Chapter 5: Little shells

My name is Ryo Murata, I'm 21 years old, I'm a college student and I live in Tokyo. I have a "girlfriend", it's not official, but yes... I have a girlfriend. Before we met, she was a rental girlfriend, but because of me, she ended up giving up that profession.

I wake up extremely tired, working at the bar until midnight really messes with my jet lag and just a little bit with my mental health. My cell phone vibrates, probably one of Ruka's millions of messages.

Our first "date" was a complete failure, at least for me. Ruka loved it, but I was just using it as a front to spy on my sister who wasn't even in danger. So, I need to make it up to her and take a little shame on my face.

I pick up my cell phone and check her messages.

"Ruka-chan: Hey, are you awake?! I know you work nights, but you have to sleep well!! 3:12"

"I worry about you too, it's 3 in the morning, Sarashina-san 3:13"

"Ruka-chan: Aww how cute! ♥️ But one thing doesn't cancel out the other, Ryo! And I told you to call me by my first name 3:15"

It was funny to say the least, seeing that she worries about me, but does the same thing I do like staying up at night. Today is our first real date, this time, we're going to visit a pretty famous aquarium.

After the incident at the movies, I was still feeling guilty about the way I reacted to Ruka's question about the scar. I also didn't know how to apologize properly and I knew I would need to make an extra effort to make things better on our date at the aquarium.

When we met, Ruka was radiant as always, wearing a woolen sweater with her famous blue bows on her head. - "Good morning, Ryo-chan!"

I couldn't help but blush, Ruka, without realizing it, was drawing a lot of attention. - "G-Good morning, Sarash- Ruka-chan..."

The girl with the blue bows approached me and wrapped herself in my arms. - "Why are you so warm?..." - A question I couldn't answer.

The aquarium was the perfect place to try to start over. The calm environment, with the soft lighting and the serene movement of the fish, had an almost therapeutic quality. We walked side by side through the corridors, watching the different species swimming behind the large glass panels. There was something mesmerizing about watching the fish glide through the water, and for a moment, I could feel the tension between us ease.

"This place is beautiful!" - Ruka commented, with a genuine smile on her lips as she watched a group of jellyfish floating in one of the huge display cases.

I nodded, trying to focus on the present and enjoy the moment. - "It really is..." - I replied. - "It's peaceful here... I think it's good for the mind."

She glanced at me sideways, as if trying to read my thoughts. - "I'm glad you agreed to come here today."

I looked back at her. - "It's the least I can do, I hope we can have fun." - I said, smiling at her.

As the day progressed at the aquarium, the atmosphere between Ruka and I began to change. The tension that had hung over us since the night before seemed to be dissipating, replaced by a lightness that I hadn't expected to find. It was as if, with each step we took, we became more comfortable with each other.

It started with a simple gesture. We were standing in front of a huge tank that housed several species of tropical fish, their colorful bodies dancing in the crystal clear water. Ruka was absorbed in the view, her eyes shining with the same intensity as the colors of the fish.

Her eyes were fixed on the aquarium. - "Places like this calm me down, but..." - Without thinking much, I felt my hand being placed on hers.

She started to blush. - "...But for some reason... My heart races a lot faster when I'm in a peaceful place like this." - When I touched her, our fingers naturally intertwined, as if this was where they belonged.

Ruka looked at me in surprise, but didn't say anything, just squeezed my hand gently. It was a simple moment, but full of meaning, which didn't go unnoticed by some people around.

We continued our walk through the aquarium, now holding hands, like a couple who had overcome a small obstacle and were stronger because of it. In front of the stingray tank, Ruka approached, pulling me along with her until we were very close to the glass. The rays swam gracefully, gliding through the water like leaves in the wind, and Ruka, completely caught up in the moment, leaned forward, almost pressing her face against the glass.

