For tumblr user hi-im-hatsuyo-and-i-think-i who requested a story where Kanji is afraid of roller coasters.  Let me tell you something.  I can’t stand roller coasters either.  My big brother totally tricked me into riding one and it scared the CRAP out of me.  I got on that roller coaster again later, after he passed away, maybe as some sort of weird honoring of him?  Who knows, but I never EVER got on one again after that.  I just can’t do it!

So I feel your pain, Kanji, especially since you totally have a girlfriend who, in my headcanon, loves roller coasters (Naoto likes high places so it makes sense?)  Anyhow, I hope you like it  :)

***

When she suggests that their school trip be at an amusement park everyone is surprised.  Naoto Shirogane isn’t exactly known for being the cool kid in the class.  She’s the one who gets the top score all the time, the one who ignores the five hundred and seventy two billion love letters in her locker, and the one who always threatens to contact the school authorities if something doesn’t go her way. 

Such a threat would be ignored if not for the fact that she’s a detective.

So when she makes the suggestion in Kashiwagi’s class one day everyone just stares.  She’s got a specific one in mind, one that’s known for having the best rides – was even featured on some sort of top ten list of rides that make you piss your pants, or something. 

Everyone in class loves the idea.

Everyone except Kanji Tatsumi.

“What made you suggest that?”  One of the students asks her once class is over.

“I like roller coasters.  I like high places,” she says, “So I thought it would make for a good trip.”

“I didn’t know you could be so cool, Shirogane,” smile.

“I am not sure how to take that statement…”

“It’s a compliment,” grin, “Maybe we can get on some of those rides together.”

“Hey back off, punk!”

Naoto sighs, “Kanji-kun, please relax…”

“Yeah dude I was just makin’ conversation.”

“Well your conversation is over now, beat it!”

Naoto frowns at Kanji when the boy leaves, muttering something about overly possessive assholes in biker gangs I’m NOT in a fuckin’ gang! Kanji screams after him.  She’s been dating Kanji for a while now.  The entire school is aware of this.  However, just in case they forgot, Kanji is always more than happy to remind them as loudly as he can.  She wishes she would’ve known of his unnecessary possessive tendencies before they started dating, “That was uncalled for, Kanji-kun.”

“He was flirtin’ with ya!”

“Impossible.  Everyone knows that we are dating.”

“So?  Not gonna stop assholes like him.”

“Regardless, I would appreciate if you would not do those sorts of things when boys talk to me.”

“Fine,” Kanji mutters, “… bet I know what kinda ride he was referrin’ to.”

“Kanji-kun!”

***

“So she’s not talking to you, huh?”

“She’s jus’ bein’ unreasonable!”

Rise sighs, sitting outside with Kanji, taking a lick of a topsicle, “I know you get on edge when guys talk to her, but it’s usually not that bad,” she frowns, “You usually know when to stop.”

“Yeah well… her idea for a trip is stupid anyways.”

Rise blinks, “When did this become about the trip?”

“It ain’t about the trip!”

“You just said-”

“And everyone just agrees with ‘er, let’s go to an amusement park, Shirogane, you’re perfect and we can ride things together.”

Rise blinks again, staring at Kanji for a long moment, letting everything sink in, “Do you not want to go on the trip?”

“I… i-it ain’t that at all!”

“Then why does it bug you so much?”

“Cuz that dickhead is gonna ride shit with ‘er!”

“Kanji… you can ride things with her, too.  You are her boyfriend.”  When Kanji says nothing Rise’s eyes widen “You don’t like amusement parks, do you?”

“Shut up, Rise!”

“That’s it, isn’t it?”

“There ain’t nothin’ wrong with ‘em!”  Then he lowers his head, whispering, “… it’s the roller coasters that suck.”

“And you have a girlfriend who isn’t really into those romantic slow rides, or something easy that stays on the ground.”

“You know Naoto.  She’s gonna wanna go upside down, and do those giant drops, and jus’… you saw her shadow, it was flyin’ around all over the place!” 

“Well… t-that was just her shadow-”

“She likes high places.”

“… yeah… but…”

“And she told that prick that she likes roller coasters.  She’s gonna wanna ride on everything…”

“Well… you could just try?  They aren’t that bad, you know.”

