To be honest, it wasn't anything that couldn't be said out loud. It was just that Yukinoshita Haruno's mischief-loving side had fully switched on.
She simply wanted to stir things up—create situations that broke away from the everyday—just to see what kinds of interesting reactions would unfold.
Like now, for example. Her little sister, standing not too far away, kept sneaking glances in their direction, eyes clouded with unease and suspicion.
Honestly. If she was so worried, she should just come over here.
A warning glare from a distance? Completely ineffective against her big sister, thank you very much.
At the gates of the amusement park, ever since Haruno had joined up with Minamoto Senya and leaned in close to whisper something in his ear without the slightest hesitation in front of everyone else, the two of them had suddenly seemed far more intimate than usual.
The five of them were supposed to be a team today, but before the others could even react, Senya and Haruno had already queued themselves into the same lane, silently locking in as if they were a duo plunging headfirst into bot lane.
The three left behind—Yukinoshita Yukino, Sawamura Eriri, and Minamoto Rikka—watched as Senya bought ice cream cones from a vendor. He casually handed Haruno hers first, then distributed the rest to them.
Of course, it wasn't a big deal. Someone had to pick first, and none of them were petty enough to fuss over something so small.
And yet, when Senya and Haruno deliberately slowed their pace to follow just behind the group, the contrast to their usual behavior made something feel… off.
Since when had those two gotten so close?
The truth, though, was far simpler than they imagined.
Haruno wasn't here just because she was bored and looking for amusement. As the Yukinoshita family's eldest daughter, with heavy expectations resting on her shoulders, her daily schedule was usually too tight to allow for this kind of spontaneous fun.
If all she wanted was to tease Yukino, she could've done that anytime at home.
No, the fact that she'd chosen to come out today, in the sweltering heat no less, meant she had a clear purpose.
Senya had asked her before—asked her to sound out why Toka had been so out of sorts lately.
And now, Haruno had the answer.
It wasn't something to say over the phone. She wanted to confirm it face-to-face, to test whether her suspicions were right.
The added bonus was seeing how her reserved little sister and the ever-flustered Eriri would react. That was just extra entertainment on the side.
The five of them bought tickets and stepped inside. Staff handed them park maps, complete with bright illustrations showing where every attraction was located.
There were family-friendly rides: the fantasy carousel, the puppet theater, the gentle swinging chairs, the sightseeing train.
And there were thrill rides: the drop tower, the roller coasters, the pirate ship, the giant pendulum that sent even brave souls screaming.
As Yukino held the map, her demeanor shifted. The moment she entered a park filled with the mascot she adored—Mr. Pan—her eyes softened, her aura practically glowing with warmth. Whatever her sister might have been whispering with Senya, she didn't even seem to care anymore.
Instead, she took the lead, guiding them to the nearest ride: the "Jungle Fantasy Adventure."
In reality, it was just a slow-moving little train that circled through an indoor space decorated with endless plush Mr. Pan dolls.
Most of the people in line were parents holding their children's hands. Which made their group of five half-grown teenagers stick out like sore thumbs.
Even Eriri started to feel self-conscious.
Once they boarded, she leaned toward Yukino, ready to whisper something, but Yukino cut her off with a stern finger to her lips.
"Shh. It's about to start."
She even delivered the warning with all the seriousness of a priestess about to conduct a ritual.
This was an amusement park, not a library or a movie theater. How much did she love Mr. Pan anyway?!
With no way to talk sense into a girl who'd entered full-on pilgrim mode, Eriri sighed and fastened her seatbelt as the staff instructed.
She glanced back.
Behind her, Rikka was happily chatting with a small child who'd ended up sitting next to her. The two of them had already bonded over their shared obsession with a tokusatsu show currently airing.
Further back, several rows away, Senya sat with Haruno.
Catching Eriri's look, Haruno waved cheerfully, all smiles.
Eriri forced a polite smile in return and quickly turned away.
…Haruno-san really was beautiful, though. Tall, elegant, smart, with flawless style. Even her nails gleamed with tiny rhinestones that caught the sunlight, making her fingers look slender and graceful.
Eriri looked down at herself.
She'd gone with her mother's suggestion: a white blouse paired with a denim jumper skirt. Her mom had sworn the outfit was adorable and would definitely catch Senya's eye.
But when they'd met at the park gates, nothing happened.