"Look, Ryo! They're so cute!" - she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

I watched her more than the animals themselves, fascinated by the way she completely surrendered herself to the moment. Without thinking much, I put my hand on her waist, gently pulling her closer. It was an instinctive gesture, and Ruka blushed slightly, but smiled a little.

An older couple next to us smiled as they watched the interaction, as if they were watching a scene from a movie. I noticed that other people were also watching us, their expressions varying between smiles and looks of approval. We were so immersed in each other that it seemed to attract the attention of passersby, as if the energy between us was palpable.

"Are you enjoying it?" I said a little nervously, although I didn't express it in words.

"What? The date or you?" she said, blushing. Ruka was an attacker.

Moving on to the next section, we found a tank where people could touch small, harmless fish. Ruka, with the excitement of a child, insisted that I join in too. As she dipped her hand into the water and laughed at the feel of the fish's texture, I decided to join her, even though it wasn't something I would do on my own.

"The texture is funny!" - Her laughter was contagious, and I soon found myself smiling too, completely forgetting the worries that had clouded my mind earlier.

At one point, we were standing in front of a huge tank, where a school of silver fish moved in perfect synchrony. Ruka was ecstatic, admiring the spectacle, and then, without warning, she turned to me, pulling me into a hug. I was taken aback, but I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around her, feeling her body relax against mine.

"Thank you for coming with me today..." - she whispered, her voice soft. - "I'm glad we're here together."

As I held her, I felt an unusual calm envelop me, as if, in that moment, everything was at peace. Some people who passed by us stopped for a moment, noticing how close we were, but instead of moving away, we remained there, holding each other, as if the world around us had disappeared.

The feeling of being so connected to someone, even in a public setting, was new to me. It was as if, for the first time, I was truly allowing my feelings to rise to the surface, without fear of what they might mean. Ruka, on the other hand, seemed to be exactly where she wanted to be, and that made each moment all the more special.

Ruka pointed to one of the familiar-looking shells. -"Look at that funny shell!" - It was a shell that was shaped like a heart, white with two blue stripes.

The day continued with small gestures like that, a lingering look, a gentle touch, a shared smile. By the end, as we left the aquarium, there was a sense that something had changed between us, something that could not be ignored. The people around us, perhaps without realizing it, had become witnesses to a day that, for us, was much more than just a date; it was the beginning of something deeper, something that I was beginning to accept, even if I didn't fully understand it.

As Ruka and I hugged in front of the tank, something unexpected happened. The little blue bows on her head, which usually remained still, began to sway strangely, as if they had a life of their own.

I frowned in confusion when I noticed a bright glow beginning to appear on her chest. A blue, pulsing, luminous heart suddenly appeared, emitting an almost hypnotic light.

Before I could say anything, time stopped around us. Everything went completely silent. - "I feel like I'm getting used to this already..."

the murmur of people, the sound of water running through the tanks, even the air itself seemed to be frozen. I looked around in alarm, trying to understand what was happening, but everything was still, except for Ruka and me.

The glass of the large aquarium in front of us began to shake violently. Cracks appeared on the surface, spreading rapidly like a spider's web, until, with a loud and ominous crack, it shattered completely. The water contained within it began to gush forth, but instead of simply falling to the ground, it seemed to be alive, moving with a purpose. The water began to consume the entire environment around us, rising up the walls, filling the place with frightening speed.

I closed my eyes reflexively, expecting to be swallowed up by the torrent, but when I opened them again, I found myself in a completely different place. We were on a vast earthly plane, but the ground below us was similar to a sea, with gentle waves moving slowly, as if we were floating on the surface of an endless ocean. The sky above us was a deep blue, with no sun, no clouds, just an endless void.

"What the hell..." - I muttered, trying to process what was happening. Beside me, Ruka was still frozen, the blue heart in her chest glowing brightly.

It was then that I heard a strange laugh, a high-pitched, mocking sound that echoed throughout that strange world. I looked around, searching for the source of the sound, until something emerged from the waters below us. A fish, with an elongated body and shiny scales, floated to the surface. But it was no ordinary fish. It had an almost human expression, with small, sarcastic eyes, and a mocking smile that showed a row of sharp teeth.

