Yesterday, I successfully invited Meguru-chan out on a date. We’d spoken about it a bit in our secret room and decided on Saturday. And in order to get ready for the big milestone, we’d parted ways a bit earlier than usual. …But even so, would I have enough time?

     “Hmm…”

     And now that the day had finally come, I had to get ready to meet up with her before noon. That being said, all I could do was groan in frustration. I was making absolutely zero progress. I didn’t actually need to come up with a plan for the date for certain reasons, but before any of that, I was having trouble getting over the very first hurdle.

     I was currently in my room, and scattered in front of me was every single piece of clothing in my wardrobe. What in the world was I supposed to wear? I’d been thinking about it since yesterday to no avail. Oh, and just to be clear, this isn’t because I don’t have any fashion sense. It’s crucial to how you present yourself, after all. I’ve studied it extensively and built up quite the wardrobe. On top of that — not to get ahead of myself, but — I’m confident I can pull off any outfit that isn’t unreasonably outlandish.

     That being said… such confidence only applied to when I was trying to be cool. I’d never imagined I’d ever be on a date with a girl that told me she wanted me to “be her female”. What the hell was I supposed to wear when going out with someone like that? My wardrobe might be filled out, but everything I owned was more casual and ranged from boyish to unisex in style, all carefully chosen to accentuate my cool image. But wasn’t there a chance that Meguru-chan wanted to see me in more cutesy, girly attire? God, I was so lost…

     Maybe that’s the look I should be going for after all? I didn’t really have much for that, though… I should have just bought something new…

     “Oh!”

     I’ve got it! There was a shelf separate from my main closet that should still have some clothes from when I was just a cute little kid, from before I had my cool girl awakening!

     “There we go!”

     I went to grab them and spread them out for a good look.

     “Woah! This really brings me back! This must have been back when I was an elementary schooler… I actually used to wear stuff like this, huh?”

     Nostalgic memories began to flood my mind, and I felt myself filling with excitement.

     “There’s pink all over… and whoa, this one’s all frilly! Oh, and these skirts are so cute…”

     I murmured to myself as I looked over all these old clothes. And while doing so, I came to a certain realization. While I’d certainly gotten quite a bit taller, I certainly hadn’t grown much wider. Maybe they still fit me…

     “Just for a little bit. I’m just trying them on.”

     I took off the outfit that I was yet to be satisfied with and motioned to slip my arms into a top I’d worn ages ago. How many times had I found myself standing here in just my underwear by now, I wonder?

     “Huh?!”

     It was then that I noticed a crucial oversight.

     “What do I do about my underwear…”

     But don’t get it twisted. I wasn’t actually thinking about any sort of scenario where Meguru-chan might actually get to see them. It was more of a personal thing. You know? That sort of thing where having sloppily chosen underwear on would bring my mood down. I wasn’t thinking of anything debauched at all. Got that?! I just thought it was cool to be attentive of the details, even the stuff nobody gets to see. And you know… Just in case. Just in case. Like, if Meguru-chan did end up getting to see them, I wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would I? Better safe than sorry, right? It’s just better to be prepared than not. Yep. Okay, now you’re definitely thinking “You’re totally imagining her getting to see you in your underwear after all”, aren’t you? Well—

     …Ahem. All this being said, I usually wore more sporty underwear. It was easy to move in, and it wouldn’t ruin my image if someone happened to catch a glimpse in the locker room. But today, I was on a date with Meguru-chan, of all people. Would that really be suitable for the occasion…?

     “Wait… Is it finally time to bring that out?!”

     I reached all the way into the back of my underwear shelf to pull out the secret thing I’d hidden away as if to seal it off from the world. What now lay in my hands was a set of pristine white fabric embellished with a floral design. It was underwear that served to conceal the most intimate parts of the body, but its daringly scant cutting made it cling to the very edge of each contour on the body.

