Why wasn't I the one who got the male lead's script?

"........."

Although it's not really a date, it would be better to tell Futaba in advance.

But now she seems to refuse to communicate with herself.

"Besides, calling without permission might make me feel like I'm being insulted..."

The boy, who had a headache for the first time over such trivial matters, rubbed the back of his head and held the phone in confusion, not knowing what to do.

This was probably the first time they had a conflict. Relationships aren't always smooth sailing, and it's normal to have these unpleasant conflicts and arguments.

However, their current identities have somewhat restricted both of them. Consequently, they have many more concerns than when they were just friends.

And the reason why she suddenly cooled down towards me must be because of that day...

"…………call,"

But doing nothing won't work either.

After thinking it over, Xingjian, who stayed where he was, edited a text message explaining the specific situation and sent it.

Regardless of whether Futaba would reply to him or not, Hoshimi still explained his plans and his date with Isshiki tomorrow in the text message - of course, he also explained clearly why he agreed.

After the text message was successfully sent, there was still no reply after five or six minutes.

How should I put it? It was also expected.

He sighed, put away his phone, and walked towards home.

If we are efficient enough, we can solve this troublesome matter as early as tomorrow. After everything is settled, we will find Futaba to explain it clearly.

……

……

The first weekend after the trip was also Xingjian’s first day off after returning to his daily life from traveling through time and space.

Originally, he had planned to spend the weekend leisurely - hanging out with his girlfriend, hanging out with his girlfriend, hanging out with his girlfriend. Of course, a date would be the best.

Now, in terms of form, it is indeed no different from the weekend he wanted... after all, it is also a date.

It's just that the person you spend time with is different.

"Senior~!"

The next day, in front of the station platform.

Wearing a denim jacket, looking a little more refreshing than usual, Xingjian, who was leaning against the wall and fiddling with his phone out of boredom, slowly raised his head.

A flaxen-haired girl dressed in fashionable and cute casual clothes walked out from the exit. When she saw him, she waved happily and ran towards him in small steps.

"Senior is so punctual, hmmm~ Looks like that's a bonus in terms of boyfriend power."

"Well, I'd be honored."

Although the schoolgirl in front of him showed a playful, cute and sweet smile, any ordinary boy who had not yet fallen in love would probably be moved by it - Xingjian still brushed off the conversation in a very calm tone.

"So, can we start our date now, Isshiki-kun?"

"That's right, the sweet and loving one-day date plan begins!"

She waved her little fist enthusiastically, then took Xingjian's hand as naturally as possible.

"Then it's okay for me to decide on the itinerary. I made a thorough plan last night!"

"Oh, of course. Whatever makes you happy."

Completely different from his previous attitude, this time Xingjian agreed without any resistance.

Well, since I agreed to go on a date with Isshiki for a day, I naturally have to make arrangements according to her wishes.

Besides, if I can fulfill her wish, I can also get over the influence of adolescent syndrome sooner. This is efficient and can be considered a win-win situation.

"By the way... Is this what you most want to do right now, Isshiki?"

However, to be on the safe side, he still questioned Isshiki, who seemed to be in a good mood.

"Hmm? Senior, what do you mean by asking this?"

"Well, normally I thought you, Isshiki, would be more interested in guys who are more dazzling and handsome than me. Is it really okay if the date is me?"

"Eh—senpai, are you feeling a bit inferior? Hehe~ Although you look ordinary, that's not the case. Hmm...if you think about it carefully, you do have some good qualities that you can only notice unconsciously, I guess."

"I don't have any self-esteem issues, but the silence at the end was a bit rude to me personally."

Isshiki's first stop was at the entertainment mall, which was packed with people on weekends. Apparently, shopping was an essential activity when traveling with a girl.

Isshiki seemed to be looking forward to this date. After transferring to a bus with Hoshimi and heading to the mall, he directly pulled him into the various clothing and accessories stores that he had been longing for - he must have spent a lot of time on the strategy the day before.

Although the experience of accompanying someone shopping is boring, Isshiki is actually the first girl around Hoshimi who would drag him shopping, so the novelty somewhat diluted the boredom.

The so-called accompanying a girl shopping is actually the process of acting as a human walking clothes rack.

They wander aimlessly, stopping and starting, carrying bags almost exclusively, and then deciding how long to stay based on their mood. It's hard to call it a date when you're not actually shopping for clothes, but you're forced to go through the same tedious journey.

But Isshiki looked very happy.

In other people's impression, she has always been a honey-type girl with a sweet smile and a cute look, who looks considerate and full of energy - but in fact, she is also an ordinary girl who will drag her boyfriend shopping to satisfy her own willfulness.

[Futaba Line] Different Paths, Same Destination: Chapter 4: A Date Between Two People (Part 2)

Around noon, in a high-end restaurant on the top floor of a slightly crowded shopping mall.

Xingjian glanced at the large and small shopping boxes piled around him with some lingering fear, and then cast a helpless look at the flaxen-haired girl who was sitting in front of him, humming a little tune happily and taking out a small notebook to write and draw.

He carried all these things up from the first floor to the fifth floor, then from the fifth floor to the first floor, and finally to the dining area on the top floor.

"Yeah—bringing my boyfriend for a casual and enjoyable shopping experience, done~!"

"If you could add an achievement after checking the box: [Let your boyfriend carry things around with you], I'd really appreciate it."

"Oh my, my~ You're the one who agreed to spend the entire day with me and let me decide the course of the date, huh? Complaining now doesn't seem like a good boyfriend."

