Date in the Apocalypse
"Yeah, sure."
I accepted simply. It didn't cost any points or anything.
"Uh, u-uh. I thought you'd say no, huh? Wait, for real?!"
"Yeah."
"Uh, uheut? For real?!"
Why was she so surprised? I couldn't help but chuckle. I had a pretty good idea what she wanted to do.
Was it really that shocking? I thought about Sa-eun. The reason she was acting so awkward with this request.
Right. Come to think of it, Sa-eun sunbae said she had no dating experience.
She always said she was married to fighting, that dating was with fighting too. A life lived and died for martial arts.
That made me curious too. Her life probably never even considered anything beyond fighting.
But she asked me out on a date? That took some serious guts.
I wondered who a girl like Sa-eun would end up with someday. I let out a sigh.
She's not trying to date me or anything. Probably just wants a change of pace.
Best to take this lightly. Putting too much weight on it just makes you the fool.
I looked at Sa-eun in front of me. Tears were welling up in her eyes. That surprised me a bit.
"Sunbae, what's wrong?"
"Huuung, thank youuu!"
"Don't cry—no, suddenly?"
"I'm not crying, it's just old tears!"
"What."
I let out a hollow laugh. Her excuses were cute as hell. Beauty really could do no wrong.
The constellations cheered.
These guys, seriously. Oh right, they're not human.
I scratched my head. They must enjoy watching from afar. Not that I get it.
Sa-eun wiped her tears and smiled warmly. She cautiously reached out her hand.
I looked down at it. In a way, it was amazing.
Someone reaching out to me? Has that ever happened?
I thought for a moment. It felt like one person might come to mind soon.
I took her hand gently, as if enchanted. She gripped mine tightly and sighed in relief.
"Alright, let's head out for a bit then."
"Outside?"
"Yeah. I wanna do it out there."
"Sounds good. It might feel stuffy inside anyway."
Talking would be easier indoors, but I wasn't a total shut-in.
I headed out hand-in-hand with Sa-eun. I slowly scanned the surroundings.
The area between the house and the ark was stable. I sprinkled blood occasionally. Though it only lasted up to six hours max.
Skill level up would probably extend it. Zombies rarely showed here anyway, and even if they did, no big deal.
The problem was everything beyond this—stability not secured yet.
Zombies aren't hard to smash.
But a normal date? Impossible. Ground travel would bring endless hassles.
So what method? I walked forward with Sa-eun. She smiled shyly, then flinched when our eyes met.
"Uh, ahem. Hm."
"Yeah?"
"N-nothing. Wow, nice weather!"
Like reading from a textbook. I stared at her a moment.
Was it that great? Or was she nervous? Either way, she was a fun girl.
I chuckled inwardly. I was discovering her unexpected sides one by one.
Why not learn more while we're at it?
"Sunbae, ever thought about flying in the sky?"
"Eh, uh? Suddenly?"
"Anyway."
"Hm, flying would be nice? Sounds fun."
Sa-eun expressed it like a little girl. I gazed at her steadily.
"Alright. You're better physically than me, so keep your balance."
"Why suddenly? Isn't your power blood?"
I smiled warmly. I drew about 500ml of blood from a floating blob in the air.
Splashed it like paint on the empty canvas of the sky. It spread wide.
Then compressed it into a skateboard shape. Skyboard?
"Hop on."
"Huh? For real?"
"Yeah!"
She hesitated, glancing at it floating. Then lightly leaped on.
As expected of Sa-eun's athleticism. She landed gracefully and balanced perfectly.
I leaped up beside her and grinned. First time doing this with someone.
"Ready to go?"
"Hey, this is safe, right?"
"First time carrying someone."
"Ugh?"
"Let's go!"
"Wai—uwheeeaah!"
We rose about 20 meters from the ground. Sa-eun panicked at the sudden ascent.
Her eyes spun like whirlpools, beyond just dilation.
She flailed her arms desperately.
"Hwaaaang!"
"Careful!"
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. She snapped out of it and finally took a deep breath.
Good thing.
"Hah, huff, th-this is real?"
"Yeah. I only figured it out recently. Pretty great, right?"
"No way, insane! Whoa, we're actually flying!"
"Not jet speed, though."
I moved the board forward. We were flying together.
Sa-eun looked at me. Her face flushed red soon after.
Wondering why, I glanced at her but focused on control.
Flying with blood was good, but it took focus on multiple things.
Compressing blood to the limit to maintain it. Controlling so it wouldn't drop even with someone on top.
Skill to move it freely like telepathy.
Doing it often meant less mental strain now.
