Chapter 204

After finishing shopping at the clothing store, Yurina and I entered a restaurant in a high-rise building to satisfy our hunger and get a bird’s-eye view of the bustling streets below. The restaurant, as expected for its price range, had a great atmosphere and excellent food.

“…How long are you going to keep holding onto that like it’s some treasure?”

I asked Yurina, who had been clutching a small shopping bag tightly throughout the meal as if it were a precious bundle.

“Uh, huh?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to put it down while eating?”

“No, no! It’s fine!”

Yurina shook her head hurriedly, still holding the bag. I wondered what kind of underwear she bought to react like that. Curiosity bubbled up inside me, but I decided not to ask.

“By the way… not even a single suspicious person is in sight, let alone Mine.”

I clicked my tongue, turning my gaze outside the window. Though the streets were bustling, no one seemed to be acting suspiciously.

“Should we change the investigation location?”

“Well… let’s not overthink it today and just enjoy the date as Professor Elisha suggested.”

“Okay!”

After finishing our meal, Yurina and I stepped outside.

“Let’s see… where should we go next?”

“We went where I wanted to go, so now it’s Dale’s turn to pick!”

Yurina smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me.

“Even if it’s my turn… I can’t think of anywhere specific.”

Not having much experience with dates, I couldn’t think of any particular place to go.

“Don’t overthink it, just pick.”

“Hmm… how about a café?”

After some thought, I chose a rather ordinary and predictable place. But…

“Sure, sounds good!”

Yurina smiled brightly, as if even such a mundane place was perfect.

We headed to a nearby café. Though we hadn’t researched it, the café was filled with couples.

“Hey, Dale! Look, if we order the special couple menu, we get a 30% discount, and if we complete the challenge, it’s free!”

“…So that’s why there are so many couples here.”

I chuckled and asked, “But what’s the challenge?”

“Let me see…”

Yurina slowly read the menu.

“So… we have to bite a coffee-soaked snack from both ends without breaking it… and then… k-k-kiss?!”

Yurina’s eyes lit up as she read the challenge.

“Dale! Let’s do it right now!”

“…Seriously? You want to try that?”

“W-we get it for free if we succeed!”

Yurina cleared her throat and ordered the special couple menu. Soon, the waiter brought a long, coffee-soaked snack.

“Here you go! Just bite from both ends without breaking it!”

The waiter explained the challenge with a bright smile. And then…

“……”

“……”

Yurina and I bit the snack from both ends, staring into each other’s eyes. As we slowly chewed and got closer…

“Ugh! Ughhh!!!”

Perhaps overwhelmed by the anticipation of her dream coming true, Yurina tightly closed her eyes and started flailing her feet. Her breathing grew heavy, her excitement reaching its peak.

*Snap.*

The snack broke without much resistance, likely due to being soaked in coffee.

“Ah.”

A small sigh escaped Yurina’s lips.

“Ah~ too bad! But you can try again next time!”

“…Wait.”

“Huh?”

“I-I want to try again!”

“Sorry, but the challenge is only once per day…”

“What?!”

The waiter left with an awkward smile, and Yurina hung her head in despair.

“Ughhh.”

I stifled a laugh as Yurina let out a deep sigh.

“Why are you so obsessed with kissing all of a sudden?”

“Well… I-I’ve never done it before.”

Yurina pouted, looking dejected.

“Then should we do it now?”

“R-right now?”

“Yeah. We don’t need an event to do it, right?”

If Yurina wanted a kiss so badly, I had no reason to refuse. In the past, I might have hesitated, but now I was ready.

“Ugh…”

Yurina looked around nervously, swallowing hard. After a long moment of hesitation, she finally spoke.

“…No, not now.”

“Why?”

“I want my first time to be… in a better atmosphere.”

Yurina clenched her fists, touching her lips. Knowing her true “first time,” I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

“Should we head out then?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

As we stepped outside, the sky was painted in a fiery orange sunset. Holding Yurina’s hand, we strolled through the streets bathed in the warm glow.

