As an Elf in Date A Live, I Refuse to Date - Chapter 35

But the other woman was her superior. No matter how unwilling she was, she could only do as she was told.

Meanwhile, it was already eight thirty the next morning for Lingmeng.

She had arrived at the café early and was waiting for her date, Shido Itsuka.

When Shido first asked her out, she had refused. But... he was offering far too much money.

And so, tempted by the money, Lingmeng once again set foot on a road of no return.

"Ugh, why is that brat Shido late again?"

Lingmeng glanced at the time on her phone and grumbled. She really hated being stood up.

She took a small sip of coffee and was about to close her eyes for a moment when a voice suddenly interrupted her—

"Um... sorry, Lingmeng. I had some things to prepare before leaving, so I'm late again. I'm really sorry!"

It was a girl's voice, and Lingmeng didn't recognize it. Yet something about the way this person spoke to her felt very familiar...

Shido in Girls' Clothes

Lingmeng looked up at the speaker and froze.

Standing before her was a girl with waist-length blue hair, brown eyes, a four-leaf-clover hair clip, and a touch of makeup. She was a few centimeters taller than Lingmeng.

She wore a low-cut white tank top, a blue jacket, a short brown skirt, and women's sneakers. She was a beauty.

Incidentally, perhaps because her clothes were a little loose, Lingmeng had a clear view of her delicate collarbones and the long, pale legs beneath her skirt.

"Uh... have a seat first." Lingmeng paused, then recovered and gestured to the chair opposite her.

"Mm... okay..." The girl nodded shyly and sat down.

"So... who are you, beautiful? Do we know each other?" Lingmeng asked awkwardly, taking another sip of coffee.

"I'm... Shido Itsuka..."

"Pfft—"

Lingmeng sprayed out the coffee in her mouth.

"Cough, cough..." Choking, she patted her chest.

"Lingmeng, are you okay?!" The girl claiming to be Shido looked panicked.

"Would you like a handkerchief, miss?" a resonant voice asked.

Lingmeng looked up. Beside her stood a handsome young man in a butler's uniform, smiling as he offered her a handkerchief.

She took it without a second thought and wiped her mouth.

"Thanks for the handkerchief. And you are...?" she asked.

"My name is Wataru. I'm a waiter here." The young man gave a butler's bow as he introduced himself.

"Wataru, get me a coffee."

"Of course. I'll be right there. Excuse me."

Another customer had called from the right. Wataru excused himself and left.

"What a good waiter," Lingmeng remarked. Then she looked across the table again.

"Ahem. You said you're Shido? Don't joke with me. The Shido I know is a man. How could he be a beautiful girl like you?"

Lingmeng frowned.

"Uh... well... I'm dressed as a girl right now..."

The girl scratched her cheek, looking deeply embarrassed.

"I don't believe you! No matter what that loser Shido does, he couldn't turn into a beautiful girl like you! You're so cute—how could you be a boy?"

Lingmeng slapped the table and shouted.

"Hey, calling me a loser is going a bit far." The girl's mouth twitched.

"Come with me!" Lingmeng stood, grabbed the girl's hand, and headed straight for the women's restroom.

"Lingmeng, let go of me..."

Ignoring the girl's protests, Lingmeng dragged her inside.

Bang! The restroom door slammed shut. Lingmeng backed the girl against the wall and planted a hand beside her, trapping her there.

"Lingmeng... what are you doing...?" A bead of cold sweat appeared on the girl's forehead.

"What else would I bring you in here for? I'm going to find out what you really are!"

With that, Lingmeng reached toward the girl's ***, intending to lift her skirt. But beneath it were—safety shorts.

"Lingmeng, what are you doing? That's so rude!" The girl shoved her away, her face bright red.

Lingmeng stared at her in dismay.

I went through all that, and this is what I get to see?

With that thought, Lingmeng prepared to make another assault.

"Be good and let me see!" Lingmeng roared.

"No!" the girl refused flatly.

Regardless of what the girl wanted, Lingmeng lunged at her and tried to force off her clothes.

"Lingmeng, don't! Let go of me, please..." The girl fought with all her strength, but she was an ordinary human. How could she match a Spirit like Lingmeng? In less than a minute, she had succumbed to Lingmeng's forceful demands...

"Waaah... Lingmeng, you went too far..." The girl sat on the cold floor with her legs folded to the side, her voice trembling.

One hand covered her lower body while the other wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. With that pitiful expression, she looked as though she had just been violated.

Lingmeng stood before her in a daze. She had indeed felt something between the girl's legs that no girl would have.

