After leaving the bookstore, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon.
This time, Yui did not take Akira-kun to any unusual place but instead brought him to the amusement park for a proper date.
The two of them enjoyed several rides, with Yui asking Akira-kun to take many photos of her.
When they arrived at the haunted house, Yui was about to join the queue when she heard screams from inside.
She froze, frightened.
Akira-kun wasn't particularly interested in haunted houses, but seeing Yui's expression, he decided to take her hand and led her forward.
Seeing this, Yui smiled gently and held his arm tightly.
Feeling the pressure, Akira-kun glanced at her.
After they walked, they suddenly encounter an unexpected person—
"Hey, isn't that Kawasaki-san?" Yui said, looking ahead, a little surprised.
Akira-kun followed her gaze and saw Saki Kawasaki, her face anxious while a little girl, presumably her younger sister, stood next to her.
"Let's go take a look," Akira-kun thought, and they walked toward Saki Kawasaki.
Yui didn't object. She could tell that Kawasaki-san might need help.
The two approached Saki Kawasaki.
As they approach, Saki immediately noticed them,
Seeing Akira-kun, she frowned, grabbed her sister's hand, and appeared ready to leave.
"Kawasaki-san, are you looking for something? We can help you," Yui said softly.
Hearing this, Saki Kawasaki paused.
.....
If possible, Saki Kawasaki did not want Akira-kun's help. However, her wallet, containing 50,000 yen, was missing, making this situation very serious.
"Big sister, are these your friends?" the younger girl asked, looking at them. Curiosly.
"Yes! We are her friends, is there anything you can help us with?" Yui gently smiled at Kawasaki-san's sister.
"My sister lost her wallet," the girl whispered to Yui.
Yui glanced at Akira-kun.
"....Was your wallet still with you before entering the amusement park?" he asked Saki Kawasaki.
She turned and looked at him coldly.
"...Kawasaki-san, Akira-kun is very capable. He might really help you find it," Yui said softly, noticing Kawasaki-san's hesitation.
"Sis…" the little girl looked at her elder sister nervously.
Saki Kawasaki take a deep breath, realizing her attitude was too rude.
"Yes... I am sure I had it before I came here" Saki said slowly, trying her best not to glare at him.
"Where have you been? Where did you spend money? Where exactly did you lose your wallet?" Akira-kun asked in three quick questions.
"... It shouldn't have been lost on any ride. We went to many places...I only realized the wallet was missing when I bought a drink," Kawasaki-san replied after a short pause.
"Which places exactly?"
"we stopped at several places, like: Restaurants, restrooms, gift shops… "
"The restaurant can probably be ruled out. But the gift shop… didn't you buy anything? You were just looking, right?"
"Yes…" she nodded slowly.
An idea crossed Akira-kun's mind. Since she must have paid before leaving the restaurant, the wallet likely wasn't left there.
"Yui, go ask the staff at the amusement park where they keep lost items," Akira-kun instructed.
"Understood." Yui smiled and turned away.
"Let's check the gift shop," Akira-kun said to Kawasaki-san.
"Thank… thank you," she murmured,softly.
He pretended not to hear her and walked toward the shop.
Kawasaki-san's little sister looked at her sister, then at Akira-kun. She felt a subtle couple-like atmosphere, as if two people who had met after a long separation were reconnecting.
Soon, the three of them reached the gift shop.
At this moment, the shop was nearly empty, with only a young girl standing blankly at the counter.
"Hello," Akira-kun said as he approached.
"Ah! Hello!. How can I help you?" the girl responded, snapping out of her daze.
"My friend lost something, and since she came to this store, she wanted to check here," Akira-kun explained simply.
"Huh?" The girl then noticed Kawasaki-san and her sister. Upon seeing the younger girl, her expression immediately shifted.
Akira-kun noticed it. He glanced at Kawasaki-san.
"Wait outside," he instructed.
Saki Kawasaki hesitated briefly but, seeing his calm expression, she decided to listen to him as She took her sister and left the store.
Akira-kun then turned to the young girl.
"My friend lost her wallet. The contents are very important. She works long hours, and her health might not allow her much free time. That's why she brought her sister here today."
The young girl lowered her head,not willing to show her face.
"If you didn't see it, I would believe you. But lying must feel bad," Akira-kun continued.
"I… I'm sorry," she said, pulling the wallet from her pocket and placing it on the counter.
"It's alright. I'll tell my friend you kept her wallet safe," Akira-kun said with a slight smile.
"Thank you," the girl breathed, relieved.
Akira-kun picked up the wallet and left the store. The girl watched him until he disappeared out the door, then turned away.
...
Outside the gift shop, Akira-kun returned the wallet to Kawasaki-san.
She checked the contents; the money was intact. A smile finally appeared on her face, though it faded quickly as she looked at Akira-kun.
"The work I mentioned is real. The person you saw that day was Yukinoshita Yukino's sister. She knew you were my classmate and did that deliberately. You don't have to believe me. I just want to say that if you overwork yourself, your family will be worried," Akira-kun said calmly.
"Thank you for your reminder," Saki Kawasaki said.
Though she didn't fully trust him, she recognized that he appeared responsible and orderly that night after he came back from the private room, so their might be a chance that he didn't do anything.
"Do you want to exchange contact information?" he asked, taking out his phone.
Seeing this, Kawasaki-san hesitated.
"...Alright. If you need this work, contact Hiratsuka-sensei. She'll take you to my place," Akira-kun said, then dialed Yui's number and left.
Saki Kawasaki watched his back with a complex expression.
"Sis, he look like a good man," the younger girl whispered.
"You're still young; you don't understand,"
Saki Kawasaki said, shaking her head. She had already let go of her earlier impression of Akira-kun as a scumbag but she will still remained cautious about whether to fully trusting him or not.
.....
When Akira-kun found Yuigahama Yui, and started walking towards her, she was holding two ice creams.
Seeing him approach, she smiled and handed him one.
Akira-kun took the ice cream and sat beside her.
"Akira-kun, do you know Kawasaki-san?" Yui asked casually while eating.
"We've met once," he replied simply.
"Kawasaki-san seems to dislike you," Yui commented, as she look at his face.
"Do you think she's my ex-girlfriend?" Akira-kun asked.
"N-No, I'm just curious," Yui quickly answered.
"She saw Yukinoshita Haruno holding my hand and she knew that you're my…" Akira-kun stopped deliberately.
"Wh-What am I to you, Akira-kun?" Yui's face turned red, her expression a mix of anticipation and shyness.
Akira-kun ate his ice cream leisurely.
Yui puffed her cheeks, realizing he wasn't going to answer immediately.
When the ice cream was finished, Akira-kun stood up, glancing at the Ferris wheel slowly rotating nearby, and extended his hand.
Yui held his arm tightly, leaning her weight on him.
"I have nothing to do with Yukinoshita Haruno. I'm not interested in women with fake smiles," he said.
"I know," Yui replied with a sweet smile.
.....
Confessions on the Ferris wheel are cliché, but the more cliché, the more memorable—especially when the couple has already confirmed their relationship.
Akira-kun believed that no matter where he confessed, Yuigahama Yui would accept him.
While walking, Yui had already lowered her head, her shyness and joy clearly visible.
Finally, they got on the Ferris wheel.
Akira-kun watched it ascend slowly and took out a necklace.
Yui, sitting opposite him, saw it and her eyes lit up with joy.
"Sorry, I picked the wrong one," Akira-kun said.
"Huh?" Yui was momentarily stunned.
...
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