「Did you know that it’s difficult to keep dumbo octopuses in captivity?」
「Heeh.」
「That’s why it’s rare to see them in aquariums.」
「Heeh.」
「Are you even listening?」
「I’m familiar with rarer things.」
Like a life-sized lump of meat.
Perhaps because they inhabit the deep sea, they’re sensitive to light and such, hence the dimly lit space.
I direct an indistinct smile at the lump of meat, or rather, Kusakabe Nanaka, standing next to me.
She tilts her head in wonder, but from my perspective, she’s far rarer than a dumbo octopus.
Dumbo octopuses apparently can’t survive long in the controlled environment of an aquarium, but unfortunately, the lump of meat that should have sustained fatal injuries countless times has been alive for months in this world, or rather, for over a decade, defying every law of nature.
Could it be a monster? It was a monster.
I’ve become so desensitized that even reading something like “World’s Mysterious Creatures Encyclopedia” wouldn’t surprise me. After all, transcendent beings are just casually roaming around.
「They’re really cute, aren’t they?」
「Yeah.」
「I’d like to take a photo, but it’s prohibitedー.」
Nanaka takes out the pamphlet from the bag slung over her shoulder (or what seems like a shoulder) and shrugs (or seems to shrug) in disappointment. If she had a face, her eyes would probably be narrowed in regret.
「Well, some things are meant to be remembered, not recorded.」
「That’s a romantic line. I wouldn’t have expected it from Adashino-san.」
「Are you mocking me?」
「No, no, no! It’s just a prejudice formed from your usual behavior.」
If it had been Kusakabe Yuna next to me instead──though I’d rather not go out with a zombie. The same goes for a lump of meat──she would have probably said something sharp like, “That’s quite a romantic line. Did you look it up online before leaving the house?”.
Even though they’re sisters, their personalities differ. The difference is also evident in their appearances. Saying “to each their own” seems like too many colors.
We continued walking hand in hand through the dimly lit corridors.
After a few minutes, the chills subsided, and now there’s no sign of goosebumps.
Then, as we reached a corner in a corridor wide enough for about three adults to walk side by side, the space suddenly expanded overwhelmingly, and we both couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of a giant tank that came into view.
「Ohh.」
「It’s a whale shark…」
「It’s big.」
「Indeed, there are only a few aquariums in Japan that exhibit them. Being the largest fish species in the world, inhabiting coastal and open waters from temperate to tropical zones worldwide… seeing it swim so majestically before our eyes is truly breathtaking.」
「Did you have Wikipedia for breakfast?」
「Just buttered toast, normally.」
「Ah, I see.」
Nanaka suddenly started speaking fluently.
It seems to slightly exceed the level of general knowledge.
Could she possibly like fish?
If you only hear that a lump of meat likes fish, only grotesque scenes come to mind.
「It’s really big…」
「It’s like a fantasy.」
「It’s like the fish are blooming like brave flowers. Although it’s called a “shark”, the whale shark is a very gentle creature that eats small crustaceans and plankton. That’s why it’s safe to let other fish swim with it. Look. In the dim aquarium, see how the colorful fish are flying through the water, which is like their sky. This is truly a “dark willows, bright flowers”.」
「Did you read a novel with vivid nature descriptions before bed last night?」
「No, I was just reading a shoujo manga.」
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「Ah, I see.」
Nanaka has truly become loquacious.
Even the clearly mismatched image of a lump of meat casually reading shoujo manga seemed natural.
By the way, it’s not spring right now, so using “dark willows, bright flowers” slightly changes its meaning, but even that seemed irrelevant.
「Come to think of it, you don’t like meat or fish, right?」
「That’s right.」
「Is it because you like fish not as food but as living creatures?」
「I’ve never thought about it… but that might be the case.」
I’ve gained another piece of Kusakabe Nanaka trivia.
It’s not only unnecessary, but I want to erase it from my hippocampus immediately.
While allocating brain resources to her aquarium trivia, we continue to tour the aquarium, still holding hands.
「Aquariums are designed with careful consideration of the flow of movement. It’s fun to go around while paying attention to these details.」
「Heeh.」
「The space arrangement is different in aquariums located in urban or suburban areas. It’s interesting to focus on the size of the show exhibits.」
「Ah, the food court.」
「It’s about lunchtime, isn’t it?」
「What do you want to eat?」
「Let’s go with that.」
By the time we fully enjoyed the aquarium and stepped outside, the surroundings were already turning red, and we realized we had spent quite a bit of time there.
If I had been alone, I would have quickly rushed through it. But somehow, because my friend, the lump of meat, acted like a staff member, it turned out to be a meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Facing Nanaka, who is stretching her tentacles in the fresh air, I express a few words of gratitude.
「…What’s wrong?」
「What?」
「If Adashino-san is being this straightforward, I thought it might rain spears tomorrow.」
「At least lightning will strike.」
「Just kidding.」
Fufufu, Nanaka spun elegantly with a smile, pinched the shoulder strap of the bag slung over her shoulder, and pointed a tentacle at me.
「Actually, I like aquariums.」
「I know.」
「…How did you find out?」
「Did you really think it wasn’t obvious?」
After behaving like she had a staff member living in her head.
We faced each other, exposing our profiles to the setting sun.
A subtle atmosphere hung between us.
However, it was by no means awkward, but rather a comfortable silence.
It’s strange to feel comfortable being with a lump of meat.
「That’s why I’m glad I could come with Adashino-san today.」
「I see.」
「Fufufu, thank you. It’s a memory of a lifetime.」
「I see.」
As expected, since we were outside, our hands were separated. Although they were separated, the sense of distance remained almost the same as before.
In other words, the situation was still dangerous and risky in terms of SAN value, but my state of mind wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, and the walk to the station was enjoyable.