"Hmm? What?" Ashi replied casually, drying her hair with a towel.
"Why are you wearing the same clothes again? Didn't you bring pajamas?"
Ashi paused for a moment, her fingers tightening around the towel. "I did... but… It's kinda embarrassing wearing them when others are around."
Oki blinked before chuckling. "Huh? Embarrassing? Are you embarrassed around me?"
Ashi's face turned slightly red. "No, it's fine if it's just you, but you know..." she trailed off, glancing at the boys.
"Oh," Oki smirked. "Okay, I get it."
A while later, when Oki walked to the bed, she was met with an unexpected sight—Rafta and Haari were already sprawled across it, looking comfortable.
"Oi, you two! Get the hell off my bed!" Oki snapped, placing her hands on her hips.
Rafta peeked at her lazily. "Huh? Your bed?"
" I paid for this room, so we are sleeping here! You two can take the sofa."
Rafta sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes. "Why should we? We got here first. This is our bed now. You find your own place."
A few moments later…
Outside the room, Rafta and Haari lay squished together on a tandem chair, the metal frame creaking under their weight.
"Hey, stop moving! I'm gonna fall off if you keep shifting like that!" Haari grumbled.
"What can I do? There's barely any space here! How am I supposed to sleep like this?" Rafta whined.
"We're in this mess because of you! If you hadn't made that dumb bed rule, we'd at least be sleeping on the sofa!"
"Hey! It's not my fault!" Rafta snapped back.
A few moments ago…
Rafta had confidently placed a row of pillows down the middle of the bed. "Alright, since we're sharing a room, we're also sharing the bed. This is the boundary."
Oki narrowed her eyes. "Why do you have more space than us?"
Rafta grinned. "Because we got here first. Be grateful we're even giving you one-third of the bed. If you don't like it, go sleep on the sofa."
Back to the present…
Inside the room, Oki lay comfortably on the bed while Ashi changed into her pajamas.
Ashi hesitated. "Habi-san… isn't this a little harsh?"
"Hmm?" Oki hummed without opening her eyes.
"They're just as tired as we are. I mean, if not the bed, we could at least let them sleep inside on the sofa."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it," Oki muttered.
Outside, Rafta and Haari continued to struggle.
"Hey! Give me some of the blanket too!" Haari snapped, tugging at the fabric.
"What? You already have so much!" Rafta yanked back.
The two pulled at the blanket aggressively, neither willing to let go.
"I can't sleep like this!" Rafta complained.
"Neither can I!" Haari snapped.
Rafta sat up. "Alright then! Let's settle this like men—Rock, Paper, Scissors! Winner gets the tandem chair, loser finds another place to sleep!"
"Fine! I'm in!"
Rock, paper, scissors!
First round—tie.
Second round—tie.
Third round—
"Yes! I won!" Rafta cheered, raising his fists in victory. "Now I get to sleep on the tandem chair!"
Haari groaned. "Ugh, damn it. Where am I supposed to sleep now?!"
Just then, an ominous presence loomed over them. They turned their heads slowly to see Oki standing there, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face.
"You two…" Oki's voice was dangerously low. "Why don't you let us get some sleep?"
Rafta blinked. "Oh? Did you changed your mind? Gonna let us sleep inside?"
"Yeah." Oki cracked her knuckles. "Sweet dreams."
THWACK!
A devastating blow knocked both Rafta and Haari out cold.
The next morning…
Ashi stepped out of the room, stretching. She glanced down and blinked in surprise.
Rafta and Haari lay motionless on the floor, looking like lifeless corpses.
Ashi sighed. "Habi-san… don't you think you overdid it?"
Few moments later.
Oki was frantically rummaging through her suitcase, her face showing distress. "Oh no, how could this happen?"
Ashi, noticing Oki's panic, asked, "What's wrong, Habi-san?"
Oki's eyes were filled with tears. "I forgot my swimsuit at home. Now I can't enjoy the beach today."
Rafta, trying to stay positive, said, "So what if you forgot the swimsuit? It's not mandatory to wear one at the beach."
Haari, considering the situation, suggested, "If she forgot it, we can buy another one here. Goa has plenty of swimsuit shops."
Oki's face brightened with hope. "That's a great idea!"
Rafta instently moved his head to Haari stariing at him with killing instint.
Ashi, trying to be reassuring, added, "We can make it a little adventure. Maybe we'll find something fun in the shops."
Rafta looked back to them nodded. "Yeah, and you might even get a better swimsuit than the one you left at home!"
Haari chuckled. "Exactly. Plus, it gives us a chance to explore more of the city."
Oki, wiping away her tears, said, "You're right. It's not the end of the world. Let's find a place where I can get a new swimsuit."
Ashi smiled encouragingly. "How about we ask the hotel concierge for recommendations? They might know the best spots."
Haari agreed. "Good idea. They might even have a few suggestions for nearby cafés or restaurants too."
Oki took a deep breath. "Okay, let's get going then. I'm excited to see what we can find!"
Few moments later.
Haari looked around the hotel room with a sense of bewilderment. How did I end up like this?
Ashi, looking concerned, asked, "Kichiro-san, do you have any plans?"
Haari, trying to think, replied, "Ah, plans for what?"
Ashi clarified, "It's not like they're coming back soon. Do you have any ideas for killing some time?"
Haari, looking puzzled, his thoughts in his mind, Killing... some time? But how? I can't think straight right now. Also It's not like the first time me Nicawa-san were alone but why is feel so..
Ashi suggested, "Do you know any place to hang out?"
