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 46: Alone Under a Starry Sky

Chapter 46: Alone Under a Starry Sky

At the center of the screen tarp, four tables were set, surrounded by ten camping chairs.

Three tabletop barbecue grills were placed among the tables.

An outdoor fridge along the wall was packed with ingredients meticulously chosen by Asuna.

A cooler held more drinks than they could possibly finish.

Yuuki started the charcoal, while Riona and Mizuki took turns cutting ingredients.

Reina cooked rice in a hagama pot, and Sakura and Akane made onigiri.

Asuna prepared tonjiru, and Sena set out plates and chopsticks for everyone.

Miku and Kotoha gathered twigs for a campfire.

Thus, preparations for the main camping event, the barbecue, were complete.

“Alright, everyone, let’s toast~”

Checking everyone’s drinks, Asuna led the toast.

“To everyone’s health—Cheers!”

Asuna called the grill supervisors “grill masters” instead of “pot masters.”

Their role was to manage the heat to avoid burning the food and serve it to the group.

“Yakitori’s ready~ Who wants some?”

Riona, the meat grill master, showcased pro-level skills.

“Round eggplant miso-cheese bake, who’s eating?”

“Scallop butter grill, first seven takers~”

Reina, the vegetable grill master, and Yuuki, the seafood grill master, were recognized for their extensive ingredient knowledge and high cooking skills.

Thanks to the far-infrared effect of Kishu Binchotan charcoal, the ingredients cooked plumply, locking in their flavors.

Delicious food paired with tasty drinks naturally sparked lively conversation.

Topics like the delicious cakes at Yuuki’s workplace, Café Valencia, VenusVenus’s upcoming festival performance, and stories from Snack Akane where Riona and Mizuki worked part-time kept the mood high.

Among them, Akane mentioned that the women’s magazine where she works as a reader model was recruiting new models.

“Hey, Sakura-chan, why not try reader modeling?

You’re so cute, you’d totally make it.”

“Huh, modeling? I’d be too embarrassed, and my dad wouldn’t allow it.”

“Aw, too bad…

Oh, how about you, Miku-chan and Kotoha-chan?

You’re both cute, you could be reader models.”

“We’ve got band activities and part-time jobs, so no way.”

“Right, with the festival coming up.”

“Akane, I could apply.”

Riona jumped in eagerly.

“Oh, sorry, Riona-san, you can’t.”

“Why not?”

“They’re recruiting up to age 20.”

“What’s that? So annoying~”

As such casual chatter continued, it was past 8 p.m.

※

The barbecue, which started in the evening, showed no signs of ending even as night deepened, reaching its peak.

Under the large screen tarp, with alcohol flowing, cheerful laughter echoed.

Amid the commotion, Yuuki quietly slipped away.

“Hey, Yuuki, where you going?”

Riona, clearly slurring, asked.

“Just to the restroom.”

Yuuki used the clean restroom at the administration building and was heading back to the tarp when he paused.

Looking up, an unbelievable starry sky spread between the birch trees.

“Wow… amazing stars…”

Countless stars twinkled across the sky, a sight impossible in the city.

Like a jewelry box overturned, Yuuki was captivated by the night sky.

(…Let’s sober up a bit.)

His cheeks, flushed from the older women’s relentless “pouring attacks” and the barbecue’s heat, cooled in the night breeze.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the darkness near the administration building.

“…Oh, Yuuki-san.”

It was Sakura.

She looked at Yuuki with slight surprise.

“Sakura-san, here to see the stars too?”

“Huh, stars?”

“Look, you can see them through those trees.”

Sakura looked up where Yuuki pointed.

“Wow…! Incredible…!

I’ve never seen so many stars.

It’s like a planetarium…”

Yuuki’s heart skipped a beat at Sakura’s beautiful profile as she gazed upward.

The tarp’s noise felt like a lie as a quiet, gentle air flowed between them.

“If we go toward the lake, we might see them better… Wanna try?”

“Yes, I’d love to.”

Sakura readily agreed to Yuuki’s invitation.

Yuuki turned on his phone’s flashlight and started down a small path to the lake.

But the area was darker than expected, and the footing felt unsteady for two.

“Sakura-san, it’s dangerous, so let’s hold hands…”

“Yes, please.”

When Sakura extended her hand, Yuuki’s large, warm hand gently enveloped it.

(Yuuki-san’s hand… so warm…)

Feeling each other’s warmth, their hearts naturally raced.

“We’re almost at the beach.”

“Yes.”

As they descended to the lakeshore, they emerged from the birch trees, and the sky opened wide.

A boundless starry sky stretched above Yuuki and Sakura.

“Whoa, what’s with this number of stars…”

It was a breathtaking view beyond words.

“Amazing… So many stars… I’ve never seen this…”

Sakura’s eyes welled with tears from the overwhelming emotion.

“Let’s go a bit further.”

They walked to the shore, where faint ripples lapped.

The scenery was unimaginably grand.

“Wait, I’ll turn off the light…”

Yuuki let go of Sakura’s hand and switched off his phone’s flashlight.

For a moment, complete darkness enveloped them, with only the gentle sound of ripples faintly audible.

Then, countless stars reflected on the lake, revealing a view beyond imagination.

“Y-Yuuki-san…”

Before he realized, Sakura was tightly gripping his left arm with a gyutto.

“S-Sakura-san…”

“Sorry, it was so dark, I got nervous…”

As his eyes adjusted to the dark, Sakura’s profile, illuminated by faint starlight, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her eyes sparkled, reflecting the stars.

Mesmerized by her beauty, Yuuki stared at her.

Sakura gazed back.

How long did they lock eyes?

Sakura suddenly closed her eyes.

Unconsciously, Yuuki brought his lips closer to hers.