Further

"Yufei! Look, look! Would this suit me?"

That afternoon, inside an accessory shop on the shopping street, Naito Junko picked up a rather cute pendant, held it against herself, and asked Wu Yufei beside her.

"Yeah, it suits you very well."

Wu Yufei replied with a smile.

Why was Wu Yufei on a date with Junko on the shopping street? Hadn't he originally planned to spend the entire afternoon training in the basketball gym?

It all started when everyone parted ways at the restaurant entrance after the celebration banquet not long ago.

"Yufei, um... could you spend the afternoon with me?"

After everyone else had left, Wu Yufei had been about to return to school and carry out his planned training session when Junko suddenly spoke up.

Wu Yufei was quite surprised that Junko had taken the initiative to ask him out.

After all, they had been officially dating for some time now, and Wu Yufei knew Junko well. She was extremely shy and easily embarrassed.

Even now, whenever someone mentioned her relationship with Wu Yufei in front of her, the girl would blush so hard that she didn't know what to do.

The basketball team members also often teased her about it, but fortunately, Wu Yufei would always step in decisively to bail Junko out.

Therefore, throughout their relationship, Wu Yufei had generally been the proactive one, whether it was having lunch together or going on dates during holidays.

He had originally planned to invite Junko to the gym that afternoon to practice with him, perhaps have her pass him the ball, then take her out to dinner afterward.

But Junko had beaten him to it and asked him out first, which truly caught Wu Yufei by surprise.

Did something happen today...?

Wu Yufei racked his brain, trying to remember whether something special had happened that would make Junko act this way.

Could it be...

After thinking for a few seconds, Wu Yufei recalled a small detail.

On the bus back to school, it seemed Takei Yumi had chatted with Junko for a while.

Could Takei have said something to Junko then, causing her to behave so unusually?

"Is that not okay?"

Seeing that Wu Yufei had not answered for a long time, Junko asked again.

Her cheeks were slightly red, and her eyes were filled with anticipation...

How could Wu Yufei possibly bring himself to refuse her?

"No problem!"

Wu Yufei gritted his teeth and agreed without hesitation.

It was only half a day of training. He could make it up some other way!

Since Junko had rarely taken the initiative today, Wu Yufei decided to treat it as another reward for his outstanding performance in today's game!

And that was how things had ended up like this.

Although losing a precious afternoon of training pained Wu Yufei a little, seeing the smile on Junko's face made him feel it was completely worth it.

After all, Junko was often willing to put aside many of her own matters to accompany him while he practiced basketball.

So now, it was time for him to sacrifice his own plans a little and spend time with her.

For the moment, Wu Yufei pushed basketball from his mind and focused on enjoying this rare date with Junko.

Shopping, trying on all kinds of clothes and accessories, tasting all sorts of delicious snacks.

After walking up and down the shopping street for a full two hours, Junko finally agreed to take a break under Wu Yufei's pleading gaze.

How terrifying... Two whole hours without stopping... Women shopping are terrifying.

Wu Yufei unconsciously looked toward Junko's slender legs and began questioning his existence.

Those skinny legs aren't even as muscular as my arms. How does she do it??

Did women simply not experience the passage of time or the loss of stamina while shopping?

"Then let's go watch a movie!"

Junko suggested.

A movie? That really is a standard date activity.

"Sure."

Naturally, Wu Yufei had no reason to refuse.

On the way to the cinema, Junko took the initiative to link her arm through Wu Yufei's, and the gesture delighted him once again.

The two of them had only reached the stage of holding hands after Wu Yufei put in considerable effort, yet today Junko had voluntarily raised their intimacy another level.

I don't know whether that's really the case, but thank you so much, Takei!

Deep in his heart, Wu Yufei thanked Takei Yumi ten thousand times.

He was quite certain that Takei must have said something during those few minutes she chatted with Junko on the bus, stirring Junko into acting so proactively. Otherwise, she would never have done this.

Enjoying it all, Wu Yufei brought Junko to the cinema.

"What do you want to watch?"

Wu Yufei gave Junko the choice.

"Then let's watch this one!"

With practically no hesitation, Junko chose a newly released romance film.

Wu Yufei did not object. He bought the tickets, and they went inside.

Although Wu Yufei fell asleep halfway through, when he woke up and found Junko constantly wiping away tears, he knew the movie had to be pretty good—at least for girls.

By the time the movie ended, it was already six in the evening, time for dinner. This time, Wu Yufei took back the initiative and brought Junko to a fairly famous Chinese restaurant nearby.

Watching Junko taste the food with a blissful expression on her face, Wu Yufei felt as if all the exhaustion from the afternoon of shopping had been swept away.

"Junko."

