Here we are! Chapter 10! I didn't think i'd write so much! At this rate the story will be over 50k+ word long! Thank you o much for all the people who've been reading and enjoying it! I'msure having ton of fun writting it! This chapter at first was supposed to be a 2 parter somewhat with Shinobu appearing in the Moonlight Coaster instead of the random girl Ataru flirt with. But I tought it was better to focus the Moonlight Coaster chapter on the two of them having fun, and introduce Shinobu for her own chapter! It was fun writting her, but it was hard! It's a Shinobu from before "After You've Gone" so she hasn't realized how deep Ataru feeligns for Lum were, but it's a Shinobu who's starting to get aware of them too! But I think i did a pretty good job for what it is! The title is a reference to that. In a way, everything is melting under the heat for those three. The heat isn't only of summer. Love can burn too!
After the exciting Moonlight Coaster, the two are still lost. Not sure of where to go now, they're interrupted by Shinobu, who invite them for coffee! How will it go for them? Will Shinobu's jealousy appear again? Will Lum be protective of Ataru? Will he be able to let go of her hand? Of course not!
Our couple was still walking aimlessly. They were both supposed to look for an attraction to go to next. But their feelings are on a far more exciting roller coaster right now, it seems. They soon arrived at something looking like a plaza. There were a few stands and restaurants around, along with spots of grass and trees, where people were napping or taking breaks. The pair didn't plan on stopping there, but they walked slowly to enjoy the moment and the fresh air for a moment.
"It's so relaxing out here..." Lum said, looking up at the trees, almost whispering. "It's like a nicer version of the park next to our house, isn't it?" She gave a big smile at Ataru, then looked back up.
Ataru looked for a second toward her, seeing her hair in the wind. Even since she was gone and he went out alone, he realized how empty it felt without her comments sometimes. It looked like the park where they spent a few hours on their first date. Ataru spent a lot of time there afterwards. Subconsciously watching other couples and often just reminiscing about her. Maybe he really was missing her... Suddenly, before he could go too far into this rabbithole, a familiar voice called them from behind.
"Ataru-kun, Ataru-kun!" The young woman called him. The couple turned around. Ataru was afraid, but Lum was smiling. "L..Lum?!" The girl was surprised to see who Ataru was with.
"Shinobu?!" Both Lum and Ataru were surprised. Lum took the initiative, not being bothered too much by her presence. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm taking a day off. I felt guilty wasting such a day at home or working, so I came here to relax." She blushed slightly as she looked down. "What about you two?"
"Ah..It's a long story!" Ataru started, before Lum could say anything. Unfortunately, it was in vain.
"Darling's taking me on a date!" Lum beamed, and she swayed their hands around again to show off. Ataru, used to it by now, had completely forgotten at first where his hand was. The second Lum reminded him, he tried to let go, but Lum kept fighting.
"Really? That's nice." Shinobu forced a smile.
"It's more complicated than that, Shinobu!" Ataru would have run to her if not for Lum holding his hand. It was a bit late, though, as the young schoolgirl was well aware of their hand holding.
"It's always complicated with you two!" She giggled. "Where are you headed to?"
"We're just walking, enjoying each other's company!" Lum leaned her head on Ataru's shoulder as she kept looking at Shinobu. Ataru instantly pushed her away.
Shinobu turned around. Looking down. "I see. If you two are not busy, would you mind joining me for coffee then? I'd love to chat more, if that's okay."
"Sure!" Ataru quickly answered. Maybe that's what he needed—a break from Lum. Maybe if he went on that coffee with Shinobu, he'd feel like girl hunting, he'd feel normal, and he wouldn't feel anything anymore for Lum... Wait a minute. Why do I care more about Lum than going on a coffee date with Shinobu? I should be excited about THAT! Lum nodded alongside him.
Shinobu pointed at a small cafe that was in the same plaza as them. "I was on my way for this one." She explained, as she started walking toward it.
