March 24 (Thursday) Yuta Asamura

● March

24

(Thursday)

Asamura Yuta

On the morning of the third day of our graduation trip, it was Maru Tomokazu’s day. In other words, a pilgrimage to sacred sites.

And following the precedent set the previous day, it was only fitting that Maru, the man most familiar with this place—around Kansai Daimae Station—would serve as our guide. Maru himself was brimming with enthusiasm even before leaving the hotel. He insisted that I ask him anything.

While I appreciated his eagerness, I felt it was a bit much to rely entirely on him, considering that this trip was planned by me and Ayase-san in an effort to foster our own friendship and enjoy ourselves. I felt guilty about being dependent on him for everything.

“I think I can guide us to the location. I’ve done some research.”

As we departed from the hotel, I said this in an attempt to be somewhat helpful.

“Alright. Asamura, I’m counting on you.”

Since Maru entrusted me with the task, I took the lead in navigating us to our destination.

Today, I had to step up and contribute to the excitement along with Ayase-san. It wouldn’t do to always rely on Maru and Narasaka-san.

Ayase-san quietly approached me as I walked ahead and whispered in my ear.

“You’re really pumped up, huh, Asamura-kun?”

“Of course.”

This morning, I had sent Ayase-san a message. As I mentioned earlier, the reason we decided to take charge of planning this graduation trip was that we always relied on Maru and Narasaka-san to lead us. We wanted to take the initiative ourselves so that we could enjoy it more freely. As it stood, it felt contrary to the spirit of ‘give and take, with giving being the larger part.’

Though belatedly, I realized I needed to put in more effort from here on out.

“I’ll do my best too.”

“Well, enjoying ourselves is important too.”

Maru and Narasaka-san always prioritized their own enjoyment above all else. I wanted to emulate that spirit.

Ayase-san made small fists with both hands and said, “Right!”

At this point, I checked my smartphone for the schedule of our destination and route.

Maru’s sacred site was said to be around “Kansai Daimae Station.”

So, we had to reach “Kansai Daimae Station,” but there were actually multiple routes to get there. The one I chose was──.

“First, we’ll walk from the hotel to the front of Shin-Osaka Station. Once we get there, we’ll walk along the tracks toward Minamikata Station.”

“Aren’t we taking the train from Shin-Osaka?”

I nodded in response to Ayase-san’s question.

“I was torn between routes, but I thought I’d try using only the Hankyu Kyoto Line this time.”

The boarding station, Minamikata Station, was about a ten-minute walk south along the tracks from Shin-Osaka Station. By the way, it’s pronounced “Minamikata Eki.”

“Why did you choose that route?”

“I could use the Midosuji Line for one station, and then transfer to the Hankyu Kyoto Line, but that would require a change.”

The three of them nodded in agreement, making it easier for me to talk.

By the way, the reason I could recall the names of the lines so smoothly wasn’t because I remembered them; it was because I was looking at the schedule on my smartphone.

“One reason I dislike transferring is that, after all, you get off the Midosuji Line at Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station.”

“Huh? Isn’t that a different station from the one you mentioned earlier?”

“Apparently, it’s a different station. According to my research, the map app said to get off there and walk three minutes to Minamikata Station.”

Everyone’s faces fell at that.

They probably recalled the trap that was Shin-Osaka Station, where we had trouble finding the exit the day before. I thought that since we didn’t know the area, simplicity in our route was essential. Once was enough for a real dungeon explorer experience. However, there was also a possibility that it might turn out to be surprisingly easy, so I wouldn’t know if this decision was appropriate until it was all over.

“Also, everyone worked hard at the breakfast buffet.”

At that moment, Narasaka-san rubbed her stomach with both hands. Maru had told her she had eaten too much.

“It was delicious! Tomo-kun, everything in Osaka is so tasty!”

“Well, I can’t deny that,” Maru said.

I chuckled and added, “So, taking it easy while walking might be nice. Today, we’ll probably be doing a lot of walking, so it’s a bit scary.”

After all, the pilgrimage would be followed by a visit to the aquarium. I was sure I’d be sore by nightfall.

“You’re young, so you’ll be fine!”

“Since I’ve been sitting too much for exams, I might be out of shape,” Narasaka-san said cheerfully, while Ayase-san sighed as she spoke.

“Well, let’s take it easy. One of the purposes of this trip is to enjoy the differences in lifestyle and culture.”

Walking outside is more enjoyable because you can see the surrounding scenery rather than wandering around inside the station.

The walking time was estimated to be about ten minutes, and since we were walking along the tracks, I thought we wouldn’t get lost. Soon enough, when I saw the entrance to “Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station,” I felt relieved that it matched the map. So, if we took the Midosuji Line, we would get off here. It was indeed close, as the train had only taken a minute.

That meant Minamikata Station should be about a three-minute walk from here. If we turned left as the map indicated… Ah, there it was.

Seeing the station relieved me of my duties as a guide. By that time, my stomach, filled from the breakfast buffet, was just settling nicely.

We boarded the Hankyu Kyoto Line at Minamikata Station. It would take about fifteen minutes to reach Kansai Daimae Station. From the time we left the hotel, we arrived at our destination in roughly forty minutes.

Now then… Everything had gone smoothly up to this point, but the real issue lay ahead. I had never watched the anime that was a soul work for Maru. In other words, from here on out, I would be relying on Maru’s explanations as our guide.

This was true not just for me, but also for Ayase-san and Narasaka-san.

“Oh, but I managed to watch the first three episodes during my free time!”

“That story, um… is it an anime?”

When Ayase-san asked Narasaka-san, she nodded vigorously.

“Yep! Apparently, there’s even a source material for it.”

“A source material?”

“Is it a game, Tomo-kun?”

“Oh, yes. It’s an adventure game that was released quite a while ago.”

“Ad… what?”

Ayase-san, who had only played family-friendly games, tilted her head at the sudden technical term. “Um, well, that is──” Maru began to explain the genre of computer games from scratch, so I hurriedly interrupted him.

If I let Maru explain, he would likely start enthusiastically recounting the history of games from the very beginning.

No, it wasn’t that I was bored; I knew that Ayase-san, who loved history, would probably ask questions and listen intently. For better or worse, Ayase-san struggled to leave things she didn’t understand as they were.

And when it came to computer games, Ayase-san had only experienced party games that we had played together in the living room with Narasaka-san and me a long time ago, so she probably wouldn’t understand much of what Maru was saying.

So what would happen?

I could easily picture it. Maru would start explaining the history of adventure games, and if asked, “What is an RPG?” he would begin with “Dungeons & Dragons,” the world’s first RPG that started in 1974, and then go on to talk about the history of miniature games starting from the 19th century. It would be an excessive amount of explanation.

