Yuu could sense someone following them.
However, with so many people around and knowing who the little tail was, he was too lazy to turn and confirm. He and Yukino entered the amusement park as if nothing was amiss.
The park had only recently opened in the morning, but it was already livelier than when he came with Haruno in the afternoon last time. There were both domestic and international tourists.
Around them, speakers played cheerful background music. Mascots in animal costumes handed out pamphlets, held balloons, struck signature poses, and took photos with children.
Looking further, many rides already had queues forming. Occasionally, Doppler-effect screams pierced the blue sky, sounding distant in the cold season.
"…Really brings back memories."
Yukino unconsciously slowed her steps, sighing with a hint of sentimentality. Looking at the surroundings, a natural smile curved her lips.
Yuu stood beside her, his eyes sweeping over rides he'd been on before. A nostalgic expression also appeared on his face.
"Yeah, didn't expect to come back so soon…"
"So soon?" Yukino turned with a curious gaze. "You came recently? With Sora?"
"My sister wouldn't leave the house just to visit an amusement park." Yuu shrugged, subtly changing the topic. "Look, there's a Christmas tree over there."
In the middle of the long brick pathway from the main gate to the ride area, which would be adorned with dim yellow lights at night, perfect for couples strolling and being affectionate.
At the end of the path was a plaza in a Western style. Beside a blue brick fountain stood a tall Christmas tree.
The direction Yuu pointed to was the Christmas tree, currently bare and yet to be decorated.
"Christmas is coming soon too."
Yukino looked where he pointed, her soft, cherry-colored lips pursing slightly. She nodded thoughtfully.
"Mm, though your topic-changing skills are terrible, I'll be gentle with you today. I won't ask who you came with for now."
"For now?" Yuu tugged the corner of his lips into a bitter smile. "If I didn't want to avoid lying to you, do you think I'm that dumb? Be wise, gentle Miss Yukino."
"Why? Not using your usual tricks to fool people on me today?" Gently brushing aside the hair hanging over her shoulder, Yukino squinted sideways with a strange smile. "Sly Yuu… Tenkuji-san, if you really don't want to say, you can lie as much as you want."
"Then get crushed and humiliated by you?" Yuu sneered wordlessly. "I'm not you. Even if you're shy about calling my name, I wouldn't heartlessly embarrass you to make you blush."
"Really."
Unfortunately, Yukino didn't blush as expected, only shrugging nonchalantly.
After accidentally kicking his calf, the girl stepped forward gracefully and politely, heading toward the amusement park's iconic buildings.
Yuu, hurriedly keeping up, could see her cold, proud, and stunningly beautiful side profile when she was expressionless.
Any man other than him might not dare approach Yukino with that face.
Yuu didn't care, knowing whether Yukino was truly angry or just too lazy to soften her expression.
He said casually, "Kicking people so often. When did you get so rough?"
Yukino replied coldly, "Thanks to someone, I can only vent my emotions by acting out."
"Did I do something wrong? Why are you slandering a good person?"
"Heh."
"By the way, hitting is affection, scolding is love. Hitting and scolding is true love… So, you've been in love with me for a while?"
"I suggest you dunk yourself in the fountain to drain the water from your brain."
Bickering all the way to the Christmas tree, Yuu suddenly suggested taking a photo together and posting it to the group for Yuigahama to see.
"Why do something like that…"
Yukino muttered with a reluctant expression but still leaned in obediently, letting the lens capture them both.
Raising the phone high, Yuu flashed a bright smile.
After taking the selfie, he examined the photo a few times, pointing at the stiff, long-haired girl beside him, grinning mischievously:
"Look at you, you're still blushing, aren't you?"
"…" Her cheeks still faintly red, Yukino put on a cold face, swiftly raising her hand to snatch the phone.
Yuu was faster, dodging her grab while uploading the photo to their three-person group album. Then he pocketed the phone, spreading his hands innocently.
"Later, we'll catch Yui and take a group photo."
"…Hah."
Seeing his cheeky smile, Yukino glared at him adorably a few times, closing her eyes helplessly.
