Episode 14: Aquarium
I stared at my phone screen, hesitating for just a moment.
(I should send it — that I’ll go.)
I’d already made up my mind, and yet my fingers wouldn’t move.
Going somewhere with someone other than Honoka — I still wasn’t quite used to the idea.
But there was no point hovering.
I let out a small breath and typed the words into the screen.
【I’ll come to the aquarium.】
The moment I hit send, the read receipt appeared, and a reply came back within seconds.
【So glad! Can’t wait!】
Simple words, but Shiori’s happiness came through clearly enough.
Something about that brightness made me feel, somehow, relieved.
I sent 【When shall we go?】, Shiori suggested a time straight away, and after a few exchanges back and forth, the date was decided.
(…The aquarium.)
Honoka and I had been to all kinds of places together, but an aquarium had never come up, as it happened.
Which meant there were no memories of Honoka there yet.
— Maybe that’s why it’s all right.
A place where I won’t feel her shadow.
With Shiori, I might be able to take my mind off things, at least a little.
I let out a small breath and closed the screen.
The day came.
I arrived at the aquarium entrance a little early.
Usually, when we had somewhere to be, Honoka was the one who got there first.
But today was different.
(Shiori… doesn’t look like she’s here yet.)
I checked the time on my phone.
There was still plenty of time before we were supposed to meet.
I looked around idly.
Families and couples chatted happily as they streamed through the entrance, one after another.
With Honoka, even in a crowd like this, she would simply have been there at my side, as naturally as breathing.
But today was different.
(…It feels strange.)
Something stirred deep inside me at the unfamiliarity.
But it wasn’t an unpleasant stirring, exactly.
“Nanase-san, sorry to keep you waiting.”
A familiar voice made me look up. Shiori was coming toward me at a half-jog.
Different from her usual uniform — a simple dress.
Something about it felt unexpectedly fresh.
“No, I just got here too.”
My reply came out a little stiff.
“Shall we go in then?”
“Yeah.”
The automatic doors slid open.
Cool air brushed across my skin, and soft music drifted into my ears.
The moment we stepped inside, a world of blue opened up before us.
On the other side of a vast tank, countless fish moved slowly through the water.
Light filtering down from the surface scattered and shifted, making something dreamlike of the scene.
“…Beautiful.”
The word slipped out without thinking, and Shiori gave a small laugh beside me.
“Do you like aquariums, Nanase-san?”
“…Yeah, I mean, I don’t dislike them.”
Now that I thought about it, it had been a long time since I’d been to one.
“I’m glad. I quite like quiet places like this too.”
Shiori’s voice was calm, and it settled something in me.
“Hey, that fish has a funny face.”
“…It does.”
We traded easy words like that and walked slowly through the building.
Watching the penguins glide through the water. Being caught by the ethereal glow of the jellyfish.
The time passed more gently than I’d expected. Quietly.
(…The notifications.)
I slipped my hand into my pocket without thinking.
I took out my phone and was about to check the screen — and stopped.
It wasn’t that I was expecting anything in particular.
Just habit, reaching without thinking.
But in that moment I realised.
I’m still thinking about Honoka.
My grip on the phone tightened.
(…I’m keeping my distance. That’s why.)
I told myself that and turned off the screen.
I watched the display go dark, and then let out a quiet breath.
“Nanase-san?”
Shiori’s voice reached me.
I looked up. She was watching me, a small worry in her eyes.
“Is something wrong?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
I shook my head.
“Okay. Good.”
Shiori smiled gently and fell back into step beside me.
“Shall we head to the next area?”
I gave a small nod.