36 Kate, 'First Date' (1)
"… It's time. Kate should be coming any moment now…"
The current time is 9:00 A.M. on a Saturday in the middle of September. Summer is almost ending, as such the temperature and weather today is great. Not too hot, not too cold, barely a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a date.
In an unbuttoned red and white plaid flannel shirt, black t-shirt, and a nice pair of jeans, I am currently standing in front of a large fountain located in the middle of the NorthWest Sector's largest Tourist District: Luminous.
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The Isle of the Braves, home to not only Raeparth's Academy but is also known as the largest man-made island to be ever constructed. Around 3000 square miles (7770 square km) in size, before being known as the 'Isle of the Braves', this man-made island had been originally made to be used as both a research facility and defensive fortress for the control and administration of the 'Black Stele'. However, as the Earth Union began to allow civilians access the the 'Black Steles' and the size of the island grew bigger every passing day, the island opened itself to the public. With a population of over 1 million people, the 'Isle of the Braves' also became one of the biggest tourist spots in the world. At least 5 million tourists visit every year.
According to the map of the 'Isle of the Braves', the island is split into several sectors, each with their own specific theme.
Central Sector (Academia Sector). All academic/education-related buildings and/or organizations, including Raeparth's Academy, are located here.
North-West Sector (Tourism Sector). The main reason why tourists visit the 'Isle of the Braves' in the first place. This sector is filled with many unique tourist attractions that can't be found anywhere else.
North-East Sector (Residential Sector). The residential area of the 'Isle of the Braves'. This is where most of the population is concentrated and is probably the biggest sector of them all. Even now the sector continues to expand to accommodate its ever-growing population.
South-West Sector (Trade Sector). Home to the 'Isle of the Braves' largest harbor and airport. The economic center for the 'Isle of the Braves'.
South-East Sector (Research Sector). Home to the Otherworld and System Research Institute (OSRI), one of the biggest organizations for research done about all things related to the otherworlds and the mysterious System. The ISAB building where I received my System from the 'Black Stele' is located right here.
While each Sector contains its own unique charms, for a 'date spot' only the North-West Sector is the way to go. More specifically, the greatest tourist district of all North-West Sector: the city of light Luminous.
Filled with all types of entertainment and attractions that are sure to satisfy any tourist who comes here.
Zoo. Aquarium. Amusement Parks. Multitudes of restaurants with unique dishes. And lots more! Luminous has them all.
If it's here, have nothing to do during the date will never be a problem.
After that day, in an effort to cheer Kate up, I offered to go on a date with her.
It was just a simple thought process of distracting her with something fun so she can forget, nothing more.
Well, if she decides to decline my offer, it will all for naught, though. Thankfully she didn't.
With that, it was decided that we will go on a date together on the weekends.
Since I was the one who offered, I felt it was my duty to think up the entire date plan myself. As this is my first time doing so, it resulted in me not having the leeway to think of anything else.
This resulted in me postponing my plans for creating the Massage Club.
I felt as though I should give an apology to Lexi because of this. She had been helping me with the creation of the club all this time. She is not a stranger anymore and deserves to know. I don't know what she will react to this, but both Kate and I went to inform her together.
But when we told her of what was going on, this was what she had to say about it:
'Fufu~ You guys are going on a date together? That sounds so nice! Really nice… fufu~ it's okay, don't mind me. You guys do what you want. Don't let me stop you.'
So with Lexi's Seal of Approval(?), our date plans were finally decided.
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"Dan!!"
"Hmm? Ah, so there she is."
Hearing the sound of someone shouting my name I turned my head towards the source. What I saw was the figure of Kate running towards me in a hurried manner.
With quick feet, Kate finally arrived right in front of me out of breath.
"Haa…haa… Sorry! I'm really sorry. Did you have to wait long?"
"It's OK. I only just got here as well. Just take your time to catch your breath, we got plenty."
Seeing Kate so worried about being late, I couldn't help but try to calm her down that that was not the case. Honestly, in actuality, she was only late by a minute or two at most, nothing to worry about. It's not like this was a job interview or anything where it is manners to arrive around 10 minutes early. I would also have not blamed her if she arrived at an even later time.
… Well, an hour-long wait would be way too long, if I were to be honest.
Kate continued to slowly catch her breath. As I wait, I was finally able to get a clear view of what Kate is wearing today.
Despite being friends with her for over a year now, this is probably the first time I had ever seen Kate wear something besides her school uniform. We usually never hang out outside of school because of many reasons (namely because of Tony and my part-time jobs).
