───● The Literature Girl JK Wants to Invite Him ●○●

Wednesday.

After finishing the 2nd period, I stretched widely to relax my muscles.

Originally, I had a 3rd period class today too, but we received notice of its cancellation quite a while ago.

Koumi, sitting next to me, stood up after hearing the bell signaling the end of class.

“Good work! Masato, your 3rd period is cancelled so you’re not eating lunch today, right?”

“Right, I’ll head straight home.”

“Roger! See you tomorrow!”

Since Koumi has a circle she’s in with Mizuho today, it seems she’s staying at the university.

Today, I’ve been invited by Shiori-chan to go to the shopping mall at the station. It’s rare to meet Shiori-chan outside, so I’m looking forward to it.

Having touched upon Yuka and Seira-san’s feelings, I inevitably become conscious when meeting them, but Shiori-chan has started speaking naturally to me more often, so it’s quite easy to communicate.

I have to return the book I borrowed, too.

“Ah, Masato.”

“Hm?”

As I tried to leave the classroom, Koumi stopped me.

“Have you… seen Mizuho recently?”

“? Yeah, I see her. In class, she comes to the bar where I work more often.”

“I see, that’s right.”

University has entered the second semester, and due to changes in course content, the classes I share with Mizuho have decreased compared to the first semester. However, Mizuho comes to the bar without fail recently, so there isn’t a week I don’t see her face.

“Is something wrong with Mizuho?”

“No… actually, lately, it seems Mizuho is pushing herself quite a bit.”

The expression on Koumi’s face as she said that was somewhat painful.

I always think this, but it really comes across that Koumi and Mizuho truly care for each other, which warms my heart.

That aside, what does she mean by pushing herself?

“Pushing herself… meaning, how…?”

“Ah, um, you see. Mizuho works part-time at a restaurant… but she used to say she never works until closing because it affects the next day.”

Hearing that much, I understood what the “pushing herself” talk was about. And at the same time, a bad premonition crossed my mind.

“But the other day, I happened to pass by just before closing at night, and Mizuho was working… It seems she’s simply increasing her shifts, and I’m worried…”

The reason Mizuho is increasing her part-time job. I had an idea of a candidate for that reason.

“Fufun. Though I may look like this, Mizuho-chan earns quite a bit! This is a piece of cake!”

When she came to visit the bar, Mizuho certainly said that. But if that was also her characteristic thoughtfulness…

“…I understand. If I meet her, I’ll try asking from my side too.”

“Sorry. I intend to tell her too, but that girl has always tended to bottle things up alone… If Masato says something, I think she’ll listen.”

I agreed to Koumi, who clapped her hands together pleadingly, and left the place.

“…I should have noticed, shouldn’t I.”

Walking, I involuntarily felt self-loathing.

I should have known. Mizuho is a girl who endures things by herself.

If she comes to play at the bar this week too. I’ll tell her properly.

I could have contacted her via SNS, but I feel like it’s better to convey this kind of thing when meeting face-to-face. Especially since Mizuho is good at hiding her emotions in text…

Letting my worry for Mizuho grow, I headed toward the station where Shiori-chan was waiting.

■

Yes, hello, this is Shinomiya Shiori, floating on cloud nine.

After all, today is a date with Masato-san!

I want to praise myself for securing such a miraculous appointment. Well, since the time he turned down the summer festival, he did say we should go somewhere as a make-up, so if anything, it took quite a while.

But it can’t be helped, right? Being too much of an otaku, when told “let’s date,” I didn’t know where to go…

I waited for Masato-san at a relatively prosperous station in the city center.

Using the showcase of a high-end-looking shop behind me as a mirror, I checked my appearance. Even if he said I don’t need to fix my personality, I must at least make my appearance look good. If I am to walk next to that Masato-sama, all the more so.

Alright, not bad. I prepared thoroughly for a long time, so with this, I shouldn’t look… entirely unlike a rich young lady on the surface, hopefully.

There is still time until the meeting, but just to check if any contact came, I opened my smartphone, and there was a notification from a familiar group.

Gathering of Saints:

Mana: “Shiori, date today right?”

Mana: “If you manage to drag him to a hotel, send proof pic plz”

Hatsumi: “Def impossible lol”

Mana: “Nah but if the Prince is a playboy, Shiori might have a one-chance”

Talking as they please, these guys.

Today, our high school is closed for the founding anniversary. Being a rare weekday off, these guys must be bored too.

I quickly sent a message.

