"Alright. If it's just us two, then that would be okay with me."

Upon hearing your answer, Liam's large brown eyes - once sparkling with energy and extroversion - simmered into a soft, shy gaze. A warm and endearing blush spread across his tanned skin as he turned away from you in a nervous attempt to conceal the transparent excitement glowing from within. He returned his attention back to his noisy friends on the other side of the phone.

"H-hey so actually me and [Y/n] are gonna hang out by ourselves today. You guys can go ahead without us." His voice trailed into a whisper as he spoke into the phone, his eyes glancing anxiously at you. He knew exactly how his friends would react.

In preparation for their reply, he began frantically spamming the volume-down button at the side of his device, but it wasn't fast enough. In seconds, his friends erupted with joy and laughter. You couldn't quite make out everything they were saying but you were certain you had heard the word "DATE" mentioned. Liam, even more embarrassed than before, mumbled something back to them before hanging up the call.

"Sorry. My friends get excited easily. Please don't mind them! A-anyways..." He stepped closer to you, looking around idly as though searching for something. "What would you like to do, [Y/n]? I'm down to do anything!"

"Oh. Well- uhh... We could..."

Great. Now you were both flustered. It wasn't easy being the appointed decision-maker. After all, you wanted to leave a good impression on Liam. What if you suggested something lame or something he didn't like? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea at all, but Liam looked at you with such puppy-like eagerness that you couldn't possibly turn him down now. You wondered what sort of activities Liam would like.

Knowing his fun-loving personality, you imagined his idea of the perfect outing to be something wild and full of energy. Something to get both of your heart rates pumping. On the other hand, maybe it wouldn't be so wise to push yourself too hard. Your heart rate was already racing just at the mere thought of hanging out with someone. Anything more extreme might send you into cardiac arrest. Perhaps a more chilled and calming date would be more appropriate. At least then you'd have time to properly get to know one another, right?

✧──────✧ 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘯? ✮ A Calm Date [Read Section A] ✮ An Exciting Date [Read Section B] ✧──────✧



"Maybe something calm would be nice?" You suggested vaguely, hands fidgeting as you spoke. "Sorry, I've never really done this sort of thing before. I don't what there is for us to do. I'm honestly quite nervous."

Something calm? Really? You felt your face burning with shame and awkwardness at your lacklustre words. There was no way someone like Liam would be content to just sit around at an art gallery or something. He struck you as the kind of person that needed constant stimulation and excitement in order to focus on anything. You averted your gaze elsewhere as you awaited Liam's answer but then you felt a hand grip yours. It caught you by surprise.

"I-I would really like that too!!" He announced, a little too loudly, causing some passing strangers to turn their heads and gawk at the two of you like they were witnessing a public proposal. When he noticed his hand squeezing yours, he quickly removed them and offered a flustered apology. "Sorry! You just looked anxious so I wanted to reassure you. I'll look up nice stuff for us to do on my phone, 'kay?"

At first, both of you were a little pessimistic about the activities available. Most of the popular stuff to do in your town was karaoke and nightclubbing. The kind of things that would give you a stroke if you attempted it. Although, you were a tad bit curious to see what Liam is like when he's drunk, singing and dancing. You couldn't decide whether you'd think he'd be good at it or downright terrible. Either way, he was popular for a reason so you were certain he'd be entertaining regardless of his abilities.

After some quick research, you and Liam stumbled across a local pottery painting studio. It was usually booked for birthday parties so you weren't sure if they'd let you in but, thankfully, no sessions were scheduled for that day so you both strolled right in. Upon entering, you were immediately struck with the oddly-addictive, earthy smell of clay and a faint metallic tinge of paint. Around the room stood several wooden tables speckled with dried glaze, past brushstrokes and lingering fingerprints from messy toddlers and former artists. You both chose to paint a pre-made mug each as you.