The sentiment that something long and tedious can be good resonates with me as a book lover, and in a way, it’s a shared value.

And the serious Ayase-san would likely ask more questions every time she encountered something she didn’t understand. Maru would continue to speak more and more fluently, weaving in the struggles of those who came before us to explain how stories and games have merged in modern times… By the time he finished, it would probably be dusk. While Ayase-san’s intellectual curiosity might be satisfied, it would undoubtedly stray far from the purpose of our trip.

I felt a strange sense of mission rising within me, knowing that I was the only one who could stop this.

“For now, I think it’s enough to know that there’s a source material.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s true.”

“Did you understand?”

“My friend.”

Narasaka-san quickly added to my words. …Um?

Ah, I see, this is a play on words, meaning “Did you understand, my friend?” and also referencing Maru’s name, Tomokazu. Wait, is she implying that I should add some humor to the conversation?

“Wait, do I have to do that?”

“Muhun.”

And with a peace sign and that smug face.

“Narasaka, what are you expecting from Asamura?”

Seriously. The demands are at a comedian level…

“This is all to enjoy our daily lives.”

“There are things one is suited for and things one isn’t.”

“That’s why I’m supporting you. If you’re friends with Tomo-kun, you’re practically friends too.”

“That doesn’t mean that just because you’re a friend of a friend, you become friends. You’re a stranger. Didn’t we do this yesterday?”

“You’re so cold, Tomo-kun.”

“You’re the one who’s too warm.”

“Well, well.”

If left unchecked, they would probably continue their couple’s banter indefinitely—truly, their conversation flowed like water.

I forcefully redirected the flow of conversation.

“Um, so this is the sacred site of Maru’s recommended anime.”

As I said this, I looked around. We were currently at the rotary in front of Kansai Daimae Station. I estimated we had about two hours for our pilgrimage.

First, we would walk around the places Maru wanted to visit for about an hour. As lunchtime approached, we would return to the station for a meal. Then we would head to the main attraction of the afternoon, the aquarium. That was roughly the plan I had in mind, but…

“But, a pilgrimage, right? How does that work?”

Ayase-san, who had agreed to the schedule, asked, seemingly unsure of what Maru wanted to do.

“Isn’t that anime a fictional story?”

“The story is, of course, entirely fictional. However, in recent animations, there are often real locations that serve as models for the scenery used in the work.”

“Even though the story is made up?”

“Rather, that’s precisely why.”

Ayase-san tilted her head, seemingly not getting it.

“The characters in the anime shouldn’t exist there, right? Is that okay?”

That was a reasonable question. I thought that if I said that, it would be too blunt.

Upon hearing Ayase-san’s words, Maru surprisingly nodded in agreement.

“That’s a good question. I can understand why some people think that way. But can’t we think of it this way? The other day, we went to see Osaka Castle, right?”

“We did, but…”

“What did you think when you looked up at Osaka Castle from under the cherry blossom trees?”

“Uh, well. That castle was built during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, which was in the late 16th century, so about 400 years ago. Therefore, I don’t think the scenery from that time has remained unchanged. Osaka Castle was rebuilt during the Edo period, after all. I also don’t think the cherry blossoms in that park have remained the same. But I wonder if the people who lived 400 years ago looked up at that big castle in the spring scenery and thought, ‘What a big castle, how amazing,’ just like I do. I wonder if they thought about that.”

Maru nodded as if he had found the answer he was looking for.

“That’s it. I think Ayase’s impression is a normal sensitivity for someone who visits historical buildings.”

“Well, I guess that’s true…”

“But, the people who lived at that time aren’t there anymore, are they?”

“…Humans can’t live to be 400 years old, so that’s impossible.”

“While there are tunnels in Sanada Yukimura’s castle, Yukimura isn’t there. You can’t meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi either. What remains are just the traces of the warriors’ dreams.”

“If there were ghosts, I’d want to hear their stories.”

Ayase-san, who is scared, is okay with that? Or is she just unaware of the subtle horror in the flow of conversation?

“But even so, just by seeing the place where they lived and breathing the same air, I feel a connection to them, and I think there’s value in that. That’s how it is.”

“Ah.”

I see, Ayase-san nodded.

“Seeing the modeled scenery and the emotions it evokes is the same as those of fictional characters and ourselves, right? That’s what you mean?”

Maru nodded.

I thought that made sense.

Ayase-san had summarized it in a complicated way, but essentially, it was this.

For example, let’s say there’s a steep slope or stairs in a certain anime or movie.

The struggles, hardships, and sweat of the character climbing that steep slope, and the emotions they felt when they reached the top and looked down at the miniature-like cityscape.

By standing in the same scenery, you can relive those experiences.

At that moment, the characters in that footage were likely feeling those emotions in this place.

Just as you can feel a connection to historical figures by witnessing their legacies, you can relive the emotions of fictional characters through the modeled scenery.

That is what Maru is saying is the essence of the pilgrimage.

“I see. If you put it that way, I can somewhat understand that feeling.”

“Now that you’re convinced, before we start, there’s a little promise. I think it’s preaching to the choir for Ayase, but there’s etiquette when visiting historical buildings, right? Don’t touch what you shouldn’t touch. No graffiti, and if it’s a museum, don’t make noise, don’t run, and don’t take photos where it’s prohibited.”

“That’s true.”

Ayase-san nodded as if it were obvious.

“The same goes for the pilgrimage. In many cases, the places that serve as models are ordinary living spaces for the local people. In this case, for the locals, the road is just a road. We shouldn’t disrupt their lives.”

“Oh, so it’s not a tourist spot.”

“While there are certainly places that actively promote local revitalization, they aren’t the only ones, and even those places value manners. Not all residents are necessarily fond of being models for anime,” Nara-zaka said, cutting in on Maru’s dialogue.

“Shibuya has also been the setting for various fictions, but we don’t really pay much attention to it either,” she continued.

“Shibuya too?”

“Absolutely! It’s filled with holy sites. I sometimes see people visiting Shibuya for pilgrimage. Ikebukuro and Akihabara have quite a few as well. In Saitama, there are places like Kasukabe and Washinomiya Shrine.”

“Wow… there are that many?”

“Or rather, without even realizing it, our high school might be modeled after some anime too!”

“That can’t be true.”

Maru quickly denied it. Well, Suisei High School is just an ordinary school with a high academic level, so it doesn’t have any distinctive features.

