The Amusement Park Tour

I arrived home later than usual.

As soon as I entered, I saw my parents in the living room and the two maids finishing organizing the house.

My mother looked me up and down.

"You were late today," Ayane said , narrowing her eyes.

"Did something happen?" she asked.

My body reacted before my brain.

"I had to lose some reporters. They'd been following me since university," I replied automatically.

Ayane crossed her arms.

— Again…? — he asked Ayane .

"Unfortunately," I added, shrugging.

My father, Shin , looked up from the tablet .

"Don't let these kinds of people ruin your life," he said, in his usual serious tone.

"You already have enough pressure," he continued.

"I know," I said.

(And forgive me for lying.) — I thought.

After that, I went straight upstairs to take a shower.

The hot water was falling on my head, but my mind was elsewhere.

Aoi 's smile . Yukari 's gaze . And Mio… in that strange silence outside the house.) — that's all I could think about.

"Damn it..." I muttered.

I got out of the shower, got dressed, and went downstairs for dinner.

Akane and Himari had prepared everything carefully, as always.

I ate in silence.

My mother would talk to my father about future commitments, while I would just nod occasionally.

Then I went straight to my room.

I lay down on the bed.

I closed my eyes.

The next day, I woke up early.

I got ready automatically and left the room.

Akane was in the living room organizing some things.

"Good morning, Riku-sama ," she said.

"Good morning," I said.

In the dining room, Himari was already seated, fiddling with her cell phone.

"Good morning," she said, smiling.

I sat down at the table.

For a few seconds, I remained silent.

" Himari ... I need to tell you something," I began .

She looked up.

Kanzaki last night ," I continued .

Himari stood alert.

I told them everything.

About the house.

About Aoi .

Regarding the agreement.

When I finished, I took a deep breath.

"I... I'm starting to feel like I'm really starting to like her," my voice came out lower.

Himari froze for a moment.

It was quick.

But I saw it.

Then she smiled.

"I understand," she said, her voice too softly.

"Mio is a good person," she continued, smiling.

"Yes..." I agreed.

(There was something strange about that smile.) — I found it odd, but I think it was just my imagination.

I got up.

"I'm going," I said.

"Good luck today," she said.

"Thank you," I said with a smile.

I said goodbye to the two Yukinos and left the house.

Meisei University , I felt it again.

Gazes.

Too much movement.

Camera click.

"I can't believe it..." I murmured.

I saw two, three… four reporters scattered along the street.

— Hey! Aoyama Riku ! — someone shouted.

Is that woman who was with you on the beach your girlfriend?!

— You two were together in Shimoda , weren't you?!

Is it true that she's not from the artistic world?!

"That's enough..." I thought, clenching my teeth.

(I can't stand this nonsense anymore.) — I was already annoyed by it.

I started running.

Hey, wait!

Riku !​

Just answer one question!

The voices were coming from behind me.

The sound of footsteps.

Cameras.

Questions I didn't want to hear.

— That woman was your girlfriend?!

What's her name?!

I ran even faster.

I kept running away.

Meisei University .) — I thought.

I turned a corner and saw a dead end.

(They certainly won't look for me in that alley.) — I thought confidently.

I ran with everything I had.

But halfway there, my foot slipped.

— Ugh —?!

I tripped, hit something, and fell hard.

My right hand sank into something soft.

Very soft.

(But what is this I'm holding in my right hand? (It's soft… flexible… wait— this can't be what I'm thinking.) — I thought anxiously.

I opened my eyes in a panic.

I had tripped and fallen on top of a girl.

She had dark red hair with light red streaks, eyes of the same intense color, and wore a white jacket with red stripes, jeans, and a short top.

She blushed completely.

Her gaze hardened immediately.

I blushed at that same moment too.

" I-I'm sorry ..." I whispered, getting up quickly.

Before she could scream, I heard voices approaching.

Reporters.

I made a desperate gesture for silence.

I crouched down behind a trash can.

Soon after, several reporters appeared in the alley.

Excuse me, have you seen Aoyama? "Is Riku passing by here?" one of them asked.

"He went straight ahead," the girl replied without hesitation.

- Thanks!

They ran away.

The alley fell silent again.

"You can leave," she said.

"They've already left," she continued.

I stepped out from behind the trash can and forced a smile.

Thanks for the help… actually, sorry—

SHOVEL.

— AAAAAAAHHHH!!!

She kicked me right where a man's most vulnerable spot is.

I fell instantly.

— That's for knocking me down!

SHOVEL.

— AAAAAH!!

— That's for touching my breasts!

SHOVEL.

— AAAAARRGH!!

- And that…

She glared at me angrily.

— It's because I broke the lollipop I was sucking on!

SHOVEL.

— AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

I fell, hugging my private parts.

The girl turned her back and walked away as if nothing had happened.

I stayed there, crouched behind the trash can, trying to breathe.

(Who is this crazy woman? (I think being interviewed by reporters and journalists would have been less painful than taking three kicks to that part of my body.) — I thought angrily.

I waited for the pain to pass.

Meisei University as if nothing had happened.

That night, I arrived home as usual.

I took a shower, had dinner, and went to sleep.

