CH 35

“……Ah, I’m so nervous.”

On the way to the station where Nagi was, I was taking deep breaths every time.

My heart is racing. No matter how many times I inhaled and exhaled, it made no difference. On the contrary, it was like over-breathing. My fingertips went numb.

“Finally, the day had arrived, huh.”

I let out a sigh so many times, so I walked around while breathing normally.

This week was…already really bad.

“I feel bad for Nagi.”

I’ve been thinking about today so much that I haven’t been able to talk to her like I normally do. Nagi was also worried and we didn’t talk as much as usual.

But today is……okay. I think so.

With all that said, being with Nagi will help ease the tension. I’m looking forward to it because it’s my first time visiting an amusement park.

“All right, let’s hurry up.”

I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to get back to the train station. I hurried to the station.

◆◆◆

“……G-good morning ! Souta kun !”

“G-good morning, Nagi.”

Nagi was…..as usual, or rather more energetic than usual.

It’s already fully winter, so she’s dressed warmly in a coat and a knit cap.

“I was looking forward to it ! The amusement park !”

“……Yeah. Me too. I’m looking forward to it so much that I couldn’t sleep well last night.”

“You too, Souta  kun? Me too.”

Nagi smiled. However, the smile was a little awkward.

While wondering about that. We took the train again to the town where the amusement park is located.

◆◆◆

“Wow……! It’s so big ! Let’s go, quickly !　Souta kun !

“Yeah, let’s go.”

The amusement park is located quite close to the station. Nagi was excited to see it. She urged me to hurry up.

We got in line for entrance.

“But I was surprised. I thought Souta kun had been to an amusement park before.

“Hm? ……Ah, I told you before, my house in the countryside.”

I had been to zoos and aquariums when I was little, but not amusement parks. As for why……

“Look, amusement parks have attractions with restricted entry, don’t they? Actually, I already said that I would go to an amusement park when I was in middle school. But right around that time, my father started getting busy with his work.”

“I see…….so that’s what happened.”

We’re in line, so we have time. In the meantime, I was talking to Nagi again.

“What about you, Nagi….have you been here before?”

“Right. I had been to the zoo once with my family when I was a little, though. ……Because both my father and mother were busy.”

“……I see.”

But she said that she also went to the zoo even though her parents were busy. I have a feeling that it’s not that they don’t think about Nagi at all.

“Well then. Let’s go to various places from now on.”

I looked at Nagi and said so. Nagi’s body froze for a moment. ……But really only for a moment.

“That’s right. I want to go.”

She smiled, but her smile was somewhat gloomy……like that.

“Something happened? Nagi.”

I couldn’t help but ask. ……Because I was genuinely worried.

Is she overdoing it? Maybe she’s not feeling well.

Nagi’s eyes widened for a moment. She smiled.

“I’ve had a little bit of a mental breakdown. But if I play with Souta kun……I will soon forget about it. So, it will be all right.”

“……I see.”

You didn’t tell me, I want to say it but I don’t want to.

There’s only one thing I should do.

“Then. Let’s have fun.”

I gently touched her hand. Nagi’s fingers touched mine. …..I decided that it would be okay. when I grabbed her hand, Nagi smiled and squeezed it.

“We’re going to have lots and lots of fun !”

And then, Nagi happily leaned on my shoulder.

◆◆◆

The first place we went when we entered the amusement park. It was…..the maze.

“I see. This was the way back to where we started.”

“So the other way was the right way.”

While wondering if I should choose that first. The maze here seems to be quite authentic, and Nagi was looking forward to it.

And it’s a lot of fun for me, too.

It’s a good exercise for the brain, of course. Moreover……

“Hmmm……that means. I see the big picture now.”

I liked seeing Nagi thinking with a serious expression on her face.

For example She would nibble her hand. ….Whether unconsciously or not.

She put hand on her chin and turned her gaze to the wall without looking anywhere. ……Perhaps unconsciously, her hands are clenched.

Her gestures are adorable, and I never get tired of looking at her. Above all.

“……?”

Nagi noticed that I was watching her. She smiled back at me.

It’s really……too cute. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

“Well then, the road from earlier. Shall we go back?”

“Yeah. I understand.”

Nagi took me by the hand and we went through the maze.

Just like that, we made it to the goal.

◆◆◆

Contrary from before. This time, I was pulling Nagi’s hand.

The reason is…..

“Are you okay? Nagi. Well, you know, if you’re really scared, you can give up……”

In a very dark room. I asked Nagi, who was barely visible, but she shook her head.

“N-no ! I-it was my idea !”

Nagi hugged my hand, or rather my arm, as she said so.