The studio hummed with quiet concentration as you worked. Murmurs of smalltalk filled the air and soft Bossa Nova music played from the owner's speaker near the window. You had worried about it being awkward, especially as both you and Liam became gradually more silent as you focused on your artwork but it was surprisingly pleasant. The atmosphere was warm and lively in its own toned down way. Golden sunlight spilled in as you carefully decorated your mug with patterns, animals, and colours.

Liam, who you had anticipated to find this boring, was particularly invested in his design. He wasn't entirely sure what he wanted to paint on his so he drew a grassy field filled with cows and other animals. Unfortunately, art was not Liam's strong point and this was pretty evident in his work. He had began drawing the cows with a thick, black outline, repeatedly smudging the lines together by accident. Then, when it came to colouring the animals in, he hadn't waited long enough for the outline to dry so the black paint mixed harshly with the light colours, reducing his lovely creatures into terrifying souls of the damned. Just long black lozenges with piercing dark eyes and grotesquely disproportionate limbs.

After that messy session, you were welcomed to a world of paws, claws and meows as you visited a small, local cat café for lunch. There were plenty of chairs and comfy sofas for you to sit on but both of you opted to perch on the floor and beckon the kitties closer with toys and purchased treats. Several felines greeted you, wrapping their long tails around you and purring immensely. Allergies or not, it was pretty hard to breathe with all the dust and cat hairs wafting around the air but no one was suffering as much as Liam who, for whatever reason, was the no.1 enemy of all cats.

"I just want to be your friend!" Liam pouted whilst trying to coax one of the many small kittens onto his lap with little success. He tried his best to appease them with a wand toy but whenever he used it, they would ignore him entirely and attack him instead.

"I wonder why the cats don't like you."

"Oh, I don't mind it too much. They're so cute! Even when they're biting me." He gushed, almost oblivious to one of the many cats attempting to murder him from behind. "I'm definitely going to adopt a cat one day. It's my life dream. I have to prove to the cats that I'm a friend."

Watching Liam get relentlessly bullied by cats made you wonder how a certain Kitty would react if he ever met Liam in person. Knowing how he reacted last time to hearing about your online friend, you could only imagine that he'd be just as pissed off as these cats, if not worse.

To finish the day, you both decided to take a walk around the local park - the very same one that Mimiko had taken you days prior. Much change had occurred within the small time frame since your last visit: the sunlight, once warm and spilling out over the pond water, now peered solemnly from behind the clouds and the grass had become a frosty carpet of unmoving, tinted spikes. Yet, even under the bitter hand of winter, the place was still beautiful. As Liam excitedly yakked on about whatever entered his mind first, you found your gaze drifting past him, scanning the landscape. Somewhere within the dark, frigid shrubbery was that wonderful, secluded sanctum where you and Mimiko shared your picnic together. You vaguely recognised the clustered shape of the trees, but you weren't confident you could find it again without her guidance. Maybe it was for the best. As much as you knew Liam would be stoked to see the hiding place, that space belonged to her. It was not your secret to share.

You refocused on Liam, watching as his expressive hands moved animatedly with his words. A slither of the hiding sunlight fell upon him as he spoke, golden light catching in his hair, making it seem softer and warmer. You hadn't really noticed before how it curled slightly at the ends. Sometimes when he talked, he looked so eager and bright, it was like he was a little boy again sharing tidbits about his day and all the cool bugs he found. You couldn't help but find him endearing in his own hyperactive way. However, as you admired him, you felt the distant hum of your phone vibrating in your pocket. It pulled you from your thoughts, replacing your comfort with a very subtle sense of unease. It had been buzzing like this all day. You shifted uncomfortably, willing yourself to ignore it and offering Liam a tense, apologetic smile. Kitty could wait.

Liam, however, wasn't so easily fooled. His words faltered and he took in your expression with a flicker on concern behind his eyes. Both of you stopped in your tracks as Liam now placed the attention back to you.

"D-Did I say something to make you uncomfortable?" He asked, his voice suddenly becoming insecure and nervous. "Or was I talking too much again? I do that a lot. You can just tell me to shut up when that happens. I really don't mind. My friends do it all the time. Ahaha."

