Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 368 368: A Date with Mukuro (Part 1)

The girl had a dream.

In the dream, she beca a little boy abandoned by his birth mother.

The little boy was very insecure, but also very open-minded. Being young, he thought he was abandoned because he had no value, and was left alone because he was not needed.

Every ti he saw children his age accompanied by their families, the boy would choose to put himself down, finding reasons for this unfairness, and then building a wall in his heart to keep his mind balanced.

But one day, the boy's world suddenly changed.

"You are our family."

Before the boy could react, he suddenly had so-called "parents" and a "little sister" who was younger than him by his side.

At first, the boy was very cold and stiff towards his family. On one hand, because he had been alone until now, he didn't know how to keep the right distance from a family. On the other hand, he was also very afraid that one day they would abandon and hurt him like his birth mother did.

However, as ti passed, the boy's worries slowly faded. Through little interactions, he learned that both his "parents" and "little sister" were much kinder than he imagined.

He was no longer alone, no longer a child who wasn't needed. Honestly, the boy was very happy.

Then, to repay the family who loved him, the boy decided to change himself.

He rembered it was in May, on Mother's Day. The boy took out his saved pocket money and went to a flower shop to buy a bouquet of carnations.

"...Th... Thank you... Mom..."

The boy stuttered the words he had practiced for a long ti and handed the bouquet to his mother.

The mother stared blankly for a mont, then tears filled her eyes, and she pulled the boy into a hug.

It was a very warm, very comforting feeling.

At that mont, the boy suddenly realized that this was already his ho. Just like that, in his mother's arms, the boy cried silently.

"Ah, Mom and Onii-chan, don't cry! I want a hug too!"

"Oh? What's this? A hugging ga? Let Dad join in too!"

Then, seeing this, his sister and father also ca over, and the four of them hugged tightly.

A sowhat clumsy, but very warm family.

A smile naturally appeared on her lips. Watching the boy in the dream, an unspeakable feeling of closeness blood in the girl's heart.

With no basis and no reason, but for so reason, the girl was sure that the boy was very similar to herself.

————————————

Wednesday, January 11th, the day of Shido's date with Mukuro.

"So, are you ready, Shido?"

"..."

"Shido?"

"...Ah? Ah, yeah, sorry, I'm ready."

"What's wrong? Could it be that your stamina hasn't recovered yet?"

Seeing Shido clearly spacing out, Kotori asked with so worry.

"No, no, my body is completely fine."

Shido answered while waving his arms.

Although he didn't rember what happened in the bathhouse, the healing effect of that bath was indeed remarkable. Shido felt full of energy right now.

"It's just... I had a slightly strange dream."

"What kind of dream?"

"Um... how should I put it? It seed like I dread about things from when I was little... but also not quite..."

Shido answered vaguely.

"...What does that an?"

Kotori looked at Shido with a confused expression. Shido could only return an awkward, bitter smile.

"Anyway, it's nothing major. Don't worry about it."

"Well, as long as you're fine."

Although a bit worried, Kotori nodded and accepted Shido's explanation.

"Then, today is the day of your date with Mukuro. Even though her attitude has softened because her heart was unlocked, you still can't let your guard down, understand, Shido?"

"Mhm, I know. I will definitely make Mukuro fall for ."

Shido nodded firmly. As if responding to Shido's determination, Kotori, Kannazuki, and the mbers of the Fraxinus all nodded in support.

However—

"By the way... how do we et Mukuro?"

"..."

Shido's question plunged the entire room into silence instantly.

Yesterday, Mukuro disappeared after only leaving the promise "See you tomorrow." They hadn't actually set a specific ti and place. So even if Shido had to get ready, he didn't know what to do.

"Um... could it be she used a stalling tactic to run away?"

Shiizaki asked nervously. To this, a sleepy-eyed Reine slowly shook her head.

"No... If she really wanted to run, she had no reason to et him in person yesterday. It's more reasonable to assu she will contact us at a specific ti. Look, a door is already opening behind Shido right now."

"That's true... Eh?"

Suddenly realizing the strange part of Reine's words, Shido quickly turned his head. He found that the space behind him had twisted into a black hole resembling a whirlpool.

Shido only saw a slender arm reach out from the door, grab his arm, and pull him in.

Then, the scenery before him suddenly changed from the airship's bridge to a pedestrian street in Tengu City.

"Whew. The ti has co, Nushi-sama."

Beside Shido, Hoshimiya Mukuro was looking at him with an expectant face.

"...Ah, sorry to keep you waiting, Mukuro."

It took a mont for Shido to understand that he had been brought out of the airship by Mukuro using her Angel. He took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and answered.

