Chapter 10: Date II [4]

"Hey," the boy called out as he grumbled.

Right now, in a certain arcade center, there are two particular people playing an arcade game. It is the common 1v1 arcade games where each sides' chosen characters would be pitted against each other. And as how matches would be decided, the one who remains standing till the end will be declared victor.

Simple and easy, wasn't it?

What did you even expect anyways?

On the left side, there is the boy sitting with a slight frown on his face. He has this foreign features that people wouldn't normally see around this city. Silver long hair tied in a ponytail style with amethyst crystal eyes. Many would probably mistake the boy as a woman if he were to wear a dress or something misleading much to his horror.

A single trail of sweat could be seen on his forehead, fingers on his controller moving swiftly, and intense eyes remaining stuck on the screen of the arcade game showing that he is quite focused on the ongoing match.

On the other side, there is this blond haired man with a carefree expression on his face. Like the boy, his features could be described as also foreign in the area. Unlike the boy who was looking like his life was on stake while he was playing this game, he instead was just playing in a relaxed demeanor.

The two were slowly gathering spectators around the area with their heated match going on. And despite their many differences in appearance, some even pointed out that these two might be brothers, or relatives.

'How did their thoughts even concluded it to be like that?' Is what the boy would probably wonder in his mind if he knows some of their thoughts.

Hearing the boy's call, the man responded as he remained focused on the screen, "What is it?"

"Mind explaining me what am I doing here again with you instead of spending quality time with the two," The boy said as his brows twitched seeing that his character on the screen was slowly losing the game.

"Hm hmm," The man nodded to himself before answering. "Let's say that I am here to buy some time to complete preparations"

The man then made his decisive move, the character he was controlling on the screen made a swift combo, that seemed to chained up into an endless barrage.

In the end, the boy's character was helpless and could not break free from the combo.

"Shit..." And the boy let out a curse knowing how this match will end up.

And after a few seconds later, being unable to break free from the relentless attack from his

"That was a good match," The man congratulated from the other side.

In response, the boy snorted as he inserted another token to the machine. "....yeah, so one more game? Rematch?"

"I won't mind but Rei-kun, how many times will you keep challenging me here? It seems that nothing will change even if we stay here for the whole day," the man questioned in a light tone.

"As much as I want to," the boy—Rei snorted at the man—Kannazuki's words as he experienced his '7th loss' of this game that they are playing currently. "...or at the very least, up until I am satisfied or if I just break my losing streak in this damned game challenging you"

"That won't happen anytime sooner," Kannazuki answered plainly with a smile.

"....I know," Rei admitted. The man was really good in the game, masterful if he were to honestly praise him with his given skills. "So? Any updates?"

Knowing what Rei what talking about, Kannazuki just shook his head and answered.

"Nothing so far. Going still for another round?"

"...I already said it, didn't I? And I swear I'll win this time"

"I'm looking forward to that"

And so, after a few more minutes and several more matches, it all concluded with a 10-0 game. Well, Kannazuki having won 10 games while Rei having 0 much to his dismay.

"Unbelievable...." The bitterness in Rei's voice as he uttered that single word was so clear that Kannazuki couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Hahaha. No, this is something that is believable. After all, it just happened right before you," Informed Kannazuki as he adjusted his collar. "This is something that I achieved through my hard work!" he declared.

"...So you are saying that managing the control systems and such on that gigantic airship of yours was something applicable to a simple arcade game like this?" Rei deadpanned.

In response, Kannazuki just nodded as if it was a matter of fact much to Rei's irritation.

Rei then sighed. To be honest, getting worked up with such a trivial matter like losing to a game was something that Rei didn't expect to happen this day.

To fill up some details, it has been a while since Rei separated with Tohka and Tenka. Reason being that they (Only Tohka to be honest) need to prepare the venue for their date with several friends. Tenka had more less, tagged along to keep her in check.

As soon as Rei heard the keywords 'prepare' and 'friends', Rei already knew that <Fraxinus> would now make their first notable move to assist them in this date.

'Well, I already knew that they would involve themselves in this date. Let's see how this will go then?' Was his thoughts as soon as he gave the go-sign for the two.

