Aoharu-sou e Youkoso 12 *SPOILERS*
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New Date Spot
On another day, the boys are relaxing at home, watching TV. The TV programme is reporting about a new aquarium that has just been opened.
Hinata exclaims that it opened really quickly, while Seiya remarks it'll be a good date spot.
Hinata: Good for dates, eh...
Seiya: You gonna invite Bukki?
Hinata: Eh?! 😳
Sena, who is sitting nearby, seems to get some ideas of his own.
Date Invitation
At school, Suikazura and Sena are having lunch together. Sena has invited Suikazura to go to the aquarium together on the coming Saturday, when she's off from her part-time work.
Suikazura says that she understands and will note down the appointment. Sena is delighted. He narrates that it's only been a short while since they started dating. Suikazura has her part-time job and they had school quizzes, so this is finally their first date.
He buys a new pair of sneakers for the date, which Rikuto notices and comments on. When Sena happily tells Rikuto that the sneakers are for his date, Seiya and Hamayuu who overhear the conversation are devastated.
Seiya comically curses Sena. Meanwhile, Sena narrates that he hopes Suikazura will enjoy herself.
What Does Suikazura Think?
Suikazura is relaxing on her bed and thinking about her and Sena's current status. So far, they've sometimes gone home together and had lunch together. Now, they're going to go on a date.
She thinks about how she's never dated a boy before, plus she has club activities and a part-time job, so she was wondering what to do, but she's surprisingly getting along well with Sena, and she feels happy about it. However, she also realizes that it's always Sena initiating things.
Just then, she gets a message on her phone. It's from Sena. He's asking if they should meet at 10am tomorrow. When she responds OK, Sena replies with a pudding sticker which says he's looking forward to it.
Suikazura thinks to herself that Sena is surprisingly the type to use stickers. She also thinks that even though she's never gone on a date before, if it's with Sena, it'll probably work out somehow.
The Next Day
Sena is on the street, approaching their meeting location. He thinks to himself that he's early. He wanted to avoid Seiya's cursing again in the morning, so he left early.
Nonetheless, Suikazura calls out to him (she's early too). They greet each other good morning. Sena stares at her and Suikazura asks him what's wrong.
Sena explains that it's been a long time since he's seen her in her own clothes. Suikazura answers that she's not particular about her clothes and asks him not to stare at her. Sena retorts that he's looking because she's cute, and she replies that it's embarrassing so he should stop it. Sena's heart throbs from her straightforward response. He likes how she says things clearly.
Cafe
Suikazura tries to look for a cafe near the aquarium, but Sena tells her that he's already researched. There's a cafe nearby that serves penguin pudding parfaits, and he totally wants to try it.
Suikazura asks if that parfait was made for him, and adds with a smile that she wants to try it too. Sena's heart squeezes again upon seeing her smile.
He narrates that today's date seems like it will go swimmingly, until...
Coincidental Meeting
The couple runs into Hinata and Yamabuki at the ticketing section of the aquarium. Hinata is surprised to see Sena and Suikazura and greets them. However, before he can finish his greetings, Sena angrily drags him aside.
Sena says that he didn't hear about Hinata mentioning that he was going to bring Yamabuki to the aquarium, yet they are here. He asks Hinata if Seiya sent them as a way to curse him.
Hinata frantically explains that Sena is mistaken. Hinata was originally out with Yamabuki and her brother to go shopping for groceries, and along the way they talked about the aquarium, so they decided to stop by and check it out. However, Yamabuki's brother suddenly remembered that they forgot to buy rice, so he left and now it's just him and Yamabuki.
Sena sighs and accepts the explanation. However, he bluntly requests for Hinata to give him and Suikazura some privacy by heading to another place. Hinata whines that he's already bought the aquarium tickets.
Suikazura and Yamabuki
While the boys are talking, the girls watch them from aside. Suikazura apologizes to Yamabuki for interrupting her date. However, Yamabuki gets flustered and explains that she and Hinata are not on a date - that just until a while ago, her brother was with them.