     Elegance and allure were two qualities that, at first, might seem to be naturally at odds with each other. But when worn by a woman, they more than just coexisted. They thrived, creating a positive feedback loop that multiplied each other’s intensity. This was a devilishly powerful garment that produced such an effect. I’d secretly bought it right after getting into high school, thinking to myself that it was about time for me to own at least one thing like this. It had been my greatest, most difficult trial…

     It wasn’t any typical kid’s underwear or athletic gear — what I’d purchased was a lingerie set for adults! Surely this much is fine, right? Cool women own stuff like this too, don’t they? Sexiness is also a form of coolness, after all. And since I’m already well into high school, it’s just natural for me to have something like this.

     …Well, despite all that big talk, I still hadn’t had the courage to visit the store in person for something like this, so I’d bought it online. And when it’d finally arrived and I’d tried it on with my heart going a million miles an hour, I thought it actually looked quite good on me. But at the same time, seeing myself exude such an unfamiliarly feminine and alluring aura made me so inexplicably embarrassed that I sealed these garments away, never to be worn again. It was, in a sense, the final boss of underwear — and perhaps the day to break its seal had finally come.

     “Well, it’s for a date. Nothing weird about it…”

     And honestly, the fact that I’d kept it safe and sound was proof that I actually liked this pair of underwear a lot. If I didn’t wear it today, then when would I ever? Alright! Don’t get cold feet, Sakoto! Now is the time to be brave!

     “Let’s do this!”

     Step one: strip naked. Step two: put on the underwear while trying my best not to look at myself. Okay, there we go! But this isn’t the end! I have to throw my clothes on before the embarrassment sets in! If I can’t see them, there’s nothing to be ashamed of!

     “Haaah!”

     Letting out a battle cry, I hastily pulled my top over my head and slipped into the closest pair of bottoms. That’s the power of momentum, baby!

     “Alright!”

     Convinced that it was okay to look now, I stepped over to my mirror. And there I stood, wearing a frilly pink top stretched so tight that you could see my navel and a plaid miniskirt hiked up to within a centimeter of my crotch.

     “Oh my god, I look like Mori-sensei on her day off…”

     What was I even doing…? I looked so ridiculous that any excitement I’d had was instantly extinguished. It’d be one thing if this were for a hobby, like how Mori-sensei was into age regression in her free time — but seeing those mature-looking panties peek out from that absurdly short skirt meant for a little girl made me want to jump out the window. What was I thinking to even entertain the idea of going out like this? I must have lost my mind…

     The only time I could ever wear this is when Meguru-chan wanted me to let her spoil me and call her “Mommy.”

     “Wait, stop, what the hell am I thinking?!”

     There’s no right time for these clothes at all! And in the first place, why was the thought of letting her baby me coming so naturally to me?! Oh no, agonizing over my date outfit has made me go insane…

     “Okay, first things first: ditch this ridiculous getup…”

     I hurriedly stripped it all off and picked my best outfit from my everyday wear. Skinny jeans paired with a nice jacket to really make the outfit pop. Add a few accessories on top of that for the perfect balance and the look was complete. Simple, yet carefully coordinated.

     Yeah. In the end, this really was the best choice. Taking advantage of my height, it was an outfit that anybody would think to be handsomely sharp. And when I thought about it rationally, the only difference between Meguru-chan and the other girls was what she wanted in the long run. It was still the case that she initially fell for me because of my cool appearance. I shouldn’t have to worry about her being disappointed in this sort of outfit. I was running short on time now, so I picked out my bag and shoes according to my usual style and headed out. Thankfully, the sky was totally clear today — the perfect weather for a date.

     I grunted to steel my resolve, stepping forward into the world.

     …And also, I’d decided not to change my underwear. Just in case.

     The area where I lived was often described as not quite rural, not quite urban, but rather, somewhere in-between. In other words, it was a place with a wonderful balance to it. I’d grown pretty fond of it. No matter what I was up to, it was a place that didn’t stress me out very much. I took a short train ride over to the busiest district nearby. We had planned to meet right in front of the station. Was she here yet? Oh, there she is.

     I was worried I’d have to search for a while because of her size, but I spotted her almost instantly. It was probably thanks to the aura she was giving off. This was my first time seeing her in casual wear. She sported an outfit grounded in an age-appropriate cuteness. And yet, she herself remained the undisputed star of the look, maintaining a harmony that one could even say produced a particular air of elegance. Despite her height, it was as if the very space around her was glowing. She was just like a model in a magazine. This was what it truly meant to have a sense of style.