And to take note, it's been approximately 30 minutes since they had split up. He really wondered how the two are doing right now considering that 30 minutes was quite some time to have their preparations finished in the end.

It's quite funny actually. It was supposed to be reversed for all he knew. It should've been normally the male who will take the mantle of receiving orders from <Fraxinus> and Kotori in making moves in this date. The mere thought of Tohka doing what the 'sealer' should normally do brought him amusement like no other.

"Ah. It seems that they are finally done. It's time to take our leave, Rei-kun," Kannazuki informed.

"I see... let's go then"

Rei answered before standing up from his seat. Kannazuki followed right after him. Soon, the two began to walk away from the arcade center, with Rei following Kannazuki as he guided him towards their next destination.

"So, are we going to talk about the details while walking towards where these preparations of yours were staged?" Rei spoke up, quite curious about what <Fraxinus> had prepared for.

"Correct. In fact, this is more simple than you might have expected it to be," Replied the blonde as he smiled.

"Simple?"

"Yes. Let me explain..."

Soon, Rei's words died down as he listened to Kannazuki's brief explanation of the matter. Rei just gave him a silent stare, though the fact that he was interested about it made him time to think about it before giving it a go.

"So like, we are just going to have a one on one talk? Like to know more about each other? Just like that?" Rei questioned, still quite doubtful about the 'scenario' they prepared.

Seeing his reaction, Kannazuki let out a cough as they continued to walk.

"Ehem, in a nutshell, that description of yours couldn't be any more than correct, Rei-kun, but it is up to you to think more about it," Kannazuki answered. "In fact, researches states that this 'scenario' that we prepared would likely be effective to at least strengthen the bonds even for a little"

"...Is that so?" Rei replied. He is still quite doubtful for the fact that a mere one-on-one talk would just straight out be effective just like what Kannazuki described it to be.

'Bonds huh?'

However, Rei knows that they are serious about it.

Rei might have known the eccentric and weird ways upon how <Fraxinus> operates, specially their choices. Nonetheless, they were proved to be quite effective in one way or another, specially throughout the date of each Spirits.

Whether it was by pure calculation, luck, or some kind of bullshittery, it was proven that most of them definitely works.

So he decided to put his bet on them just this once.

"Then I'll trust you guys with this," he admitted with a shrug.

Hearing his response, Kannazuki gladly nodded and replied, "Your trust is much obliged"

After a few more minutes of walking, the duo finally arrived on a peculiar door in the building. It has a strange sign depicting "WARNING".

Rei deadpanned again at Kannazuki who was next to him and asked, "Seriously?"

"Hm? Is there something that concerns you?"

"Nevermind..." He sighed. "I just need to get past through this door, right?"

"Yes," Kannazuki answered before turning his back on him while giving his farewell. "With that said, I wish for this date's ending to be a success"

"...Thanks"

Finally, with everything in place, Rei opened the door. As soon as he stepped in the room, the thing that greeted him was the feeling of being pulled out to somewhere else.

————

Rei tilted his neck suspiciously, as he eyed the place. Being brought here via teleportation which was not his own was definitely something that he couldn't get used to.

Kannazuki gave him a note—well, not exactly a 'note' in paper but something similar but more advance per see. He was now holding a tablet containing the answers to his silent inquiries about this matter.

"So, uh... 'Interviewing the Spirits to create a new database'," Rei muttered under his breath. "...Like a social or psychological test or something? They sure are honest about their intentions huh"

To be fair, it's a win-win situation for all he knows. Them collecting data from this date was something that Rei already expected that they would do, at least, they are showing him that they are honest about it.

Still, the situation where this date of them was being monitored at each second was something that Rei would even feel uncomfortable for. After all, who wouldn't? Privacy you know?

But right at this moment, he wouldn't mind it too much. Besides, as long as Tohka and Tenka enjoys this date, there is nothing he could ask for this day.

Inside a strange room, Rei let out a short laugh before blinking again at the contents displayed on the screen of the tablet.

'I am still doubtful that this would be just that easy like this....'

