Chapter 4 - A Date That Isn’t a Date
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Task 2: Public Couple Evaluation
Location: Seishun Central Mall
Objective: Simulate a natural weekend date.
Evaluation Criteria: Physical proximity, emotional synchrony, partner awareness, public harmony.
Duration: 4 hours.
I read it twice.
Then once more.
Across the living room, Airi was also staring at her tablet.
“…Public?” she said slowly.
“Yes.”
“In a mall?”
“Yes.”
She looked up at me.
“That means people will see us.”
“That’s usually how public works.”
She threw a cushion at my head.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m not.”
But admittedly, I was curious how she would act.
Saotome Airi, the untouchable school idol, pretending to be affectionate in public.
This would be educational.
—
Seishun Central Mall was crowded even on weekdays.
Couples, families, students.
And now—
One pink-haired celebrity-level girl walking beside me.
The moment we entered, whispers began.
“Is that Saotome?”
“Who’s the guy?”
“That’s her Marriage Practice partner.”
Phones subtly tilted.
Photos probably taken.
Airi stiffened immediately.
“…I hate this.”
“You’re used to attention.”
“Not like this.”
She glanced at me.
“Act natural.”
“I am.”
“That’s the problem!”
Before I could ask what she meant—
Her hand suddenly grabbed my arm.
Firm.
Deliberate.
My body paused.
“…What are you doing?”
“Physical proximity,” she muttered through clenched teeth. “It’s part of the grading.”
“Oh.”
Her hand tightened slightly around my sleeve.
Her fingers were warm.
Soft.
People around us murmured louder.
“Are they holding hands?”
“Is that real?”
Airi leaned slightly closer.
“Put your hand around my waist.”
“…Why?”
“Because that’s what couples do!”
“That seems unnecessary.”
Her eye twitched.
“If you don’t, it’ll look fake!”
“Ah.”
That made sense.
I hesitated for half a second—
Then placed my hand lightly on her waist.
She froze.
Completely.
Her body went rigid.
“…You’re stiff,” I observed.
“S-So are you!”
“That’s because you’re shaking.”
“I am not!”
She absolutely was.
But I didn’t point it out.
We walked like that for several minutes.
Her grip never loosened.
If anything—
It tightened whenever someone stared.
“Relax,” I said quietly.
“I am relaxed.”
“You look like you’re about to enter a battlefield.”
“That’s because I am.”
I glanced at her.
Her face was red.
But she wasn’t pulling away.
Interesting.
—
First evaluation point: Clothing selection.
We were instructed to choose outfits for each other.
Airi crossed her arms.
“You first.”
“For you?”
“Yes.”
I looked at the racks.
Soft pastel cardigan.
White skirt.
Simple.
Cute.
I handed them to her.
She blinked.
“…That’s your choice?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t pick something flashy.”
“You don’t need flashy.”
She stared at me.
“…Why?”
“You’d look good in something calm.”
Silence.
Her ears slowly turned pink.
“You say things so casually.”
“Like what?”
“Nothing!”
She stormed into the changing room.
Ten minutes later—
She stepped out.
The cardigan fit perfectly.
The skirt flowed lightly.
She looked—
Different.
Less idol.
More… approachable.
She avoided my eyes.
“Well?”
“It suits you.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
She waited.
For something else.
I tilted my head.
“…You look comfortable.”
Her fingers tightened around the hem of the cardigan.
“…Idiot.”
“Why?”
“Just shut up.”
Her face was red again.
I still didn’t understand what I did.
—
Second evaluation point: Couple Activity – Arcade Booth.
We had to play a cooperative game.
Airi insisted on something competitive.
We ended up at a shooting game booth.
She was surprisingly good.
Focused.
Determined.
Her competitive side was intense.
When she won a plush prize—
She held it triumphantly.
“See? I’m better.”
“At shooting fake targets, yes.”
She glared.
“Hold this.”
