Abydos of a Midsummer Night (2) - 6

In the afternoon, Hoshino and Sensei left the school after getting permission from the Foreclosure Task Force juniors.

 

The two were headed to the Abydos Aquarium.

 

They waited about 20 minutes at the Abydos Central Line station.

 

"At least there's a vending machine at the station~"

 

 

 

"It's not a place many people come to, but still, some do~"

 

 

 

"...... Hoshino, do you like fish?"

 

 

 

"Yeah, I do. But... I've never actually seen fish before. Well, it's Abydos. Of course, I've seen fish served as food~"

 

 

 

"I see. Since it's Abydos, there aren't any restaurants with fish tanks."

 

 

 

At the very least, there should be some shops in the streets with fish tanks, but Hoshino, living in the ruined Abydos, lived in an era without such shops. Distribution was difficult, and such businesses would only suffer losses, so even restaurants selling sashimi mostly sold aged fish; there was no fresh sashimi.

 

 

 

Although there was an aquarium in Abydos, it was far away and, as a student of Abydos, paying off the debt was a priority, leaving no room for leisure, so she had never been.

 

 

 

And so, Hoshino boarded the train, holding Sensei's hand.

 

 

 

"I'm looking forward to the aquarium~"

 

 

 

"Yeah, me too."

 

 

 

"... But, is it okay for only me to enjoy it?"

 

 

 

"You're the senior~ It's fine!"

 

 

 

"Ehehe~ I guess so?"

 

 

 

Hoshino felt bad that she was going to the aquarium alone with Sensei, leaving the juniors behind, but Sensei spoke positively.

 

 

 

After quite some time, the two got off the train and arrived at the aquarium.

 

 

 

"It's more magnificent than I thought~?"

 

 

 

"I agree... Even though it's in Abydos, it's far from the school, so I've never been here. They say it's been here since Abydos was the top academy in Kivotos. It's the only aquarium they've kept running, continuously remodeling it."

 

 

 

"It has a long history. Let's go in quickly!"

 

 

 

Sensei grabbed Hoshino's hand and ran forward. Hoshino felt as if the past was coming back to her.

 

 

 

They entered the aquarium.

 

 

 

From the entrance, Hoshino showed interest in the various marine animal plushies being sold.

 

 

 

"Should I buy you one you like after we've seen everything?"

 

 

 

"Haha... I'm not a kid, Sensei?"

 

 

 

"Well, from this old man's perspective, you're all the same."

 

 

"Ugh...."

 

 

 

Speaking in Yume's manner and tone, Hoshino felt she couldn't win against that one remark.

 

 

 

They went inside the aquarium, and Hoshino marveled at the numerous fish swimming in the water. The actual sight of fish, which she had only ever seen in videos or pictures, was awe-inspiring.

 

 

 

"Look at that! Fish! Ahahaha, cute!"

 

 

 

"They're just like the fish I saw on Earth~ Still cute!"

 

 

"That's a whale? Heh~ Amazing. I've never been to a place like this before."

 

 

 

"Technically, it's a whale shark~"

 

 

 

Whales can't be kept in aquariums. The same regulations apply in Kivotos, and the whale shark is a unique species of shark that closely resembles a whale.

 

 

 

"Hmm~ Seems worth the 15,000 yen."

 

 

 

It was a considerable price of 15,000 yen per person, but Sensei had no regrets.

 

 

 

Hoshino placed her hand on the aquarium glass, watching the fish. She saw Sensei, in Yume's form, reflected in the glass behind her.

 

 

 

"... Thank you, Sensei."

 

 

 

"What for~"

 

 

 

"Really, truly thank you. I'll never forget today."

 

 

It was her first time visiting an aquarium. Hoshino was happy that this monumental experience felt like she was having it with Yume. She sincerely thanked Sensei, feeling that even if Sensei wasn't in Yume's form anymore, she could fully trust him.

 

 

Afterward, they went around the aquarium a few times, and evening came. Sensei bought her a 1-meter whale shark plushie at the gift shop by the entrance.

 

 

 

"Ehehe~ It's soft~"

 

 

 

"Haha... I'm glad you like it."

