Vol. 2 Chapter 41 – A Normal Date

Day two of the three-day, two-night sleepover course.

Although we usually lazed around the room, that day we had gone out for the first time in a while.

And the place we visited was—

Paoooon!!

“Look, look!! There’s an elephant!! An elephant!!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru placed both hands on the fence, looking up at the elephant with excitement.

Yes, today we had come to the zoo.

Our previous outings had mostly leaned towards otaku tendencies: going to PC shops, arcades, PC shops again.

Why such a normal choice today, you ask? That traces back to before bedtime yesterday.

Having gained new inspiration from my communication with Hikaru, I was able to generate numerous new events.

Even so, I was still far from the quota of one hundred.

So, I sought advice from my internet friend Itsuki-san for the first time in a while—

Ideas like that are often found rolling around in the everyday things you usually overlook. (Itsuki)

…was the helpful advice I received.

Therefore, I proposed to Hikaru, ‘How about we try having a normal date tomorrow?’

She agreed immediately, saying, ‘In that case, I want to go to the zoo!’ which led us to the present moment.

“Wow…! It’s huge…!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru gazed up at the elephant with sparkling eyes full of admiration, just like a child.

There certainly is something romantic about giant creatures like this.

A romance that makes you want to ride them across an open world and trample enemy bases.

“You like elephants, huh?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, they make you want to ride on their backs and rampage across the field, right?” (Hikaru)

I felt a deep sense of emotion, thinking Hikaru had become quite influenced.

“Well, you can’t ride it, but how about I take a picture of you two together?” (Reiya)

“Really?” (Hikaru)

“Of course, here, stand over there.” (Reiya)

I held up my smartphone, capturing Hikaru smiling and flashing a peace sign with the elephant in the frame.

A truly peaceful, normal date.

Since it was a Saturday, the surroundings were filled with families and couples.

We too must be blending into that everyday scene… or so I thought, vastly underestimating the influence of “Asahi Hikaru.”

“Uh, excuse me…! You’re Asahi Hikaru-san, right…!?” (Female Fan A)

Right after taking the picture with the elephant, a pair of young women called out to her.

They looked about our age, with the vibe of friends out having fun together.

Come to think of it, I remembered seeing a notice at the entrance about some event happening.

“Yes, I am.” (Hikaru)

“See, I told you it was definitely her!” (Female Fan B)

“No way! The real deal!? Her face and figure are too perfect! Sooo cute~!” (Female Fan A)

Realizing it was the genuine Asahi Hikaru before them, the girls suddenly started getting excited.

“Um~? Can I help you with something?” (Hikaru)

“Ah, sorry! We’re fans of yours, Asahi-san!” (Female Fan B)

“Eh? Really!?” (Hikaru)

“Yes! We follow you on Tiktak and Minsta! Plus, we bought the issues of Nanateen and Tennis Magazine you were on the cover of recently!” (Female Fan A)

“I bought three copies! Three! One to read, one to keep, and one for proselytizing!” (Female Fan B)

“Wow~! Thank you so much! I’m so happy~!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru smoothly handled the interaction with the suddenly appearing fans.

However, drawn by the pair’s excitement, the surrounding people also started noticing something was up.

If the commotion spread too much, it could become a nuisance to other visitors and the zoo.

If that happened, I might have to pull her away from here, even if somewhat forcefully, I thought as I watched the situation unfold.

“Um, if it’s okay, could we take a picture together?” (Female Fan A)

“Ah, me too! Please!” (Female Fan B)

“Yes, of course!” (Hikaru)

Following that flow, pictures were taken together using each of their smartphones.

When asked if it was okay to post them on social media, she readily agreed.

Divine fan service, showing absolutely no reluctance despite being in her private time.

Finally, they even shook hands, and the girls left, repeating their thanks many times.

“That was surprising… I didn’t expect anyone to approach me like that…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru covered her mouth, expressing genuine surprise.

“You seemed to handle it pretty calmly, though.” (Reiya)

“Yeah, I’d practiced beforehand just in case someone ever approached me.” (Hikaru)

I laughed in response to her words, unsure if she was joking or serious.

“But, sorry about that. During our date.” (Hikaru)

“It’s fine by me… but maybe you should have worn a disguise or something to avoid standing out?” (Reiya)

“No way~… I don’t need to go that far, right? If a huge crowd formed and I couldn’t move an inch, then I’d consider it, maybe.” (Hikaru)

“But, I’d completely forgotten, you’re famous, Hikaru… Isn’t it actually not great for you to be seen with a guy like this?” (Reiya)

“It’s not like I’m an idol or anything, so it’s fine, it’s fine! Those girls earlier didn’t mind at all.” (Hikaru)

That’s probably just because they never imagined I could be her boyfriend…

I couldn’t bring myself to say something so self-deprecating out loud.

