Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 585 585: Mio's Date (Part 1)

And so, Reine and Shido first took the city subway out of central Tengu City, then transferred to a taxi and entered the highway.

A slightly cool breeze passed through the window and brushed by their ears, along with the sound of the car engine entering Shido's hearing.

Looking out the window, there were very few cars on the highway. The forested mountains outside the road seed like flowing streams, constantly passing through Shido's vision.

In the rear view mirror, the familiar Tengu City gradually beca distant and smaller, finally disappearing into the mountains like an exquisite toy castle.

(We've left…)

Shido felt a little reluctant in his heart.

The battle between Ratatoskr and DEM was clearly close, yet at this crucial mont, he had brought Reine away from Tengu City. Although this was also part of the plan, making such a choice still gave Shido a faint sense of guilt.

(This is practically like—)

"It feels… just like an affair trip."

Sitting beside Shido, Reine murmured in a slow tone.

"Pfft, cough cough—"

Having been struck right where he felt guilty, Shido could not help coughing violently and hurriedly corrected her.

"It's just that the destination happens to be far away. We'll definitely be back before tomorrow's battle."

"Is that so…"

Hearing Shido's answer, Reine simply responded and then fell silent. But whether it was Shido's imagination or not, her tone seed sowhat regretful.

At that mont, Shido suddenly felt Reine's grip on his hand tighten slightly.

In an instant, an ambiguous atmosphere began spreading through the narrow back seat, making Shido's emotions stir.

"Ah, youth~"

Hearing the taxi driver in the front seat sigh with emotion, Shido instantly felt the urge to find a hole and crawl into it.

…

After getting out of the taxi, Shido pulled the suitcase and walked a short distance along a mountain road with Reine before arriving at the destination of today's date.

Along the quiet mountain path, an old fashioned Japanese style building stood silently. The wooden sliding doors were half open, and several attendants in kimono could be seen waiting quietly inside for guests.

"…This is an inn?"

Reine asked doubtfully.

"Mm, that's right."

Shido nodded in confirmation.

This was the plan Shido had co up with after gathering everyone's opinions and thinking hard.

Mio—Murasa Reine—was always surrounded by a strong sense of sleepiness. That was not strange. Her work at Ratatoskr, her teaching at Raizen High School—setting even those aside, for these past thirty years she had also been constantly advancing toward a single goal without stopping. Even with the body of a Spirit, both her body and mind had probably accumulated a considerable amount of fatigue.

Choosing this inn far from the city was partly because he hoped Reine could rest and relax. Perhaps once her fatigue was relieved, communication would beco a little easier.

Of course, he did not think that alone would be enough for Reine to open her heart.

"Today is a weekday. Aside from us, there probably won't be anyone else here, so take this chance and relax properly."

"I see… Then I shall accept your kindness."

Hearing Shido's words, Reine smiled faintly.

After entering the inn, the landlady and attendants bowed respectfully to the two of them. Once the check in procedure was completed at the front desk, they led the two to their room.

"The large bath is on the first floor. For other facilities, please refer to the guide. We hope you enjoy your stay."

After the attendant left, Shido could not help looking around the room.

The room was about twenty tatami mats in size. In the center were an exquisitely crafted table and floor chairs, a paper-shaded lamp that cast gentle light, and a vase with arranged flowers as decoration.

Past the sliding door at the back of the room, there was even a small open-air hot spring facing the mountain forest, steam rising from it.

"It even has a private hot spring. This room is really amazing."

"Shin… you sound as if you only just found out."

Seeing Shido's slightly surprised reaction, Reine asked with so curiosity.

"Ah—"

Shido was montarily at a loss for words. Although the idea of coming to soak in a hot spring had indeed been his proposal, the actual arrangents had been handled by Marina and Maria. So he had only just learned what the actual room was like.

However, this ti was supposed to be "a secret date that belonged only to the two of them," so of course he could not explain it that way.

"Um, I only glanced at the photos when making the reservation. You know… photos and seeing the real thing are always a little different, right?"

Shido suddenly ca up with an answer in a flash of wit.

"Mm… I see."

Reine did not seem to doubt him. She nodded and did not ask further. She simply silently looked at the private bath in front of her and sank into thought.

