This was Sui's first official date with a girl.
Normally, the tsundere Erina was too busy with work, leaving little time for outings. And though Sui sometimes went shopping with Tohru, Kanna was usually with them, making it more of a family outing than a date.
Now, after losing sight of Miyoko, Alice cheerfully clung to Sui's arm, behaving intimately. At school, she seldom got a chance to be so close to him without attracting attention.
Alice was stunning—her milky white skin and silver hair, paired with her youthful school uniform, made her stand out wherever she went. As they walked down the street, many men cast envious glances at Sui, jealous of his beautiful girlfriend.
"Hmmm~ la la la~" Alice hummed happily, still clutching Sui's arm. She was clearly in high spirits.
"Hey, Alice, is this your first time going on a date with a boy?" Sui asked with a curious smile.
"Yeah, why?" Alice responded casually.
At first, walking so openly beside Sui and leaning into him made her a bit shy, especially under the gaze of passersby. But her nervousness quickly faded, replaced by the joy and sweetness of their first date.
"Well, I remember you once teased Erina about not having any romantic experience," Sui said, somewhat amused.
Alice immediately blushed but quickly turned the tables, asking, "By the way, have you and Erina ever gone on a date like this?"
"No," Sui shook his head. "She's always so busy. We mostly just see each other at night."
Alice's eyes lit up. "So... I'm the first person you've gone on a date with?"
Sui nodded.
Her face brightened with triumph. "Then I've beaten Erina again!"
Sui could only sigh inwardly. Alice always seemed eager to compete with her cousin Erina over everything.
Just then, Sui noticed a vendor selling candied fruits on the side of the road. "Alice, want to try some?"
"Sure," Alice smiled.
Sui bought two skewers of candied fruits. Alice took a bite and immediately winced, her face scrunching up. "It's so sour!"
"Not bad," Sui replied, though he didn't particularly enjoy sour things either.
"Really? Let me taste yours," Alice said, intrigued.
Sui handed her his skewer. When Alice leaned in to take a bite, she realized this would be an indirect kiss, and her face turned pink. Despite her embarrassment, she shyly bit into the candied haw.
Moments later, her expression turned bitter. "It's still sour!" she complained, patting Sui's shoulder with a pout.
Sui chuckled softly. "I never said mine wasn't sour."
As they continued strolling and eating, Sui noticed a small bit of brown sugar on Alice's lips, standing out against her snow-white skin. "Alice, you've got some sugar on your lips," he pointed out.
"Huh? Really?" Alice looked confused as she tried to lick it off with her small red tongue. Since she'd just eaten the candied fruits, her tongue was already a vibrant red. "Is it gone?" she asked.
"Not quite, a little higher," Sui instructed, but each time Alice missed it. Finally, he reached out his hand to help, but then, halfway through, he leaned in and gently kissed the corner of her lips.
Alice froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing a deep red. A sweet feeling bubbled up inside her, leaving her shy but undeniably happy.
"Now it's gone," Sui smiled, satisfied. The taste of her lips was sweet, like the candied fruits.
Alice felt her face burning, but there was a delightful sweetness in her heart. She couldn't help but blush.
"Sui, you've got something on your face too," Alice said suddenly.
"Really?" Sui looked puzzled, touching his lips but finding nothing.
"How silly! Let me get it for you," Alice teased.
As Sui leaned in, a mischievous glint flashed in Alice's eyes. She quickly leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"All gone now!" Alice said with a sly smile, her red eyes twinkling.
Sui realized he'd been tricked. "You dared to lie to me!" he said, pretending to be angry.
Alice giggled and stuck out her tongue playfully.
Without warning, Sui pulled her into a hug and kissed her directly.
Alice's eyes widened in surprise, and a blush spread across her cheeks. "W-Wait, we're in public! People are watching," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. But Sui paid no mind.
At first, Alice tried to resist, but soon her body went limp, and she lost all her strength. Her eyes grew hazy, and her face flushed even deeper.
Passersby barely glanced at them, used to seeing couples kissing openly in the street.
After a long moment, the two finally pulled apart.
Alice was left breathless, her face glowing with embarrassment as she shot Sui a reproachful look. She had almost run out of air!
Sui simply nodded to himself. "It tastes pretty good."
Because of the candied fruits, Alice's tongue was a mix of sour and sweet—a flavor Sui found surprisingly enjoyable.
Alice's face turned an even deeper shade of red. Though she felt embarrassed, there was also an unfamiliar excitement that left her whole body tingling.
"Kiss again?" Sui suggested with a grin.
Alice hesitated but, still blushing, gave a small nod.
They kissed again, savoring the moment.
After a while, Sui suggested, "How about we find a place to rest for a bit?"
"A place to rest?" Alice asked, her heart skipping a beat. Was Sui suggesting they find somewhere more private to continue kissing? Her face reddened at the thought, but she also felt a spark of anticipation. She nodded in agreement, realizing she was feeling a bit tired too.
The two began looking for a hotel.
However, to Sui's dismay, the streets seemed to be lined with love hotels—those infamous establishments meant for couples—rather than regular hotels.
"What do you think? Should we try a love hotel?" Sui asked, half-joking but also somewhat curious. He had seen love hotels in Japan on TV but had never visited one himself.