Chapter VI - The top of the wheel

Saturday morning, glorious start of the weekend – the Holy Grail of every high school student. Weekend, a short period of serenity, few moments to relax and chill out. Any other time I would be delighted to laze around whole two days, play with my beloved Vita-chan, spend time with my dear little sister and in general have a really good time. But not this time, this time I'm doomed to have a "date". A date with a person which may destroy everything I hold dear. Person, I'm kind of scared, a disturber and an enigma. I really don't know how to handle it. Should I fancy her and get along or should I avoid her and minimize the damage she may done. A small part of me is really anticipating this date but great share of me is afraid. Afraid that after today's anything will be the same as before no longer.

It's 7AM, I have even stood up earlier than usual. Even my morning routine has been disturbed by her. Usually I would wake up around 10AM as a proper human being, today at 10AM I would be dealing with a monster. I am called a Monster of Logic, but comparing to her I'm a mere imp. She's a real threat to my tranquility. Like King Kong to each and every T-Rex on a Scull Island. The only difference is that Orimoto isn't so much hairy… I guess…. Damn you Hachiman, damn you and your dirty thoughts.

"Big brother?" Komachi called me while I was starring mindlessly at the wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she titled her head and looked at me curiously.

Still looking at the wardrobe I answered after a little pause.

"Nothing sis, just staring."

"Brother you're acting stranger than usual."

"You're imagining things, I'm perfectly normal." I said and looked at my trembling hands. Why the heck am I so nervous?

"Are you going somewhere, brother?" Komachi moved closer and looked at me from the behind.

"Yeah, I have an appointment, Komachi."

"Appointment, you say?" Komachi grinned devilishly and then added "With whom may I ask?"

Should I tell her? Last time I told her I got a cookies from Orimoto she nearly had a panic attack. However, she's my sister, I should be honest with her, I guess?

I turned back and faced Komachi. She was wearing her winter onesie, the one that make her look like a big fluffy cat. Good job, Komachi, you're 100% cute.

Finally I've decided to tell her truth. I think there's no mean in lying her. Knowing my younger sister, she will know anyway.

"With Orimoto." I looked sideways and scratched my head in embarrassment.

"Oh." Komachi still looking at me hugged herself. "Is it perhaps a date?" she added.

"Kind of, I guess." I nearly carved half of my head.

Komachi started walking around my room, chin on her hand. She was mumbling, even arguing with herself. I looked doubtfully at her and waited for her to talk. She took so much time I considered taking shower and leaving before she ends. I just need some clean clothes and eat a breakfast. Journey to the Destinyland will take me approximately one and half hours. So I have to leave around 8AM to get there a little bit earlier than the appointment time, It's in good taste to arrive earlier. So yeah I have around fifty minutes to leave. I guess I will make it. Yoshi. Let's get ready, there's no point in waiting for Komachi.

I'll started picking clothes when Komachi finally spoke.

"What are you doing?"

"Picking clothes."

"Let me. My brother have to be good looking on his date."

"I thought you're not approving it."

"I'm not, but it's a date after all. You have to look decent."

"I'm always looking decent, Komachi."

"No you're not."

"Ouch, it hurts Komachi." I mocked her.

"Hai. Hai." Not giving me a single glance, Komachi started looking through my wardrobe. In that case I guess I'll take shower.

While Komachi was completing outfit for my outing with Orimoto I took shower. After ten minutes when I got back from the bathroom, all of mine clothes were straggled on the floor, just some were on mine bed, I guess it's my outfit for today.

I looked at the mess in my room and spoke.

"I'm not cleaning it Komachi."

"Shut up, big brother. Just get changed." Komachi said and walked to the doors. "I'll be back in 5 minutes." She added and went out from my room.

To be honest it really looked decent. Starting from the bottom, Komachi has picked for me brown derby shoes, claret chinos, brown matching shoes belt and white shirt. To the shirt she matched a light brown short coat and fancy scarf. I haven't know that I have such clothes. I wonder where did she found them.

I changed in the clothes Komachi has chosen for me and looked at my reflection in the mirror. You're looking good Hachiman, if I were a girl I would immediately fall for myself. When I was posing right in front of the mirror Komachi has entered my room.

"Big brother, see if you want you can look handsome." Komachi giggled and added "It give me a lot of Komachi points."

"I am handsome." I grinned at her.

