A Date with Tohka Yatogami

He put down his chopsticks, looked at the food that was still mostly left in front of him, and remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked up at Tohka, who was standing by the table, staring at him Tohka Yatogami.

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"Not yet."

"Then sit down and eat together."

Realizing he couldn't finish the Higashino Makoto grabbed Tohka Yatogami, who was swallowing hard, and pulled her to sit opposite him.

It tastes better when eaten together.

"Okay! Then I won't be polite!"

Tohka Yatogami's eyes lit up.

She sat down opposite him, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of pork rib, and put it in her mouth.

I chewed it and swallowed it.

Her eyes narrowed, like a cat being stroked. Then she began to accelerate.

The chopsticks flew up and down in her hands. She ate slowly, but each bite was a substantial, large mouthful.

The food on the plate disappeared at a visible rate, like the receding tide.

Higashino Makoto sat opposite her, watching her eat, his chopsticks raised in mid-air, forgetting to put them down.

Tohka Yatogami picked up the last piece of tofu from the last plate, put it in her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

She put down her chopsticks, picked up the teacup with both hands, took a sip, and then let out a long sigh.

"I'm full."

Higashino Makoto looked down at the pile of empty plates on the table, then looked up at her flat stomach.

"Are you... full?"

"Hmm, I'm about 80% full. I don't have much of an appetite today."

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time.

How much do you usually eat?

"About... twice that amount. But with you here today, I was so busy looking at you that I didn't eat much."

Higashino Makoto opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

He was completely outmatched in terms of appetite.

When the two came out of the restaurant, the sun was already setting.

The sunlight bathed the streets in a golden-red hue, casting long shadows of pedestrians.

Higashino Makoto stood at the doorway, gazing at the distant sky.

"Higashino."

"Um."

Are you going back?

Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible disappointment.

Higashino Makoto turned his head and looked at her. Her amethyst-like eyes looked at him, the golden-red light of the setting sun reflected in her pupils.

A white headband fluttered gently in the breeze, and purple hair cascaded down her shoulders, the ends curling slightly.

"I'm not going back, I'll walk around with you."

Tohka Yatogami's lips curled up slightly.

Where to go?

Where do you want to go?

She thought about it.

"Let's go to the movie theater."

The movie theater is on the fourth floor of the mall, and there aren't many people there at this time.

Higashino Makoto bought two tickets, a bucket of popcorn, and two cups of cola.

Tohka Yatogami, carrying a bucket of popcorn, Higashino Makoto, holding a can of cola, walked into the movie theater.

The movie is a romance film with a clichéd plot: the male and female leads break up and then get back together in the rain.

After watching for about ten minutes, Higashino Makoto lost interest and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.

A crackling sound came from the side; Tohka Yatogami was eating popcorn, eating very quickly, like a highly efficient harvester.

Without opening his eyes, he reached into her arms, grabbed a handful of popcorn, and stuffed it into his mouth.

It's sweet, with a hint of caramel flavor.

When the movie ended, the popcorn bucket was empty.

She threw the empty bucket into the trash can and brushed the crumbs off her hands.

Is it pretty?

Higashino Makoto asked.

"That was great! Why did that guy run away? He could have just chased after him!"

"It's necessary for the plot."

What does "necessary for the plot" mean?

"It was the screenwriter who made him run away."

Tohka Yatogami tilted her head, not quite understanding, but didn't ask any further questions.

It was already dark when I came out of the movie theater.

Neon lights illuminated both sides of the street, and fireworks were exploding in the park in the distance. It wasn't a festival; it was probably some business holding a promotion.

Hmm, it's also possible that it was done by Mio Takamiya.

Tohka Yatogami stood on the overpass, her hands gripping the railing, looking up at the fireworks.

Her long purple hair swayed gently in the night breeze, and a white hair ribbon dangled softly from her hair.

"Higashino- kun."

"Um."

"The fireworks are so beautiful."

"Um."

But it was gone soon.

Her voice was very soft.

Higashino Makoto walked up to her and stood beside her on the overpass.

How long do you want to watch?

"What?"

"How long would you like to watch the fireworks?"

Tohka Yatogami turned her head, her amethyst-like eyes looking at him.

"Can I watch it for a long time?"

"Can."

A small golden magic ball appeared in his hand. He gently tossed it upwards, and it transformed into countless golden specks of light that slowly drifted away in the night sky.

The specks of light lingered in the air for a long time without disappearing, like golden stars hanging overhead.

Tohka Yatogami tilted her head back, staring at the points of light, her mouth slightly open, her eyes unblinking.

The light reflected in her pupils, like two golden flowers blooming.

"So beautiful..."

"Um."

"More beautiful than fireworks."

That is.

She stared at him for a long time, until her neck ached, before finally looking down. She rubbed the back of her neck, turned her head, and looked at him.

"Higashino."

"Um."

Why are you so good to me? You go to the movies with me, watch fireworks with me, and even do magic tricks for me?

After thinking for a moment, Higashino Makoto gave his answer.

Because you're cute.

Tohka Yatogami's face flushed slightly.

She lowered her head, looking at her toes, her fingers gently tracing the railing of the overpass.

After a long while, she raised her head and looked at him with her amethyst-like eyes.

"Higashino."

"Um."

"I like you."

Higashino Makoto looked into those eyes.

"Um."

Aren't you going to say something?

I like you too.

Tohka Yatogami's lips curled up slightly.

She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, then turned and ran down the overpass.

A white headband fluttered in the night breeze, and long purple hair flew behind her.

Higashino Makoto stood on the overpass, watching her run away, and reached out to touch the cheek that had been kissed.

It was warm, with a hint of bread aroma.

It actually knew to run away; this kid isn't that stupid!

In a good mood Higashino Makoto decided to let her go and leisurely walked towards the villa where Mio Takamiya was.

It's reasonable for a mother to pay her daughter's debts, isn't it?

Higashino Makoto ran into Tohka Yatogami again on a park bench.

She sat there with her hands on her knees, head bowed, her long purple hair falling down and obscuring her face.

Somewhat worried, Higashino Makoto stopped and sat down next to her, his clothes being grabbed to prevent him from leaving.

The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting their shadows on the ground, where they overlapped.

After a long time, Tohka Yatogami raised her head.

Her eyes changed color, from a pale amethyst to a deep purple, like two ignited stars.

The moonlight reflected in his pupils was cold and sharp.

Her purple hair swayed gently in the windless night sky. Her hairband had fallen off at some point, and her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled.