Chapter 21: Chapter 20: Playland (Part 2)

“Sora!! Your Father is on the phone and wants to talk to you!”

‘Oh well, so much for cuddle time.’ I think to myself.

“Be right there Mama!”

“Thanks again Chinatsu.”

I give her a quick squeeze and head down to the living room. When I reach Mama, she hands me the phone.

“Hi Dad. You wanted to talk to me?”

“Sora, the police called me a little while ago. They would like to talk to you tomorrow morning at 9:00. I’ve already contacted Airi and she said she would be there too.”

“Okay, do I meet you there? Or?”

“No, I’ve already told the office I won't be in until after lunch tomorrow. I'll take you myself because I don’t know if Akiyama will be there too.”

“Is it alright if Chinatsu comes with us? Honestly, I’m a little nervous now.”

“Of course she can. Oh, your Mother told me that you two want to go to the waterpark today?”

“Yes. I really do. I’m tired of being cooped up in the house or the hospital. I really want to go play with my sister, but Mama doesn’t want to let us go unless an adult is with us.”

“Sweetheart, I understand how you feel. Your Mother is merely worried about you. She doesn’t want anything to happen to you, that’s all. You already know there are some really bad people in this world. I don’t have to explain that to you. I told her if Mayumi seems responsible to let you two go, alright?”

“Thank you Dad. I really appreciate that. I already told you about her didn't I?”

“Yes, you did. I trust your judgement, but your mother will worry if she doesn't confirm it for herself, understand?”

“I do, thank you Dad.”

“Just remember what I told you and Chinatsu. Keep your watches on and your cell phones with you, alright?”

“We will Dad, I promise. I love you.”

“I love you too. Hand the phone back to your mom. Bye sweetheart.”

“Bye Dad.”

I hand the phone back to Mom with a huge grin plastered across my face, and take off to find Chinatsu.

It just occurred to me. You might not know about Playland. Playland is an enormous recreation resort, as they call it. When they built it they tore down an enormous section of housing in northern Tokyo.

When I say enormous, I mean just that, it takes up just under 15 square kilometers. It contains 13 hotels, an aquarium, an amusement park, a waterpark and a large spa resort right next to the waterpark. Oh yes, there is also a rather large 75,000 seat concert venue just inside the main entrance.

The spa resort is a favorite of adults, of course. Three of the hotels are dedicated just to the spa resort and it has two 18-room Bed and Breakfasts too. If you want to stay at one of the Bed and Breakfasts though, you'll have to wait. Last I heard there they are booked three years in advance. The Spa itself has several hot springs bath's, several for men and women and also a large mixed bathing one. There are quite a few regular hot tubs and jacuzzi tubs, several saunas, and you can get many different kinds of massages and treatments there too. There are other services too, but I think you have the general idea.

The waterpark is the largest in the world. There are two parts to it, an indoor and an outdoor section. Needless to say, you can go to the waterpark here all year round at the indoor section, which they keep at a constant 27°C. Both sections have water rides, water slides, and pools. The outside section makes up the majority of the water park at 240 acres, which includes not only the water rides, slides, several pools and a huge food court, but it also has a 15 million liter wave pool, and for surfers and wave boarders they have an area for that as well.

Anyway, I suppose you now have an idea of how big the place is.

Sitting in Chinatsu’s room, she is finishing teaching me how to use eyeliner and mascara. I had asked Mother to teach me how to use makeup a while back, but she was one of those that didn't use it and refused to let me use it as well. I had hoped it would help make me somewhat cuter than I was, but that hope flew away with her refusal. Now though, as Chinatsu told me before, other than lip gloss, eyeliner and mascara to emphasize my eyes, I don’t need makeup.

When I hear the door intercom chime, I jump off the bed and run to the front door. I almost fall going down the stairs; I need to be a little more careful! Reaching the door, I throw it open and there stands my friend, Mayumi, smiling at me.

Leaping from where I stand inside the door, I wrap my arms and legs around her, almost, but not quite, making us fall. I know it’s not very lady like, but I don’t care! Hugging her tightly, I excitedly tell her, “Mayumi! I missed you! I’m so happy to see you again!”

She wraps her arms around me, hugging me back while chuckling.

“I missed you too Sora. I’ve been wondering how you’ve been doing. It made me really happy to hear from you.”

“Sora, get off of her, you are too big to be doing that.” Mom says from behind me. It’s really easy to hear the smile in her voice.

“Sora isn't all that heavy. She is a lot lighter than most of the patients I have to deal with everyday, so she’s fine. I’m Mayumi Tashiro. Of course, it’s not as if the whole neighborhood doesn't already know my name now. You’ve got some good lungs Sora,” she says laughing.

“Pleased to meet you Ms. Tashiro, I’m Haruka Kobayashi. It’s easy to see Sora really likes you a lot. Alright Sora, get down so she can come inside. Even if she says you aren't that heavy, it's still hard to walk with a little monkey wrapped around you.”

“Mou~ What is this, tease Sora day?” I grumble, which makes the three of them chuckle. Sliding off of Mayumi, I take her hand and lead her inside the house.

“Sora, did you get a little bigger? I don’t mean taller either.”

I sigh and tell her, “Unfortunately, I did. Mama bought me a bunch of clothes and then had to turn right around and buy all new stuff for me again.”

“I think you look great Sora. You were really cute to begin with, but now you’re simply gorgeous. Your Dad is going to have to beat the boys off you with a stick,” she tells me.

Mom, Chinatsu and Mayumi all laugh because I blush furiously. I know she’s teasing me, but still, it’s embarrassing. I’m still not used to anyone saying that I’m cute or anything even remotely close. I’m sure that it will just take a while for me to adjust to all this, not that I have much of a choice.

Boys though? Ha! As if! Most of them can drop dead after the way they treated me. My whole time in middle school there had only been one boy that ever treated me nicely. Ryuichi Ueno, he stepped in one day and saved me from several boys who were trying to strip me to prove that I wasn't a girl. He definitely made my little heart go all doki~ doki~. We even hung out several times afterwards. No, they weren't dates, simply as friends. Although, to be honest, I wouldn't have minded if they were.

Mama leads the way into the living room where we all sit down. I really thought that she was going to grill Mayumi, but all she did was chat with her for about half an hour. Then she says, “Well, I’m much more at ease now. Okay, you may go with Mayumi to the waterpark. Remember what your father and I have told you though. You have to keep your watches and cell phones with you at all times. Other than that, have fun and be back by 6:00. Mayumi, please take care of my girls for me.”

“Of course I will. I'd never let anything happen to them.”

　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

After we get off the train, we walk the short distance to Playland’s ticketbooth. I reach into my bag for my clutch and take my debit card out to pay for this.

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“Two students and one adult please.” I say handing the ticket agent my card.

“That will be ¥6500.”

“Sora, I'll pay for my own ticket.”

“No Mayumi, we couldn't have come if you hadn't agreed to go with us. Plus, I’m the one that asked you to come with us, so it’s my treat.”

“Okay, if you insist, but I’m buying lunch for us.”

After receiving my card back from the ticket agent and putting it away, I take Mayumi’s and Chinatsu’s hands and pull them through the entrance, toward the waterpark and changing rooms. I’m so looking forward to this!

After changing, the three of us walk out to into the huge courtyard of the indoor pool. I look around to see easily fifty tables, each with awnings and chairs. Along the back, there are several food and drink stands, as well as several rental stands.

In front of the courtyard are a large number of lounges and chairs sitting close to a 15 meter deep x 350 meter wide artificial beach, complete with trees and bushes on each side. On the far left and right sides of the beach are also volleyball courts. There is a roughly 350 x 300 meter artificial lagoon with a small island in the middle that has a few tables, chairs, and lounges on it as well.

Off to our left is a tree-lined pathway which leads to an enormous pool with seven different kinds of water slides emptying into it. On our right are two more tree-lined pathways, one of which lead to a lazy river float ride, which has another large courtyard with tables and chairs in it. The other pathway leads to a smaller, but still fairly large, children’s pool, between the lazy river and the lagoon.

All of this is under an immense transparent dome. As I said, this place is huge.

I’m wearing my lace trimmed purple bikini I bought the other day, but it’s nowhere near as embarrassing as I thought it would be to wear. Honestly, when I saw myself in the mirror in the dressing room, I was astonished by just how cute I look in this, even though I had seen myself in it before.

Chinatsu is wearing the white bikini she bought as well. It’s not quite as skimpy as I thought when she showed it to me at the store. In my somewhat biased opinion, she is simply stunning in it. It’s no wonder she is so popular in school.