In this outfit I resembled our father when he was younger. Now he looks really tired of his work but when he was younger he was a hell of a player. Of course that's what mother said, but she always seen him all in superlatives, it's a love I guess. Nevertheless from what I heard at one of the family meetings, when my father's sister came from the UK, he really was something in the high school. He was a poetry club president and that's where he met mother, at the first they were hostile but gradually they come closer and finally started dating. Aunt has said that father got plenty of the confessions but rejected all of them but one. The one from our mother, before she passed out from the amount of the alcohol she drunk with relatives she told Komachi and I that father even proposed to our mother at the end of the school year ceremony, geez father you couldn't think of anything more embarrassing.

"So do you like it?" Komachi said with her hands behind her.

"Yeah, thanks Komachi." I responded and gave her a thumb up.

"Big brother, do you like this Orimoto girl?" Komachi asked and glanced at me with a determined face.

"I don't know Komachi. I may like her but I still feel confused."

"If you really like her than it's okay with me, but remember I will always ship you with Yukino-san or Yui-san."

Am I some kind of protagonist in lame rom-com light novel? I don't need shipping with anyone, I just need some peace. Nothing more nothing less.

"Come on Komachi I know that Yuigahama likes me but there's no chance that Yukinoshita likes me as well." I answered and laughed.

"You're idiot." Komachi face palmed and turned to get her leave, but stopped at the doors. "Breakfast ready." She added and then exited my room.

What…?

It was 9:30AM when I've arrived at the Destinyland train station. Good, I have a plenty of time to run away in case I chicken out. The plaza before the entrance to the Destinyland was bigger than I remembered and it was filled with people. Literally everywhere there were couples and families. I'm afraid we will miss each other in this crowd, if that happens I guess there won't be any other option but go back home. Yeah, that's a great idea, I will hide somewhere and then tell Orimoto I waited but there were too many people and I haven't seen her. Wait a minute, it's not a great idea it's a superb idea. Excellent Hachiman, you're the man.

I stood in my hideout for almost fifteen minutes when I felt a pat on my shoulder. Once I turned back I saw Orimoto looking at me with her big brown eyes.

She looked certainly attractive. Additionally to the outfit I saw yesterday on the photo she sent me, she was wearing a simple beige coat and specs? I don't recall her wearing glasses before. It's weird but at the other side they are looking really good on her. Do I have a thing to girls in glasses? Because it's turning me on. Gosh, I'm acting like some horny teenager…

"Yahallo Hikigaya."

"Yo." I responded.

Is there something I should tell her? I don't want to make it too awkward.

"You're looking nice, Orimoto." I finally decided to praise her.

"Thanks, you're looking good too." Her face chicks became crimson red and she added with a smile. "I didn't know you can dress up like this."

"I didn't know it myself." I answered and laughed.

Orimoto laughed as well and I felt that the whole awkwardness between us has gone.

"Hilarious Hikigaya." Orimoto almost choked from laughing.

"By the way what's up with the glasses?" I asked Orimoto, because it still bothered me.

"Oh, this?" Orimoto calmed herself, took off the glasses and looked at them.

"It's only an add-on. I've asked Yui-chan is there something specific you like."

Yuigahama you're so nice. It's warming up my old frozen heart.

"Do you like them?" Orimoto looked at me hopefully.

"Yeah. You're looking really good in them, I guess." I scratched back of my hand in embarrassment.

"Thanks." Orimoto gave me one of her Haruhi's smiles. Damn, she's even cuter then before.

"So, let's go, the queue is getting longer and longer." I told Orimoto and started slowly walking to the main entrance of the Destinyland.

"Okay." Orimoto said and while humming quickly matched my pace.

Luckily the passes that Orimoto has bought, allowed us to use a fast track very similar to the one you can see at some of the airports. I wonder how much does she paid for them, am I supposed to repay her for my ticket? I guess it's a gift but the chivalry side of me is yelling – You should give back her money, Hachiman. She's a high school student and a girl. Don't be lame Hachiman.

Hey, I'm not lame. She asked me out.

Actually you both decided to go here.

Maybe you're right, but it's a gift. We're enjoying it together.

You're such a Scrooge, Hachiman.

I'm not.

Yes you are.

Come on, don't be like this.

You're not only lame, you're super lame.

Enough, I'm out.

Crybaby.

…Fine... I'll buy her a lunch, the snacks and a souvenir. Satisfied?

I knew you're a good guy, Hachiman.

Just shut up already.

"Hikigaya, is everything all right?" Orimoto asked visibly concerned about me.

"Yeah, I've just spaced out. I'm okay." I responded and looked around. We have entered the park, the Christmas decoration was replaced by the more universal, all year decorations. The main plaza started to getting more crowded minute by minute. Luckily we have a fast track passes so there won't be a lot of waiting before every ride.

