By the end of the day, the anxiety I had felt was gone.

"I had a lot of fun today."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad."

"And now? Should we go home? It's gotten late, and the sun is setting."

"There's one last place I'd like to go, if you don't mind."

"Where?"

We headed straight to the Shinagawa Aquarium, which was just a few minutes away.

We bought tickets and went in.

There were few people, and all the shows were over due to the time, but the silence was pleasant. You could hear the sound of the water and better appreciate the animals relaxing or playing in their artificial habitats. It was fascinating to see so many animals up close. There were seals, penguins, and fish of all kinds, even some strange species I had never seen before.

We kept walking until we reached the underwater tunnel, the aquarium's main attraction. A breathtaking spectacle unfolded before us. It was a long transparent underground tunnel from which we could admire the animals. It was like being at the bottom of the ocean, swimming alongside them. The light from the underwater spotlights reflected slightly in the clear water of the enormous tank above. The effect was like the sea under moonlight. There was no one in the tunnel, and we could enjoy the show alone.

"Woow!" I exclaimed in awe, looking around. Yuto-kun, intent on looking at the ceiling of the tunnel, took a few steps forward and spread his arms outward.

"Have you ever been here before?" he asked.

"No, never."

"You know, I saw this place on the internet and absolutely wanted to come. It may just be an aquarium, but it's a reproduction of reality. Of what you could actually see with your own eyes if you were really at the bottom of the ocean. It's just water with fish, yet it gives me a sense of powerlessness. I see this and think about how nature is simple and complex at the same time. In comparison, I feel small and insignificant. It reminds me that we humans are just background in this world. All this makes human problems seem like useless thoughts. This relaxes me."

I don't know why he started saying those things, but I listened to him attentively, even though I couldn't fully understand him. He seemed happy and relaxed, but his gaze was so strange. There was a hint of melancholy, as if something was troubling him.

"I'd like to see these things with my own eyes one day. These and many others, but I don't know if it will be possible."

I didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Why not? Life is long, and you're just a teenager. There will be other opportunities."

He turned toward me again:

"You're right." His expression suddenly became darker. "Wait for me here. I'll be right back."

He told me before starting to run down the tunnel.

I didn't know where he had gone, so I waited for him. It didn't take him long to return.

"Where did you go?" I asked curiously.

"Close your eyes."

I didn't know what he intended to do, then I remembered that in most of the books I had read, there was a scene similar to this where the boy asks the girl to close her eyes before trying to kiss her. From a certain point of view, we were in a fairly romantic place, and moreover, we were alone. I started getting agitated. If he kissed me, I wouldn't know how to react.

Would I kiss him back? Would I like it?

Despite all the thoughts crowding my mind, I closed my eyes anyway. I didn't want him to notice my hesitation.

I felt his arms brush against my neck, and then a cold object settle on my chest.

"Okay. You can open them. I hope you like it."

Nothing of what I had imagined happened. I looked at my neck and noticed a small silver pendant—a set of dolphins linked together in a particular position, as if they were swimming in water.

"Th-this... I... I don't know what to say."

"Just say thank you. I don't need to hear anything else."

I clutched it tightly to me with my hand:

"Thank you. I'll treasure it."

"So you'll remember me a little."

He said, smiling. Hidden in that smile, I saw for the umpteenth time that dark look that often took over him and whose reason I could never understand. It was as if, even in the best moments, he suddenly remembered something that tormented him. Since he had never mentioned anything, I started to think it was just my impression. Without knowing it, I would soon discover the truth. We started walking toward the exit, retracing the tunnel backward. We walked side by side when, without me noticing, he fell behind. I heard a thud from behind me.

"*Thump*"

I turned around and saw him.

Yuto-kun was lying on the ground.