● March 23 (Wednesday) Yuuta Asamura

The blue sky overhead was sliced by a dragon of steel, its ladder-like rails twisting and turning like waves, looping in a wild circle before returning to the starting point. No need to ask what it was—a thrill ride, unmistakable in its towering, intimidating presence.

“Eh, starting with this…?” I muttered, my voice tinged with disbelief.

“But you wanted recommendations, right?” Narasaka-san shot back, her tone brimming with confidence.

“Yeah, I did say that, but…”

Ayase-san and I had settled on theme park hopping for the second day of our trip, following Narasaka-san’s recommended spots. Neither of us was well-versed in navigating amusement parks like Universal Studios Japan, so we’d leaned on her expertise to guide us through the day’s itinerary.

“Nuffufu! When it comes to USJ, this is the one!” Narasaka-san declared, puffing out her chest with pride.

I glanced up at the attraction again. Vehicles without enclosures rocketed along the iron rails at dizzying speeds, their passengers’ screams piercing the air like scraping metal. Just watching them careen through the loops made my heart race uncomfortably.

“Looks fun!” Narasaka-san chirped. “This is definitely my recommendation!”

Is it, though? Wasn’t there something… milder? Theme parks usually had gentler rides, didn’t they?

“Are we really riding this?” I asked, my voice betraying my hesitation.

“Asamura-kun. No, Yuuta onii-chan!” Narasaka-san exclaimed, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

“I’m not your brother, Narasaka-san,” I retorted, exasperated.

She shook her head dramatically. “What are you saying? A friend’s brother is like a brother too! That’s just how the world works, Asamura-kun. And a sister’s friend is like a sister—someone said that somewhere!”

“No one said that,” I deadpanned.

“Geez, you’re so picky. Come on, be a brother for a bit!”

What does “be a brother for a bit” even mean?

“Asamura-kun, you know, not many people realize this, but USJ only has about as many thrill rides as fingers on one hand,” she continued, undeterred.

“H-Heh,” I managed, unsure where this was going.

“And today’s theme park day. We’re supposed to enjoy USJ to the fullest, all day long. So, what’s the conclusion?”

“…To evenly cover all the attractions in the park?” I ventured.

“Non, non, non!” Narasaka-san waved a finger, inexplicably slipping into French. “First off, we’re obviously conquering the thrill rides!”

And just like that, it was decided. Her dazzling enthusiasm and wide grin made it hard to argue. As the planner, I wanted to follow her lead—I really did. But as someone who’d hesitated even on the flight to Singapore for our school trip, tackling thrill rides first thing in the morning felt like a daunting task. Wasn’t there anyone who’d back me up?

“Let’s go, Tomo-kun!” Narasaka-san called out.

“Yeah,” Maru replied, already on board.

Et tu, Maru? I thought, feeling a pang of betrayal akin to Caesar’s. Starting with a thrill ride, huh? It wasn’t that I was scared—okay, maybe a little—but mental preparation was a thing, you know?

“Asamura-kun, you don’t have to force yourself,” Ayase-san said softly, her voice laced with concern.

“What about you, Ayase-san?” I asked, turning to her.

“It’s been a while since I’ve ridden one, so I’m looking forward to it,” she replied, her eyes bright with anticipation.

I was surprised. She got spooked by thunder and horror movies, so I’d assumed she wasn’t into scary things in general. But thrill rides? Apparently, she was fine with those. Come to think of it, she hadn’t minded the plane ride during the school trip either.

“Well, it’s not like I hate them…” I mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Come on, over here!” Narasaka-san beckoned from ahead, her energy unrelenting.

My feet froze as I caught sight of the sign bearing the attraction’s name. “It says Back Drop,” I said, my voice faltering.

“That’s the selling point!” Narasaka-san chirped.

“Wait, hold on—”

Of course, they didn’t wait. Luck—or perhaps misfortune—meant the ride wasn’t crowded, and within fifteen minutes, the four of us were strapped into the Back Drop thrill attraction. What caught me off guard was the requirement to deposit all pocket items before boarding. That meant the ride was intense enough to shake loose anything not secured. Keys, coins, anything in your pockets would plummet to the ground, no doubt about it.

…Seriously?

Once seated, my upper body felt exposed, my soles barely grazing the floor to heighten the floating sensation. After a brief safety rundown from the guide, the vehicle lurched forward with a clunk. It was happening—backward, just as the name promised. My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard.

Why did thrill rides always drag out the buildup before the drop? No, I knew why. The slow climb fueled your imagination, amplifying the fear. Tension and release—that was the essence of entertainment. It looked dangerous, but it was meticulously safe. Safer than a plane, probably. Still, as the vehicle ascended, the ground below shrank, buildings and people turning into specks. My back lifted slightly from the seat, the safety bar digging into my chest. How high were we now? The view vanished under a roof, stealing what little sense of control I had.

A jolt shuddered through the vehicle as it crested the peak. For a fleeting moment, the blue sky filled my vision. Then, the world blurred.

