Five minutes before the agreed time.
A young woman with shoulder-length black hair, a slender and graceful figure, exuding confidence in every movement, emerged from the crowd and walked straight toward him.
"Hmph, not bad~"
As if giving a score, the young woman smiled meaningfully, her long, curled eyelashes glancing at him flirtatiously.
"Neat face, clean clothes, and a fresh appearance… Arriving early doesn't earn extra points, because that's the bare minimum!"
Seeing Yuu's resigned expression, she tucked her beautiful hair behind her ear, then took a small step back.
Then, like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, she laughed brightly and said:
"Do I need to introduce myself, Mr. Tenkuji Yuu, who might not have seen me in fifteen autumns?"
Sighing, Yuu raised one hand, indulging her request: "If you'd like, go ahead."
"Alright." With that, she spread her arms and gently hugged him amidst the crowd.
Without the slightest pressure, as if leaning into a plush sofa, Haruno closed her eyes slightly and whispered:
"I'm your girlfriend. Nice to meet you—please take care of me from now on."
Yuu was stunned, nearly breaking out of his perfect acting mode.
After taking a deep breath, he raised his arms, carefully, as if handling fragile glass, wrapping them around Haruno's full yet slender frame, and whispered in her ear:
"You should've said it's been a while, Haruno."
"True enough." Haruno giggled, her ears slightly red. "The letter was beautifully written, you young poet. When are you writing a book for me~?"
"Later, definitely later." Feeling like his love letter was being read aloud in public, Yuu grew embarrassed.
Haruno, with her mischievous personality, was delighted.
Yuu was still a bit unaccustomed to such intimacy in front of the bustling amusement park entrance. After a few seconds of hugging, he let go of Haruno, their hands naturally clasping together.
Yuu unconsciously observed her outfit.
The twenty-year-old wore a light yellow sleeveless blouse with lace, tucked into a long skirt, accentuating her slim waist and prominent chest.
She had on a light blue denim jacket, and her feet sported white brand-name sneakers, with only light makeup—she looked youthful and beautiful, enough that some might believe she was eighteen.
He wasn't sure if her outfit was deliberately matched to his, but seeing she wasn't wearing the same clothes as their first meeting, Yuu felt a slight pang of regret.
What could he do? The one with the thought This is our last date; it should have a ritual connecting the start to the end was only him.
"What's up? Mesmerized?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Yuu replied: "Don't expose my secrets—how else am I supposed to keep staring at you?"
Haruno chuckled, lowering her head with a laugh, like a red flower slowly blooming.
A moment later, she lifted her smile, brighter than the clear sky, and said lightly: "Really, what am I going to do with you~ There's plenty of time to stare later—don't waste time, let's go in!"
"Wait, have you decided which ride to try first?"
"Of course, whatever catches my eye! The amusement park has so many rules—aren't you being boring?"
"…Fine, do whatever you want."
"Oh? So the evening plans are up to me too?"
"What?"
"Nothing~"
Haruno pulled his hand, excited like a child on a picnic.
Walking ahead, her full, round hips swayed gently with her steps.
She suddenly turned back, smiling brightly: "Oh, I forgot to mention something."
Yuu shifted his gaze from her hips, startled.
Haruno said: "I missed you so much too, like missing dozens of champagne bottles… How's that for a high-scoring line?"
"…"
As if pondering how to respond, Yuu paused, then showed an expressionless face, answering without hesitation:
"Ten out of a hundred."
"Tch, such a low score."
Haruno clicked her tongue, not hiding her annoyance: "And your gaze was too obvious, you little pervert."
"…"
For some reason, though they weren't looking at each other, both their cheeks warmed slightly.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
During the summer vacation, Disneyland was, of course, packed to the brim, with nothing but heads as far as the eye could see.
There were foreign tourists, local visitors, adults, and children; staff in character costumes roamed around, and people cosplaying various park characters didn't refuse photo requests.
"Since I got busy, how many years has it been since I came here?"
Looking at the lively scene before her, Haruno rubbed her chin, muttering: "Yukino-chan comes here often, and her carefree attitude pisses me off… Next time she wants to come, I'll give her a bit of trouble."
"Don't tell me about your plans to mess with your sister."
"She'll be your sister-in-law someday—how can you be so indifferent?" Haruno frowned as if scolding, then suddenly bared her fangs, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons, studying his profile with a sly, fox-like smile.
"Or, are you just playing with me, planning to find a chance to dump me once you're bored?"
Yuu looked at her, shocked: "No way? Don't tell me you want to marry your first love? That traditional?"
"…"
After Yuu spoke, Haruno's smile stuck to her face like glue.
Her gaze was genuinely cold, but her tone was light and soft:
"Annoying~ Even if it's a joke, I could get mad, you know?"
Though there was fear and unease in her heart, she hid her vulnerable side with a more dignified approach—anger.
Slightly different from before, Yuu could see the emotions hidden behind her mask, through her eyes.
It was like a calm, rational self, always observing their interactions and analyzing them one by one.
(No, I didn't think like this before leaving the house. I have to enjoy this date properly.)
Shaking his head firmly in his mind, brushing away unnecessary thoughts, Yuu smiled at her.
"Who told you to start joking like that? We're even, okay?"
Haruno immediately scrunched her face, flicking his hand in annoyance: "What kind of boyfriend keeps score over his girlfriend's jokes?"
"There is one—me. I'm a true believer in gender equality."
"No wonder you hadn't dated by seventeen."
"Heh, twenty years old… Pfft!"
Before he could finish, Haruno stomped on his foot, merciless like a steel nail.
Though it didn't hurt, Yuu still forced a stiff expression, his cheek twitching slightly.
"Now, let's ride the roller coaster~"
Pulling her foot back as if nothing happened, Haruno randomly chose a ride and cheerfully dragged him toward it.
Her profile, with a mischievous, childlike joy, was smiling beautifully.
"Really…"
Yuu sighed, but couldn't stop the corners of his lips from lifting.
It was exactly because he loved that smile that he wanted this date to be the most perfect and memorable.