Arc 1 Chapter 4: Aquarium

    Finally, finally, the day has come. It's the day for my aquarium date with Hoshino-chan. Too bad for you, sensei! Hoshino-chan's first time at the aquarium will be mine! The underground dweller also said so. Strategy #1: "You can't change what has already happened"!　

　

　....I guess I should calm down a bit. We're meeting at the aquarium this morning. I can't be late for the meeting, so I'll hurry.

　

　I arrived 30 minutes before the appointed time...

　

"Eh, Hoshino-chan?"

　

　To my surprise, Hoshino-chan was already waiting for me near the entrance.

　

"Oh, good morning Yume-senpai. Let's get going! I got the pamphlet for you!"

　

　Something about Hoshino-chan seems a bit strange. Or maybe it's because she's too excited? Her eyes are sparkling more than I've ever seen them before.

　

"There's a tropical fish museum, a deep-sea fish museum, and even a feeding experience museum! And...there's also a dolphin show and a penguin museum! It must be cold here, right!?"

　

"Look at this, senpai! It seems there's also something called a sea tunnel!"

　

"Hehe, it looks like there are whale sharks too!"

　

　I thought I was pretty excited as well, but Hoshino-chan seemed even more excited than I was. It's rare to see Hoshino-chan this excited, or rather it's the first time I've ever seen her, so I feel like I got a great deal. This alone is worth the price of the ticket.

"I'm not sure if we can see everything in one day, so let's hurry up, senpai!"

　

"Yes! Let's go right away!"

　

　

---

　

"Senpai, senpai! Look at that fish!"

　

"Yeah, it's very cute."

　

　Hoshino-chan.

　

　I really feel bad for Hoshino-chan who is explaining about the fish, but she's just too cute when she's having fun.

　

　After enjoying the tropical fish museum, we headed to the deep sea fish museum.

　

"Wow, there are a lot of really amazing looking fish."

　

"Deep-sea fish have adapted to the extreme environment, so they look quite different from normal fish! Apparently, some of them even emit light from their bodies to protect themselves."

　

"As expected, Hoshino-chan knows a lot about things."

　

　You know more than I imagined. You must really love it. I hope you forget about your debts and have fun to the fullest today...

　

　

　Then we headed to the sea tunnel. Is this the one from the Memorobi scene?　

　

"That's amazing, senpai... This is my first time here..."

　

"Yup... so beautiful..."

　

　The entire view is dyed in a clear blue, different from the color of the sky. It's so beautiful.

　

"Look, senpai! There are fish too! So cute..."

"Oh, there's one big one! Is that a whale shark?"

　

　To be honest, I have never had any particular fondness for fish. I have never been to an aquarium in my previous life either. So I thought that today's event would be mainly about watching Hoshino-chan watching the fish. But when I saw this scene, I had to change my mind. It was so beautiful that I was entranced.

　

"Hoshino-chan....fish are so cute."

　

"Of course!"

　

　

　Even after that

　

　

"Wow, is a monkfish's mouth really that big?!"

　

"Next time I'll feed them!"

　

　You can also try feeding the animals.

　

"The penguins are cute, but aren't they a little cold?"

　

"Well... it's a bit cold for those of us who are used to the environment of Abydos... but it's cute."

　

　I was surprised at how cold it was in the penguin house.

　

"Wow, turtles move so fast in the water! I had the image of them being slow, so this is surprising..."

　

"Turtle!"

　

"What's with that vibe?"

　

　We had a great time all day, including a visit to the sea turtle museum.

---

"That was fun, Hoshino-chan!"

　

"Yes, but it's a shame we couldn't see everything... I had no idea it was so big."

　

"You can see it again next time you come!"

　

"Yes...that's right. I'll invite you next time, so please look forward to it."

　

"Really? Thank you, Hoshino-chan."

　

　Hoshino-chan is so kind. She said she was sorry she couldn't give me anything in return, and I'm sure that's part of it, but the fact that she's going with me again makes me happier than anything.

　

"I'll give this to you, Hoshino-chan!"

　

　I took out a stuffed toy I had hidden in my bag.

　

"Is this... a stuffed whale?"

　

"That's right! Hoshino-chan was looking at it with eyes that looked like she really wanted to buy it, but she checked the price tag and held back."

　

　I think Hoshino-chan probably gave up because of debts and other factors. But I wanted her to forget everything and have fun just for today. I bought it secretly while she was away for a while.

　

"Yume-senpai....Thank you."

　

"you're welcome!"

　

　Hoshino-chan hugs her whale plush toy tightly. So cute!

　

　

"Senpai...um, did you have fun today?"

　

"Huh? Why?"

　

　Hoshino-chan asks with an apologetic look on her face.

　

"Well... I got too excited and ended up having too much fun, and I think I ended up forgetting about you... Unlike me, you probably don't like fish..."

　

　Ah, I see. Well, you're not entirely wrong...

"Well, to be honest, that's what I thought at first."

　

"Senpai... well, sorry, but...?"

　

　Hoshino-chan looked like she was about to apologize, so I interrupted her. Because there's absolutely no need for her to feel that way.

　

"Hoshino-chan took me to all sorts of places, and when I listened to her explanations and looked at the fish, I just... fell in love with them."

　

"After a while, I was enjoying it just as much as Hoshino-chan, or maybe even more than her. It's not that I didn't like fish, I just didn't know what its appeal was."

　

"So there's no need for you to feel that way, Hoshino-chan. Thanks to you, I've found more things to like. So thank you."

　

"Is that so? That's good to hear."

　

"Well, Hoshino-chan was the cutest when she got excited seeing the fish, wasn't she?"

　

"Why did you say something like that so quickly?!"

　

　We then took the train back to the Abydos Autonomous Region. Because we stayed right up until closing time, it was already dark by the time we arrived.

　

"It's gotten really dark, Yume-senpai."

　

"..."

　

"senior?"

　

"Hoshino-chan...the stars in the night sky of Abydos are so beautiful."

　

　I find myself entranced by the view, even though I've seen it many times before.

　

"There's nothing around."

　

"I guess that's the only reason."

　

　That's definitely not the case. The real reason is because Hoshino-chan is there. Without Hoshino-chan, I would never have had the mental space to enjoy looking at the starry sky.

　

"I mean, aren't you used to seeing the starry sky of Abydos? Why now...? Well, I won't deny that it's beautiful..."

　

"Well, it's all thanks to Hoshino-chan. Hoshino-chan is my ray of hope."

　

"What is that? Well, I don't think it's bad..."

"Hehe, thanks for going to the aquarium with me today. I didn't expect it to be so much fun."

　

"You're the one who bought the tickets, aren't you? And you even gave me this, so I'm the one who should be thanking you."

　

　Hoshino-chan holds up a stuffed whale to show us.

　

"That stuffed animal could also be used as a huggable pillow. I think napping will become a hobby for you in the future, Hoshino-chan... so please take good care of it, okay?"

　

"At least I've never taken a nap in front of you, right? Why do you think so?"

　

"It's a secret!"

　

　I blurted out something I shouldn't have said. However, the reason she takes naps is a little too dark, so I don't think she should make it a hobby if possible. Well, I guess it'll be fine as long as I'm there.

　

"Well, see you tomorrow, Hoshino-chan."

　

"Yes, see you later."

　

　So we went back to our house.