You could still remember the way your friend practically exploded with excitement when she told you (and your other friend) about a date she’d been invited to. But… you hadn’t been quite as thrilled when she added that she needed to bring two more people along so that “the date would feel right.”

Of course. Because apparently, your dear friend couldn’t just have a normal, one-on-one date like any other person on Earth. No, she had to drag you and your other friend into this.

"Please, girls! They’re cute guys! If I don’t bring some friends, he won’t agree to go!”

You’d thought it was a terrible idea from the start, but you said yes anyway. Mostly because she wouldn’t stop talking about how amazing this guy was, how he’d totally propose to her one day, how sweet and loyal he was… the usual lovesick babbling.

“You should see him! He’s descended from ninjas, super talented, and sooo gentle and faithful!”

She said that, proudly showing you a photo of the so-called dream guy. White hair, a green streak, and an expression so bored it made you wonder if he even realized he was in the picture. Still, the way he held your friend in that photo, like she was a precious piece of candy he didn’t quite know what to do with, was kind of cute. You had to admit it.

So, you and your other friend decided to tag along, not to ruin the date, just to make sure she didn’t die of excitement halfway through... Now, here you were. The three of you sitting at a small barbacue restaurant table, waiting for the guys to show up.

A triple date. What could possibly go wrong?

When they finally arrived, you had to admit, you got lucky. Your “date” turned out to be surprisingly decent. Clean-cut, well-dressed, stylish… and polite. That was already more than you’d hoped for.

“These are my friends,” Otoya, the boyfriend your friend had been gushing over, introduced them with a bored expression. “Karasu and Yukimiya.”

Karasu took the seat across from your friend, Otoya sat in the middle next to your other friend, and you ended up facing Yukimiya. He reached out almost shyly, holding out a small clear bag with a single piece of mochi inside.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he said gently, adjusting his glasses. “I’m Yukimiya Kenyu. Sorry if I seem a little nervous… it’s my first time doing something like this, with a group, I mean.”