Just a Bit Jelly

6970 yen?!?!

Haru’s jaw hit the floor as he spied the giant-sized narwhal plushie strung on the ceiling of the gift shop. While Kasumi was paying for her ticket, Haru inched over to the shop, wondering just how much of a favor his wallet would pay reparations for.

There were many things that he could buy in place of a piñata of fluff with a rainbow horn – all-you-can-eat yakiniku, a home console game, a day pass at the local amusement park, maybe even three of the exact same doll through Amazon. But Kasumi placed a firm hand on Haru’s shoulder, her face saying quite clearly that she wanted that one.

“I’ll be sure to earn it,” she said with a cute wink, knowing exactly his thoughts.

Haru sighed at being so obvious, but he was pulled out of his lull toward the penguins before he could complain. Haru’s face was the definition of boredom upon entry, but it wasn’t long before he started bouncing here and there.

“Get back here. I see you!”

Haru struggled to chase after each penguin as it dove into the water. For some reason, the flap of their wings, the way they hobbled about, and how they honked at each other – each action ignited a childish streak within him.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear my little brother came with me.”

Haru froze, feeling a bit embarrassed by his actions. He didn’t normally act that way. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been to the aquarium. His parents had taken him when he was young. But as he looked around the area wondering why his mood was different, it hit him.

He was enjoying it for himself, and for Grace. There were no parents forcing him to listen to the dry material of the exhibits. He was not pushed along like some child ushered on a school field trip. He could stare, as long as he wanted to. Or at least, long enough for Kasumi to laugh at him.

Kasumi simply leaned on the railing next to him, giggling pleasantly at his enthusiasm. She pointed at a pair of penguins racing each other in the water, her face glowing just as much as a certain someone. Haru’s face grew hot, so he turned away.

I’m here for Grace. Just Grace. Just Grace.

Haru lightly smacked his cheeks. Kasumi was here for the doll. The very expensive doll. Of course, her objective was making the experience enjoyable. Having cooled down, Haru turned back, trying to act bored. The last thing he needed was to draw more suspicion towards him. By a girl that adeptly invaded his bubble.

“Oh, just in time for feeding,” Kasumi said as she grabbed Haru’s hand and pulled him closer.

Personal bubble popped again.

A caretaker entered the exhibit, pails of fish in hand. Using some hand signs, he directed the penguins into a synchronized routine, reaching into his pail for their prizes right after. Tossing a fish into the air, onlookers watched as the penguins scrambled for the morsels.

Haru had never bothered to linger around for any of these events. He had felt them to be rather childish. But as Kasumi hugged his arm, the softness it rubbed against was anything but. Haru’s mind fought to think of anything else as a distraction.

“Ah, you know what that reminds me of? Daichi breaking through a crowd for a header.”

Haru pointed to a large, stocky penguin within a flock of them. With its beak poking out above the others, it easily snatched a few fish, sating its hunger first before letting its lackeys take a turn.

“Kurabe-san is captain of the soccer team, isn’t he?”

“Makes me wonder why you didn’t take interest in him instead of me. A manly man stuffing his face with cake is more interesting than a normal one.”

Kasumi waved her hand with a face of disapproval.

“No way. He’s a bit imposing at times. I prefer ones like that penguin there.”

Haru’s gaze traced to where she was pointing – a penguin with a fish in its beak. It bounced side to side, staring at another penguin.

“Oh, comparing me to a featherbrain now?”

“Just watch. I think it’s about to do something sweet.”

Sure enough, the penguin in question looked like it was offering up his prize to another. But as they continued to watch, the fish suddenly flew out its mouth and smacked the other penguin’s face. Chaos ensued as a chase resulted from it.

“Pfffft, that was your definition of a ‘sweet scene’?” Haru held his stomach as he laughed.

“At least it had good intentions initially,” Kasumi said between giggles. “Just poor execution, like a certain someone next to me.”

Haru’s laughter died down as he wondered what Kasumi meant.

“You planned to come here alone. But it almost feels like… you’re doing it for the sake of someone. Someone that can’t be here with you.”

Haru instinctively looked away at that statement. He hadn’t prepared for such a directed question.

“What the heck? Why do you think that?”

It was a shoddy defense, but Haru simply couldn’t think of what else to do at the time.

“Just a vibe. Or maybe because I’m just jealous that you have eyes only for the birds.”

Kasumi stuck her tongue out at him and turned around, moving to the next exhibit. The lingering feeling of uncertainty swirled around Haru, but he ignored it and followed along.

She’s just acting that way to tease me. Don’t be fooled. She’s real, unlike Grace, who wears her heart on her sleeve. She-

Somehow, Haru felt a bit crazy for even trying to compare the two.

#####

“So… what was your favorite one, Haru-kun?”

“Probably the jellyfish, Kato-san.”

“You’re no fun. Why the distance? I thought we’d be on nickname terms by now.”

“Hey, I only promised you Horn-chan, not me as the life of the party. I can’t believe you named it that.”

Kasumi was holding the narwhal that she had earned, which looked rather cumbersome. The plushie was a meter long, a giant club for bludgeoning if it weren’t made of fluff and sparkles. Of course, Haru had already been beaned by it, after he casually suggested it swim her home. It made a pathetic bounce when it bopped him.

“Let’s see you do better then.”

“Um… Rainbow.”

“See? Not so smart, are you?”

“Horn Diggity.”

“You deserve an ‘L’ for that.”

“Cope, seethe, mald.”

“Breaking out the internet speak isn’t winning you any brownie points.”

Haru replied by simply dancing like an idiot, in which he earned another clubbing by ‘Horn-kun’. Frankly, earning Kasumi’s favor wasn’t high on his objectives.

“I suppose I should thank you for this plushie,” Kasumi stopped the assault, slinging it over her shoulder. “It’s actually for the kiddos. They’ll be pretty happy.”

“You sure about that? You were having so much fun going all horn diggity on me with it.”

“Don’t call it that!”

Horn-kun met the sky once again as Kasumi winded up another swing.

“…Kasumi-chan.”

“Eh?”

Haru broke into a run while Kasumi whiffed at empty air while stunned. He looked back to see her red faced.

#####

“And? What happened afterwards?” Grace asked, eyes brimming with intrigue.

“Nothing. We just went home after that.”

“Boooooring. And here I thought your story would be more interesting….”

“More interesting that this? How?”

Haru pointed at their surroundings. Sea creatures floated in the sky like they were both underwater. Yet, they were both sitting on clouds. A school of giant jellyfish passed right by them.

Haru had been worried when he fell asleep thinking about jellyfish. It gave a non-zero chance that his next dream would be not family friendly. But instead, he found that Grace was simply wearing a frillier outfit, complete with tendril-like extensions that flowed from her dress. Haru wore something cheap and dumb from the gift shop – a T-shirt that said, ‘Don’t I look Snazzy?’ with a jellyfish on the front.

The sea-themed environment in the sky was almost too benign for Haru’s teenage imagination. But then, Grace noticed the downer of an expression he had.

“Not happy with your attire? I can change that!”

“Wait, no no no!” Haru started backing away. “This is revenge for the other day, isn’t it?!”

Before Haru could escape, a swirl of sparkles surrounded him, morphing his clothing. When it died down, Haru briefly eyed a reflective pool of water… and instantly regretted it.

“Wahhh!!! No more jellyfish!”

Haru Higashi was dressed in an even more glamorous jellyfish-themed outfit than Grace, as a completely unrecognizable chic beauty queen.

After he woke up, Haru went to his bookshelf and spied a DVD that had been conspicuously sticking out a few days before.

Curse you, Prince of Jellyfish!