After getting myself ready, Touka and I headed straight for the aquarium.
As we walked, memories of when we were both still in our first year of high school began to resurface. We laughed together as we reminisced about those moments, the ones we hadn't talked about in so long. Time passed quickly, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the aquarium.
"Do you still remember?" Touka turned to me with a nostalgic smile.
"Of course," I replied. "I stood here waiting for you from eight in the morning until five in the evening. How could I forget? Haha."
"Back then, you were such an idiot… You waited all day, even though the girl you liked broke her promise."
"Yeah… But I waited because I loved you."
Touka's expression softened. "That's why we're together now, isn't it?"
She reached out and gently held my hand. "Thank you, Himeya," she whispered.
I nodded quietly and smiled.
We continued our stroll through the aquarium, taking in the beautiful marine life around us. I brought out the camera I had packed and began snapping pictures of every little moment I didn't want to forget.
"Ah, look, look, Himeya! That jellyfish is huge!" Touka pointed excitedly.
"Haha, yeah," I chuckled, quickly snapping a photo of her flashing a peace sign.
We wandered here and there until we finally reached the center of the aquarium—a place known to be the most romantic spot for couples.
There, we sat together on a bench. Touka inched closer, until I could feel the warmth from her body against mine.
"Hey, let's take a selfie," she said, pulling out her phone.
"Sure. Gonna show it off to your friends again?" I teased.
She shook her head gently. "No… This time, I want this moment to be just ours."
She held my hand, then leaned her cheek against my shoulder.
"Give me your phone," I said.
She handed it over, and I snapped a photo of us. Then another. And another. Three in total.
I liked this moment—no, I loved it. Who would've thought that someone like me, a mere side character, would end up with the main heroine… someone like Touka?
And then, I remembered the message sent by my future self. The version of me that had already gone through all this.
Once again, I felt thankful for the person I had become.
…
Touka must've noticed that I had gone quiet after the photo, because she suddenly called my name.
"Himeya…"
I turned to her—and in that moment, she leaned in and kissed me.
That same sweetness I had tasted the night before returned, even stronger this time, enveloping me in warmth.
"I love you, Touka."
Touka's kiss lingered on my lips, delicate yet warm, like the glow of the setting sun gently brushing against the sea. Even though the temperature inside the aquarium was steady and cool, my heart felt like it was burning.
For a while, neither of us said a word. It wasn't awkward. It was just… quiet. A silence filled with emotion, like the world had stopped turning just for us.
"Your heart's racing," she said softly, still leaning on my shoulder.
I chuckled nervously. "Whose wouldn't be?"
Touka let out a breath, a gentle giggle escaping her lips. "You're so easy to fluster."
"Well, excuse me for being overwhelmed by my girlfriend in the aquarium," I replied, half-joking, half-sincere.
She smiled. "You weren't this bold back then."
Back then…
I looked ahead, my gaze drifting through the glass, watching as schools of fish swam lazily under the blue hue. I remembered that day, when I waited for her, unsure if she would really come. She didn't. But I stayed anyway.
I didn't regret it, not even now.
Because I believe in her.