Amusement parks—just the sight of them brings to mind innocence, laughter, and carefree joy.
Everywhere you looked, the air itself seemed to be filled with that lighthearted, upbeat atmosphere.
And it was thanks to this very atmosphere that Minamoto Senya was able to see a completely different side of Yukinoshita Yukino.
That girl—normally cold, reserved, strict both with herself and others, never hesitating to cut with words as sharp as a knife—was showing an entirely new expression today.
Sure, there were times he'd glimpsed it before. Fleeting moments, like a single flutter of wings.
But just as quickly, she would return to her usual prideful, untouchable demeanor.
Never like today—never with her girlish side opened up to its fullest, where you could take it all in at once and just bask in it.
Even with his own worries about Tokihua gnawing at him, Senya felt oddly soothed, surrounded by the healing warmth of Yukino's occasional smiles of joy and delight.
Gap moe. As a personality trait, if it were in a gacha game, it'd be a top-tier ★★★★★ rare attribute. Actually experiencing it firsthand was dangerously addictive.
Now, under the scorching summer sun, the second Yukinoshita sister led everyone to a shaded bench inside the park and sat down gracefully.
"Let's rest for a bit," she suggested.
"Mm, good idea," Rikka and Eriri both agreed without complaint.
Senya sat on the next bench over, with Haruno by his side.
His eyes, without meaning to, drifted toward Yukino as she pulled out a tissue to dab away the sweat.
Her delicate face, flushed faintly pink from the heat, seemed almost too fragile, her breathing uneven as her small chest rose and fell noticeably with each breath.
Compared to Rikka and Eriri beside her, she looked visibly more exhausted.
If he remembered correctly, Yukino had said earlier that she and her sister had come directly by car.
Not like him and Rikka, who had ridden the train and then walked several hundred meters from the station.
And yet—even after just three attractions—a jungle ride, spinning teacups, and a lazy river boat, all sitting-down rides and close to each other, Yukino was already showing signs as if she had just run a marathon.
The sight reminded Senya of that one time in elementary school, when the whole grade had gone on a hiking trip.
He'd been bored with his own class group and had thought of looking for Yukino in another group.
When he couldn't find her, he switched on his "god's-eye view." Sure enough, she'd fallen far behind, sitting in a gazebo halfway up the mountain with a few other exhausted classmates, resting with a teacher.
Back then, little Yukino had practically burned through all her energy, dragging herself up to the summit only by clinging onto his backpack strap the whole way.
So she'd always had poor stamina, even as a child. Some things never changed.
Haa—
"Don't you think Yukino looks so vulnerable right now? Like, if you gave her the slightest push, she'd topple over in an instant… doesn't it make you just want to bully her?"
Warm breath brushed against his ear, followed by Haruno's husky, coaxing voice.
Senya turned his head with a helpless look. Sure enough, Haruno was watching him with that sly sparkle in her eyes, even throwing in a deliberate wink.
And yet, with her looks, even knowing she was being manipulative didn't make her any less charming.
In fact, there was something oddly uplifting about the way she leaned in, closing the distance so boldly.
This woman's dangerous, Senya thought.
If she wanted, she could probably reel in an entire school's worth of guys, leave them wagging their tails like eager puppies.
"Water?" he asked, cutting through her teasing. Without acknowledging her words, he offered one of the drinks he'd just bought from the kiosk.
Haruno pouted. "So cold. Ever since we got here you've been distant with me."
"Not true. It's just too hot, the sunlight's blinding, I feel lazy and don't want to talk much."
"When you were asking me about Tokihua earlier, you were nothing like this. Use me up and then toss me away? That's pretty heartless, don't you think?"
"Don't say things that make people misunderstand."
"But it's the truth!"
Their bickering drew the attention of the others.
Yukino looked over. "What are you two talking about?"
Haruno raised her hand high. "We were talking about your body, little Yukino!"
"—!"
Senya stayed quiet, but his eyes immediately met Yukino's, who now looked flushed with a mix of embarrassment and outrage.
Her gaze clearly asked: Do you believe me or do you believe her?
After so many years of knowing each other, their relationship was far beyond that of normal classmates. Even if they'd spent less time together this past year, the unspoken trust between them hadn't faded.
