Three Fools Wreak Havoc at the Aquarium

The tanks, each holding waters of different temperatures and environments, existed in identical yet different moments. Light refracted through the water made it almost impossible to tell which way was which. The girls' voices grew ever more muffled, gradually swallowed by the surroundings.

"By the way, Alice, your house is so big. Why doesn't it have a swimming pool?"

"Though I don't know what you're thinking, always dwelling on unnecessary things is one of your bad habits, Aoko."

Alice Kuonji had long grown used to her roommate's frog-like leaps of thought, but even so, she still occasionally found it hard to keep up.

"Huh? Isn't that a necessity? Compared to Japanese people, you British are better at swimming, aren't you?"

As if she had thought of something, a sly smile appeared on Aozaki Aoko's face. "Hey, don't tell me you can't swim, Alice?"

"I've gone swimming in summer before. In that regard, I'm no worse than a large Saint Bernard."

Was it really okay to compare herself to a dog?

Aozaki Aoko grumbled inwardly, then carefully examined the fish swimming in the tank. Under the light, its scales gave off rainbow-like, multicolored radiance.

"Actually, swimming is one of the words I hate hearing most. It'd be nice if whoever invented swimming could be turned into a mermaid."

Alice Kuonji complained faintly, though she was only saying it in passing.

Tap, tap...

Their footsteps were like notes flowing from a piano, carrying both rhythm and solemnity. Though they spoke of wildly fanciful things, their eyes never left the azure tanks.

Michael lightly ran a finger across the outside wall of a tank. Schools of clownfish swiftly followed his finger, like musicians obeying a conductor's baton.

"They really are stupid enough."

He could not help laughing softly as he dispelled the charm spell. The clownfish stopped in place, seemed briefly confused, then swam off in other directions, as though what had just happened had been nothing more than a dream.

"What are you talking about?"

Aozaki Aoko turned around and looked at Michael curiously, then her gaze fell upon the tank's description placard before him. "Do you like clownfish?"

"I wouldn't say I like them, but they're interesting."

Michael cast the charm spell again. The clownfish that had scattered moments earlier once more gathered in Michael's direction, following the path traced by his moving finger.

Aozaki Aoko shook her head helplessly. This prank-like behavior was as childish as a kid's, but the sight of the clownfish gathering in a school did indeed possess a certain dreamlike quality.

"I heard that movie theaters, aquariums, and Ferris Wheels are known as the three sacred places for dates. There haven't been any social surveys, but apparently, confessions are most likely to succeed in those three places."

"The three sacred places for dates?"

Aozaki Aoko was instantly intrigued. Even Alice Kuonji stepped closer. "Is there a reason?"

"Let me think..."

Michael lightly tapped his head and tried his best to recall the hazy memories. "Movie theaters are dark, so girls naturally become more dependent on boys. And when watching horror movies, boys can reasonably take the girls' hands."

"As for aquariums, they make you seem refined and like small animals. Girls all like caring boys, and in this kind of blue world, being alone together has a sense of mystery to it."

"As for Ferris Wheels, that one's simple. They're the best places to confess. No one can interrupt you, and the girl can't run away either. Once the Ferris Wheel reaches its highest point, just take out the rose you prepared beforehand, kneel down, and confess. You have a full ten minutes. For a boy who knows how to talk, that's enough time to move a Giant Tortoise to tears."

"Why do you need to move a Giant Tortoise to tears?"

Aozaki Aoko sharply raised her objection. "Don't tell me you're planning to confess to a Giant Tortoise?"

"Uh..."

As expected of a Magic User. Her train of thought truly was extraordinary. Michael considered it briefly, then waved a hand. "The Giant Tortoise part isn't important. Clownfish, crabs, and things like that would be the same."

"Why isn't the Giant Tortoise important? I think moving a Giant Tortoise to tears sounds nice."

Alice Kuonji raised her own question as well, but Michael truly had no answer to that one. Heaven knew why anyone would want to move a Giant Tortoise to tears, and heaven knew what kind of tortoise a Giant Tortoise even was.

"So in the end, you don't have any romantic experience either."

A teasing smile appeared on Aozaki Aoko's face as she dealt Michael a fatal blow.

"What romantic experience?" Michael's eyes widened. "What use is that sort of thing? It's nothing but an obstacle on the path to the Root."

"So you're just sour grapes because you can't have them."

Michael pressed his lips together, trying his best to look unconcerned as he argued, "I simply don't want to accept those boring things."

Then came a whole string of seemingly reasonable sayings, like "With no women in your heart, magic comes naturally," and "Love may be precious, but magic is worth more," making Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji laugh aloud. The air inside and outside the aquarium was filled with joy.

"Ah—this fish really is beautiful. It makes me want to go swimming. How about we go to the beach next summer, Alice?"

"The sea... that sea?"

"Of course. When it comes to summer, the ocean should be an indispensable topic, right?"

Aozaki Aoko said excitedly, "Golden, scorching sunlight and beaches, cool seawater, watermelons to smash, and in the evening, we can watch the sunset sink below the horizon. We won't make it this year, but we can start planning ahead for next year."

"Honestly, Aoko, you really are optimistic."

Alice Kuonji sighed softly. But wasn't optimism the preserve of idiots? Only that kind of idiot would be thinking about a beach vacation next year before a life-and-death battle.

"But if you can survive until next summer, perhaps we can go to the beach for a vacation."

The words she had originally wanted to say changed shape as they reached her lips. If they truly could survive, then a beach vacation would not be impossible, provided they could make it through the coming life-and-death battle alive.

Thinking of this, Alice Kuonji instinctively looked toward Michael.

"Do you want to invite me to the beach too? If it's an invitation from a beautiful girl, I don't think I'd refuse."

Alice Kuonji's face darkened. Perhaps Michael had indeed left her with an impression of being powerful and mysterious at first, but after living together day and night for the past half month, that impression had gradually been replaced by that of an intelligent idiot. Her wariness toward him had also faded more and more.

But who knew whether that was not precisely the outcome Michael had wanted? She saw others as idiots, while she herself became an idiot in their eyes. In the end, the only ones visiting the aquarium were three idiots.