Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5612jg/34/
I had been to the aquarium several times before it was renovated, but I had only ever taken the bus from the station, so I didn’t recognize it on the way there.
“Do you know? This is where you can see the world’s rarest killer whale show.”
Fuyusaki sniffs and smug.
But it is certainly intriguing that it is unique and one-of-a-kind.
This aquarium also puts on a killer whale show, and there is an orca objet d’art near the entrance.
There were many elementary school-aged children taking pictures, probably on a family vacation during the summer holidays.
I wondered if we should take a picture, too, but Fuyusaki didn’t seem to be interested in taking pictures, and she started walking toward the ticket booth.
“Do you mind if we take a picture?”
“It might be nice as a memorial, but we’re close enough that we can come any time. Besides—”
Fuyusaki says, blushing a little.
“It’s kind of embarrassing to take pictures while having fun at this age.”
Imagining that, I laughed.
We had not reserved tickets and had to wait in line for a little while.
Fuyusaki seems to be looking forward to it, and even while standing in line she is excited, her face relaxed.
It’s probably a sight that everyone in the class would love to see.
I felt a little superior seeing her like that.
“What is it? You’re staring at me so intently.”
“No, I just thought you seemed to be having fun.”
Fuyusaki noticed my gaze and asked me with a curious look on her face, so I answered honestly what I thought.
“Obviously. I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time.”
The smiling Fuyusaki looks like a young girl, not only in her outfit.
Because of her height, it’s just a matter of expression.
“If you were looking forward to it so much, I don’t feel bad either.”
“What about you, Mitsui kun?”
“…I’m also looking forward to it.”
“You sounded very dry, and there were some weird pauses.”
I tried to hide the fact that I was feeling a little depressed, but she saw through it.
“…Well, I kind of expected it.”
“Expected it?”
I had no idea what she was talking about, so I asked her.
“Mitsui kun isn’t too keen on it. Thinking about it normally, you wouldn’t want to go on a date with someone who was your younger sister. It’s not like we were on good terms, so even more so…”
I feel a little guilty because I’m so depressed.
“…Well, I was a little depressed at first, but now I’m looking forward to it.”
Fuyusaki still looks depressed, but raises her face a little.
“I didn’t really dislike it, and I haven’t been here since the renovations. I’m not really aware of you as a sister since elementary school.”
I can’t really spin the words.
However, I usually enjoy going to the aquarium, and I don’t dislike Fuyusaki either.
This part is true.
“So, well, since we’re here, let’s have fun.”
When I smile at her, Fuyusaki also smiles and says in a loud voice.
I’m glad to see she’s feeling better.
After 10 minutes in line, we bought our tickets and entered the building.
The first thing that caught our eyes were the various fish swimming in the huge aquarium.
The most conspicuous one was a large shark.
“Not much has changed here.”
Compared to the previous renovations, there was not much change that surprised me.
I said it out loud and got a poke on the side of my stomach.
“Please don’t say that.”
It ruins the mood. That’s about it.
That said, there was only so much to see on the first floor, and after a few minutes of looking, we rode the wave of people and moved on to the next floor.
On the second floor, there were tanks with only jellyfish, corals, and many other fresh things to see.
Still, we just looked, so we quickly moved on.
Moving to the third floor, I found a touch-and-feel corner set up right in front of me.
“Finally.”
“Mitsui kun, did you do that on purpose?”
I felt the pressure in Fuyusaki’s eyes as she stared at me.
I got myself together and approached the petting zones and found a small shark swimming inside.
The reactions of the people around us varied: some children were scared, some parents looked at them with amusement, and some children were brave enough to touch them, which was somewhat interesting.
We waited our turn, and when it came around, we tried to touch them.
“It’s so rough.”
Fuyusaki said in a silly voice.
“That’s what sharkskin is, isn’t it?”
“Is that so?”
“No, I don’t know.”
Fuyusaki’s cheeks puffed up.
Seeing her face, I can’t help but laugh.
“Geez ! Don’t laugh !”
She taps me on the shoulder.
There is no pain at all.
“Haha ! Sorry, sorry.”
I apologize with a laugh.
Fuyusaki touched the shark again.
One of the kids who was watching the scene points at us and says loudly.
“There’s a couple ! A couple !”
At the sound of his voice, we all froze at the same time.
“Hey ! We don’t point at people ! I’m sorry.”
“But, Mom, there’s a couple !”
The boy’s mother apologizes with caution, but the boy does not stop.
“No, we’re fine. And, we’re not a couple.”
As she says this, Fuyusaki is shaking her head as best she can.
“It’s a lie ! Because you were flirting so much !”
I didn’t intend it to be that way, but I guess everyone around us saw it that way, too, and I could hear them giggling.
This was not so much laughter as teasing, but laughter in the sense of smiles.
The boy was dragged away by his mother.
We were stunned, our faces turning red.
“Let’s go, shall we?”
“…Yes, let’s.”
With an awkward atmosphere in the air, we also left the place.
For now, let’s put a curse on that boy to rest.
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