[Vol. 2] Chapter 54: Their Story Now
"Oh, there she is."
Melisa pointed discreetly toward the station entrance.
Rika had just arrived.
Arima, who had been waiting for quite a while, straightened up immediately.
"Sorry for making you wait."
"No, no! I just got here."
Rika glanced at her watch.
"You sure?"
"Completely."
A lie.
We had watched him check his phone at least six times.
Rika smiled.
"I'm glad, then."
"Yeah."
Arima looked so nervous I could almost feel his desperation from where we were hiding.
"Well, let's go."
Rika nodded and the two of them started walking.
Reiko stood up immediately.
"Quick. We follow them."
"Already?" I asked.
"Do you want to lose them?"
"No."
"Then move."
I sighed.
"This is a terrible idea."
Melisa walked past me.
"But it's a very fun terrible idea."
I couldn't argue with that.
We followed them at a safe distance, or at least we tried to.
The restaurant was relatively close to the meeting point.
We followed them until they walked through the door, and a few seconds later, we went in too.
The priority was keeping them in sight, and luckily we spotted them quickly settling into one of the tables at the back.
Then a staff member approached us.
"Welcome, ladies. Where would you like to sit?"
"Over there, please, table for three," Reiko said, pointing to a table dangerously close to where Arima and Rika were sitting.
"Hey, are you sure we should sit that close?" I whispered.
"We need to be close enough to see them clearly. Relax, we're professionals at this," she declared, with Melisa's silent approval.
Left with no other choice, we took our seats and hoped our disguises were enough to go unnoticed.
The place hadn't been open long, so everything looked fresh and eye-catching.
It was built around enormous glass aquariums. Some tanks took up entire walls and offered a view of fish of every size swimming among rocks and plants.
Further back there was a separate area with interactive exhibits and small ponds where visitors could feed certain fish.
"Wow..."
I stared at one of the huge tanks.
It was my first time at an aquarium.
I had seen fish on TV and online, but watching them swim this close was something else entirely.
"It's incredible."
"Isn't it?" said Melisa.
"I've never been to one before."
Reiko looked at me.
"Then enjoy it."
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
I looked at the menu sitting on our table.
Then I looked back at the enormous fish gliding in front of us.
I wonder which of you are on the menu.
I felt a small shiver.
"Aika, stop making that face while you look at the fish."
"I'm not doing anything!"
Reiko opened the menu.
"Honestly, I've been wanting to try this restaurant too."
Melisa did the same.
"So have I."
"You two..."
"What?" Reiko asked. "We can do both."
Melisa looked up.
"Spy and have a nice meal."
"Exactly."
"Multitasking."
I sighed.
I wish I had the same composure as these two...
"In that case... I refuse to be the only one not enjoying herself!"
I opened the menu and set out to find the most appetizing dish on it.
"That's the spirit, Aika-chan!" Melisa exclaimed with a little laugh.
Our food arrived before I could keep complaining.
Mine looked far more impressive than I had expected.
"What did you order?" Melisa asked.
I opened the menu again to look it up. "It's called Katsuo no Tataki — seared bonito, charred on the outside and raw on the inside."
Reiko eyed my plate with interest.
"Ooh, that looks really good."
"Want to try some?"
"Yes."
"But you haven't even tried your own yet."
"That's exactly why I want to try yours first."
"And what if it's better?"
"Then we'll have found a problem."
I gave her a little.
Melisa immediately raised her fork.
"I want some too."
"Hey! This is my plate!"
"We're friends."
"That doesn't give you the right to raid my food!"
Reiko smiled.
"Welcome to eating with us."
While we were bickering, I heard a voice from the other side.
"Sharks?"
I turned my head.
Rika was talking to Arima.
"What did she say?" I asked.
Reiko leaned in slightly.
"I think she said she wants to eat shark."
"What?!"
Melisa also tried to listen.
"Hold on."
We went quiet.
Rika spoke again.
"...I love sharks."
I stayed still.
"Oh."
Reiko nodded.
"That makes more sense."
"What were they saying?"
"Nothing important," I answered.
I went back to my food.
Though I kept glancing over at them.
Rika seemed to be doing most of the talking.
And Arima was listening carefully.
He wasn't trying to cut in.
He wasn't cracking jokes to get her attention.
He just asked the occasional question.
"He's applying the advice," Reiko said.
"Yeah."
Melisa smiled.
"He's letting her talk about what she loves."
"And it seems to be working."
Rika was laughing.
So was Arima.
That surprised me a little.
They actually seem to be having a great time.
After the meal, the two of them got up.
Reiko immediately set down the menu.
"Check!"
The waiter appeared.
"Will there be anything else?"
"No, thank you. Just the check, please."
I looked at her.
"Why the rush?"
"Because they're leaving."
"We could give them a little space."
"We could."
Melisa was already on her feet.
"But we won't."
I paid quickly and the three of us slipped out after them.
Instead of heading for the exit, the two of them made their way to the back, into the aquarium area.
It was much larger than the restaurant section — there were glass tunnels, small exhibits, and several interactive ponds.
Rika looked delighted.
"Look!"
She rushed over to one of the tanks.
Arima smiled.
"You really love them, huh?"
"So much. They remind me of when I lived in Okinawa."
Rika pointed at one of the fish.
"Look at that one! Isn't it amazing? It's beautiful."
"Which one?"
"That one right there — isn't it great?"
Arima leaned in closer.
"Oh, yeah. I wonder if it's on the menu."
Rika burst out laughing.
"I doubt it."
We watched from a few meters away.
Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks that way.
"They're doing well," Melisa whispered.
