“Now for the big trick! Here we go!”

Following the trainer’s signal, the dolphins made a big jump. Then, creating a large splash, they gracefully dove back into the water.

“Whoa! The dolphins are amazing!”

Next to me was Yuji-sama, watching the dolphins with sparkling eyes. It was an age-appropriate reaction, very much like a high school student.

“Wow! Hibari, your choice of the aquarium was really good!”

“Thank you very much.”

Yuji-sama became absorbed in watching the dolphins once again.

“…”

The reason I’d chosen the aquarium as our outing destination…

That was… because I had come to an aquarium before, long ago.

It remained vividly etched in my memory.

I had an older sister, two years my senior.

Our personalities were complete opposites.

Unlike me, who had no friends and spent holidays always at home, my sister was bright and popular. She was someone who was always playing with others.

On one such holiday, when our parents were busy and it was just my sister and me alone from morning…

“Hey, Hibari~ Want to go to the aquarium?”

“The aquarium? Why?”

“Hmm, because I felt like going? Let’s go then!”

“Eh, wait…”

My sister’s usual whims to which I was always dragged along by.

This time too, I was made to prepare as she wished and was taken outside.

“I have to hold the cute Hibari’s hand so we don’t get separated~”

“I’m already in middle school…”

“That doesn’t matter~”

Until we reached the aquarium and even after we entered the aquarium, my sister kept holding my hand the entire time.

“Look, Hibari. The fish are so pretty~”

“Yes, they are.”

“Ah, these are garden eels. They look obscene~”

“Yes, they do.”

“These are sharks! Uwah, scary~~”

“Yes, they are. Also, please keep your voice down a bit since we’re inside.”

“Ahaha~ Sorry, sorry~ Ah, it looks like there’s going to be a dolphin show! Let’s go, Hibari!”

I was pulled along by the hand again.

Splash!!

“Ooh! Amazing!!”

My sister next to me was watching the dolphins with sparkling eyes. All the other customers around us too… from their expressions to their voices, everyone seemed to be having fun.

In contrast, I was…

“Hm? What’s wrong, Hibari?”

“Nothing… Nee-chan, why did you come to the aquarium with me? Wouldn’t it have been better to come with your friends?”

Rather than me, who was expressionless and had little reaction, she would definitely have more fun with friends who were always lively—

“That’s because I wanted to come with Hibari. I want to be with Hibari. After all, I don’t have such a cute little sister anywhere else~”

She rubbed her cheek against mine. Honestly, I didn’t particularly like this kind of physical affection… but just this once, I felt somewhat happy about it.

“…But.”

“Hm?”

“The only person who would want to be with someone like me is probably just you, nee-chan…”

“Really? Hibari is cute and a good girl though~”

“…Even if I am a cute and good girl, I’m not sociable, and I always have an expressionless face, and I can’t say funny things…”

From when I was small, I had been found creepy by those around me, wasn’t understood, and was isolated.

“Well, Hibari-san does respond when you talk to her, but… she’s always expressionless, you know.” 

“Even if she’s beautiful and excellent, when there’s no reaction, it’s kind of… boring, isn’t it.” 

“If she would just smile a little, it would be easier for us to approach her.” 

“She’s like a flower on a high peak, and it feels presumptuous to even try to become friends with her…”

It was the same even after I became a middle school student. I was isolated at school.

In the end, no one would want to be with someone like me—

“Maybe Hibari doesn’t need to force herself to change?”

“…Eh?”

Unexpected words came back to me. I involuntarily stared at my sister.

“Because your nee-chan really likes Hibari just the way she is now. So~ sometimes, it might be good to wait for someone who will make Hibari happy to appear someday.”

Someone who would make me happy…

“Such a person… Nee-chan, aren’t you talking about something from picture books or games?”

“Hibari is too negative. Have more confidence in yourself. Even if it’s just a possibility like in picture books or games. Even a prince on a white horse… you can’t say it’s 100% impossible, right?”

“…That is…”

My sister smiled at me as I was unable to argue back… and shifted her gaze back to the dolphins.

“When Hibari comes to this aquarium again someday, she’ll probably be with someone she likes.”

“…Someone I like?”

“After all, you only go to aquariums with special people, right? Especially in Hibari’s case.”

“…That’s true.”

Someone like me, who had no friends and always stayed home, wouldn’t come alone to a lively place like an aquarium.

If I were to go, it would be with someone. That someone would be…

“Fufu. When that time comes, introduce them to your nee-chan too, okay?”

“I don’t think I have any such prospects.”

“I wonder about that~ Fufu. I’m looking forward to it.”

Someone who would make me happy. Such a conveniently perfect person wouldn’t appear.

They couldn’t possibly appear… or so I thought.

“That was the final triple jump! Thank you very much~”

“!”

I came back to my senses upon hearing the loud applause.

The dolphin show had ended before I knew it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a dolphin show, but it was interesting. Now, next is…”

Yuji-sama was looking at the pamphlet while standing up. Suddenly, our eyes met as I looked up at him.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Hibari?”

“…”

“?”

I was now at the aquarium with Yuji-sama.

The current situation I had just realized.

The me from back then was now at an aquarium with someone…

“…Eh?”

A voice involuntarily escaped me.

Because Yuji-sama in front of me… extended his hand.

“Did you go weak in the knees because the dolphin show was too amazing? Just kidding. Here.”

A hand larger and more rough than mine. But somehow, a hand that felt warm was extended to me.

“…Yuji-sama would suit a motorcycle better than a white horse, wouldn’t he?”

“Hm?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

I grasped that hand and stood up.

“Shall we go? And also…”

“Hm?”

“Next is the place Yuji-sama chose, right? I’m looking forward to it.”

“You bet! Leave it to me!”

Yuji-sama showed his teeth as he laughed, and I found it somewhat endearing…

“…It’s hot.”

For some reason, I felt my chest growing warm.

◇◇

“We’ve enjoyed the aquarium thoroughly… I’d like to say it’s time to leave, but… before that, is it okay if I go to the restroom? I think there should be one near this area. I’ll definitely come back right away!”

“If it’s about being hit on, you don’t need to worry about me. I can handle it by myself.”

“That’s exactly what I’m worried about when you handle it alone…”

Hibari mercilessly kicked men in the groin… Just imagining a man suffering from being kicked in the groin gave me goosebumps… but my urge to urinate was also pressing.

“Well, I’m going!”

“Please take your time.”

I hurried to the restroom. There were about three people lined up ahead of me, but with this many, my turn should come soon.

My turn came and I quickly finished my business.

“Surely there wouldn’t be any men hitting on Hibari at an aquarium… The aquarium isn’t that kind of place… No wait, this is the world of a game… And when it comes to game worlds, there’s an awful lot of picking up women!”

While thinking such things, when I went to where Hibari was waiting… my bad premonition came true.

“Seriously… are you kidding me… Hm? But is this really hitting on her…?”

In my field of vision was Hibari. And… two pairs of men and women.

The one talking to Hibari was a blonde man wearing brand-name items, who looked obviously wealthy.

“Hibari-chan, long time no see!”

That man spoke in a tone that suggested he knew Hibari.