───● The Energetic JD Goes on a Theme Park Date ●○●

​“What do you mean you’re not going tomorrow?”

​‘I’m sorry… I just… I can’t get my feelings in order.’

​“Look, I get it, okay? That boy you always talked about, your first love—he was Masato, right?”

​‘…Yeah.’

​“That’s amazing! As expected of Koumi, you’re just on a different level! That is straight-up destiny! Man, I’m almost jealous.”

​‘…’

​“But he wouldn’t admit it, huh. I see… maybe Masato has his own reasons.”

​‘I don’t… know.’

​“…But listen. Even if it’s different in Masato’s head, does that change anything for you? You still love him, don’t you?”

​‘I do, but…’

​“I know it’s a shock. A bigger shock than I can probably imagine.”

​‘…For now, just… the two of you go tomorrow. It’s fine.’

​“…Really? You’re sure?”

​‘…Yeah.’

​“I love you, Koumi. And even when I realized I’d fallen for Masato too… it’s only because you were so kind that I am where I am now. I’m so grateful for that.”

​“I really thought that if I were with you, we could take Masato down together. And a childhood friend? That’s the ultimate trump card! It’s basically a guaranteed win!”

​“—And yet, you’re giving up?”

​‘…I’m not! I don’t want to give up…!’

​“…Yeah, I thought you’d say that.”

​“…I’m going to confess to Masato tomorrow.”

​‘…Eh?’

​“What ‘eh’? I told you, didn’t I? Let’s work hard before the girls around him beat us to it. Isn’t tomorrow the perfect chance?”

​‘No, but…’

​“No ‘buts’! So, Koumi, you need to properly tell him how you feel, too. I’m not going to take an answer from him tomorrow.”

​‘Mizuho…’

​“Are you really not coming tomorrow?”

​‘…’

​“I’ve confessed plenty of times before—but this time, I’m serious.”

​‘…Yeah, I know.’

​“So, come. I’ll be waiting.”

​“Otherwise, I might just steal Masato-kun’s heart for myself! Just kidding!”

​‘Mizuho…’

​…That’s what I said, and yet.

​At the meeting station, I stared at my phone screen and sighed.

​Koumi: ‘Sorry, have fun without me. Don’t worry about me, okay?’

​”Don’t worry… like that’s even possible,” I muttered to myself.

​I thought of my best friend, who was likely feeling miserable right now.

​Yesterday evening, I suddenly got a message from Koumi saying she couldn’t make it to the date.

​When I asked why, it was certainly a shocking story… I hoped I could hear a bit of Masato’s side of things too.

​And for me, I’d been looking forward to this date for so long, so it was a shame.

​Ideally, I wanted to capture Masato’s heart during this date and make him ours.

​That conversation happened about a month ago.

​“So that means there are definitely more girls around Masato.”

​“Seems that way… well, he does work at a boy’s bar…”

​In a café on the way home from the university, Koumi and I were sharing information over café au laits.

​Since the time it came out that Masato was my “destined person,” Koumi obviously knew he was working at the bar too.

​“Why didn’t Masato tell me sooner~”

​“Well, he probably didn’t want to go around saying he works at a boy’s bar. I mean, you would’ve stopped him, wouldn’t you, Koumi?”

​“Well, yeah, that’s true.”

​Koumi puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and poked at the ice in her glass.

​“Anyway, the point is we need to secure Masato for ourselves first, right?”

​“Exactly! I talked to that high school girl he’s tutoring the other day, and she definitely said she likes him.”

​“Well~ of course she does. It’s Masato, after all.”

​He’s a rarity these days—perfect in both looks and personality.

​Our other friends always ask if he’s really that handsome, but they must be blind.

​“…Part of me thinks we should just have all the people who love Masato surround him together…”

​“Fufufu… a Masato Siege, then!”

​“A siege… well, a prime catch like him, you probably can’t monopolize him these days anyway… I mean, of course I’d prefer it to just be me and you, Mizuho, but if someone more attractive comes along, the thought of Masato rejecting us is just… I can’t.”

​“I fully agree with the feeling that being rejected by Masato would be the end of the world!”

​Voices supporting polygamy are growing louder in society. With the number of men decreasing, it’s only natural.

​“But still, even if it comes to that, I want us to be the top ones, you know?”

​“That’s for sure~”

​If it ever became a polygynous situation and Masato wanted to date others too… even then, I wanted us to be the first, the best.

​“Besides! If he starts dating someone else right now and says he’s only going to be with them, we’re finished!”

​“We must secure Master Masato immediately!”

​“Right.”

​I gave Koumi a sharp salute as I made the proposal.

​I’ve always been one to act as soon as I think of something, but this time my feelings were so serious I’d been hesitating.

​But there wasn’t much time left.

​In that case, I’ll just use my signature reckless charge!

​“Alright, let’s do it! Let’s come up with the ultimate date plan and confession plan!”

​“Aye-aye, sir!”

​That was how this theme park date was decided.

​And yet, right before it, this accident happens.

​Still, my feelings haven’t wavered one bit.

