☆ Shota Komori ☆

Saturday morning at 8:00 am. West gate of Mitsubishi Outlet Mall.

We had agreed to meet as soon as the park opened–

“I’m sorry, Shota-san. Did you wait long?”

–Izumi-san ran up to me, like how a girl would.

“Oh, no, not at all. I just got here too.”

Hmm. Isn’t something about that line a little too lover-like?

It’s a little late to say this, but I’m really embarrassed.

I think my cheeks might be a little flushed.

“Points deducted.”

“WHAT!?”

As soon as we met up, what awaited me was a scoring session. And I didn’t expect a point reduction that soon. There’s no limit to how harsh she can be!

“You should’ve said, ‘I got here three hours ago. How long did you expect me to wait!?’ and then I’d say, ‘You were really looking forward to today’s date, weren’t you?’ and make you squeal.”

“You expected me to come to an outlet mall at 5:00 in the morning!? Is there no limit to your devilishness!?”

“So Shota-san wasn’t looking forward to a date with me? Is that it?”

Izumi-san looks up at me with concern.

Gugh… If you give me a look like that, I can’t help but blurt out my true feelings, can I?

I’ve been vaguely aware of it, but Izumi-san is a devilish little girl.

“Well… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it.”

“Easy.”

“Oi.”

Izumi-san soothed away her jittery eyes and said, “Oh, well.”

At first glance, she looks fine, but she has dark circles under her eyes.

It turns out that this attitude is a strong attempt to ‘act as usual.’

“More importantly… How is it?”

Izumi-san turned with a spin.

The flower-patterned skirt fluttered lightly, and at the same time, the scent of flowers wafted through the air.

I look for my next words, knowing what she meant by her words and actions.

Izumi’s casual clothes are what one calls cute. It’s a cute, girlish outfit.

However, Izumi-san has a boyfriend, Kengo Ohashi-kun.

She must be heartbroken, and it would be a mistake if I, as a member of the opposite s*x, gave her the wrong impression.

I should choose my words carefully.

“Um… I think it suits you very well.”

“Am I… cute?”

Gugh, I dared to avoid that expression, and now she’s urging me to say it…

W-What should I do? Let’s just get murky here…

“I think your outfit suits you precisely because you’re Izumi-san.”

“Muu~. That means…?”

Izumi-san looks up at me with puffed cheeks and slightly moist eyes.

Apparently, she really wants me to tell her what I think of it.

AHH! WHATEVER!!! In my defense, I was forced to say this!

“Yes… I think you look cute.”

I blurt out my honest thoughts with a downcast look on my face.

I’m so embarrassed that I can’t help but look down.

Ugh… My childish innocence is on full display…

I can’t look Izumi-san directly in the eye.

“Fufu. Thank you very much. But I’m not too happy to hear Shota-san say that.”

“You made me say it! You’re awful!”

“Eh… Are you mad?”

“I’m not mad. If you can make me lose my temper–How many times are we going to have this exchange!?”

It’s as if this tsukkomi has been ingrained in my body.

We found ourselves looking up at each other and laughing hysterically.

“Ahaha… My stomach hurts. Shota-san really likes this joke, doesn’t he?”

“Wait a minute!!! For the record, I’m just pretending here.”