Pressing the bridge of her nose, the displeased expression on her face softened, as if accepting reality.
"For Yuigahama-san's sake, I'll forgive you this time."
(Heh, talking like you could take me on.)
Yuu sneered inwardly but didn't intend to keep provoking her.
This time, he walked ahead, letting Yukino follow.
"Where to first?"
"Panda Pan's Adventure!" Yukino answered quickly and firmly, her eyes fixed on her phone, checking new group messages.
[Yuigahama: (Thumbs-up sticker) Great job, Yuu-kun! Keep getting close to Yukinon like this and make her show more shy expressions! I'll be there soon!]
"Hah…" Yukino sighed helplessly. Her fingers paused on the virtual keyboard, hesitating, and instead of typing, she sent six dots to express her speechlessness.
Then she pocketed her phone, lifting her head to continue speaking to Yuu. "If possible, I suggest riding it more than twice. The documentary shown in the tunnel changes slightly each time. Spotting the differences is one of the ride's joys."
Her expression was serious, almost fanatical.
Yuu flinched as if scared, then shook his head, laughing.
"Panda, right. I remember you do like that character…"
"Did I ever say that?" Yukino tilted her head slightly, frowning at him. "I shouldn't have told anyone about that…"
Yuu thought for a moment, deciding it was fine to tell her. He said honestly, "Your older sister spilled it. She told me a lot about you."
"When?" That was her first reaction. "You're that close with her?" That was her second. "What did she say?"
After three rapid-fire questions, Yukino's face grew increasingly grim. Her eyes locked onto Yuu, a chilling aura radiating from her.
She looked ready to kill him on the spot, perish together, and fly to hell if he said something he shouldn't.
Withstanding her intense gaze, Yuu suppressed a mischievous smile, saying seriously, "Nothing much. Just that you love Panda Pan dolls and go to Disneyland every year… As for why she told me, I don't know. She wouldn't want me to know how to get close to you, right?"
"She wouldn't do something that harms herself and benefits others…" Yukino instinctively refuted, then fell silent, slightly confused. Faint creases formed on her beautiful brows.
It felt like she sensed something was off. Yuu felt inexplicably uneasy but remained very casual, diverting her attention again.
"But one thing I'm curious about… Why go to Panda Pan's Adventure first when it's farther away, while Space Mountain is closer? That's not efficient."
Space Mountain was Disneyland's famous roller coaster. Most of the park's screams came from its twisting, seven-or-eight-loop track.
Yukino set aside her questions for now, answering, "No reason. I just don't like overly extreme rides."
"Scared?"
"Not scared!" Yukino emphasized. "Just don't like it, not used to it. Besides, there are more people queuing there. No need to waste time."
"Not that many." Relying on his sharp eyesight, Yuu looked at the crowd queuing at Space Mountain's entrance. An image suddenly flashed in his mind.
At the roller coaster's highest point, the college girl with a bad personality had once said, smiling with hopeful anticipation.
Yuu blinked, tossing the random memory to a corner of his mind. He continued enticing Yukino:
"Maybe just five minutes to get in. It's one of Disneyland's flagship rides. Isn't it a pity to come and not try it?"
Yukino still showed a resistant expression, not looking scared but clearly serious as she stepped back.
"I know it's a flagship ride. But it's not in the itinerary I planned…"
"Come on, don't waste time!"
Eager to see her reaction after riding the roller coaster, Yuu had no mercy. He stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and forcibly pulled her toward the roller coaster queue.
Though called forcibly, he left room for her to resist, always checking if Yukino was truly too scared to ride.
But Yukino only struggled slightly. Seeing their clasped hands, still held since the queue and inexplicably not released, she hesitated to speak, finally sighing deeply as if giving up.
Like a servant bought by a wicked noble's son, she bit her lip slightly, obediently following behind.
Five minutes later.
They successfully boarded the spaceship-shaped roller coaster. The tunnel's interior was decorated like a beautiful star map, quite atmospheric.
