By the time Sato returned to the front, the long line was already close to entering the panda pavilion.
"What were you doing? Why did it take so long?"
Isshiki Iroha frowned slightly as she looked at Sato, then suspiciously glanced toward the back of the line a few times.
Back there, Hikigaya Komachi noticed her gaze and immediately revealed a bright smile while waving enthusiastically at her.
Uh…
Although slightly confused, Isshiki Iroha still waved back at Hikigaya Komachi before quickly turning around and looking at Sato suspiciously.
"That's the classmate you mentioned?"
"No, that's his younger sister. It's our turn now, let's go."
Sato shook his head. Then he noticed the line ahead slowly moving forward.
This time, they should finally be able to enter.
…
After entering the panda pavilion with the line, Sato was somewhat surprised to discover that the space inside was rather large. With only twenty people inside, it felt somewhat empty.
It was a closed corridor. Between the pandas and the visitors was a layer of reinforced glass. Inside was a simulated habitat complete with fake rock formations, tree stumps, and wooden bridges.
"Ah! Look! The panda's eating bamboo!"
Isshiki Iroha bounced excitedly in place, her eyes and face completely filled with excitement.
Almost every visitor excitedly pressed against the viewing window to watch the adorable giant panda inside. It also made Sato understand why such a large area only allowed so few people in at once.
When all these people crowded against the reinforced glass, the entire view was practically sealed shut.
Sato looked at the panda sitting inside and munching on bamboo, and an unconscious smile appeared on his face as well.
Pandas really were incredibly cute creatures. Their round bodies, black eye circles, and short limbs made them look completely lacking in the ferocity expected from medium-to-large wild beasts. Instead, they looked more like fluffy stuffed toys.
But in reality, their fur was actually quite coarse rather than soft as people imagined, and their bite force ranked among the top three of all bear species. They were genuine fierce beasts.
Most importantly, these things were not herbivores.
They were omnivores.
Which meant they ate meat too.
"No wonder Chi You rode them into battle…"
Sato suddenly muttered to himself before quietly chuckling.
Still, could Chi You really have ridden these things into war?
Pandas were once called iron-eating beasts in ancient times, and according to old texts they had supposedly been Chi You's mount. But even if these things could carry people, they probably could not sprint into battle, right?
At that point, wouldn't riding rhinos or elephants make more sense?
He felt that the ancient iron-eating beast and modern pandas were probably not the same species. Otherwise, pandas must have undergone some kind of physical evolution.
Or else the whole idea was just too ridiculous.
"What did you say?"
Hearing him mumble something, Isshiki Iroha turned toward him curiously.
"Nothing… I'll take a picture for you."
"Okay, okay!"
Isshiki Iroha excitedly pulled out her phone and handed it to Sato, then walked over near the viewing window and happily struck a pose.
The girl smiled brightly while making a peace sign toward Sato. Behind the thick layer of glass sat the adorable giant panda.
Looking at the girl's smiling face on the screen, Sato's heart stirred slightly. In the end, he revealed a faint smile and took the picture for her.
"Now it's your turn. Go over there and I'll take yours!"
Isshiki Iroha ran back over and said eagerly.
By the time Sato finished taking his picture, their viewing time was already up.
"The viewing period has ended. Please leave through the exit in an orderly manner."
A broadcast suddenly echoed through the enclosed corridor.
"Let's go."
After the two of them exited the panda pavilion, Sato stopped Isshiki Iroha and asked her to wait a moment.
"Wait a second. Let's go together with them."
Isshiki Iroha fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
Not long after, Hikigaya Komachi bounced happily out of the panda pavilion. She waved at Sato before jogging over. Behind her followed Hikigaya Hachiman, who had both hands stuffed into his pockets and wore a helpless expression.
"Senpai!"
Hikigaya Komachi's clear and lively voice entered the ears of the two of them. After stopping in front of them, she smiled and greeted Isshiki Iroha.
"Hello, Senpai. I'm Hikigaya Komachi!"
"Hello, I'm Isshiki Iroha."
"Hehe, Senpai is really pretty!"
Hikigaya Komachi naturally wrapped herself around Isshiki Iroha's arm and leaned close while admiring her with amazement.
"T-Thank you!"
Even someone as socially capable as Isshiki Iroha could not help becoming shy under such straightforward praise from a younger girl. The faint sadness hidden deep inside her heart also seemed to lighten considerably at this moment.
Seeing this, Hikigaya Komachi secretly rejoiced. Her eyes rolled slightly before she looked at Isshiki Iroha in apparent surprise.
"Senpai's skin looks really smooth and fair, like you barely use makeup at all. Is Senpai naturally beautiful?"
"No, not really. I still use makeup."
"Huh? Really? You honestly can't tell at all! Then Senpai probably uses very little, right?"
"Well…"
Watching Hikigaya Komachi quickly become friendly with Isshiki Iroha, Sato quietly let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.
At this moment, Hikigaya Hachiman walked over to Sato. Looking at Isshiki Iroha, who was already being charmed into losing her bearings by his little sister, he curled his lips before glancing sideways at Sato.
"You really are quite the schemer."
Hearing this, Sato calmly glanced back at him and said evenly,
"You wouldn't understand."
Hikigaya Hachiman nearly twisted his nose in irritation on the spot. Especially that dismissive look from Sato made him almost want to storm off immediately. If not for remembering that his adorable little sister was still here, he probably would have left already.
Those dead fish eyes of his stared fixedly at Sato, rolling with indescribable resentment.
Sato happened to notice this and immediately felt alarmed.
He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman warily.
"What's with that look? I'm not gay."
Hikigaya Hachiman gritted his teeth and replied,
"I'm not gay either!"
"Then stop looking at me like that!"