That aside, I was reminded once again of the strange sensation brought about by the recent trend in anime to use real cities as models for fictional settings. They call them holy sites, but in reality, they are just the same streets we live in every day. There are houses, schools, shopping streets… Yet, for those who love a particular work, these places transform into valuable destinations worth visiting, much like tourist attractions. When I think about it, it’s quite fascinating.

“But Nara-zaka knows a lot about this,” I remarked.

Perhaps due to her life taking care of her younger brothers, she didn’t seem like someone who went out much.

“Actually, it’s the opposite, Asamura-kun. Because I can’t go out much, my list of places I want to visit has piled up! Once my brothers need less attention, I want to go on a pilgrimage to all the holy sites across Japan!”

“In Nara-zaka’s case, it’s terrifying that her ambitions don’t even stop at Japan.”

“Come on, I understand that there are places I can’t easily go to, even if I want to. Like places farther than space, the moon, Mars, or Mercury.”

Ayase’s eyes widened, but Maru, who seemed to have a clue about the relevant anime, nodded seriously. It seemed these two were determined to go if they could. Scary.

Anyway, thus began our tour of famous sites with Maru as the tour guide.

“Oh…! So this is the holy site of my soul’s masterpiece!”

“Hey, Tomo-kun, don’t just bask in it alone; explain it!” Nara-zaka immediately interjected as Maru sighed deeply with emotion.

After all, to someone unfamiliar with the work, the scenery before us was just one of the beautiful buildings along an ordinary road in Osaka.

“That’s true. Sorry, Asamura, Ayase.”

“I enjoy leisurely walking through unfamiliar towns,” Ayase said.

That said, I wondered if one could truly feel the cultural differences just by walking down the streets of modern Japan. The most I could notice was that the people passing by spoke in Kansai dialect. The markings on the asphalt, the way buildings were constructed, and even the shape of guardrails didn’t seem different at all. Even if there were differences, I couldn’t tell what they were.

The notion that the living culture was different seemed exaggerated.

“Not really, Asamura-kun. Look.”

Ayase pointed to a phone number displayed on a shop sign.

“Huh?”

“The area code is 06, right?”

“Oh!”

Perhaps because I had been calling landlines less frequently lately, I hadn’t even registered it. Tokyo’s area code is 03, while Osaka’s is 06. That’s why I felt a sense of discomfort when seeing the various signs.

I felt acutely aware of my lack of observational skills. To say I wanted to experience a different culture was rather absurd. If I didn’t have a sense of difference within myself, it would mean nothing even if I traveled to a foreign country.

“And the smell of flowers.”

“Smell?”

“Do you know the predicted cherry blossom bloom date this year?”

“Oh… have they already bloomed?”

“Tokyo’s was on the 20th. But Osaka’s was on the 23rd, which was yesterday.”

“Huh, Osaka’s is later?”

I had somehow thought Tokyo’s would be later.

“Actually, yes. So, look, even Osaka Castle on the first day…”

Now that I think about it, they were just starting to bloom.

“As we walk like this, the scent of flowers wafts around, but it feels more subdued than in Tokyo. It’s just a few days’ difference, but it seems like winter lingers just a little in various places.”

“I see.”

“Well, it’s not like Asamura has just started being absent-minded.”

I felt a wave of reflection wash over me from my friend’s unreserved words.

“My apologies.”

“Hey, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I think Asamura has the ability to see the big picture precisely because he doesn’t get caught up in details.”

“That’s quite the way to put it.”

“Strengths can also be weaknesses, and weaknesses can also be strengths. Ayase tends to get tied down by the things right in front of her because she pays attention to the details. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“That last part ruined it, Tomo-kun!”

“It’s just right to take others’ evaluations with a grain of salt, maybe even only a tenth.”

“Tomo-kun, you worry too much.”

Nara-zaka’s sharp comment made Maru frown. The fact that he didn’t immediately retort suggested he felt she had hit a nerve. Maru—sensitive? In other words, he was overly concerned about his surroundings and too worried about others’ evaluations?

To me, Maru always seemed confident and unconcerned about small matters… But then I reconsidered. Wouldn’t someone who wasn’t sensitive be able to serve as the captain of the baseball team? After all, he was entrusted with leading over twenty members of the team. He couldn’t possibly manage them without keeping an eye on each individual.

It was clear he wasn’t like me, who welcomes those who come but doesn’t chase away those who leave. It seemed that Nara-zaka knew Maru better than I did, despite being friends for three years, and I felt a wave of melancholy wash over me again.

“Well, right now, it’s all about my soul’s masterpiece.”

Maru said decisively, changing the atmosphere.

“Please explain.”

Nara-zaka prompted.

“Leave it to me.”

With an enthusiasm that seemed to thump against his chest, Maru began to recount the story of the anime that had moved him. He explained how the scenery before us appeared in the story. According to Maru, the locations that served as models for the scenes in the story weren’t limited to Osaka; they were found all over Japan. Apparently, there were even some in Tokyo.

In other words, they had cut and pasted various landscapes to create a fictional city.

“Back then, the concept of pilgrimage to holy sites hadn’t permeated as much as it does now.”

“Is it that old of a work?”

“Well, the original game was released shortly after I was born. I feel a sense of destiny being intertwined with that game!”

If we were to say that, everyone here was born in the same year.

“And the anime aired three years later. So, when the anime first aired, I would have been three years old.”

“Three years old… Maru.”

“Baby Tomo-kun! I want to see! Show me your album!”

Nara-zaka said, and Maru made a face that looked very reluctant.

“Why would I show something that would only serve as ammunition for my enemies? If you insist, then you show me yours too. A trade.”

“Wanting to see your lover’s baby pictures? Tomo-kun, that’s a bit lewd.”

“…Are you an idiot?”

“Nuhuhuhu. Don’t be shy, don’t be shy. The great Ayase-sama sees through you!”

“I’m not shy!”

We’re getting off track here.

“So, when did you first encounter that fateful work?”

You weren’t watching it when you were three, right?

“Um. Ah, sorry. Naturally, I wasn’t watching it in real-time. The first time I saw it was during my year of high school entrance exams.”

“You were watching anime even during exam year…”

“It was a form of escapism from stress. I got completely hooked. It was moving. It’s a great story.”

“All the girls in it are so cute~.”

I remember Nara-zaka saying she had watched a bit.

“Hey, Tomo-kun, show us!”

I thought it was unreasonable to ask to see it, but surprisingly, even though the anime had aired 15 years ago, there was still an official website alive online. Moreover, it was being updated properly. In other words, it was still an active content.

Maru turned his smartphone screen toward us. It looked like a character introduction page.

Ayase and I leaned in to take a look.

