Chapter 16

Yukito stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

Yukito managed to slip into the weekly overall ranking at fourth place.

Thank you.

I hope for your continued support.

The final exams went smoothly.

Yukito felt that his performance was better than the midterms.

"Hmm... not bad."

After finishing his self-grading, Yukito let out a sigh of relief.

Although he wouldn't know the results until they were returned, he was confident that he had scored at least as well as, if not better than, the midterms.

It was probably thanks to the study sessions with Arisa.

...During the midterms, he had studied while fooling around with Soichiro and the others, so he hadn't made much progress.

"So, how do you feel?"

"...It feels good. I think the effort has paid off."

"That's great."

It was the last day of the final exams.

Although it was a Friday, Arisa had come to Yukito's apartment.

They decided to do self-grading and reflect on the exams together.

"But it's refreshing. Self-grading, that is."

"...Have you never done it before?"

"Well, I basically don't look back on the past... and my friends are all the type who don't look back either."

Specifically, Soichiro, Ayaka, Chiharu, and Sei.

Yukito felt a bit worried about the bias in his social circle, thinking they were all bad influences.

Birds of a feather flock together, as they say.

"Looking back too much might not be good, but some review is necessary, I think."

Arisa said this with a cold look and tone, while Yukito seemed to be resigned to it, shrugging his shoulders.

"Review doesn't produce anything, they say."

"That's a different 'review.' ...We need to work hard to prepare for the external mock exams during the summer break."

"External mock exams, huh. ...I need to get serious about that."

Midterms and finals, and external mock exams.

The latter is significantly more important.

Unless you're aiming for a recommendation, a bad internal evaluation isn't a problem.

The content of the midterm and final exams isn't really geared towards college entrance exams, so it's questionable whether they will be useful for the actual exams.

"I think you should get serious about both. ...Is the recommendation option not on the table?"

"I don't have the confidence to maintain good behavior for three years. Is Yuki aiming for a recommendation?"

"I haven't decided yet. But more options are better, right?"

A very model student response.

Yukito thought he should give his friends a taste of their own medicine.

"Well, but the college entrance exams are still a long way off. And the final exams are already over. Let's talk about the near future."

"Not thinking about it at all might not be good... What do you mean by the near future?"

"What are you going to do tomorrow? As usual, play some games?"

Tomorrow is Saturday.

The day Arisa comes to Yukito's house.

For about two weeks, they had been studying instead of playing games, so if they were to play games, it would be the first time in a while.

"Actually, I have something to discuss about that."

Arisa said this in a serious tone.

"What is it?"

"...You always prepare a cake for me, don't you?"

"Yeah, that's right. Well, last week it was a cream puff."

A famous Western confectionery shop that Yukito frequents.

There are various types of cakes, as well as cream puffs and puddings, all of which are very delicious.

Yukito had been buying a different type of treat for Arisa each week.

"That was very delicious. But that's not the point."

"Not the point?"

"Next week... I would appreciate it if you could skip the sweets."

Yukito tilted his head in confusion.

Every week, when he took out the cake, Arisa's eyes would light up, and she looked very happy when eating it. And just now, she had said the cream puff was delicious.

"Why? You said it was delicious."

"It is delicious. But that's the problem. ...Please understand."

Understand.

Yukito thought for a moment and then realized the answer.

Indeed, as a woman, that would be a concern.

But...

"Rather, the amount of sugar you put in your coffee might be the main cause..."

"Mind your own business. And, I haven't gained weight yet. It's just a concern."

Arisa glared at Yukito, her cheeks flushed, her brows furrowed, and her eyes wide.

He had been a bit insensitive.

"Well... but I might have gained weight too. I've been consciously increasing my exercise."

"...Men have a better metabolism, don't they?"

"Your cooking is more sinful than the cake. I tend to overeat."

"That's... should I say thank you, or apologize?"

Arisa said this with a confused look.

