【T.C.】【The Warrior Goes to the Zoo】【Interlude】
An amusement park attraction.
A rider show.
Behind the scenes where the kids were screaming with joy—
Lily stepped out from inside the suit.
…Hot.
It’s hot in here.
“Good job today!”
Yamamoto-kun, a part-time staff member, handed her a drink.
…A nostalgic bottle of Pocari Sweat.
Lily said, “…Thanks.”
“By the way, Ririka-san, want to go to the zoo?
A zoo? …Wait, Ririka-san?”
Come to think of it—
That was my name…
—
The day of.
National Nagatsuka Zoo.
Just a normal zoo.
The two of them walked side by side.
“That’s a monkey, Ririka-san,” Yamamoto-kun said, the staffer four years younger.
“I know.”
“That’s an elephant, Ririka-san.”
“I know.”
“That’s a giraffe, Ririka-san.”
“I know…”
“That’s a hippo, Ririka-san.”
“I said I know…”
“Ahh, that was fun, wasn’t it, Ririka-san?”
“…I kinda feel like you were making fun of me a little…”
“Eh, no way, I wasn’t! Ririka-san.”
“That way of calling me—stop it.”
“Then… what should I call you?”
“Mm… hmm… Lily?”
“…No, Ririka is fine.”
Since when was I “Lily” anyway?
Maybe since the war…
My comrades were gone.
I got this scar on my cheek.
Ririka… that’s what Dad used to call me.
And friends… from long ago…
“Here, I bought juice.”
Yamamoto-kun again.
The nostalgic Pocari.
“You like this, right? Ririka-san.”
“…Well—yeah. Fine.”
An ancient sports drink.
Lily drank the Pocari.
“…Damn, that’s good.”
“Right!? Ririka-san, let’s come again!”
“…Yeah. Maybe.”
“Oh, that’s the smoking area! Ririka-san, want to go?”
“…That helps.”
Did I ever… come to a zoo like this?
Lily lit her electronic cartridge cigarette.
“…Good.”
Yamamoto-kun waited outside.
Lily leaned against the post in the smoking area.
Ririka-san…
That name…
Somehow…
…Well.
Whatever.
