Episode 16. Date with Lumi

Sunday morning, I got up with a stiff body, stretched, and woke up my sleeping body.

Today, I have a movie date with Lumi. No less than the Idol Party movie special.

Honestly, I don’t even know what Idol Party is or what it’s about at all. I’m not really interested in that sort of thing anyway.

Still, since I’m going to see the movie, I should do some research beforehand, right? It’d be polite to Lumi, too.

On NeomuWiki, I searched for ‘Idol Party’.

“Idol Party… What is this?”

It’s about students of a school on the brink of ruin who form their own idol units, become famous, and finally save the school.

What the hell kind of anime is this?

Thanks to that, I learned what ‘limited editions’ and ‘gacha’ are.

Otakus, when it comes to anime they like, are detailed and meticulous.

To avoid getting caught in a lie, I picked a random character and decided they were my ‘favorite character’.

I even went into the favorite character’s personal profile page, starting with their profile, songs, dances, and common hairstyles, and memorized it all.

“This should make me a perfect otaku.”

I had successfully embodied the perfect otaku.

Checking the time, it was about time to leave.

I had already gotten ready, so I just threw on my coat and left the dormitory.

The movie theater where we were supposed to meet was close to the Academy, so I arrived quickly. I looked around, peering here and there, but Lumi didn’t seem to have arrived yet.

---

『Sub Quest Transmitted.』

[A Memorable First Date!]

Your first date partner is Lumi!

Lumi is very excited about her first private appointment with a friend!

Give Lumi an unforgettable memory!

• Reward: Random Stat +2

---

Oh, a quest popped up.

An unforgettable memory, huh? That sounds difficult?

After accepting the quest, I sat on a nearby bench zoning out while killing time, when a thought suddenly struck me.

Come to think of it, when was the last time I dated a girl? How long has it been?

I’m suddenly nervous. I wasn’t thinking about it at all, but now that I’m aware of it, I’m nervous.

Thump-thump.

My heart seems to be beating faster, too.

“So the day this comes in handy has arrived.”

That crazy old pharmacist gave me a Cheongsimhwan, so I took one out and ate it. Washed it down with water. Gulp-gulp.

“What are you eating?”

“Cough, cough! Hack!”

“A-are you okay? I’m sorry. It’s because of me!”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Lumi was wearing a bright dress, and her long black hair was tied up with a red ribbon hair tie. It was the first time I’d seen her in casual clothes, and honestly, I was a little thrilled.

While exuding an innocent charm, her petite frame gave off a cute vibe, and the undeniable curves created an unbalanced, yet captivating, look, giving off an aura of having put in a lot of effort to dress up.

“But what did you eat? A candy?”

“I took a Cheongsimhwan. I was nervous.”

“What’s a Cheongsimhwan?”

“Well, think of it as medicine that relieves tension and lowers body temperature. I took it because I was nervous thinking about going on a date with you, Lumi.”

Hearing my words, Lumi’s face started to turn redder and redder, and she lowered her head completely.

“Y-yes? A date? Um, how should I put it. Isn’t it better to take things slowly, step by step? I mean, it’s not that I don’t like you, Hoyeon-ssi, quite the opposite actually… but…”

She fidgeted, crossing her fingers back and forth, looking like she was contemplating what to do, which was incredibly cute.

“I was kidding, but do you actually want to go on a date?”

“What? No, ughhh… Don’t tease me.”

Lumi realized she was being teased by looking at my face. I should have held back my laughter.

“Let’s go inside quickly. Even though there are plenty of seats, you never know, and we need to buy popcorn too.”

“Yes, let’s hurry!”

We entered the movie theater.

As I was trying to buy tickets at the self-service kiosk, I noticed a poster next to it.

[For couples using the couple seats, an image board and photo cards will be given additionally!]

Soon, Lumi’s gaze also fell upon the poster.

“Eek!”

Making a strange sound, she looked back and forth between the poster and the machine.

Then, she slowly turned her head and met my eyes. From her sparkling eyes, I could feel her unspoken request.

I should indulge her this time. Since I came here pretending to be an otaku.

