Can this be called a Date?

Tamaki was clutching her head, her face twisted in a mix of exasperation and disbelief. Her brother, Amiya Kitsuragi, stood beside her, proudly clutching a tote bag stuffed to the brim with new clothes from courtesy of her impeccable fashion sense.

"Who knew you’d suddenly develop an interest in clothing? Well, as your sister, I couldn’t miss the chance to dress you up like the ultimate fashion disaster...I mean, fashion icon!" Tamaki declared, striking a dramatic pose.

I groaned, holding up the bag like it was evidence of a crime. "Are you a devil in disguise? You intentionally picked clothes that drained every last yen of my pocket money. I’m broke now! Broke! Do you know what that means? Instant ramen for a month for snacks!"

Tamaki giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hehe~ Consider it a tax for my impeccable taste. You’re welcome, onii-sama!"

I gave a deep sigh, staring down at the bag. UNIQPOO, Zara, and a bunch of brands that ai couldn’t even pronounce. Tamaki’s fashion sense was… unique, to say the least. She was always up-to-date with the latest trends, even the ones that made me question humanity’s collective sanity. The total? A cool 35,000 yen. I can feel my soul leave this body just thinking about it. Asking my parents for more money would be like begging for a second round of punishment.

"Well… thanks, I guess," I muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Tamaki skipped alongside me as we left the mall, her energy levels rivaling a hyperactive squirrel. "By the way, onii-sama, what’s with the sudden interest in looking good? Did you finally decide to stop dressing like a background character from a low-budget slice-of-life anime?"

I scratched the back of my head, avoiding her gaze. "Uh, well… I have plans tomorrow. Needed some decent clothes, that’s all."

Also I have zero interest of becoming the main character of this light novel setup anyways.

Tamaki’s eyes widened like she’d just uncovered the secret to eternal youth. "A woman! My woman’s intuition is screaming it’s a woman! Onii-sama, are you being scammed? Bullied? Blackmailed? Tell me everything!" She grabbed my arm and shook me like a ragdoll.

"Of course not! She’s just a friend!" I snapped, I feel like my face turning red if I had to look in a mirror.

"F-friend?!" Tamaki gasped, clutching her chest like she’d been shot. "But… but onii-sama has the social skills of a rock! When did this miracle happen? Did you hit your head? Drink some mysterious potion that summoned a friend? Oh no, what if it’s temporary?!"

“Please stop! You’re misunderstanding. Even I’m human, so I have the right to make at least a friend or two. If you meddle I might lose the friends I’ve finally made.” I clasped my hands around the bag in a clumsy manner, begging her to stop making assumptions based on reality. Yes, the reality of loners. But I wasn’t a loner anymore. I could definitely say that proudly.

Tamaki puffed out her chest, her eyes blazing with determination. "Don’t worry, onii-sama! I’ll protect you from this so-called ‘friend.’ No one threatens my brother’s fragile social life on my watch!"

"Please, just stop already! You’re going to scare her off before we even hang out!" I begged, my hands clasped together in desperation.

Tamaki tilted her head, her expression softening. "Hmm… fine. But only because I’m glad you finally made a friend. Even if it’s not a girlfriend… yet. So, show me her picture! I need to approve your future wife!"

"W-wife?! Quit it! And no, I don’t have her picture!"

Tamaki’s jaw dropped. "No way! Not even an Instacharm? Onii-sama, you’re such a loser."

"Alright, alright, enough already!" I felt lost to her words.

After dinner, while I was retreating to my room, my mother gave me a suspiciously knowing smirk and a thumbs-up. What did she know that I don't? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

I carefully hung up the new clothes in the wardrobe, a weird smile plastered on my face. Tomorrow was going to be… interesting. As I thought flopping onto the bed, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

"Who knew shopping for clothes could be this exhausting?" muttering, my weird smile still intact, I drifted off to sleep.

❋❋❋

I arrived a bit early, thirty minutes early to be exact. The meeting time was 9:00 AM, and the location was the fountain. I stood there, slouching slightly, my eyes teary and heavy, as if they were about to close on their own. I hadn’t been able to sleep last night properly, my nerves getting the better of me. This was the first time I’d worn something new, the first time I was going out with a girl. I couldn’t help but wonder what she’d think of me when she saw me. Would she find me strange? Disgusting, even, if she ever found out that the only reason I’d bought these clothes was just to go out with her?

Just as I was about to yawn, the motion broke midway, replaced by a mix of excitement and nervousness. My eyes caught sight of Shinomori Shishie, who was scanning the area like a lost puppy, searching for me in the crowd but still unaware of my presence.

