I had someone ask if I play dating sim/otome games. I do like them, and I tried to build the basics of how the game works around things I've liked, didn't like, or wished I could do. (Since my favorite series is Rune Factory, an RPG w/ dating sim elements, I was actually worried there would be a bias in that direction!) Once I had the basic outline + what events I needed I focused on the characters and let them drive the story. I really hope the final result has been fun for everyone to read.

At least I didn't give Onoda the problem I always have in dating sims: "I want that one. *points to character who can't be romanced*"

Geography! Assuming they're starting from Chiba city in Chiba prefecture or nearby (it's about the right distance from Akiba, at least) and Imaizumi's aim is to take Onoda to an overall mountainous region, there are several places they could go to that seem to take about the same amount of time via train. I chose a spot in Saitama prefecture because it was closest to being the opposite direction from Hakone. (Tried to pick real routes. There are other potential climbing routes in the area as well.)

Also I love Naruko and I can't decide if he's the best wingman or the worst.

Is it finally fluffy first date time? Yes. Yes it is.

"Do you have any plans this weekend?"

Onoda had been in the middle of a happy daydream. He kept trying to picture different ideas for his date with Manami: sharing a parfait in a cute café, watching a beautiful sunset together, or even walking hand-in-hand around Akiba (that wouldn't happen, but he could dream.)

The first thing he thought of when Naruko brought up weekend plans was inevitably, "I'll get to spend all day Saturday with Manami! Although I still can't ride with him."

"Seriously?"

"I want to. He keeps saying we should ride together, but I can't find a way to actually do it. I mean, I really want to, but that's not how the game works," Onoda tried to explain. Even if they couldn't do that, the thought of getting a special Saturday with Manami made him ridiculously happy.

Naruko gave Imaizumi a look, but when he didn't get a response he pushed on. "So I thought of a better idea for how to spend our Saturday. What if we try to scope out the other teams participating in the Inter-High?"

"Huh?"

Imaizumi interjected and made the plan into something more practical. "It's almost impossible we'll just run into one of the other teams. More importantly, we can choose somewhere to do long-distance training under different conditions."

"Really? How far can we go?" The thought of a Saturday biking with his friends definitely had Onoda excited.

Naruko had stopped giving Imaizumi a look for shooting down his idea and was grinning wide enough to say he knew they had found the perfect thing.

"I'll show you how to bring your bike on the train," Imaizumi promised. "What about Saitama? We could go west and start with climbing Maruyama, or the Mt. Dodaira Observatory Climb."

"Hey, you're planning on making it all mountains!" Naruko protested. "First you act like it was your idea, then you don't even pick a balanced training menu!"

"It was my idea."

"I was the one who mentioned taking Onoda on a training trip this morning."

"I researched potential locations last night."

"I bet you only thought of places to take Onoda! Think you're going to leave me behind?"

Imaizumi was quiet for a beat longer than usual as they gave each other measuring stares. Onoda thought they must be especially annoyed at each other for having the same idea this time, since they didn't usually argue over his head. Perhaps they had both been proud to come up with those weekend plans. That thought gave Onoda a warm feeling, so that he couldn't help smiling.

"No, you need to train at climbing the most. Plus I'd have to put up with you complaining if you were left behind."

"Hey! Why are you talking like you get to pick the location? If you're already going that far, at least pick somewhere like Osaka so Onoda can appreciate the food. Besides, the pickings in Saitama are too slim!"

"That's twice as far, and there are plenty of places to chose from in Saitama," Imaizumi answered.

"Not that." Naruko leaned across Onoda's knees and stage whispered at Imaizumi, much too loud for Onoda to miss, "If you look at sprinters, there's no cute guys in Saitama at all. That's got to go for climbers as well."

"What?" Onoda looked between them in confusion.

Imaizumi did not want to make eye contact with either of them. Naruko looked a little too gleeful. "It can't hurt to look, right?"

"I thought we were training."

"Yeah, but lightning can strike at any time. What if the perfect guy appears right in front of you? In that case, you can trust me to help you stand out! Whoever you want I'll chase them down for you!"

"Please don't chase anyone! Is this because of the game?"

They nodded, Imaizumi with a stoic frown and Naruko with too much enthusiasm.

"It's just a game!" Onoda protested.

"But you told us your type because of that, right? Of course we have to help. I'll help, anyway. Would you believe how many races Hotshot has been in and he can't think of a single person worth mentioning? At least you won't have to worry about his standards."

Onoda held up his hands in panicked protest. "It's okay! You don't need to look."