“…Dale.”

“Yeah?”

Yurina stopped in front of a fountain in the square. She tightened her grip on my hand and continued.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What for?”

“Well, actually… this kind of date was my dream.”

Yurina smiled faintly, looking up at the sky.

“Thanks to you, Dale, I feel like I’ve achieved many dreams today. Dreams I never even thought of during my time as ‘Yuren.'”

“……”

Yurina’s silver hair shimmered in the sunset. When our eyes met, my mind went blank. She looked so beautiful, as if she belonged to another world.

“I know I shouldn’t think this, but… I kind of hoped we wouldn’t find Mine.”

“…Is that why you apologized?”

“Yeah. If we find Mine… this happy time will end.”

Yurina scratched her head, smiling awkwardly. I chuckled and nodded.

“I felt the same.”

“…You too?”

“Yeah.”

Mine or whatever. I was having so much fun with Yurina that I couldn’t help but think that way.

“Hehe. I’m glad.”

Yurina smiled shyly. Without thinking, I reached out and stroked her hair. The soft strands slipped through my fingers. I slowly moved my hand down to caress her cheek.

“Dale…”

Our eyes met. Perhaps because of the sunset, Yurina’s face was glowing red.

“Ahem.”

Yurina cleared her throat and turned her head away.

“By the way… today we’re supposed to act like lovers, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

Technically, Yurina and I were already lovers, so there was no need to “act.”

“L-look over there, Dale.”

Yurina pointed to the fountain, where several couples were hugging or kissing.

“…This place seems popular with couples too.”

“……”

Indeed.

The clean streets, open square, and beautiful fountain in the center made it a perfect spot for couples.

“Here… the atmosphere seems much better than before…”

Yurina stammered nervously. The sunset, the cool winter breeze, and the soothing sound of the fountain created a perfect mood. Though there were many people around, they barely registered in my mind.

“…Dale.”

“Yeah.”

Our eyes met. Time seemed to stand still as a strange silence fell between us.

“Ugh.”

Yurina tightly closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

“……”

Though I’m often called oblivious, I’m not so dense that I wouldn’t understand what she wanted in this situation. I swallowed hard and slowly leaned in toward Yurina’s puckered lips.

Then.

*Thud!*

“Eek!”

A boy with messy brown hair bumped into Yurina.

“S-sorry! There are too many people, I didn’t see you!”

The boy bowed his head in apology. In such a crowded place, it wasn’t a big deal to not notice someone in front of you.

“You…!”

Yurina glared at the boy—or rather, at the shopping bag now in his hand. The boy’s movements were so quick they were almost invisible, but Yurina was no ordinary person. She was a superhuman who had awakened the Holy Mark, one of the strongest.

Even if she was distracted by the thought of kissing Dale, she wasn’t so dull as to miss a pickpocket’s trick.

“Damn it!”

The boy, realizing he’d been caught, quickly turned to run. Yurina reached out to grab him, but…

“Yurina, wait.”

“Dale?”

Yurina turned to me with wide eyes, as if asking why I stopped her. I narrowed my eyes, watching the boy disappear into the crowd.

‘A pickpocket, huh.’

They were the kind who roamed Valhalla City’s bustling streets, looking for easy targets.

‘Maybe we can get some information from him.’

Given their profession (if you could call it that), pickpockets were sharp-eyed and skilled at reading people’s movements. Judging by his skill, he wasn’t a novice. He probably knew Valhalla City better than Yurina and I did.

“Let’s follow him and see where he goes.”

“But…!”

Yurina looked at the shopping bag in the boy’s hand, her face falling. Not only had she missed her chance for a romantic first kiss with Dale, but her secret weapon (?) had been stolen too.

“Why… why does this only happen to me…!”

With a face full of frustration, Yurina followed the boy, her steps heavy with resentment.