Chapter 40: Top

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Translator: Soafp

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After visiting various attractions in the morning, we went to a restaurant in the amusement park.

While we were eating, we were talking about the attractions we had just ridden, and Obata-san told us about her plans for the day ahead.

“Well, after we finish eating, let’s go on the other roller coaster!”

“Eh?”

“Ha?”

“Ha?”

　Oh, ……. I have never heard Miyamoto-san’s “Ha?” before. This is the first time I’ve heard of it.

　Well, if you say you’re not good at it and you’re asked to go at the time when you’re most likely to feel bad, you might react like that. And she has a look of disbelief on her face. It’s really, “What are you talking about?” I guess. Well, Obata-san’s reaction is like a question mark on the top of her head.

“No, I’m definitely going to get sick, like right after I eat …….”

“Ah, indeed, ……. Then, let’s go buy some goods!”

“Yeah, right. Let’s do that.”

　Miyamoto-san answered with a reassuring look. And then she looked somewhat enthusiastic.

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“Hey, how about this?”

When I was standing in line with Yuki at the store, Miyamoto-san called out to me. Holding in her arms, Miyamoto-san brought a stuffed toy of the amusement park’s mascot character, which was quite large and about half Miyamoto-san’s height. I guess it must be priced accordingly.

That being said,……, holding a large stuffed animal makes her seem somewhat younger than usual,……. When I turned around at the sound of Miyamoto-san’s voice just now, I was a little surprised.

“Um,…… Ishikawa?”

“Ah, yes. Cute.”

“……, Ah, r-right. This, right.”

Saying so, Miyamoto-san holds out a stuffed animal to me. The weight of the stuffed animal was quite heavy when I took it.

“H-heavy. It is cute, but …… isn’t this pretty expensive? Do you have money?”

“Ah ……. Uwa, it is very expensive …….”

Miyamoto-san checked the tag of the stuffed animal I was holding and murmured. The tag showed a price that is not so easy to buy.

“Haha …… this is a bit too much.”

“Yes, …….”

Miyamoto-san replied with a bit of regret.

　The two of us walked back to the place where the stuffed animal was. It was there that I suddenly noticed that Yuki was nowhere to be found.

“I wondered where he had gone.”

He was with me until Miyamoto-san arrived, but before I knew it, all of a sudden he was gone.

“He was there until a few minutes ago.”

“Eh, really?

“Yeah.”

　　…… Really, when did he disappear?

“I think he’s probably around?”

“……Yeah. Well, I guess so.”

I suppose so. But still, he could have said something to me.

As I was thinking that, Miyamoto-san poked me on the arm while holding a smaller sized stuffed animal in her hand.

“Hey, Ishikawa. How about something like this?”

“I think it’s good. ……I didn’t know Miyamoto-san liked stuffed toys.

Surprisingly,…… And the keychain she gave me was adorable.

“Yeah. I have a lot of them in my room. Would you like one like this, ……, Ishikawa?”

　I look at the stuffed animal Miyamoto-san is holding. Well, it’s cute, but if you ask me if I need it,……, I don’t think so.

“Hmm,……I’m good.”

“I see. …….”

After saying this with a bit of apology, Miyamoto-san carefully returned the stuffed animal he was holding to its original place.

Huh, do you want that Miyamoto-san?

　Just as I was thinking that, Miyamoto-san turned to me.

“Then, how about a regular cushion? You didn’t have one, did you, Ishikawa?”

For a moment I wondered how she knew that, but then I realized that she had been to my house before.

　Cushions……. I think I had it in the living room of my parents’ house, but I don’t really need it.

“Yeah, I don’t have any, but …… I’m not in much trouble, so I don’t think I need it.’

“Ummm…….”

Miyamoto-san makes a subtle face. Eh, should I have said I need it? No. What is the situation where I should have said I need a cushion? Is there such a thing?

“Ah! There you are!”

I looked in the direction where I heard Obata-san’s voice, and saw that she and Yuki were walking toward us.

“Nanao. What’s wrong?”

“Well, since we’re here, why don’t we all buy something together? I was just talking about it.”

“Oh, that sounds great!”

In contrast to the happy Miyamoto-san, Obata-san had an unflattering expression on her face. Her expression seemed to be a little angry. And beside her, I feel that Yuki is also feeling a little bit disappointed.

　Why is that? Did they get into a dispute over what to buy? No, it’s not like this kind of fight …… over such a thing, but it’s likely.

“So, which do you think is better, this or that⁉”

　They were really fighting about something like that. Obata-san offered two key chains, one with a cute overall image of the mascot, and the other with the face of the mascot with a funny expression.

　Frankly speaking, I doubt that anyone would choose the latter when asked to choose a memento. It was a key chain with a funny face that was so indescribable and not even cute that it seemed so.

“Eh, …… this one?”

