Aria ca to the side of the bed and laid down, stretching out on her back in the most typical way. Kouhei, however, couldn't manage the sa. He felt too awkward to even move. Aria didn't seem to notice the turmoil swirling in his head, which was both a relief and an added source of tension.
"Okumura-sama?" she asked suddenly, turning her head toward him. Her soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Why aren't you lying down? Are you having trouble sleeping?"
"Ah, no," Kouhei replied quickly, shaking his head. "I'm just... I'm not sleepy yet."
"I see..." Aria responded, her tone calm and steady. It seed she wasn't aware of the internal struggle he was having, trying to process the situation without making a fool of himself. Kouhei silently thanked the heavens for that.
"Okumura-sama?"
"Yes...?"
"Can I... move a little closer to you?" she asked softly.
Kouhei's heart thumped harder in his chest, the sound almost deafening in his ears. The sensation was overwhelming, like soone was beating a drum inside his ribcage. Aria wanted to co closer—closer than she already was. But how close did she an? His thoughts raced, and he realized he needed to respond quickly before she thought he was ignoring her.
"S-Sure," he stamred, barely managing to get the word out.
Aria scooted closer, her movents graceful yet deliberate. Kouhei couldn't ignore how strange this felt. Aria had always been his ntor in swordsmanship. She was soone he looked up to, soone who was teaching him how to beco stronger. Having her this close felt almost surreal, like stepping into a dream. This might even be the closest they'd ever been physically.
Before he knew it, the pull of sleep was creeping up on him. Aria, too, seed to be succumbing to the warmth of the bed, her eyes slowly fluttering shut. Kouhei laid still, feeling like he was sinking into a cloud of marshmallows. The soft, tranquil mont tugged at his exhaustion until he couldn't resist anymore.
Maybe it's because I trust Aria-san now... I don't feel in danger when I'm near her like this... he thought. His mind drifted as sleep finally claid him.
***
The next morning, Kouhei woke up alone in the bed. The spot where Aria had been lying was empty, the covers neatly smoothed over.
"I guess maids should be awake earlier..." he murmured groggily, stretching his arms with a wide yawn.
Aria was Yuuna's maid, after all. Waking up before her master was part of her duties. Kouhei shook off the remnants of sleep, rubbing his eyes before noticing sothing on the bedside table.
A neatly folded set of clothes sat there. They were male clothes—his clothes, obviously. Aria must have prepared them for him before she left.
As he picked up the neatly folded garnts, another thought hit him.
"Oh, right..." he muttered. "This is the day I'm supposed to go on a date with Aria-san."
The realization made his stomach twist in knots. The idea of going on a date with Aria felt more like a dream than reality. How was he even supposed to handle this?
Then, another thought struck him.
"Isn't this... going to be my first official date?"
Technically, it wasn't. He'd gone on dates with Hina, Yuuna, and Nagisa before, but those were always group outings. This would be the first ti he'd ever gone on a date with just one girl.
For so reason, that thought made Kouhei's nerves skyrocket.
***
At the sa ti, Yuuna was being dressed by Aria. Today, she would return to Hell to visit the Great House of Sarushima—the place where she was born. So might call it her family ho, but Yuuna didn't see it that way. To her, the people there were connected only by blood, nothing more. In the Great House of Sarushima, true family bonds didn't exist. The thought of going back filled her with reluctance.
Yuuna shook her head, trying to push those thoughts aside, and glanced at Aria. The maid worked silently, carefully putting Yuuna's clothes on her with precision.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Yuuna said, breaking the silence. "You could've stayed with Kouhei-kun and slept in until he woke up."
"It's my duty to dress you, Yuuna-sama," Aria replied calmly. "It's only natural that I wake up early for this."
"You're so stiff. It's not like I can't put my own clothes on, you know?"
Aria had always been like this—unyieldingly dedicated to her role as a maid. Her loyalty ran so deep that it often caught Yuuna off guard.