Which meant the girl sniffling in front of her really was her friend, Shido Itsuka...

"Shido, could you stop that? I admit I was wrong, okay?"

Lingmeng pressed her palms together and apologized. She truly found it hard to connect Shido with such a beautiful girl.

"All right... just don't do that again..."

Shido stopped sniffling. His face was still a little red from crying, though, and Lingmeng felt a twinge of guilt.

She composed herself and said with feigned calm, "That's better. What kind of grown man cries like that?"

"Come on, get up." Lingmeng held out her hand and pulled Shido to his feet.

Shido brushed the dust from his skirt and said nothing more.

An awkward silence fell between them.

"Ahem. Let's both forget what happened. Today stays between us, so don't tell anyone."

"Mm... I know..." Shido said, though he suspected he would remember what had happened today for the rest of his life.

"Um... could you explain why you look like this? Shido, do you have some kind of... cross-dressing fetish?"

Lingmeng pointed at his clothes, puzzled.

"No! I dressed like this especially for you."

Shido shook his head vigorously.

"For me? When did I ask you to dress like a girl? Don't use me as an excuse for your own interests."

Lingmeng looked utterly baffled.

"Yesterday, you said you weren't interested in men, right? When I told Kotori, she made the Fraxinus crew turn me into this..."

Shido remembered how the crew had treated him like a dress-up doll yesterday, and the knowing smiles they had worn before he left.

Then there was Kotori's "Good luck, big sis!" He couldn't help but grimace at the memory.

Shiori

"Now I'm even more curious about what you went through yesterday to win me over."

As Lingmeng listened, the corners of her mouth twitched.

"Mm... yesterday really was frightening." Shido nodded, then gave her a pitiful look. "Lingmeng... don't you like how I look now?"

Thump—

At that moment, Lingmeng felt as if something had struck her heart. It began racing beyond her control.

No way... is this really the Shido I know? He's way too cute!

Makeup really is one of Asia's four great sorceries, she thought. Blushing, she scratched her cheek.

"I don't dislike it... Actually, I quite like how you look now. You're very... pretty."

Shido nodded obediently and smiled. "Mm!"

Lingmeng had finally approved of his appearance. Shido felt that the gamble he had made at the cost of his dignity had paid off.

"By the way, you didn't bring that hidden earpiece today, did you? Kotori and the others aren't spying on us?"

Lingmeng seemed to remember something important and hurried to ask.

"Mm... as you requested, Kotori agreed not to get involved today."

Shido answered bashfully.

When Lingmeng had agreed to go on a date with Shido yesterday, she had added a specific condition: "I hope the members of Ratatoskr won't interfere with our date."

Kotori and the others had refused at first. But after Shido persuaded them and they held a meeting that lasted several hours, they agreed to let him face Lingmeng alone. If they missed this chance, there might not be another.

"I see... as long as they aren't here." Lingmeng murmured, smiling with relief.

She had made that request because she knew Kotori's organization secretly supported Shido whenever he went on a date with a Spirit.

Without Kotori and the others, she figured Shido would pose far less of a threat to her. That was why she had insisted on it.

What Lingmeng hadn't expected was for them to agree so readily. Were they really that confident in Shido's outfit?

"Come to think of it, Shido, your usual name doesn't quite suit how you look now. Calling someone who looks like a girl by a boy's name feels strange."

Lingmeng rubbed her chin and looked Shido up and down before deciding he needed a new name.

"Do you think it sounds strange?" Shido tilted his head. "Then what would you like to call me?"

"Uh... well..." The question stumped Lingmeng. She hadn't expected to have to name someone again, especially when she was no good at it.

"Wait. Give me a moment to think..." Lingmeng raised a hand, then sank into thought.

What should I call him? Kiriko? Red Ponytail? Hideyoshi? Astolfo?...

"Shidomi... I'll call you Shidomi from now on."

After hesitating, Lingmeng offered a name she wasn't particularly happy with herself.

"Isn't that a little arbitrary?" Shido replied bluntly, unaware that Lingmeng thought so too.

"Ugh, sorry it's so arbitrary! I guess an otaku like me just can't come up with a good name."

Lingmeng's head drooped. She was clearly feeling down.

"Huh? Don't be so upset, Lingmeng. It's only a name. Honestly, I don't mind what you call me."

Shido waved his hands anxiously, trying to comfort her.

"Come on, don't force yourself. Even I don't like the sound of that name."

"Really, it's fine. If I had to come up with a name, I might have picked Shidomi too."