Uncertain date

So I'm here right now at the park, where Suzuki and I agreed to meet up for our d-.... for her book signing shenanigan.

Ah, it really is hot when it's summer. It must be around 31 degrees Celsius in this place.

I can't bear the heat. I feel like my fluids are going to evaporate completely after several minutes. I should have brought my cap with me. Ugh.

"Oh, Tanaka. Sorry I was a bit late. Did you just arrive?" asked Suzuki.

Who is she?

C...Crap, it's Suzuki.

"Y...Yeah."

Though I was here 30 minutes ago.

"Hm~ You really are sweating, are you sure you that just arrived?" asked Suzuki.

"Duh, it's summer that's why the temperature is hotter than usual."

She is wearing a light blue summer dress with small floral designs, plus she her hair is tied with a ponytail. Her skin is so smooth and delicate from my view.

I wasn't able to recognize her there for a second. I am currently starstruck.

T..The reason is that this is the first time we actually meet outside the school. Nothing more, nothing less.

"What is it, Tanaka? Is something wrong?" asked Suzuki.

"N...Nothing."

"Really? You've been staring at me for a minute." answered Suzuki.

"Y....You look awfully w...weird today. Hehehe, hehehe."

"Oh~~~, on what part do I look weird? Hm~?" teasingly questioned Suzuki.

"I...It's...."

Damn, I can't think of any words except "very cute"! I can't say that!

"W...We should get going now. What time is the book signing?"

"12:00, so we have around 20 minutes. Let's take our time walking." suggested Suzuki.

Thank God we're not gonna run.

"Wanna hold hands until we reached the mall?" suggested Suzuki.

W...WHAT?!

"W...What are you saying, Suzuki?! I can't do that for now!"

"Hahaha, I bet so! Hmm, if you can hold my hand then you automatically win for today, Tanaka." declared Suzuki.

W...Win?! It sounds great but this might be a trap!

Plus, it is embarrassing to do! We are not a couple!

"I...I'll become victorious through the normal process."

"Hahaha, your face is so red!" teased Suzuki.

"It's not! It's because of the heat!"

"Really~?" asked Suzuki.

"IT'S TRUE!!"

"Hahahaha! If you say so~" answered Suzuki.

Tsk, mocking me as soon as we met, huh?!

....

"We're here." said Suzuki.

"Sure this line is long, huh? You might get your book signed after half an hour."

"It's fine, I am dedicated to wait." responded Suzuki.

"This is a shoujo-themed novel, right? It's kinda weird since there are a lot of men falling in line."

"I know someone who is masculine but is obsessed in watching a particular shoujo anime." said Suzuki.

"Gehk."

"Plus, that boy sure knows the lyrics of its opening theme song. I wonder who is he~" teased Suzuki.

Grrr, Suzuki! Are you talking about me?!

"Mister, why are you getting flustered? Are you perhaps the boy I am referring to?" mockingly asked Suzuki.

"F...Fine, I'm taking back what I said! Just please shut up...."

She got me again!!!

"Hahaha! You're guilty! It really is fun to tease you, Tanaka." ridiculed Suzuki.

"J...Just wait for the time to come when I'll embarrass the heck out of you!"

"I'll be waiting, even if it takes forever." replied Suzuki with a genuine smile.

W...Why does she look happy?

"Y...You're talking about my time of revenge, right?"

"Yeah, I'm referring to your time of revenge." answered Suzuki.

Darn it, Suzuki. You often confuse me with your expressions.

Oh, I remembered something!

Today is the release of the new volume of Blushing Queen Futaba! I should grab it while she's distracted.

"S...Suzuki, can I go out for a bit? I have to run the errand I was talking about yesterday. I'll come back for you afterwards."

"No problem. Take your time." affirmed Suzuki.

Nice one, Suzuki! You made my life easier!

"I'll be going then."

"Be sure to buy the correct volume, okay?" asked Suzuki.

H...HOW DID SHE KNOW?!?!

"W..Whatever! I'm going to buy a T-Shirt!"

I think it's in the third level. I have to take the escalator.

I hope there's no around that I know near the anime shop!