"I guess this is your day to go on a date with Kouhei-kun," Yuuna said, changing the subject. Today was the day Aria and Kouhei would have their date, a chance for them to grow closer. It wasn't just about their bond—it was also an opportunity for them to prepare for performing a Love Link.
"I won't be in the mortal world during your date, but I trust you'll protect Kouhei-kun on my behalf if anything happens."
"I would never let Okumura-sama co to harm, Yuuna-sama," Aria assured her, her voice firm and unwavering.
"That's good," Yuuna said with a nod.
What she didn't ntion was her plan to have Hina and Nagisa secretly follow them. They wouldn't interfere or show themselves unless necessary, ensuring Kouhei's safety without ruining the date. It was a calculated move, one Yuuna felt was the best compromise. While she wanted to oversee the date herself, her obligations demanded otherwise. She had no choice but to return to her origins in Hell.
"I'm counting on you, Aria," Yuuna said.
"Yes, Yuuna-sama," Aria replied with a respectful nod.
Aria's loyalty was astounding. It baffled Yuuna that soone so devoted had chosen to serve her. Yuuna hadn't been a kind person in the past—far from it. Her cold deanor hadn't deserved such steadfast allegiance, but here Aria was, unwavering in her dedication. Yuuna couldn't deny that she was grateful for the support Aria continued to give her.
***
Kouhei and Aria were in the car, with Aria behind the wheel. Since Kouhei didn't have a license yet, it was natural for Aria to take charge of driving. She maneuvered through the town, heading toward their date destination.
After a while, they arrived. Aria pulled into the parking lot and parked the car. Both of them stepped out, and for a mont, Kouhei thought about how unusual this kind of date was. They'd arrived together in a car—not exactly the cliché high school scenario where the guy waits for the girl, and she shows up saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting," while he lies through his teeth with a, "It's fine, I just got here," after already standing there for over an hour.
"Um, for starters, I'll be in your care for the next ten hours, Aria-san," Kouhei said, trying to lighten the mood.
" as well," Aria replied, bowing her head slightly.
"Y-You don't have to bow like that, Aria-san," Kouhei said, flustered. "For now, I'd like you to think of not as soone you're supposed to protect but as soone you want to spend ti with. If you can do that, I think this date will be a success."
"I see…" Aria said thoughtfully, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a notepad and pen. She started jotting down his words like she was taking notes for a training session.
"We don't need that," Kouhei said, quickly grabbing the notepad and pen from her hands. He slipped them back into the car. "Just let your heart guide you, Aria-san. Do what feels right, and the date will take care of itself."
"I understand…" she replied, nodding.
"For now, let's start at the park," Kouhei suggested.
With that, their date officially began.
They wandered through the park together. At first, Kouhei felt awkward, unsure how to act, but as ti went on, he found himself relaxing. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. Aria, walking beside him, was trying to learn and adapt, and it was downright adorable watching this mature, composed woman stumble over the little things.
They spent ti feeding birds, buying ice cream, and doing simple, wholeso activities. Eventually, they made their way to an arcade. Aria, unfamiliar with the environnt, started by just watching Kouhei. But soon, curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to try playing too. Kouhei taught her how to use the controls, and it was equal parts hilarious and endearing to see her struggle—so determined yet clumsy.
After a while, they found themselves at a claw machine. Aria beca fixated on a small, stuffed brown monkey inside the glass case. She tried several tis to grab it, but her lack of experience was painfully obvious. She kept missing entirely, barely even grazing the toy with the claw.
I never expected Aria-san to be this adorable, Kouhei thought, watching her with a growing smile. Her flustered determination was captivating.
"Do you want to get it for you, Aria-san?" he asked, unable to resist offering.
Aria blushed faintly before nodding and stepping aside.
Kouhei took the controls and focused. Having spent ti in arcades before, he knew his way around a claw machine. He'd even picked up a trick or two that guaranteed success most of the ti. With a steady hand and careful timing, he pressed the button. The claw descended, gripped the little monkey plush, and lifted it with precision.
Reviews
All reviews (0)