But... it seemed her feelings were more on the side of "thank you," as evidenced by the slight relaxation of her lips.

"...Actually, recently, my grandparents have been lecturing me."

"Lecturing, you say?"

"They say that while you might find it fun to play games at home, it's boring for a girl of your age. That's the gist of it."

Arisa comes to Yukito's house not only because she wants to play games but also to act as a loving fiancée.

In other words, it's a "home date" in name.

But... how many couples only have "home dates"?

"I enjoy it, though. ...But, you're right. My adoptive parents... well, they asked me this morning if we would go out... for a date."

Arisa hesitated a bit before saying the word "date."

To Arisa, it's just playing with a male friend, but to outsiders, they look like a couple, and to their guardians, they are fiancés.

It's natural for it to look that way, but saying it out loud is embarrassing.

...Such an attitude gives a sense of being a newly in love couple, which isn't a problem in itself.

"Are you the same? ...So, let's talk about it. How about... going out on a date tomorrow?"

Recently, they've been studying continuously and haven't been moving much.

So, he wanted to do some light exercise outdoors. It would be good for their health.

Besides, the final exams were over.

He wanted to have fun in a different place than usual.

That's why Yukito made this proposal.

"Sure, I think it's a good idea. To make our relationship as a couple more believable, it would be good to go out and have some fun."

"Then, I'll contact you later."

Thus, the two decided to go on a "date."

---

On the day of the date.

To do some light exercise, the two, dressed in comfortable clothes, visited...

"What can we do here?"

"Karaoke, darts, billiards, bowling, table tennis, tennis... I've done these before."

It's a so-called comprehensive entertainment facility.

The choice was made because staying at home and playing games all the time is unhealthy.

"Have you been here before?"

"Well, a few times with friends. Of course, those friends are Soichiro and Sei."

Yukito didn't have the courage to take Arisa to a place he had never been to before.

But since there are many options, it's unlikely that they would be disappointed.

Yukito had a membership card, but Arisa didn't, so she got one at the entrance.

After putting the card in her wallet, Arisa asked Yukito.

"So... what should we do?"

"Is there anything you're interested in, Arisa?"

Yukito opened the pamphlet he got at the counter, prioritizing the beginner Arisa.

After some thought, Arisa pointed to one of the facilities.

"Tennis. I have experience from class. I don't have the confidence to play a match, but I can do a rally. It would be good exercise and fun."

"Tennis, huh? Sure, let's do that."

Playing tennis together. It's a very couple-like activity.

If they say they played tennis, his grandparents, who are always nagging, would be satisfied.

They immediately borrowed rackets and balls and headed to the tennis court, but...

"...Sei?"

"...What a coincidence, Yukito."

They ran into each other unexpectedly.

Moreover, for some reason, there was a beautiful black-haired girl next to Sei.

A tall girl with slender limbs and a slim figure.

Naguri Tenka.

In Yukito's high school, she is known as one of the cutest girls, alongside Arisa, Ayaka, and Chiharu.

Yukito isn't particularly close to her; they just exchange greetings in the hallway.

However, Chiharu and Tenka seem to know each other, and Sei and Tenka also have some connection.

So, indirectly, they aren't completely unrelated, but almost strangers to Yukito.

That's who Naguri Tenka is to him.

He knew she was in the same class as Sei, but he never imagined she would be on such an intimate "date" here.

Ah, we've been caught.

How am I going to explain this...

Such was the expression on Sei's face.

And Yukito had the same expression.

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If you found this interesting, the heroines cute, and the idea of a couple playing tennis romantic, please consider bookmarking and giving a positive rating.

The next chapter is titled "The 'Fiancée' and Heartbreak."

Stay tuned.

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The level of "dere" will be noted later.

I plan to note it after each episode ends.

If you are looking forward to the future "dere" levels, please bookmark and rate the story (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents to five stars).

It would be a great encouragement.