Yamabuki asks if Suikazura is on a date, and Suikazura answers that she and Sena are dating, so yes. Yamabuki is amazed and says that Suikazura is cool. However, Suikazura says that it's her first time on a date, so she doesn't really understand.
Suikazura then asks Yamabuki if her outfit is strange. Yamabuki immediately answers that it's adorable. Hearing that, Suikazura smiles and says that it's a relief. Yamabuki stares at her smile, then giggles.
Resuming their Dates
Suikazura then calls out to Sena to ask if they should move on, because it's getting crowded. Sena answers that they shall and releases Hinata back to Yamabuki.
Yamabuki suggests to Hinata that the two of them stay back and walk a little slower so that they can leave Sena and Suikazura alone. Hinata agrees that they should do that. Yamabuki watches the couple and happily thinks to herself that Sena and Suikazura are compatible, while Hinata thinks to himself that Yamabuki is thoughtful.
While walking, Suikazura learns from Sena that Yamabuki is working part-time at the boys' boarding house. Sena says that this is how he got to know Yamabuki. Suikazura is impressed that Yamabuki can cook.
Taking a Photograph
Sena and Suikazura arrive at a display room and Suikazura wants to take a picture of it. She likes the vibe of the place and wants to draw it, so she tries taking a picture. However, she is not satisfied with her photograph.
Sena peeks over at her phone and suggests that she uses the grid setting to align her picture properly. Suikazura takes his advice, then remarks that Sena is good at using the phone camera. However, Sena humbly answers that he isn't - he says that the phone is just better for taking good pictures.
Suikazura (impressed): ...Senpai, you have a surprisingly perceptive side. ✨
Sena: What a rude remark. Apart from pudding, I'm also looking forward to taking pictures of the penguins, okay?
Suikazura: Eh, penguins?
Sena turns away to navigate. Suikazura stares after him, thinking to herself that he uses stickers on the phone and likes penguins... she wonders if Sena actually likes cute things. She also thinks to herself that while together with Sena, she gets to know more interesting things about him.
Just then, Sena figures out that the way ahead is the aquarium. Suikazura gets excited and starts walking ahead. Sena watches her from behind and smiles to himself.
Hinata and Yamabuki
The two of them are viewing the exhibits and Yamabuki is fascinated. She exclaims that it's beautiful and that it's been a long time since she's visited the aquarium, so she's really happy. Hinata says it's the same for him.
Hinata glances at how excited Yamabuki is and happily thinks to himself that she's adorable. He thinks further to himself that he didn't expect to run into Sena here, but he's glad that he came. Yamabuki's brother isn't here, so he can have a date-like experience with Yamabuki, and he's absolutely thrilled.
While standing next to Yamabuki and viewing the exhibits, he thinks that the atmosphere is nice and considers holding her hand, but decides that he shouldn't as it would surprise her.
Hinata then notices that Yamabuki is fanning herself. She seems to be perspiring. Hinata asks her if she's alright.
Before she can react, Hinata's face is right in front of her, and he's observing out loud that her face is very red. He asks if she's feeling hot. Their proximity gives Yamabuki a shock and she backs away, frantically saying that she's feeling fine.
Hinata is doubtful, but says that she should inform him if she feels unwell. Meanwhile, Yamabuki is flustered about how their faces were close and how she's made Hinata concerned.
Yamabuki's Thoughts
In her thoughts, Yamabuki is panicking about how she's nervous and can't stop sweating, and it's embarrassing, especially when she thinks about how she's together with a guy at a date spot.
Taking a few deep breaths, Yamabuki tells herself to calm down, and reminds herself that she was together with him at the music festival previously too.
She glances at Hinata, who is busy taking pictures. She thinks to herself that Hinata looks calm and like he's used to it, unlike her. However, she remembers that Hinata said before that he wants to fall in love, so she nervously guesses that he must be single right now.
Yamabuki then wonders if Hinata has someone he likes and what kind of person they are. She wants to try asking but doesn't know how she should ask.
While she thinks, Hinata spots some fossils on display and cheerfully calls out to her. Yamabuki then decides that even though she's anxious about various things, it's more important to enjoy her present moment with Hinata.
