We arrived at the amusement park in Kōrakuen.

After enjoying various attractions... "Wanna ride that one last?"

Ichika said this, pointing to the giant Ferris wheel.

Kōrakuen has several signature attractions. The Ferris wheel is just one of them.

The Ferris wheel boarding area is located near the roller coaster queue.

We held hands and headed toward the entrance.

Because it was late, there was no one else at the gondola platform but us.

We boarded the gondola that arrived shortly after. Ichika sat directly in front of me.

The gondola rose steadily into the air...

"Has this been here since you were a kid?"

"Yes. Everyone is quite built, so it's a bit cramped, isn't it?"

As we ascended toward the top, Ichika happily shared memories of her family.

Sanzo-san and Jirota-san have apparently been Terminators since back in the day.

The sisters are said to be slender but tall.

Ichika talks about her family with genuine joy. You can see how close they are.

After talking for a while, the gondola arrived near the top. "Oh..." "It's beautiful..."

The cityscape illuminated by the setting sun spread out as far as the eye could see.

I had seen this view before during the parachute jump, but here I could take my time to appreciate it. "...Hey, Kōhiko-kun" "Hm? What is it?"

Ichika fidgeted a bit, then murmured softly. "...Can I sit next to you?"

It seemed she was asking if she could take the seat beside me.

"You don't even need to ask. Go ahead."

Ichika's face lit up instantly. She put her bag on the seat and sat down directly next to me. A sweet scent tickled my nose.

Ichika's beautiful face was right there, close to mine.

When our eyes met, she blushed and smiled shyly. ...Unconsciously, my heart found peace.

I held her hand in silence, watching the cityscape as dusk settled over the metropolitan streets.

"Tokyo Dome really does look just like a melon pan,"

"It does, huh? Back then, I used to think it looked tasty. Now... not so much."

"Ichika's lunch was way better." "Hehe... thank you."

Spending time with Ichika is incredibly soothing.

There's no need to put on airs. No need to act older than I am.

It's effortless. So, so... "Huh?"

Plopped... Ichika was shedding tears.

"Oh? Wh-what is it? What's wrong with me..."

She wiped her face with the back of her hand, scrubbing away the tears.

But they wouldn't stop; eventually, she buried her face in her palms. "What's wrong?"

"...I'm sorry. I just... feel overwhelmed." I handed Ichika a handkerchief.

She took it and pressed it against her eyes.

"I've always... I've always wanted to do this with you."

I met Ichika about ten years ago.

From that day on, we were just close friends. Nothing more.

"Of course, going out in the three of us, including Hakuma-kun, was precious and fun too. But... really, I've always wanted to do this with you." "I see..."

Back in college, I was swamped with Misae and our novel project.

I never once noticed the affection of the person standing closest to me offering it up. "...Sorry, Ichika" "Huh...?"

"Failing to notice your feelings. Hurting you..."

There must have been an indescribable pain there. And that lasted for ten years. It undoubtedly had to be a difficult stretch of days.

But... Ichika smiled and shook her head. "You don't have to apologize, Kouhei-kun." "But..."

"I'm fine. Look, I'm just naturally sturdy. I even have little biceps and my abs are faintly visible, you know?"

"But... no matter how strong you are, your heart is still a girl's, isn't it?" Ichika smiled quietly. The tears had already stopped.

"I'm happy. That you call me a girl, Hikohiko-kun." "Ichika..."

She cupped my cheeks in her hands and gave me a gentle kiss.

It was a long, sweet... melting kind of kiss.

"I don't mind. Right now, being able to be here with you, close by... that's all I need."

Ichika leaned her cheek against my chest.

Closing her eyes, she listened to the rhythm of my heartbeat.

"I'm happy sharing time with you. I'm happy seeing what you see. If you are... here now, that is enough."

...To Ichika resting by my side, I... I pulled her shoulder closer. "Hikohiko-kun...?" I squeezed her tightly against me.

She widened her eyes and looked up at me.

"...Maybe it's okay to be a little greedy." "Huh?"

She says just being by your side is enough. But...

"We became lovers. Maybe it's okay to have a bit more... desire." "......"

I know that, by normal societal standards, our current relationship is considered abnormal.

For Ichika, the situation remains one where she can’t simply throw her hands up and celebrate.

"Even though it's temporary... I love you, Ichika. There's no deception in these feelings." "……Really?"

"It's true. So... calm down. You don't have to be so afraid."

For some reason, Ichika doesn't ask for anything beyond what is strictly necessary.

Being by my side is enough for her. In other words, she doesn't wish for anything more than that.

"That's fine. Talk to me... say various things to me."

"……Like Akari-chan does?" "Ah, yes."

After hesitating for a moment, Ichika whispered softly to me.

"……I want to go to the hotel together after this." "Oh. Understood."

"……Tonight, can you spoil me rotten?" "Understood in every detail."

Ichika murmured quietly, pouring out her desires... the feelings she had kept hidden inside.

I had all sorts of dreams—wanting a bunch of kids, or living in a detached house even if it was small.

Inside her were hidden many things she wanted to do with me.

"It's okay. Little by little, step by step… let's try." "……Wh-What?!"

We embraced and kissed again.

……Pulling our faces apart, we smiled.

"Wait, what? Hiko-chan? The Ferris wheel... didn't we go up yet?" "Huh? Ah, really..."

It seems we had gone all the way around without realizing it.

The operator looked at us and smiled wryly.

Apparently, he read the room and just let it slide. "What a couple of hopeless lovers…" "Well, don't worry about it." "Yeah..." "Let's apologize together later, okay?"

Ichika laughed as if a flower had bloomed. "Wh-What?!"

And so, the amusement park date between me and Ichika came to an end.