Category: Toxic Game Streamer

Two weeks remained until the start of the exclusive ABEX tournament for streamers, also known as the Ebe Festival. It was to be held on a Sunday.

Twitto Post: [Eh, are they serious about this lol]

Twitto Post: [This is definitely going to cause a shitstorm lmao]

Twitto Post: [I feel sorry for the members lol]

Twitto Post: [A clown has somehow slipped in there!]

Twitto Post: [The organizers are definitely messing around lol]

ABEX players using social media, particularly Twitto, were showing great excitement.

Besides “#EbeFestival”, the trending tags also included “#AxcisCrown” and “#Oni-chan”.

Why did this phenomenon occur?

It happened because the promotional video released on Twitto by the official Ebe Festival management team was unlike any of its predecessors.

To be precise, it was because of the ending. It had too much impact.

At first, traditional Japanese instruments like taiko drums played in the background, while the revelation of Team 1 and their respective member’s MouTube profile pictures emerged.

Continuing smoothly up to Team 19, the team that would close out the event was Team 20.

Two members of the pro gaming team “Axcis Crown”:

[Ac_RiNa]

[Ac_Ayaya]

And then—

[????????]

At the moment the last member shrouded in mystery was introduced…

The BGM of traditional Japanese instruments like taiko drums stopped—replaced by the ominous sound of a deep bass wind, and the screen faded to black.

A few seconds later, the screen transitioned to a place resembling ruins, where a fully black-clad, physically large man slowly walked forward, created in CG.

In a scene like from a movie, as the large man, wearing a hood, began to move out of frame, a gunshot rang out from behind.

He immediately stopped in his tracks and turned around—revealing what was engraved on his back.

For several seconds, the character “鬼 (Oni)” was displayed.

Then, as if using an ultimate move like those seen in ABEX, the large man made a motion and vanished like ashes.

With a thunderous roar, lightning struck, transitioning to the text: “14 days until the streamer-exclusive ABEX tournament, Ebe Festival!!” thus ending the video.

The hidden member with the “????????” username from Team 20 By now, you probably already guessed who it was.

With such a powerful promotion and the participation of such an unexpected individual, the buzz was enormous.

Twitto Post: [Oni-chan’s joining? How’s this going to turn out!?]

Twitto Post: [This tournament is going to be wild.]

Twitto Post: [I’m really hyped for this Ebe Festival now lol!]

Twitto Post: [Well, to be honest, the organizers have great taste lol.]

With many such tweets like this, several ABEX-related topics trended.

“……” (Haruto)

In the midst of this whirlwind, Haruto, also known as Oni-chan, ignored the excessive notifications he’d been getting and repeatedly watched the PV, his face turning pale each time.

“I-I mean… I did say they could promote it however they want, but I never thought the organizers would do something like this…” (Haruto)

Overwhelmed by the mounting pressure, Haruto let out a weak sigh and collapsed onto his bed.

---

Thanks for reading!

Man, that’s actually pretty frickin cool. Whoever created that video knew what they were doing. I can totally see this trending for a while. Also, that illustration is just fire. 

And, that’s the end of this volume. As of right now, I don’t really have another planned series except maybe this one which is coming out like tmr so I may just pick this up:

The Beautiful Student Council President Togami-san is Still a Clumsy Airhead Today and Can’t Be Left Alone

Also, in my country, I’m required to serve in the army for 2 years, and by the time Vol 3 comes out, I’ll probably be busy. Maybe I can get out like 2-3 chapters a week, but it’s still hard to say.

Just ought to let you know ahead of time. And during that time, there’s no way I can start a series, so I’ll mostly be gone, aside from playing catchup with any new volumes of my finished series.

---

1. None

“Hah~ That was so much fun…” (Aya)

Rewinding a bit…

This happened after Aya saw Haruto off from the entrance of her apartment.

Aya hugged a penguin plushie, sat down on the edge of the sofa, and let out a voice.

“I’m really glad everything went well.” (Aya)

Aya was sitting in the spot where Haruto had been sitting before he left. 

In that place where his warmth still lingered, she murmured while vividly recalling today’s events.

(Haruto-kun, I wonder when you’ll invite me next…)

Even though he said, “I’ll try to invite you as soon as possible”, he’s a busy person who only has Saturdays off every week.

Even on those days off, he has to do his streams.

Once he gets home, he’ll probably start streaming to earn money.

Because of that, it’s hard to imagine being able to hang out anytime soon.

It’s lonely, but rather than pressing him about it, it’s best to patiently wait for his invitation.

But—

(I can look forward to playing with Haruto-kun again in the future, so I have to stay positive!)

To her, today’s date was enjoyable. She was able to call him “Haruto-kun”, she was able to invite him to her house, and she was able to guarantee a future date. All in all, her first date was a huge success.

“Alright! Considering I’m getting rewarded with a date in the future… I need to work hard at my job too!!… Now then!” (Aya)

After thinking positively while patting the plushie’s head, Aya reached for the bag she brought for the date.

She rummaged through it and took out the matching wireless earphones she secretly bought at the store.

With an unconscious smile on her face, she unboxed them and took them out. Then, she quickly moved to the streaming room to do one thing.

She hooked it up next to the monitor stand with the PC, like an interior decoration.

“Hehe, with this, I feel like I can stream even better than usual…” (Aya)

Maybe it’s because they match, but she felt as if he was cheering her on from nearby.

Truthfully, she wanted to purchase them openly and ask, “Is it okay if we match?” but she hesitated.

(In our current relationship, it might still be seen as too much huh…)

What Aya feared most was being disliked by him.

The reason she insisted on matching them was to create some peace of mind for herself.

Because… she heard that Rina, a reliable, beautiful, kind, and respected senpai, has somehow become close to him.

She also heard that Rina is getting along well with his sister.

Since their relationship has progressed further than hers, she wanted to feel like they were on equal footing.

Today, she avoided bringing up Rina during the date, because she knew she’d end up feeling jealous…

“I hope Haruto-kun will forgive me for being so jealous…” (Aya)

She muttered quietly.

This is something she can’t change, no matter how hard she tries.

Touching the matching earphones, she calmed her heart.

It was then, as she returned to the living room from the streaming room.

Aya’s steps suddenly stopped, and her eyes caught sight of something.

On the table were the plates and glasses they used during today’s meal.

“………” (Aya)

In this space, only the sound of the TV quietly played.

As if struck by a thought, Aya pursed her lips tightly and blinked repeatedly, then hurried over to the table.

To be precise, she approached the glass, touching it with both hands.

At that moment, what flashed through her mind was… the image of Haruto using this glass to take a drink.

The more vividly she recalls it, the hotter her head becomes as if it’s boiling.

Her reason melts away, leaving her unable to think about anything…

As she brings the cup closer to her mouth, her heart beats faster.

“—Wait!! W-what am I doing!? I can’t do something like this!?” (Aya)

She was just about to touch it with her lips.

Her voice trembled as she hurriedly returned the cup to its original position, regaining her composure.

While breathing heavily, she started hating herself after realizing the outrageous thing she was about to do.

“…” (Aya)

She regretted not accepting Haruto’s offer to help with the dishes before leaving if she knew she was going to end up like this.

“Mouu… just how much do I love Haruto-kun…” (Aya)

Her voice quivered with a heartfelt cry.

It was at this moment that she realized that she loved him so much that she couldn’t control herself.

Having attended an all-girls school in middle and high school, she had little contact with the opposite sex, and since this was her first love… it frightened her to see herself acting out of character.

“I need to cool my head…” (Aya)

Aya hurriedly carried the plates and cups to the sink, placing her hands under the cold water flowing from the faucet to cool her head.

The moment she saw the water splashing and hitting the rim of the cup, she was overwhelmed by a sense of ‘what a waste’.

“—Mouuu! Why am I like this…?!” (Aya)

Once again, she fell into self-loathing.

It was the most emotionally exhausting dishwashing she had ever experienced in her life.

“I’m really exhausted… Haa.” (Aya)

Though she managed to finish, she was utterly exhausted.

Just as she was about to sink into the sofa to recover her heavy body, a notification sound came from her smartphone on the table as if it was right on cue.

“!!” (Aya)

Aya had received a promise from Haruto that he’d contact her once he got home.

Thinking it was a message from Haruto, she hurriedly checked the screen, only to see the words “Streamer Exclusive Tournament, Ebe Festival Management”.

“Oh…” (Aya)

Feeling somewhat deflated, it was a message from the tournament management that she had been expecting.

As she checked the email to reply, she suddenly gasped.

“!?” (Aya)

Aya let out a startled cry and dropped her phone from her hand.

The shock was so great because of the team members listed under her team in the message for the upcoming tournament.

---

Thanks for reading!

I can’t believe she was this close to doing something with the cup. And she still doesn’t know that she has competition in the form of Suzuha so rip.

Next chapter is the last one for this volume.

---

1. None

“That felt great~” (Haruto)

While wiping his wet hair with a towel, Haruto appeared in the living room where Yuno and Suzuha were.

“Wow, onii-chan, you’re not in your pajamas because Suzuha-chan is here. Even though, I went through the trouble of preparing them for you.” (Yuno)

“Well, it’s fine to show off a bit, right? Suzuha-chan, you think so too, don’t you?” (Haruto)

“I would like to see Haruto-oniisan in his pajamas too.” (Suzuha)

“I’m happy to hear that, but that’s a no ahaha.” (Haruto)

It might be something everyone can relate to—wanting to show our best side to those we’re close to.

“Just because Suzuha-chan is cute, don’t try to flirt with her.” (Yuno)

“I just didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Besides, even if someone like me tried to flirt with her, it wouldn’t work on Suzuha-chan. Right?” (Haruto)

“Ah…” (Suzuha)

Haruto, confident in his statement, smiled and urged again.

While he’s doing this to facilitate conversation, for Suzuha, it’s an unexpected killer move.

“…” (Suzuha)

Unable to affirm the truth, and too embarrassed to be honest, she hides her reddening face.

“As soon as you come out, you start troubling Suzuha-chan. Onii-chan, how mean can you be?” (Yuno)

“No! I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry?!” (Haruto)

“No, I’m the one who couldn’t respond properly…” (Suzuha)

If she could have responded with a joke, it wouldn’t have escalated to this, but it was something Suzuha couldn’t do right now.

Haruto’s hair was a little wet from the bath, and his hairstyle was different from usual.

He looked even cooler to her than usual.

“In the first place, onii-chan, you should dry your hair before coming to the living room. There’s a hairdryer in the bathroom.” (Yuno)

Yuno interjected to keep the conversation flowing.

She only said this because she had figured out why Suzuha was blushing.

“W-Well, how should I put it… Since it’s already late, I thought it’d be better to spend the time talking and playing chess instead!” (Haruto)

“You can be cheerful while you still can. You’re going to get beaten in chess anyways.” (Yuno)

“You think so? But I’ve been studying quite a bit, so I think I can put up a good fight..” (Haruto)

“…Thank you for that, Haruto-oniisan.” (Suzuha)

“Not at all, not at all.” (Haruto)

She knows he made the effort to learn the rules just to play with her. That fact alone warms her heart.

“Now that I can play chess, it’s less likely that Suzuha-chan will be monopolized by Yuu.” (Haruto)

“Hehe, that might be true.” (Suzuha)

“What are you two talking about…? I’m the one inviting Suzuha-chan, so it’s only natural that I’d monopolize her.” (Yuno)

Yuno sighed, placed her hands on her hips, and replied with a half-hearted glare.

She showed such an exasperated attitude because she could see Suzuha smiling, not entirely displeased by Haruto’s joke.

“She’s so easy to read”…she thought.

“Well, from now on, when Suzuha-chan comes over, I’ll lend her to you for two bottles of juice. So if you need to, just let me know.” (Yuno)

“You’re saying this without asking, but are you okay with it, Suzuha-chan?” (Haruto)

“Of course, I’m fine with it, so in that case…” (Suzuha)

“Then I’ll gladly take you up on that offer when the time comes.” (Haruto)

Sometimes Suzuha visited their home just to see Haruto.

Because Yuno knew this, she didn’t hesitate to make such a suggestion. She never intended to say anything that would cause trouble.

She always tries to intervene such that Suzuha would be happy.

“Onii-chan, I want an orange and apple juice.” (Yuno)

“I’ll make sure to buy the 100% fruit juice kind.” (Haruto)

“That’s expensive, so you can go get something else.” (Yuno)

“Don’t worry about that.” (Haruto)

“But I am worried about that.” (Yuno)

“Hehe.” (Suzuha)

Their typical sibling banter continues. And Suzuha can’t help but smile seeing how Haruto didn’t mind spending a little more to make his sister happy.

“Oh, speaking of which, I got a message from Aya-san, who bought the sushi. She said, ‘You’re welcome! Feel free to enjoy it!’ So I thought I’d pass on the message.” (Haruto)

“She replied quite fast… She’s incredibly kind, isn’t she?” (Yuno)

“Yeah. She’s really kind, so I think you and Suzuha-chan will definitely get along well with her.” (Haruto)

From Haruto’s perspective, it was impossible to imagine them not getting along.

“…Um, Haruto-oniisan. Besides being kind, what kind of person is Aya-san?” (Suzuha)

“Well… To put it simply, she’s friendly, cheerful, straightforward, and the type who is liked by everyone.” (Haruto)

Haruto, scratching his cheek, feels a bit embarrassed about giving such descriptions.

“Onii-chan, you sure are praising her a lot.” (Yuno)

“She’s just that nice. Plus, she’s a first-year university student, just two years younger than me, so we have a lot of topics to talk about.” (Haruto)

“Huh? Onii-chan, she’s two years younger… which means… she’s 18!?” (Yuno)

“Yeah, but is there something surprising about that?” (Haruto)

It’s a perfectly normal age gap.

However, seeing Yuno react as if she just heard they were a decade apart makes Haruto wonder if he said something weird.

“Um… this might come out a bit blunt, but it doesn’t seem like the sushi we got was something a person her age would buy… Right, Suzuha-chan?” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah. I was really surprised when I saw it…” (Suzuha)

“Surprised…? Wait a sec. Let me check!” (Haruto)

With a voice trembling as if struck by a bad feeling, Haruto opens the refrigerator door and removes the lid of the sushi container.

Then, he’s so shocked that he shakes his shoulders up and down, and a loud “Huh!?” can be heard.

He turned back with that expression still on his face.

“Uh, well… What should I do? This sushi is definitely something premium… It’s like she went further beyond what was on the menu…” (Haruto)

“Hey, onii-chan, how did you not notice when ordering? Normally, you’d realize something is off.” (Yuno)

“Well, you see… We were originally supposed to choose our own menu items first, and after I paid half the money, Aya-san picked out this sushi by herself… And she was the one who settled the final bill too…” (Haruto)

“Hehehe.” (Suzuha)

Haruto is being pressed by Yuno, not just with words, but also in terms of physical proximity.

And Suzuha watches this with a fond smile.

“W-Well, I’m happy to have the chance to eat this kind of sushi, but it’s not okay for onii-chan to be fooled like this. The ‘feel free to eat it’ message was probably talking about this.” (Yuno)

“Oh, ah…! So, that’s why she also sent a sorry emoji! I thought it was a bit off!” (Haruto)

“Haah… Seriously…” (Yuno)

Seeing such a clear expression on his face, Yuno’s drive to pursue the issue fades away.

Despite going through a rebellious phase, Yuno genuinely felt that she was fortunate to have her brother around. However, she found this particular issue troubling.

