Tokyo's Most Affectionate - Chapter 40

Not Necessarily

“The tickets are purchased, let’s go inside.”

Soon, Ninomiya walked over.

Her words were calm, and her expression was like when she was in school, with a face as cold as ice.

Obviously, even though she was in a good mood while in the car.

However, Itsuragi’s remarks about eating alone and buying tickets directly hit a nerve.

“Give me the ticket; I’ll pay for it later.” Kurosawa nodded in agreement and said.

“Give the ticket to me.” However, as a teacher, Ninomiya wouldn’t let him handle the troublesome task of taking the lead in buying tickets.

“Okay.” Kurosawa nodded, then began searching in his pocket.

“Where’s the ticket?” However, after searching through it once, he didn’t find it.

“Oh right, I need to pick up the tickets.” Suddenly, Kurosawa remembered something, took out his phone, looked around, and then walked away.

Seeing his actions, the two girls didn’t want to be left behind and naturally followed him.

“Hello, I bought tickets online.”

Kurosawa walked up to a booth for online ticket purchases and spoke.

“Scan the code.”

The young man at the booth glanced at him and said.

“Wait a moment.”

Kurosawa responded and began operating his phone.

With deliberate slowness, he waited for the two women behind him to approach.

Soon, when they were relatively close, Kurosawa scanned the code using the machine on the side.

“These are two all-day passes you purchased online at 2:00 p.m. yesterday. Is there any issue?”

As the machine printed out two tickets and handed them to Kurosawa, the ticket seller handed over the passes and asked.

“No problem.” Kurosawa paused at the words, couldn’t help but glance back, then shifted his body to block more view and whispered.

Having secured the admission tickets, Kurosawa returned with them.

“Why so sneaky about getting the tickets?” When he returned, Itsuragi immediately asked.

“Didn’t you say you bought the tickets earlier to go to the amusement park with your ex-girlfriend, and if you don’t go, it would be a waste? How come you only bought them yesterday?” Ninomiya inquired with an expressionless face, having heard the ticket seller’s voice.

“Those two tickets from before, I forgot them in my pocket and they got ruined in the washing machine,” explained Kurosawa in the face of their questioning.

“Lying is not right,” scolded Ninomiya, although her expression softened a bit. Clearly, her mood had improved.

Although Kurosawa lied about buying the tickets yesterday instead of using the ones prepared for his ex-girlfriend, it was still more comforting that the tickets were bought for himself.

“Sorry… How about we go inside? The sun outside is quite harsh,” Kurosawa suggested, sensing her improved mood.

“The sun inside is harsh too,” Ninomiya dismissed the reason but extended her hand to ask for the tickets, indicating agreement to go inside.

“That’s not necessarily true.” Watching her fair and slender hand, Kurosawa handed the two tickets to her and smiled.

With that, they took steps towards the entrance.

Following the ticket check, they successfully entered Fuji-Q Highland amusement park.

“Pa.”

After passing through the ticket gate, with a crisp sound, Kurosawa opened an umbrella to shade Ninomiya.

“I told you it might not be necessary, right?” Kurosawa slightly lowered his head, met her surprised gaze, and smiled.

Seeing his successful strategy and somewhat triumphant smile, Ninomiya was momentarily stunned.

At the same time, a line of text appeared in Kurosawa’s mind.

Mission progress updated, Ninomiya Chizuru, number of heart-fluttering moments: 1/3.

“She’s moved?” Kurosawa was somewhat shocked. He didn’t expect that the small arrangement he considered before the date could achieve such an effect.

“…”

Ninomiya realized that her heart was beating a bit faster, feeling a bit nervous and awkward for a moment. After all, she had never been in a relationship before, always busy with academics. 

While she could handle interactions with boys, she lacked experience in such situations.

“What’s going on? You two are sorted with an umbrella? Leaving me to soak up the sun alone?” At that moment, Itsuragi noticed the ambiguous and rapidly warming atmosphere between them and immediately spoke up.

This wouldn’t do. They had just entered the amusement park. If they started with such an atmosphere, it would be difficult to enjoy the day.

“Sorry, I only prepared one umbrella. How about you come a bit closer?” Kurosawa regained his composure and said.

“Dream on. Your umbrella is so small. Should I come close and let you be surrounded on both sides?” Itsuragi stood on the side with arms crossed, rolling her eyes.

“Then, you guys share it.” Kurosawa thought for a moment and suggested.

“No, then you’ll be exposed to the sun, right?” Ninomiya denied immediately upon hearing this.

The umbrella that Kurosawa prepared in advance was meant for sunshade. It wouldn’t be good if he ended up getting exposed to the sun.

“Chizuru, my heart hurts. Are you unwilling to let your precious Kurosawa get sunburned but okay with letting your friend of over twenty years get sunburned?” Itsuragi covered her chest, acting melodramatically.

“Let’s sunbathe together,” Ninomiya decided, opting for the most fair choice.

“It’s okay if I get a bit darker, but if you two beautiful ladies get sunburned, it would be a shame,” Kurosawa shook his head and handed the umbrella to her.

“Exactly,” Itsuragi nodded in agreement and took the place Kurosawa vacated.

“You really have no shame,” Ninomiya, holding the umbrella, looked at her helplessly.

“Why? Do you regret bringing me forcibly to the amusement park now? Worried it’s affecting your private time with Kurosawa?” Itsuragi found her reaction amusing and leaned close to her ear, whispering.

“I don’t want to deal with you,” Ninomiya gave her a disdainful look.

“He’s a grown man; a little sun exposure and sweating won’t hurt him. If you’re really worried, let’s walk a bit faster and get into the fun.” Itsuragi consoled her.

Sweating is a good thing; if he sweats a bit more, it could give Kurosawa a reason to change clothes.

“What should we do first?” Ninomiya considered it and nodded.

“Let’s start with some indoor activities; the sun is still quite strong,” Kurosawa, who had planned in advance by checking online guides, suggested.

“Good idea.”

Itsuragi agreed with him, deciding the plan without giving Chizuru a chance to provide input.

“Indoor… Does that mean we’re going straight to a haunted house?” Ninomiya didn’t speak up but was already retreating mentally.

She had heard of the notorious reputation of Fuji-Q Highland. For someone who feared ghosts and was afraid of horror and suspenseful elements, confronting those fears was something she preferred to avoid.

Upon learning last night that the amusement park was Fuji-Q Highland, she didn’t hesitate to call her best friend, insisting that she accompany her on this trip no matter what.

If Kurosawa took her into a haunted house with just the two of them, she was worried that she might lose control of herself, embarrassing herself in front of her student.