Chapter 12: Hibiki Gets Caught
"Hirose~!"
"Hibiki!"
It was around 2:00 PM.
The downtown area was bustling with people. Commercial buildings lined the streets, and crowds of young people surged through the intersections.
The two had agreed to meet here.
Hibiki was wearing a cute white coat, while Hirose wore a down jacket. With Christmas just around the corner, they were planning to enjoy an outdoor date.
"Whoa..."
"Hehe, do you like it?"
"I mean, yeah."
As soon as they met, Hibiki linked her arm with his and leaned in close.
A faint, sweet scent wafted from her. She smelled even better than usual today. Perhaps it was a special perfume for their date, but it made everything feel more significant.
Their first stop was a boutique. Today’s date included accompanying Hibiki on a shopping trip.
"By the way... your face looks a lot cleaner, Hirose."
"Oh, you noticed?"
While they were browsing accessories in a shop, Hibiki leaned in to inspect his face.
"It’s so smooth, and you don't have a single blemish... I’ve never seen a guy with skin this nice."
"If you've noticed that much, you probably know what I did."
"A Skill, right?"
"Bingo."
Hirose had been using a Skill on his own face.
Honestly, he’d never cared much about his own appearance or skincare. But lately, he’d started to feel that if he was going to walk beside a girl as cute as Hibiki, he needed to do something about himself.
So, he’d started by experimenting with <Skin Refinement>.
"Yeah... it’s good! Really good! Just having clear skin gives you such a clean, handsome vibe! I want to nuzzle you~"
"Really? That makes me happy... I want to get even more handsome for you, Hibiki."
"Eeeh, what should I do? If you get too handsome, other girls will start hitting on you."
"I’ve already got my hands full with you, Koharu, and Kirino..."
"Ahaha, true!"
Even if Hirose did become popular, he wouldn't look at anyone else. Hearing that put Hibiki in a fantastic mood.
Next, they decided to hit a cafe.
They went to a stylish spot in the same shopping complex. They both ordered pancakes from the menu of delicious-looking sweets.
When the pancakes arrived, Hibiki’s eyes sparkled as she picked up her knife and fork.
"So good!"
"You're right... I don't usually eat stuff like this, so it’s a nice change of pace."
"You're such a loner."
"Zip it. But yeah, I probably never would’ve come here if it weren't for you."
"Then let’s do lots of things you’ve never done before, okay?"
Hibiki cut a piece of pancake and held it out to his mouth with her fork.
"Hirose, say 'aaan.'"
"Aaan... thanks. But this is a bit embarrassing..."
With other customers around, Hirose turned bright red, but Hibiki didn't care and made him take the bite.
"Now me!"
Hibiki pouted, demanding her turn.
Hirose sighed, "Fine, fine," and cut a piece for her.
"Here, aaan."
"Aaaaaaaaaan—wait, what?!"
Right as she was about to take the bite, Hibiki’s eyes locked onto a pair of girls sitting a few tables over to their front-left.
The two girls were staring at Hibiki with wide, shocked eyes.
Hibiki choked on the pancake the second it entered her mouth.
"Cough! Hack! Cough!"
"Hibiki...?"
As for those two girls—
"Hima and Umirin?!"
They were Hibiki’s close classmates—Himari Motoya and Umirin Ihara.
"Ah........."
Hirose noticed a moment later and made eye contact with them.
"No way... that’s Takanashi," Himari muttered.
"It really is," Umirin added.
"Um... hello," Hirose offered.
The two girls had identified him immediately. Hirose offered a sheepish little bow.
"Umirin!"
"I know!"
The two girls didn't even need to finish their sentences to agree. They stood up and marched over to Hirose and Hibiki’s table.
"Hibiki~? You’ve got some explaining to do, don't you?"
"Wait, Hima!"
"Takanashi~, move over and make some room."
"Eh? Oh... sure."
Himari slid in next to Hibiki, while Umirin sat next to Hirose on the sofa seat.
Himari Motoya was the tallest of the three, with orange hair flowing down her back and sharp, mature features. She had a bit of a "gal" vibe, though she claimed she wasn't one.
The other girl, Umirin Ihara, had short light-blue hair and several piercings in her well-shaped ears. She was also a beauty, famous for a carefree smile that made her very popular with the boys.
