Translator: Haruto.
“And now, the highlight of today’s show!!”
At their caretaker’s signal, the dolphins jump high in the air. And then, with a huge splash of water, they return to the water.
“Ohhh! Dolphins are freaking sick!”
I glance at Yuuji-sama who is sitting by my side and looking at the dolphins with sparkling eyes. His reaction truly befits someone of his age.
“Man, I’m so happy you chose the aquarium, Hibari.”
“I’m delighted to hear that.”
Yuuji-sama returns his attention to the dolphins.
“…”
The reason why I picked the aquarium as our first destination was… because I had come here long, long ago, and the memories of that visit remained vividly in my memory.
I have a sister who is two years older than me.
Her personality is the exact opposite of mine.
Unlike me, who had no friends and spent my holidays holed up in our house, my sister was a cheerful, outgoing girl. She was always out somewhere, hanging out with someone.
And on a certain holiday, when our parents were busy and it was just my sister and I…
“Hey, Hibari! Wanna go to the aquarium?”
“The aquarium? Why?”
“Hmmm… I just got the urge to go there! Let’s go!!”
“Huh? Wai—”
Once again, my sister wanted to drag me along on one of her whims. And once again, I let myself go with the flow, got ready, and went out with her.
“I wouldn’t want my cute little Hibari to get lost, so let’s hold hands, okay?”
“I’m already in middle school, you know?”
“All the same!”
She held my hand all the way to the aquarium and even after we were already inside.
“Look at all those fish, Hibari! Aren’t they pretty?”
“They certainly are.”
“Ohh! Those are spotted garden eels! They’re so lewd, right?!”
“They certainly are.”
“And look! Sharks! Uwaaa! So scaryyy!!”
“Quite certainly. Just one thing, Sis. Let’s use our inside voices, okay?”
“Ahaha! Sorry, sorry! Ah! The dolphin show will be starting soon! Let’s go, Hibari!” my sister said, leading me by the hand.
Splash!
“Ohhh! So cool!” My sister admired the dolphins with sparkling eyes as she sat by my side.
You could also feel the excitement in the faces and voices of the other visitors around us.
In contrast, I…
“Hm? Is something wrong, Hibari?”
“No, um… Sis, why did you choose me to accompany you to the aquarium? Shouldn’t you have picked one of your friends to come with you instead?”
I figured that, rather than being around someone so expressionless as me, hanging out with one of her many joyful friends would have been more pleasant for her, but—
“Isn’t it obvious? I just wanted to come here with you, Hibari. I want to be with you. And I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time with such an adorable little sister as mine?!” she replied, gently rubbing my cheeks.
I’d never been a big fan of that type of skinship, however, at that moment… it made me happy.
“…But…” I mumbled.
“Hm?”
“You’re probably the only person who’ll ever want to be with someone like me.”
“You think? Even though you’re so cute and good?”
“…Yes, even if you believe I’m cute and good… I’m not very friendly, my face is always expressionless, and I can’t come up with anything interesting or fun to say…”
That was why, from a very young age, people thought of me as creepy, misunderstood me, and ostracized me.
I mean, sure, Hibari-san doesn’t ignore you when you talk to her, but like… she’s always got such a serious face on.
It doesn’t matter if she’s pretty or talented, there’s just no life on her face… It’s boring.
Being around her would be so much easier if she’d smile a little.
She’s way out of our league anyway. No point in even trying to get close to her…
Things didn’t change when I entered middle school either. I was always alone.
And so, I was convinced that if I didn’t do something, no one but her would ever want to be with a person like—
“Hibari, there’s no need to force yourself to change who you are.”
“…Huh?”
Her words took me by surprise. Without thinking, I raised my eyes to her.
“I, for one, adore the kind of girl you are right now. So, maybe you just need a bit of patience. One day, there’ll be someone who will bring color into your life.”
Someone who’ll bring color into my life…
“Sis, someone like that… only shows up in those picture books and games you like.”
“Oh, don’t be so negative, Hibari! Have a bit more confidence! Even if they usually only appear in picture books and games, the chance of a prince on a white horse coming into your life is not zero, right?”
“Well…”
Seeing me at a loss for words, my sister smiled kindly at me… and then, for a moment, glanced back at the dolphins.
“I think the next time you come here will be with someone you love…”
“…Someone I…”
“Aquariums are the kind of place you normally only visit with someone special, aren’t they? At least I don’t see you coming here otherwise.”
“I suppose… you’re right.”
A girl without friends who spent most of her time at home like me would have never thought of visiting such a lively place as an aquarium by myself.
I’d only ever go there with someone else.
And that person would have to be…
“When that day comes, I hope you’ll introduce him to me, Hibari.”
“I… I really don’t think that day will come, though.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure… Hehe… I’m already looking forward to meeting him.”
A person who’d bring color into my life.
I was certain I wouldn’t be as lucky as to meet someone like that.
I was certain of it… and yet…
“We hope you enjoyed the grand finale! Thank you for coming today!”
“Ah!”
I hear the sound of people clapping, which snaps me out of my reverie.
“I hadn’t been to a dolphin show in ages, but man, I sure enjoyed that one. Now, let’s see what comes next…” Yuuji-sama checks a brochure as he stands from his seat.
I’m looking up at the moment, and for an instant, our eyes meet.
“Hm? Is something wrong, Hibari?”
“…”
“?”
I came to the aquarium with Yuuji-sama. The reality of the situation hadn’t sunk in until now. That same awkward little girl from the past has now brought a man to the aquarium with her…
“Huh?” I mumble without thinking as Yuuji-sama stretches his hand out to me.
“Did the dolphin show impress you so much that it made you weak at the knees? Haha, I’m just kidding… Here…”
His hand is bigger and stronger than mine yet also warm and gentle…
“…Yuuji-sama, I think a motorcycle suits you better than a white horse…”
“Hm?”
“Ah, no, never mind…”
I hold his hand in mine and stand up.
“Let us go… And, by the way…”
“Yeah?”
“After the aquarium, we’ll be heading to the place you chose, won’t we? I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Glad to hear that! I’ll make sure you have a blast!” Yuuji-sama says, smiling.
And seeing that smile…
“…This warmth…”
…makes my chest feel warm.
***
“We’ve seen everything the aquarium had to offer, so I think this should be a good time to leave, but before that, do you mind if I go to the restroom really quick? There should be one nearby. I’ll be back in a sec, I promise.”
“You don’t need to worry about men hitting on me. I can deal with them…”
“Yeah, I’m more worried about how exactly you plan on ‘dealing’ with them…”
Hibari is the kind of girl who can kick a guy down there without hesitation. Just imagining the kind of pain that’d cause sends shivers down my spine… but well, when you gotta go, you gotta go.
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Take your time.”
I run to the restroom in a hurry.
I see that there are three men waiting in line. Oh well, I doubt I’ll have to wait long.
After my turn comes, I finish what I came here to do, and walk out.
”There’s no way men are going to hit on Hibari at an aquarium, right? I mean, this is just not that kind of place… Then again, this is still the world of a game… and for some weird reason, playboy wannabes lurk around every corner of this world!”
I head back to where Hibari is supposed to be waiting for me, and when I arrive… I see that my worries were right.
“Damn, you’ve got to be kidding me… But wait… are they actually hitting on her?”
Hibari is surrounded by two men… and two girls.
The guy who is currently talking to her is blond, rich-looking, and dressed in expensive stuff from head to toe.
“It’s been too long, Hibari-chan!”
And he seems to know Hibari.
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