Hop on

“What happened to that romantic bike ride we were supposed to share together?”

“The day has just started. We’re going to go on that bike ride just as soon as we get to the top of this hiking trail.”

They were traversing across the side of a mountain using narrow wooden paths. Luckily they were harnessed to a cable that guided the entire path.

“And why exactly couldn't we have started up at the top instead of the bottom?”

A big smile lit up his face.

“Because there's an extreme hiking trail leading up there of course. I think its more fun this way. A little anticipation won't kill you.”

“You better have enough energy to petal by the time we get up there because I certainly won't.”

“Oh don’t worry about me, I have plenty of energy to spare.”

“Umm haru... why does it look like there's no more wooden paths in front of you?”

“Don’t worry they didn’t fall or anything. The last part of the trail just doesn’t have any.”

“So did you learn how to fly without telling me or is there an elevator I'm not seeing?”

Haru chuckles.

“No, we just need to finish the climb using these metal rungs. And I don’t want to see you cheating with your magic either. You can’t use it unless it's an emergency.”

“Ugh I hate that you knew what I was just thinking.”

With the top of the mountain in view, Minori steps on the rung in front of her which immediately begins to shift out of the mountainside. Thinking she was about to slip to her doom, her eyes practically popped out of her head before jumping to the next one.

“Oh yeah. Minori, one of those looked a bit loose so I just skipped it.”

“You tell me that now!”

“Oops.”

They finally make it to the mountain top where Minori sprawls out exhausted on the ground.

“Yeah… I hope it isn’t a tandem bike you plan on using because my legs are out of commission for a bit.”

“No worries, all you have to do is hop on and I’ll do all the work.”

“Can you not say it like that?”

“Like what?”

“Ugh forget it, don’t mind me at all. So this trail isn’t along the edge of the mountainside like that hiking trail was right?”

Haru looked down as he smirked and tried his best to avoid her gaze.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it the edge of the mountainside.”

A short walk around the tall mountain vegetation revealed a single bike with an odd pole sticking out from behind the seat of it.

“What type of weird bike is that? The wheels don’t even have tires along the rims.”

“I know it doesn’t look very conventional but it has those wheels specifically for the trail we’re going to take. That's why there's usually at least one kept out here for use. It doesn’t really work anywhere else after all.”

Minori began looking around for a trail and noticed two parallel slacklines reaching over the valley to the connecting cliff from the edge of the mountain they were currently on. Haru picks up the bike and fastens it in between the slacklines where it stood upright without him continuing to hold it.

“You have got to be kidding me! Are you calling that a bike trail?”

“Well yeah, since that's exactly what it is. Put on the safety helmet and harness so we can get started.”

“There's only one seat on this though?”

Haru smirks at her and raises his eyebrow in a flirty manner.

“Hey beautiful, why don’t you hop on my handlebars and take a ride with me?”

He winks as she sends a piercing glare in exchange.

“Say something corny like that again and you might just get another chop to the head.”

“You are no fun. Well hop on unless you want me to sit on the handlebars while you petal?”

“That's definitely not happening. So you expect me to just sit there and risk falling off at this insane height?”

“The bike is fully secured to the slackline and we will both be harnessed to a safety line as well. Besides, it'll be over before you realize it.”

“Ok but I also want us to be harnessed to each other as well so that if I fall you get to experience the fear with me.”

“That sounds great to me if it’ll make you feel better.”

Once the added strap was secured between them, she took a seat right in front of him along the handlebars gripping just a hare's breath beside his hands. Haru couldn’t help but get a bit flustered by his current view of Minori’s perfectly curved body so close to him.

“Don’t think this means you can be staring at me and having lewd thoughts.”

“It's a little bit too late for that.”

“Just keep your hands to yourself unless you want me to slice them off with my scythe. All you need to do is stay focused on getting us across this slackline.”

They slowly progress along the slackline while admiring the beauty of the mountain side view they are riding towards. Fully entranced by the surroundings, Minori looked down and realized just how high they were from the inconceivable abyss of trees below them. She very expressively lifted her chin up in the air as she shut her eyes in fear. Haru, having noticed her tense up and looking frightened, leaned forward a bit as a means to show her comfort. Her fear immediately vanished as she instead became flustered by the warmth she felt from Haru’s chest behind her. She could no longer ignore the amorous position she was in and kept her eyes shut until they reached the other side.

“I am never getting on one of those bikes with you again.”

“Maybe you’ll enjoy the next bike trail I have planned then.”

“Next bike trail? We just got off one.”

“That one was just the warm up.”

“Will I at least be getting my own bike this time?”

“Nope, but this time you get to hold onto me from the back seat.”

“There’s actually going to be solid ground touching the tires right?”

“Yup, the trail is really closeby. Could you just conjure up one of these dirt bikes for us to use?”

“Oh we're going to be on a dirt bike? Yeah now this sounds much more exciting. Here you go.”

In a cloud of dark smoke appeared a brand new 250cc dirt bike with two helmets and the safety gear to match.

“It's a mountain biking trail after this hill so be sure to hold on tight.”

She was sure to not be touching him and just grabbed his shirt as tight as she could.

“That's not a safe enough grip. Why don't you just give in and wrap your arms around me already?”

“In your dreams! Just shut up and let's get going.”

He picks up speed and starts climbing the steep hill. In no time she starts sliding out of her seat and ends up instinctively clinging onto him like a frightened baby monkey. With her chest now pressed up against his back, arms wrapped around his waist, and knees clasped against his sides, Haru’s face became beet red.

“Don’t overthink this, I just don’t want to fall!”

“Well aren’t you glad you finally have an excuse to embrace me.”

“I told you— just, just shut up stupid.”

Minori’s face now glowed just as brightly as Haru’s.

Upon reaching the top of the hill they followed a path which was no more than a thin strip through the woods that couldn’t maintain any plant growth because of the constant friction of tires. They zipped through this narrow trail as fast as their hearts were racing. With each passing tree they finally started to focus less on the situation and more on the beautiful forest view around them and the exhilaration from riding such a dangerous trail. Once the trail was over and the adrenaline rush no longer stood in the way of distracting them, the embarrassment came back. Minori immediately jumped off of the bike and made sure to face away from him to make sure he wouldn’t see how embarrassed she was. Little did she know Haru was also looking away from her to hide his face.

“So what’d you think of that mountaineering trail?”

“It was a lot of fun.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Why don’t we try relaxing a bit closer to the ground tomorrow and go to the beach?”

“That sounds like a great idea, I can't wait.”

Realizing that she was finally easing up to him, Haru cracked a smile just out of her view.