“I Want to Go to MouseSea!” ②
Passing through the entrance gate, the long-awaited theme park spread out before us. Everyone’s favorite — MouseSea.
How many years had it been, really? The last time I’d come here was back when my family still lived in Japan — probably not since elementary school.
The distinctly “Mouse-y” music drifting in from every direction made my heart skip with excitement.
Holding back the urge to break into a run, I gripped Yui-san’s hand tightly beside me and gave it a tug.
“Hey, Yui-san, let’s go buy headbands first, headbands! I’ll pick out the one that suits you best.”
You absolutely have to buy the ear headbands when you come to Mouse-anything.
I remembered getting a Mouse-Mouse headband as a kid when my parents brought me here — and how I refused to take it off even when it was time for bed.
“Okay. Let’s hit the shop first, then.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded, and Yui-san narrowed her eyes, smiling softly.
I really love that smile of hers. It’s like affection just spills right out of her expression.
The warmth of how much she loves me flows straight from those dark eyes into my heart.
We walked in time with the music playing around us, swinging our joined hands.
“When you went to MouseSea with Ritsu-san before, what year of university was that?”
“Ah… fourth year, I think… summer.”
Fourth year, summer…
Back then, I wasn’t by Yui-san’s side anymore. Not noticing the way I nearly choked on the words, Yui-san continued.
“Ritsu just showed up at my place out of nowhere and said, ‘How long are you gonna keep moping in bed, we’re going out.’ I resisted, said I didn’t want to go, but she ripped the blanket right off me, grabbed my ankle and dragged me clean out of bed — I really was hauled out of there against my will…”
I could picture the two of them wrestling over it so easily that I laughed.
Ritsu-san’s always so gentle with me and Yuuri, as her juniors, but she really shows Yui-san no mercy at all.
It’s hard to believe they only met in university — Yui-san and Ritsu-san have always clicked so well, and they’re still close to this day. You’d almost believe they’d known each other since birth.
Even for someone with as many friends as Ritsu-san, I sometimes get the feeling Yui-san is a genuinely special friend to her.
“I’d been down in the dumps ever since you disappeared, Kanata, so I think Ritsu was trying to cheer me up… but it was the middle of summer, brutally hot, and she dragged me around all day with zero say in the matter, and I was completely wiped out… That night, watching the parade, I told her, ‘I’m never coming back here again,’ and Ritsu just doubled over laughing.”
Yui-san laughed, seemingly picturing the scene from back then.
We don’t talk about the time we were apart very often. So hearing a story like this felt strangely fresh.
It’s more accurate to say we’ve deliberately avoided the topic.
We both already know, without needing to ask, that the time we spent apart isn’t a good memory for either of us.
But hearing a story like this every once in a while, I find myself genuinely grateful that Ritsu-san was there by Yui-san’s side. Though I know it’s a little selfish of me to think that, given I’m the one who left her behind.
“…Well then, today I’m going to turn your bad MouseSea memory into your best memory of the whole year.”
I said it, thumping my chest proudly, and Yui-san squeezed my hand back tightly.
“Ha ha, you don’t need to worry about that. It’s already a good memory.”
“What? We just got here, though?”
“Seeing you this happy, Kanata — that alone made coming here worth it.”
Yui-san looked at me, smiling happily.
Yui-san’s always like this, saying things that make me blush without fail.
She hasn’t changed one bit in that regard since our university days.
And honestly, that part of her is something I really, truly love. Feeling how loved I am like this warms something deep in my chest, gently.
*
Compared to weekends, it’s probably less crowded, but even on a weekday, MouseSea was still packed with people.
Weaving through the crowd into the shop, we passed the souvenir corner and headed toward the section lined with headbands.
I picked up a Mouse-Mouse ear headband that seemed like it would suit Yui-san best and turned toward her.
“Yui-san, try this on.”
Reaching up a little, I set it on top of her head.
Two round black ears, matching her long, glossy black hair — so cute.
“Hehe, Yui-san, you’re adorable.”
“Does it suit me?”
“Yeah.”
“Which one are you getting, Kanata?”
“I’ll match you.”
I said it, picking up the same headband as Yui-san and putting it on my own head. Before even checking myself in the mirror, I looked up at Yui-san first.
“How is it? Does it suit me?”
Looking at her with excitement, Yui-san stared down at me intently, then suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Huh… Yui-san? Does it not suit me?”
Worried, I asked, and Yui-san shook her head firmly, side to side.
“No… it’s ridiculously cute. I want to hug you right now. I finally understand why everyone wants to wear these.”
