Seeing the messages, Miyahito's drowsiness vanished instantly.
Yare yare... My abrupt invitation made her think I'm a playboy.
Makes sense. Normally, who invites a girl they've just become friends with out so casually?
Forget what she might be thinking—even Miyahito himself wouldn't believe a guy like that wasn't a player.
'Thank goodness she asked. Otherwise, this would've been the worst-case scenario.'
He wasn't afraid of her sending those two messages. What he truly feared was her saying nothing, giving him zero chance to clarify.
Then quietly cementing the impression that "Aragaki Miyahito is a playboy" and gradually distancing herself.
That was the outcome he couldn't accept.
His thumbs flew across the virtual keyboard. Characters appeared and disappeared in the chat box, typed and deleted, typed and deleted again.
After hesitating for what felt like an eternity,
[Aragaki: Sorry, Kasumigaoka, do you not like aquariums?]
Watching the message send, instantly followed by a [Read] tag, Miyahito's expression grew tense.
"Left on read" was never a good sign.
Not wanting to waste time waiting, he quickly drafted and sent more messages:
[Aragaki: It's because my little sister used to beg me to take her to the aquarium all the time when she was younger. So I just assumed that girls generally like going there.]
[Aragaki: I'm really sorry. This is my first time inviting a girl out, so I have no experience... I didn't realize you might not like aquariums.]
[Aragaki: I was too abrupt. I apologize.]
He sent them one after another, but each one just sat there with a [Read] status.
His mood sank.
"Sigh... Why do I always mess things up when it comes to Kasumigaoka?"
Just like that first time, running away from her in a panic.
Just like this abrupt invitation.
Normally, he acted perfectly fine... but the moment something actually happened, he inexplicably screwed it up.
"I really should get my brain checked. The topic was snacks to begin with."
Tossing his phone onto the desk, he grabbed a blank sheet of staff paper and draped it over his face.
Sniffing the faint, unpleasant ink smell, he muttered gloomily.
"Going out, going out... all you think about is going out."
"Your brain's short-circuited. All you can think about is going on a date with her. Do you even have a functioning brain?"
How many days had they even known each other? And already your head's filled with date plans... Truly idiotic.
Don't ever claim to have high EQ again. With this EQ? Calling you an idiot is a compliment.
Just as he was wallowing in self-pity, his phone buzzed on the desk.
The moment he heard it, the slumped figure shot upright in his chair as if electrocuted.
He picked it up, hands slightly tense.
It's from Kasumigaoka. She replied.
Suppressing his excitement, he nervously opened the message.
[Kasumigaoka: Is that so? Then I misunderstood. I thought you were just really experienced at asking girls out.]
Yes! I passed!
His lips curled up uncontrollably. He quickly typed back:
[Aragaki: Seriously, I'm not. This is my first time inviting a girl out. Honestly, after I got home, I kept worrying you'd think I was a player.]
[Kasumigaoka: Your worries aren't wrong. Right now, I'm highly suspicious that you are one.]
[Aragaki: I'm not! I swear! Don't just make things up!]
[Kasumigaoka: Hehe, too late for that.]
[Kasumigaoka: You acted so natural just now. I was just hoping I'd get to try your homemade food.]
[Kasumigaoka: But instead, you used it as an excuse to invite me to the aquarium this weekend. Tsk tsk, plotting something, aren't you, Aragaki-kun?]
[Aragaki: ....I-I-I, my brain just short-circuited! You have to believe me! I'm a good wolf!]
"Pfft..." Lying on her bed, phone in hand, Utaha burst out laughing at the absurd measure-word typo.
Biting back her laughter, her fingers trembled slightly as she typed:
[Kasumigaoka: A "good wolf"? Oh, so you're a werewolf.]
[Aragaki: ...Well, uh, could I be the Seer instead?]
"Hehehe..." Completely tickled, Utaha's shoulders shook as she buried her face in her blanket, letting out muffled laughs.
She didn't know why she couldn't stop.
She couldn't pinpoint what exactly was so funny about his words.
But after laughing for a while, she finally lifted her face from the blanket, her wine-red eyes reflecting the phone screen, still shimmering with amusement.
Reading his replies one by one, a smile on her lips, she quickly typed:
[Kasumigaoka: Fine, I'll tentatively believe you're a good guy. After all, I don't have concrete proof that you're a player yet.]
[Aragaki: ....So, Officer Kasumigaoka, how long will it take to clear my suspicions?]
[Kasumigaoka: Hehe. That depends on your performance, suspect Aragaki.]
Sending the last message, Utaha closed the app before he could reply.
Rolling onto her back, she carefully held her slightly warm phone against her chest.
Staring at the ceiling, a deeply satisfied, happy expression spread across her face.
Great. I was overthinking it.
He's not a playboy... and today was genuinely his first time inviting a girl out.
Does that mean... I'm the first girl he's ever asked out?
But why did he invite me?
Could it be that in his heart, Kasumigaoka Utaha is special?
"Will I be your only one, Aragaki-kun?"
Her gaze softening, she whispered to the soft light of the ceiling lamp, her voice hazy.
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