With that melancholic mood hanging over us, we tried a more active ride: Tomb Ranger, a treasure hunt adventure.
The twist? The enemies were pirates. The setting? Saitama. The treasure? Miso-flavored rice crackers.
…What?
"Let's do our best, Ikki-senpai!"
Food prizes really bring out her competitive spirit.
But seeing Koneko-chan's eyes sparkling with excitement… I couldn't complain.
"Alright, bring it on, pirates! In the shadowy underworld, SAITAMA rivals GUNMA as a land of chaos! You'll learn your place today!"
Wielding our sabers, we battled pirates, crossed seven seas, and claimed our treasure, the rice crackers were delicious.
Having worked up a sweat, we grabbed crepes from a shop run by a levitating earthenware statue (yes, really) before heading to the next attraction.
The next stop was the Earth Science Theater, where a globe-shaped mascot gave a nonstop lecture on humanity's destruction of the planet.
It wasn't an explanation, it was a lecture. Actually, more like a verbal beatdown.
"Hey you, the couple! Donate to this collection box for me, Earth! Minimum donation, 2,000 yen per person. No exceptions! Hey! You're ignoring me!? You owe 10,000 yen, damn it!!"
…That was borderline extortion. How hasn't this place been shut down yet?
Last up: a treasure-hunting adventure guarded by a dragon. From the entrance, the aura was intense.
Beyond booby traps like arrow-firing walls and spike-filled pit traps, we finally opened the last door, and found a massive red dragon (a real one).
"Fwahahaha! You dare steal my treasure, you who dwell below the heavens!?"
Wow. No wonder this place got popular. They actually hired a real dragon.
"Now that I think about it, aside from Great Red, I've never seen a dragon in full form."
Ddraig's a gauntlet, Lasse's a kid, and Ophis is… well, Ophis. Even if she shapeshifted, she'd be more like a divine "ryuu" than a typical dragon.
"When we went to the Underworld for training camp, I got a ride from some of Tannin-sama's dragons."
Oh wow, that's actually pretty rare.
Just as I was thinking that, the dragon in front of us started to visibly panic.
"T-T-Tannin-sama?! You know him!?"
Well, Tannin was a former Dragon King. Even if he stepped down, that title still carries weight.
"I've never met him directly."
"I only rode on the back of one of his subordinates. We didn't speak."
The dragon looked both disappointed and… oddly relieved.
"Oh, but I've spoken to Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, a fair bit."
Mostly comforting him when he cries about the "Oppai Dragon" stuff.
"D-D-D-Ddraig-sama!? …Hiiieee!!"
The moment I said the name, the dragon screamed and fainted.
Since we couldn't end the attraction like that, I used some senjutsu to wake him up.
He immediately bowed his head and respectfully handed over the treasure (our prize).
…He's a little lacking in the dignity department, isn't he?
With all that done, we'd been through most of the park and it was already evening. Maybe we had time for one more stop. Or maybe we'd just head home.
That's when Koneko-chan tugged my sleeve.
"Ikki-senpai… how about we ride that next?"
She pointed at the Ferris wheel.
A classic way to wrap up the day.
We boarded without much of a wait and took our seats.
"Um… Koneko-chan, do you really need to sit on my lap right now?"
"This is where I feel most comfortable. I'm still small, so I'm not in the way, right? Or… would you prefer I move?"
When she says it like that, I can't ask her to move…
Even if it were Kuroka or adult-mode Koneko-chan, I doubt I'd say she's "in the way."
As we watched the sunset over the city, Koneko-chan spoke up.
"Um… Ikki-senpai, you… already kissed Kuroka-oneesama, right?"
"Gwah!?"
Her question made me choke on my own breath.
"Well… yeah, during the closing ceremony before summer break…"
"Was it on the lips? Anywhere else?"
She's really pushing this!?
Why am I the one getting grilled in this romantic confession booth!?
"…After we came back from the Underworld, Kuroka kissed my cheek… and my neck. That's it… I swear."
Before bed and when I wake up in the morning, she gives me soft little kisses, I'm still not used to it, and every time, my self-control nearly evaporates. I have to muster every last bit of willpower just to keep myself in check... Sometimes, the thought crosses my mind: "Isn't it okay to just go all the way now?"
...Okay. I lied. It's not "sometimes", it's "constantly."
Hearing that, the little kitten sitting on my lap shifted to sit sideways and turned to look up at me with slightly teary eyes.
"Then... I think I'll try my best too."
"M-Muku!"
She leaned in just a little closer, and our lips met.
I was surprised, sure, but a Ferris wheel at sunset... it was honestly the perfect setting.
I gently wrapped my arms around her small frame once more. Her body felt warmer than usual. We both instinctively closed our eyes, and for several long seconds, we shared a soft kiss. Then, almost at the same moment, our lips parted.
Our faces flushed red from the moment and the mood. Koneko quickly turned her body and face forward with a "hmph!", but the bit of cheek I could still see was bright red.
Without saying a word, we got off the Ferris wheel and exited the theme park together.
"That was... I mean, yeah, it was an incredibly cliché moment, but..."
I fumbled for words, trying to say something, anything.
"...Yes."
"I'm really glad we did it... Shall we go home?"
"...Yes"
We moved to a secluded spot and teleported home.
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