Why should I have to ride the merry-go-round with Hayato-kun? It's not like I hate him or anything! Hayato, you know my heart, right?"
Tobe Kakeru's dramatic lament made Hayama Hayato's face freeze awkwardly.
"I'd rather not know!" he thought miserably. "I don't want to ride with you either!"
He sneaked a glance at Tobe Kakeru, who kept throwing desperate looks at Ebina Hina, hoping she'd save him and ride the merry-go-round together. But alas, Hina, ever the mastermind, had already whisked the girls away, leaving poor Tobe in the dust.
In the end, Hayato sighed in resignation. For the sake of group harmony, he could only sit beside Tobe Kakeru. Two guys riding a merry-go-round together... it felt more tragic than funny.
Meanwhile, Nozomi's side was the very image of warmth and happiness.
At some point, Miura Yumiko and Shiina Mahiru had swapped seats, so now Yumiko was snuggled up in Nozomi's arms. Nozomi, ever the smooth operator, had one hand wrapped casually around Yumiko's waist, while the other gently held Mahiru's soft, slender hand.
To any outsider, it looked like he was the king of two-timing scoundrels.
But for Nozomi, both girls were precious in their own right.
Mahiru's situation tugged at his heartstrings. Her parents never truly expected anything of her beyond the facade of being a "good girl." Studying hard, rejecting invitations, always being "perfect" — Mahiru had given up so much of her youth to chase approval that never came.
Getting first place at school wasn't enough. Nothing ever was.
But now, Mahiru had stopped trying to please them. She chose to be happy, chose to smile with her friends.
For Mahiru, going out like this wasn't just about having fun. It was about reclaiming a piece of herself.
Feeling Nozomi's hand in hers, Mahiru couldn't help but lean her soft body against his back, her heart full to bursting.
Miura Yumiko, snuggled in Nozomi's arms, felt her face burning. She had thought riding a carousel was childish at first. But now, feeling Nozomi's warmth around her, the soft scent of his clothes, the gentle strength in his arms... her heart raced uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Sayu and Ebina Hina were also having the time of their lives.
Sayu, having shed the heavy burdens of her past, had fully returned to her lively and cheerful self. She laughed without holding back, her joy infectious to everyone around her.
Yuigahama Yui, however, watched everything with a slight sourness in her heart.
"Yumiko, you traitor!" she cried internally. "You said you didn't like Nozomi! You even encouraged me to chase him! And now you're clinging to him like a koala!"
She wanted to be in Nozomi's arms too!
Perhaps Ebina Hina sensed the brewing dissatisfaction, because she suddenly suggested a group swap.
And just like that, Ebina Hina sat in front of Nozomi, while Yui slid behind him.
The two "headlights" — as Nozomi privately dubbed them — pressed warmly against his back, and the gentle, electrifying touch almost made him lose control.
Trying to maintain his composure, Nozomi quietly tightened his arm around Ebina Hina's waist.
The sensation of holding her, the heat of her body under his palm — it made Ebina Hina's cheeks flush bright pink.
Originally, Hina had volunteered to sit in front to save the shy Yui and to deal a psychological blow to Tobe Kakeru. Using Nozomi as a "shield" seemed perfect.
But she hadn't expected...
That thing...
That hard, hot thing against her back...
Suddenly, Ebina Hina remembered every spicy manga she'd ever read. Her mind exploded into chaos, and her favorability toward Nozomi skyrocketed.
"Nozomi... he's not just the perfect comic protagonist... he's real...!" she thought frantically, her heart thundering in her chest.
Meanwhile, Yuigahama Yui, sitting behind Nozomi, couldn't help but wrap her soft arms around his waist. Her cheeks were a fiery red, her heart pounding like crazy.
She was happy — no, ecstatic — but she also felt a tinge of regret.
"If I'd been braver... it could've been me sitting in front... being hugged tightly by him...!"
She peeked at Ebina Hina, who was clinging to Nozomi, her face beet red.
Was Hina really into BL?
Nozomi couldn't help but wonder, looking at Ebina's flushed little face. She seemed... just as nervous as Yui, maybe even a little happy?
