Han Seo-Jin replies in a calm and businesslike tone.
Harem Plan.
In order to successfully complete the plan of marrying multiple girls to Kim Deok-Sung, it was necessary to maintain an appropriate distance between the harem members and Kim Deok-Sung.
Thus, this date was a perfect opportunity from Han Seo-Jin’s perspective to bring Kasumi and Kim Deok-Sung closer, as she had been feeling neglected.
“…Th-thank you, Han Seo-Jin.”
Kasumi’s face turns red.
She catches sight of Han Seo-Jin.
Dressed as a capable career woman, Han Seo-Jin exuded the ideal alpha girl aura that even girls couldn’t help but admire.
‘As expected of Han Seo-Jin… So cool.’
Thinking this, Kasumi stands up.
“W-well, since you came to the clubroom, how about I serve you some light refreshments…?”
Clink.
Kasumi boils water in the coffee pot and pulls out some light snacks that were available.
A steaming pot of oolong tea and wagashi are placed on the table.
“Thank you for the refreshments, Hoshino.”
Han Seo-Jin takes a sip of oolong tea with a composed demeanor.
Watching her, Kasumi also drinks the oolong tea.
The aroma of oolong fills her mouth.
“Now, let’s get right to the point. Do you have a date course in mind, Hoshino?”
Clink.
Setting down her teacup, Han Seo-Jin asks in her calm voice.
Kasumi’s face turns red as she bows her head.
“N-no… U-um, I don’t have one…”
The reason she sought help was that she was completely clueless about dating.
Of course, she had read countless scenes of couples dating in romantic novels when she was alone, but that didn’t mean she could just follow those scenarios.
“Well then… Would it be okay if I recommended a date course?”
“Y-yes? Yes! Please do!”
Kasumi nods at Han Seo-Jin’s words.
She fiddles with her untouched oolong tea cup.
“Alright. The date course I recommend is…”
Kasumi’s gaze is fixated on Han Seo-Jin’s lips.
Han Seo-Jin’s gray eyes become heavy as she speaks with a serious expression.
“Akihabara.”
“Eeeeeeeeeh?!”
Kasumi is shocked by Han Seo-Jin’s remark.
Akihabara.
Even someone unfamiliar with otaku culture like Kasumi knows what kind of place that is.
Isn’t it a mecca for electronics and otaku?
“Why Akihabara…?”
This time, Kasumi couldn’t help but voice her confusion.
She had expected places like Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, or Shibuya.
Maybe Odaiba, Kichijoji, or Harajuku at most; she never imagined this place.
Sure, if Kim Deok-Sung had that kind of taste, it could make sense, but he didn’t particularly look like an otaku.
So why?
“Based on a thorough analysis of Kim Deok-Sung’s hobby, it appears that he has a particular fondness for Korean web novels—specifically, those centered around the attraction of heroine characters, commonly known as ‘cabin pulling’.”
It seems you have a penchant for “cat-eared milk” after all.”
Han Seo-Jin calmly stated.
Kim Deok-Sung.
She had thoroughly gathered every trivial detail about him—what his hobbies were, what foods he liked and disliked, his personality, height, and weight.
As his aide, or rather as one of his devoted followers, it was only natural.
“Kim Deok-Sung must certainly be a fan of ‘cat-eared milk,’ which is undoubtedly rooted in Japanese otaku culture. Though he doesn’t show it, I suspect he’s a fanatic about Japanese otaku culture.”
Thus, after analyzing his preferences, Han Seo-Jin finally arrived at one conclusion.
Kim Deok-Sung.
The fact that he might be an otaku.
His startled expression at the maid café in Ikebukuro was likely what otaku typically do during “normal person cosplay” or “shibajiba.”
On the surface, he despises otaku culture, but deep down, he longs for it.
Such behavior isn’t hard to find among otaku.
The only date spot that could satisfy his secret desires?
That would be…
“Therefore, I can confidently say that Akihabara is the ultimate date course for Kim Deok-Sung.”
Only Akihabara.
As Han Seo-Jin spoke in her calm, unwavering tone, Kasumi’s eyes widened.
Her logic was flawless and persuasive.
“Ah, I see. Han Seo-Jin. So where should we start in Akihabara with our junior?”
Hearing Kasumi’s persuaded question, a faint smile appeared on Han Seo-Jin’s lips.