"Yeah."
Reiko raised a hand.
"Not so close."
"What?"
"They're looking this way."
I froze.
"What?!"
"Get down!"
The three of us ducked behind a large decorative statue.
Just in time.
Rika glanced in our direction.
"What was that?"
Arima turned too.
"I don't know."
I covered my mouth.
Don't breathe.
Melisa was shaking with silent laughter.
Reiko kept an absolutely straight face.
Rika looked for a few more seconds.
Finally she shrugged.
"Probably nothing."
She walked off with Arima.
We waited.
One.
Two.
Three seconds.
Melisa slowly raised her head.
"Are we still alive?"
"Barely," I whispered.
Reiko smoothed her hair.
"Like I said. Professionals."
I looked at her.
"They almost caught us."
"Minor details."
A few minutes later they reached the area where visitors could feed some of the fish.
Rika picked up a small dish.
"You have to hold it like this."
Arima copied her.
"Like this?"
"A little lower."
"Like this?"
"Yes."
A fish leapt out.
SPLASH!
Arima got a generous amount of water straight to the face.
He went completely still.
Rika looked at him.
One second.
Two.
And she started laughing.
"I'm sorry!"
"You don't look sorry."
"I can't help it!"
Arima ended up laughing too.
"This wasn't part of the plan."
"Then the plan was too boring," she said, dabbing at a tear in the corner of her eye.
Arima raised the dish again.
"Next time I'll do it right."
Rika smiled.
"I hope so."
I watched the whole scene from a distance.
Now that was a good moment.
Reiko nodded.
"Point for Arima."
Melisa smiled.
"He's doing pretty well."
After exploring another part of the aquarium, Rika pointed down a hallway.
"I want to see that area too!"
They walked over.
But a small sign blocked the entrance.
CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE.
Rika stared at it.
"Oh..."
Arima looked disappointed too.
"Bad luck."
"I really wanted to see that part."
They both stood in front of the sign for a few seconds.
Finally Rika smiled.
"Well, I guess there's nothing we can do."
"No."
They turned around.
And we followed.
The afternoon was winding down when they came out of the restaurant.
Arima and Rika walked a short distance to a quieter spot.
We ducked behind some bushes.
"This is getting ridiculous, they're going to see us!" I whispered.
"Shh, they're talking," Reiko replied.
Melisa covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
We listened closely.
"I really liked the restaurant," Rika said.
"Me too."
"The food was good."
"Yeah."
"And the aquarium was great."
Rika sighed.
"It's a shame that one area was closed, though."
Arima went quiet.
He seemed nervous.
He brought a hand to the back of his head.
"In that case..."
Rika looked at him.
"Yes?"
"In that case, we could always come back another day."
The three of us opened our eyes at the same time.
Rika looked surprised.
"Do you really like aquariums that much, Arima-kun?"
Arima smiled with a hint of embarrassment.
"To be honest, today was my first time at one."
Rika blinked.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Arima took a deep breath.
"But I want to learn more about them."
He paused for just a moment.
"And I want to come back with you."
Rika stared at him.
Her expression shifted slightly.
A faint blush rose in her cheeks.
Arima's cheeks went red too.
For a few seconds neither of them said anything.
From our hiding spot, Melisa had both hands over her mouth.
So did Reiko.
My own heart was racing, and it wasn't even my date.
Finally Rika looked away.
"I... I see..."
She took a few steps.
Then stopped.
She turned back to Arima with a smile.
"In that case..."
Arima lifted his head.
"I'd love to come back another day."
"R-Really?"
Arima's face lit up.
Rika let out a small laugh.
"Of course. I have a lot of experience with aquariums, so I can teach you a thing or two."
"Then..."
Arima smiled.
"I'll look forward to it."
They kept walking.
We waited until they were far enough away.
And then...
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!"
Reiko shot to her feet.
"Did you hear that?!"
Melisa was completely flushed.
"He said he wanted to come back with her!"
"And Rika said yes!"
I stepped slowly out from behind the bush.
"Unbelievable..."
I watched Arima and Rika as they walked away together.
"Though technically he only managed to get another date."
Reiko smiled.
"And that's more than enough."
"You think so?"
"Of course."
She crossed her arms.
"Arima made it out of square one. What happens from here is up to them."
I nodded.
"Fair enough."
I looked over at Arima one more time.
Looks like you've still got work to do, Arima-kun.
I smiled.
Good luck.
A little while later we reached the station.
"Thank you for coming with me," I said.
Reiko waved a hand.
"Don't worry about it. This was a lot of fun."
Melisa nodded.
"So much fun."
Then she pointed at me.
"We're only going to ask one thing of you, Aika-chan."
"What?"
"Keep us updated."
"About what?"
Melisa's eyes went wide.
"About them, obviously!"
"Ah..."
Reiko laughed.
"I want to know how those two turn out too."
I sighed.
"Alright. I'll keep you posted."
"Perfect!"
The three of us said our goodbyes.
Reiko and Melisa went their way.
I stood outside the station for a few seconds.
It had been a pretty strange afternoon.
But...
I was happy for Arima.
I turned to head home, and then my phone buzzed.
BZZZT.
I took it out.
It was a message from Sasaki.
I opened it.
Sasaki-san:
[Shimizu-san, just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Next week we officially start filming.
We'll have one last rehearsal before then, so make the most of it.]
I stared at the screen.
"..."
Next week.
Filming.
Movie.
Me.
I slowly put the phone away.
"Ah..."
I swallowed.
"I had almost forgotten about that."
I looked up at the sky and felt a small shiver run through me.
"Looks like I've got work to do too..."