Chapter 69: Matching Outfits

The dolphin show that both of them watched was the last performance of the day, and it also meant that it was time to go home.

In contrast to the fishes who were still swimming, the crowd of satisfied customers had thinned out, and the quiet interior was filled with pleasant background music.

「The aquarium will soon close, thank you very much for visiting.」

A female staff member announced the closure. Families, couples, groups of students, and elderly couples hurried toward the exit one after another, while Asahi and Fuyuka hurried toward another destination.

They were no longer holding hands.

It wasn’t because there were fewer people to worry about getting lost, but in short, they cooled down.

In both metaphorical and literal sense.

“I didn’t expect to get this wet even with a raincoat…”

“Mr. Dolphin was really into it… Thanks to that, we’re soaking wet.”

Asahi regretted that he should have been more careful when they took the front seat, but it was already too late.

Fuyuka, who was level-headed, seemed to be unusually absent-minded, and the two of them fell prey to the splashing water together.

The inside of his body was still warm, but the outside was sticky cold.

If he stayed like this, he might get sick but he also didn’t want to go home wet.

And most importantly, Fuyuka’s clothes―

“Fuyuka, put this on.”

“Eh…but what about you, Asahi-kun…?”

 

“Just put it on.”

 

“…Thank you very much.”

 

After somewhat forcibly handing the jacket to her, Asahi turned away from Fuyuka, who was awkwardly pulling the sleeves through, and silently hurried to their destination.

‘I can’t tell that her clothes are see-through…’

She didn’t seem to be aware of it, and the people passing by would have no way of knowing.

It was only a little, and one would have to strain their eyes to see it.

Only Asahi, who was standing next to her, caught the lovely patterned fabric through her thin, transparent spring dress.

While blushing for different reasons, they opened the door to the souvenir shop.

The purpose, of course, was to buy replacement clothes.

It was fine that they found the clothing section just before closing time but…

“…Is this all they have?”

“…It appears so.”

Asahi and Fuyuka looked at each other and made indescribable expressions at each other.

He wondered if there were only a few of them available, or if all the others had been sold. There was only one type of shirt left unsold.

Even though he was running out of time, Asahi’s thoughts and actions stopped for a moment.

If it was souvenirs, there was no need to hesitate, but what they were looking for was a change of clothes.

“…Should we?”

“…Yes. Since, we’re both soaking wet.”

“…I guess so.”

 

They quickly paid the bill and walked through the exit gate.

In the midst of all this, Asahi’s mind drifted to the image of a friendly couple who had passed him several times today.

He looked at the couple dressed in the same design of clothing, and while he was inwardly dismayed thinking he could never do that, but also a little envious.

‘I didn’t expect to do it with Fuyuka…’

Although he knew it was an accident, it was difficult not to be conscious of it.

Asahi, with his cheeks faintly burning, looked for a place where he could change his clothes with Fuyuka, who had become less talkative.

***

“…It was quite fun.”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

Unlike their rendezvous, they decided to make their way back together.

They took the train and eventually arrived at the nearest station.

In the meantime, he tried his best to keep the conversation going with his impressions of the aquarium.

However, while walking along the familiar single track road, he finally ran out of things to talk about.

“…The dolphins were amazing.”

“…I think so too.”

 

Asahi and Fuyuka were somewhat awkward, and the distance between them seemed distant.

It might be because they had calmed down and they were taking all in what they did today.

On their first date(?), they held hands. Although mistaken for a couple, they wore matching outfits.

They had no way of knowing how they felt about each other, but both of them could somehow tell that they were filled with shame.

“It’s almost time for the new school year.”

Feeling uncomfortable with the silence, Asahi suddenly said something bland.

Fuyuka also responded in the same manner, but the conversation didn’t last long as they could already see the apartment in front.

“Thank you for today.”

 

“Likewise, it was fun.”

 

“I hope you’ll invite me again.”

“Y-yeah… Of course.”

He was dazzled by the cute smile that appeared on her face when they parted.

Her casual expression and words made him fall in love with her all over again.

And then―

“It would be nice if we were to be in the same class.”

After saying that, Fuyuka disappeared behind the door.

Asahi also turned the key to his house and muttered, “I’m home.”

Of course, no one replied “welcome back” to him.

He didn’t particularly feel lonely about that, but he wondered why he felt a little empty.

‘We were together a moment ago, yet.’

‘We’ll meet at school, and yet.’

‘Is it strange that I want to see her already?’

“…I think so too.” 

In the lone space, Asahi threw himself down on the sofa and muttered.

The hand that he held Fuyuka with.

His skin that touched the matching shirt he bought with Fuyuka.

Fuyuka’s adorable figure that was burned into his eyes.

The heat rising along with his overflowing love.

‘What should I do with this uncontrollable feeling?’

The answer was simple in every way, but the path to the correct answer seemed very difficult.