“I will let you know right now.”
Tap.
As Han Seo-Jin pulled out her tablet from the desk, she continued.
That day.
Kasumi and Han Seo-Jin planned an Akihabara date course late into the evening.
Kim Deok-Sung would certainly clutch his neck and faint if he knew.
And why am I involved?
Saturday.
At last, the day for the date with senior Kasumi was approaching.
[Partner, wake up. Don’t you remember today’s date?]
The Black Prince’s morning call, slapping the alarm clock, jolted me awake.
“Ugh… I want to sleep more…”
I want to sleep more.
After all, I’ve been waking up at 7 AM like a model citizen all semester.
This isn’t the military.
It’s vacation; I should be allowed to sleep in a bit.
[Are you planning to keep the lady waiting? Wake up already, partner.]
The Black Prince chattered noisily.
“Fine, I’ll get up…”
Pat, pat.
I lightly slapped my cheeks with both hands to wake myself up.
I have to go either way.
The meeting point is right in front of the academy’s main gate.
From there, I planned to take public transportation, that is, the train, with senior Kasumi.
After washing up, I changed into casual clothes for going out.
[Oh, partner. That outfit looks good enough.]
Right when I was about to leave the dorm after putting on a t-shirt and jeans under the Black Prince’s coaching.
[Partner. Aren’t you bringing the charm that senior Kasumi gave you?]
The Black Prince grabbed my ankle.
The charm.
Is he referring to the protective charm that senior Kasumi gifted me during our trip to Kyoto?
Since I’m meeting up with senior Kasumi, it wouldn’t hurt to bring it along, as the Black Prince suggested.
I turned back and headed towards the drawer.
On top of the drawer, where the tengu mask I received from Eri during the festival was hanging, there were also the goldfish caught by Rin, the teddy bear Kasumi won in a shooting game, and the protective charm.
I grabbed the charm, which can be attached like a keychain, and hooked it onto my crossbody bag’s zipper.
[Good job, partner. Perfect.]
The Black Prince praised me.
With the charm secured, I left the dorm and headed toward the academy’s main gate.
There was nobody around on campus, probably because it was vacation.
It must be the vacation; the campus is completely empty.
The scorching summer sun has been hitting me hard since this morning.
It’s hot. So hot.
I want to get some air conditioning soon.
Just as I was thinking that…
“Junior! Over here, over here!”
I hear the voice of Hoshino Kasumi in my ear.
I turn my gaze.
There she is.
Wearing a light purple dress that emphasizes her pure, innocent look and a white summer cardigan, she’s waving her right hand enthusiastically, holding a tiny purple bag.
It feels a little strange seeing her in casual clothes after only ever seeing her in her school uniform.
But she looks pretty.
After all, who among the heroines isn’t pretty?
“Junior! You made it on time. Hehe.”
Kasumi giggles lightly, covering her mouth.
Looks like she got here early and was waiting for me.
“Did you wait long, Senpai?”
“Not too long, so don’t worry too much.”
Kasumi blushes, waving her hand dismissively.
“Just about two hours… Not a big deal.”
She talks with one finger on her lips.
Two hours?
Even if she says it’s not a big deal, that’s a hard amount of time to dismiss.
“Next time, don’t come out so early.”
What’s the deal with that?
It’s a bit nerve-wracking.
I feel a little guilty for no good reason.
Ever since that day she threw herself in front of me to save me, I haven’t been able to be as direct with her as I used to.
Plus, some new heroines have popped up who speak even more ridiculously, so I’ve somewhat gotten used to their way of talking.
“…It’s been a while since it’s just been the two of us… and this is my first outing like this… so I think I got a bit nervous. Sorry for making you feel pressured, Junior.”
Kasumi lets her shoulders droop.
Her face turns somber.
Honestly, it’s a problem that she takes even the smallest things so seriously and gets into a low mood.
It leaves the person who said it feeling uneasy.
[Hey, partner. Man, it’s the first outing just with you, so you’d better make it good.]
The Black Prince’s voice rings in my head.
It really is the first outing just the two of us.
And since the Kyoto Exchange Tournament, any connection with the New World League has been broken, so we haven’t had many opportunities to meet like before.
Thinking about it, it’s really been a long time.
I can see how Kasumi might feel a bit sad about it.
Suddenly feeling sorry.
