"So where are we going this afternoon?"
After finishing lunch at the family restaurant, Yutsuki asked Kousuke.
"Ah, I plan to—"
To this, Kousuke answered while reaching into his bag.
(...Eh?)
Suddenly, Kousuke's expression froze.
(It's not here, it's not here?! The amusent park tickets are gone?)
Thinking he might have missed them, Kousuke carefully searched through his bag again.
However, things in the world often go contrary to one's wishes. His wallet and keys were safely in his bag, but the tickets just wouldn't appear.
Kousuke couldn't help but feel shaken, and his palms started sweating uncontrollably.
(Could I have lost them sowhere...)
"What is wrong, Kousuke? Are you not feeling well?"
Noticing Kousuke's pale face, Yutsuki couldn't help but ask with so concern.
"N-No, I am fine."
Kousuke hurriedly shook his head, trying to hide his panic.
"Um, Ryougi-senpai, I seem to have left sothing in the restaurant. Could you wait here for a mont?"
"I don't mind. Do you need my help?"
"No need. I will be right back."
Perhaps not wanting to embarrass himself in front of his crush, Kousuke answered with feigned composure. Suppressing his anxiety and panic, he hurried back toward the family restaurant.
———————————
"Amusent park tickets?"
[Mhm. From his conversation with the waiter, it seems he lost the tickets to the amusent park for today.]
Kotori replied.
"I see..."
After sighing softly, Shido looked at Kousuke at the counter.
Upon returning to the family restaurant, Kousuke first checked the lost and found with the counter staff. Although Shido only heard their conversation vaguely, seeing the staff mber shake his head, the result was obvious.
But Kousuke still didn't give up. He ran to the booth where he and Yutsuki had just eaten, checking everywhere he could have dropped them. The table and floor went without saying, he didn't even spare the space under the sofa.
[He is really persistent.]
[If they aren't in the store, then it's highly likely he dropped them on the street.]
[Ah— Then he basically won't find them.]
[If that's the case, wouldn't it be fine to just go to the amusent park and buy new ones?]
[No, no. There is a night parade at the amusent park today. Tickets are very scarce; you can't buy them at all without a reservation.]
The discussions of the crew mbers on the bridge reached Shido's ears through the earpiece.
(Speaking of which, going to the amusent park for a date was also my recomndation to him.)
Shido thought absentmindedly.
An all-access student ticket to the amusent park usually costs around 3,100 yen. For two people, that's 6,200 yen. Even if it was just a 1,000 yen student entry ticket, Kousuke would have had to spend at least 2,000 yen.
For Kousuke, who was still just a high school student, this was undoubtedly a significant expense.
[Looking at this, the date is going to end early... Well, this is pretty good too. At the very least, what you were worried about won't happen, Shido.]
"You're right..."
Shido spoke slowly. Just as Kotori said, if the date ended like this, there would be no risk of Yutsuki's Spirit energy backflowing, and his worries would vanish into thin air.
However, sowhere in his heart, Shido couldn't convince himself so easily.
(Hypothetically, just hypothetically. If the person dating Yutsuki right now was , and I lost the amusent park tickets, what would the situation be like?)
Shido tried asking himself this.
In reality, the result was obvious without even thinking—nothing would happen. Even if he went out without a single coin, forgot his clothes, and walked out naked, Ratatoskr would definitely prepare cash and clothes imdiately, solving all problems for him.
But Kousuke was different. He could only scrimp and save from the al money and allowance his parents gave him, betting it all like a gambler just to get a chance to get closer to the girl he liked.
If Shido made a mistake during a date, he had many reliable comrades to back him up. But for Kousuke, a single small accident during a date would truly ruin everything.
"..."
After searching all possible places in the restaurant and returning empty-handed, a completely disheartened Kousuke couldn't hold it in anymore and started crying.
But soon, he wiped his tears with his sleeve, took a deep breath, and returned to Yutsuki's side, feigning calmness.
(Why did I have to see that scene...)
After a mont of silence, Shido sighed with mixed feelings, pressed his earpiece, and said.
"Kotori, can you help find out where Kousuke dropped his tickets?"
[Shido?]
Hearing Shido's request, Kotori looked extrely surprised.
[What is it? Did you awaken to a new fetish?! Feeling pleasure from NTR?]
"How did you process that to understand it like that?!"
Shido couldn't help but roast her.
[My brother... is finally heading down a path of no return.]
"I'm telling you..."
Shido couldn't help but feel a bit drained of energy.
[Alright, jokes aside. Why do you suddenly want to be a busybody and play Cupid?]
So it was a joke again? Sighing, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Shido explained helplessly,
"Well, how should I put it... If it ends half-baked like this without getting any definite answer, Kousuke will definitely be very frustrated. I am his senior after all, and I promised to help him. If I chose to turn a blind eye to this, I definitely wouldn't be able to sleep tonight."
