The young lady’s words were like a knife’s edge, slicing through the air and transforming what was ant to bring them closer into a competition.
Phoenix Academy Maggie didn’t need anyone to remind her; the mont the words left her mouth, she realized she’d misspoken.
In her heart, she felt a sense of helplessness.
Ever since she was young, she had been educated to always be competitive, never to let anyone look down upon her, making it difficult for her to adopt a demure, clingy deanor.
Only on rare, specific occasions would she allow herself to show vulnerability. But those were occasions Phoenix Academy Maggie never wanted to display before others.
"Maggie, don’t underestimate my courage," Aozawa said, though he’d already made up his mind.
He figured he would have to be the one to take a small loss, to take the initiative and move closer. When two people interact, one person always has to choose to show weakness to move the relationship forward.
Since it wasn’t peak season at the amusent park, the roller coaster didn’t need to be full to start. It moved slowly towards the apex.
The sound of the wheels rolling made Phoenix Academy Maggie, who was riding a roller coaster for the first ti, a bit nervous. Her hands gripped the safety bar.
Aozawa couldn’t help but steal a glance. Under the effect of the safety bar, Phoenix Academy Maggie’s chest seed particularly imposing.
If they were any larger, she probably wouldn’t be able to ride this kind of roller coaster. The safety bar might not hold them in place.
Phoenix Academy Maggie noticed his gaze. She looked down for a mont and let out a soft snort through her nose. Now she was even more certain: Aozawa was definitely a breast man.
These thoughts ran through her mind.
The roller coaster gradually reached its highest peak. From here, Phoenix Academy Maggie could glimpse the amusent park’s carousel and also see the Ferris wheel.
The view was beautiful.
This thought flashed through her mind, then her gaze suddenly plumted downwards.
"AH!"
Piercing screams erupted from behind and beside her, startling Phoenix Academy Maggie. Her eyes darted to her left hand. Aozawa’s right hand was gripping hers tightly as he let out a scream.
This wasn’t the first ti their hands had touched. The last ti, in the warehouse, Aozawa had also held her hand.
Being held again, his hand felt just as broad, as if it wanted to envelop her entire left hand.
She could faintly feel Aozawa’s pulse against the back of her hand.
Phoenix Academy Maggie’s heart pounded wildly.
This must be because I’m scared, right? she thought. Then she suddenly realized that perhaps riding a roller coaster wasn’t so scary after all, but screaming out loud definitely enhanced the atmosphere.
"AH!"
Phoenix Academy Maggie joined in with the crowd, shouting loudly, releasing all the pent-up thoughts from her mouth.
This feeling of catharsis was truly magnificent.
As a young lady from a prestigious family, she had always been taught to be dignified and graceful, never to emit hysterical screams.
That was very rude behavior.
But she found that it was okay to be impolite once or twice. The most important thing was to be happy.
The roller coaster completed its circuit and returned to the starting point.
"HUFF... HUFF..."
The full-force screaming left Phoenix Academy Maggie a bit breathless and panting heavily. Her sailor suit was like a ti-worn seal, its strength too weakened to contain the beast shaking within.
Beast! Don’t give up! Aozawa silently cheered. He released Phoenix Academy Maggie’s left hand and said with a smile, "Pretty fun, right?"
"The roller coaster is indeed pretty fun." Phoenix Academy Maggie smiled, smoothing her wind-blown golden hair with her hand. Her slightly flushed cheeks resembled delicious apples, glistening with an allure that made one want to take a bite.
Her thumping heart still hadn’t cald down.
Aozawa, smiling, asked, "What should we ride next?"
"Let’s ride the Ferris wheel." Phoenix Academy Maggie had made up her mind. She had never been to an amusent park before and was curious about all the rides here.
She wanted to try them all.
"No problem," Aozawa agreed with a nod.
On their way to the Ferris wheel, Phoenix Academy Maggie spotted an ice cream cart. Recalling a common scene from manga, she stopped in her tracks.
"Aozawa, I’ll give you a chance. Treat to ice cream."
"This ice cream can’t compare to my delicious homade ice cream," Aozawa said.
"You can make homade ice cream?" Phoenix Academy Maggie’s face showed a hint of surprise. She thought she knew Aozawa well but didn’t expect him to have hidden life skills.
"Of course. I’ll let you try so when we have ti. If I hurry, I can have you full in just fifteen minutes." Aozawa cryptically said sothing only he would understand, then approached the ice cream cart and bought two cones.
"Do you want strawberry flavor or chocolate?"
"Strawberry." Phoenix Academy Maggie took the cone he’d bought and took a bite. Her delicate, porcelain-like cheeks imdiately crinkled in distaste. "Ugh, this is disgusting, worse than I imagined. Did they use too much saccharin?"
"I don’t think so." Aozawa looked surprised. He leaned forward and took a large bite from the very spot Maggie had bitten. He chewed the cool, sweet ice cream, now mixed with the faint, expensive fragrance of her lipstick. "I think it’s fine," he said. "It must be that the young lady isn’t used to commoners’ ice cream."
