Chapter 135 Date A Live Feeling
'Lyam seems down, so Hiiro, can you take her out on a date?'
After running back to the boys' dorm, Sham said this while striking a pose on Quollio's bed that looked like she was about to take flight.
She probably snuck in through the window since it was wide open. I mean, how does a girl just waltz into the boys' dorm? But, well, it's Sham.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder why it had to be me. After a few seconds of silence when I asked, she shot back, "Well, you're free anyway, right?" That really didn't sit well with me.
"Uh, um. What's up all of a sudden today? I, I came all the way here because you said to go out with you."
"Huh? Yeah, sure thing. I was in a cell until not too long ago. Just needed to let off some steam."
"I see... But is it really okay for someone like me to be with you?"
"Why wouldn't I be? If it wasn't, don't think I'd have came all the way here just for ya. What's your beef?"
"Ah, y-yeah, you're right. Sorry about that."
Since my steps are small, the sound of my feet going "tap tap" seemed fitting.
Looking down at the apologetic Lyam next to me, I found myself thinking about such trivial things.
We were on the main street of Asgardam. Even though foot traffic had decreased because of that recent mugging incident, the hustle and bustle of the big city was still impressive.
(Hmm. She does seem a bit down.)
I had dragged Lyam along, wide-eyed and confused, to the girls' dorm based on Sham's suggestion. But now, seeing her profile, she definitely looked more down than usual.
Sham didn't seem to know what was bothering her, and I felt hesitant to ask directly. So, I decided to take care of Lyam's mood for now... but there was one problem.
(I've never been on a date before.)
That sums it up. Yeah, I've never been on a date, and I've never had anyone to go out with either. They say knowledge beats experience, but in my case, I'm sitting at a solid 0 wins. I was starting to regret rushing into this on a whim.
"Hey, Lyam. Listen up. Got any place in mind?"
"Eh? Well, I'm okay with anything. I'll leave it to Hiiro."
"Oh, I see."
Hmm, I never thought I'd understand how my mom felt when I asked her what she wanted to eat and she said anything.
Still, it was me who dragged her out, and the fact that she's not mad about having no plan shows her kindness.
Honestly, I think she'd be happy no matter where we go. But for some reason, I feel a bit pressured, maybe because I've never won at this before.
(A date. A date, huh...)
For now, I'll list some classic date ideas in my head.
Karaoke. Of course, there's no way that exists in this world. I'd like to see shy Lyam singing, but if it's not here, it's not here.
Billiards. Yeah, I'll pass on this too for the same reason as karaoke. There might be similar entertainment around, but it feels a bit too grown-up for us. It'd be better to keep it more like a student date.
Visiting pet shops. This could work, but I'm not sure if they exist in Asgardam. Plus, Lyam already has Mokumon.
"Ugh."
"Uh, Hiiro? Are you okay?"
"Nah, forget about it. I've got this."
"Sigh..."
This is bad. I seriously can't think of a good idea.
Answering so quickly backfired on me. I should've at least researched some spots that would make a girl happy before inviting Lyam. Maybe I should wake up Ruthless for advice... no, that's a bad idea. She definitely won't say anything useful.
Damn it. I really understand now that going in without a plan is a problem. This date is way tougher than any beast out there.
I was almost worried enough to make Lyam concerned, but it seems like the gods didn't abandon me after all.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a stall.
Of course, it's not just any stall. There's a makeshift table with chairs for customers. And in broad daylight, there's a woman dressed in a black veil and outfit, giving off a suspicious vibe.
The cherry on top is the sign next to her, leaning against the stall.
"Lyam, check it out."
"Huh? That's... a fortune teller, right?"
Yeah, it's fortune-telling. Here we go. This is a solid date idea.
Plus, it's boldly labeled as a compatibility reading. It really stands out against the backdrop of Asgardam, unlike the shops in the city, but right now, it feels like a lifeline I need to grab onto.
"Get movin'."
"Is that the shop? I-I hope it's okay. It feels a bit sketchy."
"Yo, no probs. Let's get in there, move your ass!"
"Uh, um, c-can you hold my hand tight... um..."
At this point, there was no choice but to go in.
I squeezed Lyam's hand tightly, who seemed a bit overwhelmed by the fortune-teller's vibe, and stepped in with confidence.
"Yo, give me a read."
