Under Makina-san’s consideration, it was decided that Alice and I would have a festival date. Since there were going to be fireworks in an hour, it might be a good idea to buy some food while visiting the stalls.

  I’m rather full since I ate quite a bit when the three of us were going around, but Alice can eat as much as she wants, so I think it’s best to go to the food stalls.

  As I had such a thought in mind, Alice, who was walking next to me, quietly called out to me.

  [……U- Ummm…… Kaito-san.]

  [Unnn?]

  [You…… see…… Ummm……]

  [What’s the matter? It seems like you’re having trouble saying something?]

  Now that Alice wasn’t wearing her mask, I could see the changes in her expression more clearly than usual. Even though it was only slightly, I could see Alice’s face turning red, for reasons other than the light of the stalls.

  As Alice seemed more nervous than usual, I tilted my head and asked her what she wanted to say……


  [……Errr…… Y- Your hand. I was just thinking if we could hold hands, or something like that.]

  [Eh?]

  [Y- You see, we’re lovers, and we’re on a date……]

  [I was wondering what you were going to say with that serious look on your face…… I don’t really mind doing that, or rather, I don’t really think that’s something you even need to ask……]

  Looking as if she was about to confess something really serious, she suggested that we hold hands…… I was about to tell her that it’s a little too late to be saying that now, but then, come to think of it, saying something like this certainly was unusual for Alice.

  [Please don’t underestimate me, Kaito-san! I’ll say this now, I’m no inferior to Lilia-san at being “a sh*tty noob when it comes to love”!!!]

  [……No, I don’t think that’s something you should vigorously declare……]

  I was slightly taken aback by Alice’s statement, but I took her hand as she wished. Alice seemed to be surprised for a moment, but not resisting in any way, we ended up holding hands.

  H- Hmmm…… Well, I’m well aware that she isn’t good when it comes to matters about love, but even with that in mind, she really feels a bit tense today……


  [Hey, Alice, can I ask you something?]

  [Eh? What is it?]

  [Doesn’t it seem like you’re really nervous?]

  [Y- Y- Y- You think so? Alice-chan is still the same old pretty Transcendental Beauty, you know!?]

  […………………]

  [……Auuu, n- no, you see…… It was a great opportunity for me, s- so I thought that I might as well be proactive on the occasion……U- Ummm, I also want to do more lover-like things with Kaito-san, you know? I was just too embarrassed that I could bring myself to do it……]

  When I heard Alice’s words with her face as red as a boiled octopus, I immediately understood what she meant. Considering how she was extremely nervous, she was strangely conscious about herself was trying to do various things……


  [……I’m glad you feel that way, but if you’re too conscious and become too awkward, it’s like putting the cart before the horse. There’s no need to act that stiffly……]

  [Ugghhh…… That is, well, you’re right.]

  As if she herself was aware about how nervous she was, Alice nodded her head and taking a deep breath, she relaxed.

  Smiling as I saw her relax, I thought back to Alice’s earlier words. She wanted to do more lover-like things huh…… If Alice thought that way, I’m honestly happy.

  Thereupon, if she’s getting nervous when she brings herself to do it, I guess I should probably take the lead.

  After gathering up these thoughts in my head, I let go of Alice’s hand, and placing them on her shoulder, I held her small body in my embrace.

  [Whyaahhhh!? W- W- W- What are you doing!?]

  [Well, we’re on a date after all, so I thought it would be nice to walk like this once in a while.]

  At a normal festival, there would be so many people that it would be unrealistic to walk while holding her shoulder like this, but since we were in a private space, there was no problem.

  Of course, walking hand in hand is also lover-like too, but since we’re striving to do things differently, I suppose we should do something like this.

  [H- However…… Isn’t this a little too perverted?]

  [No, I’m just holding your shoulder. If you want to talk about perverted, I think that time when……]

  [Please don’t talk about what happened in the bathroom!!!]

  [No, I’m not talking about the bathroom…… But come to think of it, in the first place, the one who came in to wash my back first……]

  [Whoa there, Kaito-san, that’s enough. If you’re not careful about what you say, Alice-chan’s embarrassment might burst through the roof and it would become a disaster, you know!!!?]

  [No, like I said, is that really something you should vigorously declare?]

  [It’s a fact after all…… I mean, my face is blushing completely red now.]

  [Well, your embarrassed face also looks cute.]

  [Unyaaa!? There you are, casually saying such things again…… It’s that part of you, I’m telling you! Seriously, it’s because you’re like that!!!]

  Seeing Alice protesting, her blushing red face even redder than before, I chuckled. Saying all those things, but not even trying to escape from my arm, Alice really is quite cute and lovable.

  **********