Carousel Grievances and Arabian Nights
"That's too much! Even thinking about it again, this just isn't right!"
Karin cried out from behind in an aggrieved voice.
"Aren't you fearless?" Yukiko turned slightly, mocking Karin in a bold tone.
The carousel horses spun round and round.
"If we're a group of four, we should split into 2:2 pairs! How can you all ride the same horse and leave me out?!"
This time, since I'd made it clear beforehand that she didn't need to ride with anyone, there were plenty of strangers—women—on the other horses. They laughed excitedly, clearly enjoying the whole situation.
"Karin, you have a real talent for clowning around. I hadn't realized it before. This is clearly my failure."
"No, I don't care about that!"
Mikoto was nestled in my arms, her back against the horse's neck, right at the front of our horse. Yukiko sat behind me, hugging my back tightly. Precariously, three of us were squeezed onto a single horse.
"If we're doing this, we should've gone for the carriage carousel!"
"This wasn't the plan from the start. It just kinda happened, right?"
Originally, like Karin said, the idea was for Yukiko and me to pair up, and Karin and Mikoto to pair up. But in the midst of it, Karin, standing in front of Mikoto, grumbled, "Your boobs are too big; it's hard for two to fit."
Mikoto countered, "If I sit in front, three could fit." Karin challenged her to try it if she thought so.
There was a bit of trial and error, but Mikoto quickly found the right position. In the end, Karin huffed alone on a plastic horse behind us.
The carousel spun round and round. Mikoto's soft breasts pressed gently against my body as she clung to me.
/////
With no wait times, we naturally spent less time on each ride. After riding a few tame, straightforward attractions in a row, Karin, who'd been getting bored, pointed to a massive one.
"We're at an amusement park— we can't just stick to these lame rides!"
I just smiled without much reaction, but Mikoto and Yukiko looked distinctly uneasy.
"If you're scared, you can sit it out."
"No, Master. I want to stay with you."
"No need to push yourselves..."
Even with all the stares from the women around us, Mikoto and Yukiko refused to leave my side. What I'd thought would fade quickly only grew more blatant.
They must've interpreted my earlier words—"It's fine to ride with others"—as "I've come here to meet other women." Some openly flaunted their cleavage or glanced around slyly.
In this atmosphere, Yukiko and Mikoto probably figured staying glued to me was safer.
"We'll ride. Let's go."
Yukiko headed first to the giant swing-like ride. I followed with an awkward smile.
The moment we decided to ride, all four of us were up on it in seconds.
It was pendulum motion, not much different from the Viking ride indoors. But its sheer size meant massive drops and rises.
The screams from those who'd boarded first, along with the rushing wind, chilled Mikoto to the bone.
Karin generously yielded the seats on either side of me to Mikoto and Yukiko. Watching me was fun enough, but seeing them tremble and cling to me was even better.
"Kyaaaa!!!"
The other women screamed exaggeratedly loud—maybe to seem fragile and feminine, or just to catch my eye. I debated waving, but worried it might send the wrong signal, so I didn't.
And the ones beside me could barely speak. They just gripped my hands tight, eyes squeezed shut, mouths clamped, shaking.
"Hey, Yukiko, open your eyes!"
Karin teased her gleefully. Yukiko glared back fiercely for a split second. I couldn't see her face, but even sturdy Karin shivered, so it must've been terrifying.
I'd worried the ride might not be fun, but the atmosphere and speed were surprisingly enjoyable. Gazing at the panoramic view from on high, then plummeting toward the water—the shifting scenery was thrilling in its own right, fear aside.
A few minutes passed—long if long, short if short.
As we got off, Yukiko glared at the ride's control panel.
"It was definitely too long. They didn't announce it, but other guests got exactly 1 minute 30 seconds, while we were stuck for 3 minutes 21 seconds without stopping."
"Well, there's a guy here..."
"I approve of the sentiment, but they should've at least informed Master..."
I stroked Yukiko's head, and she instantly calmed, regaining her composure.
"So, what's next?"
Karin asked briskly.
"We should do the dark ride soon. Our stamina has limits, and Master must be getting bored..."
"What's a dark ride?"
Yukiko glossed over it slightly. Mikoto answered instead.
"That kind! You know, that thing! You ride a train-like thing in the dark, going forward, with scenes matching the theme and..."
"Yeah, got it roughly."
Following Mikoto's pointing finger, I spotted a massive facility labeled Arabian Nights.
"Kinda feels risqué... Is that okay?"
In those regions, that was just the local attire, but the exotic dancer outfits didn't quite fit my idea of a theme park.
"Hardly anyone brings kids to amusement parks anymore. Birth rates are low."
"I see..."
Sure, it looked that way on the surface, but inside it'd probably be a standard ride. I worried Karin might find it boring, but she eyed Yukiko curiously.
"Already? That..."
She glanced at me, clearly hiding something.
"Now's the perfect time. Master must be bored, so we should start the real hospitality."
"Hmm..."
Karin looked reluctant but nodded soon enough. Yukiko and Mikoto promptly led me there.
/////
Plenty of people had been tailing me already, but now it felt like everyone was openly staring.
"Something's off..."
Once inside, the facility was far newer and cleaner than I'd expected.
As I looked around, Yukiko explained.
"This place is only two years old. When it first opened, even men needed reservations."
"Really?"
Considering how arrogant men were these days, that was impressively popular.
"Just change into simple outfits, and we'll be good."
"Huh?"
"It's all about the concept. Think of it as immersion."
I'd figured it'd be a quick few minutes like the other rides, but this seemed time-intensive. Still, seeing Mikoto and Karin casually head to the changing rooms, I went with the flow and stripped down.
Yukiko dismissed the two attendant women—probably staff—who'd come to help me. I insisted I could dress alone and shooed her out too.
But that was a mistake. The ornate sultan costume was far trickier than it looked.
How do you even wear this? I grumbled inwardly. On second thought, any man wearing this would have attendants.
After minutes of fiddling, I managed, but it felt baggy and ill-fitting. My build filled it out decently, but the looseness lingered.
Couldn't keep them waiting forever, so I compromised and stepped out.
Immediately, my eyes met Yukiko's in a sleek black dress.
"Whoa..."
Complex silver embroidery shimmered on her black dress like stars in the night sky. Modest coverage, but the thin fabric hugged her curves. When it draped loosely, she looked like a dignified princess; when it clung, a seductive dancer overflowing with allure.
"Hahaha!"
Karin burst out laughing at my outfit.
"What? Do I look that weird?"
"I-It does look weird, but I'm not laughing at you... It's just hilarious that you still look cool like that!"
"What..."
"Like putting nerdy glasses on someone and they still come off charming— that irrationality cracks me up..."
Karin's outfit was straight-up lewd dancer wear. Sheer sky-blue fabric barely covered her breasts and hips—teasing glimpses with every move.
"And you're not exactly modest... Am I too conservative?"
"Don't overthink it! No other guy's gonna see you like this anyway!"
Uncharacteristically demure, Karin sashayed, flaunting her body lightly.
"Sultan and harem ladies, you're ready—please come in!"
The guide called out loudly. Shoving aside my subtle doubts, I opened the door and boarded the carriage-shaped vehicle.