Chapter 84: A Day with the Ice Princess

I had been suddenly invited on a... date? Before I knew it, Ayane and I were leaving the house together.

The invitation had come out of nowhere, and we hadn't even decided on a destination. Having her actually put it into words felt embarrassing, even if we were just stepping out for a bit.

"So, where are we going?" I asked.

"I haven't decided. I figured we’d just wander around for a while," Ayane replied.

"...That’s so like you."

"Hehe, that’s just who I am."

We set off, simply walking through the city.

We passed by chain stores that had been there since my childhood. As we continued, Ayane mentioned she wanted to stop at a convenience store. When I asked why, she told me she had a craving for ice cream.

"Hehe, pop quiz! What flavor of ice cream did I pick?" she asked, holding her hand behind her back.

"Soda," I answered instantly.

"Wait, no hesitation? ...Are you sure about that?"

She had been obsessed with those blue soda-flavored bars for as long as I could remember. I was confident that some things remained the same regardless of which world I was in.

"If I’m wrong, I’ll pay for yours," I added.

"............Correct. Darn it, and here I thought I was going to get a free treat..."

"I can read you like an open book, Ayane."

"How boring. You could have at least pretended to struggle with the answer."

"Life isn’t that fair," I muttered.

I bought my own ice cream, and we left the shop, eating as we resumed our walk. It was a city I should have been familiar with, yet unfamiliar sights constantly cropped up.

There were shops selling Magic Tools unique to this world, or even Dungeons—things I knew nothing about. Every time I saw one, the reality that this was a different world crashed down on me again.

"None of that negativity, Reima. Focus on the now," Ayane scolded.

"My bad... Anyway, where are you planning to take me?"

"Hmm, it's a secret. Just look forward to it."

---

The area we were heading into had a surprising amount of greenery for Tokyo.

It was a tourist spot located a short distance from my house. It featured temples and a strip of shops reminiscent of the streets of Kyoto, where people could snack while they walked.

"...This place hasn't changed," I murmured.

"So it exists here too. I guess that means the surprise is spoiled," Ayane replied.

This area had been part of my route to elementary school; it was a place thick with memories. It was a road I had walked for six years in my original world. There was a shrine near the school where Ayane, Shiki, and I used to play constantly as kids.

"Ta-da! We’re at the shrine."

We arrived at a shrine famous for its massive sacred tree and its supposed blessings for matchmaking. Beyond that, the place was simple—just a vast grounds containing the main building, a torii gate, and the tree.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"We’re playing tag."

"...Just the two of us?"

"Yep, just us."

"............"

I’m sure my face was a picture of skepticism.

This place had felt enormous when I was a child, but seeing it now as a grown man, it felt cramped. More than anything, the idea of two adults playing tag didn't exactly scream 'fun.'

"Alright, Reima is 'it'!"

"...I’m 'it' on top of everything else?"

"Yep. If you lose, you’re treating me to a movie."

"Could you not make the stakes so annoyingly high?"

"Oh? Do you not plan on winning?"

"...Fine. We’re doing this, right?"

I didn't have the motivation, but being provoked rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't about to let Ayane beat me, so I decided I would just catch her and get it over with.

"Thirty minutes. Whoever is 'it' at the end loses," she declared.

"Fine by me. If I win, you’re buying me dinner."

"If you can win, sure!"

And so began a game of tag—the first in I don't even know how many years.

The game was so nostalgic it made me wonder when the last time I’d actually run like this was. To my surprise, I actually found myself enjoying it. Man, this really takes me back, I thought—at least, until something slammed into my face.

A cold sensation exploded across my skin.

"Gah! Hey! Ayane, what the hell did you just throw?!"

"Hehe, a snowball~"

"Don't think saying it cutely makes it okay!"

"It’s boring if we just play normally!"

"That's no excuse to chuck snowballs!"

"Uh oh, Reima’s mad! Run away~!"

The game grew more intense. After being pelted with several soft snowballs, I grew competitive and strengthened my body with magic power, finally bringing the match to a close.

"No fair! No magic allowed!" she pouted.

"You were using it to shape the snowballs!"

"It wasn't against the rules, so it’s safe!"

"Stop with the sophistry."

"But I just wanted to play in the snow..."

"A shrine isn't exactly the place for a snowball fight," I said, exasperated.

She laughed, admitting I had a point, and sat down on the ground without a care for getting her clothes dirty.

"Mmm... that was fun."

"What was so great about that?"

"Well, you’re laughing, Reima. Oh? Wait, was it actually not fun for you?"

"I mean... I guess it was a little fun."

"Then it's a win. You look way better than you did this morning. Hey, do you remember? When we were kids, I’d throw a tantrum and drag you outside every single day it snowed."

"...That was probably a story about the Reima from this world," I replied.

"No, what I’m saying is—wait, who’s there?"

Ayane was cut off just as she was trying to finish her thought.

I noticed it too. Someone was watching us. It was an indescribable, suspicious gaze. I couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from, but it was locked firmly onto us. It felt like we were being appraised—no, it was a disgusting, lingering gaze that made my skin crawl. I shifted into a defensive stance.

"Come out, or I’ll freeze you," Ayane threatened.

"Hmm, that’s tempting too, but I’d personally prefer a more natural conversation."

The voice came from directly behind us. I summoned my weapon instantly, preparing to strike, but a presence I hadn't sensed until the last second lunged toward Ayane.

"Hehe-hehehe! It's the real, live Ayane-chan! It's been too long!"

"Kya!"

By the time I realized what was happening, a total pervert I’d never seen before was hugging Ayane.

She was a woman with red hair who looked like a beautiful older lady. However, she was blurting out absolute insanity while fondling Ayane with a look on her face that could only be described as 'dangerous.'

"Should I call 110?" I asked, reaching for my phone.

"Wait, Reima-kun! Just listen before you report me to the police!"

I had no idea how she knew my name, but for a split second, her strangely calm and serious tone made me hesitate.

"I want to fondle Reima-kun too—so please, just wait on the report, okay?"

The moment she gave me a pretty wink and spat out that delusion, I called the police without a second thought.

---

[Afterword]

It’s been two days since the last update, but how did you like it?

Also, I'd like to take a moment to promote my work. I’m currently posting a new modern fantasy series. To help it break through the middle stage of the Kakuyomucon, I’d be honored if you gave it a read!

I’m working incredibly hard to capture the atmosphere of the light novels I grew up reading and loved, so please check it out if you’re interested!

【The Reincarnated Person in the Ability Fantasy City ~I, Who Reincarnated as a Mob in a Modern Japan That Turned into a Fantasy, Want to Spend My Days in Peace~】 URL: https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093092825247594