The second Shinobu turned around, Ataru leaned close to Lum, whispering. "Let go of my hand."
"Why?" She leaned too. Their faces were really close, Ataru backed off a little.
"Not in front of Shinobu!" He looked away, growling. "Remember the rule. You do as I say."
"Okay, but I wonder what I'll do with my free hand..." She instantly let go, and Ataru quickly put his own hand in his pocket.
He looked toward Lum, her comment worried him a bit. He knew her too well. She was using her hand to search for something inside her purse. She looked at him with a devilish smile. He instantly understood her plan. The photos. She'd show them off to Shinobu the second they sat down. He frowned at her. They eyes met as they entered a staring contest. She answered with a growing smile. He closed his eyes, clenching his fist. He took his hand out of his pocket again and grabbed Lum's hand by placing his own on her wrist. She simply answered by smiling even more and taking her hand out of the purse, grabbing his in the process, not bothering with her purse anymore. She found the situation funny, but she was glad they could communicate without words, like a perfect married couple!
Shinobu did steal a few glances at them, and she was really confused. But that's why she had asked them to tag along. She was pretty lonely lately; Mendō always told her he was occupied, and everyone else was busy with their lives. What's better than Lum and Ataru to solve that? They were the most entertaining couple around, and they were good friends. She did find it interesting that Ataru would agree to do something like that with Lum. Maybe he really had changed a lot. Or Lum used some sort of love potion. Either way, it didn't matter much to her. As long as they were happy. she thought.
The group sat around a table outside. Ataru sat down next to Lum without giving it a second thought. They could easily enjoy the sun and the breeze. The area was a litteral breath of fresh air; it seemed like the park's lung in a way with the amount of trees. They quickly ordered; Ataru asked for a simple glass of orange juice. Shinobu asked for a tea, and Lum asked for an ice cream float. To the other two's dismay.
"So, how have you two been?" Shinobu began, looking at Lum.
"We've been great! Darling and I have been relaxing and enjoying our summer!" Lum beamed.
Ataru slammed his fist on the table, trying to act imposing. "I can answer by myself, Lum!"
"But we've spent most of it together!" She argued back, looking at him pouting.
"You mean YOU spent your summer following ME around!" He placed a finger on his forehead, tapping it with a smirk.
"It's because you don't bring me with you if I don't!" She shook her head with a grin. "And it's only fair, you always come with me to parties and such, even though you were not invited either!" She giggled while shrugging. He leaned back on his chair, seeming a bit embarrassed.
Ataru was aware that the Oni was being somewhat hypocritical. He wasn't invited to those, but Lum was always making sure he was well aware of the date and place beforehand. She did her best to be sure he'd be here. As for him, he always tried to be sure she didn't know anything about his daily plan. She'd often join him anyway, ruining his summer girl-hunting or alone time. But somehow he kind of felt bad realizing this. He tried to get angry, and he really did. But he just couldn't. Sometimes it wasn't that bad when she joined in his alone days, or after a rough girl hunting session... Maybe he should allow her to join once or twice, as a way to get even. But this sounded a lot like dates...
"As lively as ever, you two!" Shinobu joined Lum in her laughter.
Ataru, not amused, got back to his ex. "What about you, Shinobu? Enjoying your summer?" He placed one arm on his chair's back, leaning back.
"I'm fine, but It's been boring! Everyone is so busy nowadays..." Shinobu mourned a little, giving a small sigh.
"Poor thing! You've been lonely!" Ataru closed his eyes. Taking a solumn tone of voice. "You should've told me, I've been pretty lonely too this summer!" He instantly started grinning as his tone went back to his usual one. He reached for her, on the other side of the table.
"Darling! I'm right here if you're lonely!" She yelled, as she pulled on his shirt.
"I'm just trying to help a friend out, Lum!" He yelled back, grabbing the arm she was using to pull on him as he tried to shake it off.
