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"You can open your eyes now."
Akito's voice carried a hint of poorly concealed anticipation, which he tried so hard to bury beneath his usual gruffness.
She obediently opened her eyes.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other while waiting for her reaction, pretending to study the large map posted beside the entrance instead of watching her every movement.
AkiRobo stood beside him, holding his bag.
For a brief moment she only blinked at the world in front of her, still adjusting after keeping them shut for the last minute or so of walking.
Families drifted through the wide entrance plaza, children pointed excitedly toward colorful animal signs, and the warm breeze carried the distant calls of birds from somewhere deeper inside the grounds. Bright banners fluttered overhead, welcoming visitors to another busy day.
Then her gaze slowly lifted to the massive sign spanning the entrance gate.
Her eyes widened. "Eh?"
Before she could ask anything, Akito reached into his pocket and held something out to her without meeting her eyes.
"Here," he muttered, extending a blue admission wristband toward her. "Need this to get in."
Kohane stared at it for a second before carefully taking it from his hand. The plastic clicked softly around her wrist, and she absentmindedly turned it over to admire the little animal illustrations decorating it.
Her gaze wandered back to the entrance.
Then to the wristband.
Then back again.
"The zoo...?" she asked quietly, almost like she needed confirmation that it was really there.
"Mhm," Akito answered with a small nod, still refusing to look directly at her.
Her eyes drifted toward a large promotional banner hanging near the gate.
"They have— a reptile exhibit?!"
"...Yeah."
There was another long pause.
Akito finally glanced sideways.
Kohane stood completely still. Then, as though someone had flipped a switch inside her, her entire expression lit up.
"Akito-kun!" she exclaimed, hugging him before pulling him down to abruptly kiss him on the cheek.
She let go, clasping her hands together. "We're really going to the reptile exhibit?"
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of Akito's mouth despite himself.
"That was kinda the plan, Koha." he said, struggling to mask his flustered expression.
"I..." Kohane looked around with sparkling eyes that seemed incapable of settling on one thing for more than a second. "There's snakes..."
She pointed toward one sign advertising today's reptile presentations.
"And lizards..."
Another display caught her attention.
"Tortoises too..."
Her shoulders slowly relaxed as she let out a dreamy little sigh, looking happier than Akito had seen her in quite some time.
"...Is this a dream?" she murmured.
She suddenly turned toward the robot standing patiently beside them.
"AkiRobo?"
The robot tilted his head with a soft mechanical whir.
Kohane smiled so brightly, clearly estatic. "Please pinch me."
Silence.
AkiRobo froze.
His eyes flashed blue, then yellow, then red.
A quiet stream of electronic beeping escaped from somewhere inside his chassis.
Command received.
One hand slowly lifted.
Executing request...
The hand stopped halfway.
Warning. Physical harm toward registered human detected.
His processor audibly clicked.
Action prohibited.
User explicitly requested action.
Action required.
Action prohibited.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaa
A louder burst of electronic chirping echoed from inside him and smoke started coming out of his head.
"Eh, AkiRobo—?!"
Akito watched for exactly three seconds before sighing. "Seriously."
He slipped his backpack off the robot and unzipped it with practiced familiarity.
Kohane blinked curiously. "...Akito-kun?"
Without answering, Akito rummaged through one of the pockets before pulling out a small instant ice pack.
Kohane looked from the ice pack to the robot, then back again.
"You... brought one?"
"I brought three," Akito answered matter-of-factly as he activated the pack with a sharp squeeze.
The chemicals inside crackled to life before he casually placed it right on top of AkiRobo's head.
Plop.
The frantic beeping stopped instantly.
The tiny puff of steam rising from one side of the robot disappeared.
His eyes settled back into their usual calm green glow.
"Phew… temperature restored…" AkiRobo reported after a brief system check. He looked up at Akito and gave a polite nod.
Akito patted the robot's head (bad idea: it was still smoldering hot.)
Almost like he was maternal to the robot look-a-like of him that had its own conciousness.
Kohane couldn't help laughing, a soft giggle escaping her.
"Ehe..." She smiled fondly at the robot before glancing toward her boyfriend. "He overheats just like Akito-kun."
