"Mmmmm…" Chiaki quietly whined to herself as she stood outside the restaurant waiting for Kazuichi. Not only were three adults watching her, two men and one woman, but a little kid was watching her with such innocent interest that she felt incredibly ashamed. The woman, who seemed to be the kid's mother, glared at her so harshly didn't help, either.

Of course, Kazuichi was late. Chiaki shouldn't have expected anything different, and now she was standing all alone, being judged. She even had to explain to someone the nudity program at one point, to which they didn't believe her, and complained to the front desk. Thankfully, the manager had seen the news report about it, so she didn't have the police called on her, but it was still a frustrating experience.

Thankfully, as she held her arms tightly over herself, she was eventually relieved of the kid's impressive staring as he and his mother went inside. She sighed as she checked the clock on the wall of the restaurant through the window. It was ten minutes past the meeting time, and Chiaki was considering just leaving, especially given how the two remaining patrons were just staring at her, ogling her like she were a piece of meat. Thankfully, neither of them approached her, but it still made her tighten her grip even more.

Finally, two more minutes passed and the two men went inside, only for another person to begin walking up. Their look of shock at seeing Chiaki was enough to make her turn and prepare to leave by itself.

"CHIAKI!"

A voice calling out to her made her turn back and she saw Kazuichi sprinting towards her, and stopping to catch his breath in front of her. She was startled not by his shouting, but by his outfit. His hat was gone, and his usually wild purple hair was actually nicely brushed and combed back. His jumpsuit was replaced with a black and white suit, perhaps a little too formal, but it still made Chiaki pause and gape a bit.

"I am…so, so sorry. I was working on an assignment for once, and I lost track of time, and then it took me longer to get ready than I expected, and I'm sorry," he said, and he almost looked ready to bow for her forgiveness. Her anger ebbed, and she sighed.

"I only forgive you because it's clear you did spend time making yourself look nice," Chiaki finally said, watching as the guy who went inside snapped a picture of her from behind. "C-Can we go inside now, so I can sit down and people can stop seeing my…um…"

"Butt?" he finished, and then winced. "Ah, probably shouldn't say that on a date, huh?" Chiaki nodded but gave him a small smile as she gestured for him to enter the restaurant, which he did and she followed.

They had to wait for a while for a table to open up, and neither of them really seemed to know what to do at that time. Kazuichi kept trying to start small talk.

"Weather's nice, isn't it?"

"I would hope so, given my lack of clothes."

"How was school?"

"People kept staring at me, as usual. No one tried to touch me this time, at least."

"What's your cup size?"

"What?"

"Nothing."

Eventually, they got a table, and as they walked up to the front, Kazuichi made a request that surprised Chiaki. "A booth as out of the way as possible, please." The man at the desk nodded, giving Chiaki a once-over, even though he'd already been staring while they were waiting before he left. Chiaki gave Kazuichi a confused look and he turned to her. "I figured you'd want that to keep people from looking as much as possible," he said, and Chiaki nodded. She'd noticed that, just like before, he hadn't been looking at her, and given that she could tell he wanted to, she felt happy he was still trying to be polite.

Eventually, they were able to get to their booth, and the two sat down. Chiaki ordered water, while Kazuichi got a cola. The waitress looked down at Chiaki and her cleavage before leaving. She sighed as she slumped in her seat. She then looked up to see Kazuichi scanning their surroundings, where almost everyone in Chiaki's surroundings were either glancing or outright staring. Even the woman from before was glaring at her again, somehow even more menacingly. Thankfully the kid seemed to be distracted by a coloring page, but if he looked at her again…

"How are you holding up?" Kazuichi suddenly asked. She sighed.

"Not well, to be honest. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but…" He frowned.

"It's still that bad?"

"At school, it's dying down, people are beginning to get used to it, but outside, like here…" She bit her lip, "it's still terrible. People look, they point, they take pictures, some even flirt with me." Chiaki frowned. "But no matter who it is or what they're doing, I feel embarrassed the entire time. It's almost constant. Being in my room is the only time I can relax."

"I'm…I'm sorry you have to deal with that." Chiaki gave a nod of affirmation.

"I just wish I could show myself without worrying so much about people looking, or taking pictures. I know it probably doesn't make much of a difference, and I'll probably have to show myself sooner or later but doing it is just…difficult," she continued, and he seemed to give it some thought as their drinks were brought by, and Chiaki turned away from the waitress as Kazuichi told her they weren't ready yet. She left, and Chiaki drooped. "Maybe I should just get over it and do it, but…"

"It's hard," he finished, and she nodded.

