"What?! A theme park?" My eyes widened so much they almost fell out of my head.
Joseph proudly shoved his phone in front of my face with the smug grin of someone who'd just conquered the world.
On the screen was a message from Niina:
'I'd love to go! As long as Kaoru comes too.'
Joseph slowly folded his arms. "So?" he asked proudly. "I'm amazing, right?"
He was a beast. It had only been one day since he'd gotten her phone number. Meanwhile, I'd spent five years chasing the same girl.
I looked up at him in disbelief. "I admit you've got better luck than me."
Joseph burst into laughter. "It wasn't luck, mate. It was skill." He proudly tapped his temple. "Unlike someone who spent five years and even changed your—"
"Shut up." I immediately covered his mouth before he could finish.
He peeled my hand away with an annoyed look. "But it's true."
I ignored him, for the sake of my mental health.
Joseph slipped his phone back into his pocket before looking at me again. "Anyway. You can't reject the invitation."
I frowned. "Why not?"
"Because Niina only agreed if you wanted to come too."
"Seriously?" I stared at him. "So what are you going to do if I reject it? Blackmail me?"
Joseph suddenly struck a dramatic pose, placing a hand over his chest like the hero of some fantasy novel. "Yes, I absolutely will. So please..." He reached both hands toward me. "Let me enjoy a wonderful day with my Princess Niina."
Princess... There it was again.
I let out a long sigh. "I don't want to."
Joseph blinked. "Huh?"
"I said I don't want to."
"But why?!"
I looked at him like he was the idiot. "Because I'll become the third wheel."
"That's it?"
"That's a huge problem!" I pointed at him dramatically. "A theme park should always have an even number of people. Two. Four. Six. Those are blessed numbers. But three?" I slowly shook my head. "No. Someone always gets left behind."
Joseph crossed his arms. I don't think that's how math works."
"I'll just end up standing there while you and Niina flirt! I'll become the official bag holder! The photographer! The emergency food carrier! The mascot who accidentally wandered into your date!"
Joseph scratched his cheek. "Let's be honest. You'd probably volunteer to be the bag keeper." He smirked. "Aren't you just scared of roller coast—"
"Ahem!" I cleared my throat as loudly as I could before he finished the sentence.
"That's not the point." I crossed my arms and looked away as if nothing had happened. "Also, I already had other plans. My Saturday was supposed to be peaceful."
Joseph looked curious. "What plans?"
"I was going to stay in my room."
"..."
"Eat instant noodles."
"..."
"And become one with my bed."
Joseph stared at me with disappointment. "That's honestly depressing."
"It sounds amazing."
Before Joseph could continue arguing, he suddenly clasped both hands together. "Oh, please! I swear you won't become the third wheel!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Words are cheap."
He blinked. "What?"
"No talking. Action!" I jabbed a finger into his chest. "Bring another person, then I'll go."
Joseph immediately smiled. "Easy."
I looked at him in disbelief. This guy really liked making impossible promises.
Just then... Kazuha walked past us in the hallway. A grin slowly spread across my face. I pointed toward her. "Invite her."
Joseph followed my finger. His confident smile instantly disappeared. "You planned this."
I shrugged. "You said it was easy."
He looked back at Kazuha before letting out the longest groan I'd ever heard. "The difficulty just went from Easy Mode to Nightmare."
I smirked. "What's wrong? I thought nothing could stop you from going to the theme park with Princess Niina."
Joseph clicked his tongue. "That's exactly why... Watch carefully."
With that, he strode toward Kazuha as if he had everything under control. "Excuse me, Kazuha." Joseph greeted her with a friendly smile. "Got a minute? I wanted to ask you something."
She stopped and looked at him. "What is it?"
"So..." He rubbed his hands together. "A few of us are planning to visit the theme park this Saturday."
Kazuha tilted her head. "Theme park?"
"Yeah. Just a casual trip. Me, Kaoru, and Niina." He smiled as confidently as before. "You know Niina, right?"
"No."
His smile twitched.
Kazuha looked at him with genuine curiosity. "Then... Why invite me?"
Joseph froze.
Even from where I was standing, I could almost see his confidence leaving his body. His shoulders stiffened. The smile he'd confidently walked over with suddenly looked painfully forced. Poor guy. One simple question was all it took for his entire plan to start collapsing.
"Well..." He scratched the back of his head before laughing awkwardly. "Kaoru once told me... She wanted to go to a theme park with you someday."
What? My hand instinctively slapped against my forehead. Josh! What are you talking about?!
Kazuha slowly turned toward me. "Really? Why?"
I immediately looked up at the hallway ceiling. Who knew ceilings were so interesting?
"Don't ask me." Joseph forced another laugh. "Maybe... you should ask Kaoru yourself."
Kazuha continued looking at me.
Joseph was visibly panicking now. His eyes darted around the hallway, desperately searching for something to save the conversation.
Then his gaze landed on the small bear mascot hanging from Kazuha's bag. His eyes suddenly lit up. "Ah! You like that bear?"
Kazuha looked down at the keychain before quietly nodding. "Yes."
Joseph immediately pulled out his phone. "There'll be a limited time pop-up store for that mascot inside the theme park."
Kazuha blinked. "Really?"
"Yep." He quickly searched for the event before holding the screen in front of her. "Look. They even have exclusive merchandise."
Kazuha quietly looked through the pictures. For the first time since I'd met her... Her eyes sparkled.
"Okay. I'm in." She gave a small nod.
What? I stared at Kazuha with my mouth hanging open. She... She actually agreed? Just because of that mascot? I never knew she liked that little bear so much.
Even Joseph looked stunned that his desperate gamble had somehow worked.
"Tell me the details about the trip later," Kazuha said. With another small nod, she quietly turned around and walked away as calmly as ever.
Joseph and I remained rooted to the spot, watching her disappear down the hallway.
Only after she was completely out of sight did we slowly turn to look at each other. A smug grin spread across his face. He proudly raised both thumbs. "Well? How was that?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. You just got lucky."
"Lucky?" Joseph scoffed before folding his arms. "No. This wasn't luck." He dramatically adjusted an imaginary pair of glasses. "This... was planned."
I raised an eyebrow.
Joseph nodded confidently. "I observed the target, analyzed her interests, identified her weakness. And then..." He dramatically pointed in the direction Kazuha had disappeared. "I deployed the perfect bait." He puffed out his chest. "A flawless strategy."
He thrust his fist into the air. "Operation: Theme Park..." He paused just long enough to build suspense before flashing a triumphant grin. "Mission started!"
Several students walking through the hallway turned to stare at him.
I quietly took two steps away. "I suddenly understand why Kazuha sometimes pretends she doesn't know me."
Despite all the stupidity... I couldn't stop smiling. I clasped my hands together and looked toward the ceiling. "Thanks, Josh. I guess this counts as my first date with Kazuha."
Joseph immediately snorted. "It's a group outing."
"Geez, let me dream." I closed my eyes and prayed. "Dear God... Please... Make it a wonderful day. And if possible... Please let me look cool for at least five minutes."
Joseph burst into laughter. "I think that's asking for a miracle."
He was probably right.