CH 66

“Shall we go on that one last ride then?”

After we left the haunted house, the four of us enjoyed the attractions that even Shi-chan didn’t mind.

Then, just as it was getting to be a good time, Takayuki said and started walking towards “that thing”.

On the way, I asked him, “What’s ‘thing’?” but Takayuki just said, “Ma~ ma~.”

Shimizu-san walked next to Takayuki without saying a word, as if she knew where he was going, and Shi-chan was walking smiling next to me, more perfectly aligned than when we first came here.

–The last thing Takayuki brought me to was the Ferris wheel.

As I looked up at the huge Ferris wheel, I thought, “I see what you mean.”

They were a couple who were totally …… meddlesome in every way, but I knew this was the only place to go, so I smiled at them and responded.

–Thank you. I’ll try to do as much as I can.

By the way, Shi-chan, letting out a childlike “Wow!” and looked up at the Ferris wheel happily.

“I’ve never been on one of these before! It’s my first time! It’s really tall when you look at it up close!”

Shi-chan was as innocent and excited as a child.

I smiled at Shi-chan and replied with “Yes, you’re right.”

“Well, let’s split up and ride separately here, shall we? Let’s go, Sakurako.”

Takayuki patted me on the shoulder and smiled, then took Shimizu-san’s hand and walked towards the entrance of the Ferris wheel.

“Takkun! Let’s go for a ride too!”

“Yes, let’s go!”

Thus, I too headed for the Ferris wheel with the excited Shi-chan pulling me by the hand.

I sat down on the Ferris wheel, facing Shi-chan.

It was a beautiful sunset outside, and as the Ferris wheel gradually went up, the scenery around us expanded.

Shi-chan took off her sunglasses, her eyes sparkled, and she leaned forward to look at the scenery with joy.

“Wow! It’s beautiful, Takkun!”

“Yes, really.”

I smiled and looked at Shi-chan, who was enjoying the scenery.

I really thought it was beautiful.

After a while, Shi-chan seemed to have calmed down and sat back down to face me.

As soon as she saw my face, she suddenly blushed and looked down.

“U-um…”

“Hahahaha, it’s okay.”

Maybe it was because she was so innocent and excited, or maybe it was because she finally realized that it was just the two of us in a closed room, but Shi-chan was embarrassed.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her, because she was so funny.

At any rate, at the end of the day, I was able to face Shi-chan alone and calmly.

I really enjoyed it today.

I got to see many different kinds of Shi-chan.

We had some misunderstandings at times, but in the end, I realized that everyone has been pushing me, including Shirasaki, and I’m grateful for that.

–Thank you, everyone, for being there for me.

–I know I’m like this, but I’m going to try to face myself, …… and Shi-chan.

After making up my mind, I took a deep breath.

–All right, I’m fine.

And so I slowly opened my mouth, looking straight into Shi-chan’s face as she sat shyly in front of me.

“It was fun today, wasn’t it?”

“…… Yes, it was. It was fun because …… Takkun was there.”

She smiled softly and said she had fun because she was with me.

The scene was really beautiful, combined with the sunset in the background.

“…… Me too. I also had a lot of fun with you, Shi-chan.”

“What? ……Uh, yeah, then I’m happy. ……

Shi-chan’s cheeks turned red, just like the sunset.

As I stared at Shi-chan, I finally put my feelings into words.

“……There’s something I really want to tell you today, Shi-chan.”

“Eh, ……”

Shi-chan is surprised.

I took a breath and continued.

“I love you, Shi-chan ……, no Shion Saegusa. I’m not very good at this, but my love for you is absolutely unbeatable. So please go out with me…….”