Emika didn't look back.
She simply turned and started walking, her steps steady, unhurried, as if nothing significant had just happened behind her.
As she passed by Kaito, her voice came out calm—flat, almost indifferent.
"Don't you want to leave from here…?" she said without slowing down.
"I'm about to call an ambulance."
Kaito stood there for a second, still processing everything—the bodies on the ground, the silence, the weight of what had just unfolded.
Then—
he turned.
And followed her.
They walked side by side for a while.
The evening air felt cooler now, drifting through the empty street, carrying faint sounds from far away—distant engines, a dog barking somewhere, the quiet hum of the city returning.
But between them—
there was silence.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
After a few steps, Kaito finally broke it.
"By the way…" he said, glancing slightly toward her,
"who is this Night Raider group anyway…?"
Emika didn't look at him.
Her gaze stayed forward, fixed on the road ahead as she kept walking.
"They're a typical gang group," she replied, her tone calm but sharp.
"The type that gathers students… collects weapons… and builds influence to gain control over the university."
A brief pause.
"Most students fear them," she continued.
"And even the university authorities don't bother interfering with them."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"I see…" he murmured.
Then his expression shifted slightly, something else crossing his mind.
"And your power…" he added, a bit more carefully this time,
"I mean… you told me not to use it in public… so…"
For a moment—
Emika glanced at him.
A quick, sharp look.
Then her eyes returned to the road.
"About that…" she said quietly.
Her voice didn't change—but something in it felt colder.
"No one will believe them."
A short pause.
"There were no witnesses," she continued.
"No recordings."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"Even if they try to say something… people will just assume they imagined it… or that it was a dream while they were unconscious."
The wind passed between them again.
Then—
her tone dropped.
More serious.
More direct.
"Never mention this to anyone."
A small pause.
"…Understand?"
She didn't look at him this time.
Then he gave a small, awkward nod.
"…Yeah i understand," he said quietly.
After a while, the two of them separated and went their own ways.
Kaito walked along the road casually, his hands in his pockets, his pace relaxed as the evening settled around him. The streetlights flickered on one by one, casting long shadows across the pavement.
After a few steps, he pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.
Just to check the time.
But the moment his eyes shifted slightly lower—
They stopped.
His gaze locked onto the date.
For a split second, his mind didn't register it.
Then—
His eyes widened.
He quickly straightened, pulling the phone closer as if to confirm what he had just seen.
"…damn… tomorrow is Sunday…"
His voice slipped out in surprise, low but clear.
"…I almost forgot."
Sunday, around 10:10 in the morning.
The sky stretched wide and clear above Everland Park, a soft blue with thin clouds drifting lazily across it. Sunlight fell evenly over the entrance, reflecting faintly off the glass gates. The air carried a gentle warmth, balanced by a steady breeze that moved through the open space, brushing lightly against clothes and hair as people passed by.
The place was alive.
Footsteps overlapped. Children pulled at their parents' hands. Laughter echoed near the ticket counters. A distant announcement played through speakers, blending into the background noise of the crowd.
Near the main gate—
a figure stood waiting.
Still.
Out of sync with everything around him.
It was Kaito.
His weight shifted from one leg to the other, his foot tapping against the ground in a restless rhythm. His brows were slightly drawn, lips pressed together in irritation as his gaze moved again and again toward the entrance.
"she is lateeeee… damnn i have been almost waiting for hours…"
His voice came out low, stretched with annoyance.
A group of people brushed past him from the side, their shoulders nearly grazing him, but he didn't react. His attention stayed fixed ahead.
Then he exhaled.
Long.
Tired.
He pulled his phone out and unlocked it, scrolling without really looking—his thumb moving, but his mind somewhere else.
"…why did i even come this early…"
The words slipped out under his breath.
A faint breeze passed through, lifting a few strands of his hair before settling again. Somewhere behind him, a child laughed loudly, followed by a parent calling out—but it all felt distant.
Time moved.
Slowly.
His tapping foot didn't stop.
Then—
a soft touch.
Light.
Right on his shoulder.
"sorry for being late."
Kaito turned.
And everything paused.
Not the world—
Just him.
For a brief second, the noise around him dulled, like something had been pushed back.
His eyes fixed on her.
Ayame stood there, slightly catching her breath, a few strands of her black hair shifting gently with the breeze. A small silver hat rested lightly over her head, its edge catching the sunlight as it tilted just enough with her movement. Her white long skirt moved softly around her legs, the fabric reflecting light as it swayed. The silver ribbon tied in her hair shimmered faintly beneath the sun.
