Chapter 90: The Little Queen Who Is Jealous and Then Scared to Tears
After exercising in the crisp morning air, everyone had a good appetite. Even Yumiko, who usually watched her figure, ate a little more than usual. Exercise is indeed the best natural tonic to bring appetite.
The park was peaceful. No matter who it is, after eating and drinking enough, they all have the same kind of mental satisfaction and laziness.
Ren gathered the empty bento boxes. He didn't recycle them, because these insulated bento boxes were originally degradable eco-boxes that came with the Dimensional Restaurant's supply system. He still had things to do in the afternoon, so he couldn't carry a bunch of greasy boxes around.
He smiled and patted Tezuka's shoulder. "Tezuka, good luck in the Metropolitan Tournament. Keep your elbow up. And Fuji, too. I'll take some time to watch the finals. That kid named Atobe is pretty good, so pay attention to his Insight."
Tezuka Kunimitsu nodded stoically. "Yes. There will be no problem with this Metropolitan Tournament. We will win."
Ren said with a smile, "As long as you can continue playing without injury, that's fine. Don't push yourselves too hard. When you guys win, come to the store, and I'll celebrate for you with a feast."
Shūsuke Fuji smiled, his eyes closed. "If that's the case, then I'm really motivated. Sister, will you be eating at home tonight?"
Fuji Yumiko thought for a moment, checking her watch. "I probably won't have time to eat dinner at home, I have a meeting with the divination club alumni, so you don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself. By the way, tell Yuta tonight to come to Ren's place for dinner tomorrow. Don't let him make excuses."
"Understood."
Shūsuke Fuji nodded, then said goodbye to Ren and the others with Tezuka before leaving to continue their training.
Fuji Yumiko looked at Ren beside her, stretching her arms. "So, where are we going next? The day is still young."
Ren thought for a moment. "I remember... Lucifer and Cerberus seem to want to go to the amusement park nearby...."
Cerberus nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining like stars. She had seen the amusement park advertisement in a magazine this morning—roller coasters, cotton candy, mascots—and was very interested in it. Although she didn't say it, the expectation in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Lucifer was also very interested, specifically in the Haunted House attraction mentioned in the brochure. When she saw the staff dressed up as ghosts on the cover, she had thrown it aside with a look of disdain and said, "Can this really scare people? Don't be kidding~. I run the real deal."
Ren just acted like he was listening, but he didn't believe her bravado. After all, the Haunted House isn't just a room where you go in and shake hands with ghosts. It's psychological warfare.
Fuji Yumiko thought for a moment and then clapped her hands. "Okay! It's been a long time since I've been to the amusement park with you, Ren~. It'll be like a date!"
"Eh?!" x2
Lucifer and Cerberus were both stunned. Cerberus tilted her head. "Has Yumiko been to the amusement park with Master before?"
Fuji Yumiko said with a nostalgic smile, "Of course. I was twenty years old at the time. Ren's favorite tea cup was bought that day at the gift shop. I have the matching one too. It was a commemorative edition, and only this last pair was left. That day was also the first time I saw Ren so embarrassed~."
Lucifer became interested when she heard that the unflappable Ren was embarrassed. She crossed her arms playfully. "Oh? Ren also has times when he's embarrassed? What happened back then? Did he trip?"
"No. At that time, Ren was fighting with a group of aggressive couples for that cup set," Yumiko laughed. "But Ren was too tall and polite, and it was very inconvenient to move in the crowd, so he was squeezed back and forth like a pinball~. When he came out with the cups, he was completely exhausted and his hair was a mess."
Ren sighed, rubbing his neck. "It was indeed a little too difficult at the time. I couldn't stretch my arms out at all, and people kept stepping on my feet. I couldn't push them away too hard, otherwise they might get hurt. It was a battlefield of love."
Lucifer frowned, her red eyes narrowing. "Why were so many couples fighting for that pair of cups... Wait... You said a pair of cups... Could it be...."
Fuji Yumiko covered her mouth and chuckled. "Of course. They were couple cups. 'His and Hers'."
"Tch..."
Lucifer only had one thought in her mind when she looked at Ren in front of her: This stinky man is too much! He has matching cups with this woman?! She didn't know why it was too much, but she just felt a bubble of irritation in her chest.
"Lucifer..." Ren started.
"Hmph!"