"No no! It's not you," you said, hurrying to reassure him. "It's just my friend. They keep spamming me. Don't worry about it. They do it all the time."

"Are you sure it's not an emergency? Maybe you should check-"

"I can assure you, it's not."

"Okay..." Liam hesitated, then let out a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get it. My friends spam me a lot too! Especially at times like this when I'm hanging out one to one with somebody." His voice softened slightly. "I really really enjoyed today. Spending time with you like this."

Your heart did something strange - something small, but noticeable. Seeing someone as handsome and popular as Liam appreciate hanging out with someone as gloomy as you... it was such a special feeling. You ducked your head, trying to hide the steadily-growing blush across your face.

"Th-thank you too," you murmured. "It was nice."

At this point, the two of you had parked yourselves on one of the benches by the pond. The slightly decaying wood felt splintery and uneven beneath you as though silently warning you off but Liam's kind presence kept you glued to your seat. He hesitated again, his fingers gripping the edge of the bench as if steadying himself.

"You can say no if you want," he started, slower this time, "but would you... want to do this again sometime? Just us, or with friends - whichever makes you more comfortable. I know I can come across as loud and annoying to a lot of people, but I do enjoy quiet things like this too. My mind races so fast that it's kind of nice to slow down for a bit from time to time. To appreciate things properly."

Something about the way he had said it - so open, so honest - made a cosy feeling creep up the back of your neck. Yet, there was also the sense that he wanted to say something else, like it was hovering in a thought bubble above his head. An unspoken feeling between the two of you. Not necessarily love. It didn't have to be. But there was something there. Something wait to become something bigger.

"I'd like that," you admitted, surprisingly yourself with how easily the words came out. Maybe Liam was destined to become the cure to your anxiety. "And I don't think you're too loud or annoying. I mean you're definitely more outgoing than I'm used to, but... maybe I need some of that right now."

Liam blinked, somewhat confused at your answer. It seemed like he was expecting a polite rejection or a shorter response from you. His lips curled into a smile - bright, genuine, and a little bashful. The last rays of sunlight caught his eyes, making them shimmer much like the glistening pond water before you.

Liam looked like he was about to say something else. Something important. But then he looked past you, his expression suddenly serious - almost fearful?

"What's wrong?" You asked, glancing around and self-consciously wondering if there was something unpleasant on your face.

Liam shot up to his feet so fast it nearly gave you whiplash and then grabbed your wrist like a man about to drag you into battle. You stood up nervously, waiting for his command. Maybe this guy wasn't such a great anxiety-reliever after all...

He turned to you.

"[Y/n], I'm so so sorry, but we have to get out of here. Right now. I-I don't want you to get hurt because of me." As his grip tightened, you could feel the faint tremors of fear rattling through his bones. This was serious business.

"Who is going to hurt us?"

Your heart dropped as his expression darkened. You followed his wide, terror-stricken eyes, turning toward the ever-approaching threat. Could it be... the masked killer had tracked you down and was here to deliver cold-blooded revenge?

"Them."

That's when the water behind you rippled ominously, stirring like something malicious was brewing beneath. A shimmering summoning circle for the evil that was to come. Both of you unknowingly squeezed each other as a rising crescendo of squawks, hisses, and flapping wings filled your ears. Feathers filled your vision.

The birds had arrived.

Your fears instantly dissipated and you stood there with blunt indifference as Liam let out a girlish squeal. It's not like you were disappointed that there was no blood-covered, masked murderer reaching out to carve you into pieces but you weren't entirely expecting fowl to be the source of Liam's abject horror either.

A coalition of geese and ducks stormed the park pathway, their webbed feet slapping against the damp pavement aggressively. Their beady, sideway eyes burned with an unholy rage and their necks craned forward with pure, hostile intent. You had never seen a creature look so furious - furious at the world, furious at you, but especially furious at Liam, who was now a trembling mess, clutching you like a child protecting their favourite stuffed toy from the bullies. You were starting to wonder if Liam was a hunter (or something far worse) in his past life.