Akito's head whipped around so quickly that even AkiRobo tracked the movement.
"The hell's that supposed to mean?!" he demanded, his ears already turning noticeably red.
Kohane quickly shook her head, though the smile she was trying so hard to suppress completely undermined the gesture.
"N-Nothing..."
"It ain't 'nothing,'" Akito grumbled, folding his arms. "Ya laughed."
"I-I didn't mean anything bad by it..."
"Mhm."
"I didn't!"
"Sure…"
Kohane puffed her cheeks out ever so slightly at the completely unconvinced noise he made.
"I really didn't..."
Akito held her gaze for another second before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "You're impossible."
Unable to think of a proper comeback—and painfully aware that she still looked absurdly happy—he reached over and vigorously ruffled her hair instead.
"Wah—!"
Kohane immediately ducked away, laughing as she tried to shield the top of her head with both hands.
Unfortunately for her, Akito was a whole twenty centimeters taller than her.
"Akito-kun!" she protested between giggles. "Stop it—!"
"Nu uh."
"A-Akito-kun!"
She finally managed to escape by taking two quick steps backward, hurriedly fixing her pigtails while pouting at him with absolutely no conviction.
Akito looked far too pleased with himself.
Beside them, AkiRobo quietly observed the exchange. His head turned toward Kohane, then toward Akito, before his processor emitted a soft confirming beep.
"Conclusion," he announced in the same flat voice as always. "...Both humans appear happy."
Akito immediately coughed into his fist.
"We're ignorin' that."
Kohane only laughed harder.
"Yay," AkiRobo said randomly, with about the amount of awareness as a toddler.
Akito groaned, already regretting whatever personality update Kohane had accidentally given the little robot.
"…You better fix his AI when we get back, Koha."
"O-Okay!" Kohane replied.
"...C'mon," he muttered as he put his backpack back onto AkiRobo.
They started walking toward the entrance, Akito trying—and failing—to hide the dopey smile creeping onto his face. "Let's go before this little guy starts psychoanalyzin' us."
Kohane happily hurried after him, AkiRobo toddling between them with small mechanical footsteps, and together the three of them disappeared into the zoo, the beginning of what was already shaping up to be a wonderful date.
Unfortunately, AkiRobo—the very unauthorized, homemade-by-a-high-schooler, potentially dangerous robot—was not allowed inside the zoo.
The employee stationed at the entrance had spent a good ten seconds staring between the admission gate and the robot, before offering them an apologetic smile and pointing toward the rules posted beside the ticket scanner.
"I'm terribly sorry," the employee explained with an awkward bow. "Only registered service animals are permitted inside the zoo."
AkiRobo looked up at the sign. His glowing eyes lingered there for a moment before turning toward Kohane, then slowly toward Akito.
"Bit I'm not an animal," he said, almost like a whine, after several seconds of processing.
"No," Akito agreed with a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're definitely not."
The employee's smile somehow became even more apologetic.
After a few minutes of discussion, the staff kindly offered to let AkiRobo remain inside the shaded employee office near the entrance while the two of them explored the zoo.
Kohane apologized so many times that the poor employee eventually started apologizing back despite not having done anything wrong.
What an awesome start to their date.
Before they left, AkiRobo turned toward the pair and gave a small mechanical bow.
"Have fun," he wished them.
"We'll come back as soon as we're done!" Kohane promised with a reassuring smile as she crouched down and gently patted the top of his head.
Akito couldn't help letting out a quiet snort at the robot leaning into his girlfriend's headpats.
Slinging his backpack over one shoulder, he jerked his head toward the entrance. "C'mon," he called out.
Kohane gave AkiRobo one last wave before hurrying after him, and together they stepped through the zoo gates.
"So..." he began after a while, fishing his phone out of his pocket while pretending it wasn't a big deal.
Kohane glanced up at him curiously. "Hm?"
Akito suddenly found the pavement beneath his feet incredibly interesting. Scratching his cheek, he avoided looking directly at her as he mumbled, "...Need any pictures?"
Silence.
Kohane blinked.
She stared at him with such genuine disbelief that Akito immediately regretted opening his mouth.
