Once Cento and Tore’s conversation—or rather, Tore’s lecture—was over, we resumed our walk through the plaza’s stalls. It wasn't long before I spotted a rather strange one.
The stall featured two distinct doors, one red and one blue, but provided no clue as to what it actually sold.
"Tore-san, what’s that over there?"
"Oh, that’s a maze stall. When you open one of those doors, you enter a pocket of space created by space-time magic. There are several more doors inside that you pass through in sequence. The prize waiting in the final room changes depending on the path you take."
"Heh, so they even have stalls like that."
"Since we’re here, why don’t we try it? It allows for pairs, so Kaito and I can go together while Cento and Sien take another turn!"
"Sure. Since we’re here..."
It was the kind of attraction that could only exist thanks to space-time magic. While the mechanics were simple—just choosing and opening doors—it felt like something you’d find at an amusement park.
We decided to give it a try since we were already there, and after paying the entrance fee, we began the challenge.
"Alright, let’s take turns picking. You go first, Kaito."
"Hmm, then I’ll go with the red door."
"Okay, let's go!"
The moment we stepped through, we entered a square room with doors in front of us and on both sides. We had to choose one to move forward. It felt like a maze, but there was a set number of transitions before you were guaranteed to reach the goal.
"About how many doors do we go through to reach the end?"
"Hmm, usually about five."
"I see..."
Watching Tore-san seriously consider which door to pick, a certain thought occurred to me. Since I was alone with her, there was something I wanted to ask.
"Tore-san."
"Yeah?"
"This might sound a bit odd, but you’re always telling me we’re fated or suggesting we should start dating."
"I am. Why, are you finally in the mood to get married?"
"I’m not."
"That's weird. I thought the flow was perfect just now..."
Tore-san's reaction was the same as always, but I decided to push through and ask the question anyway.
"What exactly is it about me that makes you say those things?"
"Eh? Well... I honestly don't know."
"Whaaa..."
"Basically, you're asking what I like about you, right? Yeah, I don't know!"
As I looked at her with an exasperated expression, wondering if that was really something to declare so confidently, Tore-san's face turned a bit more serious.
"I mean, even with everything that’s happened, we haven’t actually known each other that long. There’s still so much I don’t know about you. I don't want to put on a knowing act and claim I love this or that specific trait when I'm still learning who you are."
"I see."
"At first, it was just a spark. I had a feeling that life would be fun if I were with you. As it turns out, that hunch was right—I have a blast whenever we’re together. But if you ask for a concrete list of why I like you... I honestly couldn't tell you."
She gave a pleasant laugh as she picked a door and opened it. We held hands and entered the next room, which similarly featured three doors.
"Emotions are difficult," Tore-san continued. "Even if you know you like someone, isn't it hard to explain the specifics?"
"Certainly. Now that you mention it, explaining the reasons for love in detail is actually quite hard."
"Mm-hmm. That's why I think 'just liking you' is enough for now... at least for now."
I nodded as she spoke. Explaining the emotion of "love" was indeed complicated. I could point to things I appreciated, but articulating it in fine detail was a different matter entirely.
"We get along well, so I kind of like him. Being together is fun, so I kind of like him. We can compete on equal footing, so I kind of like him... I think it’s fine to just let those little 'likes' pile up for now. Eventually, when they’ve stacked high enough that I feel I truly know you, I'll be able to tell you exactly what I love about you. That'll be enough."
"I see..."
It seemed she was taking me much more seriously than I’d realized. Her talk of marriage and dating wasn't just a playful tease after all. The realization left me feeling a bit bashful, but genuinely happy.
"Phew! Well, there's no need to rush, Kaito. Even if you don't, you'll be head over heels for me soon enough once my mature, adult charm starts to sink in!"
"Hmm. Even if the day comes where I fall for you, I don't think adult charm will be the cause."
"Ehh?! But I'm a big sister, you know? I'm a super big sister with a Big Sister Power of at least 100,000!"
"What is Big Sister Power?"
"You know, since Ai-nee often talks about things like Maid Power, I thought there ought to be things like Big Sister Power or a Big Sister Aura too!"
I couldn't help but laugh. She really was a delightful person. As Tore-san said, it was fun just being with her.
"I’d suggest trying a different angle. You don't really give off much of an 'older woman' vibe..."
"W-What?! Keep talking like that and you’ll regret it when my Big Sister Power finally awakens!"
"What happens when it awakens?"
"That, I don't know!"
"If even you don't know, it seems like a lost cause."
"A lost cause, huh... too bad."
"Ahaha."
I doubted her Big Sister Power or adult charm would ever actually manifest, but I did feel one thing for certain: Tore was a captivating woman, and I could see myself falling for her even more as time went on.
Serious-senpai: "Gack! A surprise attack... It’s always the hardest to tank when a usually goofy character drops a sincere confession of affection. The destructive power is off the charts..."