The day after my date with Suzune, it was now time for my date with Yuki.

Since it's already widely known that Yuki and I are childhood friends, we walked from the dorms together without any particular concern.

Kiyotaka: "Is there somewhere you want to go today?"

Yuki: "Yeah. It's a bit early, but I want to look at fall clothes."

Shopping. For a man who dislikes waiting, it's one of the most difficult types of dates. Furthermore, shopping sometimes involves your girlfriend asking for your opinion on clothes, making it an endeavor that even requires aesthetic sense.

However, thanks to my experience with Kei and my long-standing relationship with Yuki, shopping is a piece of cake. To put it in terms of an analogy, it's like memorizing how to solve past exam questions and then being saved because the actual test is full of similar problems.

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, sure. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of clothes you pick, Yuki."

Yuki: "Fufu. I'm going to have you choose what looks good too, Kiyotaka."

Kiyotaka: "Leave it to me. Since anything suits you, Yuki, it'll be worth choosing."

Then, after walking hand in hand for a while, we stopped in front of the first store.

Yuki: "Alright, shall we look in here first?"

Kiyotaka: "Got it."

As we entered, we found some girls from our class inside.

Kiyotaka: "What a coincidence. Maezono, Mii-chan."

Mii-chan: "Ah! Ayanokoji-kun, Yuki-chan, hello."

Maezono: "Could it be you two are on a date?"

Yuki: "Yeah. It's a bit early, but I thought I'd have him look at some fall clothes with me."

Maezono: "You're even holding hands. Are you going out?"

Just as expected, we were asked. So, feigning innocence, I played dumb.

Kiyotaka: "Even if we're not going out, I think childhood friends would at least hold hands."

Mii-chan: "Eh? Is that so?"

Maezono: "You can't let yourself be fooled by this blockhead, Mii-chan. And Ayanokoji-kun, don't go putting weird ideas in her head."

Kiyotaka: "I think it's normal, though..."

Maezono: "The oblivious type, huh... This one's a lost cause. You have it rough too, Tsubaki-san."

Yuki: "Ahaha. He's been like this forever, so I'm used to it."

Maezono: "Is that so~ Well, good luck."

Yuki: "Yeah, thanks."

After the two left, we breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuki: "Phew, they're gone."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. We managed somehow."

Yuki: "Because you're basically expressionless, Kiyotaka, the 'blockhead' persona gains more credibility."

Kiyotaka: "It's not entirely true, though."

Yuki: "No, it isn't."

Kiyotaka: "Is that so?"

Yuki: "Because, well... If you were a blockhead, this whole plan would have collapsed."

Kiyotaka: "The way you're convinced is a bit... but it's better than being a blockhead."

Yuki: "We have this conversation every time we run into classmates, don't we?"

Kiyotaka: "Wouldn't the frequency decrease if we stopped holding hands?"

Yuki: "Hmm. Would you be okay with that, Kiyotaka?"

I was countered.

Kiyotaka: "...I wouldn't like it."

Yuki: "See!"

Kiyotaka: "But wasn't it you, Yuki, who started stubbornly insisting on holding hands, even though I said we shouldn't because it stands out?"

Yuki: "...That's true."

A successful counter to her counter.

Yuki: "Anyway! More importantly, let's start shopping!"

Yuki blatantly changed the subject and moved on to shopping.

Yuki: "Kiyotaka, how's this?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, it suits you."

Yuki: "Then what about this one?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, suits you."

Yuki: "Hmm... then how about this?"

Kiyotaka: "Suits you, suits you."

Yuki: "Geez! Answer properly!"

She got angry. But this is also part of the plan.

Kiyotaka: "Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to tease you a little. But honestly, you're cute, Yuki, so anything looks good on you."

Yuki: "Ehehe. Really? But then I can't decide."

It's a simple but highly successful tactic: 'Make her sulk a little, then compliment her.' What's good about this tactic is that she easily cheers up, and I get to enjoy two different expressions.

