I Won't Be a Loser

At night, the Ferris wheel slowly rises into the sky. A young couple sits across from each other inside the cabin. When they reach the top, the boy pulls out a small box from his pocket and, inside it, a dazzling diamond ring—he proposes to the girl he loves.

Scenes like this are a staple in romantic dramas. Because of them, Ferris wheels have taken on a special, almost sacred meaning for many girls—something they quietly dream of experiencing themselves.

But standing at the base of the Ferris wheel in the seaside park, Haruto didn't have such romantic notions in mind.

…Well, he did have fantasies—but not romantic ones.

At night, seated in a Ferris wheel cabin… A girl in white tights leans over him, and as they reach the very top, a burst of white fireworks blooms in the sky…

He couldn't remember where or when he had seen that kind of scene. But the moment he stood before the Ferris wheel, all sorts of images flooded his head.

Why he was thinking such things, he didn't know either. He simply stood there silently, lost in thought beneath the massive wheel.

"Haruto, have you ever ridden a Ferris wheel before?" asked Koharu gently.

"No. Back in Itomori, we didn't really have anything like this. Just mountains all around. Maybe they have something like it in Nagoya, but I never went. Even if I did, it was usually just to visit the bookstore."

"So, this is your first time—same as mine," she said with a proud little smile.

She used the word "first time", which gave him a strange feeling. His gaze drifted to the petite silver-haired girl beside him. Seeing her so delighted that she was the one to share his first Ferris wheel ride, made something warm stir in his chest.

"You've never been on one before either?"

"No. I don't really like high places," Koharu confessed, glancing up at the wheel. "So I've always avoided it. But… since it's with you, Haruto, I finally had the courage to try."

Haruto looked again at the structure towering before them. He didn't find it especially intimidating—more like those thrill rides that drop you suddenly from a great height would probably rattle him more.

"Well then… let's make our first ride a good one. Maybe we'll even see the city across the bay."

Across the water from Seaside Park were the Minato and Shinagawa wards. To the north stood the Rainbow Bridge.

Unfortunately, it was still daytime. At night, the scene would surely be even more beautiful with city lights twinkling across the skyline.

He glanced toward the bridge—it was already visible from here, no Ferris wheel needed.

"Let's go. Time for our first experience."

"I'm really happy to be here with you, Haruto."

"Me too."

Looking down at the small girl by his side, he reached out and gently took her hand.They walked together toward the ticket booth, hand in hand. After buying tickets, they queued up and eventually boarded the cabin, which began its slow ascent.

They didn't sit opposite each other.

As always, Koharu nestled comfortably in Haruto's lap. He wrapped his arms around her as they both gazed out the window.

He hadn't expected to feel much from the ride. But as the cabin slowly climbed higher, and the skyscrapers in the distance came level with his eyes, he suddenly understood what people meant by "looking down from above."

From this height, the whole landscape around Odaiba lay stretched before him.The clear blue sky, the wide-open view—it overwhelmed him in the best way possible.

"Is it… high?" Koharu asked, sensing Haruto's breathing change.She tilted her head up to look at him, only to find his eyes sparkling as they drank in the scenery outside.

"It is high," he said with a soft smile. "But everything looks completely different from up here. Down below, everything seems so… ordinary. But when you see it from above—your familiar streets, the places you pass by every day—it all feels strangely moving. It's like a completely different world."

Koharu blinked, a little surprised by his emotion.

She often went to her father's company and saw similar views from his top-floor office.Maybe that's why the scenery hadn't stirred her in quite the same way—until now.

But after hearing Haruto's words, she took a closer look outside and found herself drawn to the glimmer of Tokyo Bay.

And this was just the morning view.

Already so breathtaking—Haruto could only imagine how incredible it would look at dusk or beneath the stars.

"Sunset… evening… Oh, right. Don't we have a boat ticket around four o'clock?"

"Mm."

Koharu nodded, catching his meaning immediately.

"A little disappointing, isn't it? Guess we'll have to come back next time to see it at night."

They'd have to leave before sunset today. Who knew when they'd be able to return?

But already, Haruto was quietly hoping to sit on this Ferris Wheel again—this time, to witness twilight or a sea of night lights from above.

"…Next time, will it still be with me?" she asked quietly.

"Huh?"

They had reached the very top of the Ferris wheel.

Haruto took in the panoramic view from above, then slowly lowered his gaze. Looking down at Koharu, who was gazing up at him with bright, expectant eyes, he smiled—and gently leaned in to press a kiss to her soft, cherry-colored lips.

"Of course. I promised you, Koharu. Next time, it'll still be with you."

Koharu blinked, surprised by the sudden kiss. She stared dazedly at his face, then turned away, her cheeks flushed, and shifted her gaze toward the window.

She'd just been kissed—right at the highest point of the Ferris wheel.

A strange but delightful warmth bloomed quietly in her chest, spreading a soft, joyful feeling throughout her entire body. She smiled, biting her lower lip shyly.

"…Mm."

From then until the Ferris wheel slowly descended, the two said nothing more. They simply sat together in silence, savoring the view, the moment, and the quiet contentment it brought them.

