It seems I might have stumbled into a rather troublesome situation.
Looking at the scene before me, I couldn’t help but think just that.
Masaru-kun and I, along with my classmates, were only supposed to have a chance encounter.
We happened to run into each other in town, we chatted for a bit, and then went our separate ways.
Normally, that’s how things would flow, but perhaps it was a trick of fate, or maybe a coincidence; it started raining, and we took shelter in the same place.
Yeah, that part is fine.
I couldn’t possibly tell Masaru-kun to run home in the rain, nor did I intend to.
This is just a coincidence. Jirou-san always said that the gods exist, so this must be a mere coincidence brought about by those gods.
That’s what it *should* have been.
Right now, I just want to say: Masaru-kun, please take it easy!
From Masaru-kun’s perspective, this might be his usual behavior, but considering the timing, he should think a little more about his actions!
Ever since we started this, Masaru-kun has been skillfully winning over my classmates with his subtle gestures whenever he notices they’re in a bind.
It started with a simple towel, then he made sure to offer help when carrying things looked difficult, he found indoor places for us to rest so we wouldn’t get rained on, and he prepared warm drinks when they looked cold. He was just incredibly thoughtful.
It’s a skill he probably picked up from taking care of Minami-chan, so it can’t be helped, but it would be better if he were doing this intentionally. No, it’s still not good. The worst part is that Masaru-kun does these things unconsciously and as a matter of course.
You could say he’s a gentleman, or you could say he’s an oblivious flirt.
He’s gentle and kind, subtle and not overbearing.
Masaru-kun just leaves little bits of kindness precisely where they’re needed.
I’d heard that Karen-chan had also fallen for this kindness, and seeing him in the Party Room, he’s so adept at household chores and considerate that he almost makes you want to call him “Mother.”
Jirou-san once told me, with a hint of sadness, that it’s not so much that he likes taking care of people, but rather that doing things for others has become such a natural part of his life.
My classmates, unaware of the circumstances and inexperienced with people of the opposite sex, are completely flustered by his subtle kindness.
Isn’t this going to be a major problem?
My classmates were so easily swayed…
I’m used to his actions, so I’m not completely swept away, and knowing Minami-chan and Karen-chan, I don’t see him romantically.
But if they, unaware of this, were to join a blind date like this, what would happen…
I felt a bead of unpleasant sweat trickle down my back.
Right now, by Izawa-san and the others’ standards, Masaru-kun is undeniably becoming their benchmark.
If they continue to see this as normal, I can predict that nothing good will come of it.
“E-everyone! A taxi is here!”
If that happens, won’t it leave a huge trauma on Izawa-san and the others’ perception of men?
The more I think about it, the more Masaru-kun becomes like a potent poison to them right now.
I needed to get them away from Masaru-kun as soon as possible, so I made sure to point out the waiting taxi for our return trip.
I waved my hands wildly, but…
“Huh? It’s already here?”
From Izawa-san’s reaction, it’s clear that the others aren’t reacting well either.
“Instead of going home, why don’t we take a taxi somewhere like a family restaurant? You’ve all been so helpful, I’d like to treat you as thanks.”
Even the usually serious class representative started to exude an aura of wanting to stay with Masaru-kun.
What should I do?
The situation Minami-chan had feared is starting to unfold. Cold sweat began to break out, fearing what Minami-chan would say to me later if this got out.
“No, please don’t worry about it. I have things I need to do at home later.”
Perhaps sensing my fears, I heard Masaru-kun’s words declining their invitation, and I couldn’t help but give a mental victory pose, thinking “Nice!”
It might be that Masaru-kun genuinely had other plans, but given the flow of the situation, his action was a godsend.
It felt like if this continued, a competition for Masaru-kun would start before the actual blind date, and I felt a wave of relief from that tense period.
I’m sorry I told you to restrain yourself earlier; now I wish you’d say more.
“The taxi seems to be waiting, so wouldn’t it be best if we headed out?”
With Masaru-kun saying that, we had no choice but to get into the taxi.
Izawa-san got into the taxi reluctantly, waving until Masaru-kun was out of sight, while I sat in the passenger seat, feeling the atmosphere.
What should I do?
I’m at a loss.
It seems like everyone, including Izawa-san, has developed a very high level of affection for Masaru-kun.
“Hey, hey! Amelia-san, his name is Masaru-kun, right?”
My impression was correct. After Masaru-kun disappeared from view, Izawa-san, sitting beside me in the passenger seat, started asking me about him.
“Yeah, that’s right?”
I had no choice but to give a non-committal answer.
If, by some slim chance, they developed feelings for him, how would I explain it to Minami-chan and the others?
This is where the real challenge begins.
“You seemed quite friendly with him earlier, are you perhaps acquainted from your part-time job?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Everyone was curiously asking me about Masaru-kun.
Now, it’s up to me to divert their interest and steer the conversation elsewhere.
This is my true test!
I resolved myself, but…
“So, you couldn’t do it in the end, could you?”
“Ugh, you’re right. I’m sorry, Karen-chan, I was powerless.”
In the end, I couldn’t deflect Izawa-san and the others’ barrage of questions and ended up telling them everything I could.
I was currently reporting this to Karen-chan over the phone.
“It’s fine that the encounter was a coincidence, but the problem is that your friends’ values have changed. During high school, there’s a strong atmosphere of falling in love with love itself, so I hope they don’t start thinking he’s the standard…”
The blind date is next week.
