Chapter 67: We are on a date right now, after all.

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Translator: Soafp

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Having ended up buying a white one-piece dress and a flared skirt, Sora leaves the store with a slightly tired expression. By the way, Ginji had purchased some discounted chino pants and a black three-quarter-sleeved jacket that Sora had taken a liking to.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted…”

“Y-Yeah. The store clerk was kind of overly enthusiastic, huh…”

The reason for Sora's exhaustion was, needless to say, the photo shoot. It had taken place in a spot visible to other customers, and a few people had stopped to watch. Being weak against the gazes of others, Sora was completely worn out.

“You okay? Here, I'll carry the bags.”

“Thanks… I think I got motion sick from all the staring.”

Ginji took the bags and looked around for a place they could rest. About a hundred meters ahead, he spotted a food court lined with chain restaurants.

“Let's go sit down somewhere. Sora, how about we take a break at that food court?”

“Y-Yeah…”

They chose a seat against a partition so Sora wouldn't have to be too conscious of the people around. Finally sitting down seemed to help Sora relax a little. Ginji put the bags down and stood up.

“Wait here, I'll go buy us some donuts.”

“Mm, I'll go too.”

As Sora sluggishly started to get up, Ginji gently pushed her back down into the seat.

“No, just rest. You want the one with nuts and chocolate on top, right? And orange juice for the drink?”

“…You remembered?”

“Of course. Be right back.”

Sora grinned to herself, happy that Ginji remembered her preferences.

She was tired from doing something unfamiliar, but it had still been a fun time. Come to think of it, hadn't she played the part of a proper girlfriend pretty well today? Ginji had even seemed flustered here and there. Maybe her plan to make Ginji see her as a girl (which had eventually just turned into her wanting to be spoiled) was going pretty well.

“Ehehe, even though he gets embarrassed, he never pushes me away. That's one of the kind things about Ginji.”

Her mental “Ginji Folder” was overflowing with moments to treasure, and she looked forward to reviewing them when she got home.

After a while, as she waited with her eyes closed, she noticed Ginji hadn't come back yet. Curious, she kneeled on her seat and peeked over the partition toward the donut shop line in the food court.

“What's going on…? Wah!?”

Grabbing only her valuables, Sora suddenly dashed off. Ginji, who was waiting in line, was being talked to by two girls.

A few minutes earlier—Ginji had been looking at the panel menu while waiting in line at the donut shop when someone suddenly called out to him.

“Um… Are you Momoi-san?”

“Huh?”

Turning around, he saw two short girls about Sora's height, looking a bit shy as they addressed him.

They looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place them. Definitely not from his class, though.

“Uh, sorry. I don't remember you. Have we met?”

“Yes, we saw you during the school volunteer project—”

“Ah, right. Now I remember. Sorry for not recognizing you sooner.”

Ginji nodded in understanding. That explained it. He relaxed a little and turned to face the girls properly. As they talked and the line moved forward, Sora came rushing toward them at full speed from behind.

“W-Wait… huff huff”

“Sora!? H-Hey, are you okay? What happened?”

Ginji gently rubbed Sora's back, worried. Sora straightened up with a jolt.

“This is a huge incident! I mean, we're on a date and you're getting hit on by other girls? Sure, Ginji is cool and all, but I shouldn't have let us split up!”

Sora was in a bit of a panic, her eyes spinning. Ginji pointed toward the girls behind him.

“Hit on? What are you talking about?”

The girls blinked in confusion behind Ginji, and upon closer inspection, they looked quite young.

“Wait… Middle schoolers?”

“Yeah. This isn't a pickup. They're Tetsu's classmates. I filled in for my parents at a middle school volunteer cleaning event once, and we were in the same group.”

“W-Wow, you're cute! Um, are you his girlfriend? As expected from Tetsu's older brother—you're totally popular, and you've got such a cute girlfriend!”

“Yeah, I was surprised. High schoolers are amazing!”

“Uh… Well…”

“I don't know if I'm cute, but I am on a date with Ginji right now.”

With more suspicion than she even showed Aika, Sora clung tightly to Ginji's arm. The softness was noticeable even through his shirt, and the fact that it was being witnessed by his little brother's classmates made Ginji's face go bright red.

“Okay, okay. You're making it hard to walk. And I'm not exactly popular, you know.”

“But even some girls in our class said you were cool back during the volunteer event. Just a few, though.”

The innocent comment from a junior high girl left everyone with mixed feelings.

“‘Just a few,' huh…”

“Ginji appeals to a niche crowd. I should've been more careful… I wish I'd met you sixteen years earlier.”

“You mean since birth? Geez. Calm down, Sora. You're drawing attention.”

Sora was in a mini panic, but realizing that the girls didn't have romantic feelings for Ginji, she began to settle down. Still, the memory of Mio trying to steal Ginji flashed in her mind, and she didn't want to let go of him. But acting all clingy in front of younger girls was a bit embarrassing.

Just then, Ginji took Sora's hand—not her arm, but her hand.

The feel of his big, warm palm made Sora's face turn beet red.

“G-Ginji?”

“You calmed down? Let's step out of line. The burger place next door doesn't seem as crowded.”

He then turned to the middle school girls and raised a hand in parting.

“If you want to know more about Tetsu, you should ask him yourself. I'm kind of… on a date with her right now.”

With that, he apologized and led Sora over to the burger shop next door.

Sora was so happy that Ginji had held her hand, she couldn't look him in the eyes. But even as they reached the counter, his hand never let go.

That day, the donut shop surprisingly had a bunch of sweet donuts left unsold.