It was the fifteenth day of the month of Fire, the day after that disastrous conversation with the Goddess of Time. Now, I found myself standing in front of the fountain in the capital.
Yesterday, Kuro suddenly invited me to go out with her, and before I knew it, I was about to tour the streets of the capital with her. Kuro, who seems to have some strange ideas about dating, had been throwing a tantrum, insisting, “If we don’t meet up at a set place, it’s no good!” So, here I am, standing in front of the fountain where I first met Kuro.
The sun had just reached its peak, and after checking my pocket watch, I saw that it was about an hour before noon… about 10 minutes before the time we planned to meet.
It feels a bit odd to be waiting for someone who always shows up when I least expect it, so it’s almost refreshing to be waiting for Kuro this time.
Kuro seemed like she wanted to do the usual “Sorry, did you wait?” and “No, I just got here” exchange, but does she really need to be so elaborate about meeting up like yesterday? As a result, I ended up arriving first and waiting for her.
After a while of watching people pass by, I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me.
[Kaito-kun. Sorry, did you wait?]
[……No, I just got—here?]
[Unnn?]
As we spoke, I turned around to respond with the words Kuro wanted to hear, but my thoughts froze in that instant.
Kuro, who had just appeared, wasn’t wearing the long, sloppy coat that could easily be mistaken for a robe, which she usually dons.
Instead, she wore a short-sleeved lace tunic, white and elegant, paired with brown shorts that complemented her porcelain-like thighs. Her long black coat had been transformed into a sleeveless jacket, its hem reaching just below the knee, perfectly matching the white tunic. Despite her lighter outfit, she still looks somewhat elegant.
…What should I do? She’s absurdly cute. So cute, lolicons would give their thumbs up, and even those who aren’t into lolis might find themselves questioning their stance.
[Kaito-kun?]
[Ah, no… I was just a little surprised to see you dressed so differently.]
[Ah~ I see. What do you think? Does it suit me?]
[Ah, yeah. It looks really good on you.]
[Ehehe, thanks!]
That bashful smile just now is downright unfair. Ah, this isn’t good. I’m starting to feel incredibly nervous.
It might be a bit shameful for a 21-year-old man, but I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone out with a woman. What’s more, those experiences include times I’ve been out with Lunamaria-san and Sieg-san, which basically means my experience in my previous world amounts to zero.
This is the first time I’ve ever been on a date with someone, and no matter how much I tell myself this is just hanging out with Kuro, it would be strange if I wasn’t nervous.
And Kuro is a beautiful girl who seems to like me. No matter how comfortable I am with her, I can’t help but feel my cheeks flush when she gives me that charming smile.
[S-Speaking of which, you’re quite famous, Kuro, so is it really okay for you to walk around the city?]
For now, I’ll try changing the subject. It’s not because I can’t think of anything to say about her clothes or some silly reason like that.
Kuro is the Underworld King, one of the highest authorities in the Demon Realm. Her face was seen during the previous Festival of Heroes, and she’s a very well-known figure… If I were to compare it to my previous world, it would be like having a prime minister or the Emperor walking through the city, which would cause a huge stir… Yet, no one around here seems to be making a fuss. I wonder why?
[Fufufu, I wouldn’t make such a mistake! I’ve properly used Information Concealment and Recognition Inhibition Magic. People would only recognize me if I spoke to them directly, but otherwise, they won’t even know I’m here unless I want them to!]
“Erhem,” Kuro said, puffing out her modest chest. The smug look on her face is annoyingly cute.
[Hmmm, there’s still a lot I don’t understand about Magic, but does that mean the people around here wouldn’t recognize Kuro as the Underworld King?]
[Unnn. Or rather, it’s more like they don’t feel anything unusual when they see me… It’s more like they’d just see me as a regular city girl walking around here.]
[I’m not sure if I should say I understand or not…]
[Ahaha, well, let’s just put that aside and get going!]
As Kuro explained, Recognition Inhibition Magic is, simply put…makes even something as unusual as the Underworld King walking through the city seem completely normal—almost as if it’s just another part of everyday life. Combined with Information Concealment Magic, it apparently ensures that unless she directly speaks to someone, they won’t recognize Kuro as the Underworld King.
Well, it’s hard to fully grasp it theoretically if you think too deeply, so it’s probably best to just accept it as magic that can do something amazing.
[By the way, where are we headed today?]
Incidentally, Kuro is the one escorting me on this date (?).
Normally, it would be my role as the man to escort her, but since I’ve only been in this world for less than two weeks and have only visited the city a few times, it’s a bit difficult for me to take charge.
That’s why Kuro, who frequently visits the Symphonia Kingdom, is the one showing me around the city.
[There are plenty of shops around here, and we can check them out, but it’s almost lunchtime already. There’s a place with a bunch of food stalls just a short walk away, so let’s head there first.]
[Oh, food stalls in this world, huh… That sounds like fun.]
[Yep, yep! The Symphonia Kingdom has an advanced food culture, so there’s a lot of delicious food around here~~]
Seeing the happy smile on Kuro’s face, I couldn’t help but smile myself as I nodded in response.
I’m not sure if it’s because my personality matches Kuro’s innocent and cheerful nature, but I do enjoy being with her—her happiness is contagious, and a smile just comes naturally.
I’m still tired from everything that happened yesterday, so today, I’m going to make the most of this brief moment of rest that Kuro has prepared for me.
[Now then, let’s gooooo~!]
[Eh? Wait, Kuro!?]
[Unnn? What’s the matter?]
With that cheerful declaration, Kuro grabbed my hand, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
[N-No, my hand…]
[Aren’t you supposed to hold hands on dates?]
[T-That might be true, but…]
[Then it’s fine! Come on, let’s go!]
[…Y-Yeah…]
With that casual declaration, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Kuro took my hand and started walking forward.
Wait a second, Kuro-san. Your guard is way too relaxed!!! And your hands are so small and soft… Ah, I’m starting to get nervous again, even though I was starting to calm down… I guess today’s one of those days where I’ll be mentally struggling the entire time…
Dear Mom, Dad—This might seem like an over-the-top cliché, but in any case, this is how it is—my date with Kuro has begun.