Fourteenth Period: Night Aquarium

It had been a week since the sleepover at Char's place.

Having completed a moderately big event in my life—going to a girl's house (a teacher's house, no less)—I'd been spending my days feeling strangely restless.

I'd hung out with Char two more times since then, and I tried to act like normal, but...

“J-just a little bit more! I-I want to hang out with you a little more!”

Why did I say that back then?

“When we're alone, I want you to call me ‘Char,’ okay?”

And what did that word even mean?

Thoughts like that kept swirling around and around in my head—...

"What is this?"

"Oh, Kumakuro!"

"Yes! Very cute!"

Char's voice suddenly brought me back to reality.

I glanced toward the teacher's desk, where Char was happily holding up the Kumakuro plushie dangling from her phone.

We were in class right now. Her class. I needed to focus and listen.

"But, crane machine is difficult! I can almost get it... umm, oh my God!"

As Char used gestures to explain the difficulty of the crane game, the class burst into laughter.

It was a little embarrassing that what happened when I went to the arcade with her was being used in a lesson, but...

(Sensei seems really happy today.)

When Char first started, she was stiff with nerves, but now, smiles were starting to bloom on her face.

I was happy about that change, and as I watched her teach, my gaze lingered.

"Um, Atsuto-kun?"

"...Huh?"

I snapped out of it and answered, only to find the girl in the seat in front of me looking troubled, a handout in her hand.

"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were asleep."

"Ah... ah, sorry."

I took the handout and let out a small sigh.

Damn it. I'm way too distracted...

＊＊＊＊＊

A few days later.

After getting home from school, I changed into my loungewear and flopped onto my bed.

The clock beside me showed a little past five in the afternoon.

Usually, this was the time I'd get an invitation to hang out, but Char apparently had an errand today.

"...Guess I'll do homework."

Just as I muttered that and tried to sit up, the door to my room flew open with a bang.

"Nee-chan, knock."

"Oh, sorry—... Wait, Atsuto?!"

My older sister, Akane, immediately jumped back when she saw me.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing, it's just that you're usually not home yet at this hour... What about your part-time?"

"Day off. So, did you need something?"

"Oh, r-right... I was thinking of borrowing a manga..."

"Go study. You're a high school senior getting ready for exams."

"I am studying! Even college applicants need a break, damn it!"

She retorted, then started rummaging through my bookshelf.

"Ah, I'll take this one. Speaking of which, Atsuto."

"Hm?"

When I turned back toward the bookshelf, Akane was wearing a strangely serious expression.

"—Something happened, didn't it?"

My heart thumped in my chest at her solemn tone.

"N-nothing happened."

"Don't be silly. You're just sitting around looking all complicated, not even going out to play."

She declared that, then made a thoughtful, humming face.

"I know! It's romance! Is it finally time for Atsuto to have one of those moments...? Come on, Big Sis is here, spill the beans!"

"Pointless to tell you. You go to an all-girls school."

When I dismissed her with my usual killer line, Akane suddenly put her hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing.

"You didn't deny the 'romance' part..."

"Tch!"

She was baiting me?!

"Get out! I'm going out to play!"

"Got it!"

Akane skipped out of the room with a smug look on her face.

Falling for such a simple trap... I really am out of it lately.

I changed from my loungewear into a T-shirt and jeans and headed out.

When I'm like this, the best thing to do is go out and play until I clear my head.

Since there aren't many places to hang out around my house, I took the train two stops to In'ōji Station.

"—...Huh?"

As I exited the station, a familiar figure immediately came into view.

"...Benika?"

She was sitting on the fountain ledge in front of the station, legs crossed, fiddling with her phone.

With that short, reddish hair... it had to be Benika. But for some reason, she was surrounded by three guys.

Given the situation, it was probably a pick-up attempt.

But with her strong personality, she'd probably just brush them off quickly—

"Ah! Atsuto—!"

Benika suddenly raised her voice, then started waving her hand frantically toward me.

When I pointed to myself, she shot me a sharp look that seemed to say, "Get over here now."

...I think I know why she called me.

"O-oh. Sorry to keep you waiting... Whoa?!"

As soon as I rushed over, Benika immediately linked her arm through mine and started rubbing her head against my shoulder.

Ugh, what is this, perfume? She smells really good...!

"Finally! My darling boyfriend-y! ♡"

"W-wait, I'm not your boyfriend... Iiiick?!"

Just as I was about to deny being her boyfriend, she fiercely pinched my thigh.

