If anyone else had said that, Miharu Taki Sakura might have believed them, but looking at Ayanokoji in front of her, she showed a look of suspicion, shaking her head and denying Ayanokoji's statement.
"That's not right... You're not that kind of person. If you wanted to show off your masculinity, you could have found other Amusement Park rides, not one you're completely bad at. You wouldn't do something without confidence."
Miharu Taki Sakura believed she understood Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quite well.
She had heard from Mikura that Ayanokoji had been unyielding before challenging the dangerous "Fast Knife Finger Stab" activity, only agreeing to the challenge when Ikishima Midari produced an unsharpened dagger.
Before the challenge, he even cautiously practiced several times before starting the official challenge.
Ayanokoji is not a reckless hothead who would act without thinking.
If he was willing to brave such a risky endeavor, it must have been something he had deeply considered and deemed worthwhile.
Why would he do this?
Ayanokoji looked up, intending to make a joke to brush it off, but seeing Miharu Taki Sakura's serious gaze, he opened his mouth but said nothing.
"As expected, I can't hide anything from the upperclassman..."
After a while, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka lowered his head and chuckled softly: "Actually, I just felt that the upperclassman is too suppressed at school, having to deal with Student Council and Zenshoukai affairs every day, always busy, with no time for herself to rest and relax."
"I saw that the upperclassman was too tired, so I wanted to trick her into coming to the Amusement Park, hoping to help her relax. Roller coasters are the easiest way to relieve stress, so I..."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stopped speaking there, not continuing, but Miharu Taki Sakura already understood Ayanokoji's thoughts.
He wanted her to "release herself" while riding the roller coaster; to help her relax, he was willing to ride the roller coaster with her, even if he was afraid of heights...
While amused, Miharu Taki Sakura was also a little touched; no one had ever considered things from her perspective before...
Ayanokoji suddenly looked up and advised, "Upperclassman, this isn't school, there's no need to be so reserved. Your every move won't be seen by anyone, so even if you scream loudly like me, it won't affect your image."
Why did Ayanokoji say that?
Miharu Taki Sakura was stunned for a moment, torn between laughter and tears.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka couldn't possibly think she didn't scream because she cared about her image, could he? If it weren't for him screaming too loudly, she would have screamed long ago.
Miharu Taki Sakura tapped him on the head, speechless: "Why do you care so much about me? I'll scream when I want to. Instead of that, you should look at yourself more. You just arrived at the Amusement Park and you're already so dizzy. How are we going to play next?"
"It's fine, my physical fitness is very good, I've rested enough."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said, then stood up, supporting himself with the chair, took several deep breaths, and then stabilized.
"Alright, let's go." Ayanokoji smiled.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's performance on the roller coaster was naturally "acted," but it could also be said that it wasn't "acted."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka himself does have a slight fear of heights, but that is a human instinct; from a biological perspective, "fear of heights" is a subconscious manifestation of "seeking benefits and avoiding harm" and "self-defense mechanisms."
People instinctively fear the feeling of having their feet off the ground, just as when playing "Fast Knife Finger Stab," the hand placed on the table unconsciously wants to escape.
Most people are actually afraid of heights, but they can all prepare themselves psychologically through "self-suggestion," preventing their "fear" from showing on the surface.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka deliberately didn't give himself any psychological suggestions this time, completely letting himself go, and his screams on the ride were sincere, and his current physical discomfort was also real.
Incidentally, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka actually didn't intend to hold Miharu Taki Sakura's hand to take advantage; he genuinely grabbed onto something nearby out of fear...
After getting off the roller coaster, the two started strolling through the Amusement Park. Besides Ayanokoji's suggestions, Miharu Taki Sakura gradually became less reserved, and she also actively suggested going on some rides.
The two played on the spinning teacups, spinning compass, and rapid turntable rides, watched a sea lion show, rode go-karts, and participated in a shooting competition...
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, to show off his masculinity, even suggested going to the haunted house.
Here, Miharu Taki Sakura was quite frightened, but Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was fine; in fact, he was holding his stomach and heartlessly laughing at her from the side.
Ayanokoji and Miharu Taki gradually became more familiar with each other during their outing. Miharu Taki Sakura, at Ayanokoji's request, had already dropped the word "classmate" and now simply called Ayanokoji by his last name.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was already quite satisfied with this, after all, they hadn't known each other for long, and Miharu Taki Sakura was originally a girl who valued etiquette, so reaching the level of friends was already very good.
However, it was a bit regrettable that although the two talked very happily, apart from holding hands at the beginning when they rode the roller coaster, they had no other physical contact.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was not discouraged; he didn't expect their relationship to make rapid progress just by spending one day together.
The time spent playing passed quickly. The Amusement Park was very large, and it was already dusk after exploring less than half of it.
"Ayanokoji, wait a moment...!"
Miharu Taki Sakura, holding a cherry blossom mochi unique to the season, called out to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and made her request again: "I want to ride the Mochiyasha, can I?"
Ayanokoji agreed to some of the rides Miharu Taki Sakura suggested, but not others.
After riding the roller coaster, Miharu Taki Sakura had grown to like the feeling of looking down from a high vantage point.
Knowing that Ayanokoji was "afraid of heights," Miharu Taki Sakura was very understanding and did not suggest going on dangerous and thrilling rides like "Pirate Ship" or "Drop Tower." When Ayanokoji said he wanted to play, she also firmly refused.
However, for things like the Mochiyasha and the aerial cable car, Miharu Taki felt that Ayanokoji shouldn't be averse to such gentle activities, but when she suggested them, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka refused, saying it wasn't the right time yet.
She had brought it up several times during their outing, but Ayanokoji had always refused. This time, she finally couldn't take it anymore.
"You said it's not time yet, but when will it be time?" Miharu Taki Sakura had already come to view Ayanokoji as a friend and no longer treated him with excessive politeness, beginning to show a bit of her temper.
She said with dissatisfaction, "It's almost evening; we should be leaving, right? If we don't go now, there won't be another chance. If you don't want to go, I can go by myself; you can just wait for me down here."
"It's still early, Senior, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Ayanokoji, however, smiled indifferently, "In other Amusement Parks, dusk is the time to leave, but at Yomiuri Land, it's just the beginning."
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