Chapter 32 – The Day That Laughed Back

The amusement park smelled like sugar, popcorn, and childhood.

Mai stood frozen just past the entrance, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, taking it all in as if the world had suddenly decided to be kind to her.

“…Dad,” she whispered, tugging Yuji’s hand. “Is all of this real?”

Yuji smiled. A real one. Not the tired kind he wore at work. “It’s real. Every noisy, overpriced part of it.”

Aiko laughed softly beside them. She wore a simple cap and sunglasses, trying to look ordinary, trying not to be noticed. But her smile gave her away. She looked lighter here. Less like an actress. More like a woman walking into something she had missed for too long.

Mai suddenly let go of Yuji and grabbed Aiko’s sleeve.

“Can we ride that?” she asked, pointing at a spinning teacup ride.

Aiko crouched beside her. “If you promise not to spin it too fast.”

Mai grinned. “I promise.”

Yuji watched them walk ahead, hand in hand, their steps slightly out of sync but trying to match anyway.

Something in his chest loosened.

The morning passed in bright fragments.

Mai screamed with joy on the mini roller coaster, her laughter echoing so loudly that strangers smiled without knowing why. Yuji sat behind her, gripping the safety bar like his life depended on it, while Aiko laughed at both of them.

“You’re scared,” Mai accused afterward, pointing at Yuji.

“I was protecting you,” he replied seriously.

Aiko raised an eyebrow. “From what?”

“…Gravity,” Yuji said.

They shared ice cream. Aiko’s melted faster than expected, dripping down her fingers.

“Oh no,” she said, flustered.

Mai immediately offered her napkin. “Here. Use mine.”

Aiko froze for half a second, then accepted it carefully. “Thank you.”

Mai watched her with intense focus. “You’re really pretty when you smile.”

Aiko’s breath caught.

Yuji pretended not to notice the way her eyes shone afterward.

It happened near the parade.

Aiko had just bent down to buy cotton candy when someone gasped behind her.

“Wait… isn’t that—?”

Phones lifted.

Whispers spread like sparks.

“It’s her. The actress from Mother.”

“Aiko Hoshizora?”

Aiko stiffened.

Yuji saw it instantly. The subtle change in her posture. The way her shoulders pulled inward, instinctively bracing.

“Can I get an autograph?”

“A photo, please!”

More voices joined in.

Mai looked around, confused. “Aiko…?”

Aiko forced a smile, the practiced one. “I’m sorry, I’m here with my family—”

Yuji didn’t wait.

He reached out, took Aiko’s hand firmly, and grabbed Mai with the other.

“Run,” he said.

“What—?” Aiko gasped.

Too late.

Yuji was already moving.

They ran.

Past confused fans. Past blinking lights. Past laughter and music that blurred into a rush of sound.

Mai laughed breathlessly. “Dad! This is fun!”

Aiko’s heart pounded. Not from fear.

From joy.

They ducked behind a snack stall, then through a side path, finally stopping near a quiet corner by the ferris wheel.

Yuji let go slowly.

Aiko bent forward, hands on her knees, laughing uncontrollably. “You— you didn’t even look back!”

Yuji shrugged, smiling. “You said amusement parks are for fun. That didn’t look fun.”

Mai bounced in place. “Let’s do it again!”

Aiko straightened, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. She looked at Yuji.

For a brief moment, there were no walls.

Just gratitude.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

He nodded. “Anytime.”

They were walking toward the haunted house when the incident happened.

A clown. Or rather, a joker. White-painted face, sharp grin, sudden movement.

He jumped out from behind a pillar with a loud shout.

Mai screamed.

Aiko froze.

Yuji reacted without thinking.

He stepped forward instantly, one arm pulling Mai behind him, the other wrapping around Aiko’s shoulders, turning her away from the figure.

“Hey,” he said sharply. “Back off.”

The joker raised his hands, startled by Yuji’s intensity. “Whoa, sorry! Just part of the act—”

Yuji didn’t relax until the man backed away.

Mai clutched his shirt, shaking. Aiko’s breath came fast, fingers gripping Yuji’s sleeve tightly.

“It’s okay,” Yuji said, lowering his voice. “It’s gone.”

Mai peeked out. “I don’t like clowns.”

“Neither do I,” Yuji said.

Aiko realized something then.

She hadn’t even thought to protect herself.

She had trusted him to do it.

Her hands loosened slowly, but her heart kept racing for a different reason.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I froze.”

Yuji shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize.”

Mai sniffed. “Dad is strong.”

Yuji smiled. “Dad panics very well.”

Aiko laughed softly, still holding his sleeve.

They ended the day on the ferris wheel.

The city stretched out below them, lights flickering on one by one.

Mai sat between them, legs swinging gently.

“This was the best day,” she said sleepily.

Yuji looked at Aiko. “You kept your promise.”

Aiko nodded. “I did.”

She glanced down at their hands. Close. Almost touching.

Neither moved away.

As the wheel reached the top, Mai leaned her head against Yuji’s arm, eyes closing.

Aiko watched her, chest aching.

“Yuji,” she said quietly.

“Yes?”

“…Thank you for today.”

He didn’t look at her. “She needed it.”

“So did I,” Aiko admitted.

The ferris wheel began its slow descent.

And for the first time in years, all three of them felt like they belonged in the same picture.