───● The Tsundere Office Worker’s First Date ●○●

​”Clothes, check. Bag, check. Makeup… check.”

​I checked my reflection in the full-length mirror by the entryway. It was just after noon on Sunday.

​I’d been wanting to go on a real date with Masato—not just a ‘work’ outing—for a while now, and finally, it was happening. I’d been a little scared to ask him after he turned down my last invitation to hang out after my shift, but we’d managed to make it work.

​I wanted to be a woman he’d be proud to stand next to, so I’d prepared meticulously. I got plenty of sleep, spent ages on my makeup, and even bought a new outfit just for today.

​”Phew…”

​I took a deep breath. As I let it out slowly, I realized my heart was racing. I don’t even get this nervous when I see him at the bar anymore. At first, I was a wreck, but now? Not at all. So why am I so wound up today?

​I thought about it for a second… and then the obvious answer hit me.

​”This is the first time I’ve ever been on a proper date with a boy.”

​We’d agreed to meet at the tree-shaped monument near the station. I arrived about ten minutes early, but a familiar figure was already standing there.

​As soon as he noticed me, he waved. That sight alone always had enough destructive power to level a city.

​”Good morning, Seira-san!”

​”Morning. You’re early.”

​”I wasn’t sure if I’d find the spot, so I came a bit ahead of time!”

​He’s a bit taller than me. Having that kind of look and that kind of personality… it’s just illegal.

​”Well, it’s a little early, but shall we go?”

​”Yes! …Whoa.”

​No sooner had I said it than I took Masato’s hand. I laced our fingers together and started walking. I felt a few gazes on us from the crowd, but I didn’t care.

​I’m the older one here. I have to take the lead, right?

​I led the slightly flustered Masato to the Western-style restaurant where I’d made a reservation. I’d picked a place I knew he would like.

​”Welcome. How many in your party?”

​”Ah, I have a reservation under Katasato at 1:15 pm.”

​”Yes! Right this way, please.”

​This place has that classic, old-school Western restaurant vibe, and it’s been a favorite of mine since my student days. It’s been a while since I visited, but it hasn’t changed a bit.

​”U-um… why did you make the reservation under ‘Katasato’…?”

​”Hm? Was there a problem with that?”

​”No, I guess not…!”

​Masato looked like he wanted to say something, but since I was the one who made the reservation, he didn’t press it. Come on, let me have this little win.

​”This hamburger steak is incredible…!”

​”Really? I’m glad you like it.”

​”Seira-san, you really know all the best places. It’s amazing!”

​”I’ve always enjoyed looking for good restaurants, even back in college.”

​This wasn’t the first time I’d taken him to one of my spots. I never really had any hobbies I could brag about, but I’m glad I know a few good places to eat. Especially if it makes him happy.

​After lunch, we started walking back toward the busier part of town.

​”Seira-san, it’s not fair for you to just pay for everything like that…!”

​”Oh, that place is run by an acquaintance of mine, so it was free.”

​”I’m not falling for that lie again!”

​”Oh? You believed me last time…”

​When I took him to a restaurant for our first ‘work’ outing, he actually fell for it. I guess it doesn’t work anymore. He was so cute when he believed me, though.

​”Well, I wish you’d realize that when you’re with me, you don’t need to pull out your wallet.”

​”No, but…”

​Masato stopped walking, so I stopped too.

​”This isn’t the bar… I’m not hanging out with you because you pay for things…”

​…I had a sudden, violent urge to pull him into a hug, but I managed to restrain myself. How does this boy always manage to say exactly what my heart needs to hear?

​”…I appreciate the sentiment. But the answer is still no.”

​”Ehh!”

​”In exchange, would you mind indulging one of my hobbies?”

​We’d just arrived at our next destination. Masato’s mouth fell open as he realized where we were going.

​”An arcade?”

​”Yep. A game center.”

​The destination is crucial for a date. I had plenty of ‘adult’ plans to show off my mature charm, of course. But at the end of the day, I fell for Masato because he accepted me for who I am. So, I wanted to take him to a place I’d loved since I was a student.

​”Whoa, it’s been forever since I was in an arcade!”

​”I used to come all the time in college, but it’s been a while for me too.”

​The chaotic mix of sounds from all the different machines made it feel real. We played claw machines, air hockey, and a trivia game. Back in the day, I only played the things I liked, but with Masato, everything felt worth doing.

​After a while—

​”Oh, I kind of want to try that!”

​”…Sure.”

​In a slightly secluded corner, Masato pointed to a rail shooter where you blast waves of oncoming zombies.