Ah, fine! She wants me to play along!

"O-oh, Benika-p... W-what are we g-gonna do today?"

As I said that, enduring the shame, the guys around us started walking away, saying things like, "What the, she had a boyfriend?" and "Ugh, I hate girls who use 'P' like that..."

"...Whew. They're gone. And I don't usually use 'P'!"

"Um, Benika? Your arm..."

When I subtly pointed it out, Benika realized and quickly pulled her arm away from mine.

"W-why are you still clinging to me?!"

"You're the one who wouldn't let go, you idiot!"

"Anyway, 'Benika-p'... Pffft... What, is that a new kind of strawberry?"

This girl! I played the boyfriend role for her, and now she's just making fun of me?!

"I-I'm not helping you again!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry! When I'm alone, stuff like that happens all the time. You saved me, thanks!"

Benika clapped her hands together and gave me a sharp wink.

"...So. Aren't you working today?"

"Nah, I'm off. But—"

Benika trailed off, looking like she had something difficult to say. When I asked her what was up, she glanced at me.

"...A mixer, kinda?"

"A mixer?"

"Yeah. It was supposed to be from seven."

A mixer, huh? I sometimes hear about people having mixer parties with other schools, but they actually happen.

Well, it has nothing to do with me, but... wait.

"It's past seven now, though."

I pointed to the clock tower in front of the station, and Benika gave an awkward, noncommittal "Ah, yeah."

"A model friend invited me. I thought I should go for appearances, but I just wasn't feeling it. So I bailed."

"...Are you sure that's okay?"

"Eh, I was only going if I felt like it anyway. I'm sure it's fine."

Saying that, Benika casually brushed her bangs back.

If she says it's fine, it probably is. But...

"...Aren't you going home, then?"

When I asked, Benika looked at me once.

"—Hey, why don't we hang out, just the two of us, right now?"

"Huh?! J-just the two of us?"

I'd been hanging out with Char a lot lately, so I hadn't spent time with Daikatsu or Benika.

But just the two of us? I think this is the first time we've hung out alone...

"I told my parents I'd be home late. If I go back too early, they'll worry, right?"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. So, what should we do?"

She looked at me with an expectant gaze that seemed to say, I'm waiting for your wonderful suggestion!

Even with eyes like that, the options for hanging out are pretty limited.

"Uh, bowling?"

"Not really in the mood."

"Darts. Or karaoke."

"Not feeling those either."

"...A movie?"

"No way. That's a date. Got anything else?"

"Ugh, fine! Then you pick!"

When I threw up my hands, Benika groaned "Hmm," looked around, and then let out a small "Ah!"

"How about the aquarium?"

"The aquarium?! That's way more like a date!"

"Is it? I don't know, I feel like my body is craving some peace and quiet rather than, like, a 'yeah!' kind of vibe. Come on, it'll be fine. You look bored."

"Well, I am bored, but still—"

"Okay, it's settled then!"

Benika cut off my protest and stood up.

She didn't seem to be teasing me this time.

"What are you spacing out for? Let's go."

"O-oh, right..."

Calm down. This is just hanging out, right?

But, an aquarium.

...Yeah, this definitely feels like a date.

＊＊＊＊＊

—And so, after that winding path of indecision, we walked for about ten minutes.

The place we arrived at was the aquarium located on the rooftop of the building directly connected to the station.

I'd been here once before on a field trip in elementary school, but not since.

"Wow. It's pretty crowded for a weekend night."

The entrance had a line of people buying tickets, and since it was nighttime, most of them were couples.

"Speaking of which, aren't there a lot of couples?"

Benika seemed to have noticed the same thing, muttering as we stood in line.

"...There are."

"Does that mean people think we're one of them?"

S-stop it. I was trying not to mention that!

"H-how should I know!"

I replied, feeling my cheeks flush hot, and Benika just muttered, "I see."

"Eek!"

For some reason, she grabbed my right hand tightly and intertwined her slender fingers with mine.

"H-hey, what the—!"

I tried to pull my hand away, but Benika just squeezed harder and gave me a sly, impish grin.

"Oh, are you nervous?"

"N-no, I'm not! And why the sudden change?!"

"Just playing 'couple' for fun! The first one to let go out of embarrassment has to buy dinner afterward. What do you say? Isn't that fun?"

It's not fun! Coming up with weird games like that...!

Seriously, she's totally messing with me. She's been grinning the whole time.

