In the early afternoon, Silvia and I strolled through the streets of the Royal Capital.
It was a date with a beautiful girl my age.
As a former hardcore gamer and ancient magic otaku, I wanted to act cool and claim I had "zero interest in women," but biology is a stubborn thing. I couldn't ignore my own physical reactions.
If this were real, my heart would probably be overflowing with a sweet, fluttery sensation.
—If only Silvia’s mother weren’t looming behind us!
Silvia’s mother, a legendary intelligence agent, trailed us at a moderate distance. Her gaze was sharp and relentless. I didn't even have to look back to feel her presence. Honestly, how was I sensing her so clearly?
"Tee-hee! A date with Albert-kun... I’m so excited!"
Even in this high-pressure situation, the skilled intelligence agent beside me was churning out lines like a maiden in love.
She was quite the actress.
But that was exactly the problem—she was too good.
Originally, this Fake Lover Operation started because Silvia had lied to her mother, claiming she’d successfully seduced me. I’d simply agreed to go along with the ruse.
However, during our meeting earlier, a different possibility had flashed through my mind.
What if Silvia hadn't actually won me over, so she’d teamed up with her mother to force this "fake relationship" on me just to close the distance? If that were the case, I had no obligation to play along.
The problem was that Silvia’s tone and attitude were so flawless that I couldn’t tell the difference! There was no way she’d give me a straight answer if I asked her, either.
We were currently walking down the main thoroughfare of the capital's most famous commercial district. Colorful stalls lined the road, and the air was a thick mixture of exotic spices, freshly baked bread, and the scent of flowers from the street vendors.
As I took in the scenery and pondered my predicament, a presence suddenly manifested at my back.
"...Aren't you two going to hold hands?"
It was Silvia’s mother.
When had she closed the gap?!
Her voice sounded gentle enough, but there was a bizarre weight to it. It felt less like a suggestion and more like an interrogation.
"Ahahaha, we forgot! Sorry, I just get so nervous when Mother is around!"
Silvia brushed the comment off with a laugh and interlaced her fingers with mine. The texture of her skin and the warmth of her hand felt vividly real, making my heart skip a beat.
Damn it! I didn't know which it was, but I knew it was all an act! And yet, my heart was being toyed with all the same.
I had to take control of myself. Calm down, Albert!
"There. Now you look more like a proper couple."
The mother’s presence glided away again. Seriously, was she some kind of romance-supporting yokai?
In that brief window of space, Silvia whispered to me.
"Sorry, Albert-kun. I know this is a hassle. Just bear with it for today!"
"Right... sure..."
I was in trouble. I felt like I might actually fall for her. Were they really in cahoots?
As we moved through the market, Silvia pointed toward a stall.
"Oh! Hey, let's check that place out!"
She led me to a sundries shop. A large table was covered in a variety of colorful accessories, ornaments, and trinkets. Silvia chatted sociably with the shopkeeper as she browsed. She even made sure to ask for my opinion occasionally so I didn't feel left out.
She was incredible.
Using a "bad actor" like me as her partner, she was single-handedly creating the perfect atmosphere for a date. To be honest, even knowing it was a performance, I couldn't spot a single moment of unnaturalness.
"Hey, Albert-kun. Isn't this one lovely?"
Silvia picked up a bird-shaped brooch. The bird was depicted looking up at the sky with its wings spread, conveying a sense of strength as if it were about to take flight.
"I wouldn't know. I don't have an eye for that stuff."
"Albert-kun, you're so cold! Though I guess that's just like you."
She laughed as if my bluntness were charming, then added:
"I really want this."
I see. It was good that she’d found something she liked. She should just buy it then. As I stood there blankly waiting for her to finish, I felt something poking me.
It was Silvia’s elbow.
"If I get this, I’ll treasure it forever~"
She kept poking me with her elbow while she spoke.
Then, I had a revelation. This was exactly like those scenes I’d seen in rom-com manga in my previous life!
"I get it. I’ll buy it for you."
"Yay!"
The elbow-poking stopped instantly, and Silvia cheered with innocent glee.
Apparently, that had been the right move. I’d successfully made a good impression on the mother, who was currently peeking at us from around a corner.
After pinning the brooch to her chest, Silvia turned to me with a beaming smile.
"I'll take really good care of it!"
Her expression and tone were so full of joy that they seemed to overflow with affection and gratitude for me.
Her acting was terrifyingly good.
But every now and then, I couldn't help but wonder. Was this really all a performance? Was there truly no sincerity in her? Was there not even a hint of genuine fun mixed into that cheerful laughter?
I was being completely toyed with.
Or perhaps, there was a part of me that wanted it to be real.
"Okay, next stop!"
Silvia grabbed my hand again and led me through the market.
We enjoyed our stroll, even stopping at a cafe for a quick break. Eventually, the sun began to dip toward the horizon, and I started thinking about heading back.
That was when the romance-supporting yokai, Katerina, suddenly appeared beside us again.
"There's a place in the city I’ve been wanting to see. Why don't the three of us go together?"
Since the request came from my "lover’s" mother, I couldn't say no. I agreed immediately, and we followed her to her destination.
She led us to a spot that overlooked the entire Royal Capital.
The setting sun bathed the city in orange, making the rooftops glow like gold. It was a spectacular view, but because it was in such a remote part of the capital, I hadn't known it existed. In fact, it seemed no one else knew about it either; there wasn't a soul in sight.
"Wow, it’s beautiful!" Silvia cried out in excitement.
It was a nice way to end an exhausting day. For the time being, I felt I’d done a decent job playing the part of the boyfriend to back up Silvia’s lie. All that was left was to bid the yokai-mother a polite farewell and head home.
"It’ll be dark soon. Once we’ve seen the view, shall we head back?"
"—Oh?"
Katerina let out a confused sound at my suggestion.
"You're going home just like that?"
"What do you mean?"
What, did she want to have a picnic? I hadn't brought anything with me.
"We’re in such a lovely, secluded spot. Isn't there something you're supposed to do?"
"...?"
She was clearly demanding something, but I couldn't wrap my head around what it was.
As Silvia and I stood there blinking in confusion, the romance-supporting yokai—who was also a veteran secret agent—spelled it out for us.
"For example... a kiss."
A. Kiss.
The "kuchizuke."
—Wait, what?
My brain stalled.
"You're lovers, aren't you? Isn't a kiss the natural thing to do in a romantic place like this? There’s no one else around, after all. Oh, don't mind me. Just pretend I'm not here."
"AS IF I COULD DO THAAAAAT!"
I’d been playing along quietly until now, but this had officially exceeded my capacity for faking it! Even if we were real lovers and were going to kiss, you are the absolute last person I’d want watching us!
However, Silvia spoke up.
"Mother... I’m sorry, but that’s asking too much. We can't do that."
I was surprised to see Silvia actually push back. Since she was such a pro, I’d half-expected her to dive right into it.
"Albert-kun is uncomfortable too. Wasn't the date enough for today?"
Katerina’s eyes narrowed.
In an instant, her soft, maternal aura vanished, replaced by a coldness that felt like a localized blizzard. Silvia’s expression froze. She looked exactly like a frog staring down a snake.
"I told you to prove your love. Is a mere kiss really something to hesitate over?"
"B-but—"
"I won't say it twice. Obey your mother."
Silvia turned toward me, her posture slumped in defeat. Her eyes were pleading with me, silently screaming I’m sorry.
Was this just another act to convince her mother? Or was this a calculated play to seduce the man she’d dragged into her mess?
...Which was it?