The first place they headed to after entering was an area called the “hands-on plaza.”
As the name suggested, it was a place where you could interact with animals—mainly small ones.
And, as the hiragana name implied, it was primarily aimed at children.
“Looks like you can interact with chicks and guinea pigs here!”
“Chicks and guinea pigs, huh…” (Hmm… that area’s a bit hard to walk into…)
Watching from a distance as children crowded around, Yuzuru muttered to himself.
Most of them were kindergarteners to primary school kids.
There were some older children and adults too, but they mostly had the air of accompanying younger siblings or kids.
Yuzuru and Arisa, both over twenty, might stand out.
Not that anyone would actually stare at them.
“…Arisa. It’s a bit crowded—maybe we should come back later?”
He spoke to her, assuming she was beside him.
But no reply came.
“…Arisa?”
“Yuzuru-san! Hurry up and come here!”
Before he knew it, she was already inside the Fureai Hiroba, queueing with the children at the chick interaction area.
Yuzuru gave a wry smile and hurried after her.
Their turn came quickly.
Inside a large box, a cluster of chicks chirped and bustled about.
You picked one you liked, held it, and then returned it once you were done.
“Mm… hmm…”
Just moments ago, Arisa had been brimming with excitement—
but now, faced with the chicks, she looked troubled.
She’d reach out, hesitate, glance around, then look back again—repeating the same motions.
“What’s wrong, Arisa?”
“How are you supposed to hold them?”
“You’ve never done it before?”
“This is my first time. …Have you?”
“Yeah, when I was little.”
When he was young, Yuzuru had done something similar at a zoo—though not this one.
He didn’t remember it being difficult, but there were a few things to keep in mind.
“Like this… you sort of scoop them up from underneath.”
As he spoke, Yuzuru gently cupped a chick in both hands and lifted it.
He let only its legs stick out through the gaps between his hands.
That way, even if it wriggled, it wouldn’t slip out.
“I see.”
“Go on, give it a try.”
He set his chick back down and encouraged her.
Arisa, looking tense, reached out.
As if handling a fragile artefact, she carefully lifted one.
“Oh… it’s warm. And so fluffy.”
She smiled, clearly delighted.
Using her thumb skilfully, she gently stroked the chick’s head.
Meanwhile, the chick—either naturally docile or soothed by her warmth—began to doze, its eyelids fluttering.
“Arisa, it’s falling asleep.”
“Oh, you’re right. Hehe… how adorable.”
She narrowed her eyes fondly.
Both Arisa—and the chick—were almost unbearably cute.
Not capturing this would be a waste.
“Arisa—hold that smile.”
“Huh?”
Yuzuru pulled out his phone and opened the camera.
Though she looked a little surprised at first, she quickly broke into a full smile.
Mindful of the chick, he didn’t use the flash and snapped a few photos.
“Alright, Arisa… shall we move on?”
He glanced briefly at the children waiting behind them.
They probably wouldn’t be breaking any rules by staying longer—
but as adults, it felt better not to linger.
“Right. Let’s go see the guinea pigs next.”
Though reluctant, Arisa gently returned the chick to the box.
It had been asleep until that moment, but as soon as its feet touched the ground, it blinked awake.
“…That’s just like you when you wake up, Yuzuru-san.”
“I’m not that cute.”
“That’s true.”
“…Oi.”
“Just joking.”
Arisa laughed cheerfully.
“Mm… they’re cute, but…”
“Not exactly ideal for a walk.”
Yuzuru and Arisa shared a wry smile as they watched a rabbit nibbling grass in front of them.
After leaving the Fureai Hiroba, they’d decided to try one of the animal-walking activities.
Arisa had chosen a rabbit.
It wore a collar and leash, and within a designated park area inside the zoo, they were free to interact with it and take it for a walk…
“It just keeps eating and won’t move at all.”
Arisa said with a small laugh, stroking its head.
They’d imagined something like walking a dog—
but the rabbit showed no such enthusiasm.
Apparently, it wasn’t much of a fan of walks.
It had been eating grass the entire time.
That said, it wasn’t entirely relaxed either—
it could suddenly dash off at any moment, so they couldn’t let their guard down.
“Well, it’s an animal. Can’t be helped.”
Each animal had its own nature.
Expecting a rabbit to behave like a dog would be unreasonable.
“But for children, it might be a bit boring. A goat might be more fun.”
“That looked like its own kind of trouble…”
They both glanced at someone in the distance being pulled along by a goat, smiling wryly.
Aside from rabbits, goats were another option.
Generally, rabbits were considered cuter—
but goats were more active and probably more entertaining.
That said, goats were far stronger than rabbits.
In that sense, they weren’t exactly child-friendly either.
“Watching this little one is making me hungry…”
Arisa suddenly remarked.
“I doubt they’re selling rabbit meat here…”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Seeing the rabbit munching so happily had simply made her want lunch.
Yuzuru knew that perfectly well.
“If you know that, don’t tease me. …Or I’ll skip lunch, you know?”
“Sorry.”
“Well, I suppose I can forgive you.”
Though they still had time left for the activity, the two decided to return the rabbit—
and go get lunch instead.
