Chapter 37: Mai’s First Date… Maybe?

Lunch was over.

Chihaya finished cleaning up the dishes, then sat down on the corridor.

She changed into a yukata and pulled out her phone.

“I have some things to take care of this morning.”

She glanced at You.

“I won’t be joining you two this afternoon.”

You nodded, his gaze shifting to the girl beside him.

Hitomi had been acting a little off ever since that clingy moment in the morning.

She was talking less, avoiding his eyes, and whenever their gazes accidentally met, she quickly looked away.

“Hitomi, what about you?”

You asked.

Hitomi was startled by his question, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

She was still feeling shy about her proactive approach earlier.

If she went out with You-kun now, wouldn’t it be even harder to calm her heart?

“You-kun, I think I’ll rest in my room this afternoon.”

Hitomi gave an apologetic smile.

“I didn’t sleep well last night. I want to catch up on some sleep.”

Chihaya glanced at Hitomi.

‘What does this mean? Retreating in order to advance? She was plenty enthusiastic this morning…’

She didn’t say anything.

Mai was hugging a cushion, her eyes darting between the others.

When she heard Hitomi wasn’t going, her mind immediately started racing—if they went out in the afternoon, wouldn’t that mean she’d get some alone time with You-kun?

Wasn’t this basically their first date?

‘Hehe, big sister, Futaba-nee, Hitomi-nee… You-kun’s first date. I’ll gladly take it.’

“Then You-kun, where should we go this afternoon?”

Mai’s voice was sweet, her anticipation barely hidden.

You thought for a moment.

“We haven’t checked out the Hakone Hot Spring Inn yet. We’ve been here a few days—I should at least buy some souvenirs to bring back.”

“Yes, yes!”

Mai jumped up from the tatami mat.

You glanced at Futaba.

She was leaning against the wall, her fan swaying slowly.

The smile on her face was unreadable.

He suddenly realized this was the perfect chance to test her.

Before, it had always been all five of them together.

Now that Chihaya and Hitomi weren’t coming, and Mai had proactively suggested going out, if he brought Futaba along, there would only be three of them.

It would be much easier to create an opportunity for some alone time.

Wasn’t this the perfect moment?

He silently admired his own cleverness.

“But,” he added, “let’s bring Futaba too. Futaba, you don’t have any plans this afternoon, do you?”

Mai’s smile froze at those words.

‘Why? Why does You-kun want to bring Futaba-nee? Doesn’t he want to date me? Or does he still see me as a child?’

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Chihaya was holding her teacup, watching You.

‘Why would You-kun call Futaba to go with them? Could it be that You-kun really has feelings for Futaba? No, Futaba’s position is still unclear. I can’t just let this slide. But I have no reason to stop him… What should I do?’

Her gaze turned to Futaba.

“Futaba, do you want to go with them?”

Her tone was very calm.

Futaba was still leaning against the wall, fan swaying languidly.

When she heard her name, her hand paused for a moment.

‘My heart is a little unsettled. I shouldn’t go. These past two days, every time I think of him, I feel confused. I could just refuse. It’s not like I’m the only one not going with him today. That’s right, I should just refuse…’

“Sure, I’ll come too.”

Futaba heard herself say that.

In the reflection of the window glass, her smile was as perfect as ever.

‘No, no. I should have refused. Why did I agree on a whim?’

Chihaya nodded and didn’t say anything more.

The hand hidden inside her sleeve tightened.

‘So Futaba does have feelings for You-kun. She’s not joking. This is bad. But with Mai there with them, Futaba shouldn’t do anything too outrageous…’

Chihaya tried to comfort herself.

“Then go ahead.”

Chihaya smiled.

“Be careful.”

She shot a meaningful glance at Mai, but Mai, whose mind was already in turmoil, didn’t notice.

***

Just after one in the afternoon, the sun shone straight down from overhead, heating the stone pavement until it was almost scalding.

You had changed into a light gray short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers, looking much more energetic than in his morning loungewear.

Mai wore a white dress with a thin light blue ribbon tied at the waist, her hair loose with slightly curled ends.

Futaba had changed into a light purple top paired with a dark gray skirt, revealing a stretch of fair calves.

She had swapped her fan for a parasol, its pale pink canopy resting on her shoulder.