"…Shin. Would you like to bathe together?"

"—Eh? With ?"

Shido's mind did not react for a mont.

"Mm… But I do not have a change of clothes. Shin… the travel bag you brought when you ca… did you prepare those things?"

"Ah, yes."

Hearing that, Shido hurriedly opened the suitcase and took out two small travel bags.

"One is mine, and the other contains luggage prepared for you, Reine-san. Various costics, spare clothes, underwear, and swimsuits for mixed bathing are all inside. The size should be right—"

Halfway through speaking, Shido's voice abruptly stopped. Because at that mont, he suddenly felt a sense of danger, as though Reine had set a trap for him and he had unconsciously dug a hole for himself.

"I see. But Shin… why do you know my size?"

"Ah, um, this—actually, Reine-san, while dating Spirits, I gradually trained a superpower that lets judge a woman's asurents just by looking." (TL:kewk)

Shido imdiately felt like a pervert.

"Really… Then Shin, do you know my three sizes?"

"Uh…"

As the saying goes, disaster cos from the mouth. Shido, now riding a tiger and unable to get off, could only look at Reine's body and blurt out a random set of numbers.

"From top to bottom, 89, 60, 87… ah?"

"…There is a slight error, but perhaps I can still wear them."

"I-is that so?"

Shido could not help letting out a sigh of relief. Although he had sohow bluffed his way through, he felt as though he had lost sothing important.

"Then, before lunch, shall we soak in the bath together first?"

"Eh?"

Then, before Shido could catch his breath, the next fanservice event arrived.

…

Shido had once heard that bathing together was a thod beneficial to deepening communication. By removing the clothes and disguises worn by both sides and facing each other in the most primal form, it was often easier to open one's heart.

The Yamai sisters's decision to book this room was probably, to so extent, based on that consideration. If this thod was truly effective, even if Reine did not suggest it, Shido would have taken the initiative.

But that required sufficient ntal preparation first.

"Mm… What is wrong… Shin… Why are you so far away?"

Soaking in the hot spring, Reine looked at Shido in confusion.

"It is all right to co closer."

"No, no need…"

Shido answered with his face bright red.

"More importantly… Reine-san… why aren't you wearing a swimsuit?"

"Mm… For so reason… I could not find it…"

Reine answered at a slow pace.

Shido was speechless for a mont. Although he did not know whether Marina and Maria had forgotten to prepare one, or whether Reine had deliberately not worn it, it was clear that he had no way to leave the bath right now to confirm.

"But… it is only the two of us… so it should be fine…"

Gently gathering up her hair, Mio spoke in a slow and soft tone.

"Y-yeah, you're right—"

"Hah… this feels very comfortable… The scenery outside is beautiful too."

"Y-yeah, you're right—"

Shido awkwardly echoed like a stiff reader reciting lines. At the mont, however, his gaze was not focused on the scenery at all.

Hair dampened by the steam and clinging to her cheeks, delicate skin faintly flushed white and pink, and that graceful, curving figure half hidden in the mist.

For a young boy, that presence was far stronger than so called beautiful scenery.

Even more stimulating were the two white coconuts floating on the surface of the spring water, swaying with the ripples, showing off their proud volu and soft texture.

Honestly, those two coconuts seed to possess gravity, making Shido unable to move his eyes away.

Noticing Shido's gaze, Reine first lowered her head slightly, then raised it again and looked at Shido without changing expression.

"Sorry… they always float up. I cannot really control it either."

"I-is that so… What exquisite technique."

Shido only felt his mouth dry out. Even he himself did not know what nonsense he was saying.

He had to admit, he had underestimated her. Because of Reine's sleepy and powerless appearance and impression, Shido had assud she would be the relatively passive type during a date. But after actually spending ti with her, Shido discovered that Reine was far bolder and more proactive than he had imagined. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Reine could always disrupt Shido's rhythm at extrely skillful timings.

(Now that I think about it, every ti I went on a date with a Spirit, Reine was basically assisting from backstage… In other words, she knows my dating habits and thoughts inside out?)

Shido thought inwardly that this was bad. In a certain sense, this date might be even more dangerous than his previous date with Kurumi.