"Winter-sensei is a liar! You don't keep your promises!"
Stepping out of the refined, quiet atmosphere of Musashi House and back into the lively Tokyo afternoon, Kani Nayuta puffed out her cheeks like a disgruntled hamster. She fixed Kasumigaoka Touji with an accusing, sidelong glare as they walked.
Kasumigaoka Touji raised a hand in exasperated defense and reached out to poke her inflated cheek. "I said I'd pose for normal photos! You wanted me to strip down for an impromptu nude shoot! I draw the line there!"
Nude modeling was absolutely, unequivocally out of the question! He had refused point-blank!
"But I did compromise later!" she countered, her voice rising with indignation. "I said you could keep your clothes on! But you just… you just distracted me and never followed through!"
"Hmph! What's done is done. There are no take-backs in this world," he said, a hint of smug triumph coloring his tone. "Consider it a lesson in contract negotiation, Kani-sensei. Always get the terms in writing before you… proceed with the collaboration."
He was rather pleased with how that had turned out.
"I think you just didn't want me to have photographic evidence," Kani Nayuta muttered under her breath, turning her face away to hide her pout, though the slight redness at the tip of her ear gave her away.
Kasumigaoka Touji found her like this—sulking yet utterly adorable—completely charming.
"..."
Chatting and bickering lightly, they soon arrived at the sleek, modern annex building on the west side of the towering Tokyo Skytree. Their destination, the Sumida Aquarium, was housed on the fifth and sixth floors.
This particular aquarium was renowned as Japan's second large-scale, artificial seawater facility, home to over a thousand different species of marine life. While not the largest in scale, it was famous for its exquisite, carefully curated environment and had become a beloved spot for Tokyoites.
Perhaps because it was a weekend, the place was bustling. A considerable line had formed at the entrance, snaking its way across the polished floor. Kasumigaoka Touji glanced over the crowd, noting it was mostly composed of young couples and families with bright-eyed children clinging to their parents' hands.
It really is a perfect spot for parent-child outings, he mused.
"Kazuko, have you been here before?" Kasumigaoka Touji asked, casually draping an arm over Kani Nayuta's slender shoulders. He leaned in slightly as he spoke, subtly inhaling her scent. She smelled exceptionally fragrant today—a clean, sweet blend of her shampoo and the faint, lingering aroma of the hotel's expensive lotion.
"Yes, I came here twice with my parents when I was little," Kani Nayuta replied, a soft haze of nostalgia crossing her delicate features. It felt like a lifetime ago, a fragment from a simpler chapter of her life.
She turned her face towards his. "What about you, Winter-sensei? Is this your first time?"
Kasumigaoka Touji met her gaze, taking in the lovely details of her face up close. "It is. So you'll have to be my guide today. Show me all the highlights."
"That might be a little difficult… it's been so many years," she said with a light laugh. "But I do remember there isn't really a fixed route here. It's designed more like a park or a gallery. You just wander and discover things. Every little nook is its own little scene."
"That sounds perfect," he said, his smile genuine. He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her comfortably into his side as they merged with the end of the queue.
They lingered close together, their casual intimacy drawing a few envious or amused glances from others in line. Soon enough, they presented their student IDs and purchased two discounted tickets, stepping through the turnstile into a different world.
The transition was immediate. Past the gates was a long, dimly lit passageway bathed in ethereal, shifting blue light. Projectors cast shimmering, rippling patterns across the walls and floor, creating the mesmerizing illusion of walking through sun-dappled water or beneath the surface of a calm sea. It was dreamlike, a gentle separation from the urban reality outside.
Right from this entrance, Kasumigaoka Touji felt this place was different from any other aquarium he'd visited.
Hand in hand, they emerged from the passageway. The first area that greeted them was a series of stunning "nature aquariums"—large, meter-long tanks set into recessed niches within textured, rock-like walls. Each was a self-contained ecosystem, a living diorama.
Under the crisp, white exhibition lighting, the scenes were breathtaking: fine golden sand formed rolling underwater dunes; stones of various sizes were arranged with artistic care; twisted, elegant pieces of driftwood provided structure; lush, vibrant aquatic plants swayed gently in the filtered current; and schools of small, jewel-toned fish and translucent shrimp darted through the miniature landscapes. Each tank was a meticulously composed natural painting, soothing to the soul.