The three of them walked along the street toward the town center.

Futaba walked on You’s left, keeping a person’s distance between them.

She had folded her fan and was fanning herself with it every now and then.

Mai walked on his right, very close to him.

She proactively linked her arm with You’s, trying to press his arm against her not-so-full chest.

But unfortunately, the attempt wasn’t very successful.

Mai was a little dejected, but she quickly rallied and started chatting with You to break the ice.

“You-kun, what do you usually like to eat?”

“Curry. And ramen.”

“I love ramen too! Tonkotsu ramen is the best.”

“Yeah, tonkotsu is pretty good.”

As he chatted with Mai, You kept an eye on Futaba from the corner of his vision.

‘What is she thinking? Why isn’t she saying anything?’

Mai noticed where You’s gaze was drifting.

Her teeth clenched slightly, and her look turned a little dangerous.

‘You-kun is looking at Futaba-nee again…’

‘This won’t do,’ You thought.

‘How can I test Futaba while Mai is clinging to my arm? And I’m neglecting Mai-chan too much. Besides, Futaba is keeping her distance. Is it because she doesn’t want to come? That might be it. Then why did she agree earlier?’

He was a little confused.

He decided to stop thinking about the complicated issue and focus on Mai for now.

‘That dangerous vibe I felt on the right just now was probably my imagination. But just to be safe, I’ll focus on Mai-chan for now.’

They continued walking.

They passed a small shop selling handmade crafts.

Mai stopped, staring at a string of light blue glass wind chimes in the window.

“Pretty, right?”

Mai asked.

“Pretty,” You said.

Mai pushed the door open and went inside.

You followed her.

Futaba stood at the entrance for a moment, then went in as well.

The shop wasn’t large, with all four walls covered in various glass items.

Mai stood in front of the wind chimes for a long time, picking one up, looking at it, putting it down, then picking up another, looking at it, and putting it down again.

You stood beside her, not saying anything, just watching her choose.

Mai occasionally looked up at him, and whenever she met his gaze, she quickly lowered her head, her ears turning red.

Finally, she chose a light blue wind chime with a few white clouds painted on it.

You took it, walked to the counter, and paid.

“I’ll pay—”

Mai had just started to reach for her wallet.

“I’ll treat you.”

You put his wallet back in his pocket.

‘No way. There’s no way I’m letting a girl pay in a situation like this. What if Mai hasn’t forgiven me yet?’

Mai was taken aback for a moment, then she smiled.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and two faint blushes rose on her cheeks.

“Thank you, You-kun.”

Her voice was much softer than usual.

‘Great. You-kun is looking at me now, not Futaba-nee.’

Futaba stood by the door, watching this scene.

Her face still wore that gentle smile, but her heart was in turmoil.

‘What’s going on? You-kun invited me out. Didn’t he want to get closer to me? Then why is he only looking at Mai? Is it because I’m not as pretty as Mai-chan?’

A sour feeling churned inside her.

After leaving the shop, Mai hugged the bag containing the wind chime, her steps light as if she might bounce up at any moment.

Futaba walked behind them, watching their backs.

She watched You and Mai chatting happily.

A strange, indescribable feeling settled in her heart.

He asked Mai if she was thirsty.

He carried her bag for her.

He listened attentively to what Mai said.

He praised the wind chime Mai had chosen.

But to her, he spoke much less.

She suddenly felt a little out of sorts.

‘Why isn’t he looking at me today?’

Futaba quickened her pace and moved to You’s side.

“Your Holiness, you seem especially focused on Mai today.”

Her tone was light and teasing, and the smile on her face was as bright as ever.

You was taken aback for a moment when he heard the question, then he quickly recovered.

‘This is it! An opportunity! Futaba actually took the initiative to talk to me. Could this be unintentional success?’

You smiled.

“Mai is my fiancée. It’s only natural that I pay attention to her, isn’t it?”

Mai blushed at those words, her eyes sparkling.

‘Oh my god. You-kun called me his fiancée, right in front of Futaba-nee. He really does notice me. He doesn’t see me as a child anymore.’

“Is that so?”

Futaba’s smile didn’t waver.

She spoke again.

“But I’m also Your Holiness’s fiancée, aren’t I? Why don’t you look at me?”