Chapter 3-Sunset and Ferris Wheel
The koto club has gathered for their club activities after school the next day. Nationals are only a few weeks away and they need to practice a lot. But Takezou thought of doing something different. Recently, everyone was going through some things. He wanted them to relax from it and then start focusing on practicing.
"Guys, I think we need to take a break." He said catching everyone's attention.
"Break? But we don't have much time." Sane said and others agreed.
"I know. Just a one-day break will be fine. Let's go somewhere together." Takezou senpai suggested.
"It's fine, I guess. We do need a break so that we can properly focus on practice." Hiro stood near Takezou.
"Where are we going then?" Kota asked.
Everyone started discussing and telling places where they can have fun.
"How about an amusement park?" Atsumu suggested.
"Amusement Park?" Satowa had a question mark on her face to which others realized that she hasn't gone to an amusement park.
"You haven't gone to an amusement park?" Hiro chuckled.
"Yes," Satowa answered.
While everyone was laughing at Satowa, Chika was just standing in a corner with a nervous expression.
"Oi Chika, Houzuki-san haven't been to the amusement park!" Sane looked at him trying to pull him in teasing Satowa but seeing Chika's expressions he learned that Chika also hasn't been to an amusement park either. "Chika, you too?"
"Shut up!" Chika yelled at him and everyone started teasing both Satowa and Chika.
"Jokes apart, can we go this Sunday?" Takezou senpai asked to which everyone agreed.
"I-" Momoya was trying to say something.
"Don't tell me you aren't coming Momoyan?" Mitsu asked him.
"No, I mean, I was saying that I would like to come." Momoya shyly informed.
"Momoyan!" Sane, Mitsu and Koto happily jumped on him.
Takezou and Hiro softly smiled at him for how much he changed.
And so, it was decided that this Sunday, the Koto club will go to the amusement park.
Sunday, at the amusement park-:
Everyone reached almost at the time they decided to gather. Everyone seemed excited except one person who was dragged into this.
"So, why was I dragged into this?" Tetsuki asked looking angrily at Chika, Sane, Mitsu, and Kota.
All of them just sheepishly smiled and Tetsuki just let out a sigh.
"Is it okay if I join Senpai?" Tetsuki turned to Takezou to ask for his permission.
"It's totally fine Takaoka-kun. You have helped us a lot!" Takezou replied.
Satowa and Chika literally had a sparkle in their eyes. It was like they were seeing a new world or something. Both were so excited that they weren't even able to sleep last night.
After discussing a lot, they all finally decided what to ride first. Everyone was enjoying it. After a few rides, they decided to take a break and eat something. Everyone ordered what they want and enjoyed the snacks together.
"It's been a while since we gathered like this," Takezou said.
"Right!" Hiro and others agreed.
"Shall we go to the next rides now that we ate a lot?" Sane asked.
"Yes, I and Kurata will go pay the bill." Hiro held Takezou's hand.
"Hiro senpai, is it okay?" Sane asked.
"Yes, it's your senpai's treat." She smiled and dragged Takezou to the bill counter.
"Kurusu-san? What happened?" Takezou asked bewildered by her actions.
"Kurata, don't you think we should leave Chika-kun and Satowa-chan alone for a while?"
"Ah, that's why you dragged me here." He looked at his hand which was still held by Hiro.
"After Chika-kun's confession, they both haven't even got time to talk, and knowing them none of them will take lead. We need to do something, about those 2 and the others." Hiro suggested.
"Okay, Takaoka-kun can handle Sane-kun, Mitsu and Kota-kun. We can go with Atsumu-kun and Momoya-kun." Takezou said while Hiro just sighed.
"I guess I can't be alone with Kurata!" she said in a very low voice.
"Did you say something?" he asked making her startled.
"Ah, yes, that can do!" she replied somehow.
They both paid the bill and returned.
"Why don't we break into small groups and go on rides separately?" Hiro suggested.
"Eh? Let's just go together. It's more fun." Kota cried.
"Kota, we will go again together. Just for a few rides, we can go separately, okay!" Hiro insisted. Tetsuki did find it weird but then he understood why Hiro was insisting.
"Okay Senpai. Sane, Mitsu, Kota, let's go!" he agreed. The three joined him somehow even though they kept on crying they want to be with everyone.
"Then I will come with you guys." Chika got up from the chair and stood near Tetsuki.
"We don't need you!" Tetsuki kicked Chika and he fell down.
"You bastard!" both of them started fighting.
"Momoya and Atsumu can come with us," Hiro told them.
Momoya understood their intentions and Atsumu just obediently followed them.
"Hiro senpai, I am coming with you." Satowa stood up and went to Hiro.
"I want you to come too but," she then leaned forward and whispered in Satowa's ear, "Go with Chika-kun, have fun!"
Hiro waved her a goodbye and left with Takezou and the juniors leaving amazed Satowa behind. Tetsuki and the others also left. Now it was only her and Chika.
Chika stole a glance at Satowa. She was so flustered.
'Cute.'
"Where do you want to go?" he asked her shyly.
"Eh? I-I don't know." She hesitatingly replied.
"Then let's just walk around. Even I don't know what's good." He suggested.
She agreed and they both started walking around looking at different things, too awkward to even talk. Some random kids came running from behind and bumped into Satowa due to which she bumped into Chika who was walking in front of her.
"Sorry!" she quickly apologized.
"It's okay." He held out his hand. She looked at him. "You will fall down. There are a lot of people."
He is really kind and caring. She slowly accepted his hand and they started walking again. After walking for a few minutes, they came across a place where rabbits were kept. People can feed them or pat them.
"They are so cute!" she ran towards the rabbits and smiled.
