Chapter 241 - Minato Mirai

"I was prepared to go that far for Ara. I wouldn't care what others think or say behind my back. Chichi, they don't matter. What matters to me have always been Ara and you…"

Hearing this, Asou Chiaki felt weak in the knees. She slowly slid on the ground as she absorbed his words, her face in confusion.

If it was like that – if he was prepared to throw everything she thought was very important to him away, then what in tarnation had she been anxious about all these years? She had thought that she was doing the right thing to keep Aki away from the point wherein he had to choose between his work and his personal life. In the end, she was the only one who overestimated the importance of the company and his reputation and not Aki.

"Don't sit there. It's cold and it's dirty," Aki said worriedly as he pulled her up.

She was much too agitated to pay attention to what was happening, and so she didn't even protest when Aki pulled her up back on her feet or when he guided her towards the waiting car.

"Let's change place. It's not a good spot to have a talk," Aki had said, and she just let him take her wherever.

In the entire time, they were in the car, Aki had held her hand, squeezing her firmly as if he was trying to give her strength. It was the same thing he did when she had leaned against him for support during her sister's funeral, and it gave her warmth.

Recalling how he was her pillar of strength during those horrible weeks when her sister and her brother-in-law died in the car wreck, Chiaki was once again reminded of how hard she had to fight the overwhelming love she had felt for him that time.

It was a total struggle for her to keep her feelings at bay. She was very vulnerable and was at a loss as to what to do. If Aki had asked her out that time, she would have said yes but would have regretted it immediately after she recovered. It was a good thing that he didn't. He remained a gentleman and considered her feelings – didn't take advantage of her vulnerability.

Just with that…

Just with that, the feelings she had been fighting to keep within only intensified with time. She had lost count on how many times she almost broke her promise to work hard and prove herself first before giving him her answer just because of how wonderful he was being to her. As it turned out, she was the only one worried about it.

Chiaki continued to be lost in her thought she hadn't realized that they had reached the central district of her City, Yokohama. It's called Minato Mirai, a seaside urban area which meant "harbor of the future." It boasted the tallest building in Japan from 1993 until 2014, the Landmark Building. Aside from this, there were many other notable structures in the City, but the most recognizable one was the Cosmo Clock 21, which was the world's tallest Ferris wheel and clock back in the day.

It was located in the man-maid island in the city, and the car had driven the road going there without Chiaki noticing at all. She just realized where they were when the vehicle suddenly stopped, and the sight of Cosmo World, the amusement park came to her view.

Huh?

"W-hat is this?"

"Cosmo World," Aki told her swiftly as he opened the car door, and ran to the other side to open the door for her and pull her out as she still looked stunned.

"I know that. I meant 'why are we here?'"

Chiaki sputtered as Aki pulled her so she could step up next to him. The colorful place with their dazzling lights, colorful stalls, and noisy patrons overwhelmed her senses. However, a deeper part of her felt excited upon the sight. She hadn't been to an amusement park for a long time – the last time was years ago back in university when she and her classmates came here.

Ah, come to think of it…

Chiaki glanced at Aki's serious profile as she recalled a broken promise some years ago. Aki was supposed to join them here but he failed to come because he had work at Suzuki Raiden. She was a bit unhappy at him because it was supposed to be to celebrate her birthday, but Aki promised to take her to the amusement park again another day.

But of course it never happened until now. Why? Because Chiaki started avoiding being alone with Aki on a personal time like her life depended on it. But today it seemed that his promise would finally be fulfilled.

He glanced at her, and her heart skipped at his handsome face so near to hers, her feet suddenly stopped moving. His eyes told her that he had also been thinking of that promise years ago, and that he was aware of why it was never accomplished until now.

"No running away this time okay?" he told her softly and she snorted.

"Like I can do that with you squeezing my hand like you want to break it," Chiaki countered teasingly as she shook her head at him.

"That's right." Aki grinned, but the grip on her hand loosened a bit.

Chiaki, who had no more plans to go anywhere but with him, followed him closely until they stopped near the Cosmo Clock 21. The huge structure stood a hundred and twelve meters high. It had sixty passenger cars which could carry up to eight people each. It used to be the tallest Ferris wheel.

"We're getting in?" Chiaki asked, her eyes wide like a kid.

She had totally forgotten how it felt to be in a place like this. For her, each visit seemed like a magic land adventure. She loved amusement parks and enjoyed riding on Ferris wheels the most.

"Of course. If not, you will cry, won't you?" Aki teased again as he guided her towards the booth to get tickets.

Looking at his back as she walked behind him, Chiaki knew that tonight, Aki would once again ask her what he'd been asking her for years whenever he got the chance, and it would be the last time. However, unlike the previous times, she now knew what answer she would give him.