Aquarium

Misaki Town naturally did not have anything like an aquarium. It was located in neighboring Arisaka City. Not only did it have the largest leisure and entertainment district in the prefecture, but it also had an international large-scale multifunctional theater under construction, scheduled to officially open next year. Getting there required transfers between the high-speed train and subway.

Following the course her life had originally been meant to take, Aozaki Aoko should have enrolled in a university in this city. Now, however, she could only give up that former dream.

At that moment, Michael and the others stood out conspicuously on the streets of Arisaka City. Alice Kuonji was still dressed entirely in black, though her refined black wool sweater and plaid skirt made an unexpectedly perfect combination, highlighting the aristocratic air that kept others at a distance and placed her beyond reach.

Compared to Alice Kuonji, Aozaki Aoko's clothes looked more casual. Her white wool pullover perfectly outlined her slender figure, and despite the depths of winter, she still showed off the long legs she took pride in. It was also the first time she had worn the pendant around her neck. Nothing she wore had anything to do with cheap roadside goods.

As for Michael, his pale, tousled hair reflected the winter sunlight. Beneath his beige light trench coat was a white shirt carrying a floral fragrance, while his dark brown genuine-leather combat boots were polished brightly enough to serve as mirrors, without a single drop of mud on them.

Aozaki Aoko and the others had long grown used to being watched, while Alice Kuonji beside them remained silent throughout. The three of them passed shoulder to shoulder with the surrounding pedestrians, seeming utterly out of place.

"Next summer, famous artists will be coming to Japan too. Huh... why isn't PINK TRUDE listed? That'll be Japan's first LIVE concert, Alice?!"

Looking at the bulletin board on the wall, Aozaki Aoko complained unhappily.

She paid close attention to rock bands, though Alice Kuonji had no interest in them.

"But the group scheduled to attend is actually from Poland, and they only managed to invite them by spending a fortune. The organizers are beyond saving!"

Then Aozaki Aoko spotted the familiar Kuonji Zaibatsu in the planning column. She let out an unconscious "Ah," hurriedly covered her mouth, and looked at Alice Kuonji beside her.

Alice Kuonji remained as calm as ever. Though she was the Kuonji Zaibatsu's daughter, its planning affairs had nothing to do with her.

Of course, if she said the word, inviting a rock band would have been easy enough.

They passed through the lower floors, their destination being the top floor of this high-rise building. Perhaps the cinema downstairs had drawn away most of the crowds, because the aquarium floor was particularly quiet, with few visitors coming here.

Though it was silent and still, the atmosphere of nature filled every breath of air. Alice Kuonji quietly let out a soft sigh. Her widened eyes were filled with surprise and anticipation, like a child visiting a circus for the first time.

"Alice likes it here too? Looks like the research I did beforehand wasn't wasted."

Michael looked at Alice Kuonji. He rarely saw such a startled expression on her face—at least, not in his memories.

"It's nothing. I've simply never seen an aquarium built on the top floor before."

Alice Kuonji carefully studied the notice posted on the wall. There had originally been a penguin show here, but a baby penguin had been injured and was recuperating, so the penguin show had been canceled for the time being. It was somewhat regrettable, but penguins were hardly rare animals to her.

She continued reading the aquarium's introduction. After making a round, she could not help letting out a distressed cry.

"Huh? How could this—"

Suddenly realizing something, Alice Kuonji swallowed back the cry that had nearly escaped, though her face still showed visible disappointment.

"What is it? What is it?"

Aozaki Aoko curiously leaned closer. She had only seen Alice Kuonji flustered at home; outside, Alice never lost her composure. What could possibly cause such a strong emotional reaction from her?

"There's no Giant Tortoise."

"Hm?"

Aozaki Aoko and Michael voiced their confusion at the same time.

"There's been a mistake. There's no Giant Tortoise here. Why isn't there a Giant Tortoise on display?"

"What Giant Tortoise?"

Michael was completely baffled, but then he seemed to think of something. "Do you mean an elephant tortoise?"

"It's a very large tortoise." Alice Kuonji shook her head, denying Michael's guess.

"Uh... perhaps Giant Tortoises are too big? The space here is rather limited..."

Aozaki Aoko racked her brains and came up with an explanation that sounded unreasonable, yet somehow made sense when considered.

"Why? This place clearly has penguins, so why doesn't it have a Giant Tortoise? That isn't fair! Even having dolphins here is unforgivable!"

What kind of fairness was that? And why could there not be dolphins just because there was no Giant Tortoise?

Michael grumbled inwardly. Alice Kuonji might look as cold as ice, but when she got stubborn, she did not seem any different from an ordinary girl.

"That's right. They already have penguins and dolphins, yet they excluded the Giant Tortoise. It must have been an oversight by the aquarium."

Aozaki Aoko agreed, though she privately thought it was probably because Giant Tortoises were unpopular and had therefore not been exhibited.

But then again, what exactly was this Giant Tortoise? Was there really some large species of tortoise called a "Giant Tortoise"?

Michael felt himself slipping into the role of the straight man. Still, at a time like this, all he could do was smile and complain inwardly. There was no reasoning with a sulking girl—this was a conclusion drawn from blood and tears.

Still, the matter was quickly forgotten. Less than two minutes after their argument over the Giant Tortoise, they had their tickets checked at the gate and headed toward the visitor entrance.

Compared to the entrance hall painted light blue, the main entrance was dark and deep, as though it led somewhere unknown. Beyond it lay a pitch-black corridor where one could not see their hand before their face.

For any other couple, this would have been the perfect place to take each other's hand, feel the warmth of their palms, and stride toward the end of the passage together. But Michael and his group... well, even if ghosts really showed up, they would be blasted to ashes.

What a sad story that was...

At the end of the corridor lay an azure world, an artificial little universe built not through thaumaturgy or magic, but through science alone—a world of interwoven shimmering waterlight, where brightness existed only inside the tanks.

Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji gazed through the glass at the artificial ocean beyond, like children seeing the sea for the first time, their eyes full of wonder and yearning.

—At that moment, their journey into another world officially set sail.