Is this even a date?!

As we walked through the human village, Sakuya seemed to be enjoying the vibrant atmosphere. The stalls were bustling with people, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods.

"Shun, how about we check out that clothing store?" Sakuya pointed to a shop with elegant dresses on display.

"Sure, that sounds good," I replied, genuinely interested in the idea.

In the store, Sakuya started browsing through the dresses, occasionally holding one up as if considering it.

"Shun, what do you think about this one?" she asked, holding a particularly graceful dress.

I looked at it, trying to give an honest opinion. "It looks really nice. Elegant and classy."

Sakuya smiled, seemingly pleased with my response. However, there was a subtle disappointment in her eyes that I couldn't quite grasp. 

We continued our stroll through the village, visiting various shops. 

As we passed by a flower shop, Sakuya stopped. "Shun, do you like flowers?"

"Yeah, I do. They're beautiful."

She picked a red rose and handed it to me. "Here, a symbol of appreciation for your one year with us."

"Thank you, Miss Sakuya. It's beautiful," I said, genuinely touched.

Little did I realize, the subtle disappointment in Sakuya's eyes was turning into amusement. Deep down, though, a part of me started questioning if I was missing something.

Inwardly, I chuckled at myself. "Am I being dense, or is she just being playful?"

Sakuya's POV...

Amid the bustling village, Shun's obliviousness was both amusing and frustrating for Sakuya. Each attempt to create a more intimate atmosphere seemed to sail over his head, leaving her slightly exasperated.

As they walked through the shops, the crowd, and the myriad of scents, Sakuya found herself questioning whether Shun was genuinely dense or playing along.

"Is he doing this on purpose? Or am I really being too subtle?" she pondered, masking her inner turmoil with a pleasant smile.

Despite her internal sighs, Sakuya couldn't help but be captivated by Shun's genuine enjoyment of the day. His laughter and the sparkle in his eyes were contagious, and she found herself enjoying the day in a different way.

However, as they continued their shopping, Sakuya couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Subtle gazes from the corners of her eyes sent shivers down her spine.

"Who could it be?" she wondered, surreptitiously glancing around. She didn't want to alarm Shun, but her instincts were telling her that they were not alone.

At that moment, our attention was drawn to Marisa, who, in turn, spotted us and advanced with her customary mischievous grin, taking us off guard.

"Good evening, Shun and Sakuya! What brings you guys here?" Marisa asked with a twirl of her hat.

"Hmmm... we're getting things for later. How about you, Marisa? What brings you here?"

Marisa chuckled, "Me? Just thought of dropping by Kourindou's shop. Heard he got some new goodies from the outside world thanks to Sumireko."

"Hmm? Sumireko?" Shun mused for a moment but then dismissed the thought.

Sakuya, on the other hand, faced a more pressing issue. The sudden attention to her attire prompted Marisa's curiosity.

"By the way," Marisa continued, "Why's Sakuya in such a fancy dress? It's not like you, Sakuya. Got a hot date or something?"

Shun's eyes widened at the implication, and Sakuya felt a flush creeping up her cheeks. 

Think, Sakuya, think!

"I... uh, well, Lady Remilia wanted a special celebration for Shun's one-year anniversary here," Sakuya stammered, hoping her explanation sounded convincing.

"A celebration, huh? Fancy dress for that?" Marisa teased, raising an eyebrow.

Sakuya couldn't help but glance at Shun, who seemed to be processing the information. She added with a playful smile, "Well, you know, Lady Remilia's idea of a celebration can be quite grand."

Shun nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Ah, I see. Well, let's get going then."

As Marisa waved us off, Sakuya let out a silent breath of relief, thankful for the swift recovery.

That was close.

Back to Shun's POV

As we walked back, a familiar voice interrupted our conversation.

"Oh? If it isn't Sakuya and Shun!" Youmu Konpaku appeared, a smile playing on her lips, but there was something subtle in her gaze—a hint of something more.

"Good evening, Youmu. Where's Lady Yuyuko?" Sakuya inquired.

"Lady Yuyuko is currently attending the one-year anniversary for you, Shun," Youmu responded.

"Eh? So it's a public celebration?" I asked, intrigued.

"Yeah, the word just got out, thanks to the Miss Aya's Bunbunmaru Newspaper," Youmu explained.

"So it was Aya, huh... Interesting," I mused.

"More importantly..." Youmu suddenly positioned herself between Sakuya and me, her expression shifting ever so slightly, "How about I help you?"

There was an undercurrent in Youmu's words, a subtle jealousy that couldn't be ignored.

"Hm? Wait a second, if Lady Remilia invited everyone through Aya's newspaper... Does that imply that I'm the star of the host?!"

"That's right!" Youmu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she clung to my arm.

*Tch* Meanwhile, Sakuya shot daggers at Youmu, her normally composed demeanor strained as she attempted to calm herself.

In the end... We all asked the same question, "Is this even a date?" The uncertainty hung in the air, adding a layer of complexity to our seemingly straightforward outing.