The time showed five o'clock in the afternoon the next day.
After finishing making dinner for his sister, Yuu left the house wearing casual clothes and carrying a shoulder bag.
The crows chirping at dusk were no longer the only source of disturbance to the street's tranquility. People scattered out from main roads and small alleys, walking leisurely while chatting.
Whether families, couples, or children swinging handheld sparklers, their eyes often showed anticipation for the coming night.
The lively atmosphere had already formed. Many women wore elegant and graceful yukata. Although not as formal and luxurious as kimono, these clothes made women look different from usual, appearing beautiful with a festival atmosphere.
As for men, there were indeed those wearing refreshing jinbei—however, because this was a metropolitan city, aside from foreign tourists wanting to experience different culture, local men mostly still wore casual clothes to attend the temple fair (festival).
Just like Yuu. Although his kouhai had asked him via LINE to wear jinbei, he still went out in a polo shirt and long pants, and his feet weren't wearing geta (wooden clogs), but rather comfortable athletic shoes for moving around.
"Still as crowded as usual..."
Leaving home, walking along the riverbank embankment, and passing through the crowd of people moving like fish, Yuu sighed.
During the O-Bon Festival, fireworks festivals and temple fairs were routine events. He had also attended them several times in the past—the feeling was slightly better than his sister's. He just didn't particularly enjoy this chaotic atmosphere, but not to the point of feeling nauseous from the crowds.
The only conclusion after walking around was: selling food by setting up a stall might be more enjoyable than being a visitor.
Anyway, things like this should usually be enjoyed with family, friends, or lovers.
However, from past to present, Yuu had always been alone. He had no memories of watching fireworks with anyone, nor any youth having fun at festivals with anyone.
When he reincarnated, both his parents had died, and his sister was experiencing withdrawal. During the following years, he worked hard to earn money. When he had money, he began having difficulty finding people who could be considered friends. He also wasn't interested in dating people he didn't like, so he continued alone, becoming a cruel Achievement Machine.
So, this was the first time he was going to a temple fair festival with someone, and he also planned to find a nice place to enjoy the fireworks display.
"Will this be more enjoyable?" He asked himself.
Of course, the answer to this question could only be given after everything ended.
To be honest, Yuu invited Iroha out alone to attend the fireworks festival in order to confirm his feelings.
According to his guess, perhaps after he successfully got a girlfriend, the system would open the next clue for the final trial, breaking through the deadlock situation that had lasted more than a month.
However, even so, Yuu hated the feeling of being manipulated by the system. He also didn't want dating to become a tool, not a goal—that would be the same as toying with a girl's feelings.
Anyway, at any time, he always considered himself a man with four good qualities: pure, faithful, full of love, and not easily falling in love. All his relationships aimed for marriage, and he would never be flirtatious.
His goal was to date with mutual love, while completing missions; not to date any girl just to complete missions.
Now, Iroha was that girl.
If today's interaction was the same as usual, he would tell her his true feelings. If Iroha still couldn't accept, or was too sad, Yuu would reveal everything about the system, missions, and his plans, hoping to get understanding from her.
After all, there was no confidentiality agreement signed. Saying it wouldn't be punished.
And if today's interaction made him fall in love, he would take the initiative to confess, and from now on would cherish her—even if he left the trial and the girl forgot everything that happened in the dream, as long as he didn't forget, Yuu would be willing to repeat that confession many times.
...Thank goodness he didn't have a girlfriend in the real world, only his sister who needed to be handled. Otherwise, it would be troublesome.
And Iroha was one of the few friends that Sora had. As long as Yuu spoke nicely and promised he would never leave her even if he had a girlfriend, it should be okay for her to approve of their dating.
Chaotic thoughts spun in his mind. Yuu suddenly remembered that beautiful girl as pure as an angel.
Honestly, he had hesitated whether to invite Kanade along to the temple fair...
However, considering that inviting a girl alone would show greater sincerity, and spending time together would help him understand his feelings toward that girl better. As a result, Yuu didn't even tell her, and secretly invited Iroha out.