Shinomiya Shiori :“Hotel is impossible (obv)”

Shinomiya Shiori :“If I can take a pic I’ll send it to you <3”

I wrote that, but considering how much time it took just to take a photo when he was tutoring me, I wonder if I can really take a photo today.

Immediately, a notification. How fast are your flick inputs? Well, I can’t talk.

Mana: “Then we don’t need it maybe”

Hatsumi :“Already saw it”

“These guys…”

What rude friends. Did I make a mistake in choosing friends after all…?

I thought about just leaving them on read, but thinking I might as well ask, I sent a message again.

Shinomiya Shiori: “Triggered”

Shinomiya Shiori :“Well that aside”

Shinomiya Shiori: “How do you invite someone to a hotel?”

“Well, just in case, right, just in case…”

It’s not like I need it today or anything, you know? Just, look, it’s no loss to know…

Mana :“Lmao full of intent”

Hatsumi :“For something like that, just “Wanna rest?” works in one shot”

Mana: “Uwaaa seems like a virgin”

Hatsumi :“Hah???? I don’t need to hear that from a virgin though???”

Ah, no good, they’re infighting.

In the first place, it’s natural that asking these two won’t yield a decent answer. Mana is a purebred gal and a normie, but this one is a virgin too.

My only hope is…

Shinomiya Shiori :“@Miaki It’s you! I’m asking you! Bang bang bang! Are you awaaake!”

Miaki, the only boyfriend-haver in the Gathering of Saints.

Contrary to her cool beauty appearance, she prefers online competitive games, so she’s probably gaming right about now.

Waiting just a little, a reply came immediately.

Miaki: “Nah dunno”

Miaki: “I pretty much just dragged him and pulled him into my house. He didn’t seem to mind”

“Ohh…”

How wild… However, fitting for Miaki.

Pulling Masato-san’s hand, forcefully…?

Even on that day of the summer festival, he was getting done whatever the loli-kid pleased; if I forcefully pulled him, surely Masato-san would…

“Nyufufu…”

“Shiori-chan?”

“Nyai?!”

Being called out to right in the middle of indulging in delusion, a weird voice came out.

Turning around vigorously, there was the familiar figure of Masato-sama.

“Good morning! You were already here!”

Ah, impossible, I love him too much.

Relaxed wide pants, with a gray jacket thrown over the top. That figure smiling nicely has enough destructive power to make one think he could easily make it as an idol.

“G-G-Good morning, the weather is fine today.”

“Why are you panicking so much?”

I can hardly say Because you are too dazzling?

And so, in a completely uncool state, my first date with Masato-san began.

“Heeh! So there’s a shop in a fashion building facility like this.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. Conversely, as an otaku, it’s hard to enter, so I wish they’d spare me, but…”

Masato-san and I had come to a fashion building close to the station. Shopping center? Department store? I don’t know the classification well, but something like that.

The objective is a shop on the 5th floor of this building with a large selection of anime goods. Usually, I use mail order or go to shops where hardcore otaku gather, but since today is a date, we went to a “light” shop.

You say don’t choose a place like this for a date? No no, this is because Masato-san said he was interested! It’s not my fault!

“Woah amazing! This is a character from the work Shiori-chan lent me the other day, right?”

“Yes, yes. The second season of the anime is airing now, so they have a life-sized panel set up~”

Masato-san, eyes sparkling saying “Ooh,” is very different from his usual appearance and is adorable.

Glancing around the store, although not as much as a holiday, there were a decent number of customers.

From among them, I felt one or two glaring gazes.

No—I get it, I get it, you know? The gaze saying Don’t bring a guy to a place like this, I get it, I get it. Moreover, the accompanying guy is handsome. You’re jealous, right~ I get it, I get it.

“Shiori-chan?”

“Ah, sorry, it’s nothing! Come, let’s go deeper in!”

This wasn’t the time to be immersed in schadenfreude! I have to escort him to make sure Masato-san enjoys himself above all else!

“Man, that was fun! Somehow I ended up buying various things.”

“If you enjoyed yourself, that is better than anything.”

After that, we visited not only the anime shop but also several apparel shops and bookstores typical of a fashion building, then decided to take a breather at a cafe on the 2nd floor.

I’m glad I asked Miaki for good spots in this building. Asking Mana for recommended fashion brands was useful too. You saved me, normies…

A sip of the ordered tea.

I wasn’t raised well enough to understand the difference in tea, but just the fact that I’m with Masato-san makes it feel many times more delicious than usual.

