Chapter 537: You've Got to Be Kidding, I'm Super Brave!
Seeing Hachiman eating the ultra-spicy "Arctic Ramen" without flinching, the two girls who had been in tears from its heat couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Koizumi, look, look! That guy is eating the Arctic Ramen without any reaction—he's incredible!" murmured the girl with purple twin-tails.
The blonde girl, Koizumi, glanced at Hachiman with a calm expression and replied, "That's impressive, but there's another possibility. Maybe he's just a taste-blind—unable to taste anything."
"A taste-blind person? If that's the case, it's not impressive at all," sighed Misa, the girl with the purple twin-tails, instantly losing interest.
…
Hearing their conversation, Hachiman twitched his mouth slightly.
Who's taste-blind?!
Besides, a taste-blind person just has less sensitivity in their taste buds and can't distinguish specific flavors; it doesn't mean they can't taste anything at all.
Also, spiciness is a kind of pain; even if you can't discern flavors, you should still feel the numbness and burning sensation on your tongue.
Calling me taste-blind, huh? I could make a bowl of ramen spicy enough to send you both to the moon!
Of course, Hachiman only thought about these things in his mind; he wasn't about to pick a fight with two girls.
After finishing his ramen and paying the bill, Hachiman left with Iroha.
As they walked, Iroha excitedly spoke up again.
"Senpai, what should we do this afternoon?"
After a good meal, it was time to have more fun, and they still had the whole afternoon to enjoy together.
"How about going to the amusement park?" Hachiman suggested with a smile.
"Mm-hmm, that's a great idea!"
Hearing this, Iroha's eyes lit up as she happily nodded.
"Let's go to the amusement park together, Senpai~!"
...
Twenty minutes later.
The two of them arrived at a nearby amusement park by taxi.
In the distance, they could see the massive Ferris wheel slowly turning, with faint glimpses of couples sitting close together in the cabins.
As they got out of the taxi, Hachiman smiled and turned to the girl beside him. "We're here, Iroha."
"Mm-hmm," Iroha nodded.
After all, an amusement park is practically a standard destination for a date.
The roller coaster, the log ride, spinning teacups, haunted house, and Ferris wheel—all of these are perfect activities for couples.
Because it was a holiday, the amusement park was bustling with people.
There were families of three with parents and children, as well as high school and college couples, making the crowd lively and bustling.
At the ticket counter, Hachiman bought two tickets from the vendor and led Iroha inside.
Once they entered the amusement park, the crowd thickened even more.
The atmosphere was warm between couples everywhere—some feeding each other, others taking photos together...
If you came to an amusement park alone, you'd probably feel like taking a major hit to the heart.
But Hachiman didn't have that problem at all—he could bring a different girl here every day and still have enough options to last him over half a month.
"Iroha, is there anything you want to try?"
Looking at the various attractions, Hachiman turned to ask the girl beside him.
"Hmm… let me think…" Iroha pondered for a moment after hearing his question.
"Got it! Let's go on the roller coaster, Senpai," she said, pointing toward the roller coaster in the distance.
"Sounds good," Hachiman nodded.
The roller coaster is one of those timeless, high-energy attractions at an amusement park; some people just love the thrill of rapid climbs and drops.
Each car zoomed along the high tracks, leaving a trail of excited screams behind.
And, of course, some terrified shrieks…
With their choice settled, the two headed toward the destination.
As expected of one of the most popular attractions, when they arrived, there was already a line of people waiting.
However, it seemed to be around lunchtime, so the line wasn't too long.
After waiting for about ten minutes, it was finally their turn.
They paid, got two tickets, and headed to the roller coaster's starting point.
The previous group had just returned, each with a different reaction as they disembarked.
Some looked exhilarated, cheeks flushed with excitement, while others were pale, trying to calm their fear. A few even had teary eyes and unsteady legs as they got off.
Seeing this, Iroha showed no fear; instead, she pulled Hachiman's hand eagerly toward the now-empty car.
"Senpai, let's hurry! I want to sit in the front row!"
Being a fan of horror movies, she had a pretty high tolerance for thrills.
They sat in the first car, buckled up, and pulled down the safety bar. Iroha turned to Hachiman, grinning excitedly.
"Senpai, are you scared?"
"Scared?" Hachiman rolled his eyes at her.
"Are you kidding? I'm super brave! How could I be scared of a roller coaster?"
But the nearby attendant quietly rolled their eyes. They had heard that kind of talk countless times.
Everyone says they're fine before they set off, but after one round, they come back looking terrified.
"Please make sure your seat belts are fastened and safety bars are down. The roller coaster is about to begin," the attendant announced.
Hearing this, many of the passengers felt a jolt of anxiety. It's one thing to talk confidently, but it's different when the moment actually arrives.
It's like when you're a kid about to get a shot. You see the child in front of you crying and making a fuss, and you think it's funny—you're sure you wouldn't embarrass yourself by crying like that. But when it's your turn and that needle approaches your arm, whether you'll cry or not becomes uncertain.
Even Iroha, sitting excitedly in the front row, wasn't entirely exempt from this feeling. Despite her outward enthusiasm, a part of her was a little nervous.
After all, roller coasters move fast, with steep drops and high points that make it feel like you're reaching up to touch the sky.
The sky, after all, has long been a forbidden realm for humanity. While we now have airplanes to take us there, humans can't fly naturally, and if anything goes wrong mid-air, the odds of survival are slim.
It's this mix of fascination and fear that makes the sky so powerful to us.
But now, they were already committed, and there was no turning back.
With a loud clang, the roller coaster started moving, kicking off their ride.
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