     “Hmm. Oh!”

     Her gaze, which had been flitting back and forth, fell right on me — the gaze of someone who seemed to belong to a world distant from my own.

     “Sakoto-senpaaaaaiiii!”

     The moment she spotted me, she came running over with a smile shining as bright as a sunflower. In that moment, the reality that this adorable girl was my girlfriend truly began to sink in, making my heart race. Okay, calm down. In times like these, all I had to do was think about that wilder side of hers that wants me to “be her female” to bring myself back to the ground. Well, that’s what I thought would work, but…

     It was no use. That just made my heart go even faster. …Why the hell wasn’t it working?! O-oh, right! It’s probably because I thought she was crazy when she first confessed, but I’m just starting to understand what she meant to say now! She’s not some raging pervert, nor is she a complete airhead. She’s a cute girl — just one that likes me in a way that nobody else has before!

     “Senpai? Is something wrong?”

     “N-no, not at all! Did I make you wait long?”

     “No, I just got here! Hehehe, oh my gosh! I almost can’t believe we’re really dating!”

     So cute.

     Okay, wait. If the only word I can muster is “cute”, then I’m probably really about to go insane. And we’re not even alone right now. Get it together, Sakoto!

     “You…Your outfit looks great on you.”

     “Really?!”

     That should do it.

     “Yeah, it totally suits you. You’ve got a great fashion sense.”

     “I love fashion so much! You know, mom works in apparel, so I grew up surrounded by clothes. I guess it’s all rubbed off on me.”

     “Really? No wonder you look like a professional model. …Honestly though, considering what you’ve said about ‘being your female’, I was half-expecting you to come wearing something super boyish.”

     “Haha! I have some stuff like that too, but it’s our first date, after all! I had to bring out the big guns!”

     I suddenly began to think about the sight of Meguru-chan in her school uniform. There were some first-years that looked a little sloppy, as if their clothes were wearing them instead of the other way around. But she was nothing like that.

     Maybe it’s simply because she had confidence in her own strengths. And perhaps that perceptiveness was what allowed her to see me as “cute”. Just like that, she was able to bring the contradictory into coexistence… and for some reason, I felt like that made her even cooler than me.

     “You look incredible too, Senpai…”

     “W-what do you mean?”

     “Your outfit really highlights your style much better than your uniform does. I thought a model had come walking through!”

     I was worried that I was the only one feeling impressed, but it seemed like she was in the same boat.

     “Pants just don’t work with most outfits unless you have long legs. Makes me jealous…”

     “I’m glad you like it.”

     It was one of my favorite fits. I was confident it was a hit, and I’d been told as such. But receiving a compliment from my girlfriend was a special kind of joy.

     Stare…

     “…Meguru-chan.”

     “Yes?”

     “You’re giving me kind of a… a naughty look.”

     “Naughty?!”

     “Yeah. Like a wolf that just spotted the perfect prey.”

     “H-hahaha! Of course not! A-anyway, we shouldn’t just stand around and chat. Let’s be on our way! Yep!”

     What in the world had she been thinking?

     “…Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway.”

     I mused.

     “Huh?”

     “N-nothing! Wanna start off with lunch?”

     “Sure! There’s a place I have in mind!”

     This was why even though I’d lost my mind over what to wear this morning, I wasn’t at all worried about the plan for today. Yesterday after school, when I’d tried to talk to her about said plans, she said “leave it to me!” with such a burning intensity in her eyes that I could only do exactly that.

     …Those words were also likely an expression of her desire to take the lead with me. And yet, I made no objections. Even though I was still a bit fuzzy on what shape our relationship ought to take, I now knew what Meguru herself truly wanted. And so, I decided that the best thing for me to do — the best way for me respond to her feelings — was to cast away any preconceived notions about who should be leading whom and just enjoy the date.

     “…Don’t expect anything swanky, though! We’re still just students, after all!”

     “Ahaha, nothing wrong with that! Gotta cut your coat according to your cloth, am I right?”