"Well, well, well..." - the mocking fish said, his voice dripping with contempt. - "Looks like you've gotten yourself into quite a bit of trouble, boy. Thought you could have a quiet date, huh?" - the talking fish laughed.

I took a step back, still trying to understand what was happening. - "Who... or what... are you?"

The fish just laughed, circling us like a predator toying with its prey. - "Oh, I'm just a humble observer. A curious fish, let's say. But you... You seem to be completely lost. What are you doing here, boy? Do you even know what you've gotten yourself into?"

"I... I have no idea..." - I replied, confusion growing inside me. - "Is this some kind of trap? Some trick?"

The fish continued to laugh, as if amused by my frustration. - "Ah, dear boy, you are in a place where the rules of your world do not apply. A domain between reality and dreams, where your emotions take on a life of their own."

My hands clenched into fists, frustration and anxiety growing. - "I'm not here to play games. How do we get out of here? And what does this have to do with Ruka?"

The fish stopped swimming for a moment, its mocking expression softening slightly. - "Ah, the blue heart... So powerful, yet so fragile. She's not in danger, at least not yet. But you, Boy..."

The mocking fish hadn't disappeared. That annoying smile plastered on his face, floating casually around us. - "Well, well, if you want to save the maiden, you need to play a game!" - he announced, his voice full of malicious amusement.

"These little games..." - I said, my eyes narrowing. Suddenly, three enormous shells emerged from the water in front of us, each one imposingly large enough to hide something or someone inside.

The shells opened briefly, revealing a blue glow in one of them before closing again. - "Choose the right shell, and maybe, just maybe, you can save the girl. Choose wrong... Well, you'll see what happens."

My patience, already exhausted, finally reached its limit. Before the fish could move away again, I advanced on it, grabbing it by its scaly neck and pulling it close to me. - "I'm sick of your little games..." - I growled, squeezing my hand tightly. - "Tell me how to save Ruka now, or I swear I'll crush you."

The fish, surprised, stopped laughing, his eyes wide with panic. - "H-stop there, boy! You're breaking the rules! This... this is not part of the game!" - he stammered, the confidence disappearing from his face.

"I don't care about your rules!" - My voice echoed through the strange plane we were in. - "Tell me what I need to do, or you'll regret it."

It was at that moment that Prelest appeared, his blue glow contrasting with the darkness of the waters around us. His voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, full of disdain. - "Ryo, stop this now!"

I released the fish, which fell back into the water with a splash, coughing and catching its breath. I looked at Prelest, still furious, but the intensity in his gaze made me hesitate. - "You're getting carried away..." - Prelest said, his voice firm.

I knew Prelest was right, but it was hard to calm the storm of emotions that was bubbling up inside me. - "He's playing with her life! I... I don't know what to do!"

Prelest sighed, as if dealing with a stubborn child. - "I know it's hard, but you need to keep your head on straight. Brute force won't solve this, and the fish knows that very well." - He turned to the fish, which was now floating away, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity. - "And you!" - Prelest continued, pointing an accusing finger. - "Stop acting like you're some great riddle master. You're nothing but a second-rate fish with a fifth-rate attitude."

The mocking fish looked offended, but didn't dare to retort in front of Prelest. - "I... was just following the rules..." - he muttered, casting a wary glance at me. - "But if the boy here wants to know so much... Well, the shells are an illusion. Only one of them has what he's looking for, and the only way to know which one it is is to trust his own instincts. No forcing answers. If he gets it wrong, he'll have to deal with the consequences."

I took a deep breath, trying to absorb what the fish had said. Prelest came closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. - "Remember, Ryo, love is not something you gain through force or anger. It is something you feel, something you understand. If you want to save Ruka, you will have to rely on more than just your strength."

