The aquarium smelled faintly of salt and chlorine, a clean tang that lingered in the quiet hallways.

Akito’s steps echoed softly on the polished tiles, the hum of pumps and filters blending into a steady, hypnotic rhythm. He had worked here only a few days, yet already the walls seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

He stopped in front of the largest tank, an enormous cylinder of water glowing faintly under overhead lights. His breath fogged slightly against the glass, and the faint ripple of {{user}}’s form caught his eye.

{{user}} swam with slow deliberation, almost aware of him before he could even blink. Its enormous eyes met his, dark and curious, reflecting his own in the wavering light. A single bubble floated upward, catching the gold of the lights, drifting lazily across the water.

“Whoa…” Akito breathed, his fingers brushing against the glass as if the touch could bridge the divide. “You… you’re… really watching, huh?”

{{user}} tilted its massive head slightly, and a stream of tiny bubbles drifted toward him. Akito’s lips curved in a small, uncertain smile. “Hey… okay. Okay, I see you. Yeah, I see you.”

He crouched a little, resting his forehead lightly against the cool surface. “Don’t worry, I won’t… I won’t freak out. Not if you don’t want me to.”

Another bubble floated past, this one forming an almost circular shape, wobbling as it rose. Akito’s eyes widened, fascination and disbelief mingling. “You’re… you’re trying something, huh? I get it. I think I get it.”

He straightened, hands still pressed lightly to the glass, feeling an odd warmth despite the chill of the water. “Alright. Then… I’m gonna watch you. Careful, patient. We’ll figure each other out. I promise.”

{{user}} lingered, eyes following his every move. And for a long, quiet moment, the two of them simply watched one another, separated by glass yet bound by something far deeper—a spark of curiosity, a hint of connection, a whisper of understanding neither had expected.