The Fake Us (Continued)

To be honest, Shuya sometimes worried she might crack under too much pressure.

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

They were good friends, after all.

It didn't take long for Shuya to arrive. Mai had chosen a fairly ordinary amusement park, one that wasn't particularly famous.

It wasn't very crowded here—not like some mouse-themed Dream Castle, where there were so many people you'd want to kill yourself.

"Shuya!"

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

She wasn't wearing a mask. After all, she'd only appeared in one commercial and wasn't as famous as Shuya.

Not many people would recognize her on the street. At most, they might glance at her because she was cute.

Shuya and Mai met up without a hitch.

"Here, this is for you."

Mai handed Shuya a ticket.

Shuya's eyes lit up. "What is it? A recommendation ticket or a monthly pass?" (He was dropping hints like crazy.)

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

Mai looked at him, puzzled. Only then did he realize his mistake.

Shuya chuckled awkwardly as he accepted the ticket. "Then let's go in. Since you paid for the tickets, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Sounds fair. I accept."

Mai-chan accepted Shuya's offer.

Shuya really enjoyed going out with an independent girl.

It was a satisfying feeling, born of mutual respect.

Of course, he wasn't saying it was wrong for the guy to pay. It was just a matter of degree. (A clumsy, rambling defense, just in case any female readers complained.)

Shuya took a look at Mai-chan. She was dressed beautifully.

She wore a pure white dress that suited her innocent image, white tights to protect her from the sun and keep her legs looking nice, and a pair of black leather shoes.

She carried a cute little shoulder bag.

With her long hair flowing as she smiled, she looked like a perfect little fairy.

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

Shuya gave her a thumbs-up.

"Good. You pass. If you hadn't complimented me right away, I would've gotten mad."

Mai-chan smiled faintly.

Shuya laughed cheerfully. "Hahaha! Mai-chan, you're not my girlfriend. Why do you care what I think?"

"It's the same either way. That's just basic etiquette when you go out with a girl."

"Oh, wow. I actually learned something."

Shuya gave an awkward little bow. "Then, may I ask, lovely young lady, if you'd grant me the chance to enjoy the park with you?"

"Well, I suppose I'll take pity on you. But if you make me unhappy, then you'll... Hmph!"

Mai-chan's demeanor changed as she put on a haughty expression to play along.

"..."

"..."

Shuya and Mai-chan looked at each other.

Their eyes met, and they both knew: they were hams.

They burst out laughing together, feeling silly and awkward.

"Come on, let's not waste time here. It's getting late."

Shuya straightened up and smiled.

"Mm!"

Mai-chan nodded vigorously, took Shuya's hand, and hurried into the amusement park.

Shuya gave Mai-chan's small hand a squeeze but didn't pull away.

In his subconscious, holding a little girl's hand was no big deal. It was like helping the Quintuplets bathe—he didn't have any improper thoughts about it at all.

Just like his idol, Osu, Shuya wasn't interested in little girls.

Shuya was only accompanying Mai-chan with an affectionate, indulgent attitude.

There was no point hoping to ride thrilling attractions like roller coasters; those required a parent to accompany you.

But the other rides were more than enough to keep Shuya and Mai entertained all afternoon.

When they were just about worn out, Shuya and Mai-chan went to the amusement park restaurant for a meal.

The food at amusement parks was expensive, but the kids' meal here was reasonably priced.

They ordered two meals and dessert.

All in all, the meal cost about as much as the admission tickets.

After eating, the two of them went to their final attraction.

The Ferris wheel.

The staff gave the two little ones a warm smile as they came to ride the Ferris wheel together.

After Shuya climbed aboard, he could still hear the staff members whispering:

"Are they a couple? So cute~"

"Yeah, so cute~"

Shuya: "..."

I'm not even going to comment.

He pretended not to hear them.

Once the two of them were seated, the Ferris wheel's door soon shut completely, sealing them off from the outside.

With a slight shudder, the Ferris wheel began to turn slowly.

They rose farther and farther from the ground.

"Wow, it's so beautiful."

By then, dusk had fallen.

The whole landscape was bathed in a brilliant orange-yellow glow.

Mai-chan pressed both hands against the glass and gazed intently at the view outside.

"It really is beautiful."

Shuya looked at her as he said it.

Mai didn't notice the double meaning in his words.

He didn't mind. He wasn't trying to hit on her.

He was just saying what he thought.

Mature and composed, Mai was lovely. But Mai-chan, lively and excited in a way that suited her age, was lovely too.

After admiring the view for a while, Mai turned to Shuya with a smile. "I knew I'd have fun going out with you, Shuya."

The setting sun lit up one side of her face, creating a striking contrast.

"I'm having fun too."

Shuya had already taken off his mask, putting on the well-practiced smile he'd honed through years of training.

Mai's cheeks flushed, but then she said awkwardly, "Y-you can't smile like that! It feels like you don't really mean it."

"...Sorry. It's a habit."

Shuya froze for a moment and touched his face.

Then he let out a bitter smile from the bottom of his heart.

He'd been acting ever since he was born, and lately Kato Nobunaga had been training him, too. His fake smile had become so convincing it looked real.

But a fake smile could never truly become real. Eventually, someone would notice the cracks.

Just like now.

Shuya's mood sank a little. "Sorry. My smile might be partly an act, but I really am happy."

"Of course I know that. No guy could be unhappy about going on a date with a girl as pretty as me."

Mai was certainly confident.

"That's true. I'll admit it."

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

"See? That smile looks much more natural."

"Does it...?"

Shuya touched the corners of his mouth, deep in thought as he instinctively tried to figure out the difference.

"Okay, okay. Stop thinking about acting for now."

Mai waved a hand in front of his eyes, displeased.

"Mm, I'll listen to you."

Shuya apologized.

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

Mai pointed out the window.

Shuya nodded, and together they gazed intently at the landscape below.

The world was colored by dusk.

The Ferris wheel turned slowly.

The cabin swayed gently.

They slowly reached the top.

Everything on the ground had shrunk below them.

For a moment, the vast world seemed to contain only him and the girl across from him.

The noise of the outside world disappeared.

A faint, delicate fragrance lingered in the air.

This was a time that belonged only to the two of them,

a special time.

Inoue Shuya slowly turned to look at Sakurajima Mai.

Her head rested against the glass, and beneath her lively eyes lay deep exhaustion.

You said my smile was fake.

But what about your smile...

Was it any more genuine?