She hadn't been expecting a dramatic reaction, but maybe—just maybe—some acknowledgment. A quick glance. A small compliment. Anything.
Instead, nothing.
Her tiny hope had fizzled before it even had the chance to bloom.
She slumped in her seat, mood sinking lower with each passing minute, inversely proportional to the blazing summer heat.
The cheerful chime sounded, and the pastel-painted fantasy train began to move.
At the back, Senya sat stiffly, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his thoughts miles away.
"Toka…"
This wasn't the time to be distracted, but his mind refused to let go.
"Alright," Haruno leaned closer, voice playful but finally dropping the pretense, "I suppose I can tell you now."
Senya shot her a sharp look. "What's with the games?"
"What's wrong with building a little suspense?" she teased.
"Suspense is one thing. Dragging it out until I'm ready to lose my mind is another."
"Ooh, scary~" Haruno sang out, amused by the irritation lacing his voice. But she didn't push it further. Instead, she rested her chin lightly on her hand, her tone softening.
"A few days ago, I asked Toka out for dinner. We talked for a long time. And… I did notice something."
Senya straightened immediately, expression sharpening.
The rest of the train was filled with laughter and excited chatter. But between the two of them, the air grew still.
"You've already guessed part of it, haven't you?" Haruno said, studying him. "Why she's been so heavy-hearted lately."
"…She's nervous about the upcoming competition," Senya replied, voice low. "Or anxious. Something along those lines."
That had been his theory from the start.
But Haruno shook her head. "That's only the surface."
He frowned. "Then what?"
"What do you think is behind that anxiety? What's the deeper reason?"
She wanted him to piece it together himself. But Senya, tired of her constant circling, simply stared at her in silence, unwilling to play along.
With a small sigh, Haruno relented. Her finger lifted, and she pointed straight at him.
Senya blinked. "…Me?"
She nodded.
"How does this have anything to do with me?"
"She didn't say it outright, but I'm certain."
Senya's thoughts tangled into a confused mess. "…Please. Just explain it to me, Haruno-san."
The sudden politeness in his tone caught her off guard.
This was the same boy who, when younger, had loved to lecture her with ridiculous confidence. And yet, when it came to Toka, all that pride fell away.
Was it really possible… that the feelings weren't one-sided?
Her chest tightened. She couldn't dismiss the possibility.
Haruno chose her words carefully. "Toka told me herself—she's losing confidence in gymnastics. She's even thinking about quitting."
Senya's eyes widened. That didn't match what he'd seen: her endless hours of training, leaving early, returning drenched in sweat.
But Haruno's expression was firm. "She's not struggling with fatigue or team issues. She just… doesn't believe she has any talent for it. And if this upcoming competition doesn't go well, she's prepared for it to be her last."
Senya fell silent.
So all this time, she'd been pushing herself not out of hope, but for one final curtain call.
"She never told me any of this…" His voice was barely a whisper.
"Of course she didn't. You're the reason she can't," Haruno said softly.
Senya froze. "…Are you saying I'm the cause of this?"
Haruno met his gaze squarely. "At last, you're starting to understand."
She leaned back slightly, a sigh slipping from her lips. "To people like us—ordinary people—watching someone like you is… overwhelming. You call yourself no genius, but that doesn't matter. To Toka, you are. And that difference… it eats away at her."
Senya shook his head, confused. "We're family. She should be proud, not crushed by it."
Family.
Was that really all they were?
Haruno didn't say it aloud. But the thought lingered in her mind, heavy and undeniable.
If Toka only saw him as her brother, then yes, she'd likely feel pride.
But what if she wanted more?
What if, as he grew taller, stronger, more admired, she found herself unable to keep up? What if she realized she could never stand beside him on equal footing?
That gap—the despair of trying and failing to close it—would only grow sharper the closer she held him in her heart.
Haruno exhaled, uneasy for perhaps the first time. She had always been the playful observer, the one with the upper hand. But now… she wasn't so sure.
Senya clenched his fists lightly, expression tightening with resolve. "Haruno-san… thank you. Really."
Even without every detail, he had enough. Enough to try and face Toka's feelings head-on.
Haruno studied his face, now so determined. "…So what will you do? Try to convince her to keep going?"
Senya shook his head slowly. "No. Right now… my head's a mess. I don't know what to do yet."
Haruno: "…You really had to say all that with such a cool expression only to end it like that?"
She groaned inwardly. Typical.