The clouds today were quite thick. It was impossible to enjoy the beauty of the sunset slowly sinking on the horizon from atop the Ferris wheel.
Yet, from such close range, watching the vast skyline colored by the approaching night, as clouds came and went, welcoming the solemn, quiet night sky—this experience was fascinating in its own way.
Hopefully, the girl who seemed afraid of heights could calm down and enjoy the beautiful view.
Seeing the black-haired girl in front of him take a deep breath before stepping into the slowly moving Ferris wheel cabin, Yuu smiled silently. He followed and sat behind her.
"Enjoy the view, you two."
The cabin door closed. Under the slightly envious gaze of the staff, their seat slowly rose.
Fortunately, the wind wasn't too strong today. No particular swaying. The cabin steadily distanced itself from the ground.
"Are you scared?"
Yuu shifted his gaze from the window to the slender girl beside him, pulling her scarf to cover half her small face.
Yukino shrugged. She was clearly tense, looking like she wanted to carve herself desperately into the seat. Even her breathing was cautious. She didn't dare look out the window.
She was fragile like a child afraid of ghosts—completely different from the usual Yukino. But in the end, the one who always acted mature was just a girl his age.
Afraid, anxious, and capable of falling in love. She was that simple and ordinary.
"If you ask if I'm scared, not really… I just remembered some unpleasant past events."
She sighed softly.
Adjusting herself under his gaze, Yukino slightly closed her eyes. She carefully leaned back into the seat. Her thin lips pressed into a straight line from anxiety. She smiled a little self-deprecatingly.
"Whenever the whole family came to the amusement park, Nee-san would pick on me."
Just hearing this preface, Yuu already knew how the story continued.
"On the Ferris wheel, she'd rock the cabin hard. On the roller coaster, she'd let go of my hand gripping the bar. As long as I showed a scared expression, she'd laugh mercilessly and enjoy it… Oh, and on the Coffee Cups, she ignored my protests and kept spinning the seat…"
As Yukino spoke, her expression darkened. The fear of leaving the ground seemed resolved. The cabin was enveloped in cold anger.
Yuu sighed in understanding. "She does seem like the type… You must have suffered a lot."
"Not just me. She did the same to most people. She was just more ruthless with me." Yukino sighed lightly, complaining as if accepting fate. "Even so, no one hated her for it."
Yuu showed confusion with his gaze.
"After all, that's Nee-san's charm."
As if proud of her own sister, Yukino's voice unconsciously rose. A cheerful smile appeared on her face.
"Despite her personality, she's always been loved by everyone… No, precisely because of that personality, Big Sister is liked, adored, and expected of… And she never disappoints anyone. She does everything perfectly."
At this point, her smile suddenly faded. Her emotions dropped sharply. "I've always been in her shadow. I acted like a rule-following doll. That's why I'm often called a mature, well-behaved kid who doesn't cause trouble… But the opposite also means cold and unlikable."
"I know full well people talk about me behind my back, always comparing me to Nee-san."
Her expression calmed. She seemed to have accepted the situation and had no intention of dwelling on it.
Yukino just tilted her head toward Yuu. The corners of her lips curved helplessly. Her voice was soft like snow falling to the ground, slowly melting.
"Tenkuji-kun, you're like Nee-san. You always stick to your style. Good or bad, there will always be people drawn to you like that…"
"While I never knew what appearance to show or how to stand at the same height as you all to see the same view."
Not shifting his gaze as the scenery outside slowly rose, Yuu locked eyes with those dark blue ones.
Instinctively, he tried to read Yukino's current mood.
Was it loss, regret, despair, or just calm recounting of facts… But after looking briefly, he found he couldn't see anything. Like the clearest lake water, he couldn't spot subtle changes in the mud below.
Finally, Yuu could only ask honestly, "Now, do you still think that way?"
"Now?" Yukino murmured, repeating. Her eyes were slightly vacant. "Now…"
Yukino suddenly smiled. Who knows what she thought. She shifted her gaze to the world outside the cabin.
Her tense body slowly relaxed. The radiating anger had vanished. All that remained was a sense of safety and ease, like curling up in a home blanket.
"You see? That cloud looks a bit like a panda."
Yuu followed her slender, white finger. After frowning and looking briefly, he reluctantly nodded. "Only the two ears look similar… But if it's just ears, it's not only pandas, right?"
Yukino smiled and looked at him. "Why do you think it has nothing to do with me? The most important thing is, I think it's a panda, so it's a panda."
"Then why ask playfully?" Yuu couldn't help rolling his eyes.
The girl ignored the jab. She just looked at him frankly and seriously. Her soft, watery gaze seemed to radiate sunset light.
"A few days ago, I declared war on her who's always arrogant."
"Not long ago, I figured out how to face my own feelings."
"And now, you and I are seeing the same sky."
