Even Today, the Genius High School Programmer Cashes In on Day Trades, Completely Flustered by Beautiful Girls' Growing Affection. - Chapter 53: “How Should I Interpret This?”

“How Should I Interpret This?”

I found myself alone with Yukina in the classroom.

“K-Kousuke…”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Um… u-um, well…”

Her eyes were darting all over the place. I could practically feel the tension radiating off Yukina.

“Um… on the night of the 24th… do you have any free time…?”

“The 24th? That’s three days from now, right? I don’t have any plans in particular.”

“Really?! Then… there’s somewhere I’d like to go with you…”

“Sure. Where do you want to go?”

“You see! They’re doing illuminations on the main street in front of the station! And on Christmas Eve, they say it gets especially beautiful!”

For some reason, Yukina was visibly excited.

This was bad. It looked like the prelude to one of her glitches.

“H-hey, calm down, Yukina. I got it. I’ll go with you.”

“Really? Yay!”

Yukina let out a delighted squeal and did a few small, happy hops in place.

Her chest bounced softly up and down with each jump.

The sway was impressive.

Magnitude 8.5, maybe?

The memory of that pool day flashed vividly through my mind.

“Uh, the main street in front of the station… that’s the one with the police box, right?”

I asked, trying to shake off the distracting thoughts.

“Yes, that’s the one with the police box.”

Yukina answered with a bright, beaming smile.

It was the busiest shopping district in town—the grand avenue right outside the station.

The police box we had dashed into together before was also located on that very street.

The Christmas illuminations there were quite famous in the area.

It was a large-scale event that had started a few years ago and was the biggest illumination display in the entire district.

Every year around this time, the avenue and its surroundings became incredibly lively with shoppers.

“Um… so it’ll just be the two of us going?”

“Eh? Y-yes… Is that… not okay…?”

Yukina’s voice suddenly grew smaller.

Her face flushed red, and the tension returned in full force.

“Of course it’s fine. Let’s go together.”

No matter how many times I said it, the command “No” simply refused to appear when faced with Yukina’s upturned, pleading gaze.

“Really? Thank you! I’m really looking forward to it!”

Yukina smiled softly, her expression as gentle as a falling snowflake.

It was the moment an angel descended.

Too cute.

“Um… then… I’ll head home now.”

Suddenly, Yukina’s face tensed up again.

What was going on with her?

“? Aren’t we going home together?”

“U-um… for some reason, I can’t look at your face right now…”

“What?”

“It’s nothing! I’ll contact you later on Lime. See you!”

With a cute little wave and a hurried “bye-bye,” Yukina quickly left the classroom.

Left behind by myself, I stood there in a daze for a while.

***

“How should I interpret this?”

On the way home from school, I muttered to myself as I walked.

December 24th was, in the eyes of the world, Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve.

Going to see the illuminations.

Just the two of us.

Wasn’t this exactly what people generally called a “date” or a special “event”?

Or was Yukina simply inviting me because she wanted to see the lights?

I couldn’t quite tell.

“I don’t really want to, but… I should probably ask someone with more experience.”

I took out my smartphone and typed a message into Lime.

Kousuke: Yukina invited me to see the Christmas illuminations on the 24th. Just the two of us. How should I take this?

Seven seconds after hitting send, a voice call came in.

“Hello?”

“Kousuke, you’re so slow! How long were you planning to make me wait?”

The cheerful voice of the handsome guy with light brown hair rang out.

“Wait? Were you waiting for something, Shingo?”

“Ah— whatever, it’s fine. You’re free tomorrow, right?”

“Being told that so definitively is a bit much… but yeah, I’m free.”

“You’re going to spend the whole day tomorrow with me. No right to refuse!”

Shingo declared it one-sidedly and immediately specified the meeting place and time.