[Ah, connected...! You're okay, right, Shido.]

Kotori's voice ca through the earpiece. Because they sowhat guessed this might happen, Shido was wearing an earpiece for communication from the start.

"Yeah, I'm fine..."

Shido answered softly at a volu Mukuro couldn't hear.

[That's good.]

Hearing Shido was safe, Kotori breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, the location Mukuro chose was inside Tengu City and not so crazy place, so she still had ways to track Shido's location.

[Anyway, focus on your date with Mukuro first. Unlike before, Mukuro's affection and mood levels can now change. As long as things go smoothly, you should be able to seal her Spirit power.]

"Got it."

After a soft reply, Shido turned his gaze to Mukuro.

"By the way, how does Nushi-sama plan to give Muku happiness?"

Mukuro asked curiously.

"Well... although I have prepared a lot, before that..."

Shido looked at Mukuro's outfit right now: a pink cheongsam, silver arm and leg guards, and the key-shaped staff Michael in her hand. Combined with Mukuro's outstanding looks, it was undoubtedly very eye-catching. Shido could feel that every ti pedestrians passed by them, they couldn't help but turn their heads, casting curious looks like "What a pretty girl" or "Is this so kind of cosplay?"

"This outfit is just too eye-catching. Could you change into sothing else?"

"Phew, since Nushi-sama wishes it, Muku has no objections."

Mukuro nodded readily.

"Mhm, and also your hair..."

Halfway through his sentence, Shido suddenly stopped.

How about cutting your hair a bit shorter? Shido wanted to say. After all, Mukuro's hair had grown to a ridiculously long length. Just looking at it, it was at least three ters long. Even though a part of it was tied into buns, the rest of it was still dragging on the ground. If left like this, it was very likely soone or herself would step on it and trip.

(Since I don't know if Mukuro purposely grew her hair long, it's better not to say sothing that might step on a landmine.)

Even well-aning words can cause disgust if not phrased carefully. This was a painful lesson Shido learned after communicating with girls many tis.

"...With your hair dragging on the floor like this, it's easy for people to step on it and get it dirty. It's a sha to have such beautiful long hair, so if you don't want to cut it, Mukuro, how about I help you tie it up? I have hair clips and a comb at ho."

"Mhm... Nushi-sama's words make sense."

Hearing Shido's words, Mukuro looked down at the long hair around her feet. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she nodded obediently.

"Since Nushi-sama is so thoughtful, Muku will follow Nushi-sama's wish."

[Good job, Shido. Mukuro's affection went up. Keep this montum going!]

Hearing Kotori's report, Shido secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They decided to head to his house first. But since walking was too hard for Mukuro, as ntioned earlier, Shido and Mukuro hid in a corner where no one would notice and used Michael to teleport back.

"As expected of Nushi-sama's residence, it is very unique."

Mukuro looked around the Itsuka family's living room with interest and said.

"Haha—thanks for the complint. Then, co this way first—"

"I'm ho."

Just as Shido was about to take Mukuro to the dressing mirror in Kotori's room, as they stepped out of the living room and prepared to go to the second floor, Shido and Mukuro bumped into Yutsuki coming from the entrance.

"..."

"..."

For so reason, Shido felt a very awkward sensation, like a kid who snuck his girlfriend ho to make out and got caught red-handed by his mom coming ho suddenly.

"Yo... you're back... Yutsuki..."

Swallowing nervously, Shido replied with a dry laugh.

"Yeah, I went to the supermarket to buy so vegetables to restock."

Nodding gently, Yutsuki looked at Shido, then at Mukuro, and asked calmly,

"Having a date at ho?"

"Um... sort of."

Shido nodded awkwardly.

"Nushi-sama is about to comb Muku's hair. Please do not disturb Muku and Nushi-sama."

Clinging to Shido's arm, Mukuro looked at Yutsuki with a guarded look and spoke bluntly.

"Don't worry, I have no interest in being a third wheel."

Smiling and shrugging, Yutsuki handed the plastic bags she was carrying to Shido and said lightly,

"I'll go back first. Put the stuff in the kitchen yourself. Also, you're on duty for breakfast tomorrow, don't forget."

After saying that, Yutsuki turned around and left the Itsuka house.

"...Got it."

Watching Yutsuki disappear outside the door, Shido's face was full of bitterness. Although he was grateful that Yutsuki didn't get into a conflict with Mukuro and chose to yield and leave, it also gave Shido a slight feeling of guilt.

[I'll help you make up with Yutsuki-nee later. For now, focus on conquering Mukuro, Shido.]

Seemingly noticing Shido's feelings at this mont, Kotori comforted him with a bitter smile.

"Mhm, I know."