I looked at the shells, feeling the pressure of the moment weighing down on me. I knew Prelest was right. If I let fear and anger take over, I would never be able to choose the right shell. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate, trying to feel which of the shells was connected to Ruka.

The fish remained silent, watching carefully, perhaps curious to see if I would be able to overcome the challenge he had proposed. Prelest also stood firm by my side, like a watchful guardian, ready to help me if necessary, but making it clear that this was a choice I would have to make alone.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. The shells before me were large and imposing, each with its own distinctive markings. I knew I had to choose the right one, but Prelest's words echoed in my mind; it wasn't just strength that would guide me, but what I felt for Ruka.

It was then that a fragment of memory flashed through my mind. I remembered Ruka, still in the real world, pointing to something while we were at the aquarium. She was smiling, and with her fingertips, she indicated a white shell with two blue stripes. The detail, previously insignificant, now made perfect sense.

I turned my attention to the three shells in front of me. The first shell had thin, spaced red stripes that snaked across its surface in a haphazard manner. The stripes seemed to pulse slightly, but that wasn't what I was looking for. The second shell had thick, vibrant green stripes that formed an intricate pattern, like the branches of an intertwined tree. While they were attractive, there was nothing about them that connected me to Ruka.

Finally, I looked at the third shell, and there it was: a white shell with two soft, parallel blue stripes running across the surface from top to bottom. It was the same one Ruka had pointed out in the aquarium, the detail that had gone unnoticed until now.

"That's it!" - I muttered, more to myself than to Prelest or the mocking fish. I stepped forward with determination and touched the shell. As soon as my fingers made contact, it gently opened, revealing an intense blue glow. Suddenly, a wave of energy exploded from the shell, enveloping me and filling the air around us.

The waters began to recede, the other shells disappeared, and the blue heart on Ruka's chest glowed brighter, as if responding to my choice. The world around us began to fade, the gentle waves that had surrounded us slowly disappearing, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the aquarium. Time, which had previously stood still, began to flow again. The glass of the aquarium that had shattered was intact, the people around us still frozen in their activities, unaware that something extraordinary had happened.

I looked at Ruka, who was finally free from that trance-like state. She blinked in confusion as the blue heart on her chest slowly disappeared. I held her by the shoulders, relieved to see her safe and sound.

She was still unconscious. I smiled lightly, not wanting to burden her with all the details. - "Nothing to worry about now. We're back."

The mocking fish didn't dare say anything else. He just gave a resigned look and disappeared into the depths of the plane we were once trapped in, without a trace.

Everything returned to normal in the blink of an eye. The immense glass of the aquarium, which had previously shattered chaotically, was now perfectly intact, as if nothing had happened. The calm waters reflected the soft lights of the environment, and the sea creatures swam peacefully in their habitat.

The people around us continued their activities as if they had never been in danger. For them, time hadn't stopped, the world hadn't fallen apart, and there was definitely no indication that we were in a parallel world, fighting for our lives.

I found myself standing still, Ruka's hand still tightly clasped in mine. She looked at me, noticing the tension on my face, but not quite understanding what was happening. Her expression was a mix of concern and confusion.

"Ryo, are you okay?" - Ruka asked, her voice thick with worry.

Before I could respond, my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. The sense of normalcy that had begun to envelop me was immediately shattered. With a quick movement, I pulled the phone out of my pocket and saw my mother's name flashing on the screen. Something deep in my stomach twisted. She didn't usually call like this, unless it was something important.

I answered quickly, moving away from Ruka a little to hear better. "Hello?.... Yes.... What?..... Okay, I'm coming!"

After hanging up the phone, Ruka saw my expression change. "What? What happened?" - Her voice came out louder than she intended, making her approach, worried.

"My grandmother had a fall... I don't know if it was serious, Ruka." - I said a little apprehensively. My heart raced, and without thinking twice, I hung up the phone, putting it back in my pocket. I turned to Ruka, my face probably conveying the panic I felt. - "Ruka, I... I need to go to the hospital now. My grandmother... she's in bad shape."

