Come to think of it, I should have noticed when the merry-go-round turned into a crazy racing game.
I already saw that it wasn't a normal amusement park, so why would the Ferris wheel be any different?
The price of a complacent judgment is death... well, not quite.
"My stamina...! I'm running out of stamina!"
"Just a little more! I'll hold your hand!"
"I can do this much on my own...!"
It was a mountain climb.
"There's a scorpion behind me...! Kyaaah!"
But a rather fierce one.
After the exciting race with Draco.
I went to enjoy the next ride with Tamamo, according to the order the kids had decided on.
-The Ferris wheel for the tired Father. Let's go ride the Ferris wheel.
-I'm not that tired, th—
-Ferris wheel.
And so, I was forced to get on the Ferris wheel. Tamamo was so happy she was even drooling, but now she's drooling for a completely different reason.
"Heuk... heuk!"
"Calm down. There's a spot where we can rest in the middle, so let's just get up to there."
"Ye-eees."
Mountain climbing (it's hard)!
Just as the merry-go-round turned into a circuit, of course the Ferris wheel also changed. It was within a predictable range, but who would have known that the Ferris wheel would turn into a mountain?
Tamamo started the mountain climb with confidence, but she soon complained of exhaustion and collapsed.
"The path itself isn't difficult. The problem is stamina."
"Phew...!"
It was the limit of a non-Servant body. It might have been different during her yokai days, but it was a bit difficult for an ordinary adult woman who had been stripped of her yokai powers to climb.
We're only halfway up, but Tamamo couldn't focus her eyes.
"Do you think you can make it?"
"Of course...!"
I don't think so.
I suggested a break, but Tamamo refused. The reason was that she was running out of time.
Just like in the race, there's a mission in the mountain climb as well.
[Cooperate to reach the summit within the time limit]
[1:03:54]
Time is still ticking away.
The given time is 2 hours. If we climb at this pace, we can make it in time, but Tamamo's stamina is the problem.
"Heuk...! Heuk...!"
There's no trace of her cute act.
Right now, on that flat rock, an ordinary fox is lying in a starfish position, catching her breath.
Her shirt is so soaked with sweat that you can see the design of her underwear. It doesn't look like there's any strength left in her limp legs.
A break is desperately needed.
"Since it's come to this, let's rest here for a bit."
"Ye-es?"
"I'm tired, and you're tired too. If you want to get up quickly, rest is just as important."
To be honest, I wasn't that tired.
Whether I have the constitution of a mountaineer or not, I wasn't even that out of breath, and I was full of energy.
If I were to climb alone, I estimate that I wouldn't even need 2 hours.
But what's the point of climbing alone? If Tamamo isn't by my side, I can't say we enjoyed it together.
It can't be helped. Should I give up?
"Father. It's because of me, isn't it?"
There's no way Tamamo wouldn't have the same thought as me.
"Because I'm holding you back, Father, we're wasting time here..."
The rest of her words were not clearly audible due to her crying. I could only clearly hear a small sniffle.
I sat down on the rock where Tamamo was lying.
Startled by my approach, Tamamo curled up and fled to a corner of the rock.
"It's okay. It's not like we have to clear the mission anyway. If it's a mission we must clear, we can just try again."
Unfortunately, my comfort didn't work. Tamamo hugged her tail and covered her face.
Why is Tamamo so disappointed? I have a feeling, but I'm worried I might be wrong. It's the worst to be barking up the wrong tree.
Still, if someone precious is in pain, I can't just leave them be.
I gently moved Tamamo's tail. I tried to make eye contact first.
"..."
"Your pretty eyes are all puffy. Were you that sad?"
Tamamo's eyes welled up with tears again. For some reason, I wiped the corners of Tamamo's eyes with a handkerchief that was in my pocket.
"Let's blow your nose too."
"Sniff—!"
I can't use this handkerchief anymore.
After blowing her nose and crying all her tears, Tamamo tried to avoid me fiercely.
Just a moment ago, she was clinging to me so much, and at the sudden change, a smile inadvertently escaped me.
Whip. At the sound of my laughter, Tamamo turned her head slightly, then lowered it again.