The drop hit like a peel from the heavens, a steep backward plunge just shy of free fall. Wind roared past my ears, screams erupting around me. I clenched my teeth to avoid biting my tongue, the wheels’ clatter on the rails drowned out by music from the ear speakers. My body shook—would I be flung into the sky? My head knew better, but fear gripped my instincts. Ayase-san’s screams beside me sounded oddly exhilarated, unlike my own silent panic. The coaster surged through ups and downs, racing through the park, but I had no bandwidth to take in the sights. Sudden accelerations pinned me to the seat, my body swaying left and right.

Finally, the speed eased, the shaking subsided with a series of clatters. In a daze, the vehicle came to a stop, and the announcement to disembark crackled through the speakers. My legs trembled as I stepped off, feeling like a newborn fawn struggling to stand.

“That was fun!” Narasaka-san’s voice rang out.

“It was okay,” Maru added calmly.

I couldn’t muster a response, too overwhelmed to agree or protest.

“It’s been a while, but it’s still great!” Ayase-san said, her voice bright and unaffected.

Her enthusiasm felt distant as my legs wobbled beneath me, my heart pounding like it was trying to escape my chest. The world swayed, my head trembled with the force of a mild earthquake. I collapsed onto a bench near the attraction, trying to steady myself.

“Asamura, I’ll go grab something to drink for you,” Maru said.

“Ah, wait. I’ll come too,” Narasaka-san chimed in, and the two headed off.

“You okay?” Ayase-san asked, sitting beside me. She tilted her head, peering at my downcast face, her proximity sending my heart racing for an entirely different reason.

“Y-Yeah, fine, fine,” I stammered.

“Should I find the infirmary?”

“It’s not

“Don’t worry about it,” she said gently, placing her hand on my forehead. Her fingers were cool, likely from gripping the metal safety bar. “My hand might be cold, so I can’t tell.”

“I don’t think I have a fever,” I assured her.

“Really?” She lifted my bangs and pressed her forehead against mine, an old-fashioned way to check for fever I’d only read about in stories. Her face was so close I could count her eyelashes, and my heart rate spiked again. Was it the thrill ride or her proximity? I couldn’t tell—probably both. Calm down, Asamura Yuuta.

I lifted my head, taking a deep breath. In my peripheral vision, I saw Maru and Narasaka-san returning.

“Recovered, Asamura?” Maru asked.

“Here, bought drinks!” Narasaka-san handed me a bottle.

“Thanks,” I said, accepting it gratefully.

“Asamura, rest a bit more. We’ll hit the next one and come back,” Narasaka-san said.

“Next is becoming a dinosaur and flying!” she added excitedly.

“More like being pulled by a dinosaur,” Maru corrected, glancing at the ride ahead—a pterosaur-shaped model leading a contraption where riders hung horizontally below the rails.

“You guys… that one?” I asked, my voice weak.

“Gotta go fast or the sun sets before we conquer them all! Finish by noon, then take the afternoon slow!” Narasaka-san declared.

Conquering all the thrill rides in one morning—what stamina.

“So, off we go!” she said, already moving.

“If you don’t move, we can meet here,” Maru added.

“G-Got it,” I replied.

“I’ll rest here a bit more too,” Ayase-san said, waving them off.

She was clearly staying to keep me company, and guilt tugged at me. “Sorry, Ayase-san. You probably want to enjoy the rides too.”

“It’s fine,” she said, her tone reassuring. “More importantly, drink something. It’ll help.”

My mouth was dry, and the iced oolong tea she handed me worked wonders, lifting my mood. But this was unexpected. I’d scoured social media about USJ beforehand, expecting leisurely vibes—girls in character ears sipping colorful drinks. In hindsight, that was probably a biased view, but I’d assumed Narasaka-san would lean toward a relaxed tour. Instead, we’d kicked off with a thrill ride. Good thing we’d kept breakfast light at the hotel buffet, or I might’ve been in trouble.

“Phew. Much better,” I said, exhaling.

“Good,” Ayase-san replied, her relief evident as she leaned closer.

“I was a bit worried.”

“Nah, just caught off guard. I’m fine now.”

“Don’t force it. If you hate it, I’ll sit with you until Maaya and the others finish.”

“That’d be bad,” I protested. She clearly enjoyed theme parks, and I didn’t want to hold her back. Besides, I wasn’t that opposed. “Starting university in spring, I don’t want to miss out on new experiences.”

I wanted to try things without prejudice, to push past my hesitations. Standing, I steeled myself. “Next, let’s go.”

“Um… you serious? You’re not forcing yourself?” Ayase-san asked, her brow furrowing.

“Of course. This heart-racing feeling might even be addictive,” I said, half-joking.

“You’re saying dangerous things,” she replied with a smile. “I like it, so I get it, but… anytime it’s too much, you can stop, okay?”

“I know.”

