The two of them rested for a while.
When he felt it was about time, Arthur turned to Akashiya Moka.
"Moka, what should we try next?"
"Hmm… how about the haunted house?"
Akashiya Moka thought for a moment, then looked at him expectantly.
"Alright, let's go to the haunted house."
Arthur nodded with a smile.
With their decision made, the two walked toward the haunted house.
After a short wait, Arthur and Akashiya Moka entered to begin the attraction.
Moka immediately reached out and clung tightly to Arthur's arm, her eyes wandering curiously around.
She didn't look the least bit afraid.
Seeing her expression, Arthur couldn't help but chuckle.
It was only natural.
After all, Moka was a monster—more than that, a top-class monster, a vampire.
How could she be afraid of ghosts like ordinary humans were?
If anything, it would be impressive if the ghosts weren't the ones afraid of her.
Besides, some monsters looked far scarier than the cheap props here. Moka had grown up in the demon realm; she'd seen plenty worse.
Since Moka wasn't afraid of ghosts, neither was he.
Humans only feared what they couldn't understand.
He had once feared evil spirits because he had no way to fight back.
But now, he could crush them with a finger. If he still acted scared, it would only mean his "code" was written that way.
It was all instinct.
And clearly, fear of ghosts wasn't part of his instincts.
So with both of them unfazed, the haunted house lost all its intended immersion. It was flat and uneventful.
After leaving the haunted house, Arthur and Moka didn't stop—they kept moving on to the next attractions.
Bumper cars.
Carousel.
Pirate ship.
Musical theater.
One after another.
By the time they arrived at their final stop—the Ferris wheel—dusk had already fallen without them realizing it.
The sunset painted half the sky in crimson.
Wisps of glowing clouds adorned the horizon, making the twilight scene brilliant and colorful.
The Ferris wheel cabin slowly lifted them upward.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed Arthur and Moka in light, wrapping them in a faint dreamlike haze.
Turning her gaze away from the blood-red sunset, Moka looked at Arthur seated beside her.
Her emerald-green eyes shimmered as if with hidden light.
Gentle as water, filled with affection.
"Arthur… thank you."
Her soft, melodic voice was tinged with emotion.
"Why are you thanking me?"
Arthur blinked at her, puzzled.
Moka smiled sweetly. "Thank you for taking the time to play with me today."
"Oh, that's all?"
Arthur's expression showed sudden understanding.
Then he chuckled. "Silly girl, we're friends. Why thank me for hanging out together?"
"Anytime you want to go somewhere, just ask me."
As he spoke, he stretched out a hand and flicked her forehead with his finger.
"Ah!"
Moka yelped, clutching her brow with both hands.
But her heart was sweet as honey from his words, and her smile bloomed as bright as a flower.
"You said it—you'd better keep your word."
Then, as if recalling something, she frowned lightly and lowered her hands.
Stretching out her pinky finger with a grin, she said,
"Let's make a pinky promise."
She remembered that when humans made an important promise, they hooked pinkies with the other person.
Their eyes met.
Arthur smiled and extended his hand.
"Alright, pinky promise."
Their little fingers gently hooked together.
"Pinky promise—if you break it, you have to swallow a thousand needles."
Their hands swayed with the words, like children playing house. Just like that, the first promise between them was sealed.
About twenty minutes later.
Leaving the amusement park, Arthur glanced at Moka, who was holding onto his arm even more tightly than before.
"Moka, should I take you home now, or should we grab dinner first?"
"Can we… go to your house?"
Her eyes shimmered with anticipation.
"My house…?"
Arthur paused in surprise.
But looking into her eyes, seeing the eagerness there, he smiled and nodded.
"Alright, let's go."
He really had no reason to refuse.
"Yay! Thank you."
Hearing his agreement, Moka's eyes lit up. She beamed, her smile as dazzling as a flower.
No—that wasn't right. She was more beautiful than any flower.
Half an hour passed in a flash.
In Nerima Ward, Arthur led Moka to his residence.
"This is my home."
Standing by the gate, Arthur said with a smile as he pulled out his keys.
Moka looked around at the courtyard. From the layout and appearance, she could tell his family background wasn't ordinary at all.
"Welcome, please come in."
Arthur opened the door and gestured invitingly.
"Excuse me…"
Moka smiled, about to step forward, but then a thought struck her belatedly.
Her face flushed, and she hesitated.
"Um… Arthur, will your parents mind me suddenly coming over? Maybe I should just… come next time instead."
The idea of meeting his parents made her heart race nervously, almost panicked.
She even felt an urge to turn and flee.
Seeing her nervousness, Arthur's lips curved in a faint smile. He explained gently,
"It's fine. There's no one else here. I'm an orphan."
In the life he had fabricated for himself, his background was that of an orphan.
When he was found, he had nothing on him except a slip of paper with the name 'Arthur.'
That was why he studied so hard, aiming for Tokyo University, determined to graduate as a top talent, to succeed and thrive.
To one day achieve financial freedom and live a happy life.
"What—an orphan?!"
Moka's eyes widened in shock.
She had never imagined Arthur's past was like this.
After the shock wore off, guilt and sympathy welled up in her eyes. She looked at him nervously.
"I'm so sorry, Arthur. I… I didn't know."
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Arthur smiled easily, raising his hand to gently pat her head.
"It's been years. I've long since come to terms with it."
"Besides, now I have you and my other friends by my side. People who care about me, who think about me."
"So honestly, I feel great."
Before he crossed over, he too had been an orphan—though not abandoned, but because his parents had died in an accident.
His memories of them were hazy now, but their love remained one of his most precious treasures.
As the saying went: since I'm here, I may as well accept it.
He had been reborn in this world, granted a second life.
Of course he would cherish it.
And truthfully, as a transmigrator, it would've been hard for him to suddenly accept "new parents" anyway.
So this fabricated background suited him perfectly.
He had no complaints at all.
Even knowing the world of anime was not safe—that danger lurked in the shadows.
"Arthur…"
Moka gazed at him, his bright, carefree smile lit by the red glow of sunset.
She couldn't help but lose herself for a moment.
Right now, he seemed dazzling.
Her heart stirred again with an impulse she thought she had suppressed.
In the depths of her green eyes, a faint red light flickered to life.
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