So after just a second of thought, Yukino rose from her seat, walked over, and tilted her head slightly toward Senya in silent signal.
Senya, more than willing, swapped seats with her without hesitation.
"Ehh—!" Haruno groaned, like a child whose toy had been taken away.
"Stop it, sister. Don't bother him so much," Yukino scolded.
"You're only thinking about Senya. What about me? All I wanted was someone to chat with," Haruno whined.
"I'll chat with you."
"No, no, you're too stiff. Senya's way more fun than you."
"…"
And so the sisters began their usual tug-of-war.
Senya, meanwhile, finally sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. Free at last from that relentless "big sister" harassment.
Not that it was entirely unpleasant. After all, Haruno was a strikingly beautiful young woman with an enviable figure.
But add in her habit of leaning in close, her casual physical contact, and her teasing comments about her own sister… who could stay calm through that?
He wasn't a little kid anymore—heat plus that kind of atmosphere was… a dangerous combination.
Honestly, the fact that he was only slightly parched right now, and not showing any other reaction, was proof of his iron will. Truly impressive.
"Senya," Rikka leaned forward curiously, "you've been talking with Haruno-senpai nonstop since we got here. What have you two been chatting about?"
A faint whiff of her milky-sweet shampoo drifted over as she leaned in.
It was funny—both Takanashi sisters used the same shampoo, soap, even bath products.
And yet, on Rikka it came across as simply sweet.
While on Tokihua… well, let's just say it stirred up far less pure associations.
"Nothing much," Senya replied casually, downing the rest of his drink in one go. "Just asking a few things about high school. She's an upperclassman, and we'll be starting soon, so I figured I'd get some advice."
No need to drag Tokihua's personal circumstances into this.
"I see…" Rikka nodded, not pressing further. Then she suddenly leaned forward, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at Eriri on the other side.
Eriri, who'd been quietly enjoying the show between Senya and Haruno, flinched. Caught off guard, she quickly masked her smirk, feigning calm. "W-what? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Rikka swung her short legs idly beneath the bench. "Nothing. I was just thinking the rides we've done so far have been kinda tame. Since we're here, shouldn't we try out the real classics?"
"I don't mind," Senya said, flicking his empty bottle into a distant trash can with perfect aim.
"Me neither," Eriri chimed in.
Phew. Just that? For a second I thought she'd caught me laughing at them earlier…
"My, my," Haruno leaned closer, nudging her sister playfully. "So that's how it is, huh, Rikka~?"
Only Yukino failed to share their excitement. Her expression tightened.
"What's wrong, Yukino?" Rikka asked, noticing.
"N-nothing," Yukino replied with a strained smile, passing the park map to Rikka. "We came here to have fun. As long as everyone's enjoying themselves, that's what matters."
It was true—the park might have been themed after Mr. Pan the mascot, but it was still a full amusement park, with nearly all the classic rides.
Up until now, Yukino had acted as the de facto leader, carefully guiding them to gentle attractions to avoid exactly this situation. But in the end… she couldn't avoid it forever.
"Pfft—haha!" Haruno burst out laughing. "Then it's decided. Next stop, the roller coaster! And after that, the giant swing! Oh, and the freefall tower! I love that heart-pounding rush of weightlessness, like flying into the sky—it's absolutely thrilling!"
Yukino shot her sister a glare sharp enough to kill.
Senya, Rikka, and Eriri all immediately understood.
Rikka asked gently, "Yukino… are you, maybe, afraid of those kinds of rides?"
"That's not accurate," Yukino said stiffly, back straight. Her eyes wavered as she added, "I'm simply… not very skilled at handling them. Or perhaps… unaccustomed."
In other words, yes, she was terrified.
The three of them exchanged knowing glances.
As Yukino's close friend, Eriri felt compelled to speak up. "Then maybe we should stick to gentler rides. No need to force yourself, right?"
Yukino was touched, but shook her head. "No… really, it's fine. Don't hold back on my account."
"Exactly. And if she gets too scared, she can just wait at the exit for us," Haruno added, her smirk positively wicked.
"That won't be necessary," Yukino snapped, glaring. "I'll ride with you."