F...Finally, I've reached the promised land! BQF, here I come!

"Hey Kusakabe, good to see you here!" greeted Koyanagi.

Koyanagi! Why did you arrive at such a critical time?!

"U...Uhmm yeah, me too. What were you doing here?"

"Just hanging around, I want somewhere cool so I went here to the mall." answered Koyanagi.

"O...Oh, is that so? I gotta go now. Bye~"

"Wait, can't we hang out for a bit? We already bumped into each other." suggested Koyanagi.

This cannon ball is a pain sometimes!

"I....I'm in hurry, so maybe next time."

"Oh, it must be Suzuki-san waiting for you. Must be nice that you're on a date, huh?" answered Koyanagi.

D....Date?!

"I...It's not like that.... More like I'm keeping her accompanied because of a penalty! That's it!"

"Okay, okay, I heard you. Calm down." responded Koyanagi.

"Yeah, that's good. Hahaha, hahaha."

"I should take my leave now, I don't want to be a distraction to your pseudo-date. Hehehe." teased Koyanagi.

Are people in this city inborn with teasing abilities?!

"T...Take care."

Now, the big obstruction is gone. I can peacefully buy the latest volume!

.....

"That would be 620 yen, sir." said the cashier.

Fufufu, now I just have to go home and watch this masterpiece!

"Kusakabe-kun? Is that you?" asked Riko.

S....SAIONJI RIKO!!!

Why must these people spawn in this area?! Is God activating some nasty cheats?!

"It really is you! Fancy meeting you here." greeted Riko.

"M...Me too, nice to see you. What are you doing here?"

"I'm purchasing a limited edition doll of Futaba-san from BQF for my little sister." answered Riko.

T...THE LIMITED EDITION?!

I WANT THAT TOO!! I ENVY HER!!

"W...Where did you get that?"

"Near the DVD section, there." pointed Riko.

B...But! I can't buy that right now that she saw me!

"What are you doing here? Purchasing a DVD?" asked Riko.

"Y...Yeah, a T...Takagi-san complete edition."

Though I bought it last week ago! I hope she's not gonna scrutinize me anymore.

She sure is fond of texting, huh? Maybe her little sister, or a boyfriend?! Our Class President has a boyfriend?!

It's shocking 'coz she's known as a study-bug since she's always in the Top 10.

"W..Well, I need to bid farewell. See you tomorrow, Pres."

"Yeah, bye~" greeted Riko.

Phew, I'm glad she's not that pushy.

Now then, I must go to Suzuki. Probably she's in the front line now.

Hmmm.....

Huh?

She's gone?

"Suzuki, where are you?"

D...Did she ditch me?!

I can't see her around.

Did she really....

"Come on, this is a new level of teasing...."

"Bah!" shocked Suzuki from Tanaka's back.

"Uwaah! S...Suzuki, there you are! I thought you left me here."

"Please, I wouldn't do that to you."

"Did your book get signed already? That's way too quick."

"Oh, these gentlemen let me go in front first before them. I refused them but they were pushy so I had no choice." stated Suzuki.

So these people are nice guys, I guess.

"Tanaka, let's find a place to eat. I'm hungry and it's lunchtime so we should really eat now. Hahaha.." suggested Suzuki.

"Sure, let's go."

I thought that my penalty is over at this point. Whatever.

...

"Ah~I'm so full!"

That barbecue chicken was so delicious!

"I have to agree with that, Tanaka. This should be my favorite restaurant now." said Suzuki.

"Now, I have a parfait to consume as a dessert. I'm full~"

"Tanaka, wanna have a contest?" asked Suzuki.

"Good thing you recommended such idea. I'm in!"

"You're pretty confident, aren't you? Here's the direction, we have to eat this parfait straight and if you got a brain freeze or even coughed once, you lose. The opposite result would be my defeat. Got it?" explained Suzuki.

So it's a matter of sustainability, huh? You challenged the wrong person, Suzuki!

"I'll bite that offer. Let's start!"

"Then, 3.....2.....1..... Go!" commenced Suzuki.

If she meant straight, then I have to be really fast in consuming this.

Man, this dessert really is cold in the mouth.