Yui-san said it with her eyes sparkling, and I couldn’t help looking away, embarrassed.
Come on, you don’t have to say “cute” that loudly… I’m happy, but I can’t help getting a little self-conscious about the people around us.
“R-really…? Does it actually suit me?”
“Yeah, it really suits you. Let’s get this one. I’ll go buy it right now.”
Yui-san gently took my headband off for me, and I fixed my slightly mussed bangs, my cheeks flushed.
Wearing the headband here at MouseSea made me feel, just a little, like I’d become part of this land of dreams myself — it was fun.
“Okay, now that we’re all set, let’s go. I’ll check the wait times.”
Leaving the shop, checking attraction wait times on the app, Yui-san looked down at me and murmured quietly.
“…You know, when you wear your hair in a ponytail like that, it reminds me of our university days.”
“Huh?”
Looking at my hair, pulled up today with full intent to play hard, Yui-san smiled, a little nostalgic.
“You always used to tie your hair back after your shifts, remember? I loved that. The smell of coffee, and your ponytail.”
“Do you actually have a thing for ponytails, Yui-san?”
“I love you no matter what hairstyle you have.”
“…You know, Yui-san, you’ve always complimented everything about me, ever since back then. Is there really nothing about me you don’t like?”
When she’s always saying she loves everything, it makes me curious whether there’s really nothing she dislikes at all.
I stared at her dark eyes, a little suspicious, and Yui-san laughed, looking back at me.
“Nope. I love every single thing about you.”
Words of love, delivered so effortlessly.
Even amid the lively music and atmosphere, my eyes always seem to frame Yui-san alone, as if everything else fades away.
No matter how many years we’ve been together, my heart still races for her, every time. I hope, if I can wish for anything, that it stays that way for her too. Even once we’re both old and gray.
“…Ugh, Yui-san, seriously, save that kind of thing for… when we’re home, just the two of us…”
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll be more careful.”
I looked down, hiding my reddening cheeks, pouting my lips, and Yui-san smiled again, softly.
*
Passing through the row of shops, a great sea came into view at the center of the park.
This atmosphere, like some Mediterranean port town — this is exactly the “MouseSea” feeling, and it’s wonderful.
The water’s surface sparkled, reflecting the sunlight.
Across the sea, from a distant mountain, a burst of flame suddenly flared up, and Yui-san’s shoulders jumped with a start.
“Whoa, that startled me…!”
“Wow, what a great sign, getting to see it erupt right when we arrive.”
Lighthearted, I started strolling ahead, unbothered.
“Wait, it does that?”
“It erupts every so often. There’s a roller coaster at the base of that mountain too, let’s ride it later.”
“O-oh really~, a roller coaster… there are a lot of those, huh…”
“There sure are. Alright, let’s go! First up, the one I’ve been looking forward to most, Tower of…”
“Wait!? H-hold on, Kanata!”
My joined hand was yanked back hard, stopping me in my tracks. Startled, I turned to look at Yui-san, and she smiled brightly.
“Hey, don’t you think if we ride the one you’ve been looking forward to most right away, there won’t be anything left to look forward to?”
“Huh? That’s not true, there are plenty of other attractions too… Oh, right, didn’t you tell me before you eat taiyaki starting from the tail, Yui-san? Are you the type who likes to save the best for last?”
“Y-yeah, exactly that. Besides, we just ate breakfast, didn’t we? So… why don’t we start with something gentler? My mind and body just aren’t quite ready yet, you know? I want to go in at full strength…”
Yui-san mumbled it, scratching her cheek, looking like she was struggling to get the words out.
It’s rare for Yui-san, always putting me first, to voice a preference of her own like this.
Maybe she’d just been looking forward to today that much?
Delighted, I gripped Yui-san’s hand tightly with both of mine.
“You were looking forward to that attraction too, Yui-san! Hehe, I’m so happy. Okay, got it, let’s start with the gondola ride, then! There’s a boarding spot right nearby.”
“Y-yeah, let’s do that…”
Practically skipping, I pulled Yui-san’s hand again, and she followed close behind me.
“…As long as Kanata’s happy… it’s fine… it’s fine… I can definitely do this…”
“Hm? Did you say something, Yui-san?”
“No, nothing. Nothing at all.”
Yui-san shook her head firmly, side to side.
*
Honestly, at that moment, I did think something seemed just slightly off about her, somehow… but at the time, it never once crossed my mind that Yui-san might actually have something she was afraid of.