Suddenly, Haruno lowered her head, quickly devouring the super spicy curry as red as her cheeks.
"But there's still a week before school starts. How about three days from now, we go on a two-day, one-night hot spring trip…?"
"If you're embarrassed, don't talk—just eat."
"Eh~ I'm not embarrassed—"
While complaining at length, Haruno couldn't hide the smile on her face, biting into the slightly sweet curry rice.
Gazing at the young man eating across from her, her heart was always filled with warmth. Just looking at him made her feel immensely happy—a feeling she might have only experienced when her relationship with Yukino was still good.
(This is so nice), Haruno thought.
From the moment they met until now, she no longer showed the "enjoy it to the fullest before the deadline" attitude of before. Instead, she was relaxed, relieved, as if she no longer overthought things, ready to embrace whatever the future held, dating him with focus and joy.
What made her change? And what was she worried about before—these questions, Haruno would definitely ask, but not today.
Yuu had opened his heart to accept her, so Haruno had to reciprocate, opening her heart and enjoying the happiness he brought.
"Ah, Yuu-chan, I think there's a grain of rice on the corner of my mouth."
"You put it there yourself?!"
"I don't care, just lick it off!"
"Your tongue's closer or mine? Lick it yourself!"
"Tch, telling your girlfriend to lick it herself… Annoying!"
"Pfft! Cough, cough… Don't say ambiguous things so loudly!"
Covering his mouth and coughing a few times while grumbling, Yuu's expression was anxious and helpless.
Seeing Haruno's mischievous smile, Yuu thought:
(Thank goodness. Haruno can't see through my perfect acting when I'm serious.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After eating their fill, the electronic flower parade was about to begin.
Blending into the crowd, the two held hands, watching the procession of lanterns—brighter and longer-lasting than fireworks—pass by. After some casual complaints, they looked for another ride to enjoy.
Of course, before leaving, Haruno took a few more photos with the panda and sent them to her sister, trying to provoke jealousy; but it seemed the other side had caught on to her tricks, ignoring them without reading, making her sigh regretfully.
Next was time for fun.
On the pirate ship, Haruno tried to repeat her roller coaster antics, but Yuu forcibly hugged her, burying her face in his chest, ending the ride.
After getting off, she said it felt great and wanted to do it again multiple times—but Yuu flatly refused.
In the haunted house, Haruno pretended to be scared, clinging tightly to him, asking him to use his punch strong enough to break a punching machine to fend off the scary ghosts with "flaming punches."
As a result, throughout the walk, barely any ghosts dared approach, always keeping a safe distance while screaming.
Yuu didn't feel the haunted experience at all.
After a long queue, they finally rode the Ferris wheel to enjoy Tokyo's night view.
Inside the cabin, Haruno confidently said, "They say couples who kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel will have eternal love," but after kissing amidst the most beautiful view, she smiled at him calmly:
"I lied to you—there's no such myth. How could love be eternal? Lasting forty years is already great…"
"Or, Yuu-chan, can you show me what eternal love is?"
Rational, yet adoring romance.
Mocking herself, yet holding fast to idealism.
Haruno was indeed such a contradictory person.
Yuu didn't bother answering her question verbally; he showed his response through action.
No matter how beautiful Tokyo's night view was, it couldn't compare to the stunning mature woman before him.
The cabin swayed gently, like a small boat rocking.
After a while, stepping off the Ferris wheel with slightly weak legs, Haruno casually adjusted her clothes. After telling Yuu she needed to touch up her makeup, she quickly walked toward the restroom.
Meanwhile, Yuu took a deep breath facing the night view, and only after his blood calmed did he stand outside, waiting for her calmly and upright.
As for what just happened, he could only say: those who understand will understand; those who don't, don't ask.
To be clear, due to various factors, they didn't cross that line.
The staff looked at their retreating backs with disdain, envy, yet familiarity, relieved not to find any strange fluids in the cabin.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Around 11:30 p.m.
Disneyland closed at midnight. Yuu stood at the main gate, waiting for Haruno to finish her phone call.
The night was quiet yet lively, with people occasionally passing by, leaving the amusement park with tired but satisfied expressions.
There were families and couples, but basically no one came to Disneyland alone and stayed until nearly midnight—that would be too pathetic.
After a brief glance, Yuu didn't continue his "human observation," instead looking up at the sky, noticing a few dark clouds covering the sparse stars, turning the starry sky into a dark, heavy, serious night.
"It feels like it's going to snow."
He said it casually.
Though there was no sunlight now, snow wouldn't fall at this time.
"Sorry, kept you waiting~"
Striding like a leopard, Haruno walked back casually, flashing a bright, carefree smile at him.
"If you dare mention how many minutes and seconds you waited, I'll jump on your back right now and make you carry me home."
Her expression was teasing, but her tone was serious.
Yuu quickly swallowed the words about to spill from his mouth, clearing his throat casually as if nothing happened.
"Not long. Alright, let's go home."
He extended his hand for Haruno to hold.
Walking side by side out of Disneyland's gate, it didn't lead directly to the main road but connected to a long, curving white brick path.
Trees lined both sides, their shadows falling on the road, but warm light dispelled all coldness and gloom.
And there were streetlamps, precise like clock markers, as if stretching endlessly to the world's edge.
The two walked on this quiet, comfortable path, chatting lightly about trivial daily matters, feeling time gradually slow, as if the road would continue to the end of the world.
"Haruno, I want to ask you something," Yuu said suddenly during their conversation.
"Hm?" Haruno responded with a hum, slightly swinging his arm.
"Do you still want to go somewhere? Or is there something else you want to do?"
Haruno was surprised, then looked up at him: "How did you know? I haven't even said it."
(Because my task hasn't shown as complete), Yuu answered in his mind.
But more than the system, he trusted his intuition—Haruno wouldn't end this date so easily; she still had many things she wanted to do.
"It's written on your face."
Time seemed to snap back into motion, the beautiful atmosphere returning to reality.
The end of the clean white path lay under their feet, and ahead was a pitch-black asphalt road, occasionally passed by speeding vehicles.
Yuu slowly stopped, smiling at her.
"Tell me, where are we going last?"