"The fauna seems hostile."
Namie was staring suspiciously at the dolphins. He was still standing on the edge of the pool.
"Nonsense, dolphins aren't hostile. They just want to be your friends!"
Izaya laughed as she squirmed herself into a wet suit. They heard the trainer's instructions with varying degrees of attention, Izaya with some and Namie with his typical concentration.
"And you are sure that these animals are not at all dangerous?"
"They're not."
"Namie, don't you know that dolphins are nice?"
"But they are related to the orca family."
Izaya sighed and dragged him along. She had to say that Namie looked very hot in a wet suit. Izaya swam to the centre of the pool and petted the glossy grey skin of a spirited dolphin.
"Hey there, flip over! Look at that!"
Izaya tried to clap as the dolphin flipped over and exposed his smooth belly. Clapping in the water made her go under and another dolphin pulled her up so that Izaya ended on the dolphin's back.
"This is so much fun! Namie, try touching that one's belly!"
Namie was somewhat perplexed. Izaya held tight to the dorsal fin and acted as if the dolphin was an aquatic horse of sorts. Namie tried petting the dolphin that was still flopped and tossing a tail to get his attention.
"He is happy…?"
"Yes! Dolphins interacting with people. They're laughing and all!"
And indeed the chattering sing-song sounds were very much like laughter. Attracted by the commotion other dolphins surrounded the one upon which Izaya sat astride. Namie could see that the animals were partial to Izaya who even caressed their tongues.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Not at all. You can try it too!"
Namie studied Izaya closely. For once Izaya was too entertained with the crowd of merry cetaceans to notice it. There was something childish and charming in the way Izaya splashed water at the dolphins, laughing all the way as they splashed water back. Izaya was at her most beautiful when she was at ease like this and not when overly produced, as far as Namie was concerned.
"Let's feed them! It's food time, come and get it!"
Izaya tossed some fish at them and clapped as the dolphins jumped to catch it. All too soon Izaya had to leave his new found friends.
"Can I come back some other time and play with them again?"
The trainers agreed and Izaya jumped for joy, literally. It puzzled Namie considerably. He had never seen someone so expressive and so spontaneous. Izaya got dressed in a pretty navy skirt and blouse and petted the dolphins one final time.
"Bye you guys, I'll drop by again soon."
"They seem to like you a lot."
Izaya beamed and twirled around.
"I always wanted to swim with the dolphins. It has been a dream of mine for so long."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really. Thanks for joining me."
Izaya smiled candidly. Namie did not quite know what to say. From behind Namie Izaya spotted someone.
"Tch, hide."
Izaya flattened herself and Namie against a wall and peered over a corner very carefully. She was all stealth as informants had to be on occasion.
"Where are the shark tanks? I want to see the sharks."
Izaya thought that she recognized the kid and this sealed it. The last thing she wanted was to run into Aoba. But unfortunately, the shark tank was in their direction. Aoba came to a sudden halt as he saw Izaya. For one breathless moment Izaya was sure that he had recognized her. Then Aoba blinked and said,
"Miss, you are very pretty. Will you go on a date with me?"
"Er, no. You're ten years too early for that."
"This is my phone number. I'm Aoba. What's your name?"
Apparently Aoba dealt with rejection by ignoring it. Namie took a step forward.
"She said she's not interested. Learn how to listen to what people say."
Namie took Izaya by the way and walked in the opposite direction rapidly.
"That kid is so creepy. You just saved me again."
"Do you know him?"
"Unfortunately. Say, Namie…are you free on the 14th?"
It was Valentine's day but Izaya decided to omit that for the time being.
"I have work, why?"
"How about at night?"
"I should be free in the evening."
"Great! So, can we have dinner together?"
"Alright."
