Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

"No, no! I'm perfectly fine right now!" Mizuhashi Ei-hi quickly shook her head in denial.

If you think about it carefully, she's barely slept these past few days. She feels like she's living in a dream every day, and the thought of going on a date with a man like him makes her so excited that she can't sleep. She even went to the convenience store to buy a fashion magazine to read.

She only slept for about three hours today, and then got up early to try on clothes, put on makeup, and comb her hair. She was so tired that she almost collapsed before the date even started.

This was her first date with Kyushu-senpai—ostensibly for "research"—but Mizuhashi Eiki had her own ulterior motives.

Although her feelings for him are still vague, she wants to get closer to him no matter what, and her heart beats very fast whenever she thinks of him.

After passing through the ticket gate, the two walked into the aquarium side by side. Suddenly, Mizuhashi Eiki said anxiously, "Senpai, please allow me to go to the restroom!"

She wore light makeup this morning, but she sweated quite a bit after running all the way here. She was worried that her makeup would smudge and leave a bad impression on her seniors.

"Oh, go ahead." Watching his junior run off, Kyushu Makoto pulled out Suzuki's "The Guide to Love" from his bag.

When dating a girl, try to hold her hand and stay close to her.

Use a more affectionate way to address her, such as calling her by her first name followed by "酱" (a term of endearment for her).

"I see, I've learned something..." Kyushu Makoto put away his notebook, clenching his fist thoughtfully.

Since it's to help my junior, Mizuhashi, gather information, I might as well go all the way. A grown man shouldn't be so hesitant and timid like a woman! Let's go!

After quickly touching up her makeup, Mizuhashi Eiji rushed back, bowed slightly, and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, senpai!"

"Oh, let's go, Ei-chan." Kyushu Makoto said in a serious tone, and took his junior's hand.

Eiji is pronounced "Eiji," while Ei-chan is pronounced "Ei-chan." Although they sound similar, the latter is more intimate.

Mizuhashi Eiji's face suddenly flushed red, and she froze on the spot.

She felt her heart pounding at an unbearable speed, as if an electric current was coursing through her body. The heavy, pumping sound of her heartbeat made her eardrums ache, and she felt like she was about to suddenly die and pass out.

After a moment of calm, she trembled and covered her face with her other hand so that her senior wouldn't see her embarrassed and ashamed appearance.

"Why are you suddenly calling me that, senior...?"

“Because that’s how dating is supposed to be,” Kyushu Makoto said confidently. “How do you feel right now?”

"Your hands... are so warm..." Mizuhashi Eiki's soft little hand relaxed slightly in Kyushu Makoto's palm as she stammered, "My heart is beating so fast... I feel like I can't breathe..."

"That's it! Suzuki said a date should have this feeling!" Kyushu Makoto clenched his fist in triumph, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"Every time you feel your heart flutter, try to tell me how you feel. That way I can help you write a better light novel."

"Eh..." Mizuhashi Eiki's face turned red again: "To describe my feelings completely to my senior?... That's too embarrassing..."

"Overcoming shame is also a necessary training, whether it's martial arts or light novels." Kyushu Makoto pulled his junior even closer.

"I'll try my best to make your heart flutter a few more times for your light novel, so do your best on today's date!"

"Ugh... Senior, please stop!" Mizuhashi Eiki's cheeks flushed red, and she was about to cry.

A couple passing by overheard their conversation and couldn't help but give them a disgusted look:

"Are these two playing some kind of special kind of shameful game?"

61. So-called love is not something that can be achieved by simply copying others.

The two walked hand in hand to the first exhibition area, where the surrounding space gradually became dark, and all they could see were the colorful lights inside the glass exhibition tank.

"Wow, the little jellyfish are so cute!"

Mizuhashi Eiki was immediately drawn to the jellyfish display case and slumped against the glass.

Jellyfish of varying sizes floated softly in the tank, sometimes like smoke rings, sometimes like cotton balls. Their translucent bodies changed colors under the light, captivating the young girl.

Kyushu Makoto followed behind and took out "The Guide to Love" to read.

Tell a joke at the right time to liven up the atmosphere! The other person will think you're a very interesting person!

"What a joke..." Kyushu Makoto stroked his chin, thought hard for a moment, then stepped forward and said in a lighthearted tone:

"Ying-chan, how about we go get some cold jellyfish salad later?"

Mizuhashi Eiji was clearly stunned for a second, and asked in confusion, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"Because jellyfish are made from jellyfish!" Makoto Kyushu laughed first. "Look, the lights on that jellyfish tank are red; it looks like it's going to be made into something spicy~"

Mizuhashi Ei-hee looked slightly frightened and quickly reached out to protect the glass of the water tank:

"Senior, these jellyfish are not edible!"

"Huh, isn't it funny?" Kyushu Makoto was taken aback.

When Mingming was a child, he went to the aquarium with his senior classmate and he laughed very loudly.

“Not funny at all! It was scary when you said that, senpai!” Mizuhashi Eiki rarely showed him such a serious look.

Just then, a couple happened to pass by.

"Darling, look how cute the jellyfish are inside, so soft and squishy, ​​just like you," the young man in the floral shirt said affectionately.

"Ugh~" The woman shyly punched the man in the floral shirt in the chest with her small fist.

After the junior had finished looking at the jellyfish, Makoto Kyushu took a few photos for her, and then the two went to visit other places.

