A/N: So I may have (I did) take the week prior to this off to celebrate 4th of July and forgot to mention it and I left you guys hanging and…yeah.

I'm sorry about that, but I had a family reunion for the week of the 4th that came up unexpectedly, forcing me to retire my pen and paper (fingers and keyboard) and actually interact with people. Yeah, I shudder at the though of it, too…

But, regardless of my barely tolerable family, I'm back and ready to make my triumphant return to my regular schedule.

So, where we last left them, the couple had fallen asleep in one another's arms after a long day, entangled and enraptured in amour that they were both blind to.

So, what will today bring for them?

There's only one way to find out…

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Seishirou jostled herself left and right in the bus seat her and Raku occupied, humming a tune that Raku recognized as 'CLICK' by ClariS. As the bus (occupied by Raku, Seishirou, and one or two other people) whizzed down busy and bustling city streets adorned with lights, billboards, festive storefronts and more, the chilly winter winds that seeped in from the open window near the duo nipping at both of their skin, Raku took a moment to reflect on the events of the prior night.

'It's weird, but she's been a little more cheery since then, hasn't she?' Raku thought to himself as he adjusted his attire for the day, a button-up blue and white plaid flannel shirt with a white v-neck undershirt and jeans, 'I mean, she didn't bother talking about it this morning, she didn't fuss when I went and made her breakfast in bed again, and she even shared a crêpe with me…' Raku glanced over to Seishirou who was still humming away, cheerier than he had ever seen her before, 'Come to think of it, that must be why she asked me about my favorite sweets yesterday…Damn, even though I thanked her, I still feel like I inconvenienced her. I need to make it up to her somehow…' Raku returned his gaze to Seishirou, and noticed something that he felt foolish for not noticing in the first place. 'Wow…' Raku internally marveled, 'she looks gorgeous today…'

Indeed Seishirou had gone out of her way to dress up for today, donning a pale blue dress that was stitched around the hem of the skirt line with thread of a darker blue, and cut off about midway down her thighs. However, this particular dress held special significance to the duo. To Raku it held significance because it was the first girly thing he ever saw Seishirou wear (barring her underwear that he saw when the duo fell in the pool way back when), but to Seishirou, it held a completely different meaning.

In fact, had she been wearing something different, her mind would be completely free of doubt. But as of right now, her peaceful train of thought was plagued by the one small seed of doubt that was that dress.

'If only I'd paid more attention to what I picked out this morning,' Seishirou thought as she kept humming, keeping her gaze on the outside world and away from Raku, 'as if that whole ordeal last night wasn't enough, now there's this. This whole thing is just-wait a minute…' Seishirou mentally paused, not breaking her hum however, 'Why am I getting so flustered over this but not what I did this morning? The crêpes, the breakfast, and the waking up next to each other…' Seishirou's heart skipped a beat as she thought of one minor detail, 'We were…in one another's embrace, weren't we?' Seishirou's heart resumed its beat, increasing it to more than triple what it should be, and the all-to-familiar blush rushed to her face once more. 'He didn't mind, and if anything, I…I liked it! No, I felt stronger about that than any other time I've fallen asleep next to someone. Of course, the only person I've ever slept with in the same bed was M'lady, but no matter. The undeniable truth is, I loved that sensation.' Seishirou broke her hum and slowly began to rotate her head towards Raku as she thought, 'So, by default, doesn't that mean I love…'

"Uh, Seishirou?" Raku interjected, breaking her train of thought, "Are you alright? You're blushing pretty badly. Are you coming down with a cold?" Seishirou froze as she realized what Raku was saying was true, and whatever she was feeling only intensified as the sincere concern in Raku's voice rang in her ears as he said, "Are you gonna be okay? Maybe coming out today was a bad idea…the cold can be a fickle thing…"

'He's always like this…' Seishirou thought as she managed a smile and continued, 'It's always everyone else before him in his mind. And I guess that's one of the many reasons why-'

"Oi, Seishirou?" Raku said as he shook Seishirou's shoulder, breaking her trance, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Y-Yes," an unconfident Seishirou replied, "I'm just excited about today, that's all!"

"Oh, thank goodness!" Raku replied with a sigh of relief, "I'd hate to see a beautiful girl like you fall sick."