Because of his lack of attention to crucial details, she couldn’t help but worry about him.

If there’s one thing she wanted to change about him, it’s this. But she’s also starting to give up.

She slumped her shoulders, then slowly turned her head to give Suzuha a weary look.

Her gaze seemed to say, “Are you really, truly okay with someone like him? It’s going to be tough, you know?” In response, Suzuha narrowed her eyes and nodded without hesitation as if to say “It’s fine, really.”

Since Yuno had lived with him for so long, it was an unshakeable truth for her.

But Suzuha found even that part of Haruto endearing.

Moreover, the fact that someone as kind, wonderful, and financially stable as Aya is interested in Haruto is proof of just how attractive he is.

Having a rival is certainly inconvenient, but this was something Suzuha had been prepared for ever since she developed feelings for Haruto.

She always thought he was more wonderful than any other man, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had gotten a girlfriend at any time.

“…I see.” (Yuno)

“Yuu? ‘I see’ what?” (Haruto)

“Nothing. …Anyways, enough about me. Show Suzuha-chan how you play chess. I’ve set up the board already.” (Yuno)

“Haha, Yuu’s right. Suzuha-chan, shall we play?” (Haruto)

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it, Haruto-oniisan.” (Suzuha)

“Alright! I’m going all out, so be prepared!” (Haruto)

Saying this, Haruto stretched to psych himself up and approached the table where the chessboard was set up.

He then sat down in a chair, facing Suzuha.

“Hey, onii-chan. Since it’s a special occasion, how about making a punishment game for the loser?” (Yuno)

“I’m okay with anything, so I’ll leave it up to Suzuha-chan.” (Haruto)

“Then… how about a best-of-three match, and the loser has to grant the winner’s request… How does that sound?” (Suzuha)

“Sounds good! And for the requests, let’s keep them within reason and things that actually can be done, okay?” (Yuno)

“Okay.” (Suzuha)

“Got it!” (Haruto)

When it comes to competition, Haruto doesn’t imagine losing.

While thinking about what he might ask for if he wins, he calls out to Yuno.

“Yuu, I’m counting on your support!” (Haruto)

“I’m only cheering for Suzuha-chan, though.” (Yuno)

“Wait, not for me!?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, not for you, onii-chan.” (Yuno)

Haruto made a shocked face at Yuno’s immediate response.

And… Suzuha couldn’t help but be captivated by this expression as well.

“Well, if you manage to win even one game, I might consider cheering you on.” (Yuno)

“Is that a promise?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah, I get it… So don’t look so happy.” (Yuno)

Yuno averted her gaze.

Because Haruto felt so grateful that it couldn’t be put into words, he couldn’t help but show it on his face.

“Then, I’ll let you go first, Haruto-san.” (Suzuha)

“Really!? Going first is advantageous, you know?” (Haruto)

“I plan to win even if I go second.” (Suzuha)

“Oh, interesting… Then I’ll take you up on your offer.” (Haruto)

With that, Haruto’s expression turned serious as he made the first move.

…

“W-Wait a minute! Hold on! Suzuha-chan, can’t you give me a bit more breathing room?” (Haruto)

“Hehe, it only just started, you know?” (Suzuha)

In the living room, Haruto’s panicked voice could be heard.

Suzuha’s happy laughter could also be heard, indicating how happy she was to get his attention and having someone to play with.

“Onii-chan, your position is terrible. Didn’t you say you were going to give her a good match?” (Yuno)

“T-That’s because Suzuha-chan is just too strong!” (Haruto)

As the two of them play chess, Yuno’s voice can be heard happily commenting on the game while holding a stuffed sea turtle plushie.

---

Thanks for reading!

How on earth did MC’s king march all the way to Suzuha’s side of the board? It’s either the angle of the illustration or MC really went and did that. If that’s supposed to be MC’s side of the board, then Suzuha somehow managed to get the rook in the back rank so it’s probably over.

Alright, so we’re nearing the end of this volume. All that’s left is the interlude and epilogue. I haven’t really decided what I want to translate next. Or maybe I should just focus on one series at a time.

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1. None

As Haruto traced his way home under the starry sky illuminated by streetlights, a sense of nostalgia overcame him upon arriving home.

“I’m home!” (Haruto)

Haruto opened the front door and called out for his sister.

The first thing he saw was Yuno’s neatly arranged shoes and an unfamiliar pair of sneakers lined up next to them.

Confirming that Suzuha, who had said that she would be staying over today, was visiting, he took off his shoes.

Footsteps echoed from the living room, and the door connecting the hallway to the living room opened.

“Welcome back, Onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Haruto-oniisan, sorry for intruding.” (Suzuha)

“Ah! It’s fine, I already heard about your visit from Yuu, so no worries. Thanks for coming out to greet me.” (Haruto)

Haruto stepped into the entrance, smiling as he greeted the two.

“It’s been a while, Suzuha-chan. Are you still enjoying school?” (Haruto)

“Yes, thanks to Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“Onii-chan is such a worrywart… He asks the same thing every time.” (Yuno)

“Fufufu, isn’t it the usual?” (Suzuha)

“I-I know I’m persistent.” (Haruto)

Because Haruto attended school in the unique situation of having lost his parents, he worried that Yuno might face the same challenges. Being whispered about, teased, or left out because of conversations about parents…

Suzuha, influenced by her quarter-blood heritage, had striking silver hair that made her stand out more than anyone else.

Knowing her past of being bullied at school for unreasonable reasons like “not having black hair”, “not being liked”, or “looking strange,” he couldn’t help but worry about her too.

All of this was because――

“Well, I really care about Yuu and Suzuha-chan… So, um, it’s something I can’t help but ask.” (Haruto)

“Ah, um, I’m happy… really happy to hear you say that…” (Suzuha)

“Haa… Don’t include me when Suzuha-chan is here, it’s embarrassing.” (Yuno)

Suzuha expressed her feelings while shyly curling up, and Yuno showed a slightly prickly attitude.

Seeing the two, Haruto gave a sheepish smile and conveyed what he hadn’t been able to say.

“So, anyways! Take it easy tonight, Suzuha-chan. You don’t have to worry about imposing too much.” (Haruto)

“T-Thank you for your kindness… I’ll take you up on that…” (Suzuha)

“No problem.” (Haruto)

Suzuha bowed her head modestly. Her silky, beautiful silver hair swayed, making her movements look even more graceful.

“…By the way, onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Hmm?” (Haruto)

“I’ve been curious for a while now, but what did you bring home today? I can clearly see something that looks like it’s going to cause a storage problem.” (Yuno)

“Oh, this? Ta-da! It’s a sea turtle plushie!” (Haruto)

Haruto quickly took it out of the bag and held it up for the two to see.

“What do you think? Cute, right? Suzuha-chan?” (Haruto)

“Uh, um… It’s cute, but it’s really big…” (Suzuha)

“I purposely chose a big one.” (Haruto)

“Haa… Good for you, onii-chan. If Suzuha-chan hadn’t been here today, I would have nagged you about it. Well, you probably brought it home knowing you’d get scolded anyways.” (Yuno)

“Haha…” (Haruto)

Haruto could only let out a dry laugh, knowing he had been found out.

“By the way, where did you buy that? It’s not something you usually see at a game center.” (Yuno)

“I bought it at an aquarium. The Nozomi Aquarium.” (Haruto)

“…Haa!?” (Yuno)

“…!” (Suzuha)

This came as a shock to both of them.

“Onii-chan, did you go to an aquarium today? You said you were going out with your workmates.” (Yuno)

“Yeah, that’s right. So we went to the aquarium and some other places… Huh? Did I say something strange…?” (Haruto)

“No, you didn’t say anything strange… It’s just that the destination was unexpected, that’s all.” (Yuno)

“Ah, yeah, I suppose it was. But it was really fun. There were huge jellyfish, cool sharks, and cute penguins.” (Haruto)

“Well… if onii-chan enjoyed himself, that’s good.” (Yuno)

Yuno glanced sideways at Suzuha, who was visibly shaken and frozen in place.

The place he had visited was an aquarium. It was only natural to think that he went on a ‘date’… so her reaction was understandable.

“I have something to ask you, onii-chan. Did you get a girlfriend or something?” (Yuno)

“No, no, that’s still the same as always.” (Haruto)

“Hmm.” (Yuno)

With a drawn-out voice, Yuno gazed into Haruto’s eyes.

Having lived together for many years, she could tell that he wasn’t lying about something like this.

“Is something bothering you?” (Haruto)

“I was just curious. Anyways, why don’t you go take a bath? I’ve already filled the tub with hot water.” (Yuno)

“Really!? Then I’ll get in before it gets cold!” (Haruto)

Having received a message saying, “I’m heading home now!” Yuno hurriedly filled the bathtub with hot water.

“Oh, right! This bag is for you and Suzuha-chan. This one has sushi that my workmate, Aya-san, bought for you. She also told me to tell you ‘Please eat it’. And this bag has desserts I bought from the convenience store. I’ll put them in the fridge, so eat them whenever you like!” (Haruto)

“I’m happy about it, but… why did Aya-san go to such lengths? Sushi is expensive, so onii-chan should have declined.” (Yuno)

“Of course, I initially declined. But she said she wanted to give it as a gift to make you happy.” (Haruto)

“If she put it that way… well, alright. But make sure you tell her ‘thank you’ from me.” (Yuno)

“…A-And from me too, please…” (Suzuha)

“Got it! Well then, I’ll go take a bath after sending the message.” (Haruto)

The conversation at the entrance ended there.

The three of them moved to the living room. Haruto placed the sea turtle plushie on the sofa and put the sushi and the desserts he bought from the convenience store into the refrigerator.

“Alright then, I’ll go take a bath now. You two take it easy. Oh, Suzuha-chan, just one thing!” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes!?” (Suzuha)

“If it’s alright with you after I get out of the bath, would you like to play that chess game we promised¹?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes, I’d love to…!” (Suzuha)

“Great!” (Haruto)

“I’ll help you get the board set up.” (Yuno)

“Thanks! Alright, I’ll be off then!” (Haruto)

With that, Haruto, holding his smartphone, headed to the bathroom.

In the living room, it’s just Yuno and Suzuha left. They quickly exchange glances.

“Y-Yuno-chan… Haruto-oniisan he…” (Suzuha)

“I didn’t expect that either. I mean, onii-chan hanging out with a girl…” (Yuno)

Their thoughts aligned—because he was someone who didn’t seem to have any romantic interests.

They exchange wide-eyed glances.

“But judging from his behavior, it seems like she’s just a coworker. I mean, onii-chan is terrible at lying.” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha lets out a relieved sigh but then continues with a lowered voice.

“…But, as expected of Haruto-oniisan. Before I knew it…” (Suzuha)

“W-Well, he’s someone we admire… so it won’t be weird for him to be popular, but maybe he’s just too busy for romance all this time.” (Yuno)

Both of them know many good qualities about Haruto.

Yuno and Suzuha are both thinking, “It’s strange for him to be single”.

“For now, why don’t we eat the dessert onii-chan got for us to calm down? Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s take a look at the sushi too.” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah.” (Suzuha)

It’s already quite late at night.

Although they’ve already had dinner, they’re both curious about what’s inside.

Yuno opens the refrigerator and Suzuha peeks in as well.

Once they’re ready to look, Yuno lifts the lid of the sushi box.

“Eh… What’s with these extravagant toppings…? And there’s fatty tuna and sea urchin, and it’s seasoned with red vinegar and sprinkled with gold… T-This must be really expensive!” (Yuno)

“I-I’ve never seen sushi this fancy before…” (Suzuha)

There are 20 dazzling pieces of sushi, each packed meticulously into the box.

For high schoolers like them, knowing the price of such a product is terrifying. They’d rather not think about it if possible.

“This person, Aya-san, definitely tricked him into bringing this home… onii-chan would never let her choose something this expensive…” (Yuno)

“In other words, she knows Haruto-oniisan well enough, I think…” (Suzuha)

“Yeah, otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought it home. He probably got convinced by some excuse like she has a free coupon…” (Yuno)

There’s no way something this extravagant could be free. Normally, they wouldn’t think Haruto could be deceived like this, but they could imagine the scene playing out in their minds.

Because Haruto is kind, pure, and straightforward, it’s easy to imagine him being easily tricked by someone.

“She’s definitely targeting onii-chan, isn’t she? I don’t think someone who doesn’t care about him would spend this much money on his relative.” (Yuno)

“Unn…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha’s weak voice leaks out, as if in agreement.

“Well, we’ll just have to switch our mindset for now. Since you’re going to play chess together later, we can’t let onii-chan worry about you, right?” (Yuno)

“Yeah, you’re right, Yuno-chan. Okay…” (Suzuha)

Haruto may have his dense moments, but strangely, he’s more sensitive than anyone else when it comes to people’s worries and can quickly notice them.

To enjoy their time together, they want to avoid causing him any worry.

“Well then, Suzuha-chan, what dessert would you like? We have jelly, pudding, and cake. Each of us gets two.” (Yuno)

“I-I’ll have the pudding…” (Suzuha)

“Then I’ll have pudding too. Here you go.” (Yuno)

“Thank you…” (Suzuha)

Yuno hands the pudding to Suzuha along with a plastic spoon.

Then, they both sit down in their chairs and continue their conversation while eating.

“…Hey, I just thought of something. Did onii-chan really walk into the convenience store carrying that huge sea turtle plushie? Wasn’t he embarrassed?” (Yuno)

“Oh, yeah, you’re right. He might have been embarrassed…” (Suzuha)

“And I hope he didn’t brag to the cashier about it. Like pulling out the plushie and all.” (Yuno)

“Hehehe.” (Suzuha)

What exactly was going through his mind when he entered the convenience store is something only he knows.

But considering the possibility that he might have felt embarrassed but still bought it, Yuno activates her “can’t be straightforward” mode and makes a lighthearted comment while munching on her pudding.

“Y-Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“Hm?” (Yuno)

“What kind of person is Aya-san…?” (Suzuha)

“Well, ultimately, we’ll have to ask onii-chan, but based on what I can guess for now, I think she’s someone with financial strength and kind-hearted nature. She seems to have a good eye for people.” (Yuno)

The fact that she was able to buy that sushi with the intention of making them happy. The fact that she noticed Haruto’s charms.

That’s how Yuno assesses her.

“…Other than that, maybe Aya-san is popular too. I mean, onii-chan wouldn’t come up with something as classy as ‘Let’s go to the aquarium’ so maybe it’s her suggestion, and even her name has a certain aura.” (Yuno)

“Don’t make me even more anxious…” (Suzuha)

“I-I didn’t mean to do that! You’re the one who asked me, Suzuha-chan!!” (Yuno)

“W-Well…” (Suzuha)

“Haa… I guess it can’t be helped.” (Yuno)

Suzuha who was thinking the same thing as Yuno, couldn’t help but ask out of anxiety.

“Then let’s focus on something positive next. I mean, Suzuha-chan, you were invited to hang out by onii-chan. There are plenty of chances to turn things around.” (Yuno)

“…Huh?” (Suzuha)

“Hm?” (Yuno)

Yuno who was hoping for a delighted response, blinked rapidly as she saw Suzuha’s blank expression, as if she had no idea what she was talking about.