“No, no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for saying unnecessary things, Senpai.”
“Huh? No, it’s okay. Then, if you really feel sorry, Junior…”
Kasumi fidgets with her fingers.
She reaches out her hand to me.
“C-Could you hold my hand?”
Kasumi’s face turns completely pink.
She bows her head and extends her hand.
Sigh.
I don’t get why Rin and she both like holding hands so much.
But given that I’ve committed a sin, I guess I have no choice.
“Of course, Senpai.”
I take her hand.
I can feel her warm body temperature.
“Hehe… I’m holding hands with Junior… Hands… Junior, you’re a bad guy and a playboy but your hands are warm…”
Kasumi mutters while covering her face with her other hand.
Everything else is fine, but can we ease up on that “bad guy” talk?
The words nearly come to the tip of my tongue, but I swallow them back.
Anyway, Kasumi looks quite happy, so I don’t want to ruin the mood today.
“Then let’s get going! Junior!”
She says excitedly.
“I’ve carefully selected a date course that Junior will enjoy… You can look forward to it.”
Kasumi-senpai points with a shy laugh.
A date course that I’ll like?
What in the world could it be?
I feel an unsettling chill creeping down my spine.
“Where is it?”
At my question, Kasumi-senpai shushes me with her finger on my lips.
As she leans in closer, the scent of violet brushes lightly against my nose.
Did she put on perfume?
“It’s a secret, Junior. But once we get there, I’m sure you’ll like it.”
With a mysteriously confident smile, Kasumi-senpai reassures me.
A place I’ll like when we arrive.
I have no clue what it could be.
Thus, I found myself being led by Kasumi-senpai to the train station in front of the academy.
*
Finally, having been dragged onto the train by Kasumi-senpai’s hand, I arrived at the secret date destination she had been so protective of.
It was…
“Here we are! The place I’m going on a date with Junior today!”
A street packed with electronic shops and otaku stores.
A bizarre street where otaku in beautiful girl t-shirts coexists with cosplayers and businessmen in suits.
An office town, an electronic district, and a holy ground for otakus.
In a sense, it was Akihabara, the pinnacle of tourist hotspots in Tokyo.
Some anime song I couldn’t identify echoed into my ears from an unknown shop.
My face stiffened.
[W-what the hell was this place, partner…?]
The Black Prince stutters, probably struck by culture shock at the posters of beautiful girls and bizarre billboards plastered everywhere.
There were even Itasha cars wrapped with beautiful girl characters scattered about.
I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this in real life.
Damn it.
Was this hellish ‘date course I’d love’ really Akihabara of all places?
To be honest, the me before reincarnation had somewhat idolized Akihabara.
[So this is a place in Japan… Huh…?]
The Black Prince laments in a voice filled with disbelief.
If you think of otaku, you think of Japan, and especially Akihabara, right?
What kind of otaku wouldn’t want to visit the holy land of otakus?
Naturally, I had decided that if I traveled to Japan with friends, a visit to Akihabara was mandatory.
I had planned to order the Aris menu at the [Weakest Hero] collaboration café, snap a photo for proof, and sweep all the merchandise from the Radio Hall.
Why did I think such crazy things back then? I almost tossed money to the ground.
My trip to Japan fell through after my mother collapsed, but regardless…
To end up in Akihabara, a place I never went to in my previous life, in this damn light novel world?
Visiting the otaku holy land in a weeb world? I’m about to lose it.
“Ugh…”
It’s been ages since I stopped being an otaku, but seeing the otaku street makes me feel like blood’s about to gush from my eyes.
It’s painful.
How could I be dragged into such a horrible place…
“What’s wrong, Junior? You don’t look so good. Do you… hate Akihabara?”
Kasumi-senpai looks at me with a worried expression.
Just as I was about to say I didn’t like it…
“I picked this place with great care for you… If you don’t like it, I’m sorry… Junior…”
Kasumi-senpai lowers her head.
She keeps doing that, so I can’t even lie, saying I don’t like it.
“No, it’s fine. Really.”
I smile awkwardly.
“Really? It’s okay? Great! Then let’s go to the gacha hall first, Junior!”
With her arms crossed, Kasumi-senpai leads me along.
The place we arrive at, guided by her hand, is the gacha hall.
One of Akihabara’s famous spots, a store lined with endless capsule toy vending machines.
“Wowww…”