"Do you have any plan for today Orimoto?" I've asked if there's any specific ride she wanted to try. Studying the map we have got at the entrance I noticed there's a few rides I wasn't able to get on last time. It would be nice to ride on the, then I could get an 'Complete 100% rides in Destinyland' achievement.

"No, I'm just going to improvise." Orimoto laughed and looked around. When she was looking for the very first attraction to enjoy I noticed how genuinely happy she is. Her sparkling eyes and excited face caused me to smile and to get a little bit excited as well. Finally after a few seconds her eyes locked on something, I looked at the same directions and saw an medium level rollercoaster. I think it's a good choice for starters, it's not too rough and not too boring. It's not one of those ridiculously fast and extreme rollercoaster every normal people would consider dangerous so the ride should be smooth and enjoyable.

Before I was able to said anything Orimoto took my hand and started pulling me towards the ride. Wait a second, did I say Orimoto took my hand? I looked down and indeed she was holding my hand, her palm was small and delicate, I think it was slightly different than Yukinoshita's. Despite being overall gentle, my fingers detected some roughness around Orimoto's hand. The hands of the girl that is used to working and I have to admit that I'm impressed. I knew she was a waitress but I never thought it's such a hard job.

While I was admiring her diligence Orimoto fingers tightened around my mines, I felt warm and tingling sensation spreading through my arm to whole body. It's not that bad I thought and looked up to see Orimoto's face grinning at me, her expression was pure happiness. Seeing her being like that, so innocent, so cheerful I couldn't not to smile back and grip her hand more firmly.

Our passes allowed us to avoid the long wait in queue before each and every one attraction we tried so before lunch we enjoyed a several rides and attractions. A rollercoaster, two very different carousels, hunted house, Yukinoshita's beloved Pan-san water ride and more.

"Would you like to grab something for lunch?" I asked Orimoto after we exited from the Wonderful Pan-san Kingdom.

"Yeah, I'm starving." Orimoto answered. She looks really exhausted I bet she has forgotten to eat a breakfast.

"If I recall the food area was in the center of the park. There should be some signpost nearby." I said and looked around to get my way. Finding food, especially free food is one of my 108 loner skills, it's really helpful if your family accidentally leaves you behind during Golden Week mountain trip… No… wait a minute… they didn't left me on purpose, it was an accident, okay?

"Look Hikigaya, there is it." Orimoto said and pointed the fancy lantern style signpost.

So we started walking towards the direction of the food area. Having proper nutrition is really important, especially during wearing days like this. Frankly speaking I have enjoyed the date with Orimoto so far. We had a really good time and I'm excited to get more. However the blot on the landscape was this feeling of regret, I feel like I shouldn't enjoy it so much or to be precise I should be enjoying it with someone else. I caught myself a few times intensify looking at the girls with black long hairs that greatly resembled Her.

Finally after a few minutes of walk we have arrived at the food area. It was almost 2PM so most of the people has already had lunch, the area wasn't crowded and there were a few free tables in the center of the ring made of variety of stalls. Eating at the cold isn't the most comfortable thing in the word so I almost immediately rejected it and started looking around for more comfy place to eat.

There were also few restaurants at the area. There were a Italian one, fancy looking French one with a crepes, by the way they are really popular within teenage girls nowadays. Steakhouse, few traditional Japanese and a ramen shop. My eyes locked at the black signs on the wooden board and my heart raced in excitement. I'm self-called ramen enthusiast, connoisseur and a regular in some of the best ramen shops in the Chiba, so yeah you may call me a ramen freak. Orimoto had to notice my nervous movements because she tug my sleeve and asked me.

"What do you want to eat, Hikigaya?" I looked at her, there's significant height difference between us I have just noticed. She's shorter than Yukinoshita and Yuigahama but slightly taller than Isshiki. According to the social standards her height is perfect for me, but I don't care about it. I don't mind tall girls like Miura or Ho..nda? Or was it Yamaha, I'm sorry I can't remember. Someday I know I will properly call you Suzuki-san.

I should consider that Orimoto is a girl and probably she won't like the best and only ramen. Most likely she will go with crepes or pasta, it's fancy, it's trendy and suits teenage girl taste. But on the other side I want some ramen so bad I don't know if I can make it. I have to play it well.

"Still wondering and you?" I tried my best to be cool and composed but on the inside I screamed – Give me a Tokyo style ramen god dammit.