Following the queuing crowd, Yukino spoke slowly in a calm but deeply resentful tone: "Back when I came to Disneyland, Nee-san was like this too. She forcibly dragged me onto the roller coaster, ready to laugh at me…"
"Ahem, I'm different from her."
Looking away from the tunnel he'd seen once before, Yuu cleared his throat twice, suppressing his expression and saying seriously, "I'm not trying to tease you or laugh at you by bringing you on the roller coaster."
"Then why?"
In the dim light, her raised dark blue eyes became clear and bright, as if trying to see all the thoughts in his heart. Her long lashes trembled faintly without blinking.
Yuu didn't avoid her gaze. Instead, he looked at her affectionately, his baritone voice soft:
"Just want to see you scream in fear and go limp after, needing someone to support you. No bad intentions."
"…"
In the silence, Yukino had another question.
(How low must a person's wickedness sink to say such unethical, evil things with a serious face?)
Able to surpass Haruno's moral low, to some extent, this guy was a legend.
"If you keep being annoying like this, the Ideal Boyfriend task will never be completed."
Not too coldly, just with her usual calm, helpless tone, she told him.
"You're right."
Yuu nodded in agreement, but his attitude was slightly indifferent. He even twirled his finger casually.
Yukino couldn't hold back anymore. She abruptly stopped, ignoring the staff nearby watching them. Pursing her lips, she glared at him fiercely, looking slightly embarrassed and angry.
"Let go of my hand!"
Yuu looked down at their still-clasped hands, held since the queue and inexplicably not released. He slowly raised his gaze to her sharp eyes.
"Mad?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"How do we board the coaster holding hands?"
Yukino's glare was murderous.
"…You're absolutely right."
Yuu sheepishly released her hand. Yukino snorted coldly, turning away without looking at him.
Ignoring others' mockery, he followed her and stepped into the roller coaster seats.
Two rows of seats. The safety bar was pulled down by staff after they sat properly.
Listening to the pre-ride announcement, while still reminiscing about the soft touch of her small hand, he heard the beautiful girl beside him speak softly:
"Is this how you treat your girlfriend?"
"What?"
Yuu turned, surprised, catching her slowly grasping the hand they'd held together. Her expression was slightly pensive, as if savoring the lingering warmth.
But under his gaze, Yukino quickly lowered her hand as if nothing happened, her eyes fixed on the light at the tunnel's exit ahead, not turning.
"You like me, don't you?"
She spoke as if it were certain, but the question was phrased as a statement.
"…That's too sudden." Stunned, Yuu asked, somewhat speechless, "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"If it was just for that weird task, you wouldn't act so freely with me. You never even asked what my ideal boyfriend standards are… From start to finish, you just do things based on your own feelings."
Calmly stating her reasons, Yukino tilted her head, looking at him serenely.
"Maybe you haven't realized it yourself. But just from holding hands for over five minutes earlier, I know you already like me."
The bell rang loudly. The roller coaster slowly started moving, accelerating toward the dazzling circle of light outside the tunnel.
Her beautiful black hair fluttered in the wind. Her eyes, gazing at him, sparkled but were still, like a frozen lake's surface.
"If you want to deny it, you can just say yes or no."
"Besides completing this Ideal Boyfriend task, do you have feelings of affection for me as a man does for a woman, while also liking Yuigahama-san?"
Her searching voice was too soft. In the noisy environment, only fragments carried by the wind reached Yuu's ears.
"…Taking the act for real, huh?"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Really brings back memories…"
Speeding all the way, she finally rushed to Disneyland in the shortest time. Even now, her heart pounded from the hurry.
Haruno took several deep breaths to calm herself. Recalling the summer vacation events, she couldn't help but smile.
But thinking of the current situation, the corners of her lips unconsciously dropped, her expression darkening. Her cold gaze meticulously scanned the surrounding crowd.
Of course, arriving late, she didn't find the person she wanted to see… nor even the one she didn't want to.
"It's fine, I can wait."
Muttering to herself, she gripped her tote bag tightly. Haruno strode quickly toward the amusement park's ticket scanner.
At the same time, she regretted inwardly—if only she'd installed a tracking app on Yukino's phone!