Episode 15: Matching
After wandering through the exhibits for a while, I suddenly noticed I was hungry.
As if on cue, Shiori made a suggestion.
“Shall we get lunch?”
“…Yeah.”
I glanced around as we walked.
Visitors were drifting toward the food area in increasing numbers, the atmosphere around them light and easy.
“Is there anything you feel like eating?”
“Hmm…”
I hadn’t thought about it, so I took a moment.
“I was thinking it’d be nice to eat at the aquarium restaurant while we’re here — what do you think?”
“…That sounds good.”
We checked the map together and made our way to the restaurant inside.
When we sat down and opened the menus, most of the dishes were seafood.
“What are you having?”
“Hmm… this prawn tomato cream pasta looks good.”
“That’s what you’ll go with?”
“Yeah. What about you, Shiori?”
“I think I’ll have the fluffy seafood omurice.”
After we ordered, we settled in and waited for the food to arrive.
Before long, freshly made dishes were set down in front of us.
The fragrant smell of the sauce drifted up, and my appetite sharpened.
“Nanase-san, this is so good. Do you want to try some?”
Shiori scooped up a spoonful of her omurice and held it out toward me.
“Eh…?”
I faltered without thinking.
“Say aah.”
Shiori smiled lightly and brought the spoon to my lips.
“Come on, don’t be shy.”
I faltered even more at that.
“…This is embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry about it. Come on — say aah.”
I hesitated for a moment.
But refusing felt strange too, so I quietly opened my mouth.
…It was good.
But more than that, what I felt was something harder to name — a kind of awkward fluttering.
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After lunch, we made our way to the gift shop.
The shelves were lined with exclusive merchandise, and the shop was busy with other visitors. Colourful fish plushies and keyrings were arranged in rows, filling the space with the particular atmosphere of an aquarium.
“Limited-edition things from places like this always feel a bit special, don’t they.”
Shiori picked up a soft dolphin plushie and laughed, enjoying herself.
“…They do.”
I gave a vague murmur of agreement and browsed through the penguin and sea lion merchandise.
“Nanase-san, isn’t this cute?”
What Shiori held out was a small penguin plushie. Its rounded shape and tiny round eyes were endearing.
“…It is cute.”
The words came out before I thought about them, and Shiori gave a small laugh.
“Then shall we get matching ones?”
“Matching…?”
I hesitated for a moment at her suggestion.
Honoka and I had bought matching things a few times before. But buying something matching with anyone other than Honoka — this would be a first.
The moment I realised that, a faint, unsettled feeling bloomed somewhere deep in my chest.
It was awkward, and a little ticklish — but not unpleasant.
Sharing a memory like this with someone other than Honoka felt new, and left me with a faintly strange sensation.
“…Okay.”
When I nodded, Shiori’s lips curved just slightly, and she picked up the penguin plushie with a satisfied look and headed for the till.
After paying, she took the bag, held it close for a moment, then turned to me with a contented smile.
“This feels like a good memento, doesn’t it.”
“…It does.”
When I placed the small plushie in the palm of my hand, its soft texture travelled through my fingertips.
It was there, solid and real — the shape of today’s memory.