The trio burst out of the chaotic school gate area, following Gaio's confident lead as they hurried toward the nearby subway station without pausing.
The platform wasn't too crowded. Gaio stopped, and like a magician pulling a trick, he produced a baseball cap and a pair of low-key sunglasses from somewhere, slipping them on with practiced ease to hide most of his striking face.
"What's that for?" Kaguya Shinomiya tilted her head slightly, while Yukino Yukinoshita cast a faintly curious glance his way.
"Precaution," Gaio said with a grin through his sunglasses, his voice muffled slightly by a face mask he'd somehow donned as well. "Saves me from being recognized and hassled on the way."
Kaguya and Yukino exchanged a look, nodding in understanding. Given Gaio's current fame, it made sense.
The subway's arrival chime sounded. The three quickly boarded, lucky enough to find three seats side by side.
Gaio plopped down in the middle, with Kaguya and Yukino on either side.
The train swayed gently.
Yukino smoothed her slightly ruffled skirt, her gaze fixed on the blurry reflection in the opposite window. She spoke in her usual sharp, icy tone, "This is absurd. The student council president and the top candidate for the business department, openly skipping class together. What's the point?"
Gaio leaned back in his seat, eyes closed as if resting, completely unfazed by her biting remark. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, as if he found it amusing.
Kaguya, seated elegantly on Gaio's other side, hands neatly folded in her lap, spine straight as if measured with a ruler, let her gaze drift past him to the city scenery flashing by outside. A faint spark of excitement flickered in her eyes, barely noticeable.
Skipping class again after so long—and with him—stirred a tiny thrill of rebellion that made her heart race beneath her poised demeanor.
Yukino, seeing Gaio ignore her jab, furrowed her brow almost imperceptibly. She turned her head slightly, her ice-blue eyes studying his profile, half-hidden by the cap and sunglasses. Raising her voice just a touch, she said with deliberate probing, "Hey, Gaio. Where are we even going? You're not actually kidnapping us, are you?"
Gaio finally reacted. He lazily opened his eyes, glanced at Yukino through his sunglasses, then at Kaguya, who was trying to stay calm but whose eyes sparkled with anticipation. His lips curved into a clear grin.
The subway reached their stop. Gaio led the still slightly confused duo through a few streets with ease. As the vibrant colored spires, the massive Ferris wheel, and the distant screams of thrill-seekers grew clearer, their destination was revealed.
"An amusement park?"
"An amusement park?!"
Yukino and Kaguya spoke almost simultaneously, but their tones couldn't have been more different.
Kaguya's usually calm and elegant eyes lit up like fireworks, sparkling with excitement. She instinctively grabbed Gaio's sleeve, leaning forward like a curious kitten drawn to a shiny toy.
An amusement park! For someone like Kaguya, the sheltered heiress of the Shinomiya family, it wasn't an unfamiliar concept. But every visit came with maids and butlers trailing her, constantly reminding her to mind her manners, her status, her safety. She was like a delicate porcelain doll in a display case, only able to watch the laughing, screaming crowds from a safe distance. Now, this lively, dazzling, vibrant park felt like a siren's call, irresistibly pulling her in.
Yukino, on the other hand, froze. A rare hint of confusion—and was that disdain?—flashed across her ice-blue eyes.
An amusement park? She'd been to one, of course—once, as a child, when her parents took her out of obligation. Her memories were filled with crowded walkways, exaggerated screams, the cloying smell of cotton candy, and rides she found utterly pointless.
She racked her brain but couldn't fathom why Gaio would go to such lengths, orchestrating a dramatic "skip-school plan" that had the whole school buzzing, just to end up at a place she considered childish. What was the point?
Gaio seemed oblivious to Yukino's skeptical "Is this it?" expression. He pulled off his sunglasses and mask, flashing a triumphant grin and nodding toward Kaguya. "So, Kaguya, ready to experience some 'commoner' fun?"
Kaguya took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement to maintain her refined composure, but her glowing eyes and the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her. "Gaio-kun's plans are… unexpectedly delightful," she said, her anticipation clear despite her restrained words.