Ruka's eyes widened, the concern clear in her expression. - "I'm going with you, Ryo-chan!" - she said without hesitation, her hand squeezing mine tighter.

We both left the aquarium in a hurry, leaving behind the apparent calm that the place offered. My heart was pounding as I tried to process everything that was happening. A sense of urgency consumed me, and every second seemed too precious to waste. As we ran through the streets towards the hospital, I tried to remain calm, but anxiety infiltrated every thought.

Ruka ran beside me, without saying anything, but her presence was what kept me on my feet. Even with all the strangeness of the events that we had experienced together, she did not hesitate to support me. That meant more than I could express at the moment.

As soon as we arrived at the hospital, the environment was chaotic, full of people running from one side to the other. There was no time to wait. I ran to the reception, barely able to breathe as I asked for my grandmother. The receptionist showed us the way, and in the blink of an eye, we were in front of the room where my grandmother was hospitalized.

The only words I could hear from my grandmother were: "You don't need to worry... I just fainted." - said Mrs. Murata.

My mother and father were there, the situation was so immediate that there was no time to even tell my sister, since she was probably working. - "But you need to worry, Mrs. Kyouka. Your health is very important!" - said my mother who was wearing casual clothes.

"Gosh, mom... You have to accept that you're not that young anymore. And we have the store to take care of. And this isn't the first time you've ended up in the hospital." - said my father who was still wearing his work clothes at the store.

Ruka and I just sat there waiting for the situation to calm down. My heart was getting back on track seeing that it apparently was nothing serious. I put my hand on my chest while my father and mother argued with my stubborn grandmother.

Until my grandmother's attention turned to me. - "Hum... My grandson, who is that young lady there?" - My nervousness started to show.

"I only brought her because she was with Ryo. You're his friend, aren't you?" - my mother said.

My parents and grandmother knew about my ex-relationship and how turbulent it was, so they always avoid talking about anything related to dating or anything like that. I can't blame them for that.

"Ryo..." - those are the only words that came out of my grandmother Kyouka's mouth.

"Yeah...Y-Yeah....She's....My..." - my voice trailed off.

Ruka noticed and decided to act to help me. - "Actually... I'm his girlfriend." - She didn't help me.

The silence echoed through the room, but that didn't last long. Since my entire family started shouting, as if they were surprised by this. Something like: "I thought you would never date again!"

Ruka stood up to formally introduce herself. Her way of getting up from the chair seemed so graceful, it looked like a scene from a movie, with the sakura petals invading the white hospital room. She clasped her hands together and smiled. - "It's a pleasure! My name is Ruka Sarashina!"

My parents seemed paralyzed, as if they had been petrified by some kind of jellyfish. - "It's a shame that we have to meet in a situation like this... But it's a pleasure."

For a moment, I saw my grandmother's expression change. It was as if small tears were gathering, but she didn't even cry, she kept her composure. - "I want to be discharged now..."

"What?" - my parents said.

"WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE! Ryo has finally brought a healthy girl into our family!" - Mrs. Kyouka said, trying to get out of bed. My father stopped her.

"M-My grandson has finally found someone desirable... I'm so happy!" - My grandmother's tears began to fall. A relief left her back, but the weight fell on me.

"Grandma..." - I couldn't say much at that moment.

A few minutes passed until my grandmother stopped crying.

"Well, let's go back to the store, take care of her Ryo... And walk your girlfriend home, okay?!" - my father said with a serious and mature tone.

"Okay, dad..." - I said to him.

"Listen, Ruka. Come over next time." - my mother said with a slight smile, she knew very well what she was doing.

Then the two older adults left the room, leaving only me, Ruka and Kyouka. My grandmother had an enigmatic posture, I would never know what was going on in her head.

She opened her eyes and looked at Ruka with a serious look, thinking she was going to ask an important question. - "So, Ruka. Have you ever had sex with him?"

