Heartbeats and Illusions

Despite everything that had happened earlier, the dining experience had been surprisingly pleasant. The food was satisfying, and watching the little devil schoolgirl's frustrated expressions throughout the meal added a layer of amusement that Natsukawa Kanade couldn't help but relish.

"So, what's next?" Kanade asked, glancing at Isshiki Iroha, who stood beside him with her usual boundless energy.

Iroha, seemingly lost in her own world, was scrolling through her phone with the intensity of someone deciphering a secret code. "Next, we're heading to the aquarium! It's just a few minutes' walk from here." She pointed in a vague direction before suddenly grabbing Kanade's arm. "Hurry up, Senpai! We'll be late!"

"Late? Don't aquariums stay open until evening? What's the rush?" Kanade asked, his confusion evident.

"Oh, that's not it," Iroha replied with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Hehe, Senpai, don't ask so many questions! Iroha won't spoil the surprise. Just follow me, okay?"

Kanade sighed. There was no arguing with her when she got like this. "Fine, fine."

Still, he picked up his pace. The faster they wrapped this up, the sooner he could get back and deal with the dried coffee stains on his shirt. They weren't exactly noticeable now, but they still bothered him.

The pair soon arrived at the park housing the aquarium. The entrance fee wasn't much—700 yen for adults and 250 yen for students. Unfortunately, any hopes of a discount were dashed as the tickets had passed their expiration date.

Kanade handed his ticket to Iroha, who immediately started complaining.

"Senpai is always so serious about small stuff. Just now, you suddenly insisted on treating me to dessert. It gave Iroha such a scare!"

"Doesn't cost much," Kanade shrugged. "And the treat was just payback for lunch. That's all."

For Kanade, debts had to be repaid—even minor ones. Letting such things slide left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Oh, how noble! But Senpai, your wording needs some serious improvement. At best, I'd give it a score of… 7.8."

"7.8? Out of 10?"

"No, out of 100!" Iroha replied with a teasing grin.

Kanade gave her a flat stare. "You're unbelievable."

"Ehehe," she giggled, clearly pleased with herself. "Well, don't sulk, Senpai! Let's hurry up and enjoy our fun day together!"

"I'm not sulking." Kanade's rebuttal was swift. He couldn't let her think she had that kind of power over him.

Still, he followed her lead as they entered the aquarium.

The interior was a mesmerizing display of sea-blue magic. Glass tunnels surrounded them, showcasing colorful schools of tropical fish and a variety of marine life swimming lazily by. The vivid coral reefs and serene underwater world created an atmosphere that felt otherworldly.

"This place isn't as amazing as I thought it'd be," Kanade commented, his tone neutral.

"Eh? Really? I think it's pretty nice…" Iroha replied, her lips curling into a small pout.

"Maybe it's because Senpai doesn't visit places like this often?" she added, a sly smirk forming. She could tell from his barely-concealed awe that this might be his first time experiencing such a setting.

"I've been to bigger aquariums before," Kanade said, attempting to mask his enthusiasm. "Ones with whale sharks, giant squids… way more impressive than this."

"Wow, Senpai, you must have such a glamorous life," Iroha deadpanned, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Kanade, however, didn't hear her. His attention had been completely absorbed by the creatures swimming gracefully beyond the glass. The azure depths and the vibrant interplay of colors fascinated him far more than the girl standing beside him.

"[○｀Д′○]... Hey!" Iroha's frustrated glare intensified as she poked him sharply in the side, snapping him back to reality.

"What?" Kanade asked, blinking as if he'd just woken from a dream.

"Senpai! When you're with a girl, you have to focus on her! No matter how beautiful the scenery, you're supposed to act like it's nothing compared to her! Got it?"

Kanade froze for a moment, caught off guard by the accusation. Then, with a twinge of guilt, he nodded. "Sorry… that's on me."

His apology was sincere. He realized he'd gotten too caught up in the moment. It wasn't often he got to see things like this—his fascination had taken over, and he'd completely ignored the person who'd brought him here.

