Bonus Short Written Story
“…Ehehe. Thanks for coming to my rescue, Hiroto-kun ♡”
The second round of the Unique Star battle 《Diascript》, a mock double date
—.
I was at an amusement park for reconnaissance to make it a success,
but right now, I found myself alone with Akizuki inside a haunted house.
This situation came about for a simple reason. Originally, it was me, Himeji,
Asamiya, and Akizuki—the four of us visiting places like a movie theater or shopping mall
(by the way, Akizuki was participating as Enomoto’s stand-in).
But at the amusement park, our last stop, Akizuki got separated.
She didn’t show up at the attraction’s exit, so I went to look for her.
“Akizuki, are you the type who’s bad with this kind of thing?”
“Not really… Ehehe, I just got a little lost.”
Swaying her chestnut twin-tails lightly while clasping her hands behind her back,
Akizuki said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
…Well, it’s true that while this haunted house isn’t particularly scary,
its interior is designed like a complex maze.
Beyond simple jump scares, the inability to easily find the exit
is probably part of the mechanism to heighten the sense of fear.
Anyway, I sent a message to the two waiting outside to let them know Akizuki was safe,
and we started heading toward the exit together.
—But then,
“Ngh… Hyah!? W-W-Wait… Uu~”
“…”
It became clear almost immediately after we started walking—
Akizuki wasn’t exactly great with places like this.
Even the slightest gimmick made her shoulders jump, and she let out faint squeaks.
Perhaps because she was trying to keep me from hearing, her reactions sounded oddly suggestive.
And then, finally—
“H-Hey, Hiroto-kun. Um, is it okay if I… hold your hand, just for now…?”
Glancing up at me with a shy look, she asked.
Normally, I’d brush off her usual flirty act, but seeing her muster this much courage,
I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
Silently offering my right hand to hide my own embarrassment,
Akizuki looked down bashfully and gently intertwined just the tips of her fingers with mine.
(Ugh… So soft…)
Her touch made my thoughts freeze for a moment.
Whether she knew my inner turmoil or not,
she flashed a coy smile to mask her own embarrassment.
“Ehehe… It kinda feels like we’re a couple like this ♪
If I screamed all cute like ‘Kyaa!’ and clung to your arm,
even you might fall for me, Hiroto-kun ♡”
“…Nah, you’re already embarrassed just holding hands, so that’s probably impossible.”
“Tch, I know, but… Hmph.”
Akizuki pouted her lips sulkily.
As we went on, the maze-like haunted house gradually neared its end.
No matter how much of a maze it was, the path didn’t change.
If my memory was correct, the exit was just around the next corner—
or so I thought as I took a big step forward, when suddenly,
‘GUOOOAAAAAHHHH!!!’
“Kyaaaaaa!?”
—At the very last moment, right before the exit,
Akizuki let out a genuine scream and clung tightly to me
as a massive monster’s roar echoed.
It wasn’t just clinging to my arm—she pressed her entire body against me in a full embrace.
Her silky hair tickled my cheek, her sweet scent filled my nose,
and despite my racing heart, I managed to shake her shoulder.
“H-Hey, Akizuki? You okay…?”
“E-Ehehe… Yeah, I’m fine, Hiroto-kun. But…”
“But?”
“Sorry. Noa might’ve… gone a bit weak in the knees.
Could you… carry me like a princess?”
(Wha—)
Akizuki whispered with slightly teary eyes and a trembling voice.
In the end, since she genuinely couldn’t stand,
I had to carry her on my back to the exit,
and needless to say, Himeji gave me a deadpan stare when we got outside.
