Chapter 30
The soft chime of the door closed behind them as Kokoro and Mika stepped out of the sweet-scented crepe shop and back into the vivid chaos of the amusement park. The sounds hit them instantly—a blend of lively chatter, excited squeals, distant mechanical whirring, and the occasional scream that pierced the air from rides far beyond their line of sight. The sun was still bright above, casting warm golden light that reflected off colorful signboards and balloons dancing on vendor carts.
Mika took a deep breath and smiled, her expression soft and thoughtful for a moment. Her arms were still curled tightly around Kokoro’s like ivy, and she leaned into him slightly.
"Let’s not ride anything for now," she said, her tone considerate. "We just ate, and you still look like you’ve been through a war."
Kokoro coughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah... probably for the best. I don’t want to make headlines for repainting a roller coaster seat."
Mika giggled, her laughter like wind chimes in the breeze. With her mood now brimming with new excitement, she tugged Kokoro toward a broad section of the park filled with carnival-style booths, bright awnings, and hanging signs announcing various mini games in big bold letters.
This corner of the amusement park had a different charm altogether. It lacked the dizzying heights and deafening roars of the rides but made up for it with energy and heart. Laughter spilled freely here—from children tossing rings wildly, teenagers daring each other at the shooting stalls, and couples trying (and failing) to win oversized plushies while pretending they weren’t taking it seriously.
Every booth was a miniature world of its own.
To Kokoro’s right, a boy missed all three of his shots at a can pyramid and shouted in exaggerated agony, only for his little sister to knock it down in one go and jump up and down with pride. On the other side, a pair of girls squealed after winning twin frog plushies and took a selfie with exaggerated victory poses.
Mika smiled as if soaking it all in, her arms now twined even more firmly around Kokoro’s. Then she pointed toward one particular booth—Ring Toss. Her eyes sparkled with the kind of delight that only came when the prize was in sight.
"Let’s try this one!"
The ring toss stand was decorated in pastel colors with streamers and strings of LED lights, and it displayed a collection of adorable prizes: small plush animals, bigger anime-themed ones, and a top-shelf prize—an absurdly fluffy elephant with stitched stars for eyes and a pink ribbon tied around its trunk.