Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 17: Promise of a Date

Episode 17: A Date Promise

This guy seems to be an acquaintance of Koga’s, and he’s probably our age. I don’t know their relationship, but it’s clear Koga doesn’t want to talk to him.

I’ll step in, talk to this guy, and then leave with Koga right away.

“Are you Koga’s boyfriend?” 

He stopped near us and asked me.

“Yes, I am…”

“Huh, then you’d better break up with her before you regret it. Koga acts nice to everyone but looks down on them.”

Why does a stranger say such things? He doesn’t understand Koga at all.

Even if we just met, I can’t let him say things that hurt Koga. I have to correct him.

“Thank you for your concern. But Koga has many good qualities beyond her looks and personality. Please don’t speak ill of her.”

I’ve said what I needed to. I hope he doesn’t get angry and try to hit me.

As I watched him, Koga quietly whispered, “Thanks,” from behind me.

Then the guy clicked his tongue, said something to me, and walked away.

“You’ll regret it, I promise.”

(I’m relieved… He seemed scary, so I was worried it might turn violent…)

“Thank you, Kawai-kun. You saved me…”

Koga moved in front of me, put her hands behind her back, and smiled.

“You’re welcome. Was that guy a classmate?”

“Yeah, his name is Hosho-kun, but he doesn’t seem to like me. I don’t like him either… or rather, I can’t handle him…”

“I see.”

When I said that, Koga tugged at the hem of my shirt.

“Let’s go home… I’m hungry.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

We didn’t plan to stop anywhere to eat today. At this time, Koga usually eats something, but today she hasn’t eaten anything since school, so she’s about to collapse from hunger.

“Should we stop somewhere? There’s a fast-food place over there.”

I hadn’t planned to, but since there was a fast-food place right there, I suggested it, and Koga quickly went to the front of the store.

Then she beckoned me to come over.

(Ah, she really wants to go…)

After what just happened, I’m glad to see the usual Koga again.

In the end, we decided to go into the fast-food place and order via the touch panel.

“Cake, parfait… no, maybe fries… hmm, I can’t decide.”

This is a familiar sight when there are lots of options. Koga, indecisive, is cute too.

“How about we order everything and share?”

“Kawai-kun, that’s great! You’re a genius!”

It feels exaggerated to be called a genius for suggesting sharing, but I’m glad I did.

Koga ordered cheesecake, a strawberry parfait, fries, and two drinks.

“It’s like an after-school date… Oh, I guess it is a date since we’re dating now…”

Koga corrected herself, blushing and smiling.

“Kawai-kun, are you free this Saturday? I want to… go on a weekend date with you…”

“Yeah, let’s go on a date. I’m free on Saturday. Is there somewhere you want to go?”

I have zero dating experience and don’t know where girls like to go, so I decided to ask her.

“I’m fine with anywhere, really. I always drag you to places I want to go, so I’d like to go where you want to go, Kawai-kun.”

Since she said she wanted to go where I want to go, I thought about a place I’d like to visit with her.

“How about… do you like cats?”

Since she often visits the cat cafe, she must like cats, but I asked to confirm.

“I love them! If asked if I’m a dog person or a cat person, I’d definitely say cat.”

“That’s great. I’d like to go to a cat cafe. How about that?”

It’s a place I want to go, and I think Koga would want to go too.

I considered just going to a restaurant, but I wanted to do something different with her this time.

“I want to go!”

“Then the destination is the shopping mall one stop ahead of Koga’s station. There’s supposed to be one there.”

“It’s my first time going to a cat cafe, so I’m excited.”

As we talked about our date, our order arrived, and Koga started eating the parfait.

While I was nibbling on fries and watching her happily eat, Koga scooped a bite with a spoon and offered it to me.

“Say ah~”

“Thanks.”

Since my mouth was empty, I accepted the bite from Koga.

“Mmm, it’s sweet and delicious. You can eat the rest. I can’t handle too many sweets.”

“Got it. Let me know if you want more.”

“Sure, I will.”

Koga continued eating the parfait, and I resumed eating fries.

In the end, Koga ate most of the parfait and cake, leaving only a few fries.

“I’m so happy… Sweets make me forget all the bad things.”

She gazed dreamily at the menu. I wanted to tease her about eating more.

The bad thing she mentioned is probably meeting Hosho earlier.

When we left the fast-food place, it was raining. The news this morning said it would rain in the evening.

I always carry a folding umbrella in my backpack, so I took it out. Koga also searched her backpack for an umbrella.

But she couldn’t find one, so I asked her.

“Do you have an umbrella?”

“No… I usually carry one, but I left it at home today because I thought it wouldn’t rain.”

“I do that too sometimes. Let’s share mine. We might get a bit wet, though.”

“Okay… Thank you, Kawai-kun.”

When I opened the umbrella, Koga huddled close to me to stay dry.

We walked from the store to her apartment, then closed the umbrella. Koga looked into my eyes and asked,

“Kawai-kun, do you think I look down on people?”

She couldn’t have ignored what Hosho said. She must have been thinking about it while eating.

“I don’t think that at all. Are you worried about what he said?”

When I asked her that, Koga nodded slightly.

“A little… but it’s okay. It’s enough for me if the person I like thinks well of me. I don’t care what others say.”

Koga is probably the type to act tough. She doesn’t want to show her weak side. Seeing her like that, I gently held her hand.

“If anyone says something again, I’ll correct them just like today.”

“Kawai-kun… thank you.”