"I wasn't laughing at you. I just laughed because Tamamo is so cute. I'm sorry if it made you feel bad."
"...It doesn't make me feel bad."
I met Tamamo's eyes and waited for her to compose herself.
It felt like I was dealing with Mizukume, not Tamamo.
"That little emperor cleared the mission by joining forces with you, Father, so I was sad because I thought only I would fail."
"You were sad because you wanted to clear the mission with me, but it didn't go well."
"...Yes."
I stroked Tamamo's head. Her fox ears folded and unfolded with my touch.
"You can't be good at everything. I'm just happy to be climbing the mountain with you, you know?"
This is my sincere feeling.
But Tamamo's heart must be different.
"My heart and Tamamo's heart are different, right? We've been at odds with each other for a long time."
Tamamo takes a breath. Her gaze flickered here and there, as if she didn't know where to look.
"That's..."
"I'm not blaming you, I'm just saying that such a thing happened..."
The more I talk, the more it feels like I'm stepping on a landmine.
It can't be helped.
I went behind the sitting Tamamo and hugged her from behind.
The body of Tamamo, not Mizukume, was that of a complete woman. It was like a flawless statue with no excess fat.
But her heart was still the Mizukume I knew.
She's timid and delicate.
And yet, she always thinks of me first, so how can I not love her.
"I'm always grateful."
"...Yes."
A slightly drawn-out tone. Tamamo's hand overlapped with mine on my arm that was wrapped around her.
We share our body heat and listen to our heartbeats that are in sync.
When I released my arms, Tamamo's face was bright red.
"Ahem! It seems I've already gotten Father's heart. Mission successful."
"I've always been in a state of being taken, though?"
"I-I'm the same...♥"
Tamamo twisted her body. I'm glad she looks happy in many ways.
We've rested enough. Tamamo's mood has returned.
[00:49:13]
Time is short, but I had a feeling that we could definitely climb it in time.
Energy flowed through my body. The same was true for Tamamo.
"Enough of this unseemly appearance. As a perfect fox, I will support you, Father!"
"Alright!"
After that, it was a smooth ride.
The person who went up first helped the person behind, and we put together a route while sharing our opinions with each other.
And finally.
"We did it! Father! We did it!"
"Yes. We did it!"
We completed the climb with 3 minutes to spare.
The amusement park was not visible from the summit of the mountain.
Only clouds and the distant mountain ranges were drawn like a watercolor painting.
The sun sets beyond the thick fog.
We stood there until the sun had completely set.
We held each other's hands and burst into laughter whenever our eyes met by chance.
"You should be looking at the sunset, why are you only looking at my face?"
"That's because you're staring at me, Father."
"Oh dear. I was just responding to someone's ardent gaze, you know?"
"Father!"
The amusement park of the Singularity, as if it had some sense, had prepared a small portal on the outskirts of the summit so that we could return whenever we wanted.
But we didn't go back right away.
We wanted to enjoy this moment where we could laugh so lightheartedly.
Laughter came out even just from brushing the dirt off Tamamo's ears and tail.
It was also enjoyable to sit and share our body heat on the chilly summit after the sun had set.
When the sun disappears, the moon rises. The moon always has a friend called a star.
We were soon able to see the Milky Way, which was shining so brightly that it was hard to believe it was night.
Tamamo rested her head on my shoulder.
"It's a star, Father."
"It's a beautiful star, just like our Tamamo."
"It's a wonderful star, just like you, Father."
It's embarrassing to hear so many compliments.
"It's an undeserved compliment for me. It's like you're teasing me."
I laughed and joked.
I was waiting for a 'I'm serious~.' kind of response, but Tamamo remained silent.
What could be the matter? When I turned my head slightly, I could meet Tamamo's hot gaze.
"...I'm serious. I've always been serious."
Slightly flushed cheeks. Tightly closed lips, as if to represent her sincerity. Neatly gathered legs.
Tamamo had made up her mind. It seemed so, and it was true.
It was no longer an atmosphere for joking around.
"I love you, Father."
The night sky, beautifully embroidered with the Milky Way. In a place where stars brighter than any other place were shining down on us, Tamamo confessed.