After escaping that incredibly sweet situation where I alone had been subjected to a one-sided display of public embarrassment, Kuro and I continued our food crawl through the stalls.
I had put quite a bit of thought into our date plans for today, but I ultimately decided that the bustling stall district was a better fit for a date with Kuro than some stiff, formal restaurant. We spent our time wandering together, sampling whatever caught our eye.
"Ah, Kaito-kun! Look, they have Impact Fruit!"
"What’s with that dangerous-sounding name…?"
It sounded like the kind of fruit that would blast me with a shockwave the moment I touched it. Following Kuro’s pointing finger, I saw beautiful, blue, spherical fruits on display. Around the stall, several people who looked like customers were swinging heavy hammers down on the fruit… The sight was a little intimidating.
"The shells are incredibly hard, but the more of a shock you give them, the softer and more delicious they become."
"I see. That explains why everyone is hitting them with hammers."
In short, they were fruits that only became edible once they received an "impact." It was a fascinating food, one that truly made me feel like I was in another world.
I bought one out of curiosity, but it was as hard as a cannonball. I couldn't imagine it was actually meant to be eaten.
"So, do I just need to whack this with a hammer?"
"You won't need one of those."
"Huh?"
The stall seemed to be renting hammers to customers, and I had intended to follow the crowd, but Kuro gave me a bright smile and took the fruit from my hand. She held it in one hand and brought her other hand close, her fingers curled as if she were about to deliver a flick.
"Here goes!"
"——!?"
An explosive crack, like a gunshot, rang out. Wait… was that just a finger flick? It was an impact sound far beyond anything a human should be able to produce. Kuro held the fruit out to the stunned me.
"There. It should be soft enough to tear apart with your hands now."
"Th-That was amazing… Honestly, that sound was so loud I thought the fruit was going to be pulverized."
"Ahaha, don't worry. I made sure to hold back."
Even with that explosive sound, she was "holding back"? Kuro really was incredible.
When I took the Impact Fruit, it felt entirely different—soft and squishy like mochi. At Kuro’s urging, I tore a piece off and tried it. The texture was exactly like a rice cake or a steamed bun, but the flavor was light and refreshing, reminiscent of a pear. It was like eating pear-flavored mochi; the novelty of the texture made it quite delicious.
"It’s definitely unusual… but it’s good."
"Right? It’s tasty… Oh, Kaito-kun, stay still for a second."
"Huh?"
While I was enjoying the strange sensation of fresh juice seeping out of the mochi-like flesh, Kuro noticed something and told me not to move. As I tilted my head in confusion, she placed her hands on my shoulders, stood on her tiptoes, and lightly licked my cheek.
"Wh-!?"
"You had some juice on your cheek."
What was this dream-like situation? My thoughts couldn't keep up—or rather, the sensation of her tongue against my cheek was so vivid that I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eye. I felt like my face had been at a constant boil all day.
When lunchtime rolled around, we were both fairly full from the street food, so we grabbed a light snack from the stalls and found a bench in the square to rest.
Kuro sat on my lap with a very natural movement. I had experienced this yesterday, but there was one significant problem today.
Kuro wasn't wearing her usual half-pants; she was wearing a pleated skirt. It was wonderful because a girl who doesn't usually wear skirts looks exponentially cuter when she finally does, but with her sitting on my lap like this… the sensation of her weight through the thin fabric was transmitted with lethal clarity.
To be precise, I was frozen like a statue. I felt like if I moved even an inch, a certain part of my body would react, so I was desperately trying to empty my mind and stay perfectly still.
In the middle of what had turned into an endurance battle challenging the limits of my spirit rather than a relaxing break, Kuro dealt me a finishing blow.
"…I’m having so much fun today. When I’m with you, Kaito-kun, even the things I see every day look so sparkly. I’m happy."
"Y-Yeah. I’m having a lot of fun being with you too, Kuro."
Being told something like that with such a lovely smile made my thin thread of reason feel like it was about to snap.
"Oh, that reminds me! Kaito-kun, Shiro told me something…"
"Eh? That’s a phrase that gives me a really bad feeling…"
She heard it from Shiro-san? At this exact timing? There was no way that could lead to anything good. It was clearly a case of the innocent Kuro taking that Natural Goddess’s words at face value. What on earth was she about to say? My mental strength was already at its limit; I really didn't need any dangerous remarks right now…
"The goal of a date is a 'lodging facility,' right? So I made sure to tell Ein that I’d be staying over tonight!"
"Wha—!?"
I knew it! It was exactly that kind of thing! I mean, Shiro-san, I clearly told you last time that your understanding was wrong! Why are you spreading misinformation instead of correcting it?!
"K-K-Kuro!? D-Do you actually know what that means?"
"…Eh? What it means? Doesn't it just mean staying the night together with you, Kaito-kun?"
I had suspected as much given her lack of romantic experience, but Kuro really didn't understand the implication at all. She had a perfectly wholesome mindset, imagining something like an ordinary sleepover. I had to clear up this misunderstanding immediately.
"Um, Kuro, in the context Shiro-san used… a lodging facility is… well, basically, it has the same nuance as a place where couples go to be… intimate."
"Fueh!?"
When I tried to convey it indirectly to avoid being too graphic, Kuro—who had lived a long time despite her romantic innocence—seemed to grasp the meaning instantly. Her face turned a deep, burning red. She began to fidget shyly, her movements against my lap transmitting a sweet, dizzying sensation.
"…S-S-So that’s how it is… I-I didn't know at all…"
What should I do? Kuro was too cute.
Seeing the usually composed Kuro acting so bashful was murderously adorable. The way she tapped her index fingers together in front of her chest made me gulp; my self-control was like a flickering candle in a hurricane. I realized that continuing this conversation was dangerous, and I was about to open my mouth to change the subject, but Kuro wouldn't let me escape.
"…B-But… um… if it’s with you, Kaito-kun… if you want to… I-It’s okay, you know?"
"——!?"
"Hyau!? K-Kaito-kun!?"
That was it. I was finished. That line was foul play.
Unable to bear it any longer, I pulled Kuro into a tight hug from behind. Her body jerked in surprise, but she didn't resist. She leaned into me, and her soft warmth filled my entire being.
In that moment, I almost let my hands drift toward the curve of her chest… No, wait, you idiot!!
This was still our first official date! And it was the middle of the day, outside! No matter how much Kuro liked me or was willing to accept me, I couldn't just give in to my desires here.
I had to endure. I mobilized every last drop of my remaining mental strength. Kuro had no romantic experience either; I was her very first boyfriend. She had to be anxious right now. In fact, her body was trembling slightly. I was the one who had to be firm!
I couldn't just hungrily follow my impulses. I had to take the time to deepen our relationship properly.
"K-Kuro… I’m so happy to hear that, and I love you even more for it. But you know, I said we should learn about these things together, slowly. Let’s take our time without rushing."
"Kaito-kun… Yeah. Thank you. To be honest… I was a little bit scared too…"
"It’s okay. I’ll be with you from now on, Kuro."
"Mm… Kaito-kun, I love you."
Kuro placed her hands over mine as I held her, clinging tightly to my arms.
As I felt our hearts connecting and a wave of pure happiness washed over me, a small part of me—just a tiny part—found itself looking forward to the day when what she said would finally become a reality.
Dear Mother, Father—
Being in a relationship means finding our way through a lot of new things together, but I think as long as I’m with Kuro, we’ll be fine. By deepening our bond and our love for each other bit by bit, matching our pace as we go—it would be nice if we could develop a deeper relationship.