A Little Plan

"You like koi?"

Kazehara Tetsu's voice suddenly rang out beside her, especially clear in the quiet aquarium.

Ichinose Honami snapped back to her senses and turned to look at him.

Kazehara Tetsu was looking down at her, a hint of confusion on his face.

She froze for a moment before realizing she had been staring at the fish tank for ages without even blinking. No wonder he had asked.

"Ah... they're okay."

She quickly smiled. "I just think they're pretty. Their colors are so vivid."

Kazehara Tetsu gave an "Mm" and didn't press further, turning his gaze back to the tank. "This is the freshwater section. Nothing special. Further in, the scenery in the saltwater section is better."

"Okay." Ichinose Honami immediately nodded and obediently followed him deeper inside.

The two passed through a dim corridor. The aquariums on either side gradually grew larger, and the blue of the seawater deepened.

All kinds of saltwater fish darted among the corals, colorful and varied in shape.

There weren't many people in the corridor. The occasional visitors with children passed them by, all quiet, with no one speaking loudly.

Ichinose Honami's heartbeat gradually settled, and she started chatting with him now and then.

"Have you ever been to an aquarium before?"

"No."

Kazehara Tetsu shook his head, his gaze sweeping over a school of butterflyfish swimming past. "I'd heard about them. They're all right."

"It's my first time too. I read in a guide that Jellyfish Hall and the Underwater Tunnel are the main attractions here. They're pretty famous."

When she mentioned Jellyfish Hall, her heartbeat quietly sped up again.

The guide had said that Jellyfish Hall was the most secluded part of the entire aquarium, with the fewest visitors.

The lighting was dim, with only the jellyfish tanks glowing. Quiet.

It