On the weekend after Kuya had completed his confession completely unconsciously.
There was Fatima in his room.
It was a room date.
And then it was their first date.
Whether in the sense of between Kuya and Fatima, or for Kuya, or for Fatima probably, it was their first date.
Though, Kuya was sitting slouched on a chair and looking at Fatima’s back with an awfully unsatisfied feeling.
…Why did she come to a guy’s room to play a game non-stop…?
For some reason, she was just playing a game.
Moreover, on the screen was a busty, beautiful girl smiling.
In other words, it was a galge. And of course singleplayer. Moreover she had brought it here.
“Karasu-kun, Karasu-kun. Do you have any other games like this?” she asked without even taking her eyes off the screen, making Kuya half close his eyes.
“Let alone any other, I have none to begin with.” He then let out a breath and smiled resignedly.
She would look happy and sad at the character’s reaction, look like she was in deep thought, and make a I-screwed-up face; it was fun to watch her making all kinds of faces.
Although he had been expecting something sweeter, …well, I guess it’s fine like this, he changed his mindset.
“………”
“…Hmm? What’s up?” Kuya asked and slightly tilted his head after noticing that Fatima was looking over her shoulder at some point while still holding the controller.
Fatima turned a reproachful eyes at Kuya for a while, and then spoke up without changing her expression. “I thought you were a mature type, but… you’re pretty pervy, huh?”
…Apparently his worldly desires had been oozing out until now, making her on guard.
“…Not only that you’ve got the wrong idea about that, you also mistakenly think that I wouldn’t get hurt by what was being said to me…”
Even Kuya was a healthy boy in his second year of high school. That was why he had ulterior motives, bad thoughts, and desires for this and that.
That was extremely normal, and not something to be particularly ashamed of. That said, it was not something he wanted to be pointed out by her either, of all people.
“I mean, have I been looking wishful…?” Kuya covered the lower half of his face with one hand as if to say: crap!
“No, that’s not the case, you know?” Fatima without delay denied it. “It felt like you became less nervous for some reason, so I just tried to mislead you.”
“…Pretty mean, aren’t you…”
“That’s right. I’m a little mean, you know?”
Kuya sighed at Fatima who was smiling mischievously.
Even if he was being teased and backed to a corner in a talk by her, he didn’t even feel a shred of anger.
If anything, it was very fun.
His head really got a screw loose.
At any rate, he was aware that he was on cloud nine and going crazy in the head, but… his sense of crisis was not there at all.
This is what they call a captive of love, huh…
If she is smiling, all well and good. She is #1 priority, all hail Fatima!
Ah! Nope, no good… if I set aside a man’s dignity or whatever and become too careless, I’m gonna get disillusioned…
He somehow managed to rouse up his sense of crisis and felt that he would have to get a grip of himself, but it just wouldn’t go well at all.
“By the way, Karasu-kun.”
“What?” Kuya replied in a stiff tone to Fatima, who had reset the game and returned to the title screen with an experienced hand.
Despite staring blankly in puzzlement for an instant at his stiff tone, Fatima apparently decided to ignore it, and then quickly progressed through the game and arrived at the heroine selection scene.
“…Games these days are too dull.”
“It’s a time where simple is best after all—and, so, Karasu-kun,” she spoke up again, pointed at the appearing heroines lined up on the screen, and continued. “Which one from these is your ty —”
“Fatima Kurei.” Kuya didn’t let her finish. He manly declared so, cutting off her words and decisively stopping her mid sentence.
“……………………”
Ooh, interesting…
It must’ve been a surprise attack for her.
Kuya enjoyed Fatima quickly going red in the face while repeatedly closing and opening her mouth.
Perhaps having sensed that feeling of his, she cleared her throat and forcibly brought back the topic. “Naturally, please exclude me… that made me happy, though…” That said, she couldn’t control her complexion that easily and quickly. Her cheeks were slightly red with trails of shyness, but Kuya pretended not to see it.
He even nicely pretended to not hear the words that quietly, and perhaps inadvertently, added.
“I understand that much, but however, it seems you’re a bit mean, you see. I’ve got suspicion that it could be a trap.”
“Mrgh… Just what do you think I am, Karasu-kun.” Fatima sulked and pouted at Kuya’s words.
“Right… it’s gonna be long if I talk about it, though…” Kuya corrected his seating posture and looked up at the ceiling while thinking that her childish gesture was cute.
He could end it briefly.
Fatima Kurei. He could just say her name.
It was because everything about her was accompanied with that name.
If he were to tell someone how he felt, however, he couldn’t end it with just that.
He must put his vague memories into words.
But if he were to put it into words, he had a hunch that he might suffer some kind of defeat.
In other words, he wasn’t inclined to do it, but, “Go ahead, please feel free to speak your feelings. I will listen to everything without missing a single word.”
Being urged by Fatima, Kuya sighed. “Don’t expect any good storytelling, alright? I’m not that good of a talker.”
“I do know that,” she replied immediately while sitting in seiza facing Kuya, perhaps after having straightened up her posture at some point.
“You know that and want me to talk… You actually don’t like me, do you?”
“No way. I like you a lot, you know? Probably, yes, more than you think.”
“………………”
Kuya was at a loss for words after having his light remark returned with great seriousness by her as she was directly staring at him.
Kuya quickly averted his eyes, but in any case, he scratched his cheek with his finger to gloss it over.
“If I were to talk about it… I guess it’s really gonna start from there,” Kuya made a preface as his cheeks were slightly tinged in red.
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TL notes:
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