Separated
Hinata and Yamabuki reach another section of the aquarium. Yamabuki spots Suikazura looking at an exhibit and mentions it to Hinata. They both notice that Suikazura is alone and wonder where Sena is.
Hinata spots Sena in a nearby area taking pictures, so Hinata says that they must be looking at things separately. However, Sena and Suikazura turn away from the exhibits they are at and start moving in different directions, unaware of the other's absence. Hinata and Yamabuki are shocked as they watch the scene unfold.
However, Hinata says that Sena was also moving around alone during the music festival, so he infers that Sena and Suikazura must have agreed to view the exhibits separately.
A short while later, Sena reaches the penguin exhibit and realizes that it's the final exhibit. He turns to say to Suikazura that this is the final exhibit, but realizes that she is not with him. He looks around and sees that she is not nearby either. Realizing what has happened, he thinks to himself that he was too absorbed in his own world.
Sena tries calling Suikazura but the call doesn't connect. He wonders if she got lost, but he knows that she has a map with her. He feels anxious as such things shouldn't happen on a first date - he wanted Suikazura to enjoy herself.
Panic
Meanwhile, Suikazura is seated, enjoying some light exhibits. She wonders if Sena has seen these before and what he thinks of it. Remembering Sena, she then turns to look around and realizes with a shock that he's not with her.
She thinks to herself that she's used to doing things alone so she got too absorbed in her own world. She takes out her phone, but realizes that its battery is flat. She thinks about searching for Sena, but the place is too big, and they might miss each other. She then decides that it would be best to wait at the exit.
While walking, Suikazura wonders to herself if it's okay for her to date like this, acting alone. She then thinks that it's no good how she's so selfish on the first date, and that maybe she's not cut out for dating.
Suikazura then recalls all of her thoughts before the date. She had pondered and worried over what to wear; she thought of checking the area around the aquarium for places to eat; she found a pudding cafe and thought that it would be nice if they could talk about it together. She had really been looking forward to the date.
She then remembers that Sena mentioned the cafe with the penguin pudding parfait and thinks that he is probably at the cafe.
Reunited
Just as Suikazura moves to look for the cafe, someone grabs her hand. It's Sena, who has found her and is asking where she's going.
Suikazura is stunned and slowly answers that she was going to look for him at the cafe.
Still holding her hand, Sena apologizes for leaving her alone. Before he realized it, he was moving selfishly by himself. He adds that he was anxious when he couldn't call her and thought that she might have returned home.
Suikazura quickly denies it and explains that her phone ran out of battery. She also apologizes for being too focused on the things she wanted to see, which led her to get separated from him. She adds that she wishes she could have seen the exhibits together with him.
Upon hearing that, Sena breaks into a smile. When Suikazura asks him what he's smiling about, he explains that he had the same thoughts.
Sena's Thoughts
He says that he realizes that the two of them are similar, that they're both fine with going at their own pace. The two of them can freely have fun on their own but still be together at the end. He adds that he's crazy about her and asks if that's ok with her.
Suikazura says that she's fine with that and Sena is happy to hear it. However, she adds that when it's just the two of them, she wants them to be together. Putting her other hand on Sena's, she asks him if they can hold hands like this, so that they won't get separated again when they're together.
Sena answers, "...If you say it like that, I'll never want to let go of you."
Sena narrates that their feelings were more mutual than he thought.
Hinata and Yamabuki (again)
Hinata and Yamabuki watch as Sena and Suikazura are reunited and are relieved to see them doing well. Hinata notices that Sena and Suikazura are holding hands and thinks, "Way to go, senpai!"
Meanwhile, Yamabuki notes Suikazura's smile towards Sena and thinks to herself that Suikazura is adorable. She wonders if being in love makes a person more adorable.
Hinata then informs her that her brother has returned, so they should head towards the exit. Yamabuki acknowledges, then looks at Hinata as he walks ahead.
Yamabuki wonders about her feelings and the narration reads: Upon seeing this, it seems like my awareness is changing little by little.
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