"This isn't enough!"
Hana declared dramatically the moment they got off the previous ride.
Mina instantly pointed somewhere with sparkling eyes.
"HAUNTED HOUSE!!!"
Yuki gasped. "Oh no."
Kairi smiled nervously. "Oh yes…"
Aiko smirked. "Perfect."
Rinn: "…Absolutely not."
Too late.
---
The Haunted House Rule 💀
At the entrance, the staff announced:
"Each pair will enter together… and will be handcuffed for the experience."
Silence.
Then chaos.
"WHAT?!" — Rinn
"EXCITING!!" — Mina
"I'm going to die." — Yuki
"I'm going to enjoy this." — Aiko
And Sakura…
Sakura's heart started beating faster.
Not because of fear.
Not completely.
But because—
She was paired with Koharu.
Again.
A staff member clicked the cuff around their wrists.
Cold metal.
Close distance.
Sakura swallowed.
This… is too close.
---
Inside the Darkness 🌑
The moment they stepped in—
Everything went dark.
Rinn immediately grabbed Aiko's arm with full force.
"I hate this place."
Aiko blinked. "…You're crushing my hand."
Rinn: "Deal with it."
Ahead—
Hana and Mina were already screaming.
"AHHHHH WHAT WAS THAT—"
"IT MOVED—IT MOVED—"
They sounded less scared and more… dramatic.
Sakura tried to stay calm.
But the dim lights.
The creepy sounds.
The sudden movements—
Her grip on Koharu tightened.
Koharu noticed.
"…You okay?"
Sakura nodded quickly. "…Yeah."
She was not okay.
---
The Moment 💀
They moved deeper inside.
The air got colder.
Quieter.
And then—
THUD.
A skeleton dropped right onto Sakura.
"AHHHHH—!!"
Without thinking—
Sakura jumped forward and hugged Koharu tightly.
Completely.
Fully.
Like she was holding onto her for survival.
Koharu froze.
Her breath caught.
Her heartbeat—
Started racing.
Fast.
So fast—
that Sakura could hear it.
For a moment—
Everything else disappeared.
No haunted house.
No screams.
No group.
Just—
Sakura in her arms.
Koharu's fingers hovered for a second…
Then slowly—
gently—
she placed her hand on Sakura's back.
"It's okay…" she said softly.
"…It's fake."
Her voice was calm.
Warm.
Soothing.
Sakura didn't move immediately.
She was still shaken.
Still scared.
Still holding onto Koharu like she didn't want to let go.
And Koharu…
didn't push her away.
---
Aiko's Mischief 😈
Behind them—
Aiko noticed everything.
The hug.
The closeness.
The moment.
And of course—
she had to ruin it.
With a smirk, she moved ahead quietly…
Then suddenly—
"BOO."
Sakura gasped again.
And instinctively—
moved even closer to Koharu.
Koharu blinked, surprised this time.
Her heart somehow beating even faster.
Aiko grinned proudly. "Oops."
Rinn whispered, annoyed, "You're evil."
Aiko: "I know."
---
Outside Again 🎡
Eventually, they reached the exit.
Hana and Mina ran out first—
still screaming dramatically.
"WE SURVIVED!!!"
"THAT WAS AMAZING!!!"
Outside, Yuki and Kairi were waiting.
"Let's go for the Ferris wheel!" Yuki said excitedly.
Kairi nodded. "Last ride!"
Meanwhile—
Sakura and Koharu walked out last.
Still a little quiet.
Still a little… affected.
Koharu glanced at Sakura. "…You okay now?"
Sakura nodded, avoiding eye contact. "…Yeah."
But her cheeks were slightly pink.
---
Rinn vs Koharu 😂
As they walked—
Rinn leaned closer to Koharu, whispering:
"So… how was the hug?"
Koharu's expression turned completely neutral.
Poker face.
"What hug?"
Rinn raised a brow. "Oh really?"
Koharu replied calmly,
"…Don't you want a weekend off?"
Rinn paused.
"…You're threatening me?"
Koharu smirked slightly.
"Such a hardworking secretary I have."
Rinn rolled her eyes. "You're no fun."
---
Aiko vs Sakura 😏
On the other side—
Aiko walked beside Sakura with a dangerous smile.
"So…"
Sakura already knew.
"…Don't."
Aiko ignored her.
"How was the horror romance?"
Sakura choked. "What are you talking about?!"
Aiko leaned closer.
"You and Koharu."
Sakura's cheeks turned pink instantly.
"There was nothing like that!"
Aiko hummed.
"Really? Then what's next… a kiss on the Ferris wheel?"
Sakura stopped walking for a second.
"…What?"
Aiko smirked wider.
"You know what they say…"
She leaned in and whispered:
"If you kiss someone at the top of the Ferris wheel…
you're bound to them for life."
Sakura's brain froze.
Her heart skipped.
"…Shut up," she muttered, walking faster.
"You assume too much."
Aiko just laughed softly.
---
The Final Ride 🎡
They reached the Ferris wheel.
Tickets were bought.
Pairs formed—
The same as before.
No escape.
Sakura sat beside Koharu again.
The door closed.
The wheel started moving slowly.
Sakura stared ahead.
Too aware.
Too conscious.
Too… nervous.
Aiko's words echoed in her mind:
"If you kiss someone at the top…"
She swallowed.
Her heart started racing again.
Beside her—
Koharu sat quietly.
Calm.
Composed.
Like nothing had happened.
Like the haunted house didn't exist.
Like Sakura wasn't overthinking everything.
The wheel lifted higher.
And higher.
Sakura clenched her hands slightly.
Why am I nervous…?
She didn't dare to look at Koharu.
Because she was scared—
of what she might feel.
And what she might want.
As the Ferris wheel slowly carried them toward the top—
Sakura realized something terrifying.
She wasn't scared of the height anymore.
She was scared of what might happen next.