It was a long five-hour bus ride just to reach a small water park in the nearest city. The journey was monotonous, with the landscape slowly passing by the window, and he slept almost the entire time, lulled by the vehicle’s movement and the exhaustion from the night before. He only woke up when the bus made a brief stop for breakfast—and that was because you nudged him and insisted that he eat something before continuing the trip. Still drowsy, he mumbled a few incomprehensible words, grabbed a coffee and a toasted sandwich, and settled back into his seat, trying to steal a few more minutes of sleep.

When you finally arrived at the park, your excitement was impossible to contain. You practically jumped out of the bus, already feeling the thrill build up as you spotted the massive water slides and the bustling pools. Wasting no time, you changed clothes and dove headfirst into the fun. You moved from one attraction to another, from calm pools to artificial rapids, from extreme slides that seemed endless to waterfalls that made you scream with adrenaline. Keita, on the other hand, was more reserved. He watched you with a half-smile, enjoying the attractions at his own pace but clearly entertained by your childlike enthusiasm.

Time flew by between laughter and dives, and when the clock struck 12:40, you both decided to take a break to eat. You sat at a park diner, the smell of fries and burgers filling the air. He held your hand absentmindedly while scanning the menu, trying to decide between a sandwich or a more elaborate dish. Meanwhile, you, completely soaked, were shivering from the cold, your hair dripping and your clothes clinging to your body, looking like a mix between a child and a wet dog.