She didn't look like she usually did.
She looked… different.
For a moment—
Kaito just stared.
His mouth slightly open, his thoughts stalling mid-process.
"…she looks completely different… was she this gorgeous before…"
The thought slipped through before he could stop it.
His grip on his phone loosened slightly.
Then—
he snapped out of it.
"…no no i just came here," he said quickly, almost cutting his own thoughts off, his voice coming out slightly awkward as he looked away for a second.
Ayame tilted her head just a little, her expression softening into a small, playful look.
"okay let's goooo… i can't wait to see what's inside."
Her voice carried a quiet excitement, light and genuine, like she had been waiting for this moment longer than she wanted to admit.
She turned slightly toward the entrance, the movement natural, unforced.
Kaito stood there for a second longer.
Watching.
Not just her—
but the way the moment felt.
Then he slipped his phone back into his pocket.
And followed.
Both of them stepped inside the park
And for a moment—
they stopped.
What unfolded in front of them wasn't just a park.
It was… overwhelming.
The space opened wide, stretching far beyond what it looked like from the outside. Colorful pathways branched in every direction, lined with stalls, lights, and moving crowds. The air itself felt different—filled with energy, noise, and motion all at once.
Right ahead—
a massive roller coaster towered over everything.
Its tracks twisted high into the sky, looping and diving sharply. A train rushed down at full speed, the metallic roar cutting through the air as screams followed behind it—loud, raw, alive.
Ayame's eyes widened instantly.
"…woah…"
The word slipped out without control.
To the side, another ride spun rapidly, lights flashing as people laughed and shouted. Farther ahead, a drop tower slowly lifted a group into the air—only to release them in a sudden fall that sent a wave of screams across the park.
Everywhere—
people.
Walking. Running. Stopping. Pointing.
Kids dragging their parents toward rides. Friends taking pictures. Couples standing near stalls, arguing over what to try first.
The sound of music blended into everything, rising and fading as if the entire place moved to its own rhythm.
Even the wind felt different here.
It carried the smell of food, sugar, and metal, brushing past them as if pulling them forward.
Ayame stood there, completely taken in by the view, her gaze moving from one ride to another without stopping.
"…this is insane…"
Her voice was softer now, almost lost in the noise.
Kaito didn't say anything.
His eyes moved across the park slowly—taking in the scale, the movement, the structure of everything.
"…yeah…"
A small pause.
"…it's bigger than I thought."
For a brief moment—
neither of them moved.
They just stood there.
Watching.
Taking it all in.
Like stepping into a different world.
Ayame's face lit up instantly. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she pointed straight ahead, her finger locking onto the towering tracks of the roller coaster. "lets goo lets goo i want the rollar coaster ride first"
Kaito followed her gaze. The roller coaster stood tall against the sky, its tracks twisting sharply, rising high before dropping almost vertically. Another train rushed down, the sound tearing through the air along with the screams of the riders. For a brief second, his expression stiffened. "…that…?"
A flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes. But then he looked at her—the excitement in her face, the way her eyes didn't hesitate—and just like that, his expression softened. "…okay."
Before he could even process it, Ayame grabbed his hand. Warm. Firm. And pulled. "come on!" She ran. Fast.
Kaito's body jerked forward from the sudden force. "wha—" He almost lost his balance, his foot slipping slightly before he caught himself and adjusted into a run. For a second, it felt chaotic, unexpected—but then he steadied. And a faint smile appeared on his face without realizing it.
Ayame looked back while running, her hand tightly holding Kaito's. Her face was filled with pure joy, her eyes bright with excitement as the crowd blurred behind them.
"Come on—run faster… or else we won't get the first row!" she said, her voice soft but full of energy.
Kaito didn't answer immediately.
He was looking at her.
At her expression.
The way she smiled so freely… so naturally.
Everything around him—the people, the noise, the movement—faded into a blur.
"…she looks… different somehow…"
The thought slipped through his mind quietly.
The next moment—
they were seated.
Front row.
The roller coaster stretched out ahead of them, its tracks rising sharply into the sky before twisting into loops and drops. Each row had two seats, seven rows in total—but they were right at the front.
Ayame leaned forward slightly, gripping the bar, her excitement still overflowing.
