Anime Heart

Chapter 44 An Assist from the Pirate Ship

"You'll find out soon enough." Arima Kenjiro kept her in suspense, not answering Miyazono Kaori's question.

"Tch, fine, don't tell me then. I want to see what you've done."

As the two became closer, Kaori Miyazono's verbal sparring became increasingly sharp, showing signs of developing into a sarcastic and biting style.

Ma Xiandong also has his own way of dealing with people. He has a characteristic of being more relaxed with people he is familiar with, and more polite with strangers.

So as long as they are acquaintances, it's easy to get along with them.

The pirate ship was about to set sail, and the two stopped chatting, eagerly awaiting the start of its swaying motion.

As the crew waited, the pirate ship began to operate under the crew's control. The huge hull slowly swayed, and the angle between it and the ground increased.

However, when the angle between the bottom of the ship and the ground reaches 30 degrees, this angle no longer changes drastically, but only fluctuates within a very small range.

Tourists who have ridden the pirate ship before have found it a bit strange that the ship's swaying amplitude increases, reaching a maximum of 90 degrees perpendicular to the ground, and a minimum of 0 degrees.

It initially reaches 30 degrees, but doesn't stop. Instead, it swings a few times before gradually increasing the angle. Once it reaches the maximum angle, it slowly descends and finally stops completely.

This is a complete swing of the pirate ship.

This time, however, the swaying amplitude actually stabilized at around 30 degrees, which is quite puzzling.

On the ship, those who had ridden the pirate ship before were somewhat unsatisfied, while most of those who hadn't ridden it before thought it was just okay.

The only two happy people were Arima Kenjiro and Miyazono Kaori.

A few minutes later, the pirate ship stopped. Kaoru Miyazono shook her slightly dizzy head and, with the help of Kenji Arima, left the pirate ship to rest on a seat in the rest area.

After Ma Xiandong took care of her for a while, he went to the pirate ship staff to settle the matter.

Without a doubt, the abnormal operation of the pirate ship just now was caused by Ma Xiandong.

He was still worried about Kaori Miyazono's health, which is why he looked for the staff.

He said, "My girlfriend isn't in good health, but she really loves pirate ships, and I can't persuade her otherwise. So I wanted to ask if you could reduce the swing amplitude a bit, because I'm afraid her body can't handle it."

"In that case, I'm willing to pay more money, please agree!" After saying that, out of Kaori Miyazono's sight, Arima Kenji bowed to the staff member.

"If you're worried that this might affect your earnings today, I'm willing to pay for this whole ship to ride the pirate ship for free with a slight rocking motion, and you can let them ride it again for the price they paid."

"please!"

Perhaps moved by Arima Kento's sincerity, the staff eventually agreed to his request, which led to the appearance of the pirate ship.

Now, Arima Sen-tung is going to settle the remaining payment and fulfill his promise.

But now something interesting has happened. When Ma Xiandong tried to pay by card, he was refused because the other party said that cards could not be used.

"Alright, I'll consider this a good deed and not charge you this time. But you have to keep an eye on your girlfriend. If something happens to her while you're out having fun, you'll regret it to death!" the staff member said.

"But didn't we just agree that if you don't accept the money, wouldn't you be losing your interests?" Having seen too many businessmen who would do anything for money in his previous life, Yu Ma Xian Dong was a little incredulous to see such a good person.

"Hey, it's really not worth much! It just uses a little electricity. I've already made back the money I invested in the boat. It's just for you guys to ride once, no problem, kid!"

"I only acted this way because I found you pleasing to the eye, and what you did touched me. Back in the day, I was just as devoted as you, and that's how I ended up with a happy family. Anyway, your girlfriend is coming over, so hurry up and leave before I change my mind!"

Arima Kento turned around upon hearing this and saw Miyazono Kaoru walking towards them with a puzzled look on her face. "Thank you, Uncle! We'll come back to visit again when we have time!"

"Heh, it's best not to come. If you do, I'll just have to sail the boat for nothing again."