"You should run, [Y/n]," he murmured, his voice audibly shaking but trying his best to seem heroic. "It's me they want. I must stand my ground and go down a hero."

"What did you do to them, Liam?"

"I don't know!! I mean..." His voice dropped a low whisper, like he didn't want anyone else to hear. "One of them kinda... tried to... you know... mate with me, and I politely declined the offer, but I think I offended him. And now he's angry and he told all his friends about me!! And I don't know what to do!"

Abandoning all dignity, he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against the pavement, muttering rapid-fire prayers and tearful apologies to his feather overlords as you watched on with shared humiliation for him.

The birds paused. Their heads tilting curiously at the gesture. They shuffled forward, looming over Liam's quivering form, their beaks twitching like they signalling to one another. Discussing what will become of Liam's fate.

"Oh wow," he whispered, raising his head a little bit. "It actually work-"

The very moment Liam so much as peered up, the birds launched into attack. A flurry of wings, beaks and red eyes engulfed Liam into a feathery abyss. It looked like you were witnessing the creation of a biblical accurate angel.

"WHY ARE YOU GUYS DOING THIS TO ME!?" He wailed. "I FED YOU MY LUNCH LAST WEEK! I THOUGHT WE WERE BONDING!"

Okay, that was far enough. Seeing Liam reduced to a pathetic, blubbering mess was enough excitement for one day. You took a bold step forward, steeling yourself. This was your moment. This was your chance to prove your worth - to stand by your new friend in his time of need. They were just birds after all, and you'd be damned if you let a group of small, angry, feathered dinosaurs push you around.

"Hey, leave him alo-"

The birds stopped.

All of them.

Simultaneously, every single bird turned to face you, their necks twisting at an unsettling, unnatural angle. Beady, soulless eyes locked onto yours, unblinking.

"A-actually, never mind," you stammered, slowly backing away. "You guys are doing great work. I'm sorry for interrupting you."

They slowly turned back to Liam.

"[Y/n]... a-am I going to die? Liam whimpered from within the enclosing circle of geese.

The birds resumed their attack.

—————

Eventually, you managed to track down one of the park caretakers, and explain the embarrassing situation to them. She barely reacted to the information. With the mere wave of her hand, she expertly shooed the flock away. Clearly this wasn't the first time this had happened nor would it be the last. She recognised Liam, the usual victim of the park wildlife, and made a lighthearted joke about but Liam was too drained to understand it. He thanked her profusely.

As the two of you left the pond premises, you could hear Liam mumbling something under his breath about a "corkscrew."

He had seen things no human was meant to see.

[☽ EOC]



"Well, I'd quite like to do something fun to take my mind off things, but..." You sighed, fidgeting with the sleeves of your top. "I have no idea what there is to do around here. I've never actually... explored properly. I usually just stay home and play games." You let out a small, awkward laugh. "I'm kind of a sad person, huh?

Liam watched you talk, his expression unreadable. The realisation of just how boring you sounded settled uncomfortably in your chest. It made you feel small and insignificant. A painfully uninteresting speck compared to all the other vibrant and exciting people Liam regularly hung out with. Though, to be fair, this was partly Liam's fault for putting the decision in your inexperienced hands. You glanced away from him, scanning the distance as if waiting for some divine intervention to swoop down and rescue you from your puddle of self-deprecating misery. But instead, you felt something warm wrap around your hands.

The sudden contact nearly knocked you off your feet in surprise. You stiffened as Liam held your hands and playfully swung your arms from side to side, completely oblivious to the fact that he had just short-circuited your brain.

"No no, that's awesome!!" He exclaimed, his usual, boundless energy undeterred by your perceived dullness. "That means you get to experience all the cool things for the first time!"

Liam didn't seem to realise how insanely forward he was being by holding your hands like this. Anyone passing by would surely view you both as a loving couple. You had seen him do similar things with Sana, but you could tell there was absolutely no romance between them. Sana seemed more like a cat, indifferent to Liam's playfulness. Tolerating him even at his most obnoxious. However, when he did it to you, it felt different. Strange. Kind of fuzzy, in a way you weren't sure you were supposed to feel.