Lucifer turned her head away and started walking ahead on her own, her silver hair swaying aggressively.
Watching Lucifer stomp away, Ren shook his head with a smile. Fuji Yumiko nudged Ren's arm and whispered, "Looks like she's jealous. But she seems a bit strange about it."
"Because she's a tsundere~."
"I'm not a tsundere! I can hear you!" Lucifer shouted from ten meters away.
The amusement park was bustling with noise and color.
Lucifer, burning with an unknown anger that seemed to come out of nowhere, didn't speak the whole way. However, when they arrived at the amusement park gates, her eyes lit up despite herself. The lights, the sounds, the smell of popcorn—it was overwhelming. But she still didn't say anything, maintaining her icy facade.
"Let's go, Lucifer," Ren said, grabbing her hand naturally. "We're going to the Haunted House first~."
Lucifer glanced at Ren and then said in a huff, trying to pull her hand away (but not really trying), "Where are Yumiko and Cerberus?"
"They're both scared of ghosts. I told Yumiko to go with Cerberus to ride the Pirate Ship. Cerberus wanted to scream."
"Just the two of us?" Lucifer paused.
Ren smiled and said, "Yes, just the two of us. It's perfect for accompanying a little Queen who's throwing a tantrum~. Unless you're scared?"
"Hmph~. Scared? Me?" Lucifer scoffed. "Don't scream when we go in later; it'll be too embarrassing for me to be seen with a coward!"
Ren said nothing, simply tightening his grip on Lucifer's wrist and walking towards the ominous, dilapidated-looking building that housed the attraction. Lucifer looked at Ren's hand, then said nothing and didn't pull away, just silently followed behind him.
Twenty minutes later...
Inside the Haunted House.
"KYAAAAAA!"
Ren sighed, looking at Lucifer, who was currently burying her face in his chest, clutching his arm so tightly that he was losing circulation. Her body was trembling.
At this moment, Lucifer's fair little face was even paler than usual—a pallid, ghostly white. Tears were welling up in the corners of her beautiful eyes.
Ren hadn't expected Lucifer—the literal ruler of demons—to be scared to tears by a staff member dressed as a hanging man who dropped from the ceiling.
The Haunted House was indeed very dark, and the atmosphere was oppressive. The scenes were made to look grotesque and realistic, with jump scares designed to trigger primal fear.
"It's... it's not real! It's not real!" Lucifer whimpered, refusing to look up.
Ren gently stroked Lucifer's head and said softly, "It's okay, Lucifer. It's all fake. Plastic and paint. And I'm still here, it's okay~."
Lucifer sniffled and whispered pitifully, "This isn't what I thought... Why are they so ugly?! Why do they pop out like that?! It's rude!"
Lucifer didn't pull away this time; she was truly terrified by the sheer unpredictability of the human imagination. Now, thinking about it, her Hell really seemed like a well-organized corporate office compared to this chaotic mess of horror.
Ren smiled and said, "Lucifer, you truly are predictably cute~."
Lucifer, blushing furiously through her tears, shouted, "What are you talking about! I am terrifying!"
"Are you still scared?"
Lucifer paused, then whispered, her voice small, "I wasn't scared... I was just... startled."
Ren took out a tissue from his pocket and wiped Lucifer's tears, his touch gentle. "Mm, that's more like the proud Queen of Hell. Don't worry, these are all fake. And even if they were real... not to mention whether they could defeat you, Lucifer, simply because I'm your Master, I wouldn't let them harm you. The proud Queen of Hell doesn't cry over plastic zombies~."
"M-mm... I know... I could destroy them all..."
"Mm. Although you look quite cute when you cry, Lucifer, it's still better when you smile. Let's go, we'll go play other things. We're near the exit. Is there anything you want to play next? Something less... jumping?"
"I want to find a relatively gentler activity..." Lucifer sniffled.
"Then let's go to the Visual Experience Hall~. It's like a 4D movie."
"Experience hall?"
"Just trust me and follow. No matter where we go, I'll be by your side, because the contract is between us, isn't it? Alright, then let's go, little Queen..."
"Mm..."
Lucifer obediently held Ren's arm with both hands now, looking up at his faintly smiling face. She felt strange—a warmth spreading through her chest that chased away the chill of the haunted house. She wasn't afraid anymore.
She felt very secure.
"Don't let go," she whispered.
"I won't."
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