From the outside, it might have seemed like tourists walking through a sightseeing spot, stopping to check a map.

In reality, we were looking at illustrations of two-dimensional girls.

“Look, look! This character is cute! Saki and Asamura-kun, which girl do you like?”

“Which one do you mean…?”

I read a lot, but I had never thought of enjoying a story based on the appearance of characters. Even when Maru bought figurines at the anime shop, I would accompany him, but I had never bought one myself.

“Wow. That’s surprising. I thought there would be three rows of girl figurines lined up on your desk.”

…Wait.

“I’d rather know what kind of thought process led you to deduce that about my desk.”

“Birds of a feather flock together?”

Ayase and I silently looked at Maru.

“Wait! That’s not true. The only things lined up on my desk are mass-produced robot models!”

“Tomo-kun, don’t be shy.”

“I’m not shy! Ugh, that’s why I didn’t want anyone in my room.”

“You’ve been in there before.”

Ayase muttered. It’s rare to see Maru’s usually poker-faced expression flustered. It was a precious moment, but if this conversation continued, we wouldn’t have time to explore the aquarium.

“Maru, continue.”

Prompted by me, Maru resumed his role as tour guide.

“This is the background of the DVD’s first limited edition volume six cover.”

Wait, wait, wait. I just heard a spell.

“What did you say?”

“This.”

As he spoke, he pulled out what looked like the DVD cover illustration from his backpack. The characters were drawn against a meticulously illustrated realistic background. It seemed he had taken the cover out and put it in a clear file. So this was the identity of the spell he just cast.

And the scenery we were looking at—

“It’s the same…”

The angle of the view through the clear file was quite close to that of the jacket illustration, and I could understand that this was indeed the model for the animation.

“Let me see. Oh!”

Even Nara-zaka, who peeked in from my side, was surprised at how similar it was.

Ayase glanced at it too, then pulled back and said thoughtfully, “Once you understand how to look at it, it doesn’t feel strange at all to imagine the characters from the story walking through the scenery you see.”

“Right?”

Maru said happily, and Ayase nodded.

“I’m interested in buildings or ruins that remain unchanged over time, but I haven’t really thought about the fact that people lived there during the time they were built.”

“So Ayase’s interest lies more in architecture.”

“I think it’s nice when something remains in the same form for hundreds of years…”

That must be why Ayase enjoys visiting historical sites. The fact that they remain unchanged, just as they were back then.

Ayase probably already realizes this, but the longing for things that don’t change comes from having experienced sadness due to things that have changed.

Ayase’s family fell apart midway. Her father’s business went under, and from there, the atmosphere at home turned sour, leading to divorce. The landscapes of happier times vanished without a trace.

So she longs for things that remain unchanged.

“But this way of seeing things is nice too. Those people who aren’t in reality, but—”

Ayase looked around. The scenery included a two-story apartment with an external staircase, a waterway in the foreground, rusted guardrails, and a vending machine across the narrow street.

“—If they lived here, they might have crossed this narrow street to buy juice from the vending machine, or I can imagine that those external metal stairs make quite a sound when you go up and down.”

Maru nodded.

“Ah, you can’t narrate every aspect of daily life in a story. If you over-narrate, it becomes unclear what the story is about. And those details that might fall through the cracks may be obvious to the creators, but we who are watching have no clues to imagine them. We aren’t as imaginative as the people who create anime or movies.”

I felt I understood what Maru was trying to say.

If someone has both imagination and observational skills, they could vividly picture the lives of people from back then, even without going to Osaka Castle, just by reading a textbook. Just like Ayase had been the first to notice the small differences between the streets of Tokyo and Osaka.

But I hadn’t noticed at all.

Even for someone like me, if I actually went to Osaka Castle and looked up at the cherry blossoms from below, I could somewhat imagine what the people back then might have felt.

Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.

Maru said with a slightly embarrassed expression, “Well, in my case, I just want to know more about the characters I like. By letting my thoughts wander, I can savor the work more deeply. Maybe I’m just deluding myself into thinking that.”

“Since it’s a hobby, deep readings are totally valid,” Nara-zaka said, smiling.

“That attitude is refreshing for me. So, Maru-kun, you’re interested in understanding people. Whether those people actually exist or not doesn’t matter to you.”

Maru seemed taken aback by Ayase’s unexpected comment.

“Ah, I see… I never thought about it that way, so it feels really fresh. Yeah, I might be having a good experience. Thank you.”

Ayase-san thanked Maru, who muttered, “It’s nothing special.”

“You’re blushing, you’re blushing.”

“Stop teasing me.”

And once again, following Maru-sensei’s guidance, we strolled through the streets of Osaka.

By the time we returned to the station for lunch,

without even having seen it, we somehow felt as if we had experienced a piece of Maru’s soul.

After lunch, we headed towards our afternoon destination, the aquarium.

From Kandai-mae Station, we transferred once and arrived at Osaka Port Station.

The journey took about 45 minutes. I led the way again, but we reached Osaka Port Station without much trouble.

“I think I’ll leave my luggage in a locker.”

“I agree. It’s best to travel light in museums and galleries.”

Since it was our last day, we had already checked out of the hotel. We had been moving around with our luggage from a two-night, three-day stay, and while the leisurely morning was fine, fatigue was starting to set in by the afternoon. The aquarium would likely be dimly lit, making it tricky to navigate with large bags. I didn’t want to walk around in such places burdened with heavy luggage.

“I think there are lockers at the aquarium too… but is it quite a walk from here?”

“It shouldn’t be too long. It’s about a six-minute walk. But just in case the lockers at the aquarium are full, I’d prefer to leave them here if we can.”

Ayase-san seemed satisfied with my answer.

After walking a bit past the ticket gate, we found a locker, so we decided to leave our travel bags there for now. Of course, we kept our valuables with us.

“It seems the aquarium is on the north side of the station. This way, I think.”

As I said this, I checked the map app and led the way. There was a corridor heading north after we passed through the ticket gate. I spotted a sign for the aquarium on the wall and let out a sigh of relief. It seemed we were on the right path.

“Asamura-kun, you’re not getting lost at all!”

“I’m just following the map…”

“In this world, there are people who get lost even while looking at a map.”

Narasaka-san said thoughtfully. It seemed she knew someone who was directionally challenged.

“And those people tend to walk with such confidence. They pull everyone along, and you think they know the way, but after walking for ages, they ask, ‘So, where are we going again?’ It’s about my dad, though!”

Narasaka-san said it was a weakness of her family.

Well, I didn’t think it was a weakness per se. After all, families are made up of humans, not omniscient gods.