Upon seeing this expression, Yuno herself lets out a hesitant “Ah…”

“Um, sorry, Suzuha-chan… Did I forget to mention it…? We’re going shopping for clothes with onii-chan next time, and I was wondering if you’d like to come too.” (Yuno)

“I didn’t hear anything about that…” (Suzuha)

“Ah, I see… I’m really sorry… I was looking forward to Suzuha-chan coming over that I forgot… Anyways, I should’ve told you about this first.” (Yuno)

If she had mentioned this earlier, Suzuha might have felt less uneasy.

She probably wouldn’t have been plagued by such big worries.

But because she hadn’t been told, Suzuha inadvertently revealed the extent of her feelings.

“So, can you keep Saturday free? Since onii-chan’s day off is Saturday, I think that’s when it’ll happen.” (Yuno)

“Yeah, got it.” (Suzuha)

Suzuha nodded and brought the pudding to her mouth.

Knowing she’s been invited by Haruto seems to have eased her anxious feelings.

Compared to before, she was eating the pudding at a much faster pace now.

“Just so you know, I’ll make sure you two can have some alone time, Suzuha-chan.” (Yuno)

“Y-You don’t have to worry so much… Just being able to hang out with Haruto-oniisan makes me happy…” (Suzuha)

“Hmm… So you’re not happy to hang out with me? That’s mean…” (Yuno)

“Y-Yuno-chan, you’re being mean, you know that’s not what I meant…” (Suzuha)

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding.” (Yuno)

As soon as Suzuha seemed to have regained her composure, Yuno immediately resumed her usual teasing.

And so, they continued their lively conversation, uninterrupted, while eating their pudding for what must have been dozens of minutes.

---

Thanks for reading!

And so, after an entire volume and a half, Yuno and Suzuha finally realized that Aya existed. Aya still doesn’t know, but maybe she’ll catch them during their clothes shopping date.
BRUH I just realized that this is the last chapter before interlude 2 and the epilogue. This means that the whole streamer tournament and Suzuha’s “date” are most likely happening in the next volume. The remaining of this chapter is just Suzuha time.

In other words, Rina really just appeared for 3 straight chapters before becoming irrelevant for the remaining chapters.

---

1. Chess game was promised all the way back in v1 ch7 p2

After thoroughly enjoying the jellyfish section, they moved through the underwater tunnel, the shark section, and the penguin section, making a satisfying round of the entire aquarium.

“Hmm… It’s really hard to choose…” (Aya)

And now, at the official shop of the Nozomi Aquarium, where the sky was visible through the skylight, they were in the middle of selecting souvenirs to take home.

“Yeah… Alright! I’ve decided on this, Aya-san.” (Haruto)

Haruto picked up a palm-sized sea turtle plushie.

“For me, I’m going with this penguin-kun~” (Aya)

On the other hand, what Aya brought over, hugging it with both arms, was a 55 cm tall emperor penguin plushie with a tag attached.

“Eh, are you really getting that!?” (Haruto)

“Yeah! It’s super cute, right~?” (Aya)

“It is cute, but… isn’t it really huge?” (Haruto)

“Plushies are the most satisfying when they’re big enough to hug. I’ve already decided to buy this one, so here, try hugging it once.” (Aya)

“Oh, okay…” (Haruto)

Following her lead, Haruto took it and hugged it with both arms… and immediately understood what she meant.

Nodding in agreement, he returned the plushie he was holding to the shelf and came back with a 55 cm sea turtle.

“Yeah, I think I’ll go with a similar size too.” (Haruto)

That was the moment when they were both completely captivated by the fluffy charm of the plushies.

“Hehe, this is something you can’t do with a smaller-sized one.” (Aya)

“Yeah, it would be a waste if you couldn’t give it a good hug.” (Haruto)

Though the sea turtle wasn’t as comfortable to hug as the penguin due to its shape, Haruto couldn’t compromise on this particular species.

“By the way, I know it’s weird for me to say this after telling you to take the bigger one but… since you don’t live alone, won’t your sister get mad at you? Like, ‘Where are you going to put that?’ that kind of thing.” (Aya)

“Oh, she’ll definitely get mad.” (Haruto)

“Eh, are you sure that’s okay!?” (Aya)

Aya, surprised at Haruto’s casual confirmation, wondered how he could be so nonchalant. However, Haruto had his reasons.

“Well, getting scolded isn’t great, but since my sister loves plushies even more than I do, she’ll end up adoring it.” (Haruto)

Getting scolded by Yuno and doing something she dislikes were two things Haruto always tried to avoid. However, there was one exception to this rule: when he knew she would ultimately be happy with it.

“And besides, I have a trump card.” (Haruto)

“Oh?” (Aya)

“If she gets too mad, I’ll just say, ‘If you’re that angry, then I won’t let you touch it!’ There’s no way a plushie lover like her can resist that.” (Haruto)

“Haruto-kun, have you, by any chance, had this happen to you?” (Aya)

“Well, yes, I’ve been ordered to clean my streaming room to earn the right to touch a plushie. Of course, I cleaned it in a hurry.” (Haruto)

“I knew it!” (Aya)

Haruto hadn’t thought he was being that obvious, but Aya saw through him easily.

Haruto felt a bit embarrassed that, at his age, had to work hard to clean his room just for the chance to touch a plushie.

“Then I’ll pray for a peaceful resolution.” (Aya)

“That would be reassuring. So, Aya-san—” (Haruto)

Just as he was about to continue speaking.

“—I won’t let you pay for me.” (Aya)

She cut him off firmly, as if she had seen it coming.

“Mou! At least let me treat you to one thing as your senpai.” (Haruto)

“Why don’t you let me treat you instead, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)

“That’s absolutely not happening.” (Haruto)

“Then, don’t ‘Mou’ me!” (Aya)

Aya puffed out her cheeks and mimicked his words as if to counter his argument.

“Hehe, since we both had the same idea, I guess it’s natural that it ended up like this.” (Aya)

“That’s true.” (Haruto)

They clashed with their unyielding wills, but there was no tension between them.

They laughed together while holding their plushies.

“Well then, I guess we have no choice but to pay separately.” (Aya)

“Yeah. It’s unavoidable, but let’s pay separately.” (Haruto)

Thus, they exchanged banter and happily lined up at the same register, continuing their conversation while waiting their turn.

For them, just spending time talking was enjoyable.

It didn’t take long for their turn to come.

“—Ah, Aya-san. I just realized something now…” (Haruto)

“Hm?” (Aya)

Haruto’s startled voice came after they had finished paying for their plushies.

It happened when he reunited with Aya after both of them had completed their purchases.

“We have plans for dinner… right?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, but is something wrong?” (Aya)

“Well, I just realized that bringing these big bags into a restaurant might be a bit inconvenient for others…” (Haruto)

They had been so absorbed in buying plushies that they had overlooked something important.

Despite the effort Aya had put into planning, it seemed they would have to change their plans.

Haruto felt guilty, but Aya seemed different.

She smiled with a calm expression as if she had anticipated this turn of events.

“You’re quite considerate, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)

“Oh, no, it’s not a big deal… Oh, I know! Maybe we can use a coin locker, so it should be okay!” (Haruto)

“But that would cost extra money, so how about I suggest something else?” (Aya)

“Of course! What’s your suggestion?” (Haruto)

“Well, that would be…” (Aya)

For Aya, it was her third and final goal, the perfect conclusion.

Of course, she had already thought this through.

With a confident gesture, she extended her index finger and spoke.

“If we put them in a coin locker, there’s a chance the plushies might get squished. So, I propose we have them delivered to my house.” (Aya)

“…Eh!? Um, at your house, Aya-san!?” (Haruto)

“Yeah!” (Aya)

“W-Well, that’s certainly a good idea, but wouldn’t that be a bit of a bother…?” (Haruto)

Visiting the home of a girl who lives alone.

Haruto couldn’t help but feel like it might be a bit of a burden.

Haruto was of the opinion that it might be better to spend money and use a coin locker, but the decision was made before he could suggest that again.

“Haruto-kun, just accept it and come to my house. I want you to come, so I’m telling you like this.” (Aya)

With the bag containing the plushies in her hand, and by being gently pulled along.

Aya’s actions and choice of words seemed like they were already settled in her mind. Haruto had no choice but to give in.

∮

It was past 7:00 PM.

From the Nozomi Aquarium, they moved to a different location—Apartment 807, which included an elegant black and white tiled exterior and soundproofed rooms.

Stepping into Aya’s home, Haruto found himself in a refreshing and cute living room, decorated by white and light green carpets, curtains, and chic wooden furniture.

“Uh, it’s a bit late to say this now, but if Aya-san’s fans found out I visited her home… I might get…uh, in trouble…” (Haruto)

“Don’t worry about that. The people who support me are all kind. And, you’ve been standing for a while, so please have a seat on the sofa.” (Aya)

“Thank you…” (Haruto)

Haruto, who was prompted to the sofa, slowly lowered himself awkwardly, still holding onto the bag.

“You can relax. Just treat it as if it’s your own home.” (Aya)

“Y-Yeah…” (Haruto)

Aya tried to keep the atmosphere light by turning on the TV and speaking gently, but the reality was that Haruto couldn’t quite follow her words.

“Is this your first time entering a girl’s home, Haruto-kun?” (Aya)

“You definitely know the answer before you asked!” (Haruto)

“Hehe, who knows…” (Aya)

She seemed to be trying to ease his tension, flashing a mischievous smile and teasing him.

Thanks to her, he managed to relax a bit, but the phrase “girl’s house” kept lingering in his mind.

“Hey, why don’t you take out the plushies you bought at the aquarium? I think hugging them will definitely help you calm down.” (Aya)

“That’s a good idea.” (Haruto)

He quickly seized upon this lifeline.

Taking out the sea turtle plushie from the bag at his feet and placing it on his lap, at that moment—

“Don’t forget penguin-kun too… Here you go!” (Aya)

“Thank you.” (Haruto)

She handed him the emperor penguin plushie as well.

Holding both plushies together, his tension began to melt away. He was enveloped in a sense of calmness and was finally able to relax.

“B-but it’s embarrassing for you to see me like this, Aya-san…” (Haruto)

“Don’t worry about it. If the roles were reversed, I’d feel the same way. It’s just that I’m used to this environment, so I feel more at ease.” (Aya)

“Have you ever had a guy over before…? Like, someone from your industry, maybe recently?” (Haruto)

“N-No! Absolutely not! The only guy I trust enough to invite over is you, Haruto-kun!” (Aya)

“I-I see…” (Haruto)

Flapping her hands nervously, Aya seemed completely flustered.

To an ordinary person, she might appear to be desperately trying to cover something up, but knowing Aya’s innocence, it was clear that she wasn’t lying.

“I-I’ll have you know, even though I’m like this, I’m actually quite cautious, you know? I went to an all-girls school, and I’m new to Tokyo.” (Aya)

“I see…” (Haruto)

Aya said it as if it were obvious, but the more she emphasized her cautiousness, the more special Haruto felt.

Trying to conceal the pounding of his heart, he hugged the plushies tightly.

“S-So, anyway, let’s change the subject since this one’s embarrassing… Haruto-kun! What should we have for dinner tonight? The classic choices for delivery are sushi or pizza.” (Aya)

With that, Aya picked up the tablet that was on the table and started browsing for food.

“It’s kind of unfair to ask, but Aya-san, which one are you in the mood for?” (Haruto)

“To be honest, I’m in the mood for both.” (Aya)

“Eh!? Haha, well then, since it’s a special occasion, why don’t we just order both?” (Haruto)

“That’s quite luxurious. Let’s go with that.” (Aya)

Haruto wouldn’t usually indulge in both, but today was different. 

He wanted to thank Aya for making today enjoyable.

“I’m sure you’re hungry too, Haruto-kun, so don’t hold back and eat as much as you want, okay?” (Aya)

“I’ll take you up on that.” (Haruto)

Their appetites were different, so ideally, he’d cover the entire dinner bill, but he knew that wouldn’t fly with her.

“By the way, Haruto-kun, if it’s between sushi and pizza, which one does your imouto-san prefer?” (Aya)

“She prefers sushi… but why do you ask?” (Haruto)

It seemed completely unrelated to their previous conversation.

When he tilted his head in confusion and asked again, he understood the intention behind the question.

“I’ve relied on her onii-chan a lot today, so I want to show my gratitude. That’s why I’d like to order another for her.” (Aya)

“N-No! You don’t have to worry about that! My imouto is already in high school, so she won’t feel lonely even if it’s just for a little while.” (Haruto)

“I-I just want to do it, okay…? To be honest, I’m hoping it might be a chance for me to get closer to imouto-san.” (Aya)

“…Are you really just doing this because you want to, Aya-san? You’re not doing it out of obligation or anything?” (Haruto)

“Rather, I think it’s beneficial for me in the long run, so I hope you can indulge me just this once.” (Aya)

“I-I guess if you put it that way… then, I’ll have no choice but to accept it.” (Haruto)

“Hehe, thank you.” (Aya)

“But, just so you know, expensive sushi is definitely off the table, okay?” (Haruto)

“Got it!” (Aya)

Even though she was the one paying, Aya looked positively delighted. Seeing her smile like that, Haruto couldn’t help but imagine Yuno happily accepting the sushi with a cheerful “Yay”.

Haruto could also envision a future where he would be calmly scolded with “Why did you let her inconvenience herself like that?”

Preparing himself for a good scolding upon returning home, especially with the plushie incident added in, he found himself looking forward to seeing his sister’s rapidly changing expressions.

“Right, before that, we need to choose our dinner too.” (Haruto)

With that, Aya switched her expression and timidly approached the sofa with the tablet in hand.

“Um, maybe… could I sit next to you so we can look at the menu together…?” (Aya)

“Of course. Though it’s kind of weird for the host to say something like that.” (Haruto)

Haruto teased her lightly as he showed Aya the penguin and sea turtle plushies he held in his arms.

“Which one do you prefer, Aya-san, the penguin or the sea turtle?” (Haruto)

“Hehe, then I’ll go with Haruto-kun’s sea turtle!” (Aya)

“Here you go.” (Haruto)

It was evident that she was somewhat nervous. But as he handed the plushie over with both hands, her expression softened considerably, and she settled down next to him.

With the plushies on their lap, they browsed through the menu together.

As they peered into the tablet, there were occasional moments when their shoulders would brush against each other. Haruto tried his best not to be too conscious of it.

On the other hand, Aya was keenly aware of every moment their shoulders touched or their faces came close as they peered into the tablet, trying to make the most of these moments to delay the inevitable separation that would come once they finished their order.

Aya suddenly felt a thought cross her mind.

(I wonder if this is how it feels like to live together…?)

It was the kind of thought that would invite people to tease her if shared with anyone else. But it was precisely because she had this thought that she had decided to reconsider something.

“…” (Aya)

She had changed the way she addressed him for a while now. She had been careful not to let him notice until now.

She couldn’t help but wonder if, by obtaining his permission and acknowledgment for calling him that way, she could feel even more like they were living together.

Once that feeling had taken root, she couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.

“Um, Haruto-kun…” (Aya)

“What’s up?” (Haruto)

They were in the middle of looking at the menu, but she decided to convey her thoughts.

“Um… Haruto-kun, you see, since we entered the jellyfish section at the aquarium, there’s something I’ve been doing… Do you have any idea what it might be?” (Aya)

Anticipating that he might be puzzled, she considered guiding him to the answer by giving hints, and just as she tilted her head to do so…

She was met with something unexpected.

“You mean when you changed how you addressed me from ‘Haruto-san’ to ‘Haruto-kun’?” (Haruto)

“…” (Aya)

That was the correct answer that left her momentarily stunned.