Along with Hibiki, these three were the top of the class hierarchy. They radiated a "caste-top" aura that usually kept loners at a distance.
(Hibiki, Hibiki! What do we do?!) Hirose screamed internally.
(We can't talk our way out of this! I won't mention the Skills, though! Trust me?)
(Got it...)
The two communicated through eye contact, prompting Himari and Umirin to chime in with, "Ooh, look at them, communicating without words~."
"—So, are you two actually dating?"
"...Yeah, we are. Sorry for not telling you guys sooner."
"Nah, don't apologize! But man, so you really did have a boyfriend."
"It’s not like that. We only started dating recently... I can't really explain the 'spark,' but we started getting close about three months ago."
"Right around when Hibiki started being a bad friend," Umirin noted.
"Yeah... and as we kept meeting up, I realized I liked him, and we finally made it official."
As she explained, Himari and Umirin exchanged a look. Hibiki looked like a girl deeply in love; they both realized this was the real deal.
"Wait... now that I look closer, is Takanashi actually kind of hot?"
"Oh, you're right. I wonder what changed. I never really looked at him before, so I can't tell the difference."
Himari tilted her head at Umirin’s observation.
Hirose wasn't exactly a "gloomy loner," but he wasn't a "social butterfly" either. He was just... average. He lacked any standout features that usually attracted girls.
"I haven't really changed. Getting close to Hibiki was just... a total fluke."
"Huh, you can actually talk normally."
"I thought you’d be all mumbly and unable to talk to us."
(I guess interacting with all these beauties has built up my resistance...) Hirose thought.
Three months ago, Hirose would have been intimidated even by Hibiki. But he’d grown used to it through their time together. Plus, there were Koharu and Kirino. Hirose had definitely developed a tolerance for beautiful women.
"So, it’s not like Takanashi is blackmailing you into this?"
"Hima! Watch it! There are some things you just don't say. Hirose isn't that kind of person!" Hibiki snapped.
"Sorry, sorry! ...But come on, put yourself in our shoes. You’d think the same thing, wouldn't you?"
"Maybe... but Hirose and I are in a proper relationship! There’s no blackmail involved!"
"Man, you really do love him, don't you?"
"That’s why we’re dating!"
Himari and Umirin still couldn't quite wrap their heads around it. They could see the "love aura" coming off Hibiki, but they were still skeptical.
Where was the appeal? There are plenty of nice guys out there, and guys with Hirose’s looks are a dime a dozen.
And yet, Hibiki had chosen him out of everyone.
Still, at this point, they had no choice but to take her at her word.
"I guess that’s why you've gotten so pretty lately~. You've got that 'woman in love' scent all over you!"
"..........Have you guys done it yet?"
"Umirin! Language!"
(Forget 'done it,' we've been doing it constantly...) Hibiki thought.
Their relationship had moved at breakneck speed from the start, surpassing anything these two could imagine. Hibiki decided it was definitely for the best not to talk about their "nighttime activities."
"It’s nice, though. You’ve been radiating happiness lately."
"...Oh! I’ve always wanted to say hi to Takanashi when I walk into the classroom!"
"So that was it...! You always had that awkward look on your face," Himari realized. Umirin’s eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place.
"I mean, if the person you like is in the same class, of course you want to say 'Good morning!'"
"Then why don't you?"
"Eh?"
"Just do it starting tomorrow."
Hibiki had been holding back on greeting Hirose to be considerate of him. Hirose hadn't wanted to make their relationship public, but now that they were officially dating, he felt it was okay to tell her closest friends.
"Hirose... is that okay?" Hibiki asked, looking at him with pleading, upturned eyes.
"If you want to that badly, I don't mind. But... it’s going to be embarrassing."
"It’s not like we’re saying you have to announce you're dating to the whole world. We’re just saying it’s fine to say hi and talk like normal," Himari pointed out.
"I guess... that’s fine. You’ve been holding back all this time, Hibiki. Sorry I didn't realize it sooner."
"Hiroseeee~~!"
Hibiki let out a sweet, pampered coo, delighted by his words. If they weren't in public, she probably would have tackled him into a hug.
"Whoa."
"So that’s how she gets."
Seeing Hibiki like that, Himari and Umirin finally felt the depth of her feelings.
Meanwhile, Hirose and Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief that the two hadn't asked about the Gift or the Skills.
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