"Didn't we agree to ride the roller coaster together? Why'd you ditch for bumper cars?"
Outside the bumper car attraction, Takizawa grilled his earnest, thick-browed friend, fuming. Fresh from his ordeal, he found his comrade had bailed, now gleefully crashing cars with parents and kids, making his suffering sting worse.
"It's a kiddie ride, right?" Matsuoka said, puzzled.
"What here isn't kiddie?" Takizawa shot back.
"Bumper cars feel least like it—solid jolts, realistic controls, a timed turbo mode, even electronic props to mess with opponents' steering or stall them," Matsuoka explained.
"So what?" Takizawa snapped. "That's your excuse for ditching as the planner?"
"Top score gets free hot dog vouchers," Matsuoka said proudly, showing his score card.
The card listed his twenty-minute takedowns, crowning him afternoon champion with three cheese-and-meat hot dog vouchers and a "Track Devastator" Title, plus an Anpanman plushie.
"I think I've got a knack for driving," Matsuoka nodded to himself. "No surprise, it's my passion. I'll get my own car someday, pass my license test, and road-trip nationwide. Romantic, right? You in?"
"You think a hot dog makes up for my misery these past forty minutes?" Takizawa demanded, ignoring the invite.
"Well, we already used the three vouchers. Me, Uchida-san, and Nakajima-senpai ate," Matsuoka said, sheepish.
"?"
"You didn't actually ride the coaster, did you?" Matsuoka asked.
"Nope!" Takizawa said, chest tight, stomach sour at the thought.
"Nope!" Sakura echoed, guarding their so-called secret.
So in sync. Their bond's tightened, Takizawa handling Sakura's quirks without a hitch. Matsuoka mused he should ask for girl-handling tips alongside acting advice.
Then he noticed scratches on his friend's arm.
"What happened? Scraped and clawed? No monkey-tamers around here."
Sakura, initially miffed, perked up, answering for him with a grin. "It's a secret… hehe."
"⊙?⊙?" Matsuoka blinked, lost.
"T﹏T!" Takizawa's face paled.
Uchidaand Nakajima, done crashing with kids, approached.
"Bumper cars are fun. Wanna try?" Nakajima said, stretching, cheerful.
"Nah, too cramped and dark for my inner speed beast," Takizawa declined.
"But you didn't ride the coaster either. Haven't played a single attraction?" Nakajima mused. "Beating kids is dull, sure, but how about something to challenge yourselves?"
"Like what?" Sakura asked, confused.
"No drop towers or bungee here, but there's a haunted house. Wanna try?" Nakajima's eyes lit up. "Facing fear together, like a drinking party, bonds teams fast. Like couples watching horror films, clinging tight, you'll learn to lean on each other."
"In movies, ghost games or castle adventures are with trusted friends. My high school trip had a night-walk game. Shy and young, I only finished thanks to a classmate's help, conquering fear. We became inseparable after. Let's overcome this together!"
But in those stories, ghost-summoners often died later. Once a staunch skeptic, Takizawa, post-bizarre transition, steered clear of such things.
Leaving arcades at night, walking empty streets, he stayed wary, mentally rehearsing scenarios.
If a voice called his name, never turn back. If he slipped and looked, seeing nothing, don't turn again. From countless horror films, turning meant a ghastly face lunging, screen flashing red, blood splattering, eerie laughter—scene over.
Female ghosts? Manageable, maybe just a vitality drain. Male ghosts? Bad luck to the extreme.
"Uh, a kiddie park's haunted house is probably lame, not worth it," Sakura scoffed, her bravado masking nerves.
"It's basic, but it's meaningful!" Nakajima said, fist clenched.
"Nah, pass."
"Scared, Sakura-chan?" Nakajima hit the mark.
"Huh?! How could I—" Even facing a senpai, Sakura's pride kicked in reflexively.
"Fear's perfect!" Nakajima beamed. "It teaches the value of bonds! Let's go!"
Sakura's mouth opened, but she turned, eyes blinking, shooting Takizawa a subtle plea for rescue.
"Next time, definitely next time," Takizawa said smoothly, catching her signal.
"Why? A healthy, spirited guy like you isn't…" Nakajima trailed off.
"I'm scared," Takizawa admitted calmly, hands behind back.
His other arm couldn't take another hit.
Karma bites. His wicked thoughts backfired.
"Truth is, I've got horror allergy syndrome. Spooky stuff makes my skin itch, heart race, mind scramble."
"Then we'll skip it," Uchida, quietly listening, said with concern. "Don't push yourself."
"Guess not, then. Other team-bonding ideas?" Nakajima said, disappointed, rethinking.
"How about chilling somewhere, eating, chatting? Or cards, or catching Anpanman's stage show, discussing acting?" Takizawa suggested, safe and lazy.
"Makes sense," Matsuoka nodded, intrigued.
"Its too plain. It's a rare park day—just enjoy it!" Nakajima insisted. "You haven't done one attraction yet!"
"You're too kind, Nakajima-san. Fine, I'll hit a classic park ride to match your care!" Takizawa stood tall.
"Not the carousel, right? That's too lazy."
"Ferris wheel."
"…"
Lazier.
***
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