Episode VI - A Cute Flower Date

Ruruka POV
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Hana suggested we go on a date today, and she picked a perfect place: The Tennoji Zoo in Osaka! Given the fact that we both like animals gave us the perfect opportunity to go out as couples. When we got there, we were met with a lot of people and animal sounds in the distance. We had already taken the train and found our way to the zoo while walking as we followed the map on my phone.

“Woah…,” I looked around and there was a lot of life around us. People were having fun, families going about, and different stalls in the entrance of the place. It’s my first time here!

“Where do you want to go first?” I asked her as I held out a pamphlet of the zoo, which had a huge guide that mapped out everything. I gave it to her so she could look at it.

“Let’s go look at the penguins!” her finger trailed on the guide as she followed the guides to it. She takes my hand and I follow her lead as she leads me around various places. I got hungry along the way, so I bought some Takoyaki and we both ate it. Eventually we found the penguins’ area and my face was lit with glee as I went towards the window to look at them. Their flippers slap against their bodies like they’re clapping for each other.

“Aww, so cute!~” I looked at them and they played with each other, some, playing in the water. A penguin swam over to us and looked at Hana, seemingly as if they were conversing.

“Oh, is that right?” I heard her talk to the penguin. I turned my head towards her and I was shocked. Don’t tell me she can actually talk with them?! I watch the penguin swim off and under into the water, it jumped out and did a trick.

“Wait…,” I looked at her, awed.

“Can you actually….like, talk with them?”

“I mean, sorta…,” she laughed, “I can sorta understand some of it. But it’s not like I can do this daily.”

She put her finger on the glass and played with the penguin as she swiped in directions, the penguin follows it and does many maneuvering tricks. Looks like she’s having fun…

“Ruruka~” she says name, “this penguin says you look beautiful! I mean, I agree too!”

My face immediately got red as she said that, I grabbed her arm and held it, saying, “geez…” She held my hand closer to her.

“Don’t let go, okay?” she told me. I nodded shyly as we progressed through the area, going to a new place that was full of cute animals. I wanted to see the red pandas, because they were my comfort animals. As we got there, a huge crowd suddenly appeared, pushing me out of her grasp.

“H-Hana..?! H-help..!” I shouted as the crowd kept pushing me along the foot traffic, only for me to end up somewhere

else, completely separated from my girlfriend.

“W-where am I..?”

I looked around and noticed that I was in the crocodile enclosure, and it was very far from where I was. I got scared because the guide I had was in her hands.

“Its all because of that stupid crowd….!” I pouted, trying to recollect my path. I went right from the crocs and ended up in the desert enclosure, went towards the savannah, until I got winded up back in the crocodile area. I tried again and this time, I went into the insect enclosure, which only scared me because I don’t like insects. Each of their sounds made me get scared, chills up my spine as I tried to navigate through it, without getting scared.

Suddenly a loud “bzzz” brushed past my ear very fast, which startled me so much, I ran and escaped the insect area, only to end up in a snake enclosure.

“Eeek!” I jumped as I heard rattling sounds from the rattlesnake enclosure, and as I tried to run, I bumped into someone.

“Ow…, There you are, Ruruka~!” I heard Hana-chan’s voice and her arms hug me, and I instantly melt into her, burrowing my face into her chest. I was embarrassed.

“I went looking for you everywhere!”

I was breathing heavily in her arms as I had used my energy running, trying to find her, but she found me instead. I tried not to cry because it was my first time getting lost, but she held me and gave me gentle head pats.

“Were you scared..?” she asked me and I nodded as I hugged into the crook of her neck.

“Y-yeah…I got lost…multiple times,” I was embarrassed when I told her, “kind of like how…I was emotionally lost back then, the weight of feeling uncertainty with my feelings..”

“It’s….poetic, isn’t it…?” I held her hand and she took me back to the red panda enclosure and I felt at ease again when I saw them. Their red and white fluffiness made me feel calm. I leaned in against the glass, looking at their roundness.

“So cute….” I said with a calming face.

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“I just wanna be one of them….lazing about with no care in the world…”

“I think you’d make a good red panda, Ruruka~” she teased me. “A good girl~”

“H-hey..!! Teasing me out of nowhere…,” I blushed as she said that, giving me a head-pat. I want her to touch me, more. I crave her soft and tender hands.

“You must be overwhelmed after all that chaos. Do you want to take a break?” she asked me and I nodded. We went to a food court that was near the place, and we got some drinks and snacks.

“Phew…,” I slumped down onto the table as we got down.

“That crowd really pushed us apart, didn’t it?”

I laughed about it as I ate into my pretzel stick. It was warm and tasty, the softness melted into my mouth.

“Have a bite~” I showed her the pretzel. She bit into it on the other end and she smiled as she ate it. Her plump pink lips took another bite from it.

“This is tasty!~” She wiped her mouth with a napkin. I tore half of my pretzel and gave it to her.

“Here, for you!” I said as she took it from my hand. Both of us finished the meal and we got up from sitting.

“Where do you want to go next?” Hana asked me. She had the guide up and I looked at it. As I looked around and up from the map, I spotted a gift shop that was in front of us.

