Date? This Is a Disaster. I Don't Know What to Do. I Can't Figure Out How to Convey This Feeling.

My heart pounded like it was trying to escape my chest. My breathing came short and sharp. Still, I couldn't keep it buried forever, so I texted the other person with as much composure as I could muster.

The start was fine. Caersi didn't seem to be in a bad mood. I carefully typed out the next message.

I continued.

That was when Caersi started firing off messages like a machine gun.

I tried again.

Caersi refused to engage at all. Growing anxious, I quickly dialed her number, only to be met with a cold rejection. A moment later, another text arrived.

Her messages paused. Maybe my desperation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got through, because she soon sent one more indifferent text.

I could finally convey my feelings. Keeping my composure, I calmly moved my fingers across the screen.

An incoming call from Caersi appeared instantly.

I had successfully conveyed the guilt and regret I'd been carrying. Caersi, who had been hurling curses nonstop, suddenly snapped back to her usual persona.

With that, the call ended. I carefully stored the shattered card fragments in my coin purse. Until I met Caersi in person, I planned to keep them on me at all times so I wouldn't lose them. One problem solved, at least.

Problem solved my ass. You heartless bastard.

Shut up.

The heroines returned faster than I expected. Right after I hung up with Caersi, they bombarded me with texts saying they were heading back to the Academy. I went out to greet them just before dinner.

"Why are you back so soon?"

"Haa... fuck."

Hye-ji let out a deep sigh and pointed an accusing finger at Elsia.

"This bitch emptied half the fridge in a single day."

"Hye-ji unnie! That's not true!"

Elsia puffed out her cheeks in protest.

"She emptied the freezer too!"

"No wonder my ice cream disappeared, fuck!"

"Next time please get strawberry flavor!"

When Hye-ji looked ready to lunge at her, I quickly pulled her into my arms. Her expression softened a little, but she started growling again.

"And how much delivery did she order for a voice phishing check-up call to come in?!"

"Father said to order anything I wanted, so I really ordered everything!"

"You crazy bitch! Dad's hands were shaking because of you!"

Then I noticed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ayeon looking unusually downcast.

"Ayeon, what's wrong?"

"...Do not ask."

This time Hye-ji's face filled with mockery.

"She bragged that she could fly with her succubus wings."

"P-please stop talking!!!"

Ayeon turned deathly pale and desperately tried to cover Hye-ji's mouth. Of course, she was too slow.

"She got too fat to fly."

"...I'm fucked."

Ayeon collapsed on the spot in despair. She didn't look any different on the outside, but it seemed like something only she could feel.

Should I grab Ayeon's side fat to check?You sure know how to phrase a suicide wish.

"This is so unfair! This lady ate less than Elsia!"

"That's because I store everything in my chest! Our dear Ayeon sister stores it all in her hips!"

"Fucking vicious bitches."

It had clearly started with Hye-ji teasing her, but the offense and defense had switched naturally. Then Hye-ji turned back to me. Her face looked excited and genuinely happy.

"And today's an important day."

"What day?"

"...Did you forget, you fucking idiot?"

Hye-ji's face instantly flooded with rage. Danger. My life was on the line, so I racked my brain as hard as I could to remember what day it was. One thing finally surfaced.

"We're going to that restaurant Professor Kim Jiseon reserved for us, right?"

"That's right. Good thing you remembered."

Hye-ji's expression returned to normal. My heart, however, had tightened another notch.

Too bad. If you'd died right there we could've swapped protagonists.

You bastard keep hoping I'll die.

I mentally promised to gaslight Piece with HAL again soon. Meanwhile, Hye-ji shot a fierce look at Elsia and Ayeon.

"Today's my date with Shin-woo only. If you butt in, you're dead, you fucking bitches."

"I'll behave if you let me pack some bread for before the meal!"

"This lady requests cake."

"Fine, you fucking bitches."

A hint of lingering attachment remained in Elsia and Ayeon's eyes, but they obediently accepted the situation for now. Nothing else should go wrong.

...Probably.

"Husband! Play with me until it's time for your appointment!"

"This lady wants to join too."

"Get lost, you fucking bitches."

Hye-ji dragged Elsia and Ayeon away to stop them from causing trouble. Then she glanced back at me and smiled.

"See you later. I'm looking forward to it."

That smile made me realize I needed to start preparing. Since things had turned out this way, I didn't want to disappoint Hye-ji.

I got an exit pass from the Academy and headed to the restaurant Professor Kim Jiseon had told me about. I wore a suit, dress shoes in case of any unexpected situations, and even gloves to hide the mana tattoos ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the backs of my hands. It was a bit early, but I arrived at the location thirty minutes before the reservation time.

The place was a large, elegant restaurant that exuded old-fashioned charm. It looked expensive at a glance.

Places like this don't suit me at all. Since you have those tattoos anyway, why not just go eat some soup and rice?

If I did that, Hye-ji would actually kill me.

The strange thing was that there was no one around. There should have been people waiting or coming out, but the area was completely empty. Just as I started feeling suspicious, something hard suddenly flew in from behind and slammed into me. It felt like concrete. Without even turning around, I spoke naturally.

"Flying concrete. This must be Hye-ji."

"Die."

"Fuck."

Thankfully it ended with one solid smack to my back. Wincing at the stinging pain, I turned to look at Hye-ji. Instead of her usual twin tails, she had let her red hair flow down long and straight. She wore a black off-shoulder dress that contrasted beautifully with it, along with leather sandals that had thick heels. She had put a lot of effort into her outfit.

When I fixed my gaze on her, Hye-ji shyly lowered her head and muttered.

"W-what are you staring at? Is something weird?"

She seemed a little unsure about her clothes, hesitating slightly. Looking at her like that, I smiled and asked with pure curiosity.

"How did you keep an off-shoulder dress up with no chest?"

This time, my dear, you are definitely in the wrong.

Hye-ji silently unleashed a barrage of punches into my stomach. Her fists were even sharper than before. For a moment I lost my breath. Before the combo could continue, I quickly inhaled and gave her my honest impression this time.

"That was a joke. You look pretty. It suits you well."

"It's still fucking annoying... but thanks anyway."

I subtly offered her my arm. Hye-ji smiled shyly and slipped her hand through it. Together, we slowly walked toward the restaurant entrance. A smile of pure happiness spread across Hye-ji's face. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

"Why the hell can't we go in?!"

"I-I'm sorry!"

The smile vanished in an instant. We had suddenly been denied at the door. Even getting rejected at a club wouldn't have been this infuriating.

"Don't just apologize, explain why!"

"T-the thing is, a very suspicious person with an absurd amount of money rented out the entire place for the day! I'm sorry!"

I had a bad feeling about this. Someone came to mind. Meanwhile, Hye-ji's eyes went dead and she started materializing a firearm.

"Hye-ji! We're outside, you'll get arrested if you use that!"

"I don't care. If I can't go in, I'll destroy everything."

At that moment, a man who looked like the manager rushed out from inside the building. Trembling, he urgently spoke to Hye-ji.

"The person who made the reservation said it's fine for you to enter! Please come in!"

I grabbed Hye-ji's shoulders, which were radiating open discomfort, and pulled her toward me. The happy smile returned to her face. But the moment we stepped inside, both of us froze.

Because there they were.

"Hye-ji, hurry and come over nya! And you, fuck off and slam your head on the floor, you son of a bitch."

"We meet again, unnie! And husband!"

"Ahem! I didn't expect to run into you like this."

People we had never expected to see were waiting for us. The ridiculously rich person who had rented out the whole restaurant was apparently Caersi. I sighed and spoke to her.

"Kyaru, it's you again?"