"Now, I know you said that as a joke, but I took it seriously, so you don’t dare deny me some free food and booze," Kyle added to his invitation.

"Hmm... Since I said I was joking about going on a date with you?" Lira gave him a sideways glance.

"I said it because I wanted to go out with a friend. It sucks living in this cycle of doom."

As she said that, Lira stepped closer, closing the distance between them until only a few inches separated their faces. Kyle could feel the warmth of her breath against his skin.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Kyle stammered, immediately flustered.

"We’re working! Folks might get the wrong idea."

He quickly leaned back, creating some distance between them.

’This idiot!’

Lira cursed him inwardly. She had only been teasing him, but a small part of her had expected him to play along instead of retreating like a startled animal.

"Pfft... Did you really think I was going to do something to you?" she said, pretending to be amused.

"Idiot. I’m just teasing you."

Since she didn’t want to make herself look desperate, she casually passed it off as a joke.

"Yo-you and your teasing be damned! I swear to God, you’re going to get fired for sexual harassment one day!" Kyle said, his face still red.

"Only if you report me."

She winked at him, putting on an exaggeratedly seductive expression.

"But will you?"

"Stop..." Kyle muttered, looking away. "I won’t report you, but one day a customer will. For indecent behavior."

Before Lira could respond—

*Trriiiing!*

Her phone alarm rang, signaling the end of her shift.

"Lucky you..." she sulked, looking visibly disappointed. "I was planning to bother you a little longer."

"You’ve bothered me enough."

"That’s not what I meant."

She gave him an annoyed look before heading toward the staff room.

Then she stopped and glanced back.

"Anyways, this Sunday, let’s go on a date."

Kyle blinked.

"A date?"

"Yeah. Don’t chicken out."

With that, she disappeared into the staff room to change into her normal clothes.

...

After Lira left, Kyle was left to finish his shift alone since the other employee was on leave.

The place was unusually quiet.

Normally, Kyle would have enjoyed the silence, but today it only gave his thoughts more room to wander.

We’re going on a date.

He shook his head.

"There’s nothing to it. We’re just going out as friends."

[Well, ain’t you becoming a chick magnet pretty quickly.]

Kyle nearly groaned.

[First, you’re minding your own business with one baddie, and now you’re planning to court another one.]

"What are you saying? We’re just going on a date. There’s nothing yet."

Kyle lightly blushed at the system’s words.

[Yet? Are you sure? Did you ask her that too? Isn’t it pretty obvious that she might be low-key interested in you?]

"What do you mean?"

Kyle frowned.

"Lira liking me? That’s impossible, bro. She’s way out of my league. I have no chance with her."

[Why?]

"She’s just toying with me because she’s bored, and I’m playing along. That’s all."

Kyle sighed.

"Besides, I was a virgin without a proper relationship for twenty-four years of my life. How the hell am I supposed to suddenly get into a relationship now?"

[Alright, whatever you say, lil bro.]

"Don’t call me that."

[Whatever you say, lil bro.]

"You’re annoying."

Kyle ignored the system after that and finished his shift before returning to his little apartment.

----

Two days passed by quickly.

And suddenly, it was Sunday.

To be precise, it was the day he was supposed to go on his date with Lira.

It was only 10:00 in the morning, but Kyle had already arrived at their designated meeting place.

Originally, they had planned to meet for dinner, but Lira had suggested changing their plans and making it a full-day outing instead. Adults didn’t get much free time for themselves, after all, so they might as well make use of whatever little time they had.

Kyle had agreed.

Now he was regretting every decision that had led him here.

"Fuck... I’m nervous."

He looked down at himself.

He was wearing a dark-blue button-up shirt with black jeans and clean sneakers. His hair had been combed properly, and he’d spent far too much time deciding what to wear.

"Do I even look good in these clothes?"

He checked his reflection on his phone.

"Did I overdress? Or underdress?"

He sighed.

"This is so frustrating. I’ve never gone on a date with the opposite gender."

It was true.

Kyle had never been on a date in his entire twenty-four years of life. Not as a teenager, not in college, and certainly not as an adult.

This was his first.

Their meeting time was 10:15, but he had arrived early just in case.

He wanted to be the gentleman.

Or, more accurately, he wanted to have a few minutes to calm himself down before Lira arrived.

Then he noticed someone approaching from a distance.

Long, dark-brown hair.

Kyle’s eyes followed the woman as she came closer.

His thoughts immediately went blank.

’Lira.’

She wasn’t wearing her work uniform this time. Instead, she had gone for a casual yet feminine look—a fitted cream-colored blouse tucked neatly into a pair of high-waisted dark-blue jeans that accentuated her curvy figure without looking overly revealing. A light-brown jacket rested over her blouse, while a small shoulder bag hung at her side. She wore simple white sneakers, making it clear she had chosen comfort since they were supposed to spend the entire day together.

Her long, dark-brown hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders, with subtle caramel highlights catching the sunlight whenever she moved. Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes were the warm color of honey, and her full lips curved into a small smile when she spotted him.

Kyle stared for a moment too long.

’Shit.’

He quickly looked away.

’Don’t stare.’

When he looked back, she was already much closer.

Lira stopped in front of him and looked him up and down, taking in his dark-blue shirt, black jeans, and suspiciously clean sneakers.

"You actually dressed up."

Kyle scratched the back of his neck.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No." She smiled.

"You look good."

Kyle blinked.

"Really?"

"Really."

He glanced at her again.

"You look good too."

Lira raised an eyebrow.

"Just good?"

Kyle immediately realized his mistake.

"I mean... you look really good."

Her eyes widened for half a second before she looked away. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"...Thanks."

For once, Lira didn’t immediately tease him.

Kyle noticed the blush and smiled faintly.

"So..."

"So."

Neither of them knew what to say next. They had talked countless times at work, but standing together like this felt completely different. There were no customers, no uniforms, and no excuse to pretend this was just another ordinary day.

It was simply the two of them.

On a date.

Lira adjusted her bag and smiled.

"Ready?"

Kyle took a breath before nodding.

"Yeah."

*****

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