She shoved the plush into my hands.
Then grabbed my arm again.
This time—
Without looking embarrassed.
It was natural.
Too natural.
We walked past a café.
And that’s when I saw them.
Hina.
And Ren.
Sitting by the window.
Laughing.
Hina looked genuinely happy.
Ren was leaning slightly closer.
Listening carefully.
My steps slowed.
Airi noticed immediately.
Her grip on my arm tightened.
“…Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Look at them like that.”
“Like what?”
“You look—”
She stopped.
I didn’t know what expression I had.
Probably neutral.
She turned my face slightly toward her.
“Focus on the task.”
“Oh.”
Right.
This was an evaluation.
Not a comparison.
As we passed the café—
Hina looked up.
Our eyes met.
Her smile faltered.
Then she saw Airi holding my arm.
And my hand lightly resting at her waist again.
Hina’s expression changed.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Ren followed her gaze.
His eyes lingered on us.
Calm.
Unreadable.
Airi lifted her chin slightly.
Almost defiantly.
Her fingers intertwined with mine.
Fully.
Interlocked.
I blinked.
“…Is that necessary?”
“Yes.”
“For scoring?”
“Yes.”
Her hand was trembling slightly.
But she didn’t let go.
Not even when we were out of sight.
—
Inside the mall’s quiet corridor—
She suddenly stopped walking.
“Why did you slow down earlier?”
“When?”
“Near the café.”
“Oh.”
I thought about it.
“Hina looked happy.”
Airi’s jaw tightened.
“And?”
“That’s good.”
She stared at me.
“You’re not jealous?”
“Why would I be?”
She looked like she wanted to scream.
“Because she’s with the guy you’re supposed to compete with!”
“I’m not competing.”
“Yes, you are!”
“For what?”
She opened her mouth.
Then froze.
“…Never mind.”
We stood there for a moment.
Still holding hands.
Her grip slowly loosened.
But she didn’t fully let go.
“…If she falls for him,” Airi asked quietly, “you’d be fine?”
I considered it honestly.
“If she’s happy, that’s enough.”
Her fingers tightened again.
“…You’re stupid.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t see anything.”
“I see plenty.”
“No, you don’t.”
She looked at me.
And this time—
Her expression wasn’t annoyed.
It wasn’t teasing.
It wasn’t competitive.
It was frustrated.
Not at me.
But at something else.
Something she couldn’t name.
—
At the end of the date—
We had one final evaluation moment.
Couple photo submission.
The staff instructed:
“Stand naturally. Look at each other.”
Airi stiffened.
“…Naturally?”
“Yes.”
The camera was ready.
People watching.
Whispers surrounding us.
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
Her pink hair moved slightly in the mall’s air-conditioning breeze.
Her eyes were softer today.
Less sharp.
Less defensive.
“…Don’t stare too long,” she muttered.
“You said look at each other.”
“That doesn’t mean like that!”
“Like what?”
She faltered.
Then—
For the first time since we met—
She smiled gently.
Not idol smile.
Not public smile.
Not competitive smile.
Just small.
Private.
My chest felt… strange.
But I ignored it.
The camera flashed.
—
That night—
Compatibility Score:
67 → 79
Airi stared at the number in disbelief.
“…Seventy-nine.”
“Yes.”
“That’s almost top five.”
“We did well.”
She looked at me slowly.
“…Did you enjoy today?”
“It was efficient.”
She glared.
“I’m serious.”
I thought about it.
“…It wasn’t unpleasant.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
“…I see.”
Then she stood up.
Walked toward the bedroom.
But before closing the door—
She said quietly—
“If you ever slow down because of another girl again…”
“Yes?”
Her eyes met mine.
“I’ll make sure the score drops.”
Then she shut the door.
I stared at it for a moment.
Why would that drop the score?
I didn’t understand.
But one thing was certain.
Something was changing.
And I was the only one who didn’t know what.
—
- Writer