"See? Running here was actually a great decision… we got the first row!" she said, her voice bright, almost proud.
Kaito sat back, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath.
"…yeah… running was definitely part of the plan…"
He exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling from the exhaustion.
But—
despite that—
a faint smile remained on his face.
For some reason—
he felt happy.
The seats weren't very spacious.
Not too tight—but not comfortable either. Just enough for two people to sit, though their shoulders, arms, even their legs would brush against each other from time to time.
As Kaito sat down, he instinctively shifted his body slightly, bending his shoulders inward, trying to create even a little space between them.
"…I hope she doesn't feel uncomfortable…"
The thought crossed his mind quietly as he adjusted himself again, careful—too careful—not to touch her.
Beside him, Ayame looked up at the sky, her gaze distant for a moment.
Then—
she noticed.
The way he kept shifting.
The way he was trying to avoid even the slightest contact.
Slowly, she relaxed back into her seat.
Not stiff.
Not cautious.
Natural.
Her shoulder brushed against his.
Kaito reacted instantly—his body tensing for a second before he shifted again, leaning slightly away, trying to create distance.
But the space was limited.
There was only so much he could do.
Then—
Ayame turned.
Slowly.
Her gaze met his.
Direct.
Close.
Too close.
Kaito froze for a second, caught off guard, his thoughts scrambling.
"…what—?"
Then her voice came out.
Soft.
Gentle.
"…you know what I really like about you?"
A small pause.
Her eyes didn't leave his.
"The way you always put others first… even when you're the one getting hurt."
For a moment—
Kaito didn't respond.
His mind blanked.
"…whaat… do you mean…" he said, his voice slightly uneven, still trying to process what she had just said.
Ayame held his gaze for another second.
Then her expression softened just a little.
"You can sit comfortably," she said quietly.
A small pause.
"I don't mind."
"Specially not around you"
Silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Not heavy.
Just… quiet.
Kaito blinked once.
Then slowly—
his shoulders relaxed.
Not completely.
But enough.
He leaned back into the seat more naturally this time, no longer forcing distance.
Their arms still touched.
Their shoulders still brushed lightly with the movement.
But this time—
he didn't pull away.
He didn't try to fix it.
He just stayed.
The safety bar slowly came down, pressing firmly against them before locking in place with a sharp metallic click.
Kaito adjusted slightly in his seat, his fingers resting on the bar as the coaster gave a low mechanical hum.
Then—
it started.
Slowly.
The wheels moved forward with a steady clank… clank… clank… as the coaster began climbing upward.
Ayame leaned forward slightly, her eyes shining with excitement, completely absorbed in the moment.
"This is fun, right?" she said, her voice carried lightly by the wind.
Kaito nodded, forcing a small smile.
"…yeah… it is."
But beneath that—
his grip tightened.
His shoulders stiffened.
His eyes stayed fixed ahead.
The higher they went, the smaller everything below became. The ground stretched farther away, the people turning into dots, the noise fading into distant echoes.
The wind grew stronger.
Colder.
Pushing against their faces as the climb continued.
Ayame didn't look away.
If anything, her excitement grew stronger.
But Kaito—
his breathing slowed.
Not calm—
controlled.
His fingers tightened slightly around the bar as his eyes flickered once… then again.
He blinked.
Opened them.
Closed them for a second.
Opened them again.
"…yeah… this is fine…"
The words stayed inside his head this time.
The climb slowed.
Clank…
Clank.
Then—
it stopped.
For a brief moment, everything went still.
Only the wind remained.
Ayame leaned forward, her grip firm, her voice rising with excitement.
"Here it comes—!"
The next second—
the coaster dropped.
Fast.
Violent.
The air rushed past like a storm as gravity pulled them down in a sudden, overwhelming force.
"WOOO—!" Ayame screamed, her voice full of thrill and excitement.
Kaito—"…!" His body locked for a split second, the force pressing him into the seat as his breath caught in his chest.
The track twisted sharply.
A turn.
Another drop.
The world blurred into motion—sky, steel, ground all mixing together as speed took over.
Ayame laughed, completely lost in the ride.
Kaito's eyes opened for a second—
then shut again—
then opened again as he tried to adjust, trying to keep control over his breathing.
"…okay—okay—this is—"
Another sharp turn cut him off.
The force pushed him sideways, his grip tightening again before loosening slightly as his body started to follow the motion instead of resisting it.
The speed didn't slow.
The wind roared past them.