The Ferris wheel slowly rising. Her voice gradually cheerful. The world slowly quieting.
The smile at her lips was calm and gentle, yet with a striking, firm beauty.
As if mesmerized by such beauty, Yuu was speechless for a moment. He just stared at Yukino in shock, watching her extend a finger and gently pinch his sleeve.
At first, it was a light touch like a kitten's bite. But slowly, Yukino grasped his entire wrist through the sleeve. Then she shortened the distance, gently resting her head on his shoulder.
Yuu couldn't see her expression. He could only feel her steady, light breathing, like she was asleep.
"In your eyes, what do I look like?"
The cabin was very quiet. At the highest point in the sky, she whispered fearlessly.
This time, it was Yuu's turn to sit somewhat stiffly. Only after making a sound did he slowly relax his warm, rested-upon shoulder.
"…This question is kinda embarrassing."
Yukino's laugh sounded very happy. "Really? Then my change can be called successful. All that past anxiety wasn't in vain."
"It wasn't that long, right? At most a few weeks…"
"Anyway, the more important something is, the more it feels like most of life was spent on it… Why, isn't it the same for you?"
"I am, of course. You're very important to me, okay?"
"…Sounds insincere, but I'll forgive you for now." Yukino murmured. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her ear, hidden in black hair, was already flushed. Only her tone tried to stay calm.
"The cabin's a bit cold. Let me lean for a bit. Don't look over here for now."
"Really…"
Leaned on by her soft, warm body, Yuu felt no cold at all. Nor did he feel her hand holding his was too cold.
He calmed his surprised heart, sighing lightly with a laugh. "Should I call you honest or prideful? Sometimes you're more proactive than me, but after being proactive, you get shy… You're really like a middle school girl dating for the first time."
"Because this is my first time dating. Sorry, Mr. Casanova isn't the same."
Her tone immediately turned cold and clear. Yukino's speech was polite, but every word carried clear mockery.
Sensing the other's displeasure, Yuu cleared his throat awkwardly, quickly changing the topic. "I'm not worthy of being called Casanova… But you already like me this much. Your ideal boyfriend standards should be met, right?"
"Don't be narcissistic. I only have a little liking for you at most. Can't say it's a lot yet."
Yukino sneered disdainfully. Her fingers slowly poked his thigh twice. Her attitude was arrogant like a queen, yet with adorable childlike innocence. "So from now on, work harder to please me! Tenkuji-kun."
"My standards for a boyfriend are very high. If you rely on my feelings and don't strive forward, the day the task is nearly done, I'll firmly leave you. Remember that!"
Yukino threw harsh words firmly. But she felt no anxiety or fear from the person beside her.
Even his response was somewhat casual.
"Got it. Relax…"
Yuu secretly rolled his eyes, looking down. His expression showed helplessness.
Despite saying such cruel words, that slender, boneless soft hand had somehow crawled from his wrist to his palm. After awkward, shy explorations, it gripped his five fingers tightly, like a magnet finding the right pole.
Skin to skin in close contact. Yuu didn't use strength. He just let her grip his fingers tightly. It seemed she didn't want even a bit of air blocking this warmth.
(Leave without hesitation?)
(Heh heh, you dare say that. Just try loosening your hand a little…)
"Yukino, I take back my earlier assessment."
"What?"
"Compared to a middle school girl dating for the first time, you're more like a cat."
"What do you mean? Is this a compliment?"
"Mm… Take it as one."
"You said you don't like ambiguity? Explain that assessment now!"
"I don't want to. If you dare, bite me… Woa, you really bit? Guess I was right calling you a cat."
"Huh…"
The Ferris wheel still turned slowly. Passing cold, arrogant clouds. Passing the darkening skyline.
But whether turning from six o'clock to twelve or twelve to six, it didn't matter at all to those who only had eyes for each other, right?
The cabin became like another world. The scenery outside kept changing. But the distance between them never did.
It was then they realized one thing.
When alone with someone, no matter what's done or said, time and heartbeats race equally fast—perhaps due to the setting, or perhaps just a change after shortening distance.
But it was truly different from their past selves.
In the blink of an eye, it was time to leave the Ferris wheel.
The staff below prepared to open the door. Yukino reluctantly released his hand. She pulled her scarf to cover her flushed, warm face, as if it would never cool. She complained casually:
"This is the first time I've completed a full Ferris wheel ride with such a calm heart."
"Because I'm here." Yuu shrugged arrogantly. He said naturally, "If I hadn't kept distracting you, preventing you from looking down, you'd be scared stiff, knees weak, hugging your head by now."
Yukino smiled and looked at him. "Oh? So I should thank you?"
"No need to thank, a kiss is enough." Yuu joked.
Unexpectedly, after a startle, Yukino quickly glanced at the staff outside. She seemed to check if they could see inside the cabin.
