Chapter 16

### Chapter 16: Date with Rumi

On Sunday morning, I got up with a groggy body, stretched, and woke myself up with some stretching.

Today, I have a movie date with Rumi. It's the idol party movie, of all things.

To be honest, I don't even know what an idol party is or what the movie is about. I've never been interested in that kind of thing.

Still, I should do some research before going to see the movie. It would be polite to Rumi.

I searched "idol party" on TooWiki.

"Idol party... What is this?"

It's about students at a school on the brink of ruin forming their own idol unit to become famous and ultimately save the school.

What kind of animation is this?

Thanks to this, I also learned about limited editions and gacha.

Otaku are detailed and meticulous about the anime they like.

To avoid getting caught in a lie, I picked a random character and decided to make her my favorite.

I even memorized her profile, songs, dances, and usual hairstyles.

"This should make me a perfect otaku."

I successfully channeled the spirit of a perfect otaku.

Checking the time, it was almost time to go.

Since I was already prepared, I put on my coat and left the dormitory.

The movie theater we agreed to meet at was close to the academy, so I arrived quickly. Looking around, Rumi hadn't arrived yet.

———

『A side quest has been transmitted.』

Your first date is with Rumi!

Rumi is very excited about her first private meeting with a friend!

Give Rumi an unforgettable memory!

- Reward: 2 random stats

———

Oh, a quest.

An unforgettable memory, huh? Sounds challenging.

After receiving the quest, I sat on a nearby bench and idly passed the time. Suddenly, I thought to myself:

How long has it been since I went on a date with a girl?

I'm getting nervous. I wasn't thinking about it, but now that I'm aware, I'm getting nervous.

Thump thump.

My heart seems to be beating faster.

"This will help."

I took a pill of the calming medicine the crazy old pharmacist gave me, washing it down with water.

"Would you like something?"

"Choke choke! Cough!"

"Are, are you okay? I'm sorry. Because of me!"

"No, no, I'm fine."

Rumi was wearing a bright dress, her long black hair tied with a red ribbon. It was the first time I saw her in casual clothes, and I must admit, I was excited.

She exuded a pure charm while also being cute and petite, with a figure that was both balanced and unbalanced, giving off the impression of someone who had put a lot of effort into her appearance.

"By the way, what did you eat? Candy?"

"I took a calming pill. I was nervous."

"What's a calming pill?"

"Well, it's a medicine that helps with nervousness and lowers body temperature. I was nervous about going on a date with Rumi, so I took it."

Rumi's face turned red, and she bowed her head.

"Y-Yes, a date? Well, I think it's better to take things one step at a time... Of course, I don't dislike you, Hyun, and I actually like it, but..."

She crossed her fingers, trying to figure out what to do, which was incredibly cute.

"Kidding, but do you really want to go on a real date?"

"Wh-What? No, ugh... Don't tease me."

Rumi realized I was teasing her and looked at my face. I should have held back my laughter.

"Let's go in. Even if there are plenty of seats, we should get them just in case, and we need to buy popcorn too."

"Okay, let's go quickly!"

We entered the movie theater.

At the ticket machine, there was a poster next to it.

Rumi's gaze also fell on the poster.

"Ugh!"

She made a strange sound, alternating her gaze between the poster and the machine.

Then she slowly turned her head to meet my eyes. Her bright eyes conveyed her thoughts without words.

I should give it a shot since I'm pretending to be an otaku.

"Rumi, do you want to sit in the couple's seat? They give you an image board and photo cards."

"Ah, yes! I'd love to! Let's take the couple's seat!"

Her mood skyrocketed because we were sitting in the couple's seat.

Is it that good?

Anyway, we bought tickets for the couple's seat and entered the theater with popcorn in hand.

"There are no other couples here, right?"

"…Yeah."

Surprisingly, all the couple's seats, about ten in a row, were occupied by non-couples.

They were even holding strange glow sticks. Why are there glow sticks in a movie theater?

Why is Rumi looking at them with such bright eyes?

*

"Sniff, sniff…"

"…Don't cry."

Rumi seems to be really into Idol Party.

It's the last movie in the series, and she started sniffing about 10 minutes before the end, and now she's crying as we leave the theater.

"Here, take my card. Take it and break it."

I handed her the card we received for the couple's seat, the poster, and a coupon for the game.

"Hyun! You shouldn't give such valuable things to just anyone!"

"Take it when I offer it. If you refuse, I won't give it to you again."

"I'm sorry… I don't want to refuse, but I really want it… sniff."

Even while crying, Rumi took care of what she needed. She's like a cute puppy. If I had money, I would have bought more, but I really don't have any left after donating to the orphanage.

"Let's go get lunch together. I'm hungry."

"Okay! I'll treat you to delicious tteokbokki! Let's go!"

Tteokbokki again. I don't dislike tteokbokki, so let's just go.

"Here it is! Here~!"

Rumi, excited about eating tteokbokki, pointed to a place called "Reversal Grandpa's Soju" with her hand.

"Rumi, this looks like a bar, doesn't it?"

"They say the tteokbokki here is really delicious. It's famous on Everyday!"

"Is that so? Then let's go."

We entered the place together. Ding dong.

"Welcome~ Two people?"

"Yes."

"Please follow me~."

We were led to a corner two-person seat.

"Give us one order of pork belly and ox tripe tteokbokki!"

"Got it!"

"Is that really famous tteokbokki?"

"Yes! It was a huge hit on Everyday. I wanted to come here, but Lucy doesn't like tteokbokki, so…"

Ah, she couldn't come alone because she has no friends. I used to find it hard to go to restaurants alone, but once you get used to it, it's actually more convenient.

Thinking about it, is this a place where you can't come alone because it's a bar?

"Rumi, is there something you really want to try?"

"Why do you ask suddenly?"

Rumi's bright eyes looking at me are making me feel uncomfortable. It feels too criminal to say, "I'll give you an unforgettable memory."

"Whatever you've always wanted to try but couldn't, let's do it together now?"

"Ah, Hyun, you're so nice…. But I'm already so excited!"

Sigh, never mind. She's too kind and pure, so it feels wrong to say it out loud.

"The tteokbokki is here!"

Just as the staff brought the tteokbokki, the topic naturally shifted.

"Wow, putting pork belly and ox tripe in tteokbokki!"

Rumi used her chopsticks to pick up pork belly, ox tripe, and tteok at once and put them in her mouth.

"Mmm~"

She shook her head from side to side. It looks like a dog shaking off water.

Why do I always think of a dog when I see Rumi? She doesn't look like a dog, but her actions are completely like one.

Seeing her mouth corners rise, it must be delicious. Is her head not dizzy?

Curious about the taste, I tried a bit.

"Wow, this is really delicious?"

"Right, right! It's so delicious!"

The ox tripe was savory and chewy, the pork belly had a smoky flavor from being grilled, and the tteok was chewy. It's really delicious.

"This really makes me want to drink."

"Want to drink?"

"Yes, a shot of soju would go perfectly with this."

"…Then, should we order some soju?"

"Soju? I'm fine, but can you drink well?"

"Actually, I've never tried it before. Hehe."

Found it. An unforgettable memory. Learning to drink for the first time would be an unforgettable memory, right? I wonder if it's okay to teach such a pure girl how to drink, but she has to learn it someday. I'll protect her from getting into trouble with bad guys.

"Is that so? Then let's try it together this time."

"Okay! I'd love to!"

Ding dong-

"Boss! Two bottles of soju, please!"

"Sure~"

But, isn't soju too bitter for someone trying it for the first time?

"Boss, can you bring one bottle of grapefruit soju instead?"

I remember hearing somewhere that women like fruit soju. I changed one bottle to grapefruit soju.

The soju and glasses arrived, and I poured a shot for Rumi.

I also received a shot from Rumi. It's the first time I've received a drink from a pretty girl, so it feels strange.

While receiving the soju, I didn't see a gloomy man's face but a woman's chest. It's a bittersweet moment.

"Let's clink glasses and drink. Clink."

"Clink!"

Clunk clunk.

"Ugh."

The first drink in this world. It's been a while, so it's really bitter.

It might be because Hyun's body has never drunk alcohol before.

In front of me, Rumi couldn't even finish half her glass.

"Ugh, it's too bitter. Ugh."

"Try some tteokbokki. I'll pour you this one next. It's a bit sweeter."

"Okay… But this one is too bitter to eat…"

"Give it to me, I'll drink it."

I took Rumi's glass and finished the remaining soju in one shot.

"Th-That was the one I took a sip from…"

"Oops. Sorry, I felt bad because you couldn't drink it."

"It's, it's okay."

Nom

Rumi, with a red face, picked up a piece of tteokbokki and brought it to her mouth.

"Cough, want to try the grapefruit soju? It's really good."

Usually, when it gets a bit awkward, having another drink helps.

"Okay. Pour me a shot."

Rumi stared at the soju bottle and glass as if she were a general going to war.

It's unnecessarily dramatic for just one shot of soju.

Rumi and I clinked glasses again, with her having the grapefruit soju and me the regular soju.

Clink!

Clunk clunk.

"Mmm, it's a bit bitter, but it's sweet and drinkable."

"Good. I'm glad I ordered one of those."

"By the way, they say you get drunk when you drink. When will I get drunk?"

"That varies from person to person. Do you feel happy or your face getting hot?"

"Mmm… I don't feel anything like that…"

Rumi put her hand on her forehead and mumbled.

To me, it looks like her tongue is already slurring, Rumi.

"I can drink well, I think. Let's have another shot!"

"Maybe we should drink a bit slower?"

"Clink!"

*

"Ugh…"

"I told you to drink slowly."

"Ugh… My head hurts…."

Pat pat

After leaving the bar, I'm gently patting Rumi's back in the middle of the street.

I told her to drink slowly, but she ended up drinking five shots in a row and is completely out of it.

Usually, if you're this weak to alcohol, you'd feel your face getting hot or your head hurting, but is it a heroine's inevitable fate to get drunk easily?

"I'm sleepy…."

"No, you can't fall asleep here. Rumi, Rumi?"

"Ugh…."

Thud. I lifted Rumi, who had slumped to the ground, by putting my arms under her armpits.

No matter how much I shake her, she won't get up.

"Ugh…."

"…She's completely out of it."

She's completely out of it. I can't just leave her here, but what should I do?

"…."

A brightly lit signboard is visible a block ahead.

"I have no choice. Yes, I have no choice."

I really have no choice. Really, I don't.