“According to the map, it looks like we just need to walk straight and take a left once. I don’t think it’s a confusing route, so we should be fine.”

While leading the way, I kept my eyes peeled for the surroundings.

The sky felt wider than in Shibuya. The sidewalks on either side of the two-lane road (named Minato Ward Route 287) were also spacious. Judging by the grid-like map, it might be a new area like a reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay.

It was almost 2 PM, and there weren’t too many people walking on the sidewalk. Schools around Osaka seemed to start spring break on the 25th, so it might get busier after tomorrow. Well, we had planned our schedule to avoid crowds, so it would be a problem if it were too empty.

“Oh, look!”

Narasaka-san pointed ahead on the street.

“A Ferris wheel! It’s huge!”

I had noticed something rising behind the buildings. As we got closer, I realized we were looking at the Ferris wheel from the side. It appeared as if a thin pole was stretching up into the sky. With a slight angle, I could see it was a circular structure.

“According to the map, that’s the ‘Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel.'”

“Hmm. It seems to be one of the largest in the world, with a diameter of 100 meters and a height of 112.5 meters.”

“Wow, one of the largest in the world!”

“Not happening.”

Maru said bluntly.

“Wait! I haven’t said anything yet!”

“You want to ride it, right?”

Narasaka-san nodded vigorously like a small animal.

“If we ride it, we won’t have time to explore the aquarium.”

“Ugh…”

“Patience.”

“Ugh, fine…”

“I understand why the words ‘one of the largest in the world’ would attract Maya. I might have wanted to ride it too if I had the time.”

“I heard there are seats with transparent floors.”

The moment Maru said that, my heart tightened. What? That sounds way too scary.

However, Narasaka-san and Ayase-san’s eyes widened, and they broke into dazzling smiles as if they had just been bathed in light. This is why thrill-seekers are like this…

“But this time, we have to hold back.”

Maru said while looking at me. So, this means he’s being considerate because the aquarium is my recommendation… Narasaka-san and Ayase-san nodded, though they still looked a bit regretful.

As we approached the Ferris wheel, tilting our heads back at an angle that made our necks ache, we reached a wide road intersecting at a cross. The map labeled it “Ichijo Street.” If we crossed the pedestrian crossing and turned left, we should be able to see the aquarium right away.

“Giraffe.”

At Ayase-san’s words, I looked up from the map app. Huh? A giraffe here?

It turned out to be a giant statue of a giraffe made of toy blocks, standing three times the height of a person. It was right at the corner. But why is there a toy giraffe here?

I hurriedly checked the map app again.

“Ah, I see. It seems there’s a toy block theme park nearby.”

“Really!?”

“Narasaka.”

“Oh, I know. You’ve been accommodating our interests all this time. I promise we’ll go to the aquarium.”

Well, being told that raises expectations for the aquarium.

“I just thought my younger brothers would be happy, that’s all.”

Narasaka-san said. Maru replied that they could bring them next time, and Narasaka-san lamented that she couldn’t handle that many by herself. By the way, I still don’t know how many younger brothers Narasaka-san has.

I still don’t understand. She said, “There are a lot,” but logically, I think it might be three or four. She’s a good older sister who always thinks about her younger brothers.

After walking for about five minutes, we finally saw what looked like the building we were aiming for.

“That seems to be the aquarium.”

I closed the map app and told everyone.

We lined up at the ticket booth.

I thought it would be empty, but there was still a decent line in front of the booth.

“I heard the highlight here is a permanent exhibition using multiple tanks.”

I shared the information I had noted on my phone beforehand.

The concept of the permanent exhibition is said to be ‘recreating the ecosystems of the Pacific Rim.’ Each tank replicates the environment of different areas of the Pacific Ocean, allowing us to see what kinds of creatures inhabit those regions.

Ayase-san asked, “What areas of the Pacific?”

“Well, it’s written in the pamphlet too, but it includes places like Japan, the Aleutian Islands, Monterey Bay, and Panama Bay… It’s like a tour around the Pacific.”

“Naru-saka.”

“Oh, I know. I know. I’ve been accommodating our interests all this time. I promise we’ll go to the aquarium.”

Narasaka-san pronounced “Aleutian Islands” as if she had never heard the name before, but she was supposed to be among those who passed the toughest national university entrance exams…

“No, I get it. I get it. Um, it’s between Alaska and the Kamchatka Peninsula!”

“Exactly.”

“Panama Bay, judging by the name, is near the Panama Canal, right?”

Maru said.

“Yes, it’s the entrance on the Pacific side of the canal.”

“So that means it’s almost at the equator. Hmm. About 8 to 9 degrees north latitude.”

Maru seemed to have fished out a map of the Pacific Ocean from somewhere on his smartphone. He showed us where Monterey Bay was located. Apparently, it’s a bay on the Pacific coast of California in the western United States.

“It seems they keep marine creatures by recreating the environments of those various places.”

“Oh, there’s also Antarctica—penguins and polar bears!”

Narasaka-san said happily. Oh, that’s not right.

“That’s a common misconception, but polar bears don’t live in the Antarctic area.”

Huh? Narasaka-san’s eyes widened.

Oh, she really didn’t know, not just accidentally.

“Polar bears live in the Arctic region, which is the northern part of the Earth. So, they aren’t in Antarctica. Conversely, penguins are creatures of the southern hemisphere, so they aren’t in the northern hemisphere. These two species never coexist in nature. Also, there are various types of penguins that live in places other than cold areas.”

“Wow…”

“I didn’t know that. Asamura-kun, you’re knowledgeable.”

Ayase-san said, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Well, it’s not that much.”

“Then, shall we go inside?”

We reached the ticket window and purchased four admission tickets to enter.

In a word, it was a blue world.

Inside the aquarium was just as I had expected—dimly lit overall and dyed in shades of blue. Not only the walls but also the transparent panels of the tanks seemed to have color.

“Why is it so blue?”

“Don’t trip, okay?”

Maru was following Narasaka-san closely, seemingly worried about the gently sloping floor.

“I’m fine. I’m excited, but I’m not being reckless!”

Maru looked at Narasaka-san skeptically, but she was probably right.

Whether in a zoo or an aquarium, animals instinctively dislike loud noises. Of course, banging on the tanks is out of the question and strictly prohibited. It would disturb the other guests who were enjoying the exhibits.

So, conversations naturally became quieter.

Narasaka-san, who was talking to Maru, understood this. Her tone was the same as usual, but her volume was appropriately subdued. In other words, she was exercising self-restraint.

So why did she say something excitedly?

“You’re being spoiled.”

