"Oi, can I ask you two something?"
"Go on."
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Why are we here again?"
When I was brought here, Anastasia and Akane had me blindfolded. When they removed it, I saw we were in a large shopping center.
Anastasia was holding me tightly on my right arm while Akane was holding the other tightly.
"Remember. Christmas was a few days ago."
Akane said.
"Yeah, it's the 29th of December today."
"Remember that it'll be New Year's in 3 days."
"I know that much, Anastasia."
I told her.
"You still haven't answered my question. Why are we here?"
The girls looked at each other and sighed.
"I confessed to you in June and Akane likes you too. I'm sure you knew that."
My face became slightly red as I shook my head vertically.
"We want you to give us an answer at the end of January the 1st."
"Ah, so this is to--"
"You'll base the result of your confession on this double date. We both agreed to this and find it fair."
But a double date? That's tiring. Not to mention the fact that I'll be visiting a shrine on the 1st.
"We'll be having a shopping date!"
Akane shouted, beaming.
People walking past looked at us.
Great, now I feel embarrassed.
"Oi, don't look so down when you hear that it's a shopping date."
"No, no, don't worry. Where to first?"
---
"You're kidding me... Right?"
"Nope. You'll be picking it out for us."
Akane said, grabbing my hood as I tried walking away.
"No way! I can't do this!"
I felt like my mind was going to burst.
I mean, this store, it's...
"No, no, no way! There is no way I can pick your underwear out for you!"
I turned, looking away and escaping Akane's grip.
Woah, saved me. I felt like I was going to overload looking at all of the bras and underwear I saw. The worst part is the intricate designs to make them look sexier.
"Eh, come on, Shou-kun, you can do it."
Akane cheered me on.
"Since when did you start calling me that?"
"Give it up, Akane."
Anastasia pulled Akane away from the underwear store.
"We couldn't fool him this time. He was too smart."
"Yeah, maybe next time."
What're you taking me for? A fool? A monkey? I'm pretty sure I'm a normal and perfectly sane human.
---
"Okay, here."
"This place does seem better."
I told them.
"But isn't this a restaurant?"
I asked them.
"If you pay attention to detail too much, you won't enjoy the big things in life."
Anastasia said, dragging me along.
"Yeah."
We sat down in a space. I was expecting someone to sit on the other side, but both girls sat at a side of me while I was sandwiched in between them.
Seemed like they were having a silent war. Well, them glaring at each other was more than enough confirmation for me.
"Welcome, what would you like to or--oh, my!"
The waitress, a brown-haired girl with eyebags and grey irises, stopped and stared at us in shock. Well, perhaps not at us as a whole but at...
"Anastasia? Akane?"
The purple-haired girl turned her head and smiled.
"Oh, Sumika-senpai. I never knew you worked here."
"Well, it's part-time until school starts again."
She said, her eyes focusing on me.
Seeing as Anastasia is calling her senpai, I'm guessing that she's a senior at Altheria meaning that she's also my senpai.
"Hm?"
Though her pen and notepad are in an unnatural position, they're not shaking at all...
"Who's this?"
The brown-haired girl finally asked.
"He's a boy in my class, Shoya Sasaki. Also, the one I like."
"That's kind of obvious with the way you're hugging his arm."
Sumika-senpai retorted.
"Nice to meet you."
I said, trying not to smile awkwardly.
"Mhm, yeah. Likewise."
Though she answered, her eyes were unusually trained on me.
That was when my whole body felt a chill. It was only for an instant; I acted accordingly. I jumped from my seat and attacked Sumika.
Well, almost attacked. I stopped raising my fist when I saw that she had no intent on moving. She stood before me with a smirk on her face.
I lowered my fist.
"Yoko-senpai, you shouldn't tease Shou-kun like that."
"Shou-kun? So Akane likes you too..."
I heard her mumble under her breath.
"Yeah, yeah, I won't do that again."
She closed one eye and her smirk became larger.
Then, her eyes traveled to my hand.
"That's a nice hand you have there."
Sumika-senpai picked it up and caressed the back of it.
"Nice and strong."
She traced her finger from my wrist to my middle finger and the mana coating over my hand was torn through, gently, revealing my Sigil.
"Mm... I guess looks are deceiving."
I cloaked my hand with mana once more, covering my Sigil, and retracted my hand.
My eyes gaped wide as I stared at her.
This girl is... She's not dangerous. She's even more so.
"Oi, Sumika-senpai, you already know we're aiming for him yet you try and hit on him. Shame on you!"
Anastasia said, blowing a raspberry.
Good, looks like they didn't see.
I sat down back in between the girls.
"Sorry, I just couldn't resist myself. I mean, I understand why you two like him so much."
"Can we have our orders?"
The two girls looked at me, confused, while Sumika-senpai's smile seemed to soften.
"What will it be?"
"Water for me and parfaits for these two. Make it whatever."
"On it."
"Ah, wait, Yoko-senpai, make mine a strawberry parfait!"
As the girl walked away, she waved back as a signal to Akane.
I swear I don't want to be in the presence of that girl any longer.
"Let's leave,"
I said.
"Huh, why? We just ordered."
"I just don't want to be here."
"But this is a date where we pick where to go. Sit down, Shoya, and tell us the truth."
I guess I had a troubled look on my face if Anastasia was able to figure it out quickly. Or maybe, she just had a feeling.
I hesitantly sat down.
"Now, tell us, why do you want to leave?"
"It's... that girl."
I could've easily lied and said I didn't feel like staying but that didn't sit right with me.
"Yoko-senpai? Is it because of that one trick? She was only joking."
Akane said, trying to cheer me up.
"So, you're telling me you guys didn't feel that?"
It was the first time I had felt extremely frightened since reawakening as a Streia.
The first time, the girl did release a short burst of bloodlust but after she saw my Sigil... She began staring at me.
I could tell that she wanted to kill me. She could've. However, she didn't release any bloodlust at all.
That was what frightened me. Even after all of my training with the Emperors and after receiving Signets, I still fall short.
When someone is intently giving the finishing blow or wants to, they release bloodlust. Unconscious or conscious. Doesn't matter.
However, Sumika-senpai didn't release anything. Not even a single pinch. Nothing.
"She was staring at me. I couldn't speak or anything. I felt like I would die at any moment if I did. Her eyes were sending me a message. I didn't think that I would... live..."
Suddenly, Anastasia grabbed my face and stared at me.
"Look at me. I believe you. Sumika-senpai wouldn't dare try to kill you. At least, not with Akane and I at your side. So, confide in us. If she does anything, we'll protect you."
"Y-yeah."
She let go of me.
I know this was acting out of character and I know I'm acting pathetic by accepting their help, but still...
No, what am I talking about?
What's wrong with accepting their help?
If with them, I can overcome this trembling feeling I have in my heart, then everything's fine.