“I heard that there’s, um, a location from the ‘Dove Dive!’ anime here in Akihabara, and I wanted to take a look. Would you come with me?” I asked, remembering how I’d been there with Ai once.
I feared that my sudden suggestion would only weird her out, but Elena grinned even harder.
“Really?! I’d love to see it!”
“Okay then, it’s this way,” I said, leading her out of the station as I tried to lose the two creepy men. Rude as this was, I walked in front of her, and pretty fast at that, without saying a single word.
The men were still watching Elena as we left the station, but they didn’t follow us.
Those guys were probably huge fans of Elena... Well, fans of Emily. The average viewer wouldn’t know what her face actually looked like. If they spread the news that Elena was on a date at Akihabara, that could ruin her career...
Once I was sure that they couldn’t see us anymore, I slowed down and started chatting with her again.
“This must be it!” she said when we reached a small square in front of a bridge.
“That’s right! It was only used once, and the place isn’t that memorable or anything, so maybe you can’t remember it...”
“I think I do! It’s the scene where they’re sitting on the bench talking to each other, right?”
“Yes, that one!”
Elena took out her phone and looked up screenshots of that scene, comparing them to the real thing.
“Wow! It’s exactly the same!” she said, impressed, before taking a bunch of pictures.
Since we were already there, we decided to rest on the same bench that the characters in the anime had used.
“This was already the best date ever, but you somehow managed to make it even better...” she said, smiling, much to my relief. “I’ve always wanted to visit a place from one of my favorite anime!”
“Actually, you might not have seen them, but... there were two men looking at you in the station.”
“There were?”
As I’d suspected, she had no idea.
“I wanted to get you out of there as soon as possible, so I kind of dragged you all the way here. I’m sorry. I didn’t want them to see which train you caught and find out where you live,” I explained.
Voice actress fans, VTuber fans, idol fans... they were all a scary lot. Some of them had recently made the news for finding an idol’s address after seeing a station reflected in her eyes on a selfie.
“I-I hadn’t noticed at all! Thank you...” she said, looking more relieved than offended. “You saved me again.”
“Aw, no. ‘Saved’ is an overstatement.”
“No, I really mean it. All throughout today you’ve been so careful to keep my identity safe. I can’t thank you enough.” She looked honestly moved, and I was happy to see that she’d noticed my efforts.
“Don’t mention it. I was just worried they’d tweet about seeing us together. At least they didn’t seem to be taking pictures, so I think we’re okay.”
“I guess they could have still posted something online. Would you mind if I checked?” Elena asked.
“Go ahead!” I said.
Elena fired up Twitter as I waited anxiously.
“Ah...!”
“Did you find something?!”
Please don’t tell me I just caused Emily Saionji’s first scandal...
“Look,” she said, showing me the screen.
Just saw this blonde girl who looked so much like Elena Nanjo that I couldn’t stop staring...
Elena Nanjo? That’s her voice-acting name. Also, if this guy’s saying that she “looked so much like her,” then he mustn’t have been convinced that it actually was her...
I’d been scared for a second, but thankfully we’d avoided the danger.
“I looked up my voice-acting name and Emily’s name, but this is the only recent tweet. I also checked the user’s timeline, but this is the only time he mentions me,” she said.
I sighed with relief.
“I should probably check the image boards too,” she added.
“Good idea!”
“Hmmm... Nothing’s coming up.”
“But that’s great!”
It was still possible that the people who saw her would post about her later on, but we seemed to be safe, at least for now.
“Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t noticed and led me out of there. Thank you! You’ve looked after me for the whole day... Actually, you always do that. I feel like you’re always there for me when I need help. You listened to my work troubles, you gave me advice, you cheered me up when people found out my identity...”
“O-Oh, but it’s nothing...”
Being thanked so much warmed my heart, but also made me feel kind of embarrassed. Every time Elena said something like that, I became overwhelmed by how sweet she was.
“You know though...” I said, flustered. “You’ve become rather famous, huh? You’re pretty much a celebrity at this point.”
Elena had always been popular at school, but this was on a whole different scale. Since it’d come to light that she was the voice of Emily Saionji, she’d been all VTuber fans could talk about. I felt honored to have someone like that as a friend.
Well, even if it all ends today, she said she likes me. But we’ll never go on a date again. We can never be together...
“You’re incredible, honestly,” I told her. “I really respect you for how much effort you put into your work.”
“I-I’m just...”
All prospects of my potential romance with her had been nipped in the bud, which made me so sad that all the things I’d always thought about her suddenly came pouring from my mouth. I couldn’t control myself.
“We share the same hobbies, otaku ones, which is already rare enough for a girl. You’re so kind and gentle and... y-you’re really... my dream girl...”
Could a girl better than her even exist?
“I—”
“I know how you feel. I respect you so much for your work ethic, and I know that this is a crucial moment in your career. I don’t want to put you in a tight spot. I really don’t, but... Minami?”
I paused as I noticed the tears that had begun to well up in her eyes.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I’m sorry, Ichigaya... I can’t. I just can’t give up on you...”
“What?”
Elena slowly raised her head and looked straight at me.
“I like you. I love you. Can I be your girlfriend?”
There was no room for doubt this time. Elena had confessed her love to me. It was as simple as that.
She... loves me? She wants to be my girlfriend? Is she being serious? Am I dreaming?
The feelings that had been brewing within me for so long boiled over all at once.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Hi.”
When I got back home, Kokoro was sitting on the couch, watching TV.
“Hey.”
Didn’t she go out at all today? That’s rare for her.
“I made dinner, but you already ate, didn’t you?” she asked me. It was my turn to cook, but since I wouldn’t be home, we’d agreed that I didn’t have to worry about it today.
Weird that she’d cook though. She must have been really bored or something...
“Really? I had a pancake earlier, but I’m probably going to get hungry later on, so I’ll eat again in a while.”
I went to the bathroom to wash my hands as Kokoro spoke to me from the living room.
“So, how’d your date go?”
I was expecting that question, but not this soon.
“W-Well...”
I sat down on the couch next to her, strangely nervous.
“We... Minami and I... became boyfriend and girlfriend,” I admitted, doing my best to sound as calm as possible.
Kokoro was sure to be surprised by that—I was still surprised myself.
When Elena had asked me if she could become my girlfriend, I’d obviously said yes. She’d always been my ideal girl, and going on a date with her had made me like her even more. Her confession had filled me with joy, and I’d gladly accepted it.
Nishina won’t even believe it, I bet...
“What...? A-Are you serious?” Kokoro asked, staring at me in disbelief. It was a much different kind of surprise from the one I’d been expecting. “D-Didn’t she tell you that she didn’t want a boyfriend? Didn’t she say that she just wanted to go on this one date?”