Ayase-san muttered quietly. She was referring to Narasaka-san. Since she usually takes care of others, it seemed she was leaning on someone who takes care of her.

“Hey, Asamura-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Just now, Maya was saying, why is it so blue here? Is it because it’s the ocean?”

Hmm, where should I start explaining?

“The largest tank in this aquarium is called the Pacific tank, and it’s said to be… about 9 meters deep, 34 meters wide, and 32 meters long.”

“9 meters deep… that’s quite deep.”

“And actually, sunlight, or more precisely visible light, penetrates water to different extents depending on the color. The absorption rates differ. Red light gets absorbed quickly by water, so once you dive a little, it won’t reach you anymore. Specifically, it gets absorbed almost entirely within a depth of 10 meters.”

Ayase-san’s face turned surprised.

“You said the big tank here is 9 meters deep, right?”

“Yes. So, almost no red wavelengths of light should reach the bottom of the tank. On the other hand, blue light penetrates deeper. It can reach depths of over 100 meters. In other words, the ocean at a depth of about 10 meters should be filled with blue light.”

“Wow…”

“For fish and creatures living deeper than the surface, the world must look like this…”

As I said this, I waved my hand toward the tank.

“The ocean floor is a blue world…”

“At this depth, it’s still relatively shallow compared to the entire ocean. Deeper than that, below 200 meters, marine biology refers to it as the ‘deep sea,’ and at that depth, light doesn’t reach, so it becomes a world of darkness, not just blue. I think it’s about the Mariana Trench or depths of 10,000 meters.”

“You’re knowledgeable. You remember well.”

“Do I?”

“It doesn’t seem like you learned it for exam preparation. By the way, you mentioned you kept tropical fish in the past. Did you learn it then?”

“How was it, I wonder?”

Of course, I had done some prior research, but I could pull out things like what I just said from somewhere in my head.

“Oh, but… now that I think about it, I used to really enjoy looking at encyclopedias when I was a kid.”

Not just about animals, but I also liked encyclopedias about space and vehicles. It was back in kindergarten.

My dad had quite a few of those encyclopedias on his bookshelf, and I would get picture books as gifts. Being more of an indoor type, I often pulled out those encyclopedias to look at.

“When you’re a kid, you tend to want to show off the knowledge you’ve learned, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Did Ayase-san not feel that way? Well, it probably varies from person to person. I was that type. So I was the kind of kid who would blurt out everything I learned from encyclopedias.”

I might be saying this myself, but it’s undeniable that I was a smart kid. And my parents never denied my thirst for knowledge. So I would proudly boast about things like “Even though they look similar to fish, whales are mammals” or “A light-year is a unit of distance, not time,” which now makes me want to hide in a hole. When I encounter a child doing the same thing, I want to run away out of empathetic embarrassment.

“However, it seems that sharing knowledge with someone else helps with memory. The trivia I learned back then still sticks in my head.”

Talking to others makes it easier to remember. Knowing this, my parents probably listened patiently with interested expressions as I shared my knowledge.

“So, did you remember the earlier information in that way?”

“Hmm. No, the knowledge gained from books aimed at lower elementary school students isn’t that significant.”

Polar bears are in the Arctic. Penguins are in the southern hemisphere. That’s about the extent of it.

“I didn’t chase after fish knowledge all the way from there. If I really liked fish, I would have been showcasing my knowledge every time I saw Ayase-san’s fish dishes. Like, ‘This fish is called sanma.’ But now, I can barely distinguish the fish I eat.”

When I said that, Ayase-san showed a small smile.

“That might be true.”

“Right?”

As the lid on the past memories opened, I recalled a little more. The person I had been sharing my knowledge with was my father, and then my mother.

“Yuta, you really know a lot. Teach your mother too,” she said, smiling as she listened to my proud and clever explanations.

This was before I started elementary school, when I was about four or five years old. Back then, the atmosphere at home wasn’t so bad yet…

I was genuinely happy when my mother praised me with a smile, saying, “That’s amazing, Yuta.” However, looking back now, I think my precocious behavior might have been a factor that made my mother eager for me to take entrance exams for elementary and middle school.

The failures I faced in those two entrance exams distanced me from that thirst for knowledge.

After the atmosphere at home turned sour and my mother left, I showed no desire to learn anything new. There was no one to praise me anymore. Concerned about me spending my days cooped up at home doing nothing, my father took me to various zoos and science museums. Around the same time, I began to read books again and enjoyed visiting exhibition halls… And just like that, it was as if water was seeping into dry sand once more.

“So, you know, when you dive 10 meters, the water pressure increases by one atmosphere, and light travels about 9.46 trillion kilometers in a year. I think I learned those kinds of detailed facts later, after I started reading books. I can’t even remember where I learned them now.”

“Is that so?”

As we were having this conversation, Nara-zaka-san and Maru, who had been ahead of us, returned.

“Hey! There’s a huge one in the big tank!”

“It’s amazing!” Maru exclaimed, and Nara-zaka-san added, somewhat excitedly.

Come on, you two, that doesn’t convey anything. All you’re saying is “huge” and “amazing,” right? I thought to myself, but I had an inkling of what they were trying to say.

“Ayase-san, shall we go? That’s probably the main attraction of this aquarium. They said you could see it here.”

Ah, Ayase-san seemed to remember too.

“It’s some kind of shark, right? Is it a whale shark?”

“Yes, that’s it. I’ve heard it’s big, but this will be my first time seeing it.”

Still, I wondered just how big it would be.

The “big tank” that Maru and Nara-zaka-san were talking about was the highlight of the Pacific tank exhibit at the aquarium.

The Pacific tank was installed in the center of the building, and visitors descended in a spiral around the central tank. This way, you could see the giant tank multiple times as you walked down. It was 9 meters deep, about the height of a three-story school building, and 34 meters wide, equivalent to four or five classrooms. It was about half the size of the school building.

“So, what’s this big one?”

When I asked, Maru pointed to the upper right side beyond the acrylic glass.

“That one. It’s coming this way now.”

“Coming?”

I turned my gaze and couldn’t help but let out a “Whoa.”

“Is that… a whale shark?”

Ayase-san murmured in a somewhat dazed voice.

A gigantic fish was slowly swimming toward us, just above our line of sight.

It was big. It looked to be about 4 to 5 meters long from its snout to the tip of its tail.

Since the whale shark is a type of shark, its overall shape was that of a shark. However, the typical shark one imagines has a streamlined shape with a pointed snout. Just yesterday at USJ, I had ordered a lunch box with a shark from a shark movie printed on it, and the shark depicted there also had a pointed snout. But the whale shark’s head, as you can see, is not pointed. It has a flat, broad face. Its mouth is also wide and flat.