Wearing a white long-sleeve crop top, black denim shorts, a nice pair of shoes, and a few accessories like a silver necklace and a simple hair accessory. Although she ran so hard, it seems that the light make-up she wears is not messed up at all. She also is holding a small stylish carry bag which she kept slung on her shoulder.
Her exposed white, slender yet toned legs seemed to magnetize my gaze towards it. Despite my best efforts to move my eyes away, I always glance back. Even though I see plenty of her thighs while at school in her uniform, there is just something different seeing a girl in her casual clothes.
Seeing this fresh new look on her, it makes me recognize once again that Kate is truly a very beautiful girl.
"… You don't have to stare at me so hard. Is it… weird?" Having caught her breath, Kate noticed my gaze and began to try hiding herself with her hands.
I can see eyes look at me with a worried look. It seems Kate doesn't seem to have much confidence in her outfit. I don't think that there is any problem, though?
"No, not at all. It really fits you." I gave her my honest answer.
Hearing my praise, Kate showed an embarrassed yet happy expression.
"… I see. That's good. You also look good, Dan."
"Is that so? I'm not into fashion, so I wouldn't know. I just chose one of the outfits Kay decided for me when we went shopping together before."
"Kay did? I see, I never knew. But… as expect of Kay. Great choice." Kate looked me up and down while giving a nod of satisfaction. Is it really that great?
"Thank you. I'll take that compliment in Kay's stead."
Maybe because it's a 'date', Kate looked rather uncharacteristically tense being with me. Not that I don't understand how she feels. But with the small talk, we did just now, most of her tension went away, mine included.
"So now that we're all here, how about we get started?"
Kate and my first 'date'… it begins now!
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The first one the agenda I had in mind was to Luminous Aquarium, the biggest and only aquarium in all of the 'Isle of the Braves'. The protagonist of this date in unmistakably Kate. In an effort to cheer Kate up, I chose the best spots that would make Kate happy the most. From a conversation, we had way back. I heard from Kate that Luminous Aquarion regularly holds large shows showcasing the tricks many of the animals they have there can do. Kate made sure to make me know that she always wanted to go and watch it once in her life. As luck would have it, one of their shows will be airing at 10:00 A.M. today.
We lined up at Luminous Aquarium's ticket booth.
Once it became our turn to buy our tickets, I begin to talk to the receptionist.
"Excuse me, I would like to buy two student tickets, please."
"Of course, if you can show your student IDs as well, that will be $15 each."
"OK."
Just as I was about to pay for both of our tickets, Kate stopped me just in time.
"Wait, Dan. You aren't planning to pay for both of our tickets are you?"
"? Is that bad? I was the one who brought here, after all. It's right for me to pay for everything, you don't have to worry."
"You can't afford to use your hard-earned money for things like this, right? This will go against my conscience. Let me pay for it."
"That won't do, " I shook my head, "Going here was for your sake. I should be the one to pay."
"That kind of thing doesn't matter. You don't have to do that for my sake. Let me pay for it."
In front of the ticket booth, a verbal fight between us was born out of nowhere. An argument to decide who is the one paying for who, both of us were not willing to back down in the slightest.
"…Um, dear customers it's best if you decide now. You are holding up the line."
""Ah!""
With a single phrase, the receptionist broke up the fight between us. After a moment of silence, I was the one to open my mouth first.
"How about this? We will just pay for our own tickets. Deal?"
"… Fine."
Reaching an agreement, both of us paid for our tickets and we were finally let inside the Aquarium.
The both of us did not talk at all once we were let inside.
… What the heck am I doing? The reason I was here at all was to cheer Kate up. We barely even started and we already got into an argument. I should apologize.
"Kate…" "Dan…"
""I'm sorry!""
""Huh?""
The moment I decide to apologize, Kate apologized at the same time. Why though? I should be the one apologizing.
"Kate, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have to argue with you. I just wanted you to have a good time."
"Dan… I'm sorry, too. I knew you had good intentions, but I argued against you anyways. I just wanted you to not have to sacrifice yourself for me."
Having let out both our feelings to each other, the 'bad air' we had between us went away without a trace.
"I see… I did something that made you worry about me. That wasn't my intention."
"I know. I also shouldn't have become so aggressive, as well."
I gave a small smile to Kate. She gave a small smile back.
"Haha… our 'date' already became such a mess, huh? It's more difficult than I thought."
"Haha… It can't be helped. It's our first time after all."
The sound of our laughter caught the attention of some of the kids that came with their families to look at us. We waved them 'hello' when the did. Losing interest, the went back to their parents.
"Haha…fuu~ well let's decide here and now. We will just pay for our own things from now on. Sounds like a plan?"
"Haha… Yes!"
Having got this out of the way, it's time that we will now finally really enjoy ourselves.
