Sayu's legs were still trembling when they stepped off the drop tower. She clutched her bag close, her pulse racing long after the ride was over. Hayato, surprisingly steady, glanced down at her with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Not scared, huh?" he teased.
Sayu puffed her cheeks, looking away. "I wasn't. I just… didn't expect it to drop so fast."
He chuckled but didn't press further. Instead, he pulled out his phone. "Alright. Next on the list… photos. We need at least a few couple shots or it won't look convincing."
She tilted her head, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Where, though?"
He scrolled for a moment, then read aloud. "There's a fountain spot, the Ferris wheel backdrop, and one of those photo stands near the main plaza. If we're lucky, we might even find a professional photographer."
Sayu glanced around. The midday sun glittered against the fountain nearby, making the water sparkle. Before she could decide, a man with a DSLR camera hanging from his neck approached another couple and offered them a shot. Sayu tugged on Hayato's sleeve. "There! Should we…?"
Hayato nodded and approached. The photographer agreed easily, lining them up against the fountain, but as he saw their awkward posture he spoke. "Closer, please. You two look stiff."
Sayu blinked, flustered, as Hayato shifted just a little nearer. Their shoulders brushed. The man frowned. "Closer. More natural."
Heat crawled up her neck. With no choice, she leaned slightly into him, their arms brushing more firmly this time. The shutter clicked a few times, capturing the faint smile Hayato forced onto his lips and Sayu's awkward but soft expression.
When it was done, they both bowed in thanks. Sayu was still red, clutching the printed photo like it might burn her fingers.
Hayato checked his phone again. "Okay, next—"
But Sayu wasn't listening. Her eyes had drifted toward a nearby shooting stall, where the shop owner's booming voice carried across the crowd. "Step right up! Test your aim, win a prize!"
Hayato followed her gaze. A small smirk tugged at his lips. "You want to try?"
Sayu flinched, snapping back to attention. "Eh? N-no, I was just looking—"
"Come on." He took her wrist gently, pulling her toward the stall before she could refuse. "One game, that's all."
The owner grinned as Hayato paid. He lifted the toy rifle with confidence, aimed, and fired. The first shot missed. The second grazed the edge of a can but didn't topple it. By the third, Sayu was stifling a laugh behind her hand.
"Tch… it's rigged," Hayato muttered, setting the gun down.
"Can I… try?" Sayu asked softly.
He raised a brow, amused. "You wanna try? Think you can do better." Still, he handed over another round of tokens and paid for her.
Sayu lifted the rifle awkwardly, missed her first shot, and heard him chuckle under his breath. But on the second try, her eyes narrowed. This time, the shot landed dead center, sending a can tumbling. Then another. Then another. By the time the bullets ran out, nearly the entire pyramid of cans had collapsed.
The shop owner stared, slack-jawed. "Uh… congratulations, miss! You win the big prize!" He handed her a giant panda plush.
Sayu's face lit up, hugging it to her chest. "Thank you!"
Hayato, still staring in disbelief, asked, "How… did you do that?"
She smiled, almost smug. "My dad was a soldier. He taught me a few things." Then, quickly changing the subject, she held up the panda. "Should we take a photo with this?"
They did, the giant plush almost covering half her face as Hayato stood beside her, faint amusement softening his usual composed look.
As they continued strolling, wandering down the lively path. Balloons bobbed in the air, children tugged on their parents' hands, and the warm scent of roasted corn drifted through the breeze.
"Next spot," Hayato said, checking his list. "How about the Ferris wheel backdrop?"
Sayu nodded, and they found a friendly passerby to take their picture. The woman lined them up with the great wheel behind them, asking them to smile. Hayato's arm brushed against Sayu's shoulder again, and she stiffened slightly, cheeks warming. Click. Another memory captured.
As they thanked her and moved on, an elderly lady tending a small souvenir stall waved them over. "Young man, why not buy something for your girlfriend?"
Sayu froze, her face heating. "Oh, no we..."
Hayato cleared his throat but didn't correct her. Instead, he glanced at the trinkets: keychains, bracelets, and charms shaped like stars. "Why not?," he said to Sayu,
"It would be nice addition for people to believe." he said, picking out a little star-shaped keychain. He handed it to her with a slightly awkward expression. "Here."
Sayu blinked, then smiled faintly, choosing a simple leather bracelet in return. "Oh, okay."
He took one for himself too.
The old lady looked at them. 'Aren't they a couple, why do they act like that, blushing and acting cute, oh to be young... when I was there age...' she thought reminiscing about her past.
Sayu turned quickly away, hugging her panda plush to her chest.
They stopped next at an ice cream stand, the colorful cones piled high under the sun. "Which one do you want?" Hayato asked.
"Strawberry," she said.
"Okay," he said with a faint smile, ordering for both of them. He chose vanilla for himself.
They sat on a bench nearby, cones in hand, watching children race past with balloons and candy. By now, they had checked off nearly every photo spot on their list.
A streak of pink cream clung to the corner of Sayu's lip.
"You, uh… you've got something," Hayato said, pointing to his own mouth as a hint.
She frowned, swiping at her lips clumsily. "Here? Or… here? Did I get it?"
"Not quite…"
Before he could stop himself, his hand moved. His thumb brushed gently at the corner of her mouth, wiping the smudge away. The realization hit him a second later, and he froze. Their eyes met for a brief heartbeat before he quickly pulled back, face turning aside.
Sayu's cheeks burned. She covered her mouth with a napkin, fumbling. "Th-thanks…"
An awkward silence lingered before she opened his phone, scrolling through the gallery. "We have more than enough, don't we?"
"Yeah," Hayato said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. His voice was steady, but his ears betrayed him, faintly red.
Then Hayato stood. "I'll be right back. Need the restroom. Wait here."
Sayu nodded, shifting the panda in her arms. She leaned against the railing, watching families and couples wander past.
That's when a familiar voice pierced through the crowd.
"…Sayu?"
Her breath caught. Slowly, she turned.
There he was... Hans.