"Welcome to the 'Fortune Teller'!"
"That's straight to the point."
"Simplicity is best! Come on, have a seat!"
"Pretty casual, huh?"
"Friendly service is our specialty!"
I was ready to dive in, but maybe I messed up a bit.
I wondered if this place was really okay. Just before I spoke, it felt sketchy, but the moment I talked to the fortune-teller, it turned into a different kind of sketchy.
Wait, this fortune-teller feels familiar. Have I met them somewhere before?
"So, what do you want to get read?"
"The sign says it's a compatability check, but got somethin' else in that back pocket of yours?"
"Of course! Here's the menu."
Wait, a menu? I guess it's not wrong, but it kind of ruins the vibe. Well, the fortune-teller's tone is like this, so I guess it's too late now.
"Wow, tons to choose from. Palm readin', crystal readin', zodiac readin', tarot readin'... t-tart readin'? Like a cheesey tart? A chef's special pasta? Oh, smoked duck with spring asparagus? ...w-whoa, there are really fuckin' lots of choices."
"I-Is this a real menu? And where's the chef?"
"That's me!"
"You're doin' it yourself?"
This fortune-teller is going all out for a laugh. Wait, do they even have duck here? I started to worry if everything was really okay, but at this point, I was committed.
"Lyam, ever done fortune-telling?"
"Um, actually no. So I'm not sure what to expect."
"If you two are a beginner, I recommend a simple reading!"
"Oh, really? Let's give it a shot then."
"What do you want to ask about? The usual would be something like your worries, right?"
"W-worries? Alright, let's do that."
Honestly, this is my first time doing a real fortune-telling, just like the ones you see on TV. So, as I quietly watch Lyam's hand being offered, I see the fortune teller nodding thoughtfully, and I start to feel a bit nervous.
"Hmm, I see, I see..."
"Uh, w-what ya see?"
"Yeah, I can see it. Um... Lyam, it seems like you have a huge secret you're hiding."
"Eh!?"
(Whoa. This feels pretty serious!)
Lyam reacted dramatically to the fortune teller's words. Looking almost comically pale, she quickly pulled her hand back. Then, she cautiously glanced at the fortune teller.
"S-secret...?"
"I don't know the details, but it seems like it's a secret you can't tell anyone, and hiding it is really exhausting for you."
"Is that so, Lyam...?"
"Y-yeah, that's right..."
It seems the fortune-telling hit the mark.
Not wanting to talk about it, she pulled her cat-ear hood over her head and started trembling. Plus, her eyes were watery.
Seeing her so scared made me feel protective, and before I knew it, I was petting her head through the hood.
"H-Hiiro?"
"Kukuku. Ya look like ya seen a ghost."
"
"W-well, I mean, now you know I have a secret... You wouldn't like having a friend like that, right?"
"Huh?"
I thought she was scared of how amazing the fortune teller was. But from Lyam's tone, it seemed she didn't like that her secret was known.
It's that feeling of guilt for having a secret you can't share with anyone. I guess girls tend to worry about stuff like that more than you'd think.
"Ya gotta be shittin' me? Everyone's got somethin' they can't even tell their bros or sisters."
"Y-yeah, maybe..."
"I've got a few of them too. So, Lyam, what do you think? Does it make you wanna knock me around 'cause I have secrets?"
"Uh, n-no, I don't."
"Heh, nah, of course not. You ain't no small-minded prick, you weirdo with the cat ears."
"Ahh, please don't rub my head like that!"
"Hahaha!"
Yeah, I totally nailed that argument. How about this bright way of convincing? I've had my fair share of verbal battles with Quollio, you know.
Sure, having someone you can talk to about anything is rare, but that doesn't mean it's the best thing ever. Sometimes, being close means there are things you just can't say. For me, there are tons of things I can't talk about.
"By the way, Hiiro has a lot of secrets too. Way more than LyaLya. It's like a mountain of hidden stuff!"
"Huh? Is that so?"
"Y-yeah, everyone has one or 2 or 6 or 7 secrets, you know..."
Whoa. This is real. My voice shook, come on, stop it. And the fortune teller know my name even though I didn't introduce myself. Can they really see that much?
Fortune tellers are amazing.
I was feeling even more pale than earlier, and I couldn't help but respect this skilled fortune teller in so many ways.
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