“….Same”

When Miyamoto-san and I chose the same one, Yuki murmured, “Eh, really?” I thought about it when we played Euphoria Catcher together, but I think the standard of cuteness is a little different from other people’s. …… Oh well.

“And when did you pick it out?”

“Oh, sorry. Well, let’s all go take a look.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“All right, let’s go”

Obata-san took Miyamoto-san’s hand and started walking away. ……The guy from earlier was fine though.

　In the end, I bought the one Obata-san had chosen first. In addition, I also bought sweets for Makoto and Michiko at the coffee shop as souvenirs, …… and for my parents’ family.

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　After a short walk we came to the other one, the roller coaster.

　And next to me, Miyamoto-san is looking a little down and gloomy.

I just did a gut-punch and was paired with Miyamoto-san, so I’m waiting for my turn like this. This roller coaster is the type where two people ride in pairs, so the pair of Yuki and Obata-san had already left before me.

“Ugh,……, I’m suddenly getting scared,…….”

The first roller coaster they rode seemed to be scarier, but after seeing how they were actually being spun around like a top, and being driven at great speeds, it seemed that fear came out of nowhere.

“I feel like I’ve come this far. …… Are you okay?”

“Right …… I just have to be ready for it.””

“Haha if you go …… it will probably be over pretty easily.”

I wonder if she is trying to encourage herself. Well, it seems like she’s saying she’s going to do her best, so that’s good.

　While we were talking like that, the one we were supposed to be on became empty.

　We were made to go around and around like a top, and were driven at a good speed along a serpentine, twisting road. There was no end in sight, so I guess it was the end of the road.

While fixing my messy bangs, I asked Miyamoto-san how she was doing, and she looked down a little and froze.

Huh. she looked like she was having a good time until about halfway through. No, she seemed to be having fun, or rather, she seemed to be screaming.

“Maybe I’m drunk …….”

“Oh, are you okay?”

“Yes,……, but if I had ridden after dinner, I might have been in trouble,…….”

“Ah,…….”

After getting off the roller coaster, I lent a hand to Miyamoto-san, who was a little wobbly.

“T-thank you …….”

She takes my hand and lightly rests her weight on it. At the same time, I can smell the sweet fragrance.

…… This is fine for Yuki and Obata-san, but it would be a big problem if someone else who knows would see it. …… Well, it’s plain clothes, so even if someone knows us, I doubt they would find out.

Miyamoto-san is resting on the bench again, and Obata-san is sitting beside her.

“We’ve ridden a lot, right~”

“Yes, we did.”

That roller coaster was a lot more intense than it looked. I’m satisfied.

Everyone is satisfied…… one of us is pretty tired, but well, she seems to be having fun, so that’s okay.

　I’ve been here for a long time and I think I had a good time.

“Well, let’s end with that one.”

Obata-san pointed her finger and said. In that direction is …….

“That one?”

“That one, that one!”

Ah, the Ferris wheel.

Obata-san was pointing to a Ferris wheel. A Ferris wheel huh …….

　Looking at the time, I guessed this was the last attraction.

“Oh~amazing………. The view is so nice!”

　Obata-san said this when we were not even halfway to the top.

“Uwa,……, the ground is so far away,…….”

　Miyamoto-san, who seems to be uncomfortable with heights, said something like that.

“I’m afraid to look down, so I think it’s better to look at the view.”

“Y-yes. ……”

“Hey, Obata, don’t move so much, it’s going to shake.”

“Eeh? Are you scared?”

“I’m not scared.”

　Listening to such an exchange while feeling the Ferris wheel swaying a little due to Obata-san taking pictures of the scenery over there, over here, and in all directions, I felt somewhat nostalgic.

　I think the last time I rode the Ferris wheel was when I was in sixth grade at an amusement park with my family. I wonder if it was …… fun at that time.

　Somehow, I took a picture using the camera function of my cell phone. My cell phone was showing me how everyone was looking out and talking about what was going on over there, and what attractions were over there.

　For some reason, my vision was shaken and tears rolled down my cheeks.

“…….”

　I noticed tears streaming down my face and wiped them away roughly. If they saw me crying, they would worry about me.

　As I was fixing my misaligned glasses, Obata-san called out to everyone.

“Ah, yes! Let’s all take a picture together at the top.”

“Oh, that sounds good. Let’s do that.”

After a while, as we approached the top, Obata-san took a picture with her cell phone.

　Then we all checked the picture together.

　Looking at the picture of everyone looking happy, the words naturally spilled out of their mouths.

“…… It was fun, right”

　At my words, everyone turned to look at me. After a moment, they responded.

“Yeah”

“Yes, it was fun.”

“Let’s come back!”

　Going back to my parents’ house is very depressing, but for some reason, I feel like I’ve got my mind in order. I feel like I can move forward.

Okay, let’s do my best.

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