There's a special ring to the name 'amusement park.'
A place you go with your family when you're young.
With your friends during your school years.
And with the one you love when you get older.
It's a place that gives you a slightly different feeling depending on who you're with, even though the location is the same.
It's a place I hadn't been to once since that plague from China spread, and a place I hadn't had the time to visit at all since coming to this body.
And so, in the crowded heart of that place filled with dreams, hope, fun, happiness, and all sorts of other things, I let out a small sigh.
"Azusa-chan… I'd appreciate it if you put the gun down. Please."
"There are too many eyes watching us… If one of them were to target us, we must not let our guard down in order to respond immediately."
"Aww… Azusa-chan, I don't think anyone would plan an attack in a crowded place like this."
Only after Hifumi added her support did Azusa finally give in and lower her rifle. She couldn't stop her eyes from darting around, scanning the area, but that was a habit Saori had drilled into her, so…
In any case, the four of us who had come to the amusement park today were the same as originally planned. Hifumi, who had been so mesmerized by the Momo Friends parade that she'd asked me to come with her; me; and Azusa and Nagisa, who had joined with Hifumi's permission.
Originally, this was where I was supposed to introduce Azusa and Hifumi, but they had become friends much earlier than expected while planning Nagisa's birthday party. The fact that Hifumi was calling her 'Azusa-chan' instead of 'Azusa-san' told me they had been hanging out on their own.
Today, to attract less attention, we all decided to wear casual clothes. When a group of Trinity girls visits an amusement park, they're bound to get hassled by delinquents. Whether my famous face would reduce that or make it worse was hard to say.
Hifumi was wearing a V-neck knit sweater, a plaid miniskirt, and a beret with a ribbon. And, as was to be expected from our deep Peroro lover, she was also carrying a Peroro mini crossbody bag. I'd noticed this whenever we went shopping, but Hifumi looks incredibly good in a beret.
Azusa today was dressed casually, without any excessive accessories. Since it was summer, she wore a bright, cheerful t-shirt, black shorts, and a thin cardigan, along with a somehow familiar baseball cap. I didn't remember helping her pick that out, so it must have been Hifumi's doing. By the way, the 'ECC. 12:8' embroidered on the brim of the cap… Azusa-zusa, why did you steal Saori's hat…?
For reference, Nagisa and I were wearing a couple's look… or to be precise, a 'similar look' that captured a similar feeling. Nagisa had dragged me downtown yesterday and hastily put it together. Seeing this, I was starting to think she really was conscious of Azusa.
Our tops were a matching pastel blue. I chose a hoodie, while Nagisa wore a simple button-up shirt. Our crossbody bags were the exact same design, which was Nagisa's doing. The main difference was that I was wearing a white skirt while Nagisa was in white skinny jeans. The reason for that was simply that they suited Nagisa better. I'm confident I could pull off skinny jeans, too… but the problem was that they fit Nagisa's leg line so perfectly it felt like cheating. And so, this was the result.
"Hmm, this much attention is a little troubling. I know they're not looking at me, but…"
…I wonder about that. They're probably looking at me, but isn't it because you're clinging to my arm that you're feeling their gazes so directly?
"If I don't hold on this tight, who knows where or when you'll go off and charm another girl. And it's not just them. I'm grateful to Seia-san, but I warned her not to covet what she shouldn't… I never thought she'd be so brazen about it. Is it really reasonable for her to tell me to give up because 'one cannot stop the flowing of a river with one's hands'?"
"Ahaha…"
"Mika-san, you shouldn't be laughing about this. I thought it would end with those stray cats from Gehenna, but then there were wolves right next door, and you weren't satisfied with that, so you even went for a Sister…"
Knowing full well that one of those 'wolves' was standing right next to her, Nagisa said that, and Azusa made her signature 'ᓀ ‸ ᓂ' face.
"Whoa, how about we ride that first? I've always wanted to try it, but the line has always been too long, so I've had to give up."
Ignoring our conversation, Hifumi, who hadn't been paying much attention, suddenly pointed in one direction. There stood a merry-go-round… no, a merry-go-bull. Instead of sleek, elegant horses, a bizarre sight of stout, sturdy bulls were lined up in a long row. Just as I was wondering what on earth this was, the ride started to move.
"…Looks fun."
"Right? I knew you'd get it, Azusa-chan!"
As the ride began to spin, the bulls started bucking wildly. Watching the students on top of them screaming, I couldn't help but think, isn't this just a rodeo?
"Hifumi-chan, is there not a normal merry-go-round?"
"Huh? Do you prefer that one, Mika-senpai? There is a merry-go-round, of course, but it's probably on the complete opposite side of the park from here. This area has rides that are better for older students, not little kids!"
