And so, Sunday arrived.
I reached the station thirty minutes ahead of our agreed meeting time and waited for Nino. Showing up a little early was only natural, wasn't it?
As I stood there, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
This could be considered a date, right?
My first date with Nino.
Not that I would ever ask her directly. I already knew she'd deny it with her life. She is a tsundere through and through. Still, a selfish part of me hoped she saw it the same way.
Then another thought surfaced, souring my mood.
The more I thought about it, the more it felt like I am cheating on Miku.
It was an unpleasant feeling—one that settled heavily in my chest. Yet at the same time, I couldn't deny the excitement that came with growing closer to Nino.
Go ahead and judge me.
I already knew I am a greedy bastard.
By the way, I had put a little extra effort into my outfit this time. Unlike Miku, Nino cared a lot about appearances, and I wanted to look good in her eyes as well.
As expected, Nino arrived five minutes early.
The moment I saw her, I was left speechless.
She looked absolutely stunning.
She wore a sleeveless black blouse adorned with delicate ruffles along the shoulders, paired with a high-waisted pleated mini skirt in a soft pastel lavender shade that swayed very little with each step. Dark wedge sandals with elegant lace-pattern detailing and subtle metallic gold accents complemented her outfit perfectly. To complete the look, she carried a small white quilted crossbody purse decorated with a purple ribbon and a gold chain strap.
Every piece was carefully chosen, creating an ensemble that was both stylish and effortlessly charming.
For a brief moment, I simply stared.
She looked incredible.
A true fashionista in every sense of the word, i looked nothing in comparison.
Even after she walked up to me, I remained absentmindedly staring at her without saying a word.
The silence seemed to make her self-conscious—or perhaps simply uncomfortable.
"...What are you staring at?" she asked sharply, snapping me back to reality.
"Ah—n-no, I was just..."
I took a quiet breath to steady myself before smiling.
"You look beautiful."
Nino froze for a split second before a faint blush spread across her cheeks. As always, however, she quickly buried her embarrassment beneath her usual tough exterior.
"Don't say things like that to other girls when you already have a girlfriend."
She even took the opportunity to give me a piece of her mind.
"...You're right," I admitted apologetically, rubbing the back of my neck. "I just can't help it. I have a simple personality—I tend to say whatever I'm thinking."
Hearing that, Nino couldn't help but feel we were a little alike in that regard. She was the same way at heart.
The only difference was that she could never bring herself to say something as embarrassingly straightforward as I could.
"Let's go. We're not here for this."
With that, she turned and started walking toward our destination. I hurriedly fell into step beside her.
Whether she realized it or not—or perhaps she did—it felt as though she was trying her hardest to draw a line between us.
Staying true to the purpose of our meeting, Nino led me into a mobile phone store first.
"Pick whichever one you like," she said casually, though her eyes wandered around the shop with a hint of curiosity.
"You sounded like my sugar mommy."
I held back my laughter after saying it.
"W-What?!"
Nino's face instantly turned red with flustration. Before she could fire back, I raised both hands in surrender.
"I'm joking."
"Hmph."
She let out a small snort, clearly unimpressed.
Leaving her alone for the moment, I browsed through the display phones, comparing one model after another.
The truth was, I wasn't looking for anything fancy. I didn't need the latest flagship or some high-end device packed with features I'd never use. I just wanted a reliable phone for everyday use.
The problem was...
Everything here is expensive.
"Have you decided yet?"
Nino's impatient voice came from behind me.
Turning around with an awkward smile, I scratched my cheek.
"Umm... everything here is so expensive. I was hoping to get something a lot cheaper."
"Why?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I'm the one paying for it, aren't I?"
"That doesn't mean I should take advantage of you." I met her gaze without wavering. "I just want something simple. A normal phone for everyday use is more than enough."
She looked away and muttered something under her breath.
"...But you already did once."
I couldn't quite catch what she had said.
Instead of continuing the argument, she called over a member of the staff.
"Excuse me."
A saleswoman walked over and gave a polite bow.
"How may I help you?"
Nino held up her own phone.
"Do you have this model in stock?"
"Of course. Shall I bring one for you?"
"Please."
With a courteous nod, the saleswoman headed toward another display.
Nino turned back to me, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"My model is perfect for everyday use," she explained, trying to make sense for some reason. "And... both the front and back cameras are pretty good."
...Why is she blushing?
The question crossed my mind, but I kept it to myself.