When they finally stepped off the ride, they walked hand-in-hand to explore the rest of Seaside Park.

It seemed that small promise had lifted Koharu's mood for a long while. She smiled brightly as they strolled, often glancing up at Haruto with eyes full of sweetness.

"It's about time. The restaurants should be opening soon. Let's find somewhere to rest for a bit."

Riding the Ferris wheel and wandering the park had taken up much of their morning. By the time they checked the time again, it was nearly 11 a.m.—right around lunchtime.

Koharu was the one who picked the restaurant. Haruto had no real preferences when it came to food, but he didn't know Koharu's likes and dislikes well yet, so he left the decision to her.

After walking around for a bit, she chose a French restaurant. Haruto had no objections. French cuisine didn't especially excite him, but he didn't dislike it either—and he did have a soft spot for steak.

In the afternoon, they visited various shops around Odaiba, seeing new sights together. For Haruto, who lived in Bunkyō, it was rare to get such a clear view of the sea. Even to catch a glimpse of a beach, he'd normally have to take a bus or a train.

As they passed by a jewelry store, Haruto glanced at the girl beside him.

Then, holding her hand, he led her inside.

After browsing the displays, he selected a necklace and gave it to Koharu as a gift.

It wasn't cheap—but it wasn't exactly extravagant either. To someone like Koharu, it likely wasn't a big deal price-wise.

He asked her to try it on. When he saw how well the pure white necklace suited her, he made his decision on the spot and had the clerk ring it up.

Koharu didn't even have time to refuse—it was already hers.

Summer days are long.

In winter, the sun would already be setting around four o'clock, but now in summer, it still shone high overhead.

Standing beside the girl, Haruto looked out at Tokyo Bay from the deck of the ship. Only up close did he realize the water wasn't quite as clear as he had imagined—but it wasn't yet smelly or overly polluted either.

He stared at the sea for a long time.

Eventually, the boat returned to shore. He watched as Koharu got into a black car with her bodyguard. Then, he turned and walked slowly toward the train station, not in any rush to return home—planning to wander a bit more.

_ _ _ _

"Went on a date?"

That evening, Yuka Mito returned to the apartment and found Haruto already inside, sitting at the desk.

She eyed his neat clothes and looked genuinely surprised.

"…Was it that obvious?"

"Well, normally you dress kind of… uh, casually."

Yuka set down the bag of groceries and her purse, then walked over to the small refrigerator they'd recently received. It was a compact one, perfect for tight spaces and just large enough to store extra ingredients—especially useful to avoid having to rely on convenience stores every time.

She poured some barley tea and placed it on the desk.

He liked barley tea for some reason. Yuka used to prefer green tea herself, but lately, she'd been drinking more of it too.

"While you were out, I looked in your wardrobe. You're still a little short on clothes. It was fine before, but now… you should have a few more things around."

"...Nippori?"

"What's that?"

Haruto's eyes had wandered slightly—toward Yuka's hips, subtly pressed against the edge of the desk.He stared for a moment before blinking and looking up again.

"Nippori's a district in Arakawa. I've heard it's famous for affordable clothing. A lot of clothing stores actually buy wholesale from there, so it's cheaper than most places."

Yuka noticed his gaze but didn't mind—in fact, her lips curved into a smile. Since that night, Haruto had started feeling more "real" around her. She knew now that he was at least a little interested in her.

"Arakawa, huh? That's not far."

It bordered Bunkyō, so getting there wouldn't take long.

"Wanna go?"

"I've got something tomorrow. Are you done with school?"

"More or less, yeah. But even during break, I still have to go often."

Yuka attended a music high school. Beyond her normal classes, she had all sorts of music-related lessons. She had once dreamed of becoming an opera singer. Even during her slump, when she felt like giving up, she kept chasing that path.

Now that things were better, she was continuing to pursue her dream. That meant even during holidays, aside from part-time jobs, most of her time was still dedicated to practicing and attending school.

"Then, when we both have time, let's pick a day to go. Or we could look online."

"Mm."

She had her suspicions—and while she wasn't sure if she was right, one glance at Haruto made her think: Maybe I should buy a few new outfits too…

New socks, especially…

The new socks and some pantyhose she bought a while ago have all been disposed of. As for the reason...

Yuka's eyes fell on the boy in front of her. She sighed softly, half amused, half resigned.It couldn't be helped. If it made him happy, then it was a small price to pay.

When it came to his requests, Yuka almost always gave in.

"Are you staying over tonight?"

"…Not tonight. I've got stuff to do tomorrow."

As tempting as the idea was, he figured it'd be best to go home. He was on break, but Setsuna still had school. If she found out he didn't come home…

Thinking of her reaction, he decided it was safer to return.

"Then, at least stay for dinner?"

"…Sure. I'll cook."

He declined once, but ultimately stayed. They made dinner together, and Yuka got to taste his cooking.

Afterward, he lingered for a bit. They even got in a little post-meal "exercise" to help digestion.

Then, finally, he headed home, took a shower—and made his way to the Kiyoura residence.