“W-W-Wait a minute! You noticed, Haruto-kun!?” (Aya)

“I was so focused on the jellyfish that I only noticed after being called that a few times.” (Haruto)

“But… you didn’t seem surprised at all?” (Aya)

“I’m called that a lot at work, so I’m used to it. A-And also… I felt happy when you called me that, so I didn’t want to bring it up in case you changed back…” (Haruto)

“!!” (Aya)

She thought he simply hadn’t noticed, but it was completely different.

The words “happy to be called” and the desire not to “change it back”.

And the realization that she had been consciously overusing his name because she thought that “he hadn’t noticed”.

Various emotions surged within, causing heat to flush her face.

Feeling like she might overheat herself, she hugged the plushie so tightly it felt like its neck might break.

“Then, let me share something too. Since that jellyfish section , I’ve been doing something to you, Aya-san. Any guesses?” (Haruto)

“Huh!? W-Wait, something you’ve been doing to me!? L-Like secretly taping something on my clothes?” (Aya)

“Haha, I wouldn’t do something sneaky like that.” (Haruto)

She quickly checked his clothes just in case… but as expected, there was nothing as he mentioned.

“I really have no idea… Are you sure there’s something? Tell me the answer!” (Aya)

“Then, the answer is… I also changed the way I address you.” (Haruto)

“…Hmm?” (Aya)

As soon as she was told, she blinked rapidly, trying to recall how she had been addressed.

“Haruto-kun, you used to call me ‘Aya-san’, right?” (Aya)

“Until before the jellyfish section, I always called you ‘Shirayuki-san’.” (Haruto)

“…………Ah!! Th-That’s right!!” (Aya)

After a long moment of silence, Aya experienced her biggest surprise of the day.

“Eeeh… I-I totally didn’t notice… I-I guess I was just too focused on calling you ‘Haruto-kun’…” (Aya)

“Hahaha, maybe it’s because I sometimes call you ‘Ayaya’ when we play ABEX together, calling you ‘Aya-san’ didn’t feel strange.” (Haruto)

“I’m sure that played a part…” (Aya)

The intention was to inform him about the change in how he was addressed, but somehow, the roles had reversed.

Despite feeling a mix of emotions, a desire to indulge emerged.

“Hey, Haruto-kun. It might be selfish of me, but… I want you to call me that one more time.” (Aya)

“Your name…?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, just because I’m curious, now that you’ve told me…” (Aya)

Now, with this new perspective, the feeling when called will be different.

To confirm this, she made such a request.

“Aya-san.” (Haruto)

“…” (Aya)

Their eyes met as he called her.

Just that alone made her heart race. It was embarrassing.

But hearing it once wasn’t enough; she wanted to hear it again.

“One more time…” (Aya)

“A-Aya-san…” (Haruto)

“…” (Haruto)

“…” (Aya)

“T-That’s all you get for now!” (Haruto)

Their eyes met only until this point.

Closing his mouth tightly, Haruto’s ear turned red again as he shifted his gaze to the tablet.

At that moment, a wave of embarrassment surged through Aya as she witnessed Haruto’s blushing expression, which was a newfound weakness for her.

“…R-Right! Haruto-san, let’s decide on the menu quickly!” (Aya)

“Wait a minute. The way you’re calling me has reverted…” (Haruto)

“I-It’s… on a cooldown, okay?! I’ll… I’ll revert back soon!” (Aya)

“Are you sure?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah!” (Aya)

—At this moment, the plushies they were both hugging seemed to be struggling under the pressure.

∮

It was past 9:30 PM.

After finishing the meal delivered to their door, they spent the rest of the time relaxing and enjoying themselves in the living room.

“Thanks for today, Aya-san. I had a really great time.” (Haruto)

“Yeah…” (Aya)

At the entrance of the apartment building, Haruto and Aya exchanged farewells.

“Hey, Haruto-kun… I can walk you home, you know?” (Aya)

“Thank you. But just having that thought means a lot. It’s late for a woman to be out alone.” (Haruto)

“Is it okay if I insist on wanting to walk you home…?” (Aya)

“No, it’s not.” (Haruto)

Haruto, who usually indulges her in anything, responds decisively.

His determination to not give in is clear.

At this point, it seems like no matter what approach she takes, he won’t let her walk him home.

“In exchange, though it may not be much, I’ll be the one to invite you to hang out next time as soon as possible.” (Haruto)

“Really…?” (Aya)

“Absolutely.” (Haruto)

“If you’re lying… I’ll bite your ear, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)

“Haha, I’ll do my best to avoid that.” (Haruto)

“…Then, okay. I’ll endure it…” (Aya)

Though parting ways here is sad, being invited out again makes her happy.

In an effort to express her excitement, Aya nods enthusiastically.

“When I invite you next time, I’ll make sure to plan something even more fun than today, so look forward to it.” (Haruto)

“That’s reassuring to hear. I know you’ll do your best. By the way, you’re always welcome to come over to my place. Just make sure to let me know, okay?” (Aya)

“Got it. And thank you for the sushi.” (Haruto)

“You’re welcome.” (Aya)

“When giving it to her, say hello to imouto-san for me, okay, Haruto-kun?” (Aya)

“I’ll make sure to convey that it’s ‘from Aya-san’.” (Haruto)

“Please do.” (Aya)

And with that, the conversation comes to an end.

From the atmosphere, it’s evident that the next words will be the parting words.

At this moment, Aya desperately tries to think of something, anything, she can do before parting.

“Well then, I guess that’s it… See you later, Aya-san.” (Aya)

“…Haruto-kun.” (Haruto)

“Hmm?” (Aya)

Here, only one thing comes to mind.

“Now, let’s end with a high-five!” (Aya)

“Oh! Then, high five it is.” (Haruto)

As Aya held her hand up with her palm facing out, Haruto extended his hand and overlapped it with hers.

Just this simple gesture brings a sense of warmth to her heart.

But… truth be told, she didn’t want just a high five; she wanted to hold his hand tightly and keep Haruto with her a bit longer.

But, she couldn’t.

This high-five was the most intimate gesture Aya could muster from her timid self.

Dragging this out any further would only worry Haruto’s sister.

So, as their hands separate from the high-five… She put on a smile.

“Haruto-kun, keep up the good work with your job!” (Aya)

“Yeah! Well then, bye-bye, Aya-san.” (Haruto)

“Ahh… I really don’t want to say goodbye…” (Aya)

“Haha, I’ll make sure to contact you once I’m home.” (Haruto)

“Mmm…” (Aya)

Though she unintentionally lets her true feelings slip, she doesn’t want to cause any trouble by acting on them.

She watches Haruto’s back as he gradually moves away.

――He pauses, just as he’s about to turn the corner.

“Ah…” (Haruto)

Haruto turned around and waved his hand. As Aya returned the gesture, Haruto finally turned the corner.

He was gone from sight.

Though this was usually the time when she felt lonely…

“Hehe…” (Aya)

Aya managed a small smile.

It might just be her imagination.

It might just be her imagination, but she felt like he had a reluctant expression, as if he didn’t want to leave.

---

Thanks for reading!

I knew someone’s house was involved! In hindsight, it should be obvious that it can’t be MC’s house since he won’t let her go back on her own. 

The translation for this one is a bit scuffed cause Aya was talking in her dialect the entire time, and idk how to translate that. Also, editing was extra difficult in this one for some reason.

Also, Yinlin took away 20k crystals from me wow. Now I’m broke for Jinhsi.

---

1. None

It was 4:00 PM.

Just like before, both of them casually browsed through the large shopping center until they felt at ease.

Arriving at the Nozomi Aquarium—where they could encounter about 650 species and approximately 20,000 marine creatures—the two of them finished checking in and chatted while looking at the pamphlet provided.

“Wow, I’m really looking forward to this…” (Haruto)

“Hehe, me too.” (Aya)

For Aya, who had put so much effort into planning today’s date, seeing her partner genuinely excited like this brought her immense joy.

“To be honest, it’s been about ten years since I last came to the aquarium.” (Haruto)

“For me, it’s been exactly ten years!” (Aya)

“Shirayuki-san too!?” (Haruto)

“Yes! That’s why when I got your message saying ‘I like fish’, I was excited. That’s how I decided on the plan.” (Aya)

“That was a good idea. Thank you for planning all this for today.” (Haruto)

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” (Aya)

Choosing an unfamiliar but suitable location was a tough task, but she was receiving such gratitude in return.

Getting to know what Haruto liked, and being able to spend this enjoyable time together.

She felt rewarded.

“…Apparently, this aquarium is open at night too… It says here that the atmosphere is different, but I wonder if it’s that significant.” (Haruto)

“…Haruto-san, the nighttime visitors are definitely all couples.” (Aya)

“Haha, that’s true.” (Haruto)

When researching Nozomi Aquarium, Aya quickly discovered that it was open at night as well.

Considering it was a ‘date’, coming in the evening might have offered a more atmospheric and enjoyable experience.

However, she deliberately left it out of the plan.

One of the reasons was… Haruto’s family situation.

Considering that his sister was waiting for him to return, it wasn’t ideal for the date to last that long.

And the main reason, as she mentioned, was the difference in the crowd.

In a romantic place like an aquarium at night, it was easy to imagine that there would be a lot of couples.

If she were to walk around such a place with someone she cared about… the surroundings might influence them.

She might end up doing something strange while getting carried away by the atmosphere.

She might even end up doing something bold.

To avoid the possibility of doing something that might make her disliked, Aya chose a time when there were many families around.

“Well then, Haruto-san. Which way should we start? If we take the right path, we’ll see the ocean fish first, and if we take the left path, we’ll see the river fish first.” (Aya)

“Can I really decide such an important thing!?” (Haruto)

“I’m honestly fine with either, no need to be considerate.” (Aya)

“Then… I want to see the ocean fish first. I think that’s the main attraction, but I can’t wait any longer!” (Haruto)

“Hehe, then let’s go right!” (Aya)

“Sorry for being selfish, and thanks for indulging me.” (Haruto)

“No, it’s fine. Come on, let’s go, let’s go!” (Aya)

“Yeah!” (Haruto)

For Aya, the order in which they visited didn’t matter.

All she wanted was to be able to walk with Haruto… that was her honest feeling.

To convey that there was no need to apologize or thank her, she firmly pushed Haruto’s back as they entered the right-hand aisle.

And there, they were greeted by small fishes swimming gracefully in tanks taller than their own height.

Some had beautiful patterns, others had distinctive features, and some had cute faces.

Seeing this scene made them instantly realize they were at an aquarium. Drawn in, they stood side by side in front of the large tank.

“Shirayuki-san, just watching this is pretty fun.” (Haruto)

“Same here!” (Aya)

It was fun to see the fish gracefully swim, moving their dorsal and tail fins… and to see Haruto’s side profile as he was absorbed in the fish.

Of course, for the latter, she made sure not to stare so much as not to get caught.

“……” (Haruto)

“……” (Aya)

Though there was a period of silence, it wasn’t awkward at all.

Aya subtly moved closer until their shoulders almost touched and enjoyed the pleasant moment they had together.

“Haruto-san, if you want, it’s okay to take pictures of the fish… As long as you don’t use flash, it’s allowed.” (Aya)

“Ah, no, I’m fine.” (Haruto)

“Really…? Are you holding back because of the atmosphere or something?” (Aya)

“It’s more of a personal thing. When I start taking pictures, I get so focused on getting a good shot that it becomes hard to remember the experience. So, I’ll just take a quick snapshot in my brain.” (Haruto)

“I see.” (Aya)

Haruto’s words reassured her that he was enjoying himself.

Just that alone made her incredibly happy. It filled her from her fingertips to her toes. Her face even started to feel warm.

“On the other hand, Shirayuki-san, aren’t you going to take any pictures…? I don’t think you have the same problem as me.” (Haruto)

“I’m fine as it is. If it were a place I’d only visit once, I wouldn’t say this, but if I ever want to see the fish again, I’ll just rely on Haruto-san to come here with me.” (Aya)

“Haha, I’d be happy to.” (Haruto)

Noticing that he didn’t seem entirely displeased, she quickly looked at the tank to avoid feeling embarrassed.

“…” (Haruto)

“…” (Aya)

And then, once again, another moment of silence.

“…If I had a bit more experience with socializing, maybe I could say something clever in times like these…” (Haruto)

Haruto murmured, lost in thought.

“Hehe, quiet moments like this are important too, so don’t worry about it. Though, I’m curious about what you mean by ‘in times like these’. Did you want to say something earlier?” (Aya)

“Ah, haha. You’re really sharp. It’s just that… yeah. There’s something I haven’t told you yet, Shirayuki-san.” (Haruto)

“Something… you haven’t told me yet?” (Aya)

“Um, well, when I first met you earlier, Shirayuki-san, I couldn’t help but notice how well-dressed you were, so I wanted to tell you that what you’re wearing looks good on you.” (Haruto)

“!!” (Aya)

“…It’s amazing that there are people out there who could say such things so easily.” (Haruto)

“S-Sure there are people like that, but we can go at our own pace. Actually, if you don’t, my inexperienced heart wouldn’t be able to handle it.” (Aya)

“It’s a relief to hear you say that.” (Haruto)

There are certainly those who prefer someone more experienced in romance to take the lead in everything.

However, Aya held a different opinion.

Because they were both inexperienced, she hoped they could build their experiences together. To deepen their relationship step by step, feeling their way through it together.

“Um… Haruto-san, your clothes really suit you too.” (Aya)

“T-Thanks.” (Haruto)

“I… I can’t say things like that unless you say them first, so I think you’re really amazing, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“Thank you… Personally, I’m happier if you stay just the way you are. I think it’s a guy’s role to say these things.” (Haruto)

“Then, I’ll take you up on that…” (Aya)

It’s less nerve-wracking to respond after being told first. It allows the conversation to flow naturally.

So, knowing that the person she cares about thinks this way, Aya couldn’t be happier.

“And there’s one more thing I have to say… um, it’s beautiful.” (Haruto)

“!!” (Aya)

Haruto said this while glancing at the fish in the tank in front of him.

“Nee! You can’t say something like that and then follow it up with a comment about the fish… It makes me think you’re talking bout me… I’ll misunderstand…” (Aya)

“…Some people need a bit of help to say such things.” (Haruto)

“…Ah.” (Aya)

Aya, who had seriously believed that, felt even more frustrated now.

But as she looked at Haruto’s profile again, she realized she had been mistaken.

It was the same expression he had when they saw each other at the PC specialty shop’s headphone section—a shy, embarrassed expression.

“Hehe… So, from your perspective, Haruto-san, I look beautiful?” (Aya)

“Don’t get too carried away.” (Haruto)

“But I’m happy.” (Aya)

Her expression pleaded for him to say it again, but he ignored her to the point where she knew he had reached his limit.

Still, she could tell he genuinely meant it.

The happiness she felt made her want to dance.

Because she was getting carried away, she had something to say in return.

“Then… I think it looks cool.” (Aya)

Mimicking her words while looking at the fish, Haruto’s shoulders jerked noticeably.

Aya felt his gaze from beside her but didn’t meet it.

Pretending not to notice, she used her hand to cover her reddening ears.

Realizing that none of the exhibited fish could be described as “cool”…

Haruto seemed to have thought the same thing as she did earlier, as Aya caught sight of him scratching his cheek out of the corner of her eye.

