By the ti Kousuke and Yutsuki arrived at the amusent park, it was already 4:00 PM.
Because it was the weekend, the park was packed with visitors. Consequently, most of the rides required waiting in line for an hour or more.
Therefore, Kousuke had no choice but to give up on highly popular attractions like the roller coaster or Ferris wheel and choose places that didn't require queuing.
"It is fine. Plans going off track is very normal, there is no need to be down about it. Rather than dwelling on this, it's better to properly enjoy ourselves, otherwise buying the all-access ticket would be a waste."
Towards the sowhat downcast Kousuke, Yutsuki laughed off his negligence and led him to play to his heart's content in the park.
Perhaps influenced by his senior's unreserved, fully enjoyable attitude, Kousuke was able to have so much fun, able to say this was not a failed date.
Ti passed quickly. The evening glow faded with the setting sun. In the dark night, the amusent park lit up with brilliant neon lights, transforming into a dreamlike castle from a fairy tale.
It was ti for the night parade.
Fire trees and silver flowers, crowds moving like a woven tapestry. Accompanied by the entrance of the the park parade floats, the streets were filled with admiring tourists, making it very lively.
"Look, Kousuke! The special effects on that fairy float are so realistic!"
"Senpai, there are so many people, we might get separated."
Kousuke gathered his courage to remind her.
"Don't worry, I will be careful."
Yutsuki waved her hand, indicating not to worry. In fact, just as she said, although she was admiring the parade performance, she didn't get carried away and squeeze into the crowded flow of people. When moving, she never let Kousuke out of her sight, and often turned her head, mindful of Kousuke getting lost.
However, this point actually made Kousuke a bit discouraged. In reality, he had a little sche in his heart to use this as an excuse to hold hands with Yutsuki.
Kousuke felt secretly anxious.
Yutsuki was very approachable. Clearly a year older than him, she didn't put on any airs as a senior, being humble and amicable. But in her every word and action, she always made him feel her maturity and reliability.
Honestly, Kousuke admired her even more.
But at the sa ti, he also vaguely realized that in Ryougi Yutsuki's heart, he was still just an ordinary junior.
This date didn't let him step any further into Yutsuki's heart. When he got close to a certain distance, it was as if he was blocked by an invisible wall. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move an inch forward.
Isn't this fine too? Besides being frustrated, another voice in his heart comforted him like this, telling him he had already tried very hard, no need to rush, there would be opportunities in the future. Just being happy right now was enough.
However, this was nothing but an excuse to protect himself. He knew very well that the reason this date didn't fail wasn't because of any performance on his part, but thanks to Yutsuki.
Furthermore, Kousuke and Ryougi Yutsuki's social circles didn't intersect at all. This date was his only chance.
"Ah, that was fun. Thank you, Kousuke, for bringing to the amusent park!"
"Senpai!"
"Hm, what is it?"
Hearing Kousuke's voice, Yutsuki stopped walking and turned her head to look at him.
"I, I—"
Just looking at her profile, being stared at by those amber, lustrous eyes, Kousuke felt his heart pounding like a little deer.
"I love you! From the mont I saw you, I fell in love with you at first sight, Senpai!"
Kousuke mustered all his courage and confessed to Yutsuki.
"I love Senpai's independent and brave nature, I love Senpai's approachability and humor, I love how cool Senpai is! Senpai is my ideal woman. I might not be reliable enough right now, not worthy of Senpai, but could you give a chance! I will definitely work hard to make Senpai happy!"
Quietly listening to Kousuke confess with all his might, Yutsuki smiled.
"..."
However, it wasn't a smile of joy. Rather, it was a bitter smile carrying guilt, anticipating hurting the other person's feelings.
"Sorry... Kousuke."
Yutsuki spoke with a gentle, slow, and solemn voice.
As if carefully tapping the eggshell to avoid breaking a boiled egg, Yutsuki woke Kousuke up from his sweet dream of happiness.
———————————
"Sorry! Sorry! Excuse !"
After much arduous effort, Shido finally squeezed out of the crowded flow of people, panting tiredly.
"Hah... Hah... Where did... Yutsuki... and Kousuke... run off to?"
Shido panted while looking around. Because he accidentally got caught in the flow of tourists following the parade, Shido unsurprisingly lost track of the two.
"Kotori, where are Yutsuki and Kousuke right now?"
[Ah~ Hm? What did you just say, Shido?]
Hearing a long yawn from the earpiece, Kotori asked sleepily.
"I am asking for Yutsuki and Kousuke's location!"
[Ah... You still want to keep stalkingthem?]
"Of course I do!"
Compare to the agitated Shido, Kotori's voice clearly lacked enthusiasm.
