CH 11

Episode 11: “First Phone Call with Her”

“Oh no, Baron-san! What should I do?! I received an invitation for a phone call from my girlfriend. What should I do?!”

“Calm down, Canyon-kun. If she asked you to contact her, then it’s a completely normal thing. Don’t worry about the game and just make the call. Listen carefully… speak calmly.”

Following Baron-san advice, I remembered that she had indeed mentioned contacting her at night.

For now, I waited a moment, then messaged her saying, “It’s okay, I’ll call you.” Once I saw the message was read, I initiated the call.

With the ringing sound, our phones connected.

“Youshin, sorry for calling at this late hour. I actually wanted to contact you a bit earlier, but I got caught up talking with hatsumi and Ayumi… What were you up to? Playing another game, perhaps?”

“Yeah, I was playing a game. Gaming and working out are pretty much my only hobbies, so…”

I couldn’t tell her that I was actually discussing tomorrow’s plans with Baron while playing the game. I explained honestly about my limited hobbies since I couldn’t come up with any interesting topics to discuss.

However, even though it wasn’t the first time having a phone call, it felt completely different just because it was Nanami-san on the other end.

It made me incredibly nervous, as if Nanami-san was right beside me. Her voice was beautiful, and I couldn’t feel calm as if I wasn’t in my own room.

“Working out, huh? You do have a nice body. Why don’t you join any sports clubs or anything? Well, I’m not in any either, though.”

“I’m not good with sports club types. Nowadays, you can learn how to train your body just by watching videos… I don’t dislike moving my body, so I end up doing only workouts.”

“Haha, I kinda get it. Youshin, you seem reserved, not like the athletic type.”

Her laughter echoed pleasantly in my ears… No, this won’t do. I’m only talking about myself again. I need to ask her more… Let’s see, she mentioned something earlier….

“By the way, what were you talking about with Otofuke-san and Kagone-san?”

“Ah… um… Was I acting strange today? Wasn’t I annoying? Did I bother you? I… it’s my first time dating a guy, so… I asked them to rate me… Among other things…”

Speaking of “weird,” I couldn’t help but answer that it was weird from start to finish. After all, she, who had rejected numerous handsome guys before, held hands with me and walked to school. If that’s not weird, then what is?

As for the other things she mentioned… I wonder if she talked about the punishment game. It’s difficult to know the exact content of the conversation.

However, her voice coming through the phone sounded a bit anxious.

At the very least, mentioning that it was weird here would only make her more anxious… So let’s just tell her the positive aspects.

“For me… It was not only my first time dating a girl, but also my first time holding hands with a girl and receiving a homemade lunchbox. There were many surprising things, but… I was happy about all of them.”

This is a genuine reflection of my feelings. Today, numerous events occurred that topped all the happy moments I had experienced in my high school life up until now.

Previously, it was always about getting my desired character in a mobile game or achieving a high rank… But today, those things pale in comparison. It was a parade of enjoyable moments.

“Really?… You know, Youshin, you seem strangely composed… At school, you’re quiet and unremarkable, but you give off a vibe of being accustomed to girls. Am I really your first girlfriend?”

That was simply because I had received various advice from Baron-san beforehand, and it didn’t mean that I was naturally composed… But it seemed like I appeared composed to her.

“You came to our meeting spot just as punctually as I did. I was prepared to wait for a long time, you know?”

“Well, as I said, I couldn’t sleep, so it was just a coincidence.”

“You noticed immediately when I changed my hairstyle. Was that also a coincidence?”

That was also purely a coincidence… If it weren’t for Baron-san advice, I wouldn’t have noticed, and even if I did, I don’t think I could have said she looked cute.

No, I only managed to say she looked cute because she pressured me to say it…

“It was just a coincidence. In fact, I couldn’t even say you looked cute until you asked me to, right? I’m not accustomed to girls at all. Even now, I’m nervous about talking to a girl.”

“…Did I force you to say I’m cute?”

“Oh, no. I really meant it when I said you were cute… But, um, the thing is, it’s my first time saying that to a girl… At first, I was too embarrassed to say it, right?”

“Ahaha, I see… I see… So, you thought I was cute… Thank you.”

Her adorable voice murmured softly, and it lingered in my ears in an oddly pleasant way.

At that moment, our conversation temporarily halted… Oh no, how should I continue the conversation from here?

…Wait, Baron-san also mentioned that I should ask her about herself. Anything would do… Anything at all…

“Um… I mentioned that my hobbies are gaming and working out, but now I’m curious, what are your hobbies?”

“My hobbies? Hmm… I enjoy reading books, watching movies… eating delicious food, going shopping… They’re pretty ordinary hobbies, I guess?”

Movies! The movies came up. It’s the mission from Baron-san to discuss movies.

I don’t watch movies much, well, I mean, I only watch anime movies or movies based on games or tokusatsu, so I’m not familiar with this, but this could be a starting point to understand her preferences.

( TLN : tokusatsu –Japanese term for live action film or television series that makes heavy use of practical special effects.)

“Movies, huh… I don’t watch movies that much, but what kind of movies do you like, Nanami-san?”

