CH 45

Supporting High School Student watches Dolphin Show

“Phew…….Seem like we made it in time. Alright, where do you want to sit?”

“Hmm, I don’t want to get all soaked since morning so why don’t we sit in the back row? We can sit in the front for the penguin show in the afternoon!”

“Right. Well, if we get soaked now we won’t be able to see the other places after all.”

We sat down and waited. The seats are surprisingly full. Then, after some time, a woman wearing a diving suit who seemed to be the trainer appeared on the stage.

“Welcome everyone! To the wonderful show of human and animal bonding! Today our assistant is Kuu-chan the Dolphin! Come!”

At her shout, a dolphin jumped up and received the resounding cheers from the audience which was accompanied by a splash of water and screams.

“Now then! Earlier was Kuu-chan’s specialty, the big jump! A round of applause, please! Next is the waterslider! As you can see, Kuu-chan can let people ride her like this! “

The trainer goes into the water and the dolphin carries her up from her feet using only its face. Certainly, that looks like she is sliding on water. Rather, that was simply awesome.

“Applause!”

The applause did not stop. Just like that, the show went on as they kept showing us various moves such as double big jump or mid-air revolution. Then the event started.

“Alright! Now we’d like to invite a volunteer from our dear audience!”

This is probably what the earlier staff was talking about. I’m in the back row. Since it is easier to get pick if you sit on the front row, let’s sit there for the penguin show. I like dolphins but penguins are cute as well.

Besides, it’s the penguin show that Suzuka wanted to see. She probably will want to sit there too.

“Now then! Let’s pick someone from the front row! That was what I wanted to say but since today we have customers that entered using couple-tickets, we would like to invite such couples to enjoy the fun today!”

“ “ OHHHHH! “ “

I see, so they do this kind of surprise too huh……if we got picked this time, will we be able to join the penguin show later……?

“I already told them to sit in the front but it seems that they are too shy and sit in the back this time! Right? The couple that sits in the second last row…..”

Nn? A couple sitting on the second last row……

“Isn’t that us!”

“Exactly! Alright, come to the front please!”

The audience is looking at us. Since we gathered so much attention, it seems we have no choice but to join in huh?”

“…..hey Seiya, we have no choice right?”

“I guess so……did you know about this?”

“The ticket said that there will be a lot of activity but I didn’t know that it also included this…..”

It seems that she really didn’t know. We head to the front. We are gaining a lot of attention and somehow I felt like the audiences are looking at us with warm eyes.

“Ok! You two! Dolphins are!!?”

“Mammals! Wait, you are running the dolphin show too!?”

It was the staff who took pictures for us. She probably planned this from the beginning. Staff really can’t be underestimated huh……

“That’s correct! We always invite couples to join the show and force them—that’s not it, it is our aquarium’s specialty to have a couple on our show! Oops, I forgot that you two are not a couple yet right?”

“You said force right!? That aside, we didn’t know anything about this you know!?”

“Y, yeah, we are still not like that……..”

“Ehhh? But our regular customers are well aware of our specialty though?”

‘We knew!’ Such a reply came from the audience seats. They sure play along well aren’t they! There’s even an old man who shouted that he came here today just because of this too…..

“Since the feedback told us that this kind of surprise event is surprisingly popular, instead of using pamphlets we spread the news through word-of-mouth so that we can have a nice surprise like this! Now, can we start?”

“Well, I guess I will just enjoy it huh.”

“R, Right.”

Saying so, Staff-san/Trainer-san announced that we are the only ones who entered using the couple-ticket this time and started the show.

“Then firstly, please hold this fish in your hand.”

“Whoah, it’s all slimy……”

“Now then, where did you two first meet?”

“It was at work…..wait how is that related to any of this? Rather, if you want to quiz me, why did you make me carry this fish!?”

“I see, it was at work! By the way, you two look like you are still students so what do you mean by work?”

“Uhh, we are in modeling…….”

“Ignored!? That aside, you already knew that right!? I’m going to throw this fish away okay!?”

Suzuka answered the staff’s question and the audience all went [Eh?] or [Don’t tell me?]. I’m totally out as Kousei now right. I’m glad I came here as Kousei today.”

“WOW! By the way, can you tell us your stage name?”

“…..yes. Uhh, I am Kamishiro Kousei.”

“I’m Asakura Asuka.”

I can hear [As I thought] from the audience seats.

“These two are the models that have become a hot topic lately! A romance between two popular models sure is nice isn’t it!”

“No, I and Asuka are not dating. I came here with her because she won a ticket…….”

Before I could finish my sentence, Staff-san interrupted me in a loud voice.

“I see! It’s a misunderstanding! A couple-ticket can be used by an actual couple, or to bring the person you like with you! Ah, by the way, it is totally fine to use it with your friend as well. Please keep in mind that you can use the couple-tickets even if you are not a couple! The price is no different than the normal tickets at all!”

Ahh, Staff-san probably did that intentionally so that we won’t be misunderstood. Certainly, if left alone, people might start posting online that we are on a date after all.

That’s why she emphasized that you can come here using the ticket even if you are only friends. Also, is it just me or does Staff-san’s voice went a speck quieter at the last sentence?

“Now that we have finished breaking the ice let’s proceed! First, you feed this fish to Kuu-chan then if you throw these rings at her, she will catch them! Now, which one of you wants to go first?”

“Hmm, then I will.”

‘Alright, let’s start’ said the staff as she made me feed the fish. Then I tossed the rings out one after another. Fortunately, since I am not that athletic and there are not that many places I could throw them, the dolphin caught all the rings.

“A round of applause to Kousei-san and Kuu-chan!”

“Next is me right! Alright……”

Suzuka also fed the fish to the dolphin and started throwing rings out.

“Yah!”

“…..Nn?”

The ring immediately plops right down.

“Eh……..Y, Yah!”

“Oh?”

It didn’t even reach the water.

“Kousei-kun….it seems, I am not really good at throwing things…… help me……”

“Seriously…..help huh……..ok. Do you want to try throwing it together?”

I went behind Suzuka and grabbed her hand. It’s Suzuka here, so it should be okay. We have all kindle of physical contacts during the shoots after all.

“Okay, you ready?”

“U, Un…..”

“Heave ho!”

The ring we threw flew straight to the water and the dolphin caught it.

“She did it! Kuu-chan successfully caught the ring!”

“Alright, next.”

Just like that, we kept throwing the remaining rings together.

“Thank you very much you two! Well, you pulled it off in the end! A round of applause for our couple please!”

“I never thought that Asuka would be this bad at throwing things. This is me putting it gently okay.”

“Sure, I wasn’t good at it, I wasn’t good at it but! I can do it if I try alright…….!

“Really?”

I have been hearing something like [just go back and explode] or something along that line from the audience but maybe he missed the part where we are not dating huh.

Or maybe shouting such a thing is a custom in this aquarium?

In the end, the dolphin show concluded with the dolphin performing a super big jump.