“Just as they say, it’s the largest fish in the world.”

“It looks like it could be bitten off from the head…”

I decided it was time to showcase the knowledge I had gathered beforehand. This was a perfect opportunity to share some trivia.

“Do you know what whale sharks eat?”

“Uh…?”

Ayase-san pondered while tracking the giant fish with her eyes.

“Well… since it’s that big, it must eat large fish, right?”

“Plankton.”

“Huh? …There’s nothing other than those little ones, right?”

“Exactly. Things like water fleas and green algae. Plankton is a general term for small aquatic organisms that can’t swim against the current, so it mainly feeds on very tiny creatures.”

“…Is that enough?”

“I hear they need to eat about 8 kilograms a day.”

This knowledge was a result of my prior research.

“They open that big mouth and suck in the surrounding seawater. They filter out the plankton inside their mouth and only send the remaining plankton to their stomach. Despite their size, they are gentle creatures and don’t attack humans.”

It had a somewhat vacant, dazed expression. It looked big and strong, but its temperament was calm. It swam leisurely, gliding down to the bottom of the tank and then slowly returning to the top.

“Even though it’s that big… it’s gentle…”

“Whale sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs hatch inside the mother, and they are born after reaching a certain size. So, when they come out of the mother’s womb, they are already somewhat developed. It’s estimated that about 300 of them are born in one birthing, but since they don’t raise them, the number that survives is said to be very small.”

“They don’t raise them?”

“Right. It’s a case of high birth and high mortality, which is often seen in fish, amphibians, and insects.”

“Is that the case for all fish?”

“Actually, I was curious about that when I researched it too.”

Probably, both Ayase-san and I were curious because we had experienced feelings of being abandoned by one of our parents. However, it doesn’t make sense to question the survival strategy of a species that doesn’t rely on parenting.

Moreover…

“When I researched it, I found a site that explained that the definition of ‘parenting’ can vary depending on whether you take a narrow or broad view.”

“The definition of parenting?”

“In a broad sense, ‘parenting’ can be defined as ‘increasing the survival rate of children.’ Is that clear so far?”

Seeing Ayase-san nod, I continued.

“Most fish that live in the sea lay their eggs by scattering them in the water. Since the eggs are carried away by the current, even if they wanted to raise them, they would quickly drift away to places unknown to the parents. The eggs can die or be eaten before they hatch.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“In the case of ovoviviparous species, that doesn’t happen. Since the eggs hatch and grow to a certain size inside the mother’s womb, you could say that the period of hatching the eggs inside is also a form of parenting. They are increasing the survival rate from egg to fry.”

Ayase-san nodded in understanding.

“In that sense, it’s hard to judge whether giving birth to 300 at once is a lot or a little. Perhaps if they just laid eggs without raising them, they could produce even more.”

“Oh, I see. So, those 300 are the ones that survive after being raised.”

“Exactly. If they give birth to 300, they fall into the category of high birth and high mortality.”

“Only a few survive…”

“But when you think about it, that might be natural.”

“Huh?”

“Because when a male and female fish create offspring, as long as at least two survive to the next generation, the numbers won’t decrease. But the oceans aren’t filled with whale sharks, right? This means that the opposite is true; it could be said that a species like the whale shark needs to produce 300 offspring to survive.”

“So, in other words… it’s hard for them to survive?”

“While they probably aren’t eaten by other fish once they grow up, it can be said that they have no survival strategy other than growing large. They don’t have any means to attack their enemies, they don’t have poison like pufferfish, and they don’t have claws like shrimp or crabs. They can’t even expel ink to create a smoke screen, nor can they swim fast. They don’t even have an aggressive temperament.”

“They have no means of protecting themselves other than growing larger…”

“Exactly.”

“Even though they’re sharks.”

Well, there are various types of sharks. Not all of them are man-eating sharks with sharp teeth.

“So, I think it’s quite an achievement for them to grow to such a size. It makes me think they’ve survived against the odds.”

As I watched the whale shark swimming closer again, I murmured such thoughts.

“But then, if they grow this big, they can live long lives.”

I didn’t know whether the lifespan of whale sharks in captivity was longer or shorter than in the wild, but from what I researched, their lifespan was said to be around 100 years. In other words, it’s not much different from humans.

When I told Ayase-san this, she seemed to feel a sense of closeness to the whale shark.

“In that sense, since humans also grow in their mother’s womb before being born, parenting in a broad sense starts even before birth.”

Ayase-san’s words caught me off guard.

I had never thought of that. When I considered it, it seemed that parenting for humans has many stages.

“Wait. Could it be that if whale sharks extended their parenting period, they could survive even if they were born in smaller numbers?”

“Uh, so you mean if the mother fish raised them to be bigger inside her womb?”

“Yeah. For example, if they could grow ten times larger before being born, they could survive with just one-tenth the number.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple… but in a broad sense, that might be the case.”

“But even if it’s one-tenth, that’s still 30… Giving birth to that many sounds tough. That’s like having triplets ten times, Asamura-kun…”

Ayase-san, are you thinking too far again?

“No, in this case, I’m talking about the number of offspring in one birthing, so you shouldn’t divide it into ten times.”

And what am I doing, seriously contemplating this?

“Thirty children! That’s definitely impossible.”

“Huh?”

“Children. You can’t have that many. At least triplets, please! Just divide it up! If that’s the case, I can manage it somehow.”

“You’ll manage…?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, um… I was hoping you’d react to the dividing part, not that part…”

Ah, so you were waiting for a comeback.

“Could it be that just now was a pretty embarrassing joke, like Nara-zaka-san’s from yesterday…?”

“Oh, um… yes.”

I instinctively looked around. Okay, for now, it seems no one is around.

Maru and Nara-zaka-san were a little distance away, talking about the giant stingray that was sinking to the floor. Good, it seems no one else heard that joke except me.

“Uh, was that? Maybe it was quite an embarrassing joke?”

In the blue scenery, I felt like Ayase-san’s cheeks turned red—though in the dark, red tends to look subdued. It made me worry that her complexion seemed to worsen.

“Uh… what do you mean? It’s not like I’m repaying a loan or anything.”

Oops. That was a flat delivery.

“…Forget it.”

“…Understood.”

But really, no one would have their heart skip a beat and hold their breath when their partner suddenly says, “If you have triplets, I’ll manage it.” …I don’t think anyone would.

Ayase-san’s earnest attempt at humor, inspired by Nara-zaka-san, was met with my inexperience, leading to a rather unfortunate failure. I suppose it was only natural for me to feel like I deserved to have all the cushions taken away. I felt quite sorry about it.