Phoenix Academy Maggie looked at the ice cream cone she had bitten, which Aozawa had then taken a bite from. Isn’t this an indirect kiss, like in manga?!
She glanced at Aozawa’s innocent-looking face. The words caught in her throat, and she didn’t know what to say.
Can a normal friendship really go this far?
More evidence piled up in Phoenix Academy Maggie’s mind that Aozawa might really be Dio. She had good reason to suspect Aozawa had overheard the conversation she’d had with Makoto and the others in the hallway.
That’s why he deliberately used that excuse to take a bite of the ice cream she had bitten.
It also couldn’t be ruled out that Aozawa was just a naturally oblivious player.
After all, in this day and age, a man daring enough to propose a harem theory—how could he not harbor any thoughts towards a beautiful girl like her?
Complicated thoughts swirled through her mind.
Phoenix Academy Maggie made a face of disgust and said, "Ew, you’re so unhygienic. Don’t do that again."
After speaking, she lowered her head and took another bite of the cone, slowly chewing and savoring the taste.
When she first tasted it, she’d thought the cone was awful, but now, it didn’t seem so bad after all.
"If you can’t get used to it, give it all to ."
"It’s okay. I’m not that delicate a girl."
For a mont, Phoenix Academy Maggie considered agreeing, letting Aozawa take a bite, then changing her mind and snatching the cone back to taste it herself. However, she ultimately discarded the idea.
She kept eating the ice cream cone as they continued toward the Ferris wheel.
The joyful tis passed quickly. The one thing Phoenix Academy Maggie was grateful for was that she had tried every ride in the amusent park.
The entertainnt here wasn’t nearly as expensive as private yachts, exploring Primitive Forests, skydiving, scuba diving, and other such activities.
But it had its own unique charm, especially playing with Aozawa.
"Haha, today was so much fun!" Yoshikawa Sayuri smiled from ear to ear.
Hojo Tetsuji nodded repeatedly, happier than anyone. "Absolutely!" he roared like a gorilla. "Next ti we get the chance, let’s go out together again!"
"I..." Furusawa Kyoichiro had barely begun to speak when Nomura True Wave playfully slapped his face.
"This is not the ti for your downer talk," she teased. "Shut up."
Furusawa Kyoichiro had wanted to say he had baseball practice and might not be able to join next ti. Nomura True Wave’s slap cut off those buzz-killing words.
"Tetsuji is right. We’ll make plans again when we’re free," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, a smile spreading across her face.
It held no trace of falseness.
Being with Nomura True Wave, Yoshikawa Sayuri, Hojo Tetsuji, and Aozawa, Phoenix Academy Maggie realized she had laughed more tis than in all the previous years combined. She didn’t have to sche or put on a fake smile. She could simply smile when she was happy. This state was what Phoenix Academy Maggie had always longed for—the real thing.
Aozawa looked up at the sky and said, "Maggie, do you want to walk you to Ayase Station?"
"No need." Phoenix Academy Maggie instinctively shook her head, refusing his offer to escort her. But then she felt a pang of regret, realizing she had spoken too quickly. She should have agreed; that would have extended her ti with Aozawa.
Nomura True Wave quickly spoke up, "That won’t do! Adachi District isn’t safe right now. If so pervert jumped out, it would be very dangerous for you alone. You must have a Guardian ssenger!"
Makoto, you’re such a great sister! Phoenix Academy Maggie sent her an approving look.
Nomura True Wave winked her right eye, showing a playful smile.
She could still tell when the young lady wasn’t being entirely truthful.
"Then we’re off." Nomura True Wave pushed Furusawa Kyoichiro ahead, as if herding a pig, and they left.
"I should also head back," Yoshikawa Sayuri said.
"I’ll walk you." Hojo Tetsuji, worried Yoshikawa Sayuri might encounter trouble with delinquents, hurried after her.
Aozawa shrugged. "So, do I have to call you ’Princess’ before I can serve as your knight protector?"
"Cut the teasing. What ’Princess’?"
"Indeed. It should be ’Young Lady.’" Aozawa slapped his forehead as if in sudden realization. "Young Lady, please let be your personal bodyguard! Wait a second... ’The Young Lady’s Personal Expert’—that sounds like it could be a light novel series millions of words long!"
"Do we have that much of a story?" Phoenix Academy Maggie retorted. Her understanding of otaku culture had grown; she was no longer the ignorant young lady of the past.
Many ani are adapted from light novels, and so are even adapted into manga as well as ani.
Aozawa thought for a mont. "I don’t know."
"What kind of answer is that?" Phoenix Academy Maggie lightly slapped his shoulder, not too hard. "Let’s go, my Superpowered Bodyguard."
"Please address as Sage Aozawa, Highest Commander of the Knights of God," Aozawa joked casually and gestured for her to go first.
Phoenix Academy Maggie laughed and didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, she asked casually, as if making small talk, "How long have you known Morimoto Chiyoda?"
"Ten years."
"You playboy."
"I just want the girls I like to be happy."
"Hmph." Phoenix Academy Maggie rolled her eyes at him, her face a mixture of disdain and scorn. "You’re just too sentintal. Can’t you be a little more devoted to **?"
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