"It's chilly I want something to warm me up." Orimoto put chin on her hand and wondered. Her lost in thought face is quite different then her usual cheerful one. Right now she's more mature and womanly, especially in those specs – geez maybe I am a really big glasscon.

"I know!" Orimoto yelled during my thought train. "Mom always says that the ramen is the best dish for the cold weather. Whattaya think? "

Your mama is a wise woman, Kaori-chan. I nodded in agreement. That's right there are two best things in the world for chilly weather – hot cocoa and ramen. We don't have a coca so it have to be a ramen. I looked at Ormioto and nervously gulped, is it some kind of test? Perfectly normal teenage girl wouldn't choose ramen – never, ever. I mean Hiratsuka-sensei would, but she's old and not normal at all, so she doesn't count. The girl next to me is anticipating my answer, I have to man up and take responsibility.

"Ramen then." I said and gave her a thumb up.

"Ramen!" Orimoto yelled in excitement.

We started slowly walking to the ramen stall. When we approached the restaurant, the rich smell of the broth and fresh noodles forced their way to my nose. After a while to my surprise I've recognized that ramen served here is a high quality food. It's not a cheap made wannabe ramen, it should be really tasty. At the some thought of a high quality ramen my stomach growled.

Damn, it's embarrassing I hope Orimoto haven't noticed it.

"Starving, Hikigaya?" Orimoto giggled and I felt my ears getting more and more tomato red.

"I just really like ramen, you know?" I told her to avoid the weird conversation.

"Really? I think I don't like ramen or to be precise I haven't eaten the really good one yet."

That's my mission, my new life goal. I have to take her to the best ramen in Chiba and show her what does the perfect broth means. In mind I've already planned where to take Orimoto.

"I will show you the wonderful world of ramen." I almost yelled and pumped fisted. My sudden outburst have make Orimoto laugh.

"H-hilarious H-hikigaya!" she said while recovering from the laugh.

After a while, giving me one of her one million watt Haruhi style smile she added.

"I would love to, Hikigaya."

"So If you want then some other day we can grab a really good ramen or whatever." I asked her out in a really lame way.

"It's really lame way to ask a girl out."

"Yeah, I don't have much experience you know."

That's right this is the first time I invited Orimoto, up to now it was her who arranged all our meetings, even this trip to Destinyland was her idea.

"So?" I asked Orimoto impatiently seeing her covering her mouth and giggling.

"So what?"

"So we have an appointment?"

"Date, you dummy."

"S-so we have a date?" I asked once again even more embarrassed then before.

"Yup."

Orimoto beamed at me in a way I have already seen today. The smile of ultimate joy, the smile that warms my heart better than anything in the world.

By the way have I just picked up girl using a ramen as an excuse?

"It was delicious, I feel really warm." Orimoto said after we walked out from the ramen shop.

"It was okay, I guess." I was disappointed by the quality of the food. The smell was good but the taste, meh, I've eaten better ramen in my life.

"It was the best ramen I have ever had." Orimoto said and rubbed her belly.

"You know nothing, Orimoto Kaori." I said in a serious voice. You will see what's the real ramen is about.

"Hai. Hai." Orimoto laughed me off and continued.

"There's so much left to do here, hurry up. Hikigaya."

As she said she took my hand for the second time this day and dragged me to the next attraction. The next couple of hours we spent enjoying the park's many temptations. Even for a loner like me the place is really pleasant, I mean there could be a little less people invading my personal space but aside of this it's nice spot. I have to take Komachi here someday, I bet she will love it. Maybe even father and mother would find some time and take us here, it would be nicely spent family time.

Finally the evening came and park's crew started their preparations to the main attraction – The Great Parade, where all key mascots are dancing and making fool of themselves on enormous platforms to the accompaniment of music, all the audience is astonished and then there comes cherry on top – fireworks. Kids are amazed, and after it ends, begging their parents to come here next week, and that's how the business works. Preying on the innocence and naivety of their little customers, but I know your tricks – don't think I will fall for it.

Apparently Orimoto decided that our final ride will be huge Ferris wheel. It had approximately one hundred meters in diameter and was well illuminated. It was really impressing and I'm more then proud to say that this is an excellent example of the Japanese engineering.

The queue was long but due our priority passes we haven't wait for long. Both of us entered the gondola and we sat opposite to each other. When the Ferris wheel started moving I looked at the Orimoto, she was staring at me intensively.

"Ne, Hikigaya. Do you sometimes have regrets?"

"Regrets about what?"

"About past."

