“We played a lot.”

“Yeah~, I’m exhausted”

Kaede said so, sitting down and taking a breath.

“Speaking of which, I got a message.”

The message came from Takuto a while ago.

(I was so engrossed in my date with Kaede that I completely ignored it..)

The content of the message was “Reconciliation great success!”.

When I saw the message, I felt some warmth in my heart.

“Kaede, it seems that Chinatsu and Takuto have made up.”

“Really!? I’m so glad~”

“I want those two to act like a bacouple more often.”

“I kind of hate it when those two don’t get along.”

Then I received a phone call from Takuto.

“What’s up?” I asked,

“Thanks a lot.” He answered,

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Well, if that’s what you think.”

“Where are you?”

“As a memento, let’s take a picture of the four of us together.”

“All right, wait for me at the entrance.”

With that, the call ended.

“Kaede, let’s go to the entrance so we can all take a picture together.”

“Understood!”

Kaede said, “But I’m really glad,” and got up from where she was sitting.

“Are you okay? Tired?”

“I’m totally fine! I’m not a child!”

“I hope so.”

“Then, Let me ask you, what would you do for me if I said I am tired?”

(It’s a little embarrassing to be asked this question again.)

Even as I thought so, looking straight into Kaede’s eyes, I couldn’t fool her anymore.

“A piggyback ride?”

“Not now, That’s too embarrassing.”

“Okay.”

“Instead! Please hold my hand. That’s how I can do my best.”

“We’re just going to walk, though.”

“Mou~! It’s okay!”

Kaede said, her cheeks puffed out like a child, whining like a spoiled child.

I stared at her blankly, finding Kaede’s pouting adorable.

“Hey~ Earth to Ren-kun?”

Kaede pulled me by the cheek and I finally came to myself. I wonder if this is how grandpas feel when they see their grandchildren. One thing I could say for sure, it was adorable.

I eventually held hands with Kaede and headed toward the entrance.

“You’re late!”

“Ah! They’re holding hands!”

“Shut up, and you guys are wearing some kind of weird matching headgear.

“It’s not weird! It’s an anglerfish!”

(Is that something to boast about?)

Was it cute to wear an anglerfish? Or was it cool? I wondered if Chinatsu and Takuto had a weird taste in choosing their headgear, or if I was different.

(Let’s not mention that I thought it wasn’t cute)

“S-So Cute…”

“Eh?”

“It’s ugly but cute… Very cute!”

To my surprise, Kaede started to say that the anglerfish headgear was cute.

“Kae-chan gets it!”

“Chinatsu-san! You’re so close!”

Chinatsu was so happy that she rubbed her cheek against Kaede.

“Then let’s take a picture.”

“Kae-chan, let’s wear the same headgear!”

“That’s right… it’d be better if they were all the same.”

“Huh? It doesn’t have to be matching.” I retorted,

“No! Let’s buy them!” Kaede said,

Kaede’s eyes sparkled more than usual. Come to think of it, Kaede liked her old man’s stuffed toy or something weird like that.

“I don’t want it! I’m not buying it!”

“Yes, we are! I want matching ones with Ren-kun….”

“Now even Kae-chan agrees~~, so?”

“Urghh…”

“Just Give Up”

Takuto placed his hand on my shoulder and smirked at me.

“No! I’m not wearing that headgear….!!”

Kaede and Chinatsu’s eyes were sparkling, and Takuto was amused by the situation, telling me to just give up.

◆◆◆◆◆

We asked the aquarium staff to take a picture of us.

“Let’s take a picture then, shall we?”

“Yes!”

Chinatsu replied with a cheerful voice, raising her right hand.

“Then, Say Cheese”

A couple of clicks, we said a quick “thank you” to the staff and looked at the pictures they had taken of us.

There we were, wearing the same headgear.

I ended up deciding to buy one after all, losing out to the words “matching” and “memories.”

Certainly, Looking at them closely, they looked ugly but kind of cute.

“It’s a really good picture”

I looked at the picture taken of us and muttered to myself so that no one around me could hear.