The duo froze for a moment at what Raku just said, both of them realizing the significance it held. An awkward pause ensued that involved both parties attempting to sort through a veritable typhoon of emotions, but it was interrupted as a voice boomed over the bus's PA, declaring:

"Attention passengers, this is your driver, Taguchi Hikigaya, here to inform you that we are nearing the Aquarium and will arrive in about 10 minutes. Please be ready to depart and as always, thank you for riding Kaiyukan Buses and attending Kaiyukan Aquarium. Have a good day."

Seishirou cheered at that announcement (only loud enough that Raku could hear, though), which drew Raku's attention. He turned to see the unusually girly side of Seishirou that he had only seen on this trip, and chuckled at the sight.

"What's so funny?" Seishirou inquired, breaking Raku's chuckle.

"Well, it's just that I rarely ever see you this excited about something." Raku explained as he rotated himself to face Seishirou on the red leather seat.

"Does my disposition annoy you?" Seishirou inquired, lowering an eyebrow at Raku.

"No no no, not at all!" Raku firmly replied. "I like being with you no matter what kind of mood you're in!"

As the duo simultaneously blushed, Raku spoke up and inquired, "So…do you like aquariums that much?"

"Absolutely!" Seishirou cheerily replied, causing Raku's blush to intensify, "I've always loved marine life ever since I was a kid."

"You too?" A surprised Raku inquired, drawing Seishirou's attention, "I mean, I always loved swimming and fishing as a kid, but I started taking an in-depth interest in it when I first took up diving over in the States."

"You've gone diving in the States?!" Seishirou inquired, shocked, "Lucky! Where did you go?"

'Oh, it's happening again…' Seishirou thought to herself as Raku voiced his reply.

"I went diving in several spots, actually. Once off the coast of Florida, and another time off the coast of California. It was absolutely amazing!"

"Lucky!" Seishirou replied, "I've gone diving and been in aquariums in Europe, but all the times I've ever gone to the States, it was always on business that was so high priority that I never got the chance to go diving anywhere."

'It happens every time I start talking to him…' Seishirou continued in her head.

"Well, I don't know what the Old Man would say," Raku began with a definite smile, "but maybe, if I sweet talk him into it or something, he'd let you come along the next time we go!"

Seishirou blushed at the offer and replied, "W-Would you really take me along?"

'Our conversations…' Seishirou drifted off as Raku replied,

"Of course!" Raku confidently replied.

'They just seem to flow so well…' Seishirou thought, 'It's so perfect, and so enjoyable, that sometimes I wish we could just keep talking like this…forever.'

"S-Say, Raku," a flustered, flushed, and shaking Seishirou began as she tugged on Raku's shirt, drawing his attention.

"Yeah, what's up?" Raku replied.

'What the hell am I doing?!' Seishirou mentally exclaimed, 'My heart told my mind to act on what it was feeling, and now, all of a sudden, I'm like this!'

'She looks uncomfortable…' Raku thought as he gazed at the shaking Seishirou, not knowing the true reason why she was shaking, 'And here I am, supposed to be watching over her and I let this happen! I'm such a useless bastard sometimes…' a proverbial lightbulb went off in Raku's head as he thought, 'I'll just lighten the mood!'

"Say, Seishirou?" Raku replied.

Seishirou shot her gaze up to Raku and shakily responded, "Wh-What?"

"What's your favorite sea animal?" Raku inquired with a soothing smile.

"O-Oh," Seishirou replied, calming down slightly, "the manta ray. What about you?"

"I've always liked dolphins, personally," Raku replied, "thanks for asking!"

'He always does things like this, too.' Seishirou thought as she regained her calm, 'anytime I'm uneasy about anything, he knows just what to do…'

"Dolphins and manta rays are both really majestic, don't you think?" Seishirou inquired, readjusting her dress beneath her.

"Oh, definitely!" Raku confidently responded, "In fact, they're both really alike, wouldn't you say?"

"I suppose so, yes!" Seishirou replied.

The conversation flowed perfectly like that for the entire bus ride there.

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A/N: Yes, I realize that this chapter is far shorter than anything else in this story, but don't worry, I have a far lengthier chapter planned for next week! And I think you'll all appreciate what comes next…

By the way, thank you to everyone who stuck around during my absence and I promise that there will be no more unannounced absences in the future! Any time that I fine myself being absent, I will give you all at least 2 week's notice.

Thanks for reading this chapter, and if you enjoyed it, why not write a review/favorite the story/follow the story to keep up with future updates? And even if you don't I still love you all!

Until next week,

See ya!