It's not like you necessarily disliked it. It was just... new.

Maybe this was just how friends acted with each other. You could totally see Kitty doing something like this.

Before you could spiral any further into that thought, Liam released you and pulled out his phone. He started scrolling for activity ideas, giving you a merciful moment to cool down from whatever the hell that was. He frowned, deep in thought, likely juggling between multiple ideas and trying to find something exciting but not too overwhelming for you.

Then he stopped, thumb hovering inches from the screen. His face lit up like a child about to ask for ice cream money, which only unsettled you further. What was he going to suggest? Your mind flipped through a number of intimidating date ideas. Things that people like Liam love - things that introverts like yourself hate.

"Wanna go to Poco World?"

You stared blankly, wondering if you had misheard him.

"Poco World... Um l-like the TV show, right?"

"Uhh sort of? Not the actual show though. The amusement park for it. It's like the main tourist attraction for this city. We'll have to take a couple trains though. It's miles away from here."

"..."

Liam's eyes widened.

"Wait. Have you never been to Poco World!?" His jaw practically hit the floor. Then, as if processing the information in real time, he narrowed his eyes and gave you a suspicious look. "So uh how long have you lived here again?

"Probably too long to not know about Poco World," you admitted. "Like I said, I don't really go out much." You winced at how much of a basement-dwelling loser it made you sound. Quickly, you backtracked on your words. "I-I mean, of course I go outside! Just... not to, like, fun places, you know?"

You were expecting him to tease you a little but, instead, he just smiled.

"Well, today's your lucky day because I'm gonna change that! My treat. Think of it as a therapeutic care package for your trauma. Wait that sounds bad. I'm not trying to undermine what you went through. I just want to help take your mind off all those scary things. And anyways, it will be fun! I don't really go there often. It's more of an occasional summer thing but since it's winter now, I think there will be less people there. It will be nice."

"Okay. I think that would be fun!"

—————

It took about an hour to get there, but it was absolutely worth it. The moment you reached the entrance, you could feel the faint ghost of your child self squeal with excitement. Whilst Liam dealt with tickets and such, you took a moment to absorb the atmosphere. A makeshift kingdom of vibrant pastel colours surrounded you, accompanied by whimsical, cheerful music playing softly from the speakers hidden within the candy-shaped decorations. Just as Liam had predicted, the usual summer crowds had thinned out, leaving the park more open and spacious - perfect for exploring the attractions without the overstimulating hustle and bustle.

The visitors that were in attendance were mostly couples and families walking by with kids too young to go to school just yet. A faint, misty breath escaped their lips as they laughed and chattered. You inhaled deeply, detecting the scent of warm caramel, candyfloss and sweet cocoa drifting from the nearby food stands. Though it was still a little too early, you could tell that the park managers were slowly preparing for the Christmas season: twinkly lights had been strung above the entry way and you noticed a discreet alleyway between the stalls filled with boxes and unbuilt decorations. The overly-cutesy plastic body parts of snowmen, reindeer and Father Christmas were carefully being unpackaged by a group of work men.

Liam hurried back to you, breathing warm air onto his hands to fight the chill.

"Ah fuck it's so cold here." He shivered. "Sorry, I took so long. That guy was totally trying to scam me, but we're in."

"It's pretty here! I wasn't expecting it to be so..."

"You were probably expecting it to look ultra tacky, right? I mean it looks cute now but once Christmas rolls around, this place will look crazier than my Grandma's house... Oh right, for context, she likes to hoard Christmas stuff - specifically these weird little elf sculptures. I love her to bits but those guys have always given me the creeps. When I was a kid, I used to think that if I did something bad in front of them, they'd kidnap me and turn me into one of them and make me work for Santa. Anyways, enough of my totally traumatising childhood lore. You wanna eat something first? I'm kinda starving."

"Sure! That might be a good place to start."

