“Where do you want to start? Should we explore the first floor?”

“···Yes.”

This is exhausting.

Not even ten minutes into our date, and I already felt drained from Siwoo's playful teasing. Before we started dating, he was always so cool and kind.

But lately, he’d taken to teasing me now and then. No matter how much I tried to stay calm, I’d end up blushing fiercely.

Ugh, it's too much.

Does he find my reactions that amusing?

“You know, I find this a bit surprising.”

“Surprising how?”

“I didn’t know you liked fish.”

“···?”

Siwoo looked at me as if he found it curious. Liking fish? If I had to choose, I liked seafood, but that was as food.

This was my first time at an aquarium, and I had never really had the chance to see live fish before, so I didn’t particularly think I liked them.

So, liking fish? I had never mentioned anything like that.

“Oh, you don’t? I thought you wanted to visit the aquarium.”

“Ah…”

That was it.

Because I chose the aquarium as our first date spot, he thought I liked fish.

“I don’t like them that much.”

“Really? Then why…?”

“I thought it would be a new experience. As you know, I lack common knowledge.”

More precisely, it was Amelia’s suggestion.

She had advised that since I was going out on a date, I might as well learn something new. Amelia had seen me struggle with Dorothy’s common knowledge questions once and probably thought of that.

At first, I thought it wasn’t a bad idea, but now I was second-guessing it.

It’s our first date. Shouldn’t we go somewhere more meaningful?

I was worried Siwoo wouldn’t like it and kept glancing at him nervously.

“I see.”

“···You’re not mad?”

“Me? Why?”

“Because I chose our first date spot for personal reasons…”

“You’re overthinking things.”

Tap.

Siwoo lightly flicked my forehead. It didn’t hurt, but the sudden action startled me.

“I would’ve liked wherever you wanted to go.”

“···Why?”

“Because you’re there.”

He always does this.

Sometimes, I feel down because I think I’m only receiving from Siwoo and never giving back.

In those moments, Siwoo always says something embarrassing like this.

···It’s unfair.

Saying things like that makes all my worries seem insignificant.

It makes me feel like everything will be fine as it is.

“Come to think of it, this is your first time at a place like this, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll choose the route. How about that? ···Here.”

Siwoo naturally extended his hand to me.

The gesture seemed to say that everything would be okay if I just followed him.

That he would help me face any challenges ahead.

Happily, I took his hand.

“That was fun….”

“Yeah, it was more impressive than I expected.”

I’m exhausted.

Running around without a care and standing for so long must have taken a toll. After making a circuit of the aquarium, we sat on a bench provided for guests, and the fatigue began to set in.

···Ugh, my neck hurts.

As I massaged my sore neck, I noticed Siwoo watching me with a smile.

“···What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing, really.”

“···.”

Suspicious.

When Siwoo smiles like that, it usually means he’s about to tease me. What’s he planning this time?

I looked at him suspiciously, and sure enough, Siwoo spoke with a grin.

“I’ve never seen you this excited before. Did you enjoy it that much, jumping around like a kid?”

“We agreed not to talk about that!”

“Did we? When?”

Snicker, snicker.

The smile on Siwoo’s face showed no sign of fading.

“I was really surprised. To think the great Arte Isis would act like a child over some fish…”

“···.”

“Alright, alright.”

Siwoo was right. I had gotten too excited.

I ran around marveling at everything like the little kids around us.

I tried to explain myself.

“But it was amazing…”

When I heard “aquarium,” I thought there would be some interesting and beautiful fish. But this place far exceeded my expectations.

First, the size of the tanks. Whatever they did, the aquarium’s size was beyond imagination. They must have used some supernatural abilities to create such a massive place.

Second, the creatures in the tanks. There were the interesting and ornamental fish I expected, but there were so many more fascinating creatures than I had imagined.

“There were eels that puffed up like balloons, fish that breathed fire, fish that folded in half… and more!”

“Calm down, calm down.”

Even thinking back on it was exciting.

How could a fish breathe fire?

And underwater, no less.

“Some fish from dungeons have merged with marine life, resulting in more fascinating species.”

“Ah…”

“The ones you saw have monster blood but aren’t classified as monsters.”

More unfamiliar knowledge.

But I didn’t mind.

Because Siwoo was always there to explain things I didn’t know.

“Hey, Arte.”

“Yes?”

“How was today?”

He must already know.

I had been acting all giddy, and Siwoo had teased me about it.

Even if I hadn’t, his intuition would have picked up on it.

But he still asked.

Did I have fun?

Did he want to hear it from me?

“···What about you, Siwoo?”

“Me?”

“Yes. I had a great time.”

I enjoyed myself. But did Siwoo?

Was he bored looking at things he already knew?

Siwoo’s answer dispelled my worries.

“Yeah, I enjoyed it too.”

“Eating out wouldn’t be a bad idea. You must be tired.”

“Oh no.”

“What about ingredients? There weren’t any in the fridge…”

“I ordered in advance. Don’t worry.”

“···Alright. I’ll go take a shower.”

“Yes, look forward to it. I’ll prepare something delicious.”

I understood Siwoo’s concern.

He worried I’d be tired after a long day out. But I really wanted to cook dinner tonight.

After a date, having a delicious homemade meal by your partner’s hand is always special.

I wanted to cook for Siwoo tonight.

Not long after Siwoo went into the bathroom, I heard the sound of water hitting the floor, indicating he had started his shower.

“···Alright.”

Amelia had planned a perfect date.

Playing at the aquarium, eating a delicious lunch, watching the penguin and dolphin shows, and exploring the aquarium again before heading home.

I couldn’t thank her enough. I’d have to express my gratitude next time I saw her.

“Oh, I can’t waste time.”

While Siwoo was in the shower, I needed to prepare the meal quickly. I opened the box Amelia sent.

“What the…?”

Forget thanking her.

What was she thinking?

Desperately, I searched for other ingredients, but there was nothing else. Just some frozen food and canned goods.

I couldn’t serve Siwoo, who’d be starving, such a poor meal. Not today.

“···Sigh.”

There was no other choice.

Steeling myself, I began to cook.

“Hmm, it smells good. What are you making?”

“Eel.”

“Eel? Wow, sounds tasty. What are these?”

“Ah, those are… oysters and abalone. I grilled them with butter and added some chives and ginger…”

“What about this?”

“Schisandra and black raspberry. I thought it would make a nice tea for dessert…”

“Wait, isn’t this a bit…?”

“Ah, ahaha… w-well, there’s also octopus and shrimp! Because we went to the aquarium!”

“Hold on. Chives, eel, abalone, ginger, schisandra, black raspberry… Arte, this is…”

“It’ll take a while, so please rest!”

I pushed Siwoo out of the kitchen.

He must have realized it.

I felt a wave of resentment towards Amelia.

Why did she send these?

Siwoo would surely think something was up.

Meanwhile, in Amelia’s room.

“Grandpa, did you deliver the items properly?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

“Great. Arte will definitely notice. But I wonder if Siwoo will get it.”

Amelia leisurely sat in a rocking chair, popping grapes into her mouth.

“I wonder what kind of face Arte is making right now?”

“···Who knows.”

“I’d love to see it in person, but I guess I’ll have to give up on that.”

If she could, she’d sneak into their house to spy, but that would likely make both Arte and Siwoo turn against her.

So Amelia contented herself with imagining their reactions.

“Hmm, these grapes are delicious. I should have included some of these too. What a pity.”