We arrived at Shining Sun City. Kano wanted the aquarium first. Mid-summer break — packed.
“All these different fish — wonder how many species?”
She was pointing at the colorful tank. I read the placard.
“Clown anemonefish, lemonpeel angelfish, cobalt-blue damsels, regal blue tangs… plenty more.”
“Yuito — jellyfish and sharks over there!”
“Don’t run.”
She was excited like a kid. The gal styling that initially scares people, combined with the unguarded smile — quite the gap.
We were photographing as we strolled when she spotted something.
“Yuito, look — penguins!”
“They look like they’re enjoying themselves.”
The tank wrapped from the front up over our heads — we could see them from the sides, below, even through the sky. The penguins looked like they were flying.
The pamphlet called this section Penguins of the Sky — the venue’s top photo spot. Couples and families everywhere were photographing.
“Selfie together, tank as background?”
“Yes.”
“Cool, let’s.”
She switched to selfie mode and pressed up against me. Good smell — heart racing. (Keeping that to myself.) The photos came out looking like we were floating in sky or underwater — great.
“Better than I’d hoped — instant likes if I post.”
“If you post it, please sticker out my face.”
Suzuno and my brother follow her account; me visible would expose the date.
We continued exploring.
“Huh — doctor fish in aquariums too.”
“Didn’t picture that.”
“Let me try.”
She put her hand in. They swarmed her hand — they eat dead skin off submerged hands and feet — meant to be good for skin and circulation.
“No pain at all.”
“They’d be a problem if they hurt.”
Even with the cosmetic benefits, painful would be a non-starter. Kano smirked.
“Yuito’s a hardcore M though — maybe he’d enjoy painful?”
“I’m not a hardcore M. Where are you basing this?”
“Come on — you always get so delighted when I bully you.”
”…You’re a hardcore S.”
Being bullied by a gal-styled Kano would have actual market demand from a niche audience.
We made our way around the aquarium until lunch and headed to the restaurant. Crowded but seated quickly. We ordered and pulled out the pamphlet to plan after lunch.
“Dolphin show next? Timing-wise.”
“Aquarium classic. Sure.”
“Decided.”
Lunch then dolphin show.