I asked him to be my pretend-boyfriend but after a while I fell for him, but I can't seem to admit that fact! - Chapter 27: Date-3

Date-3

As they left the café, a crowd had started gathering in the square. Itsuki wondered if there was some kind of event going on.

“Look at all those people. Could it be some kind of event?”

An event… but what kind of event would  be even held in here?

“I’m not sure.”

As the two discussed this, a woman dressed quite flamboyantly called out to Itsuki.

“Hey there, Itsuki-chan!”

Itsuki was taken aback, and Akira seemed visibly displeased from the sudden appearance of the intruder. That meant…

“Oh, it’s Akira. I thought you had a new boyfriend.”

“It’s not like that!”

It was indeed Shizuka.

“Good to see you, Akira. Itsuki-chan is so cute; I thought she would’ve dumped you already by now.”

“I haven’t been dumped!”

Akira interjected with a strong retort, showing a side of himself that’s not often seen by others.

Is this what a long-term relationship does to you?

“Hi, Itsuki-chan!”

“It’s been a while, Shizuka-san.”

“You’re still as cute as ever, Itsuki-chan. Akira doesn’t know what he’s got!”

“Ahaha…”

In moments like these, it’s hard to figure out what to say. There’s no clear right answer.

But still… she’s beautiful. Even from a woman’s perspective, she’s very attractive.

“Anyway, this is perfect timing. I have a favor to ask of both of you!”

“Ehh…”

Akira was making it quite evident that he was unhappy.

“What’s with that face, Akira? You can’t say you won’t hear my favor!”

“Oh, no…”

“Huh?”

“Really, it’s not like I don’t want to!”

“Then what’s with the ‘ehh…’?”

“Your requests… they just bring back unpleasant memories.”

“How rude! Why would my requests even bring back unpleasant memories? I’ve taught you plenty of things, haven’t I?”

“No, it’s just…”

Akira was flustered. In front of her, his earlier assertiveness seemed to have vanished without a trace.

But, really, there are things that Shizuka taught Akira that I’m curious about.

“Well, fine, I’m a bit thirsty, so let’s have some tea at that café over there.”

“Ehh…”

“Huh?”

“It’s… nothing.”

Akira gave in, and we returned to the café. The staff looked a bit puzzled.

***

“What, you just ate! If that’s the case, you should’ve said something.”

“I was going to say something, but you weren’t listening!”

Indeed.

“Oh, really?”

“That’s right!”

“Well, whatever, I’m treating you here.”

Akira was easily swayed. He’s surprisingly susceptible to her persuasion.

“Wanna have some parfait?”

“Hmm… what should I do?”

Akira began to ponder seriously. Wait, what? He likes parfait? Does he have a sweet tooth?

“Recently, I’ve gained a bit of weight.”

I’ve seen it all. That well-toned six-pack… Akira, you are asking for trouble with a statement like that, you know?

“What about you, Itsuki-chan?”

“Ah… I’ve gained a little weight recently too.”

Totally fine! Young people shouldn’t be so reserved. “Excuse me!”

Shizuka eventually ordered three parfaits.

“Here you go.”

It was a massive parfait.

“Let’s dig in!”

Both Akira and Shizuka… Where does she put all that food?

But wait, I shouldn’t be worrying about others right now. If I eat all this, I might get a little belly!

“Oh, right, Itsuki-chan, let’s get to the point. When we hold the ‘Inherit Sound’ launch party, you promised I could do your makeup, right?”

Makeup… It looks like she was serious about that.

“Yes, well… kind of.”

“Well, you see, why not do it today?”

“Eh, today?”

What should I do… We’re in the middle of a date. But… considering it’s a special kind of date for us too, I want to look my best with Shizuka’s makeup. Honestly, I don’t really know much about makeup techniques.

Is Akira okay with it?

I try to make eye contact with Akira.

“If Itsuki-chan is okay with it, then so am I.”

Akira’s response was just as I expected.

“Yay! It’s settled! Thanks so much!”

“Thank you for doing this.”

But… I wonder where we’ll do the makeup.

“Oh, it’s such a relief! You see, the model I had lined up for today came down with acute appendicitis.”

Wait… a model?

“Akira, please accompany Itsuki-chan.”

“I didn’t need you to tell me that.”

Akira answered while munching on the parfait. He’s so cute.

Oh, I need to focus.

“Um, Shizuka-san… what do you mean by a model?”

“Oh, well, today, they’re having a makeup and talk event there.”

Shizuka pointed towards the plaza where we’d been talking to Akira earlier.

“Huh… they’re doing makeup there?”

“That’s right.”

“Eh…!”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice even though we were in the cafe.

“I didn’t know about this!”

“Well, I just mentioned it.”

I raised my voice without thinking, even though we were still inside the cafe.

“I didn’t hear about this!”

“But I just told you.”

No, no, no!

“Um, Shizuka-san… what do you mean by a model?”

“Oh, right, today there’s going to be a makeup-and-talk event there.”

Shizuka pointed towards the plaza where Akira and I were just talking earlier at before the date.

“Eh… makeup there?”

“That’s right.”

“Eehhhhhhh!”

I raised my voice without thinking, even though we were still inside the cafe.

“I didn’t hear about this!”

“But I just told you.”

I can’t do it, being a model! I’m just an amateur!

“But I just told you, it’ll be fine, Itsuki-chan!”

Even if I’m kind of cute, being a model is way beyond me!

“But I just told you, it’ll be fine, Itsuki-chan!”

Even if I’m kind of cute, being a model is way beyond me!

I was feeling pressured by Shizuka-san, and without thinking, I said, “Yes.”

“Yay, Itsuki-chan! Let’s make it the best show ever!”

“Um, sure.”

This is our first date, and already I’ve agreed to be a makeup model.

“Alright, Itsuki-chan… this is the opening of your Cinderella story. Enjoy!”

Cinderella story… I wonder how this will turn out.

Me…