[Well, this should be about enough. The result is what it is anyway. Yutsuki-nee will probably go ho in a bit. More importantly, can I clock out already to go eat dinner? I am so hungry, I want to go to the family restaurant and eat parfaits and hamburger steaks~]
"I will treat you to whatever you want after this is over! Hurry up and tell their location!"
Shido urged anxiously.
[I really can't deal with you... Let see, Yutsuki-nee and Kouhai-kun are currently... over by the amusent park entrance... Ah, Kouhai-kun is confessing to Yutsuki-nee.]
"What?!"
Shido was so shocked his body trembled. He never dread that that Kousuke guy would be so decisive, daring to confess directly on their first date.
(It is fine, it is fine. With Yutsuki's personality, even if she had feelings for Kousuke, she would consider her position and wouldn't just agree like that.)
Shido comforted himself like this in his heart. However, for so reason, after silently repeating "it is fine" many tis in his heart, he beca less and less confident.
If Yutsuki really did date Kousuke—
——————
Yutsuki: Shido, I have good news for you. I'm going to date Kousuke.
Shido: Wh— Why did it turn out like this?
Yutsuki: It can't be helped. After all, he looks so cute, and he's straightforward and sincere. He's also completely devoted to . I have no reason to refuse.
Shido: This—
Kousuke: Thank you, Itsuka-senpai. Thanks to your help, I was able to date Ryougi-senpai.
Yutsuki: I also want to thank you for recomnding such an excellent junior to .
Shido: I—
Kousuke: When the day cos that we get married, please be sure to attend our wedding.
Yutsuki: Exactly, you are our benefactor. You must co and be our best man!
Shido: Wait— Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!
(Author: "——Pfft.")
——————
"Noooooooooooooooo——"
Unable to hold back a howl while holding his head, Shido ignored the surprised gazes of the crowd and sprinted wildly toward the exit.
"Found them."
Soon, Shido saw Kousuke and Yutsuki in the small garden near the exit.
Instantly slowing his pace, Shido tiptoed and quietly approached, hiding in the bushes of the green belt to observe secretly.
(What is the situation now...)
Shido pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"...Is that so... Then... it can't be helped..."
Kousuke lowered his head, tightly gripping his pant legs, before managing to squeeze out a voice.
"Thank you... Ryougi-senpai... Today was very fun... Then... I will take my leave first."
Saying that, Kousuke turned and left, as if fleeing from Yutsuki's side.
(This is...)
[Well, it looks like he was rejected by Yutsuki-nee. That is great, Shido. The matter you were worried about is finally resolved.]
Shido shut his mouth, unable to honestly feel happy. Although Yutsuki's rejection indeed made him subconsciously breathe a sigh of relief, Kousuke's unwilling, departing figure still made him feel a sense of guilt.
"Hey! You've been following for so long, it's about ti to co out."
Yutsuki said coldly.
"—!?"
In an instant, Shido thought he was exposed. But he quickly realized that the direction Yutsuki was looking was not where he was.
"..."
A girl with a blonde side-ponytail walked out from behind the tree shadow on the other side.
(That girl... isn't she the one who took Kousuke's tickets?)
Noticing the other party was the gyaru he t at the station, Shido widened his eyes in surprise.
"That uniform... A student from Raizen High School? Can you tell your na?"
"...Year 1 Class 2, Sadayuki Yuiga."
Although a bit reluctant, the girl still introduced herself to Yutsuki.
"Sadayuki-san, huh. I am Year 2 Class 3, Ryougi Yutsuki."
"...I know."
"I see." Yutsuki put her hands in her pockets and asked straight to the point. "You're the one who's been tailing these past few days, right?"
(Tailing?)
Shido furrowed his brows, sowhat confused about the situation.
However, questioned by Yutsuki, Sadayuki wasn't flustered at all. Instead, she looked straight at Yutsuki and said.
"Why did you reject Kousuke?"
"Wait a second... I am the one asking the questions here, right?"
"Answer !"
Sadayuki roared loudly.
"Yare yare..." Yutsuki sighed helplessly and answered honestly. "Although Kousuke is a very good person. I already have soone I like, so I can only reject him."
Yutsuki already has soone she likes? Although he knew this wasn't the ti to care about this, the mont he heard it, Shido's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Hearing Yutsuki's answer, Sadayuki couldn't help but feel a bit angry.
"Then why did you even go on a date with Kousuke?! That makes no sense!"
"I have my own reasons for that. But mainly it is because of you." Yutsuki explained helplessly. "You've been tailing these past few days, right? And your hostility was getting more and more obvious. Originally, I wanted to catch you using other thods. But I happened to receive a love letter from Kousuke, so I thought it might be related to this matter."
