# Sepia Archipelago's Chroma Vocational School.
Lete, a student at this school, has recently been wearing a uniform that follows a standardized pattern.
Comfortable casual clothes with clothes borrowed from Rohan from the dungeon.
Despite the summer heat, she always wears Rohan's academy uniform.
While it wasn't particularly strange since everyone brought outer garments or knee blankets in the classrooms where air conditioning ran strong, Lete never took it off even when going outside.
So today again, during lunch time, Lete was wearing Rohan's uniform without fail.
Without touching her ordered hamburger and fries, Lete had been staring at her phone when she suddenly jumped up and announced good news to her friends.
"D-date... confirmed!!!"
Congratulations and applause poured in from around her.
Lete's friends had seen Rohan up close and understood what kind of person he was, so they were simply cheering from the sidelines.
"Doesn't that guy have an elf girlfriend too? His specs are seriously monstrous."
"Yes! He's an amazing person! I even got permission from his senior to make plans with him!"
"But the competition must be no joke. A guy like that would need polygamy or women would end up fighting and bleeding over him."
"That guy is genuinely handsome, but he feels so out of reach that what Lete's doing is even more impressive. For us, it's like seeing a celebrity, right? We wouldn't even think about going after him."
Even in a monogamous country, they occasionally see polygamous families from foreign countries.
But having someone close to you be part of that is a different story.
Lete had made a firm decision and opened her heart, but her friends were still struggling to adapt.
"Now we need to plan your date course! And buy some clothes to show off that body you've been hiding!"
"W-what kind of clothes... never mind!"
"If you're going, you need to go all the way! Did this mama teach you to be so wishy-washy about dating?"
"What mama are you talking about!"
Lete stuffed a handful of fries into the mouth of the friend who claimed to be her mother.
Then she fanned her flushed face with her hand.
Being the only one in the group without dating experience made these situations quite difficult to navigate.
"I disagree. Lete should show her charm naturally, like she usually does. If she tries too hard, it loses its flavor."
"You all really don't get it. Dating is like french fries."
"French fries? Where did that come from?"
"Hehe, I just wanted to try saying it. You know how those sultry older women in dramas make these kinds of metaphors. Didn't it sound plausible?"
As the commotion gradually grew louder,
Lete slammed the table full of fast food and warned her friends.
"I'll handle my own love life. Don't interfere!"
With that, the fun of watching innocent Lete's reactions came to an end.
Her friends surrendered and backed off, smoothly changing the subject.
"Ah~ Maybe I should follow Lete and visit the Academy City too."
"What are you planning now?"
"Isn't it obvious? She's been in contact with that shy guy with glasses."
"Huh? That D-D-Dick guy with the weird way of talking?"
Interest shifted dramatically to this seemingly interesting topic.
Lete's story was quickly pushed aside as a new subject successfully took its place.
In the meantime, Lete continued searching on her phone.
'I wonder if senior would prefer meat dishes.'
With expectations and excitement for their upcoming first date,
Lete began searching for famous restaurants in Academy City.
'Ah, Sion asked for us girls to get together sometime. I should make a note of that too...'
A powerful wave threatening the Angenose was stealthily approaching Academy City.
*****
"Sion."
Rohan held out a flower. Sion stared at it blankly.
It took her several seconds to realize it was for her. Her pointed ears turned completely red.
"Th-thank you... it's my first time receiving flowers..."
"If I'm the first to give you flowers, I'm honored. If holding it is uncomfortable, I can keep it and give it to you later."
"It's fine. I can place it here as decoration."
Sion tucked the flower into one side of her sniper rifle case and naturally took Rohan's hand.
They slowly walked down Academy City's main street.
"Rohan."
"Yes?"
"Somehow... I'm nervous about our time alone. If my movements seem strange, please understand it's because I'm nervous..."
As if to prove her words, Sion's palm was drenched in sweat.
Though they were holding hands, a spoonful of embarrassment mixed with the joy.
"Like when we first met?"
"It's a different kind of nervousness than back then. Now I feel very happy."
If Sion was happy, that was enough for Rohan.
As they headed toward the bustling area, they reminisced about the past together.
"Did you ever think we'd end up like this?"
"Of course not. Back then, I couldn't even imagine forming a good relationship with someone from the outside."
"I never thought I'd have such a beautiful girlfriend with such a good personality either."
"If that's how Rohan feels about me... um... I couldn't ask for more."
