Eri leaped off the platform, her scream echoing through the bungee area.
Yukiko watched, trembling. Minutes later, Eri was hauled back up.
Barely on her feet, Eri wobbled, nearly collapsing.
Shuichi caught her in his arms. After the staff unhooked her harness, he started guiding her to sit and recover—but she turned, spotting Yukiko dawdling, reluctant to advance.
"Curly vixen, forfeit now and skip the jump."
"Who said I'm forfeiting?" Yukiko snapped stubbornly. "Not only will I jump, I won't scream like some people!"
Her words sealed her fate. Legs shaking, she stepped forward, letting the staff secure her harness.
"Wait," Yukiko suddenly said.
Eri's eyes lit up. "Giving up?"
"Who's giving up?" Yukiko shot her a glare, then spread her arms, looking pitifully at Shuichi. "You hugged her... I want a hug too..."
Shuichi chuckled and obliged, pulling her into a brief embrace.
"Stinky fox, always taking advantages!" Eri huffed, annoyed.
Emboldened, Yukiko edged to the platform, planning a bold shout like Eri's before diving.
But the wind gusted hard. Off-balance, her foot slipped—and she plummeted unexpectedly!
Eri had psyched herself up and closed her eyes.
Yukiko's fall caught her off guard; terror ripped a shrill scream from her throat.
Minutes later, she was reeled up. Feet on solid ground, she burst into sobs.
Shuichi waited nearby.
Spotting him, Yukiko's grievance peaked. She flung herself into his arms, crying harder.
"Waaah, that scared me to death... I thought I was gonna die..."
"It's okay, you're safe," Shuichi soothed her like a child.
Harness undone, he tried steering her to rest. "Sit and catch your breath."
She shook her head, clutching his shirt, refusing to let go.
"Hey, had enough hugging?" Eri yanked her away, irked. "Scaredy-cat, actually crying."
"So what if I cried? Some people stood there forever, too chicken to jump," Yukiko retorted, eyes red. "I didn't waste time like that."
Their bickering eased Shuichi's worry. He stepped up for his turn, harness secured.
Seeing him ready, Eri steadied herself against the wall and gave him a hug.
Yukiko, still shaky and unable to stand, mimicked her—arms out, pleading: "Shuichi!"
Sighing, Shuichi hugged her too.
Bungee was old hat for Shuichi from his past life. At the edge, he inhaled deeply, arms wide, and leaped in a leap of faith.
Minutes later, he was back.
The girls stared at his steady face, incredulous.
"You've done this before?" Yukiko eyed him suspiciously. "How else aren't you scared?"
"Fear doesn't have to mean screaming," Shuichi said casually. "My heart's racing plenty. Let's head down."
"My legs are still jelly," Eri grimaced.
"Mine too," Yukiko nodded.
"See? Not so fun now," Shuichi teased. "Come on, rest below—the wind's brutal up here."
Unable to walk, the girls leaned on him as he helped them down.
Kogoro and Reiko waited at the base. Spotting them, Reiko rushed up: "Onii-chan's jump was so cool—no screaming like some people, which hurt my ears!"
"When you're old enough, you'll get how terrifying it feels," Yukiko puffed up again. "I wasn't scared at all—just jumped right down."
Eri shot her rival a disdainful look but stayed silent.
The girls tacitly zipped it about their platform freakouts—neither wanted Reiko's endless teasing.
Unable to rib them, Reiko nagged Shuichi for the next spot.
"First, soda shop next door. Let them recover, then more rides," Shuichi said, supporting the pair toward it.
Reiko pouted, trailing with Kogoro.
...
Soda shop.
Eri and Yukiko slumped in chairs, Reiko beside them.
Kogoro and Shuichi fetched drinks.
"Two lemon sodas, three orange juices," Shuichi ordered, scanning the dated decor—clearly an old haunt.
"One soda with mint, please," he added suddenly.
The clerk nodded, grabbing a bag of mint leaves from the fridge.
"Your mint's all like this—no fresh ones?" Shuichi asked.
"This is what we got fresh this morning," the clerk assured. "Very fresh."
Shuichi said no more. Drinks ready, he and Kogoro carried them back.
"Shuichi, sniffing out something again?" Kogoro asked, surprised. "You never add mint to drinks."
Sharp as ever, Shuichi thought with a fond sigh. "Tell you in a sec."
He passed orange juices to the girls, sipped his soda, then spread the park map on the table.
"This morning, the flower shop's Ori-kasa came to me..."
Shuichi recapped the earlier incident.
"Whatever those guys want, they won't quit—morning at the flower shop proves it. These three soda spots are near our rides, so keep eyes peeled..."
(End of Chapter)
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