After entering the exhibition hall, the bright light gradually dimmed until it was completely blocked out.
Instead, the blue-toned lighting inside the venue took over as the primary source of illumination.
Standing beneath the transparent acrylic glass of the underwater tunnel was truly a breathtaking experience—at least, that's how it felt for Kazusa.
She looked around at the vast blue world that surrounded her from all sides—above, below, and to the sides.
She watched as deep-sea creatures, which typically lived in the ocean's depths, now swam gracefully around her as if they were within reach.
She watched as sunlight refracted through the water, casting brilliant colors upon their shimmering scales.
The sheer beauty and grandeur of nature left her in awe, her eyes sparkling as she gazed upon the scene with genuine admiration.
Beside her, Chisato patiently explained the names, habits, and dietary preferences of various marine creatures, referring to the information boards placed along the tunnel.
Hand in hand, the two of them continued forward, naturally arriving at the dolphin performance hall.
The show inside seemed to have already begun, as occasional splashes, gasps of amazement, and applause could be heard from within.
After confirming Kazusa's thoughts, Chisato led her inside.
The dolphin arena was packed with spectators, mostly families with children. Large signs were prominently displayed, reminding visitors not to use flash photography.
Even though there were no available seats, Kazusa was still eager and dragged her boyfriend to a less crowded spot where they could watch the adorable dolphins in action.
Following the trainers' instructions, the dolphins performed various tricks—hitting balls high into the air with incredible accuracy, rolling over playfully in the water, and leaping high above the surface.
Kazusa wore a bright smile throughout the show, occasionally clapping softly in delight. She even took a short video, making it clear that she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
However, since entering the dolphin exhibit, her coughing had become noticeably more frequent.
During an intermission, when the trainer on stage called for volunteers to feed the dolphins, Chisato gently placed his hand on Kazusa's forehead, concerned.
A person's palm couldn't measure temperature as precisely as a thermometer, but even so, he could vaguely tell that Kazusa's forehead felt warmer than before—this wasn't looking good.
"To be honest, the only real highlights of the aquarium are the underwater tunnel we just saw and this dolphin show. Why don't we head straight home after this?"
Chisato held both of Kazusa's hands, bringing them close before placing a gentle kiss on them.
His tone was so soft and affectionate that it felt like he was coaxing a little child.
Kazusa couldn't help but chuckle at seeing this rare side of her boyfriend. She understood that he was only acting this way because he was worried about her.
She didn't want to make him worry, but she also didn't want to end their date so soon—especially when she had already noticed other exhibits she wanted to visit.
For instance, the penguin exhibit in Zone B.
The fluffy little creatures looked absolutely adorable in the promotional images.
She found them irresistibly cute, and since they were already here, she didn't want to miss the chance to see them.
So, she shook her head and negotiated,
"At the very least, can we go see the penguins first before heading back?"
Chisato reached out once more, touching her forehead and comparing it against his own. After confirming that their temperatures weren't drastically different, he relented with a nod.
Kazusa, satisfied with his response, tiptoed and planted a light kiss on the side of his face.
Then, she quickly turned back toward the stage, her lips curving into a joyful smile.
Since they had been standing in the back of the dolphin arena near the exit, they were able to leave immediately as soon as the performance ended.
As they made their way toward Zone B's entrance hall, Kazusa gradually slowed her pace.
Following her gaze, Chisato looked over and saw a grand piano. An elderly man was playing it, while a young child—possibly his grandchild—stood beside him.
In busy public spaces, businesses often arranged with event organizers to set up small designated areas—not for sales but for brand promotion and display.
Aside from the piano, the Zone B entrance also featured wooden furniture displays and exhibits for new energy vehicles.
Kazusa's pace slowed further until she finally stopped completely.
The piece the elderly man was playing was a famous composition by Joe Hisaishi—Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
From Chisato's perspective, the old man's technique was decent—flawless but not particularly outstanding.
So, if Kazusa was captivated by this moment, it wasn't because of his playing skills—it had to be something else.
Perhaps it was the way the elderly man and the child beside him smiled so sincerely, so purely, as they played and listened.
Neither of them was concerned with the outside world.
They were simply immersed in their own moment—free and unrestrained.
Chisato tilted his head slightly, studying Kazusa's expression.
She was watching intently, seemingly lost in thought, as if recalling something from her past.
As the piece concluded, the elderly man stood up, took the child's hand, and the two of them walked off toward another part of the aquarium, chatting happily.
The black-and-white piano was now left unoccupied.
At that moment, Kazusa's consciousness seemed to return.
"…Sorry, let's go."
She took Chisato's hand and was about to lead him toward the penguin exhibit.
But he didn't move.
Puzzled, she turned back to look at him.
Chisato smiled at her and asked,
"What were you thinking about just now?"
Kazusa hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she simply shrugged and spoke honestly about why she had been lost in thought.
"It's nothing significant. I just saw that child earlier and suddenly remembered how, when I was little, I often sat by my mom's side, listening to her play the piano."
"That must have been a very happy time, right?"
"Happy? It's hard to say. Back then, I didn't have any other hobbies, nor did I have any friends... I guess 'admiration' would be more accurate."
"I wanted to be as amazing as my mom, to be able to control my fingers so effortlessly and create beautiful music. That's why I started walking the same path as her."
Kazusa gently shook her head and smiled as if she had let go of something.
"Why am I suddenly talking about such trivial things? Let's go."
She tried to end the topic unilaterally and, for the second time, attempted to pull Chisato away.
But once again, she failed.
Chisato had his own thoughts.
"Now that I think about it, the reason we got closer in the first place was because of the piano."
"That's not entirely accurate. Wasn't it actually in the infirmary when you borrowed money from me?"
Kazusa wasn't too keen on reminiscing about her past with the piano.
But if the topic was about their love story, she was suddenly full of energy.
"Now that you mention it, I just remembered something. Strictly speaking, Chisato, you actually showed interest in me and took action much earlier than the whole borrowing-money incident."
"Back in class, you specifically bought me milk and bread, didn't you?"
A bright smile spread across Kazusa's face, with a hint of smugness and playful teasing mixed in.
"Before that, we had barely spoken. Then one day, while I was napping, you suddenly poked my arm, woke me up, and without a word, handed me milk and bread."
"Honestly, I was so startled that I instinctively refused."
"It's impressive that you remember such a small detail."
"Well, it wasn't that long ago. I'm really curious—back then, you must've already had some thoughts about me, right, Chisato?"
"And after I rejected your kind gesture, how did you feel? Were you heartbroken for a long time? Hmm?"
"..."
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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