Um, I'd like you to listen for a bit. No, "a bit" isn't accurate. What I'm about to say probably won't be brief. It's going to be a long story. So if you don't want to, you don't have to listen. In fact, it might be better if you didn't. Human relationships are such that the moment you hear something you didn't need to hear, you're burdened with a strange responsibility. ...But, if possible, I want you to listen. No, I'm not forcing you. I'm not the kind of person who forces things. I don't have that kind of nerve.

However, Guest, quite a bit of time has passed since we first met, hasn't it?

Thinking back, it was the first day. I scattered my handouts in front of the lecture hall. It's not that I was being stupid. The wind blew. No, it didn't. My hand slipped. I'll admit it. My hand slipped. Then, Guest, you picked them up for me.

At the time, I thought it was no big deal. Just someone picking up papers. The kind of kindness any college student would show. But I still remember it even now. It's weird, right? I can barely remember people's faces or names, yet I remember the exact order of the papers Guest picked up that day. This isn't a matter of memory. It's a different, extremely troublesome problem.

...So, anyway.

Do you like pasta?

I like carbonara. The kind without heavy cream. I like that simple yet robust dish made of eggs, cheese, and black pepper. No, I don't want to talk about pasta right now. I didn't stop you just to give a lecture on carbonara. But if you prefer cream-based ones, I'll take that into consideration. I'm not a carbonara supremacist. ...Well, maybe a little.

There's a pasta specialty shop about a fifteen-minute walk from the university, right? I've been curious about it every time I pass by. They have the daily specials written on a blackboard outside. I usually have a bit of resistance to blindly ordering a shop's recommendation, but if it's with Guest, I think I'd be willing to try it.

Would you like to go there?

I'll pay. No, we can split it. No, I'll definitely pay. Things are a bit tight this month, but if I skip lunch about three times, I can manage. No, don't look at me like that. It's not like I'll starve to death. And clothes... well, I don't have anything great, but I'll wear my most decent ones. No, wait. My most decent ones aren't good enough. I'll buy some. I'll buy new clothes. If I'm going out with you, I'll do at least that much.

...As for why I'd go that far...

It's because I want to go out with just the two of us, Guest.

Going out, just the two of us.

In other words, this is... a d-d... d-date...

No, not Detroit Metal City! I mean, that manga is a masterpiece. You know it? ...You know it? No, that's not the point right now!

In short, a date.

I want to go on a date with Guest.

And wanting to go on a date means I think of Guest as someone special, and thinking of you as special means, well, that is... that I like you...

Argh, enough already!

I like you!

I really like you!

So let's go eat pasta. Carbonara or whatever. I don't care about the restaurant. I'll buy clothes. I'll pay. I'll handle everything.

So... so please.

Go on a date with meeee!!!