*****
Word's counted ---- 1500
Enjoy...
******
Aki surveyed the amusement park, confirming what he had initially feared: it was utterly deserted. The only signs of life were a few old men scattered here and there, probably locals who had nothing better to do. Despite the dismal surroundings, he took a deep breath and forced himself to think positively. After all, they were at an amusement park, so there should be something fun to do, right?
He glanced at Runa, who was also looking around with a sympathetic expression, clearly sympating this place.
"How about we try the attractions first?" Aki suggested, hoping to lift the mood.
"Um," Runa nodded, her hand clenching slightly as if determined to enjoy herself no matter what. She wanted this date to be a success, for Aki's sake as much as her own.
The first ride they tried was a mini train that was supposed to take them on a whimsical tour. However, the reality was far from what the colorful posters had promised.
Tink... The train jolted suddenly, hitting a misaligned rail. Runa let out a small yelp, startled by the sudden movement, while Aki instinctively reached out to steady her.
"Really, what the hell is this? Wasn't —Sorcerer's Hill— supposed to sound cool...?" Aki grumbled inwardly. "Why is it dangerous instead? Even the rails are misaligned."
"Are you okay?" Aki asked, trying to sound calm while silently cursing the park's management.
"Y-Yes, I'm fine, Shijo-kun," Runa replied, her cheeks flushed as she gripped his arm a little tighter.
Aki sighed, scanning their surroundings as the mini train chugged along. They soon entered an area where robot flowers began "welcoming" them in a bizarre, almost creepy monotone.
"Welcome to Tiramei Flower Attraction."
"Welcome to Tiramei Flower Attraction."
"Welcome to Tiramei Flower Attraction."
The flowers continued their repetitive chant, their jerky movements adding to the unsettling atmosphere. "God, this feels more like a haunted house than an attraction," Aki thought, his irritation growing.
Still, they managed to finish the ride without further incident. Aki helped Runa stand up, making a mental note to file a complaint—or perhaps warn others—about the park's state. "They need to fix this mess, or I'm never coming back here again," he mused.
The next attraction they approached was a roller coaster, boldly named "The Heart-Pounding Coaster." Aki took one look at the rusty tracks and the poorly maintained cars and immediately renamed it in his mind: "More like 'Train to the Hospital!'" His eyebrow twitched in disbelief. He wasn't afraid of roller coasters in general, but he was definitely afraid of this one. It wasn't just his life at risk; he had Runa to consider too. There was no way he'd risk their safety on this deathtrap.
"Shijo-kun, I think we should look for another place," Runa suggested softly, pointing to something on the ground.
Aki followed her gaze and saw several screws lying scattered near the roller coaster's base. "Thank God Runa is a reasonable girl," Aki sighed in relief.
"Yeah, let's head over to Elementario, the indoor theater instead," he proposed.
"That sounds good," Runa agreed, nodding her head.
As they entered the theater, they were greeted by a girl with blue hair, dressed in a fairy costume. "I am Muse, the fairy of water. Welcome to Elementario!" she announced with forced cheerfulness.
Next, a green-haired girl introduced herself, "I am Sylphy, the fairy of wind. Let's get along!"
"I am the fairy of earth, Kobori," said a shy, black-haired girl, her voice barely above a whisper. "Um, pleased to meet you…"
"Salama, fire fairy," mumbled the last girl, who had red hair and a perpetually bored expression.
"Everyone, are you in good health?" Muse asked, trying to engage the audience.
Silence.
"...Wow, sounds like everyone is fine..." Muse said, trying to cover up the awkwardness with a strained smile.
Runa leaned closer to Aki, whispering, "Shijo-kun, is it just my imagination, or do I see tears in their eyes?"
"No… it's not your imagination. I can see them too," Aki replied, feeling sorry for the girls.
"I feel sorry for them," Runa said softly, her eyes reflecting the performers' despair as they tried to put on a brave face in front of a near-empty theater.
"Yeah, it's painful to watch," Aki sighed. "Let's go find another place."
They quietly exited the theater, both feeling a mix of pity for the girls but they have priority.
"It's closed..." Runa sighed, looking at the shuttered building in front of them.
"Yeah," Aki agreed, his voice trailing off as he scanned the area. "Let's go to Moffle Candy House instead."
Runa nodded. "Okay..." She was beginning to feel like this place wasn't suitable for a date either. The park was more of a relic than a romantic destination, but she was determined to make the most of it.
As they approached the Moffle Candy House, they were greeted by a cheerful yet slightly robotic voice. "Welcome to Moffle Shop! Unfortunately, it is infested with mischievous mice, so please punish them with your magical water gun."
Aki smirked. "To put it simply, it's a shooting game, huh? Would you like to play too, Runa?" he asked, hoping to lift her spirits.
"Umm, I guess I will," Runa replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty but also a hint of excitement.
"Then, two pistols, please," Aki requested, and the robot next to them handed over two water pistols.
Aki noticed the sparkle in Runa's eyes as she held the water gun, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, she looked genuinely excited. "Alright, let the battle begin!" he announced with a grin as the door to the game area opened.
"Runa, you shoot first. I'll assist you," Aki reassured her, sensing her nervousness.
"Um, don't worry. I have good reflexes, so you can rely on me, Shijo-kun," Runa said, trying to sound confident as she took aim. She started shooting at the mice that darted in and out at lightning speed, her brow furrowed in concentration.
After several frantic moments, Runa paused, panting slightly. "Hah... hah... Aki..." She looked up at him with puppy-dog eyes, clearly frustrated. "I only hit two mice... out of a hundred..."
Aki chuckled softly, his heart warming at her determined yet defeated expression. "Don't worry, I'll get them," he reassured her, taking her water pistol in his left hand. "These mice are too fast for a regular game, but not for me if I think of this as real-life training."
He took aim, his focus sharpening as he targeted the mechanical mice. "Phiw—one down, 97 more to go," Aki muttered to himself.
"Phiw-phiw, phiw-phiw—" Each shot was precise, and with every pull of the trigger, another mouse fell. Aki moved with an almost unnatural speed and accuracy, hitting each mouse squarely as it popped out.
Finally, the last mouse went down, and the game area fell silent. Aki handed the pistols back to the robot, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I've seen a lot of broken games, and this is definitely one of them..." he muttered under his breath. He turned to Runa,he can see concern in hee eyes as she asks. "Are you okay? You're sweating."
Aki nodded, though he still looked a little tired. "I'm fine, but the last stage was really fast..."
Together, they looked up at the scoreboard. Out of 100 mice, Aki had managed to take down 91.
The mechanical voice chimed in again, much to Aki's annoyance. "Too bad you didn't kill all of them."
Aki felt a tic mark forming on his forehead. "How the hell am I supposed to kill 100 of them in 30 minutes? That's nuts..."
"Shijo-kun," Runa's voice broke through his thoughts. She looked worried. "Did it just say 'killed'? That doesn't seem like the right word to use... especially in a place where kids might come."
Aki was about to respond, but the mechanical voice interrupted him again. "But Moffle is grateful, so you can take a picture with him."
Aki sighed, deciding not to dwell on the weird wording. He didn't want to ruin the mood any further. "Shall we go take a picture?" he asked, offering Runa a gentle smile. He figured a photo op might at least end this part of their date on a positive note.
Runa nodded, though she still looked a bit unsettled. Aki took her hand, leading her toward the photo booth, already mentally planning where they could go next. This place might not be the dream date spot he'd hoped for, but he was determined to turn things around for Runa's sake.
*******
Hope u enjoy n offer me some review s
I know I shuk at updating speed but atleast be honest with the story, character design n development....oh and grammar too... While giving review
******