"What happened? Why haven't you come over for so long?" Kaori Miyazono came up to Arima Kenji and looked at the staff member behind Arima Kenji who was operating the equipment.

Arima Kento waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, I just got along well with this uncle, so we talked for a while longer."

"I see!" Kaori Miyazono glanced at the middle-aged man in work clothes but didn't say anything more.

Just as the two were about to leave, the older man said to Kaori Miyazono, "Cherish your boyfriend, he treats you very well."

Just as Kaori Miyazono was somewhat confused, the middle-aged man addressed the somewhat agitated crowd on the boat: "That was just a trial run, it was free. Now it's officially starting! Are you not willing to ride for free? Or are you prepared to pay extra?"

Two sentences ended people's complaints, and at the same time, made the not-so-bright Kaori Miyazono guess something.

"Let's go! Let's go play on the next activity!" Arima Kenji reached out to Miyazono Kaoru, wanting to take her hand and pull her away from here.

But Kaori Miyazono turned her hands behind her back and said, "I want to take another look. I really like this project."

"Uh, what's so interesting about this? You just did it! So don't..." Arima Kenji didn't plan to tell Miyazono Kaoru what he had done. He was a little worried that she would be angry, but the pirate ship had already started operating.

Watching the pirate ship grow taller and taller, Arima Xiandong was on the verge of tears. He said, "Uncle! Can't you just let us leave before setting sail?"

Even if Kaori Miyazono is incredibly oblivious, she can now tell what happened. Besides, she's not really oblivious! She just likes to laugh heartily.

Arima Kento turned his face away, preparing to receive Kaori Miyazono's wrath, but for a long time he did not feel any blow coming.

Curious, he turned around. Then, he panicked.

Kaori Miyazono's eyes were red, and tears were welling up in them. She wasn't a girl who cried easily, but today she just couldn't stop crying.

This is the third time.

This time was different from before; she was moved to tears.

Even if Arima Hitoshi were incredibly dense, he should have realized that this wasn't how someone acted when they were angry. After searching his pockets but finding no tissues, Arima Hitoshi was at a loss for what to do.

"Hey kid, catch!" The middle-aged man appeared nearby, tossing a pack of tissues to Arima Kento. "Go comfort him! You idiot!"

Chapter 45 Just Five Centimeters Apart

Arima Kento quickly pulled out a tissue and handed it to Miyazono Kaori, but Miyazono Kaori didn't take it. Instead, she looked at him with tears in her eyes.

Seeing this, Arima Xiandong had no choice but to personally wipe away her tears.

Ma Xiandong originally thought that if there were no tissues, he could just use his clothes to wipe her down.

However, Kaori Miyazono is still wearing contact lenses, so wiping them directly with her clothes would be unhygienic and could easily damage her eyes.

Wiping away his tears, Arima Xiandong finally had a chance to speak: "I'm sorry, I just wanted you to get through this project safely, I didn't think too much about it. If you're unhappy, just hit me."

Upon hearing this, Kaori Miyazono walked over to Arima Kenjiro, raised her fist, and gently punched Arima Kenjiro in the unguarded chest.

It's less like hitting him and more like she was being affectionate.

"Why are you being so good to me?!" Kaori Miyazono's tears flowed again, and Arima Kenji quickly wiped them for her, but this time Kaori took the tissue herself and wiped her own tears.

"You're so clumsy! Can't you be a little gentler? You're hurting people!"

"Hey, don't say things that could be misunderstood!" Sensing the strange looks from those around him, Arima Kento quickly pulled Miyazono Kaoru away from there.

Before leaving, Ma Xiandong said goodbye to the older man, telling him that the two of them would definitely come again next time!

There was one more thing Kaori Miyazono didn't say: 'What if I'm reluctant to leave?'

In fact, Kaori Miyazono was very aware of her illness. Even the largest hospital in Tokyo couldn't help her. What could she do?

She took Ma Xiandong's words about how things would change for her as just words of comfort; she truly couldn't find any reason to live.