“Um, shall we move to the next section soon…?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah, sounds good!” (Aya)

“And… thank you for your kind words.” (Haruto)

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” (Aya)

“I was hoping you would answer properly.” (Haruto)

Responding with a “You’re welcome” would be like revealing that she had called Haruto “cool”.

But… there was one thing she wanted to point out.

“Even though you already know what I mean, Haruto-san…” (Aya)

As soon as she said that, Haruto covered his face with one hand to avoid being seen from the side.

“…Hehe.” (Aya)

Seeing her partner less composed than herself brings a sense of relief.

“Haruto-san, when you’re ready, shall we move to the next section?” (Aya)

“That would be great…” (Haruto)

This time, she took the lead.

The best defense is a good offense. That was one of the lessons learned at this moment.

∮

Moving on to the next section, the atmosphere changed drastically from before, to a pitch-black space. 

There, similar to a planetarium, a scene unfolded around them with countless beautiful jellyfish emitting colorful lights.

 “A-Amazing…” (Haruto)

“Wow, this looks beautiful…” (Aya)

A sight so beautiful that words couldn’t describe it.

As they gazed around without blinking, Haruto called out to them.

“Shirayuki-san! Can I go take a closer look!? There’s a huge jellyfish over there!” (Haruto)

“Hehe, of course, go ahead.” (Aya)

Seemingly more interested in ‘big’ rather than ‘beautiful’, Haruto eagerly approached the jellyfish with quick steps.

Following him slowly, Aya caught up, Standing next to Haruto again, she took advantage of his fascination with the jellyfish to quietly close the distance until their shoulders touched.

This had already succeeded once before. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed, or maybe he didn’t mind, either way, there were no signs of disdain.

It felt natural.

“Oh, it’s a real jellyfish… It’s really huge…” (Haruto)

(Hehe…)

With sparkling eyes, he leaked his impressions while gazing at the jellyfish swimming around gently.

“Wow…” (Haruto)

Despite his usually mature demeanor, he seemed somewhat childish now.

Captivated by this gap, Aya continued to enjoy the blissful time.

Recalling the compliments of ‘it looks good on you’ and ‘beautiful’, she alternated her gaze between the jellyfish and his face.

It was an unconventional way to enjoy the aquarium, but for Aya, it was the most fulfilling.

“What do you think that jellyfish is thinking as it swims…” (Haruto)

(—Pfft)

Though she could somewhat understand what he meant, she nearly burst out laughing at the unexpected question.

But Aya managed to stifle her laughter.

(Ah, that was close…)

Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem to laugh.

However… Not right now.

For now, she wanted him to focus on what was in front of him.

She didn’t want him to notice her.

(If I’m going to say it, now’s the time… It’s now or never… It’ll be okay, definitely…)

When Aya was preparing the date plan beforehand, she set three goals to achieve during their time together.

She had determined that achieving the second goal would be possible in this section of the aquarium, based on her research of the aquarium beforehand.

As a novice in romance, she knew that if she missed this opportunity, she might never get another chance again.

So, to create unforgettable memories and avoid any regrets, she rallied herself.

Just like how it was during her countless practices, she called out to him.

“…H-Haruto-kun, do you like jellyfish?” (Aya)

“Yeah, I love them. They’re such unique creatures, and I really like their relaxed vibe.” (Haruto)

“I see, I see.” (Aya)

He didn’t seem to notice the change in how she addressed him.

(Hehe, I did it… I finally called him!)

Could a plan even go this smoothly? Aya couldn’t help but smile, feeling so happy that she almost wanted to jump for joy right then and there.

“Do you like jellyfish too, Shirayuki-san?” (Haruto)

“I like them enough to be able to watch them for hours.” (Aya)

“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried it might become boring if you weren’t interested in them.” (Haruto)

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Even if I wasn’t interested, I wouldn’t find it boring with you.” (Aya)

He really is a kind person.

Though it was a bit embarrassing, Aya thought it would be reassuring to let him know.

“Huh? So, does that mean… there’s something else more fun?” (Haruto)

“Yeah. Like observing Haruto-kun’s happy expression.” (Aya)

“W-Well, don’t do that! It’s embarrassing…” (Haruto)

“Hehe, luckily for you, I’m interested in the animals at the aquarium, so there’s no need for that.” (Aya)

“Mou… You’re quite the tease…” (Haruto)

He showed a relieved expression.

(I’m sorry, Haruto-kun. I lied. I couldn’t help but watch you.)

Though she apologized silently in her mind, she couldn’t help but continue to unconsciously glance at his profile.

Because of that, Aya was able to notice.

“Oh! Haruto-kun, Haruto-kun. There’s another big jellyfish up there on the right.” (Aya)

“Where, where, where… Oh! That jellyfish over there has a different pattern.” (Haruto)

“I prefer this jellyfish over here though.” (Aya)

“Hmm… It’s hard to choose for me…” (Haruto)

He pondered with a troubled expression.

There was still no sign that he noticed, but this was also something she had anticipated.

(I’m sorry again… Haruto-kun. I’m really timid… But I’ve wanted to call you this for so long.)

She knows that she should have asked for permission before changing the way she addressed him. She knows that he’s kind and would likely forgive her when asked. 

But she still couldn’t muster up the courage in her novice heart to pull it off.

In Aya’s mind, the moment he notices the change, she could prompt with a ‘Is it okay?’ and that would be her limit.

Still, she managed to achieve one of her goals.

If he notices, then she can ask for permission.

Even if he doesn’t notice, she can continue calling him ‘Haruto-kun’, the name she’s always wanted to use.

(B-But this is nerve-wracking… I hope Haruto-kun can’t hear the sound of my heart pounding…)

She took a step back, trying to create some distance between them.

It was troublesome how she couldn’t shake the feeling of not wanting to be apart from him.

“I know it’s a bit late to ask, but there are various types of jellyfish here, right? Shirayuki-san, are there any jellyfish that caught your interest?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, there are. I’d like to see some small jellyfish too.” (Aya)

“Ahaha… That’s true. I’m sorry for staying here for so long.” (Haruto)

“No, it was fun, so it’s fine.” (Aya)

(…And because of that, I was able to change how I address him.)

For Aya, the big jellyfish that captivated him was her savior.

“Alright, now it’s your turn, Aya-san. Let’s go over there. From the looks of it, those small jellyfish over there swims under your feet.” (Haruto)

“It’s a bit dark, so be careful not to trip over any steps, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)

“I-I’m not that clumsy, you know.” (Haruto)

“Hehe, just in case, I’ll hold onto your sleeve.” (Aya)

“M-Mou…” (Haruto)

Just like when she secretly bought the same wireless headphones as him and got their first pairing item, she felt like skipping with joy.

With the same feeling as when they synchronized and reached out for the same wireless earphones, Aya quietly took his hand, paid for their tickets, and felt like skipping with joy.

Feeling cheerful, she began to move, holding onto his oblivious sleeve.

(I’m really happy…)

Thanks to achieving yet another goal, she was able to enjoy the aquarium more than any other visitor.

She felt confident that she was enjoying it more than children visiting the aquarium for the first time.

“Wow… Haruto-kun, there are baby jellyfishes over here!” (Aya)

“They look like enoki mushrooms¹…” (Haruto)

“Hehe, indeed.” (Aya)

They crouched down together on the spot, observing the cute jellyfish swimming gracefully at their feet.

At that moment, Aya was convinced that not choosing the night aquarium was the right decision.

If there were lots of couples around… she would surely try to hold his hand.

And she could even imagine herself becoming unable to speak out of nervousness.

(I’d be happy if Haruto-kun felt the same way as me…)

With narrowed eyes, Aya sent her gaze to him, hoping to convey her feelings.

---

Thanks for reading!

OHHH, last chapter, Aya made an excuse to use the bathroom but actually went and bought the same pair of headphones, so that’s why there was one lesser in stock. I thought the one lesser in stock meant MC taking the last one, but it was actually Aya. I didn’t even notice it when translating.

Things are happening this date and it isn’t even over. Looks like Aya has one more plan up her sleeve. Maybe it’s being escorted back home? Or maybe it’s escorting MC back to meet imouto-san?

In hindsight, it’s funny that they still haven’t met yet. By the time Yuno realizes, they will already be dating.

---

1. Enoki mushrooms are small tall white mushrooms that are bunched together. If you’re Asian, you probably eaten one before.

After spending about 30 minutes at the station where they had arranged to meet, they were able to calm down.

They began to move according to their plan and headed to a PC specialty shop located in a large shopping center about a 15-minute walk from the main attraction, the aquarium.

Though this shop might not be considered a suitable date spot, it was different for Haruto and Aya because they worked in a job that involved streaming.

They can look out for new products that they can incorporate into their work setup. There were even products made in collaboration with other streamers which they can discuss.

This got them even more excited than when they were at the station.

“Aah, Haruto-san, look, look! It’s a gaming PC made in collaboration with Rina-san!” (Aya)

“O-Oh…!! This is the first time I’ve seen the actual thing!” (Haruto)

Aya approached it first, and Haruto quickly followed, rushing to see the product.

The product was displayed in the most prominent spot in the store.

Moreover, there was a black and white poster of Rina in the corner, with her striking a cool pose as the main figure. There was clearly a lot of effort put into the marketing.

“This design is really intricate and looks so cool. It’s got great reviews too, just as expected from Rina-san.” (Haruto)

“I heard that among all the collaboration products, this is one of the best ones.” (Aya)

“Wow…” (Haruto)

Seeing it displayed like this made Haruto realize just how influential Rina was. Thinking back to when she had come to his house and shared a meal with him made his hands tremble.

“It’s amazing… really.” (Haruto)

In this industry, there’s always someone better. It’s a highly competitive field, with the amount of success clearly shown in the numbers.

Haruto, lost in various thoughts, was intently looking at the product when Aya whispered in his ear, careful not to let anyone else hear.

“Hey, Haruto-san, don’t you have any plans for product collaborations?” (Aya)

“Nah, there’s no way (they’d approach me). Honestly, I don’t think it’ll ever happen in my lifetime.” (Haruto)

“You’re putting yourself quite low!?” (Aya)

“Haha, well, yeah.” (Haruto)

Being active in this industry, Haruto admired collaboration products and had a hope that one day it might come true, though, in reality, he had already given up on it.

Collaboration products are born from mutual popularity which tends to generate high demand.

Even though Haruto had a large channel with 200,000 subscribers, those numbers were gathered through controversial methods.

He was said to have the most haters among ABEX streamers, and considering the risk of scandals, the chances of a company choosing him were practically nonexistent.

“I’m just happy that Shirayuki-san is surprised.” (Haruto)

“Hehe, I’m different from others because I know so many wonderful things about you, Haruto-san. You even protected me once, remember?” (Aya)

“Th-That, I don’t really remember.” (Haruto)

“You’re lying again.” (Aya)

Aya looked up at him with a softened expression, making it difficult for Haruto to meet her gaze. Feeling embarrassed and unable to look her in the eyes, he quickly changed the subject to something less vulnerable.

“Anyway… if I were to ever get involved in this kind of project, wouldn’t a poster like this probably get torn up?” (Haruto)

“In that case, I’d secretly fix it with tape, so don’t worry.” (Aya)

“Haha, well, if that time ever comes, please do.” (Haruto)

Haruto could only hope he would never face such a situation if a collaboration product ever came out.

And on the topic of collaboration products, the most likely candidate was standing right beside him. Mimicking the way she had whispered to him earlier, Haruto leaned closer to Aya’s ear.

“Actually, Shirayuki-san, have you got any collaborations lined up?” (Haruto)

The moment he whispered this into her ear…

“Eek!!” (Aya)

Aya covered her ears with both hands, her eyes widening in surprise as she tilted her head back.

Seeing her reaction, Haruto quickly realized he had caused a misunderstanding.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do something weird!” (Haruto)

“It’s okay… I know you didn’t… but… if it’s Haruto-san… I don’t mind…” (Aya)

“…” (Haruto)

“It’s just that… my ears are really sensitive…” (Aya)

Feeling like she had made an embarrassing slip of the tongue, Aya withdrew her hands to reveal her ears, now bright red as if to prove her weakness.

“S-So, no more of that… okay?” (Aya)

“Got it…” (Haruto)

As Haruto responded to Aya, who looked down shyly, her words “If it’s Haruto-san… I don’t mind…” kept echoing in his mind. 

The more he thought about it, the louder his heartbeat became, and he shook his head from side to side to clear these distracting thoughts.

“Um, well… about what you asked earlier, whether I’ve been approached for a collaboration… I think it might depend on how hard I work from now on?” (Aya)

“Really?!” (Haruto)

“Hehe… That’s all I can say for now!” (Aya)

Without directly saying that she hasn’t been approached, Aya’s evasive answer hinted at something more.

“Then, if the product happens to be a PC, I might just get one depending on the timing.” (Haruto)

“Eh, Haruto-san, you’d buy it?!” (Aya)

“It’s not set in stone yet, but I’m thinking about giving my imouto a PC as a gift when she graduates from high school. Even if she ends up living alone, we could still play games together if she has a PC.” (Haruto)

“Ohhhh~ You’re planning to buy a more expensive one, right? In that case, I’ll pray that if I end up participating in the collaboration, the product will be to your liking.” (Aya)

“Haha, yup, my goal is to buy a high-spec PC, so I’ll work hard to make sure I can afford it.” (Haruto)

Even if Yuno, a PC beginner, might find a high-spec PC more than she needs, Haruto still wanted to give her the best possible gift. It might seem like a waste to some, but the desire to give the best present is a sentiment everyone can understand.

“Come to think of it, if imouto-san goes to university and ends up living alone like me, Haruto-san, you’ll feel lonely, won’t you?” (Aya)

“N-No…? I mean… she would be at an age where she can stand on her own, so I’m actually happy about it, you know…?” (Haruto)

“Hehe… Haruto-san, you can’t hide your feelings.” (Aya)

“…Honestly, it’s just something I have to put up with eventually.” (Haruto)

They’re used to living together, just the two of them.

The idea that this routine might change someday is something he can’t help but feel lonely about.

“The best thing would be to ask imouto-san directly about her plans and how she feels about it. If she’s planning to live alone, it’ll help you prepare mentally beforehand.” (Aya)

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s scary to ask for the answer… but I’ll make sure to ask her soon.” (Haruto)

“That’s good! But… if imouto-san does end up living alone, I would be worried.” (Aya)

“Thank you for caring so much about my imouto. But I’ll occasionally drop her a message to check up on her while making sure to not be too pushy, so I think it’ll be okay.” (Haruto)

Feeling grateful for someone who cares about his important family, Haruto naturally smiled, unaware of the unexpected reaction he would receive.

Aya, with a serious expression, nudged Haruto’s arm.

“—Huh? Is it me you’re worried about?” (Haruto)

Indeed, it seemed to say, “Yes, it’s you.”

“That’s right. Because even though imouto-san is still in high school, she’s capable enough to handle household chores, right? She probably has better life skills than other students her age, so she’ll be fine.” (Aya)

There’s no need for him to worry, or rather, that’s what Aya believed. It was also the opinion of someone who was living independently and admirably. From Haruto’s perspective, it felt convincing.

“But Haruto-san, you’re different, aren’t you? If you start living alone, your eating habits might become unbalanced… You might forget to run the washing machine or forget to hang up clothes to dry… Oh, and I’m worried you might oversleep too.” (Aya)

“I-I’m not that bad! Really!” (Haruto)

At first, Haruto thought she was teasing him, but when he saw her expression, with her hands clasped and eyebrows furrowed, he realized she was genuinely concerned.

