We entered the amusement park with as much excitement as possible, so as not to return to that awkward state. To the casual observer, perhaps we looked like a couple who was having too much fun at an amusement park. In that sense, the location indeed had saved us.

After entering the park and walking around until things have settled down to a certain extent, we finally return to our original selves.

“I think the minimum quota is a photo with each attraction in the background.”

“I’d also like one with the park’s mascot.”

So I decided to immediately get that over with. Looking around, I saw the amusement park’s signature attraction, the roller coaster.

“Let’s start with the big, obvious one.”

“Aye!”

Taking Yuzu who nodded lightly, I moved to a position where we could have the best view of the roller coaster. But when it came time to take the photo, the subtle atmosphere between us began to fray again.

“…I don’t think we need to be together in every picture of anything?”

“I agree.”

In an instant, the two of us were in sync. It was so smooth that I might mistake myself as someone who was good at communicating.

“Alright, I’m taking the photo~”

“Take my photo cutely, okay?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Yuzu is cute no matter how I take it.”

I borrowed her phone and pressed the shutter button as I muddled through Yuzu’s request. I’m not used to taking pictures, but Yuzu seems to have a good knack for making herself look pretty, and I was able to get some surprisingly good shots.

“Here, OK.”

“Show me, show me.”

As soon as I handed her the phone back, she started checking it out; maybe she was bothered by how I took it. Then, when she had finished looking at all the photos, she nodded in satisfaction.

“Hmm. Surely I’m pretty no matter how you take it.”

“Yes, that’s right. So, which is the next attraction?”

I dismissed Yuzu’s delusional comments lightly and turned to walk off in search of the next target. However, the hem of my cloth was tugged by a disgruntled Yuzu, so my steps halted.

“Ehh? Since we’re here, let’s go for a ride. Yeah, let’s go on a date where we play all the attractions we’ve taken photos of.”

“Well, okay.”

I thought it would be tactless to spoil Yuzu’s fun, so I agreed to the proposal—without knowing that it would be the beginning of hell.



colour illustration for this scene from the novel intro pages

A few minutes later, I was sitting on a bench in a corner of the amusement park, sagging like a deflated balloon.

“Oh, my God. You’re so pathetic, you’ve only been on a roller coaster. Here, I’ve bought you some tea.”

Yuzu, who had bought a drink from the vending machine, pressed the cold tea from the plastic bottle against my cheek and let out a sigh. I took the tea, but gave her a look of protest instead of gratitude.

“…You know what? This is what happens to most people when they ride a roller coaster six times in a row, that is too much.”

I didn’t expect Yuzu to like extreme rides so much. The latter rides were no longer scary to me—I was more overwhelmed with motion sickness.

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In response to my protests, Yuzu smiled apologetically and shyly.

“Haha. When I go out with my friends, I can’t do this because I have to be considerate to them. I thought I’d take the chance and have a bit of fun… I was a bit carried away.”

“You’ve got to be considerate to me, too.”

I made the appeal as I drank the cold tea, Yuzu shrugged as if she didn’t hear me.

“What do you mean? Yamato-kun, your greatest advantage is that I don’t have to worry about what you might be thinking or feeling when we are together. See, you’re naturally socially awkward, so your attitude towards me doesn’t change even if you’re in a bad mood. It’s a great quality you have, you know.”

“That sounds like you’re saying that there’s no point in worrying about it because it won’t do you any harm if I don’t like you.”

“Well, to put it simply.”

Yuzu quickly affirmed it. What an annoying woman.

“…Hmph, forget it. It’s not like I’d like you to care about how I feel or anything now we’ve come this far.”

‘Originally, we both think that we don’t care about each other, which is why we could become a fake couple. So I think we naturally should accept something like this.’ When I inwardly convinced myself like that, I had no idea what she found funny about me, Yuzu happily pecked me on the cheek.

“You see, that’s the thing. I wouldn’t be able to say this to my other friends because I’d be too scared. So it’s very easy to be with you. In terms of clothes, you’re more like a jersey.”

“It’s all about ease and not fashionable at all, isn’t it?”

The kind of clothes that are fine for going to the local convenience store, but are a bit embarrassing to show to strangers. Strangely enough, this was my position. I think I may have opened up a new genre of jersey boys.

“It’s all right. Are you feeling better now? A day is long but it is also short for the places we want to go to!”

Yuzu stood up from the bench and peered into my face with the excitement of a child. When someone looked at me like that, I couldn’t afford to take a long rest. After tightening the cap of the plastic bottle, I stood up and lined up next to her.

“Good. Now let’s go to the classic haunted house.”

As I pointed to a nearby attraction and told her so, Yuzu’s face twitched.

“Errr… yup, why don’t we just skip that?”

Yuzu’s evasive attitude made me tilt my head in wonder.

“Why not? It’s a classic date attraction and it’s not natural to avoid it. We are a couple who don’t really fit together, so we have to take the high road.”

When I replied with a perfectly good argument, Yuzu moaned a little, her eyes swirling in a way that made it difficult to argue.

“Urm, well, it might be so… that’s true too, but you see, the haunted house doesn’t look that great on the outside, and you can’t take photos inside, so there’s no point in taking photos.”

“It’s not like you’re going to put it on social media, so you don’t need to worry about how it looks. It’s just to show Kotani that we enjoyed the date.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was no reason to avoid the haunted house, but for some reason Yuzu was resisting. It was so strange.

“…That, yes. But you see, we have a limited amount of time and we should prioritize the more fun spots, right?”

“Oh, come on. Isn’t it too late for someone who’s been on a roller coaster six times in a row to be concerned about time? Whatever you say, I’m definitely going into the haunted house.”

“No, I mean, you know… Urm…”

When I proclaimed with a smile, Yuzu’s suspicious behavior became even more obvious.

Hmmm, this was toooooo strange.

“I’ve always liked haunted houses… I think we should go in six times and take many photos in the meantime.”

As I said that, I grabbed Yuzu’s arm and forcibly strung her along.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I apologize about the roller coaster! I’m sure you’re perfectly aware, but I have to tell you! I’m not good at horror! Please, at least make it only one time!”

“Ahaha, what are you talking about? You are cute, good at grades, athletic, and have many friends; there’s nothing that you can possibly not be good at.”

What a strange thing to say, my girlfriend.

“N-O!! H-E-L-P M-E!”

Yuzu’s screams drowned out amidst the noise of the bustling amusement park.

chocolala: Yuzu can never overcome her fear of horror stuff, haha (this reminded me one of the SS)