​This was exactly the kind of game I used to spend all my time on. It was a two-player game, but I’d always played it alone because I didn’t have any friends who’d put up with this kind of hobby.

​”The guns are really detailed, aren’t they~”

​Masato was looking at the plastic gun controllers with curiosity.

​I might need to correct his expectations a bit…

​I slowly took off my coat. I needed the full range of motion for my shoulders.

​”Masato, get ready.”

​”Eh?”

​”This game is impossibly hard. Here we go!”

​”Wha—?!”

​Ignoring his shock at my sudden intensity, I locked my eyes on the ‘Start’ screen.

​”Wait, Is the difficulty set to max?! I’m already at Game Over!”

​”There’s a 100-yen coin right there! Use it to respawn! Hurry!”

​”Waaaah, I definitely picked the wrong game!!”

​In the end, it cost a fair bit of money, but we managed to clear the game.

​”Phew… my skills have definitely rusted. My aim was terrible.”

​”If that was terrible, I don’t even know what to say…”

​Masato had been hesitant to use my coins at first, but after the third death, he seemed to have a breakthrough and started spamming continues like a pro. That’s the spirit.

​”You were so good, I was genuinely shocked!”

​”Well… back in the day, I was so annoyed by how hard it was the first time I played that I kept coming back until I could beat it.”

​It was a stupid story, really. I have a bad habit of getting way too heated over games. I put my coat back on and turned around to find Masato smiling.

​”That’s… that’s so like you, Seira-san. I love it.”

​”The hell is that supposed to mean?”

​”No, really! I think it’s great!”

​I could tell he meant it. I knew that even if I showed him my weird side, he’d just laugh and accept it. That’s why I was able to play the game with zero hesitation.

​”…Come on, let’s go.”

​”Coming~!”

I took his hand again, feeling his warmth. I squeezed it, as if to confirm he was really there.

​…No matter what, I really do love this boy who accepts every single part of me.

​After that, we had our dinner reservation, and then I insisted on walking him home. He said something nonsensical like “Wait, shouldn’t I be walking you home?” but I just dragged him along anyway.

​”I had so much fun! Thank you!”

​”Don’t mention it. I should be the one thanking you for putting up with me.”

​We arrived at our usual station near the bar and walked the familiar path. It was already dark, and the park we passed was empty. I stole a glance upward; a full moon was hanging in the clear night sky.

​Every time I walk this path to Masato’s house, I get all sentimental thinking about everything that’s happened. It feels like a miracle that we’re still together like this.

​We reached his house, and I finally let go of his hand. It was hard to do, but it wasn’t like this was the last time.

​”Thanks for walking me home!”

​”I was the one who wanted to, so don’t worry about it.”

​I stood there in front of his house. I could have just left… but maybe he’d have a change of heart. I decided to wait a moment.

​After a strange silence, Masato gave me a suspicious look.

​”Seira-san… you aren’t… trying to find a way to stay over, are you?”

​”…You caught me?”

​”Absolutely not! Go home! Shoo!”

​”You don’t have to be so mean about it!!”

​I thought if I lingered, I might be able to wear him down, but no luck today. I guess that’s only natural.

​I started heading back toward the station, turning around one last time.

​”See you later, Masato.”

​”Yeah, see you.”

​…Just having that kind of exchange made me so happy. Standing alone in the quiet residential street after he’d gone inside, I smiled.

​”Well… I guess I can handle work tomorrow too.”

​With a hope I never would have imagined before meeting him, I took a big stretch under the starlit sky.

​[ The Case of Mochizuki Seira ]

​< Seira

​[ Image Sent ]

​22:24 | Masato: Today was so much fun!

​22:24 | Masato: You looked great while you were playing games, Seira-san, so I ended up taking a photo of you.

​22:46 | Seira: …Hey.

​22:46 | Seira: It’s fine if I head over to your place right now, isn’t it?

​22:46 | Seira: Actually, you coming to my place works too.

​23:38 | Masato: Why???

​23:38 | Masato: You can’t do that, what time do you think it is! lol

​23:41 | Seira: You have a lot of nerve saying that after teasing me like this.

​23:41 | Seira: Just be a good boy and let yourself be taken away.

​0:15 | Masato: What is even with your mood right now!?

​0:16 | Masato: I’m going to sleep now! Good night! lol

​1:12 | Seira: Good grief.

​1:12 | Seira: Thanks, I’m actually happy about the photo.

​1:15 | Seira: I’ll treasure it.