

「I’ll have to thank Natsumi. She coordinated this for me, saying Takanashi-san would definitely be happy if I wore something like this.」

…I see, so that’s it…… I feel like I just heard Natsumi-senpai’s laughter…

But it’s a「good job,」so I’ll forgive her.

「Hello. You’re Takanashi-kun’s friend I met the other day, right?」

「Hello. I thought it was you. We didn’t really have a proper conversation back then, though.」

Glad I wasn’t mistaken.

We didn’t have the best impression of each other last time, but it seems like we’ve heard about each other through Takanashi-kun.

「By the way, why are you here?」

「Hmm, I think I’d like to ask you the same thing?」

「「………」」

Is this maybe…

It looks like the other side realized it too.

「「Fufufu…」」

「Looks like we have the same goal.」

「It seems so.」　

「In that case, do you think we can cooperate?」

「Yes. I was worried I’d look suspicious if I followed them alone.」

We were thinking the same thing.

Then there’s only one answer.

「「Let’s go together.」」

An unexpected ally has appeared.

This should make tracking them easier.

「Well then, Sara-senpai, shall we go?」

「Yes, let’s. Shall we head out?」

I already told Senpai we were going to the shopping mall today.

It’s only a ten-minute walk from the station, so it’s quite helpful that it’s close.

However, the radiance of Senpai walking beside me is incredible…

She’s drawing glares from every single man… and the guys with girlfriends are definitely getting scolded.

Well, with how cute Sara-senpai is today, it’s impossible to tell people not to look.

Sara-senpai already has a refined, pure aura, and this outfit just makes it stand out even more.

I’m still honestly a bit embarrassed too…

Wait, I forgot to check something first.

「Senpai, how is your time today? If you have plans and need to finish early…」

「No, I’m free all day. I didn’t want to put any other plans in since I was finally getting to go out with Takanashi-san.」

Alright, that means I’ll have time to look for a present.

「In that case, would it be okay if you hung out with me for a bit longer after the shopping is done?」

「Yes, I will follow you wherever you go, Takanashi-san, so please take me wherever you like.」

Now, I just have to find something that looks good no matter what…