Nozomi didn't know what was going on inside Ebina's head—he only knew one thing for sure:
He was happy.
But at the same time... it was getting a little uncomfortable.
He subtly tightened his arms around Ebina Hina's waist, letting her feel his warmth even more clearly.
Ebina quickly raised a trembling hand to cover her nose, her whole face steaming like a kettle ready to explode.
( I'm not that kind of girl...! I'm not! I swear! )
But being hugged so closely by such a dangerous, charming, mysterious guy—with a body that could only be described as perfect—how could she possibly resist? Her mind whirled, her legs felt weak, and her heart pounded like a drum solo in a battle anime.
( Crap... my nose... it's really going to bleed—! )
Sure enough, Ebina's body softened, and she slumped gently into Nozomi's embrace.
Meanwhile, off to the side, Tobe Kakeru was clutching his chest dramatically, looking as if his soul was about to leave his body.
"Hayato-kun...!" Tobe cried out in despair. "You have to stop him! How can he just hug Hina like that?!"
His face twisted in anguish, eyes wide with disbelief.
"And... and if he gets to hug Hina... is it my turn next?"
Hayama Hayato's mouth twitched, exasperated.
Honestly, he was a little jealous of Nozomi too—who wouldn't be? But he had no intention of following Nozomi's wild example of gathering a whole team of girls around him.
Besides, Nozomi was a different species altogether. Normal people couldn't just copy him.
Sighing, Hayato tried to encourage the broken Tobe. "Come on, Tobe. You won't know unless you try inviting her yourself. You've known Hina way longer than Nozomi has, right?"
Tobe's eyes lit up like he'd just been given a cheat code to life. His spirit roared back to life, though a sour aura still clung to him.
( Ughh... Nozomi, you bastard! How dare you steal my angel Hina! )
The carousel continued to spin, but in Tobe's heart, it felt like he was stuck in a tragic love story.
Finally, the ride screeched to a halt.
Before anyone else could move, Tobe shot forward like a rocket, his mouth already opening wide, ready to shout:
"Hina! It's my turn! Ride with me next—!"
But before the words could leave his mouth...
Ebina Hina staggered off the ride—with two impressive streams of nosebleed dripping down her face.
"AHHH! Hina, are you okay?!" Yumiko shrieked, rushing to her side.
She turned and shot a death glare at Hayato.
( Seriously, Hayato-kun?! You knew she's fragile when it comes to BL and strong emotions, and you still...!)
Hayato raised his hands helplessly. How was this his fault?!
If Tobe hadn't clung to him in desperation, he wouldn't have been caught up in this madness!
Meanwhile, Ebina Hina, still giggling dizzily, wiped her nose with a tissue and said with a sheepish grin, "I'm fine... just got a little dizzy, hehe..."
Everyone: ( That's not just "a little"!! )
Miura Yumiko quickly seized the situation. "Alright, let's head to that dessert shop nearby to sit down and recover. Nozomi-kun, can I trouble you to help support Hina?"
Nozomi flashed a warm smile. "Of course."
With one arm still gently around Ebina's waist, Nozomi helped her off the carousel. Her head leaned against his shoulder, cheeks pink, heart pounding like crazy.
Watching this unfold, Tobe Kakeru felt his soul crack into tiny, miserable pieces.
( Our group date plan... totally ruined! )
All the "romantic opportunities" they'd imagined were completely swallowed up by Nozomi's gravitational pull!
Hayama Hayato sighed deeply. Still, he followed along, dragging Tobe by the collar toward the dessert shop.
"You really think you can invite her to sit with you now?" Hayato asked dryly.
Tobe wiped an invisible tear. "I know... but I'm not giving up! Hayato-kun, when we go to the haunted house later—you have to help me! Please!"
Hayato's lips twitched.
( Why did I ever agree to come today... )
At this moment, Hayato Hayama learned a painful truth:
Choosing your friends wisely... was a matter of life and death.
Especially when your friend was a hopeless idiot like Tobe Kakeru!