I Just Want A Single Ending!

"..."

Looking at Nijika's gentle smile, Saku couldn't muster any comeback.

Because she was right—everything she'd said was based on his own words.

It was… frustrating.

This just made him look like a fool, didn't it?

Forgetting the very things he himself had said.

Still, being treated with such kindness wasn't the worst feeling.

He didn't dislike it.

But that was all. Not disliking it didn't mean he necessarily enjoyed it.

"Then, let's drop the whole 'being our manager' idea, alright?" Nijika's voice remained as gentle as ever.

Saku averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "I only wanted to help you with your dream, that's all."

"I appreciate it—really," Nijika's expression softened, her gaze full of care. "But the condition for helping others should be that it doesn't affect you, right?"

"Fine, I won't bring up the idea of being your band's manager again."

At that, Saku could only accept her wish and reluctantly let go of the thought.

"That's good to hear."

Nijika's smile grew warmer, pleased with his answer.

This was the response she'd hoped for. She didn't want him to feel obligated.

A second later, Saku spoke up again, though his tone had softened. "In that case, can I still help you as a friend, if you'll let me? You know, whenever your band needs it."

If he couldn't support her as a manager, he'd still do his best as a friend.

"Eh?"

Nijika's face registered clear surprise.

"To become a popular band, the effort of the members alone won't be enough. Support from others is essential." Saku's gaze met hers, and his voice was serious. "So I still want to do my part to help make your dream happen."

Their eyes held for a moment before Nijika shyly looked away.

"…That would be fine," she replied softly.

She had no reason to turn down that offer and no desire to, either.

"That's good, then."

Saku's smile widened. He felt relieved.

"Mm."

Nijika nodded slightly, then fell silent.

Just then, their turn in line was approaching.

"Couples can't ride the carousel together?"

Ahead of them, a young couple who'd hoped to sit together was being told by the staff that this wasn't allowed.

"Adults can't share a seat. Only kids can sit with their parents," the staff member explained with a polite smile.

"Got it."

The couple nodded and gave up on their plans.

Then, the staff turned to Nijika and Saku.

"Sorry, but couples can't sit together on the carousel."

"???"

Hearing this, Saku and Nijika both turned to each other in sync.

A boy and a girl coming to an amusement park together being mistaken for a couple—wasn't this the most classic of misunderstandings?

"We're not a couple."

They looked away from each other and clarified in unison.

"Even if you're not a couple, you still can't sit together," the staff replied, still smiling.

"We never said we wanted to sit together," Saku pointed out, a little irritated.

Seriously, what was this staff member thinking?

Did he look so eager to sit with Nijika?

"That's right."

Nijika nodded in agreement.

She didn't mind sitting with Saku, but that didn't mean she was dying to sit with him, either.

There was a difference between the two.

The staff member simply watched the two of them with a quiet smile, seeing a pair of people who denied they were a couple but interacted as naturally as if they were.

If it looks like an apple, smells like an apple, and tastes like an apple, it's an apple.

The same logic applies here: if two people look, talk, and act like a couple, then they are one.

So, based on this undeniable truth, the handsome young man with the relaxed air, and the lovely, gentle girl were clearly dating!

Unaware of the staff's idle thoughts, Saku and Nijika continued to chat casually, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

---

Once they were seated on the carousel, Saku felt a wave of nostalgia.

Nothing particularly sentimental, just a faint memory of riding a carousel as a kid.

Back then, he'd found it incredibly fun.

For kids, amusement parks are like a paradise.

Even though his younger self had been afraid of heights and scary things, the amusement park had seemed like the best place in the world.

Where had that amusement park been?

He couldn't remember.

Who had he gone with?

…That too, was a blur.

Not that it mattered.

It must not have been anyone important.

As he drifted in these faint memories, the carousel started, slowly spinning in gentle circles.

Even without the thrill of speed, the carousel felt more entertaining than the roller coaster or haunted house.

Maybe nostalgia added something extra to it. Despite being older, he found it strangely enjoyable.

It was almost like being a kid again.

---

"That was fun," Saku said to Nijika as they stepped off the carousel.

"Mm, I think so, too."

Hearing him say that, Nijika beamed. He hadn't reacted this way to any of the other attractions they'd tried today.

This side of Saku was the one she'd wanted to see.

"What do you want to try next?" she asked, smiling.

"Anything's fine."

He seemed as easygoing as ever.

Nijika tilted her head thoughtfully. "Then how about bumper cars?"

"You don't have to cater to me, you know."

Going from the carousel to bumper cars—would she suggest the Ferris wheel next?

It was as if she was helping him relive his childhood.

"It's not that." Nijika explained softly, "I was actually hoping we'd go on every ride today. This is just the order we're doing them in."

"…Alright."

With that, Saku dropped the subject.

He didn't dislike being treated kindly, after all.

---

"Ha!"

Saku steered his bumper car straight into Nijika's with all the force he could muster.

