"You okay? Want to take a break first?"
"No, no! The park's going to close soon—let's hurry up and do whatever we haven't ridden yet!"
Tokai Teio wobbled as she forced herself upright. She still felt like she might throw up, but every time she remembered the blissed-out look on Eternal Meteor's face while riding things, she decided she had to make sure Meteor had a perfect day.
"Hmm… let me check."
Seeing Teio's face turning pale, Meteor lowered her head and flipped through the amusement park guide, searching for rides that were gentler, less intense, and that they still hadn't done.
"Oh! How about the Ferris wheel? The description says from the top you can even see half the city."
"Yeah, yeah! That sounds great!"
Teio nodded so fast she practically produced afterimages.
After everything she'd been dragged onto today, Teio genuinely couldn't understand how a person could ride bungee jumping with a smile—worse, Meteor hadn't even needed staff to give her a push. The moment her hands were released, she'd jumped eagerly on her own.
A rare relaxing option like the Ferris wheel made Teio feel like she could finally breathe again.
On the way, they passed a mobile cart advertising "handcrafted drinks." Meteor glanced at the price list and decided that unless you were ridiculously rich, anyone who bought this was… kind of questionable.
(That was strictly Meteor's opinion—not necessarily the author's.)
"Meteor, what flavor do you want?"
"Mango!"
Instant betrayal. Meteor sipped happily, eyes shining. Being treated really was the best.
"Whoa… seeing the Ferris wheel up close, it's huge!"
Even from far away it had looked massive, but standing right beneath it, the size still stunned Meteor.
"During the ride, please do not move around excessively, shake the cabin, or open the lock."
With the staff's reminder, Meteor and Teio climbed into a cabin together.
As the wheel rose, Meteor couldn't help pressing up against the glass to stare out.
Watching her like that, Teio smiled without even realizing it.
"The view is so pretty…"
"Yeah."
"This feeling of being up high is amazing!"
"I feel the same."
"You think it'd feel incredible to jump from up here?"
"Yeah, that— …Huh?"
Teio's smile froze solid.
What did I just hear?
She even poked at her own ear like the problem must be her hearing.
"And when you hit the ground, the blood would splash really high, right? It'd probably bloom into a really beautiful flower…"
She hadn't misheard.
What was happening? Weren't they supposed to be enjoying a happy Ferris-wheel moment? Why had it suddenly turned into this?
Teio's brain was smashing the "question mark" key so hard it was about to break.
And the moment she remembered Meteor's bungee-jumping performance earlier, cold sweat started crawling down Teio's back.
"M-Meteor… did something happen? Why would you suddenly think something like that?"
Meteor blinked, puzzled by Teio's sudden stuttering. She turned her head, saw Teio's constipated-looking expression—
—and finally realized she'd said something extremely not-okay.
Ah. Right. Speaking without thinking.
…Fine. If I've already stepped on the landmine, I might as well dance on it.
Meteor kept the melancholy expression intact.
"Nothing. I was just suddenly curious what the meaning of living is."
"Uh—uh—living is—uh— I can't explain it, but please calm down and don't jump!!"
Teio's back was completely soaked now. She panicked so hard her face turned red, spraying words like a machine gun—then lunged forward and wrapped both arms around Meteor, gripping her tight like a seatbelt, terrified she'd actually do it.
And then—
Right by her ear came a string of bright, bell-like laughter.
Teio lifted her head from Meteor's chest and stared at Meteor's smiling face, brain completely empty.
"O-Oh…?"
"Okay, okay. I was messing with you. It was also—training your courage."
Meteor lowered her head too.
Teio's little face crumpled as she realized she'd been played. Her small nose twitched; her eyes reddened as she stared up at Meteor. But her body—still pressed against Meteor—had softened, the tension releasing.
"You train people like that?! Do you know how worried I was?!"
Tears soaked into the fabric over Meteor's chest as Teio clung there and started sobbing.
"All right, all right. I'm not going to actually jump."
"B-But… I was really scared…"
"Don't cry. Next time I win a race, I'll treat you to a honey special drink, okay?"
Feeling Teio's arms tighten again around her, Meteor realized she'd pushed the joke too far. She hurriedly patted Teio's back and soothed her in a low voice.
"…But why after your next race?"
From Teio's muffled voice against her chest, Meteor knew she'd successfully redirected her attention. So she put on an exaggerated, goofy tone.
"Because I'm literally broke right now. This whole outing is thanks to Teio-sama's glorious patronage!"
Teio tried to hold it in, but a laugh still slipped out.
Meteor finally let out a breath of relief.
Teio loosened her hold, then noticed the wet marks on Meteor's chest. Her face turned red as the memory of what she'd just done caught up to her—
and then that embarrassment detonated into a scream.
"Meteor—you weren't wearing a bra?!"
She pointed at the shirt, now semi-transparent where her tears had soaked through. And remembering the earlier contact, Teio's face somehow got even redder.
"I don't have one. Lend me your jacket."
After Teio gave a stiff, flustered permission, Meteor pulled on Teio's jacket, zipped it up, and tested the fit.
"Actually… it's pretty roomy."
"Here—wipe your tears. You're a total little crybaby-cat now."
"That's because of you!"
Teio took the tissues Meteor offered, wiped her tears, blew her nose. The swelling and redness were still faintly visible, but at least Meteor wouldn't step off the Ferris wheel into a campus rumor storm about "bullying Tokai Teio."
By the time they got off the wheel, the sky was almost dark.
They bickered and laughed all the way back to school, said good night, and were about to split up.
Teio had only taken a couple steps when she heard Meteor call her from behind.
She turned back and saw Meteor looking awkward, embarrassed—like she was struggling to ask something.
A huge question mark popped over Teio's head.
Then something seemed to occur to her. She swallowed, throat bobbing, suddenly nervous too.
"…Can your jacket go in the washing machine?"
Teio answered "Yes," with dead-fish eyes, then turned away again.
"And… thanks for today. I was really happy."
Teio waved without looking back, acting like it was nothing—yet her ears and tail sold her out completely.
Meteor smiled and headed toward her own dorm.
"…I really was happy. Especially at the end."
"That feeling… of being cared about. It's really nice."
In Meteor's head, X couldn't hold back anymore.
"Your psyche is getting more and more twisted. Is messing with kids really that fun?"
"You've been spying on me all day without saying a word—you don't get to criticize me!"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 74)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter20)
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