Chapter 31: Date plans (1)

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Date plans (1)

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Her voice remained entirely pleasant, but as i straightened up, her gaze didn’t immediately break away. While she had given everyone else a polite, passing glance, her light brown eyes lingered on my face for a fraction of a second too long.

She didn’t look at me with romantic flirtation instead, her eyes narrowed just a millimeter, scanning the slight dark circles under my red eyes, the subtle tension in my jaw, and the way my shoulders locked tight.

Yes I could tell from watching her eyes. But it wasn’t anything to be freaked out about, I’m guessing she was curious of something or most have noticed a slight feint tension from my posture.

But what? I don’t even know how to respond to that.

As a first-year of our school it we shouldn’t have a problem with reading people, she must have recognized that i wasn’t looking at the amusement park from a settle perception.

Well I do know I’ve been acting out of character lately, but is it too much for others to just ignore and mind their own business?

Me, caught off guard by the intensity of her look, blinked in confusion.

The moment i noticed her staring, Nanami smoothly broke the gaze. She tilted her head, her smile widening just enough to look perfectly natural as she turned her attention back to Junpai who was still rambling.

"Alright, enough standing around!" Junpai squeaked, eager to break his own awkward tension with Nanami. "Let’s hit the rides! Group photo first!"

"Oh, let me take it," Nanami said softly, holding up her phone. "Everyone get together!"

No one hesitated.

A group picture huh. I didn’t like the idea, I don’t like taking pictures. I usually just delect mine afterwards, but I would be able if it was a group pic, I guess.

Let’s give it a try

The group crowded together in front of the massive, roaring water fountain. I found myself shoved right next to Shion, our shoulders brushing. Shion went rigid, her pigtails twitching as she stared straight at the camera lens, trying desperately to look natural while her heart hammered.

Or some I thought based on her body read as she touched me but her reaction and expressions were completely suppressed.

On the other side of, Mataguchi stood like a statue, staring blankly ahead.

Wonder what’s he thinking?

"Three... two... one... cheesecake!"

The camera shutter clicked.

Flash.

For a microscopic fraction of a second, so brief that not even a machine could register it, the roaring sound of the water fountain completely died. The bright blue sky overhead didn’t just dim it stuttered, a jagged horizontal line of grey static tearing through the horizon before snapping back to a brilliant blue.

My vision went blank for a second than back to normal, I couldn’t hear anything. But the constant cathedral bells that rang from no where loudly.

I couldn’t move.

What was there to think? I couldn’t formulate any. My mind went blank for a second.

My smile faltered, eyes widened, my gaze instantly darting around the courtyard. The families were still laughing. The music was still blaring but now in low volume as the bells sounds fades.

My mind went blank for a moment like something bad had happened but I couldn’t tell what.

What was it?

When was it?

How?

For no reason the first thought that came to mind was though exact statements. But why?

What’s going on?"

Did I imagine it? i thought, my knuckles tightening into fists as a cold sweat broke out on my neck.

No. Not here. Please, not today.

I want to scream but can’t.

But then, i felt a touch and a voice. "What a bright weather we have today"

I turned to seeing it was Mataguchi. His presence composed me immediately before responding.

I wasn’t alone.

"Y-yeah, the weather is beautiful today. Isn’t it?"

Did he actually experience it too or was it just me?

Nanami suggested smoothly, her tone bright. "I heard the queue for the main coaster gets incredibly long after ten."

"Men I’m hyped!" Aki shouted in excitement while I, shion and inosuki chuckles from his outburst. Even if it was forced I didn’t want to appear unsettled.

"Too much energy bro," Inosuki uttered, his tone covered in tiredness.

"Right! This way!" Junpai cheered, completely oblivious, leading the march toward the turnstiles.

As the group moved forward, Shion immediately fell into step next to me, playfully complaining about the heat which caught my attention. I smiled and responded, falling back into my usual friendly self.