***

He can hear people screaming from the parking lot. 

In the distance, he can make out several large roller coasters that twist, turn, drop, and do everything in their power to create a feeling of flailing around through the sky. 

He’s never seen Naoto smile so much in her life.

She’s prepared for this, hat left at home in fear of it falling off her head as she’s launched through the air like a human cannon ball.  She had even broken character on the bus when it arrived; hands pressed against the window as she looked outside to stare at the park, eyes shining like a child.

“So?  What should we ride first?”  She asks.  She’s speaking to him now after their little tiff.  In fact, she’s doing more than speaking, she’s gone as far as holding Kanji’s hand, practically bouncing in her spot next to him, “Oh!  What about that one?”  She points at the park map they had been given, pointing to a roller coaster that looks like some sort of demon snake, black and green with a drop that starts at the moon and ends at the hard ground below.

“Uh…”

“That’s where I’m headed.”  Joy.  It’s the same prick from the other day, smirking at Naoto, “You two should come along.  It’s one of those rides where you’re feet dangle in the air.”

“W-what?”

“Cool!” 

It’s the first time he’s heard Naoto use that word.  Ever.  She smiles and starts tugging on Kanji’s arm, “Let’s go let’s go let’s go!”

“Uh… j-just a sec, m-maybe we can meet up with Rise, yeah?”

Naoto frowns, “She is going to go to the souvenir shops, and the carousel…”

“Lame,” says Sir Douchebag, “Come on, Shirogane, if he wants to hang out with her you can hang out with me.”

“Uh uh, no way!”

“So then we should go, Kanji-kun,” Naoto starts to pull Kanji along with her but stops, frowning when she realizes that he isn’t moving, “Kanji-kun?”

“I… u-uh…”

“What’s the matter?  You scared of a little roller coaster?”

“Shut your mouth, asshole!”

“Kanji-kun, if you do not want to go just say so.”

“I just… I-I promised Rise, and…”  He gives Naoto a nervous smile, “I-it’ll just be a minute, yeah?”

***

A minute turns into two hours.

Two hours and seven minutes, to be precise. 

Rise has gone to a dozen souvenir shops, looking at the clothes, the giant bears, and every single keychain known to man.  The few rides she did stop at were slow and dull – except for the bumper cars, but Rise proclaimed that Naoto was unfair since she drove too aggressively.  Naoto tried to argue that that was the entire concept of bumper cars, but even Kanji quietly told her that she had been a little harsh.

Now they’re all at a photo booth, Rise trying to get Naoto to smile, “Come on, Naoto-kun, please?”

“I am in no mood to smile.”

“But…”

“It won’t hurt ya, Naoto.”

Naoto glares at both of them and stands up, “Forget it.  I am going on a rollercoaster now, which is the entire reason why I wanted to come on this trip,” then she steps out of the booth.

“H-hey, Naoto wait up!”  Kanji follows after her, “Come on, you ain’t gotta be like that.”

“Be like what?  You said a few minutes, it has been hours.”

“H-has it?  Wow, time flies when-”

“Why are you stalling?”

“I-I ain’t stallin’”

“Then let us go on one of the roller coasters together.”

“… j-just one picture with Rise, yeah?  Then we can-”

“No more excuses!”

“Why are you acting like such a brat?!”

Rise winces from where she’s listening to the two of them, silently shaking her head.  Idiot Kanji.  Such an idiot!

Naoto stares at him then she balls up her fists, glaring, “A brat?”

Oh god.  Oh no.  “I-I ain’t mean…” shit, shit shit!

“If you think I am a brat, then fine.  I shall be a brat, by myself, for the rest of this trip.”

“Whoa whoa, wait!  I didn’t-”

“All I wanted was to spend the day with you,” she says, “I thought we could have fun.  You always talk about how I need to loosen up, right?  Stop studying so much, stop working at the station so much, and have fun with you guys.”

“I… I mean, yeah but-”

“Not only did I suggest something fun, but I was excited!  And suddenly, I am a brat.”

“Y-you’re not a-”

“Enjoy the rest of your trip, Kanji-kun.”

***

“Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid!”

“Yep.”

