Arc 2: The Unexpected Side of the Handsome Beauty

Chapter 8: The Not-So-Special First Date

That night, after I agreed to “try” dating Mizushima, I was having dinner and watching a movie in my room when a notification popped up on my phone’s lock screen.

It was a chat from Mizushima. Oh right, she forced me to exchange contacts during lunch break.

[Let’s go on a date tomorrow.]

When I opened the chat app and checked our conversation, that short and straightforward message was waiting for me.

[Why so sudden?]

[Well, since it’s Saturday tomorrow and we’re both free, I thought it’d be nice to go on a date with you, Souta.]

[A date? That’s quite unexpected, isn’t it?]

Tell me the night before, why don’t you? At least check if I have plans first… Well, not that I have any.

[And what about Ena-chan? You realize you’re talking about leaving your girlfriend to go on a holiday date with someone else, right?]

[That’s okay. I told Ena-chan I have modeling work on weekends and can’t make much time. She’s okay with it.]

Wow… seriously?

And how did Ena-chan agree to that so easily? Even when she was with me, she was the kind of girl who’d say she wanted to spend as much time together as possible on days off.

It seems like they have a more casual relationship than I thought…

Feeling a bit uneasy, I decided not to dwell on it too much. Ena-chan is Mizushima’s girlfriend now. As her ex, it’s not my place to comment on their relationship.

[Even so, you don’t have to lie just to meet me on the weekend.]

Mizushima replied immediately to my half-exasperated message.

[Well, I have to win you over in just one month, don’t I? Can’t waste a single day.]

I see… From Mizushima’s perspective, that makes sense. That’s why she’s asking me out on a date so soon.

But no matter how hard she tries, there’s no way she’s going to win me over in just a month. Geez, she’s really desperate, huh.

[So, let’s go on a date.]

[Fine… I don’t have plans for the holiday anyway.]

Honestly, I’d much rather laze around at home, watching movies or playing games.

But I don’t want to seem like I’m running away or chickening out by refusing now.

[Great! Let’s meet at 10 am in front of Sakuragicho Station tomorrow.]

[Yeah, yeah.]

[Our memorable first date, right?]

[It’s not memorable for me.]

[Come on, you’re probably a little excited, aren’t you?]

[Go to sleep.]

I brushed off Mizushima’s annoying banter and quickly closed the chat app.

“Phew… It’s not often you have a first date night where you’re not this nervous.”

Lying on my bed and chuckling, I found myself thinking back to the most nervous date I’ve ever had.

“Ena-chan…”

Three months ago, I still clearly remember our first date after we started dating.

We went to a movie theater a bit far away. It was my very first “real date,” so I was nervous the whole time. I kept sneaking glances at Ena-chan sitting next to me, hardly paying attention to the movie screen.

“Well, in that sense, it’s good that I feel more relaxed about tomorrow.”

※ ※ ※ ※

“…Well, there was a time I thought that.”

Then came the next day, Saturday.

I arrived at the plaza in front of Sakuragicho Station about five minutes before our meeting time, feeling nervous for a completely different reason.

“Excuse me, are you ‘Sizu’ by any chance?”

“Kyaa, it’s really her! The real Sizu, amazing! Oh my God!”

“I always watch your Phototele!”

At today’s meeting spot, the small clock tower in front of the station, there were already about ten young girls gathered around.

And in the center was…

“Ah~, haha. Oh man.”

As expected, it was Mizushima.

Surrounded by squealing voices, she scratched her cheek with a troubled look. From the situation, it seemed she had been recognized by what appeared to be her fans.

I almost forgot because I saw her as my “arch-enemy,” but yeah, she’s a popular model and a famous photo blogger.

“Excuse me, can I take a picture with you?”

“A picture? Sure. But please, don’t post it on social media.”

“This lip color I’m wearing today is the same one you used in a magazine before, Sizu-san!”

“Oh, really? Yeah, it looks good on you. Cute.”

Despite being surrounded by a crowd of girls, Mizushima responded to her fans without any hint of annoyance. With her sweet demeanor and kind words, she effortlessly charmed the girls, truly embodying the image of a refreshing handsome girl.

And what made it even worse was that she seemed to have no idea she was flirting. She was a natural charmer to the extreme.

“Ugh… Do I really have to go through that crowd now?”

The meeting time with Mizushima had already passed.

But honestly, I didn’t have the guts to break through that group of popular girls and make my way to Mizushima. If I tried, I’d probably just get cold looks from her fans and be chased away.

“Alright, time to head back home!”

It looked like she wouldn’t be able to move for a while, and she’d probably prefer hanging out with her fans over a date with someone like me.

It’s best for me to just step back quietly. It can’t be helped. Really, it’s not because it’s become too much of a hassle or anything.

Thinking this, I was about to sneak away to the station’s ticket gate when…

“Ah, there you are, Souta. Hey!”

Mizushima, who had somehow spotted me in the crowd, hurried over here, leaving her fans behind with a quick goodbye.

Darn, I got caught.

“Souta~”

Seriously, don’t shout my name in public like this. It’s embarrassing.