Instead, I smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
A part of me still felt bad about accepting something so expensive, but I already knew how stubborn Nino could be. Once she had made up her mind, there was no convincing her otherwise.
"Sir, would you like a new SIM card as well?" the saleswoman asked after Nino finished paying.
"No, I still have my old one."
Taking the phone from her, I noticed something interesting.
It was the exact same color as Nino's.
A coincidence?
Maybe.
Either way, it was a gift from her, so I wasn't about to complain.
I inserted my old SIM card, half-expecting it to refuse to work after being soaked in the rain.
Fortunately, the signal came without any issues.
The first thing I did was log into my LINE account.
The moment it finished syncing, dozens of unread messages flooded the screen.
All of them were from Miku.
The last one read: "Are you asleep already?"
Seeing it, I couldn't help but smile. I was just about to think of a teasing reply when—
"Give me that for a second."
Before I could react, Nino snatched the phone from my hands.
Her eyes paused on Miku's chat for the briefest moment before she quietly closed it. Without saying a word, she opened the contacts page, scanned my QR code with her own phone, and added me to her contact list.
Only then did she hand it back.
"If we're done here, let's go."
She spoke as though nothing had happened, already turning toward the exit.
"Alright, I'm heading home now."
The words left Nino's mouth the moment we stepped out of the store.
My eyes widened ever so slightly.
...Seriously?
She was just going to leave like that?
"Wait."
I called out to her, instinctively reaching out with my hand, though I stopped short of actually grabbing her.
She turned around with a puzzled frown.
"What? We already finished what we came here for."
She wasn't wrong.
That was the reason we had met in the first place.
But there was no way I was going to let such a rare opportunity slip through my fingers.
I had my own goals to accomplish today as well.
"I was thinking... since you bought me a phone, I'd like to repay you by treating you to something."
I spoke with complete sincerity.
Nino stared at me for a moment before shaking her head.
"I appreciate the thought, but there's no—"
"There's a new café that's been going viral for its pancakes."
The words slipped out before she could finish refusing me.
Silence.
Nino simply looked at me with a flat, disdainful expression before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"...freaking stalker."
It didn't take a genius to figure out how I knew about her favoritism to pancakes.
She had already connected the dots.
Still, despite calling me names, she didn't reject the invitation again.
She simply couldn't resist the temptation of trying a new pancake café, and, perhaps... She just didn't hate me enough to turn me down anymore.
Either way—
I had successfully managed to extend our time together.
--------------
We stepped into the café I had been planning to bring her to.
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries greeted us the moment we entered, filling the air with an inviting scent.
The interior was tastefully decorated, blending a cozy atmosphere with modern elegance. Just as its growing reputation suggested, the place was bustling with customers.
"Excuse me," I called to one of the staff members. "Is there any seats available?"
"Of course, sir. Please follow me."
The waitress smiled politely before leading us farther inside.
Although the café was crowded, it never felt cramped. It wasn't like a packed restaurant where every inch of space was occupied. The atmosphere remained calm and relaxing, with plenty of room to walk around.
It was simply that most of the tables were already occupied—a testament to just how popular the café had become.
After leading us to an empty table in the corner, the waitress excused herself and left us to look over the menu.
I picked it up, casually flipping to the first page.
Something immediately caught my eye.
To celebrate the café's successful first month, they were holding a special couples-themed event.
Couples would receive a generous discount on their orders, along with access to an exclusive, limited-edition pancake available only during the event.
I slowly lowered the menu and turned toward Nino.
The moment our eyes met, she instantly understood what I was thinking.
"There is absolutely no way."
She rejected the idea before I had the chance to open my mouth.
"But it's only available to couples," I protested. That discount is way too good to pass up, I swear, I don't have any other motives."
"I am not pretending to be your girlfriend."
Nino's answer was immediate and unwavering.
"Why not?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"...Why should I?"
"For the limited-edition pancake."
Her expression stiffened.
For a brief moment, she fell silent, clearly wavering.
Seeing the opening, I leaned slightly across the table.
"Come on," I whispered, my voice carrying the temptation of a devil's bargain. "It's just an act. Only for a few minutes."
"...Ugh."
Nino ground her teeth before letting out a long, frustrated groan.
She lowered her head, as though swallowing her pride.
"...Jerk."
She muttered something under her breath, too quietly for me to make out.
Just then, the waitress returned carrying a tray.
She gently placed two slices of brownies in front of us before offering a professional smile.
