V8 – Episode 4

“Since it’s our day off, why don’t we go hang out tomorrow?”

Yuzuru said as he handed the washed dishes to Arisa.

“… Is there somewhere you want to go?”

Arisa asked as she wiped the plate she had received from Yuzuru with a dish towel.

Yuzuru shook his head in response to Arisa’s question.

“No, nowhere in particular…”

“Hmm.”

Arisa seemed to have guessed something from Yuzuru’s answer.

Yuzuru hesitantly asked Arisa.

“Um, ..is that a no?”

“No way… Can I choose the location?”

“Sure.”

Yuzuru nodded in response.

“I’ll think about it then,”

Arisa said with a smile.

The next morning.

“It’s been a while since we had a date, so I’m looking forward to it”

Yuzuru said good-humoredly as he drove.

On the other hand, Arisa, who was sitting in the passenger seat, laughed.

“You said it’s been a long time.., but we had a date a week ago, too.”

A week or so ago, they just went out to a nearby art museum.

When Arisa pointed this out, Yuzuru made up a deceptive excuse.

“Oh, no, I meant like, to travel far…”

“Or more accurately, a road trip, right?”

Arisa said this to Yuzuru with a bit of a sidelong glance.

“For someone who said he didn’t need a car… seems like you’re having a lot of fun.”

The car Yuzuru is driving was given to him by his father.

However, he did not buy it for him.

It was given to him as a hand-me-down as if he was forced to buy it.

Yuzuru’s father gave his son a car not because he was thinking of him.. but because he wanted to buy a new car himself.

Even if he had enough money, he could not easily buy a car with his wife’s eyes on him.

“N-no, it would be a waste if I don’t use it now that I have it, wouldn’t it?”

Yuzuru remarked to Arisa as if to make an excuse.　

The area around Yuzuru’s house was well-served by public transportation.

The roads could be crowded, so it was more convenient to take a train or bus than a private car.

Above all, a car requires care in maintenance and storage.

Therefore, Yuzuru received the car reluctantly…

It was undeniable that once he started riding, he began to enjoy it.

“Hmm?”

“And if I don’t drive regularly, won’t I be unable to do so later?”

“You’ve got a point.”

Arisa also obtained her license at the same time as Yuzuru.

Arisa’s skill level was not that she was not good at it, but not good enough to say that she was good at it.

Therefore, she was grateful that Yuzuru was giving her the opportunity to use the car.

“I just wondered if driving the car was more of a main focus than going on dates with me.”

“No way.”

Yuzuru shook his head.

“I don’t just like driving. I like to drive with you… Please believe me.”

“I know. I was just kidding.”

Arisa laughed at that.

Yuzuru, on the other hand, was relieved that Arisa was not in a bad mood.

An hour later, they arrived at their destination.

As soon as they got out of the car, they smelled a peculiar aroma.

Asked whether it was a good smell or a bad smell, I would say it was the latter.

“This zoo is famous for its petting zoo.”

Arisa said, unable to hide her excitement.

Yes, Arisa chose the zoo as her destination for the date.

She chose the zoo because it was a day trip and within driving distance (since it was obvious that Yuzuru wanted to take a drive).

Today, I want to touch and, if possible, fluff the animals as much as I can!

She did not say it out loud, but it showed in her attitude and clothes (old clothes that can get dirty, jeans pants, etc.).

“Well, let’s get you in quickly, shall we?”

“Yes!”

Yuzuru and Arisa immediately headed for the entrance gate.

Since it was a holiday, there were so many people waiting in line at the ticket booth.

“There are a lot of children.”

“Yes, they are. If anything…, it seems to be aimed at families.”

In other words, the zoo is for children.

The zoo was originally designed to be fun for children, but this zoo seems to have focused on the target group of children.., in other words, families.

“Well, then, today is a preview.”

“…Preview?”

Yuzuru involuntarily tilted his head at Arisa’s words.

Then Arisa replied in a joking tone.

“For the time when we have a child.”

“Ah.., I see.”

‘When we have children, we will come back here again‘ is what she meant.

It might be a somewhat long-term story, but it was not far off in the future.

“I guess so. Let’s enjoy ourselves for that time, shall we?”

“Yes!”

With this exchange, they bought tickets and entered the zoo.

---

TN: Early chapter because I’m working from home this week.

IMPATIENT MTL READER

---

Previous | TOC | Next