"So you used Kousuke?!"
"That sounds terrible. I responded to his feelings very seriously. Also, you aren't denying the fact that you tailed , huh?"
"Guh—"
Sadayuki was at a loss for words at first, then said in frustration.
"Because, ever since Kousuke fell for you, he completely ignored ! All he talk about is 'Ryougi-senpai! Ryougi-senpai!'. We've clearly been together since middle school, I clearly t him first! Why did he fall for you!?"
(Speaking of which, Kousuke did ntion being teased by girls in his class.)
Shido couldn't help but think.
[Hoh ho~ I see. A childhood friend plus gyaru attribute beautiful girl? I didn't think Kouhai-kun was quite popular. I guess Yutsuki-nee is a 'out of nowhere' type in her eyes? No wonder she is so angry—]
Kotori, on the other hand, looked like she was enjoying the show, not minding the escalating situation at all.
"I originally planned to stop Kousuke, so I took the tickets while he wasn't looking. But seeing him look so happy with Senpai... I had originally planned to give up! Since you don't like Kousuke, why did you agree to date him? Why didn't you reject him right from the start!?"
Sadayuki cried and complained aggrievedly.
"Ugh—"
Although she was sowhat ntally prepared, when she truly understood she was in the middle of a White Album scenario, Yutsuki still felt a small stomachache.
After struggling for a long ti, Yutsuki took a deep breath and spoke.
"You! You idiot!!!!!!"
Yutsuki shouted loudly and angrily.
"Ah!"
Sadayuki was so scared she shrank her shoulders, clearly startled by Yutsuki's shout.
"What's the use of complaining to here? What's the use of crying? Is the problem solved? Will Kousuke not be sad anymore? Or what? Do you think if you lecture here? I'll agree to date him? You can just play the tragic heroine and quietly withdraw after sacrificing yourself?"
Yutsuki scolded fiercely.
"I, I—"
Sadayuki was scolded so badly her face turned completely red, yet for a mont she couldn't find a rebuttal.
"At the end of the day! You've been together since middle school, yet he still hasn't realized you like him. Either he is too dense, or you are not proactive enough! Don't you know how to reflect on yourself? Seeing him have a crush on , yet you just tail . Don't you think what you're doing is incredibly stupid?!"
The more she spoke, the angrier Yutsuki got. If the other party wasn't a girl, Yutsuki might have just grabbed her collar and roasted her directly.
"What, what do you know about ?"
Sadayuki was a bit embarrassed and angry.
"Ah! I indeed don't know you! But at least I know that if I were you, what I should be doing right now is not picking a fight with soone else!"
Saying that, Yutsuki pointed in the direction Kousuke left and said.
"Right now, that boy is in a period of heartbreak, his soul crushed! He's in desperate need of soone to comfort and accompany him. It's the best ti to strike! If you are a smart woman, seize this opportunity and make him yours!"
At this mont, Yutsuki's tone wasn't so much anger, but rather disappointnt in soone not living up to expectations.
"Um, I, this—"
Sadayuki seed unable to keep up with Yutsuki's pace, her head in a total ss.
"Hurry up and chase him! Don't co ho if you don't catch him!!"
Pushing Sadayuki from behind, Yutsuki shouted angrily.
"Y-Yes!"
After subconsciously answering, Sadayuki Yuiga hurriedly ran in the direction Kousuke left.
...
In the corner, having secretly witnessed the whole process, Shido and Kotori didn't know what to say for a mont.
[Ah... Shido. Yutsuki-nee... is really so cool...]
Kotori said hesitantly. Honestly, she herself didn't know if this counted as a complint.
Shido couldn't say he didn't understand her feelings.
"Seriously... Young brats nowadays... Should I say this is youth?"
Yutsuki sighed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. At this mont, the phone in her pocket suddenly rang.
"Hello? Ah, Tohka... When am I going back? Mhm... Probably around 8:30. What? The food Shido saved for was all eaten? Ah... It is fine, it is fine. I will make sothing myself when I get back... Mhm, that is it, bye-bye."
After hanging up the phone, Yutsuki stretched and muttered to herself.
"Well, that's that. I should head back. I will prepare your and Kotori-chan's dinner together, rember to text if you have any requests."
Saying that, Yutsuki got up and headed ho.
...
Waiting until Yutsuki's footsteps gradually faded away, Shido finally spoke into the earpiece.
"...Ah, Kotori."
[What is it?]
"Could it be... Yutsuki knew I was tailing her from the very beginning?"
[Shido, did you really think you weren't discovered?]
Kotori asked back helplessly.
"...... I really want to die."
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