A date with Koharu

Of all the places you expected Koharu to try, the least expected had to be an amusement park.

Koharu was always a cheery, extroverted woman who loved spending time with friends. Karaoke boxes, izakayas, arcades, she never spent a single one of those outings alone, her infectious energy making all her other friends feel as if only minutes had passed in hours-long outings. It was as if not a single bad thing in life could phase her, take away what made her who she is.

And now, here you were, dressed in casual clothing and accompanying the bouncing bunny towards a number of attractions and games.

"Over here, Yuu-kun!" Koharu exclaimed.

This time she was dressed in a white blouse, blue jeans and dark blue shoes, complimenting her tomboyishness.

She directed you to a roller coaster, designed with a futuristic look modeled after an extremely popular anime with giant mechs called Gundams, and Koharu, being an outspoken Otaku with a particular fixation on the sci-fi genre, would not pass up the chance.

"Coming," You said.

"Aw, come on! It's going to be a fun ride!" Koharu exclaimed, almost dragging you along by the hand, "Please?"

When she flashed you the puppy dog eyes, you sighed and gave in.

"Whee!"

Koharu screamed in excitement at the top of her lungs, as did the other riders on your carriage as the roller coaster zoomed forward like lightning, defying the sound barrier and sending your hair flying like splinters. You saw one careless person filming the whole ride on camera lose her phone as it flew out of her hands, possibly being lost in the ravenous maw of the grassy ground.

Personally speaking, you weren't one for such excitement in a ride. Koharu was enjoying it though, and seeing the beaming smile on her face...

Well, so long as it's once in a while, you see no problem indulging her.

When the ride finally came to a stop, Koharu breathed out an audible sigh of satisfaction, looking fatigued as she got up on shaky legs.

"That was really fun! Though I think I might need a break from this..." Koharu spoke haggardly, her eyes looking slightly dimmed.

"Let's go for a drink at the nearby cafe then," You suggested.

"Good idea. Maybe a coffee would be nice," Koharu nodded.

The two of you entered a classic looking cafe with baristas serving all manner of overpriced, sweetened coffee and tea mixtures to customers. The decor was tasteful, the service impeccable, and the drinks quite delicious, all things considered. Then again, since it was in an amusement park, the price range tended to be quite expensive.

Koharu pondered the menu choices before her, pouting in her indecisiveness.

"Way too many choices to pick her. Aw, what should I choose...?" She bemoaned.

If there was one flaw Koharu had, it was her inability to quickly choose what to order if a menu had a broad list of options. Often, she complained that because she was spoiled for choice, she would always take over ten minutes to read the menu and try to decide, only to fail, and then ask the waiter's recommendation, before finally just winging it.

"How about we just stick with something classic?" You offered, "I'm planning on taking this cafe americano with added whipped cream, so why not you take the same?"

"Well... I guess it's fine," Said Koharu.

Another flaw: If she could not decide and her friends ordered first, she would simply stick with whatever they ordered.

Koharu took a single sip of her coffee, and she adopted a blissful smile.

"Ah, I'm coming back to life," She said, "I hope this lasts me until tonight."

"Doing research for a manga?" You asked.

"What? I mean, I am, but how did you know?" Asked Koharu.

You were tempted to outright explain that most times, she preferred not to go to amusement parks, much less go on a roller coaster ride, and while she was an outgoing woman, she preferred going to indoor entertainment places. But doing that was a huge red flag in a date that could end up ruining it.

So instead, you simply said, "Just a hunch."

"Ah... that's right," Koharu sheepishly laughed, "I'm currently working on a chapter where the protagonist takes his girlfriend to an amusement park and they have a fun time together. Except... I never went to one with my boyfriend. And the last time I went to one in Middle School, let's just say things didn't go as planned."

There was a gloomy shroud in Koharu's eyes that darkened them briefly, and you pretended not to notice.

Koharu shook it off and regained her bright cheeriness, "But I have to admit, it was fun today, and I really enjoyed our time together. It's just, did you enjoy it, Yuu-kun? I mean, I pretty much dragged you along to most places."

You simply smiled, "I surely have enough energy as your boyfriend to handle you, don't I?"

Koharu blushed deeply, "T-That's not the answer I was looking for, you know."