"What if I just happen to find someone who's, let's see. . ." Naruko braced his fingers on his forehead as if thinking hard. "Let's say he's totally stubborn but somehow patient. He looks after the people he likes and pushes them to do their best, not to mention believes in them to the point where it looks like he's being harsh by not pulling them. He can be kind. Sometimes he's even thoughtful. I'm gonna throw in attractive, too. Like the love interest in one of your favorite anime."

"Is that all you wanted to say?" Imaizumi asked. His voice was low and tight, strangely defensive compared to other disagreements Onoda had heard between them.

"I told you: If you don't say something than I will."

Onoda almost wanted to ask if this was a real person Naruko was talking about, but he was afraid that would be interpreted as interest and Naruko really would try to chase someone for him.

"Please don't worry about it! I'm not really looking for someone. The game is just like reading a manga with different endings to choose from. Really." He should keep telling himself that, because it was starting to feel less and less that way for him.

"This is why I told him we should focus on training, and let you enjoy your game," Imaizumi added, putting up a wall of practicality to help hide Onoda's embarrassment.

"Thank you." Onoda worried about them making such a big deal about it, but they meant well. It still made his head spin to think he had friends who not only liked him, but thought he was good enough that other people should like him too. Imaizumi was such a kind person and Naruko cared so much.

Naruko, however, wasn't quite ready to let it go. "Anyway, if you do find someone you'll know as soon as you ride with them for the first time! Your heart will be pounding like you just sprinted to the limit and you'll never want to see them get away, or fall behind! Right?"

Imaizumi was pointedly refusing to acknowledge this declaration. Onoda didn't feel that he could say it right now, but he had felt that way riding with both of them the first time.

It made him wonder all over again what it would feel like to ride beside Manami. Would they feel a spark like Naruko was describing?

"Can we just train together this weekend? I would really like that," Onoda requested.

Any other time he would have tried to explain that what he liked in a game and what he wanted in real life weren't necessarily the same thing. Onoda didn't want to live out a dating sim. He didn't know what he would do if he found himself in the middle of a harem for real, except maybe collapse under the weight of sheer awkwardness. But then how many times had he caught himself thinking about what he would do if Manami were real? He'd never felt like that before.

Maybe he did need a little time to get his mind off of this game.

Manami dug up a 'mama bike' for their first date. When he appeared to pick Onoda up he looked very pleased with himself.

"Toudou-san helped me find it. If you sit on the back it would be easier than trying to balance on the handlebars."

[ "Thank you!" ]
[ "You don't have to worry about me." ]
[ "What about your road racer?" ]
[ "Can't we just walk?" ]

"What about your road racer?"

Manami had probably found the best solution open to them, but Onoda couldn't help hoping the game would pick up on the fact that there were two bikes available and just let him ride one.

"That's right, compared to a road racer the frame is a lot heavier and you can't change gears. But in fighting games all the best characters secretly train with weighted clothes, don't they?"

"You really did ask me out to help you train!" It was too funny for Onoda to feel disappointed. Besides, even if they weren't calling it a date he was getting a day with Manami!

[ "It is a good idea!" ]
[ "So you asked me out to help you train?" ]
[ "I don't think it works like that." ]

Onoda almost chose to say his words to Manami, but he hesitated. "What if you take it the wrong way," he muttered to himself, and chose the safe option. There was no telling what tone the game would assume he was using.

"It is a good idea!"

"As long as you don't mind helping me, I'm happy. I'm sure it will be fun!"

Onoda put the picnic lunch he had made in the front basket, then climbed on the back. The view changed so he was looking at Manami's back.

"Let me pick one of the training routes you gave me. I've been looking forward to riding this with you."

The time Onoda spent looking at Manami's back made him feel strange. He honestly had the feeling of being shielded from the wind, like the space Manami made for him was the calm eye of the storm. He felt safe.

He felt like he was falling for Manami so hard he didn't know what to do.

They talked a little. The game gave him notes of when Manami seemed to be exerting himself, and let him see that wild smile on his face as he threw himself into the climb in spite of the extra weight. Finally the game gave Onoda an option that made him grin in triumph.

[ "This is so much fun!" ]
[ "Can we stop for a little while?" ]
[ "I want to go home." ]
[ Hang on to him ]

Onoda immediately chose to give Manami a hug. The view shifted then, so his cheek was obviously against Manami's shoulder.

Manami looked back at him. His face showed surprise for just a second. "Sakamichi-kun?" Then he smiled. "That's right, I don't want to lose you!"