"These are complimentary for today. Please enjoy."
After setting the plates down, she took out her notepad.
"Have you decided on your order?"
"We have."
Smiling, I tapped the very first page of the menu.
"We'd like the couple-exclusive pancake."
Across from me, Nino remained completely silent, She neither agreed nor denied it.
After the waitress left once more, an awkward silence settled over our table.
Unable to bear it any longer, I let out a quiet sigh.
"...I'm sorry."
Nino finally lifted her head.
"Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?"
My eyes fell to the tabletop.
"It just seems like... you are feeling uncomfortable being in this situation."
"It's not like that."
Her denial came much softer than I had expected.
"I just..."
She hesitated before continuing.
"...I feel bad for Miku."
I looked back up.
A faint blush had spread across her cheeks.
Unable to meet my eyes, she turned her face to the side, resting her chin on her palm, looking outside as she quietly explained herself.
"Miku's your girlfriend."
"...You should've come to a place like this with her."
After a brief pause, she gathered her courage and looked straight into my eyes once again.
"...Don't you feel bad for her?"
I fell silent.
She was right.
I did feel guilty.
But at the same time...
Nino was someone I love too.
I want to spend time with her. I want to know her better.
The feelings tangled together into something messy—something I couldn't neatly justify or explain.
Maybe I really am selfish.
Even so...
I decided to be honest.
"I didn't know the café was holding an event like this today," I admitted.
Taking a slow breath, I met her gaze.
"I love Miku."
The words left my mouth without hesitation.
"But I also want to know you."
I paused before continuing.
"I want to know you in person—not just the version I see from a distance."
My smile softened.
"And not just you. I want to get to know all five of the Nakano sisters as individuals."
Nino's eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-What do you mean by—"
The shock in her voice was unmistakable.
Before I could answer, the waitress returned.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
She carefully placed a single plate in the center of our table.
It was a towering stack of Three fluffy pancakes, lavishly decorated with whipped cream, fresh berries, drizzles of melted chocolate, and an assortment of colorful toppings. Every inch of it radiated sweetness, while delicate couple-themed decorations gave the presentation an undeniably romantic touch.
It was as beautiful as it was indulgent.
Yet Nino didn't spare it so much as a glance.
Her attention never left me.
"What did you mean by that?"
She repeated the question, her eyes fixed on mine, unwilling to let me dodge the answer this time.
I remained silent, meeting her unwavering gaze.
I didn't know how to answer.
If the only alternative was lying to her...
I'd rather say nothing at all.
Caught between us, the waitress lingered awkwardly by the table. It was obvious there was still something she needed to do, but the heavy atmosphere made it difficult for her to speak.
After gathering her courage, she forced an apologetic smile.
"Um... Sir, ma'am... may we take your picture, please?"
Nino and I turned to her at the same time.
"...A picture?"
We both frowned in confusion.
"Yes."
She pointed toward the bottom corner of the first page of the menu.
"If you look here, you'll see that customers who order the limited-time couple's special agree to let us take a commemorative photo of them hand-feeding each other."
I lowered my eyes to where she was pointing.
Sure enough...
It was written there.
The disclaimer had been printed in tiny letters at the very bottom of the page.
No wonder neither Nino nor I had noticed it before.
I slowly turned toward Nino, she was glaring daggers at me
Her cheeks were already burning crimson at the mere thought of what we were about to do.
"...Ugh."
I let out a defeated groan under my breath.
Yeah...
That's a valid reason to hate me.
The waitress stepped back and raised her camera with a bright smile.
"Whenever you're ready."
Awkwardly, I cut off a small piece of pancake and held the fork out toward Nino.
After a brief hesitation, she did the same.
Only then did I realize something.
We had become the center of attention.
Customers from nearby tables had begun looking our way, some smiling, others quietly cheering us on as though they were witnessing a very romantic moment.
If anything, it only made Nino even more flustered.
As for me...
I am surprisingly thick-skinned in situations like this.
If I were being honest, a part of me was actually enjoying it.
Under the weight of everyone's expectant gazes, Nino nervously tucked a loose strand of her long hair behind her ear before, with obvious reluctance, leaned forward.
I mirrored her movement.
For a fleeting instant, our eyes met.
Then, at the exact same moment, we each took a bite from the fork the other was holding.
*Click.*
The camera shutter echoed through the café, perfectly capturing that single, unforgettable moment.
(AN: Check out the new cover.)