The morning was splendid, perfect for a date.

Yuki arrived at the meeting point she had agreed on with Takeshi.

’I hope Takeshi notices my dress... It took me hours to choose it.’

In the distance, she managed to spot Takeshi.

’There he is!’

Her smile faded when she saw Aoi with him.

"Why is she here?"

Her gaze went first to Takeshi, then to Aoi, then back to Takeshi. She waited for them to approach.

"I came with company."

Takeshi said, somewhat nervous, to which Yuki replied dryly.

"I can see that."

Aoi and Yuki looked at each other.

The chat appeared floating above the three of them.

[The threesome date nobody asked for]

[The tension is already thick and they haven’t even entered the park yet]

No one said anything for a moment. Then Yuki turned and started walking inside.

"The place is this way."

The three entered the park.

The café was near the lake, just as Yuki had described. It was a small place with tables inside and a few outside, overlooking the water. At that hour, it was about half full.

The available tables were for two or for four. Yuki headed straight for a two-person table without asking. Aoi took the chair on the side before Yuki could reach it. Yuki stopped, looked at the occupied chair, and took the one across. Takeshi observed the situation.

’Where am I supposed to sit?’

The table was for two and both chairs were taken.

He grabbed a chair from a nearby empty table, dragged it over, and sat at one of the ends.

The waiter took their orders. While he did, Yuki and Aoi answered his questions in a normal tone. As soon as the waiter left, the atmosphere returned to what it had been.

"How did you find this place?"

Aoi asked Yuki in a neutral tone, but with her eyes fixed on her.

"Someone mentioned it."

Yuki replied with little desire to answer.

"Who?"

"I don’t remember."

Aoi nodded slowly, as if the answer confirmed something.

Yuki turned toward Takeshi and, in a completely different tone from a moment ago, asked him.

"How did you sleep?"

"Good... I think."

"Did Akari make you breakfast this morning?"

"Yeah."

"What did she make?"

Takeshi looked at her for a second.

"Toast."

Aoi intervened before Yuki could continue.

"Takeshi, do you want to sit by the window? There’s more light."

"I’m fine here."

"The chair you brought isn’t very comfortable."

"I said I’m fine."

Their orders arrived ten minutes later.

The food was good, but no one commented on it. Instead, Aoi decided to take advantage of the situation.

"Takeshi, do you want to try my food?"

"Huh?"

Aoi leaned toward him with her spoon, and before it reached his mouth, Yuki intervened.

"I want you to try mine too!"

The conflict ended when Takeshi said he was already full.

After the café, the three left for the park. Yuki started walking toward the lake area while Aoi walked beside Takeshi. Yuki adjusted her position to end up on Takeshi’s other side. The three advanced along the path in that formation for a while.

Yuki stopped in front of a beverage stand.

"Takeshi, do you want to come with me to buy a drink?"

Before Takeshi could answer, Aoi interrupted.

"I’ll go too!"

"I wasn’t asking you."

Yuki muttered.

"What did you say?"

"I said it’s fine."

The three went to the stand.

Afterward, Aoi pointed to a section of the park with a specific view of the lake.

"Come on, Takeshi, there’s a great view over there."

Yuki intervened.

"Actually, I know a better spot."

The three went to that section.

When they were on a less crowded path, Yuki said to Aoi.

"By the way, Aoi, I found a fencing practice area on the other side of the park. Why don’t you go check it out? I’m sure you’d like it."

Aoi looked at her with an expression that showed she knew exactly what Yuki was trying to do.

"I’m not interested."

The chat activated.

[FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT]

[this isn’t going to end well]

[Hope she doesn’t waste all her points on this attempt]

Takeshi noticed there were more and more people, and suddenly the three of them were separated by the crowd.

’Why did it fill up with people so fast? Was this the work of that god?’

Suddenly, he was pulled by someone toward a secluded spot. It was Aoi.

"We don’t have much time."

She said.

"Much time for what?"

Aoi looked at him directly.

"There’s something I want to tell you."

Takeshi waited.

"From before we ran into each other on those stairs."

She paused briefly.

"Before Yuki showed up."

Aoi didn’t look away. She said it in a direct tone.

"I liked you. I always liked you. That’s why I worked harder, performed better, stayed at the front in everything, because I thought that at some point you’d notice. That if I stood out enough, you’d see me differently."

Takeshi said nothing.

"But it never happened."

Aoi continued.

"I improved in everything and it was never enough for you to notice."

She paused again.

"But even so, my feelings didn’t disappear."

The park was quiet in that section, and the sound of the lake could be heard all around.

"Aoi."

Takeshi said.

"You don’t need to say anything."

Aoi clarified.

"I just wanted you to know."

She moved closer to Takeshi, who didn’t step back.

Aoi lifted her gaze to him. The distance between them was only a few inches.

She closed her eyes and leaned forward.

The sound of footsteps approaching came from the left.

Yuki, with her daggers already in hand, attacked Aoi.

Aoi reacted at the last instant, pulled back and drew Eclipse in the same motion. Yuki’s first strike hit the blade and pushed it to the side.

’Damn it, this is the same situation as last time!’

Takeshi started running.

’If I remember correctly, Yuki won because she used the terrain to her advantage.’

He ran toward the main path.

Behind him he heard the sound of metal against metal, quick footsteps in different directions, the impact of a body adjusting position on the grass.

He reached the path and kept running.

A few seconds later, Takeshi glanced back without stopping. Yuki and Aoi were chasing him separately while still fighting each other.

’That’s it. Follow me.’

Takeshi turned right at a fork and then took another fork to the left.

He saw the secondary exit to the east about a hundred meters away.

Behind him, the sound of the fight continued.

Takeshi reached the exit and crossed into the street.

’I hope the plan works.’