"F-fine! Just so you know, I'm not losing. Thanks for the meal."

I replied with deliberate confidence. Caught off guard, Benika showed a brief look of surprise, then immediately threw a challenging smile back at me.

"H-hmph. Then it's a deal. Let's go in like this!"

"O-okay. I'm not losing!"

Sparks flying between us, we bought our tickets at the vending machine.

Stepping through the automatic doors, we were greeted by a damp background music that evoked the deep sea, and the only light sources were the tanks, making the area dim.

"Wow, amazing! There are so many!"

Benika's eyes sparkled like a child's at the colorful fish swimming in the gigantic tank.

And, of course, her hand was still clasped tightly around mine.

Honestly, I was nervous, but more than that, I was captivated by the magnificent sight before my eyes.

"Whoa... th-this is incredible!"

"Hey, Atsuto! Look! This one is so cute!"

"Woah?!"

Benika yanked my arm.

Where she was looking intently, countless slender fish were poking their heads out of the sand.

"Yeah, they are kind of cute. What are they called?"

"'Spotted garden eels,' it says! I'm gonna buy a souvenir later! ...Oh, Atsuto!"

Benika pulled my hand again, leading me toward a different tank.

She was looking at a fish resting motionlessly in the shadow of a rock while others swam leisurely around it.

"Pfft... Doesn't that one look like you?!"

"Does it?"

"See, that vacant look, mouth slightly open, looking bored... that's you in class... Pffft."

"I look that clueless in class?!"

As I stared in surprise, Benika couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.

I thought I'd be too nervous to enjoy the aquarium while holding hands with Benika.

But because she was acting so normal, my tension slowly started to ease.

...In that way, we continued along the corridor, admiring the various fish.

Then, we came to an area named the 'Jellyfish Space.'

And when we stepped inside—

"Whoa..." "Amazing, so pretty..."

What greeted us were numerous small jellyfish swimming in a large tank.

Glowing white in the darkness, they looked like stars twinkling in the night sky, even though they were underwater.

Benika, who had been squealing at the cute fish just moments ago, was now gazing at the scene with a dreamy look.

"It's beautiful, Atsuto."

"Yeah, it is."

As we watched the tank, one particularly small jellyfish drifted toward Benika and began to float gently in place.

"Hehe, look. Cute."

Benika spun her index finger around, as if playing with the jellyfish.

My heart gave a huge thump at the sight of her profile, smiling, illuminated by the blue light.

Was this the magic of the aquarium?

—Because, just for a moment, I thought Benika was cute.

"You know, it suddenly makes you remember things."

Benika, who had stopped playing with the jellyfish, suddenly muttered.

"Remember what?"

"Do you remember? That field trip in the fourth grade."

How could I forget?

That was the day Benika and I became friends.

"Yeah, I remember."

It's hard to believe now, but there was a time when Benika refused to go to school.

It lasted for about a year and a half.

From the spring of third grade until the day before the fourth-grade field trip.

Benika was originally a shy kid, the type who would read a book alone in the corner of the classroom while everyone else was having fun with their friends.

"I actually planned to skip the field trip, too. But my mom kept nagging me, saying, 'You absolutely have to go.' So I went reluctantly."

I nodded once, and Benika continued, her eyes distant with nostalgia.

"Field trips are team activities, right? So, me, the one who suddenly showed up just for the field trip, I totally stood out... It was honestly tough. ...But, you know,"

Benika took a small, quiet breath.

"You were the one who kept talking to me, the one who was all alone!"

She turned back, a wide, bright smile on her face.

"Oh, that was... well..."

I scratched my slightly flushed cheek, fumbling for words.

"You weren't even in the same group, but you talked to me and tried so hard to make me laugh, and I was so happy. Because you were there, I was able to go back to school the next day, you know?"

The hand I was holding with Benika's was starting to feel clammy with sweat.

The beating of my own heart sounded unusually loud.

"That's why," Benika murmured. "—Ever since that day, you've been a special person to me, and I hope we can become an even more special relationship from now on."

She said it quickly, but she looked straight into my eyes.

"Wha—?!"

What did she mean by an even more special relationship?!

Could it be... is she confessing to me?!

H-hold on a second. We just came here to hang out as friends today, didn't we?

"...Benika."

Steeling myself, I opened my mouth to speak—

"And you lose!"

"............Huh?"

Benika happily raised her fist, then pointed at my right hand.

Damn it! My hand had let go!

"Ahahaha! Mission accomplished!"