Chapter 963: Festival Date with Alice ① (1/2)

Under Makina-san's consideration, it was decided that Alice and I would have a festival date. Since there were going to be fireworks in an hour, it might be a good idea to buy some food while visiting the stalls.

I'm rather full since I ate quite a bit when the three of us were going around, but Alice can eat as much as she wants, so I think it's best to go to the food stalls.

As I had such a thought in mind, Alice, who was walking next to me, quietly called out to me.

[……U- Ummm……. Kaito-san.]

[Unnn?]

[You…… see…… Ummm……]

[What's the matter? It seems like you're having trouble saying something?]

Now that Alice wasn't wearing her mask, I could see the changes in her expression more clearly than usual. Even though it was only slightly, I could see Alice's face turning red, for reasons other than the light of the stalls.

As Alice seemed more nervous than usual, I tilted my head and asked her what she wanted to say……

[……Errr….. Y- Your hand. I was just thinking if we could hold hands, or something like that.]

[Eh?]

[Y- You see, we're lovers, and we're on a date……]

[I was wondering what you were going to say with that serious look on your face…… I don't really mind doing that, or rather, I don't really think that's something you even need to ask……]

Looking as if she was about to confess something really serious, she suggested that we hold hands…… I was about to tell her that it's a little too late to be saying that now, but then, come to think of it, saying something like this certainly was unusual for Alice.

[Please don't underestimate me, Kaito-san! I'll say this now, I'm no inferior to Lilia-san at being ”a sh*tty noob when it comes to love”!!!]

[……No, I don't think that's something you should vigorously declare…..]

I was slightly taken aback by Alice's statement, but I took her hand as she wished. Alice seemed to be surprised for a moment, but not resisting in any way, we ended up holding hands.

H- Hmmm…… Well, I'm well aware that she isn't good when it comes to matters about love, but even with that in mind, she really feels a bit tense today……

[Hey, Alice, can I ask you something?]

[Eh? What is it?]

[Doesn't it seem like you're really nervous?]

[Y- Y- Y- You think so? Alice-chan is still the same old pretty Transcendental Beauty, you know!?]

[…………………]

[……Auuu, n- no, you see…… It was a great opportunity for me, s- so I thought that I might as well be proactive on the occasion……U- Ummm, I also want to do more lover-like things with Kaito-san, you know? I was just too embarrassed that I could bring myself to do it……]