Holy shit. What is she wearing?

Shinomori stood right in front of me, but instead of her usual school uniform, she was dressed in casual clothes. It was something fresh, something entirely new to my eyes. She wore a white braddot top with cute frills around the bare shoulders, paired with black thigh-high socks and white floral loafers. A vintage leather bag hung at her side, its length matching the start of her baggy cargo pants. She is a background character who could outshine every model on a stage even making main characters lose. I felt like hailing her, like she deserved some kind of royal acknowledgment. With every step she took toward me, I felt my breath slipping away, and by the time she was close enough, I had to wave my hand to catch her attention.

When she finally noticed me, her pace quickened, and she swiftly navigated through the crowd, a giant smile spreading across her face. It was as if a puppy had finally found its owner—no, wait, that sounds weird I am sorry. It was just… cute. Trust me I am not weird. She’d already taken my breath away.

She stopped near me, though not too close. Yet, I could smell the shampoo she’d used. As the wind blew, her white shiny hair swayed, and the scent hit me like a slap. It was then that I realized that I’d forgotten to put on deodorant or perfume.

I don't smell, do I?

“Um, you’re… staring too much, Kitsuragi-kun,” she said, her gaze flickering to the side awkwardly. Her ears were slightly red.

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to…” I’d blown it. I’d been so captivated by her appearance that I’d forgotten to say anything. She’d been waiting for me to speak, and I hadn’t even managed a simple “Hi.”

Alright, Kitsuragi, pull yourself together! My new clothes, my new self—this is your moment! A girl this beautiful is on a date with you! Well, even if she doesn’t think of it as a date, it’s a date for me, alright? I need to man up. I don’t want to waste this opportunity. I’ve read enough manga and light novels to know that complimenting the opposite sex can lighten the mood.

“Um, Shinomori-san…”

“Yes?” She looked up at me from shoulder height, her gaze catlike and curious.

“You l-looking cute today.”

She processed my words, her expression shifting as if she hadn’t expected something like that from someone like me. I’ll admit, it was sudden, but I didn’t know how else to break the ice. I’d just borrowed the idea from fiction. She suddenly turned her face to the side, her bobbed hair hiding her expression from me.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, before turning back to meet my eyes. “You too… have a different vibe today.”

Her words hit me like a shotgun blast to the head, lodging themselves in my mind like a bullet I couldn’t dislodge. It was an ultimate blow to my brain and heart. I took a deep breath, performing a breathing technique so advanced it could probably calm a raging storm. The weather was already a bit cloudy, but somehow, it felt like the temperature had risen. I cleared my dry throat and quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation away from the sweetness and sugar.

“Mhm, Shinomori-san, are we going to Kinokuniya first?”

“Ah, yes. Kinokuniya is the largest store, so I think we’ll find almost every genre you’re looking for. I’d hope my recommendations would be to your likings,” she said, clasping her hands together and delivering a flood of information.

The weather was slightly cloudy, not that I’d checked the forecast but it was better than it being hot. If it were sunny, the new clothes I was wearing would’ve been drenched in sweat since the fabric is thick. I was grateful for the overcast sky. It felt like the luckiest day to be alive.

We walked to the bookstore, Japan’s second-largest store, filled with countless titles. The smell of books here was unlike the school library, newly sealed books and neatly arranged racks left the best impression on me. Shinomori-san moved effortlessly from one rack to another, clearly a frequent visitor. There was a sparkle in her eyes, a beam of excitement. I’m fond of the mystery genre, so she picked out a few novels for me. She even asked if I was okay with English western series and selected some for me.

How am I supposed to pay for all these books after yesterday’s fashion haul? My mother had smiled at me and handed me some money before I left. “Take this and have fun,” she’d said. “You even went out to buy new clothes, so you’ll definitely need this.” She’d seen right through me. I couldn’t deny it, so I’d taken the money shamelessly. She was too considerate.

After our book shopping, we walked through the busy streets. Shinomori’s eyes caught sight of some earrings on display in a storefront. She happily took pictures with her phone but frowned in dissatisfaction.

“Kitsuragi-kun, can you take a picture of the earrings with your phone? The auto filter on mine is hiding the real colors.”

“Oh, hold on.” I took out my phone and snapped a picture, sharing it with her over Rine. I almost sent it to the group chat before realizing I’d sent it to her DMs. 

Shinomori gave a satisfied nod. “Thank you, Kitsuragi-kun. I might get these in the future. The picture has the original contrast.”

