26th April 2026.
Time : 4:27 pm
The library was unusually quiet that evening.
Golden rays of sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting warm patterns across the wooden tables.
Kentarou sat in his usual seat, absentmindedly spinning a pen between his fingers. His notebook lay open before him, yet he hadn't written a single word.
His mind wasn't occupied by mathematics.
Nor was it focused on his novel.
Instead...
It kept replaying the promise he had made just the previous evening.
"When you get some free time... why don't you take my girls out?"
"Okay... I'd be happy to."
"...So..."
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You want me to suggest what you should do in a situation like this?"
Kentarou looked up.
Sitting across from him was Hee-Young, resting her chin on one hand with an amused smile.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I was actually expecting So-Yul to be here..."
Hee-Young let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
"I figured you'd come to the library today, so I came instead."
She leaned back in her chair.
"So..."
"Tell me everything."
Kentarou sighed before beginning to explain.
He told her about Mrs. Kubo's visit.
About the spare phone.
About showing his web novel to Violet.
And finally...
About the promise he had made before they left.
When he finished, silence settled between them.
Hee-Young nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's what's bothering you."
Kentarou sighed again.
"...Yeah."
"I have absolutely no idea what I'm supposed to do."
"I mean..."
"If I take Violet out, where should I go?"
"What should I talk about?"
"What if everything becomes awkward?"
He rested his forehead on the table dramatically.
"...I'm completely confused."
Hee-Young couldn't help but smile.
For someone who could write an entire romance novel...
He was surprisingly clueless when it came to his own love story.
"You're overthinking it, Izumi."
Kentarou slowly lifted his head.
"...Am I?"
"Definitely."
She smiled confidently.
"And that's exactly why we're going to figure it out."
___________________
26th April 2026
At Senku's House
The warm morning sunlight streamed through the curtains of Senku Hayashi's room.
Kentarou sat on the floor with his legs crossed, absentmindedly staring at the table in front of him. Ever since Mrs. Kubo had asked him to take Violet and her sister out someday, his mind had been occupied with a single question.
What am I supposed to do?
Senku, who had been making two cups of coffee, noticed Kentarou's unusually serious expression.
He placed one cup in front of him.
"So..."
"What are you thinking about this time?"
Kentarou sighed before looking up.
"It's about yesterday."
"I promised Mrs. Kubo that I'd take Violet and her sister out when I get some free time."
Senku nodded.
"I know."
After a brief silence, Kentarou finally asked the question that had been bothering him.
"...Senku."
"Hm?"
"What should I do?"
Senku leaned back in his chair.
"What do you mean?"
"I've never been in a situation like this before."
"I don't even know where to take her."
"What should we talk about?"
"How do people even spend time together without making it awkward?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm completely inexperienced."
Senku couldn't help but laugh.
"Bro..."
"You're asking the wrong person."
Kentarou blinked.
"...Huh?"
Senku shrugged helplessly.
"I've never gone on a date either."
"I'm just as inexperienced as you are."
Kentarou let out a long sigh.
"So we're both hopeless..."
"Pretty much."
The room fell silent for a few moments.
Kentarou rested his chin on his hand, thinking deeply.
Then—
An idea suddenly flashed across his mind.
"...Wait."
He slowly lifted his head.
"If I'm already going to spend a day with Violet..."
"Doesn't that indirectly become... our first date?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
His face froze.
Senku stared at him.
Kentarou stared back.
"..."
"..."
A few seconds later, Kentarou covered his face with both hands.
"W-Wait..."
"Isn't that exactly what it is?"
He looked completely flustered.
"If that's true..."
"Then..."
"Why don't I just confess my feelings to her that day?"
The words escaped before he could stop himself.
Silence filled the room once again.
Senku slowly smiled.
"Now that's the Kentarou I know."
Kentarou, however, remained frozen.
He had come looking for advice...
Instead, he had accidentally discovered what he truly wanted to do.
____________________________________
The library once again fell into a comfortable silence.
Hee-Young quietly listened as Kentarou finished explaining everything that had happened.
"So..." she said with a gentle smile.
"You want me to tell you what you should do in a situation like this?"
Kentarou nodded.
"...Yeah."
Hee-Young rested her chin on her hand, looking at him thoughtfully.
"I think..."
"You should wait just a little longer."
Kentarou tilted his head.
"...Why?"
"Because," she replied calmly, "you're rushing yourself."
She pointed at him with a smile.
"You've already started thinking about where to take her, how to spend time with her, and even what to say."
"But before all that..."
"There are still many things you don't know about her."
Kentarou remained silent.
Hee-Young continued.
"Tell me, Izumi."
"Do you know what her hobbies are?"
Kentarou blinked.
"...No."
"Her favorite food?"
"...No."
"What kind of movies does she enjoy?"
"...I don't know."
"What music does she listen to?"
Again...
He slowly shook his head.
"I don't know."
Hee-Young smiled gently.
"See?"
"You like her."
"But you hardly know her."
Kentarou lowered his eyes.
She wasn't wrong.
"I think..."
She folded her arms.
"Before planning anything big..."
"Try becoming someone she can naturally talk to."
"Learn about her."
"Find out what she likes."
"What she dislikes."
"Who her friends are."
"What makes her smile."
"And what makes her sad."
She smiled warmly.
"When you know those little things..."
"Spending time with her won't feel like preparing for an exam."
"It'll happen naturally."
Kentarou stared at the table for a few moments.
"...I never thought about it that way."
Hee-Young chuckled.
"That's because you've been treating love like one of your novel chapters."
"In real life..."
"You don't skip to the climax."
"You enjoy every chapter before it."
Kentarou couldn't help but smile.
"...I guess you're right."
Kentarou remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"...I do know one thing about her."
Hee-Young looked at him curiously.
"Oh?"
"I know the school she studies at."
"You do?"
Kentarou nodded.
"A few months ago, she won a prize for one of her achievements. Someone showed me a photograph of her receiving it."
He smiled faintly, recalling the memory.
"The name of her school was printed in the background of the photo. It took me quite a while to figure it out because the picture wasn't very clear..."
"...but eventually, I found it."
He paused.
"But..."
"I still don't know much about her."
"I don't know who her close friends are."
"I don't know what her hobbies are."
"I don't know what kind of music she likes."
"I don't even know what she usually does after school."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"I guess... I don't know as much about her as I thought I did."
Hee-Young smiled softly.
"Exactly."
"That's why I'm telling you not to confess just yet."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Instead..."
"Use this opportunity to get to know her."
"Learn about the little things."
"Her hobbies."
"Her favorite places."
"The things that make her laugh."
"The things she dislikes."
"The more you understand her..."
"The more natural your feelings will become."
She paused before adding with a gentle smile,
"And don't forget..."
"This won't just be a chance for you to learn about her."
"It'll also be a chance for her to learn about you."
Kentarou looked at the table, quietly reflecting on her words.
After a long silence, a small smile appeared on his face.
"...You're right."
"You really have a point."
Hee-Young smiled back.
"I know."
The two of them packed their books as the librarian announced the closing time.
Kentarou slung his backpack over his shoulder before turning toward Hee-Young.
"...Thanks."
"For today."
She waved her hand casually.
"You're always welcome, Izumi."
The evening breeze greeted them as they stepped outside the library.
For the first time in days...
Kentarou no longer felt lost.
He finally knew what his next step should be.
Not to rush toward a confession...
But to begin understanding the person he loved.