It was precisely because of this that she changed, met Arima Kento, and made these friends.

If that sentence were said, the atmosphere would definitely be very awkward.

Not wanting their precious time together to turn out that way, Kaori Miyazono didn't say those words.

"Alright, let's go play something else!" Seeing that Kaori Miyazono was holding back her tears, Arima Kento suggested.

He could more or less guess why she was crying, and he also roughly understood why she wasn't saying it. He couldn't let this girl down.

I must visit all the more 'mild' attractions today, otherwise the trip will have been in vain.

Afterwards, the two went to the haunted house, bumper cars, 360-degree rotating chairs, and carousel together. Finally, around five o'clock, they sat on the Ferris wheel chatting.

These are all rides with a low risk factor. Bumper cars and carousels are suitable for all ages. The 360-degree rotating chair is slightly dangerous, but it is much better than other rides such as log flumes, roller coasters, drop towers, and pendulum clocks.

Inside the haunted house, something quite amusing happened: Kaori Miyazono wasn't afraid of ghosts at all, and she even greeted the staff dressed as ghosts warmly.

When Kaori Miyazono warmly shook hands with a female ghost in white, Kenji Arima stood awkwardly to the side.

Can't you show some respect for them? This is their job! How are they supposed to face the ghost world after this?

The reason Arima Kento thought this way was that he 'respected' the staff who dressed up as ghosts. Simply put, he was startled when the female ghost appeared.

That's why it's awkward!

As a boy who even needs someone to watch horror movies with, he went into the haunted house with extreme caution. You, a girl, are so calm, don't I have any dignity?

"Come on, don't be afraid! Hold onto Kaoru's hand!" Kaoru looked at Arima Kento with unusual tenderness and said, "Kaoru will definitely lead you out of here!"

"Hahaha, I can't help but laugh when I think about this!" Kaori Miyazono couldn't help but laugh out loud when she saw Arima Kenji's embarrassed face.

Even now, as the two sit on the Ferris wheel, Kaori Miyazono still remembers the haunted house trip where Arima Kento had just embarrassed himself.

"Alright, Kaoru, do you want to try my tickling technique? I think my hands are itching now." Arima Kento was so angry that his teeth were practically grinding.

Seeing that Arima Kento was showing signs of getting angry, Miyazono Kaori quickly suppressed her laughter, "Ugh, I won't laugh! Pfft... Hahahaha, I just couldn't help it! It's so funny!"

"You asked for it!"

"Ouch! Don't scratch that spot, it's so itchy~~~ I'm sorry!!"

Because of their playful banter, the two of them sat down in the same row, and the atmosphere suddenly became romantic. Looking at Kaori Miyazono's face, Arima Kento suddenly didn't want to look away.

The other party did the same.

This is what happens when a man and a woman click. Even though they've only known each other for a day, they feel like they've known each other for a long time, and there's even the possibility of things developing to a deeper level.

Their faces drew closer and closer, closer and closer...

"Knock, knock knock, knock knock..." Arima Kento's cell phone suddenly rang, waking the two of them at the same time.

Kaori Miyazono smoothed her hair and said, "Your phone is ringing, aren't you going to answer it?"

"We were just five centimeters off!" Arima Kento muttered under his breath. "Okay, I know. I'll check whose call it is now."

Kaori Miyazono's face was flushed. She had just heard what Arima Kento said, and at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder if it was too early.

He took out his iPhone, which was still ringing persistently, and when he saw "Brother" displayed on the screen, he calmed down.

"Hey, Kousei? What's up? Ah! Dinner? I'm eating out today, so I might be back a little late, no later than 10 o'clock. Okay, you guys go ahead and eat!"

"Don't worry about safety. Don't you know how strong I am?" Yu Ma Xian Dong said, and was about to hang up the phone when suddenly the voice on the other end of the line changed.

A clear female voice came from the side, and even Kaori Miyazono, who was sitting nearby, could hear it.