He wasn't holding back just because she was a girl, or even because she was his friend.

In fact, it was because they were friends that he wanted to go all out.

Otherwise, what was the fun in it?

If he started worrying about holding back, bumper cars would be far too boring.

Soon enough, Nijika retaliated, ramming her car into his without hesitation.

"Hey, don't just hit and run!"

Adjusting his car's direction, Saku laughed as he began his pursuit of Nijika's bumper car.

It was hard to deny the charm of these childhood rides.

---

Pirate ship? Eh, nothing special.

Saku sat calmly, unfazed by the ship's rocking as he gave it an indifferent review.

But glancing at Nijika beside him, who was screaming with every sway, he reconsidered.

Actually, with Nijika here, maybe it's a little more interesting.

Many things were like this—dull alone, yet infinitely more fun with a friend by your side.

Just as Saku was reflecting on this, he felt Nijika's hand slip into his.

"?"

Was this intentional?

Was she strategically picking the scariest rides just to get an excuse to hold his hand?

It all made sense now: the way she'd suggested holding hands on the roller coaster was clearly a setup.

Then in the haunted house, she'd taken it up a notch, and now here she was again. This was getting out of hand!

But even as he thought this, Saku didn't pull his hand away.

He couldn't bring himself to.

Besides, Nijika probably wasn't doing this on purpose. She was likely just… genuinely scared.

---

"Want to pick out something for your sister?"

After hours of exploring various attractions, afternoon arrived, and they found themselves in a gift shop. Saku repeated Nijika's earlier request.

"Yes," Nijika nodded. "My sister said she didn't want a souvenir, but I think it'd be nice to bring her a gift."

"Right. Your sister strikes me as the kind to say no even when she really wants something."

Saku had a pretty good sense of Ijichi Seika's personality—she was a bit of a tsundere big sister.

She might say no, but that didn't mean she wouldn't appreciate it.

Especially since the gift would be from her little sister. Of course, she'd accept it happily.

"So I thought I'd ask your opinion on what to get her," Nijika explained.

"But don't you think a gift you choose yourself would be more meaningful?"

Despite her request, Saku hesitated a little.

"Why?"

Nijika looked confused.

"Because your sister would like it better if it was something you picked just for her."

A gift chosen solely by Nijika would be one hundred percent her, and that would matter a lot to her sister.

But with him involved, that "Nijika-ness" in the gift would drop to fifty percent.

Not to mention, he was a guy and pretty close to Nijika. Seika, as a sister, might see that as a bit of a provocation.

"Don't worry. My sister won't mind that at all," Nijika assured him.

"Alright, if you say so."

Since she insisted, he wouldn't push further.

After all, it wasn't like he'd offered to help out of the blue.

And so, they began browsing the store together.

"How about this plush?" Nijika held up a pink teddy bear.

Saku raised an eyebrow. "Does your sister even like that kind of thing?"

A bright pink bear seemed a bit off-brand for the usually serious Seika.

"She does! My sister still sleeps with a plush toy every night," Nijika said with a casual air, as though revealing Seika's little secret was nothing.

"Really?" Saku was surprised.

For a moment, he imagined Seika sleeping with a stuffed animal.

It was… oddly adorable.

"Yup," Nijika confirmed with certainty.

"Then let's go with a bear plush, maybe something in the classic colors like the one you're holding."

"That's what I was thinking, too," Nijika nodded. "But with so many choices, I thought I'd ask you."

"Well, in that case, I'd say the one you're holding now isn't it."

Saku scrutinized the pink bear in her hands.

"What's wrong with it?" Nijika asked, curious.

"The color, for one thing—it doesn't quite match her," he replied. "Even if she likes plush toys, pink seems… not her vibe."

"True."

After a moment of thought, Nijika put the pink bear back.

"Let's look at some other options."

"Alright."

---

After some careful searching, they finally decided on a brown bear plush, the classic souvenir of the amusement park.

As Nijika approached the register, she happened to glance at the price tag.

"Wow, that's pricey…"

She sighed under her breath.

"Unfortunately, everything at an amusement park costs more than it would outside," Saku said, unsurprised.

"Yeah…"

Nijika paused, mentally calculating her allowance.

Sensing her hesitation, Saku made a suggestion. "Want to split the cost?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't. It's a gift for my sister."

Nijika shook her head. She couldn't let him pay for something she intended to give her sister.

"Then let's just say this gift is from both of us."

Saku quickly offered a reasonable solution.

"We both came here today, so it wouldn't be weird for me to give your sister something, right?"

"You're trying to make this sound so casual, so I'll just go along with it and let you pay half, aren't you?"

Nijika caught on to his gentle ruse, seeing through his reasoning with a small smile.

Saku raised an eyebrow. "Well, can I?"

---

T/N: sometimes I hate being too emotional poor Saku :((

I think Nijika might be the closest to his heart right now def, then Soyo

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