Chapter 15: Date
[Just like that, time passed little by little.]
[During these days, you turned down part-time work and invitations from that group of bad friends, also canceled other schedules, only completing the minimum required academic workload and Student Council duties.]
[After that, you devoted all your free time to preparing in advance for the date.]
[Studying travel guides, planning the date, contacting Chaldea Academy, thoroughly investigating all of Morgan's likes and dislikes, incidentally learning a bit about playing musical instruments from Tristan, along with every detail related to the date that you could think of.]
[And Principal Da Vinci fulfilled her promise to you—she and Chaldea would go all out to support this date.]
[Carrying that tension and anticipation, this time you were especially cautious in your daily life at school, trying not to cause any trouble that might affect the schedule before the date.]
[The squares on the calendar passed one by one.]
[Finally, the day both of you had been looking forward to arrived.]
[June 13th, a day off.]
"…Alright."
Looking at himself neatly dressed in the mirror, Eikou took a deep breath and then let out a long exhale.
Today was the important day for a date with Morgan.
The previous date with her had not gone smoothly, turning into a chaotic multi-person outing, leaving no room to calmly enjoy it—something that had been a great regret for him.
Drawing lessons from the painful experience last time, Eikou firmly believed that he was fully prepared this time.
There would be no trouble, no schedule conflicts, and the two of them had kept the date absolutely secret, so this would be a three-days-and-three-nights date belonging only to him and Morgan.
"Alright, this time I absolutely have to do it right."
Eikou said to himself in the mirror.
After saying that, he pushed open the dormitory door and walked briskly straight toward the meeting point.
The meeting place for the two of them was the shopping center in Academy City. There was still an hour before the scheduled time, but he had already taken a ride there very early.
It was only seven in the morning, sunlight shining straight ahead, radiating a pleasant warmth. The vast shopping center had not yet opened, pedestrians were also very sparse, and the place carried a quiet and empty atmosphere, with only the chirping of birds echoing in his ears.
He leisurely sat down on a bench, put on his earphones, and quietly waited for Morgan to arrive.
"…Eikou."
He had not been sitting for long when, from behind, there suddenly came a young and cute voice calling out to him.
There was no doubt that it was the sweet voice that only Morgan had, but the overly innocent tone did not seem like her at all.
"Huh?"
Feeling puzzled, Eikou turned his head to look toward the person who had just called him.
"You are…"
Under the gentle sunlight, he saw a girl with blonde hair braided simply, wearing round-framed glasses, a pretty and adorable face, and gentle green eyes like those of a fawn.
She wore a pointed witch hat and a neat, clean white dress—the cutest witch Eikou had ever seen.
Just like the mysterious yet kind witch that a traveler encounters in a fairy tale when lost in a pitch-dark forest.
That was Aesc.
"Eikou, you surely still remember me, right?"
Aesc smiled sweetly, revealing two innocent little dimples.
"How could I forget you, but…"
Eikou said in confusion, "What exactly is going on here, Aesc? Why did you suddenly appear here?"
"Of course it's to go on a date with you. Today is a very important day."
"A date?"
Eikou froze. "But…"
What on earth was going on? Could it be that the Fairy Queen had accidentally eaten something and reverted to her younger age, transforming back into Aesc?
"That's not it."
As if having guessed the thoughts in his heart, Aesc shook her head and spoke to explain.
"This time, the Fairy Queen proactively adjusted her own Spirit Origin, taking on the appearance from when she was younger—Rain Witch Aesc, which is me—to appear before you."
"Um, may I ask the reason?"
Eikou was still very confused.
Could it be that Morgan was so shy that she didn't dare to meet him, so she switched to a younger Spirit Origin to go on the date in her place?
But she wasn't the kind of person who was thin-skinned like that, so there must definitely be some special intention behind this.
Aesc smiled faintly. "Secret."
"Umu, alright then."
If they didn't intend to say it, Eikou didn't continue pressing the matter.
"But are you disappointed?"
Aesc sat down beside him and asked carefully, "On such an important day, the first person to appear before you isn't Morgan, but Aesc. Do you mind that?"
"That's not the case."
Eikou shook his head and showed a gentle smile to reassure her.
"I already said it long ago. To me, you two were originally the same person. No matter how different you are, I'll still like all of you."
Hearing such a confession so suddenly, the fair and youthful cheeks of Aesc flushed with a faint pink.
But very quickly, she revealed a gentle, happy smile, mustered her courage to hug his arm, and affectionately rested her face against it.
"I… I also really like you, Eikou!"
"It's been so long since we last met—did you miss me a lot?"
Eikou smiled and gently pinched her soft, adorable cheek. Aesc blushed and told him not to touch her anymore, yet she offered no resistance at all to the intimate contact.
Just like an extremely clingy little kitten.
"Come to think of it, you arrived really early today."
Aesc said.
"You too."
Eikou replied.
"Hehe, because I wanted to see you a little earlier. Both Queen and I place great importance on this date."
Both of them had arrived at the meeting point an hour early; neither was late.
Since that was the case, they might as well set off now.
Eikou waved toward the business van that had already been waiting nearby, signaling that it could come pick them up.
"This vehicle is…?"
Witch Aesc curiously looked at the car parked right beside them.
"This is something I prepared for this date,"
Eikou replied.
"Previously, when I completed the Singularity and returned the Holy Grail to Chaldea Academy, I made a request—that they cooperate with this date of mine. No matter where we want to go, the driver will take us there."
"I see."
"In other words, today I'm a prince who can grant all of your wishes. No matter what request you have, I can help you make it come true."
Eikou put a hand on his hip and smiled proudly.
"Hehe, you're really amazing."
Witch Aesc once again hooked her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Then please stay by my side properly."
[You set out on the dating journey together with the adorable witch.]
[Although you don't know why Morgan wants to date you in the form of Witch Aesc, if that is her wish, you will give her a truly romantic date.]
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