You and Liam opted to eat inside the infamous "Poco & Friends' Treat House" - a better alternative to snacking outside in the bitter cold. The café's architecture was just as bubbly and cosy as the children's TV show it was based on - the building was shaped like a hollowed out log stump decorated with mushroom tables and leaf-shaped seats. The windows were large circles and the ceiling was decorated with cute pictures of bugs and wildlife, accompanied by twinkling fairy lights.

Mascot characters in Santa hats and reindeer ears bustled around the place, delivering festive treats to the young (and young-at-heart) customers. The seasonal menu was almost too adorable to eat: yule log cakes shaped like different sleeping animals, towering parfaits toped with edible rainbow-coloured glitter, warm strawberry taiyaki drizzled with sweet sauce, caramel-dipped apples decorated with candy to look like the mascot's faces, and hot chocolate intricately garnished with marshmallow animals. Devouring these adorable masterpieces almost seemed too brutal. There were also plenty of savoury meal options for those that lacked a sweet tooth - though it was clear that the desserts were the café's main attraction.

As you glanced up from your cutesy, frog-shaped menu, you noticed Liam's body language stiffen. His usual bright, puppy-dog expression faltered and his shoulders tensed like he had just spotted a lurking predator. Curious about his unwarranted reaction, you followed his gaze - only for your eyes to fall on a waddling, cross-eyed penguin mascot. Taptap.

The round, blushing-cheeked penguin shuffled past your table, waving cheerfully at one of the families sat across the room. But whilst toddlers squealed with delight, Liam looked as though he had just witnessed something unspeakable. His fingers curled against the table, gripping the edge as if the mascot might lunge at him any second.

You glanced between him and Taptap. "...Do you, perhaps, have a thing about mascots?"

Liam blinked out of his uneasy trance, looking a little surprised at your question. He smiled and tilted his head at you. "No?"

Then, Muffi, a fluffy brown dog character trotted into view. Liam's entire existence rebooted. His wary staidness melted into sheer, unfiltered joy.

"Oh my GODDDD!! [Y/n], look! It's Muffi! We should get a picture with her!" He gasped, voice an octave higher than usual.

To the utter dismay of the poor, underpaid employee working inside the costume, Liam enthusiastically chatted away with them like he and Muffi were long-time best friends. He begged for pictures, waving to you excitedly like a little kid whilst completely ignoring the reality that there is a sweaty (and likely very miserable) human being suffering inside that suit.

After lunch, the two of you wandered around Poco World, debating which rides to tackle first. You couldn't help but admire the sheer attention to detail the park provided. Everything looked like it had been lifted straight from the nostalgic TV show you once watched - right down to the mascots themselves. Muffi, Pippo, Mimu, Florie, Hunny... and, of course, Taptap.

Speak of the devil.

You spotted the same round penguin from earlier, putting on a little slapstick routine for the children. He shivered dramatically and pretended to slip on the icy ground, causing a group of toddlers to burst into squeals of laughter.

Yet, nothing was as icy as Liam's stare.

He looked like a frightened cat with their flat airplane ears, puffed up fur, dilated pupils and stiff muscles. He locked on to the waddling menace like he was expecting an ambush. Taptap noticed you two watching and, mistaking for an invitation for interaction, began shuffling closer. This invoked Liam to make a noise somewhere between a whimper and gasp before grabbing your hand and gently coaxing you away from it.

"Let's, uh- let's go this way! It looks fun over here." He said, already steering you in the opposite direction before you could protest."

"Wait- What? I-"

"I don't trust that thing." His voice lowered to a whisper.

You glanced back at Taptap who melancholically stood still as he observed the two of you hurry away from it.

"Why? Taptap is nice. He wants to be friends with everybody."

Liam shot one last, wary glance over his shoulder. "Well, he can't... he can't be friends with us."

"You know it's just a person in a suit, right?"

"Yeah, obviously," Liam said, though you he continued to clutch your hand and glance around warily like Taptap could strike at any moment. "I just get really bad vibes from that bird, you know?"

