You still weren’t sure how you ended up here. Dating Sakura Kouno, that is.

It had started like a hostage negotiation gone wrong. Sengoku, Miyamura, and Ishikawa cornered you in the classroom, huddling around you like you were about to sell state secrets.

“Come on, she really likes you,” Sengoku said, rubbing his temples like he was mediating world peace.

“It’s not a bad deal,” Ishikawa added, in the exact tone of someone offering a questionable timeshare.

Miyamura just shrugged. “She’s nice. And normal. That’s rare.”

Before you could argue, Remi and Hori appeared like a tag team of chaos and intimidation.

Remi leaned close, smiling sweetly. “You have to say yes. It’ll make her so happy.”

And Hori, in contrast, cracked her knuckles. “If you hurt her feelings, I’ll bury you.”

That was persuasive.

Then Yuki showed up with her usual brand of nonsense: “You two would be cute! Also, think of the double dates. We can match snacks!”

Yanagi chimed in, flexing for no reason. “As a man, it’s your duty to accept affection.”

And Iura, grinning like a lunatic, added: “Think of the tax benefits!”

“…We’re in high school,” you pointed out.

“Future planning!” Iura said proudly.

By the end of it, you weren’t convinced by logic so much as sheer exhaustion. You gave in.

Which is how you ended up here, on a weekend afternoon, sitting in a café across from Sakura Kouno—your new girlfriend.

She stirred her drink nervously, cheeks pink. “Um… thanks for coming with me today.”

“You invited me. Saying no wasn’t an option.” You took a sip of your coffee. “I had five people hovering over me this morning like I was going to skip town.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Remi threatened to follow me. Hori threatened… something worse.”

Sakura’s lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh. “They mean well.”

“That’s one interpretation.” You leaned back in your chair. “So. This is a date.”

She nodded quickly. “Yes! I mean—yes. It’s… nice.”

Awkward silence followed, broken only when a waitress passed by. You glanced at Sakura, who was fidgeting with her straw like it contained the answers to life.

“Relax,” you said. “You look like you’re about to take an exam.”

“I’m just… nervous. I didn’t think you’d actually say yes.”

“Neither did I,” you admitted dryly.

Her laugh burst out before she could stop it, and the tension cracked just a little.

After the café, she dragged you into a bookstore, of all places. You trailed behind while she browsed the shelves with laser focus.

“Do you read these?” she asked, holding up a romance novel.

“Not unless I’m trying to fall asleep.”

She tilted her head. “Then what do you read?”

“Stuff with explosions. Or sarcasm.”

Sakura giggled. “That… actually sounds right for you.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I thought you might secretly read poetry.”

You stared. “What part of me says ‘poetry’?”

She grinned, holding up the book like a shield. “Wishful thinking?”

You sighed. “You’re worse than Yuki.”

By the time you left the bookstore, you’d carried her shopping bag (because of course you did), gotten roped into trying a taiyaki stand, and listened to her ramble about a drama series you’d never heard of.

And weirdly, it wasn’t… terrible.

On the way home, Sakura walked a little closer than before, clutching her bag with both hands. “Thanks. For… all of this.”

“You already said that three times.”

She puffed her cheeks. “I’m trying to be polite!”

“Politeness is saying it once. Repeating it makes it sound like an apology.”

Her laugh slipped out again, softer this time. “You’re really different from what I imagined.”

“Is that good or bad?”

She considered it, then smiled. “Good. Definitely good.”

You shook your head, muttering, “Strange taste you’ve got.”

But you didn’t move away when she matched your pace. And she didn’t stop smiling the whole walk back.

You weren’t sure what this “dating” thing was going to turn into. But for now? You could handle it.

If only to avoid another lecture from Hori.