I can’t say anything that would change their impression now.
“Hmm, I was worried about that too, but do we really need to be that wary?”
However, with a faint hope, I thought maybe we didn’t need to worry so much about Masaru-kun.
We had an encounter at that moment, but that was it.
Wouldn’t an impression from just that moment quickly fade and be replaced by a new one?
“That’s naive. In your generation, where ideals and reality don’t align, just as men harbor ideals about women, women also harbor ideals. You might not admire a prince you don’t know if he exists in reality, but when a kind and considerate man is right in front of you, you’ll use him as a benchmark and compare him to the next man. It’s a path everyone takes to understand reality as they become adults.”
But as if to shatter my hopes, Karen-chan sighed heavily and told me to prepare myself.
I could only get a bad feeling about that.
“P-prepare myself?”
“The next blind date is going to be a mess.”
She didn’t leave any room for possibilities like “it might be,” but stated definitively that it *would* be a mess.
“No matter how you put it, that can’t be true.”
“As a woman, you understand, right? Compromise is difficult.”
“…”
It saddens me that I can’t deny it. It’s true it might be a matter of values, but after seeing something good, you compare it to something inferior. Especially since love, that fleeting thing, is so special to us who revel in our youth.
A cool boyfriend, a kind boyfriend—ideals become high, and then you search for ways to fulfill those ideals.
In that process, the word “compromise” wouldn’t even come to mind.
High school girls don’t possess the “experience points” of compromise.
“Can’t argue with that” perfectly describes my situation.
What’s more, Karen-chan’s words, coming from someone who experienced a devastating heartbreak, weighed heavily on me, and I couldn’t find any words to refute her.
“Haa, perhaps this is just youth,” Karen-chan’s voice began to mix with a hint of exasperation as I fell silent.
“My friends have similar experiences, so I don’t mean to criticize your friends, Amī. I understand how they feel, and I myself almost became distrustful of men after my childhood friend cheated on me. I understand that ideals can be cruel.”
But I quickly realized she wasn’t exasperated with me. It was an exasperation born from her own experience. Her words, spoken with a sense of acceptance, strongly pushed me forward.
“Can I ask you one thing? Would it be difficult to just accept this as experience and move on?”
“I think it would probably be impossible.”
“I thought so. In that case, there’s only one thing to do.”
I listened intently as Karen-chan explained.
“You need to enjoy the blind date more than anyone else and liven it up. If you do that, I think their standards will naturally shift, and Katsu-kun’s impression will fade.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all. While they might have a benchmark for comparison, if you enjoy yourself so much that they can’t accurately judge that value, then the other party will think you’re just as good as Katsu-kun. Then, you can naturally enjoy yourself and be done with it.”
In a way, that’s an ideal outcome. I want it to be that way, but I worry if it’s realistically possible.
“Can I do it?”
“You can. I’ll be there that day too, and I’ll support you. Have confidence.”
“Okay, I understand. I’ll do my best!”
Encouraged by Karen-chan’s assured words, I was filled with motivation. Though she couldn’t see me through the phone, I made a small fist pump.
“Alright, then. First, come to my house on the day.”
“To Karen-chan’s house?”
“Yes, I’ll coordinate everything for the blind date.”
However, I tilted my head in confusion at what she said next.
“Huh? I already bought new clothes, though!”
“That alone won’t be enough. Remember this, Amī. A blind date is a battlefield for women. The key to winning is how well you can make the other person think you’re a great woman. Show your friends, who are easily distracted, the difference in our fighting strength and wake them up.”
Even through the phone, I could sense Karen-chan’s enthusiasm.
“So, come to my house at seven.”
“Seven?! That’s early!?”
“It’s late, actually. For something like a coming-of-age ceremony, there are places that start getting ready before dawn. To make the most of your natural features, you need that much time!”
“What am I going to be made to do!?”
A fleeting worry crossed my mind about my party member, who seemed more enthusiastic than I was. It felt like finding a dangerous trap in a dungeon. I felt a sense of impending doom if I agreed, and I almost refused.
“Understood?”
“OK! I understand!!”
I couldn’t resist Karen-chan’s imposing voice and replied energetically.
I thought it felt like making a contract with a demon, but on second thought, I remembered I’d met the demon Evia-san today, and a demon’s contract wouldn’t be this gentle.
“Now that that’s settled, start getting plenty of sleep and eating balanced meals from today.”
“From now!?”
“Naturally. Your impression changes drastically depending on the condition of your skin and hair. Beauty isn’t built in a day. Even with a makeshift measure, just taking care of your physical condition for a week will make a difference in your underlying foundation.”
There probably isn’t a demon out there with this much passion. I immediately started regretting my agreement.
“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”
I realized then just how intense blind dates could be.
But if Jirou-san heard this story…
“That’s not normal,” he might have replied.
Even with the knowledge of the Great Sage, he couldn’t teach me how to navigate a blind date.
Today’s word: The difference in experience is significant, but preparation is essential.
Thank you for your continued feedback and reports of typos. If you find this interesting, please leave comments, ratings, and bookmarks.
I am currently serializing another work: “Pandora Pandemic Panic.” While Pandora’s Box has been reopened, we are fighting back with secret bases and other means! Please check that out as well!
