After finishing breakfast, Raku stood up from his chair calmly, carried the dirty dishes to the kitchen, and then went back upstairs. His steps were slow, as if he was weighing what he would do next.
Once he entered the room, he immediately lay down on the bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts spun—about the date, about amnesia, about the strange things that kept happening to him. But eventually, he got up again, reaching for the wallet he had placed on the small table beside the bed.
"If this is ready… then what do people usually do on a date?" he muttered as he opened his smartphone. He opened the browser, typing in a simple phrase: Things to do on a first date.
Sunlight streamed through the window, making the room feel warm. Raku didn't pay attention, too focused on reading his phone screen. However, Shinobu, who was sitting on the chair near the window, was staring at that sunlight with a serious face.
"…I knew it. You really are strange," said Shinobu suddenly, her eyes narrowing as if observing something invisible.
Raku turned lazily, still holding the smartphone. "Strange? What do you mean?"
"Try doing something. Master, can you… touch that sunlight?"
Raku raised an eyebrow, but followed. He stood, opened the window wider. Sunlight hit his body directly. Raku looked at Shinobu while raising his hand, showing himself standing right under the light.
"See? Nothing's happening," he said flatly.
Shinobu stared intently at him, then muttered, "You… aren't turning into a vampire? No wounds, no burning? That's really strange."
Raku lowered his hand, shrugging slightly. "I don't know. Anyway, I don't think it's that important."
But Shinobu's curiosity didn't stop there. She stood, approached the window hesitantly. Her hand slowly reached out, her small fingers touching the sunlight falling on the wooden frame.
No pain. No smoke. No wounds.
Shinobu widened her eyes. She extended more of her body into the light—arms, face, until finally her whole small body was standing directly under the morning sunlight.
Still not burning.
"This…" Shinobu looked at her palm, her eyes trembling. "Am I really a vampire? After your blood entered my body, my powers returned, my body came back, and even… sunlight is no longer a problem for me."
Raku turned slightly, his face calm without any exaggerated expression. "Isn't that a good thing? It means you can live like a human. Your weaknesses as a vampire are gone."
Shinobu stayed silent. Confusion was clearly written on her face. She bit her lip, as if not sure whether to be happy or afraid.
"…Huff." finally she sighed, then gave a wry smile. "I'd better go to sleep than get a headache over this. If I think too seriously about it, my head might explode."
Raku nodded briefly, then returned to his bed. He sat down, reopened his smartphone, continuing his search about dating.
Shinobu stepped closer, and then her body slowly sank into Raku's shadow. Like water being absorbed, she vanished into the darkness. A faint voice echoed, "I'll sleep here. Wake me if there's a problem."
Raku stared at his shadow for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "My life has gotten so weird lately," he muttered, before returning his focus to the smartphone screen.
On the screen, there was an article showing a list: Visiting a park, trying local food, watching a movie, casual walks… Raku read calmly, trying to prepare himself for something he wasn't even sure about: a date.
Meanwhile, sunlight continued streaming in through the window, the room felt warm, but in the corner, a mystery was stored—because within Raku's shadow, Shinobu, who normally would be weak to sunlight, was now sleeping peacefully.
He was still sitting at the edge of the bed, his fingers busy scrolling through the smartphone screen, reading an article about "simple things to do on a first date." Occasionally, he snorted lightly, feeling the text was too formal, or even too complicated.
Suddenly, a short vibration could be felt in his palm. The smartphone screen lit up, displaying a message notification from Chitoge.
[Chitoge]: I'll come to your house at 9.
Raku paused for a moment, then without waiting long he typed a reply.
[Raku]: Alright, I'm actually ready anytime.
After sending it, he stared at the screen as it dimmed again. A strange feeling crept in his chest—between nervousness, relief, and a faint hope. "A date, huh… really a date?" he murmured softly.
He turned to the window, looking at the clear blue sky that seemed to welcome the day. "Today has to go well," he said, more to himself.
Time kept moving. As the clock hands neared nine, Raku double-checked his preparations. Wallet already tucked in the pocket of his long pants, smartphone in hand, and nothing left behind. He chose a simple short-sleeved T-shirt, a neutral color that made him look casual, then took a deep breath.
Descending the stairs with confident steps, he passed the living room and went out toward the front gate of the house. The morning air felt fresh, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of leaves from a neighbor's small garden. Occasionally the chirping of birds mixed with the laughter of small children running around the street.
A few minutes passed. From a distance, a taxi stopped in front of the gate. The back door opened, and Chitoge stepped out. Her blonde hair flowed, catching the sunlight and shimmering. That day she wore a light brown casual top that was simple yet elegant, paired with a knee-length gray skirt that gave a sweet yet tidy impression.
"Am I late?" Chitoge approached while tidying her hair. Her expression was a bit awkward, as if worried she had kept him waiting. "Looks like you've been here for a while."
Raku smiled calmly. "I've only been here for a few minutes. Besides, I woke up at five and got a few things done before going out, so… it's no problem."
"Eh? Five o'clock?" Chitoge looked at him with wide eyes. "That early?"
"Just a habit," Raku answered casually, then added in a light tone, "Anyway, let's go. I want to see the city and… well, let's call it a little vacation."
Chitoge nodded, still slightly surprised. "You've really changed after the amnesia," she whispered quietly, almost inaudible. But Raku had already walked ahead toward the street, making her hurry to catch up.
They walked side by side through the increasingly busy streets. Children could be seen running while holding balloons, while their parents followed behind with patient expressions. The smell of toasted bread from a small shop by the roadside occasionally wafted through, adding to the warm morning atmosphere.
As they passed a traffic light, Chitoge reached into the small bag slung over her shoulder. A bit clumsily, she handed over a brightly colored piece of paper.
"Here," she said simply.
Raku took the paper. An amusement park ticket. He looked at it for a moment before giving a small smile. "A ticket? So our destination—"
Chitoge quickly looked away, her cheeks slightly red. "Amusement park. I hope you like it."
Raku nodded slowly. "Thank you, Chitoge." He carefully slipped the ticket into his wallet, then added in a gentle tone, "I'm glad you prepared this."
They continued walking until they arrived at a large gate with a striking signboard. The words "Amagi Brilliant Park" were clearly written, decorated with cheerful ornaments and bright colors. But the atmosphere inside felt different. Not many visitors. A few small families could be seen strolling, but the usual crowd that filled amusement parks seemed absent that morning.
Chitoge stopped walking, her face slightly pale. "Eh… what should we do…?" her voice trembled. She looked around, then lowered her head with a guilty expression. "I… I'm really sorry, Raku. I got a recommendation for this park, but I didn't expect it to be this quiet and… kind of dull. I should've found a better place…"
She looked down, her fingers tightly clutching the strap of her small bag, as if afraid to see a disappointed expression from Raku.
But Raku just smiled, then raised his hand to gently pat Chitoge's head. "It's okay," he said softly, his voice full of sincerity. He even gently wiped the corner of Chitoge's eye that was almost wet. "What matters isn't the place… but the time we spend. In fact, if it's not too crowded, we can enjoy everything more without the noise. Don't you think?"
Chitoge froze. Those simple words made her heart beat faster. She turned, cheeks flushed, then quickly looked away. "…Alright," she replied briefly, though her tone sounded shy.
She stepped forward toward the entrance, her voice soft, "Let's go in."
Raku followed behind, still wearing a calm smile on his face. Somehow, even though the park was quiet, the atmosphere between them felt warm—as if it was the beginning of something new.