"That's right. There won't be a next time anyway."

Xingjian curled the corner of his mouth and ignored Isshiki's words, then silently swallowed a mouthful of the parfait that had just been served.

Isshi Iroha seemed to be in a good mood. She ordered her favorite dessert and bought some cute clothes that she had longed for but had never been able to afford. This date might indeed be very interesting for her.

As a tool, Xingjian is not so suitable.

"After all, this girl just wants someone to play with her."

He took a sip of the defrosted aloe vera juice out of boredom, looking at Isshiki who was immersed in joy.

Is it more like she just wants to find someone to do with her the things she has wanted to do but has never been able to do for various reasons?

"Why do I feel like I'm being used as a tool?"

But having said that, if that were true, Xingjian would only feel relieved.

It's good. If they don't have any other feelings, they can each get what they need - Hoshimi helps Isshiki do what she wants, and after the other's puberty syndrome is resolved, she can return to her daily life, killing two birds with one stone.

There's no need to exchange feelings, and there's no corresponding unnecessary burden. It's just awesome. (laughs)

"But then...why would this girl want me to be her boyfriend?"

If personal feelings are not involved, then was Hoshimi chosen because he was the only alternative candidate?

"No matter how you think about it, it's probably just someone like me who's easier to use."

Xingjian, who was very aware of himself, pursed his lips silently. In fact, he didn't care much about his image in the eyes of insignificant people anymore - especially after experiencing the so-called school violence.

"I'm telling you, what's the next plan?"

It might be impossible to get the answer from Isshiki by asking directly, so I'll try to find another way.

——For example, if you can perfectly fulfill her wish list and then ask questions, it might be much easier.

"Hehe, in order to make the seniors feel involved, I have of course also prepared some activities that will make them fully enjoyable."

Although the girl's voice was still as sweet as the parfait that had just been swallowed by the roar, I could still catch a hint of evil intentions from her cute and charming expression.

Xingjian raised his eyebrows, with a vague bad feeling.

----

Around one o'clock in the afternoon, in the arcade in the corner of the third floor of the shopping mall.

In this amusement area filled with the laughter of young people, the serious-looking teenager standing in front of a claw machine seems particularly out of place with the people around him.

“Hmm…”

He stared at the mechanical gripper with a frown and took a deep breath. After accurately calculating the trajectory of the gripper, he stopped shaking the joystick and pressed the button half-believingly.

The mechanical gripper moved down and grabbed the white rabbit-shaped doll hidden among the other dolls, then lifted it up naturally and smoothly.

But the next moment, the doll shrank out of the clamp like a lubricated pudding and fell into the area where the dolls were piled up.

"what……"

The mechanical gripper, which had caught nothing, released the air alone, then circled back to **.

Having already used up more than thirty coins, Xingjian turned helplessly to look at Isshiki who was standing next to her - at this moment her expression was full of shame and resentment.

"Okay, I'm going home."

"Wait, there's definitely something wrong with this machine—"

Isshiki chuckled twice in disdain, and with an undisguised look of disgust on his face, he began to mutter to himself.

"Eh... I've already played over thirty times and haven't caught a single one. I haven't even made back a penny..."

"Next time, definitely next time."

That being said, how come this kind of talk is just like spending money on card draws, where you have to pour a lot of money into the game just to fight for your dignity...

Well, but pay-to-win mobile games are a metaphysics that relies purely on probability and luck, and claw machines actually require certain skills as well.

"I thought I could catch even one of the dolls with the power of my seniors, but it seems I have put my trust in the wrong person."

Oh no, oh no! Isshiki’s disgust is almost beyond words.

"I, I haven't yet exerted my full strength..."

"Well, let's wait and see."

Isshi Iroha had completely discarded her sweet disguise, and with half-moon eyes she watched with disapproval as Xingjian spent all the few coins he had - but in the end, he still got nothing.

"Senior, you're surprisingly not good at this kind of game..."

"You're so noisy. That's because I've never played it before."

"Eh... sounds like you've never been asked to play claw machines by a girl. Senpai, have you ever been in a relationship before?"

"Shut up."

"Look at this reaction, it's real. He's never been in love in the past ten years... How pitiful..."

"Shut up, you little brat. How much more experienced are you than me?"

"T-This is different. It's not like I've been pursued before—unlike you, Senior, you definitely don't have any similar experience—"

"That's not necessarily true, Isshiki-kun."

Xing Jian chuckled twice with a forced smile, and ignored this guy who was pushing his luck.

Anyway, at least he took the initiative and got a relationship - if this guy hadn't suddenly appeared.

That’s right, don’t let this guy lead you astray.

Now he has to help this guy complete a perfect date.

"Oh, there's really nothing I can do."

Just at this moment, Isshiki shook his head and suddenly grabbed the sleeve of Hoshimi, who was still unable to recover.

"Since we share the same suffering, Senior, I'll be kind enough to let you enjoy my perfect date as well."

The smile on her face at this moment was still very sweet, but it seemed to lack the usual teasing undertone.

[Futaba Line] Different Paths to the Same Destination: Chapter 5: The End of One-Day Lovers (Part 1)

After lunch, Hoshimi finally understood why Isshiki chose to go shopping in this mall in the suburbs.

Just over ten minutes’ walk from the mall, there’s an amusement park for all ages that just opened for business – so Isshi Iroha’s intentions naturally become clear.

"Okay~ Eggplant~"