Onoda almost didn't want to stop for lunch. Manami chose an overlook a little past one particularly steep peak. He bought some iced tea from the vending machine and escorted Onoda to a small grassy area a safe distance from the road.

The picnic scene was ordinary enough. Manami thanked him for the food and asked if he was having a good time. Onoda couldn't stop smiling with happiness. Even if it was like a hundred date scenes he'd seen before, this was special just because of who was sitting across from him.

"You should have some tea," Manami said, offering the half-empty bottle. "I'd like it if we can share."

Onoda caught the not-so-innocent twist in Manami's smile and the downright mischievous look in his eyes, and felt his cheeks light up like a flame.

Of course he chose to accept the offer. Onoda caught himself swallowing around a dry throat in real life. Indirect kissing was one of his favorite romantic tropes, but especially when it was offered like that. Manami knew exactly what he was implying when he said he wanted to share.

He took another drink after Onoda, looking much too pleased with himself. Onoda made a helpless noise in the back of his throat. It was the closest he could come to sharing a kiss with Manami. It was the closest he had felt to sharing kiss with anybody.

"Usually I don't like long lunch breaks, but let's stay here a while longer. Besides, I got a good workout! You're heavier than I thought!"

[ "What do you mean, heavy!?" ]
[ "You're the one who wanted to train today!" ]
[ "I want to go home." ]
[ "Let's stay here a little longer." ]

Onoda didn't understand why the game gave him so many chances to reject Manami. Maybe to trip him up if he didn't select fast enough. This selection he could make lightning-quick.

"Let's stay here a little longer."

They looked up at the clouds for a while. Manami made mountains out of them and traced roads up the sides (with the game outlining what he was talking about for Onoda's benefit.) Onoda picked out cliche shapes like a fluffy rabbit and a dog. Maybe the was making the wrong choices because Manami met each answer by saying, "Hm, I don't see it. Which cloud was it, again?" or "Maybe from this angle?"

Or maybe he was doing something right, because when Onoda looked over to check if Manami was teasing him he found the other boy wasn't looking at the clouds at all. He was treated to an image of Manami rolled up on one side, head pillowed on his arm as he smiled at Onoda.

"Thank you for coming with me today. Spending time with you is pretty fun. How do you feel? "

[ "I like spending time with you." ]
[ "It's my job to look after you." ]
[ "Well, you are a little troublesome." ]

"I like spending time with you."

Manami's face lit up with the brightest smile. "Why's that? I mean, aren't I a lot of trouble?"

Onoda couldn't help laughing a little to himself. "If you want to be praised I can think of a few compliments for you," he teased.

[ "Because you're cute." ]
[ "Because you're fun to be with." ]
[ "This way I know you're not getting in trouble!" ]
[ "You want me to praise you?" ]

Onoda had thought Manami was cute since he first saw him on the cover. He loved Manami's smile, even when he had done something like skipping class again. Still, he thought of how much he enjoyed the hours he had put into the game and his selection was clear.

"Because you're fun to be with."

"Maybe I asked the wrong question. Oh well. We feel the same, so I'm happy. Although it would be even more fun if we could race together! I hope we can do that soon, don't you?"

[ "Yes!" ]
[ "Not really." ]

"Yes!" Onoda answered out loud as he made his selection. His heart echoed Manami's insistent desire to ride together.

"Then we'll definitely be able to ride together someday! As long as our hearts want the same thing, I'm sure we will."

Onoda's heart was pounding hard in agreement.

Monday after their first date Manami greeted him by saying, "Thank you for going with me the other day. I had a lot of fun! Do you think we can do it again some time?"

When Onoda confirmed that he would like to go out with Manami again he got a happy response, and then the rest of the day proceeded normally. He had hoped for a little more fanfare now that they were dating.

The achievement didn't get buried completely. If Manami didn't want to make a big deal about it, the rest of the team was ready to fill in.

Toudou, for example, was happy to say in front of the entire team, "Manami borrowed an old bike of mine saying he wanted to take you somewhere. It sounds like you finally got that special Saturday you were waiting for. "

[ "Yes, it was wonderful!" ]
[ "I don't know what you're talking about." ]

He just had to bring it up in front of Manami, but Onoda wasn't about to lie. "Yes, it was wonderful!"

Toudou had one hand over his mouth, looking like he might cry happy, dramatic tears. "I'm so glad! I knew you were perfect for each other, of course!"

"No you didn't," Arakita told him.

"As if you knew."

Arakita made a sour face in annoyance. "Shinkai was the one who told us to leave them alone."