What is she doing?! She's eating it quick but with such finesse! But I'm much much faster than she is!

"By the way Tanaka, if you lose, then you have to hold my hand when we are on the way home." suddenly said Suzuki.

W..WHAT?!

"Uwahhck! Uwahhhckkk!"

"Hahahaha, are you okay, Tanaka?" asked Suzuki.

"D...Don't blurt out stuff like that, Suzuki!"

"What stuff?" questioned Suzuki.

Playing dumb, huh?! She wants me to say it!

"H...Holding hands....."

"You have to them since you lost. Hahaha!" teased Suzuki.

Tsk!

I'll take a picture of your laughing face as a come back move!

"There! *camera stutter*"

S....She instantaneously shift her appearance into a smiling peace pose! Damn, she's unbeatable!

"Do I look good?" asked Suzuki.

"Y..You're really...!! Damn!!!"

I need to delete this. If anyone sees my phone with her, great misunderstanding will sure to inflict me!

"Tanaka, do not show it to others, okay? I'm shy about it." revealed Suzuki.

S...Suzuki is shy...?

I...I guess I can use this as a bait to pit her into a challenge sometime.

.....

"Time surely went quicker than we expect, eh?" asked Suzuki.

"For sure, I haven't noticed that it is already 4 pm."

Now I can go home peacefully and watch BQF! Hurray!

"Hey Tanaka, time for your penalty." stated Suzuki.

"H...Hold on! We're gonna do this, for real?!"

"Yeah, thanks to you because you lost." answered Suzuki.

Tsk! I....I can't do this!

"If you admit that we can call this event a DATE, then you wouldn't have to do the penalty." suggested Suzuki.

D...DATE?!

Wait, is this really a date?

Mhmm....

Some part of me says it's not but the other half tells me that it is.

P...Probably because I gained input from watching shoujo anime.

"Hm~ You sure are sweating too much again, Tanaka. Nervous?" asked Suzuki.

"Uhm...."

"Ah~ I should consider this my win ag-" interrupted Suzuki as Tanaka suddenly speaks.

"I....I think I'll consider this as ONE."

D...Damn!

"What is that "ONE", Tanaka-san? Hm~" teased Suzuki.

"D....Date....."

"Hahaha! So you really think this is a date, huh~" mocked Suzuki.

I knew it! This is a trap! She gets pleasured when she sees me squirming!

"I'm happy." revealed Suzuki.

"Huh?"

"I'm happy because you considered this our first date, Tanaka." disclosed Suzuki as she smiles at Tanaka.

"I....I only said that because I can't do the initial penalty...!!"

She responds with a laugh, but not in a mocking tone.

That smile, I can tell that it is not fake.

"Well, I'm going this way for now." pointed Suzuki.

"Aren't you going this way too?"

"I have something to stop by for the meantime. You can go first." said Suzuki.

"O...Okay.. See you, then."

"Say Tanaka, you said that you can't hold my hand FOR NOW, right?" inquired Suzuki.

"Y..Yeah, what about it?"

"What if we became a couple in the future, you can do it that time, right?" asked Suzuki.

W...What is she spouting!???

"O...Of course, but I'll d...doubt that's gonna happen. Hehehe..."

"Y..You're getting red again! Hahaha." teased Suzuki.

D...Did she tell that to mock me again?!

"Tanaka, let's make a wager. A long term wager." suggested Suzuki.

"W..Wager?! Of course, I'm good!"

"If you happen to fall in love with me until the day we graduate in Middle School, then I win. If you didn't, then I lose." challenged Suzuki.

W...WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE IS THAT?!

"W...What?! I thought it's a normal game?!"

"It is normal, though it is a bit long term. Are you in? If you refuse, then you automatically stated right now that you like me." said Suzuki.

"I...I have no choice, then! I'll take the challenge!"

"It's a bet, then. I have to go Tanaka, see you!" greeted Suzuki as she sprints a little bit to other direction.

"Y...Yeah."

Man, this is some game that she initiated....!

Can I win it, though?

O..Of course I can. Hehehe, what am I saying...

Sigh....

"I feel so tired...."

It's somehow worth it, though.