I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

To be honest, Shuya sometimes really feared that she would collapse from too much pressure.

That was why he sacrificed his own time to keep her company.

After all, they were good friends.

Shuya arrived after sitting for a while; the amusement park Mai chose wasn't very famous, just average in popularity.

The crowd here wasn't too large, unlike the Dream Castle of a certain mouse, where there were so many people you'd want to commit suicide.

"Shuya!"

By the time Shuya arrived, Mai-chan was already waiting at the entrance.

She wasn't wearing a mask; after all, she had only filmed one commercial and wasn't as famous as Shuya.

Not many people would recognize her on the street, at most they would glance at her a few times because she was cute.

Shuya and Mai successfully met up.

"Here, take this."

Mai handed a small ticket to Shuya.

Shuya's eyes lit up: "What is it? A recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket?" (Hinting frantically)

"What are you talking about? It's an admission ticket."

Mai looked at Shuya in confusion, and he realized he had misunderstood.

Shuya sheepishly accepted the ticket and said, "Then shall we go in? Hmm, since you paid for the admission tickets, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Very good, that's fair, I accept."

Mai-chan accepted Shuya's proposal.

Shuya really enjoyed the feeling of going out with an independent girl.

This was the sense of satisfaction brought by mutual respect.

Of course, he wasn't saying that it was wrong for the man to pay, it was just a matter of degree. (A forced defense to prevent female readers from flaming him, a fragmented statement.)

Shuya looked at Mai-chan; she was dressed very beautifully.

She wore a pure white dress that matched her innocent image, white pantyhose on her legs for sun protection and to maintain their shape, paired with a pair of small black leather shoes.

She carried a cute little crossbody bag with her.

With her long hair flowing and a smile on her face, she was absolutely a perfect little fairy.

"Mai-chan, you look especially beautiful today!"

Shuya gave a thumbs up.

"Very good, you pass. If you hadn't complimented me in time, I would have been angry."

Mai-chan smiled slightly.

Shuya laughed heartily: "Hahaha, Mai-chan, you're not my girlfriend, yet you care so much about my evaluation?"

"It's all the same. This is the etiquette one should have when going out with a girl."

"Oh, I've really learned something today."

Shuya gave a slightly awkward bow: "Then, may I ask, lovely young lady, could you give this humble one a chance to play together?"

"Then this young lady shall take pity on you. If you make me unhappy, you'll be... hmph!"

Mai-chan's temperament changed, and she cooperatively put on an arrogant look.

"..."

"..."

Shuya and Mai-chan looked at each other.

Confirmed by their eyes, they were both drama queens.

Both of them burst into laughter at the same time, feeling both silly and awkward.

"Let's go, don't waste time here. It's not early anymore."

Shuya straightened up and smiled.

"Mm!"

Mai-chan nodded vigorously and pulled Shuya's hand, walking quickly into the amusement park.

Shuya squeezed Mai-chan's small hand and didn't pull away.

In his subconscious, holding a little girl's hand was no big deal at all, just like how he often helped the Quintuplets take baths; he had absolutely no bold thoughts.

Like his idol Osu, he had no interest in little girls.

Shuya was just accompanying Mai-chan to play with a doting mindset.

There was no need to count on exciting things like roller coasters in the amusement park, as those required parental supervision.

But the other facilities were enough for Shuya and Mai to play for the whole afternoon.

When they were nearly exhausted from playing, Shuya and Mai went to the amusement park's restaurant to eat.

Things at the amusement park were expensive, but they had kids' meals here, so the price was still acceptable.

Two set meals plus dessert.

All in all, the cost of the meal was about the same as the price of the admission tickets.

After eating, the two went to their final destination.

The Ferris wheel.

The staff gave a kind smile to the two little ones coming to ride the Ferris wheel together.

After Shuya got on, he could still hear the staff whispering:

"Are they a little couple? So cute~"

"Yeah, so cute~"

Shuya: "..."

...I won't even comment on that.

He pretended not to hear.

Once the two were seated, the Ferris wheel door quickly shut tight, isolating them from the outside world.

With a slight tremor, the Ferris wheel slowly started up.

The distance from the ground gradually increased.

"Wow, it's so beautiful."

The sky was at dusk by now.

The entire earth was blanketed in orange-yellow, a magnificent sight.

Mai pressed both hands against the glass, gazing intently at the scenery outside the window.

"It is very beautiful."

Shuya looked at her and said.

Mai did not notice Shuya's double entendre.

He didn't mind either; he wasn't trying to pick up a girl.

He was just stating his thoughts.

The mature and steady Mai was great, but a lively, energetic Mai who showed excitement appropriate for her age was also very good.

After watching the scenery for a while, Mai turned her head to Shuya with a smile and said, "It really is a lot of fun to hang out with Shuya."

The setting sun shone on half of her face, creating a sharp contrast.

"I'm having fun too."

Shuya had already taken off his mask and put on the professional smile he had long practiced.

Mai's little face turned red, but she immediately said awkwardly, "D-don't smile like that! It makes it feel like you aren't being sincere."

"...Sorry, it's a habit."

Shuya was taken aback and touched his face.

He let out a bitter laugh from the bottom of his heart.

He had been acting since he was born, and with Kato Nobunaga giving him special training recently, his fake smile had become as good as the real thing.

But a fake can never become real, and there will always be flaws for people to discover.

Just like right now.

Shuya felt a bit down: "Sorry, although there is an element of performance in my smile, it is true that I am happy."

"I know that, of course. There isn't a boy alive who wouldn't be happy to go on a date with a girl as pretty as me."

Mai was certainly full of confidence.

"Yes, I admit that."

Shuya nodded, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smile.

"See, your smile is very natural now."

"Is that so..."

Shuya touched the corner of his mouth, lost in thought, subconsciously searching for the difference.

"Alright, alright, don't think about acting right now."

Mai waved her hand in front of his eyes, dissatisfied.

"Mm, I'll listen to you."

Shuya said apologetically.

"It's a rare opportunity, so you should look at the scenery too, Shuya."

Mai pointed out the window.

Shuya nodded, and together with Mai, he watched the scenery of the land below with rapt attention.

A world bathed in the colors of twilight.

The slowly rotating Ferris wheel.

The gently swaying cabin.

Slowly reaching the apex.

Everything on the ground shrank into miniature.

For a brief moment, it felt as if the vast world consisted only of himself and the girl sitting opposite him.

The noise of the outside world vanished.

The air was faintly permeated with the girl's delicate fragrance.

This was a moment belonging only to the two of them, a special time.

Inoue Shuya slowly turned his head to look at Sakurajima Mai.

Her head rested against the glass, and beneath her spirited eyes lay a deep sense of exhaustion.

You say my smile is fake.

But your smile...

is it any more real?