Outing to Town (1)
[What are you doing?]
As I was snapping away with my phone, Aqua asked. I showed her what I'd taken.
"Taking pictures."
[Pictures?]
Aqua peered at the phone screen for a moment, then jumped in surprise.
[This is me!]
"Right. Pictures of you."
[Pictures? Oh, I've heard of them!]
Aqua stared at her own image in fascination, studying the screen intently.
[It's so different from seeing myself reflected in water!]
She poked her plump cheeks with her fingers. Even she could see how puffy they were. Watching her pinch them like that nearly shredded my heart.
[What a wondrous thing!]
Aqua excitedly scrolled through the photos, then looked up at me.
[Let's take one together!]
A smile spread across my face at her words.
"Shall we?"
I sat on the scooter and held the phone as far away as possible.
"Aqua. Smile at the phone!"
[Hee~!]
Click!
"Let's try a different angle this time!"
Click! Click!
We snapped over ten shots in a row, then looked through them together.
[Why does this one look like that?!]
"My hand must've shaken."
[This one came out great!]
"Perfect, right?"
We giggled for ages, taking photo after photo. On a whim, I tried recording a video too. Aqua gasped at the sight of herself moving.
[Oh! It moves! Is this what a movie is?!]
"This is called a video. But Aqua, you know about movies?"
[Of course! The undines all say they're so much fun!]
"Then how about we go see one?"
[I want to! Can we?!]
Looked like our destination for this town outing was set.
I quickly opened the movie ticket app. Perfect—a film Aqua might like was screening soon.
"Alright. Movie theater it is?"
[Let's go!]
Aqua shook the basket in excitement. Smiling at her, I pocketed my phone and hopped on the scooter.
"Here we go?"
I started the engine and pulled out.
[Eek?!]
As the scooter moved, Aqua flinched and ducked down, peeking out with just her eyes over the basket rim. Her wide, startled eyes under the helmet made me burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! No need to tense up, Aqua. It's just a ride."
[A ride?]
"Like a boat—made to carry us around comfortably."
[Ah, so this is the human world's unicorn!]
Now fearless, Aqua lifted her head high.
[What's this dawdling? This body is the Spirit Realm's finest rider! Go faster!]
I picked up the pace a bit. Cool wind brushed our faces as we crested the hill—the low ridge dividing Samcheok Beach from the city proper. Far below, Samcheok city came into view.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua's eyes widened as we entered the city.
[So huge!]
She marveled at the roadside buildings.
[The gnomes would love this!]
Earth spirits like gnomes would indeed adore massive structures. Aqua whipped her head around, taking it all in—especially when a bus rumbled past in the next lane, her eyes bulging.
[Humans trapped in there!]
"Hahaha. It's like a giant scooter. Everyone uses them to get around easily."
[Really? The human world is so amazing.]
At the theater, I parked, shouldered Aqua onto my neck, and headed in. The blazing sun had sweat beading up, but her cool touch made it vanish. Thanks to her, I stayed dry all the way.
We grabbed two sodas from the concession stand and hurried to the auditorium.
[Movie theater...!]
Aqua hugged my head tightly in anticipation. We took seats in the third row from the front. The good spots were gone with the crowd, but I wanted Aqua—experiencing this for the first time—to feel the screen's full grandeur.
'Even in a regular theater, front row is basically IMAX, right?'
The screen was still dark. Aqua glanced around the room.
[Everyone facing that wall. Does the movie come from there?]
"Yep. Heard what movies are like?"
[Two-hour plays!]
She practically vibrated with excitement.
"Spirit Realm has plays too?"
[Of course! The Earth Spirit King does them often!]
I pictured spirit plays—cute, fun, chaotic.
"Aqua, no talking or noise during the movie."
[Why not?]
"Disturbs others' immersion."
[Wouldn't laughing and chatting together be more fun?]
She had a point. Theaters even had sing-alongs now.
"Some places allow it, some don't. Next time, a sing-along theater?"
[Yes!]
Aqua scanned the crowd again, then beamed.
[No spirit users here!]
"Really?"
[Yep! So I can talk!]
No Spirit Affinity, no seeing or hearing her.
"But if I can't reply, you'll just be talking to yourself."
[It's fine! Conversation's fun as long as someone's listening!]
"Haha, got it. I'll listen hard."
[Good!]
Then the previews started. The sudden blast of sound and light made Aqua cling tight.
[...Incredible.]
A bit overwhelmed, she wriggled down into my lap. Ripples danced over her body as the speakers boomed—the vibrations shaking her.
Ten minutes later, the movie began. Aqua fidgeted into a comfy spot, hugging her cola—perfect viewing posture.
Three minutes in, dazzling visuals and gorgeous songs hooked her.
[Ooooh...!]
She leaned forward, riveted. She forgot to chat, glued till the end.
[Amazing!]
Only after the credits rolled did she turn to me.
[So fun! That's a movie? I want to see more!]
I chuckled softly.
'Knew she'd love this one.'
We'd watched the classic Summer Kingdom. Post-gate movie industry was still recovering, so re-releases were common. This one was a hit with kids and spirits.
"Favorite part?"
[Ah! So many...!]
She gushed through the full credits, till the theater emptied. I listened, smiling—her joys becoming mine too.
We left just as the staff peeked in to clean.
[Fun! Come again!]
"Definitely. Thanks to you."
Perched on my neck, Aqua rested her chin on my head.
[Hnya...]
Her voice dripped with blissful drowsiness.
Outside, Aqua asked,
[Where to now?]
"Grocery shopping."
[Grocery? What's that?]
"Errands—buying food while we're in town."
[Ah, food! Humans die without it—such inefficient beings!]
From a spirit's view, sure. I snickered.
We scooted to Samcheok's biggest mart, parked, grabbed a cart, and went in. Not much on the list, but something I had to try.
"Aqua."
[Hm?]
I reached up, slipped my hands under her armpits, and gently lifted her into the cart's baby seat.
'Had to do this once.'
I'd seen a photo of a spirit user shopping like this—straight to my bucket list.
[Ooooh!]
Face-to-face now, Aqua inspected the seat curiously.
[A spot for spirits!]
"Haha, baby seat works for spirits too."
[Mmm! Human world is wonderful!]
She looked up at me, eyes sparkling like yesterday at the beach with the undines. Pure affection swelled my chest. Hard to believe just three days.
'This is the spirit contractor bond.'
Spirits born of nature have no families. Contracts make them. That's why they never leave.
'Family to each other.'
Just theory till now—for an F-rank like me, no chance at that bond. Wild spirits preferred their kind; contracted ones saw only their user.
But Aqua's eyes were on me. Her contractor. Her family.
I leaned down, forehead to forehead.
[What? Tickles!]
She giggled, poking. I smiled into those shining eyes.
"Thanks for coming to me."
She couldn't know my longing.
Aqua smiled, patted my cheeks—slap slap like water.
[Talking like this here?]
A staff lady nearby stared, instant ramen half-made, eyeing me like a lunatic.
"......"
No Spirit Affinity, no Aqua. I must look insane, talking to air.
"......Pfft."
Laughter bubbled up. I pushed the cart away, bursting out before she panicked.
"Hahahaha!"
[Heeheehee!]
Shoppers stared oddly, but I couldn't stop. With Aqua, everything would be fun from now on—I knew it.