Both Rise and Kanji are sitting on a bench together, Rise eating a large piece of funnel cake that’s decorated with whipped cream and strawberries.

“I didn’t even mean it, ya know?  I just-”

“Stupid.  Yep,” Rise sighs, looking up at Kanji, “You could’ve just told her you know.”

“Yeah but… it’s such a dumb thing to be scared of.”

“You don’t see me riding on any roller coasters.  I hate them, too.”

“… I guess…”

“Everyone’s got the thing they don’t like, right?  You don’t like roller coasters, Chie-senpai hates bugs, and it’s fine.  Stop making such a big deal out of it.  You really think she’s going to think lesser of you for it?”

“That stupid prick was givin’ me crap earlier, though.”

“God Kanji, who cares!  She’s not dating him, she’s dating you!  You really think she cares about what other people think?”

“… I really am stupid, huh?”

“Yep.”

***

“Shirogane, yo, are you listening?”

“Huh?  Oh… yes, sorry, what were you saying?”

“I was saying that this ride is really cool.  It’s just a giant drop, straight down.”

“Ah, yes,” Naoto looks up from where she’s standing in line, watching a group of people being pulled up into the top of the sky, “I see that.”

“You all right?  You seem awfully distracted.”

“I am fine.  Thank you for your concern.”

Sir Douchebag frowns for a moment, then he smirks, “So, what should we do after this?  Another roller coaster?  Or… maybe we can grab a bite to eat.  My treat.”

“Ah, that is quite all right, I can pay for my own food.”

“I insist,” then he drapes an arm around her, “Anything you want today, I’ll take care of.”

Oh dear.  It seems that Kanji-kun may have been right – not about his ridiculous behavior regarding her being a brat, but the other part about this young man.  “I… no,” she says, stepping away from him, “But thank you for the gesture.”

“Awwww come on, don’t be like that.  We should have a good time today.” 

Despite her stepping away his arm has found a spot around her once again.  She frowns, “You are aware that I am dating Kanji-kun, right?”

“Then where is he?”

“It does not matter what his location is, that does not change the fact that we are dating.”

“She’s right, you know.”

Naoto wishes she had Kanji’s talent of making dramatic entrances.  Somehow, he is right behind them, having cut in front of everyone in line to reach them – though with the intimidating look on his face, who would argue with him.  Sir Douchebag has immediately released Naoto, raising his hands in the air, “I-I was just-”

“Savin’ my place in line?  Yeah, thanks.”  And Kanji is now standing next to Naoto, Sir Douchebag quickly scampering away.

Despite his most excellent timing, Naoto remembers that she is supposed to be mad at him.  She looks away, crossing her arms at her chest and not saying anything.  Kanji sighs, rubbing the back of his head, “Naoto… come on, please?” 

She sighs and glances at him, still frowning, “I have nothing to say to-”

“I know, I know.  So I… look, I’m sorry.  I ain’t mean none of that stuff I said, ‘bout you bein’ a brat.  You’re not.  I just… I was frustrated.”

“Why?”

“Cuz… I hate roller coasters.”

Naoto blinks, then blinks again, “… really?”

“Yeah.”

“That… is what all of this is about?”

“Pretty much.”

“Kanji-kun… you could have just said something.”

“I-I know!  I know, I just… I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah.  You are.”

“But!  I’m gonna make it up to ya!  I’ll get on this one with ya.”

“Kanji-kun, you do not have to…”

“I insist!  Now, what is… oh…” 

He watches as the group that had been brought to the top of the tower are suddenly released, everyone screaming as they quickly descend to the bottom.  Naoto swears that Kanji turns a brand new shade of pale, eyes wide and mouth dropping open, “… you couldn’t have picked an easy ride, huh?”

“You know me.  I like high places,” she takes his hand and smiles up at him, “Come on.  I know something high that you won’t mind.”

And it’s amazing how slow and sturdy the Ferris wheel actually is, the two of them sitting in an enclosed cart together that rises above the entire park.  Naoto is content with standing at the window, looking down at the ground and marveling at how small the people are below her.  Kanji, meanwhile, is content with sitting as far away from the window as possible. 

However, when she sits next to him and kisses him, the height of the situation doesn’t bother Kanji at all anymore.