 

 

 

The plushie was as expensive as the admission fee. Sensei's wallet was getting lighter, causing a pang in his chest, but there were no regrets. More important than money was the child's happiness.

 

 

 

"I had fun today, Sensei~ Did you book a room?"

 

 

 

"Yeah. No problem. Then~ Let's take the train!"

 

 

 

"I'll go with you to downtown~"

 

 

 

The two took the train from the station together and headed downtown. They arrived in front of the motel Sensei had booked, and Hoshino gazed at Sensei at the entrance.

 

 

 

"It's time to say goodbye now."

 

 

 

"Haha, you make it sound like we're parting forever?"

 

 

 

"But... Yume-senpai's form, it's goodbye now."

 

 

 

"... You never know. It might happen again."

 

 

 

"I guess so...."

 

 

 

"... Hoshino. The important thing is not to dwell on the past but to move forward. You're not alone, are you? You have your precious juniors."

 

 

 

"......... Yeah."

 

 

 

"So, our Hoshino... you can do it, right?"

 

 

 

"... Yeah, I can. Thank you, Sensei. If it were really Yume-senpai, I think she would say that."

 

 

 

"Fufu, it's just an adult's lesson~"

 

 

 

Hoshino smiled at Sensei and laughed.

 

 

 

"I really had fun today. Thank you, Sensei. Well then, I'll go."

 

 

 

"Yeah. Go home safely, Hoshino."

 

 

 

Hoshino said goodbye and left the motel. She hugged the whale shark plushie with one arm and looked at her phone with the other. A picture taken with Sensei in Yume's form. Looking at the picture, Hoshino smiled faintly.

 

 

 

Sensei entered the motel room, lay down on the bed, talked briefly with Arona, and fell asleep.

 

 

 

{──Sensei.}

 

 

 

"Mmm...."

 

 

 

{Sensei!}

 

 

 

"Huh! Oh, it's morning."

 

 

 

{What are you going to do if you don't wake up even when the alarm goes off?}

 

 

 

"Sorry, sorry~ Even if my body has become younger, keeping up with a real high school girl's stamina is hard, you know? ... Huh? That voice sounds familiar...."

 

 

 

{You're right, Sensei.}

 

 

 

Sensei shot up at Arona's words. They rushed to the bathroom and looked in the mirror...

 

 

 

"Wow... This is going to be a problem."

 

 

 

{You might get looked down upon....}

 

 

 

Sensei sighed at the reflection in the mirror. Then, they tidied up a bit and went outside.

 

 

 

"For now, let's have breakfast."

 

 

 

{Hoshino-san recommended Shibaseki Ramen, right?}

 

 

 

"Let's go there then!"

 

Sensei headed straight to the ramen shop Hoshino recommended. They opened the door of the shop, which was open early in the morning.

 

 

 

"Hmm? Oh~ You're a bit early today?"

 

 

 

"Eh?"

 

 

 

"Then let's get started. Go change into your uniform inside."

 

 

"Ah... Ah?"

 

 

Creak~

 

 

"Welcome~ Go get ready. I'll take the first customer's order."

 

 

 

"Ah... Ah, okay!"

 

 

 

And then, having a misunderstanding with Master Shiba, Sensei went to the staff room....

 

"Welcome! This is Shibaseki Ramen!"

 

 

Unfortunately, out of all the students, Sensei had become Serika. Mistaken for Serika while going to eat ramen, he was swept up by the atmosphere and started working part-time.

 

 

 

Having actual experience working part-time at a ramen shop, and influenced by the body, Sensei worked very proficiently.

 

 

 

Creak~

 

"Welco──"

 

"I told you to stop following me!?"

 

"It's no use hiding your part-time job, Serika-chan?"

 

"Aha, we'll all eat and cheer you on!"

 

"Yeah, it's our favorite shop too."

 

 

 

"Haha, I'll tell Sensei about it too─ Huh? Se, Serika-chan──?"

 

 

 

While working, the real Serika and the Abydos students arrived.

 

"Ah......"

 

 

"...... Who, who are you!?"

 

Serika shouted at the top of her lungs, causing a commotion in the shop.