Natsukawa Kanade could feel the childish excitement bubbling inside him as he gazed at the shimmering aquamarine tunnel, teeming with vibrant fish and coral. It was a scene he'd only read about, and now it stretched out before him in all its dazzling glory. Still, he reminded himself that he was here for a reason—helping Isshiki Iroha gather "material." He couldn't let himself get too lost in the spectacle.

After all, it wasn't like this was the most fascinating place in the world. Sure, the novelty was overwhelming now, but he figured that after a few more visits, even this underwater wonderland would lose its charm. Convincing himself, he turned his attention back to his energetic junior.

"Well, even if I'm supposed to pay attention to you, what exactly am I supposed to do?" Kanade spread his hands in mild exasperation. "I can't just stare at you the whole time and ignore the fish, right?"

"Of course not!" Iroha puffed her cheeks, thrusting her phone into his hands. "Take pictures! Lots of them! But not of the fish—of me! Got it?"

Caught off guard, Kanade fumbled with the phone before nodding. "Fine, fine. Just tell me how you want them."

For the next few minutes, Iroha demonstrated the art of posing, her every instruction laced with an exasperated yet amused tone. Kanade, with a mixture of determination and confusion, clicked away, trying to get everything just right.

"That one's a bit off! Angle the phone higher! No, lower—ugh, do I have to teach you everything, Senpai?" she huffed, crossing her arms.

"Taking pictures isn't exactly my specialty, you know," Kanade muttered under his breath.

Finally, after what felt like a hundred shots, Iroha snatched the phone and reviewed the results. A satisfied grin spread across her face. "Not bad, Senpai! You've managed to capture the brilliance of Iroha! I'll give you a solid… eight out of ten!"

"An eight? That's passing, I guess," Kanade replied, feigning nonchalance, though inwardly relieved that his amateur photography skills hadn't been completely ridiculed.

"But now it's your turn!" Iroha declared suddenly, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Wait, my turn? What for?" Kanade asked, already feeling uneasy.

"To take your photo, of course!"

"But why? I don't need any pictures of myself."

"Don't be silly, Senpai! You can't just come here and leave without proof that you had fun. Now, stand over there and don't move!" Iroha pushed him into position before he could protest further.

Kanade sighed, resigning himself to his fate. He stood awkwardly, trying to strike a pose that wouldn't make him look like a complete idiot.

"Not like that! Smile a bit! And tilt your head—no, not that much! You're hopeless, Senpai," Iroha scolded as she fiddled with the phone.

Just as Kanade was about to snap, Iroha dashed off, leaving him stranded in his awkward pose. Before he could call out to her, she returned, pulling along a kind-looking middle-aged woman.

"Senpai, don't move! I've recruited help for a group photo!"

Kanade blinked. "Group photo? Since when was that part of the plan?"

Ignoring his confusion, Iroha latched onto his arm, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, Senpai. Just play along, okay? You don't want to trouble this nice lady, do you?"

"...Fine," Kanade muttered, though he couldn't shake the feeling he was being set up.

The middle-aged woman smiled warmly, positioning the camera as Iroha leaned closer, beaming up at Kanade with an expression that radiated pure innocence.

"Say cheese!"

The resulting snapshot was a perfect image of harmony—a "couple photo," as it were, though Kanade's slightly stiff smile betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Thank you so much for your help!" Iroha bowed to the woman, her enthusiasm infectious.

As the passerby walked away, Kanade turned to Iroha with a sigh. "A group photo, huh? What are you even planning to do with that?"

"Obviously, it's for the memories!" Iroha chirped, clutching her phone tightly. "Besides, Senpai, this kind of photo has way more value than just a solo shot. Now you'll always remember the fun we had together!"

Kanade groaned inwardly, already envisioning how this "fun memory" would likely be used to torment him later. Still, as he glanced at Iroha's radiant expression, a small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips.

"Yeah, yeah. Memories," he said, letting out a quiet chuckle.

This girl really was a little devil—but maybe, just maybe, hanging out with her wasn't so bad after all.