The day stretched on, but the energy between the four of us showed no signs of fading. Aki and Yuki led the way once more, though their pace had slowed. There was a noticeable shift in their interactions—less banter and more moments of quiet understanding. Aoi clung to my hand, occasionally skipping ahead but always returning to my side, her bright green eyes taking in everything around her.
"Onii-Chan," Aoi said, tugging at my sleeve. "Aoi wants to see the pandas next! Does Onii-Chan think they'll be eating bamboo?"
"I think so," I replied, smiling at her enthusiasm. "Pandas spend most of their day eating. I'm sure we'll catch them with their favorite snack."
Aoi's ears twitched, and she clapped her hands. "Yay! Aoi loves pandas! They're so cute and fluffy!"
Aki overheard and turned around, walking backward as he addressed us. "Pandas, huh? I heard they're pretty lazy. They're just big, round fluff balls that sit around eating all day."
