Takoyaki Roulette

“So are we really going to try out the giant zorb balls next?”

“Yup I think they’re going to be so much more fun than the ones we just used.”

“Well, are you going to tell me where exactly we’re going?”

“Here.”

He hands her a paper with coordinates

“Ugh everything is a surprise with you.”

                                                                         *

They arrive atop a mountain in full view of the grass filled slopes and forest below.

“This is an adventure park designed specifically for the use of Zorb balls, and these are 3 meters in diameter vs the 1.5 meter ones we used before.”

“No way!”

“Yup so let's get started.”

They head over to the first course.

“So how do we get in and move these?”

“We jump in, zip the entrance behind us and enjoy the ride.”

“Wait, are we sharing one?”

“Aww are you worried that I wont fit inside after you sit your big butt in there?”

He sarcastically pouts his face as she glares back at him.

“Just get in and shut up.”

An exaggeratedly large smile grew upon his face.

“Thanks honey!”

They zipped up the entrance now sitting in the 40 liters of water added to the inside.

“You didn’t tell me there was water in there.”

“Well I didn’t want to have to argue to get you in here.”

The worker checked the zipper and yelled out to us.

“I hope you guys are ready!”

The giant zorb ball quickly picked speed the moment the worker pushed it. Inside both Haru and Minori were slipping and sliding into each other as they screamed in unison for every twist and turn it made.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh!”

Now 350 meters from their starting point, they climbed out of the giant zorb ball.

“Now that… was fun.”

“See I knew you’d like it. Ready to go again?”

“Definitely!”

They make their way back to the starting point over and over again until they try every course, but the final one.

“Just one left huh?”

“Yup and I’ve saved the best for last. This one is a side by side race where we get to run inside of our own zorb ball going down the hill. I hope you’re ready to lose.”

“With that much confidence we ought to wager something for the winner.”

“Ok. The winner gets to make the decision of where we go next?”

“You’re on!”

This last course now brimmed with intensity from the competitive aura of Haru and Minori as they glared at each other at the starting point. With the sound of a whistle they both flew down the slope. Haru, seeming to be the clear winner due to his early speed, quickly lost his balance before making it halfway down. Inside this now speeding zorb ball, he rolled around like a tumbleweed screaming until he flew over Minori and right out of the course. Minori continued down the hill, gracefully keeping her footing the entire time. She immediately jumped out and rushed in the direction Haru headed.

“Haru! Are you ok in there?”

Crashed in the forest canopy above her was Haru still in his zorb ball too woozy to even yell for help. She pulls out her kanzashi and transforms it into her scythe. In the blink of an eye She leaps into the air and slices the branches around him in order to get him down.

“Oh get up already Haru!”

He finally lifted himself up and crawled out of the zorb ball smiling.

“I’m happy to hear you are still using my name. So I won, right?”

“Not even close. Landing first doesn’t count if you went the wrong way.”

“Well I guess you get to pick where we go next huh?”

“I did beat you pretty badly but… you’ve been doing a good job with our plans so far so I guess I’ll let you keep that responsibility as long as you start including a few interesting meals into our itinerary.”

Haru froze for a moment in complete awe and smiled.

“You got it! I promise not to disappoint you. Why don’t we head out for a meal right now?”

He shows her his phone with an address on screen.

                                                                              *

“Seriously? A takoyaki place? This isn’t really an adventurous new food now is it?”

“Oh but this is no normal takoyaki Minori… We’re going to be playing takoyaki roulette.”

“And what in the world is that?”

“You just wait for me at this table. I'll be right back.”

“But Haru I didn’t even—”

He runs off to order. A few minutes pass and he comes back with a huge order of takoyaki and two melon sodas.

“I didn’t even tell you what I wanted to drink. How'd you know that's what I wanted?”

“Why don’t we just call it a hunch. Well I can finally tell you the rules now.”

They sat across from each other with the plate between them. The takoyaki lined the circumference of the giant plate.

“Ok so we start off by spinning the plate and then take turns eating them one at a time until we are done or someone gives up.”

“You left me in suspense for that? Besides, what's the roulette part of it if they're all just takoyaki?”

“There are a few surprise ingredients randomly added into a few of them.”

“And you won’t even give me a hint at what they are right?”

“Yup, so would you like to start?”

“I guess so.”

She spun the plate and hesitantly chose one and ate it.

“Wow, these are really good!”

“I know right. Well it's my turn.”

He carefully reaches over and eats the one directly in front of her.

“Oh perfect I got the cheese one I wanted.”

Glaring at him with a look of suspicion she checks his expression and she chooses her next one. Noticing a smirk on his face, she extends her hand to his face.

“Here Haru I picked this one just for you.”

“But it's your turn.”

“Oh but would it be romantic if I fed you a few or would that make you nervous?”

“Well I doubt you’ll offer to feed me again so I guess so.”

He opened his mouth and ate it. His face became a bit flushed as a bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.

“Oh that one’s not bad either. Now I get to feed you one right?”

She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Only one!”

He reached over and fed her one. Her eyes slammed shut as her whole face puckered from the large umeboshi she bit into.

“You knew exactly what was in that one didn’t you!”

The shudder of a camera went off as Haru burst out into an uncontrollable laughter.

“I can’t believe I caught that face on camera.”

“You better delete it right now.”

“Nope, not a chance.”

“Well I won't finish playing then.”

“That's ok with me since this picture is all that I was after. I’ll get you a normal order of takoyaki and I can finish these. I’m so glad you ended up giving me the wasabi one instead of the umeboshi though, because then I wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight face like I did.”

“I almost ate one full of wasabi? Ok, I'm adding a new rule to our travels. No more surprise ingredients.”

“Ok that won't change too many of my plans. Speaking of which… Why don’t we try something cliche out of a romance story like riding a bike together?”

Minori lets out a chuckle.

“Well I guess I don’t have to ask you if you’ve read any shoujo manga do I?”

“Hey now. Reading a good balance of genres gives each story a refreshing experience.”

“Sure, use whatever excuse you like. But you really do make it difficult for me not to call you loverboy anymore.”