However, Mayumi out shines the both of us by a large margin. Simply put, she is gorgeous. She is around 10 centimeters taller than us; has long, straight, waist length black hair; large warm, brown eyes with long eyelashes; a small, cute nose; ruby-colored full lips; a narrow waist; slender arms; long, very shapely legs; full hips; large breasts; and pale skin. She is also wearing a basic black bikini which really stands out against her skin. All combined with her bright, lively, and compassionate personality, gorgeous is the only way to describe her.

We walk over to the beach where they have several bins of large beach parasols. Mayumi picks one up and we choose an area near the middle of the beach to set up. We spread our blanket, set up the parasol and set down our bags.

Chinatsu asks, “Sora-nee, would you put sunscreen on me?”

“Oh right, me too Sora. I almost forgot about it. I get sunburnt far too easily.”

“Sure, I don’t mind at all. One of you will need to do me too.”

After I apply sunscreen to the both of them, Mayumi takes the sunscreen and began applying it to me. “Sora you have great skin, I wish mine was as silky as yours.”

“Would you ladies like to play with us?”

I turn to look at the voice and there is a group of five very cute older boys there.

Chinatsu smiles pleasantly and tells them, “Thank you, but no. Today is a girls day out for us.”

I have to admit their offer is a little tempting considering just how good looking all of them are, but Chinatsu is right, I’m here to play with Mayumi and Chinatsu. Not to mention, I doubt my strength would hold out for long if I tried to keep up with them.

“Aww~ Come on, it’ll be a lot of fun. We can play volleyball and swim together. It’s a lot more fun with a larger group.”

“I believe my sister told you no thank you. Besides, aren’t you boys’ a little old to be trying to pick up middle schoolers?”

He looks at us with an amazed expression and asks, “What? Who’s in middle school? You three look like you’re 2nd years in high school.” He replies to me incredulously, which makes me laugh lightly.

“Thank you, but no, we’re in 2nd year middle school.”

He shakes his head with a perplexed expression. “Sorry, I didn’t think you were that young. Alright guys come on. Ladies, have a fun day.”

“You as well, thank you for your offer though. If you were a little younger or we were a little older, I'd be quite tempted by your offer. I hope you find someone to play with. Bye bye.” I tell him with a smile and wave.

Truthfully, he seems quite sweet and it probably would be a lot of fun to play with them. I smile a little bigger and look at Chinatsu who is staring at me open mouthed.

“Chinatsu close your mouth. Did I say something wrong?”

“Uh, no. Not really. I’m just surprised, that’s all. You actually talked to boys without stuttering, blushing, or seeming like you wanted to run away.”

I look at her, grin mischievously, and say, “Well, it’s true, I don’t like the boys at school, but he seemed to be really sweet, not to mention he’s rather good looking. I wouldn’t have minded playing with them, but as you said, we came here to play together. Plus, I doubt I could keep up with them for very long before my strength gave out. I was quite tempted though...” Mayumi laughs, while Chinatsu stares at me like I'm an alien. I look around us at the other girls. Hmm…

I look around us for a few moments and then say, “Well, I can see why they came to ask us. I have to admit we are the cutest girls here. Most of the others are even younger than us, are older than Mayumi, or are with boys already. Oh well, it isn't our problem. Anyway, I want to play with my little sister and friend… Come on, let’s go play!”

Grabbing both of their hands, I take off running through the sand to the water.

A bit more than an hour later, I’m getting somewhat tired. Reluctantly, I wade out of the water to the blanket, so I can sit down and rest. I don’t want to over tire myself and have to leave. Chinatsu and Mayumi sit down on either side of me.

“Are you okay Sora-nee?”

“Oh yes. Wonderful actually. This has been so much fun. Though I am a little tired and a bit hungry as well.”

I glance at my watch. My how time flies, it’s 1:20. No wonder I’m hungry.

Mayumi asks, “How about we eat then?”

“Sounds good Mayumi. I can rest for a little while after. I still want to go on the lazy river as well.”

Chinatsu chimes in, “I could eat too.”

“I want yakisoba. It’s been a while since I’ve had any.”

“Oh, good idea Sora-nee, it’s been quite a while for me as well. Mayumi?”

“I’m fine with anything, but yakisoba does sound good.”

Mayumi and Chinatsu stand up. I take my clutch out of my bag while Chinatsu holds out a hand to help me stand and we head in the direction of one of the food stalls.

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