Kiyotaka: "The first one is a cool style. Unlike your usual energetic look, it gives off a mature vibe, and the gap is charming. The second is energetic. It matches your image perfectly, so it's a safe bet. The last one is cute. While the cool style makes you look beautiful, this one literally makes you look cute."

Yuki: "You were paying proper attention. But with this, I still can't decide... Which one did you like the most, Kiyotaka?"

Kiyotaka: "Well... I like them all, but if I had to choose, I'd say the first cool style. I'd like to see a different side of you, Yuki."

Yuki: "Got it. Then I'll take this one. I'm going to the register, so wait a bit, okay?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah."

After paying, we had lunch at a café and chatted for a while. Finally, Yuki said she wanted to choose some clothes for me, so we went to a store that carried men's items.

Kiyotaka: "Thanks for choosing for me. It helps because sometimes I can't decide on my own."

Yuki: "I had fun picking out clothes for you too, Kiyotaka. I'd be happy if you wore them on our next date."

Kiyotaka: "Of course. I'll make sure the first time I wear them is when I'm with you, Yuki."

Yuki: "Then I'll save the clothes I bought today for our date too!"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

And so, we returned to the dorms, still holding hands the entire way.

* * *

The next day, I headed to a familiar gym. It was the meeting place Honami had specified.

'Since the student council has been informed about the sports festival details, is this for physical improvement? The influence of having her join the student council from the first semester through my intervention might be showing up in places like this.'

And so, I arrived at the meeting place. Honami was talking with the receptionist, Akiyama-san.

Kiyotaka: "Honami, you're already here."

Honami: "Ah, Kiyotaka-kun, good morning. I was just telling Akiyama-san at the reception that there's someone I'd like to have a trial membership."

Kiyotaka: "Could it be you're talking about me?"

Honami: "Yeah. Since I was allowed to decide the plans for today, and with the sports festival coming up, I thought it might be a good idea."

Kiyotaka: "It's certainly a good opportunity. How do I apply?"

Akiyama: "Please fill out the necessary information here."

I quickly filled it out and handed it over. Akiyama-san smiled as she took it.

Akiyama: "I've confirmed it. Please enjoy your training with your girlfriend."

Kiyotaka: "Thank you very much."

Honami: "Alright, shall we go right away?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. I don't know my way around, so I think I'll follow your lead today, Honami."

Honami: "Okay. I'll teach you how to use the equipment."

'In reality, I've done this during the first loop, but keeping up appearances is important. After all, Honami invited me thinking it was my first time.'

Honami: "Kiyotaka-kun, would you rather hear a general explanation first, or go around together with me?"

Kiyotaka: "Since it's a rare date, let's go around together."

Honami: "Okay, got it!"

The first thing we did was run on the treadmill.

Kiyotaka: "How do you set this up?"

Honami: "Um, like this."

Kiyotaka: "I see. Set it slow at first... I see. Running outside is good, but this seems nice too."

Honami: "Yeah, it feels good. Do you jog outside, Kiyotaka?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Occasionally with Ken or Rokusuke."

Honami: "Ken is Sudou-kun, and Rokusuke is... Ah, Koenji-kun!? You're close with Koenji-kun?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. We got to know each other during the Zodiac Exam. That said, it's not like I can control his free-spirited nature."

Honami: "Ahaha. But that's amazing. I don't know if I could even become friends with him. Even if I wanted to befriend him, I doubt I'd meet Koenji-kun's discerning standards."

Kiyotaka: "With the kind of goodness you possess, Honami, I think you could."

Honami: "That's not true. I don't know if I could lend money to a complete stranger."

Kiyotaka: "I choose who I lend to as well. I wouldn't consider lending unless they seemed truly in trouble and fundamentally kind."

Honami: "Even so, that's amazing..."

'We've veered into a gloomy topic.'