The scene continued for a little while, with them yelling back at each other. Their argument was uncomprehensible for everyone else. A few heads turned toward them. The waiter soon arrived with their command, and seemed worried.
Shinobu sweated, and bowed as she apologized. "I'm really sorry about my friends..they're..." She could have lost her composure right here and then and thrown a table or two at them to calm them down, but she was well educated.
The waiter smiled at Shinobu as he served their drinks. It made Lum and Ataru stop as they realized that they were in public. Lum apologized too, and Ataru looked away. "Don't worry about it, we've seen lots of couple banter before, it's nothing new. Enjoy your drinks, and the ice cream."
The comment made Ataru flinch, as he instanly grabbed his chair and jumped with it far from Lum. The Oni didn't react much, as she was absorbed by what she just ordered.
Lum took the opportunity to try her ice cream floats. She took a small bite with her spoon and smiled. "It's really good!". Ataru and Shinobu looked at her, not having anything to say. Lum continued, turning to Ataru and meeting his eyes. He was staring at her ice cream. "You should try it, Darling!"
"Ah!" He was lost in the dessert. "I'm not that hungry, thanks." He kept looking at it though.
"Just a small bite! I'm sure you'll like it!" She smiled at him.
"Can I try it, Lum?" Shinobu beamed at her.
"Sure!" Lum passed her the spoon, and Shinobu took a small portion of the floatee.
"I like it!" Shinobu announced, giving it back to Lum.
"See? Come on, Darling, try it!" She took the ice cream and leaned it toward him.
Seeing the way Shinobu was able to try it by herself, he got a bit more confident. Maybe Lum will behave this time. "Okay! Fine! If it makes you stop talking!" He shouted. Ataru reached out for the spoon in Lum's hand.
When the Oni heard her date agree, she instantly dug for a big portion and placed the spoon in front of his mouth. His eyes widened instantly. "Say, Aaaah, Darling!"
Again?! He almost slapped the spoon away. But seeing her eyes, full of stars, starring at him made him weak. Ataru took a glance at Shinobu, who was looking at them with an indifferent expression. Maybe Shinobu knew Lum was forcing him... she was a good friend. He also knew making a scene out of it right now would worsen his case. Well, in that case. "Fine!" He opened his mouth willingly, and Lum shaved the ice cream in with a big smile. It wasn't that bad. He thought
"I agree, it's great!" Ataru confirmed.
"I didn't think you'd allow Lum to feed you like that, Ataru-kun!" Shinobu teased while giggling. Her giggle was forced, though, as she really was surprised by this. He conceded so easily...
Before Ataru could defend himself, Lum took on the burden and protected him. "It's normal for a wife to feed her husband!" She was glad that Shinobu was here, because she could act the way she wanted and not her 'first date' persona. She missed those little moments. Ataru leaned back, almost getting behind Lum, and mimicked zapping and him dying, The Oni didn't see it, but Shinobu saw the whole thing. That was the reason..?
"Of course." She wondered if Lum blackmailed him or something to get this date and have him behave. She wouldn't put it past the Oni. But at the same time, Ataru doesn't seem to mind much. Her mind wondered a bit, thinking maybe he was mind-controlled. Maybe it was those things on their heads. Or destiny finally brought them together.
Shinobu took a sip, and pointed at Ataru's head with her finger. "It reminds me, Ataru-kun, I wanted to ask you something." She rested her head in her hand. "What's with the hairbands?" A lot of people in the park had them, she was well aware. But not of the meaning.
"Ah! Those are..." Ataru grabbed the hairband on his head, ready to take it off. But maybe it was too late. It's not like he could remove it in front of Lum like that. Not that he watned to either. He instinctively reached for it, sure, but really he didn't mind. He looked around, not sure how to explain. Lum instantly got the message and took the opportunity to take the lead.
"Couple hairbands!" Lum explained, "You get them with the couple discount and matching bracelet at the entrance, this way I'm always with Darling on every ride!"
