Bab 117: Chapter 117 Miss Kaguya Wants a Gift
"I'm back."
Amamiya returned to the python exhibit, carrying several bottles of drinks, with Kaguya following closely behind, her red bow standing out.
"Wait, is that... Shinomiya-san?" Umi exclaimed in surprise.
Miko turned her head, spotting the newcomer. "Shinomiya-san came to the zoo too?"
Amamiya casually handed the 100% juice to the elementary school student before giving out the remaining drinks to the three girls, replying offhandedly, "I found Shinomiya-san wandering around alone when I went to buy drinks, so I brought her along."
Kaguya gave him a cool, composed glance and calmly retorted, "I wasn't lost."
"Good morning, Shinomiya-san!" Hana waved cheerfully.
"...Good morning." Kaguya nodded in slight acknowledgment.
In just a single exchange, Kaguya could already assess the personality of the short-haired girl in front of her. She was as bubbly and extroverted as Chika.
"This is my first time talking to Shinomiya-san! I'm so excited!" Hana clasped her hands in front of her chest, which only emphasized her ample figure. "Your voice is so lovely, Shinomiya-san!"
Kaguya's gaze, almost involuntarily, dropped downward, caught by an unknown gravitational force, settling on Hana's chest.
Another foreign alien…
Having so much excess fat on one's chest is really impractical! It's only useful for tempting others into debauchery!
"Let's keep going and check out the python house," Amamiya said, taking the lead. "We can finish up here and then head over to see the pandas."
"..."
Snakes, as usual, preferred dark and damp environments, so when the group entered the python house, the light dimmed almost instantly.
Following behind the other tourists, they soon came across a variety of snakes on display.
"Look, there's a beautiful white snake!" Hana pointed excitedly.
Amamiya looked at the white snake behind the glass and noticed a black evil spirit crouched beside it. The spirit reached out every so often to gently stroke the snake's head.
"What's that spirit doing?" Umi whispered.
Amamiya thought for a moment and then replied, "Maybe in its past life, it was Suxian?"
[Tl/n: Suxian is a name from a mythology, most famously associated with the legend of "The Legend of the White Snake". In this story, Suxian is a mortal man who falls in love with a beautiful woman, White, who is actually a transformed white snake spirit.]
"Suxian never existed in real history," Miko cut in. "It's far more likely to be the snake's handler."
They continued onward until they reached the anaconda exhibit.
A massive anaconda lay lazily by the water, showing about as much enthusiasm as Miko, barely sparing a glance at the visitors outside its enclosure.
"It's an anaconda!" Hana's eyes widened. "The largest snake in the world!"
Not quite.
Setting aside ancient titans like the Titanoboa, Amamiya had seen a snake even larger than an anaconda just last month.
He whispered, "I think I've seen a bigger one."
"Eh?" Hana turned to him in confusion. "How could any snake be bigger than an anaconda? This one is huge!"
That's because you haven't seen a real one. Just because you haven't encountered it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Amamiya glanced toward Kaguya.
She seemed to be having the same thought, meeting his gaze as she looked up.
Their eyes locked, and no words were needed—everything was understood.
Kaguya was reminded of the Snake game from that night. It had already been a month since then.
"Miko, are you okay?" Hana's voice suddenly broke into Amamiya's thoughts.
"No… it's nothing…" Miko's voice trembled slightly.
"It's just a snake. Why are you suddenly tearing up?"
Amamiya turned in the direction of her voice and saw Miko standing a few steps ahead, staring at a large glass case. Her eyes were misty, her face pale, and her body trembled visibly.
Walking up beside her, Amamiya finally saw the cause—an enormous python stretched out in the exhibit. Coiled up, it was so massive that its body nearly reached the ceiling.
At that moment, the serpent lowered its head, locking eyes with Miko, its cold, vertical pupils narrowing.
"Can you... see me?" it hissed.
Without hesitation, Amamiya stepped forward, immediately activating his aura to repel evil spirits, not bothering to respond.