“Well then… if you do start living alone, would it be okay for me to come to check if you’re managing properly…?” (Aya)

“As long as Shirayuki-san is okay with it. If that happens, I’ll show off how perfectly I’m handling things.” (Haruto)

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it…? Well then, if you do end up living alone, remember your words, okay?” (Aya)

“Of course. I’ll be ready.” (Haruto)

“Hehe, yay!” (Aya)

Upon hearing this response, Aya’s face lit up with a big smile, showing how much her worries had eased. And for Haruto, it was also a reminder that he needed to show a bit more reliability as an older person.

“Well, changing the subject… Haruto-san, is there anything you want to see in this store? Since we’re here, if there’s something you’re curious about, let’s go take a look.” (Aya)

“In that case, I’d like to check out some headphones. I’ve been interested in wireless ones, but I’ve never used them before, so I’ve been wanting to try them out if I had the chance.” (Haruto)

“By the way, I’m fairly knowledgeable about headphones, so feel free to ask me anything.” (Aya)

“Really!? That would be really helpful.” (Haruto)

“Alright, let’s go then!” (Aya)

Haruto nodded at her words and began to move.

Spotting a sign that read “Audio Equipment”, they entered the aisle, where they quickly found the desired product.

“Oh! Here it is… Wait, Shirayuki-san, look at this. It’s 40,000 yen…” (Haruto)

“As expected, that’s quite something.” (Aya)

“I’m not buying it! There’s no way I can afford that!” (Haruto)

His budget for headphones this time was 10,000 yen. The price stated was four times that amount, almost equivalent to a month’s worth of food expenses.

It wasn’t even worth considering purchasing it.

“By the way, are you getting new headphones because your current ones broke?” (Aya)

“Nah, I’m thinking of using them for different purposes—like having a main and a backup pair. I also want to try out wireless ones. Normally, I’d wait until mine broke before buying new ones, but this time, it’s partly to motivate myself to work harder and also as a good luck charm.” (Haruto)

“…A good luck charm?” (Aya)

“My current goal… is to get closer to the numbers the person next to me is hitting. If you help me choose, I’ll feel like I’m getting some extra power.” (Haruto)

“Ah, I see. Hehe, but it won’t be that easy, you know? Well, I’m planning to work even harder from now on too.” (Aya)

“Haha, looks like I have a long way to go.” (Haruto)

Seeing her proud and happy profile, Haruto returned the expression with a smile.

At this point, Aya’s channel had twice the number of subscribers, at 400,000. That distant goal was what Haruto was aiming for.

“Well, this is just my opinion, but for someone new to wireless headphones, it’s best to choose ones around 5,000 yen. Some people might not like wireless, and they’re easy to lose because they’re small.” (Aya)

“Yeah, that’s true… It would be bad luck to lose them when they’re supposed to bring me good luck.” (Haruto)

“Exactly! So, it’s best to start with something affordable for a trial run.” (Aya)

“Thanks for the helpful advice. Then this time, I’ll prioritize design over performance.” (Haruto)

Feeling grateful, the two of them then spent a few minutes choosing a product.

“Alright, I’ve made my decision!” (Haruto)

Haruto chose a white wireless headphone priced at 4,200 yen. It was the long-awaited wireless headphone.

“Don’t you want to look around more?” (Aya)

“It’s okay! This ‘α’ logo looks cool too.” (Haruto)

“Your choice seems kind of boyish, doesn’t it?” (Aya)

“W-Well, when you put it that way, it’s a bit embarrassing…” (Haruto)

As he shyly gazed at the wireless headphones he held in his hand, Haruto, who usually didn’t indulge himself, found himself completely absorbed in examining it. 

Naturally, he feels more than satisfied with his purchase and even feels like he could work even harder now.

It was at that moment when he was about to immerse himself in his own world.

“Ah, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“Hm?” (Haruto)

“Sorry to bring this up now, but would it be okay if I went to the restroom?” (Aya)

“Of course. I’ll browse some headphones over there while you’re gone. I’ll stay in this section, so don’t worry.” (Haruto)

“I’m sorry. I have to look for the restroom first, so it might take me a little while.” (Aya)

“Got it.” (Haruto)

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” (Aya)

“Take care!” (Haruto)

With a polite farewell from Aya, Haruto watches her walk away with steady steps.

“Oh, wow! They’ve released the latest model of these… They look so cool…” (Haruto)

Headphones are useful for listening to enemy footsteps or gunshots.

For Haruto, it’s one of his tools for work, so he quickly switches into concentration mode.

He earnestly looks around, examining each one.

Haruto becomes so immersed in his search that he doesn’t notice.

Right now, the wireless headphones he’s holding are one unit fewer in stock and have sold out.

∮

When Aya returned to the corner where the headphones were displayed and safely reunited with Haruto…

“See! Just as I thought! It looks great on you, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“Well, I really like it. It’s lightweight and stylish…” (Haruto)

Standing next to Haruto, who was checking himself out in the mirror wearing headphones, Aya grinned happily.

“By the way, how much does this cost?” (Haruto)

“It’s 45,000 yen.” (Aya)

“What?! Hey! Don’t you dare hand over something that expensive! Come on, put it back!!” (Haruto)

“Hehehe, alright.” (Aya)

What she handed him was a pair of headphones.

It was meant to be tested, but after realizing the price, he hurriedly took it off as if he was being pranked.

Just seeing him so flustered made her happy.

Why did she feel like teasing the person she cared about?

Should she continue?

With those thoughts in mind, Aya decided to take the next step to get more attention…

Returning the headphones back to their place, she reached for the next one and…

“Haruto-san, look at me!” (Aya)

“Hm?” (Haruto)

“Nyaa~ How’s it?” (Aya)

Putting on the demo cat ear headphones, she clenched her fingers like a cat paw and started impersonating a cat.

…Usually, she wouldn’t do something like this.

It wouldn’t even cross her mind.

But at that moment, she was swept up in the moment.

Having successfully achieved the first goal she had set for their date, she was in high spirits.

It was an action driven by emotions she couldn’t contain…

“…” (Haruto)

“…Hey, w-wait! I-I-If you don’t react, it’s, it’s really embarrassing for me, you know!?” (Aya)

The reaction she got, however, was unexpectedly none. 

As she nervously lightly hit his shoulder and complained, she found herself witnessing an unforeseen response.

“I-I’m sorry… It’s just that it really suited you, Shirayuki-san, so I couldn’t help myself…” (Haruto)

“~~~” (Aya)

He muttered weakly, his face turning even redder as if startled by his own words.

Seeing him so embarrassed made Aya feel even more embarrassed herself.

Her heart raced so intensely that she could almost hear it pounding.

“T-This is… my… impersonation skill…” (Aya)

Not even knowing what she was saying, Aya felt lost.

Unable to look at him or think of anything else to say, Aya slowly removed the cat ear headphones and returned them to their original display.

But one thing was clear—

At that moment, she realized that his embarrassed expression had become her weakness.

---

Thanks for reading!

Wow, progress is definitely being made. Aya just smoothly secured a way to visit MC once he lives alone. Is this one of the goals the author mentioned? Really makes me wonder what other goals she has for the date.

For the first half, I wasn’t sure if they were earphones or headphones. I know Aya mentioned them being small and easy to lose, which makes me think might be earphones, but idk. After Aya came back from the restroom, they were definitely talking about headphones cause of the cat thing.

---

1. None

Three days later, it was the promised day.

It was Saturday, the only day off for Haruto. The time was just before 1 PM.

“Onii-chan, good for you. You got invited to hang out.” (Yuno)

“Haha, yeah! I’m really happy.” (Haruto)

Haruto, who was excitedly preparing to go out, and Yuno, who was working on her high school assignments in the living room, exchanged their usual friendly banter.

“Onii-chan, isn’t this the first time in years that you’re hanging out with someone other than Suzuha-chan and me? You’ve been focusing on your work all this time.” (Yuno)

“Ah, now that you mention it, that might be true.” (Haruto)

“…Just to remind you, don’t get too carried away and cause any trouble for others, okay?” (Yuno)

“Of course not!” (Haruto)

During this time, Haruto kept moving his hands without losing his smile.

It wouldn’t be strange for one to think that his “getting too excited”, but for Haruto, this was natural.

Since high school, he had always declined invitations to hang out, prioritizing his part-time jobs instead.

Naturally, as more people caught on, this behavior led to fewer invitations.

Eventually, it reached the point where he stopped being invited because “he’d refuse anyways”.

Haruto continued such days and graduated from high school. Even after graduation, he worked hard at the café and started streaming games as a hobby, hoping to somehow turn it into a source of income.

If he dedicated himself to streaming, even on his only day off, it couldn’t be truly called a day off.

Just like in high school, dedicating himself to work wouldn’t be able to let him make friends to hang out with.

“Your enthusiastic response actually makes me worry.” (Yuno)

“T-There is nothing to worry about…” (Haruto)

Despite his struggles, now that Haruto’s streaming has gained traction, he has more leeway to hang out with others.

In other words, even casual outings were precious to him. It made him feel like he was reclaiming the youth he had missed.

“Onii-chan, you don’t need dinner tonight, right?” (Yuno)

“I’ll be eating out, so it’s fine. Oh, and Suzuha-chan is staying over tonight, right?” (Haruto)

“Yeah, but is there a problem? Did you accidentally schedule a stream for tonight?” (Yuno)

“No, it’s not that. I just wanted to say that tonight, feel free to order delivery or something. It’ll be more fun that way.” (Haruto)

“Alright, I’ll do that if needed.” (Yuno)

“Yuno, enjoy your day off too.” (Haruto)

“You don’t have to tell me that. So, what time are you leaving the house?” (Yuno)

“We’re meeting at 2 PM, so I plan to leave at 1:30 PM. I want to arrive at least 15 minutes early.” (Haruto)

“Then make sure to double-check your stuff before 1:30 PM. When you’re excited like this, you’ll definitely forget something.” (Yuno)

“Ahaha, I’ll make sure to check three times.” (Haruto)

“Yes, do that.” (Yuno)

Yuno’s words may dampen Haruto’s cheerful mood, but she has no intention of putting him down.

It’s simply her goodwill, wishing for him to fully enjoy this precious time.

Of course, that sentiment comes across loud and clear.

“Oh, and onii-chan, on a separate note, let’s go clothes shopping together next time.” (Yuno)

“…Huh? Does that mean these clothes look weird?” (Haruto)

“Why would you think that…? Those clothes look good on you. They’re simple.” (Yuno)

“I’m relieved to hear that.” (Haruto)

He wears a T-shirt with a three-quarter sleeve jacket, paired with a shoulder bag, and long pants.

Being tall, he looked quite presentable.

“It’s just that you might have more chances to go out from now on, right? Since you can wear them to work too, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more sets of clothes.” (Yuno)

“Got it. While we’re at it, let’s pick up some clothes for you as well. If it’s okay, Suzuha-chan can join us too.” (Haruto)

“Then let me know the date in advance. I’ll contact Suzuha-chan.” (Yuno)

“Okay!” (Haruto)

Haruto made a circle with his hands to respond. Seeing this, Yuno regretted making him even more excited.

“Oops, sorry for talking so much while you’re in the middle of your assignments.” (Haruto)

“It’s fine, I can still work while talking. Besides, I was the one who started the conversation in the first place.” (Yuno)

“Then, can I talk more?” (Haruto)

“What kind of question is that…? I’d like to say ‘do as you please’, but first, finish your preparations and check if you forgot anything.” (Yuno)

“Yeah, I’ll finish right away!” (Haruto)

Haruto must have needed something from his room, as he quickly left the living room.

“Haa… Looks like he’s really did forget something.” (Yuno)

In the now quiet living room, Yuno sighed with a slightly exasperated look.

However, she was glad that he wanted to keep the conversation going as much as possible.

Hiding her indescribable feelings, she propped her chin on her hand and continued her homework, using the sounds Haruto made as background noise for a few minutes.

When Haruto returned to the living room, they spent some family time together.

∮

And so, just after leaving the house,

“I never thought I’d really get the chance to hang out with a fellow streamer…” (Haruto)

Haruto, having finished his item check, muttered as he headed towards the meeting place at the station.

Due to his unique streaming style, which he himself couldn’t fully defend, he had naturally been shunned in the streaming community.

“I’m really happy.” (Haruto)

Even if he relaxed even a little, he felt like his face would slacken into a sloppy expression.

――And there is something he hadn’t told Yuno.

“Haa…” (Haruto)

The moment he thought about what Aya had said before, he felt a tightness in his chest from the nervousness.

—(Ahhh mouuu~!, it’s over… My life is over… Why is it that the one person I consulted about my love troubles turned out to be Haruto-san…! S-So, um, everything is exposed, right!?)¹

Her voice was shaking, and she knew that her own face was bright red.

—(U-Um… it’s not like I like Haruto-san or anything, okay!? Just as I mentioned before, I’m just interested in you!! Understand!?)

In a panic, she rushed to explain.

“…” (Haruto)

In high school, due to his family situation, he prioritized earning money. As a result, Haruto thought very little about studying and didn’t have any time to think about romance.

Embarrassingly, he was inexperienced and simply being told that a girl was “interested in him” made him conscious.

When he was invited out by such a person, the word “date” inevitably came to mind.

“A-Anyways, I shouldn’t dwell on this too much…” (Haruto)

It would be a disaster if he got ahead of himself.

He took a deep breath to keep calm.

“I need to stay calm…” (Haruto)

With that mindset, as he approached the meeting place at the station’s north exit—he found her.

Aya was dressed in a beautiful outfit consisting of a white short-sleeved top, a light cardigan², and a short brown skirt.

She stood with perfect posture, occasionally adjusting her bangs with her hand.

Despite her cute appearance drawing a lot of attention, it seemed that she was being thought of as “waiting for a date” by those around her. Even the pickup artist avoided Aya and caught sight of another woman to approach.

“Hehe… So even Shirayuki-san…” (Haruto)

Though it might be a cruel analogy, seeing Aya more nervous than him somehow eased the tension in his heart and made him feel relieved.

As the tension eased, he found himself naturally smiling.

“Alright…” (Haruto)

He whispered softly to himself as he mentally prepared himself to greet her.

Once he reached the appropriate distance, he called out to her with “Shirayuki-san”. Aya, who was startled, lifted her eyes to meet his.

Instantly, an audible “ah” could be heard and she approached him with small steps.

“H-Haruto-san! G-G-G-Good afternoon! Um, today’s weather is really nice…!!” (Aya)

“Ahaha, the weather is indeed nice.” (Haruto)

It was a stiff greeting, almost like they were meeting for the first time, but it was clear how tense she was. It couldn’t be helped.

If the situation were reversed and he had arrived first, he might have been just as nervous.

With such thoughts in mind, he continued speaking.

“Sorry for making you wait.” (Haruto)

“N-No, not at all! I just got here too!” (Aya)

She shook her head from side to side in denial, but it was evident from her demeanor that she hadn’t just arrived.

While understanding that these were words meant to be received with gratitude, Haruto couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward about it.

“Well, that’s good to hear… and thank you.” (Haruto)

“Uh, yeah…” (Aya)

As he expressed his gratitude, Aya nodded in acknowledgment, as if she understood his intention.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed about being found out, she covered her red cheeks with both hands and started fidgeting nervously.

Seeing her like this only emphasized her lack of composure.

Despite his unfamiliarity with the situation, Haruto tried to take the lead with her.

