The summer air of Osaka buzzed with excitement as Luna and Daphne stepped through the grand entrance of Universal Studios Japan, freshly opened earlier that year. The park was alive with the sounds of cheerful chatter, the distant hum of roller coasters, and the scent of popcorn, roasted turkey legs, and caramelized churros.
Luna practically bounced on her heels. “Daphne, this is our date! And we’re going to have so much fun!”
Daphne, ever composed, adjusted the sungsses perched atop her head. “I still don’t see why we’re doing this.”
Luna gasped dramatically, pcing a hand over her heart. “Because it’s Universal Studios! The first one in Japan!”
“I always preferred Lucifer Land in Lilith.” Daphne states as the two arrive at a construction site.
Luna stared at the construction site before them, her excitement screeching to a halt. The grand entrance they were expecting was… nowhere to be found. Instead, steel beams and scaffolding stood in its pce, with construction workers moving about. A massive sign hung nearby:
“UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – GRAND OPENING SPRING 2001”
Luna blinked. Then again. Then slowly turned to Daphne.
“...Daphne.”
“Yes?”
“You didn’t check if the park was actually open yet, did you?”
Daphne adjusted her sungsses, clearing her throat. “I assumed.”
Luna groaned, running a hand down her face. “We flew all the way here for a date, and the park isn’t even open yet?! I was so ready to ride Jurassic Park!”
Daphne crossed her arms. “To be fair, you didn’t check either.”
Luna huffed. “Fine! We’ll just go somewhere else.”
Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Like where?”
“If you’re looking for a magical experience, perhaps you’d be interested in our park instead?”
They turned to see a young girl dressed in a fantasy-themed uniform—a deep blue dress with golden embroidery, a frilly apron, and a hat that looked suspiciously like something out of a fairy tale. She held out a colorful pamphlet, smiling brightly.
"Welcome to Amagi Brilliant Park!"
Luna blinked, ears perking up. “Wait… Amagi Brilliant Park?”
Daphne took the flyer skeptically. “I’ve never heard of it.”
The girl cpped her hands together with excitement. “It’s Osaka’s hidden treasure! A one-of-a-kind fantasy amusement park filled with wonder, joy, and… real magic.”
Luna and Daphne exchanged gnces.
“…Real magic?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow.
The girl winked. “Why don’t you come see for yourselves?”
Luna, always up for an adventure, grabbed Daphne’s hand. “We’re going.”
Daphne groaned. “We are definitely getting scammed.”
===
Within the hour, they arrived at Amagi Brilliant Park, a lesser-known but still charming amusement park. It wasn’t the massive movie-themed experience Luna had dreamed of, but it had its own magic—a quirky fantasy setting, lively mascots, and an eccentric atmosphere that somehow made up for the earlier disappointment.
Luna took a deep breath, adjusting to the unexpected shift. “Alright, Daphne, new pn! We’re going to have the best date here instead.”
Daphne smirked. “You really don’t let things get you down, do you?”
“Nope!” Luna grabbed Daphne’s hand, pulling her along. “Come on! We’re starting with everything this pce has to offer.”
The moment they passed through the entrance, Luna could feel it—a strange, otherworldly energy in the air. Unlike the sleek and modern parks of the world, Amagi Brilliant Park had a fairy-tale charm.
A castle-like structure stood in the center, its spires reaching toward the sky. Winding cobblestone paths led to various themed nds, each one looking like it had been pulled straight from a fantasy world.
Despite the grand design, however, the park was eerily empty. A few scattered visitors walked around, but it was nothing like the crowds she had expected.
Daphne narrowed her eyes. “…There’s something odd about this pce.”
As Luna and Daphne wandered further into the park, they found themselves in front of a small yet vibrant attraction beled "Tiramy’s Flower Adventure!" The sign was decorated with bright, pastel colors and featured an illustration of a smug-looking pink dog-like creature holding a watering can.
Luna cpped her hands together. “Oh! It’s the cute little dog character!”
Daphne, arms crossed, read the fine print aloud. “A whimsical journey through a magical flower garden. Help Tiramy grow the most beautiful flowers in the world!”
Luna turned to her with wide, pleading eyes. “Daphne. We’re doing this.”
Daphne sighed. “This is going to be ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Luna grinned. “That’s the fun part!”
Before Daphne could protest further, Luna had already grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the entrance.
Inside, they were greeted by a very smug-looking Tiramy animatronic standing atop a pile of flower pots. Its mechanical ears twitched, and its tiny cape fluttered dramatically.
“Welcome, lovely dies!” Tiramy’s voice rang out, oddly flirtatious. “Are you ready to embark on a grand floral adventure?”
Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Did that thing just flirt with us?”
Luna giggled. “I like him already.”
The ride itself was a slow-moving, boat-style attraction that took them through an enchanted garden, where glowing flowers bloomed as if reacting to their presence. At various points, Tiramy’s voice guided them to wave their hands over certain areas, “magically” causing the pnts to sprout in dazzling colors.
Then, as they reached the ride’s midpoint, the atmosphere changed.
The rest of the ride was broken… And it wasnt run by electricity, at this point Daphne was certain that the entire park ran off of magic.
