Chapter 3: Our Not-So-First Café Date (And Maybe a French Kiss?)

*Ring*

The bell for after school chime making me nervous, I cannot believe I can hangout well not really a hangout it more like we do group work but hey a man can dream.

I then waited for Emilia at the school gate, I wait till I see many students leave the school gate I wander where Emilia is?

“Huh Mamoru-san what are you doing hanging out at the school gate?”

“I’m waiting for Emilia.”

As I said it, I see a subtle expression change on Shino.

“ohh I see, well see you.” Ah he walks slightly faster leaving me.

I continue to wait for another 10 minutes

Do Emilia forgot well I understand not like I’m a prominent figure in her life she probably has an urgent date with a secret boyfriend from this school oh well.

Before I decided leave, I feel my shoulder being touch from behind end.

“Boo did I scare you, sorry I’m late something came up, do you really think I’m going to miss out on our first café date together Hehe” as Emilia turn me end touch my cheek

“Eh ehh no, totally not I was just ehh exercising a bit, so I don’t get too tired.”

“Yeah, Hehe I was just walking from the school gate then to 3 km outside”

As I give my excuse Emilia smile smugly satisfy, she has made me red as tomato

“Hehe ok then I believe you, anyway lest go to the café ok.”

“Eh ok Emilia-san.” I scratch my head

“Still adding honorific huh even though you can just call me Emi.”

“Eh because I don’t want to overstep.” I answer her coldly with my tired eyes

“Ooh scary, well let’s just go, want to hold my soft hand Mamoru-san.” Emilia offers her hand to me.

“No, I’m good.” I try to be cold, but I am not convincing her.”

“Ok fine if you don’t want to touch my hand your lost, I’m going to lead the way ok try to keep up ok Hehe.”

After Emilia said it, she immediately runs leaving me behind

“Huh ah wait Emilia-san.” I try to catch up to her but knowing I rarely exercise I might not be able to, but I got to try

“Hehe slowpoke come on it’s not far.”

“Yeah, don’t worry Emilia-san soon I’m going to catch up.” I shout loudly at her

“Well let’s just see.”

As I continue to follow her, I notice the way she runs feel like she’s teasing me like she doesn’t go to fast but when I do catch up to her, she turns back to smile end immediately runs faster.

End again I feel like I am being played like a fool.

As we continue to run, I feel like I see the same building that I just walk past before end often sometimes I do feel a bit dizzy not to exhaustion but feel like we’re in a loop.

“Hehe see it’s not too far.”

“Yeah, Hehe how far do we run anyway.” I asked her while wiping my sweat.

“Ehh around 5 KM.” she seems joking, but I feel like she’s not

“Really let me check.” I check it end realize it more than 5 KM it’s 6.5 KM

“Wait what how do we just walk for 6.5 KM.”

“Hehe well actually we been running in circle but look like you are to focus chasing me huh” she laughs flirty

“Wait what you tricked me Emilia-san.”

“Well, it’s not my fault you busy at looking at my bottom part Hehe.”

“Bottom part, ehh what no I don’t look at your ass while we run, I look at eh the sky ends the ground, so I don’t get too exhausted.”

“Excused excused, Hehe pervert.”

“Please don’t call me pervert, especially as we are in public or my reputation going to be tarnish forever.”

“hehe ok I try, come in now I already reserve a place for us.”

“Wait reserve a place when did you ohh.” I realized she late because she reserves the place for both of us

“Yeah surprise” Emilia opens the door

As we walk inside, I can see this is not like any other café as it has a fancy painting that were painted by renaissance painter, Victorian vase, end another fancy decorum I don’t know what to call it.

“Excuse me I already reserved.” As Emilia said elegantly’

Then a man with blond hair he styles his hair to have a ponytail his eyes it’s blue just like Emilia end he’s wearing the café uniform which look like the café owner

“Oh yeah miss Laurent come here my it’s been a long time since you come here end you bring your Japanese boyfriend, are you trying local flavour Emilia.”

“Hehe no, more like not yet.” As Emilia looks at me with her teasing glare

“Yeah, yeah ah too be young again I would get hit by truck just to feel it again.”

“Wait what” I said it loudly accidently making a loud noise

“Relax honey I’m just joking, anyway here your table end please don’t get too dirty Hehe.”

“See you, Jean.”

“Eh is that your acquittance Emilia-san?”

“Yeah, he’s my dad business partner that why I can reserve for both of us end don’t worry you can order anything it’s my treat.”

“Really, is there a catch here there got to be a catch somewhere.”

“Well, let’s just say the only catch it you going to give it you are for our group work isn’t that right darling.”

“Uhm, yeah.” I look at the water that jean gave us end I look so pale

“Anyway, what you going to order for the first course.”