“Can we go there…?” I tugged at her sleeve, pointing at it.

“Sure!~” she responded as be both headed in. When we entered, we were greeted with a very relaxing atmosphere, the leathery scent of books and merchandise filled the area with uniqueness. We looked around at the various gifts that ranged from origami, toys, plushies, and items that fit the theme of the zoo.

Out of the merchandise on display, my eyes were glued to the giant red panda plushie that was on display. It was almost the size of Hana-chan!

“Aww~! So cute….” I grabbed the plushie and held it in my arms. It flopped over and I was glued to it.

“That’s so big….!” Hana said, “there’s no way we can bring it home. Put it back~”

“No….!” I complained.

She laughed at me, “what are you..? A child…? It’s expensive!”

I looked at the price tag, and it was at 4,500 yen.

“Fine….I’ll put it back….,” I pouted, unwilling to let go. I wanted to buy the plushie because I love red pandas. Having her seeing me like this made her a little uneasy so she said:

“If you want it, just buy it. Besides, you’ve got me to hug, remember?”

My face lit up with glee when she agreed.

“Yay~!” I grabbed the plushie and went to pay for it and she laughed at my child-like eagerness. I clenched it in my arms as we walked out, hugging it as it didn’t fit in my purse.

“I’m not letting go…”

“Then….can we cross arms as we walk around?” she asked me.

“Sure..,” I blushed slightly. She takes and holds my arm with hers as we walk around. As we do, there were many unique animals that exhibited great beauty and innocence. Their unique skills and abilities reminded me of Hana, given the fact that she’s a enormous bird that can do anything!

I’m not trying to boost her ego, but that’s who she is! A great bird, and also, my loving girlfriend~

“Hey~ Ruruka~,” she tugged me at my sleeve.

“There’s a Ferris wheel here!”

She pointed at it and I looked at it.

“Do you want to ride it?” I asked her and she nodded. I found it interesting that the Tennoji Zoo has a small amusement park that is far from the animal exhibits, given the fact that this small attraction was built near an abandoned site.

It was revived as another place to have fun. It said so in the guide. But it’s a great idea, given the fact that is was near dinner time just before the sun sets.

When we made it to the place, we got on board as the wheel started to rotate slowly. Despite there not being fireworks, the sun started to set, giving us a great scenic view from above.

“This is beautiful…,” I said as I gaze out at the pretty colors of the sky. The red hues glowed as the sun inches ever so slightly.

“It’s the Amber Sky~” Hana said, teasing my name as a pun and translation to the scene before us.

“Can I kiss…you?”

“D-don’t even ask….,” I lean in and kissed her, she returned it as we held into it passionately. The sun shines brightly in front of us as we kissed, which ended beautifully as the amber skies faded into the night. The wheel had made its full rotation, and we were met on the ground. I felt famished as we left it. My stomach rumbles and groans, and I got flustered.

“Oh!~ Someone’s hungry~” she held my hand, laughing slightly at me. I got flustered.

“Dinner?”

“Sure!” I agreed as we looked around Osaka as we left the zoo before it closed for the night. As we walked around the bustling night life, many stores and restaurants had lit up the streets, people walk around. As my eyes scanned around the area, a ramen place stood out.

“Hey, do you like ramen?” I asked her, pointing to it. The golden sign lit up in front of us.

“Yeah! I love ramen!” she agreed and both us went to it, entering. We were greeted with a lovely atmosphere, and the waiter showed us to a table. The menus were placed before us and the images on them made me even more hungry.

“I want spicy tonkatsu ramen…,” I drooled at the image, but I sucked it up, not wanting to act like some glutton.

“What about you?” I asked Hana.

“I’m thinking of Black Garlic Ramen with Pork. It has a lava-boiled egg too!!” she got excited. As the waiter came back, we took our order and waited. After a while, our dishes came out and we were served with hot fresh ramen, which looked exquisite!

“Oooh!~” I stared with awe as I took a picture with my phone. I also took a picture of Hana as she dug into it, she got flustered but didn’t mind at all. We both ate our dinner and it was extraordinary! The flavor, aroma, and taste soaked onto my tongue, and it was delicious. I want to eat more ramen. I looked at her dish, and it also looked delicious.

“Do you want a bite?” she asked me. I nodded and she picked up some clunks of noodles and pork in a spoon with chopsticks, and she fed it to me, the savoring tastes filled my mouth.

“Mmm!~” The flavors melted on my tongue, “delicious!”

“Daro~ne?~” She agreed.

We finished eating and paid for our bill and headed out, only to notice that it was getting late. I looked at my phone, and it was around eight in the evening, and I was already tired, not wanting to move because I was full from dinner.

“Man….that was amazing~ I don’t feel like walking!~” I stretched my arms in the air.

“Do you want to fly back home?” Hana asked me.

“That way you can rest on my back!”

“Hmm? Okay..~” I agreed, already feeling tired. Since there wasn’t much people in the streets around us, we walked to a lonely park and she transformed into her bird form, I got on her back, and she jumped and flew up in the air. The cool night breeze surrounded us as I fell asleep on her back as she hummed a gracious tone.

Today was a great date, and I enjoyed it.