I planned to circle Eunhaeng Intersection. Our neighborhood looked cozy from above.
This speed feels right.
We flew together. I felt Sa-eun's body heat next to me.
Even her excited breaths tickled my ears subtly.
Actually doing it, it was more thrilling than expected. Me, of all people.
I'm thrilled? Beyond fights and kills?
I smiled soundlessly. Sa-eun really was an amazing woman. Making me feel this.
Maybe I was that for Eunha? I shook my head slightly.
No need to think about Eunha. It'd complicate things.
"Ugh, N-Najin?"
"Yeah, sunbae? What's up?"
"We're, uh, kinda too close."
"Sorry, oh."
Only then did I lower my arm from her shoulder. Sa-eun beamed and looked around.
Her black hair whipped in the wind. Fixing it with both hands revealed her smooth, hairless underarm.
Scary height, but she balanced perfectly. Her physical prowess was top-tier.
She stretched languidly.
"Haaah, this is awesome! Whoa, flying through the sky. Air feels so clean!"
"Hahaha. Can't go higher than this. Gets unstable."
"This is plenty. Hehe, thanks."
"No biggie."
We circled Eunhaeng Intersection, then I focused on flying.
It moved as I willed—amazing.
Get more used to it, maybe fly with just a few blood drops attached? Like a jetpack.
Still imagination stage. I grinned.
Hoped that day came soon. I was confident.
We leisurely toured. Anyway, if we were sparring for real, where?
Sparring date—pretty rare in its own way.
Sparring with Sa-eun? What is this.
Dating in the apocalypse was funny enough. Add sparring? Words failed.
Soon, a spot caught my eye. Ah, there.
I'd seen it walking by often.
"Wanna land there?"
"Where's that?"
"Cheoljuk Hills."
"Whoa, tons of flowers! Yeah, let's go!"
We landed at Cheoljuk Hills near Bulam Mountain. Flowers bloomed everywhere in vibrant colors.
Some sculpted plants were starting to wilt a bit. A stream flowed peacefully.
Deeper in, there was a cafe, I recalled. And was that all?
"Kwaaaargh!"
Zombies that'd been dead silent spotted us and charged. Like a solo squad jealous of a couple.
Sa-eun chuckled.
"They jealous of us?"
"Seems so. Let's punish 'em."
We hopped off the board, exchanged grins, and shared a look.
As if on cue, we split left and right, dashing off.
I ran excitedly. A zombie charged head-on, swinging a steel pipe.
I stared it down. Gathered blood into a shield and blocked.
Kicked its shin with my sole.
"Fall."
"Urk!"
Footsteps from the side. Second zombie lunged with jaws wide.
Spiderweb-like saliva strung between its lips.
I flicked my index finger at it. A blood bullet pierced its forehead.
I turned, stomped the first zombie's face into mush.
Enemy defeated!
Enemy defeated!
Zombies are pretty aggressive. Probably targeting Sa-eun, but seems like me too. Like the effect attacking me hasn't worn off.
If that's true, it implied a lot. Akasha openly checking me.
I grinned. Even better. Got me more excited. My lower half tingled.
"Hehe, all done already!"
Sa-eun returned after wiping them out. What, I was just starting.
Thinking about it, the zombies on my side were taken out by her too.
I whistled. She'd gotten way stronger.
Truly reliable.
Well, she got a ton of points.
Sa-eun approached to hold hands but hesitated. I scratched my head awkwardly.
"Hehe, so where to now?"
"Sunbae, you said you wanted to talk."
"M-me?"
"Go ahead."
"Uhk, th-that!"
Her eyes swirled again. So cute.
She stopped trembling like an aspen and sighed deeply, looking at me.
"I like you."
Straight ball. Strike or ball, TBD.
"Huh? For real?"
"Think I'd lie?"
"Why me?"
"Just. After everything, my heart went to you. First time for this, really."
"Ah, yeah."
"No need to answer right away! I-I'd understand rejection. A girl like me, guy-like—who'd like that."
Sa-eun smiled awkwardly. I tilted my head at her.
With looks anyone would like, what was guy-like? Pretty girls looked good even in men's clothes.
I answered right away.
"I like you too."
"Y-yeah. Najin's too nice to lie."
"I'm not nice. It's real."
"Hmph, liar."
"Seriously."
"Then you... me, us, uh, whew."
"Yeah?"
Timidly trembling Sa-eun. She squeezed her eyes shut and yelled.
"C-can we kiss too?!"
"Yeah."
"D-don't answer so quick, uwup."
"Mm."
I kissed her. Deeply.