Kiyotaka: "We're on a rare date. Let's stop the gloomy talk and just have fun."

Honami: "Yeah, you're right."

After that, I steadily increased the speed of the machine and challenged my own limits. Honami was worried, but seeing me handle it without any sign of strain, she seemed to reconsider and decided to focus on her own workout.

Honami: "Speaking of which, for the sports festival team divisions, we'll be in the same group as your class, Kiyotaka-kun."

Kiyotaka: "It was A and D versus B and C, right?"

Honami: "It'll be tough having President Horikita and Nagumo-senpai as enemies, but let's do our best."

Kiyotaka: "About that... honestly, I think it's impossible for the Red Team to win."

Honami: "So there are things even you find impossible, Kiyotaka-kun."

Kiyotaka: "I'm not a perfect superhuman, after all."

Honami: "I thought you were something close to it."

Kiyotaka: "I can't unite a class through trust like you, Honami, or be admired by both men and women."

Honami: "But you have trust too, don't you, Kiyotaka-kun?"

Kiyotaka: "It's odd to say it myself, but what I have is trust in my strength, not trust in my character. It's completely different from what you possess, Honami."

Honami: "Even so, you live up to that trust. It's totally different from me. Ah, it got gloomy again. What were we talking about?"

Honami realized she had made the conversation gloomy herself and brought it back.

'I'll have to either support this tendency of hers to belittle herself or help her improve it. The quickest way would be for her to produce results on her own...'

I considered this, but quickly stopped thinking, recognizing it wasn't something to ponder right now.

Kiyotaka: "We were talking about losing to the Red Team. So this time, I want to coordinate closely with your class, Honami, so that among the first-years, it ends in a draw."

Honami: "Cooperation is something I want too... Are we going to avoid taking out each other's main players?"

Kiyotaka: "Of course, that's part of it. Also, I'd like to hold joint practices for team competitions and do practice in actual match formats."

Honami: "That's a good idea. Once the sports festival is announced, I'll discuss it with my class."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, please do. Also, I'm thinking of covering all the points needed to rent a practice space."

Honami: "No, you can't do that. For things like this, both classes should contribute."

As expected, Honami strongly refused. But I have to insist on this point.

Kiyotaka: "This is also for my own sake."

Honami: "What do you mean?"

Kiyotaka: "Even if it's a small thing, I want to curry favor with your class and use it as leverage during election negotiations."

Honami: "Hmm... Even so~ I don't like the idea of just having you pay..."

Kiyotaka: "Then just give me a discount during the vote negotiations. See, it's a waste to keep talking about this on a date. So please, just go along with it."

Thus, I forcibly wrapped up the conversation, and we continued around the gym. Honami seemed dissatisfied at first, but gave up and decided to just enjoy being with me now.

And at the end of the day, I was asked for my impressions and recruited to the gym.

Honami: "How was today?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. There were many things I can't do in solo training, so it was a meaningful time. The gym isn't bad either."

Honami: "Then since it's a good opportunity, won't you come with me, Kiyotaka-kun?"

Kiyotaka: "Well... I'll hold off for now. It's obvious I'll get busy once I become president. And I'd regret cutting down on training with friends. Most of all, if I join a gym, I'll try to get my money's worth and my free time will decrease. I want to avoid reducing time and points for dates."

Honami: "Aww~ I thought if you joined too, Kiyotaka-kun, we'd have more time together."

Kiyotaka: "So that was your aim."

Honami: "Oops, you caught me."

'You said it quite clearly yourself.'

Kiyotaka: "Time with you, Honami, is precious. But I want to use my time as equally as possible."

Honami: "Ah! Then why don't we all join the gym together?"

Kiyotaka: "That would reduce date time and defeat the purpose."

Honami: "Ahaha, you're right."

Chatting like that, we returned to the dorms and parted ways with Honami.

Honami: "See you. Goodnight, Kiyotaka-kun."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Goodnight, Honami."