The final school bell on Friday, signaling the start of the spring break, was met with a joyous roar from the students of Class 2-A. The grueling exams and the nerve-wracking science project presentations were finally over. A palpable sense of relief and excited chatter about holiday plans filled the classroom.
Riku Lancaster, the resident older-student troublemaker, looking particularly cheerful today, hopped onto a chair, dramatically waving everyone over. "Yo! My fellow 2-A comrades! Anyone free this break, raise your hand! Your good old pal Riku here managed to snag a bulk discount on tickets to 'Dreamland,' the awesome new amusement park! Who's up for conquering some rides until our insides turn to jelly? Follow me!" With a flourish, he brandished a brightly colored brochure filled with images of terrifyingly thrilling rides.
Ken Arisawa, stretching after the long, boring class, glanced at Leo with a sparkle in his eye. "An amusement park, huh? Sounds awesome, Leo! Haven't been to one in ages."
Zeno Kazuma snapped his fingers. "Brilliant, Riku-san! I can survey the technology of the new rides! Maybe I'll get an idea for a 'Solar-Powered Popcorn Cannon'!"
Takumi Yoshida, tucking his sketchbook into his bag, commented in his usual deadpan tone, "The architecture of an amusement park, designed to stimulate imagination, is rather interesting... The rate of endorphin release in individuals experiencing extreme sensations is also worth studying." Despite his academic phrasing, a flicker of genuine interest showed in his eyes.
Having successfully rallied the boys, Riku turned his attention to the group of girls chatting in the corner. He sauntered over with a mischievous grin. "Well, hello there, lovely ladies! Bored this break? How about releasing some stress at Dreamland with handsome lads like us? I guarantee you'll have so much fun, you'll forget all about Mr. Satoru's physics formulas!"
Himari Kanzaki's ears perked up instantly. "An amusement park! Wow! That sounds amazing! Let's go, Iris-chan, Lumine-chan! Please, please!" Himari pleaded, shaking Iris Mikazuki's arm, her big round eyes sparkling.
Iris, the future student council president, sighed softly, trying to maintain a composed expression. "I'm not particularly fond of crowded and noisy places, Himari." But seeing her best friend's puppy-dog eyes and catching Lumine Komori discreetly glancing towards Leo's group, she began to relent. "Alright... if you really want to go that badly, Himari. But if it gets too overwhelmingly crowded, I'm leaving early."
Lumine, who had just looked up from a small book, quickly glanced at Leo, a fleeting look almost no one noticed, before giving a slight nod. "Well... it does sound interesting," she murmured. A faint smile touched her lips as she thought about the chance to spend time with Leo in a different setting.
Leo Tsukino tried to suppress his overwhelming joy. He cleared his throat. "Um... if everyone's going, I guess I can go too," he said nonchalantly, though his heart was pounding a frantic rhythm.
That evening, a buzz of excitement hung in the air. Lumine stood before her large wardrobe, indecisively picking out an outfit for the amusement park. Would that light blue floral dress be too sweet? Or perhaps a simple white t-shirt and denim skirt? The image of Leo's face unconsciously popped into her mind, and her cheeks flushed for no reason.
Meanwhile, Iris, despite having agreed to go, was still engrossed in student council documents at her desk. Himari was non-stop sending pictures of her outfit choices via Line: a poofy polka-dot skirt, Mickey Mouse ears, and oversized star-shaped sunglasses. Iris could only shake her head at her friend's enthusiasm but secretly pulled out a chic yet practical navy-blue dress to try on.
On a bright Saturday morning, the students of Class 2-A began to gather at the meeting point in front of the newly opened "Dreamland" amusement park. Upbeat music and a chorus of joyful screams drifted from within, amplifying the excitement.
Leo arrived looking casually cool: a dark grey t-shirt layered with an unbuttoned blue plaid flannel, faded jeans, and his favorite white sneakers. Simple, yet stylish in his own way. Ken was ready for action in a red hoodie and black sweatpants. Zeno sported a t-shirt with a circuit board pattern he'd designed himself, his backpack suspiciously bulging, likely with some new contraptions. Takumi, ever the enigma, wore a plain black t-shirt, dark grey slacks, and round sunglasses that made him look even more mysterious. Riku, true to his ringleader persona, rocked a white tank top showing off well-defined arms, a denim vest, cargo pants, and a backward baseball cap.