Despite thinking of this, it's not like he can stop now, not that he would even stop after everything that happened to this date already. To 'interview' the Spirits, Rei opened the only door available in this room, as he had been told.

As soon, as he opened the door...

"Oh, Rei! You took your time!"

...he was immediately greeted with a cheerful voice.

"...Tohka?"

That's right. The one standing there was the Tohka that Rei knew quite well. She was sitting in a couch that couldn't be called nothing more than expensive.

The room was in pristine white colors, and to add another fact, everything around them were colored white. Be it the tiles, the lights, the walls, and even the furnitures.

'So Tohka's first?' was the words left in his mind as he continued to walk to the one seat available right in front of Tohka.

As soon, as he sat down, Tohka who can't get a hold of her excitement then asked, "So~? Did Kannazuki already explain what will happen next?"

"Oh my? You didn't know much about how things will go here?" Rei quirked a brow as he teased.

"Silly Rei, of course I know the necessary details! But, knowing everything would take the fun away, won't it?" Tohka said with a smug smile.

Though Rei was quite skeptical about what she was being smug about in the first place, in the end, he just let out a chuckle at the never changing happy demeanor of Tohka this day.

"Guess it would. Point taken," Rei replied.

"Umu!"

"So let's start this, shall we?"

——

[Q1: Could you introduce yourself?]

"Umu! I'm Tohka Yatogami!"

"Yep, totally Tohka," Rei said, his words so soft that it could not be noticed except for the fact that they are the only two available people in the room.

"Is there something else needed to be said, Rei?"

"Nah, just mumbling to myself," Rei replied as he narrowed his eyes at the tablet given to him.

As far as he could observe...

'These... really are all just simple questions...?'

Very simple in fact. The screen shown on the tablet in his hands was consisted of six simple questions. He started even doubting more if this would just easily work as they had thought it to be.

He blinked once more checking if his eyes were playing with him. And apparently, it wasn't.

"Did I perhaps say something wrong...?"

Tohka was confused. Did she? No, she probably did not.

"No, you didn't. Don't worry, let's move to the next one then"

"Umu!"

***

[Q2: What do you like?]

"You and Sis of course!" Tohka instantly answered which brought Rei to give a small smile.

In his opinion, this question should be at least be revised, just a little. It's too...well, simple. He should add something, but something that won't really be out of order from the original.

Or maybe not...

"Hm, then let's rephrase that question for a little bit," Rei said as he held his chin for a few seconds then nodded to himself slowly.

"Nu?" Tohka could only tilt her head as for what Rei was thinking off right now.

"Other than me and Tenka, what do you like the most?"

"Ooh! Then I like kinako bread...!"

"Ah...as I thought, that's Tohka for you," Rei said. "And other than me, Tenka, and Kinako bread, what else do you like?"

It was then, Tohka showed a slightly troubled expression as she held her chin, "This is...hard"

"Hard?"

Tohka nodded, "Un. After all, other than what I've just given, I can't think of anything else that I can define that I 'genuinely' like..."

***

[Q3: What do you not like?]

"Fumu… what food I don't like, huh? That's a hard one as well…"

"No, well, it's not about food really, it could be anything else… ah, but I do remember you couldn't eat some foods out there like the 'The-extremely-spicy-soup-Rei-likes'—or so you called, right, Tohka?"

"It's not that I dislike them, it's just that I'm not good with them. I feel sorry that I couldn't enjoy eating something. I swear I'll conquer them someday!" She declared puffing out her chest.

"Conquer?"

"Umu!" Tohka nodded in resolution

"Don't force yourself, Tohka," Rei interrupted flashing a worried smile. "You don't have too if you don't like it, you know?"

In response, Tohka puffed up her cheeks as she shook her head in denial at his statement.

"Nuh uh. Much as I don't like to admit it, that Mapo-something is a delicious dish..." She said before frowning a little at her next words. "...only if you ignore the ridiculous spiciness of it..."

