The Raven Dark Hero 43

Chapter 43 : Brilliant Days

TL:SummerPeanut

Salamat po DelEd. Wait, is it deled or deied?

Saturday, Shopping Mall

"Kouki-kun! I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting?”

“No, I just got here myself.”

They are supposed to meet at the east exit of the shopping mall at 10:00 a.m. and it's 9:55 a.m now.

Kouki had come 15 minutes earlier to avoid keeping Fuuka waiting. Meanwhile, Fuuka had actually wanted to come earlier, but she was struggling to choose her outfit for today until the very last minute, so she only arrived 5 minutes earlier.

The season was already June. As it was getting warmer, Kouki's outfit for today was a 3/4 y-shirt and bootcut chinos pants.

Fuuka on the other hand was wearing a pure white one-piece dress with a cardigan, but she looked so cute that Kouki's eyes were basically glued to her.

“Uhm…is it not weird? This dress”

"What? There's no way it's weird! If Cleopatra sees you right now, she’ll run away without bothering to put on her slippers due to shame.”

"Fufufu...you're exaggerating too much.”

Although Kouki gave a weird compliment, he believed it’s fine as long as Fuuka laughed in return.

“Now then, you're going to buy a swimsuit, right? I know it's a little late for this, but wouldn't it be awkward to have a guy in that kind of store?”

(He asked! Just like how Rumi-san said!)

Fuuka had meticulously planned with Rumi yesterday on how and when Kouki would appear.

(‘Kouki's probably a herbivore, so there's a chance he might not want to go into the swimsuit section with you. If that's the case..’ ...Okay, I'll just have to follow the plan!)

"I want you to pick it out for me, Kouki-kun! Err...I don't know what you like, so I wanted you to see me in them and help me choose…”

"I-I understand. Then, let’s go.”[1]

Kouki pulled his face as he said so while Fuuka’s face turned crimson red. The two of them are so naive that it is hard to believe they are high school students, but Kouki had never dated the opposite sex until he was this age, and neither was Fuuka. Perhaps it could only be chalked up as something inevitable.

They came to a tenant specializing in female’s swimwear. Of course, it was Rumi's recommendation.

(Rumi-san said that I can't be too picky about what to choose. She said to pick five different types and try them on...)

From there, Fuuka's swimsuit show began.

“Uhm...how about this one?”

First, a skirt-type frilly bra with a blue background.

"...i-isn't it nice?”

Next, a combination of halter-neck short pants with pareo.

“What about these?”

“Um... yeah, perfect?”

And then a simple clean green one-piece.

“How about this one?”

“Isn't it cu-cute?”

Then a black high-neck bikini and skirt.

“Is this a little too placid?”

“No... it looks good on you.”

From Fuuka's point of view, Kouki's reaction up to this point was somewhat subtle, but actually, it was also as expected.

(‘Kouki will most likely be unable to give you a good opinion on which swimsuits to wear. So, for the first four outfits, you should try out your favourite and safe-kind swimsuits and see how it goes. And for the last one…’ ...Sigh, am I really going to wear this? ～It's embarrassing, but there’s no choice but to walk forward!)

"This is... no good, right?”

"Buf!?” (※There's a lot of nosebleeds, but that's just exaggeration)

The last thing Fuuka chose was a cross-design bikini with a cache-cœur, which were more revealing than the previous ones. It was a gem that showed off her ample breasts and streamlined waistline.

“Err...Kouki, which one do you like best?”

"Eh? Uhm...you looked great in all of them, honest...”

Looking at Kouki that is brooding seriously, Fuuka recalled Rumi’s last advice.

(‘If it's the previous four that Kouki chose, then he is probably looking for a neat and cute image from you. And if he chooses the last one... it's the opposite. As long as you are okay with it, he can’t wait to eat you...fufu’ What if Kouki chooses the last one... ...what should I do?! It's still too early, isn't it? Rumi-san murmured ‘...even though I haven’t reached that point yet…’ as she let out her ‘fufu’ laugh as well.

But... I don't know until when this relationship will last...)

And after Kouki thought it hard...

"Well... the third one suits you more I think?”

Kouki chose the halter-neck and shorts swimsuit with a pareo.

(Hohh...thank goodness ....... Mmn? But I feel a little disappointed too...)

Kouki offered to buy it for her, but Fuuka was adamant about paying it herself. Saying it was hers and she would buy it herself.

(My eyes have been blessed so much. I thought that as a man I should at least buy it for her.)

After that, they had lunch, window-shopped, and took Purikura to the game centre... The initial tension between Kouki and Fuuka soon dissipated, and they were enjoying their date in a natural atmosphere.[2]

The shopping mall had an atrium, and a stage was set up on the first floor. It seemed that the NDF was holding an event, but it didn't matter to the two of them right now.

"Oh! This is cute!”

Fuuka stopped at an accessory store that had everything from fancy to rugged items, and the one she said was cute is a necklace with the image of wind.

(Oh, that's perfect for Fuuka. I couldn't buy her the swimsuit earlier too... okay! I'll give this to her as a present!)

He could have bought it and given it to her right then and there, but he decided not to buy it on the spot but rather give it to her later as a surprise gift.

He left that store, lied about going to the restroom and timed it right to buy the necklace.

“Thank you very much. I hope your girlfriend will be happy with this.”