But lying in bed, he could only think of one thing.

The couples' meeting at the amusement park will be in two days.

Friday passed like any other day.

Classes. Curious glances. Reporters at a distance.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

And then, finally, Saturday arrived.

I was completely disguised:

wig , a baseball cap pulled down low, and sunglasses.

(I never imagined I'd go so far as to disguise myself to go to an amusement park.) — I thought.

Before leaving home, I made sure everything was arranged.

(I told Kanzaki and Kenta that I would be coming in disguise… and asked them to avoid using my last name.) — I did this to avoid problems.

The place was already full when we arrived.

Children running.

Couples laughing.

Loud music and the smell of sweet food in the air.

Mio and I were standing at the park entrance, waiting.

She was calm, as always.

Professional.

Flawless.

If everything goes right today… maybe Kenta will get a real girlfriend. And me… I'll still just be the guy with a rental girlfriend.) — I reflected on my situation.

That's when I saw it.

Kenta was walking towards us, waving excitedly.

And right behind him… a girl.

(Wait… that girl…) — I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Even from a distance, something about that silhouette bothered me.

" Hey ! Sorry for making you wait!" Kenta said loudly.

He gave a broad smile and turned to the girl beside him.

"This is Akabane Reina. A friend of mine from the prep course I take on Sundays," he introduced her.

Reina stepped forward.

She was wearing a light, floral dress, completely different from the image I had in my head.

"Nice to meet you," she said with a polite smile.

"The pleasure is mine," Mio replied.

They greeted each other normally.

My brain, however, froze.

(No… it can't be.) — I thought.

I looked closer.

Dark red hair with lighter highlights.

Red eyes.

My stomach sank.

"You... you're the girl I bumped into on Thursday!" I blurted out without thinking.

Her smile faltered for a moment.

Kenta's eyes widened.

"Seriously? Hey, Akabane , could he be mistaken?" he laughed.

She turned her face towards me.

"You're not mistaken," he said, too calmly.

"We ended up having a little accident," she continued.

"—Small… — I murmured."

(Three kicks aren't exactly small.) — I thought angrily.

"Wow," Kenta laughed even harder.

— Fate is really funny! Hehehe ! — he said Kenta laughing.

(Funny for you.) — I thought, even angrier.

Something was strange.

The way she's talking now...

Posture…

A polite smile…

Nothing resembled the aggressive girl from the alley.

(She looks like a different person.) — I noticed.

"Hey! Let's go inside!" Kenta clapped his hands.

— Okay — I replied, forcing myself to sound casual.

We entered the park.

The sound of the attractions, the lively music, the shouts of excitement…

Everything seemed normal.

Too normal.

(I just hope nothing strange happens. But… I have a bad feeling about this Akabane .) — I was worried.

The couples' outing began with something simple.

A fish-catching stall.

"Whoever loses pays for the next snack!" Kenta announced excitedly.

"I accept," said Reina, smiling.

Mio just watched.

I swallowed hard.

(This day is going to cause problems.) — I thought.

The amusement park was packed.

"Where do we go now?" Kenta asked, excitedly.

"How about the haunted house? They say it's really scary," Reina suggested with a mischievous smile.

"House of terror?! I- I 'm not scared!" Kenta's eyes widened.

"Of course not," she teased.

(She's clearly enjoying this.) — I noticed.

We entered the house of terror.

The place was dark, with narrow corridors and strange sounds echoing off the walls.

"Hey... this is kind of heavy," Kenta murmured.

"Relax," Reina replied, holding his arm.

"I'll protect you," she said in a gentle tone.

(This role reversal is strange.) — I thought.

An actor in costume jumped out of nowhere.

— AAAAH!! — Kenta screamed.

"You're very predictable," Reina said, laughing.

Mio was walking right behind me, in silence.

"Is everything alright?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," she replied.

"I'm just observing," she explained.

Then we went to a shooting gallery.

"If I win, you'll buy me a treat," Kenta said confidently.

He missed all the shots.

"Damn it..." he said angrily.

"My turn," Reina said.

She picked up the toy rifle and hit two targets in a row.

"Wow... you're good at this." Kenta was impressed.

"Habit," she replied, shrugging.

(That answer again…) — I suspected something.

We walked a little further and bought churros and cotton candy.

Kenta shared everything with Reina, laughing the whole time.

Mio continued to keep a certain distance.

"Are you having fun?" I asked .

"I'm keeping my promise," she replied, without looking at me.

(That sentence... hurt more than it should have.) — I felt a little sad.

The last attraction of the day was the Ferris wheel.

"That's a classic," Kenta said.

"Let's end on a high note!" Kenta said in an excited tone.

We entered the cabin.

She began to climb slowly.

Gradually, the entire park down below became too small.

Lights.

Distant sound.

Light wind.

Kenta and Reina were chatting animatedly.

Mio and I remained silent.

For a moment, everything seemed… calm.

When the Ferris wheel stopped and we got off, Reina put her hand on her stomach.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she said.

"Urgent," he continued .

"Okay," Kenta replied.

"We'll wait here," he continued . Kenta .

She walked away quickly, disappearing among the people.

I watched as she blended into the crowd.

Something didn't seem right.