Himari bounced in wearing denim overalls over a bright pink t-shirt, her ponytail tied with a polka-dot ribbon, a cute bunny-shaped crossbody bag completing her look. Lumine followed quietly, dressed in a knee-length cream-colored linen dress with puffed sleeves, looking sweeter and more delicate than in her usual school uniform. Her golden-brown hair, loose and reaching mid-back, swayed gently in the breeze. Leo found himself staring for a second before quickly looking away as Lumine met his gaze, his cheeks warming inexplicably.
"Lumine-chan, you look like a princess today!" Himari chirped.
Lumine blushed prettily. "Thank you, Himari-chan. You look very cute too."
Then came the person who made everyone turn their heads: Iris Mikazuki, arriving last. Today, she was a world away from her usual stern student council president image. Iris wore a white sleeveless crop top, offering a glimpse of her flat stomach, paired with high-waisted black denim shorts that showcased her slender, fair legs. A loose-fitting denim jacket, sleeves casually rolled up, completed the look. Her cool blue hair was tied up in a high ponytail, giving her a sporty yet surprisingly sexy vibe.
"Whoa! Madam President!" Riku whistled, drawing out the sound suggestively. "Going for the 'femme fatale' look today, are we? Never thought you had this side to you!"
Ken and Zeno stared, momentarily speechless. Zeno quickly fumbled for his "Pocket-Sized Attractiveness Meter" (which looked suspiciously like a modified thermometer). "Wow! The heat-o-meter is off the charts, Madam President!"
Himari rushed to hug her best friend. "Iris-chan! You look stunningly hot today! All the guys are drooling, see!"
Takumi raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping over Iris from head to toe, before murmuring, "The interplay of lines and contrasting tones creates an interesting dimension... The golden ratio is almost perfectly achieved."
Leo couldn't help but sneak a second glance at Iris, admitting to himself that she looked strikingly beautiful, almost unrecognizable.
A visible blush spread across Iris's face, despite her best efforts to maintain a neutral expression. She tugged self-consciously at her jacket sleeve. "You guys are exaggerating... It's just a day off. I wanted to dress comfortably, that's all." Her voice remained steady, but the slight tremble in her eyes betrayed her.
Once everyone had arrived and the teasing about outfits had subsided, Riku clapped his hands to get their attention. "Alright, folks! No time to waste! We're in Dreamland, not a snail race! Follow me!" With that, Riku confidently led the group into the park, which was already thrumming with laughter and cheerful music.
The moment they stepped through the gates, everyone was awestruck by the fairytale-like architecture. But before anyone could wander off, Riku unfurled a crumpled park map and dramatically pointed to an icon resembling a skull and crossbones. "Our first mission of the day, team, is... the 'Typhoon Twister'! A seven-loop roller coaster, conquering fearระดับ G-force incarnate! Anyone who chickens out is no true man (or thrill-seeking woman)!"
"A roller coaster! Awesome!" Ken and Himari shouted in unison, already buzzing with excitement.
Lumine, however, turned deathly pale as she looked up at the towering, twisting tracks of the coaster. She swallowed hard. Leo noticed her reaction and quickly suggested, "Uh... maybe we should walk around a bit first? Start with something milder?"
Iris nodded in agreement. "Yes, I concur with Tsukino-kun. We should consider everyone's preferences, Riku-san."
"Aw, come on! Don't you guys know the meaning of 'diving in headfirst'?" Riku groaned. "We're at an amusement park! You gotta start with a bang! Okay, fine, whoever doesn't want to go can wait around here. But for those whose hearts are still beating and blood is still pumping, follow me!" Riku then dashed off towards the thrill ride zone, with Ken, Zeno, and Himari eagerly trailing behind.
Takumi shook his head slightly. "Initiating with high-intensity adrenaline-inducing activities may lead to premature fatigue accumulation," he observed, already taking out his sketchbook.
Leo looked at Lumine, who was still pale beside him. "Komori-san... it's okay. If you don't want to ride it, we can find something gentler."
Lumine looked up at Leo, forcing a smile. "It's alright, Tsukino-kun... Since we're here... I guess... I guess it wouldn't hurt to try." Even as she said it, her voice trembled slightly.
Iris sighed again, watching Riku's group disappear. "This looks like it's going to be a very chaotic day," she remarked, then looked at Leo and Lumine. "Well then, let's go see what it's all about. But if it's too scary, I'm dragging Himari out of there first."
Leo nodded, then smiled encouragingly at Lumine. "Let's go."
The scene cut to the first group already at the "Typhoon Twister." Riku was laughing heartily as Himari screamed her lungs out, the coaster rocketing towards its highest peak before plummeting down at breathtaking speed, almost too fast to follow. A cacophony of screams and laughter filled the air, officially kicking off their day of fun (and terror) at Dreamland!