Uihai family vacation

Masanori bounces up and down on the bed where his parents had, up until now, been snoozing. “Wake up, wake up! It’s Kaiyukan Day!”

Hairu squints in the pale morning light. Oh yes, they’re in a hotel, in Osaka. “Hmm? Yes, we’re going to the Kaiyukan today.”

“Uncle Shirazu told me to see the whale shark. He said it’s bigger than Auntie Eto’s kakuja!” Masanori pretends to faint. He angles himself to collapse between his parents. “What will you do if it tries to eat me?”

“Rescue you, of course. Quinques and everything,” Ui says, stroking the child’s pink bob.

“Yay!” Masanori giggles.

“We’ll have breakfast first, then arrive in time to see the river otters fed, okay?” Hairu smiles. She glances at her phone. “It’s early.” 

“I was too excited to sleep!” Masanori wriggles out of bed and races towards the bathroom. “Sharks!”

“Did we give him sugar last night,” mutters Ui.

Hairu shakes her head and arises. “Well, we’re awake now.”

“Indeed. Happy morning.” Ui pecks her on the lips as Masanori calls, “Hurry and help me get dressed!”  

When they arrive at the Kaiyukan, Hairu is nearly as excitable as her son, and Ui is alternating between wonder and terror that they’ll fall in.

Surely they’ll tired before they’ve explored the entire exhibit. 

“I want a penguin!” Masanori leans over the railing. 

“Be careful.” Ui overreaches for his son and feels his balance tipping. “Wait -”

“Ui!” Hairu shrieks.

He hears yelling, and a splash, and the water is cold, and penguins are staring down at him.

“DADDY!” Masanori tries to dive over, but Hairu wrestles him back. Divers are already on their way.

Blood rushes to Ui’s cheeks as he’s escorted out of the penguin pool, a swipe of penguin poop on his forehead. 

Once the workers are satisfied Ui wasn’t showing off on purpose, he’s allowed to rejoin his family after a brief shower. 

“That was the coolest thing.” Masanori’s eyes are like saucers. “Are they fluffy?”

“Kinda rubbery, actually,” Ui says, forcing a smile.

“I can’t wait to tell everyone my dad touched a penguin.” Masanori races ahead.

“Gotta admit, you looked really cute all dazed and surrounded by penguins,” Hairu says lightly. 

“Did I?” Ui smiles back, releasing his embarrassment away.