“Lumi, do you want to get the couple seats? They said they give out image boards and photo cards.”

“Ah, yes! I’d love to! Let’s get the couple seats!”

Just because we got couple seats, her tension shot up dramatically.

Is that really that great?

Anyway, I booked the tickets for the couple seats, bought popcorn, and headed into the theater.

“We’re the only heterosexual couple here?”

“…Seems so.”

Surprisingly, the roughly 10 couple seats lined up were all occupied by male couples.

They were holding strange glow sticks; why are there glow sticks in a movie theater?

And why were Lumi’s eyes shining looking at them?

*

“Sob, sob….”

“…Don’t cry.”

Lumi really seemed to be serious about Idol Party.

This was the final movie in the series, and starting about 10 minutes before the end, she’d been sniffling, and now, as we left the theater, tears were streaming down her face.

“Here, take my card. Take this and stop crying.”

I handed over the card we got for the couple seats, the poster which was a standard bonus, and even a coupon usable in the game.

“Hoyeon-ssi! You shouldn’t just give away precious things like this!”

“Take it while you can. If you refuse, I won’t give it to you again.”…

“I’m sorry… I want to refuse, but I want it so badly… sob.”

Lumi, still grabbing things even while crying. She’s like a cute puppy. If I had more money, I would have bought more for her, but I donated to the orphanage, so I’m really broke.

“Instead, let’s go get lunch together. I’m hungry.”

“Yes! I’ll treat you to a delicious tteokbokki place! Let’s go!”

Tteokbokki again? I don’t hate tteokbokki either, so whatever, let’s just go.

“It’s here! Right here~!”

Excited about eating tteokbokki, Lumi ran ahead, and the place she pointed to with her hand was a shop called ‘Yeokjeonhalabeoji Soju’.

“Lumi, no matter how I look at it, isn’t this a bar?”

“They say the tteokbokki here is really delicious. It’s famous on Everyday too!”

“Really? If that’s the case then.”

I went into the shop with Lumi. Ting-a-ling.

“Welcome~ Are you two?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll show you over there~.”

We were led to a secluded two-person table.

“One order of Chadol Gopchang Tteokbokki, please!”

“Yes, order taken!”

“Is that the famous tteokbokki?”

“Yes! It was all the rage on Everyday. I wanted to come too, but Lucy doesn’t really like tteokbokki, so…”

Ah, she couldn’t come alone because she didn’t have a friend who liked it. I used to find it hard to go to restaurants alone in the past, but once I got used to it, it became more comfortable.

Come to think of it, this is a bar, so maybe she couldn’t come alone?

“Lumi, is there anything you’ve always wanted to try?”

“Why the sudden question?”

Lumi’s bright, innocent gaze felt a little burdensome. Saying “I’m going to create an unforgettable memory for you” right then felt almost criminal.

“Well, just things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t, since it would be nice to do them together now?”

“Ah, Hoyeon-ssi is so kind… But I’m already having so much fun!”

Sigh, forget it. She’s too kind and pure, so it feels wrong to bring it up myself.

“Your tteokbokki is here!”

Just as the staff brought the tteokbokki, the conversation naturally shifted.

“Wow, wow, thinking of putting beef brisket and intestines into tteokbokki!”

Lumi skewered some beef brisket, intestines, and rice cakes all at once with her chopsticks and put them in her mouth.

“Mmm~”

She shook her head vigorously side to side. Like a puppy shaking off water.

Why do I keep thinking of puppies whenever I see Lumi? She doesn’t look like a puppy, but her actions are totally puppy-like.

Seeing her mouth curving upwards, she must really like it. Is her head not spinning?

Curious about the taste, I tried a bite too.

“Wow, this is really delicious?”

“Right, right! So delicious!”

The savory and chewy intestines without any bitterness, the beef brisket, possibly grilled beforehand, with a smoky flavor, and the chewy rice cakes. It’s truly delicious.

“This really tastes like something that calls for alcohol.”

“A taste that calls for alcohol?”

“Yeah, it’s the perfect taste to go with a shot of soju.”

“…Then should we order some alcohol too?”

