Hana was oblivious to Ethan's internal struggle. Overjoyed by his response, she beamed and led him out of the pool area under the envious glares of the other girls.
"Uesugi-kun, I'm going to change," Hana said playfully at the locker room door. "No peeking!"
Ethan rubbed his nose. This "youthful romance" felt surreal. Despite being a veteran in the bedroom, he had never really done the "dating" thing. Was this the difference between a girlfriend and a fuck-buddy? He didn't know, but he had read enough romance novels to play along.
"Hana, just call me by my name," Ethan smiled, heading to the men's room. "You can't peek at me either."
"Hmph! Who would want to look at a smelly man?"
Ethan teased back, "Actually, quite a few people. The President and Vice-President have been 'observing' me for days."
Hana huffed and stuck her tongue out before disappearing inside. She knew he was popular. In the girls' locker room, she had overheard several classmates marveling at Ethan's "massive package" visible through his trunks.
After changing, they left school hand-in-hand. They took a bus to a small commercial street. Hana's face remained flushed the whole way, stealing glances at Ethan and looking away whenever their eyes met. This "pure" reaction gave Ethan a taste of sweet, youthful love. It was a refreshing change from his usual encounters, which often felt like they were fueled purely by lust.
The street was filled with locals and low-cost shops, perfect for a student date. Ethan and Hana stood out due to their looks—Ethan's supernatural charm and Hana's incredible "petite-but-stacked" figure.
"Hana," Ethan said, buying her various snacks. "You're definitely not 'little.' In fact, you're quite big."
Hana missed the double entendre. "I'm not little! We're in the same grade. I might even be older than you!"
Ethan suppressed a laugh. "Yes, yes. Definitely not small."
They spent the afternoon eating street food. Eventually, Hana patted her belly. "Ethan, stop buying things! I'm so full I won't be able to eat dinner."
"It's fine. If you can't finish it, I will." Ethan enjoyed the freedom of wealth. Since his transmigration, he had achieved total financial freedom, though in this supernatural world, money wasn't the ultimate source of happiness.
Hana secretly wondered if Ethan was a "rich second generation" kid, which would explain how he could afford so many girlfriends. After all, in any world, maintaining multiple women requires a strong economic foundation.
"Ethan, why do you always call everyone by their first names?" Hana asked curiously. In Japan, using first names usually implied a deep intimacy.
"I've lived away from my parents for a long time," Ethan replied smoothly. "I don't like my last name. If I want people to use my name, I should use theirs."
Hana offered him a bite of her candy apple. She had wanted to buy a chocolate-covered banana, but Ethan had stopped her. He didn't like the flavor, and he felt weird watching his girlfriend lick and bite a banana in public—it felt too much like a scene from a certain type of video.
"Ethan... sometimes the way you look at me is strange. Like I'm a very familiar stranger..."
Ethan glanced at her, surprised. How could an ordinary human sense that? He realized Hana likely had a hidden talent—one that wasn't suited for magic but was still a spiritual sensitivity. "You'll understand the answer to that in a while," he said cryptically.
"Ethan..."
"Alright, curious girl. Save the rest of the questions for our next date." Ethan patted her silver hair. "It's getting late. Let me walk you home."
As they entered a secluded alleyway, Ethan's expression sharpened. "But before that, I need to deal with some annoying flies."