My Childhood Friend, Who I Made a Promise To Spend the Future With, Dumped Me... But Ever Since I Started Dating a Beautiful Girl From School, My Childhood Friend Has Been Acting Strange - Episode 23

“You know… I—”

Two people were in the Kamiya household.

Suzuha Kamiya, who was sitting on the opposite side of a foldable table, started speaking to Tōma.

“I’ve wanted to date you for a while now, Tōma. Since our first year of high school. But we were in different classes, so I never had the chance. Now that we’re finally together, I’m really happy. And… I’d like to do more couple-like things.”

She gazed into Tōma’s eyes.

“Couple-like things?”

“Yeah. Since we started dating, we haven’t really done anything that feels like what couples do, right? So, I thought this would be a good opportunity. Talking about this at school would be kind of embarrassing. That’s why I invited you here.”

“There are other couples at school, but yeah, I never really hear them having these kinds of conversations.”

“Right? It’s kind of awkward. So… is there anything you’d like to do with me?”

“Something I’d like to do?”

Tōma looked at Suzuha.

There were plenty of things he wanted to do.

But, knowing he shouldn’t let his thoughts wander into anything inappropriate, he tried to control his emotions while his imagination ran wild.

“If there’s something you want to do with me… you can tell me anything.”

“Uh… it’s hard to think of something right away…”

It wasn’t easy to come up with an answer.

Only questionable ideas popped into his head.

He kept struggling to push those thoughts away, filtering through options.

“Tōma, you seem to have something in mind?”

“Well… how about… um… actually…”

“Hmm?”

Suzuha tilted her head.

“I was thinking… maybe we could go to an aquarium? That seems like a good date idea.”

“Oh, an aquarium? Is there one nearby?”

“I don’t think so. Let me check real quick.”

Tōma took out his phone from his uniform pocket and searched for an aquarium.

“Looks like there isn’t one close by.”

Tōma frowned as he spoke.

“Really?”

“There used to be one, but I guess it closed down because of aging facilities. It moved to another location, though.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

“Then… should we go there? Maybe this weekend?”

“If we can, I’d love to.”

“Where is it, though?”

Tōma used his phone’s map to find the best route.

“It’s actually pretty far. If we walk, it’ll take about an hour.”

“That long? So it’s in the next town?”

“Yeah. And not just the next town—it’s on the outskirts. We’d have to take a bus.”

“I see… but it’s not impossible to get there, right?”

“Not impossible. Is that okay with you, Suzuha?”

“I’m fine with it! Should we go on Saturday or Sunday?”

She was excited.

“I’m good with either, but Saturday might be better. Sundays tend to be crowded.”

“Okay, Saturday it is.”

Suzuha quickly added it to her schedule on her phone.

“I’m looking forward to it! I haven’t been to an aquarium since elementary school, so I’m really excited!”

“Same here. I used to go with my family, but it was mostly when I was a kid. Middle school got busier.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“Do you have any special memories from an aquarium?”

“I remember going around with my friends back then. Everything was new and exciting. I especially loved the penguins.”

“More than the dolphins?”

“Yeah. Dolphins were nice too, but I preferred the penguins.”

“I see. Penguins are small and cute.”

“Right? You get it?”

“Yeah.”

Tōma nodded in agreement, and their conversation shifted to their favorite aquarium animals.

“When I was little, I saw a penguin plushie at a shop near the aquarium. I really wanted it, but it was about 3,000 yen, and I didn’t have that much money.”

Suzuha gestured with her hands to show the plushie’s size.

“Yeah, money’s always tight as a kid. I was the same way.”

“Exactly. But now that I have money, it’s not a problem anymore.”

“So, you’ll be able to buy one this time. But I wonder if they sell penguin plushies at this aquarium?”

Tōma tilted his head, trying to remember.

“If they don’t, it’s fine. I can always get some penguin-themed goods or snacks instead.”

Suzuha had lived in a different town before moving here in high school, so the aquarium they were going to wasn’t the one from her childhood. It might not have the same things.

“What about you, Tōma? Any aquarium memories?”

“Yeah… probably watching a dolphin show with my little sister. And having lunch together at the aquarium. Now that I think about it, I have quite a few memories.”

“Having a sibling must be nice. I don’t have any.”

“You’re an only child?”

“Yeah. I was always alone at home. My mom worked late, so I spent a lot of time by myself. But after moving here, I have my grandparents around, so I’m not alone anymore.”

“That must have been tough.”

“It’s fine now. I feel more at ease here. I did have to leave my old friends behind… but I think this is better. A lot happened back then.”

“A lot?”

“Uh, never mind.”

Suzuha shook her head as if to brush it off.

“But… I guess keeping secrets isn’t good. I did say I’d be honest with you, Tōma.”

She suddenly looked more serious.

“There’s one more thing I want to tell you.”

After taking a deep breath, she continued.

“I really appreciate you, Tōma.”

“H-Huh?! But I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. For me.”

Tōma had no idea what she was talking about.

He tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.

“You came to my event, remember? The livestreamer event.”

“A livestreamer event? Wait… what?”

“And… you’re the one who sent me that dinosaur plushie, right?”

Suzuha pointed to the large T-Rex plushie sitting in the corner of the room.

“Wait… that plushie…”

Tōma’s eyes widened in shock.

“I’ve known about you for a long time, Tōma. You were always there, cheering me on in the comments.”

Suzuha smiled brightly, her voice filled with certainty.

Tōma was completely speechless, as if time had stopped.