Yua and Daichi left together after school, just as they had done in the morning.
They strolled down the hill's stairs together.
"How about if we go before returning home?" Daichi suggested.
"Um? Where to?"
"We can go out to dinner, shopping, or anything else together."
"Nishiyama-senpai... Do you want to go on a date with me?" Yua asked probingly. 
Daichi felt uneasy all of a sudden. "U—uh, Yeah, I did mean that."
Immediately afterward, Daichi became upset with himself for his somewhat rambling and awkward speech. The chunibyo in him saw this as a disgrace that would undermine the honor, glory, and reputation he had worked so hard to achieve.
But Yua didn't appear to notice.
After the gorgeous woman with shoulder-length hair said yes, they went on a date.
Since they were both students, they went on a cheap date to a place like a ramen shop. Daichi and Yua then went to the playground together.
The two decided that they would only ride the Ferris wheel out of all the rides.
They were seated facing each other inside the Ferris wheel. However, Yua and Daichi were still shy and preferred to avoid each other rather than look at one another.
The two were riding in a carriage that started to rise as the Ferris wheel turned.
"Riding the Ferris wheel with my boyfriend... It is been a long-time dream of mine, in fact." Yua started talking abruptly.
Daichi looked at Yua as he pulled his eyes away from behind the glass, but he remained silent.
Yua herself was still speaking, her eyes darting through the clear glass to look outside the carriage.
"I have always been curious about how it was. And now I know." Yua gave a small smile. "It was awkward."
Daichi said, "I am sorry."
"That is not necessary, Nishiyama-senpai. It's not your fault. We just don't know each other that well yet, I am sure of it. Remember that yesterday was our official launch date?"
"Yes. But, that's also because I'm inexperienced in this matter." Daichi grimaced and scratched the back of his head. "I don't know what a couple should do when dating—I mean, I have never dated before."
"Is that so? But, you asked me out earlier."
"Sorry, I wanted to spend more time with you and it was not planned."
A blush of shyness filled Daichi's expression. Normally, the young man exuded confidence and displayed a hint of arrogance, so seeing this was unusual.
Yua thought Daichi looked really cute right now.
"Senpai, you look so cute if your face is blushing like that!" Yua spoke up without prompting.
Daichi froze for a brief instant. "Eh? Cute?" He repeated.
"Yes!" Nodding, Yua confirmed.
Daichi's mood dropped to the lowest point possible with just one word. It is important to note that this young Nishiyama family member truly detested the label "cute."
Daichi made the decision to call off the date this afternoon as soon as the Ferris wheel started spinning again and they stepped off the carriage.
•~•
Daichi's bad mood from the date's conclusion made him remember the "basketball court declaration of love" incident, which he thought about long into the night.
The incident continued to occupy the young man's mind even after he had dinner with his family and after taking a bath.
Daichi muttered as he created a whirlpool in the bathtub while soaking;
"At first it was known as Shuhei Yoshimoto professing love for Yua Miyagi, then it turned out to be the other way around. Where's the oddity?"
Daichi kept playing with the water. He quickly remembered how Shuhei's expression had changed at that time.
"At that time, he had an air of surprise and concern, as if he was worried about being misunderstanding. Who, though, was he fearing a misunderstanding with? Was it Yua Miyagi?"
There was still the faint sound of water gurgling all around Daichi.
"Yua Miyagi seemed like she was going to cry when I got there. What had Yoshimoto said to her, and why? Does that actually mean that he will not let Yua see me? However, I have a feeling that isn't the case..."
For nearly two hours, Daichi pondered as she soaked. By the end, he was even more perplexed and still had no answers.
"Aaah, confusing!" Daichi gave his hair a squeeze.
"Wait, I spent nearly the entire day thinking about this. That implies I am also thinking about Yoshimoto, doesn't it?" Daichi trembled with fear. "That's absurd! I want to stop thinking about him and everything associated with it! Everything!"
-
Yua and Daichi decided to go to school together the following morning. Though their light conversation continued, it was clear that they were estranged from one another.
Perhaps it was due to Daichi's moodiness from yesterday.
It was the holiday weekend two days later. Daichi realized that his minor offense was the source of his childish behavior. By asking Yua out, he wanted to strengthen their bond.
Daichi eagerly hit the call button on Yua Miyagi's number.
["Hello, Nishiyama-senpai?"]
"Are you busy, Miyagi-san?"
["Um, no. What is going on?"]
"May I take you to see a movie if you do not have any other plans?"