​I squeezed my palms together, half-hidden by the oversized sleeves of my down coat..

​”Koumi, I’m serious about this.”

​I’m going to confess.

​I’ve done countless confessions before.

​But I realize now that most of them were just me being in love with the idea of being in love.

​But this feeling that I can’t stop—my heart is screaming that I have to let it out.

​I felt like if I left it as is, I’d be going behind Koumi’s back.

​That’s why I wanted to decide things today while both of us were there.

​”But… even if I’m alone, I’m going through with it.”

​I found out that Seira-san had been saved by him, too. We aren’t the only ones Masato has rescued.

​Right now, rather than the desire to monopolize him, I’m acting on the single-minded urge to tell Masato how I feel from the bottom of my heart.

As a result, I don’t care even if I’m not ‘number one,’ as long as I can be with Masato.

​Steeling my resolve, I take a deep breath.

​It’s okay, I put a ton of effort into my outfit today.

​Since it’s winter, I can’t go bare-legged, but I’ve got a white knit dress and a cute pink gown. I chose my favorite long boots and earrings, too.

​This is my “battle outfit”!

​”Mizuho!”

​”Oh~! Masato! Morning~”

​Just as I was thinking that, Masato arrived.

​Ugh, a handsome guy walking toward you with a smile is the best!

​But the smile was short-lived; Masato immediately looked apologetic.

​”I’m sorry, Koumi suddenly couldn’t come… It’s my fault, and I thought maybe we should postpone it to another day…”

​”It can’t be helped! We already bought the tickets! …Or is it that Master Masato is dissatisfied with just Mizuho alone…?”

​”No, no, no! That’s not it at all!”

​”Then it’s fine!”

​We head toward the theme park together.

​Masato looked like he was suffering mentally, so I made sure not to forget the jokes.

​It’s a long-awaited date; he has to enjoy it!

​As we walked, I asked what I could about the situation.

​He didn’t go into detail, but he said he definitely wasn’t the person Koumi met back then.

​Hmm, I can’t really judge that, so it’s tricky.

​”Ah! Masato, let’s wear those! Matching ones!”

​”Oh, let’s do it. It’s nice to do stuff like this once in a while.”

​The shop at the theme park entrance was selling character headbands.

​I’ve always dreamed of wearing matching ones with a boyfriend!

​We bought a pair and put them on.

​I took out my hair ties, let my twin-tailed hair down… and then put on the headband.

​Seeing Masato blink in surprise at the sight… made me a little happy.

​”Did you maybe get captivated by Mizuho-chan with her hair down?”

​”A-Ah, sorry. I guess I just wasn’t used to seeing it.”

​”Nishishi… it looks great on you too, Masato.”

​”No, it definitely looks better on you, Mizuho!”

​I wonder if he remembered a little bit.

​…Of course, I’m worried about Koumi.

​But I decided I was going to tell him how I feel today.

​To make Masato fall for me, I’m going to play as hard as I can!

​”Let’s ride this one, Masato! The one that spins a ton!”

​”Isn’t that incredibly scary?! You’re okay with it?!”

​”Piece of cake! Let’s go~!”

​”Wait, wait!”

​I learned that Masato is surprisingly a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to thrill rides.

​”I’ve wanted to eat this so bad~! Oh, let’s take a picture!”

​”You really love photos, Mizuho.”

​”Well, yeah! I love keeping precious memories in a physical form!”

​We took lots of photos.

​I was enjoying the theme park to the absolute fullest.

​Because I was having so much fun…

​Before I knew it, the sun was starting to set.

​It’s been getting dark much earlier lately.

​Masato and I got off a certain attraction and temporarily split up to use the restrooms.

​Standing before the mirror at the sink, I checked my complexion.

​”Ugh… I might be motion sick…”

​The new ride we just went on was visually very disorienting, and I was feeling a bit nauseous.

​This is bad. I can’t let Masato worry about me like this…!

​Slap, slap. I patted my cheeks to pull myself together.

​I have to be strong. Today is a big day.

​When I stepped out, Masato was sitting on a nearby bench.

​”Masato, sorry for the wait! Okay, let’s go to the next—”

​”Ah, sorry Mizuho, can we take a little break?”

​”…? Sure~ I actually wanted to rest a bit too, so that helps!”

​It was the honest truth, so I took the seat opposite him.

​”Oh, I bought some water over there. Want some?”

​Looking at the plastic bottle of water he held out, I understood everything.

​Precisely because I’d gotten to know him so well in the time since we met, I couldn’t possibly misunderstand the meaning behind his actions.

​”…I’m no match for you, Masato-chi…”

​”Hahaha… you looked like you were struggling a bit.”

​Apparently, he’d noticed my condition from the moment we got off the ride until now.

​Truly, this side of Masato… was what I loved about him so much.

​I took a sip of the water he handed me.

​Then, I faced Masato head-on.

​”…Hey, Masato-chi.”

​”Yeah?”

​Okay, time to steel my resolve.

​”Let’s make that our last ride today..”

​I pointed toward the distance.

​There stood the largest attraction in the theme park—the Ferris wheel.