I’d probably end up trembling like that newborn fawn again—not exactly cute—but I didn’t mind showing that side to Ayase-san anymore. Before, I’d have hated looking weak, like at our third-year summer camp when I overdid it to save face. Now, though, I felt differently. It was okay to be vulnerable with her. She wouldn’t judge me for it. More than avoiding change, I wanted to understand what she loved about thrill rides. Just as I wanted to support her, I cherished her support for me. And if she snuggled close like this? Well, that was a bonus I wouldn’t voice aloud.

“Message Maru and the others. Which one’s next?” I asked.

“That one pulled by the pterosaur!” Ayase-san replied, her eyes gleaming.

…Eh?

“Looks scary, but fun!”

I nearly suggested something milder but caught myself, managing a smile and a nod. “Okay.”

As promised, Maru and Narasaka-san tore through the thrill rides all morning.

“Haa! Ate so much!” Narasaka-san exclaimed.

“Lunch is next, right?” I asked.

“I’m saying I enjoyed it! Maybe no thrill rides for a while,” she clarified.

“Narasaka’s ‘while’ is two months at best…” Maru teased.

“Geez, Tomo-kun. A bit longer,” she shot back, holding up four fingers with a grin. Four months? That’s hardly a “while.” Maru shook his head, exasperated.

“I’m good for half a year,” he said.

That’s barely different from her, Maru.

I managed two more rides before hitting my limit, fighting back nausea the whole time. Ayase-san offered to stay with me, but I didn’t want to ruin her fun, so I entrusted her to Narasaka-san and Maru. She regretted missing one ride for the “full conquest,” but I thought she’d done more than enough.

We headed to a shipyard-themed restaurant for lunch, inspired by some shark-attack movie. I didn’t know the title, but Maru clarified it was “the first one,” and I got the reference. I hadn’t seen it, but it was famous. When Narasaka-san suggested watching it together, Ayase-san’s grimace made me decline with a wry smile. Horror movies were a no-go for her.

The sandwich and drink sets were reasonably priced, so we each picked different ones. “This a baguette sandwich?” Ayase-san asked.

“No, no,” Narasaka-san corrected. “Baguette’s that hard French bread, right? This looks softer—probably a coppe pan sandwich!”

“Oh,” Ayase-san nodded.

Lunchtime was smooth, with no long waits thanks to it being a weekday before spring break. As Narasaka-san predicted, the sandwiches were soft coppe pan with meat or shrimp fillings, served on paper trays with a shark’s toothy grin printed on them. The design made it look like the bread had been chomped by jaws. Ayase-san hesitated, clearly unnerved by the printed teeth.

“This movie… definitely don’t wanna see,” she muttered, eyeing her sandwich warily.

We snagged seats on the open terrace, sharing our sandwich fillings and fueling up for the afternoon. The pace shifted dramatically—Narasaka-san’s recommended attractions became far more relaxed, a stark contrast to the morning’s intensity. There was one water slider, but it was mild compared to the earlier chaos.

I’d thought USJ was all about Hollywood movies, but Narasaka-san set me straight. “Lately, they’ve gone beyond Hollywood, collaborating with globally popular anime and games!” she explained.

“Even if it’s not a Hollywood movie?” Ayase-san asked.

“Yes!” Narasaka-san confirmed.

“Oh,” Ayase-san said, intrigued.

Maru pointed out signs with familiar art styles scattered around the park, and I noticed attractions based on games and manga—too popular to hit this time, especially since Ayase-san wasn’t familiar with them. Narasaka-san’s course balanced classics with less crowded spots, keeping the day fun and manageable.

Our laughter and gasps echoed under the Osaka sky, but by the time the red sunset sank beyond the park, our legs felt like lead. Exhausted but fulfilled, we agreed with Narasaka-san’s closing words: “Theme parks are great!”

“Thanks, Maaya. Your guiding was amazing. Maru, thanks for the trivia too,” Ayase-san said.

“Yeah, praise me more,” Maru quipped.

“Just shared what I know. Might be wrong, so verify,” he added humbly.

“No, no, Maru’s was living knowledge. Can’t beat that with cramming,” Narasaka-san teased.

I bowed to Maru’s modesty. Ayase-san glanced at her watch, and I checked the schedule. “Let’s move—good connections if we hurry.”

No time for a proper dinner, we grabbed bentos at a convenience store. Back at the hotel, exhaustion silenced us. One more day awaited.

“This is bad. Let’s sleep quick,” Maru said.

We nodded wearily, even that small motion feeling tedious. After scarfing down our bentos and bathing, we collapsed into bed. The whirlwind second day of our grad trip was over.

As sleep pulled me under, a flicker of regret surfaced. I’d meant to be proactive, ensuring Maru and Narasaka-san enjoyed themselves, but I’d spent half the day screaming or recovering. Tomorrow, I’d do better. With that resolve, I surrendered to the sleep demon, its pull like mud dragging me into an abyss—a sensation eerily reminiscent of the Back Drop ride. It wasn’t peaceful slumber but a forced plunge, mirroring my anxiety about the unknown of university life ahead.