Haari, understanding now, replied, "Yeah, you're right, Nicawa-san. It's not like we have anything to do either."
Ashi agreed, "Yeah, and it's boring to be free."
Haari, remembering something, said, "Oh yeah, I saw on the internet that there's a popular aquarium nearby. What was its name again? Ah, Hybss, yeah, that was the name. So, wanna check that one out?"
Ashi's face lit up. "Sounds great! Let's go.".
Haari looked away " Are you sure you are going out like this."
Ashi looked down at herself her face turn red " Oh I forgot, could you wait for a moment?"
Ashi went into the changing room. How could I be this careless? I forgot to change out of my pajamas, she muttered to herself, her face turning more red.
Haari waited outside, feeling a mix of embarrassment and anticipation. Once Ashi emerged, they were ready to explore the aquarium together, making the most of their unexpected adventure.
At the Aquarium
Ashi's face was filled with awe as she admired the Neon Tetras. "Wow, look at them! They're so vibrant!"
Haari, smiling at her enthusiasm, replied, "Yes, they're quite beautiful."
Ashi's excitement grew. "My uncle had these at home, but seeing them here is amazing. Look, there are more!"
Haari chuckled. "You're like a kid in a candy store."
Ashi laughed. "Well, I guess you could say that. I've always loved fish, and this place is like a dream come true."
Two hours later, Ashi was still captivated. "Is that a Sea Goldfish? Oh my gosh!"
Haari observed her with amusement. "Yes, that's a Sea Goldfish. You seem to be having a wonderful time."
Ashi's eyes sparkled. "They have Tropheus fish too! I never thought I'd see one in person."
Haari, curious, asked, "Why's that?"
Ashi, eyes wide with excitement, explained, "Tropheus fish are rare in our country. Seeing them here is incredible!"
Haari, appreciating Ashi's enthusiasm, said, "It's nice to see someone so passionate about something."
Ashi grinned. "Thank you! I've always wanted to see these fish up close. It feels like a little victory."
Haari, feeling a bit shy, said, "I'm just glad I could help make that happen."
Ashi's smile was warm and sincere. "It meant a lot to me. I'm so grateful for today."
Haari, feeling a sense of fulfillment, smiled. "Sometimes, the best experiences come from unexpected surprises."
Ashi's smile widened as she responded, "Absolutely. Here's to more unexpected adventures and memorable moments."
"Why don't we grab a bite afterward? There's a place nearby—I heard it's got great reviews."
Ashi's hazel eyes lit up, a glow breaking through her usual calm. "That sounds perfect. I'd love to keep the day going," she said, her smile warm.
Later, nearby , they settled into a cozy hall, sitting cross-legged on mats on the floor. A large banana leaf lay before each of them, vibrant green against the wooden backdrop, the air humming with the chatter of other diners and the scent of spices. "Ahm?" Haari murmured, blinking at the setup, a thrown off by the unfamiliar.
Two servers approached, balancing an array of bowls brimming with colorful dishes—golden dal, ruby-red chutneys, fluffy rotis, and heaps of fragrant rice—before setting them on the leaf in a sprawling Gujarati Thali. They bowed lightly and left, leaving Haari staring at the feast, wide-eyed.
Ashi, already digging in with a delighted hum, glanced at him, her spoon mid-air. "What's the matter, Kichiro-san?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity, a warmth in her tone.
"Nothing… I just think this is too much for me," Haari admitted, scratching the back of his neck, his average features creased with uncertainty—a relatable flub like his med kit drawer shock.
"No, it's not—try it! You'll say it's not enough," Ashi countered, her confidence shining, a playful spark in her eyes.
"You seem really sure about that," Haari said, a faint grin tugging at his lips, his steady nature surfacing as he watched her enthusiasm.
"Yeah, because I've tasted it—it's so good! You should try it too," Ashi urged, her smile bright, spoonful of dal already on its way to her mouth.
Haari scooped a bite of the Gujarati Thali, flavors bursting across his tongue—sweet, tangy, spicy—a symphony of delight. His eyes widened, a spark igniting. "Wow, it's really good! I knew it'd be tasty, but this is—how do I even explain this?" he stammered, awe lighting his average features.
Ashi chuckled, her eyes crinkling shut in a smile, warmth radiating. "You don't have to explain anything—just eat, Kichiro-san," she said, her voice soft.
Haari glanced at her, his own smile blooming, a quiet moment of connection amidst the café's spice-filled air. A few moments later, they strolled down the road, the evening breeze cool against their skin, when Haari let out a loud, wide-mouthed BURP! "Food digested successfully!" he declared, a reveling in victory.
"Hahahahaha!" They burst into laughter, the sound echoing down the street. "This is the fifth time you've burped since we left!" Ashi teased, her laughter bright.
"Gotta digest every bit of food, hahaha! I've never eaten that much in my life!" Haari grinned, his casual charm shining through like their rooftop chats.
"Told ya it wouldn't be enough once you started," Ashi quipped, her smile triumphant, a nod to her earlier confidence.
"Yeah, that was the best meal I've had in my life," Haari said, still beaming. Silence fell—no reply came. He glanced at Ashi, and his stomach dropped. Her face had shifted, a quiet anger simmering in her hazel eyes, her lips pressed tight.
Whaaat? Why's she angry? I didn't even say anything! Haari thought, panic rising. Then it hit him—"The best meal I've had in my life." Oh crap, I shouldn't have said that! His mind raced, realizing she might've taken it personally after their shared moments. She's mad at me—what do I do now?