Chapter 328: Chika – It's my turn now.
Big Thunder Mountain — just the name itself told you it was a roller coaster. Located in Disney's Westernland, the place was themed after the American Wild West.
"Scared?" Sakurai Saki held the safety bar, staring straight ahead.
"Hmph, don't… don't underestimate me." Shinomiya Kaguya's voice trembled a little.
This was her first time at an amusement park, and of course, her first time on a roller coaster too.
It's obviously lower than a plane, so why does it feel so scary?
So strange.
"Umu, I'm not scared either." Sakurai Saki took a deep breath.
His first time on a roller coaster.
Hopefully, it'll be fine.
Of course, he wasn't actually scared, but when facing something he'd never experienced before, it was natural to feel a bit uneasy.
The mine cart began to move, into a pitch-black tunnel stretching deep ahead, surrounded by eerie decorations — skulls, mining shovels, and gold ore…
"Rumble rumble——"
The speed was increasing.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine." Shinomiya Kaguya swallowed hard.
Crap, it suddenly feels kind of scary… what should I do?
One minute later, the angle of the cart tilted wider, the speed ramped up rapidly.
"AAAAAA!!!" — someone behind them already screamed.
Sakurai Saki and Shinomiya Kaguya could feel their hearts racing, but they both stubbornly held back their screams.
Until the mine cart dove into a 360-degree spin.
"AAAAAA!!!" x2
At this point, it was impossible to tell who was screaming anymore.
A few minutes later, they got off the ride.
Both of them braced their hands on their knees, gasping for breath.
"Haa~" Sakurai Saki lifted his head to look at Shinomiya Kaguya: "Kaguya-chan, you screamed just now, didn't you?"
"So did you."
"I was just screaming to blend in with the people behind us, otherwise it would've felt awkward."
"I saw you scream, so I thought if I didn't scream it would be weird, so I screamed too."
Neither of them would admit defeat.
Beside them, Chika and Hayasaka Ai sensed that the situation might be turning strange.
After that, the rides they chose shifted entirely toward those that were scary and scream-inducing.
Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion — any ride that could make people scream didn't escape the hands of Sakurai Saki and Kaguya.
After going through them all —
The two sat on a bench, faces pale, Kaguya clutching her mouth, her stomach feeling slightly upset.
"So weak~." Fujiwara Chika threw out a mocking line.
After riding with these two, she didn't feel anything at all. It wasn't scary in the slightest, just fun.
She hadn't expected Saki-kun to be this much of a scaredy-cat.
"Stop bickering, it's almost noon." Hayasaka Ai also looked at the two helplessly.
Kaguya-sama wasn't good at dealing with scary stuff to begin with, so being spooked was normal.
But her boyfriend being just as pitiful — that, she hadn't expected.
"Let's go eat." Sakurai Saki took a deep breath and stood up.
Better to stop mocking each other already.
"Umu, I'm hungry too." Shinomiya Kaguya also stood up.
Hurting each other only led to nothing good.
...
On their way to the restaurant, the group passed by a head accessory shop.
"Look, Mickey ears!" Fujiwara Chika put on a pair of mouse ears.
Then she picked up another pair, about to put it on Sakurai Saki.
Hayasaka Ai quickly snatched the ears from Chika's hand: "Thanks, Secretary-chan~"
Chika: (≖ - ≖)
Missile intercepted!
Ai-chan's air defense system is way too strong!?
Shinomiya Kaguya also picked up a pair of ears and tried them on: "How do I look?"
"Cute!! Super cute!!" Fujiwara Chika quickly pulled out her phone to take pictures of her.
"Really?" Kaguya asked.
"Umu Umu!! Cutest in the world!" Chika couldn't help but snap a few more photos after praising her.
Sakurai Saki imitated them, picking up a pair, looking hesitant.
He felt like putting them on would be like admitting defeat… A guy wearing Mickey ears felt a bit childish, didn't it?
Maybe it was better to just put them back?
Just as Sakurai Saki was about to set them down…
"Saki-kun's not wearing them?"
"Boyfriend-kun, aren't you going to wear them?"
"Scared?" Shinomiya Kaguya went straight for the most effective provocation.
...
For lunch, they chose to eat at Diamond Horseshoe. Besides that, there were many other restaurants in Disney, like Crystal Palace, Captain's Kitchen, Western Cowboy, Blue Bayou… Some people even came here just to eat from morning till night.
Most of the dishes here carried Disney's signature style.
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and still Mickey Mouse.
Not the most creative thing in the world, but the taste was actually pretty good.
"You're not eating the cake, Sakurai-san?" – Shinomiya Kaguya turned her gaze to Sakurai Saki's dessert.
"You want it?" – Sakurai Saki didn't really like sweets that much.
"No, I'm just curious, why do you hate sweets? People love eating sugar, it's practically engraved into their DNA." – Kaguya said while playing with the fruits on the cake with her fork.
Then she gently cut a small piece and brought it to her rosy lips.
Sakurai Saki turned his gaze away from those soft lips: "I've already answered that question of yours."
And please, can you stop saying everything is engraved into DNA?
"Eating sweets makes people feel happy. Even when you're sad, eating them can give you some comfort." – Kaguya's face now looked unusually happy, she teased – "The last time you answered my question, you looked exactly like a child sulking."
"Even though I don't know what you've been through, but this life you're living now… can't it make you feel happy?"
Sakurai: "..."
He was silent for a few seconds, then picked up the fork to taste the cake.
Hayasaka Ai softly said: "If you don't like it, you don't have to force yourself."
Sakurai just smiled.
"No, it's just that I think what Kaguya said is right."
People should move forward, drowning in the past only makes you sink deeper.
He almost forgot his own rules – thinking about it was laughable.
...
Sixth: Live a happy life as a normal person.
Seventh: Don't dwell on the past—always look ahead.
...
In the afternoon, there was a parade at Disneyland.
While playing, due to the overwhelming number of guests, things began to change subtly.
"... Didn't expect that after looking for you, I'd end up getting lost with you too." – Sakurai Saki looked around.
"Umu." – Fujiwara Chika tried hard to suppress the joy in her heart.
Great!! Just the two of us in our own world!!
✧｡◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜✧*｡
Hmph, that Ai-chan thinks she can stop me? Pupupu~ yowai~.
"You didn't run off on purpose just now, did you?" – Sakurai asked.
"Huh, how could I?"
Just by hearing that tone, he knew — she was lying.
Seriously… if she wanted to be alone with him, she didn't have to go through all this trouble.
"Alright, fine, I did it on purpose! That annoying Ai-chan is always sticking to you every day, I never get the chance to invite you out!" – Fujiwara Chika complained.
That's a girlfriend? More like a sheepdog!
A big bad wolf like me can't even sneak into the sheep pen!
"Sorry."
"It's okay." – Chika quietly reached out and held his hand.
Sorry, Ai-chan… This afternoon, Saki-kun is mine, ehe~.
Chika: (๑>•̀๑)
Hayasaka: (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
"You'd better appreciate me~ Don't look at me like that, I do get confessions, you know."
"Really?"
"Umu. When I refuse, I always say: 'I already have someone I like.' — using that as an excuse to turn them down."
Chika looked up at him with a sweet, melting smile.
"Fujiwara-san, please go out with me!" – Saki suddenly said.
Chika played along with the act: "Eh? But… I already have someone I like."
"Who is it?"
"It's you! Idiot!"
Damn… she's too cute.
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