     Alright, anyone who just thought “that actually sounded pretty smart”, you can raise your hands. It’s okay, I won’t get mad. But I will make you my woman. If nothing else, my looks are as befitting my status — perfectly cool. Meguru-chan is an exception, but any normal person, man or woman, is bound to fall for me instantly. What a problem to have…

     “It’s right over there!”

     I was following behind Meguru-chan, who was a step ahead on my right. …As we walked along, I saw plenty of other couples. It wasn’t the first time I’d walked down this way, but I’d never really noticed. Maybe because I’d always been focused on the shops lined up on our left, or maybe because I was always the one drawing gazes.

     They ranged from middle schoolers to high schoolers to grown adults, and even what appeared to be other same-sex couples. …At the realization that I myself was just one single half of one single pair amidst this ocean of lovers, I couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious.

     Oh, hey. That couple walking in our direction looks like they’re the same age as us. And the girl has her arm looped around the guy’s. …Walking arm in arm, was it? You know, something like that might be common fare for lovers, but when you really think about it, it’s actually pretty bold to be walking around pressed up against each other like that. That being said… For some reason, I was unusually fixated on the sight of those two, only breaking away when we’d passed by each other.

     “You wanna do that?”

     “Wha—?!”

     Surprised by the voice coming from my side, I turned to see Meguru-chan. She was clearly excited, staring at me with a sparkle in her eyes.

     “You totally do! C’mere!”

     “W-wait wait wait!”

     I rushed to put a stop to her. But why was I so flustered? There was no harm in linking arms with her. In fact, I’d probably like it a lot. Or at least, that’s what the old me would have thought. Now I knew better than to just give her the okay without a second thought. Because whatever I was thinking, she probably had the total opposite in mind! In other words…

     “I’m asking just in case, but… who’s supposed to be the one holding on to whom?”

     “You’ll be holding onto me, of course!”

     …Yeah, figures.

     But seriously? Me? For real? I mean, we are a couple, and there’s nothing wrong with a couple walking arm in arm. But there’s a problem with something else — the difference in our height. Take that couple from just earlier, for example. The guy was the taller of the two. But between Meguru-chan and I, it’s obvious who’s taller. So following by example, I’m the one that would fit that “male” role, and likewise, she’d be the one in the “female” role. And despite all that, she — the shorter one — was telling me — the taller one — to cling all over her.

     Absolutely not!

     …Was what I was about to say, until I remembered what I’d already resolved to do. I was supposed to cast away any preconceived notions and just enjoy the date.

     “…Do you want to, Meguru-chan?”

     “Absolutely!”

     Her response was instant. But was this what I wanted? Even with all the pondering I’d done so far, I still didn’t have an answer to that. …So I had to find out for myself.

     “S-shall we?”

     “Wait, really! Yaayy!!”

     “Yep. W-well then, if you’ll excuse me…”

     I reached my hand out toward her arm. But just as I was right about to make contact, an intense sense of anxiety suddenly ran through me, freezing me in place.

     “Senpai?”

     “S-sorry! It’s just… there’s so many people around, and… ahaha…”

     I knew exactly what was causing this. It was the gazes of those around us. The stuff we’d done with each other had all been in private. But right now, we were on a busy main street right by the station. Even at this very moment, tons of people were walking right by us. I knew what Meguru-chan meant by “becoming her female”, but to act like that with her in public… If anybody I knew were to see me, then…

     Oh my god, come on! No! I told myself I’d set aside all my preconceptions, didn’t I?! Had I already forgotten a second time?! Get a grip, Sakoto!

     “Senpai, let’s go this way. Not a detour, promise.”

     “Huh? Oh, sure.”

     We veered off the main road toward a side street. It was surprisingly empty considering the area we were in. About twenty meters ahead was another street that seemed to receive very little foot traffic. In fact, we were the only ones walking that way. I had no clue this place even existed…

     “Nobody’s gonna see if we go this way.”

     “Ah…”

     I understood why she’d led me in this direction. She was right — I could probably manage here. …Once again, I tried to gather my courage. But before I was able to fully steel myself, Meguru-chan once again stepped ahead, turning to face me while extending her hand.

     “Come here.”

     Her gentle voice. That dignified, princely expression that I’d never seen before. As if I was being given a light push forward, I suddenly found myself linking my arm through her outstretched grasp.