Ah, thanks for the explanation, Hifumi-wagon. It's not that I particularly like merry-go-rounds; I was just thinking it might set a nice mood if Nagisa and I rode it at night. Honestly, when it comes to amusement park date rides, you can't beat a merry-go-round at night, right?
…Well, at least, that's how it was in the old dramas and movies I used to watch, so it must be true.
"Thanks to you, senpai, we don't have to wait in line, so let's make it our goal to ride every single attraction today!"
Ah, right. This amusement park sells something called a Magic Pass, which lets you use a separate line from the general public. At 100,000 yen per person for a day, it wasn't a cheap ticket… but as I always say, the Tea Party Gold Express is invincible.
At an amusement park, once you eliminate the time spent waiting in line, the number of rides you can go on increases exponentially. So, as Hifumi said, we could probably ride everything and still have time to spare. We could even ride the really fun ones twice.
Using the exclusive Magic Pass entrance, we were able to experience the incredible comfort of having no wait time at all. Ah, so this is the life of the upper class… Once I become the tteokbokki tycoon of Kivotos, this will probably be pocket change, right? I was suddenly filled with motivation.
"As a general rule, unless you are riding alone, please ride in pairs of two. Thank you for your cooperation."
A robot employee stated in a monotone voice, which was a bit of a letdown. At the amusement park of my childhood, the cast members were responsible for at least a third of the fun of a ride. It seemed I couldn't expect that here. After storing our bags in the lockers, we walked toward the bulls of various colors and intimidating sizes.
"Let's go, Azusa-chan!"
As Hifumi dragged her away, Azusa kept glancing my way, clearly wanting to ride with me. It made me feel a little bad to see her pout and sit behind Hifumi, all because Nagisa had laid a complete claim on me. If we had come before anyone knew anything, we probably would have had a more relaxed time together.
"Ahaha, by the way, Nagi-chan."
"Y-Yes?"
"How can you be scared of something like this already?"
"Th-That's because you don't know, Mika-san…"
"Hm?"
I let Nagisa have the front seat as she wished and got on the bull in front of me, then held out my hand to help her up as I asked again.
"…It's nothing. You'll see once you ride it."
Nagisa, uttering those ominous words, carefully sat behind me and fastened her seatbelt tightly. From what I'd seen, the ride was no joke, so we had to be sure we were secure.
"Phew. I think my voice is going to be gone by the end of today."
…What, is she planning on screaming her head off? What about my eardrums?
Clank. Squeak.
As if to mock my concern for my hearing, the ride began to move. It was still just starting up, moving at a pace that was too gentle to even be called mild, yet Nagisa was already clinging to me from behind.
…Hmm, I really shouldn't be having these thoughts. This is a capital offense. Could Nagisa be a more… impressive type than she lets on?
Background music that sounded like it was straight out of the Wild West began to play. And on that cue, the bulls we were riding began to buck in earnest.
Whoa, what is this? It's more fun than I thought. The unique thrill of a rodeo ride was sending a jolt straight to my brain. Nagisa clinging to me was probably responsible for about half of it, but the pure fun of the ride itself was enough to earn a passing grade.
"M-Mika-san… Please bear with me if I'm loud…!"
"Ahaha, what's wrong, Nagi-chan? This is fun enough to just enjoy!"
"Th-This is just the beginning…!"
Clunk!
Nagisa wasn't lying. The movements of the bulls became even more savage and violent. Just as I was thinking that this was still a manageable level of fun…
"Aaaaaah…!"
Nagisa's voice, slowly starting to rise in pitch, beat against my ears. It was a textbook crescendo, but still bearable.
But wait, the movements are getting rougher and rougher, with no end in sight…?
No, this is beyond a rodeo…! My body is durable, so it's fine, but the bulls were thrashing with such intensity that if I were in my old body, I would have had bruises from the safety belt. Nagisa's screams were also growing louder, threatening to burst my eardrums. I was starting to get dizzy…
I could see Azusa and Hifumi in front of us, enjoying the ride with complete ease. Hifumi, the iron-hearted, was now even raising her arms in the air. I guess you have to be at that level to be the leader of the Swimsuit Masked Gang. Azusa, too, seemed to be enjoying the rattling movements, a small smile on her face. It was a strange sight.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
…Um, Nagisa. I'm really sorry to say this, but could you maybe take turns riding with Azusa? Otherwise, my ears might not survive the day.
I swallowed the words I couldn't bring myself to say and tried to empty my mind to endure this difficult time.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Nagisa must have realized just how much she had been tormenting me. After we rode a couple more attractions, she gave me an apologetic look and offered to switch places with Azusa.
Our Nagisa really does have a kind heart. But I hope she remembers that no matter how pretty a voice is, it becomes torture to listen to when it gets that high…