The Aquarium - “What Should We Do After This?”
Saturday.
I step off the train and through the ticket gate, and Hanamori’s already waiting. Leaning against a pillar, scrolling her phone.
A warm-toned, spring-appropriate off-shoulder dress.
The fabric hugs her figure closely, emphasizing her chest. Her bare shoulders, pale skin peeking out.
“Sorry, did you wait long?”
“You’re late.”
Hanamori glares at me.
I give a wry laugh.
“We’re meeting right on time, though?”
“…Showing up five minutes early is common sense for a working adult.”
“Yeah, yeah, you were looking forward to this, huh. There, there.”
“Ugh, quiet.”
I gently take Hanamori’s hand. Neither of us leading, our fingers naturally lace together, the classic lovers’ hold. A thin, small hand. Smooth. Her pale pink nail decorations catch the light.
“You stayed late again yesterday, huh.”
“Yeah. Got a complaint from Company A.”
“Eh, seriously?”
“A complaint about the system. Sales already handed it off, so it’s really more of a ‘talk to customer support’ situation, you know?”
“Ha, classic. Good work.”
With my free hand, I give Hanamori’s head a light pat.
She looks briefly startled, then turns her face away with a huff. Her ears are red.
Ugh, she’s really too cute.
Arriving at the aquarium, we head first to the jellyfish section. Transparent creatures drifting slowly through the dim space.
Watching them is soothing.
“Pretty……”
I watch Hanamori’s profile as she stares intently at the tank.
“These glowing jellyfish are amazing, huh.”
“Yeah.”
“Like electric decorations.”
Her cheeks, lit by the pale blue glow. Long eyelashes. Slightly parted, glistening lips. I find myself entranced despite myself.
“The moon jellies are so cute. All round.”
Her eyes reflect the tank’s light, sparkling, somehow innocent, childlike.
“Ah, that jellyfish over there’s pretty too.”
I nod, still watching Hanamori, without even glancing toward where she’s pointing.
“Yeah, it is.”
Hanamori suddenly turns toward me, eyes narrowing.
“…Asami-san, you’re not looking at the jellyfish at all, are you.”
“Huh? I—I am. Totally.”
“No, I could feel you looking this way the whole time.”
Hanamori gives me a joking sideways look.
“…Can’t help it, you’re cute.”
I mutter it, still facing the jellyfish tank.
“Eh? Where’d that come from all of a sudden. Gross.”
“So mean.”
Hanamori drops her eyes, then laughs softly and turns back to the jellyfish tank. Her ears are red.
That, too, is unbearably cute.
Still holding hands, we head to the penguin section.
Hanamori’s eyes light up watching the penguins swim, flying through the water.
“This is amazing. They really do look like they’re flying.”
“Right? Kind of rare to see.”
“Fufu, that one’s paddling its little feet so hard. Cute.”
“You’re right. Cute.”
I answer, watching Hanamori laugh so innocently. She looks my way and nods with a smile. Eyes narrowed, corner of her mouth lifting softly. A natural smile, none of the calculated cuteness, none of the brattiness.
Ah, no, I can’t. Too cute. This isn’t fair. The delicate line of her bare shoulder peeking from the off-shoulder dress. The softness of her slender hand. The faint scent of peach perfume drifting up.
I can feel my own body heating up more and more.
—No, let’s just say it plainly.
—I’m getting turned on. Seriously.
“Asami-san? Isn’t your face kind of red?”
“Huh? Ah, maybe it’s hot in here.”
“Hmm.”
Give me a break, seriously.
Mid-twenties, and getting worked up just from holding hands, there’s no way I can admit that. Getting turned on this easily, like some hormonal middle schooler — pathetic.
“…Were you thinking something weird again?”
Hanamori mutters it right by my ear, and my face heats up even further.
“Th-that’s not, I wasn’t—”
“Fufu, yeah, yeah, got it.”
Hanamori laughs softly and pulls my hand along, walking on, unbothered.
By the time we leave the aquarium, it’s already dim outside.
Holding hands again, we head toward a café bar Hanamori found on Isosuta.
A hidden-gem kind of place tucked in a back alley, only a handful of seats. Muted-tone dried flowers and old foreign books decorate the walls.
Low tables, relaxed sofa seating, a stylish little spot.
We’re shown in and sit down on the plush sofa seats. Hanamori naturally leans in close beside me. Shoulders and thighs touching, point-blank range.
“What do you want to drink?”
Hanamori peeks at the menu, her hand resting lightly on my arm. My heart gives a small thud.
“Cocktails, I never really get them.”
“Same. Too many kinds.”
“Right? So I always just end up with beer.”
“You really are always just beer, Asami-san. You’ll gain weight.”
“Quiet. It’s fine, it’s delicious.”
“That’s way too fast a recovery.”
Hanamori cackles, patting my arm lightly. That gesture, cute all over again.
In the end, I order a shandygaff, beer-based, and Hanamori orders a Kitty, for the flimsy reason that “the name’s cute.”
“Today was fun.”
“You weren’t looking at the tanks at all, Asami-san.”
“…I—I was looking.”
“Liar. Didn’t you take a photo of my profile during the dolphin show?”
“Ugh, th-that was…”
Hanamori giggles. This one really doesn’t let up, teasing me like this. Infuriating.
Maybe because I ordered something a little stronger, the alcohol hits pleasantly.
I steal glances at Hanamori’s profile. Long lashes rising and falling slowly with each blink. Her slightly full pink lips sipping her cocktail slowly.
Then, as the cocktail slides down her throat, she licks her lips slowly. Her smooth, pink tongue, glossy.
Maybe it’s the alcohol, but every gesture, every expression of Hanamori’s feels erotic.
After talking for a while, I glance at my phone on impulse.
Already past nine at night.
“What should we do after this?”
Hanamori asks quietly, watching me.
“Eh? Ah, second spot, huh. I don’t really know this area that well—”
I say that, scrolling my phone to look for another place.
Hanamori takes the phone out of my hand and sets it down on the table.
“That’s not what I meant—”
She places her hand on my knee, just like that. Slender fingers. Pale hand. The warmth of Hanamori’s hand seeps slowly into my knee.
“Eh?”
I turn toward her, and her face is right there. Close enough our noses could touch.
Glossy, melting eyes stare straight at me. Like a puppy. And yet her flushed, reddened cheeks are unbearably sultry.
“I want to go to your place, Asami-san.”
Thud, thud, thud — I can feel my heartbeat racing abnormally fast.