"They really are." He followed her and leaned down beside her.
And it made her more flustered.
She was patting one of the rabbits and he couldn't help but admire her cuteness. He stole a quick photo of her smiling so adorably. Just then a small kid of almost 6-7 years old bumped into Chika. He looked at the kid, he was crying.
"What happened? Are you lost?" Chika leaned down and asked that boy caressing his hair trying to calm him down.
Listening to the child's cry Satowa turned to Chika.
"What happened?" she asked him.
"I think he is lost?" he replied.
"What is your name? DO you know your parent's phone number?" Satowa tried asking him.
But he didn't reply, he kept on crying.
"Let's wait for a few minutes, if no one comes, we will take him to the police station in the amusement park." He suggested.
"Yes, I hope he stops crying so that we can find his parents. Also, I am not good with kids so I can't do anything to stop him from crying." Satowa told him.
Chika just chuckled.
"It's okay, your parents will find you!" Chika picked that kid up and hugged him.
After a few seconds, that kid stopped crying.
"Oniichan, I want to see mom and dad!" he said in between his sobs.
"I will take you to them. What's your name?" Chika asked him wiping that kid's tears.
He had a very soft look on him. Satowa was just looking at him with admiration.
"Ren." He answered.
"Ren-kun, do you know your parents' number?" Chika asked him softly.
"No!" Ren replied.
They heard someone yelling. "Ren? Ren, where are you?"
They looked in the direction from where the voice was coming. A woman was searching. They guessed that she is his mom. Chika and Satowa ran towards her.
"Excuse me, is he your son?" Chika asked her.
"Yes! Ren!" that woman hugged him.
"Mom, I wanted to see you!" he started crying again.
"Mom was worried too, Ren!" she caressed him to calm him down. "Thank you very much!" she thanked Chika and Satowa.
"It's totally fine. I am glad he was able to get back to you." Chika smiled.
"Mikako, did you find Ren?" a man came asking her.
"Darling, yes. These people brought him to me," she said to that man.
"Thank you very-" he suddenly stopped as he looked at Chika.
Chika's expressions changed too. Satowa and that woman wondered what happened. She looked at that man. He and Chika look a lot similar.
"Thank you!" that man bowed and thanked him anyhow.
"It's nothing!" Chika replied. "Let's go, Satowa!" he held her hand and dragged her away from the family.
"Kudo, what happened?" she kept on asking but he didn't say a word. His expressions were cold. "Wait, Chika!" she increased her volume a bit.
He stopped.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked concerned about him.
"Sorry!" he looked down as he apologized to her.
"Can you tell me what happened suddenly?" she asked him softly.
"That man, that woman's husband, he is my father." He told her, voice full of betrayal and loneliness. Satowa was taken aback.
"He got married to another woman and now has a kid too. Seems like he is living a happy life with his new family."
She didn't have to look at his face to know how he is feeling. She knows very well, how hurt he is. His own dad left him and now raising a kid. She knows how lonely Chika is and she can't look at him feeling broken. He already had enough in his life. She wants him to be happy more than anyone. And she knows that she sucks at words in such situations.
So, she slowly wrapped her hands around him and pulled him in a hug. As much as her actions surprised him, he found her hug very comforting. He hugged her back, burying his head in the gap of her shoulder and neck. But because of her height, he had to lean down and that hurt his neck and it was a little bit uncomfortable for him so she tiptoed to try to match his height so that he can be comfortable. They separated after a few seconds as he calmed down.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
He just nodded.
"Chika, can we ride that?" she pointed towards the big Ferris Wheel.
"Okay." They both went towards the Ferris Wheel.
Chika bought the tickets and then they stood in the line. As their turn came, they went inside one of the passenger cabins. The wheel started moving. It was past 7 but the sun was not completely set which made the sky look beautiful in shades of orange and purple. A few stars were seen. It was such beautiful scenery to look at, especially when you are with someone you love.
"The sky looks so wonderful!" Satowa exclaimed.
"It sure does." He smiled. "Ano sa, omae no tonari ni suwatte ii ka? (Is it okay if I seat beside you?)" he asked her, face completely red.
They were seated in front of each other. Satowa shyly nodded. He carefully got up and sat beside her. She did feel shivers run down her spine but she could feel his warmth beside her and that made her calm.
"Sa-towa, regarding the thing that I say the other day. I don't want you to hurry your decision or something." At first, she was confused about what he was saying but then she understood. "Take your time." He told her.
"A-arigatou, Kudo." She felt embarrassed.
"Also, can you just one name for calling me. Either keep is Kudo or call me Chika. Though I want you to call me Chika because you made me love that name, I will leave it to you." He requested her.
"Then, Chika, I will call you Chika." She smiled looking at him.
Although at that moment he wanted to either hug her or kiss her, he didn't want to ruin this moment.
They just enjoyed the rest of their ride.
He then got a call from Tetsuki that they have to gather back. After the ride was done, both of them re-joined the group. Hiro smiled looking at them as they were happily talking feeling glad that their plan was a success.
"Satowa-chan, did you tell Chika-kun?" she asked her slowly as they were away from the group a bit.
"Tell what?"
"That you love him too!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Eh? Why?" Hiro suddenly shouted.
"Senpai, shush!" she calmed her.
"But why?"
"Well, when I thought that I will tell him, he said that he doesn't want me to hurry my decision so I couldn't," she told her.
"The chance we gave you went in vain!" Hiro fake cried.
"Senpai, thank you for thinking so much about us." She thanked her.
"Thank me after confessing to Chika-kun!" Hiro chuckled.
And so, the koto club's fun day ends. But that day did give them lots of energy to practice for their awaiting nationals.