And, contrary to Hikaru’s optimistic words, I would soon learn that this was merely the beginning.

“Um… Asahi Hikaru-san, right!? I play tennis too, I’ve been a fan since your junior days!! Please shake my hand!!”

“Wow~! It’s the real Hikaru-chan~!!”

“My whole family are fans! Could we get your autograph, if possible!?”

“Eh? What? Is there a celebrity here? Where, where?”

Starting with those two, people began approaching her one after another.

Less than two hours after entering the park, the number reached a total of ten groups.

What was supposed to be a normal date had turned into a major event…

“Being on the cover of the industry’s biggest magazine really is amazing~…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said pensively after finishing with all the fans.

Indeed, more than half of them had mentioned the Nanateen issue she covered.

“It’s incredible… The response was really good too, right?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, the publisher asked me if I’d like to do it again… and my social media followers apparently doubled in a week.” (Hikaru)

“Doubled means… around 600,000 now?” (Reiya)

“I think it was around that much~… I don’t usually pay much attention, so I haven’t looked in a while, but maybe it’s increased even more now.” (Hikaru)

She said it casually, but I was reminded once again of just how amazing she was.

Once she makes her pro debut and gets featured in even more media, those numbers would likely grow exponentially.

But the truly difficult part for you starts now, you know?

I strongly felt the truth of the words Hikaru’s mother told me back then once more.

The difficulty of simply being by Asahi Hikaru’s side.

As long as she is who she is, having normal dates will only become more difficult in the future.

“By the way… I wonder what people thought I was, standing next to someone so popular.” (Reiya)

That insecurity slipped out as words.

“Hmm~… Just your boyfriend, probably? A guy and a girl at the zoo together.” (Hikaru)

“Wasn’t their reaction a bit underwhelming for that?” (Reiya)

“Well, they’re my fans, you know. Everyone has good manners, so they probably just avoided touching on private matters.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru probably wasn’t trying to console me; she likely believed that as fact.

That’s precisely why it stung a little this time, after so long…

That outwardly, there was still a huge gap between us.

“More importantly, they have an animal petting experience over there! Let’s go, let’s go! I want to feed a capybara!!” (Hikaru)

Whether she knew my feelings or not, she grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me along.

Well, no point dwelling on something I already knew…

Just as I resolved to refocus and just enjoy the day—

“…Hm?” (Reiya)

My feet stopped when I spotted something in the shadow of a nearby vending machine.

“What’s wrong?” (Hikaru)

“No, that kid over there… I wonder what happened…” (Reiya)

Sitting slumped on the edge of a planter was a child, all alone and looking dejected.

A little girl, probably early elementary school age, dressed in nice clothes for an outing.

“Oh, you’re right… Maybe she’s lost…?” (Hikaru)

“Or maybe she fought with the friends she came with…?” (Reiya)

“Either way, we can’t just leave her, right? I’ll go talk to her real quick.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru let go of my hand and ran towards the girl without hesitation.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Did you get separated from your mommy or daddy?” (Hikaru)

She crouched down, meeting the girl’s eye level, and spoke gently.

A soft smile filled with compassion, capable of opening anyone’s heart.

However, the girl glanced up at Hikaru’s face for a moment, then immediately looked down again.

Hikaru tried talking to her several more times after that, but perhaps the girl had closed herself off; there was no reaction at all.

She looked towards me helplessly, as if asking, ‘What should I do?’

From the looks of it, she was almost certainly lost.

But even if we wanted to take her to a staff member, it would be difficult without establishing at least minimal communication first.

Wondering what to do, I decided to follow Hikaru’s lead and try speaking gently.

“Did you come here alone?” (Reiya)

The girl looked up just like before, glanced at my face, and then—

“Nn-nn…”

Making a soft sound in her throat, she shook her head side to side.

“Then, did you come with your mommy or daddy? Or maybe friends? Do you know where they are?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru spoke again to the girl, who had suddenly become cooperative.

A gentle inquiry that sounded like she could become a nursery school teacher right now.

However, the girl only glanced at Hikaru again before immediately turning back towards me.

This time, after a slightly hesitant pause, Hikaru signaled with her eyes, ‘Reiya-kun’s turn.’

“D-Do you know where the person you came with is right now…?” (Reiya)

I tried asking the same thing again, just to see—

“…I dunno.”

She answered readily once more.

But next to me, Hikaru wore the most perplexed expression imaginable.