"Actually, I remember Izumida saying Manami seemed very happy since meeting our new Manager."

Izumida apparently didn't have anyone to pass the credit to. He held up his hands, flustered. "It was just a comment."

"It doesn't matter who noticed first," Toudou decided, taking back center stage. "What matters is that those two are happy. However, Manami!" Toudou pointed dramatically. "Now it's your duty to take responsibility for stealing our cute Manager!"

Manami only looked excited at this declaration. "Then can I please keep borrowing the mama bike? There's a lot more places I want to go with Sakamichi-kun."

Onoda was glad Manami seemed completely unembarrassed by the scene. His face burned and he could barely sit still from the embarrassment, while Manami kept smiling as if proud of the fact that he had captured Onoda's heart.

Even once they finally were alone Manami didn't give him a break.

"I guess we can't be surprised everyone butted in with the way things have happened. You know, I have been happier since I met you. I'm glad you chose to become our manager. Now that it's come up, I'd like to know your feelings."

[ "I love being the cycling team's manager." ]
[ "It's okay." ]
[ "Why do you ask?" ]

Manami looked so hopeful, Onoda didn't know how he could pick any other option.

"I love being the cycling team's manager."

"Just as a manager, huh?" Manami laughed out loud. "I guess I asked for that. Hm. Would you mind if I stayed with you while you work, Manager?"

[ "I would enjoy your company." ]
[ "I need to concentrate." ]

"I would enjoy your company," Onoda chose happily.

It was a little like doing homework with Manami, only with the frustrating parts removed. Manami interrupted at various moments, asking little questions or making observations about how well Onoda looked after everyone. He seemed perfectly happy just doing that.

It was a small thing, but Onoda enjoyed even the little bit of extra time in Manami's company.

Onoda had to turn down five polite invitations to join the team at the summer festival. He was waiting for Manami to finally say 'do you want to go with me?' but instead he found himself on the day of the festival doing his usual check up on everyone's stats. Alone. No invitation from the person he wanted to go with.

With an explosive sigh Onoda flopped back on his floor. "I did something wrong again. I know it!" And after he had finally reached a point where Manami was interested in dating him. Maybe if he'd gone with the group Manami would have been there, the same way he'd needed to support everyone to win the team race.

There was the sound of someone knocking, and then Manami interrupted him. He was wearing a yukata with a light and dark blue check pattern. Onoda immediately shot up straight again.

"Everyone said you didn't want to come to the festival, but I thought I would ask just in case."

[ "I'd love to go with you." ]
[ "Maybe next time." ]

"I'd love to go with you."

"Great! Let's go!"

Onoda always liked seeing festivals in anime and games. Everything looked so bright and fun, and the crowds weren't overwhelming. He felt shy going alone in real life.

This time he was determined to enjoy himself with Manami. They ran into the other club members briefly. Only Toudou was blunt enough to comment on the fact that Onoda had declined the team trip to go with Manami, and then he added that they looked good together.

Manami took him over to the games. "These look fun. Which prize do you like best?"

[ "The candies." ]
[ "The plush toy." ]
[ "The mask." ]
[ "The goldfish." ]
[ "The yo-yo." ]
[ "I don't like any of these." ]

Onoda considered the question seriously. The mask resembled the hero from the most recent Kamen Rider, but the toy he could see resembled the Mage plushie currently on his bed. (Sheep version. He had a limited edition human Mage figure that stood proudly alongside his Himeno and Arimaru figures, but the plush was so soft and huggable he couldn't resist cuddling it.)

"The plush toy."

Manami rolled up his sleeves and announced, "Okay, I'm going to win you the biggest one!"

He tried the dart game and finished with three points, far short of the forty-five (a perfect bulls-eye with all three darts) needed for the huge plush toy on top of the prize pyramid.

Onoda thought his sheepish smile was a lot cuter than the toy, anyway.

"Oops. Looks like I missed this time."

[ "Will you try again?" ]
[ "That's okay. We can do something else." ]
[ "That's too bad." ]

"That's okay. We can do something else."

"No, I'm not going to give up yet. I'm going to try again!"

The second time Manami got a lucky hit that gave him enough points to win the small plush.

"Not again. I wanted to get you the big one."

[ "Will you try again?" ]
[ "This one is good." ]
[ "I like this one more. It's cute!" ]
[ "I don't really want it." ]

"I like this one more. It's cute!"

Onoda was honestly happier that Manami had somehow won the toy he had seen at the beginning. He reached back, snagged his Mage plush from the foot of his bed, and lay it beside him as if it was the prize Manami had won him.

