Alice returned from the restroom, drying her hands with paper towels. She sighed, quickening her steps.
"Hooh, that line was longer than I thought." She broke into a jog, heading back to where she'd left Sayu and Hans. "See? I told you I'd be back before th—"
Her words died. The spot was empty.
At the same time, Hayato walked back from the parking lot, keys still in his hand. He spotted Alice spinning in circles, scanning the crowd.
"Hey," he called.
"Hayato!" She rushed to him, relief flashing in her eyes before fading to confusion.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"I… don't know. They were right here when I left."
Hayato's gaze lifted to the giant Ferris wheel creaking in the distance, its carts slowly climbing into the evening sky. His expression tightened.
* * *
Inside one of those carts, Hans and Sayu sat in silence as the ride carried them higher and higher. The metallic groan of the wheel filled the small cabin, their reflections faint in the glass.
Hans broke the quiet first, his voice low, almost nostalgic. "We used to come here too…"
Sayu kept her eyes on the shrinking carnival below. She gave a small hum in reply.
He leaned back against the seat, exhaling. "About how we ended things… I just—" he hesitated, then pressed on, "I'm sorry. For everything. I know it's not enough, but I… I wanted to say it. If we ever met again, I wanted to at least… talk it out. I just didn't know how to reach you after that."
Sayu finally turned to look at him. The cart reached its peak, swaying gently, the city lights sprawling beneath them.
"…We had good times, and bad times too," she said softly. "But… sometimes things just end. That's how it is."
Hans's jaw tightened. He didn't want to accept it, but her tone left little room. "So… no chance for us? Not even starting over?"
She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that already carried the answer.
Hans dragged his gaze upward, staring at the ceiling of the cart. His chest rose and fell with a long, steadying breath. "…I see."
After a moment, he asked, quieter, "So… what's with you and him?"
Sayu looked down at the panda plush in her lap, her lips pressing together. How could she explain something even she struggled to put into words? If Hans knew the truth, he'd probably laugh… just like she had when Hayato first suggested it.
"It's… complicated," she murmured.
Hans gave a half-bitter chuckle. "Complicated, huh? You used to hate complicated things. Guess you've really changed."
The ride began its slow descent. The tension between them no longer sharp, but softened, worn down. When the cart finally opened, they stepped out side by side, the silence no longer unbearable.
Ahead, Alice and Hayato were waiting. Alice stood with her arms crossed, a pout tugging at her lips, while Hayato's gaze flicked briefly from Sayu to Hans before settling into his usual calm neutrality.
Alice broke the silence first. "How could you two just run off without us?"
Hans raised a hand in mild defense. "The line was already closing, and you two weren't there. I dragged her along, that's all."
Hayato's voice was softer, directed toward Sayu. "Looks like it's getting late. We should head out."
Sayu gave a small nod. "Yeah… guess so."
"Wait, you're leaving already?" Alice's tone dipped with disappointment.
"Yeah, we should," Sayu replied.
"Then at least let us walk you to the parking lot."
"Oh, you don't have to—"
"Oh no, we must," Alice insisted.
Together, the four of them crossed the lot, their steps unhurried under the dimming lights. When they reached Hayato's car, he quietly pulled the door open and glanced at Sayu.
"Come on," he said. "I'll drive you."
Sayu turned back to Hans and Alice, offering a small wave. "See you around."
Alice hugged Sayu. "I'm a Law Department second year, so don't ignore me if we meet again, okay?"
Hans lifted his hand too, his smile faint but warm. "Yeah. Take care, Sayu."
Sayu slid into Hayato's car, fastening her seatbelt. As the engine started, Hayato cast her a sideways glance, his lips quirking in a way she didn't quite understand.
"Looks like you two made up," he said, his tone carrying a shade she didn't catch.
Sayu blinked, then gave a small shrug. "Yeah, I guess we did."
The car pulled away, headlights cutting through the dim parking lot. Hans stood there, watching until the taillights disappeared into the night.
Alice stretched and let out a breath, glancing at him. "Hey, before we call it a night… want to check another ride?"
* * * * *
Hayato's black Lexus rolled to a stop near Sayu's dorm.
"Are you sure this is enough?" he asked, glancing at the building. "I can drive you closer."
She shook her head. "No, this is fine." she was unfastening ready to get out.
And then it hit her—they'd been so caught up with Hans and Alice that she'd almost forgotten why they went to the amusement park in the first place.
The photos!
"Oh—how did the pictures turn out?" she asked.
Hayato unlocked his phone, scrolling through his gallery. He turned the screen to her. "Here."
Sayu leaned in, swiping through a few shots before pointing at one. "These look more genuine."
He studied them too, nodding in agreement.
"So… are you gonna post them?" he asked.
Sayu hesitated. Right—the posting part. "Oh, that too…"
"Well, why else would we need them?" he teased.
She fiddled with her hair. "I thought you'd just show them to your parents. It'd be more believable coming from you. I-I mean, I can do it if you want, but—"
"Then we'll both do it," he said simply.
She blinked. "Should we?"
Without another word, he shared the photos. A moment later, the two of them sat side-by-side, quietly opening Instamass. They each hit the [Post] button, glancing at each other with nervous smiles—unsure what tomorrow would bring.