“…Okay”

Haruka suddenly stopped, as if she had made some kind of decision.

“You’re not moving?”

I asked Haruka, but she didn’t respond…

“Come here for a second”

Being pulled by Haruka’s hand, I was taken to the opposite side from where Suzuka-san and others were.

Looking toward Suzuka-san and the others who had been waiting for me, they looked confused, though Ryou-san alone seemed to understand something.

“What… what is it?”

I was confused and asked Haruka.

After pushing through the crowd for a while, we reached a spot near the wall where there weren’t many people around.

Haruka’s face slightly reddened as she seriously stared at me.

Wondering what was going on, I looked at her when suddenly—Haruka’s right hand passed by my face and slammed into the wall.

It was a classic wall slam.

Being suddenly subjected to this, especially from someone taller than me. There was a sense of pressure, yet Haruka’s familiar face was right in front of me.

“H… Haruka…?”

Why did she suddenly do that? A wall slam?

I was confused and could only manage to call out her name.

Then, Haruka leaned closer intentionally, and the next moment, her lips overlapped with mine.

A soft sensation reached my lips.

It felt like my heart would jump out of my body.

“Uwah!?”

Along with that soft feeling, time seemed to stop.

I could faintly hear the sound of fish swimming quietly in the aquarium, while the surrounding noise felt distant.

Then Haruka parted her lips and smiled slightly shyly.

“I’ve wanted to do this ever since.”

Somehow, It felt like I was looking at a different Haruka.

“Y-you… Haruka…”

My words wouldn’t come out properly.

I could feel my heart pounding fiercely and my face heating up. The Haruka in front of me also had the same red hue on her face.

“I’m sorry for startling you. But… I’ve been holding it in for a long time.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“Umm? How should I put it~”

She smiled playfully, as if hiding her embarrassment.

“Hehe, secret!”

Haruka smiled mischievously.

I had nothing to say and just stared at her expression. Although my heart’s rhythm gradually calmed down, my mind was still in chaos.

Seeing my state, Haruka exhaled lightly.

“It’s okay, I think my feelings reached you properly.”

All I could do was nod. Her words resonated deeply within me, and the time we had spent together with her came back vividly.

Thinking that this was the case, I tried to respond properly.

“Haruka…”

The moment I started to say that, Haruka placed her index finger on my lips.

“For now, there’s no need to say anything more. This is enough.”

Her eyes sparkled, and a gentle smile appeared. Looking into those eyes, I lost my words.

“Come on, let’s go back. Suzuka-san and the others are waiting.”

Haruka took my hand again and started walking. I tightly gripped her hand as I followed along.

◆◆◆

Haruka walked alongside Amiya while thinking.

My heart is still pounding… What would have happened if he had answered then?

I might not be able to hold back these feelings, so I’ll delay the answer.

Taking a deep breath, Haruka told herself that.

Plus… I want to protect him more, take care of him, and make sure he can’t live without me…

Hehe, that sounds good too.

“What’s wrong? You look deep in thought. You’re grinning, though.”

Oh, my expression must have shown it.

“No, nothing. Come on, let’s go.”

“Yeah”

◆◆◆

“Welcome back, did you enjoy it~?”

“Yep, perfectly!”

“Oh, from the look of it, it seems like a big success.”

What does “big success” mean?

Maybe going alone with Haruka was part of the plan?

“By the way, where were you?”

I decided to ask Suzuka-san and Hiiragi-san what they had been doing.

“She said there were other things she wanted to see, so we went over there.”

“Ryou-san said she wanted to see the area over there where they have documents and skeletons on display…”

So that’s how it was.

Hmm… then the two of them weren’t in on it together…?

Well, it’s not like they’re doing anything bad, so it’s fine.

“Then, let’s go to the next area.”

Ryou-san took out a pamphlet and pointed toward the next destination. Suzuka-san and I looked in that direction.

It says “Dolphin Show”.

“Dolphin show? Not many chances to see one, so it’s exciting.”

When I said that, Ryou-san nodded with a smile.

“Yeah. The show has a set time, so we need to hurry.”

“Then, let’s go quickly!”

Suzuka-san answered cheerfully and everyone headed toward the dolphin show area.

Along the way, there were promotional posters for the dolphin show and previews of the performance, which made our anticipation even higher.

Even while talking, I glanced at Haruka but she had her usual expression as if nothing happened.

Then, when we arrived at the venue, the audience seats were already filled with many people. Fortunately, I found an empty seat in a good front position and sat there.

“Oh, I’m glad we found seats with a good view.”

“Yeah.”

“But isn’t this the spot where the water splashes a lot?”

“You’re right. Ah, looks like they lend out kappa (rain ponchos).”

Where Naruse-san pointed, there was a sign reading “Kappa rentals here,” along with an employee standing beside it. You could see the kappa being handed out, and a rack with colorful ones was set up there as well.

“Well, since we’re here, let’s rent one.”

Ryou-san suggested it, and Suzuka-san nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, getting wet would be troublesome.”

I agreed with that opinion, and everyone headed toward the kappa rental. Taking turns receiving kappa and putting them on, I felt like I was part of the show itself by wearing one.

“Now that we’re prepared, let’s look forward to it!”

Haruka said that with sparkling eyes, then walked toward the front of the venue with a smile. I was drawn in by that expression and felt my excitement rising. Inside, the anticipation for the show that was about to begin was spreading.

Then gradually, the venue got darker and the stage lights turned on.

The dolphins inside the aquarium swam energetically, and the trainers were preparing on the stage. The dolphins seemed excited too, occasionally jumping to entertain the audience.

“It’s finally starting.”

Ryou-san said, and Suzuka-san and I nodded as well. Haruka and Hiiragi-san also seriously looked at the pool where the dolphins were.

When the show started, the dolphins performed graceful jumps and tricks in response to the trainers’ signals, filling the venue with cheers and applause. The audience’s eyes were fixed on the dolphins’ skillful performances.

Wow. Are they really following instructions that precisely?

The dolphin passed through the rings one after another under the trainer’s instructions.

Water splashed everywhere, and even though we were wearing kappa, sometimes water would get us, but it felt like part of the fun experience.

Then, when the show ended and the dolphins gave their final greetings in the aquarium, the audience’s applause filled the venue.

We all clapped and immersed ourselves in the afterglow of the show.

“It was fun!”

Suzuka-san said with a full smile, and Ryou-san nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. I didn’t expect them to coordinate so perfectly.”

Hiiragi-san exclaimed in amazement.

Haruka also smiled similarly.

I felt the same way and thought we had truly enjoyed ourselves.

“Now, what should we do next?”