Let’s take a moment to discuss what a date actually is. Of course, I’m not exactly an expert on the subject, so I can only speak in generalities.
Standard theory suggests a date is an activity where you enjoy things like meals, shopping, sightseeing, movies, or amusement parks with someone of the opposite sex—though in some cases, it might be the same sex. However, those activities are merely the means to an end. The real objective of a date is to deepen your bond and confirm your mutual affection.
In other words, taken to its extreme, even staying indoors can be a perfectly legitimate date, and even a short amount of time can qualify. The reason I’d suddenly begun waxing philosophical like this was my current predicament.
If the main goal was to deepen our relationship, then I should have been able to say I was certainly on a date right now. I should have been able to say that, but...
"Huaaaah..."
"...Um, Fate-san? Are you going to start moving on your own soon?"
"No way~"
"..."
I was currently making my way through the city by pulling the hand of my date, who was sprawled out lazily on her cushion. Since the cushion was floating, I didn't feel her weight, but it certainly felt like I was hauling a handcart. Shouldn't there be a bit more to it? Holding hands with a racing heart, adjusting your pace to hers... that sort of thing?
"...Fate-san? What’s with that wide-open mouth?"
"Feed me~"
"..."
"Aum... Ahh, so good~"
Whenever we decided to eat something from a stall, my date would simply remain lying down and open her mouth, expecting me to ferry the food to her while being careful not to spill. Something was definitely wrong here. In terms of romantic events, this was supposed to be the "feed me" trope, right? I had been so nervous when I did this with Isis-san, but I wasn't feeling a shred of that tension right now.
"No, Fate-san... surely you can’t manage a drink while lying down? Please, get up."
"It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m using Fate Manipulation to make sure it doesn't spill."
"Shouldn't you be directing that effort toward something—anything—else?!"
On top of everything else, she even tried to drink while lying down. To make matters worse, since things like plastic bottles didn't exist in this world, drinks were served in thin wooden cups. I suppose that was why beverages bought at stalls were quite expensive compared to my old world. Regardless, Fate-san still tried to sip from one while being a total sloth. Was this really a date? Not home-care or physical therapy, but an actual date?
"...Fate-san, this is a date, right?"
"Eh? Yeah, it is~"
"..."
"Ah... uhm..."
Seeing me slump my shoulders in utter dejection, Fate-san wore a rare, troubled expression. Then, she finally sat up and actually got off the cushion. Wait... she actually got off?
"Geez, sorry. I got a little too carried away. Are you mad?"
"Eh? No, I’m not mad or anything..."
"Carried away"? No, it only looked like she was being a degenerate to me, but was that her idea of being high-spirited?
Faced with my bewilderment, Fate-san nodded as if she had reached some internal conclusion, then firmly grabbed my hand.
"It’s no good if only I’m having fun, so let’s start over!"
"Eh? Wait?! Fate-san?!"
"Now, once again, let's go~!"
Then, she started walking while pulling me along with incredible strength. Unable to keep up with the sudden shift, I followed behind her, essentially being dragged along while stunned.
After declaring she was restarting the date, Fate-san put her cushion away somewhere and walked through the city while clutching my hand. It was a strange thing; until just a moment ago, I had been pulling her hand just to move her, yet now that she was holding mine of her own volition, I suddenly felt quite embarrassed.
By the way, if Fate-san, a Supreme God, were to walk around with a mere human like me, it would usually cause an uproar. However, it seemed she was using Fate Manipulation to prevent others from recognizing her as a Supreme God. It was similar to the Recognition Inhibition Magic that Kuro used during our date. As long as she had this active, the people in the city would only perceive Fate-san as an ordinary girl.
With Kuro’s magic, those she spoke to directly would realize her true identity, but with Fate-san’s Fate Manipulation, even if someone spoke to her directly, they wouldn't recognize her unless she permitted it. It felt like a superior version of the ability.
"Oh, Kai-chan, let's eat that!"
"...What is that? That thing is ridiculously huge..."
"Eh? I'm pretty sure it's a dish introduced from Kai-chan's world... something called a Squid Ring!"
"That is different from any Squid Ring I know..."
Fate-san pointed with a smile at a giant ring-shaped object that looked about as large as a house's roof. Apparently, that was a Squid Ring. If that was a Squid Ring, the original squid must have been a monster like a Kraken. I was truly never-endingly surprised by the food in this world.
When we ordered the Squid Ring at the stall, it was handed to us cut into small pieces. Given the size, I figured it would be served that way, but I felt it would be more accurate to call this Fried Squid rather than a Squid Ring.
"Mmm, it’s delicious."
"Yeah, the meat is firm and tasty."
"Ah, that’s right! Kai-chan, Kai-chan!"
"Yes?"
"Here, ahhh~!"
"Mmph?!"
When I turned around, Fate-san shoved a piece of squid into my mouth with blinding speed. It was an "Ahhh" delivered with an extreme sense of velocity. The sheer impact nearly knocked me backward. Yeah, as I thought, something was definitely different about her.
"Oh, let's try that too! Kai-chan!"
"Eh? Wait, hold on..."
However, without paying any mind to my state, Fate-san kept pulling me along. There probably weren't many situations where the phrase "being swung around" fit so perfectly. This was exhausting in a completely different way than her lazy mode. But, well... if Fate-san was having fun, I suppose it was fine.
I'm not sure how much time passed, but the active Fate-san was unbelievably energetic. One moment she was eating her way through the stalls, the next she took an interest in a play, and then she’d suddenly decide she wanted to look at clothes before changing her mind halfway through.
"Phew, we really played a lot!"
"...Sigh... Y-Yes, we did."
"That was fun~"
I sat exhausted on a bench in the square. Fate-san, looking quite satisfied, floated before me with a smile on the cushion she had taken out again. I was truly, truly tired... but she seemed to have enjoyed herself. Being swung around by her bright personality was a lot of work, but I had to admit I’d had fun too.
"Hmm, it’s a good time, so shall we head back soon?"
"Understood."
"Then, carry me~"
"..."
Apparently, her Energetic Mode had completely expired. Fate-san spoke in a pampered voice while swaying her reddish-purple back twin-tails. Since I had already given up on her laziness, I let out another sigh, stood up, and approached her to pull the cushion along.
"Ah, that’s right, I almost forgot."
"Eh?"
"This is a thank-you for today... mwah."
"?!"
"Fufu, let’s play together again... okay?"
The moment I approached, Fate-san suddenly sat up. After murmuring that it was a thank-you, she kissed me on the cheek with a quick, fluid movement before pulling away. I was stunned by the sudden action, but Fate-san didn't seem to mind, returning to her lazy posture on the cushion.
No, if I looked closely... I thought I saw her cheeks tinged with a slight blush, so faint you wouldn't notice unless you were paying close attention.
Dear Mother, Father—My date with Fate-san was, as expected, a whirlwind of being swung around. But in the end, I think she enjoyed herself, so I'm glad. Only, well—I was surprised by the final thank-you.