Chapter 58: Feels Pretty Good
The visitors entering the amusement park might not have been as radiant as dewdrop-covered flowers sparkling under the sunrise, but their faces were bright with energy, laughter, and eager anticipation. The air itself seemed to buzz with excitement—children running past with balloons, the faint sound of carousel music drifting through the park, and the smell of popcorn and sweet crepes wafting from nearby stalls.
Among the joyful crowd, however, one figure stood out like a dark cloud among clear skies. A certain fallen angel trudged forward, exuding a heavy aura of laziness that practically screamed "stay away."
Gabriel yawned the moment they stepped through the entrance gate, her eyelids half-closed and her tone completely devoid of life. "Alright, I've got my fake piggy suit. You guys can go play all you want. I stayed up all night again yesterday, so I'm gonna find a bench and lie down... maybe forever."
"Gabi-chan!" Vigne's brow furrowed as she stepped in front of her. "Wake up! You were the one who suggested we come here in the first place! At least pretend to have energy!"
Even Raphael, usually full of smug amusement, added, "You know, it's not every day we get to go somewhere like this. We should actually enjoy it. It's my first time visiting an amusement park too."
"Hmph! Gabriel, you lazy angel, you'll never surpass me like that!" Satania declared, puffing out her chest with confidence. She clenched her fists dramatically. "I was planning to defeat you today!"
All three girls turned to Kouya expectantly, their gazes practically ordering him to pick a side.
Kouya: "..."
In the end, three votes beat one. Gabriel's protest was crushed without mercy.
Vigne immediately grabbed her hand, dragging her forward like a strict older sister walking a reluctant child. "You're not escaping. We're going to have fun, whether you like it or not."
"Where to first?" Vigne asked, scanning the park map.
"Roller coaster!" Satania shouted without hesitation, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The group turned to her in silence.
The irony was too strong to ignore. Roller coasters were supposed to be terrifying and thrilling—an experience that humans, who couldn't fly, found exhilarating. But she was a demon. A literal demon. Someone who could fly faster and higher than any ride. And yet she was the most excited of them all.
Satania flushed and crossed her arms defensively. "W-What? What's with those looks! I totally didn't spend all night researching the park's most popular rides! Definitely didn't!"
Vigne sighed, hiding a smile behind her hand. "Let's go anyway. Might as well see what the fuss is about."
They followed the map toward the roller coaster section. When they arrived, they were immediately greeted by a massive crowd and an intimidatingly long line that snaked through several barriers.
Just as expected, it was the park's most popular attraction.
"There's no way this line moves fast," Kouya muttered under his breath, staring at the endless queue.
"Why are there so many people..." Satania groaned, her earlier enthusiasm draining away.
"It's fine. We've got time. Let's wait a bit," Vigne suggested with a gentle smile.
Just as they were about to join the line, a man nearby yelped suddenly. "Ow!" He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned at the dampness on his hand.
He looked up, puzzled. "Huh? Rain?"
Rain your ass!
The sky above was clear, the kind of deep, endless blue that didn't even have a single cloud floating in it. There wasn't a hint of moisture in the air.
Clearly, someone had screamed so hard that their saliva—or worse—had flown backward.
And if you thought that was bad, well, there were worse possibilities. Never underestimate human biology under extreme stress.
Roller coasters were terrifying for the weak-hearted. Getting scared enough to, uh, lose control wasn't unheard of.
Speaking of which, did you know that public pools—those crystal-clear oases of fun—always have a little secret ingredient? A standard 800-cubic-meter swimming pool contains at least seventy-five liters of urine. So yeah, if you've ever been in one, someone definitely peed in it.
So here's a life tip: don't drink the pool water! Don't drink it! Don't drink it!
Yes, that's three times for emphasis!
And no, don't ask how I know!
...
Gabriel sighed, tugging on Vigne's sleeve. "Can we skip this? I'm not waiting that long."
Vigne hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, let's find something else."
"Eh? We're not waiting?" Satania blinked, surprised.
