When I passed through the entrance gate, I had the impression that I had entered a different world from my usual one. Apart from that, there are no nice mouse or chalk castle. Even so, it’s an amusement apart that will give you a different feeling from your normal one.
「Where do we begin?」
「Now that you asked, shouldn’t we go to the places where Akari-chan and Takuya-kun can’t go?」
「Well, that’s true.」
「That’s a good idea….let’s go then!」
Iori-chan pointed to the roller coaster that seemed to be a big hit in the section where only scream inducing machines are located at the end of the map drawn on the pamphlet. It seemed to be the main attraction of this park. When I raised my head and looked around the park, I could see it from here which means it was very tall.
「I think it’s a good idea to go there while it’s morning. Is Souta okay with it?」
「Ah, yeah.」
Well, I’m not that good at scream inducing machines. However, it's not good if we start at something that would make us turn upside down. The four person water slide was close to it and I already find it hard so it's good that this place doesn’t have that. It has a normal screaming coaster though.
「Then, let’s go.」
We walked through the park with Mei’s lead for a few minutes. At last, when the screaming area came into view, Iori-chan pulled my clothes.
「What’s wrong?」
「Should I read the atmosphere and sneak out quietly on the way?」
「Please don’t do that. We’ll end up looking for you.」
「No, you can just go to the lost child center if she’s worrying too much.」
I’m not sure if it’s the fact that she tried to tell it to me in secret or the fact that she suggested me to bring her elder sister to the lost child area are effective but I feel like agreeing with her.
「Now, we have arrived.」
「It’s crowded.」
「But I think it will take us less than 30minutes to ride so I think we’re pretty early.」
I looked up at the roller coaster, the centerpiece of this amusement park and saw people screaming. I was surprised when I saw that it was a standing type. I finally noticed how it truly looked up close.
「Then, are we going to line up? No, wait, Mei, is it alright even though you’re wearing a skirt?」
Her skirt might get in the way and might even roll up. Well, the staff will probably point it out to her too but that would mean that we might be wasting our time waiting in line.
「I’m going to change my clothes for a moment.」
I saw Mei off as she headed to the restroom and waited for her with Iori-chan on a nearby bench.
「By the way Amane-san, are you already going out with oneechan?」
After sitting for a while, as if she made up her mind, Iori-chan spoke up. I was surprised with what she said but I took a deep breath and opened my mouth as calmly as I could.
「No, we’re not going out yet. Why are you asking?」
After I said that, I realized I said “yet”. Fortunately, Iori-chan didn’t seem to notice. Well, in fact, I’m comfortable with Mei as I had said to Wakamiya-san and it is also true that the time where I have to decide is near.
「No, I’m just wondering because your two seemed to be a lot more closer.」
「Maa, we are indeed getting closer. So, does Iori-chan want to ask me something?」
I’m not sure if the onomatopoeia of “bonk” is the right word but Iori-chan's face turned bright red.
「I-I do but.」
「Ah, no, I’m not going to force you to say.」
「I’m done. The line is long so let’s go.」
We were approached from behind by Mei, who had finished changing. I thought it would take a long time for girls to change clothes but it seems like she only took less than five minutes to change.
「O-oneechan.」
「Let’s wait in line for the time being. Since you’ve come all the way to change, let’s go around as much as possible.」
「Maa, you can continue talking while waiting in line.」
Hearing Mei’s comment, Iori-chan turned slightly pale. We lined up to the staff that’s holding a sign saying 20 minutes.
Waiting in line is definitely the best time to talk. Some people are on their cell phones waiting for the line to move forward which I think is a bad idea if you’re with someone. Oh, just like I said. She turned mad and took his phone away.
There’s a reason why I’m deliberately looking at the back of the line. It’s because Iori-chan’s consultation started when we were waiting in line. The content of the consultation was that she was invited by the person she likes in her class to a summer festival so she wants to ask what she should do about it. She fell prey to her elder sister, a high school girl who likes love stories, barrage of questions. I was left out of the loop. However, we are about to arrive at the platform.
After a dozen or so people in front of us had all disappeared, it was finally our turn. We dropped off our bags and climbed into the coaster and lowered the safety lever. We were at the back and next to me was Mei, then, Iori-chan.
「I’m nervous riding a standing up coaster.」
「I’ve never ridden something like this before too.」
The staff shouted “take off” and the ride moved forward a bit ascending on a chain lift. And when we reached the top, the potential energy was converted into kinetic energy.
On the first descent, I was still comfortable with the steady acceleration but the next moment, when we went into the loop, the horror of this coaster came to bite me.
I strained my legs and tried to hold on but I just couldn’t do it. I glanced down at my feet and saw that they were floating. I looked at Mei next to me and our faces were close. She’s still a distance away from me but she held my clothes and she has an expression as if it’s the end of the world.
There were two more loops and curves to come and I was forced to not feel that I’m standing on my own feet. Needless to say, when the ride returned to the platform, I stepped on the ground again and felt an odd sense of relief.