“Let’s start with something more relaxed.”
After entering the park, Yuzuru made that suggestion to Arisa.
She rubbed her stomach and nodded with a wry smile.
“I think that’s a good idea too.”
Neither of them had fully digested their overly heavy breakfast yet.
In this state, they had no desire to ride anything involving drops or spinning.
…They’d very much like to avoid bringing their food back up.
So, they started with slower attractions—ones where you could simply enjoy the atmosphere.
The rides themselves only lasted around five minutes, but including waiting time, each one took over an hour.
By the time they finished one, the uncomfortable fullness had mostly subsided.
“So, what should we do next?”
Arisa asked, looking excited again.
Yuzuru thought for a moment, then pointed at the pamphlet.
“How about this?”
Her expression immediately stiffened.
It was the horror attraction they’d talked about yesterday.
Not only was it scary—it was also highly rated as a thrill ride.
“S-so… that one, huh…”
“If you’re scared, I think it’s better to skip it.”
Even yesterday’s mild attraction had terrified her.
There was no way she could handle something known to be even scarier.
“I-I am scared… but I still want to try it.”
“…It’ll probably be several times scarier than yesterday. You sure?”
“I-it’s fine. Yesterday was at night… but now it’s still bright outside.”
“…It was pretty well-lit yesterday too.”
The park was always illuminated—lights, decorations, attractions.
Even at night, it wasn’t exactly dark.
“If I say I’m fine, then I’m fine! Or what—Yuzuru-san, are you scared?”
“Wha—!”
Caught off guard by her sudden provocation, Yuzuru’s eyes widened.
Arisa smirked triumphantly.
“I’m saying I’m fine… so there’s no other reason for you to object, right?”
She looked smug.
And admittedly… a little cute.
Still, cute or not, it was slightly irritating.
“…Alright, fine. I won’t object anymore. Let’s ride it.”
“That’s what I said from the start.”
Arisa looked satisfied.
She really did seem to think she’d be fine.
Yuzuru couldn’t understand where that confidence came from.
“…Just don’t cling to me if you get scared, alright?”
“Of course.”
She nodded firmly.
—
An hour and a half later—
“F-fuu… th-that wasn’t… so b-bad…”
Clinging to Yuzuru’s arm, her knees trembling, Arisa said that.
At first, she’d been so shaken she couldn’t even stand up from the ride—so this was already an improvement.
“Arisa, can you let go? It’s hard to walk.”
“D-don’t be mean…”
Looking up at him with watery eyes, she tightened her grip instead.
Her soft body pressed against him.
Normally, he might’ve enjoyed that—
But not right now.
“You said you wouldn’t cling.”
“U-ugh…”
Reluctantly, she let go—
But immediately wobbled as her legs gave out.
Panicking, she grabbed onto him again.
“…It’s still bright outside, you know?”
Yuzuru asked with a half-smile.
Wasn’t that supposed to make it less scary?
Arisa turned her face away awkwardly.
“I-it was just… more than I expected…”
“I warned you plenty.”
“I-I was wrong… I’m sorry. Isn’t that enough?”
She looked up at him with teary eyes.
Seeing that, Yuzuru sighed and relented.
“…Alright, fine.”
“…Thank you.”
For now, she clearly couldn’t walk properly.
Yuzuru helped her over to a nearby bench and sat her down.
“I thought my heart was going to jump out of my mouth…”
Finally calming down, Arisa gave her honest impression.
Yuzuru looked at her and asked—
“…You didn’t, by any chance… lose control, did you?”
“Eh…? O-of course not…”
She immediately looked away.
Yuzuru’s expression went blank.
“…You’re joking, right?”
“I-I didn’t! I didn’t actually—!”
“…‘Actually’?”
Catching the nuance, he leaned in closer.
“…It just felt a bit… cold.”
Blushing deeply, she muttered that while looking down.
Then quickly looked up and protested—
“I really didn’t, okay!?”
“As long as you didn’t…”
“I just almost did! I didn’t actually!”
“‘Almost’ is still pretty serious…”
“I didn’t!”
“Alright, alright, I get it.”
Overwhelmed by her insistence, Yuzuru nodded repeatedly.
Finally satisfied, she sat back down properly.
“But it was fun. I couldn’t really focus because I was scared this time… but next time, I want to enjoy it properly. It won’t be as scary the second time.”
“…You really don’t learn, do you?”
Yuzuru muttered, exasperated.
