Chapter 24: Preparing for the Date (Additional Update 5/17)
“This, this really is a major discovery…”
Ling paused for a moment, cleared his throat, and said, “May I ask when you made this discovery, my lord?”
“Ling, do you really not believe me?”
“No, I trust you one hundred percent, but I’m just pointing out that you’re a blockhead!” Ling gave Zou a light chop on the head.
“It’s too late! This discovery truly comes far too late!”
“Eh? What?!” Zou displayed a surprised expression.
This was clearly a groundbreaking discovery.
That pure and lovely yet very seductive, sunny and slightly airheaded Nagi.
As the most popular beauty in the entire school, she might actually like an ordinary guy like him.
Who would have thought such a development would happen!?
It was truly as shocking as Columbus discovering a new continent!
Zou had thought Ling would tease him: “Are you dreaming? Go look in the mirror and organize your words again.”
But unexpectedly, his reaction was completely beyond his expectations.
“May I ask when this blockhead of yours realized this?”
“Just in the last few days… wait, for real, Ling, have you known for a long time?”
Zou rubbed the spot that Ling had just hit.
“Is it because Nagi wanted to pretend to be your girlfriend that you noticed?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that…”
More accurately, that feeling likely started after Nagi returned to school from her break.
And it gradually became a certainty during lunchtime yesterday when they were eating bento.
Zou recalled in his mind.
“Rather, think about it. If a girl completely dislikes you, would she proactively ask to pretend to be your girlfriend?”
“Is, is that so? But she’s that little Nagi, you know?”
“I suppose you could say that makes sense. The little Nagi who is obsessed with supernatural phenomena would date you to verify the existence of a curse.”
“But you need to clarify one thing for me.”
“What’s the effect of the curse mentioned in the rumors?”
“…to break up loving couples… and turn them against each other… right?” Zou stammered in response.
“Exactly! The premise for verifying if the curse can break up a relationship is that there must first be a relationship, right?”
“!!!”
Upon hearing this, Zou was so shocked that he dropped the bread from his hand, thankfully caught by Ling’s quick reflexes.
“Ah, I didn’t expect this blockhead of yours to finally wake up! Nagi has been waiting so long for you~”
Though that guy seems a little bit of a blockhead too, Ling silently added in his heart.
“No, even so, little Nagi probably only started to like me recently…” Zou still seemed reluctant to accept Ling’s words.
“I’m saying, remember what Nagi has done for you all this time…”
Upon hearing this, Zou crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes.
“If she didn’t like you, would she have gone to school with you all last year?”
“…but we are childhood friends, right?”
“Is it the case that childhood friends in junior high still hold hands?”
“That’s because little Nagi doesn’t quite understand the distance between boys and girls…”
“She is always clinging to you!”
“Little Nagi unexpectedly fears loneliness…”
“How thick is the filter you have on Nagi?!”
At this point, even Ling was at a loss for words and sighed deeply.
After this topic came to a pause, Zou took the bread from Ling.
“So, are you really just planning to discuss this with me today? Wanting to take the chance to confess to Nagi while on a date at the aquarium and become real lovers?”
Zou didn’t expect Ling to be so straightforward, and he blushed slightly before nodding.
“Well, since even this blockhead of yours is getting the hang of it, let me lend you a hand!”
“First, let’s set a goal.”
“G-goal? Isn’t it simply to successfully confess to Nagi and start dating…?”
“If that’s all… will I even have a role to play? As long as you’re able to say it, you can’t possibly fail, right?”
…
…
Lunch break ended.
Before afternoon classes started.
The homeroom teacher walked into the classroom holding a stack of papers.
It was related to the school trip.
It seems this year’s school trip has finally been decided.
When Nagi received the school trip itinerary, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
The other classmates exploded with cheers.
A two-day, three-night school trip.
The destination is “Namise Island.”
An island located in the Seto Inland Sea in southern Honshu, Japan.
With long stretches of white sandy beaches, clear sea water, and lush pine forests.
For students who have grown up in Kawano City, far from the sea, it is the sunshine, sand, and ocean they have dreamed of.
And most importantly—
The mode of transportation to Namise Island is——
A luxury cruise ship.
This time, Hoshikage High School has really gone all out to make up for last year’s infamous school festival incident, chartering a medium-sized luxury cruise ship.
Students will spend the first night leisurely aboard the luxury cruise ship.
The seniors who have already graduated last year will likely envy this news to tears.
“Quiet down, everyone.” The homeroom teacher shouted at the podium.