"That's the charm behind it, you know?" Rei shrugged. "It's deliciously spicy which what makes it so good for selected people such as myself"

"Un. I also knew that it is one of your favorite dishes. Much more the reason for me to conquer it"

This was one of the moments where he heard Tohka brimming with resolution, and he knows that there is no way to convince Tohka out of that.

***

[Q4: What kind of man do you like?]

"Like… wait. Why are you asking such a question?" She then perked up visibly confused by his words.

Rei just knowingly smiled at her as he pointed his finger at the tablet he was holding, "I'm just asking what I'm supposed to ask"

"Isn't it obvious already? The answer to that I mean?" She tilted her head in confusion.

Rei just shrugged, "Who knows? I want to hear it from you right now?"

"O-of course, its someone like you, Rei. Hmph," She huffed as she crossed her arms and turned her face away, red from slight embarrassment. "Why are you even asking such an obvious thing?"

"Well, let's say I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do," Rei then smiled at Tohka. "Anything more you'd like to say?"

"Mou, of course, its only you Rei...but..."

"...Yeah let's move to the nex—huh? Tohka?"

Rei slowly asked not expecting the 'but' coming from her.

A brief silence ensued the room. As if a

Tohka then held her cheeks as she closed her eyes. Her expression saying that she was troubled by something.

"Oh my? What a problem… the second one is also Rei. Oh the third would be also Rei. Hehe~" Tohka spoke opening one of her eyes as she looked at him. "What a shame isn't it? Rei? Are you expecting other than your name to pop up?

"W-who knows? I can't read minds you know? Hahaha…"

'I messed up on how I said it, didn't I?' was his idle thoughts before freezing for a second realizing how dumb he sounded.

Rei then took a look at Tohka. His reaction from a while ago seemingly brought Tohka a grin on her face, a victorious grin in fact.

"Heh~ Did you get nervous? That I will say anybody else other than you?" Tohka teased as she started to lean her own body forward as she looked at him. "Ah, how cute~?"

"..."

"Hehe, somebody's jealous~? Ah, don't worry! The only man I will like—no, love, will only be you!"

Rei swears that somebody was probably laughing at him right now. And whoever it was, damn you.

***

[Q5: How would you confess to the man you like?]

"Make me miso soup every morning!"

"I won't mind but...Shouldn't a man say that?"

"Umu. It's a great phrase I heard on TV, and it left a mark on me"

"Well, I can't deny it's an appropriate phrase—"

Before he could finish those words however, Tohka giggled as she gestured her hands in denial.

"Hehe, it's a joke. A joke!" she said calling out his attention.

"Oh? Then what would you say then?"

"Take responsibility"

"Ah"

"Rei? Is there a problem with that?"

After a few seconds of silence, Rei shook his head as he closed his eyes. He then opened it again only to meet her jewel like eyes staring back at him.

"It's... nothing. And I'll take responsibility, I promise"

***

[Q6: Any last words to close the interview?]

"...Rei!"

"What is it, Tohka?"

"Umm… well, I'm going to make you very happy!" Tohka said as she reached out his hands and clasped it tightly. "That's why... please don't leave me, okay?"

——

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[A/N: Finally! I got the chapter out! Man, RL things really bit me in the ass this week. As you can see, this chap was very late. Nearly two weeks late!

As for now, this 'interview' thingy was something that just popped up in my mind like 2 days ago, I kinda read something like this in a LN (forgot the name). And to be honest, writing this was harder than expected.

Thankfully however, it seems that the side story of DAL also has something similar to that! It's a pure chance of luck that I managed to stumble upon it!

Many would say that this chap is incomplete, reason being Tenka not showing up. Well, she would as any normal reader would predict in the next chapter. I cut it into two... reason being that it would probably take next week for this chap to release if that was the case.

Also, about the appearance of Kannazuki here, let's just say that the man is definitely in position for a good wingman, no matter how eccentric and unusual he may be.

And by the way guys, don't worry about me dropping this novel if I don't update for like 20 days. This novel won't be dropped any time sooner. I'm just busy. Irregular updates are still on air, specially in this upcoming September, I probably would take a break on writing. At the very least, I think I can still whip one last chapter in the last days of August or this early September.

With that said, ciao~]