Chapter 6: A Date

On Saturday morning, when Mao arrived at the meeting spot a little early, Nezu had already arrived.
Mao noticed and was about to run over to him, but he was glancing around, fidgeting, and looked unsettled.

Seeing how nervous Nezu seemed around her, Mao felt a small sense of fondness toward him.
Taking the past as something to reflect on, this time, I’ll do it properly.

With that decision made in her heart, she ran over to him.

“Good morning, Nezu-kun.”
Slightly out of breath, Mao greeted him.
“Ah… g-good morning, Hanazono-san. Um… you’re… incredibly… cute…”
His face bright red, he somehow managed to finish the sentence.

“Thank you. You look good too, Nezu-kun.”
Seeing how nervous Nezu was, Mao somehow felt her mood grow lighter.
She had been anxious when she left the house, but at this rate, it seemed like she could spend the day being herself.

After that, the two of them wandered around a shopping mall near the station, ate at a fast-food place, and laughed together over trivial things.

Before long, they moved on to the local shopping street.
As they walked side by side along the quiet street, Mao gently slipped her arm around Nezu’s, and Nezu gave a small start, his body trembling.

“I… want to be alone… just the two of us…”
Looking straight up at him with moist eyes, Nezu lost his words.

Taking his hand as he stood there in confusion, Mao led him into the narrow gap between the shuttered shops.
She moved ahead through the narrow passage, like a simple maze, as though it were a path she already knew.
There was no one around, and long-abandoned trash and outdoor air-conditioning units that might not even be running were there.

Pressing Nezu back against the dead end, Mao whispered in a sweet, coaxing tone.
“Hey… will you close your eyes?”

Nezu stiffened, awkwardly lowering his eyelids.
The pounding of his heart echoed unusually loud.

“…Sorry for doing something like this so suddenly.”

The next moment, something soft touched his lips.
And he felt warmth spreading from his neck down to his chest.