The track dipped—
then rose again—
then twisted once more.
Ayame's laughter didn't stop.
Kaito exhaled sharply, his eyes finally staying open this time.
"…this is insane…"
But—
this time—
there was a faint edge in his voice.
Not just fear.
Something else.
Something closer to excitement.
The ride continued—
fast, relentless—
until slowly—
the speed began to ease.
The turns softened.
The track straightened.
The wind calmed.
And finally—
the coaster slowed to a stop.
Both of them walked along the pathway side by side, blending into the moving crowd. Kaito stretched his arms slightly, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the tension, then hummed lightly. "…that ride was fun."
Ayame stopped. Not suddenly—just enough to break the rhythm. Kaito took a step ahead before noticing and turned back, brows narrowing slightly. "…what happened?"
Ayame looked at him directly. Not teasing. Just reading him. She stepped closer. "You don't have to lie to me… I know you were scared."
Kaito blinked, caught off guard. "…no—I mean…" He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, a forced smile forming. "…I haven't been on rides like that for a while, so I was just a little surprised… that's all." His voice cracked slightly.
Ayame didn't move away. She leaned in a little closer, her expression softening. "It's not something to be ashamed of… it's normal." A small pause. "We all have things we enjoy… and things we're scared of."
Kaito went quiet for a moment, standing still, processing.
Then her expression shifted—back to her usual energy. She stepped back, raising a finger slightly. "Listen, just keep your eyes open during the ride—don't close them. And take a deep breath… like this—" She inhaled exaggeratedly, then smiled. "Then everything feels different. Trust me."
Kaito stared at her for a second, then let out a quiet breath, a faint smile slipping through. "…you really don't slow down, do you…"
Ayame tilted her head, smiling. "Nope." Then she turned and started walking again. "Come on—next ride."
Kaito shook his head slightly—but followed.
Ayame suddenly stopped and turned back toward Kaito. Without saying anything, she lifted her finger and pointed at another ride—a tall tower with multiple seats that dropped from around ten feet.
Kaito followed her finger.
The moment his eyes landed on the ride, his expression froze.
"…you mean that…?" he said, clearly shocked.
Ayame simply smiled.
The next moment—
both of them were already seated on the ride.
Both of them locked their seatbelts as the restraints came down tightly. Slowly, the ride began to rise.
As it went higher, Kaito started feeling uneasy. His grip tightened slightly, though his face tried to stay normal.
"…I am not afraid of heights… I am not… I am not…"
He didn't say it out loud.
But Ayame noticed.
Without looking at him, she spoke softly, "Close your eyes… take a deep breath."
At first, his breathing was unstable, his body slightly tense as the height kept increasing.
Just before reaching the top—
he listened.
He closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
Held it—
Then slowly opened them.
This time—
everything looked different.
The people below looked tiny, moving freely, laughing, walking, living in their own rhythm.
For a moment—
his mind cleared.
"…it's not that scary at all…"
Then—
BANG.
The ride dropped.
Everyone screamed.
Ayame shouted in excitement—
but Kaito—
didn't look scared anymore.
The ride shot up again.
This time Kaito didn't close his eyes. The wind hit harder, rushing past his face, but his chest didn't tighten the same way. His heart was still fast—but lighter.
He looked down.
The ground felt far, people moving like small figures, everything alive below him. For a moment—he just watched.
Something inside him eased.
"…it's… actually really good…" he said quietly, almost realizing it himself.
Ayame turned instantly. Her expression softened, a small, warm smile forming.
"I told you…" she said, softer this time, not teasing.
For a second—they just looked at each other.
Same height. Same wind.
Then—
the ride stopped.
A brief pause at the top.
Kaito took a slow breath. The wind filled his lungs.
"…yeah…"
DROP.
The world vanished beneath them. The force hit hard, pulling everything down at once.
"WOOO—!" Ayame shouted, completely alive.
Kaito didn't hold back this time.
"AAAH—!"
Raw. Uncontrolled.
But not fear.
Release.
The seat bounced—then dropped again.
This time he didn't tense. He leaned into it, his body moving with the motion.
A laugh slipped out, breathless.
"…this is insane—!"
Ayame laughed with him. "See?!"
Another drop.
Another rush.
Now he wasn't reacting.
He was part of it.
The fear from before—gone.
Replaced with something lighter. Freer.
Their voices overlapped again.
Not separate anymore.
Just one moment—
shared.