Vol. 1 Chapter 12 – Light vs. Dark

“…Eh?” (Hikaru)

In front of me, Asahi-san made a face like she’d been shot by a pea shooter.
Seeing that dumbfounded expression, I felt the impact of my attack land for the first time.

“Well… actually, I was thinking of going to buy a new mouse… and then I thought maybe you might be interested in gaming-type devices or something… N-No! Forget I just said—” (Reiya)
“I can make time the day after tomorrow.” (Hikaru)
“…Heh?” (Reiya)

This time, it was my turn to make a sound like I’d been shot by a pea shooter.

“Tomorrow I have plans, so that’s impossible. But I can make time from lunchtime onwards the day after tomorrow.” (Hikaru)
“Are you sure it’s okay to squeeze it in so suddenly…?” (Reiya)
“Honestly, I’m really interested. I’m the type to be pretty particular about my racquets and strings too.” (Hikaru)

As if proving it was her true feeling, she breathed slightly heavily with little nods.

“I-I see…” (Reiya)
“Where are you going to buy it? A mass retailer… probably doesn’t sell much of that stuff, right?” (Hikaru)
“Um… There’s a specialty store inside a commercial facility about five stations from here…” (Reiya)

Wait, wait, wait, what am I saying?
I was supposed to be trying to end this…
No, it’s still not too late—

“A Spe-cial-ty Store!?” (Hikaru)

I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go.
That’s how her eyes began to sparkle intensely.
Now, I couldn’t possibly say I wanted to cancel, even if my mouth were torn open.

“Like… rows and rows of mice and keyboards lining the walls!?” (Hikaru)
“It’s a store that imports directly from overseas manufacturers, so their product lineup is quite extensive…” (Reiya)

I still believed she and I were people from different worlds.
But since it was decided, I had no choice but to guide her properly.

“Wow~… Maybe I’ll buy something too if I find anything good.” (Hikaru)
“But Asahi-san, didn’t you say you don’t have a PC yet…?” (Reiya)
“For when I eventually buy my own computer, of course! Until then, I’ll just have Kageyama-kun keep it at his place.” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san said this and laughed childishly.

“Well, if it’s just keeping it here…” (Reiya)

An image flashed in my mind of a calculating woman gradually increasing her personal belongings in the room of the man she was targeting, starting with a toothbrush, to establish a fait accompli, but I consented, figuring she surely didn’t have such intentions.

“Let’s see~… It’ll be after practice, so~… I can probably make it around 3 PM. In that case, we’ll probably end up eating dinner over there too, right…” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san checked her schedule on her smartphone.
As I calmed down a little, I gradually began to understand the result of my actions.

…Could this possibly be a date-type thing?

Arranging plans in advance, a boy and a girl going out together privately.
Unless my self-consciousness was way over the top, this was an activity called a date with about a 70% probability.

But this was Asahi-san, who had turned down the baseball club guy and countless other boys besides.
I couldn’t imagine someone like her would permit an event like a date so easily.

Then, I suddenly recalled the conversation among the girls I’d heard in the classroom the other day.

‘Hah… Seriously, her guard is so solid…’
‘She definitely won’t come if she senses guys are involved.’

Could it be that I’m simply not seen as a guy…?
Treated like a Mob Enemy whose level difference is too great for the EXP modifier to even kick in…?
That’s why she enters my room without any worries, maybe even thinking it doesn’t count.
Based on the situation so far, I couldn’t help but harbor such suspicions.

“Where should we meet?” (Hikaru)
“Eh? Ah… Um… How about in front of the station there?” (Reiya)
“Sounds good. That might be easier for me to get to after practice. Okay, then let’s meet there the day after tomorrow at 3 PM! It’s decided!” (Hikaru)

As the arrangement was settled so easily, my suspicion came infinitely close to certainty.
She maintains this distance because I’m not seen as a guy.
If so, then paradoxically, if I start being seen as a guy, she should pull back herself.
This association will dissolve naturally, and no one will meet an unhappy end.
In a situation with no clear outlook, I had finally found a strategy guide.

“…Ack, talking like this, it’s already so late! I gotta hurry home! Well then, see you the day after tomorrow—” (Hikaru)
“Ah… W-Wait a second!” (Reiya)

I stopped Asahi-san as she gathered her things to head home.

“I-I’ll walk you to the station…” (Reiya)

It was already dark outside, a dangerous time for a girl to walk alone.
If I were a normal, manly man, walking her to the station here would be the correct move.
In fact, just seeing her off here the previous times might have already been a huge minus point.

“Ah~… You don’t have to go out of your way to walk me, it’s okay. I’m totally fine alone.” (Hikaru)
“But, it’s already dark out…” (Reiya)

As expected, she refused, but I couldn’t back down here.
To be seen as a man, I had to act like a man.

“It’s just a short walk to the main street, totally fine, totally fine.” (Hikaru)
“But, if something were to happen… it’d be, you know, that…” (Reiya)
“That?” (Hikaru)
“That, meaning… um…” (Reiya)
“Ahaha! What’s that supposed to mean~!” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san burst out laughing at my incoherent explanation.

“A-Anyway, it’s dangerous alone!” (Reiya)
“Well… if you insist, maybe I’ll let you walk me~” (Hikaru)
“R-Roger! Um… Okay, just my wallet and phone… Ah, huh!? Where did I put it…!?” (Reiya)
“Ahaha, starting off with a rough road ahead, huh~.” (Hikaru)

In front of her, who continued laughing, I conducted a major ten-minute search for my phone.
She didn’t suggest going home alone after all, but contrary to my determination, I immediately showed a pathetic side.

After that, it took roughly half the time spent searching to walk her to the station.
The journey, like a rehearsal for the day after tomorrow, ended with almost nothing said.

Having seen her off and returned home, I launched ‘Thiscord’ and sent a message to my friend, Itsuki-san.

‘Itsuki-san, in your opinion, what is manliness?’ (Reiya)
‘Not having to ask someone else that kind of thing.’ (Itsuki)

I thought he had a very good point.

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Translator’s Notes

• Like she’d been shot by a pea shooter: Which is mean a look of being utterly stunned or dumbfounded.
• Gaming-type devices: Refers to peripherals like mice, keyboards, headsets designed for gaming.
• Mass retailer: Large electronics stores in one place or close to each other.