The two entered an arched underwater corridor, with walls made entirely of glass on all sides and various marine animals on the other side. The seawater reflected the entire corridor in a deep blue hue, and shimmering light dappled their bodies.

"Look, senior! It's a shark!" Mizuhashi Eiki squeezed through the bustling crowd and exclaimed in surprise, pressing her face against the glass wall.

"The coral is so beautiful!"

At this moment, she was as lively as a winged elf, a stark contrast to the introverted "Eiji Mizuhashi" at school. Or perhaps, she was deliberately showing Kyushu Makoto her adorable side.

Kyushu Makoto followed behind in silence, then secretly took out his notebook and started reading.

In crowded places, it's even more important to hold a girl's hand tightly; this will make her feel safe.

"I see, are you afraid the girl will get lost?" Kyushu Makoto put away his notebook and stepped forward to take Mizuhashi's hand.

Mizuhashi's hands are small and delicate, with fair skin and smooth joints, like a piece of tofu that you'd be afraid of breaking if you used too much force.

"Eh... Kyushu-senpai..." Mizuhashi Eiki was startled and said nervously in a soft voice, "Um... actually, we don't have to hold hands here..."

"Isn't this because I was afraid you'd get lost?" Kyushu Makoto scratched his head and replied.

"Senior~ I'm not a child~" Mizuhashi Eiki pouted, revealing a slightly unconvinced look in her eyes: "Don't worry about me getting lost~"

"I see. Then I won't hold your hand anymore." Kyushu Makoto nodded and quickly let go of her hand.

Since the junior has said so, Kyushu Makoto should respect her ability to be independent.

"Wait a minute..."

Mizuhashi Eiji, who was about to say "But it's okay if you keep holding my hand, senior," paused for a moment, looked forlornly at her empty little hand, and could only swallow her words back, then continued to watch the fish sullenly.

Unaware of his surroundings, Makoto Kyushu followed behind, continuing to secretly read "The Guide to Love".

"Hmph, what an unromantic man~" At that moment, a male voice came from behind Kyushu Makoto.

Kyushu Makoto turned around alertly and found that the speaker was a young man in a floral shirt, with a young woman beside him.

"Hello, do we know each other?" Kyushu Makoto looked at him, puzzled.

"I've been watching you the whole time. You have absolutely no idea how to date a girl~" The young man in the floral shirt said with his hands in his pockets and a slightly mocking smile. "In a place like this, you should be holding a girl's hand and getting closer to her!"

"But she said she didn't want me to hold her hand." Kyushu Makoto scratched his head in confusion.

"Tch, so you're the one with no romance at all~" The man in the floral shirt scoffed dismissively. "And besides, we're on a date, why are you dressed so tacky?"

Upon hearing this, Kyushu Makoto subconsciously glanced at his own attire.

Although Makoto Kyushu tried his best to wear a decent outfit, the original owner of this body came from a very poor family, and the most expensive piece of clothing he owned was a foreign brand jacket he bought from a second-hand store.

Besides, he felt there was no need to buy a new outfit just for a "mock date" with friends, so his attire today was, in the grand sense, shabby.

A slightly worn black leather jacket paired with a school uniform white shirt, plus black slim-fit sweatpants without any brand logos, and a cheap black umbrella in his hand... This strange and retro outfit has nothing to do with "trend" and might give people the impression that "this guy is a weirdo from the Showa era!"

"Sir, what exactly do you want to say to me?" Kyushu Makoto asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I just find you annoying, kid~" The man in the floral shirt immediately raised his eyebrows:

"Can't you read the mood? This is Shinagawa Aquarium, a popular dating spot in Tokyo! A guy like you, dressed poorly and clueless about flirting, is really ruining the mood! You've ruined everyone's date fun, even my girlfriend thinks you're annoying!"

Perhaps because the man in the floral shirt was speaking a bit loudly, the other couples around them glanced at them in unison, and then gave Kyushu Makoto a disdainful look.

Putting everything else aside, Kyushu Makoto's rustic outfit might be acceptable if it were a "country bumpkin on vacation," but it would only make people laugh if worn on a date.

The atmosphere in the underwater corridor became a bit awkward. Although most tourists didn't want their interest spoiled by such trivial matters, Makoto Kyushu's outfit, which was anything but "Tokyo," was indeed quite out of place.

"Hmph, you clueless country bumpkin, hurry up and bow down to me and apologize, then get out of here! That way my girlfriend will look at me with new respect!"... The man in the floral shirt thought to himself, glancing smugly at his girlfriend beside him.

Faced with the unwarranted harassment from the man in the floral shirt, Kyushu Makoto suddenly remembered something, quickly took out his "Love Guidebook," turned to a certain page, and read aloud:

"[During a date, you should try to show the girl how handsome you are so that she will fall for you.]...That's what the guidebook seems to say."

"Huh? You need a guidebook for a date?" The man in the floral shirt couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hey, hey, hey, where did you come from, you country bumpkin! This is hilarious!"

Kyushu Makoto chuckled lightly and continued his calm analysis: "So you think that deliberately coming here to make things difficult for me and embarrass me is showing off your cool side to your girlfriend?"

"You..." The man in the floral shirt was taken aback when the other person suddenly saw through his thoughts.

"If that's the case, don't you think what you're doing is despicable?" Kyushu Makoto's eyes suddenly turned deep and dark, as if something crazy and terrifying was about to burst forth:

"I believe the primary criterion for choosing a partner is not whether they dress fashionably or know how to flirt, but rather whether they have good character and know how to respect the other person."