Then she pulled Yuu's collar. Under his disbelieving gaze, her soft lips emerged from the scarf. She quickly kissed his cheek like a dragonfly touching water.
It was the moment they were closest.
She sat back nonchalantly. Her fair, beautiful face still flushed. Her fingers slowly touched her pink lips, as if reminiscing the touch.
"…I understand the principle 'to make a horse run fast, feed it grass.'"
Warm breath exhaled from her mouth. Her pretend-calm voice hid shyness.
Yukino didn't avoid Yuu's shocked gaze. She just challenged him with a confident, bold smile.
Yet her eyes were still soft as water. Only his reflection in them.
"So, when will you officially confess to me?" She asked, smiling.
"…Hah?" The question was too sudden. Yuu was stunned for two or three seconds before reacting. His expression odd. "Didn't you just tell Yui you don't need one?"
"That was then. This is now." Yukino frowned slightly. Her beautiful lips pouted. Her cheeks puffed. She sulked like a child. "Why, you object? Or plan to pretend today never happened, keeping the same distance as before? All words said, all hands held mean nothing?"
"Hah? I never said that…"
Before Yuu finished, the cabin door opened by the staff. They politely urged them to exit with their eyes.
Seeing the bad timing, Yuu immediately pulled Yukino out of the Ferris wheel. He planned to explain properly once fewer people were around. He also wanted to tease her adorable sulking look.
She was truly not the same creature as the usual Snow Queen.
The long, straight black-haired girl, hand held, reflexively struggled briefly at first, then obediently let him hold it. She walked casually behind. Her mood seemed great again.
Following the exiting crowd, they descended the stairs, one in front, one behind.
Yuu recalled the map. He realized this was the park's end. No more rides or rest areas. He planned to turn and ask Yukino if they should find Yuigahama now. They could discuss next plans together. Take a few group photos, and today's 'date' could end perfectly.
But before he spoke, a familiar voice suddenly came from a dark spot behind the stairs.
"Hey~ 'Ex-Boyfriend' over there—"
Cheerful tone, open voice, shouting loudly like meeting a friend on the street.
Yet Yuu, hearing this, froze reflexively.
His hair stood on end. Goosebumps erupted all over. Cold rushed from soles to head. Like being shoved into a morgue freezer.
Yukino beside him startled briefly. Then she turned toward the voice. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Nee-san?! Why is Nee-san here…"
Haruno stepped out from the dark. She glanced at her with a smile. But her voice was emotionless, full of cold pressure:
"I don't want to explain for now. Before I talk to you, don't interfere arbitrarily in my business with him, Yukino."
"…"
Shifting from her instinctively silent sister, Haruno tucked beautiful hair behind her ear. She refilled her eyes with a smile. Her soft, bright eyes looked at Yuu, as enthusiastic as ever:
"What's wrong? I called you, why no answer?"
"…Haruno, what do you want?"
Yuu held his breath briefly. Only then did he force out the words in a somewhat dry voice.
Forget bad premonitions. This time, disaster struck right before his eyes. Without time or chance to prepare.
Like an invisible hand gripping his heart. Watching Haruno slowly approach, Yuu could only hold his breath. He struggled to maintain a calm expression. He didn't even care about Yukino's reaction.
"Eh? What do I want?"
Haruno blinked at him. Her face full of innocence and confusion. As if truly puzzled by the question.
Unfortunately, she couldn't hold it for seconds. Haruno chuckled. She couldn't help laughing heartily.
"Pfft hahahahaha, someone really asks that, so shameless… No, this is a playboy's standard response."
She wiped tears from laughing. Took a deep breath. Then sighed long, helplessly.
Haruno narrowed her eyes into sickle-like crescents. She stared at Yuu. Her voice slowly turned cold:
"That's a question I should ask you."
Her dark, dull eyes glanced at their still-joined hands. She slowly tilted her head. Her gaze cold as a knife. She asked in a friendly tone:
"Not only secretly dating my little sister, even holding hands at the place we dated… What exactly are you planning?"
"Since we dated in July, you haven't officially broken up with me, Mr. Ex-Boyfriend."
Suddenly, Haruno stepped forward. She tiptoed.
Her mature, beautiful face approached his. The distance shortened to one finger. Her breath and voice slowly brushed his face.
In those deep, dark eyes, his increasingly stiff expression was fully visible.
And she whispered, like cold wind blowing:
"Cheating with your girlfriend's little sister is an unforgivable death penalty on my side… So, are you ready to confess your guilt?"
In December's winter, the last dry leaf on a branch tip fell to the ground, trampled into mud by passing footsteps.
The amusement park was still lively. Laughter and joy everywhere.
Only the corner where the three stood seemed frozen. Suddenly plunged into deadly silence, where no one could move.