Trial Lover 32 (Patreon)

Main Story 31 - Roller Coaster

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Past 10am.

Our train arrives on time at Suishabashi Station, the closest station to Tohto Dome Town Attractions.

When they get off the train, Kazuo, Shimizu-san, and Hazuki-san cheerfully say, “We're here!” and right as I am thinking ‘we’re still in the nearest station, though’,

“Fufu. Haven’t we only arrived at the nearest station?”

Himura-san retorts that while smiling. At that, I let out a laugh, “Haha.”

There are quite a few other passengers besides us who get off at this station. Many of them seem to be middle and high school girls like Hiori and the others.

Wondering if there is an event being held at Tohto Dome, I look it up on my smartphone. According to the official website, a popular male idol group will be holding a concert starting at 6pm. Furthermore, they start selling promotional items during the day. That's probably why many people are coming starting at this time.

We pass through the ticket gate and leave Suishabashi Station from the west exit.

We can see the Ferris wheel, roller coaster course, Freefall, and the Tohto Dome nearby. Relying on those, we walk towards Tohto Dome Town Attractions.

“Seeing the Ferris wheel or roller coaster course made me feel nostalgic.” (Akito)

“Has Akito-san ever come here as well?” (Hiori)

“Yeah. I came here with my family a couple of times when I was in elementary school. I think the last time was when I was in the fourth grade.”

“Is that so? The last time I went was when I was in sixth grade. It's been five years, so it feels nostalgic.”

“Hiori too, huh?”

I'm happy that I can feel the same feelings as Hiori.

Perhaps hearing our conversation, Kazuo and the others also start talking about their past visits to Tohto Dome Town. I know that Kazuo and Shimizu-san went here together last year, but it seems Himura-san has come here many times with her family and friends. As for Hazuki-san, this is her first time. Of all the people who have been here before, am I the one with the most gap?

Also, because the roller coaster course is visible, the first thing we go to is the roller coaster.

A few minutes after leaving Suishabashi, we arrive at the entrance of Tohto Dome Town Attractions. Here, all six of us shout, “We're here!” Hiori's voice isn’t that loud, but she says it while smiling.

Also, at Himura-san's suggestion, we do a photo session using our smartphones. We mainly take selfies with the four girls in the center. And we ask someone nearby to take a photo of the six of us. Also, some of the photos we take are uploaded to our group chat album.

By the way, Himura-san looked very happy when she took a two-shot photo with Hiori in her new one piece dress.

Today is the last day of Golden Week, but the place is crowded with people. There are a lot of student groups like us, as well as families and couples. I tighten my grip on Hiori's hand so that we won’t get separated.

After standing in line at the reception for about 10 minutes, we purchase the one-day free pass tickets. We are able to properly use the discount coupon Kazuo brought with him and purchase them at half the normal price.

As we pass through the gate, we’re finally inside Tohto Dome Town Attractions.

It's been 7 years since I came here. Looking around, I see that there are several new attractions, but the basic atmosphere is still the same as it was back then. That’s why, I feel very nostalgic.

“I feel more nostalgic than I did earlier.” (Hiori)

“Me too. It’s because the atmosphere hasn't changed much even after 7 years.” (Akito)

“I have the same reason.”

It’s been 5 years since Hiori came to Dome Town after all. It's natural for her to feel nostalgic too.

Still, I never thought I'd come here again with my trial lover and friends. It's my first time coming here with people other than my family, so I want to enjoy it to the fullest.

“So this is Dome Town-ssu!”

Hazuki-san, who is here for the first time, is restlessly looking around. Cute. I too, when I came here in elementary school, I looked around just like she does now.

“Everyone! The roller coaster is over there!”

As Kazuo says that, he points in the direction of the roller coaster boarding area.

We head to the roller coaster boarding area, following Kazuo, Shimizu-san, and Himura-san, who have come here recently.

There are six of us here, but when I walk through Dome Town holding hands with Hiori, it feels like I'm on a date with her.

We arrive at the roller coaster boarding area and stand at the end of the waiting line. The line is in two columns, so Kazuo and Shimizu-san, me and Hiori, Himura-san and Hazuki-san, we line up in that order. According to a staff member nearby, it will take more than 30 minutes until we get on the roller coaster.

“30 minutes, is it? It seems like a popular attraction, so I was prepared to wait that long.” (Hiuri)

“I see. If it's a popular attraction, 30 minutes might be short instead.” (Akito)

“I can attest to that. At another amusement park, I had to wait for an hour to get on a roller coaster. By the way, are you okay with waiting, Akito-san?”

“I am. When I'm waiting with someone, like now, we can talk anyway. And when I’m waiting alone, I listen to music or play games on my smartphone.”

“I see. Me too. When I'm waiting alone, I listen to music or read a book, so I don't find it hard to wait.”

“I see.”

She’s just as I imagined. Even if I now know that waiting is not too hard for her, I have to be careful not to make her wait too long when I meet up with her in the future.

“I'm not the best at waiting, but Hiori and the others are here with me now, so it's not a problem at all. Besides, Hiori's back is beautiful, and her hair smells good. In this state, I can wait for two or three hours no problem...”

‘Ufufu’, I hear Himura-san's creepy laughter from behind me. When I slowly turn around, I see Himura-san looking at Hiori's back with an ecstatic expression on her face. Certainly, if she’s like that, it looks like she can wait for two or three hours. As Himura-san is like that, Hazuki-san is looking at her with a wry smile.

The person in question, Hiori, turns back to Himura-san and gives her a calm smile.

“I’m looking forward to the roller coaster! Kazuo-kun!”

“Yeah! I can't wait!”

Kazuo and Shimizu-san are talking happily in the front. Come to think of it, the two of them said that they rode a lot of thrill rides when they came here last year.