"Who are you," she asked, tilting her head, "and what have you done with Akito-kun?"
Akito scoffed, using his phone to cover his pinkening cheeks. "Shut up."
"Usually you're the one saying taking pictures is embarrassing." Kohane insisted, still studying him suspiciously.
"I didn't say I wanted pictures," Akito defended himself, crossing his arms. "I said if you wanted any."
A knowing smile slowly spread across Kohane's face.
Akito looked away, his ears immediately began turning pink.
"Tch..."
"Thank you, Akito-kun!" Kohane said warmly, smiling so brightly that he suddenly remembered why he'd made the offer in the first place.
"...Yeah," he muttered, hoping she wouldn't notice how flustered he'd become.
It didn't take long before Akito found the perfect spot near a flower bed not far from the entrance. Colorful blossoms surrounded a wooden bench, and the morning sunlight filtered gently through the trees overhead.
"There," he said, gesturing toward the flowers. "Stand over there."
Kohane obediently walked into place before looking back at him.
"Like this?"
"Mhm."
She smiled naturally.
Click.
Akito glanced at the result before frowning. "...Again."
"Hm?" Kohane blinked.
"The lighting's weird," he explained, taking a few steps sideways. "Move a little left."
"Oh!"
She shifted exactly as instructed.
Click.
"…Yeah, this one's good."
As they continued walking through the zoo afterward, Akito casually handed his phone over without saying anything.
Curious, Kohane opened the gallery.
Her eyes widened almost immediately.
Most of the pictures weren't even posed.
One showed her laughing while watching birds splash around in a fountain.
Another had captured the exact moment she'd become absorbed in reading an information board.
Another showed warm sunlight filtering through the trees behind her as she smiled absentmindedly at something outside the frame.
"...They're really pretty," she whispered.
Akito shrugged as though it were nothing.
"Just lucky."
"They don't feel lucky."
"They are."
Kohane looked at him for a moment before lowering her gaze back to the photos.
He really pays attention...
Eventually, the two of them arrived at the building Kohane had secretly been looking forward to ever since Akito had told her to keep her eyes closed outside the zoo.
A large wooden sign hung above the entrance.
Reptile House
The moment she read it, her entire face lit up.
"Akito-kun!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I know," Akito laughed, amused by how predictable she was.
Well, considering that they've been friends since childhood and been shipped relentlessly by their parents, his older sister, and her three childhood friends to some degree—
Atleast he didn't owe any of them money after getting together with Kohane.
Stepping aside with a small grin, he gestured toward the entrance. "Go on."
Kohane didn't need to be told twice.
She practically skipped inside.
Warm, humid air greeted them immediately, carrying the earthy scent of moss, wood, and fresh substrate.
Rows of carefully designed terrariums stretched throughout the building, each recreating habitats from deserts, rainforests, swamps, and rocky cliffs.
Kohane stopped at the very first enclosure.
"Wow..." she breathed softly as a large python rested peacefully across a thick tree branch beneath a heat lamp. Leaning closer to the glass, she watched the snake's patterned scales shimmer faintly beneath the lights. "It's so pretty..."
She smiled. "I really love how calm they look—!"
Akito stood a few steps behind her.
He barely looked at the snake.
Instead, he quietly watched Kohane.
The wonder shining in her eyes was somehow even prettier.
Without saying a word, he lifted his phone.
Click!
Kohane hadn't noticed.
She had already wandered toward the next enclosure.
"This one's moving!" she exclaimed happily as a smaller snake slithered across a branch.
Click.
By the time they had reached the middle of the building, Akito absentmindedly opened his gallery.
He paused.
There were significantly more pictures of Kohane smiling at reptiles than there were pictures of reptiles.
"...Huh."
It wasn't that surprising. He had more pictures of his groupmates rather than whatever they did on specific outings anyway.
He scrolled through them.
Without thinking twice, he quietly marked a few as favorites before slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"Akito-kun!"
He looked up at the sound of Kohane's voice.
She stood farther down the room, waving both arms enthusiastically.
"Come here!"
"What is it?" he asked as he walked over, expecting another snake enclosure.
Instead, he found a zoo keeper standing beside a small animal handling station.