What truly surprised Kasumigaoka Touji was the complete absence of the expected aquarium smell—that familiar, slightly stale cocktail of saltwater, fish, damp algae, and chlorine. Instead, his nose detected a subtle, refreshing fragrance, like a forest after rain or clean essential oils. It was an aroma that awakened the senses and enhanced the feeling of being immersed in nature, not just observing it.
"This is… not what I expected at all," he murmured, impressed. "It feels more like an art gallery than an aquarium. Each one of these tanks is a masterpiece."
He had initially thought an aquarium might be a bit of a bland date spot, but he was already captivated. The novelty and sheer beauty of these living artworks were completely engaging.
"What kind of aquarium did you imagine, sensei?" Kani Nayuta asked, tilting her head charmingly, her hands clasped behind her back as she watched his reaction.
"Hmm… A place with a slightly more… utilitarian environment, I suppose. And definitely that distinct, slightly unpleasant damp smell in the air."
"Ew, that sounds truly awful!" Kani Nayuta fake-shuddered in agreement.
Kasumigaoka Touji chuckled. He came to a stop in front of a particularly beautiful tank filled with cardinal tetras, their brilliant red stripes like moving brushstrokes. He slid his hands into his pockets and turned to look at her, illuminated by the soft blue glow of the tank.
"Come on," he said, nodding towards the aquatic backdrop. "Let's take some pictures here. To make up for your… earlier photographic grievances."
"This isn't the kind of photo I wanted to take," she retorted, but the protest was weak. A small smile played on her lips as she obediently pulled out her phone. She began snapping pictures of him—first candid shots of him looking at the fish, then ones where he turned and smiled for the camera.
Naturally, the session soon expanded. There were photos of her posed cutely in front of the tanks, and then joint selfies where they squeezed together, their cheeks touching, the colorful underwater worlds reflected in the glass behind them.
...
Walking at a leisurely pace, pausing whenever something caught their eye, they explored more than half of the aquarium without even realizing it. They were mesmerized by a darkened room where ethereal jellyfish pulsed and drifted like living lanterns. They giggled at the garden eels, most of their bodies buried in the sand, only their curious, periscope-like heads poking out—an utterly eye-catching and adorable sight.
Then came the true showstopper: the immense cylindrical tank known as the Ogasawara Great Tank. It was six meters deep and held a staggering 300 tons of water. The information plaque explained it was a painstaking recreation of the marine ecosystem surrounding the Ogasawara Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The variety of life inside was staggering, but the undisputed stars were the sand tiger sharks. Nearly two meters long, they cruised the tank with a silent, ancient grace, their sleek forms and rows of sharp teeth a potent reminder of nature's raw power and beauty. One could feel their primal dominance even through the thick acrylic glass.
"Let's take a little break," Kasumigaoka Touji suggested after they'd watched the aquarium's colony of tiny, waddling penguins for a while. His eyes had caught sight of something unexpected: a quaint little café nestled in a corner, themed around the penguins. This aquarium really is full of surprises, he thought. It wasn't just tanks and corridors; it had seating areas tucked away and even proper cafés, blending leisure seamlessly with education.
"I remember now," Kani Nayuta said, looking at the penguin-themed signage with a touch of nostalgia. "They have a very popular bread here shaped like a garden eel. It was all the rage online for a while."
"Is that so?" Kasumigaoka Touji looked at her. "Should we get one to try?"
Kani Nayuta immediately placed a hand over her stomach. "I'm still so full from lunch." The substantial yakiniku feast wasn't that far behind them.
"Yeah, me too," he admitted. His own stomach was comfortably satiated. "Are you thirsty at least?"
"Not really."
Their quiet, planning conversation was abruptly shattered by a voice that cut through the ambient hum of the aquarium. It was a girl's voice, high-pitched and carrying a tone that was somehow both artificially bright and subtly rude.
"Oh! If it isn't Honda?"
A pause, as if for dramatic effect. "It is Honda, right?"
The unpleasant tone made Kasumigaoka Touji's brow furrow instinctively. He turned to look.
Standing a few meters away was a girl with a carefully made-up, delicate face and a figure she clearly knew how to show off. She was clinging to the arm of a boy around their age who was dressed in trendy, expensive-looking streetwear and had the polished, handsome looks of a model. Beside them was another couple, similarly stylish and watching the scene with apparent amusement.
At the sound of that voice, the bright, relaxed smile vanished from Kani Nayuta's face as if wiped away by an eraser. Her expression darkened with a speed that was startling, her earlier softness replaced by a stiff, guarded coolness. The pleasant atmosphere of their date froze over in an instant.