“Hey, Shirayuki-san. How about we quickly check out some shops inside the station? It might be easier to talk that way. I’m quite nervous too. Haha.” (Haruto)

“Y-You’d do that for me…? Wait, Haruto-san being nervous is definitely a lie…! I can feel your composure radiating from you.” (Aya)

“You think so? But it’s true.” (Haruto)

Finding someone who was more nervous than himself undoubtedly put Haruto at ease.

However, there were still aspects he couldn’t conceal.

As embarrassing as it was for him as a man, it was something he didn’t want to reveal too much. Yet, he had realized from previous experiences that conveying his own nervousness could help ease Aya’s tension.

“—Look.” (Haruto)

“ah…!” (Aya)

When he turned his face slightly to show one ear, Aya’s eyes widened in surprise.

“W-Why are you so red!?” (Aya)

“Because I’m really nervous…” (Haruto)

“Even so… Mmm, the contrast between your calm demeanor and your blushing face is incredible, Haruto-san. I bet you must have pinched your ears to make them red before meeting me…” (Aya)

“H-Hey!” (Haruto)

With a puzzled expression, Aya searched for clues, and then unexpectedly took action.

She pinched her own ear with one hand and reached out to pinch Haruto’s ear with the other.

If his ears were red, they should feel warmer. Perhaps she was just confirming, but being touched so suddenly made his heart skip a beat.

“S-Shirayuki-san, if you’re doing that on purpose to make me nervous, I’ll get you back for it, you know?” (Haruto)

“Eh!?” (Aya)

Glancing sideways, their eyes met as she looked up at him.

When Haruto’s gaze shifted to Aya’s ears, she seemed to finally realize the meaning behind his words.

“A-Ah, th-this, um, I-I mean…! It’s your fault, Haruto-san!? It’s natural to want to check, right!? Y-You’re the kind of person to do something like this! Y-Yeah…!” (Aya)

She quickly let go of his ear, stammering as she tried to explain herself.

While her argument did hold some merit, it was also quite audacious.

“By the way… what’s Shirayuki-san verdict?” (Haruto)

“W-Well, I found out what you’re saying was true, so I got even more nervous.” (Aya)

“W-Wasn’t that supposed to put you at ease!?” (Haruto)

“That’s just how it is…” (Aya)

Aya had correctly deduced the answer, but she hadn’t expected Haruto to suggest getting back at her.

“W-Well then… let’s head into the station right away…! At this rate, I can see myself constantly losing to Haruto-san!” (Aya)

“Ahaha… I agree.” (Haruto)

∮

“Umm… Haruto-san. Are we sticking to the plan I sent in the message? If there’s somewhere you’d like to go, feel free to mention it. I don’t mind.” (Aya)

“No, it’s totally fine. In fact, I was really looking forward to today’s plan.” (Haruto)

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the station’s shopping area, the two of them engaged in a casual conversation while looking at the local confectionery store in one corner.

“R-Really? I mean, I did my best to come up with the plan, so it’s not like I’m not confident about it, but still… I-I’m just a bit… worried… Because, you know, it’s my first time hanging out with a guy like this…” (Aya)

Maybe she didn’t want him to see her current expression too much, but Aya nervously expressed her thoughts while glancing at the displayed sweets.

Honestly, he could understand that feeling.

If he were the one inviting her, Haruto was sure he would feel the same way.

With that thought in mind, Haruto came to one conclusion: to try to ease Aya’s anxiety as much as possible.

“You really don’t need to worry about anything, Shirayuki-san. You might not believe me, but if I hadn’t been looking forward to today, my imouto wouldn’t have warned me before leaving home.” (Haruto)

“Huh? W-Wait, Haruto-san, your imouto-san warned you!?” (Aya)

“Yeah… It’s pretty embarrassing at my age, but she said something along the lines of, ‘Have fun, but don’t cause any trouble’.” (Haruto)

It wasn’t the kind of warning you’d expect to receive at 20 years old.

Although he said it in a joking manner to cover his embarrassment, it had a remarkable effect.

“Hehehe, hearing that made me feel a bit lighter.” (Haruto)

Seeing her soft smile as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders…

When someone opens up like this, it feels genuinely rewarding to have spoken up.

“Sorry about that. Thanks for letting me know. I really think that wonderful part of you, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“R-Really?” (Haruto)

“Yeah! I mean it!” (Aya)

Although Aya had been visibly nervous just moments ago, she seemed to have become quite skilled at giving compliments.

In other words, her ability to praise indicated that her nervousness had subsided.

“Haruto-san, how’s work been lately? Are you managing? Nothing bothering you?” (Aya)

“Hm? Are you… maybe asking because you saw the stream the other day?” (Haruto)

“W-Well, I wonder… I mean, you look like you’re going through some tough times lately³…” (Aya)

“Hey, that’s totally something someone who watched would say! Ah! So you were checking to see if what I said during the stream was true!” (Haruto)

“W-Well, I mean… maybe…?” (Aya)

Despite trying to play it off, Aya turned away with a guilty expression.

It was a reaction that didn’t quite conceal her true feelings.

“Ahh, I’m embarrassed, seriously…” (Haruto)

In other words, it meant that his lack of experience had been exposed…

“W-Well, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about… right?” (Aya)

“Really?” (Haruto)

“Yeah… B-But, you see, it’s also my first time hanging out with a guy alone… I’ve never experienced it before… So, in my eyes, it feels like everyone’s just moving way too fast.” (Aya)

She clenched her fist firmly while leaning her beautiful face closer.

It was a somewhat awkward topic, but her words were comforting.

“That’s reassuring to hear.” (Haruto)

“I think the survey results also had a lot of ‘yes’ votes just to tease you, Haruto-san! 80% is way too high!!” (Aya)

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it!? When I saw the result, I was shocked!” (Haruto)

Their conversations matched so well because they had similar experiences.

“But, um… hehe. Today, we’ll also be joining that 80%, right?” (Aya)

“Thanks to you, Shirayuki-san.” (Aya)

“And thanks to you too, Haruto-san!” (Aya)

Their conversation didn’t seem very adult-like, but it stemmed from Haruto prioritizing part-time jobs since his student days and Aya attending an all-girls school.

“Oh, by the way, there’s something I haven’t told you yet, Shirayuki-san.” (Haruto)

“Hmm?” (Aya)

“Congratulations on placing third overall in the scrim. I was so happy for you, it felt like I was celebrating my own achievement because I was rooting for you till the end.” (Haruto)

“Thank you! But wait, you watched until the end!? The scrim lasted for about three hours, right?” (Aya)

“Well, I wanted to cheer for my favorite team” (Haruto)

“Hehe, thank you.” (Aya)

Of course, the favorite team he mentioned was none other than the pro gaming team [Axcis Crown] which Aya was affiliated with.

“This just occurred to me, but Shirayuki-san’s 1v1 skill is really amazing, isn’t it? You probably had about an 80% win rate in such fights.” (Haruto)

“That’s cause I feel stronger when Haruto-san is rooting for me!” (Aya)

“Ahaha, thank you.” (Haruto)

While it’s exaggerated, it’s undeniable that the support means a lot to Aya. Nevertheless, this banter lightens the mood considerably.

“Hey, I know asking you this might be a bit of a bother, but… what did you think about our decision at the end of the last match, when we backed out from the fight to recover?” (Aya)

“Oh, that part…” (Haruto)

Haruto had been watching the scrims, trying to see if there were any insights he could learn from.

He could recall the exact moment she was referencing. 

“In hindsight, and as someone who was just watching, I’d say maybe trading shots might have been the better call in that situation…? With Shirayuki-san’s skills, there was a good chance you could have taken down the opponent, and if you did, your team could have adjusted to cover a different angle.” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah… You’re probably right… I’ve been reflecting on that too.” (Aya)

“But, on the other hand, as the main DPS, if Shirayuki-san had gone down, the team would have collapsed, so that decision wasn’t necessarily wrong. Definitely.” (Haruto)

It’s truly a case of hindsight. If they hadn’t been shot from another angle while recovering, it would have significantly reduced the risk taken and helped to steadily improve their position.

“Well, it might sound a bit presumptuous for an amateur like me to say this to a pro player like Shirayuki-san…” (Haruto)

“What are you talking about, Haruto-san? You’re on par with the pros! If we went and fought in a 1v1, I’m sure we’d be neck and neck in the scores.” (Aya)

“Wasn’t Shirayuki-san nicknamed the ‘Firepower Monster’ or something…? That’s quite—” (Haruto)

“But you’re called the ‘Firepower Gorilla’, Haruto-san…” (Aya)

“Eh!? ‘Firepower Gorilla’?” (Haruto)

Haruto struggled to grasp the nickname he heard for the first time.

“Hehe, it means that you’re that strong. One of my fellow colleagues who faced off against you in a ranked match before was really surprised. They were like, ‘Why can’t I outshoot him from there!'” (Aya)

“Really!? That’s incredibly flattering…” (Haruto)

It’s hard to tell who exactly said it, but being praised by someone who is also a pro like Aya is incredibly uplifting.

And, given his own streaming style… he’s not someone who gets mentioned often, which adds to the embarrassment.

Trying to brush off those feelings, it happened at the moment they both reached for the same item.

…

Their fingertips accidentally touched as they both reached for the same item.

They quickly pulled their hands back, but the fact that they touched couldn’t be changed.

“Ah, s-sorry, Shirayuki-san. I, uh…” (Haruto)

“N-No, it’s, it’s okay! I’m the one who should apologize!” (Aya)

Just moments ago, they were chatting about their hobbies, but now, that casual atmosphere has vanished.

Both of them stumble over their words, caught in an awkward situation.

“I-I’m really not used to this sort of thing, so sorry…? If I could take the lead, I might make it easier for you, Haruto-san.” (Aya)

“Nono, it’s mutual, really.” (Haruto)

Aya shrinks her shoulders, her face flushed red. Seeing her even more embarrassed than himself, Haruto feels a sense of relief.

“Sh-Should we, um, continue looking around the station?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes, please, let’s do that.” (Aya)

Their thoughts aligned once more. Both tried to recover from the awkward moment, but the accidental touch lingered in their minds.

The spot where their hands had briefly met… It continued to radiate a warmth akin to a burning sensation.

---

Thanks for reading!

The author must be pretty proud not to use the “female getting picked up by strangers before the date starts” trope. I was half-expecting it to happen.

I wonder if the thing that MC forgot would be revealed in the chapter.

Oh yeah, I also started on the new series here:
When I Appeared on My Childhood Friend’s VTuber Stream, My Life Changed Dramatically After It Went Viral

---

1. Happened all the way back in v1 ch3 part2.
2. A cardigan is a sweater that opens in front.
3. Refers to him being teased by his viewers about never going on a date before.

That night.

“Hey, I’m on a roll right now. I’m doing so well, I feel like I can do something crazy.” (Oni-chan)

Haruto, also known as Oni-chan, was streaming a solo session of ABEX, firing bullets into the sky as he raced through the battlefield.

Comments: [Stop doing that, you’ll give away your position LOL]

Comments: [Did you forget what happened last time smh]

Comments: [That’s why you can’t win idiot]

Comments: [At least heal up all the way first lol]

“Who cares? …Oh, maybe that was a bit much…” (Oni-chan)

As he continued to shoot aimlessly, Oni-chan let out a rather pitiful voice.

As a result of getting too absorbed, the amount of ammo left in his primary weapon had dwindled from 210 rounds to just 30.

With that few bullets left, it would be impossible to take down enemies if he missed even a few shots.

While it was his own actions that led to this situation, honestly, it was quite a nerve-wracking predicament.

In order to regain his composure, he glanced at the steady stream of comments:

Comments: [Nice ammo count lol]

Comments: [How does one even miss that!?]

Comments: [You really are a klutz…]

Comments: [I think I understand imouto-san’s struggles now… especially with moments like these]

They quickly found something to tease him about.

“Hey, who are you calling a klutz? And my imouto has nothing to do with this.” (Oni-chan)

The one topic Oni-chan absolutely didn’t want anyone to mention was anything related to his sister.

“I did this on purpose, you know. Just watch. These bullets are more than enough for what the server can handle.” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [Press X to doubt]

Comments: [Well, good luck!]

Comments: [If you have time to talk, go loot some supplies genius]

Comments: [What kind of top-tier gameplay am I looking at lol]

While picking up more ammo was an option, Oni-chan valued the entertainment aspect of his streams just as much.

Doing that would kill the excitement.

The best way to entertain the viewers is to take down enemies with what he has and immediately loot their supplies.

Since he’s playing in the highest rank, the opponents are naturally strong. There’s no way to win while messing around.

“Alright then…” (Oni-chan)

As if flipping a switch, Oni-chan changed his playful tone to a serious one while healing up.

Comments: [Ah, it’s Oni-chan’s serious mode!]

Comments: [You should just stay like this all the time lol]

Comments: [My clip button is ready!]

Comments: [Show us what you got!]

Sensing that he was about to get serious, the flow of comments suddenly sped up.

“Yeah, watch closely! This is gonna be highlight-worthy!!” (Oni-chan)

Just as he glanced at the comments and raised his voice to pump himself up, a dull thud of a bullet hitting him was heard. Then, the sharp sound of a shot followed, and the words “GAME OVER” appeared on the screen.

“Huh!?” (Oni-chan)

An inexplicable event.

He quickly checked the death log to understand the cause.

A headshot from a Kraber, the sniper rifle with the highest damage in the game.

It was an unreasonable one-shot kill.

“…………” (Oni-chan)

As he stared at the screen in stunned silence, the comments flowed even faster.

Comments: [LOL]

Comments: [F]

Comments: [Seriously, what was that lol]

Comments: [This is what happens when you give away your position… again]

Comments: [Serves you right lol]

Both fans and critics were in high spirits.

While this turn of events was beneficial from a streamer’s perspective, for Oni-chan, who had just switched to serious mode and was ready to fight earnestly, it was frustrating.

He slammed the desk in frustration and was sent to the start screen. 

“Alright… I think I’m done for now, let’s just talk for the rest of the stream…” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [Someone’s in a bad mood]

Comments: [Cute lol]

Comments: [That’s what you get for doing that lmao]

Comments: [Classic Kraber moment lol]

True to the comments, Oni-chan was feeling a bit deflated.

Although it wasn’t part of the plan, he decided to use the rest of his time to keep the conversation going until he regained his momentum.

“Come on, feel free to ask me anything!” (Oni-chan)

He focused on the chat scrolling on the monitor, picking out the comments and tips.

“Let’s see, first one… [I’m rooting for you. Keep up the good work with your streams and your six-days-a-week job.] If you’re willing to pay 5000 yen for that, at least ask me something… I’m waiting. Anyways, I’ve remembered your name, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the regular chat. I’ll respond accordingly.” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [He’s embarrassed lol]

Comments: [Someone’s happy]

Comments: [His private life is totally exposed lol]

Comments: [Seriously, this guy’s living such a busy life]

Oni-chan had already exposed quite a lot during the streaming incident.

But what was truly fortunate was that no personal information that could lead to him being doxxed had leaked.

“Next up… [I’ve been here since the beginning.] So what? Come on, ask me something too… Well, anyway, thanks as always. I remember when I won, you were always spamming ‘8888888’ in the chat, I know that.” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [He knew lol]

Comments: [I don’t know why, but I’m kinda jealous]

Comments: [Surprisingly, Oni-chan remembers the viewers’ names]

Comments: [That’s definitely not in character lmao]

Oni-chan knew the value of money better than anyone else.

