My date with Fate-san began in the midst of unexpected tension. I was strangely embarrassed and didn't hold her hand, and although we walked side by side, there was a little space between me and Fate-san.
　

''........Um, Fate-san.
'Uh-huh!　What?

　My first reaction to the nervousness, this is really bad. It's kind of like a chain of nerves that are cascading down the line.

''Uh, um ... where do you want to go?''
Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't really thought about it at all. It's just that... I was so preoccupied with the idea of going on a date that I didn't have time to think about it, you know...

　Hey, Fate-san please stop blushing. I'm about to writhe.

''No, don't worry about it. Well then, let's look around without thinking too much about it.
Yeah. Thank you Kai-chan.
....
....

　What do I do?　I can't keep up a conversation!　It's really too different from the usual Fate-san, and every single gesture makes me nervous, so even if I try to continue the conversation, there's a weird pause.
　But the longer you are silent, the more difficult it will be to have a conversation, and here, even if you have to force the conversation a bit.......


Yeah, right!　I think it could be a little cooler, seasonally speaking.
....
....

　I'm stuck. I really can't get the next word out. Oh, that's funny, isn't it?　I've gone on many dates with Kuro and the others, so I should be able to lead them a little bit, but I'm so embarrassed that I can't see Fate-san's face at all.
　 Alright, let's turn towards Fate-san in a casual way and make small talk.
　I'll change the air by talking about our mutual acquaintance Alice or something unrelated to the current situation anyway.......

''Huh?''

　And then me and Fate-san turned to each other at exactly the same time, and as a result, our eyes met exactly and I went completely rigid.
　Oh, shit. Everything I was thinking about a moment ago just flew away. Well, what was it?　What was I going to say?　Well, um.........

　Would you like to buy a drink?
Yeah, yeah, yeah!　It's hot and thirsty!　Let's do it!
Okay, just go to that place.
I get it.

　It's not a bad situation, although it's kind of a weird tension, but it's not a bad situation. A drink would calm me down a bit, and it would give me something to talk about, at least somewhat.
　With that in mind, I headed to the stall at a fast pace and bought the juices one by one with Fate-san. And since it was also a matter of standing still, we moved to a smaller plaza that was nearby and sat down on a bench in line before starting to drink.

''........''
....

　Guh, silence again........................Fate is also confused. Here, being a man, I want to somehow take the lead. Take a deep breath once........okay.

''Well maybe it's because I was pretty thirsty, but it's delicious.
Yes.
How could it be, it's not so bad to be laid back like this.
Well, yeah, I guess. Yeah. That's a good idea.

　Since I made an effort to calm down and talk to her, Fate-san's voice began to show some calmness.
　

''I'm sorry, Kai-chan, I'm sorry.
'What?　What is it?
'I thought we were going to be able to date properly for a bit longer I'm not at all. I'm all fluffy and uncomfortable, and I have no idea what to do or what to do. A lot of times, I just go blank and I don't really talk about it.
Actually, I do too.
Kai-chan, too?

　Seeing Fate-san talking with an apologetic expression on her face, I felt somewhat relieved. Somehow, I was relieved to find out once again that Fate-san felt the same way I did.

"It's a shameful thing, but since a while ago I haven't been able to speak at all as I think.......I'm in trouble.
Okay, I'll go with you.
Yes, sir.
.....
"Ha-ha.

　He looks at Fate and smiles. Yeah, right. This is a date, and there's no point in me worrying about it on my own.
　Neither one of us is able to lead well, so it's best for both of us to talk about it and figure it out together.

　Realizing that the tension has eased a bit, I stand up with my juice in hand and smile at Fate.

''Fate-san, what shall we do next.........?
I want to see the ocean.
Well, let's go down to the harbor.
Yeah!

　Fate-san finally smiles at my words and stands up, too. There's no need to rush, there's still plenty of time.
　Let's put all those thoughts of needing to calm down or leading the way somewhere in the corner of our minds. Right now, the best thing to do is to enjoy your date with Fate as much as you can.

　Dear Mom, Dad - I'm nervous, flailing, not speaking well - but I still feel like it's not so bad, though. Because although we are slowly exploring the distance between us, but still, I certainly feel like I'm getting closer - with Fayette-san.