Manami laughed out loud. "No, you're so much cuter, Sakamichi-kun! What do you want to play next?"

After a moment of consideration, Onoda chose the cork gun gallery. It was a lot easier to aim, and his reflexes were better honed to games than in real life. He managed to knock a box of candy off the shelf on his first try.

[ Eat them ]
[ Give them to Manami ]
[ Save them for later ]

He immediately chose to give them to Manami.

"Thank you!" Manami's sprite changed to have the opened box in his hand. "These are good. You should have one too. Say 'ah.'"

[ "Ah. . ." ]
[ "That's too embarrassing." ]
[ "I don't want any." ]

It was absolutely way too embarrassing for Onoda. But then it wasn't like anyone could judge him, right?

"Ah. . ."

Manami held up one of the candies like he was about to feed it to Onoda, but then he stopped and popped it in his own mouth instead.

"Just kidding!" he teased, but didn't leave Onoda to squirm in embarrassment for too long. "Here, this one is for you." This time the candy disappeared from his outstretched hand.

[ "It's good." ]
[ "That was mean!" ]

"It's good."

"Then we can share them," Manami decided. "What do you want to do next?"

Onoda chose to keep playing the games. They both lost at the ring toss a few times. Onoda managed to hook a colorful balloon yo-yo. Manami broke five paddles trying to catch him what he deemed to be the best goldfish, apparently based on it being the least cooperative.

Even though he knew Manami was fiercely competitive and would never back down in a race, Onoda found he wasn't surprised to see how he laughed even when he lost at the games. Onoda thought that Manami might feel the way he did, that he was simply enjoying being together more than anything.

"It looks like everyone's getting ready for the fireworks," Manami finally said. "I know the perfect spot. Take my hand so we don't get separated."

[ Take his hand ]
[ "That's too embarrassing." ]
[ "Let's go watch them with everyone else." ]
[ "I'd rather go home." ]

Onoda chose to take Manami's hand and let himself be led through an indistinct crowd. After a few screens the crowd thinned out and Manami was leading him uphill in the dark. (He knew he should have expected Manami to go for a high place by now.) When they reached the top of the slope they had a perfect view with the other festival-goers below and the dark canvas of sky above.

The show started with a bright burst of blue and white sparks before moving on to more complex patterns. Onoda's favorite was one he would probably never see in a real fireworks show: the outline of a bicycle.

He glanced over at Manami, hoping to see him smiling at the fireworks, and found Manami was smiling at him instead.

"Sakamichi-kun. . . I. . ."

[ "What is it?" ]
[ "Can we talk after the fireworks?" ]

"What is it?"

Manami clutched his yukata over his heart. "I don't know what to say. My pulse feels so strong every time I'm with you. I feel alive. You're the only one who makes me feel this way. Do you understand?"

[ "I understand." ]
[ "I feel the same." ]
[ "No, not really." ]

Onoda did feel like his own pulse jumped a little. Was this the moment when Manami would confess to him? "I feel the same."

"But I'm having trouble finding the right words. Sakamichi-kun, what is this feeling to you?"

Maybe this was the moment when he would confess to Manami?

[ "I care about you." ]
[ "I enjoy being with you." ]
[ "I think you're cute." ]
[ "Nothing." ]

It was a toss-up between the first two. Both were true, but when he could only pick one Onoda wasn't sure which he wanted.

The look on Manami's face was serious, his eyes soft with an expression of longing. Onoda wondered if he really didn't know or if he just wanted Onoda to say it.

"I enjoy being with you," Onoda guessed.

"I'm glad." Manami's smile as he said the line was obviously forced. His lips pressed too tightly together and the look in his eyes didn't change.

[ "I'm glad too." ]
[ "Maybe we should go back to watching the fireworks." ]
[ "What's wrong?" ]

"What's wrong?"

Manami looked down for his next line. "I thought this might be the right time." When he looked at Onoda again his smile was more natural. "This was my first time coming to the festival with someone! I'm glad we could come together. It was fun."

After that, Manami turned back to the fireworks. Onoda kept looking over at him, watching flashes of colored light across his face, but Manami didn't return any of his glances.

"I'm still missing something," Onoda said to himself. He almost didn't want to see the game end but he wanted so much to know what was happening with Manami. He couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Imaizumi was right. I do need a break to focus on my own training. I keep wishing we were going to Hakone tomorrow, even though I know you're not going to be there," he confessed.

Of course Manami didn't answer.