[No way... Seriously, just how much of a pushover are you.]
Kotori couldn't help but sigh, then asked again.
[Then, what if Yutsuki-nee really likes him?]
Hearing this, Shido was montarily at a loss for words, but still continued.
"I already said, who Yutsuki dates is her freedom. Even if she really likes Kousuke, I don't have the right to interfere. Furthermore—"
Shido took a deep breath and said decisively,
"Hypothetically, if I really liked Yutsuki. What I would do is not secretly trip him up when she's dating soone else, but formally ask her out on a date, raise her affection, and make her fall in love with from the bottom of her heart!"
[Oh— Well said, Shido. I've changed my opinion of you a little.]
Kotori rarely praised Shido. After thinking for a mont, she clapped her hands and said.
[Alright then, although this is completely outside our scope of business. For your sake, I will make an exception and help that Kouhai-kun of yours out.]
————————
After leaving the family restaurant, Kousuke saw Yutsuki sitting on a bench beside the street waiting for him.
(Ryougi-senpai... Alright!)
To not let Yutsuki see his tear-stained face, Kousuke patted his cheeks and walked forward with a smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ryougi-senpai."
"It's fine, I didn't wait that long. But what about you, did you find your thing?"
"Mhm, mhm. I found it..."
Kousuke answered very vaguely.
"Is that so? That's good then. Let's go, where to next?"
"Um, um— Senpai."
Looking at Yutsuki preparing to leave, Kousuke hesitated for a mont, but still called out to stop her.
"Hm? Is there sothing else?"
"Yes... I just got a call from ho, I have to go back..."
Pressing his lips tightly, Kousuke told a lie that went against his heart.
When he heard Yutsuki agree to go on a date with him, he was so happy he practically flew out of bed. To leave a good impression, he picked out clothes in front of the mirror for hours. He took out all the allowance he had saved, queued up for hours at the amusent park after school to buy the tickets in the middle of the night, and even got scolded by his parents when he got ho.
Before coming today, he had simulated the date with Yutsuki in his mind more than once. He fantasized about the two of them playing in the amusent park, watching the lively and magnificent parade, and then, in a romantic atmosphere, holding hands and confessing their feelings to each other.
He really wanted to cry.
If circumstances allowed, he really wanted to have a good cry.
However. A man does not shed tears easily. Especially shedding tears in front of the girl he likes; to him, nothing was more shaful than that.
"Hm, what's wrong? So suddenly?"
Yutsuki tilted her head in confusion.
"I am very sorry. It is rare for Ryougi-senpai to accompany ... but I must go back."
At this mont, Kousuke clearly didn't have the spare energy to make up a reasonable excuse. He could only apologetically bow his head and apologize to Yutsuki.
(Right, I also have to apologize to Itsuka-senpai... It's rare for him to give so much advice... and I dropped the ball in a place like this...)
(Ah... So frustrating... Why am I so useless... ssing up everything...)
"I had a lot of fun today... Thank you, Ryougi-senpai."
"I see, if you have sothing to do at ho, it can't be helped. That's it for today then, bye-bye—Did you think I would say that?"
"Eh—Ouch!"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Kousuke couldn't help but let out a sound of confusion. However, the mont he looked up, Yutsuki flicked him on the forehead.
"Say, Kousuke, you didn't really think that low-quality lie of yours could fool , did you?"
Yutsuki supported her waist with both hands and said helplessly.
"Um, well..."
Clearly not understanding the current situation, Kousuke seed a bit lost.
"Tell the truth, what did you lose? I'll say this first, if you dare to lie this ti, the punishnt won't be as gentle as a flick on the forehead."
Yutsuki threatened very seriously.
"...Two all-access amusent park tickets."
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Kousuke instantly didn't dare to lie and answered obediently.
"I see, no wonder you suddenly said you wanted to leave." Seemingly understanding sothing, Yutsuki couldn't help but sigh with a smile. "Well, although I understand you want to act cool in front of , this approach isn't masculine at all."
"...I am very sorry."
Hearing this, Kousuke instantly realized his thoughts had been seen through by Yutsuki long ago, and couldn't help but lower his head in sha.
"Well, it's good as long as you know you're wrong and change. Anyway, back to the topic. If you didn't find them in the family restaurant, then they're probably at the batting cage. In any case, let's go back and look for them?"
"N-No need! That's too much trouble for you."
"Alright, it's not like I'm treating you. Just accept this level of care honestly as goodwill from a senior."
"Senpai!"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Kousuke couldn't help but be touched, his eyes involuntarily watering.
(Furthermore— I don't plan on ending this date so early either.)
Feeling Kousuke's admiring gaze, Yutsuki silently added in her heart.
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