Resting comfortably across both of her hands was a tiny leopard gecko.
Its enormous dark eyes blinked lazily, its spotted tail gently swayed back and forth.
Akito came to a complete stop.
Kohane noticed the subtle change in his expression almost immediately.
"You like geckos, right?" she asked with a soft smile. Though she really didn't have to.
He'd wanted one since he was a kid, yet has never gotten one from the hassle of keeping a pet.
(He also may or may not had been scared of touching reptiles. Mayhaps.)
"...Yeah," Akito admitted quietly, his voice noticeably gentler than usual.
The zoo keeper smiled knowingly before looking between the two teenagers.
"Would either of you like to hold her?" she offered.
Akito instinctively took half a step backward.
"Uh..."
Kohane turned toward him.
"Do you want to?"
"I mean..." he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before glancing toward the gecko again. "I've wanted to before."
"So?"
"I've just..." he hesitated for a moment.
Kohane's expression softened.
The keeper chuckled warmly.
"She won't mind at all," she reassured him. "She's very used to meeting people."
Even then, Akito still looked uncertain.
Seeing that, Kohane slowly held out both of her hands toward the keeper.
"May I hold her first?" she asked politely.
"Of course."
The keeper carefully lowered the tiny gecko into Kohane's waiting hands.
The little reptile calmly settled across her palms, completely relaxed.
"So cute..." Kohane whispered, smiling fondly before looking toward Akito. "Come here, Akito-kun."
Akito quickly shoved his phone into his backpack before awkwardly holding both hands out the way the keeper instructed.
"Like this?"
"A little lower," the keeper corrected gently.
"There."
Kohane stepped closer until they were standing only inches apart.
"Don't move too quickly, okay?" she reminded him softly.
"M'kay"
Kohane couldn't help giggling.
Very slowly, she lowered her hands until the little gecko stepped from her palms onto Akito's waiting fingers.
Neither of them moved.
The gecko blinked once.
Then calmly wandered across his hand as though it belonged there.
Akito's shoulders stiffened immediately.
"...Whoa," he whispered, afraid speaking any louder might somehow frighten the tiny reptile.
His eyes followed every careful little step it took across his fingers. "She's... so light."
The gecko continued exploring without the slightest concern.
"And warm," Akito murmured in amazement. "I thought... I dunno... she'd feel colder."
"Mhm." Kohane smiled, watching both the gecko and Akito.
Akito glanced up.
He looked back down as the gecko calmly rested against his palm.
For several quiet minutes, Akito simply stood there, carefully adjusting one hand beneath the gecko whenever she wandered too close to the edge.
His movements were surprisingly gentle, almost overly cautious, as though he were afraid of startling such a tiny creature.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
Eventually Akito glanced back towards her.
"...Oi."
"Hm?" Kohane hummed.
He hesitated long enough that she thought he'd changed his mind.
"Could you..." he rubbed the back of his neck again before mumbling the rest almost too quietly to hear. "...Take one picture?"
Kohane's eyes widened.
"You want me to?"
Akito immediately looked away.
"Tch..." he clicked his tongue before grumbling, "Forget I asked."
"No!" Kohane laughed as she eagerly reached into her bag. "I'd love to!"
"One." Akito insisted, though his voice lacked any real conviction.
"Maybe two," Kohane bargained with a surprisingly playful smile as she opened the camera. Damnit, meeting An has made Kohane far more bold.
"Kohane."
"...Three?"
"Azusawa Kohane."
"Ehehe..."
Still giggling, she stepped back until the lighting was just right.
Through the phone screen, she saw Akito standing completely still while the tiny leopard gecko rested peacefully across his hands.
He looked nervous, yet gentle too.
Click.
Kohane lowered the phone to check the picture.
She smiled, putting her phone back in her bag without showing him the picture.
"Oi— show me it…" he grumbled.
Kohane hummed thoughtfully. "What if, no."
"Oh fuck you."
"Akito-kun?"
"Mm?"
They were walking back home, AkiRobo in tow.
"Thank you, Akito-kun," she said sincerely. "I had lots of fun today—!"
Akito couldn't conceal his smile. "'Course."