Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 288 288: The Chasm

Several hours passed. After visiting almost every large and small shop in Akihabara, the three of them finally decided to rest. They went to a burger shop to have a late lunch.

"Satisfied. Totally satisfied."

"Wow—yeah—I never expected Akihabara to be such a fun place—I'm so happy—"

Shido spoke words he didn't truly an just to go along with Nia. He took out a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead and let out an exhausted sigh.

It couldn't be helped. Along the way, Shido had accompanied Nia and Yutsuki through almost all of Akihabara. They bought manga, light novels, reference books, ani Blu-rays, figures, ga software, and consoles. The backpack and suitcase Nia brought were bulging. The things that didn't fit were placed on a folding handcart. Most of this weight was carried by Shido, the only male in the group.

Honestly, Shido felt that if he weighed himself now, he would be two or three kilograms lighter.

"Biri-chan, you bought very little besides gas."

Looking at the two shopping bags by Yutsuki's chair, Nia asked with surprise.

"Well, I just ca to Akihabara to shop not long ago. I didn't need to restock as much as you," Yutsuki replied, taking a sip of cola and shrugging.

"Ugh—must be nice. I want to go back and play everything as soon as possible."

"Should I make a priority list for you later? For which ani to watch and gas to play first?"

"Please do! I'm counting on you!"

(This is great.)

Looking at the two of them chatting, Shido thought from the bottom of his heart.

Although he was confused by most of their conversation and found it hard to join in, Nia didn't ignore him. She shared her hobbies with him tirelessly.

Perhaps this was the kind of life Spirits—or rather, Nia and Yutsuki—should be living.

"Boy! Boy!"

"Eh?"

Snapping back to reality, Shido found Nia waving her hand in front of his face, looking at him with confusion.

"Did you not hear us?"

"Eh, s-sorry! I spaced out for a second. What did you say?"

"Email addresses! We're exchanging email addresses!" Yutsuki reminded him helplessly while waving her phone.

"Biri-chan suggested it. She said it would be easier to stay in touch if we exchanged contact info. Biri-chan already traded with . Boy, hurry up and take out your phone."

"Oh, right, wait a second!"

Shido gave Yutsuki a grateful look. He quickly took out his phone and used infrared to exchange contact information with Nia.

"Ohhh! My contact list has a new person besides my editor. I'm living such a 'normie' life today. I hope I don't explode!"

"You won't."

Shido smiled bitterly at Nia, who was strangely excited while looking at her phone.

At the sa ti, a slight sense of duty rose in his heart again.

I must protect her, Shido vowed silently.

——————

"Excellent, things are progressing very smoothly."

Sitting in the temporary command room in the underground facility, Kotori watched Shido successfully exchange emails with Nia and nodded with satisfaction.

Unlike past dates that were always full of accidents, this date was unexpectedly smooth. So far, Nia's affection level hadn't dropped because of wrong choices, nor had she attacked Shido. The atmosphere was friendly and peaceful.

"N-No, this is bad, Commander!"

Just then, Minowa, one of the staff mbers, cried out in panic.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his panicked face, Kotori frowned and asked.

"Look at these values. Nia's affection level hasn't changed at all today... it's stuck at the 'friend' level... Forget about kissing... we probably won't be able to seal her Spirit power at all."

Hearing Minowa's words, the atmosphere in the command room turned tense instantly.

—————————

"Eh..."

Hearing the conversation from Kotori's side, Shido also frowned. Nia noticed the change in his expression and asked curiously.

"What's wrong? Did sothing happen on Kotori's end?"

"No... well..."

Seeing Shido hesitate, Nia seed to understand sothing. She smiled bitterly.

"Ah... I think I get it. It's the affection level, right? It has to reach a certain value before you can seal , right?"

"..."

Shido was speechless for a mont. But he quickly rembered that he couldn't hide anything from the person in front of him.

"Well... actually, I'm tired of being hunted. I don't mind being sealed... but my heart still can't accept it. I'm sorry I made you work for nothing."

"Did I do sothing to make you unhappy?"

"No... it's not that. The problem is on my end."

Nia scratched her hair, looking troubled. She hesitated for a mont before answering.

"Actually, I only have romantic feelings for 2D characters."

"Eh?"

"Sorry, Nia. Shido and I need to step outside for a bit. We'll be right back."

Just then, Yutsuki, who had been silent, suddenly stood up. She pulled the dazed Shido out of the shop.

...

[You've got to be kidding... is that really true?]

Kotori's voice ca through the earpiece, sounding like she had a massive headache. Her worry was understandable. After all, the Spirit they were trying to win over just announced she could only fall in love with 2D characters.

However, compared to Kotori, Shido was much calr. Although he was shocked by Nia's answer at first, Yutsuki's calm reaction helped him keep his composure.

"Yutsuki, you don't seem surprised at all."

"Well, I could guess it to so extent. It's not rare for otakus to lose interest in reality because they are obsessed with the 2D world," Yutsuki replied with a shrug.

"However, Nia seems to be a severe case. Usually, when otakus say that, it's just an excuse to escape reality. Judging by her attitude, she really is only interested in 2D."

"I see..."

Since even Yutsuki, a fellow otaku, said so, Nia's words probably weren't just a polite excuse. She really ant it.

"Affection won't go up... Co to think of it, it felt a bit like this when you and I first t, Yutsuki."