["I'd love to go with you. However, I have a shopping date with my mother today...,"]
"Ah, then we can go another time."
["Sorry, senpai."]
"It's okay."
Daichi grinned sardonically and hung up the phone. He then turned to face the clothes he had laid out on the bed.
"Well, going alone is OK too if you can not go on a date today,"
The handsome young man went off by himself as a result. Even Akira did not have free time to accompany him today, so one of the two tickets he had previously purchased went unused.
"I have to win this battle today. You know, battle in game," Akira pretended when Daichi called.
"Whoa, such a gamer!" Daichi disconnected the call.
Daichi wandered the mall aimlessly after seeing the film. He only wanted to get rid of boredom, not buy anything.
He could see a girl, who appeared to be Yua Miyagi, and a plump middle-aged man holding hands from a distance.
"Is that Miyagi-san?"
Curiosity compelled Daichi to come closer to them. It appeared more and more like Yua the longer he stared.
Daichi dialed Yua's number, not wanting to make a mistake. Just so, the girl's cell phone rang along with the man's middle-aged one. Daichi was at last persuaded that the girl was, in fact, Yua Miyagi after she picked it up.
["Hello, senpai."] Daichi heard Yua's lovely voice.
Daichi found himself reluctant to speak for a moment. So he hung up the phone instantly. But as he followed the two individuals closer, his feet appeared to move independently of his brain's commands. Near enough for him to hear what they were saying.
"Who's calling?" The middle-aged man asked Yua.
"It was a senior in my school."
"I heard you're dating a senior at school. Is that him?"
Yua carried her cell phone in her sling bag. "Well, it is," she answered.
The middle-aged man grinned. "Really? So how does dating someone your own age feel like? Are you happy?"
Yua pulled her body in closer, grabbing the middle-aged man's arm. "It can't be compared to you, Sugiyama-san," she uttered in a spoiled voice. "I dated him for fun because, well, he is handsome. But still, I don't like him because he has no money."
"Of course!" Sugiyama burst out laughing. "Where are the wealthy students who can buy expensive brands of goods to spoil girls? Their good looks are all they have. And a good-looking face can't do anything."
"That's right, Sugiyama-san. That's why I still love you."
"Because of my money, right?"
They ignored the fact that this was a public place and laughed, occasionally making fun of each other. 
Daichi himself had had enough and had given up stalking. He was just looking really uncomfortable right now. The young man's lips quivered a little, and his face turned pale.
"Dating me just for fun, huh?" Daichi echoed what Yua had said.
Daichi was heartbroken instantly, more so than when he was rivaled by Shuhei at school.
Daichi managed to find his way to Akira's house despite being lost.
"Eh? Why do you seem so depressed? Have you lost any bets?" As soon as he opened the door, Akira became startled.
"I'm not a big fan of gambling," Daichi snapped back.
"Haha, I know. It is only a metaphor! Why do you feel that way about it? Anyway, let's came in."
Daichi entered, but he went straight to Akira's room door rather than taking a seat in the living room.
"Oi, oi, I haven't invited you in yet!"
"I don't care! I want to vent!" Daichi closed the door hard.
Akira took two bottles of soft drinks out of the refrigerator and followed helplessly. He gave one to Daichi and kept the other for himself.
Daichi cracked open the soda can and gulped it down in half.
"You didn't tell me you were that thirsty, bro." Akira expressed amazement.
"My heart is hurting," Daichi said.
"So when you said you wanted to let out a vent, you meant it? Okay, let's tell me about your problem."
Daichi took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Holding his wounded pride, Daichi told; "Yua Miyagi doesn't love me."
Akira spontaneously choked. "She doesn't love you? How is that possible?"
Following that, Daichi told Akira all he had heard and seen while at the mall. Akira laughed as he reached a conclusion after Daichi's story ended.
"Is Yua Miyagi the mistress of an old man?"
Daichi picked up his can of soda and finished it off. "Maybe yes."
"If it's true as you say, then she is indeed an old man's mistress."
"'If it's true'? Does that mean you don't believe me?" Daichi's lips were dripping with soda as he pouted.
"No, that's not it." Akira's heart began to race a little when he realized how adorable Daichi was, and he waved his hand frantically. "I just wanted to make sure there was not any confusion regarding this."
"It was clearly heard and seen by me." Looking out the window, Daichi shifted his focus. "But tomorrow, I will check with her to make sure."
"Yes, yes. It's better that way. Break up with her as soon as you have confirmation that she does not truly love you." Akira calmed himself and gave advice.