Yukino's brow furrowed again, her cool voice cutting in. "Gaio, I think your time and energy would be better spent on something more meaningful. Like going back to class." It was her last attempt to resist.
"Meaningful?" Gaio raised an eyebrow. Without hesitation, he grabbed both their wrists and marched toward the ticket booth. "The meaning is right now! Yukino, isn't it nice to be a little 'meaningless' for a day? Let's go!"
Yukino, dragged along, watched kids chattering as they ran to buy ice cream and blurry figures screaming on the roller coaster in the distance. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she muttered, "Absurd! Childish!"
Her protests were ignored. Gaio swiftly bought three all-access tickets and pressed them into their hands.
"First stop: the carousel!" he declared, ignoring Yukino's objections and pointing to a double-decker carousel not far from the entrance, its colorful lights twinkling and cheerful music playing. His tone was brimming with undeniable enthusiasm. "Don't even try telling me you don't want to ride it!"
Kaguya's eyes softened as she gazed at the dreamy carousel—a scene she'd only seen on TV as a girl. She nodded lightly, her feet already moving toward it.
Yukino stood rooted to the spot, staring at the brightly colored horses bobbing up and down, surrounded by adults and kids laughing without a care. Her ice-blue eyes screamed resistance, as if saying, "This is so not me." "Gaio, I think we—"
"Scared?" he teased, turning back with a playful challenge.
Yukino's neck stiffened, a flash of indignation crossing her face. "As if! It's just a waste of time!"
"Then stop wasting time and get on!" Gaio was already straddling a tall white horse, extending a hand to help Kaguya up.
Kaguya glanced at his outstretched hand, then at the ornate pumpkin carriage seat nearby, but ultimately chose a white horse that matched her vision. She lifted her skirt gracefully and climbed on, her face a mix of curiosity and nervous excitement.
Yukino watched the two, then the festive atmosphere around her. Finally, a faint, reluctant curiosity overpowered her stubbornness. With a straight face, she picked the "steadiest" black horse, as far from Gaio and Kaguya as possible, and sat rigidly, gripping the cold handrails like she was on a mission, not a ride.
The music started, and the carousel began to spin, lights twinkling. Kaguya, on her white horse up front, rose and fell gently with the rhythm, the evening breeze brushing her hair. The colorful lights danced around her, and her smile broke free, pure and unguarded like melting snow.
In that moment, there were no butlers, no maids, no rules—just her own simple joy.
Yukino, on her black horse at the back, sat stiffly as the ride swayed. Her icy expression held firm, but when the carousel reached its highest point, the view opening up to reveal the Ferris wheel and castle glowing gold in the sunset, her tightly pressed lips… curved upward ever so slightly?
It was gone in an instant, so quick it seemed like an illusion. Only she knew that a tightly wound string in her heart had been gently plucked by the childish music.
Gaio glanced back, catching Kaguya's unfiltered joy and Yukino's fleeting, barely-there shift.
After the carousel, Gaio transformed into the perfect tour guide and playmate. He got them ice cream sprinkled with colorful sugar, which Yukino ate carefully despite grumbling about "too much sugar." He bought fluffy, oversized cotton candy, and Kaguya, mimicking the kids nearby, nibbled delicately at a sugary cloud, her eyes squinting with delight.
The atmosphere grew lighter. Passing a trinket stall, Gaio's eyes landed on some shiny hair accessories, and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Hold still," he said, stopping in front of Yukino. Before she could react, he reached out and gently undid her meticulously tied black hair.
Under her slightly stunned gaze, his deft hands split her silky hair into two neat sections, tying them into high, crisp twin tails.
"You—!" Yukino's ice-blue eyes flashed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, her cheeks faintly pink.
It was a hairstyle she'd only worn in private for convenience, never in public. She raised a hand to stop him but froze halfway, ultimately turning her head away and muttering, "…Childish."
Gaio ignored her and turned to Kaguya.