"Like…I know my future is probably safe because the fact I get pardoned by law for doing it makes me certain that any future employer would see that it was mandated and not judge me, but…" She laughed, "I mean, I guess I'm not sure what I even want to do yet. Not like you, I'm sure." Kazuichi laughed.

"Yeah, I guess I'm lucky, huh? It feels like half of our classmates know exactly what they're gonna do and the other half have absolutely no idea," Kazuichi said, and he beamed when Chiaki let out a small laugh.

As the nearby table set behind them was cleared out, a new pairing quickly took their place, and immediately began to listen in on their conversation.

"How's it going?" Hiyoko asked.

"They're talking about careers I think," Mahiru answered.

"So you don't have any idea at all?" Kazuichi asked.

"I mean I've debated being a streamer but I don't know if that's what I really want to do," she admitted, and Kazuichi looked dumbstruck. "What?"

"That's literally the perfect career! Not only are you the Ultimate Gamer, which will attract attention on its own, but the fact that you're insanely pretty will also help you get donations, I'm sure!" Chiaki blushed.

"He just called her insanely pretty," Mahiru said, and Hiyoko rolled her eyes.

"Did he say it in a jerky way?"

"No, actually pretty casually," Hiyoko growled.

"Alright, scoot over, I wanna hear!" Hiyoko said as she got up and managed to avoid being seen as she moved next to Mahiru, thanks to the large wooden wall between the backs of the two seats.

"Y-You think I'm pretty?" Chiaki asked.

"Of course! That's part of the reason I asked you out, after all. Any guy or girl would be lucky to have you as their girlfriend.

For some reason, that statement made Mahiru frown.

"W-Well, thank you but…I don't think I'm anything special…" Chiaki started, but Kazuichi shook his head.

"You can't talk yourself down like that! You have to be confident and value yourself more! Even if you don't actually have self-confidence, you know what they say, fake it until you make it!" he proclaimed, loudly enough that other people around them glared at him now.

"Is that why you kept going after Sonia even after she rejected you?" Chiaki asked with a small grin, and Hiyoko smirked as the boy seemed to deflate.

"N-No! I just…thought she was my dream girl," he said while rubbing his neck. The waitress came by again and the two finally took their orders, though when Chiaki was saying hers, she could see the girl very clearly staring at her chest. Now red-faced again, the two watched her leave with their menus. "I think she's into you," Kazuichi said with a smirk.

"Oh, hush!" Chiaki said and cleared her throat. "So…Sonia wasn't your dream girl?" He frowned.

"I think…she still might be, but it's clear now that…she doesn't want me," he said. "She wants Gundham, and…being real with myself…I knew I needed to find someone else."

"So you chose me?"

"Not because you were just there if that's what you're implying," he said. "You're…beautiful." Chiaki blushed again. "But…you're also smart. You're not just some dumb pretty girl, you're intelligent, cool, and a gamer, which makes you like ten times more awesome on its own." Chiaki's smile grew.

"G-Go on…" she said, and he blinked.

"Okay…well…you're also incredibly brave." She raised an eyebrow at that, so he continued. "Like…even if you are forced to do it, the fact you're walking around naked like this is…unthinkable for most people, including me." He smiled. "It's almost awe-inspiring."

"Th-Thank you…" she said with yet another blush.

"Wow…I didn't know he was actually capable of something so…nice," Mahiru said, looking as if her entire worldview had been changed. Kazuichi was…actually a decent guy?

"I think he's just buttering her up," Hiyoko said.

"Have I proven that you're great yet?" he asked, and she dramatically thought it over, before shaking her head. He gave a sigh of exasperation but she just smiled at him.

"Maybe one day I can think of myself like that, but right now…I can't help but see myself as…as…"

"Vulnerable?" he asked.

"Yeah. Vulnerable." Chiaki agreed.

"Makes sense, considering…" he trailed off as their food was finally delivered, and the two thanked the girl, but as Kazuichi began to eat, Chiaki stared down at her meal. The boy didn't notice at first but once he had, he paused. "What is it?"

"I didn't think about it…" she replied, "that I can't…" Kazuichi still seemed confused for a few moments before he went wide-eyed in understanding. Chiaki was about to resign herself to going hungry today before Kazuichi suddenly slid himself next to her, startling her. "Wh-What're you-?"

"I'll cover you so you can eat," he answered as he resumed eating his own meal. He seemed to be leaning forward as well, to cover as much of her as he could. Thankfully only a few people were still glancing over at her, but even so, the possibility of being seen by people was scary. So the idea that Kazuichi would move himself like this to block her…

"He…he's trying to cover her up, too?" Mahiru asked quietly. She blinked a few times as she processed that. It was such a simple act, sure, but coming from someone like Kazuichi…it felt…strangely nice. She knew he wasn't a bad guy, but he wasn't usually one to do things like that, things so…purely nice. Unless-

"Don't worry, I won't look. Or at least, I won't try to. I-If I glance-"

"I know, I won't hold it against you," Chiaki said, and then quietly added, "Thank you." And with that, she finally lowered her arms from her chest.

