“Since we’ve got a day off, want to go out somewhere tomorrow?”
Yuzuru said this as he handed a washed plate to Arisa.
“…Is there somewhere you want to go?”
As she took the plate from him and dried it with a cloth, Arisa asked.
Yuzuru shook his head.
“No, not really…”
“Hm.”
She seemed to pick up on something from his answer.
Noticing that, Yuzuru asked hesitantly—
“Um… you don’t want to?”
“Of course not. …May I choose where we go?”
“Of course.”
Yuzuru nodded at her question.
“Then I’ll think of something.”
Arisa smiled as she said it.
The next morning.
“It’s been a while since we went on a date—I’m looking forward to this.”
Yuzuru said cheerfully as he drove.
In the passenger seat, Arisa gave a wry smile.
“‘A while’? We went out just last week, didn’t we?”
Only about a week ago, they’d visited a nearby art museum.
At her remark, Yuzuru tried to smooth it over.
“Ah—no, I meant going somewhere farther out…”
“More like you meant driving, didn’t you?”
Arisa shot him a sceptical look.
“For someone who said they didn’t need a car… you seem to be enjoying this quite a bit.”
The car Yuzuru was driving had been given to him by his father.
Though “given” wasn’t quite accurate—
it had been more or less forced on him as a hand-me-down.
His father hadn’t done it out of pure parental affection…
but because he wanted a new car for himself.
Even if he had the money, with Yuzuru’s mother watching him, he couldn’t just go out and buy one so easily.
“I-it’d be a waste not to use it if I’ve got it, right?”
Yuzuru said, sounding defensive.
Around his home, public transport was well developed.
The roads were often congested, so trains and buses were more convenient.
And cars required maintenance and storage.
That was why he’d reluctantly accepted it—
but once he started driving, he couldn’t deny it had grown on him.
“Hm?”
“And if I don’t drive regularly, I’ll lose the habit, won’t I?”
“That’s a fair point.”
Arisa had gotten her licence around the same time as him.
She wasn’t bad at driving—but she wasn’t especially confident either.
So she appreciated that Yuzuru gave her opportunities to use a car.
“I just thought… it might be becoming more about driving than going on a date with me.”
“No way.”
Yuzuru shook his head firmly.
“It’s not that I like driving. I like driving with you. …Believe me.”
“I know. I was just teasing.”
Arisa smiled.
Yuzuru, meanwhile, felt a quiet sense of relief knowing she wasn’t actually upset.
About an hour later, they arrived at their destination.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, a distinct smell hit them.
Whether it was pleasant or not—
well, more the latter.
“This zoo is famous for its hands-on exhibits.”
Arisa said, unable to hide her excitement.
Yes—the place she’d chosen for their date was a zoo.
She’d picked it within the constraints of a day trip and a distance suitable for driving—
since it had been obvious Yuzuru wanted to go for a drive.
Today, she fully intended to touch as many animals as possible—
and, if she could, enjoy some proper fluffiness.
She didn’t say it out loud, but it was obvious from her behaviour—
and her outfit, too, chosen with getting dirty in mind: older clothes and jeans.
“Shall we head in, then?”
“Yes!”
The two of them made their way to the entrance.
Being a day off, there was already a long queue at the ticket counter.
“There are a lot of children.”
“Yeah… if anything, it seems more geared towards families.”
In other words—children.
Most zoos were designed so kids could enjoy them, but this one seemed especially targeted at families.
“Then today is just a scouting trip.”
“…A scouting trip?”
Yuzuru tilted his head at her words.
Arisa replied in a teasing tone—
“For when we have children.”
“Ah… I see.”
In other words—when we have kids, let’s come here again.
It was a long-term thought—
but not necessarily a distant future.
“Right. Then let’s enjoy it properly for that day too.”
“Yes!”
With that exchange, the two of them bought their tickets—
and entered the zoo together.