"I see, that makes a lot of sense!" She looked to Ataru, "It's easy to tell you're a couple that way! I'm surprised you agreed to wearing them." She playfully added, a bit of sadness to her tone. She wasn't jealous, really. But it was still hard to see the man she once loved for so many years going on a date with another girl. And seemingly enjoying it far more than he did with her. She had to accept that she had to give up on him for good.
"Darling's happy to show the world he's with me!" She clapped her hands, hoping he'd react.
"Shut up, will you? Don't just lie for the fun of it!" He yelled, taking a quick glance at Lum. "They're more embarrassing than anything!" Ataru growled, arm on the table and head against fist, looking away from his date and his ex.
"Why don't you remove them, then, Ataru-kun?" The question was important to Shinobu. It wasn't just about the piece of plastic on their heads, but also the reason why Ataru was acting so nice to Lum. The park was big, and he could easily run away from this burden. Like he always did before. And yet... here he was. Proudly wearing them.
Good question. He's been acting like he hates them, but he wouldn't dare to remove them either. "Huh? I.. paid for them! I'm not going to waste my money and throw them away!" His elbow almost slipped away from the table, and his face almost fell.
Shinobu took another sip to hide her laughter. "Is that so?"
Lum looked at him, a bit confused. She knew it was a lie. But why lie like that? To keep them on? Was he really enjoying wearing them? "Darling's right!" She confirmed. Ataru was content; she confirmed his story. "He's even being sure to keep them on every ride, so everyone knows we're together!" She teased.
Ataru almost fell flat on the table again. Before they could argue again. Shinobu quickly changed the subject, showing mercy to the poor man. "Oh, rides? Which one have you checked?"
"Oh yes!" Lum clapped her hand. "We went to the Underwater Experience boat ride!" She pointed toward the other side of the park, roughly toward the attraction. "It was really relaxing and romantic, wasn't it, Darling?"
"There's nothing romantic about some fish!" He yelled, looking away. "But it was pretty relaxing, I guess."
"I even fell asleep! It was really comfortable!" Lum placed her hand on Ataru's shoulder. He brushed it off instantly, blushing a bit.
"I'd take a nice relaxing ride, it sounds nice." The young girl placed a finger on her cheek and asked, "Did you two go to the Moonlight Coaster yet? I've heard it was completely new."
Ataru looked at Shinobu, taking a sip. "Yeah, we just got out of it, actually." Ataru explained. "It's worth the wait. Really exciting!" He nodded.
"Darling's right! And it's pretty romantic!" She tried to cling to him but failed.
"Is everything romantic to you?!" He yelled at her, but instantly gulped, hoping she wouldn't use the photos now to prove him wrong. He took a big sip to hide his embarrassment.
"When it's only the two of us, Darling, it is!" She purred.
He cringed on his drink, almost choking on it. "...ta..ta..tacky.. lu..m" he coughed for a few moments. Making Shinoby giggle.
"What about you, Shinobu?" Lum completely ignored Ataru. "Did you check out any rides?"
"I've arrived a short while ago. I just got my ticket for the Moonlight Coaster here, and I'll probably explore a few other attractions." She used her finger to follow the flow. "And I plan on going to the festival uptown this evening!" She smiled
"The one uptown..." Lum thought for a second. "It's the one we went to, isn't it, Darling?" She seemed excited to talk about it.
"It's the only one around here, so yes." He took a breath in between each word, having almost choked on his juice.
"You two already went?" She was kind of bummed out, she wanted to invite them.
"We sure did!" Lum nodded and looked through her purse, searching for something. Ataru turned his head and looked at her, wondering what she could be searching for. He then remembered the keychain, and it made him choke on his drink again.
She took the small item out and almost shoved it in Shinobu's face. "Here! Darling won it for me back in the festival!" She was really happy to show it off. Shinobu gave a side eye to the choking Ataru. She wondered if Lum was making a joke or not. That was just a cheap keychain.