He made an effort to remember the names of viewers who sent him donations in the chat.

“And next… [This is for imouto-san.] Huh. Well… I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll buy a cream puff with that. I’ll post a photo of it on Twitto, so go ahead and check it out.” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [We don’t need a proof of purchase lol]

Comments: [You’re the only one who goes to the trouble of providing evidence.]

Comments: [He says that but he’s gonna then eat it himself.]

Comments: [Doesn’t seem like something he would do lol]

“…” (Oni-chan)

Ignoring the comments from viewers who seem to see through him, Oni-chan continues this for about six minutes.

“――Ah!” (Oni-chan)

Finally, an actual question arrives.

“[Will you be participating in the Ebe Festival next month?] …Ah, well, I didn’t get anything from the organizers. While everyone’s having a good time, I’ll just grab some food or something.” (Oni-chan)

This is something that must be kept confidential. It’s still something I’m not supposed to reveal to anyone. His response was also written in his script in advance to avoid any slip-ups.

Comments: [Well, that’s to be expected lol]

Comments: [You reap what you sow.]

Comments: [Well… I wish he would participate though…]

Comments: [Even with 200,000 subscribers… I guess invitations aren’t that easy to get huh?]

There’s no need to respond to the first two comments. Oni-chan has always known that he wouldn’t get invited.

But it’s oddly heartening to see comments expressing disappointment.

“Let’s say I decided to participate, would you guys cheer me on?” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [Nope.]

Comments: [Not happening.]

Comments: [No way.]

Comments: [You’re asking for a bit too much.]

“…” (Oni-chan)

Where did those kind comments from earlier disappear to? Instead, there’s a long line of rejections. It’s truly baffling how the viewers can switch gears like this, and it stings to see such a contrast from before.

“Alright, let’s move on. Next question.” (Oni-chan)

It’s already decided behind the scenes that he’ll participate in the festival.

To avoid slipping up, he changes the topic.

“Hmm, [Have you been hanging out with girls irl lately?]—that’s a bit of a different question from usual…” (Oni-chan)

It’s something he doesn’t usually get asked, so he can’t help but wonder if everyone’s interested.

Comments: [Come to think of it, we haven’t asked about you, Oni-chan!]

Comments: [Finally, something I’m interested in lol]

Comments: [You sound like you’ve got that handsome vibe.]

Comments: [Hurry up and answer!]

“…How much interest do you guys have in my real life stuff?” (Oni-chan)

Being interested is definitely better than not being interested.

While hiding this joy, Oni-chan answers honestly.

“Well, about that last question, I haven’t been on any dates or anything lately. Seriously.” (Oni-chan)

He could have easily lied to save face, but considering it’s a question he received after someone generously sent money, he believes it’s important to answer honestly and stick to his principles…

Comments: [Haha!]

Comments: [Not even once!?]

Comments: [Are you serious lol]

Comments: [Not popular in real life huh?]

――As expected, the comments roll in.

“Hey, hold on a sec. You guys are making fun of me, but honestly, how many of you have been in the same boat as me? Come on, be honest.” (Oni-chan)

Comments: [I’ve actually been on a date.]

Comments: [I hung out with someone yesterday.]

Comments: [Went on a double date just the other day.]

Comments: [I hung out with someone a year ago.]

He checks the comments scrolling on the monitor, noticing that many seem to have more experience than he expected.

“Huh? Are you guys serious about this? You’re definitely lying… Hold on, let me do a quick poll.” (Oni-chan)

Using MouTube’s poll feature, he sets up a poll asking viewers if they’ve ever hung out with someone of the opposite sex, with options for “Yes” and “No”.

The result: 80% have hung out with someone, while 20% haven’t. There was an overwhelming difference.

“Wait, I-Is this… real?” (Oni-chan)

He couldn’t help but speak in his natural tone. He rubs his eyes and checks again, but there’s no mistaking it.

Comments: [You’re seriously cute, Oni-chan LOL]

Comments: [Probably just too busy to hang out, right?]

Comments: [So Oni-chan’s on DT?]

Comments: [DT¹ lmao]

Comments: [Doutei lol]

And then, the worst possible flow arises. Comments flood in, mocking him relentlessly, a situation he absolutely didn’t want to find himself in.

“…I’m done with today’s stream…” (Oni-chan)

Their words hit home.

He’s convinced that continuing the stream would only invite further mockery.

With his farewell, Oni-chan swiftly ends the stream.

Comments: [LOL]

Comments: [He ran away lmao]

Comments: [Guess we hit a soft spot?]

Comments: [Oni-chan, you’re a funny guy.]

Even after ending the stream, the number of viewers doesn’t decrease, and the comments section continues to overflow with mockery, beyond what he can keep up with.

“Haa…” (Haruto)

With his face buried in his hands, Haruto exhales a sigh as if trying to escape embarrassment.

…Just a little bit left until his time with Aya.

At this moment, Haruto finds himself oddly conscious.

And soon after—clips of the incident are uploaded all over the internet, and Oni-chan’s Twitto gets flooded with chaos.

---

Thanks for reading!

YES YES YES Date next chapter!! I can’t believe it took 3 whole chapters just to have MC and Aya interact, so I hope at least some progress happens during the date!

On a separate note, I actually just finished translating my other series. I did each chapter in one go, I just haven’t posted them yet. One of the chapters was 42 Google Doc pages long and it crashed WordPress Editor twice cause of how long it was. Although, I’m not sure how much that means cause WordPress also took 45 mins to post a chapter.

Anyways, this means I can get started on the new series soon.

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1. DT stands for Doutei, which means male virgin.

It had been a little over a week since Haruto and Rina’s encounter on a weekday.

It was just as Aya was about to review a video of her participation in an ABEX scrim at home…

“Ah…” (Aya)

She turned pale as she glanced at the notification that popped up on her smartphone’s schedule app.

With each passing second, Aya broke out in a cold sweat.

At that moment, she remembered something that had completely slipped her mind, and feeling cornered, there was only one thing she could do.

She knew that the best course of action was to consult with someone.

Understanding this, Aya wasted no time in taking action.

Praying for a quick response, she sends the message and stares at the screen, waiting anxiously.

She remained seated on the sofa in a girlish posture, motionless.

“…” (Aya)

Since she would receive a notification when the reply arrived, there was no point in waiting.

It was quite an inefficient use of time, but it just showed how desperate she was for help.

“Ah!” (Aya)

Aya exclaimed with a bright voice, seven minutes later.

Seeing the reply “OK OK! You can call anytime”, she immediately dialed the number.

The person she relied on was none other than…

“R-Rina-san, Rina-san! I’m really sorry to suddenly call you like this!” (Aya)

“Nah, it’s fine. I was just killing time, so it’s no big deal.” (Rina)

She’s none other than her dependable senpai, Rina.

“Oh, yeah. Good job for the scrim the other day. Even though it wasn’t the real thing, thanks to you, we ranked third overall.” (Rina)

“Thank you! That reminds me, it might be premature, but we’re having a victory party, right?” (Aya)

“Nihihi, it’s Chiyo-san’s treat, after all. Let’s eat like there’s no tomorrow, okay?” (Rina)

“Yeah!!” (Aya)

—Celebration for good performance.

That’s the policy of Chiyo, their teammate and the owner of Axcis Crown.

Although it was just a practice match, thanks to the scrim organization committee, it was also a streamed tournament that attracted a lot of viewers.

Taking into account the fact that they were able to further promote the team’s name, they were treated to a feast.

“Ah, well, let’s get back on track… So, what’s up today? You said you wanted to consult me about something.” (Rina)

Seeing an opportunity, Rina smoothly transitioned to the main topic of the call. Aya, feeling timid, hesitantly spoke up.

“Well, umm… It’s embarrassing to ask, but… When you hang out with a guy alone… what kind of places are good?” (Aya)

“…Huh?” (Rina)

“W-Well, um, what kind of places are good when spending time with a guy alone?!” (Aya)

Aya herself knew that it was a sudden and completely random topic.

Despite feeling flustered, she reiterated it loudly.

“Heh~ So, does that mean that Ayacchi is going on a date with someone?” (Rina)

“W-We’re just going to go hang out! To explain briefly, things happened and the other party wanted to ‘thank me’, so I invited him to hang out together…” (Aya)

“That sounds like a date.” (Rina)

“T-The other person doesn’t see it as a date, so it’s not like that!” (Aya)

“Hmm… Is that so?” (Rina)

“T-That’s how it is!” (Aya)

Despite her firm denial, Aya was secretly considering this to be a date.

“By the way, do you have a set date for the date?” (Rina)

“N-No… It’s not officially decided yet, but I have this selfish desire to make it as soon as possible…” (Aya)

“Hihi, that makes sense.” (Rina)

Some might argue, “If it’s not officially decided, there’s no need to rush”, but stalling could lead to a situation where the other party forgets.

For Aya, who really wants to go on this date, that’s something she absolutely wants to avoid.

“Well, there are two things I want to say. First, it’s better to plan important events sooner. It’s really unlike Ayacchi to make such a big mistake.” (Rina)

“Y-Yeah… Lately, I’ve been so busy with work that it slipped my mind…” (Aya)

Aya had a lot on her plate, juggling university, collaborations for projects, scrim sessions, and more.

If she continued to neglect her “date plans”, it would only add to her future workload and inconvenience those around her.

As both a streamer and a pro, Aya was aware of this and tried to avoid thinking about it as much as possible.

However, this was the result of her efforts.

“And the second thing I want to say, especially since it’s more of my concern, but… Ayacchi, are you sure you’re consulting the right person? I mean, I seriously have no experience with dating, so when I give advice, it’s like picking up stuff from the internet, just like when I’m streaming…” (Rina)

“It’s totally fine! I’ve seen viewers tweet, ‘Thanks to getting advice from Rina-san, the date was a success!'” (Aya)

“W-Well, if you think it’s okay, then sure…” (Rina)

Viewers somewhat blindly trust Rina’s words, thinking, ‘She’s someone with a lot of dating experience’ but Aya knows Rina’s secret.

So, they’re essentially taking advice from someone who “hasn’t been in a relationship.”

It’s natural for Rina to worry about giving advice.

“Then, shall we brainstorm date plans together? I’ll bring my laptop, so just wait a moment.” (Rina)

“Thank you…!!” (Aya)

“Consider this as a thank you for sharing your thoughts on the date.” (Rina)

“Got it! I’ll bring my laptop too!” (Aya)

“Sure thing.” (Rina)

After this exchange, they both placed their laptops on their knees and began discussing date plans.

As expected, they hit a roadblock when it came to the destination.

Where should they go as the main attraction?

After exchanging various opinions for about 10 minutes, it was Rina’s words that broke through.

“Oh, come to think of it, wouldn’t the aquarium be the best choice by far? According to online sources, it naturally brings people closer, it’s easy to invite someone for lunch or dinner afterward, and it’s easy to have conversations about the surroundings… It seems like a safe bet.” (Rina)

“Wow! That’s true, an aquarium sounds really nice! I want to go to the aquarium!!” (Aya)

“Hehe, then ask your date if they’re interested in fish, and if they say yes—¹” (Rina)

“—We’ll go to the aquarium!” (Aya)

While there were suggestions like theme parks or amusement parks, they were put on hold due to worries about what to do if conversations stopped flowing.

Just the absence of this worry alone naturally raised the priority of the aquarium.

“They say for a first date, it’s best to keep it to about half a day to not make it too tiring, so you two could meet around noon, do some quick shopping, head to the aquarium, have lunch, and then part ways. That flow seems like the best, don’t you think?” (Rina)

“R-Rina-san, to get all those suggestions from you…” (Aya)

“Hmm, what should we do? Honestly, it feels unfair that I have to help you plan your date~” (Rina)

“D-Don’t tease me like that…” (Aya)

“Hehe, just kidding! You’re free to do as you please.” (Rina)

With a mocking laugh, Rina responded to Aya, who let out a feeble voice.

After all, if she didn’t want to help, she wouldn’t have agreed to this in the first place.

“I hope you have fun on your date with Oni-chan.” (Rina)

“Yeah! If it goes wrong, I’ll come over to your place and have you comfort me, Rina-san!” (Aya)

“Well, if it’s Haruto-san, I think you’ll be just fine.” (Rina)

“…” (Aya)

“…” (Rina)

“…………” (Aya)

“…………” (Rina)

After a moment of silence to gather her thoughts, Aya finally realizes something.

“Huh!?” (Aya)

Her surprised voice breaks the silence.

“R-R-R-R-Rina-san?! W-W-Why do you know Oni-chan’s name?!” (Aya)

“It’s actually a crazy coincidence, but I had the chance to visit Oni-chan’s place. I met his cute imouto-san too.” (Rina)

“W-Why are things progressing so much!? I haven’t even met imouto-san yet!!” (Aya)

“Just ask Oni-chan for the details. It’s good that you have another topic to talk about, right?” (Rina)

“W-Well, yeah, but…!” (Aya)

Certainly, having more topics to discuss is a good thing, but what Aya feels more strongly than that is anxiety.

Aya has undoubtedly known Haruto for a longer period of time. Yet here’s Rina, who has visited his house and met his cherished little sister already.

“Pfft, there’s no need to feel so uneasy. Ayacchi, you’re the one going on a date.” (Rina)

“R-Rina-san, you’re not… aiming for him or anything, right?” (Aya)

“If I were, I wouldn’t be willing to help give you advice. Besides, I’m the type who’s too scared to even think about romance, let alone do anything physical.” (Rina)

“You’re really not aiming for him, right!?” (Aya)

“I’m not, I’m not.” (Rina)

After confirming twice and hearing the response twice, Aya finally feels relieved.

She knows just how wonderful Rina is.

To become a rival to such a person is indeed a daunting prospect.

“Hey, what did you think of Haruto-san when you met him, Rina-san…?” (Aya)

“Well, he’s a really wonderful person, I could tell why Ayacchi would be interested in him.” (Rina)

“I-I see…” (Aya)

To have someone you’re interested in praised like that tickles her heart.

And it’s even more meaningful when it comes from someone as wonderful as Rina.

While Aya basks in the happy atmosphere, her mind quickly returns to rational thinking.

“T-Then, if that’s your impression, you’re definitely aiming for him, right!?” (Aya)

“Hehe, if you think I’m aiming for him, then you better make sure the date goes well, Ayacchi.” (Rina)

“!” (Aya)

“I’m praying for your success, you know.” (Rina)

Hearing that somewhat smug voice, Aya imagines the day of the actual date and nervously responds, “Y-Yes!”

“Well, well, if you’re that tense, you won’t last until the actual day.” (Rina)

Naturally, Aya gets teased by Rina, as usual.

---

Thanks for reading!

Oh right, I’ve completely forgotten that MC and Aya were supposed to go on a date. So much time has passed that it just slipped my mind. I guess that explains the aquarium in the colored illustration. Now, I have something to actually look forward to, but I hope the date lasts a full day at least.

Everyone here heard it from Rina, she isn’t aiming for MC. Tbh, I’m still skeptical, but let’s see how long that holds.

P.S. This is kinda random, but this might be my next series:
When I Appeared on My Childhood Friend’s VTuber Stream, My Life Changed Dramatically

Reviews I read said that it was a laid-back read, so that’s what I’m hoping it is. Well, I need to first complete one of my current two series before starting, so that’ll take a while.

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1. I am going to make a blind guess and say that she was about to make a kiss joke. I remember reading everywhere that kiss can also mean a certain type of fish in japanese.