I love when people misunderstand things.

The word, “deito” (デイト) that Mako uses, in wasei eigo, means outing with friends. It doesn’t, by default, have to be in a romantic context. That’s just your western brain mucking up the word’s meaning. Japan is different. “Deito” is a generic word that high schoolers use when they hang out with friends. 

Mako was not asking Ryuuko out on a romantic outing, though that much should be obvious since Satsuki joins them before it even begins. It’s three girls going shopping. Hanging out. Taking selfies. Eating ice cream…you know, things girls do when they go out together. 

Then you have Gamagoori creeping around the corner ready to confess and ask Mako out himself…with the Elite Four’s encouragement. Do you really think that if Mako had genuinely confessed to Ryuuko in front of his face, that he would even be attempting this? No. He would not. 

What Mako does during her hallelujah sequences, if you haven’t gotten the memo, is she illustrates puns or exaggerates depictions depending on what words she’s saying. She says “deito” and Trigger makes her act out a real romantic date with Ryuuko because “hahaha” funny. You’re not supposed to take the hallelujah scenes literally. 

My god, this is worse than the time people thought Tsumugu was hitting on Satsuki. He was making a lame joke. -__-