Date(1)

Running alongside her brought me immeasurable joy.

That was the only thought occupying my mind as we raced through the bustling streets, our speed so swift that it appeared to be a mere result of the wind's whims.

The reason behind our pace? Well, I may have teased Ais a bit too much, igniting her determination to prove me wrong about her speed.

But truth be told, I never really considered her slow. Ais had already shattered her own limitations once before. While she managed to free herself from some constraints, there were still many burdens weighing upon her heart and body.

I vowed to do my best to alleviate her from those burdens, but for now, I chose to revel in the presence of my beloved Angel—the woman I had longed to be with.

Images of my mother's words, urging me to visit her with my future wife, flashed briefly in my mind, evoking a sigh as I purchased two Jagamarukuns...

"Here... wait. Your face seems familiar. Do I know you?"

Startled out of my reverie, I scrutinized the shopkeeper closely.

Ah, of course. It had to be Hestia.

What a nuisance. Just go and simp over Bell.

I have no need for your presence in my story whatsoever.

Although I almost voiced my annoyance, I restrained myself and responded directly, urgency lacing my tone.

"Does it matter? Could you please give her the Jagamarukuns? She wants to eat them."

My plea carried a sense of urgency as if Ais would be utterly devastated if she didn't get to taste them. Even though I couldn't fathom their flavor since I hadn't bothered to read about it, I had always read about Ais's sheer delight in devouring them. That's what I had signed up for...

"H-Huh, right..."

In a daze, Hestia handed the disguised Ais the Jagamarukuns, and I observed Ais's eyes light up, her golden irises practically aglow.

Oh, she's absolutely adorable. Thank you, Ais's mother. If I ever have the chance to speak with you, I won't be able to resist expressing my gratitude for giving birth to such an enchanting angel...

I simply watched as Ais stared intently at the Jagamarukuns, and together, we ventured far from the stall to ensure I wouldn't encounter the White Rabbit.

I still couldn't fully comprehend how [Liaris Freese] worked. What if my illusions had no effect on him? I hadn't tested it, and it only worked on Hestia because she wasn't actively employing her Arcanum.

She had merely been suspicious, as I hadn't intended to cause her harm in the first place.

But such thoughts faded into oblivion as Ais, after gazing at the pair of Jagamarukuns for a considerable duration, extended her hand—a clear invitation to share them with me.

Honestly, I had only bought two for her enjoyment, never caring much about their taste.

But since my beloved Angel wished to partake in this shared experience, I couldn't possibly refuse her.

With a simple nod, I took the Jagamarukun into my hand and sunk my teeth into it.

I was immediately greeted by a burst of delightful flavors dancing on my tongue. The crisp and golden exterior provided a satisfying crunch, harmoniously blending with the soft and fluffy interior of seasoned mashed potatoes.

Each bite offered a tantalizing contrast between the textures, as the savory seasoning elevated the taste to new heights. It left me with a sense of culinary bliss as I almost moane-

Do you believe this is some kind of Food Wars¹⁶ episode? Nah, it wasn't about the taste itself. It tasted delectable solely because Ais had requested me to partake in it. It was infused with the power of her irresistible cuteness...

Naturally, my gaze remained fixated on her delicate figure as she took dainty bites, savoring the flavor with an apparent reluctance to part with it too quickly.

Oh, goodness, she's unbelievably adorable.

As we reveled in the gradually unfolding atmosphere, created by the delightful Jagamarukuns, I anticipated that Ais had something on her mind, something she wished to inquire about.

"...I..."

I observed her avert her gaze from mine, hesitating to continue her statement.

Now, I could have easily played the role of the confused party, asking her, "Is something the matter?" and receiving the all-too-familiar response of "...Nothing." We would then proceed happily on this date, unaffected by any deep conversation. However, I opted against that, don't you worry.

"Ais, you can ask me anything. If it's coming from you, I'm willing to share everything, without reservations. By now, you already know this, so feel free to open up."

My words were uttered without a hint of hesitation, allowing her the time she needed to gather herself, which she soon did.

"Do you... think you can tell me... about your past?"

Perhaps she felt a sense of imbalance, realizing that I knew everything about her, while she remained in the dark about my own history...

"Of course. However, we should create a sound barrier for this. What I'm about to disclose is rather extraordinary, and I'd prefer it if you didn't have an adverse reaction. Although I doubt you would, it's always better to err on the side of caution. So, what do you say, Ais? Are you prepared?"

I inquired, extending my hand as I generated a sound "barrier," or more accurately, a field that not only nullified sound from reaching the outside world but also concealed us from prying eyes. To outsiders, we would simply appear as two individuals engaged in a typical conversation on this bench.

It would certainly be awkward if someone attempted to sit on us, wouldn't it?

As I noticed her resolute determination to comprehend me, a genuine smile graced my lips—an unfamiliar sensation, if I may say so, as I did not recall when I started smiling.

Strangely enough, I disregarded this newfound emotion as I delved into my introduction, adopting a somewhat somber tone.

"Firstly, I must confess that I did not originate from the world I came through to reach this one. I hail from a world called Earth. And you, Ais, were a collection of pixels I used to gaze upon endlessly, as a means of escaping my own life. No, it would be more accurate to say that you provided me with the motivation to carry on for another day, solely to catch a glimpse of you during that time."

Once again, I paid no heed to the darkness that seemed to linger in my words. Nor did I interrupt my narrative to scrutinize her reaction. For some reason, I felt an uneasiness in doing so...

"Pi...xels?"

Ah, yes, it slipped my mind that she isn't familiar with the concept of pixels. It seems I'll have to start from the basics, first. This might take a while...

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16: Welp, if you didn't see "Food Wars", it's better to watch it with the volume lowered. The girls just moan endlessly there when tasting "food"...

Author's Note:

I just finished my exam, and let me tell you, I aced it. With countless reminders from you all to study diligently, I truly applied myself this time. Now, I suppose I can proudly call myself a master of physics... well, not really.

On another note, regarding the progress of our Discord server, we've made some exciting developments. Although I can't pinpoint an exact date for its official launch, we're making good headway. If anyone is interested in lending a hand, please feel free to share your Discord usernames!

As I sit here, running on a mere three and a half hours of sleep, I can honestly say I'm on the brink of exhaustion. I'm not sure how much more I'll be able to post today but fear not, the second part of this story will be released later on. Stay tuned!