After using the restroom, Mei comes over to us wearing the skirt she was wearing this morning.
「Ah, that, well, the one you were wearing earlier suits you but I think this looks better.」
Yesterday and the day before yesterday, the date manners course by mother and Yuna opened again. Since I thought it was the right timing, I used the words they taught me.
「T-thank you.」
「Oniichan, how about Akari?」
「Akari-chan looks great too and you’re very cute.」
Then, using my free hand, I lightly patted her head. Akari-chan smiles and says “Really?” with satisfaction.
「Of course. Then, let’s go.」
Akari-chan firmly gripped my left hand as we headed towards the children’s section.
「You want to ride the merry go round first, right?」
「Yes!」
「I feel nostalgic after seeing the merry go round.」
「You said the same thing when we were at the roller coaster.」
Mei, who tried to hold Akari-chan’s other hand, said so as her hand got yanked away. It seems like she wants to hold my hand instead of her oneechan.
「Akari-chan, which horse do you want to ride in the merry-go -round? Or do you want to ride a carriage? Or maybe something else?」
「Horse!」
「Horse, is it? Then, let’s get in line.」
The merry-go -round wasn’t crowded so we didn’t even have to wait for more than five minutes before we could ride.
「Oniichan, this way. This one.」
「Eh? I’m the one who’s going to ride with Akari? How about Mei?」
「Akari likes Souta so let her ride with you.」
I said “okay” and picked up Akari-chan and rode with her on the horse.
Soon after, the merry-go round began to move with the music, slowly moving up and down around.
「Are you having fun?」
「Yes!」
Akari-chan turns around and nods. Mei, who was riding alone beside us, also had a satisfied and gentle expression on her face. And the parents of other children who are looking at us from the side for some reason have warm eyes. Why are you looking at us that way? No, I guess this is better than being scolded.
「It’s over.」
「Shall we ride it again later?」
Akari-chan nodded as we left the merry-go round.
「Where do you want to go next?」
「How about we try the go kart? When I saw it, I feel like I would like to try it.」
「Go kart? Okay. Are you okay with that, Akari-chan?」
「yes」
With Mei’s guidance, we headed to the go kart area. We arrived at the go kart area in no time and it was not that big and is full of children.
「Three, are you going to three the three seater?」
「Yes, a three seater for us.」
「Then, please ride this one. Who’s going to drive? Is it papa? Or mama?」
W-what are you talking about, staff-san? Do you think me, Mei, and Akari-chan are a family of three? No, their age difference is certainly big for siblings. Eh? Is that why we were being looked at with warm eyes all this time?
「Once you are seated, please fasten your seatbelt and start the cart once the light turns green.」
With that, the staff who guided us went back to the entrance. Mei’s face turned red with what the staff said and she’s speechless.
「Oniichan and oneechan are papa and mama?」
「I guess that oneechan thought so. Then, let’s go.」
「Oniichan and oneechan’s faces, red.」
「It’s hot. You have to drink properly so you won’t experience this.」
「Okay!」
When she agreed obediently, I began to feel guilty for not telling her that I was embarrassed but I couldn’t help it. For the time being, I drink some tea to cover it up.
「Mei, do you want to drive?」
Mei was stunned but finally seemed to come to her senses and shook her head. She opened the door and sat down and made sure that Akari-chan was sitting properly. I opened the driver’s seat and sat down while they were doing that. All of those happened without her making eye contact with me.
「Then, let’s go.」
「Let’s go!」
Operating the go kart itself is easy but since we have Akari-chan with us, safety first. I slowly stepped on the gas pedal to get the go kart moving just as Akari-chan said.
This go kart was originally designed for two but it was forcibly modified to be a three seater so it was a bit cramped. However, I was focused on driving so I didn’t even care about that. As a result, I didn’t get out of the lane, not even once and even maintained a constant distance between carts. Though that made me unable to enjoy it that much.
I was exhausted from putting so much pressure on my shoulders and Mei seemed to be still in her own world because of what the staff had said. Even so, Akari-chan seemed to be enjoying herself so I guess it was a great ride.
「I want to go to the animals」
「The animal petting square?」
There are guinea pigs, rabbits, and baby goats in the petting zoo of the children’s section of the park and you can directly interact with them. It’s similar to a zoo but nothing wild.