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The aquarium was a serene escape from the bustling city, its dimly lit halls filled with the soft hum of water filters and the occasional splash of marine life. Shiho had been looking forward to this date for weeks, and Rei, though he’d never admit it, was equally excited. As they walked through the entrance, Shiho grabbed his hand, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Let’s see the dolphins first! I heard they have a show at noon.”
Rei nodded, letting her lead the way. “Dolphins it is.”
The dolphin show was a lively spectacle, with the sleek mammals leaping gracefully out of the water and performing tricks to the delight of the audience. Shiho clapped enthusiastically, her smile widening with every flip and splash. Rei, though less outwardly expressive, couldn’t help but be impressed by the dolphins’ agility.
Near the end of the show, the trainers invited the dolphins to splash the audience. Shiho, caught up in the excitement, didn’t notice the wave of water heading their way until it was too late. The cold water drenched them both, leaving them laughing and dripping wet.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Rei said, running a hand through his now-soaked hair.
Shiho giggled, shaking water out of her auburn locks. “At least it’s refreshing!”
They decided to visit the gift shop to buy dry clothes, settling on matching T-shirts—one with a cartoon dolphin for Shiho and one with a shark for Rei. As they changed, Shiho couldn’t resist snapping a photo of Rei in his new shirt, his hair still damps and slightly messy. “You look adorable,” she teased.
Rei rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the faint blush on his cheeks.
As they wandered through the aquarium, they came across a seal exhibit where visitors could interact with the animals. Shiho, ever the curious scientist, eagerly volunteered. Rei, however, was less enthusiastic. “I’ll just watch,” he said, standing a safe distance away.
But the seal had other plans. As Rei leaned against the railing, the seal suddenly popped up and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on his cheek. Shiho burst into laughter, ecstatic that she caught the moment on video. “Oh my god, Rei! You’ve been chosen!”
Rei wiped his cheek with a grimace, though the corners of his lips twitched upward.
Shiho grinned, already uploading the photo to her social media with the caption: “Seal of approval for my fox boy!” Within minutes, the post was flooded with comments.
Akemi: “Rei Furuya, heartthrob of both humans and seals.”
Subaru: “I didn’t know seals had such unusual taste🤨”
Elena: “You two are too cute! Keep the photos coming! Your father says hi and to have fun. He still hasn’t mastered the mystery of SNS.”
Rei groaned as he scrolled through the comments. “Why do I feel like this is going to haunt me forever?”
Shiho laughed, leaning into him. “Because it will.”
For lunch, they decided to try the aquarium’s café, which offered a special couple set meal. Shiho insisted on ordering it, pointing to the menu. “Look! The dessert is shaped like a sea turtle. It’s too cute to pass up.”
Rei raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you care about cute desserts? You drink your coffee black.”
Shiho pouted. “That’s different. Japanese drink bitter tea or coffee with sweet wagashi. It’s all about balance.”
Rei smirked. “So, you’re saying you have a sweet tooth but hide it behind your tough scientist persona?”
Shiho huffed, stabbing a fork into her dessert. “I’m not hiding anything. I just appreciate the finer things in life.”
When Rei didn’t finish his dessert, Shiho happily took it, earning a raised eyebrow from him. “You’re really going to eat both?”
Shiho shrugged, her mouth full. “Waste not, want not.”
As they continued exploring, they noticed a young girl crying near the jellyfish exhibit. Shiho immediately knelt down, her voice gentle. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
The girl sniffled, wiping her tears. “I can’t find my mom and dad.”
Shiho smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We’ll help you find them.”
Rei stayed close as Shiho took the girl’s hand and led her to the information center. The staff quickly located the girl’s parents, who were frantically searching for her. When they were reunited, the parents thanked Shiho and Rei profusely.
As they walked away, Rei glanced at Shiho, his expression soft. “You were really good with her. You’d make a great mom someday.”
Shiho’s cheeks turned beet red, and she swatted his arm. “Don’t say things like that out of nowhere!”
Rei chuckled, his tone teasing. “I’m just saying. You have a natural way with kids.”
Shiho crossed her arms, though her blush deepened. “Let’s just focus on finding the penguin exhibit.”
As they sat by the large tank, resting their legs and watching the fish swim by, Rei brought up the subject of his upcoming bar exam. "As soon as I pass, I'm going to buy a brand-new car—not a used one—with my first paycheck. We can go for drives, maybe even to a drive-in movie theater."
Shiho raised an eyebrow. “A car? Do we really need one? We live within walking distance of everything, and there’s always taxis or Uber. Plus, we’re both so busy—a car sounds like more trouble than it’s worth.”
Rei smirked. “Aren’t you tired of dating a poor student with tons of student loans and no car?”
Shiho rolled her eyes, leaning into him. “I’m dating you because you make me feel seen and safe to be myself. You don’t judge me or expect me to be anything other than who I am. That’s worth five sports cars and more. Besides, we’ll be rich by the time we’re thirty. Japanese should suffer when they’re young to find their ikigai.”
Rei’s expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “And here I thought it was because I’m cute like a fox.”
Shiho laughed, her cheeks tinged with pink. “That’s just a bonus.”
As they left the aquarium, hand in hand, Shiho looked up at Rei, her expression soft. “Thanks for today. It was perfect.”
Rei smiled, his gaze warm. “Anything for you, love.”