Mahiru sat back in surprise and contemplation. He was really trying to be respectful? It was just so…weird. In reality, it should've been a good thing, and it was, but it also bothered Mahiru in a way she couldn't describe. The way he was treating Chiaki so nicely and respectfully, it was like…it was like…

Like she was almost jealous.

Of course, Kazuichi was unable to stop himself from glancing at the girl's chest and even choked at the sight. Her cute pink nipples topped those mounds, which bobbed and swayed as she nervously picked up her silverware and avoided his gaze as she began to eat. He shook his head and looked away, instead to see if anyone was watching. Some had noticed Chiaki had lowered her arms and were now trying to crane their necks around the Ultimate Mechanic to see her. He leaned further forward and, since he was mostly done with his food, he sped up his eating pace.

Chiaki, meanwhile, was nearly moaning at the delicious taste of the steak she was eating. Kazuichi was paying, and he had assured her over text to get whatever she wanted. It was delicious, some of the best steak she'd ever had. Though, considering her usual meals were microwave ones that she barely had to do anything for, this was sending her tongue on a dance of pure flavor.

Once Kazuichi was done, he turned his body towards her so suddenly that she jumped. At first, his eyes once again shot to her chest, and he felt something stir in his pants before he cleared his throat and looked away. "S-Sorry if I startled you, I just figured this would be a better way to keep you covered up."

"R-Right," she said and nodded. He even held his arms out to block as much of her as he could while she continued to eat, the smile returning to her face from the taste.

"What's your verdict?" Hiyoko asked Mahiru, who nearly screamed from how much she'd been startled.

"H-Huh?!"

"On Kazuichi? He's got some merit, I'll give him that, especially if he is actually looking away from her," Hiyoko said, "but I still think he's just being nice so he can get her in bed."

"Wh-What?!" Mahiru cried, almost too loudly.

"What, you think differently?" Hiyoko asked with narrowed eyes. Mahiru closed her eyes and thought it over. If Kazuichi was going through all this effort to be nice…was it really just to get in bed with her? For one, she could see Kazuichi doing something like that but yet…she didn't. He didn't seem like he would actually think so far ahead, or be willing to be patient enough for that. He'd try to go for it right away if that's what he wanted, not try and slowly work towards it. Maybe…he really did just want a relationship, to try and move on from Sonia. Maybe he really did just want love.

Maybe.

"I think we can give him a chance if Chiaki does." Mahiru finally said. Hiyoko gave her a shocked look, and then just rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything more. Mahiru once again laid back and thought about her own feelings, and what she was going to do with them if Chiaki said yes.

Eventually, Chiaki finished and once again had her arms around her chest as the waitress came by with their bill. She gave Chiaki one last interested look before she finally left, and the two got out of their seats. One of Chiaki's hands obviously shot between her legs as the two made their way out the door. They didn't notice Mahiru and Hiyoko following shortly after, though their waiter did, who was understandably annoyed they hadn't ordered anything at all.

Kazuichi quickly paid as Chiaki tried not to pay attention to people behind them staring at her ass and, of course, taking more pictures. The gamer was pretty sure that after this whole ordeal, she'd never want to see a camera again. Regardless, Kazuichi finished, and the two walked outside, followed by their two stalkers.

Standing outside, they both looked up to find stars beginning to twinkle above. Kazuichi sighed, and the two found themselves looking at one another. "Did you have a good time?"

"I did, actually. The food was delicious, and the company was…nice," Chiaki answered, and Kazuichi stared at her. She stared back. The two just stared for a while, for so long that Mahiru began to think they'd somehow petrified.

"K-Kazuichi…" Chiaki said, though it was quiet, and her eyes went wide as the boy suddenly leaned in, his lips parting and his eyes closing…only to shoot back open as she put a finger to his lips. He gave her a questioning look, and she frowned. "Look…I…I had a good time. And you said some really nice things, and did nice things for me, but…I don't know if this is…what I want. Right now."

"I-"

"I-I'd be open to another date sometime, maybe to try something else, try again, but…right now I'm not…feeling it." Her throat bobbed. The words were hard, made harder by the look of sadness etched across his face. Yet despite that, he nodded in understanding. Mahiru was once again shocked.

Not only had she said no, which surprised, yet relieved the girl for reasons she didn't want to think about, but Kazuichi seemed to be taking it surprisingly well.

