9:50 a.m.
Hayashi Shuichi arrived at the entrance to Mihama Amusement Park with Reiko and Kogoro Mouri—Eri Kisaki was already waiting there.
The four of them waited a bit longer, and with ten o'clock fast approaching, there was still no sign of Yukiko Fujimine.
"Where's that curly-tailed vixen?" Eri grumbled impatiently. "She isn't chickening out, is she?"
"You're the one who's scared!"
Yukiko's voice suddenly rang out behind them.
Everyone turned to see the girl in a beige pleated dress, topped with a white sun hat and a matching crossbody bag. She looked demure and ladylike.
"Planning to throw in the towel already?" Eri eyed her outfit, sarcasm dripping. "Or are you figuring you'll give everyone below a show of your panty color mid-bungee?"
She herself wore the white short-sleeved top and denim shorts she'd bought with Shuichi yesterday on the shopping street—precisely for today's bungee challenge.
"You're the one backing down! If I'm wearing a skirt, I've come prepared!" Yukiko shot back, then hiked up her dress without a care for decorum.
"Onii-chan, don't look!"
Reiko yelped, hastily covering Shuichi's eyes.
Unable to see, Shuichi only heard Kogoro sigh in disappointment: "Safety shorts, huh? Which bastard came up with that crap anyway?"
Reiko let out a relieved breath and lowered her hands from her brother's eyes.
Now Shuichi could see: beneath Yukiko's dress was a pair of white knee-length safety shorts—no risk of flashing anyone.
"Drop it already," he said, eyeing the smug girl. "You don't think you look good like this, do you?"
Yukiko froze, suddenly noticing the stares from passersby, kids pointing and giggling.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she hurriedly smoothed her skirt. To shake off the awkwardness, she unzipped her white bag and pulled out a camera.
"I even brought the family camera. Gotta capture that bespectacled bookworm bawling her eyes out!"
"Who says I'll be the one crying?" Eri huffed. "Don't you go weak in the knees and beg for mercy!"
As the two traded barbs, Reiko watched with a grin, while Kogoro scanned for pretty faces.
Left alone, Shuichi took the discount coupons from Chief Ono and headed to the ticket booth, grabbing a park map and marking the soda shops.
The park was huge—three soda spots on the map alone.
One by the bungee platform, one in front of the Ferris wheel, and one next to the haunted house.
Perfect for playing tourist while scoping things out.
...
Once inside, Eri and Yukiko beelined for the bungee area, buzzing with excitement.
"Now?" Kogoro whined, face falling. He had a crippling fear of heights—bungee was out.
"Better now," Shuichi chuckled. "Even if it leaves you shaky, you'll recover before the izakaya opens this afternoon—no business lost."
"You're turning into a real shark, Shuichi," Kogoro muttered.
"Onii-chan's no shark! He paid for everyone's fun today!" Reiko jumped to his defense. "Be fair, Kogoro-niisan!"
"...Fine, my bad," Kogoro conceded quickly. He always went easy on his buddy's little sister.
At the bungee base, Reiko was too young to ride, and Kogoro too scared.
"Give the camera to Kogoro—he and Reiko can snap pics from down here," Shuichi suggested. "I'll go up with you two, just in case."
Mornings were slow; after the elevator ride to the platform, only about ten people queued ahead.
Mihama's bungee tower wasn't sky-high—just sixty meters, like fifteen stories, over the park's lake below.
The girls had trash-talked boldly from the ground, but up top, with tiny figures dotting the landscape and chill winds whipping past, both paled.
"Still game?" Shuichi teased. "Plenty of time to bail."
Yukiko swallowed hard. "...What about you, bookworm?"
"I'm not scared!" Eri clenched her fists, steeling herself after a long pause. "We're doing this!"
"Hmph, like I'm backing out! Count me in!" Yukiko's legs quivered, lips nearly bloodless.
With pride on the line, neither would yield. Shuichi sighed. "How about we all chicken out? Even I'll admit I'm too scared—deal?"
They exchanged glances, tempted.
Just as agreement seemed near, Reiko's shout echoed from below: "Eri-neechan, Yukiko-neechan, you got this! Remember what you said yesterday—whoever doesn't jump is a total wimp!"
Kogoro, camera in hand, stared at her. "You really fanning the flames?"
"Not my words!" Reiko grinned mischievously. "They dug their own hole! Kogoro-niisan, get good shots later—or miss the highlights..."
"Don't worry, I'll nail it!" he assured.
Up top, the girls caught every word.
No jump today, and that kid would roast them daily at the izakaya.
Grimacing, Eri and Yukiko shuffled forward in line.
Their turn came quick. Rock-paper-scissors decided: Eri first.
She handed Shuichi her glasses for safekeeping.
Seeing her pallor, he pulled her into a gentle hug. "If it's too much, just close your eyes on the way down."
"Mm." Eri nodded, lips tight.
Staff secured her harness; she teetered to the edge.
Five minutes ticked by—she hadn't budged.
As Shuichi geared up to urge her down, Yukiko beat him to it: "Scaredy-bookworm? Forfeit already!"
"Vixen, watch this!"
Stung, Eri gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and leaped!
(End of Chapter)
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