You chuckle mirthfully, "That is my answer; I am your boyfriend, no? Then I shall muster as much energy as I need to handle and accept all of you as Tachibana Koharu."

Koharu felt her heart skip a beat, and all at once you looked ten times more charming and attractive than before.

"Am I... Am I really your girlfriend?" She muttered.

"Why not?" You smiled softly.

"Oh! Oh..." Koharu looked away in embarrassment, "It's... It's the first time anyone's directly confessed their feelings to me like this. I-It's not fair of you, Yuu-kun, making me blush like this."

Cheekily smirking, an idea pops into your mind, and you quickly take your seat next to Koharu. She looks at you, shocked speechless, and then you land the finishing blow with a kiss to her lips.

"Is that adequate enough to convince you?" You asked.

Koharu could only manage a stiff nod and a heartfelt 'yes'.

The sunset cast an amber glow upon the landscape, making everything shine with a golden hue. A thoroughly satisfied Koharu skipped along the path as you held her hand, a massive number of souvenirs in her handbags.

"Ah, that was so much fun!" Said Koharu, "If only we could have this much fun every day."

"It's not good to have too much excitement, you know," You pointed out, "You might start to get sick of it and want boredom instead."

"Eh? I got enough of that at home!" Koharu whined, "There's homework, part-time work and doujinshi deadlines! God, my boss tends to be so demanding sometimes, and I get scolded for the slightest mistake! Outings like this are the only way to destress, you know!"

"What about your doujinshi?" You asked.

"I do enjoy doing it, but the deadlines are hell, and since ratings are through the roof, it's hard trying to get some real relaxation time," Koharu complained.

"Then you can just tell them you're on a break. Readers are surprisingly understanding of the pressure of meeting deadlines among authors and writers sometimes," You pointed out, and Koharu looked at you with surprise.

"Really?" Asked Koharu.

"Absolutely. There's plenty of online sites where mangas can be read after paying a monthly subscription, and I see plenty of comments sections that say such things," You explained, "After all, if authors end up being burnt out, they can put out subpar work and then upset and concern their readers at the same time. Foreign readers are especially understanding."

"Eh, I didn't think of it that way..." Koharu muttered, "Then I guess I'll just have to take a longer break after my latest issue then!"

"Oh? Isn't that Dumb Dullard Koharu?"

Koharu froze, her expression turning stiff and fearful. Looking behind you, you saw a group of sneering boys and girls coming your way, looking none too pleased to see a joyful Koharu.

"And who's this, your boyfriend?" The lead bully said, "You look awfully scrawny and weak, and you're dating dumb, dull girl like her? I guess you are two peas in a pod!"

"Don't say that about Yuu-kun!" Koharu shouted at the top of her lungs, trembling with anger as tears burst from her eyes.

The bullies themselves did not expect such an outburst, shocked for a moment. Then they return fire with even harsher words.

"So what!? I'm just speaking the truth here, you fatherless bastard! You were dull and gloomy, a bookworm, a gross otaku who buries herself in all manner of god-awful dirty books written by second-rate writers who can't write for shit! You're just as half-baked as-"

"Silence."

In that instant, you snapped, and an immensely oppressive pressure emanated from you in the form of black swirling mist. Your eyes turned black as night, your stature growing into a giant, a low, animalistic growl escaping your lips. You stepped towards the bullies, slow and deliberate, every step the heralding of the Grim Reaper's collection date. The bullies were terrified to the core, their pants soiled with piss and shit, their eyes wide open, their nostrils leaking, yet they could not move a muscle.

You raised a hand to smite them, but then...

"Stop!"

Koharu hugged you from behind, tightening her embrace as if to anchor you and stop you from doing something you would regret. She was trembling in fear, your pressure bearing down on her like a boot upon an ant.

"Please, don't..."

In response to her earnest plea, you calm down and dissipate your presence, allowing both her and the bullies to regain their breaths. You give them one look of finality, domineering and absolute.

"Get lost."

The bullies scram without another word, leaving you alone with Koharu as she hugs you in relief.

"Let us go home," You suggested.

Koharu did not complain.

You honestly resented those immature bullies for ruining a fun date. Now she would remain depressed until she got better, and you suspect this time she will need far more support than before, both from you and her family.