"Another date then, sometime," he said with another nod. Chiaki gave him a small smile and nodded back. The two turned and Kazuichi escorted the girl home as their two stalkers watched, and finally emerged. Hiyoko looked surprised.

"Huh…that was…surprisingly nice? I was expecting so much worse, even with a rejection," she said, and turned to Mahiru, only to find her staring almost longingly in the two's direction, though Hiyoko couldn't tell which of the two specifically she was looking at.

"Huh," was all the girl gave as she felt a strange twisting in her chest, one that made her place a hand upon it as she thought about what it could mean.

And she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

Hajime sighed as he sat alone on the bench, absentmindedly playing a video game Chiaki recommended, and doing…honestly, pretty badly at it. Still, despite the fact he was having a hard time with it, it was oddly fun and seemed right up his alley.

Though it also made him sad as the game only made him think of Chiaki, and how the girl was currently on a date, something that bothered him more than it should've. He couldn't explain why, however. He knew it wasn't his business, but even so…he wanted to text her.

He'd held back from doing so, not wanting to bother her, but the more he sat there, thinking about it, the more he wanted to. The harder it became to stop from looking at his phone, sitting next to him.

Thankfully, or maybe not, a distraction arrived and plopped itself down next to him.

"Really? Playing video games by yourself here? I've never heard of someone doing something more lame," Natsumi said as she whipped her hair back and smirked. Hajime simply rolled his eyes and continued playing, to which she frowned, then smiled again. "So, where's your nudist girlfriend? Did she get tired of you because you didn't have a talent to satisfy her?" Hajime paused the game, and her smile grew wider, knowing she'd hit something. Though, she was surprised by the words that came out of his mouth.

"Who cares about talent?"

"H-Huh?" Natsumi asked, and he turned to face her. There was something in his eyes that made her eyes widen in surprise. "What do you mean? Talent is-"

"Something the school uses to make us feel worthless in comparison to them," Hajime finished and took a deep breath as he once again looked down at his game. "Chiaki has…shown me something."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Natsumi asked though she was still a little put off by his statement, even if it was clearly wrong.

"You don't need talent to be special. Chiaki is…she's the Ultimate Gamer, and on top of that, she's taken on this terrible thing that she's accepted so bravely," Hajime started. "She's found interest in me, who doesn't have a talent and always wanted one, and…she thinks I'm just as special as she is."

"Please-" Natsumi scoffed, but Hajime continued.

"She believes in me, and I believe in her. She thinks I can do amazing things, and I trust her judgment." He looked down at the video game she'd recommended, how she'd made the right choice for him. "Even if…I have a hard time believing her words sometimes, I'm still going to try because that's what she wants me to do. Because talent…isn't everything." He finished, and there was silence for several moments. He didn't look at Natsumi, but eventually heard her exhale through her nose.

"That's really dumb."

He turned to her and frowned. "Fine. Don't listen. Keep obsessing over your own lack of talent." Her nostrils flared. "But with everything that she's been going through, I'm going to stand by her and do my best to support her. Not only is that the right thing to do, but I know if I stand by her and talk to her more…I know one day I'll be able to believe her words with no hesitation, and that is a day that I want to strive for."

"You talk too much for a decent-looking face," she said, and even though his cheeks flushed a bit, he stood up, and frowned at her again.

"Whatever," he said, and began to walk off. Annoyed, Natsuki stood.

"Hey!" At first, he ignored her. She snarled and repeated, "HEY!" Finally, he turned to her, and she glared. "I don't give a fuck what you're talking about. Talent IS everything, and I'm going to earn a talent! Then I'm going to leave this stupid reserve course and stand by my brother like I was always meant to! Then I'll laugh in your face, laugh for this stupid petty speech you decided to tell yourself to make yourself feel better." She smirked again. "And when Chiaki abandons you for someone better, you'll see how I was right all along, and, if you come crawling, maybe I'll even consider you for my right hand. How's that?" Hajime simply stared at her for a while before turning and resuming his leave. She snarled and stomped her foot. "FINE! LEAVE! Like I care!" He didn't give an answer and she sighed as she sat down in a huff.

Talent not meaning anything? Sure. He could tell himself that all he wanted, but she was sure. Sure that once she had the talent she wanted, she would be accepted with open arms, and then she'd really be able to begin living the life she wanted alongside her brother.

Talent did matter. He was just saying that because he wanted to fuck the girl. Somehow, he preferred the game-obsessed loser to her, someone who could bring him riches and infamy galore, given time. Once he came crawling back, which he would, she'd consider letting him join her. She did mean it when she said he was good-looking.

Talent did matter.

No matter what anybody says.