Ruka probably trembled slightly when she heard that question, but I was too busy while I was dying inside. - "W-What the fuck, Grandma?!"

"SHUT UP!....You know how important this is for a relationship... But it's not good to get carried away by it either." - Kyouka said trying to sound wise. - "They're using condoms, right?"

Ruka blushed heavily, but hid it with a radiant smile. - "Ryo and I have tried a few things... But always within limits, of course." - I would like to know what those limits are... And of course she lied.

My grandmother just smiled as if she had accepted our "relationship". she said, planning something. There was a brief pause, then Kyouka looked at me with a look that well knew the look of someone who was about to say something serious. - "Ryo, dear, would you mind giving us a moment? I would like to talk to Ruka alone."

I was a little surprised by the request, but I nodded, respecting her wish. I let go of my grandmother's hand, giving Ruka a small wave before leaving the room. There was a slight tension in the air, but I trusted that my grandmother had something important to say.

"Okay..." - I got up and left the room. I never knew the content of the conversation between the two. Outside, I walked down the hallway, trying to shake off the anxiety that still accompanied me. I knew that my grandmother was wise and direct, and if she wanted to talk to Ruka, there was a reason.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Kyouka waited until the door closed before turning to Ruka, her gaze now softer and more welcoming.

"Ruka, my dear." - Kyouka began, her voice gentle. - "I know you two are still figuring out a lot of things, but just seeing you two together makes me feel so happy. Ryo is my dear grandson, and he's never been very open about his feelings. But since you came along, I can see that he's changed a little, that he's trying harder, and that's thanks to you."

Ruka lowered her head, Ryo's grandmother's words hitting her in an unexpected way. - "I... I'm still trying to figure all of this out too. Ryo is very special to me, and I want to be by his side, but... sometimes, I feel like I'm not doing everything right..."

Kyouka reached out her trembling hand, holding Ruka's tenderly. - "No one knows exactly what to do when it comes to love, my dear. But the fact that you care so much about him already shows how much you care. And that's what matters. Love is not something that is understood all at once. It is built, step by step, with affection, understanding and, sometimes, even with mistakes."

Ruka nodded, feeling Kyouka's words resonate in her heart. There was so much wisdom and kindness in that woman, and even in a difficult moment, she found the strength to talk about love and support.

Kyouka turned to Ruka, the soft smile still on her lips, but now with a tone of seriousness in her gaze. - "Ruka, before Ryo comes back, I want you to know something important about him. I don't want to go into details because it's not easy for him... but Ryo had a difficult relationship in the past. Something that left a mark on him."

Ruka tilted her head, surprised and a little worried. - "Difficult relationship?"

Kyouka sighed, as if choosing her words carefully. - "Yes, he got involved with someone who wasn't good for him, and it affected him a lot. It wasn't just a matter of young love or common misunderstandings... there was a breakdown of trust. He closed himself off to a lot of things after that."

Ruka's eyes filled with concern. - "I... had no idea."

Kyouka squeezed Ruka's hand a little tighter, her gaze conveying both seriousness and support. - "Ryo is strong, but he's also very sensitive. He has trouble trusting people and expressing what he really feels. I just want you to be aware of that, so that if something from the past comes up, you'll know that it's not something personal against you."

Ruka nodded slowly, processing the information. - "I'll try to be patient with him... I just want to be by his side and make him happy."

Kyouka smiled, satisfied with Ruka's answer. - "That's all he needs, Ruka. Just know that he may need time and your unconditional support to overcome certain fears and insecurities."

Kyouka smiled again, her eyes shining with a mixture of tiredness and joy. "I just want you to know that, no matter what the future holds, I'm happy to see that Ryo has someone like you by his side."

Ruka felt her eyes fill with tears, but she held them back, squeezing Kyouka's hand gently. "Thank you, lady Kyouka...

I... will do my best to be by his side, no matter what."

End of Chapter 5