“...Is it here?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
After transferring trains about twice, we arrived at an amusement park that was famous in Japan as a so-called 'Screaming Land.'
It was an amusement park where various famous 'Japan's No. 1' attractions were gathered, such as Japan's number one haunted house, Japan's number one roller coaster, and Japan's number one freefall.
I had been here with my family before, but I remember being too scared to ride almost any of the attractions back then...
“I knew it, Riran, you’re still holding a grudge about that time...!”
“N-No, that's not it. I simply wanted to try coming to a place like this.”
“...You’ve never been here?”
“Yeah. I’ve been to amusement parks before, but it’s my first time at such a large one.”
Looking beside me, I saw Riran with her eyes sparkling as she looked at the attractions.
Well, I guess... if we came here because Riran wanted to, then it’s fine.
But how exactly is this a reward?
I thought I’d be the one treating her to the admission fee, but she paid for her own share. She even paid for her own transportation to get here.
Then what exactly is the reward... I don’t get it.
“Now, let's go! First up is the roller coaster!”
“O-Oh.”
The roller coaster boasting the highest elevation in Japan, 'Tengu's Nose.'
Running around in all directions, spinning, twisting, and reaching speeds so high you feel like you'll be flung out by centrifugal force, this ride is called the 'Roller Coaster Prepared for Death' on the internet.
To think that the first thing we'd ride after coming here would be this...
We lined up for 'Tengu's Nose' and checked the wait time.
A 20-minute wait, huh. It’s summer vacation, but we don't have to wait that long.
“R-Riran, are you good at scream-inducing rides?”
“I love them. I used to ride all sorts of things as if I were competing with my older sister.”
“Did that person not get stopped by the height limit?”
“...She got stopped several times and was crying.”
I knew it. Her height is pretty much the same as Neika’s, after all.
But I see. So she's good at roller coasters.
............
“Oh? Akito, could it be that you’re bad with scream-inducing rides?”
“N-No. I’m not bad with them, but I’m not exactly good at them either...”
Actually, Kotono is good at this kind of thing. Well, not 'actually,' it's just as she looks.
Unexpectedly, I’m the one who can’t handle these. I can ride them, but if I don’t have to, I won’t. I don’t want to.
Seeing me like that, Riran looked at me with a grinning face, her lips curling upward.
“Heeh. Akito, you’re unexpectedly childish, aren't you? You know, you can spoil yourself with Riran-onee-chan?”
“Are you serious? Then I won't hold back.”
“Wait!? Wait! Wait wait wait! In such a public place...!”
When I tried to hug her, she started flusteredly panicking with a bright red face.
I ran my finger along Riran's forehead and gave it a light flick.
“Nya?!”
“Haha. It’s still too early for you to tease me.”
“Gunuuu...”
It’s not scary even if you glare at me with a pouting mouth.
Together with Riran, who had become a bit grumpy, we waited in line for 'Tengu's Nose.'
She was sulking for a bit, but as the line moved forward, her excitement seemed to win out, and she even started humming a tune.
She must have really been looking forward to this.
............
Oh crap, it’s a bit late for this, but I really don’t want to ride.
As I said before, if I don't have to ride it, I don't want to.
Why would anyone go out of their way to do something like buying fear with money? I don't understand the meaning.
I understand well that fear is an important emotion for a living creature to survive, and it's built into our instincts and genes.
But what is it to enjoy that? What kind of emotion is it to enjoy fear?
Sorry, Riran. Up until now, I’ve always wanted to understand you, but this is the one thing I just can’t understand. It’s impossible.
However, our turn will come in just a few more minutes.
Having lined up this far, I can’t say it’s impossible and apologize now.
Or rather, I don't want to show that side of myself to Riran. Even I have my pride as a man.
But, still... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa (thought process stopped).
“Next guests, please step forward.”
“It’s here. Akito, let’s go.”
“Eh!? O-Oh...!”
It seems our turn came while my thoughts were stopped.
Riran got on first, and I followed after her into the seat.
The safety bar came down from above, fixing our bodies to the roller coaster.
I felt just like Joan of Arc being tied to the stake at an execution ground.
“I'm so excited, so excited!”
In contrast, Riran was enjoying herself exactly like a young girl.
Ah, it’s about to begin. The rendezvous to hell.
*Clunk.* It started moving...!
It gradually gained altitude, climbing high into the sky under the scorching sun.
I stole a glance downward.
It’s high. It’s way too high. Just how much is this thing going to climb? Isn't this only about halfway?
Aba, ababababababababa.
“A-Akito. Your face looks pale...?”
“I-I-I-I-I-I'm f-f-f-f-f-f-fine.”
“You’re not fine at all, are you?!”
Aga, aga, agagagaga!
And finally, we reached the summit.
Immediately after, the gravity acting on my body vanished.
For the approximately four minutes until we got off, my memory was cut off.