Haru and Sugawara sit next to each other and Suiyoubi comes up to them.
Suiyoubi "Did you guys not make cookies for each other?"
Haru "Nah, we made a super delicious chocolate cake the other day."
Sugawara "Yeah, that was our Valentine's Day sweets."
He says as Haru gives him a small kiss. Sugawara blushes and gets embarrassed as Suiyoubi smiles happily. Alice watches from the side as Mormo jumps up next to her.
Mormo "What's wrong? You didn't get any sweets, Wondergirl?"
Alice "Ah ha! I am in no need of sweets from another! I am perfect the way I am!"
Chizuru "Alice! Come here, I got cookies for you!"
Alice then gets excited and rushes next to Chizuru as she feeds one of her personal cookies to Alice. Mormo sweats and stares.
Mormo "So much for perfect, huh?"
As she does this, Shiori turns to Hikigaya and blushes a bit. She holds a small bag of cookies in her hands as she taps on Hikigaya's shoulder. He turns and looks at her confused.
Hikigaya "What is it?"
She then holds out her bag of cookies to him while blushing and looking away.
Shiori "T-these are for you… But don't think they're special or anything! You just happen to be who I made them for this year…"
He takes them and blushes.
Hikigaya "R-right! Of course, I mean, it's not like we like each other or anything!"
Shiori "Exactly!"
They both awkwardly laugh before going quiet.
Hikigaya "Thank you Shiori. It still means a lot."
He gives her a soft smile and she smiles back. As Chizuru feeds Alice a cookie, her phone begins to ring. She notices and hands Alice the bag.
Chizuru "Here, hold this."
Alice happily takes the back of cookies as Chizuru pulls out her phone and sees her dad calling her. She gets a worried look before getting up.
Chizuru "I gotta take this. I'll be right back. Save some for me!"
She says with a smile before answering and walking away from the group. Hikigaya notices and gets a concerned look too.
Hikigaya "I'm gonna go with Chizuru for a second. We shouldn't be long."
Shiori "What's wrong?"
Hikigaya "Nothing, I just think her dad is calling and if he is then… She might need some help."
Shiori gets a concerned look and nods. Hikigaya leaves with Chizuru and walks away. Tsuki sees him leave, then pulls out his bag and approaches Shiori.
Tsuki "Shiori?"
She turns and looks at him surprised. He then gives his cookies to Shiori.
Shiori "You made these for me?"
Tsuki "Well yeah. I have a huge crush on you, of course I made you cookies."
He gives her a soft and slightly embarrassed smile and she smiles back.
Shiori "Thanks."
Tsuki then sees Mormo out the side of his eye, giving him a thumbs up and a wink. Tsuki nods a bit and looks at Shiori.
Tsuki "Hey, let's go on one more ride. You and me."
Shiori is surprised by his words.
Shiori "Oh, um, I don't-"
Tsuki "Great, the ferris wheel is perfect. Let's go!"
He takes her wrist and pulls her along towards the large ferris wheel not too far from where they are. Shiori goes along with him despite having her reservations. They get on and the attendant closes the door behind them. After a minute of awkward silence and a slow ride up, Shiori speaks.
Shiori "What are we doing up here?"
Tsuki "What do you mean? I can't enjoy myself at a fun amusement park?"
Shiori "You had all day to do that. Why take just me to this secluded spot up here?"
Tsuki gets nervous and looks away for a moment. He thinks back to what Mormo told him earlier.
Mormo "Get her in a secluded spot. Just you two. And when you get the chance, just grab her by the face and kiss her! It's that simple!"
Tsuki "That's it? No words or anything?"
Mormo "Eh, words shmords. Chicks dig it when a man takes charge. And after that kiss, she'll realize how much she really likes you and will definitely fall for you."
He comes back to the present and takes a deep breath.
Tsuki "Shiori..?"
She looks at him confused as he quickly leans closer to her and kisses her. She is surprised for a moment but doesn't react. On the ground, Chizuru and Hikigaya come back to the group. Chizuru rubs her head with a bit of anxiety but sighs and lets it go as Hikigaya looks around for Shiori.
Hikigaya "Where is Shiori?"
Lucy "That weird guy took her to the ferris wheel. I would've stopped him but Shiori seemed to be willing to follow. You know she wouldn't have gone if she didn't want to."
She gives him a slightly upset look before turning back to talk to Ryuji. Hikigaya looks up at the ferris wheel and sees the seat they're in. His eyes grow wide as he sees Tsuki and Shiori kiss. He stares for a moment in disbelief before he looks down. He lifts the bag of cookies Shiori had made for him and stares at them for a moment.