“I’m not really good with cameras, so I can’t point out the difference, haha,” I said with a wry smile.

“Oh, like, my phone is only good for selfies. The back camera is alright, but it’s built like this. Can you turn on your camera?” She pointed at my phone, and I did as she asked. She took a picture with the back camera and showed me the difference in quality. Mine was definitely better, preserving the original colors, while hers was overly contrasty. “Now, with the selfie camera,” she said suddenly, moving closer to me until our shoulders touched. Her face was too close to mine, her silky white hair carrying the sweet scent of cherries. Her outfit, with its bare shoulders and neck, was absolutely killing me. There was no way I could stay calm. I looked at the camera, where my flushed expression was clearly visible. She took pictures with both of our phones. “See, Kitsuragi-kun? The difference in our selfies. Your camera makes it look washed out, while mine makes us look cute. The picture is nice too,” she giggled, handing my phone back.

Am I supposed to keep this selfie?

❋❋❋

We then headed to a café to relax since we both were tired. We’d already spent two hours picking out books, and she’d bought a few as well. Of course, I’d been carrying her books the entire time. The café was one I’d never heard of, a place that didn’t exist in my real world until now. We sat by the glass pane, relaxing. We ordered crepes and Oreo shakes. It was my first time trying an Oreo shake, and while the taste was alright, it wasn’t quite what I’d expected. The conversation with Shinomori flowed smoothly, and I felt like we’d grown a little closer as friends. As we chatted, her eyes wandered outside.

“Huh? Is it raining outside?” Shinomori’s voice broke the silence, her eyes fixed on the window.

I followed her gaze and saw small droplets beginning to fall from the sky. The rain was light, but it was enough to dampen the mood.

“Shinomori-san, wait here. Let me get us some disposable umbrellas,” I said, standing up and heading toward the café counter. Thankfully, the café had a few umbrellas available for customers. It was a small blessing, considering the sudden change in weather. I bought two and returned to where Shinomori was waiting.

It was already 2:15 PM, and we decided it was time to head home. Even though the day had felt like a date, it wasn’t official, so there was no reason to linger. We walked side by side, towards our paths eventually splitting. The rain continued to fall, light but persistent. I held the tote bag filled with books in one hand and the umbrella in the other.

“Kitsuragi-kun, I’m sorry if today wasn’t fun,” Shinomori said, her voice soft, accompanied by a faint smile.

“W-what do you mean, Shinomori-san? I had fun! I’m really happy you picked out those books for me. I can’t wait to read them,” I replied, trying to reassure her.

She clasped her hands together and brought them to her face, her expression softening. “I’m glad if that’s true.” She paused, then added, “I had this feeling that you were avoiding me in class, so I thought this could be a chance for us to get closer.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. It was true I had been avoiding her. Not because I didn’t want to talk to her, but because I didn’t want her to get tangled up in the rumors surrounding me. She knew that, too. My self-consciousness had driven me to keep my distance.

“You know the reason, Shinomori,” I said briskly, keeping pace with her. “Honestly, I’m still scared it’ll cause problems. If your name gets dragged into bad rumors, you might even get bullied. It’s better if we keep a little distance in school, like we usually do. Except, you know, when we’re in the library.”

Her expression darkened, and I immediately regretted my words. The air between us grew heavy, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Kitsuragi-kun, I’ve told you before that I don’t mind, right?” she said, her voice steady but laced with something deeper. “I don’t care if people talk behind my back. There are all kinds of people in this world, and it’s my choice who I want to talk to. You, Erina-san, Itsuki, and Maya—you’re the ones I consider friends. But that doesn’t mean they see you the same way. They might have other friends they’re closer to too.”

Her words felt heavy, layered with meaning I couldn’t quite grasp. The Shinomori I thought I knew the quiet, background character with no defined personality or backstory was suddenly revealing a depth I hadn’t expected.

“Shinomori-san?” I asked, confused.

“What I’m saying is, Kitsuragi-kun, you don’t have to worry about me. We can still be friends even if I get bullied, right?” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

The rain pattered against our umbrellas, the sound blending with the tension in the air. I stopped walking, and she did too, waiting for my response.

“You think I could just stand by and watch if you got bullied?” I scoffed, my temper flaring unexpectedly. The introverted, reserved me was suddenly boiling over. Her words had struck a nerve I didn’t even know I had. “There’d be no point in calling myself your friend if I ignored you while you were suffering. I wouldn’t be able to do that.”

She gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, her eyes dropping to the pebbles on the road as if counting them. The rain grew heavier, the droplets hitting our umbrellas with more force.

“Kitsuragi-kun, why are you getting so worked up? It’s not like I’m actually being bullied, he-he~” Her laugh sounded hollow, forced.

“I can’t imagine it,” I said, my voice softening. “I’m sorry, Shinomori-san. I avoided you because I didn’t want you to get involved in my mess. But if you insist, I’ll talk to you from now on.” I sighed, scratching my head in frustration.

“Yeah,” she said simply. We reached the point where our paths diverged, and with a quick wave, we parted ways. I watched her walk away, feeling a strange unease settle in my chest.

What even was all that? She’d seemed off, unlike her usual self. The day had started so well, but now I felt a bitter aftertaste. As I walked, I realized she’d forgotten her bag of books that I was carrying. That wasn’t like her—she’d been so beaming excited about them earlier. A sense of dread crept over me. I wasn’t good at reading moods, but something was definitely wrong. Shinomori whose smile is brighter than sunshine was faded.

Without thinking, I turned and ran after her to the path she took, the rain and wind making it difficult to hold the umbrella and the bag. My breath came in short gasps, but I didn’t stop until I finally caught up to her. She was walking slowly, her umbrella tilted slightly, her steps careless as she stepped through puddles like she didn't cared.

“Huff… huff… Holy shit, I need to work out more,” I panted, catching her attention.

I am glad she didn't go too far, or take any small road

She turned, surprised to my voice. “What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me… huff… here, take your books. You forgot them.”

“A-ah, thank you. I forgot,” she said, forcing a smile as she took the bag. But her expression was off, too fake, too strained. It wasn’t the Shinomori I knew. Had I said something wrong? I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d messed up.

“Shinomori-san, are you okay?” I asked, my voice tinged with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, her smile unwavering.

“You’re forcing yourself. Is this still about me avoiding you? I do the same with Erina-san too. You’re both my friends, so…”

“It’s not just that,” she interrupted, her tone softer now. “People have all kinds of worries, and I do too. It’s okay. I was just overthinking earlier. I’m sorry if I ruined our day, Kitsuragi-kun he-he.”

“Uh, alright,” I said, unsure how to respond. I didn’t want to push her, but I couldn’t ignore her obvious distress. “But, Shinomori-san, if you ever want to talk, I’m here to listen. I’m not forcing you, but seeing you worried makes me worried too.”

The rain poured harder, the sound drowning out everything else. Shinomori hesitated, then mumbled something so quietly I almost missed it.

“Shinomori-san… could you repeat that?”

She turned away dramatically, as if hiding her face from me. “Before… you told me that even if I got bullied, you wouldn’t be able to ignore me, right?” Her voice was steady, but her expression was serious now. “I was happy when you said that.”

“Don’t tell me you’re actually being bullied?” I blurted out, shocked. But she shook her head, denying it. My curiosity only grew.

She faced forward again, her hands moving behind her back. Slowly, she lifted the hem of her top, revealing a deep, ugly scar peeking out from her skin. My breath caught in my throat. This wasn’t something I’d ever seen in the illustrations or read about in the novel. Shinomori, the background character with no backstory, was hiding something far darker.

“What? Kitsuragi-kun, I knew you’d react like this, hehe,” she giggled, but it sounded hollow.

“How… how did you get that scar?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Parental abuse and bullying are the same thing, don’t you think?” she said, her tone eerily calm, devoid of emotion.

“Huh?” I felt like I’d misheard her. The way she spoke about it, so casually, so detached was chilling. How long had she been carrying this burden? Was it still happening? My mind raced with questions, but I didn’t know how to ask them. What could I even do?

“S-sorry, Kitsuragi-kun. But if you look at me with pity, it’ll hurt me more. I’m going home now. It’s not far, so I’ll be fine on my own.”

I didn’t know what to say. I stood there, silent, as she walked away, her figure growing smaller in the distance. The rain began to lighten, the sun peeking through the clouds, but the heaviness in my chest remained.

This definitely can't be considered a date.

The light novel never included these details—she was just a background character, appearing only once with everything about her kept vague. But now, I was seeing a new side of her, one I never expected. Of course, she was human too, and everyone had their own worries. But she carried this scar alone. And in the plot, she ends up entangled in a brutal way. Just how unfortunate was she, this mere background character? She wasn’t even part of any romantic comedy setting in this world I had read about. 

I closed my umbrella and headed home, the image of her scar etched into my mind, a sense of unease settling deep within me.