　We boarded the bus right on time and sat down side by side at the very back of the bus. Without saying a word, Kyoko sat by the window. There were only three other passengers on the bus besides us.

　Kyoko, who usually looks out the window, was unusually looking in my direction.

　Did I get something on my face?

"What is it?　Is there something on my face?

"I wanted to take a closer look at Yusuke's face.

"You can always see it.

"Well, yeah. ......, kef, kef.

"You can't stop coughing.

"I'm fine.

　After about half an hour of swapping passengers, the bus stopped right at the entrance of the aquarium. We got off the bus and I went straight to the ticket counter.

"I'll pay for today. Don't worry about it, I've got a lot of allowance from my mom.

"I've got some money from my mother too, so I'll be fine.

No, no, no, no. You'll leave it to me.

　Kyoko then went to the ticket counter and bought tickets for two junior and senior high school students. For the past few days, Kyoko seemed to have become gentler, as if she had changed, but it was a strange feeling.

"Heh, we haven't been here since our kindergarten field trip, right?

"That's right. I remember that time, Kyoko started crying for something. What was it?

"You don't have to remember.

"I remember!　Pi. ......

"You idiot!

"I forgot.

"It's okay.

　......

"When I came here for kindergarten, this place seemed so big, but it wasn't that big. It didn't take me long to see it all.

"Kyoko didn't see any explanations at all, you just looked around and went straight through.

"It's okay. I'm a little tired, let's take a break in that chair over there.

"Yeah. I'll buy you some juice. What do you want?

"Hmmm. I'll have my usual sweet coffee.

"Okay. The usual.

"Here.

"Thanks.

"It's still early for lunch. What do you want?

"Well, we could go to the food court here, but I think I'd prefer something more fancy.

"Fancy?

"Let's take a walk down the street and see if we can find a place that looks nice.

"Shall we do that?

"What do you want to eat, Yusuke?

"Anything. You know I don't have any particular likes or dislikes, right?　Whatever you like, Kyoko.

"I'll take a look at the restaurant and then decide. We'll leave after we drink this.

"Yes.

"It's a little sweaty out there, isn't it?

"It's a beautiful and nice day. There are a few dining places lined up, do you want to go that way?

"It's still a little early for lunch, so why don't we walk this way?

"Okay. But this street is just a bunch of ordinary stores.

"So, that's okay.

　The two of them walked side by side down the street, which was not so much a shopping street as it was a street lined with stores selling knick-knacks, fabric, and general merchandise.

"May I have a moment?

　Then Kyoko walked into a small store. It seemed to be a boutique selling accessories. I didn't want to go into such a store, but I couldn't help it, so I followed her into the store.

　Quickly, Kyoko found a pair of earrings and attached them to her ears, showing them to me. I've heard somewhere that in this kind of situation, it's not enough to just say, "I think it looks good on you. If you don't say something clever, she might get angry. I chose my words carefully.

　A pair of earrings she chosen that looked a little more mature, with three different sized silver buckles overlapping at the base of the earring.

"I think they look good on you.

　I thought I had chosen my words carefully, but the words that came out were almost the same as, "I think it looks good on you. In the past, I would have gotten at least one compliment at this point, but

"Really?　Does it look good on me?　Good. Well then, I think I'll buy this one.

　Somehow, she seemed to have passed the test even with her current reply.

"If you're in the house, it might be okay to wear earrings, but isn't it too early for junior high school?

"It's okay, Yusuke doesn't have to worry about that.

　So Kyoko paid the clerk to buy the earrings and put them on both ears on the spot.

　Just in case.

"It's okay.

"Thanks.

　The earrings gave Kyoko a more mature look. I was surprised at myself because I felt like I had become a different Kyoko just by wearing those earrings.