"Yeah, well, we're not dating yet…”

"Eh?! Even though you two looked so perfect together! What a waste! If you're a man, you have to go for it!”

The shopkeeper encouraged Kouki with a smile. As he was convinced that they looked like a couple from another’s point of view, his face reddened as well.

(......It’s pretty expensive, but... oh well. I don’t know how long the two of us will be able to spend time together like this.)

As long as he is a member of Kuroyume, the time will surely come when he will have to part ways with Fuuka. When he thought this, his heart instantly started to ache.

(I'm really having fun today…. Okay, I don't know how long I can continue here, but I'll tell her how I feel. That I love a girl called Fuuka.)

When did I start liking Fuuka? He wondered.

The encounter was like something out of a manga. To be honest, he was expecting a bit more dramatic turn of events, but Hiro, who was right beside him, intervened, and Kouki quickly changed his mind, thinking that Hiro would be one another girl fell in love with.

But Fuuka, who was in the same class as Kouki and sat next to him, went out of her way to chase him down during lunch and even shared her bento with him. ...For the first time in so long that he forgot how long it had been, Kouki was able to laugh and talk with the opposite sex. It was probably at this point that he began to be attracted to Fuuka.

But then he manifested his gift, and his days thereon couldn’t be less neck-breaking. To be honest, he had so many things going on that he didn't have time to worry about love. But then he realized that Fuuka was always next to him, smiling. Before he knew it, Kouki felt as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Before he knew it, he had fallen in love with her.

"Hmm... that's right! How about a message card, Mr.boyfriend?”

"A message card?”

“Yes! Many people use them to express their gratitude or to confess their love.”

(Wh-what!?)

............

“Thank you very much! May the fortune be with you!”

"Y-yeah!”

With a new determination in his heart, Kouki headed towards Fuuka. All that’s left is the timing for him to take his action.

(This kind of thing is best left at the end right? No, if I confess early we can enjoy more with the spare time leftover. ..eh? Wait, wait, wait! What if I get rejected!?)

And so, he arrived before Fuuka as he continued such thoughts.

“So-sorry for waiting.”

"No, It’s fine!”

On the first floor, the event by the NDF had started, and he could hear a speech by a middle-aged man on the speakers about how hard they are working every day.

(Hmm? That man on stage is...Hiro? I haven't seen him in a while, but he's looking kind of pasty... ah, maybe it's my fault.)

Hiro hasn't come to school since then. Now that his tricks have been exposed by Kouki, he wondered what kind of face he would bring to school? But in actuality, he had been training to become as strong as possible instead.

Then, Azusa and Haruka came to apologize to Kouki again for what they had done so far and said they would reveal Hiro's lies, but Kouki firmly refused. Anyway, he told them not to get involved with him anymore. He also felt that it was too late for Hiro's lie to be made public, so he decided not to do that either.

(Good grief, it’s already way too late now, isn't it? I'm already walking towards the next step. ...Ah, maybe this expression just now is kinda cool?)

When he looked at the audience, Azusa and Haruka were also there.

(Did they come to see Hiro? I wonder if they've made up? Oh well. ...If Fuuka rejects me today...I might as well tear their relationship to the last bit this time to vent my frustration…)

As he was thinking about this, a loud explosion rang out on the first floor.

(What the hell!? A terrorist attack!?)

He panicked and looked at the stage. There, two men landed.

"Hahahaha! What's with the big shit about NDF! You're just a bunch of useless people! Don’t you think so too, Joker!”

"Skull, you don't have to blow everything up…”

There stood the members of Kuroyume, Skull and Joker.

(I think they are Skull and Joker?!)

Kouki stared at them from a special seat. The three of them were surrounded by soldiers of the NDF and injured civilians lying around.

(Why, at a time like this~! It's probably some kind of mission, but…)

"Kouki-kun!”

Suddenly, Fuuka called out strongly to Kouki.

“Eh? What's wrong?”

Kouki was planning to take Fuuka and run away immediately but was startled by her sudden loud voice.

“I just remembered something urgent... you need to evacuate right now!”

"Huh? Yeah, I will, but you should go with me too...”

“I'm fine! Uhm..It seems that my grandfather's uncle's son is nearby! That grandfather is very strict so he might get angry if I tell you the details...that’s why, Kouki-kun please run away quickly!”

He didn’t like the idea of being told to run away, but he certainly doesn’t want to incur the wrath of Fuuka's grandfather.

“...I understand. But, you should at least get to a safe place first…”

"See you later! I'll text you when I get back!”

Before Kouki could stop her, Fuuka ran off.

(Oh...I missed the timing to give her the present…. I guess I'll give it to her next time I see her.)

Thus, the first and last date between Kouki and Fuuka came to an abrupt end.

And the time of destiny was approaching every ticking second….

Author’s Note:

※The fated time is fast approaching. I’m sorry I'll get to the point now.

Somehow, it seems like I am continuously urging you guys to give evaluations for this novel so I would like to apologize for that m(__)m, but since it’s already like that I'm going to do it shamelessly!

So if you feel the story is interesting or can't wait to see what happens next or would like to encourage me with more updates! Please add the novel to your bookmark, give a rating, comment, or review! Thank you very much!!!

By the way, I'd also like to ask you to rank it as well. (^_^;)

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TL’s note:

1. English
2. The booth to take fun pictures in Japan.