Chapter 19: First Date

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

[Miyabi PoV]

On a winter afternoon, the area in front of the central city station was overflowing with people.

Perhaps due to it being a holiday, students, couples, and families carrying shopping bags hurriedly passed by. The sunlight streaming through the gaps in the skyscrapers mixed with the cold air, further brightening the clear winter sky.

I weaved through the crowd and looked around the station’s roundabout where we were supposed to meet. I arrived about twenty minutes early—not by chance, but because I couldn't calm down.

Standing still in the cold air, I noticed my breath gradually becoming visible. I rubbed my hands together, still wearing my ivory gloves, and blew on them softly.

I slipped my hands into the inside of my camel-colored duffle coat and slightly curled up. The warmth of my beige knit sweater felt comforting against my skin, while the wind lightly fluttered the hem of my skirt.

Gripping the strap of the shoulder bag in my hand tightly, I felt a slight return of warmth to my chilled fingers.

I stood next to a pillar at the station, avoiding the flow of people, and checked my phone, still holding my bag.

There was no message from Godai-senpai yet.

Sighing softly, I absentmindedly fiddled with the edge of my scarf with my fingertips.

That's when it happened.

“Hey Onee-chan, are you waiting for someone?”

I raised my head at the unexpected sound of a man's voice.

In front of me stood two unfamiliar men, both likely in their early twenties. One was wearing a black down jacket, the other a denim one.

Both were slender, with clean-cut faces.

For a moment, I caught their gaze, then quickly looked away.

“If you’re waiting, they haven't arrived yet, right? How about having tea with us in the meantime?”

“It's cold, so why don't we grab a warm drink at a nearby café? It'll help pass the time until your friend arrives.”

With frivolous smiles, the men edged closer. I subtly furrowed my brow and quietly took a step back.

“Sorry, I'm waiting for someone.”

I replied clearly and tried to walk away without looking at them. But they didn't back down easily.

“Is it your boyfriend you're waiting for?”

“Uh, something like that…”

I intended to brush them off with a vague answer, but to my surprise, they laughed and continued.

“Well, in that case, it's fine, right? Since they're not here yet, chatting with us for a bit won't hurt, will it?”

“Yeah, unless your boyfriend is the jealous type?”

“It's not about that…”

As their persistence grew, I lightly clenched my cold fingers.

I just wanted to get out of this situation quickly. Even though we were in a busy place, the people around us were all too absorbed in their own business, completely indifferent to what was happening between us.

As the men closed in further, one of them stepped forward, but at that exact moment—

Suddenly, Godai-senpai appeared beside me, standing tall with a casual smile, and addressed the two men.

“Sorry, but she's uncomfortable. Could you leave her alone?”

His familiar voice was calm and kind.

Despite his simple attire of a black hoodie under a white jacket, Godai-senpai exuded a certain sophistication.

As he moved closer, he gently placed a hand on my shoulder, staring down at the two men with a firm, warning look.

“Like I said, she's uncomfortable. Stop bothering her, alright?”

Godai-senpai stood in front of me with a calm, confident presence, sending a clear message that he was protecting me.

“Wait, is he really your boyfriend?”

The men blinked in confusion, clearly taken aback.

“Yeah, that doesn't seem legit. He just came out of nowhere, acting like he's her boyfriend or something…”

“Well, he actually is. So please don't interrupt us.”

Godai-senpai smiled faintly, placing his hand back on my shoulder as if to offer reassurance.

That small gesture filled me with a sense of relief.

“…Yes, he's my boyfriend.”

When I firmly stated this, the men finally gave up with disgruntled expressions.

“Tch, what a waste of time.”

“Alright, whatever. Sorry about that.”

With a sigh, they shrugged and disappeared into the crowd at the station.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and looked up at Godai-senpai.

“…Thank you.”

“I just did what anyone would. There's no way I'd ignore something like that.”

Godai-senpai smiled gently and reached out to adjust my scarf slightly.

That simple action made my heart flutter unexpectedly.

Godai-senpai usually had a light-hearted demeanor, but in moments like this, he was dependable. That surprising side of him stirred something inside me, making me feel strangely unsettled.

I became acutely aware of how warm my fingertips were growing.

Before I knew it, a small warmth had spread in my chest.