"What happened is in the past. We can't do much about it, so there's no point in having regrets, on the other hand future is really dark and full of terrors."

"What the heck, Hikigaya. I'm trying to be serious here."

"I'm dead serious too." My eyes felt more lifeless than ever.

"Kowai." Orimoto has mocked me and then to my surprise she has stood up and sat next to me. I looked at her with questioning glance but she just shrugged her shoulders, leaned at the bench and straightened her legs.

Her arm touched mine and I flinched, not because I find her disgusting but because it's started to feel like a cliché rom-com moment. In your typical romantic comedy novel or movie that kind of situation is a big chance to convey her/his feelings and basically to increase their odds for getting laid. Don't be offended young fellows, everybody's ultimate goal is to get laid. It's like the one and only thing that all this effort to evolve mankind has been done.

"When you have confessed to me I was surprised and I rejected you because I was scared and I didn't know what to do."

Orimoto was looking at the glass ceiling of the gondola. One could she was stargazing but due to light pollution there wasn't any stars visible on the sky. She was just starring at the blank night sky and continued her monologue and I had no courage to interrupt her.

"Then the you were bullied because someone has heard us and I was embarrassed and scared to stop them, I was stupid and didn't do anything. To this day I regret that I didn't say something to protect you, in fact it's my biggest regret."

The girl beside me moved and her head rested on my arm.

"You were innocent back then and I've failed you."

I couldn't see her face but her body has trembled. Her voice was broken and I felt that she may start crying in any moment.

"I'm sorry." She said and looked at me, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Unconsciously I embraced her and said.

"That's okay, Kaori."

"Hehe. You've called me by my name." She giggled and she nestled in my embrace.

"Sorry."

"No. I like it, Hachiman." She said and on her teary face formed a gentle smile.

Orimoto calling me Hachiman made me a little happy myself. It's rare to hear my own name. Nowadays I hear it just from the members of my family. It's nice, it's really is. I decided to remain silent and cherish that moment.

"You know, I felt a little bit jealous when I saw you with all these girls. Later I witnessed what you're capable off and how you managed to secure the Christmas event together with Yukinoshita-san and I was impressed."

"And then the Valentine's Day event has come, I was really surprised that you was the one who made a suggestion to organize it."

"It was lucky guess." I responded in embarrassment.

"No, there's more to you than meets the eye, Hachiman."

The two of us has seated in an embrace as the gondola was making its move around the circle. In few seconds it will be in the middle of its journey, at the top of the wheel. Just like the two of us was now on the top of our relationship. Never before we were in so intimate and never before we were so honest with each other.

Back in the middle school we were just a kids, dumb little brats not knowing what's the real life is about, but now the situation is quite different. I have a club, a stable relationship with my club mates. We're slowly but firmly improving ourselves and going into the right direction.

With Orimoto it's contrasting to I and Yukinoshita or I and Yuigahama, we're new to each other but I'm not so dense. I know where this relationship is heading to.

I really would like to know her more and I had an actual fun every time we were together, but what about this weird feeling in my chest. The feeling that I don't know how to comprehend. If it is a guilt then why do I even feel it right now?

I have a feeling that this may be a game changer for the dynamics in the Service Club, but if what we have won't last after I get myself a girlfriend then it means it wasn't genuine. What if my relationship with Orimoto isn't genuine? What if it's just raging hormones?

…What does a genuine even mean?

"Ne Hachiman." Orimoto disturbed my train of thought.

"Yes?"

"Remember, after the Christmas Event I said I won't date you?" she asked.

I nodded in response. It was like few weeks before, I don't have Alzheimer, yet.

"I lied…" she said and her chicks grew red.

"What do you mean?" I looked at her puzzled.

She was looking right into my eyes with her big brown orbs, slightly moist from the tears that formed in her eyes seconds ago. Her pupils were widen and her lips were slightly apart. The girl in front of me looked sensual and I had a unconstrained urge to kiss her. Our faces started to move closer when the fireworks show has begun.

I have automatically turned my eyes to see the spectacle. But before I even had a chance to eye the rockets exploding above our heads, Orimoto's hand touched my right chick and pulled my face back to hers.

"Just kiss me already you idiot." Orimoto said and our lips connected.

My first kiss tasted like an orange, sweet orange with a little bit of refreshing sourness.

And I think I've always liked oranges most…

Hello everyone, it's me again.

As you may noticed I decided to go with the Orimoto route.

Yukino is my sweetheart, but I feel like there's too many fics about her. We all need something more refreshing so I decided to let my second best girlu shine.

See you next time. Cheers!