See your ancestors! Damn! How can a snake even talk?
The aura flared to life, and with a burst of transparent flames, the massive snake spirit let out a roar, writhing in agony.
"Haah..." Miko exhaled in relief, quickly grabbing Amamiya's hand and whispering, "Let's get out of here, fast."
Miko made a firm decision.
'I'm never setting foot in the python house again!'
Once they left the dark confines of the python exhibit, the group made their way straight to the panda house.
The Panda House was crowded with tourists, and not only did they have to wait in line, but the time allowed for each visitor was limited. Despite this, the overwhelming enthusiasm of the crowd was undeterred.
After a bit of queuing, they finally caught sight of two chubby pandas sitting on the ground, munching on bamboo with soft 'crunch, crunch' sounds.
"It's a panda!"
"Pandas are so cute!"
The sight of the pandas stirred excitement in everyone, from the young elementary school students to Umi, even making the typically laid-back Miko light up with joy.
Amamiya observed Kaguya with mild curiosity.
The otherwise composed young lady had her hands clasped in front of her, gazing at the pandas behind the glass, her eyes shimmering slightly.
Sure enough, no one can resist the charm of pandas, not even this usually aloof girl.
"If you like them, you can take a few pictures," Amamiya whispered.
"Pictures..." Kaguya hesitated, pulling out her phone. "But there are too many people around. I won't be able to get a good shot."
"That's true," Amamiya agreed, glancing at the crowd. "We could try to squeeze through for a better view."
People of all ages—elementary school students, adults, and even elderly tourists—were clustered near the glass, blocking any clear sightline.
"No, thank you." Kaguya rejected the idea outright.
The thought of pushing her way through a crowd just to take photos felt undignified.
Truthfully, from childhood until now, she had always been chauffeured in private cars, never once taking public transportation, let alone pushing through crowds like this.
Just then, a family nearby caught the attention of both Amamiya and Kaguya.
The small girl in the family, unable to see past the throng of people, was on the verge of tears. In response, her father lifted her onto his shoulders, giving her a clear view of the pandas.
Watching the scene, Amamiya turned to Kaguya with a teasing smile. "Do you want to—"
"What are you thinking!" Kaguya immediately covered her skirt, stepping back in alarm.
'I'm not some little kid! How could I possibly sit on your shoulders for a picture? Even if no one were around, it'd still be unthinkable. There's no way I'd do that in public. Do I have no dignity left?'
"Please, don't let your imagination run wild," Amamiya said seriously. "I meant, give me your phone and I'll take some pictures for you."
Kaguya blinked, momentarily speechless.
As their allotted time to see the pandas came to an end, they followed the crowd back through the exit. Behind the Panda House was a souvenir shop, stocked with all sorts of panda-themed merchandise—panda pen holders, notepads, plush toys, keychains, and more.
Most visitors stopped here, buying souvenirs to take home.
Kaguya's gaze lingered on the shelf of panda dolls, and she found herself staring for a moment longer than she expected.
'In the past, I wouldn't have given something like this a second glance. But now... it's oddly cute.'
However, she wasn't the type to buy such things for herself. What she truly wanted was for someone to gift her one.
"Pandas are so cute," she muttered casually, as if to no one in particular.
"They really are," Amamiya agreed.
"Why did that person buy so many panda dolls at once?" Kaguya asked, eyeing a nearby tourist who seemed to have stocked up on plushies.
Amamiya shrugged. "Maybe they're just used to spending lavishly?"
Kaguya rolled her eyes at his response.
'Extravagant? That's clearly nonsense! He's obviously buying those as gifts.'
As Kaguya silently fumed, Amamiya suddenly reached over and handed her a plush panda doll.
"I'll give it to you," he said with a grin.
Kaguya looked up in surprise, her expression softening as she met his eyes.
Amamiya added, with a teasing glint, "Next time, remember to bring your wallet."
Kaguya: "..."
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