Emperor Social Link (Lover's Route) Spending Time No. 2
AN: Welcome back minna-san~! Finally, another date scene! I did this a little fast, because I wanted to write the next one which will be the most shocking chapter yet! (Or rather, the most expected chapter yet… -_-)
Disclaimer: I do not own this, ATLUS does.
Please enjoy the story!
~Noelle Strife
Chapter Ten
Sunday, a glorious day for all high school students and people alike. For Minako, she was in her room lying on her bed, watching Tanaka's show while eating some sandwiches Fuuka made for her. They are nutella creamed sandwiches with the crusts off, accompanied by a warm cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on the top. Fuuka has definitely improved since Shinjiro's private cooking lessons.
The brunette put down her mug and a sorrowful look crossed her face deliberately. Shinjiro…October 5th…It was all too much for them to handle, even for her and for Ken. The poor kid looked as if he was in a trauma or something. Minako would only hope for his speedy recovery.
Just as she reverted her attention back to the show, her phone began chime. She picked it up and flipped it open, "Hello?" She munched some sandwiches when she blushed at the discipline commissioner's voice.
"Oh, um, good morning, Minako. This is Hidetoshi…"
"Hi Hidetoshi-kun! What's up?" She asked sweetly, sipping hot chocolate.
"I was wondering if you would spend the day with me today…s-so…er…" The girl giggled at his stuttering.
"Of course..! Where to?" Minako said as she began putting on her day clothes. The caller seemed to have mouthed a yes from behind the line.
"Really?! That's great..! I'll see you at Paulownia Mall!" His voice is giddy with happiness as the girl continued to giggle at how cute he is.
Daytime
Hidetoshi shyly ordered some coffee while the brunette ordered tea. The two chatted amiably whilst the boy kept on staring at her.
"Thanks for coming today, Minako-kun. There's nothing much to do without school." Hidetoshi shrugged while cutting a fruitcake in half, giving the first slice to Minako, who smiled at him in return. "What do you do to spend your afternoons, other than hanging out with your friends, of course..?" He added lightly just as the girl politely sipped her tea.
"Mostly, I do part time work, or eat lunch at the restaurants here. But most of the times I just sit on the balcony porch of the strip mall and stare at the sunset all day!" She said cheerfully, happily lifting up the boy's spirits. Hidetoshi only smiled at her, wanting to spend this time with her all day…
"That does seem to be a good spot to watch the sky though…" He pondered to himself, nursing his already empty coffee mug. The brunette tilted her head to one side as she gazed at him with her reddish eyes.
"…Do you want to watch the sunset with me, Hidetoshi-kun?"
"Huh? O-oh! Yes, of course I do!" The discipline commissioner blushed red as Minako giggled at him. Leaving the bill on the table, the girl rounded up to him and grasped his hand with hers. Ignoring the scarlet tinge now spreading throughout his body, Hidetoshi complied with her and gently tightened the hold of her hand to his. It felt so warm and so nice to be around her… He wanted to confess to her badly, but he was afraid of what she might say.
She'll probably look so disgusted at me that she won't be able to talk to me anymore… He thought to himself as they walked to the strip mall, still hand in hand. There are some students he recognized along the way; there's Iori and Tomochika, going to Wuck while talking about women, Iwasaki and Nishiwaki by the Takoyaki stand, making their own eating contest, and there is a portly young student he realized as the Gourmet King (although he forgot his name) who just came outside of the Beef Bowls restaurant looking fatter yet happier than usual.
They passed by the Vice President's group from Bookworms, who glared at him from the corner of their eyes. Minako seemed to have noticed this when she gripped onto his arm this time and leaned closer to him. Hidetoshi, meanwhile, looked at her incredulously and whispered, "What are you doing?!" The girl didn't answer, but she gazed at him warmly.
"It's alright… As long as you're with me, nothing bad would happen to you." They climbed the spiral staircase as Minako eventually let him go and then sat by the railings, tugging the clef of his pants sleeve, "Ne, Hidetoshi-kun, the sun's about to set now! Sit down..!" She beamed at him as the boy sat beside her and was awed by the view from their spot. He could see the houses of Iwatodai, and Naganaki Shrine at the distance. There, at the hill's peek, the sun looked absolutely beautiful. It bathed the houses with its reddish glow, and is starting to sink into the night sky.
He then turned his head to look at the brunette. In the setting sun's rays, she looked dazzling and as if she's on fire. How he badly wanted to stroke her cheek and speak loving words at her, have her snuggle up into his arms and say those three words. He thought to himself that this may be the right time to say this.
"Minako-kun..?" He spoke in a low voice that only she can hear. She turned her head at him to inquire as he gulped nervously…
"Yes, Hidetoshi-kun?" Now or never…
"I…I…I l-lo…"
He opened his mouth to speak, but he can't form the words. Shit…
"Thank you for spending the time with me today..!" Dammnit! He blurted loudly as several people stared at him. The girl blinked twice until she regained her natural smile and that twinkle in her eyes. "You're welcome, Hidetoshi-kun. You're my friend after all." How he wanted to die right now or let the earth suck him up. He can't believe what he just heard.
He was freaking friendzoned!
AN: Don't worry girls! (And boys) this is not yet the end of the century nor the end of the world for Hide-chan! I promise you that there is a good cause for this! :3
Please Review to see the next chapter~!
Thank you for reading 'The Fool In the Kingdom of The Emperor'
~Noelle Strife