The Case of Me, a Guy With Zero Dating Experience, Getting Mistaken for a Stalker by the Angel I Fell for at First Sight, Only to End Up Living Together With Her in a Harem Share House With a 1:9 Gender Ratio - Chapter 29: First Date (Sakura Edition 2)

Chapter 29: First Date (Sakura Edition 2)

Arriving at Yokohama Marine Theater after leaving the restaurant, it was five minutes before the screening started.

The theater was nearly full, and the two sat in seats slightly to the right in the middle rows.

Soon, the lights dimmed, and the movie began.

The title appeared on the screen, accompanied by a beautiful theme song.

Tomorrow, Under the Cherry Blossoms ~The Spring Sunlight with You~

※

The protagonist is Mio, a 25-year-old woman tired of city life.

The setting is a hot spring town in Tohoku, known for its cherry blossoms.

The story begins with Mio arriving for a week-long therapeutic stay.

While she’s captivated by the blooming cherry trees, she meets Haru, a 27-year-old man.

Their first impressions of each other are the worst.

The next day, they reunite at a glassblowing workshop, with Mio as a student and Haru as her instructor.

Haru patiently guides Mio, who struggles to blow glass.

Determined not to lose, Mio visits the workshop daily during her stay to complete a piece.

Impressed by Mio’s dedication, Haru continues to guide her patiently, and the two grow attracted to each other.

After a week, Mio, having found new vitality, promises to return in the summer and heads back to Tokyo.

The seasons change, and in July, Mio takes a four-day break to return to the hot spring town.

Passionate about improving her glassblowing, Mio visits the workshop daily despite the scorching heat.

With Haru’s dedicated guidance, they complete a piece, celebrate together, and become intimate on the night of a summer festival.

The next day, Mio returns to Tokyo, promising to reunite.

In October, Mio visits the hot spring town again, returning to Haru’s workshop.

One day, Haru takes her to see the autumn foliage.

While admiring the vibrant leaves, Haru suddenly collapses and is rushed to the hospital.

The next day, tests reveal Haru has acute leukemia and is given six months to live.

Haru is hospitalized for chemotherapy, with his sister staying by his side, while Mio, worried but with work starting, returns to Tokyo.

Two months later, in December, Mio visits the hot spring town again.

At the workshop, she finds Haru there.

Though discharged, he continues chemotherapy.

The film depicts Haru’s struggle to keep crafting glass despite the pain and Mio’s anguish at watching helplessly, with sobs echoing from the audience.

In January, amid a snowy landscape, Mio visits Haru, who’s been re-hospitalized due to worsening conditions, and gently kisses him, promising through tears, “Let’s meet under the blooming cherry blossoms in spring.”

Time passes to April, the promised date and time.

Mio waits under the cherry trees, but Haru doesn’t appear.

As cherry petals fall, Mio sheds tears.

It was impossible after all…

“Mio.”

Turning at the voice, she sees Haru, miraculously recovered.

A reunion under the blooming cherry trees.

Haru offers a glass ring he made.

“Let’s get married,” Haru proposes.

Mio nods tearfully.

Amid a flurry of cherry petals, they embrace tightly.

The end credits roll with a moving theme song.

※

Even as the theater brightened, the audience remained immersed in the emotional afterglow.

Looking beside him, Yuuki saw Sakura gently dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

“…It was a really good movie.”

Sakura murmured in a tearful voice.

“The visuals were beautiful, and the story was amazing.”

Still wrapped in the movie’s emotional resonance, the two left the theater.

Walking toward the station, Sakura turned back.

“Yuuki-san, can we stop by the shopping mall?”

“Sure, let’s stop by.”

They entered the shopping mall adjacent to the theater.

The bright, open space was lined with stylish shops.

Sakura’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the windows.

She stopped in front of an accessory shop.

Her gaze was drawn to dolphin earrings in a glass case.

The cute design, with dolphins holding small marine blue stones, seemed perfect for her, Yuuki thought.

“Cute…”

Her soft murmur reached Yuuki’s ears.

But seeing the price tag, Sakura seemed to give up immediately.

As Sakura looked at another shop, Yuuki said,

“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”

With that, he left her side.

Returning after a while, Yuuki held a small paper bag.

“Here, this.”

“What’s this?”

“You seemed to want it earlier…”

Sakura took the offered bag.

Inside were the dolphin earrings.

“Huh, Yuuki-san, this…! The ones from before…!”

“It’s a thank-you for inviting me to the movie.

You seemed to like these, Sakura-san.”

“No, that’s too much.

Something so expensive…”

“Don’t say that, take it.

I want to give it to you…”

“Oh… thank you.

I’ll treasure them!”

Sakura’s cheeks flushed with joy, and she murmured softly.

“Well, shall we head back…?”

Yuuki prompted, and Sakura nodded.

On their way to the station, they passed by the seaside at Minato Park.

The sun was just sinking beyond the city’s skyscrapers.

The sky and sea glowed a fiery orange, with the Ferris wheel and high-rise silhouettes standing out beautifully.

“Beautiful…”

Sakura stopped, breathless at the sight.

“Yeah, today’s sunset is incredible…”

Yuuki, beside her, was equally captivated by the same view.

For a while, they gazed at the ever-changing sky.

The sun set completely, and the first star twinkled in the sky.

A romantic atmosphere enveloped them.

“…I don’t want to go home.”

“Yeah…

Shall we stay somewhere?”

“Huh…”

Sakura froze at Yuuki’s words.

“Haha, kidding, kidding.

Come on, it’s getting dark, let’s go.”

Yuuki and Sakura started walking toward the station again.

Sakura’s heart was still racing from Yuuki’s earlier words.

(Yuuki-san’s the type to make jokes like that…

But if he really asked me to stay, how would I have answered…?)

※

They arrived at Hakurindai Station by train past 8 p.m.

Since it was late, they bought bentos at a convenience store.

Walking together toward the share house, the surroundings were completely dark, with a quiet time flowing.

“Thank you very much for today.

I really had fun.

The present made me so happy.”

Sakura expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

“I had fun too.

Those earrings will definitely suit you, I think.”

Yuuki replied with a smile.

At that moment, they were thinking the same thing.

(I want to hold hands with Sakura-san…)

(I want Yuuki-san to hold my hand…)

Yuuki steeled himself and said,

“Sakura-san…

It’s dark from here,

And it’s dangerous, so shall we hold hands?”

“Y-Yes, please.”

Blushing bright red, Sakura extended her hand.

Yuuki gently took it.

Feeling each other’s warmth, they walked with racing hearts.

The path to the share house felt much shorter than usual, yet eternal.

Soon, the share house’s lights came into view.

“Yuuki-san, good night.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Releasing hands at the entrance, they said their goodbyes and went to their rooms.

Back in her room, Sakura changed into loungewear.

Soaking in the second-floor shared bath, she recalled the day’s events.

The fun meal at the restaurant.

The romantic and moving movie.

Yuuki’s surprise gift.

The breathtaking sunset they saw together.

The warm, large hand of Yuuki she held for the first time.

Every memory made her heart flutter.

What were these sweet, poignant feelings?

For a sheltered, love-inexperienced young lady, it was a puzzle.

After much thought, she arrived at one possibility.

“Could it be… I’m falling in love with Yuuki-san…?”

Sakura began to think so.