Hans stood just outside the carousel; phone pressed to his ear. The cheerful jingles of the ride clashed with the frustration in his voice.
"What do you mean you guys can't come?" he hissed into the speaker.
—"Sorry, dude," Clide's voice came, muffled and rushed. "Yui suddenly got an appointment she can't miss."
Hans clenched his jaw. "Then what about us? We're literally standing here waiting for you."
—"I know, man, I know. But what can I do? Just enjoy your time with Alice. She's a nice girl—babe, one sec!" Clide's voice trailed, followed by Yui's faint call in the background. Then back on the line: "Anyways tell Alice sorry for Yui, yeah? Anyway, have fun!"
"Wait, Clide—" The call cut off with a beep.
Hans lowered the phone slowly, staring at the black screen in disbelief.
"This guy… how could he? Unbelievable."
Just a few days ago, his roommate and best friend Clide begged him to come to a double date with his girlfriend, Yui and her friend, Alice, swearing it'd help him get over his recent break up, and now he just completely left him up.
He shoved the phone into his pocket with a scowl. "What a friend."
Still fuming, he turned around just to freeze.
On a bench not far away sat a girl hugging a giant panda plush to her chest. Her dark blue hair in a ponytail swayed in the breeze as she shifted, with an ice cream on hand.
Hans blinked. "Sayu…?"
Sayu turned as she heard his voice, and when she saw him, her lips parted in surprise. "…Hans."
Without thinking, he strode closer. "You're here too? Are you... are you here alone?"
Sayu opened her mouth to reply, but a light, cheerful voice cut in.
"Hans! Look, I got the tickets!" A brunette girl jogged up to him, waving four passes in her hand. She slowed when her eyes landed on Sayu. "Oh? Who's this?"
Hans hesitated a fraction of a second. "A friend," he said quickly.
Sayu gave a polite, almost too-perfect smile. "Nice to meet you."
The girl returned it, still curious, "I'm Alice."
"Sayu."
Hans glanced back at Sayu. "So, uh… are you really here alone?"
Sayu shifted slightly, her hands tightening around the panda. She drew in a breath, ready to answer.
"She's with me."
The firm voice came from behind. All eyes turned.
Hayato stood there, casual as ever, though his eyes were sharp. He slipped easily to Sayu's side.
"Oh, did you finish?" Sayu asked.
Hayato replied with a nod before returning, that's when their gazes locked: Hans's surprise, Hayato's quiet challenge.
"…Hayato," Hans muttered.
The brunette blinked between them, oblivious to the tension. "Oh, so you're together? Nice to meet you, I'm Alice." Hayato replied.
Alice frowned suddenly, holding up the tickets. "Wait, when are Yui and Clide coming?"
Hans sighed. "They just called me. They're not coming. Appointment or something."
"What? But I just bought these haunted house tickets!" She pouted, gripping the four tickets in her hand tightly.
Meanwhile Hayato and Sayu were about to leave. Then, brightening, Alice turned to them. "Why don't you two come with us, then? Otherwise, they'll just go to waste."
Sayu blinked, caught off guard. Hayato opened his mouth to politely decline, but she leaned closer, insisting. "Seriously, it'll be fun. It'll really be a loss, if we don't use them. Please?"
Sayu and Hayato exchanged a glance. Neither seemed eager, but refusing again would only draw more attention. In the end, they gave a quiet nod of agreement.
Hans looked at Sayu before saying his concern. "Are you sure? Don't force it, you know you're not that good with Horrors."
Sayu gave a smile. "It's fine a little haunted house won't do bad."
Both Hayato and Alice looked at them for a second.
Hans's eyes flickered toward Sayu, as if hoping she'd look at him, but her gaze stayed fixed on the tickets in Alice's hand.
"Then, should we?" Alice asked, as they followed from behind.
The four of them walked together toward the looming facade of the haunted house. The building was painted in faded blacks and purples, fake cobwebs dangling from the entryway. A crowd was gathered nearby, the line snaking around the corner. They took their place at the back, only a few groups ahead of them.
Alice slipped easily to Sayu's side, looping her arm through hers as though they were already close friends. "This is going to be so much fun," she said with a bright smile.
Sayu gave a polite smile in return, hugging the panda plush a little tighter with her free arm.
Behind them, Hayato and Hans stood shoulder to shoulder. Hayato's posture was steady, relaxed, hands in his pockets. Hans, though, couldn't help casting glances at Sayu, as if remembering how their last encounter ended, making his chest tighten in an unfamiliar way.
To fill the silence, Alice tilted her head at Sayu and asked cheerfully, "So… are you two on a date?"
Sayu blinked, caught off guard. Before she could form an answer, Hayato spoke smoothly from behind, "Yeah. We are."
The words were simple, but they were sudden enough that made Sayu's turn. She turned her head, back to the front of the line, while Alice let out a small laugh of surprise.
"Oh, how sweet! I knew it." Alice's grip on Sayu's arm tightened playfully, as if teasing her.
Hans' jaw clenched. He looked at Hayato, who didn't even seem to notice, his gaze calm as ever on the line ahead. Something about that composure—his easy confidence—made Hans' irritation spark hotter.
Alice, oblivious to the shift in air, went on with a cheerful sigh. "You know, we were supposed to be on a double date today too. Our friends Clide and Yui were supposed to come with us. But they canceled last minute. Can you believe it?"
Sayu gave a soft murmur of sympathy, though her attention seemed focused at the haunted house in front.
The line shuffled forward. Only one group remained ahead of them now. The eerie music from inside the haunted house spilled faintly through the walls: rattling chains, sudden screams. Sayu stiffened at the sounds, hugging her panda closer.
"Next!" the ride manager barked, lifting the rope to let the four of them through.
They stepped toward the darkened doorway, shadows swallowing them one by one.