She didn't expect her Senpai to be lectured by a freshman… Miharu Taki Sakura was dumbfounded and laughed.
While such a possibility indeed exists, no one would think they would be attacked while riding a roller coaster, would they? Even the most pessimistic person probably wouldn't think that way.
Ayanokoji was still explaining, "Senpai, don't take it lightly. Even if there's no assassin to kill us, what if the roller coaster has an accident?
I read a novel that said, for every 250 million operations of roller coasters worldwide, there will be one accident, and for those who encounter an accident, the mortality rate is 100%."
"For a statistician, one in 250 million is a probability, but for the people on the roller coaster, everything seems predetermined.
Passengers see wave after wave of tourists board the roller coaster, scream, and safely return to the ground, so they believe they will be fine. But when they board the roller coaster, the outcome might suddenly change…"
Ayanokoji still wanted to persuade Miharu Taki Sakura, but at this moment, the roller coaster suddenly started. Ayanokoji quickly closed his mouth and tightly gripped the safety bar that had been lowered.
Once the roller coaster started, Miharu Taki Sakura's attention shifted from Ayanokoji to the surrounding scenery.
As the roller coaster slowly ascended, the entire Amusement Park's scenery unfolded before her eyes. This was a perspective she couldn't usually experience, and even Miharu Taki Sakura unconsciously became excited.
But as the roller coaster slowly climbed to its highest point, she no longer had the mood to admire the surrounding scenery.
Death is not terrifying; what is terrifying is the moment before death arrives.
Just like Miharu Taki Sakura sitting on the roller coaster at this moment, she knew that the roller coaster would suddenly plunge down, but the roller coaster seemed to be announcing a reprieve, only slowly climbing.
This was Miharu Taki Sakura's first time on a roller coaster. At this moment, her heart was pounding, her whole body felt weak and cold, and she involuntarily trembled. This was a strong sense of panic that humans experience when facing a malignant unknown event; it was the body's instinct.
She desperately wanted to escape this feeling of waiting for death, but she was firmly fixed in her seat, forced to accept and await the arrival of the next terrifying, fated moment, unable to make any effort.
At this moment, a hand quietly grasped Miharu Taki Sakura's left hand. Although this hand could not change her current situation, the warmth in the palm still gave her a little comfort.
Feeling this momentary warmth, Miharu Taki Sakura felt a little relieved, but quickly realized something was wrong. This hand was Ayanokoji's—he shouldn't be holding her hand.
Although Miharu Taki Sakura had agreed to go to the Amusement Park with Ayanokoji, in her heart, Ayanokoji was just a reliable junior.
Men and women should not touch each other, and moreover, she was Mibuomi Aoi's "fiancée," and should maintain distance from any male.
Aside from her relatives, this was Miharu Taki Sakura's first time holding hands with a male in such a situation; even Mibuomi Aoi had never held her hand like this.
Miharu Taki Sakura frowned. She originally wanted to shake off Ayanokoji's hand, but felt that doing so might hurt Ayanokoji's pride, so she still wanted to speak, to ask him to let go voluntarily.
She turned her head to look at Ayanokoji, just about to speak, but suddenly froze.
The roller coaster was still climbing, but Ayanokoji had already tightly closed his eyes, his face tense, one hand holding her left hand, and the other hand tightly gripping the safety bar, as if afraid it would suddenly open.
Ayanokoji seemed even more nervous than Miharu Taki Sakura, who was riding a roller coaster for the first time.
Only then did Miharu Taki Sakura realize that the hand Ayanokoji was holding hers with was constantly trembling slightly, seemingly extremely nervous. She felt as if she could sense Ayanokoji's emotions through this hand.
—Ayanokoji didn't do it on purpose; he held her hand because he was nervous and uneasy.
Miharu Taki Sakura realized this, and the words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.
She couldn't possibly ask Ayanokoji to let go at this moment, could she? That would be too heartless.
By the way… since Ayanokoji was so afraid of riding roller coasters, why did he choose this Amusement Park attraction?
Before Miharu Taki Sakura could ponder this question, the roller coaster had already reached the summit. After a sudden pause, the roller coaster plunged down!
In an instant, Miharu Taki Sakura's mind went blank, her head felt dizzy, and she instinctively closed her eyes. She subconsciously wanted to scream, but before she could, Ayanokoji, who was sitting beside her, screamed first.
Miharu Taki Sakura felt her left hand being tightly gripped and felt a little amused and helpless.
She hadn't even screamed yet, so why did he?
Originally, Miharu Taki Sakura's attention was focused on herself, and she was very flustered and uneasy, but Ayanokoji's action distracted her, putting her slightly at ease, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Once she opened her eyes, she was no longer afraid. Miharu Taki Sakura's unease and nervousness transformed into excitement and thrill.
It was the season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
Unlike other roller coasters built in Amusement Parks, the "Bandit" roller coaster, true to its name, truly cuts through the mountains, able to traverse cherry blossom jungles at speeds of up to 110km/h, like a green bandit passing through the jungle.
Aside from the initial panic, Miharu Taki Sakura kept her eyes open for most of the ride, excitedly watching the romantic cherry blossom forest in front of her, and overlooking the large Amusement Park from above, as her entire body was controlled by centrifugal force and acceleration, pressed tightly against the seat.
Miharu Taki Sakura no longer cared that Ayanokoji was holding her hand; in fact, to comfort him, she tightly gripped his hand in return.
After the two got off the roller coaster, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face was pale, and his steps were unsteady, as if he had eaten something bad and his body was weak.
Miharu Taki Sakura, on the other hand, was light-footed beside him, with a smile on her face, as if she hadn't just been on a roller coaster, but rather on a leisurely outing.
"Ayanokoji, are you afraid of heights?" Miharu Taki Sakura couldn't help but ask.
"A little..."
"Ayanokoji, since you're afraid of playing these thrilling games, why did you actively choose the roller coaster?"
Miharu Taki Sakura crossed her arms, sighed softly, and looked down, scolding Ayanokoji, who was resting on a bench, with a tone of dissatisfaction.
She no longer cared about Ayanokoji holding her hand; what she cared about was why Ayanokoji would try to act tough when he wasn't good at such thrilling activities.
Thinking about it now, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had uncharacteristically rambled on a lot before the roller coaster started; at that time, he was trying to alleviate his nervousness.
If she had gone along with his words and said not to ride the roller coaster, he probably would have readily agreed.
"I just wanted to show off my masculinity."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka covered his heart and gave a "bitter smile": "I didn't expect to be so embarrassing, even performing worse than the upperclassman..."
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