＊
Hinami, her steps bouncy and energetic, led the group to an awfully sinister location—a long-abandoned hospital, from what Asahi could tell. Suffice to say, it was by no stretch of the imagination a real hospital; it was just another attraction at the park. Its exterior, however, was so meticulously ominous, that—coupled with the chilly temperatures outside—presented a particularly haunting and ghastly atmosphere.
“So this is the attraction you were hyping up,” Chiaki said.
“Uh-huh! What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say ‘Spring Outing’? Going to a haunted house, obvs! Hah!”
“That’s summer, moron,” Asahi quipped.
This specific attraction was meant to be enjoyed in pairs. Given how dark the interior of the hospital was, the visitors were equipped with flashlights. The attraction included emergency exits throughout in case the experience proved too extreme for some visitors.
The group of four were briefed on the fictitious background of the hospital by a lady wearing a white gown in the building’s reception. Before she could finish explaining some safety procedures, however, Chiaki and Hinami had already vanished. Fuyuka and Asahi were alone together, and she shrunk behind him.
“Asahi, where’s the emergency exit?” Fuyuka asked desperately.
“C’mon now, we’re literally two steps into the place.”
“I know, but there’s going to be something scary right around the corner!”
“You’re being paranoid. It’ll be fine—they won’t try to freak you out from the very start.”
“B-But what if there was a monster there? What would we do then?!”
“Umm... probably nothing, I guess? And even if there was something there, they’re not actually gonna hurt you or anything.”
“That isn’t the issue here!” Fuyuka cried.
Their quibble lasted a few minutes. The obstinate tone she assumed was quite cute, or so Asahi thought. She refused to advance further in.
If memory serves, she’s not great with horror, Asahi thought to himself as he recalled her fear when he’d made a joke about a ghost hovering behind her. He would be forgiven for assuming that one of the most intelligent people in their school would be inclined to dismiss all things supernatural, but her terror evidently overshadowed her reason. Guess it doesn’t matter to her that she knows it’s all make-believe. She’s terrified right now.
“Can you just give me a second to mentally prepare myself for this?” she asked.
“Sure, take your time. Actually, why don’t we just call it quits? Wanna go back to the entrance?”
“No... I want to go through the first stage, at the very least... if I can.”
Fuyuka mustered every ounce of her courage. Unfortunately, other groups of visitors had begun to form behind them, it was high time for the pair to proceed past the starting point.
Is there nothing I can do for her?
He recalled childhood memories, back when he still wasn’t permitted on roller coasters. His father had taken him to a haunted house instead, and he vividly recalled clutching onto Kazuaki’s back.
“What if you held onto my back, Fuyuka?”
“Wha...?”
“Not sure if it’ll be much help, but it’s probably better than nothing.”
Having someone immediately near her, Asahi figured, would provide emotional reassurance at the cost of slightly impairing his walking speed. It was a sacrifice Asahi was willing to make.
“Thank you,” she murmured and grabbed onto his shirt from behind.
“Feeling any better? Think you can keep going?”
“Yes, I’ve calmed down a bit. I think I can do this.”
“Nice. Hang on tight, okay?” Asahi said.
Fuyuka’s only response was a small squeeze that he felt on his back.
Asahi used the flashlight they had been given to illuminate the area in front of them, and they slowly forged ahead.
He made an effort to look behind him and check on Fuyuka from time to time; she was still barely managing to keep her eyes open.
Well, I guess that’s still an improvement.
“Seems like nothing’s happening so far,” Asahi reported.
“I hope it stays that way.”
“You’d be surprised how many places actually go for that ambient buildup, only for nothing to happen in the end.”
Then again, it wouldn’t be a haunted house if there wasn’t a jumpscare or two thrown in at some point. Giving visitors a false sense of security before scaring the living crap out of them is their bread and butter.
Asahi, however, elected to withhold that piece of information from Fuyuka.
Both of them walked down the long corridor. They turned the first corner, the very spot Fuyuka, had been wary of when—
“Aaaarrrghhhh!”
A threatening roar rang out, followed by a man—clad in a bloody surgical suit—who sprang out and began to approach them at great speed.
“Eeeeek!” Fuyuka shrieked cutely, which rang throughout the darkened hospital.
“Fuyuka, hey! You’re gonna tear my shirt...”
“No, no! A monster! Get away from me! Go away!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Okay, not getting through to you then,” he said. Fuyuka had all but regressed back to a young girl. She sealed her eyes shut and quivered in fear. She embraced Asahi from behind, sinking her face into his back and shutting her eyes tight in an attempt to ignore the outside world. Asahi had no choice but to drag her along himself.
✦ ✦ ✦
＊
As the hoarse, muffled groans grew quieter and quieter behind them, Asahi was finally able to make it to the designated safe zone within the attraction, albeit not without some trouble.
“There we go. Nobody should come for us here.”
Fuyuka sobbed, her clasp white-knuckled around Asahi. The shallow breaths she drew in and out filled the dark room with noise. That, combined with Fuyuka’s soft touch on his back, made Asahi feel almost overstimulated in an already intense situation.
“Well, this is far from ideal.”
The tenacity with which she held onto Asahi rendered him unable to move properly, yet he couldn’t find it in his heart to peel her off of him. He waited patiently for the right opportunity to speak.
“Cooled down a bit?”
Fuyuka nodded, mute.
“Think you can walk on your own now?”
She shook her head.
“You wanna quit? We can get out now if you want.” he asked, concerned. Fuyuka nodded quickly, which caused Asahi to smile. “All right then, let’s go. You can keep holding onto me if you want.”
Driven by Asahi’s encouragement, Fuyuka followed along, her head drooped down low. This helpless side of her—like that of a scared child—was something that Asahi hadn’t seen before.
The impression was only solidified when she quietly muttered, “Just so you know... I’m not afraid of monsters.”
“Mhm. I don’t doubt it,” Asahi teased, cracking a smile.
✦ ✦ ✦
＊
“Park’s gonna close soon. I figure we can get one more ride in,” Chiaki said while staring at a clock.
The sun had already begun to near the horizon, dyeing the sky orange. The distinction between day and night always proved dubious between the end of winter and the start of spring. The marvelous sunset mixed shades of indigo, violet, and sienna. It would soon all be replaced by the inky black of night.
“No more, please.”
“Please.”
Asahi and Fuyuka were of one mind as the temperature continued to drop around them. The fatigue of the day had taken a toll on them, both mentally and physically, and left them with almost no energy to spare.
Please, for the love of everything that is holy, let the last ride be something peaceful... like the teacups, or a carousel.
Hinami seemed to have read his mind, somehow, because she pointed her finger toward an enormous metal wheel. She grinned as they all turned and gazed at the ferris wheel, which was lit up in a spectrum of colors.
“If we’re talking last rides, you know it’s gotta be the ferris wheel, right? Right?!” Hinami exclaimed with a grin.
The rest of the group nodded in unison.