Sion was unusually shy today. She couldn't express her affection as freely as usual.
"Shall we eat first?"
"May I choose the menu? There's a place I want to go."
"Sure. Where do you want to go?"
Curious, Rohan watched as Sion smiled.
Memories surfacing one after another made it impossible to hold back her smile.
"The day I first visited Rohan's dormitory in Academy City. You forcibly handed me a hamburger. Do you remember?"
"I even wrote my phone number on the wrapper."
"That's right. You remember it well."
"Of course. How could I forget?"
The flow of the story was clear. Rohan knew exactly where Sion wanted to eat.
"You said over the phone that you ate the hamburger I gave you. Did you really eat it?"
"I ate it on my way back."
"That's surprising. I thought you were too cautious back then and would have thrown it away."
"I was mentally exhausted, so I gave up on being suspicious and ate it with a half-resigned attitude. I didn't care if something went wrong."
Sion stopped in front of the hamburger franchise where Rohan had bought her food.
Her confident stride disappeared as she glanced at him uncertainly.
"Rohan. It's not a fancy menu... is that okay?"
"Of course it's fine. This is what dating is about. There's no rule saying we have to go to expensive restaurants."
"Heh."
Rohan led Sion inside the restaurant.
The familiar hustle and bustle. They blended in among the people.
They found seats on the second floor and filled their stomachs while looking outside.
It was peaceful. Sion was incredibly happy with the freedom she had gained thanks to Rohan.
Watching Sion gazing at passersby through the glass window with such sentiment, Rohan asked:
"Shall we go for a walk? Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"
"I was actually planning to go to the shopping mall."
"Sounds good."
"Here's the last french fry. Say ah."
Rohan opened his mouth and accepted the food Sion fed him.
The first place Rohan and Sion visited upon arriving at the shopping mall was the Water Drop Friends merchandise shop.
Ululi, a baby dragon with tears welling up in its eyes, and Bluevi, a shark with a distinctively blank expression.
These were characters that Angenose and Sion particularly loved.
Sion had been excited from the moment she saw the blue sign, even before entering the merchandise shop.
More than anything, Rohan was happy to see Sion so excited.
"I'm wondering which one to take home today."
Even with money, Sion didn't make excessive purchases. She always showed restraint.
While she would buy plenty of stationery and kitchen items featuring Water Drop Friends, she only purchased one decorative item like a plush toy each time she visited the mall.
Carefully examining the dolls, Sion stopped walking.
She spotted special products sold only in Academy City: characters wearing Orion Academy uniforms.
Among them, she chose the shark character Bluevi.
"I'll take this one today. I especially like it because it resembles Rohan."
"T-this resembles me?!"
Seeing Rohan trembling in surprise, Sion chuckled.
Sion surely meant it as a compliment, but being compared to a doll with a silly expression and drool dripping from one corner of its mouth felt strange.
"If you read the Water Drop Friends story, you'd understand."
"Um... I don't know the story."
"Bluevi is brave and spirited. When Ululi cries, he comes faster than anyone to comfort him and solve problems."
"This character is like that?"
"No matter what anyone says, he has shark-like courage. Even Ichinose Yui strongly agrees with this. Based on foreshadowing, he's probably not of ordinary lineage."
Rohan was pleased to see that Ichinose and Sion had developed a close relationship.
It was also heartwarming that Clara seemed to join them regularly.
The couple continued their busy day.
They visited a cafe full of animals.
They went to the cinema to watch the latest movie.
After taking sticker photos at the arcade, Rohan explained about the merchandise from the game he was playing with Clara.
Sion listened with an interested expression, trying to understand. She even promised to try the game when they got back. Rohan would read the Water Drop Friends comics in return.
That's how it is.
Sharing interests with someone you love is a happy thing.
And happiness mercilessly accelerates time.
"..."
Before they knew it, the sky had darkened and the moon had risen.
As if anticipating what was about to happen, silence descended between the two despite the mood growing more intimate.
But their hands remained firmly clasped, impossible to let go.
"Rohan."
"Yes?"
"Don't worry about Clara. Ichinose and Noah agreed to stay with her."
Rohan gently curled up the corners of his lips. He asked despite already knowing:
"Until tomorrow?"
"Yes... until tomorrow..."
As if all her previous shyness had been a joke, Sion's ears and face were completely flushed red.
Even her hand felt hot enough to melt.
And so,
Rohan arrived at the hotel Sion had reserved in advance.