"...Is it because he's a bird?"

Liam hesitated, blush forming across his cheeks. "No, of course not.... Okay well, yeah birds are kinds scary, but I'm cool with penguins. They just chill on the ice and slide on their bellies all day. That's fun! I like penguins a lot." He shot another glare at Taptap who had now taken to clumsily dancing in its place. "That thing is the exception though."

The two of you continued your exploration, weaving your way toward the heart of the amusement park to get a better look at what thrills and fun the place had to offer. Rainbow-coloured rollercoasters cut through the pale sky, steel tracks snaking and twisting wildly. Each sharp turn was accompanied by the laughter and shrieks of the riders, their breathless joy fading swiftly into the distance as they rose back above the ground. Nearby, pastel-hued carriages designed to look like a playful cats with awfully long, stretching torsos zipped through tight loops and daring drops. Beside this attraction was the usual, infamous teacup ride, except the carriages were shaped to be dizzying desserts. The brightly-coloured cupcakes twirled madly around a floor that looked like a massive swirling lollipop.

Liam, ever the enthusiast for overstimulating experiences like this one, couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. He repeatedly kept trying to chat with you, his casual-toned voice competing against the chaotic melody of the ride. His words bounced as you spun round and round, trapped in a relentless motion. Meanwhile, you clutched the edge of the cupcake-shaped casing, your fingertips digging into the cold aluminium as if doing so would somehow anchor you from this chaos. You could feel the contents of your stomach reaching to climb your throat with every loop and spin. It reached the point where you could no longer respond to Liam's questions and conversation due to the fear of unleashing a torrent of semi-digested dessert all over the inside of the carriage.

"I know it's a kid's ride, but I swear, if this went a little faster, it's be even better! It's still fun though, right, [Y/n]?" Liam's voice bubbled with excitement, oblivious to your waning composure. You couldn't comprehend how he was able to remain so cool about it all whilst withstanding all the crazy motion. When you didn't reply, he paused and looked over to you, finally noticing that your expression had shifted into something unrecognisable - a sunken, pale mask of exhaustion. You slumped weakly, looking like you might topple out of the carriage at any moment. He gently shook your arm. "[Y/n]...? Are you okay!? The ride will probably be stopping soon. Hang in there. I-I'll wave down the operator!"

The moment the ride came to an end, the world around you continued to spin. Liam anxiously followed you as you stumbled off the cupcake carriage, opening his arms to support you in case you fell back.

"[Y/n], are you-"

You made a beeline for the nearest bathroom and spent the next several minutes leaning over the toilet bowl as waves of nausea slowly ebbed away. The obnoxiously whimsical music blaring from the speakers and sickeningly sweet scent of cotton candy and popcorn did not help. Maybe eating lunch before the rides hadn't been such a great idea after all.

Once you exited the toilets, Liam appeared by your side with cold bottle of water for you to drink. His expression was guilty, brown eyes large and remorseful like a puppy that had been caught doing something bad.

"I'm sorry, [Y/n]. I shouldn't have suggested it. That was pretty intense. Maybe we should stick to gentler rides for now. There's also some quiet, relaxing spots around here - no music or crowds - if you need a break."

"I'm fine," you muttered weakly, offering an unconvincing thumbs-up. "Don't worry about me."

You took the water bottle from him and sipped it, hand visibly shaking as you drank.

"You've ran to the bathroom to throw up three times. I'm not sure that counts as being 'fine'." he countered, voice laced with concern.

As he said that, you could feel the queasiness bubbling up in the back of your throat again. Your face flushed with discomfort. If you didn't take it easy, you were certain you'd have to run to the stall for a fourth time.

"Actually..." you mumbled, trying to fight the feeling of faintness creeping over you, "maybe I'll sit down for just a minute." You let Liam guide you to the nearest bench, his strong arms gently supporting you. A wave of relief washed over you as your body gratefully slumped down on the seat.

