The two ran wildly, diving into the complex network of alleys in the nearby shopping district. They only stopped in a relatively quiet corner once they confirmed no one was following them.
(That punch just now seemed to have knocked out all the frustration from the morning... I feel much lighter. Alright, melancholy time is over. Time to return to the role of "Phoenix-in Chinatsu.")
Chinatsu let go of Shido's hand, leaning against the wall and breathing slightly heavily. However, her face held the exhilaration of physical exertion, and a faint, genuine smile even touched the corner of her lips.
(Forget it. Since this idiot dared to rush over just now, I won't hold the fact that he made me wait so long this morning against him for now. Let's complete today's mission first.)
Shido, meanwhile, looked utterly shaken. He stared at Chinatsu, his eyes filled with disbelief and lingering fear: "C-Classmate Hōōin... you... you just..."
Only then did Chinatsu realize she seemed to have slightly broken character. She immediately suppressed her smile, returned to her cool and aloof demeanor, and cleared her throat:
"...I just learned a little self-defense a while ago. I couldn't really let them bully you, could I?"
She looked at Shido, an imperceptible softening flashing in her icy blue eyes: "Just now... thank you. Even though it was useless."
Shido blushed and scratched his head awkwardly: "I-It was nothing... I didn't really help much..."
After the brief moment of awkwardness and adrenaline, the atmosphere had strangely relaxed somewhat.
Chinatsu tidied her slightly messy hair and clothes, looked at Shido, and said in a tone slightly softer than before:
"In that case... Classmate Itsuka, can our 'date' officially begin now?"
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the alley, casting rays upon the two of them. After this unexpected "warm-up," this eventful date was finally about to get underway.
---
Hearing Chinatsu's question, "Can the date begin?", Shido finally snapped out of the chaos caused by the heart-stopping uppercut and the mad dash.
He looked at Chinatsu, whose cheeks were faintly flushed from her light panting, and whose icy blue eyes shone exceptionally clearly in the dappled light and shadows of the alley. His heart, against his will, began to beat faster again.
With obvious nervousness and a hint of relief-filled expectation, he reorganized his thoughts and greeted her formally once more:
"G-Good morning, Classmate Hōōin!"
"Good morning, Classmate Itsuka." Chinatsu maintained a calm tone, but internally, she was rapidly assessing the situation:
(Status update: Nervousness slightly decreased, approximately 65%, mixed with surprise and curiosity. Initiating 'Moderate Friendliness and Charm Display' protocol.)
[Shido, be natural! Stop thinking about what just happened! Compliment her! Just follow the plan and say, 'You look beautiful today'! ]
Kotori's anxious voice sounded in Shido's ear just in time, pulling him back from his daze over the memory of the punch.
Shido blushed, took a deep breath as if steeling his courage, and stammered, his gaze flickering, unable to look directly at Chinatsu:
"W-Well... Classmate Hōōin, you look... very, very beautiful today..."
(A standard opening line, is it? Beginning response and conversation guidance.)
Chinatsu inwardly scoffed, but externally, upon hearing the compliment, a slight, appropriate blush appeared on her face, as if she were unused to such direct praise.
She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she lowered her head slightly and gently twirled a strand of icy blue hair hanging over her chest with her slender fingers—a small, unconscious gesture that held a hint of youthful allure.
After a few seconds of silence, she finally lifted her gaze, her icy blue eyes carrying a trace of slyness and curiosity as she looked toward Shido:
"...Is 'very beautiful' all you have? Besides, you say I'm beautiful, yet why won't you look at me? I don't believe your eyes are empty~"
As she spoke, she suddenly took a light step forward, closing the distance between herself and Shido.
As Shido's body stiffened due to her sudden proximity, she clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head slightly, and a faint, smug curve appeared on her lips.
"For today's... 'mutual understanding,' I prepared very seriously, you know?"
As her voice faded, she actually took hold of her skirt hem and elegantly spun around in place, despite the extremely close distance.
The hem of her cream-colored chiffon blouse fluttered slightly, the light blue checkered pleated skirt traced a youthful arc, and her slender legs, encased in over-the-knee socks, were glimpsed as she turned.
The morning light, filtering through the alley entrance, fell perfectly upon her, as if coating her in a soft halo. The sapphire hair clip in her hair also sparkled momentarily.
"See? The blouse is new, and the skirt matches well, right? And my hair..."
She stopped spinning and pointed to her carefully styled hair and the small star and moon earrings.
"...None of this was just thrown on casually, you know."
She leaned in closer again, almost pressing against Shido. Lifting her flawless, pretty face, her icy blue eyes stared directly into Shido's slightly panicked eyes. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she asked softly, in a tone blending innocence and seduction:
"So... Classmate Itsuka, what do you think..."
"...what part of me looks the best today?"
This sudden, almost direct "demand for compliments" attack, combined with the cool fragrance emanating from her and her stunning face inches away, instantly overloaded Shido's brain CPU. His cheeks turned fiery red, and even his earlobes were flushed.
He opened his mouth, his tongue feeling tied in a knot. His gaze involuntarily drifted, moving from her delicate collarbone to her subtly swaying earrings, then to her healthy, glossy icy blue hair, and finally resting on those seemingly speaking eyes... (E-Everything looks good! How am I supposed to choose?! Wouldn't saying that sound too frivolous?!)
[Options! Emergency options!]
Kotori's voice was also tinged with nervousness.
[A: Compliment her eyes—they are as clear as ice and snow!]
[B: Compliment her hair—it is as smooth as a waterfall!]
[C: Compliment her heroic appearance when she beat up the thugs! Can you beat me up like that? — Denied! Quickly choose A or B!]
Just as Shido was panicking and about to be overwhelmed by this sweet burden, Chinatsu seemed to have suddenly had enough fun. She chuckled softly upon seeing his distressed expression, then voluntarily took a step back, creating a small distance.
The intentionally crafted "seeking praise" expression faded from her face, replaced by a knowing, slightly tsundere tone, as if she were compensating for her previous "lapse" or perhaps rescuing Shido from his predicament:
"Hmph... never mind. Seeing how silly you look, asking was pointless anyway."
She turned her face slightly away, leaving Shido with only a faintly flushed profile and a beautifully defined jawline. Her voice also became a little livelier:
"...I know these things without you having to specifically say them."
(Response confirmed: Charm display complete. Pressure applied was moderate, and timely retraction avoided awkwardness. Target Shido's heart rate significantly increased. Effect: good.)
She redirected her gaze toward the bustling shopping district outside the alley entrance and asked in a seemingly casual tone: "So, where should we go next?"
(Topic successfully diverted. Proceeding to the next stage: Itinerary discussion.)
Shido finally sighed in relief, as if granted a great pardon, feeling a thin layer of sweat on his back.
(W-Where should we go? My mind is completely blank right now! Too much happened just now—Classmate Chinatsu's smile, her punch, and that question, "what part of me looks the best," are still spinning in my head...)
While trying to calm his wildly beating heart, he struggled to recall the alternative plans provided by the Fraxinus. And so, after such an "exciting" opening, the date finally seemed to be getting on track.
It was just that the string named "Phoenix-in Chinatsu" in Shido's heart had been pulled taut.
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