The heiress's elegant updo was undone, her long hair cascading like a waterfall. Under her curious and expectant gaze, he gathered her hair into a lively high ponytail, leaving a few loose strands to frame her face.
"Much freer like this," Gaio said, pleased with his handiwork.
With the stiff updo gone, Kaguya's high ponytail shed some of her formality, adding a touch of youthful brightness. She shook her head lightly, feeling her vision widen.
Unknowingly, the two girls began to sink into the carefree vibe Gaio created, swept up by the park's lively chaos. Yukino's expression remained reserved, but her tense lips softened slightly. Kaguya's smiles grew more genuine, and she even let out soft gasps at certain rides.
After a leisurely boat ride, Gaio glanced at his watch—11:30.
Perfect timing.
His gentle smile shifted into a sharp, excited grin, like a hunter whose prey had finally let its guard down.
"Alright, fun time's over," he said, snapping his fingers, his eyes gleaming. "Last stop, the big one! After this, our skip-school adventure is complete!"
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Kaguya and Yukino's hands and strode forward with purpose.
Soon, a massive shadow loomed over them, accompanied by the deafening screech of metal and the ear-splitting screams of riders tearing through the sky—a colossal, twisting roller coaster, its tracks coiling like a giant steel serpent, stood before them.
Kaguya and Yukino, still warm from the day's fun, froze. Their relaxed smiles vanished as they looked up at the towering, dizzying loops and steep drops. Their faces went blank.
The screams seemed to explode right in their ears.
Gaio, seeing their stunned expressions, smirked, ready to enjoy their panicked reactions—
"Wow!!"
"Perfect!"
Two wildly different but equally vibrant exclamations erupted at once.
Kaguya's beautiful eyes lit up like they'd been hit with a bolt of lightning, all trace of hesitation gone, replaced by pure, unfiltered excitement. She grabbed Gaio's sleeve, shaking it eagerly. "Gaio-kun! Gaio-kun! This is it, right?! I've always wanted to try this! I've never had the chance!"
Her delicate face flushed with excitement, her ponytail bouncing with her movements.
At the same time, Yukino's cool voice rang out with a hint of relief and lightness. "Finally, something other than those childish rides."
Her ice-blue eyes glimmered with an eager spark, her lips curving into a small but unmistakable smile—nothing like her resistance to the carousel.
Gaio's smirk froze, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"…Huh?"
He blanked, his brain short-circuiting.
Wait… this wasn't the plan!
Weren't these two supposed to scream and shy away like typical girls? Why was Kaguya acting like she'd won the lottery? And why was there excitement hidden in Yukino's disdainful tone?
He glanced at Kaguya, practically bouncing with enthusiasm, then at Yukino, who was trying to stay composed but whose eyes were shining. His carefully crafted plan to "shake them out of their shells" felt like a firecracker that failed to go off.
"Come on, Gaio-kun!" Kaguya tugged his sleeve harder, pointing at the roaring steel beast. "Let's get in line!" Her usual poise was gone, replaced by raw anticipation.
Yukino was already striding toward the entrance, her steps light, tossing back, "Don't waste time, Gaio."
Gaio stood there, watching the two charge toward the roller coaster with purpose, as if Yukino hadn't been the one resisting earlier and Kaguya wasn't the picture of restraint. He rubbed his temple, letting out a helpless laugh before hurrying to catch up. "…Alright, I'm coming."
The roller coaster's safety bars clicked into place, locking the trio in.
Kaguya, on the far side, gripped Gaio's hand tightly, her sparkling eyes fixed on the steep track ahead, her face flushed with excitement. "Gaio-kun, it's starting!"
Yukino, on Gaio's other side, clutched the safety bar, her knuckles slightly white. Her gaze was intense, focused forward, her lips pressed tight with a hint of nerves—but mostly anticipation.
Feeling Kaguya's tight grip on his left hand and the faint tremble of Yukino's fingers through the bar on his right, Gaio looked at their contrasting yet equally eager expressions. His lips curved into a grin. Okay, maybe he'd been outplayed, but… this wasn't bad at all.
The engine roared louder, and the train began its slow climb up the steep track…
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