CH 8

Vol. 1 Chapter 8: Invitation

I was transferred to Touou High, a prestigious school fit for the richest in society, just yesterday. However, past is history, and the present is a gift—Yes, it’s Saturday, a holiday.

Sunlight shone through my window, basking me as I woke up with a big sigh. Looking at the fancy clock hung in my room, I see it’s 8:15 in the morning. After a week of living here, I’ve gotten a bit more used to it.

“Haru, come with me!”

As I pondered what I’d do today, my door was suddenly blasted open with a bang. It was my childhood friend and current boss, Kyou Usami. She shook excitedly, eager for my answer.

“At least knock on the door, Usami…”

When I wryly pointed this out, her face flushed red. It seemed to click that she did something immodest.

“I–I’m not talking about that! Would you like to come with me, just the two of us?”

She suggested, quickly hiding her embarrassed red face. My answer was obvious, though.

“I’m fine with it. In fact, I wanted to get some clothes for myself. So, what time would you like to go?”

Her face lit up at my answer, and that made mine light up too.

“W–Well, how about we meet at… 12 at the Shinhama station?”

“Hm? Aren’t we going by car?”

“Um, that’s…!”

Why bother to separate, I wonder. After staying quiet for a bit, she took a deep breath and opened her mouth, resolute.

“W–Wouldn’t it be more, um, couple-like if we met up…?”

“—!”

My heart burned when she said that, so sweetly, with those upturned eyes of hers.

O–Oh, I got it! She’s inviting me for a date! Surely, a man and a woman going out together would be considered a date… right?

My body, which had been relaxed until now, instantly tenses up as I realize that I’m going on a date with Usami. My heart pitter-patters in my chest, and I feel myself getting flushed.

“Y–You’re right, Usami! Then let’s meet in front of the station at 12! I’ve got some preparations to do, so could I ask you to leave at once?”

With a slightly raised voice, I asked her to leave the room. My heartbeat is so loud, it’s driving me crazy. I almost can’t handle what’s happening right now.

“Yes! I’m looking forward to it, Haru!”

“… Haaaah…”

I let out a mega-sigh after confirming she’d left the room.

Since I moved here, every day has been filled with excitement. I’m pretty sure almost all of it was caused by Usami herself, though… But I don’t hate this at all.

The sweet feeling of fulfillment permeated my body, something I’d never felt when dating Mei. Not once, even.

While feeling this newfound happiness, I prepared for my date with her.

Usami’s POV

Kyou Usami then returned to her room and plopped on her bed. She couldn’t keep her excitement and repeatedly kicked her legs while blushing intensely.

“Yaay~! I have a date with Haru!”

My face breaks into an uncontrollable grin. The dream I’ve had ever since I was just a little girl would soon come true. I’ve dreamed about this for eight years! And I’ve never felt my heart race this much before.

“Ha! I can’t keep stalling! Hm, what outfit should I pick…?”

I’ll have to leave the house by 11:30, considering the travel time. It’s 8:30 now, so I have only two hours to prepare. It’s my first date, and I can’t be late.

Stepping out of my bed, I start to pick out clothes for my date, rifling through the numerous chests in my room.

An hour later…

Usami had a large pile of clothes on her bed. She’d take them, and pretend to wear them, tilting her head side-to-side while assessing them, ultimately to throw most back onto the bed after a long ‘hmmm’.

She had repeated that motion for an hour, nonstop.

It’s hard to believe she’d choose anything in the next hour. As she struggled among her sea of choices, a maid came into the room. Matoi Nijo, the head maid, came to the rescue.

“Miss… How long are you going to keep picking clothes? At this rate, you won’t make it in time for your date.”

My maid, Nijo, stepped inside while exhaling a big sigh mixed with a complaint. I was taken aback by her point for a split second, but quickly managed to refute it.

“I–I don’t care what you say! I’ve never been on a date with a boy before!”

At my words, Nijo lets out her second sigh of the day.

“The first thing you need to do is ask yourself, ‘Where am I going with Shuu?’ Depending on the where you’ll need to change your outfit accordingly.”

“—!”

Her point made me cringe. I couldn’t even refute her if I wanted to… As expected of the creme-de-la-creme of maids!

“Haru said he wanted to go shopping…”

“Then the place you’ll go would be a large department store, right? If that’s the case, I’d say an outfit that appeals to your cuteness while still being casual would suit you best.”

I then continue the process of matching and undressing Nijo’s choice of clothes over and over again. As I continue to do this, I finally ask her a question that’s been eating away at me.

“Come to think of it… How did you know I was picking clothes even before you entered the room, Nijo?”

“I could tell.”

“…”

I was terrified by the unexpected skill my employed maid had.