He is seldom late - three occasions in a lifetime to be exact.
But Honoka is already waiting, and she surpasses his early arrival with superiority.
Shisui is getting used to Honoka's unusual perception, but that does not mean he is accustomed to every component of her actions.
"Good afternoon," she says.
Her tone is as monotonous as ever, yet her animated features speak otherwise.
"Good afternoon, you are early," Shisui replies.
Within the depths of her jacket pocket, she draws out a long chain connecting a miniature clock.
"Yes, but we have another five minutes to spare before we start our catch up," she says firmly.
Before Shisui can respond to her peculiar statement, Honoka is already pulling out a stack of paper and showing them to him.
"I have spent the previous night and this morning doing some research on village activities and events. I also asked the neighbours if they know of any events occurring between the hours of twelve noon and three. I made sure to eliminate activities that have passed for the day and ones that are not available until after three. Therefore, you can see that there are activities happening between the hours of our catch up."
Honoka is speaking fast. She points wildly at the numerous drawn up events, the time it starts and finishes, and those that started this morning and have leaked into their catch up hours.
"I have concluded these events here may take a little longer. I have also accounted for about thirty minutes of lunch. Ten minutes searching and purchasing food, fifteen minutes eating and five minutes to pack things away. That would leave us with two and a half hours. I have already read on the visitor's guide for some of these events and they said expect to spend at least thirty to forty minutes for them. I have also put down the approximation time…"
"Honoka," Shisui says.
"…if we decide to select this event that goes for forty minutes, we won't be able to see this one as it will take too much time and we won't be able to…"
"Honoka," Shisui repeats, and his tone is slightly louder.
"…but if you prefer to see or do two or three events or activities today and focus on that instead of many activities, then perhaps we can select these ones here…"
"Honoka!"
She stops abruptly mid-sentence.
"Shisui, if you could please refrain from interrupting, and leave all questions until the end, then it would be less confusing," Honoka says disapprovingly.
His deep sigh does not stir her - she continues with the oral disposition as if nothing has happened.
At the conclusion of her speech, Shisui absentmindedly agrees with the proposed schedule. Though Honoka advances beyond what most people would deem normal, Shisui's patience proves remarkably resistant to the bizarre quirk of her personality.
Even the simplicity of visiting a gallery brings forth her unique outlook.
"There are too many artefacts to warrant a forty minute visit. I believe the writer of such recommendations are mistaken," she says contemplatively.
Shisui wonders whether she is truly perusing the gallery or is critiquing the logistics of visit times. He considers both, and it may be the logistics that bothers her, perhaps even overriding her ability to freely observe the artefacts.
And unless things are laid out pragmatically, Honoka struggles with improvisations, 'contingencies' - that is, contingencies that do not exist within the norm.
When they are walking between places, Shisui notices a very specific space between them. Honoka consistently stands an arm's length from him, no matter the situation.
"Honoka, if we don't stay close, we will lose each other in the crowds," Shisui says uncertainly.
"Don't worry I have accounted for that," she answers promptly.
"Huh?"
Honoka glances sceptically at him before speaking.
"We are not on a date," she says simply.
"I know that, but what has that got to do with standing a specific distance from each other?"
"I read that if two people of the opposite gender are walking together, then they may be perceived to be on a date. Therefore I am keeping my distance to prevent any misunderstandings," she explains.
"What kind of archaic book are you reading?" He answers incredulously, "and besides, it isn't always the opposite gender…"
"I retrieved the book from the library."
"Honoka, that isn't how society works. You can stand closer, I think it brings more attention if you are walking in that way."
She pauses in her tracks and Shisui almost hits into the person in front for stopping abruptly.
"Is that so? I do realise the book was published some time ago."
She stares pensively into her own reverie before reluctantly closing the gap between them.
"Is the distance okay now?" She asks.
But Shisui's response is muffled by the sudden sounds of voices. He sees the appearance of three girls followed by marred visions of a very close up visage.
"Fancy seeing you here," Izumi smirks, and she glances suspiciously in Honoka's direction.
"We are on on our fortnightly catch up a day earlier as Shisui has scheduled plans on the day of our supposed catch up," Honoka says brusquely, almost mechanically.
For the briefest of moments, Izumi appears dubious, as if Honoka's sudden well-rehearsed like speech is a mockery of her speculation.
"Shisui, it's good to see you," Nanami says.
Her voice is small and edgy.
"Shisui, she is awkward because we made her wear this dress after updating her wardrobe this morning," Yuki smirks.
His relationship with Yuki extends to only acquaintances, yet she often speaks to him as if they are longtime friends.
On Nanami's end, Yuki's comment leaves a trail of escalating red across her cheeks.
"Nanami, you don't look frumpy in that colour, quit being delicate," Yuki mutters.
"Don't be embarrassed," Shisui says, "It looks great on you."
He expects placidness from the comment, but Nanami's awkwardness transcends mortification, very much to the chagrin of Yuki.
But Nanami suddenly speaks in a quiet, timid voice.
"Thank you."
x
For the last hour of their catch up, Honoka is unusually quiet. Though Shisui attempts to make conversation, he finds her short, blunt answers disconcerting.
Only when they arrive at her residence does she ask an unexpected question.
"Shisui, do you like the colour green?"
Confounded, he does not immediately process the sudden enquiry, nor the underlying accusatory tone beneath her unvaried voice.
"Uh…it's a nice colour I suppose," he answers sceptically.
"I see."
And when he hesitantly leaves and she is waving goodbye to him in the most robotic of manners, he turns and watches curiously as she sinks deeper into her own inner reality.