Once you regained back your stamina and your stomach stopped doing somersaults, you both ventured on, cautious but determined to still make the most of the day. In the centre of the park stood a large carousel, glowing with soft, warm pink and blue lights that twinkled along the edge of its intricately painted roof. It spun slowly, lifting each seat up and down in a graceful and rhythmic manner. You watched it turn, immersed in its light and patterns like you were staring through a kaleidoscope. Each seat was represented by a menagerie of fantastical creatures, from the usual horses to fanciful unicorns, seahorses, bears, frogs, and even fish. You and Liam found yourselves perched on a two-seater shaped like a smiling seal, its black eyes large and sparkling as it watched the world go by.

At first, Liam was hesitant for you to get on. He feared that even a ride as slow as this could still reignite your sickness, however, you insisted that everything was fine and got one anyway. The carousel moved so smoothly that the motion almost felt like a lullaby. You closed your eyes for a moment, surrendering to the calm up-and-down dance of the aluminium animals.

Liam, now more wary of your comfort and wellbeing, kept an ever-watchful eye on you, his voice soft and concerned as he checked in every few minutes to ask how you were feeling. You gave him a tired smile each time, assuring him that you felt fine.

With your body finally free of its nausea, you were able to go one several more rides varying in intensity - though nothing too overwhelming.

As the day wound down and visitors were slowly beginning to filter out the park, you decided to finish off the date at the massive ferris wheel that towered triumphantly over the park, each bright carriage representing the cutesy face of a different character from the show. The line was full of familiars with small children and couples holding hands, shamelessly wrapped in one another's love and kissing each other like no one was watching. The two of you couldn't help but feel out of place. Even the operator assumed you were more than friends, making a playful (though slightly uncomfortably) comment about not getting up to any "funny business" while up in the air.

Liam, flustered and red, quickly and quietly clarified things to the operator that you two weren't in that sort of relationship but the operator only grinned, clearly unconvinced by Liam's desperate insistence.

Once you guys were up in the carriage, suddenly the lively energy between you two faded. There was an awkward silence as you both blushed red and focused your attention toward the window, watching the crowds becoming little ants working their ways around the park. Liam swallowed nervously, knowing that he had to say something.

"I had so much fun today with you! You're pretty awesome, [Y/n]."

"I don't feel particularly awesome. Not after all that fuss I caused you by being sick." You said, before realising how much of a downer you were being. You shook your words off and flashed a smile at him. "B-but thank you! I had lots of fun too. I definitely want to come here again some time soon. I had no idea there was such a place like this nearby. Thank you for taking me."

"Oh, it's fine really!! My other friend also gets super sick whenever we come here. Even on the baby rides. I don't mind it at all. The important part is I got to spend time with you, [Y/n]."

"You are very kind to me." You replied shyly, hand reaching to squeeze your arm.

"I've actually..." Liam blushed some more and paused for a moment as though juggling what to say. "I've always been a little curious about you, [Y/n]. You have that mysterious sort of aura to you. And I think it's very cool. Y-you're cool..."

"But then you get to know me and I'm actually not mysterious at all. I'm just a boring person who is too anxious to make eye contact with people and talk."

"Eye contact is overrated. And you're not boring either. Just because you're quiet doesn't mean it's your whole personality. I think everyone has something they can give to the world - even if they don't think they do. When I'm with you, I feel so warm and comfortable. Even when no words are being said, it feels natural. Like uhh... you know when cats are loafing next to each other in silence but they look super chilled out and happy? I-I think that's how I feel with you. We're just two cats loafing. Sometimes we're making the bread and sometimes we become the bread."

"W-we... we become bread?" you echoed quietly, a little confused at Liam's metaphor.

"Yeah! Why not? Bread is awesome. Unless you have a gluten allergy. Or hate bread... But I love bread and I love spending time with you so I think it works!"

—————

You spent the rest of the ferris wheel ride discussing what types of bread you, Liam, Sana and Mimiko would be and who would be first to get eaten. Both of you agreed that Liam himself would be the first to die.

[☽ EOC]