“It might have been a bit unexpected that Shiori-chan knows a place like this.”

“Doesn’t that sound somewhat like you’re making fun of me?”

“Hahaha! I’m joking.”

Well, actually, it was a date course relying heavily on my friends, so Masato-san’s point isn’t entirely wrong.

“Man, I’m really happy. Talking with Shiori-chan makes me feel really at ease.”

“Th-That is something to be grateful for, but…”

…I think, a little. Surely, Masato-san describing talking to me as “at ease” is because he doesn’t view me as a romantic partner.

Like the loli-kid the other day, and Igarashi-senpai. Surely Masato-san is normally subjected to such strong romantic emotions. Because I don’t behave like that on the surface. I think he places me in the position of a friend he can spend time with without reservation.

I lowered my gaze. The teacup I just set down created faint ripples on the water surface.

…But, I, even I want to date Masato-san. Of course, being the “first” might not happen. But, if things stay like this, I alone might be left behind──

When I suddenly looked up. The figure of Masato-san looking happily at the keychain he just bought caught in my eyes.

Ah, so good.

Taking out my smartphone swiftly so Masato-san wouldn’t notice—snap. This interval, merely 2 seconds.

“…Huh? Did something happen?”

“Ah! No! Nothing!”

Checking the image folder. I saw it’s taken beautifully.

This is undoubtedly today’s treasure.

Masato-san directed a slightly suspicious gaze at me but… eventually, without any suspicion, he went back to looking at today’s loot.

…For now, please forgive me.

For being me, spoiling myself in this delicious position.

──Although I said that.

I know there is a method to forcibly make him conscious of me.

“Man~! That became a great breather, thank you!”

“No no! I had suuuper fun too!”

On the way back, the current time is past 18:00. Since winter has started setting in, it’s already dark around us.

The wholesome Masato-san surely plans to see me home from here and dissolve the meeting for today.

Meaning, this is the last chance!

Because I researched beforehand, I know. That about a 5-minute walk from here, there is a place where we can do kya-kya ufufu things…!

If he won’t be conscious of me, I just have to form a physical relationship!

N-Now then. The problem is how to bring it up… Miaki’s style of forcefully dragging him is too high a hurdle.

“Then I’ll walk you home. The station is that way, right?”

“A──ah, that’s right but──”

B-Bad. I hadn’t thought of anything.

Why didn’t I think of something at the cafe, me!

“? What’s wrong?”

“Umm, you see.”

Bad. Masato-san is clearly suspicious. Well, naturally.

A witty phrase? If such a thing came out lightly, I wouldn’t have been doing otaku activities for so many years.

“U-Um.”

“Yeah.”

Kind Masato-san is waiting slowly for my words. My chest hurts, dammit!

“W-Would you like to rest?”

“Rest?”

I did iiiiiiiit!!!

Even though I thought this was the one thing I wouldn’t say!! Oh, how terrifying are templates!

I used the phrase that made Mana say “seems like a virgin”!

Fearfully, I peeked at Masato-san’s expression.

What reflected in my eyes was the figure of Masato-san looking at me with truly heartfelt concern.

“Oh, did you get tired? Um, I know a few cafes around here… but if the threshold is too high, a family restaurant or something…”

“Ah, I’m truly sorry it was nothing let’s go home.”

“Ehh?!”

Hit by the purity of Masato-san’s heart.

I felt so miserable about myself, so I forcefully pulled Masato-san’s arm.

And headed obediently toward the station.

[ The Case of Shinomiya Shiori ]

​<Gathering of Saints (4)>

​19:11 | Shiori: I went on a date with Masato-sama!

​19:11 | Shiori: Man… it was just the absolute best—

​19:20 | 🌹: Where did you go?

​19:31 | Shiori: Looked at clothes~ looked at books~ went to a cafe~

​19:31 | Shiori: Oh, and we went to an anime shop too.

​19:32 | 🐼: Wait, are you serious?

​19:32 | Shiori: No, no, Masato-sama is incredibly broad-minded about that stuff too, for real, for real.

​19:33 | 🐼: He was probably totally repulsed on the inside.

​19:34 | Shiori: Shut up! What the hell do you know about Masato-sama?!

​19:34 | 🐼: You’re actually terrifying.

​19:35 | 🌹: Note to self: stay away.

​20:12 | 🐿️: @Shiori  So, in the end, did you manage to get to a hotel or his place?

​20:14 | Shiori: Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh…………

​20:14 | 🐿️: Yeah, I get it now, you can stop.