"I..see. You're..lucky Lum?" She sweated, giving her an embarrassed smile. Ataru was never gifting anyone, but she wasn't sure she could even be jealous of that.
"It's a precious memory of my second date with Darling!" She talked to herself, hugging it again.
"Anyway" Ataru coughed, closing his eyes. "You shouldn't go, Shinobu." Ataru somehow stopped choking and suffering and took a serious posture, looking straight at her. Completely ignoring Lum's remarks.
"Why's that, Ataru-kun?" She was kind of scared, he was rarely this serious-sounding.
"The festival... something evil is looming over it." He closed his eyes, leaning his head downward.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Ataru had always been somewhat clever. Maybe he really did see something strange going on.
Lum looked at both of them and thought for a second. "Oh, is it because it's sponsored by Mendō's family?"
Ataru fell face-flat into the table, and Shinobu did the same.
"Is it? I didn't know." She took a last sip of her tea.
"He was really proud of it!" Ataru growled, IT was serious! He stood up, hand slapped on the table. "He didn't stop pestering us about it!" He looked down.
Shinobu almost spit her tea. "You MET him?!" She froze.
"Yes, he wanted us to go with him to the festival." Lum explained
Shinobu stood up. Rage was in her eyes. "He was at the festival?!" She clenched her fists. "But he told me he had important family business to attend to!"
"Well, it depends if you call eating in a French restaurant 'important family business'" Ataru shrugged. The poor heir was in for it.
"The romantic one? NEXT TO THE FESTIVAL? HE ATE THERE?" She was breathing heavily. Gripping on the table
Lum, a bit scared now, tried to calm her down. "He-he was! B-but he was a-a-alone, right, Darling?"
Ataru, on the contrary, was all about unleashing the Miyake beast at Mendō for once. "He sure was, that's why he flirted so much with you!" He crossed his arms, nodding.
"SCUM!" She was well aware of Shūtarō's crush on Lum, but still. After he told her he was busy! "MEN BE DAMNED!" Shinobu took the table they were sitting at and slammed it against the floor.
Lum flew back and waved her hand in front of her. "Shinobu, calm down! There's no point getting angry at nothing!" She reminded her of Ran sometimes.
"Lum's right, Shinobu!" Ataru placed his hand on her shoulder, in a reassuring tone. "You should direct all of your anger at him directly!" He grinned. "He told us he planned to go to the aquarium, then to go back to the festival later."
"I'LL GET HIM!" She stormed off the terrace and walked away. To Ataru's amusement and Lum's confusion.
Lum looked at Ataru, placing her feet back on the ground. "Now what?"
Ataru placed his hands behind his head. "He'll learn his lesson for lying to a pretty girl like that."
She leaned toward him. "But you lie to me all, the time, Ataru!" Now that Shinobu was gone, she could go back using his name.
"I never lied !" He looked away. "I'm just hiding the finer details."
"So you DO think I'm pretty!" Her frown changed back into a smile instantly.
Ataru paused for a second. The first thing he said when they met was that she was a 'fine-lookin big busted babe' after all. "Sure you are." He replied, forcing a monotonous tone.
Resisting the urge to hug him, she looked at the destroyed table next to them. "Sooo." She kept her smile as she grabbed his shoulder. "It's only fair for boys to treat the pretty girls, isn't it?"
He looked back at her. "Huh?"
"Shinobu was supposed to treat us, remember?" Lum peeked out her tongue.
"Huh huh?"
"And probably the damages to the table, too, I suppose." She placed a finger on her cheek.
"Huh? Huh? Huh?"
Lum placed her hands behind her back and kept smiling at him.
Ataru sighed. "You pay for the drinks, I'll pay for the table." He doesn't know why he succumbed so easily, but she had won.
"Okay!" She grabbed his hand and led him inside. She really didn't mind because they were paying together, it felt like something a married couple would do! That's fun! And the table was probably way more expensive anyway.
