Heartstrings & Shadows | Yandere Simulator

4 : A platonic date

"Here, try this!" Osana exclaimed, shoving a dango in my mouth before I could react.

"...it's great..." I managed, still chewing.

"Of course it is! Hey, I didn't know you had a sweet tooth! Almost everything you've been eating is sweet!" she teased, flashing a mischievous grin.

That’s because you keep force-feeding me. I’m going to have problems when I get home. "I guess I do."

"I didn’t expect there to be so many stalls here in the evening! It feels so festive!" Osana's voice bubbled with excitement as she darted to the next stall.

She acts like a kid…

"How are you paying for all of this?" I asked, glancing at her stuffed bag of snacks and trinkets.

"I manage~" she hummed, crossing her arms smugly.

She picked up a cat keychain. "I'll get this! I need a new one anyway." Then, her eyes caught another—a black cat. "And this too!"

"You really like keychains...and cats," I muttered.

She handed me the black cat keychain, its face blank and unimpressed. "Here, this one's for you!"

"...why?" I blinked at the keychain, mimicking its deadpan expression.

"Because it has that same dumb look you do!" she teased with a grin, her laughter ringing out.

"Gee. Thanks." I sighed, unimpressed, which only made Osana laugh harder.

"Hey, look at this one!" She grabbed a plush bunny, waving it in front of my face. "Wouldn't this suit you? Something to brighten that gloomy look on your face."

I stared blankly at the bunny. "I don’t need a plush. I’m not a child."

"You don’t *act* like a child, but your blank stare says otherwise," she teased, poking my cheek. "C’mon, you need something cute in your life. You're like an... Well I dunno, I can't think of a creative insult right now." She stuck her tongue out, but her voice had a hint of softness beneath the teasing.

I raised an eyebrow. "I’m pretty sure you’re cute enough for both of us."

Osana froze, her face turning red. "W-What?! D-Don’t say embarrassing things so casually!" She spun around, trying to regain her composure. “Idiot…”

Unfazed, I turned my attention to a stall selling fried snacks. "You want something from there?" I asked.

Her face still slightly pink, she glared at me. "Only if you’re paying!"

I shrugged. "Fine."

Osana’s eyes widened. "Wait, seriously? You’re actually going to pay for me?"

"You’re feeding me all night, I guess it’s only fair."

Her expression softened. "I-i guess you’re not completely hopeless after all... Well then let's go Yan-chan!"

We ended up at the fried snack stall, and as we waited for our order, Osana reached out and poked my cheek again, giggling when I didn’t react.

"You really are like a robot sometimes," she mused, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"...I'm not a robot," I mumbled, looking away.

"You are to me," she said, a little more gently this time.

The sound of sizzling food filled the brief silence, the warm air from the stalls swirling around us.

When the food was ready, Osana grabbed a skewer and held it up in front of my mouth. "Here, open up."