I’m in a very dangerous situation, but even I was not in the mood for it.

Then, I felt a chill. I felt something cold touch my cheek and my shoulders jumped.

“S-Souta kun !? 　What’s wrong !?”

“N-no. Something touched my cheek……”

I turned around, but no one was there. The soft feeling on my arm became stronger and something warm touched my shoulder. I looked and saw that Nagi’s hug was getting stronger and she was pressing her cheek against my shoulder.

‘Ugh, ugh….l-let’s go ! Souta kun !”

“Don’t force yourself, okay?”

“I-I’ll be fine ! I’m sure Souta kun will protect me if there is an emergency !”

It must have come out of her mouth naturally. I looked at Nagi, but she was trying to walk forward with her cheek pressed against my shoulder.

Seeing Nagi like that…..I was a little relieved, even though I was in such a situation.

Something suddenly grabbed my leg and we started to run.

◆◆◆

While sitting on the bench. Nagi put her hand on her chest and let out a long breath.

“Phew……we had a very intense time.”

“I guess so. I never thought I’d be the first high school student to get scolded by a cast member of a haunted house……”

The haunted house is dangerous, so running is forbidden. I was warned after we escaped.

Nagi laughed at my words and took out two packages from the bag on her lap.

“Shall we have lunch then?”

“Oh, thank you.”

This is a space dedicated to lunch. This amusement park allows you to bring in your own food and drink, and even has a park attached. It’s like a little excursion where you can eat your lunch.

“….Now that I think about it,  I’ve been making Souta kun’s lunch for a while now, but this is the first time for us to eat lunch together.”

“Come to think of it, yes.”

It’s natural since we’re from different schools. It’s a little bit of a strange feeling.

“I put a lot of Souta kun’s favorite food in today’s lunch. Please eat a lot !”

“Oh, thank you.”

I thanked Nagi and opened the lid. I couldn’t help but let out a voice.

“Oh……!”

A hamburg steak and fried chicken. Fried vegetables that must have been stir-fried with sweet and spicy sauce, and white rice.

All of them were my favorite foods.

I looked at Nagi, who had also opened the lid of her lunch box and was looking at me smiling.

When I put my hands together, Nagi put her hands together as well.

[ [Bon appétit.] ]

Then we ate our lunch boxes. Of course it tastes…..

“It’s delicious. Very tasty, Nagi.”

“Fufu. I’m glad you like it.”

Nagi also ate her lunch happily, [Yeah, it’s delicious !]

After that…..we continued chatting. The two of us sat down on the bench and devoured the bento, which should have been quite a large portion.

◆◆◆

“Roller coaster. It was my first time riding one, but it was a lot of fun !”

“Yeah, I had a lot of fun too.”

After that, we enjoyed various attractions. ……And the time was passing rapidly.

I was about to go on one more ride. I looked at Nagi.

“Nagi. I have one last attraction I want to ride. Is it okay?”

“……That’s a coincidence. I also wanted to ride with Souta kun. ……I think it’s probably the same one.”

Saying that. We walked hand in hand……

It was a Ferris wheel.

“A Ferris wheel. I’ve always wanted to ride one.”

:……Me too.”

I was a little scared that she would find out about my racing heart. But, once you’ve come this far, there’s no turning back.

The two of us stand in line together. ……Strangely, there was less and less conversation.

Oh, geez. I can’t look at Nagi’s face. I wonder if my hands are sweating.

We had 30 minutes to spare. By the time we reached the reception, we were silent.

“Please be careful not to fall down when you get on the ride.”

“……Thank you.”

Nagi got on first, followed by me.

As I imagined, there were so many people inside that only about four people could sit there.

I sat side by side with Nagi. I tried to collect my thoughts somehow.

When should I tell her? Is it at the top?

As I was thinking about it. I noticed something strange.

It’s difficult to put it into words. But Nagi’s atmosphere. It seemed different.

“Nagi?”

Finally, I saw Nagi’s face.

–Nagi.

She looked very serious. She was staring at me.

“Souta kun. I have something to tell you. ……I have something very, very important to tell you.”

The expression on her face. It was so cold that my head felt as if it had been doused with cold water.

At the same time. I had incredibly bad feelings..

Nagi looked at my face and eyes.

“Souta kun. You know…”

Why, I wondered. I didn’t want to hear the rest of her words.

Even though I had no idea what she would say.

I didn’t want her to say it.

I didn’t want to hear it.

I thought about putting words in her mouth. But my intuition told me that this was not the right moment to do so.

–And my hunch was.

“I won’t be able to see Souta kun after today.”

It turned out to be true in the worst way.