Interlude 5
Rouji Saigawa’s least favorite ride in the world is the Ferris wheel.
“Ha… Why would anyone want to ride this thing…?”
“Eh? Because it’s thrilling, right? When you get close to the top!”
“Is it, though?”
It’s not because he’s afraid of heights. He simply cannot comprehend this ride...devoid of productivity, devoid of entertaining gimmicks, offering no unique experience, and not even testing one’s courage or nerve.
...or so he claims. The real reason is that riding a Ferris wheel stirs up past trauma, leaving him in a foul mood.
“If Ritsuka really wants to ride it, I’ll go with you. But you know, even back when we went to amusement parks on dates, I always avoided the Ferris wheel, right?”
“Nope, don’t know.”
“Liar!! You know everything about me, Ritsuka!!”
“‘Everything,’ huh? What’s with that tone…?”
Right now, the two of them are waiting in line for the Ferris wheel. Surprisingly, Ferris wheels are often attached to commercial complexes, so they’re not hard to find if you look. Each time, Rouji mutters to himself, “Pointless…” sinking into a vaguely superior, melancholic mood. But since the root of his trauma lies with the Saigawa siblings, it’s a very human reaction.
“Also, I don’t know everything about you, Rou-kun. There’s still stuff you haven’t told me, right? I’d rather you tell me all that before saying things like that.”
“Ugh… Fair point. But it’s fine, isn’t it? Heh.”
“Hmm. Sure, for now. But I hope it doesn’t become a crack in our marriage down the line, yeah?”
“It won’t…”
Under Ritsuka’s sticky, probing gaze, Rouji waits for his turn on the Ferris wheel he has no desire to ride.
Finally, they board the gondola.
“It’s that slow climb that feels so nice, you know~”
“All it does after reaching the top is slowly go back down.”
“It’s kinda like life, isn’t it? Everyone’s aiming to reach the top!”
“And then it’s all downhill from there.”
BAM!! Ritsuka’s handbag slams into Rouji’s face. The force would’ve shattered a normal person’s nose, but Rouji’s sturdy, so it just stings.
“I’ll get mad, you know?”
“You’re already mad…”
“…I know, okay? I know why you hate Ferris wheels, Rou-kun. It’s because you rode one with me and my Onii-chan, right?”
“Well… yeah. More like, it’s that and what happened afterward…”
In his entire life, Rouji has only been rejected once.
And that rejection came from his current wife. Thinking about it calmly, it’s kind of absurd, he muses.
As for his brother-in-law, Rouji doesn’t count him since he prefers not to think about him at all.
“…After that, I lost five kilos. I seriously thought I was gonna die.”
“Forced diets are bad for you, you know?”
“Heartbreak diets are way too double-edged… And it’s your fault, Ritsuka.”
“But what could I do? Back then… Besides! We ended up together in the end, so, like… forgive me…”
“Hmm, should I? Maybe I could forgive you if you let me rest on your lap~”
“Sure. Come here.”
“For real?”
At home, sure, but it’s rare for Ritsuka to offer a lap pillow in public. She pats her thighs invitingly, and Rouji zooms in to lie down.
“Ahh...this feeling. I wanna take it home…”
“You are taking it home… in a way…”
“It smells so nice~ I’m gonna take a deep breath~”
“Hey, don’t sniff! What’s with you, Rou-kun? You’re acting way different than usual. Is it the Ferris wheel?”
Riding a Ferris wheel changes him. Ritsuka thinks it’s an unheard-of transformation.
Rouji shows no interest in the scenery, instead clinging to her. It’s rare to see him like this, at home or out, so maybe the Ferris wheel does mess with him.
“We’re almost at the top, you know. Don’t you want to look outside, Rou-kun?”
“I’m looking at you, so I’m good~”
“Geez…”
Lightly, Ritsuka kisses Rouji, who’s still nestled on her lap.
His eyes widen, blinking in surprise...he hadn’t expected a kiss.
“…If you have bad memories, let’s make good ones from now on and overwrite them. I want to keep riding Ferris wheels with you, Rou-kun… Is that okay?”
“Ritsuka… I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you~!!”
Chanting, he throws his arms around her, burying his face in her stomach.
“…Maybe we don’t need to ride one for a while…”
Glimpsing this odd side of her husband, Ritsuka murmurs to herself while gazing at the view.
Apparently, as soon as they got off the Ferris wheel, Rouji snapped back to normal.
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