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The morning disappeared almost without anyone noticing.

One moment the group had been standing near the entrance deciding where to go first, and the next they were already being carried along by the lively current of Tokyo Dome City. Bright banners fluttered overhead in the warm breeze while cheerful music drifted from hidden speakers between the attractions. Every few steps another burst of laughter, another excited shout, or the metallic roar of a roller coaster echoed across the park.

It was impossible not to get caught up in the energy.

"This place is huge..." I muttered, glancing around. I felt totally exposed to something big and interesting.

Families wandered between attractions with colorful maps in hand, children raced toward the carousel with balloons bobbing above their heads, and couples paused every few minutes to take photos beneath decorative flower displays. Yeah I know there was still surveillance agents watching through the invisible drones and cameras but it felt cool hanging either less.

"Quit looking around like a child," Shion teased as she nudged my shoulder. "We’ll be here all day at this rate."

"I am a child." I muttered, turning my face away from her.

"You are 16."

"Still a child though."

She blinked. "...Seriously?"

I nodded. At this rate I know I’m just annoying her.

"Huh." For some reason, that seemed to amuse her far more than it should have.

"Then today’s educational." She uttered, a smile lingering on her face, playful is what I’d call it.

"Educational?" I muttered in response.

"I’m your guide now."

"I don’t remember hiring one." I replied.

"You are a child so you don’t have a choice." She added, before I could answer, Aki suddenly pointed toward a colorful shooting gallery tucked between two game stalls.

"There!"

His eyes sparkled with the kind of excitement usually reserved for children discovering candy stores. Are we still into those?

"We’re doing that first." He added.

Junpai looked over.

"...Already?"

"Absolutely." Aki replied with excitement.

Without waiting for a vote, Aki was already marching toward the stall. Well Junpai might as well just follow his lead. Maybe it’s part of his plans to help Junpai and his girlfriend Nanami get closer.

"Come on!" Aki shouted from a distance.

The shooting gallery was decorated with rows of cartoon mascots, spinning targets, tiny bells, and shelves overflowing with prizes of every imaginable size. Plush animals, oversized cushions, keychains, novelty hats, even a giant stuffed dinosaur almost as tall as Aki himself sat proudly on the highest shelf.

Aki froze. His mouth slowly opened.

"...I need it." He uttered to himselfm

The stall attendant smiled knowingly.

"You’ll need a perfect score for the grand prize."

Aki rolled his shoulders dramatically.

"No problem."

"You’ve never held one of those type of rifles before," Inosuki said flatly.

"Details." The attendant handed him the wooden air rifle. Aki accepted it with the confidence of a movie hero.

Well Inosuki wasn’t lying, the type of guns we were trained with were not wooden air rifles but whatever, how hard can it get?

He planted one foot forward.

Closed one eye.

Took aim.

"..."

"..."

"Bang."

The cork flew proudly through the air. It completely missed every target.

"..."

"..."

"...Wind?," Aki said confidently.

"There isn’t any wind," I replied.

"Crosswind?." He questioned.

"We’re indoors bro." Inosuki inserted.

"Emotional wind."

Shion burst into laughter. Even Nanami covered her mouth to hide a smile.

Junpai scratched the back of his neck. Obviously he wants to laugh at him but decided to hide it. bro you are too generous, I on the other hand was already chuckling. Mataguchi remained netural.

"I don’t think emotional wind counts though" Junpai muttered.

"It absolutely does." Aki fired again.

"Bang."

Another miss. At this point he was just losing more aura.

"..."

Third shot.

"Bang."

This time he actually hit something.The tiny bell rang with a satisfying ding.

"YES!" Aki shouted, it must have been a lot of work. A real match of the year.

He threw both fists into the air like he’d just won an Olympic medal. The attendant politely clapped.

"You have one point." The attendant said, his expression remained positive.

"I’M BACK!"

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"The very core of man’s self and behavior are a reflection of his past"

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