Chapter 51: The Ice Lady and Amusement Park

At the entrance of a large amusement park, where families and couples looked conspicuous, there was one energetic girl who was happily waving her hands.

“We’re going to play hard today~!”

“OH!!!!”

Chiaki followed Hinami’s high-pitched declaration.

This joyful scene attracted a lot of attention, but the two didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Come on, you two, do it too!”

“I don’t want to, it’s embarrassing. Right, Fuyuka?”

“…Ohー”

“Kyah~! Fuyu-chan you’re so cute!”

“Himuro-san seems to be on board!”

“Seriously, you’re doing it…?”

Looking at Fuyuka, who raised her fist modestly next to him, it was a surprise to see her ear, peeking out from her long hair, was slightly tinted with red.

‘If you’re embarrassed, why do it?’ Asahi thought.

It seemed that Hinami, Chiaki, and Fuyuka were all very excited.

As they headed for the first three attractions they decided to ride, their steps sped up and conversations were cheerful and joyful.

It was the same for Asahi, who was trying to remain calm.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been in an amusement park.”

Looking back in his memory, the last time he went to an amusement park was a little over a year ago. The summer vacation of his third year in junior high school, when Chiaki took him out of his room and they spent the whole day playing with a few good friends.

As an indoor person, at first, Asahi was fed up with the summer heat, but he remembered well that he was full of satisfaction when they finished.

His best friend hadn’t changed much since then, but the only and biggest change was that Hinami was next to him.

Peeking at the faces of the lovebirds walking a little ahead of him, he saw happy smiles bursting from their faces.

And the person next to Asahi was a lovely girl instead of a friendly male friend.

According to what he heard, it had been several years since Fuyuka had last visited an amusement park, and her eyes sparkled when she found the latest attractions.

“Fuyuka has never been on a roller coaster before, right?”

“Yes. I couldn’t ride before because of height restrictions.”

“If it’s too hard, tell me right away. I heard that there’s gonna be a lot of screaming.”

“Thank you for your concern. But I’m more worried about you, Asahi-kun.”

“Me? Did I do something to worry you?”

“Touko-san said that you don’t like roller coasters.”

“That’s uncalled for…”

一How old do you think I am?

What he didn’t like was roller coasters for kids, and that was back when he was under the height limit.

Now he could ride the real thing with a sense of comfort, and he had grown to enjoy it.

‘What led to such a discussion in the first place?’

Determined to question his mother later, Asahi turned his attention to the attraction, which was a mixture of roars and screams.

“I can ride just fine. It was a long time ago when I wasn’t good at it.”

“So am I the only one who’s nervous…?”

“I’ll tell you something awesome. I heard that what we’re about to ride is the fastest in Japan.”

“…That’s not a good thing, is it?”

“Isn’t it exciting?”

“It has the exact opposite effect. It’s making me even more anxious…”

“Hey, Asahi! Don’t be mean to Fuyu-chan!”

As they stood in line, which was relatively empty since the park had just opened, Asahi decided to tease Fuyuka for a moment, and a cheerful voice immediately intervened.

“If you put it that way, aren’t you someone who is being much meaner than me for planning three roller coasters in a row?”

“Ugh… But depending on Fuyu-chan’s reaction, I’ll change my plan, hmph!”

“I didn’t know about that plan. What rides are we gonna go to?”

“I didn’t hear it either. Did she say anything about that?”

“T-that’s a surprise for later…”

It was obvious that Hinami was not thinking about anything as her eyes swam, and Asahi lightly regretted that he should have taken the strategy meeting more seriously.

Even though he was not afraid of it, Asahi had never ridden three roller coaster rides in a row.

Chiaki was questionable, not to mention Fuyuka who was nervous.

“But don’t worry, it’ll be fun!”

In the end, Hinami’s unfounded persuasion led to a series of intense rides, and Asahi and the others boarded the first attraction with a wry smile.

“…Asahi, you good?”

“…Chiaki, you’re looking a little pale there…”

Three roller coasters in a row, a free fall, a spinning swing after lunch, a free fall again, and then a roller coaster.

After riding so many intense attractions, anyone should be able to feel sick… or should have been the case.

“Hinami is amazing. She has so much energy.”

“Himuro-san also looks lively, too. I didn’t expect us two men to drop out together… Ugh…”

“Hey, don’t ever throw up in here.”

“Are you acting tough?”

“Of course not. Hold it in with your life on the line.”

Asahi and Chiaki were slumped on a bench in an amusement park full of smiling faces, and Hinami was eager to go on another lap of the three roller coasters, so they waited for her to let them rest.

Although he had expected it to some extent, Asahi did not expect to be kept in company like this until he was down.

He might look pathetic, but it would be more accurate to say that Hinami was too energetic.

And what he didn’t expect was that Fuyuka, who had never experienced such intense rides before, was enjoying the roller coaster and free fall with an innocent smile on her face that she rarely showed.

They say that women were stronger than men at intense attractions due to their body structure, and this was exactly what happened.

“Oh yeah, what did Yamada say to you yesterday?”

“…That’s pretty abrupt.”

“Because now that we’re alone…”

“Stop imitating a girl… Ugh…”

Asahi felt like throwing up when the creepy-looking Chiaki spoke to him in such a creepy way.

Asahi brought his mind back to yesterday after school and tried to distract himself somehow.

However, remembering the conversation with Yamada was counterproductive because it made him feel bewildered instead of rested.

“Nothing, it was just like the rest of them.”

“Hoh, then we have a powerful rival.”

“Rival? …Even you?”

“Eh, did Yamada tell you directly?”

“…No comment.”

“I see, roger. Then again, I heard he got rejected and he’s still trying, that’s amazing.”

Chiaki, who was unnecessarily insightful, seemed to have sensed something, but Asahi remained silent.

“Are you okay with that? If Yamada starts to go out with Himuro-san.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“Hmm. But you look so grim for that.”

“It’s the same for you. It’s been happening ever since.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

It was true that both of them were exhausted both physically and mentally, and their expressions were grim.

This was partly due to the intense attractions, and in Asahi’s case, other factors were also at play.

“Hey, you two! I brought you drinks!”

“Thanks, Hina. This is quite helpful.”

Asahi’s conversation with Chiaki was cut short by Hinami and Fuyuka returning from the vending machine.

While he was happy, it left a slight black haze inside his chest.

However, such a small stagnation in his heart was drowned out by Fuyuka’s neat smile.

“Asahi-kun, please take this.”

“Hm, thanks… I feel alive.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The mineral water he received from Fuyuka made him feel refreshed and lightened his body and mind.

They couldn’t be as reckless as we had been in the morning, but they could probably ride one or two intense rides without a problem.

The best thing he could do was to ride attractions of other genres though.

“Alright, now that you two are recovered, let’s go to the new intense attraction!”

Hinami’s suggestion was still an intense ride.

“…Hmm? Did you just say new?”

“We’ve ridden all the intense rides, right?”

“Yes, I believe the spinning swing was the last one.”

As the three of them tilted their heads at the word “new,” Hinami grinned and made some kind of scheming face.

Asahi didn’t know who that look was directed at, but it seemed like she was having fun.

“There’s still one more ‘intense’ attraction left! Everyone follow me!”

Asahi was left with nothing but anxiety, but he had no choice but to follow behind Hinami.

Asahi and Chiaki looked at each other and cowered, while Fuyuka, for some reason, looked a little pale.