"Speaking of which, both the roller coaster and the haunted house here are world-record level. Mutsumi, are you sure you want to ride them?"
Rikuo looked at the roller coaster, which had the steepest drop in the world at 121 degrees and was recorded in the Guinness World Records, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"Rikuo, didn't you say that since we're seeking excitement, we should see it through to the end?"
"... Mutsumi, aren't you supposed to learn to be independent from others' influence? You need to learn to be rebellious!"
"But, I want to listen to Rikuo."
"You don't have to be so obedient at a time like this… Sigh, fine."
Sakiko looked at Rikuo's timid appearance and found it a bit novel.
"Rikuo, I'm really scared to ride alone. This roller coaster has two seats per row, right? How about you ride with Mutsumi first, and then with me?"
Rikuo looked at Sakiko with an incredulous expression.
'Sakiko-sensei, you're definitely doing this on purpose, aren't you?'
"Actually, I can accompany…"
Sakiko covered Mutsumi's mouth, interrupting her.
"Rikuo, didn't we agree to see it through to the end? Are you scared?"
Sakiko's slightly narrowed eyes made her look like a little fox. As a new-age man, the god of half-price, and Kamen Rider Blade... of course Rikuo couldn't back down!
"Hmph, a mere second roller coaster ride, I will conquer it!"
"Then it's settled, Rikuo."
Sakiko was actually very scared too, but seeing Rikuo's flustered expression when not in danger made her feel more amused.
"Anyway, Rikuo. Go up with Mutsumi first, it's about to start. Make sure to protect Mutsumi well."
"Of course…"
Mutsumi looked at the crowd at the front gate and the announcement, not caring that Rikuo hadn't finished speaking, and pulled Rikuo towards the roller coaster.
"Rikuo, move."
"Okay."
The two arrived at their seats. Mutsumi buckled her own seatbelt and looked at Rikuo, who had his arms crossed and a disdainful expression.
"Rikuo, seatbelt."
Mutsumi saw Rikuo's expression and thought he must have entered his usual strange state. She silently turned around to help him buckle his seatbelt. After a staff member checked, the safety bar lowered.
"Ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓"
"…This roller coaster truly lives up to its world-record status; it even helps passengers learn bel canto. Speaking of which, I seem to fly even faster, it's just that this one has more turns."
After the roller coaster started, Rikuo felt the fear in his heart being dispelled by the group of Tachibana-san around him, and he even felt like laughing.
"I'm actually fine."
Looking at the eighteen bends of the mountain road ahead, and the nine consecutive rings of the water route ahead, Rikuo felt that what he needed to consider for two roller coaster rides was not courage, but his eardrums.
"Brothers in front, can you hear my voice? Can you please be a little quieter, don't let your retainers fall out!"
"Ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓"
Rikuo's biggest fear was that someone in front would not be able to hold it in and vomit, then it would be a complete mess.
"Rikuo, fun."
Rikuo turned his head and looked at Mutsumi, who was trying to shout like others but only opened her small mouth, letting out a very soft squeal. But the expression on her face had completely transformed into a smile, no longer suppressed, like Mortis.
"As long as it's fun, come often in the future, and let Sakiko accompany you."
"Rikuo, okay."
Seeing Mutsumi happy, Rikuo was also happy, which of course included the part where Sakiko took her own boomerang.
'Plan successful.'
"Rikuo, you too."
"Okay, come every month, no, come every week. It's not about the money."
'Hehe, Sakiko-sensei, this is Mutsumi's wish, you wouldn't want to disappoint Mutsumi, would you?'
"Rikuo, like."
"I also like Mutsumi very much, of course, it's that kind of liking for Mutsumi."
"Hmm."
The roller coaster was very enjoyable, especially when Rikuo thought of Sakiko's expression later, he became even happier.
...
"Saki, happy."
Mutsumi, with a smile, trotted to Sakiko's side and took her hand.
"It's good that Mutsumi is happy. I've bought you ice cream. When Rikuo and I go to play, you can eat your ice cream and wait."
"But, Ta-kun doesn't let me eat out…"
"You don't have to think about Wakaba-san's rules now. Rikuo went to great lengths to bring you out, and Wakaba-san can't control you anymore."
"Hmm, I want to eat."
Mutsumi took the ice cream from Sakiko's other hand and pulled Sakiko in front of Rikuo. She seemed to want to mimic Sakiko from when she went up.
"Rikuo, protect, Saki."
"Okay, Mutsumi…"
Rikuo pretended to still be recovering and took Sakiko's hand.
"Rikuo, are you alright?"
"I'm fine… Oh, Mutsumi said she wants to ride this every week from now on."
Sakiko staggered slightly but composed herself.
"Really? Mutsumi really likes roller coasters."
"Yes, she said she wants us to ride it together every week."
"Haha, Mutsumi is becoming willful now."
Rikuo watched Sakiko's smile almost break, and his own smile was also about to break.
Sitting in the seat, buckling the seatbelt, and watching Sakiko pretend to be calm.
'Although Sakiko-sensei has turned into Light Saki, it's still quite good to torment her in a different way.'
The safety bar lowered, and the roller coaster started.
"Ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓ ah ↑ ah ↓"
"A new round of bel canto training classes has begun!"
Rikuo felt extremely comfortable listening to the shouts around him. He looked at Sakiko and found that Sakiko was also looking at him. Sakiko reached out her right hand and held Rikuo's left hand.
"Rikuo! You want to see me scared, don't you?"
"Sakiko! Aren't you scared?"
"With Rikuo by my side! Of course I'm not scared!"
"Haha! It seems my plan failed!"
Sakiko whispered, "Rikuo, I like you."
"What did you say? I can't hear you!"
"I said, can your ears still hear? It's so noisy around here! And you've ridden it twice!"
"I'm actually fine!"
Neither of them felt scared because of the roller coaster; they simply enjoyed the beautiful time. Time was still long, and the settled feelings might be even more precious.
…
The two got off the roller coaster still holding hands, and neither of them thought of letting go.
"Alright, anyway, does Mutsumi still want to go to the haunted house?"
"Hmm, never mind. Just now, someone was carried out."
Hearing Mutsumi's reply, Rikuo looked towards the haunted house not far away. At the entrance, there were still tourists arguing with the staff.
"Indeed, the roller coaster is fine, but a haunted house specifically designed to scare people might be unnecessary, and there's that unnecessary risk. Mutsumi, is there anywhere else you want to go?"
Just then, Rikuo's phone rang. Rikuo saw Nyamu on the screen, remembered his previous agreement with her, and immediately answered the call.
"Hello, is this Kamiyama Rikuo? This is Nyamu. Are you free now? Although it's not about an Undead Card, my fan contacted me saying they encountered an Anomaly near Kichijoji, Musashino City."
Nyamu didn't wait for Rikuo to respond, as the urgency made her state the matter and location clearly.
"Understood, I'll be there right away. If you have the location and screenshots from the scene, send them to me in Line."
"Okay, Kamiyama-san, I'm counting on you."
Rikuo hung up the phone and looked seriously at Sakiko and Mutsumi.
"Sorry, I have to go do what I need to do."
"Hmm, Rikuo, you go. I can play with Mutsumi."
"Rikuo, go."
Rikuo said no more and ran towards the amusement park gate.
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