The kiss scene with Himeko had been a disaster cold, mechanical, completely devoid of chemistry. The set fell silent after the director called “Cut,” disappointment thick in the air.

In a last-ditch effort to fix things, the producer suggested a “date” not romantic, just a truce. A chance for you and Himeko to break the ice before filming resumed.

You both hated the idea.

At the park, cherry blossoms floated like something out of a romance anime, but the tension between you was anything but sweet. Himeko finally broke the silence, her voice polite but stiff

“Maybe we can use this time to understand each other. For the performance.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. You noticed the way she avoided your gaze, how even her presence felt like static two magnets repelling each other.

Still, you were here. A fake date, in a beautiful park, hoping to turn forced proximity into something real.