     “Hehe, good job!”

     “Y-You don’t need to say that!”

     “Hahaha! Sorry. You’re just so cute.”

     Cute… I’m… I’m cute….

     “Ready to walk?”

     “Y-yeah.”

     We walked side by side, taking it slowly as if acclimating to the situation.

     “G-gah!”

     “Senpai? What’s wrong?”

     “M-my posture…”

     “Oh, is this uncomfortable for you?”

     “No, not exactly, but I just think this might look kinda weird after all…!”

     I’d managed to loop my arm around hers just fine, but the difference in our heights made it so that when we started walking, my body was forced to hunch over toward her.

     This has to look ridiculous.

     …And as that thought washed over my mind, so too did that sense of anxiety. My steps grew unsteady, and I began to glance all around on alert for any stray gazes.

     “Senpai.”

     “WAGH?!”

     While I was busy looking every which way, Meguru-chan gave me a firm tug with the arm that she had linked with mine, pulling me in close.

     “If you’re scared, then you can keep your eyes on me.”

     “…”

     “Okay?”

     “Then…”

     “O-oh?”

     I proceeded to wrap my other arm around hers as well.

     “…I can see better like this.”

     “Hehe. That’s true. You’re so smart, Senpai!”

     “I already said you don’t have to mention that stuff! …Jeez.”

     Now that I was clinging so tightly onto her arm that I was basically hugging it, we began to walk once again. I left the directions entirely to her, simply shuffling my feet along and focusing on the profile that had now filled up my entire field of vision. Her youthful appearance was as adorable as a small animal. Even as I held on for dear life, her arm felt far more slender and frail than mine. And yet…. her unwavering gaze, her ever-confident expression, and the warmth of her body all came together to bring me a sense of safety — one that made me want to trust her with anything and everything. And before I knew it, my once-rattled footsteps had begun to settle along with hers into a pleasant rhythm.

      She’s just so cool.

     “Senpai.”

     “Hm?”

     She suddenly stopped and turned to face me.

     “There’s only five meters left.”

     “Oh, I see…”

     Which meant that this was almost over….

     “Hehe. Wanna stay here?”

     “Wha—?!”

     “I wouldn’t mind if we spent this entire date walking back and forth down this road, you know?”

     “D-don’t tease me like that!”

     “But I’m serious~”

     As she mischievously grinned at me, I gently tugged at her arm to get her to keep moving. …The sound of our footsteps now seemed to carry a certain weight to them. As we reached the final meter, I slowly unwrapped my arms from hers. And as if nothing had ever happened, we emerged back onto the main street and blended into the crowd.

     I felt kinda awkward, like I’d just finished my business at some sketchy establishment. Deep down, I wanted to run away.

     “N-nobody saw, right?”

     I asked in a hushed voice, just to confirm.

     “You’re such a worrywart!”

     Well, it’s not like anything was absolutely certain… but if that’s what Meguru-chan was saying, I’d try my best not to think about it.

     “Huh?”

     Just as I was finally calming down, I was once again taken by surprise. She was now holding my hand.

     “I know people can see us, but you’ll be okay if it’s just this, right?”

     “…”

     I responded by tightening my grip, interlacing my fingers with hers as a lover would.

     “Oh, gosh!”

     She exclaimed.

     “Pfft. What’s that supposed to mean? Not into it?”

     “Of course I am! My heart just fluttered a little, that’s all!”

     “Okay, but when you react like that, hehe…”

     “Don’t laugh at me! …Oh, look! That’s the shop!”

     “Hm? Oh, over there! You know, I’ve passed by this place before! I’m pretty curious about it myself!”

     It seemed that our destination had finally come into view. This had already been quite the experience for me, and on top of that, I was getting hungry. With a change of pace, we happily headed towards the shop.

     …Hm. Had she noticed? Back when she asked me if I wanted to stay there, I never actually said no. …Honestly, she probably had. …Jeez. She had a keen sense for all the wrong things — especially when it came to being unfair. …Actually, maybe it was more like she was good at sniffing out tasty treats. I mean, with how dog-like she was, it wasn’t exactly a stretch…

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