But, it didn’t manage to quiet down the already excited students.
The same scene was unfolding in classrooms throughout Hoshikage High School.
It seems this year’s school trip will be the grandest in the history of Hoshikage High School.
…..
…..
After school.
Every student displayed excited expressions.
As they brushed past Nagi and Zou, they couldn’t help but flash bright smiles and greet them.
“Nagi-chan, see you~”
“Tsukimi classmate, see you tomorrow~”
“Yeah, see you~” Nagi could only smile back at each one.
“Uh… uh.” Zou also waved at them.
The two were heading towards the Super Research Club.
Although their “dating” had already spread throughout the entire school.
The news of the school trip kept the other students from teasing the couple.
This made Zou feel a bit relieved.
He planned to invite Nagi out on a date while heading to the Super Research Club.
And his little thought was, of course, not missed by Nagi’s keen eyes.
She was well aware that Zou held the aquarium tickets that Tsubaki had given him.
Though she felt a bit flustered when Tsubaki ordered someone to buy two couple tickets…
At the same time, Nagi had thoroughly reflected on her confusion over Zou’s small actions from the previous day.
In the end, it was because she had never dated anyone, even in three lifetimes.
She had always approached interactions with Zou from a male perspective, using her knowledge from male-targeted romantic manga and gal games.
She lacked experience in viewing issues from a feminine perspective.
Clearly, as a girl now.
And moreover, the other party was the pure little DT she had been increasing the favorability for since childhood, who had her so flustered that she couldn’t find her bearings; she should be the one in control!
That’s what girl romantic manga says.
Books are treasures of human experience!
Having read so many girl manga overnight, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she could be called a love master!
Even if it felt embarrassing—
But Garuda wasn’t around, and no one knew her true identity—
So she just needed to muster up the courage and go for it—
At least she could go down together!
How could she allow a little DT to take advantage of her?
“Uh, um, little Nagi, I’m really sorry about the other day…”
“Really, Zou-kun, I’ve already forgotten that matter…” That was a lie; she would always remember the humiliating moment from the other day as a warning to herself. Nagi thought to herself.
“But I still care a bit, so…” As Zou spoke, his nervous little hand pulled out the two aquarium tickets from his pocket.
“F-for compensation, little Nagi… do you want to go to the aquarium?” Zou’s face turned bright red, and he didn’t dare look towards Nagi.
This was Nagi’s opportunity.
She took a deep breath secretly, and with determination in her heart, was ready to go for broke.
“Are you planning to use this aquarium ticket as an apology for that previous incident, Zou-kun?” Nagi whispered.
“Ah, um… what does little Nagi think?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Huh?” Zou was surprised and turned to look at Nagi beside him.
Nagi seized the opportunity to cup Zou’s face with her hands.
Because Nagi and Zou were about the same height.
At this moment, the distance between their faces was so close they could feel each other’s breath.
In the empty corridor, they paused just like that.
Nagi’s cute face was now adorned with an alluring blush, and her bright, clear eyes were clouded with a thin mist of shame.
“I don’t want to go to the aquarium with you for a reason like this being a punishment game…”
“L-little Nagi…”
“I want to go to the aquarium happily with you… A, a date—!”
She said it! Although it was incredibly embarrassing! But she did it!
“Sorry…” Zou wanted to lower his head shyly, but since Nagi was holding his face, he couldn’t do it.
“S-say it again…” Nagi’s cherry lips parted slightly, whispering words that only Zou at this distance could hear.
At the same time, her warm breath brushed against Zou’s face, causing certain parts of him to react involuntarily.
“W-what?”
“I want to hear you say it again…”
Thump, thump.
The sound of heartbeats was loud.
But whether it was Nagi or Zou, they found it hard to discern whose heartbeat it was.
“….Little Nagi, can you go on a date with me to the aquarium tomorrow?”
“….Yes, please let me join.”
……
……
Later that night.
“Master, are you… running a fever? Why is your face so red?” Garuda asked in confusion.
“Not at all! This is a sign of victory!” Nagi, wrapped in her blanket, was now lying on the bed reading a girl manga.
Though the plan to go for broke this afternoon progressed smoothly.
It was so embarrassing that now every time she thought of it, her face would flush.
Garuda’s arrival signaled that tonight’s rest time was over.
Next, it was back to overtime.
“By the way, I’ve gotten intel from other hunters.”
Garuda reported to her while Nagi got up to change clothes:
“The client will come to Kawano City tomorrow.”