“Eh first course?” As I put down the menu in confusion

“Yeah, first course it’s just drink end light meal end the second course it’s for after we finish, is that fine with you Mamoru-san.”

“Yeah, end thank you Emilia-san you are very kind.”

“you’re welcome, end answer me this Mamoru-san do you still remember what we need to do.” As she grabs her notebook from her bag.

“ehh compare Genetic or something right.”

“Hmm, Close enough let me give you the short version compare genetic traits, predict future offspring, and analyse compatibility — all leading to a "Hypothetical Future Couple" presentation.”

“Yeah, that what I’m going to say.”

“Hmm really, well anyway let’s start by reviewing what we already did.”

Emilia then checks on the note “Eyes check your bottom part yeah I can see Hehe.”

“Bottom ehh you can tell.”

She burst of laughing “No silly, I’m just joking.”

“Well anyway let’s continue by checking our hair mine is Platinum blond.”

“Mine is dark black, I think because when I was a child my mom used to give my hair aloe vera gel

“Really well I got to thank your mother then.”

We continue to work on our assignment comparing each other note.

“Ah were almost done let’s take a short break.” Emi stretch her hand that I can almost see her bra line.

Emi hymn playfully before asking me “hey Mamoru-san do you not going to ask anything about France.”

“Rather than asking that can I ask something a bit personal Emilia-san?”

Emi got taken aback by my question usually her friend from school prefer to ask the place she born it rather than herself

“Sure Mamoru-san what would you like to ask.”

“How about your hobby.”

“Hobby let me think, ahh I love to read old romance French novel.”

“Old romance French novel what it’s like, is it like a romance light novel from Japan.”

“Light novel?” she repeats her French accent make her cuter.

“Eh it’s essentially like a novel but it much shorter end targeted to high school student.”

“ohh that interesting, I got to buy one after this I’m curious what Japanese people think it’s romantic Hehe.”

“oh, then I have to give some recommendation like toradora I know this one is pretty old so you can just watch the anime end there the latest one like the bunny girl senpai.”

I proceed to name more than 3 that I think end start to recommend all the romance light novel that I have red.

Then I notice Emi smile probably finding my hobby to introverted & nerdy

“You know most of the time guy prefer to keep this hobby private.”

“Honestly I don’t care because it’s just how well I express a beautiful emotion I sound dumb aren’t i.”

“I don’t think so Mamoru-san honestly I think it much more braver admitting you like something than trying to look brave by ehh you know.” I hear her bit hesitant naming what that hobby it’s

“ohh yeah I understand.” I nod

“You know since I already tell my hobby how about you tell me.”

“Oh, my hobby is reading light novel it can be ither romance or isekai fantasy end of course I love watching anime, end play gacha game.”

“Gacha game what is that I heard about it, but can you explain it to me Mamoru.”

“oh, I’m glad you asked you see the first gacha popular gacha game its fate grand order have you played it Emilia-san.”

“Eh I don’t really know about eh fate is it.”

“Yeah, then tell another one with the battleship end horse girl end ehh then there’s.” I probably tell her all the gacha game in the word.

Emilia looks shock end surprise

“Ah oh sorry Emilia-san.”

“Sorry for what? telling about your interest isn’t a crime right.” She smiles playfully.

“But Mamoru-san I’m going to tell you about another French culture.”

Emilia gets out of her chair end walk to me she gets her face closer end

“You know how I said that I’m going to tell you about the French way of being romantic.”

“ehh yeah Emilia-san.” I get more nervous as she gets closer

Then she whispers, “you see it’s all about small gesture end sweet word like.”

Then she gives my hand a little squeeze her touch is warm end gentle “end call me by my first name ok Please.”

“Eh ok Emi.”

She smiles brightly end “now let me show you the French gesture.”

She demonstrated by gently brushing her cheek against my cheek the gesture is light quick, but it feels intimate & warm

“Eh Emi that feel intimate somehow.”

“Hehe intimate you know in France we do this all the time to our friend end family.”

“But if you think it too intimate maybe I should show you something even more special.”

Then she leans in almost touching my lips “close your eyes ok.”

“Eh, ok?” I close my eyes

“Good keep them close alright no peeking.”

Then I feel something warm end soft brush against my lips wait did Emi just kiss me?!

“Wait Emi did you kissed me?” I touch my lips end indeed it is wet

“Hmm I don’t know did I Hehe.” As she goes back to her seat end grabbing her cup.

“ehh I ohh.” Damm system error rebooting Mamoru.exe successfully running back.

“Hehe no I didn’t actually kiss you, but you just kiss my cup so isn’t this what you call an indirect kiss hehe.”

“ehh Emi I eh.”

