“Th-Thank you, Minami.”
“I’m sorry. It’s like I’m the only one enjoying myself...”
“N-Not at all! I’m having fun too!”
Elena paused, looking at me with the park map in her hands as we stood to the side of the path. “Then... is there an attraction you want to visit?”
“Hmm... What’s that one?” I asked, pointing to the attraction closest to us—a mysterious-looking European-style mansion.
“Oh, that? That’s the Haunted Manor.”
“As in, like a haunted house?”
“Exactly! I love it! Shall we go there?”
Ugh, why does it have to be a haunted house of all things?
“You like that sort of thing?” I asked her. “Like, horror and stuff...”
“I like to think so. I’m not scared that easily, you know?”
“W-Well then... I want to go there.” I’d visited that exact same attraction once as a child, but I couldn’t remember anything about it.
We lined up and chatted until it was our turn. We only had to stand for an hour, which, compared to that of the more popular rides, was a relatively short waiting time.
Unlike a traditional haunted house, where you walked through a series of spooky corridors, you sat in a cart in the Haunted Manor which slowly took you through the place, giving you more time to enjoy the view. Each cart could seat two people, which, in this case, was Elena and me.
“Eeeek! Hahaha!”
While we cruised through the Western-style building infested by Western-style ghosts, I could hear Elena’s cute reactions—a mix of shrieks and laughter that made it clear she was spooked, but certainly not terrified. She had obviously been telling the truth about not being easily scared.
To be honest, though, this attraction wasn’t really trying to be scary in the first place. The effects and animatronics looked awesome, but, despite the horror setting, they were mostly meant to be humorous. That made even more sense considering I’d seen little children lining up at the entrance.
I bet Nishina would still be screaming for her life though. She was shaking like a leaf from that silly little place in Fantastia Land. What’d happen if she ever went there with Yuya? There’s something cute about a girl being scared, but she definitely crosses the line into “annoying” territory. I can almost see him covering his ears, wondering what’s wrong with her...
“I see you’re enjoying this way more than the last ride!” Elena said, staring at my face with her large eyes.
“Huh?”
The inside of the manor was quite dark, but we were sitting close enough to be able to make out each other’s faces.
“You’re smiling so much...” she explained, and I noticed that I was indeed grinning like an idiot.
“H-Hahaha! It’s because this place is so fun!”
I was thinking about Nishina again... I shouldn’t be thinking about her today at all! And why was I grinning like that? Anyway, they’re probably sitting together in that café right now.
I wonder how she’s doing. When I talked with Yuya, it was pretty clear he liked her back. I’d be surprised if they didn’t end up becoming boyfriend and girlfriend after today. And after their meal, they’ll go to karaoke together... Maybe they’re already there, alone together, having fun... That’s good for them.
I shouldn’t be worrying about her. I shouldn’t even be thinking about her. Why do I keep doing it then?! It’s like the tenth time today...
As we left the Haunted Manor, Elena suddenly froze.
“Wh-What’s wrong?” I asked.
“S-Sorry... I thought I saw a friend of mine, but it was just someone who looks like her...”
Just like when Nishina and I went to Fantastia Land! The coincidences never end! Though those really were Nishina’s friends back then...
“Ichigaya?”
This time, it was Elena wondering what was wrong with me, as I’d also come to a sudden stop.
“O-Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just glad it wasn’t your friend, that’s all.”
“Hm? Why?”
“Because if it really were, they would find out that we’re dating, and you could end up being made fun of for it...”
“Actually, I’m not planning on hiding the fact that you’re my boyfriend. If anything, I’d like to introduce you to my friends, given the opportunity,” she said, against all of my expectations.
I may have just said something rude.
“Oh! Th-Thank you...” I replied, extremely grateful for her consideration.
I wasn’t a boyfriend worth boasting about. Especially not for a girl like Elena. And yet, she thought so highly of me as to want to show me off to her friends. She was just too kind. She was also beautiful, hardworking, and a talented voice actress despite being so young... Elena was out of my league in every conceivable way. The fact that she’d become my girlfriend was nothing short of a miracle.
Why, then? Why can’t I concentrate on my date with her? Why does my mind keep wandering back to what Nishina’s doing?
Back at Fantastia Land, Kokoro had stood up for me, going as far as getting mad at her own friends.
“Don’t talk about Ichigaya like that. You don’t know the first thing about him!”
She’d saved me by saying that, and that wasn’t the only time she’d done so. She’d stood up for me in the same way during my confrontation with Mashiro. And afterward, when I was hurt and depressed, she had been there to comfort me. Kokoro had been the one keeping me going time after time. She’d given me the strength to come all this way.
But now we don’t live together anymore, and I have a girlfriend. A perfect girlfriend who likes me for me... but I can’t stop thinking about Nishina.
Only now, when we weren’t even living together anymore, did I finally realize how happy the days I’d spent with my roommate were. The more I thought about it, the more memories flooded my mind. But it’s too late. We went our separate ways. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.
“Ichigaya...” Elena’s voice made me snap back to reality. She was looking at me with a concerned expression.
“Mina—”
“You were thinking about someone, weren’t you?” she asked me with a sad smile.