People have their strengths and weaknesses.

By the time we boarded the Shinkansen, the sunset had disappeared, and the sky had turned black.

As if lamenting the trip that had ended in the blink of an eye, we shared our memories. No one was asleep. It had been such a strenuous journey. I had thought I might fall asleep the moment I sat down, but no one—really, no one—had fallen asleep, and we continued chatting.

“Asamura-kun’s guide at the aquarium was great.”

Nara-zaka-san suddenly said this just as the announcement indicated we were almost at Shinagawa.

“Why do you look so surprised at that?”

“Oh, no… I didn’t feel like I did a good job guiding.”

“Well, that’s true? In the first half, Asamura-kun was just flirting with Saki, right?”

“I wasn’t!”

Ayase-san immediately countered, but I decided to accept that criticism.

Not the flirting part, but the part about not guiding well.

There was a café set up inside the aquarium, and we took a short break there. Such cafés often have menus related to the exhibits, and the aquarium was no exception, offering items like “Sand Eel Dogs” and “Whale Shark Soft Serve.” The former was a long sausage sandwiched in a long bun, while the latter was a soft serve ice cream colored like the whale shark’s body. Blue food often tends to diminish one’s appetite (probably because there are few blue foods in nature), but the ice cream, colored to resemble the gray-blue back and white belly of the whale shark, easily reminded me of the giant fish I had just seen, and surprisingly, I could eat it without much resistance.

It was delicious. Well, the memories of the meal didn’t matter much. We each ordered items according to our hunger levels, and while licking our soft serve and sipping coffee, we tried to alleviate the fatigue from walking around, but I reflected on something belatedly.

The aquarium was a place I had chosen based on my preferences, which meant that the other three weren’t particularly interested in it. Therefore, I should have been more mindful to ensure they didn’t get bored.

Moreover, this graduation trip was also a way for Ayase-san and me to express our gratitude to Maru and Nara-zaka-san, who had always taken care of us.

With that in mind, I tried to sprinkle as much trivia as I could remember from my preparations during the latter half (of course, within a range that wouldn’t get too noisy), but honestly, I wondered how well I had done.

“It felt interesting, like going around an art museum while listening to a guide.”

“If you felt that way, then I’m glad.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Well, if they enjoyed my haphazard trivia, then I was fortunate.

“We’re almost there.”

Maru said.

Outside the window, the bright lights of Tokyo were visible beneath the dark night.

Just three days apart, and yet I feel a sense of relief.

I believe the words “hometown” and “city” are often seen as distant from each other. In novels and other stories, scenes of returning to one’s hometown overwhelmingly depict journeys to the countryside. It is rare to find a scene where someone says they are “returning to Tokyo” for a brief visit. Such is the extent to which the term “homecoming” is associated with rural areas, far removed from the city.

Yet, when I caught sight of the city lights of Tokyo, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I realized just how much of a city kid I truly am.

I glanced at Ayase-san’s reflection in the window glass.

Her eyes, gazing at the city lights, seemed to glisten with unshed tears.

“Saki, are you crying?” Narasaka-san asked, looking at Ayase-san, who was seated in front of him.

“I’m not crying.”

“Oh, come here, come here.”

Narasaka-san pulled Ayase-san close, gently stroking her head.

“I’m not crying, I tell you…”

“That’s okay, that’s okay.”

Maru murmured as he gazed out the window past Narasaka-san.

“Well, it was a good trip.”

I nodded in agreement.

Narasaka-san continued to cradle Ayase-san’s head against his chest.

“It’s not like this is a final farewell or anything.”

“That’s why I’m not crying.”

“Oh, I see, I see.”

“Geez! … I think it’s fine for Maaya and Maru-kun. After all, we’re in the same university.”

Ayase-san said this with a hint of sulkiness.

While it’s true that every meeting comes with a parting, there are connections we don’t want to lose. Still, life is more about the intersections we share than the separations, and the end of the time we shared together would eventually come.

I had a premonition that university life would undoubtedly be busier than high school.

Slowly, Ayase-san pulled away from Narasaka-san.

It feels like a strange twist of fate, or perhaps that connections are inherently different; I can’t help but feel the mystery of life in how close these two have become—though that might be an exaggeration.

“It seems like there won’t be many more chances for the four of us to gather and do something like this.”

Ayase-san said quietly.

“Is that so?”

“Probably. Once we become adults, the time we can use just for ourselves will keep decreasing. I wish I had spent more time hanging out with Maaya and the others…”

Her words reminded me of the classroom as graduation approached. I recalled Ayase-san slowly surveying the nearly empty classroom during a study session.

“It’s not exactly regret, but still, it feels like a missed opportunity.”

“That’s something we can easily make up for. We’re still young, after all. Oh, how about we do something together, the four of us?”

Narasaka-san suddenly suggested this, and Ayase-san shot him a look that seemed to say, “What are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, ‘something’?”

“Hmm. Oh, how about posting videos? The four of us. Like a trend.”

Even Maru gave him a look that said, “What are you talking about?”

“Entertainment isn’t that easy, you know.”

“You don’t have to take it so seriously! It’s just for fun!”

“Narasaka, do you understand? Even if it’s just for fun, putting something out into the world comes with a certain responsibility. It shouldn’t just be about our little group—”

“How about a channel showcasing Maru-kun’s treasures?”

“I don’t have treasures worth showcasing. The biggest treasure I have is at best—”

You’re missing the point.

The shinkansen glided into the platform.

“Come on, we have to get off.”

I urged them, and the conversation came to an abrupt halt as we hurriedly disembarked from the train.

Dragging our suitcases, Narasaka-san and Maru were bickering back and forth.

“Seriously, you always do this—”

“A couple YouTube channel featuring Saki and Asamura-kun’s lovey-dovey life would totally work, you know?”

Hearing their fragmented conversation sent a chill down my spine. It was supposed to be an idea for the four of us to do something together, but why was it turning into a discussion about me and Ayase-san?

“It’s over now, huh?”

I turned around at the voice coming from behind. Ayase-san, who had been leisurely trailing behind, wore a slightly tired expression, yet her face radiated a sense of fulfillment.

We exited the shinkansen ticket gate and parted ways toward our respective lines. Ayase-san and I headed together toward my home in Shibuya.

As we followed our usual route from Shibuya Station, our conversation revolved solely around the three-day trip.

—Well, it was a good trip.

Maru’s words echoed in my mind. I feel the same way, Maru.

With the graduation trip over, our high school life as a group of four came to an end.