Shido suddenly rembered. Back when he was trying to conquer Yutsuki, a similar thing happened. Her affection level stopped at a very strange point and wouldn't go up.

"Ah... that."

Yutsuki looked at the sky with a complex expression, clearly not wanting to talk about it. After a long ti, she replied helplessly.

"Back then, well... I never even thought of you as a mber of the opposite sex. I didn't think our outing was a date. At most, I saw you as a 'convenient person to have around.' Honestly, I didn't care either way."

"Ugh—"

Shido felt like he had taken a heavy blow.

[I see... Simply put, Nia hasn't even considered Shido as a possible romantic partner.]

Hearing their conversation, Kotori cald down and began to analyze the situation.

If the gap between Shido and Yutsuki back then was a misunderstanding of gender...

Then the barrier between Nia and Shido now was a wall called "Dinsions." To conquer Nia, they had to break that dinsional wall first.

...This is bad. Thinking about it this way made it seem even more impossible.

[Yutsuki-nee, you know a lot about otakus. Do you have any ideas?]

"Let think..." Yutsuki pondered for a mont before giving her advice. "Anyway, don't do anything else today. Just finish the outing with Nia normally."

[Eh?!]

Kotori's panicked voice ca through the earpiece.

[Do nothing? Wait, Yutsuki-nee, didn't you say Nia's schedule would be full and this was our only chance for a date? If we waste it like this—]

"I'll find a way to make more ti."

Yutsuki interrupted Kotori and answered very seriously.

"Right now, we have almost no information on Honjou Nia. On the other hand, she knows everything about us. If we rush a plan based only on her words, we might cross a line we shouldn't. In the end, conquering a Spirit—no, winning a woman's heart—isn't sothing that happens overnight. You should know this best, Kotori-chan."

[...]

"As a commander of an airship, you are undoubtedly excellent. But when ti is tight, your vision narrows. you get anxious and try to force a result. That is a bad habit of yours."

[Fine... I give up, Yutsuki-nee.]

Kotori's voice ca through the earpiece, sounding completely defeated.

"Yutsuki, I'm sorry to trouble you again."

Looking at Yutsuki, who had just convinced Kotori while she was in Commander mode, Shido realized once again how difficult it would be to stand as an equal beside this girl.

"Well... the most I can do is buy ti. Since we know Nia doesn't plan to hurt you, if I keep interfering, I'll just be a third wheel. Later on, you'll have to do your best on your own, Shido."

"Mhm."

———————

"Well, we'll part ways here. I had a lot of fun today. See you later! Biri-chan, Boy."

Arriving at the entrance of the luxury apartnt where Nia lived, Nia took back her suitcase and handcart full of otaku goods. she prepared to wave goodbye.

"Wait!"

Just then, Shido stopped Nia.

"Hm? Is there sothing else, Boy?"

Nia stopped and turned her head, looking at Shido with confusion.

"Phew..." Shido looked straight into Nia's eyes, took a deep breath, bowed, and made a sincere request. "Tomorrow, could you go on another date with ?"

"Eh?" Nia froze for a second, then waved her hand with a bitter smile. "No can do! I appreciate the invite, Boy, but my schedule is fully booked."

"Please, you must agree!"

"Even if you say that..."

"I'll handle your editor."

Just as Nia was feeling troubled, Yutsuki interjected.

"Eh? Biri-chan knows my editor?"

Hearing this, Nia looked at Yutsuki with terror.

"Well... I did a lot of research to find out why the author of Silver Bullet went on hiatus. And I heard things. Souji-sensei is the type of author who always hits the real deadline at the very last second."

"Ugh!"

Nia's face stiffened. Yutsuki gave a aningful smile.

"If your schedule is really full, when were you planning to catch up on that pile of manga and gas in your hands? I don't think you have the self-control to wait. Souji-sensei, how much of that 'full schedule' is actually for work? Even if it is, I can find a way to clear one or two days for you."

"Ugh... Biri-chan, you don't have Rasiel too, do you? Honestly, for the first ti, I realize how scary it is to be seen through so clearly."

Nia shivered and spoke with so fear.

"People often tell I'm the type of person they 'least want the most as an enemy'."

"I totally agree!"

Nia nodded in strong agreent. However, despite saying that, Nia still shook her head and didn't accept Shido's invite.

"But... let's just forget it. You saw how the date went today, right? I'm only interested in 2D. No matter what Boy does, he can't raise my affection. Another date would just be a waste of ti."

"Today wasn't a date!"

Yutsuki denied it firmly.

"Today, we just went out shopping. You and I both just ca to Akihabara to buy things. Shido was just here to help carry bags. Because I was here as a third wheel, today's outing doesn't count as a date."

"—Eh?!"

"Besides, you only said you like 2D characters. You never said you hate 3D, right?"

"...That's just wordplay, Biri-chan."

"I'm just stating facts."

"Ugh..."

Looking at the self-righteous Yutsuki, Nia realized she couldn't win an argunt against her.

She turned her gaze to Shido, who was still bowing. Nia let out a helpless sigh.

"It looks like you don't plan to give up, Boy."

"Yes! Even if I have to be persistent and annoying, I won't give up!" Shido replied firmly.

"Sigh..."

Nia scratched her hair in frustration. After struggling with the thought for a long ti, she let out a sharp breath.

"—Fine! Although I don't think I'll ever fall for a 3D person, since you've gone this far, I'll play along with you one more ti."