Would Kanade show an unclear sad expression if she knew about this?
Would she feel alienated and lonely, as if she were being ostracized by the two of them?
Yuu's heart felt reluctant, but he soon shook his head, dismissing such wavering thoughts.
This was a problem he would have to face sooner or later.
If he failed, it didn't matter. But if he really confirmed that he had fallen in love with Iroha, the two of them would definitely have more opportunities to be alone like this, and wouldn't be able to act together with Kanade again like in the past.
There had to be a boundary drawn between lovers and friends—a perfect triangular relationship didn't exist. He had to make a choice.
Unless...
No, no, no. In this world, where was there a normal high school student dating two girlfriends at once? Moreover, one of the targets was that pure and innocent angel girl. A scumbag man like that would sooner or later go to hell, right?
That bold thought appeared only momentarily, but immediately Yuu suppressed it back into his mind.
He slapped his cheeks hard, encouraging himself, clearing away those chaotic thoughts, and fully concentrating his attention on the upcoming date.
This was the most basic respect for his date partner.
Arriving at the riverbank embankment meeting place, standing beside the clear river reflecting the setting sun's light, Yuu turned his wrist and looked at the clock hands on his watch.
"Five twenty-five... Exactly five minutes early."
As for Iroha, Yuu estimated the girl would arrive at least ten minutes late—being late was every sweet girl's right, and Iroha definitely wouldn't pass it up just like that.
Sure enough, after he stood there playing with his phone for fifteen minutes.
"Senpai, sorry~ It took too much time to do makeup and change clothes, and I accidentally missed the train~"
The light brown-haired girl waved her hand high and jogged toward him.
All along the way, many men's eyes were attracted to her, as if returning to their youth, seeing their first love waving at them.
In her neatly styled hair, there was a delicate hibiscus flower. Her shoulder-length hair was gracefully braided in small braids. The light makeup on her face didn't eliminate her usual fashionable gyaru style. Her overall appearance was truly flawless.
Of course, the girl wore a light blue yukata with intricate patterns. Her waist tied tightly was very slender, as if it could be blown away by strong wind. Although the top of the waist sash didn't show much curve, her shining white arms protruding from the sleeves, her soft fingertips occasionally pinching the sleeves, and her small feet wearing geta, all radiated youth and spirit that only a girl possessed, showing a cute charm she wanted to highlight with every movement.
It wasn't excessive showing off, or flirtatious flattery—but rather a woman dressing up for the one she loved, small tactics to try to captivate him in every way.
"Tadaa~ How is it, is this appearance of mine cute enough?"
Standing right in front of him with a plop sound, Iroha looked up obediently, her big eyes blinking.
She immediately skipped the part about being late and getting scolded. She smiled, spreading her arms, as if about to directly hug him.
However, after a few seconds, she spun around with a light mischievous smile. Her fingers pinched the sleeves, and her geta carefully rotated on the floor. The hem of her yukata fluttered like butterfly wings. A fresh and rich aroma of shampoo wafted over.
It seemed she had deliberately bathed first, then put on this yukata.
"Senpai, you've finished looking, right? How's the score?"
She spun once and faced him again.
Iroha's pretty face flushed. Even under the approaching evening sky, her eyes still shone like stars, reflecting the girl's courage.
Yuu seriously observed her from top to bottom as she wished, then pinched his chin and pondered.
"Strange."
"What's strange?" Iroha tilted her head slightly. An invisible nervousness appeared in her eyes.
Yuu furrowed his brow, stared into her eyes, and pretended to seriously ask: "Since when have I known such a cute girl? May I ask for your phone number?"
"...Pfft! HAHAHAHA!"
Initially shocked because she didn't hear clearly, then Iroha couldn't hold back her burst of laughter. She laughed hysterically: "Se-Senpai, that kind of pickup line is too outdated! Even street punks wouldn't say it anymore, you know~"