After Vigne quietly explained, Satania's expression changed instantly. She paled. "Oh... right. Yeah, nope. No roller coaster for me!"
The park had a wide range of attractions—log flumes, giant swings, Ferris wheels, and even a mirror maze—but most of them involved long lines. As they wandered aimlessly, something caught Satania's eye.
"A haunted house!" she shouted, pointing.
It was such a standard feature that everyone turned to her with exasperation.
"Seriously?" Kouya sighed. "Out of all things, you pick that?"
"I heard haunted houses are the scariest attractions!" Satania said, practically bouncing.
Raphael chuckled softly. "For a demon, you sure scare easily."
Satania puffed out her cheeks. "I-I'm not scared! I just think it'll be fun!"
"Sounds good to me," Raphael said casually. "I'm curious to see how humans design horror."
Gabriel yawned again. "Whatever. Just don't wake me up if I fall asleep in there."
"Then it's decided," Vigne said, putting her foot down.
They joined the short line at the haunted house. Most of the visitors were couples—boys acting brave, girls pretending to be terrified. Some of them even linked arms dramatically before going in.
Kouya rolled his eyes. He knew half those screams would be fake.
The haunted house's entrance was designed as a massive demon's head, its mouth serving as the entryway. Blood-red lights flickered in its hollow eyes, and fake tears of blood dripped from the corners. It was visually impressive—but utterly useless at scaring anyone.
Most couples walked in excitedly, some even laughing. One girl clung to her boyfriend's arm, giggling, "Honey, I'm so scared!"—while holding a churro in her other hand.
Come on. At least pretend to be afraid!
When it was finally their turn, the group stepped inside. Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
The lighting dimmed to a murky red hue. A chilling draft swept through the narrow halls, and eerie whispers echoed faintly in the background. From deeper inside came the low creak of doors, soft sobbing, and an occasional, distant wail.
The park had clearly put effort into setting the mood.
But still... nothing really happened.
You thought the girls would be terrified and cling to Kouya? Think again.
They walked through calmly, unflinching. Their faces showed less fear and more boredom.
Satania frowned, arms crossed. "This isn't scary at all!"
Even Vigne nodded. "The atmosphere's nice, but... it's not working."
It wasn't Hell's fault for being scarier—it was just too crowded here. The noise of chattering visitors completely broke the immersion.
Still, they pressed on. The haunted house wasn't long, and every few meters, costumed staff members jumped out, dressed as vampires or zombies. Their performances were enthusiastic but far from convincing.
Somewhere ahead, Kouya overheard a hilarious argument.
"Hey, you! The hanging ghost! Yeah, you! Your tongue's crooked!"
"Not my department!"
"How's it not your department, idiot!?"
"Tongues need to hang in the center! It's common sense!"
...
Kouya's group soon caught up with a batch of panicked visitors. They were screaming wildly as a long-haired ghost chased them down the hallway, scattering them like frightened birds.
In the chaos, Raphael stumbled. Her foot slipped on the floor, and she fell forward, colliding chest-first with Kouya's arm.
The sudden softness against his elbow made him freeze. A faint, sweet scent filled his senses.
For a moment, the world went silent.
He could feel everything—the warmth, the smoothness, the firm yet pliant softness. Even through the thin fabric of her clothes, the touch was shockingly real.
His heartbeat quickened. His face grew hot. He coughed lightly, trying to recover some composure.
Raphael straightened immediately, taking a quick step back. A faint blush colored her cheeks, though her sharp tongue remained as quick as ever.
"Tsk. As expected of you, Scumbag-kun. Taking advantage of me while Gabi-chan isn't watching—does that turn you on or something?"
Shut it, damn it! You're the one who fell into me!
Keep talking and I'll actually give you something to complain about!
"If Gabi-chan finds out, she might stab you with a kitchen knife... Kya!"
A sudden scream echoed through the hall.
Kouya smirked faintly. His hand tightened slightly.
"Who said I was sneaking?" he murmured. "I did it fair and square."
His palm pressed softly, exploring the shape for just a heartbeat longer.
"Hmm," he said with deliberate calm, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Feels pretty good."