Halfway through the meal, Wu Yufei suddenly spoke.

"Mm?"

Junko continued eating as she looked up at Wu Yufei.

"Did Takei say something to you?"

Wu Yufei asked directly.

"Mm... cough, cough, cough!!"

Junko immediately choked and began coughing dramatically.

Judging by that reaction, I was right.

Wu Yufei immediately confirmed his guess and handed Junko a glass of water.

"Th-th-th... that didn't happen at all!!"

Junko retorted in a trembling voice.

"Alright, alright. If you say so, then it didn't."

Wu Yufei waved his hand with a smile.

"But no matter what, I'm really happy."

Wu Yufei put away his previous smile and looked at Junko with a serious expression.

"At least it proves that you like me too, doesn't it, Junko?"

"..."

Wu Yufei's words made the girl blush again. She put down her chopsticks, lowered her head, and said nothing for a long while.

"Of... of course I do..."

Only after a long time did Junko's faint, nearly inaudible answer sound out.

"Mm?"

Wu Yufei pretended not to understand and leaned his ear closer.

"Phew... Of course I do!"

Junko shouted directly into Wu Yufei's ear.

"Mm... I heard that one..."

Not only had he heard it, his ears were ringing a little.

"Is that so? That's wonderful."

After a happy and blissful afternoon date, Wu Yufei escorted Junko home.

When they reached the familiar intersection where they usually parted, Wu Yufei took out something he had been hiding for several hours.

"What is this?"

Junko wore a surprised expression as she looked at the beautifully wrapped little box in Wu Yufei's hand.

"It's the pendant you tried on earlier. I saw that you liked it but didn't buy it, so I secretly bought it as a date gift."

Wu Yufei unwrapped the box in front of Junko and took out the pendant.

It was not some luxury item like diamonds or agate, merely a finely crafted silver accessory. Its price was completely within what Wu Yufei could afford.

As long as something did not cost more than a pair of his shoes, he felt it was acceptable.

"It really suits you. Do you like it?"

Wu Yufei personally put the pendant on Junko and asked.

"Mm..."

Junko blushed and nodded lightly.

"Actually... I prepared a gift for you too, Yufei..."

Junko said.

"Oh? Really? What is it?"

Wu Yufei asked curiously. He had not seen Junko secretly buy anything while they were shopping.

"Um... come a little closer..."

"?"

Seeing Junko's gesture, Wu Yufei took two puzzled steps forward.

The next moment, Junko grabbed Wu Yufei by the collar and yanked him down hard, while pressing her face forward at the same time.

"..."

Wu Yufei's eyes widened as he looked at Junko's face so close to his own.

The girl had already closed her eyes, as if she were savoring something, or perhaps figuring it out.

Only after three seconds did Junko finally release her tight grip on Wu Yufei's collar.

Wu Yufei's mind was filled with shock. Junko had actually ambushed him just now?!

"B-because you played really well today, Yufei, so th-this is your reward!"

Despite being the one who had taken the initiative to ambush him, Junko's face was red beyond belief as she stammered out an explanation.

"Hehe..."

Having recovered from the shock, Wu Yufei reached up and lightly brushed his fingers across his lips, as though reliving the feeling from moments ago.

The next moment, Wu Yufei grabbed Junko's hand, turned around, and pinned her against the wall.

"Eh?! W-wait..."

Startled by Wu Yufei's series of actions, Junko's eyes widened. As she watched Wu Yufei's face draw ever closer, her words became increasingly stuttered.

When the distance between them had become so close that they could hear each other breathing, Junko slowly closed her eyes beneath Wu Yufei's affectionate gaze.

Closing her eyes in a situation like this meant she was consenting to Wu Yufei's next move!

Naturally, Wu Yufei would not let this opportunity slip away. He lowered his head and kissed her.

"Mm..."

This time, Wu Yufei had taken the initiative, so it naturally lasted far, far longer than before.

And unlike Junko, Wu Yufei did not stay still, nor was it a mere brush of the lips. He was actively and eagerly exploring.

For a moment, even the air around them seemed to heat up. Junko shyly tried to pull away, but Wu Yufei's hands held her tightly, leaving her unable to move. She could only endure Wu Yufei's fierce assault again and again.

After more than ten seconds, afraid Junko might pass out from an overheated CPU, Wu Yufei finally released her reluctantly.

"This is an advance on the reward for my next game~"

Seeing Junko stare at him in shock after opening her eyes, Wu Yufei said with a smile.

The next moment, Wu Yufei brought his lips close to Junko's ear and whispered, "Then I'll take an advance on the National Tournament reward after the Prefectural Tournament is over!"

"Also, you can just call me Yufei from now on. In return, I'll call you Junko directly too."

"...Mm..."