"So, Kana-chan… how exactly are you planning to celebrate today?"
I found myself asking the star of today's little adventure, trying to keep my voice casual despite the flutter of anticipation in my chest.
Man, why does asking a simple question feel like I'm walking through a minefield? Get it together, Sousuke.
"Hmm…" Kana tilted her head in that adorable way that made her look like a confused puppy, her finger tapping against her lips as she pondered. After what felt like an eternity—but was probably only thirty seconds—she let out a nervous laugh. "I seem to be completely drawing a blank here… Ahaha~"
Cute. Way too cute. And that little embarrassed smile is doing dangerous things to my heart rate.
I could practically see the gears turning in her head, or rather, the complete lack thereof. Maybe the poor girl had never actually expected to find soone willing to celebrate with her in this place so far from ho. When the opportunity suddenly presented itself, she was like a deer caught in headlights.
Ti for the protagonist to save the day, I guess.
"Hold on," I said, snapping my fingers as if struck by divine inspiration. "Didn't you ntion before that you've always wanted to check out a reptile exhibition?"
Her eyes went wide—and I an wide—like I'd just told her I could fly or sothing.
"Eh?! You actually rembered that?" She practically bounced on her toes, and I had to exercise so serious self-control to keep my eyes locked on her face. "That's… that's actually amazing, Sousuke-kun!"
'Amazing' might be overselling it, but I'll take the complint.
The way she looked at in that mont—like I was so kind of sunny, handso, and attentive prince charming—made my chest swell with an embarrassing amount of pride.
Okay, maybe I am pretty amazing. Just a little.
"Well, of course I rembered," I said, puffing out my chest slightly. "I even started following those reptile channels you recomnded. Gotta stay inford about the interests of my favorite neighbor, right?"
Smooth, Sousuke. Real smooth.
"Aww, really? Thanks for the reminder, Sousuke-kun!" Her smile could have powered half of Tokyo. "Let search for exhibitions right now!"
She whipped out her phone with the enthusiasm of a seasoned otaku checking for manga updates, her fingers dancing across the screen with surprising speed.
Please tell there's actually sothing available. I don't think I can handle seeing that smile disappear.
"Kyaa! Sousuke, you're like a good luck charm or sothing!" she suddenly shrieked, nearly dropping her phone in excitent. "There's actually a reptile and rare animal exhibition happening in Ikebukuro—and it's running for the next two days!"
Score one for the protagonist! Sotis the universe actually cooperates.
"Seriously? That's incredible timing," I said, matching her enthusiasm. "Where exactly is it being held?"
"Um, let check the details…" Her brow furrowed in concentration as she scrolled through the information. "It says here the venue is in one of the large stadiums in Ikebukuro. We can take the train directly there—super convenient!"
Perfect. Public transportation ans we'll be sitting close together for the entire ride. Not that I'm thinking about that or anything.
"What are we waiting for then? Sounds like fate is telling us this is exactly where we need to be today."
"Yes! It's decided!" She practically glowed with excitent, bouncing slightly on her heels. "I'm so excited, Sousuke-kun! This is going to be my very first ti at an exhibition like this!"
First ti, huh? Well, I better make sure it's morable then.
Then she gave this mischievous little smile that made my heart skip several beats, tilting her head with an expression that was pure trouble.
"Sousuke-kun… you don't mind if I go change into sothing more appropriate for our little adventure, do you?"
Change? Into what exactly? And why does the way she said that make think I should be prepared for sothing that'll test my self-control?
"O-of course," I managed to stamr out, my imagination already running wild. "Take your ti."
We agreed to et downstairs in exactly one hour. Because apparently, when a woman says she's going to "dress up nicely" for an outing, that requires a full sixty minutes of preparation ti.
Note to self: never try to understand the mysterious ways of female preparation rituals.
While Kana headed upstairs to presumably transform into… well, whatever she was planning to transform into, I returned to my own room and simply threw on a clean shirt and jeans.
The benefits of being a guy: five minutes to look presentable. The drawbacks: having to wait fifty-five minutes while imagining what she's doing up there.
Ti crawled by like a wounded snail. I checked my phone approximately seventeen tis, reorganized my wallet twice, and even considered doing so push-ups just to burn off the nervous energy.
Finally—finally—ten o'clock rolled around. I made my way down to the courtyard about two minutes early, because punctuality is apparently one of my few virtues.
And then Kana appeared.
Holy… sweet mother of all that is good and pure in this world.
"Ah, sorry for keeping you waiting, Sousuke-kun!" she called out with an apologetic smile.
"No worries," I replied, though my voice ca out slightly strangled. "I literally just got here myself."
Lie. Total lie. I've been standing here like an idiot for three minutes, but she doesn't need to know that.
The vision standing before was enough to make any red-blooded male question his ability to form coherent sentences. She was wearing a white sleeveless knitted top that… well, let's just say the material was thin enough to leave very little to the imagination. The gentle curves of her figure were accentuated in ways that should probably be illegal in public spaces.
Don't stare, don't stare, don't stare. Eyes up here, Sousuke. Be a gentleman.
Her lower half was wrapped in a light blue form-fitting skirt that showcased her slender waist while simultaneously hugging her hips in a way that made my mouth go dry. The whole ensemble painted the picture of a young woman who was equal parts elegant and devastating.
This is supposed to be appropriate attire for a reptile exhibition? What exactly is she trying to do to here?
A small designer handbag hung from her shoulder, completing the look of soone who had stepped straight out of a fashion magazine.
I found myself completely lost in thought, my brain temporarily short-circuiting as I tried to process the absolute perfection standing in front of .
Get a grip, Sousuke. Say sothing. Anything. Just don't stand there gaping like a fish.
"Sousuke-kun?" Her voice snapped back to reality, and I realized she was looking at with those bright, expectant eyes. "How do I look today?"
How do you look? How do you LOOK? Like every guy's dream and every guy's nightmare rolled into one absolutely stunning package.
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