We were on a date apparently. It was a Sunday. A day which I cherished and rejoiced by staying in bed all day and just read some manga and light novels. But here I am. On such a sacred day. At an amusement park! Of all the places that we could have gone, it had to be here. One look and the jam-packed crowd makes me want to turn back and go home and crash atop my dear bed. But I just couldn't. Not when she's dressed up in such a cute way. There's no way I couldn't. It would be unbecoming of a man, to leave a girl alone in this situation.
We were at the entrance of the ticket booth. Looks like there's no turning back now.
Hmmm...
"Nao, what's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Ahh! No, never mind. I guess I was just looking for something..."
We entered the amusement park and started looking around for fun stuff. What are we supposed to do on a busy day like this? Wait in line till we get our chance, and score some points with your date in the meantime? Yeah, right. Like that's going to happen. We were checking out the different rides that we could later have a go at and marked it in the map we had purchased. Though, to be honest, my memory was quite good for this stuff. There was no need for us to simply waste money on such useless stuff. Then again, I doubt I can give my peace of mind to a rich princess.
It's not that she wouldn't like or she has pride, but I guess it was more like she wanted to give it her all for this date. And for that effort at least, I decided to keep quiet and follow suit. While we were moving around, a mob of tourists suddenly passed through. Before I could realize it, Hina was gone. Boom! She just vanished into thin air. I was looking all around.
Calm down! Don't panic. But at that time, all I could remember was what 'he' said a few days ago.
"HINA WILL DIE!"
"AND HER BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS!"
Argh! Snap out of it! Think logically! We are just an hour in. I doubt that anyone could make a move with such little information in broad daylight, not to mention in such a big crowd. I'm worrying too much. In the first place, why am I so worried? It surely wasn't because of that warning. It can't be. Then why? Argh!
I hate this! I'm no good with these huge crowds. These noises are a nuisance. I can't concentrate. Alrighty, let's use my trusty method. Time to recollect and play the Detective Conan theme I always listen to and put on my thinking hat. Agh, no good! At this point, I was crouching down on my knees and closed my ears, and tried to think. I just can't!
"Nao?"
"Uh?"
"What's wrong? Are you alright?"
There she was. The woman of the hour who just got lost, and yet was showing her concern for me. Sigh! I ain't coming to the amusement park ever! Period!
I got up and dusted my pant.
"Yeah, I'm fine. That being said, you sure are an airhead. Couldn't you see that mob that was heading towards us? Jeez!"
"Hey, that's so mean. It wasn't like I wanted to go away from you!..."
As soon as those words slipped from her mouth, she was embarrassed and turned away from me for a moment. What was she even spouting about? This girl...
"Anyway, that doesn't matter. The question is what were you doing there sitting on your knees like that? Could it be, that you were worried about me and were trying your hardest to find where I was? Awww...I'm moved. Truly! I'm speechless."
This girl and her delusions were really getting out of hand. Someone, please save her.
"Yeah, right. That's the one last thing that was missing in my life...In fact, I was thanking the Lord for listening to my prayers and taking you away from me, and giving me peace. I had forgotten what serenity and tranquility felt like..."
"I hate you! At least you could have pretended that you were concerned... Nao, you big idiot! Hmph..."
Is that what they call a tsundere reaction in the animes and mangas I've consumed. Damn, I think I might understand why everyone likes tsunderes. I might get used to this.
"Oh, sorry! My bad. How can I make it up to you?"
"Here!"
She raised her hand towards me.
"Hold it!"
"Huh?"
"I said hold it."
Wait a minute, what is she going on about all of a sudden. Just now she was upset, and suddenly she just switched gears. How? This is certainly a complex turn of events. I wish I could have used co-op mode and got some guidance. But then again, there's no one that is worth giving me guidance in my contact list. On that note, my contact list was a joke at that point. I barely had any contacts.
"Why?"
"It's...It's so that we don't separate from each other again...Yeah, it's just that!"
Sigh! I'd have to give it to her, she did have a way with her words. No wonder, given the history of her family. Though, I did feel sometimes, very rarely that Hina was her own person.
"Alright! Fair enough, but don't get any wrong ideas."
"I...I know that, I'm not a small kid..."
I let out a chuckle when suddenly I heard the bushes rustling...
Huh! I looked around everywhere...It couldn't be. But at this point, my suspicions were growing stronger.
"Nao!"
She grabbed my hand all of a sudden.
"Are you seriously alright? You've been acting a bit weird since we arrived..."
The last thing I would need is to involve her...
"Oh, that's nothing. I just thought I saw a familiar face...Nevermind!"
"Ah, jeez! Let's go..."
We boarded the roller coaster and enjoyed it, and would have enjoyed more, had I not had a frightened cat sitting right next to me...Why? Why can't you just say you're bad at it...Instead of forcing yourself...Huff!
We went to the different souvenirs stores and both a memento for each other. Lunch was pretty good, and we shared the dessert together. It was a couple's thing though we weren't one. That's what I firmly believe. It was almost 7 PM and we had one ride left. The cliche Ferris wheel. But before that, I decided to use the washroom.
Good, 5 stalls. And 2 men had occupied the odd ones. 1 and 5. That was an unspoken rule. I emptied my bladder and washed my hands. As I was washing my face, I could see a glimpse of what was about to transpire from the mirror ahead of me...
ARGH!
A knife? I quickly dodged and fell on my butt.
An ambush! Shit! Things are getting out of hand...
"Fuck! How did you miss that?"
"This punk's too sharp."
Tch! I was right. We were being followed. We? Hina! Oh, no! She's alone right now. I got to go.
"Never mind, let's finish him off in one go."
"Alright, partner."
I can't afford to waste my time here. Screw it!
"Oh, what's this?"
"A fighting stance, eh? Not ba...AHHH!"
Door breaks!
"You bastard, you'll pay for th..."
Kick to the crotch!
"ARGHHH!"
"Sorry, I don't have time to waste upon you lot..."
"COME BACK!!!"
I ran outside in search of her. Where is she? This was a deserted place, and she used the washroom before me, so there's no way she would be there, where could she have gone?
"Hina?...Hina!...HINA!...HINAAA?!!!!"
I was running around like a dog in search of its owner. I ran around for a while before stopping to catch a breath. Agh, of all the times, now...
Desperately gasping for breath...A shadow approached beside me.
"Naofumi?"
"Ye...!"
Tazer! Stung!
"UGH!!!"
I was on the ground. I don't know what happened. I couldn't move.
Footsteps getting closer...
"It's a pleasure meeting you...Dare I say, it's nice to greet you for the first time, and the last time..."
GOOD BYE!