“Me? Well, I like action movies and romance movies… But I’m not a fan of sad stories or horror. I prefer stories with happy endings… Does Youshin like anime movies? Movies featuring characters from your profile picture?”

She caught me.

And I even forgot to change my profile picture… The tone in her voice towards the end sounded a bit teasing, as if mocking me, but I couldn’t sense any ill will.

…I found it strangely appealing to be spoken to in that slightly teasing tone.

“…Yeah, I like them, anime movies. You watch them too, right, Nanami-san?”

“Hmm… You always respond so calmly… I wanted to hear you sound a bit more flustered… Well, I guess I’ll find out eventually.”

Well, it wasn’t a calm response, I just gave up… But it seems like she perceived it as a composed answer.

“Nanami-san, you like movies, right? What movies are currently playing? I’m not very knowledgeable about that… Can you tell me?”

“Well, a little while ago, I was thinking of wanting to see the latest installment of a series based on a comic book… But I’ve been hesitant because it seems like it has explicit romantic scenes… But, yeah, I’m in the mood for a romance movie that’s been getting a lot of attention. Though I’ve been avoiding it because I heard it has quite a few intimate scenes…”

“Then, how about going to see it together this Saturday?”

“Huh…?”

No, “Huh?” is what I wanted to say to myself. What did I just say?

Why am I suddenly asking her out?

Moreover, given the current flow of the conversation, doesn’t it create a despicable image of a guy who wants to watch a movie with explicit romantic scenes with his girlfriend?

Nanami-san fell silent as well… I have to say something!

“Oh, no, that’s not it. I don’t mean I want to watch a movie with explicit scenes with you. You know, you said you’ll continue making bentos for me, right? So, as a token of gratitude, I thought I should at least treat you to a movie. That’s all it is, Nanami-san. Are you listening? Hey, are you listening? Hello?”

All I received in response to my explanation was silence… I’m starting to panic…

It’s only been one day since we started dating, and have I already messed up?

As I start to feel despair… I hear her laughter coming from my phone.

“Hehe… Ahahaha, I finally got to hear Youshin’s flustered voice. Yes, I actually prefer Youshin sounding like that rather than being oddly composed. It’s cute. Don’t worry, I understand… But, just…”

Nanami-san, with a slightly lowered tone, continued her words, sounding apologetic.

“I made a promise to go see that movie with hatsumi and Ayumi on Saturday… I should have called you first… I’m sorry.”

Her voice sounded a bit sad, and I realized that my plan had failed. I see, if she made plans with her female friends to watch the movie, then it can’t be helped. Prioritizing prior commitments is only natural…

…No, Baron-san also mentioned it, didn’t he? That “inviting her” is what’s important.

What good would it do to give up here? If that’s the case, there’s only one action I should take…

“…Sunday.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have free time on Sunday? If so, would you like to go on a movie… I mean, a date to the movie theater with me on Sunday? Of course, as a thank-you for the bentos, I’ll cover all the expenses… I’ll look up movies that you might like, and we can watch them together. Would you be interested?”

In the midst of my momentum and panic, my words unintentionally switched to polite language, and once again, silence filled the air.

…If she rejects this, I’ll probably be quite devastated. Maybe even for three days… No, maybe for a whole week?

Sunday is the final day of the team event in the mobile game I’m playing… It’s the most exciting day of the event.

But I… I would choose Nanami-san over that. I feel sorry for the rest of the team, but…

After a prolonged silence, Nanami’s soft voice came through my phone.

“…A thank-you for the bentos… What is it… A date?”

“Yes, exactly. So, starting from tomorrow, please tell me about the movies you might like.”

“…Then, I’ll have to put more effort into making bentos from tomorrow onwards. I’ll make delicious ones that will make Youshin appreciate them and receive a proper thank-you.”

“In that case…”

“…Yeah… Sunday… Let’s go on a date.”

I suppressed the urge to shout through the phone and replied with a loud, “Yes, let’s.”

Right now, I’m probably wearing the most unsettling smile and expressing my joy with unsettling movements throughout my body. The fact that she doesn’t notice it is a relief.

“…Well, I should go to bed soon… Goodnight, Youshin.”

“Goodnight, Nanami.”

As soon as I ended the call, I opened the chat app with Baron-san and the others. They had written down their predictions about my conversation with her… and I immediately sent a message to Baron-san.

“Baron-san… Talking to girls at night… It’s amazing. I don’t know if I can sleep, I’m so excited.”

“What did you talk about? What… You’re getting along with her, huh? You should get used to talking with girls through her.”

Also, about the movie… Instead of Saturday, we’ll be going together on Sunday. So, I won’t be able to participate in the in-game event on Sunday. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, that’s totally fine… Wait, did you already ask her out to the movie?! I told you to build up to it… Isn’t this progressing too quickly? Are you okay? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

Baron-san… I feel the same way. But I have no regrets.

Interlude : Nanami’s thoughts after being asked out on a date

(A date?! Did Youshin just say “date”?! Seriously?! Are we going on a date?! Why is he coming on so strong?! Wha… What should I do?!)

She appeared quiet at school… But I was overwhelmed by this assertive side of his… But I don’t dislike it.

So, my answer is…

TL notes : ZZzzz….