Shiori "But don't think they're special or anything…"
He thinks back to what she said about the cookies and gets an upset look before letting his hand fall to his side.
Hikigaya 'I guess they really didn't…'
In the seat of the ferris wheel, Tsuki pulls back from the kiss, blushing, but stops when he sees the lack of emotion on Shiori's face.
Tsuki "What's… wrong?"
Shiori gives him a sympathetic look before sighing and looking down for a moment.
Shiori "Tsuki, you're a great guy as far as I can tell. At least, you're a lot nicer than most people I've met but… I just can't seem to feel that way for you. Even with that kiss, I felt.. Nothing."
Tsuki stares in disbelief for a moment as he slouches in his seat.
Tsuki "Well, that's not what I expected to hear. A simple no would've been nice."
Shiori "Look, I'm not the nicest person. I've been hurt a lot and I've hurt a lot more. I think you are definitely better off with someone else."
Tsuki "I just… wanted to show you how thankful I am for saving my life…"
Shiori "There are other ways to show that. Such as by just saying thank you and that's it."
They sit in silence for a moment as Tsuki covers his eyes with his hand. After a moment, he laughs a bit to himself and drops his hand.
Tsuki "Well, I'm pretty sure I still like you. Even after that crushing defeat. I'll try to ease off that crush stuff I guess but I'm still gonna try."
Shiori smiles at him a bit.
Shiori "You're a good guy. I'm sure someone much better than me will come your way, just you wait."
He smiles a bit too. Eventually, the ride comes to an end and Tsuki leaves the seats first. He walks away as Shiori comes back to the group. She looks a bit upset that she hurt his feelings but carries on anyway.
Lucy "So what was all that about?"
Shiori "It was nothing."
Suiyoubi "That was a long time for nothing."
She gives Suiyoubi a look before she grabs her bag and walks ahead.
Shiori "Come on, we should probably start heading home."
Chizuru "Yeah, it's getting kinda late and my dad's asking where I am.."
Everyone gathers their things and gathers up as she walks over to Hikigaya who is sitting against a lamp post on his phone.
Shiori "You ready to go?"
He looks up with a smile.
Hikigaya "Of course! Took you long enough. Too busy sucking face in there?"
Shiori "What? Ew no. Well, yeah I guess but-"
Hikigaya "Don't worry, it's none of my concern who you want to date. Let's just go home."
He says as he walks ahead of her. She is surprised a bit but doesn't talk about it anymore. They all leave the amusement park and make their way back home.
Chizuru eventually makes it back home and as she enters, she heads straight up the stairs as quietly as possible.
Henry "Chizuru, you're home?"
She stops and gets an upset look before turning around and smiling at him as he comes towards her.
Chizuru "Yep. I'm home, safe and sound!"
She gives him a big smile as he gets an upset look.
Henry "So where were you all day?"
Chizuru "I told you, I was hanging out with my friends. You heard Hikigaya."
Henry "Yes, and I also heard lots of noise in the background. You weren't hanging out at his house, were you?"
Chizuru "Does it matter? As long as we're together and safe then-"
Henry "It does matter when I don't even know where you are. How can you be safe if I don't know where you are?"
Chizuru "I'm not just gonna drop dead, dad. I'll be fine."
Henry "Then where were you?"
Chizuru "We were just at an amusement park. It's not that big of a deal."
Henry "Not a big deal? An amusement park?! You know you're not supposed to get your heartrate that high! What were you thinking? Did you even have your medicine on you?"
Chizuru "Of course I did! And I made sure to only do what I can take, I know my body. I'm not an idiot."
Henry "I never said you were, sweetie. Just after this last incident, we can't take any risks."
Chizuru "They're not risks. I'm just living my life. Is that so much to ask for?"
She sits down on the stairs and puts her head in her hands. Henry is upset with the direction of the conversation and stands there in silence for a moment.
Henry "I know you wish this didn't happen to you. I know you wish you could just get better, but that isn't reality. If I could make it all better, you know I would-"
Chizuru "I know dad, I know… I know you only watch out for me but I'm 14 years old. I don't want this condition to run my life. I won't let it. I promise, I'm okay and my friends all know about it. If something happens we'll handle it, okay?"
She says with a soft smile. Henry smiles back and nods as Chizuru gets up and goes to her room. Henry watches her as his face changes to anxious concern.
Henry "But if it happens again…"
He lowers his head into his palm as he stands in the hall.