Bingo.
Haruno snapped her fingers in her mind.
A childish provocation, but with little Yukino, it worked every single time.
Yukino clenched her fists and stood up, forcing her voice to sound firm."…I've rested enough. Let's go."
She knew perfectly well that her sister was deliberately provoking her, but that didn't matter.
People had to grow. She needed to overcome the nightmares that had haunted her since childhood, and now was the perfect time to do it.
"Then let's head out. According to the map, the giant pendulum is the closest. Let's go there first," Haruno suggested, glancing at the park guide.
Yukino nodded.
Rikka looked at her with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'll be fine!" Yukino inhaled deeply, rallying her courage.
"Then no time like the present. Onward!"
Eiri had a stomach full of words she wanted to say but swallowed them back down.
It wasn't just Yukino—she was scared too.
But with Rikka looking so excited, and Haruno's energy driving the mood forward, she couldn't bring herself to protest.
Fine then, she thought. If Yukino could face it despite being so afraid, she had no excuse to back down either.
The group made their way toward the towering pendulum ride.
While standing in line, they watched the massive steel structure swing high into the sky, listening to the blood-curdling screams of the riders as though their throats would tear apart.
Yukino's face paled. Despite the summer heat, her frail body trembled with cold.
How could anyone enjoy something that looked so much like an execution device?!
When their turn came, Eiri nervously gulped and was pulled inside by Rikka.
Haruno casually removed her sunglasses and stored them before striding ahead to choose a seat. She even shot Yukino a mischievous, knowing glance.
Yukino, realizing there was no escape left, removed her hat with trembling hands and placed it carefully in the locker.
"If… if something happens, you have to come save me…"
Her lips quivered. Her eyes carried sadness, despair, and a resigned determination to face death. Her face was so pale it looked drained of all color—completely unlike the image she usually projected.
Her words, too, clashed completely with her usual dignified persona.
"You're exaggerating way too much…"
Minamoto Senya, sensing the severity of her fear, quickly stepped in. He grabbed her belongings and turned to the staff."Sorry, we've changed our minds. I think I'm too scared after all."
"Ah, no problem at all," the attendant replied warmly, clearly used to situations like this. She smiled kindly and pointed to the safety exit. "You can head out this way."
"Thanks a lot."
Senya took Yukino's hand and guided her out through the side exit.
Meanwhile, Eiri, who was already strapped into her seat, witnessed the scene unfold. Her expression stiffened.
Wait—Yukino, you're bailing now?!
And if you two weren't going to ride, you could've told me beforehand! I wouldn't have gotten on either!
She opened her mouth to protest—
"Um—"
—but it was already too late. The gates had closed, and the giant pendulum began to swing.
"KYAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"
On the sidelines, Senya and Yukino stood together, watching the ride in motion. Their eyes focused on their friends.
Haruno sat smiling, as relaxed as ever, even glancing around to observe the reactions of those beside her.
Rikka's mouth was wide open, laughing and screaming with pure excitement, completely absorbed in the thrill.
As for Eiri… her eyes were shut tight, her delicate features scrunched into a pained grimace. She looked utterly miserable.
Yukino felt a twinge of guilt.
Even so, with her feet safely on the ground, color gradually returned to her face.
Senya's actions touched her deeply. She hadn't placed her trust in the wrong person.
But then she remembered what she had said in her panic just moments earlier. The shame nearly made her want to crawl into a hole and vanish.
"I don't think it's embarrassing at all. Everyone has things they're good at, and things they're not," Senya said gently, as if he could read her heart.
"Don't." Yukino adjusted the brim of her hat to hide her expression, staring at the wrist he had held moments ago. "I know you're trying to comfort me, but you're not actually afraid of these rides, are you?"
Even though he had let go, she could still feel the warmth of his hand lingering.
Senya only smiled calmly and said nothing.
Yukino, realizing he had avoided the ride purely for her sake and had even gone out of his way to reassure her, felt another wave of quiet gratitude.
"…Thank you," she whispered, inhaling deeply.
"You're welcome. I get it—it's not your fault. It's just childhood trauma, right? Haruno scared you when you were little, and it stuck with you."
