My first date with Kuro since we became a couple had only just begun, but my brain was already on the verge of overheating.
"Ehehe, a date with Kaito-kun..."
Wearing a blissful smile, Kuro clung tightly to my arm.
It wasn't just a matter of holding hands; she was hugging my arm. This meant that Kuro’s chest—small, yet possessing an unmistakable softness—was pressed against me. My heart raced, completely against my will.
"Kaito-kun? Are you nervous?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah... To be honest, I've never had a girlfriend before, so I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do."
Kuro seemed to have interpreted my pounding heart as mere jitters. I decided to be honest with her about how I felt.
Of course, the sensation of her against my arm was part of it, but I was also just anxious about the date itself. I was so wound up about having my very first girlfriend that I didn't even have the mental capacity to remember the date plan I’d prepared.
"...I was wondering what lovers are actually supposed to do together."
"It's the first time for me too, Kaito-kun. Honestly, I might not really know either."
Hearing my confession, Kuro gave a bashful smile. While still clinging to my arm, she rested her hand over mine and naturally laced her fingers through mine in a lover's hand-holding.
"...But you know, I think it’s fine like this for now."
"...Eh?"
"I'm very happy just being with you, Kaito-kun. How about you?"
"Me too... Yeah, I'm happy."
I nodded, blushing slightly. Kuro spoke with a gaze that seemed to envelop me and a smile so captivating it felt like I was being drawn into it.
Whenever I was with her, just as I thought I’d finally settled into a sense of peace, some cute or defenseless gesture of hers would send my heart racing again. It was a restless yet warm feeling. Whenever I looked over and saw Kuro smiling, I felt a deep sense of relief.
This was probably—no, definitely—the feeling of happiness.
"It’s okay. We’re both beginners at this, so there are bound to be plenty of things we don't know or understand yet. But that just means we haven't learned them yet."
"...Yeah."
"We'll stay together like this, talk about all sorts of things, and laugh together... Let's learn how to be a couple one step at a time, okay?"
"Yeah."
Somehow, even though we were finally lovers, I was still no match for Kuro. But I didn't mind that at all; in fact, I was filled with a wonderful sense of joy.
One moment she was innocently acting spoiled, and the next she was sensing my anxiety and giving me a gentle push forward. She was childlike yet mature, innocent yet possessed a deep, soft benevolence. I truly thought that was her greatest charm.
Right. I decided to stop overthinking things. For now, I would just enjoy this blissful moment to the fullest.
"All right! Let's get moving then."
"Un!"
When I squeezed her hand back a little more firmly, Kuro responded with a radiant, sun-like smile, her cheeks flushing.
Since Kuro loved sweets and trying different foods, I didn't take her to the usual street stalls. Instead, we headed to a chic thoroughfare lined with various confectioneries and eateries. Sieg-san had told me about this place before, and I’d thought it would be perfect for a date with Kuro.
"Whoa... Kaito-kun, look! That looks delicious!"
"Ahaha, you're right. It’s a strange shape, though. I wonder what it is?"
"That's a layered candy. They stretch the sugar very thin and stack it. It feels like it’s melting on your tongue—it’s so good!"
"Heh~"
As we stepped into the small shop, Kuro’s eyes sparkled. She pulled me along as she browsed the shelves. The treat she’d pointed out was a translucent, wave-shaped sweet; apparently, it was a type of Thinly-layered Candy. Aside from that, all the other sweets in the shop were vibrant and looked mouth-watering.
"But for someone like you, Kuro, is this really that unusual of a sight?"
"That’s not it at all. Even if I've seen things like it before, walking around like this is fun... and because I'm with you, Kaito-kun, everything looks much tastier than usual."
Kuro seemed to be very knowledgeable, but she was genuinely enjoying herself with a fresh perspective, beaming as she looked at each sweet one by one.
With Kuro's wealth, she could have easily bought out the entire store, but she decided to only buy the Thinly-layered Candy she’d liked first, saying that if she bought everything, other customers wouldn't get to eat any.
"Oh, Kuro, I'll pay for that."
"Eh? But I probably have way more money than—"
"Even so, well, it’s a date, and as the guy, I want to keep up appearances a bit... Anyway, let me pay for this."
"Oh! Okay!"
Back when I’d tried to pay at the Red Bear Sandwich shop, she’d been confused, but today she seemed to understand my intent perfectly. She agreed with a bright, radiant smile.
After buying a few pieces of the Thinly-layered Candy and leaving the shop, Kuro pulled a piece from the bag and held it out toward me, her smile never fading.
"Here, Kaito-kun. Say 'ahh'."
"Eh!? Wait, uh... Kuro?"
"Come on, hurry up. Say 'ahh'!"
"...Uh, a-ahh..."
There was no way I could refuse her when she looked so happy. And so, I ended up experiencing the blissful yet mortifying ordeal of being fed by a girl right in the middle of a public street.
Kuro’s soft finger entered my mouth. I felt the sensation of her skin against my lips with startling clarity, accompanied by the sweetness of the candy.
Just as the heat was rushing to my face again, it—as expected—didn't end there. Kuro turned an expectant gaze toward me and opened her small mouth.
"Ahh..."
"..."
By any measure, this was her demanding I return the favor. Even I could understand that much.
What is this? Honestly, I think feeding her makes me even more nervous than being fed...
My hand shook slightly, and the sound of my own swallowing felt incredibly loud as I took a piece of Thinly-layered Candy from the bag and brought it to Kuro's lips.
Hamup.
"!?"
Kuro bit down with much more enthusiasm than I’d anticipated, and my finger went into her mouth up to the first joint.
I felt a moist, warm sensation against my fingertip, and a shiver ran from my hand through my entire body. As if that wasn't enough to make my hair stand on end, when I tried to slowly pull my finger away...
"Nnh."
"~~!?"
The moment my finger left her mouth, Kuro ran her tongue over my fingertip, as if reluctant to let go.
Stunned as if I’d been hit with a hammer, I looked at her, my face practically steaming. Kuro looked back at me, her cheeks flushed with a hint of bashfulness.
"...It tastes so much better than eating it by myself."
"I-I see..."
"There's still plenty left, so let's take turns!"
"..."
There was still plenty left?! Right... they were small, and we’d bought quite a few. A quick glance suggested there were at least ten more in the bag.
In other words, I was going to have to endure this combination of heavenly bliss and hellish embarrassment at least five more times.
Most importantly, Kuro might be using Recognition Inhibition Magic, but I wasn't. We were on a busy, major street... Was this some kind of public humiliation play?
Dear Mother, Father—As I thought, now that we’re officially a couple, dating Kuro is far more heart-pounding than before. Every little thing she does makes my chest tighten. I’m so nervous I can hardly stay still, but even so—I’m happy.