So... I know it's been a little while since I updated. I'm sorry. I have a good reason, though – we're getting really close to finals, and the pressure is mounting. Anyway, here's chapter three in all its goodness!

Chapter 3 – Swing and a Miss

Player finished his lunch with no more answers than he started with. Actually, he didn't really have an opportunity to ask any more questions, due to the size and composition of the group he was with. So, Laika startled him when she came up to him after they had split up again.

"I saw you talking to the Professor before. Did he tell you anything?"

"Nothing. All I had time to ask him about was what this trip today was really about..."

"And?"

"He just kinda said he didn't know yet. But he was sure I'd be able to figure it out when he did..."

"Onii-chan! Laika-San! I found the ride we should go on next!" Kotone stopped for a minute to catch her breath. When she started again, it was still with the heightened timbre of excitement. "It's called the Turtle. It kinda looks like a roller coaster, but the loop is a little circle. And... the cars look like turtles!" She grabbed their hands and started running. The other two shrugged, and followed after her.

Everyone fit into one car. The ride got off to a slow start, but soon they were falling on one another from the centrifugal force. On the upswing of one of the hills, Anya tried to get back to the spot where she had originally been sitting. However, there wasn't enough time, and she lost her balance.

Konstantin blushed as he caught her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly choking him. "Konstantin, you saved me again," she exclaimed with an expression of pure ecstasy on her face.

Konstantin's eyebrow twitched. He lightly pushed the cat-girl off to the side, and leaned over onto the center handle-ring for the remainder of the ride.

That was fun! Where do we go next?

"I thought Pittsburgh was spelled with an h..." Kotone was looking at the gate into "Lost Pittsburg", which no one else had taken notice of yet.

Konstantin made a weird face until he realized she was being serious.

"That was random," Lisa pointed out.

"Nuh-uh, there's a sign right up there." Kotone lifted her finger into the air.

Player started walking. "Well, let's see what's there."

They walked past the swings, a few games, and the Steel Phantom. The small tour would have been largely uneventful, except that it was rather difficult to miss the Plung.

Laika noticed the people standing on the bridge in front of the ride waiting to get drenched by the splash, and her eyebrow started to twitch. "Okay, boys, let's keep walking." She smiled to herself at their confused looks, 'Excellent, I nipped that one in the bud!'

Next to the Plunge, and a little bit behind sat two buildings. One of them actually looked more like a pavilion, and it housed the Whip.

"This one looks interesting," Player said. "It's called... the Whip."

"What is whip," Haruna asked.

Konstantin felt this was an opportune time to jump back into the conversation. "You know... (insert sound effect and hand motion)," he replied with a grin.

Looks of horror crossed both Haruna's and Kotone's faces (ie, everyone else knew better). {We must leave from here, this ride is evil. I want nothing to do with it.}

"Me either," Kotone chimed in.

Player grabbed their hands as they tried to walk away. "It's not really like that, Konstantin was just teasing you. Come watch for a little while, you'll see."

"It looks like they're having fun, but I wouldn't want to ride by myself," Alex commented.

"How about I go with you, and we let the girls go together. Konstantin, Laika, Lisa, and Anya can figure out how they're arranging themselves," Player suggested.

"Okay..."

'I had been wanting to talk to him about Kotone anyway,' Player thought. Suddenly, he had another revelation – 'Maybe that's why Professor is doing this! He wants me to start considering the possibility of having to let her go a little bit...'

The ride's motor was noisy, which provided Player with enough privacy for his intended topic of conversation. "How do you feel about Kotone?"

The question caught Alex off guard, and his face showed it. "Huh?"

"She's like a little sister to me. I'm just warning you that something's gonna happen if she gets hurt."

Alex looked at him wide-eyed. Then he started laughing. "How could there be anything serious between us? We're only 12!"

Player looked away for a minute, focusing instead on the ride's ovular path. The exclamation had forced him to realize he was being paranoid again. At this point, he was coming to the conclusion that maybe, perhaps, Professor's purpose had nothing to do with himself and Kotone at all.

'Then what?' He then realized his slip-up from a little bit ago. 'Oh, no! I told him she was like a sister instead of actually being my sister. Guess it's a good thing he didn't pick up on it...' He turned back to Alex with a smile as the ride slowed down. "Never mind, then. I'm sorry."

Alex returned the smile and lifted the guard bar to get off the ride.

"It's starting to get late. Can we go play games now, Onii-chan," Kotone pleaded.

Player looked at his watch and discovered she was right.

They walked around looking for a game everyone could play. A lot of people had the same idea as them, so many of the game stalls had long lines. The "Cat Rack" only had a few people playing, but when they found out what the objective was, Anya ran away crying.

They eventually found a ring toss game. Kotone tried her hand first, but asked Player to with the prize for her after missing on the first try. He was more successful, and won her a medium-sized plushie.

Anya went next. She got the first one, but missed on the other two and was satisfied with a small-sized plushie.

Alex, however, had no qualms with showing off a little. He managed to get all three rings around three different bottle necks, winning him a large prize. He blushed sheepishly while everyone else marveled at his skills.

The sun was setting as they started to walk back toward the park entrance.

"Um... Kotone... I wouldn't mind switching prizes with you... if you want..."

"Huh? No, that's okay. You earned it, Alex!"

{The sun is setting,} Haruna pointed out. {We should try to find Professor and Tsunami soon.}

Anya had another idea. "there's still one more ride I want to go on! Will you sit by me, Konstantin?"

End Chapter 3

A/N: I'm actually not sure what to say here, except thanks for sticking with me this long! Only one more chapter to go, and most of it's already written.

Oh, man! Writing this story has made the desire to go to Kennywood stronger and stronger! I hope I can find time while I'm home on term break...

Next time: were you able to predict the conclusion?