"My sister was part of it, yes. But in the end, it's still my own weakness. My mentality isn't mature enough to face my fears. I wasn't prepared today, but next time, I'll steel myself properly. I'll be ready to overcome it."
Senya chuckled softly. "You don't need to force yourself that much."
Yukino shot him a side glance. "Are you saying you expect me to fail again?"
"Not at all," Senya quickly clarified, before she grew more annoyed. "I just mean… seeing you with these little flaws—it makes you feel more real to me."
And more adorable, he thought silently.
"Real…?" Yukino frowned, puzzled.
"Yeah. For example, look at your sister." Senya tilted his head toward the ride.
Up above, Haruno noticed them watching and waved cheerfully, her smile flawless even as the pendulum swung violently.
That smile… was like a mask.
"She looks perfect, unshakable. But don't you think that very perfection makes her feel distant? Unreal? Like she doesn't need anyone else, and nothing could touch her."
Yukino listened intently—until suddenly, Senya's voice trailed off.
She turned in confusion, only to see his eyes light up, his expression shifting as if some great puzzle had just clicked into place.
"I see… so that's it…" he muttered.
"…What?"
"Yukino, thank you. I'd been stuck on something, but thanks to you, I finally understand!" Senya suddenly grabbed her hand.
Yukino's face flushed crimson, heat spreading to her neck as he held her hand tightly.
Wait—what on earth do you understand?!
But no matter how much she asked afterward, Senya never explained. By the time their friends returned from the ride, Yukino was still left bewildered.
This boy… the older he got, the smoother and less straightforward he became. Sometimes even acting in ways she couldn't comprehend.
Someone had to keep an eye on him, to make sure his character stayed on the right track.
It was fine. Only a little more than a year left…
She would be back soon.
"Eiri, are you okay?"
"…."
"Sorry. If I'd known you were that scared, I wouldn't have dragged you up there."
"…."
"You should've said something, like Yukino did—"
Inside the amusement park's restroom, Rikka gently rubbed Eiri's back as she leaned weakly against the sink.
The blonde girl looked utterly wrecked—clothes disheveled, hair a mess, eyes vacant. Her mouth hung open as she panted, a faint string of drool glistening at the corner of her lips.
The scene was… dangerously close to one of the heroines in her own drawings after a risqué event.
Thankfully, a certain scheming light novel author wasn't here to see this. If he were, he'd probably whip out a camera on the spot, mocking her mercilessly before tucking the photo away as blackmail material for life.
It was a relief he wasn't around.
Eiri guzzled water, gargled, spat, and exhaled deeply, finally regaining a little strength.
"I didn't think the pendulum would swing that high…"
"You saw it while waiting in line, didn't you?"
"It's different once you're actually up there! Every drop felt like I was really going to die!"
Trembling, Eiri clung to Rikka, her voice pitiful. Even now, the memory made her shiver.
"Promise me—you can't tell anyone about this!"
After the ride, she had forced a smile, pretending she was fine. Only once she and Rikka slipped away to the restroom had her façade crumbled.
If Rikka hadn't caught her, she might've collapsed straight into a toilet stall.
"There, there. I won't tell a soul. Not even Yukino," Rikka soothed, stroking her friend's head.
The guilt weighed heavier on her. She thought of all the times she had been welcomed into Eiri's home—her parents' kindness, the way they treated her like family, insisting she was as dear as a daughter.
No, she had to make this up to Eiri. Today at the amusement park, she hadn't genuinely smiled once.
And if there was one thing sure to cheer Eiri up…
Rikka's mind turned to her older brother.
A plan began to form.
"Eiri, let's skip the scary rides from now on. Since you and Yukino both don't like them."
"Thank goodness…"
"So next—we'll head straight to the haunted house!"
"Wha—?!"
Eiri clutched her chest, staring in disbelief.
"Rikka… are you sure you're actually a girl?!"
"Relax, relax. I know this park's haunted house. Online reviews say it's not scary at all. It's just for atmosphere."
Grinning, Rikka held her friend's hands tight, her eyes sparkling with determination.
This time, she'd prove the strength of their friendship.
"Trust me—it'll be fine!"
…a