“Alcohol? I’m fine with it, but are you good at drinking?”

“Actually, I’ve never tried it before. Hehe.”

Found it. An unforgettable memory. Wouldn’t learning to drink for the first time be an unforgettable memory? I wonder if I should teach alcohol to such a pure child, but it’s something she’ll have to learn someday. Rather than falling into trouble with bad guys, I’ll protect her.

“Really? Then let’s do it together this time.”

“Yes! I’d love to!”

Ding-dong-

“Manager! Two bottles of soju, please!”

“Coming right up~”

But, isn’t soju too bitter for someone learning to drink for the first time?

“Manager, make one of those a grapefruit soju!”

I vaguely remembered hearing somewhere that women like fruit-flavored soju. So I switched one bottle to grapefruit.

The alcohol and glasses arrived, and I poured Lumi a glass of soju.

I also received a glass of alcohol from Lumi. It was the first time a pretty girl had poured me a drink, so it felt strange.

As I received the soju, instead of seeing the gloomy face of some old guy, the day came when I could steal glances at a woman’s chest; I was overcome with emotion.

“Okay, first we clink glasses, then we toast with the shot glasses and drink. Cheers.”

“Cheers!”

Gulp, gulp.

“Kuhhh.”

The first alcohol I’ve drunk since transmigrating into this world. Maybe because it’s been so long, it’s incredibly bitter.

Perhaps it’s because Lee Hoyeon’s body has never had alcohol before. That might be the reason.

Lumi, in front of me, couldn’t even finish half her glass.

“Ugh, it’s too bitter. Blech.”

“Eat some tteokbokki. And next time, I’ll pour you this one. This one should be a bit sweeter.”

“Okay… But this is too bitter, I can’t drink it…”

“Give it here, I’ll drink it.”

I took Lumi’s glass and downed the remaining half of the soju in one go.

“Th-that was the glass I drank from…”

“Ah. Sorry. I didn’t want it to go to waste since you said you couldn’t drink it.”

“It-it’s okay.”

Nom nom

Lumi, her cheeks flushed red, picked up some tteokbokki and brought it to her mouth.

“Ahem, want to try the grapefruit soju? It’ll be really good.”

Usually, when things get a bit awkward, having another drink helps.

“Yes. Pour me a glass.”

Lumi stared intently at the soju bottle and glass, like a general heading into battle.

Getting so serious over just one glass of soju.

I poured Lumi the grapefruit soju, and myself the regular soju, and we toasted again.

Cheers!

Gulp, gulp.

“Hmm, it’s a little bitter, but it’s sweet, so it’s drinkable.”

“That’s a relief. Good thing I ordered one of those.”

“But they say you get drunk when you drink; when will I get drunk?”

“That depends on the person. Don’t you feel happier, or your face getting hot?”

“Hmmmm… I don’t think I feel anything like that…”

Lumi muttered, placing her hand on her forehead.

From my perspective, her tongue is already slurring, Lumi-ssi.

“I think I can drink well; let’s have another glass!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to drink a little slower?”

“Cheers!”

*

“Ughhhhh….”

“I told you to drink slowly.”

“Aaaargh… My head hurts….”

Pat, pat.

After leaving the bar, in the middle of the street, I was gently patting Lumi’s back.

Even though I told her to drink slowly, she ended up drinking five glasses in a row and completely lost it.

If you’re this weak to alcohol, you’d usually feel your face get hot, or your head hurt, or something, but getting drunk easily; is it an unavoidable fate for a heroine?

“I’m sleepy….”

“No, if you fall asleep here, your mouth will get crooked. Lumi-ya, Lumi-ya?”

“Ughhhhh….”

Thump. Lumi slumped down, so I slipped my arm under her armpits and tried to lift her up.

No matter how much I shook her, she had no intention of getting up.

“Ughhhhhh….”

“…She’s completely out.”

She’s totally wasted. I can’t just leave her here; what am I going to do?

“….”

One block ahead, I saw a brightly lit sign.

[Grand Motel]

“I can’t help it. Yeah. I really can’t.”

I really have no choice. Truly.