It was the day I had promised to visit a cafe with Illness-san, and we had arranged to meet at the front entrance before heading out.
Though we had spent time together on numerous occasions, I felt a restless flutter in my chest, knowing this was our first official date since becoming a couple.
It was only a trip to a cafe, nothing too extravagant, but given it was a high-end establishment, I opted for the more formal attire I had worn during the Six Kings Festival.
I reached the entrance just as she arrived. Her timing was impeccable. Today, Illness-san wore a long black skirt paired with a frilled, white long-sleeved top. Adorned with subtle, rose-themed accessories, she exuded an air of refined elegance.
Usually, she favored darker colors, so seeing her in such bright, white-based clothing felt wonderfully fresh.
"Good morning, Illness-san. We're right on time, aren't we?"
"Good morning. Hehe, it seems we’re perfectly in sync."
"We certainly are. And I must say, those clothes really suit you. You look lovely, Illness-san. That elegant style is perfect for you."
"Thank you very much. You look wonderful as well, Kaito-sama. Those are the clothes you wore during the Six Kings Festival, aren't they? Since I didn't attend the festival myself, I feel quite lucky to see you wearing them now."
Come to think of it, she had visited the festival at night. Back then, I’d stowed my jacket in my Magic Box to avoid getting it dirty at the food stalls. This was likely the first time she’d seen me wearing the full outfit.
"Well, we shouldn't stand around here forever. Shall we go?"
"Yes. And so our date begins."
A date. Right. We were officially a couple now, and this was our first outing as such. I felt like I wanted things to be a little different than they had been before.
"...Illness-san, if you're comfortable with it, would you like to hold hands?"
"Yes. I would be delighted."
She gave me a gentle smile and reached out her hand. When I took it, I was struck by how small and soft it felt. Her palm was slightly cool to the touch, which felt pleasant against my own.
"...It is harder to remain calm than I expected. I find myself feeling quite nervous."
"It's rare to see you nervous, Illness-san. In fact, it might be a first. Is it because it's our first date?"
"It is. Becoming lovers like this, going out while holding hands... it is all new to me. I feel a little out of sorts."
To any other onlooker, she likely seemed as serene and composed as ever. But if I looked closely, her expression was a bit stiff. Through my Sympathy Magic, I could feel the thrum of her anxiety. More than that, however, I felt her happiness. Even though she was nervous, she was clearly enjoying the moment. That realization put me at ease.
"I'm not exactly an expert myself, but I'll do my best to lead the way, Illness-san."
"Yes. I know I can rely on you."
While she was nervous, she wasn't exactly paralyzed by it. There probably wouldn't be much "leading" for me to do, but I still felt like I should be more proactive now that we were together.
I loosened my grip slightly and wove my fingers through hers. Sensing my intent, she parted her fingers to welcome mine. With our fingers interlaced in a Lover’s Hand-holding, we shared a brief smile and set off toward the city.
Serious-senpai: "Ah, it's already too sweet. This is bad... I want to get out of here."