“hehe, lets continue our work ok ah.” Then we hear the café door open end a man with the same hair colour as Emi Walk In with another girl with different hair this one is pure blonde

“Ahh its monsieur Delacroix “

“Ahh good to see you again jean is my daughter here.”

“Yeah, she on the back with her boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend!” the man looks surprised end immediately walk to us the other girl looks startled by the man action end quickly follow along.

“Emi is that your-.” Before I can finish what, I assume to be her father sit next to Emi.

“Father what are you doing here I told you I can go home by myself.”

“Well, I just so happen to be around, so I want to check on you end it’s already quite late young lady so I’m going to pick you up.”

“So will you introduce me to your boyfriend.” The man glare fiercely at me.

“Boyfriend no Jean just joking dad she my partner for the group assignment the teacher gave us.”

“Oh, is that so boy.”

“eh YES SIR!!” I don’t know why I answer in English probably because Emi father look like a military commander

Emi laugh but her father then “ok what your name boy.”

“Yes sir, Mamoru sir.” Damm, I feel like a new recruit reporting to a commanding officer.

Then the other girl sits next to me “ehh are you onee-san boyfriend hehe you are quite cute.”

“Eh Amelie.”

“hehe are you jealous one-san.” Amelie Get closer to me.

“Enough Emilia end Amelie let’s go home mother waiting right now.” As her father tap the desk

“Yes, father.” as Emi immediately stand up alongside her father

“ehh see you tomorrow Mamoru-san.” As she walks out with her dad

“Hehe see you another time onee-san boyfriend.” As her little sister follow alongside her walk out of the café

Well shoot now I’m alone well time to go home I guess but before I leave jean approach me

“Well, that end abruptly, don’t be sad ok I’m going to give you my favourite dishes, wait here ok it won’t be long.”

“Eh ok jean.”

Then jean immediately go back to the kitchen to prepare the diner she said he going to serve me

As I waited, I got a new message from Emi “sorry it must end abruptly.”

I reply, “it’s ok Emi, the deadline is still quite long so we can rest easy for now.”

I am conflicted should I send this next message or not “uhh hey you still remember the anime/light novel I recommended?”

“Eh yeah just a bit thought can you send the full list again Mamoru-san.”

“Here Emi.” I send her my recommended anime/light novel that I put in my word file.

“Hehe well I’m going to watch some of this then, end btw you called me Emi now.”

“Well, what could I see look like I have a good teacher that teach romance really well.” I send her a smug anime sticker

“Hehe don’t get to far ahead you still just a beginner.”

“Yeah, that maybe right but soon you probably going to throw yourself at me end you going to become my girlfriend.”

Emi blushed as he read the message, she gives reply with “Baka in your dream.” End she send a tsundere sticker

Then Emi send another message “well see you tomorrow ok, end don’t worry all of it has already been paid so you can order anything.”

“Yeah, jean already prepare something for me, well I cannot wait to taste French cuisine.”

“Well enjoy good night, Mamoru-san.”

“Good night, Emi.”

Then jean arrive with uhh I don’t really know what it called.

“Hehe let me present to you monsieur Mamoru our special dish here in our café, cuisses de grenouille (frog leg) ala jean

“uhh it looks delicious thank jean” I touch the dish it kind of slimy.

“End uhh jean can you make me a latte for take away.”

“hehe sure well enjoy the dish ok.” Jean return to the kitchen again

Oh boy let’s try to finish this I bite the frog leg I try to chew on the frog leg it quite juicy hmm… not that bad I could get used to it.

The taste feels like the tenderness of chicken thighs, end part of a fish kiss by the garlicky butter ends flecked parsley, so almost like chicken wing meet fish end chip.

I finish at least 3 frogs legs by now it really, it’s quite a delicious dish.

“Ahh, I see you enjoying the frog legs there quite gamey but flavourful.”

“Yeah, at first it kind of disgusting but it tastes great.”

“Hehe well I am glad you liked it end here the latte for take away.”

Then jean leave leaving to finish the dish as I finish the dish, I gather my notebook, end stationary end put it in my bag

I then said goodbye to jean end thank him for the dish.

I walk out of the café end greeted by the night cold air brr I better go home fast.

As I walk out, I can see this district is a much fancier than the other district as it has much more European feel too.

I knock on Kaede door “Kaede I got something for you.”

“ehh what is it onii-chan I’m in the middle of ohh is that for me? Her expression changes from sour to happy.

“yeah, it’s a latte I got from my hot date.”

“Ew disgusting end onii-chan having a girlfriend unlikely.” She then grabs the latte end close the door

“Really that all the thank I god well hope you enjoy it.”

The door then opens slightly “it was good thank onii-chan.”

“Well, you’re welcome.”

I then immediately return to my room to change end lay on my bed looking at the message

“Hehe maybe I still have a hope.” Before I close my eyes to sleep in my bed.