“By the way, you guys, what do you think about thrill rides? Miu and I love them. If you don't like them, we don't have to ride them. We can all go to other attractions.”

“I'm a little scared, but I can ride them normally. So it's okay.”

When I was little, I was really scared of them and hated riding them. Thanks to my older sister dragging me around them, I was able to build up my tolerance and be able to ride them normally now. In the past, there were times when I would pass out or have a grand reversal of the food and sweets I ate at the amusement park. Aah, it’s a dark history, dark history.

“How about Hiori?”

“I quite like them. When I went to the amusement park with my family, my younger sister Nanami and I would often ride them together.”

Hiori like thrill rides, huh? My image of her is that she’s strong, but it was a little surprising that she likes them. Also, Nanami-chan liking them is just as I imagine her to be.

“How about Saaya-san and Kyoko-san?”

“I'm fine with them. As long as it's not an especially scary attraction, I can enjoy it.”

“If it's a classic thrill ride like a roller coaster or Freefall, I've ridden them many times, so I'm fine-ssu.”

“That’s good.”

So Himura-san and Hazuki-san are okay with the roller coaster, huh? That means, out of the 6 of us, the one most scared of them is me, huh? I feel a bit pathetic. Even more so since I have my trial girlfriend next to me.

“Glad to see you all can ride this!”

“That's true, Kazuo-kun. It's more fun if we all ride together.”

The track and field club couple speaks in good spirits.

The last time I rode a roller coaster was during the summer vacation of my third year of middle school, when I went to an amusement park with my friends to get a change of pace from studying for the entrance exam. So, it's been two years. This time, everyone around me is good with thrill rides, and most importantly, my trial lover is right next to me. I'm sure I'll be fine.

We spend our time waiting in line while talking about our memories of the amusement park.

And, 40 minutes after we started lining up. Finally, it’s our turn.

The seats are for two people in one row, so just like in the waiting line, the sitting order from the front is; Kazuo and Shimizu-san, me and Hiori, Himura-san and Hazuki-san.

The staff onii-san lowers the safety bar. With this, the roller coaster will finally begin. I start feeling like I can't escape.

“Akito-san. Shall we hold hands? You said earlier that thrill rides are scary.”

Hiori smiles and offers me her left hand.

“Thank you. Then, please.”

“Yes.”

When I hold out my right hand, Hiori gently takes it. However, unlike the way we hold hands before, she intertwines her fingers with mine in a lover's hold.

“If we do this, we won’t have to worry about our hands separating while we’re moving.”

“...It certainly feels like we're connected more strongly than before. Please use this hold while riding the roller coaster.”

“I understand.”

Hiori says while smiling kindly.

I’m glad I honestly said that I was scared. I’m really happy right now. Because our fingers are intertwined, the warmth from Hiori's hand feels stronger than ever before. Also, because she said that she likes thrill rides, Hiori looks very reliable right now.

Also, I hear Himura-san's voice from behind me saying, “I'm so jealous~.” Aren't you jealous?

Not long after that, [beep], a chime rings. The staff onii-san, with a refreshing smile,

“Well then, start! Have a nice trip!”

Cheerfully says that. When he says it like that, the roller coaster becomes a little less scary.

The train we ride slowly begins to move. I'm getting nervous. The last time I rode one was 7 years ago. I remember that the train was quite fast.

“Ooh, it's finally starting!”

“That's right! Kazuo-kun!”

The track and field club couple who love the thrill rides sitting in the front row say these words of excitement.

“Himuko. How is the roller coaster here-ssu?”

“It has quite the speed. It's thrilling.”

“Ooh. I'm looking forward to how it feels-ssu.”

I can hear such a conversation between Himura-san and Hazuki-san from behind me. Was it just as I remembered that it had quite a speed? Let's prepare ourselves.

The train slowly moves uphill along the course. My level of tension increases in proportion to the height of the train.

Then, as we reach near the top, the train suddenly stops.

“It's really nerve-wracking when you stop like this, isn’t it...” (Akito)

“We don't know when the train will move after all. I'm right beside you and I'm holding your hand like this, so it'll be okay.” (Hiori)

“Thank you. Hiori is really relia──uwaaaa!”

Suddenly, the train started moving at high speed! Let me finish!

As Himura-san said, this is quite the speed! It brought back memories of 7 years ago, but isn’t this faster than the one back then?

“Kyaaaa!”

I hear Hiori's screams coming from beside me. Isn't this her loudest voice I've ever heard? Her screams are beautiful too. When I somehow manage to look at Hiori... I see her screaming happily. Now I know that she truly likes thrill rides.

“Uoooh! This is the beeeessst!”

“This is a true thrill ride! Uwaa!"

Kazuo and Shimizu-san seem to be having a lot of fun and are screaming loudly. As expected from a couple who love thrill rides.

“Kyaaaa! So fa─st! I can smell Hiori's hair─! So─ fu─n!”

“So fast-ssu! Amazing-ssu! Crazy-ssu! Like Himuko said, it's quite the thrill-ssu!”

Just as I heard a scream like that from behind, [Kyaaa!] Himura-san and Hazuki-san scream in unison. Also, even though the wind from the front is blowing so strongly, Himura-san can still properly smell Hiori's hair, huh? As expected of her.

“Akito-san! Are you okaaay?!”

Hiori turns toward me and asks me that. Since we’re moving, the voice she uses to talk to me is much louder than usual.

“It's scary, but I’m okay!:

“That’s good to heaaar-!”

Hiori says with a smile.

After that too, the train continues to run along the course at high speed. And I continue to scream along with Hiori and the others.

There are some scary points along the way, like when we descend at a considerable angle and when we loop the loop. Even so, Hiori and I never let go of our hands

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